#I’ll deal with the header later

[kittsu-and-company]

your header ?

..I didn’t realize that changed

..

I saw a kid’s Skiddo wearing a party hat earlier today, I’ll try to take a picture for you!

[sergeantbarnessdoll]

🤍

sooo here is my request! thank you!

Reader is bucky's ex fiancé (40's) and she is like a supersoldier too (she froze with steve and now she is an avenger)

but bucky does not remember her, so she has to deal with watching him dating some agents while she tries to make him remember that part of their life together (maybe with some letters and pics of them)

some angst - hurt / comfort with happy ending! 😭🤍

just bc i love this blog i would like to be "🕷️ anon" 😂

Remember Me » Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier

Pairings: Ex Fiancée/Avenger!Bucky Barnes x Ex Fiancée/Avenger!Female Reader

Summary: You and Bucky used to be engaged in the 1940s, but he doesn’t remember you and you have to deal with him going on dates with other agents so you do everything you can to get him to remember you.

Warnings: mix of Angst and Fluff, language, crying, flashbacks, kissing, pet names

A/N: Thank you to the lovely anonymous person who requested this🩵 also you can be my 🕷️ anon🥰

A/N #2: Italic text is flashbacks. I imagined this as Bucky’s post Winter Soldier phase and the reader is a Super Soldier in this.

Written on my phone. My apologies for any mistakes.

Header made by @buckys-wintersoldier

GIF IS NOT MINE! Credit goes to the creators. I found it on Pinterest.

You stood in the doorway of the conference room, patiently waiting for Bucky to stop flirting with an agent so you can get him to sign paperwork from a previous mission. You couldn’t help but feel jealous. You and Bucky were engaged in the 1940s, but it didn’t last long. After a few minutes, Bucky finally noticed you standing in the doorway.

“I’ll see you tonight, doll.” Bucky says to the agent and kissed her cheek.

Hearing Bucky call her doll felt like someone ripped your heart out of chest and crushed it in their bare hands. That’s what he used to call you.

“Can I help you, Agent?” He asks you.

“I need you to sign these papers from your mission last week.” You tell him, handing him the file.

“I’ll get these to you later.” He says.

You nodded and walked out of the conference room. You were about halfway down the hall when you had to lean against the wall and take a moment to yourself. Your back slid down the wall and you sat down on the floor. Your mind began to wander.

“You know I love you, right, doll?” Bucky asks.

“Of course I know that, Bucky.” You say with a smile.

Bucky intertwined his fingers with yours and kissed your lips sweetly.

“Are you ok?” Steve asks, snapping you out of your thoughts.

“Yes.” You lied.

You stood up from the floor and walked past Steve. Your walk was cut short when Steve gently grabbed your arm.

“Tell me what’s wrong.” He pleads softly.

“You already know what’s wrong.” You said. “I have to live with the fact that my ex fiancée doesn’t remember me at all and I have to deal with him dating other agents.” You say.

“Give him time, Y/N. He’ll remember you.” He says softly.

You gave him a soft smile before walking away.

Later that same day, you were in the gym, punching the punching bag as hard as you could. You were trying to get the thought of Bucky out on a date with that agent. You punched the punching bag one last time before leaving the gym.

You got on the elevator to go to your bedroom. As soon as you got off of the elevator, you seen Bucky kissing that agent. You stood there with a shattered heart. You quickly went to your room before he seen you.

You immediately caught a glimpse of the picture of you and Bucky from the day he proposed to you. You picked up the picture from your nightstand and looked at it, reminiscing that day.

“Where are you taking me, Bucky?” You asked, followed by a giggle.

“You’ll find out in a minute, doll.” Bucky says.

Bucky told you he had a surprise for you and blindfolded you for it. Your walking came to a stop and Bucky let go of you.

“Take the blindfold off.” He says.

You took the blindfold off and gasped. Bucky took you to yours and his favorite tree. Your favorite flowers were surrounding the bottom of it and he carved “Will you marry me?” on the tree with a pocket knife.

“Bucky-” You turned around and gasped.

“What do you say doll?” Bucky was down on one knee with a small velvet box with a beautiful diamond ring in it. “Will you marry me?” He asks.

“Yes! Of course I’ll marry you!” You answered with happy tears streaming down your cheeks.

Bucky smiles widely and stood up. He slid the ring on your ring finger and kissed you passionately.

That memory slowly faded away. You let out a shaky breath and your eyes began to water. You took a deep breath before taking a shower and went to bed.

The next morning, as you were getting dressed you seen something shining on your dresser from the corner of your eye. It was Bucky’s Army dog tags. You picked them up and looked at them. A smile grew on your face when an idea popped into your head. You immediately went to the kitchen, already knowing Bucky was in there.

“Morning, Bucky!” You chirped.

“It’s Sergeant Barnes.” Bucky corrects you.

“What?” You asked, blinking a couple times.

“You called me Bucky. Only friends call me that. Agents call me Sergeant Barnes.” He says.

“Oh…” Your voice sounding sad. “I umm…” You found what you were trying to say. “I just wanted to show you something.” You finally say.

“What is it?” He asks.

You held out your hand, showing him his Army dog tags. Bucky snatched them from your hand, making you flinch a little.

“Why the hell do you have these?” He asks harshly.

“I uhh… Steve gave them to me in 1945 when you di- fell off the train.” You tell him. “He thought that I might want them cause you’re my ex fiancée.” You explained.

“I’m not your ex fiancée.” Bucky’s words cut you deep like a knife. “I don’t know who you think I am, but I sure as hell know that I’m not your ex fiancée.” He says before walking away.

You stood in the middle of kitchen with tears streaming down your face. You hoped that showing Bucky his Army dog tags would spark something in his memory of you, but you guessed wrong.

“Why would you give these to Agent Y/L/N after I fell off the train in 1945?” Bucky asks Steve when he walked in the conference room.

“She’s your ex fiancée. I assumed that’s what you wanted. I was just honoring your wishes.” Steve answered.

“She’s not my ex fiancée! I’ve never been engaged in my life!” Bucky raised his voice. “You’re the second person to say that to me today!” He says.

Bucky walked out of the conference room before Steve could say anything else. He stood up from his seat and went to find you. He found you crying at the kitchen table. He sat down next to you and immediately started comforting you.

“I’m fine, Steve.” You lied, your voice cracking.

“No you’re not.” Steve said. “You have every right to be upset.” He says softly.

You turned towards Steve and laid your head on his shoulder, letting your tears free fall. Steve being the good friend he is, comforted you in the only way he knows.

“He basically said that I’m not his friend and I can’t call him Bucky.” You cried against his shoulder. “It’s like I never existed to him.” You say.

“You’re more than his friend.” He says softly.

“I know that, but he doesn’t.” You say, followed by a sniffle.

Later that day, you kept trying to come with ways to get Bucky to remember you. So far you couldn’t come up with anything. You were sitting in the conference room, filling out paperwork when you got lost in your memories of you and Bucky.

“Bucky!” You squealed as Bucky picked you up from behind and spun you around, making burst into a fit of giggles.

Bucky finally put you down on your feet and turned you around so you were facing him. He cupped your cheeks and kissed you passionately.

The memory was interrupted when Bucky dropped a file on the table in front of you. You looked at the file and then looked at Bucky.

“Steve said to sign these and to get them to him by the end of the day.” Bucky says blandly.

“Will do, Sergeant.” You say.

You watched Bucky walk out of the conference room. You stared at the unopened file for a moment before leaving the room without finishing your paperwork. You went straight to your bedroom to get something. You wanted to try to get Bucky to remember you again.

You went in your closet, going to the back of it. You opened a plastic storage container where you kept all of the letters Bucky wrote you while he was in the Army. You picked them up and immediately went to find Bucky. You found him in the lounge room kissing another agent.

“Sergeant?” Bucky acted like he didn’t hear you. “Sergeant Barnes?” You say louder.

Bucky sighed and rolled his eyes before looking at you. The agent he was kissing walked past you, giving you a small smile.

“Is there something I can do for you, Agent?” Bucky asks.

“I wanted to read these papers.” You say.

You hand him the old letters. Bucky took the letters from your hands and read them, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion when he seen his name signed at the bottom of each letter.

“What are these and why is my name on all of these?” He asks.

“Those are the letters you sent me in the 1940s when you were in the Army.” You tell him.

Bucky continued to read the letters. A hopeful smile grew on your face, but didn’t last long. He stood up and shoved the letters in your hands.

“That’s not me.” He says.

“But-” You got interrupted.

“But nothing. We were never engaged. Stop trying to get me to remember things that never happened.” He says.

You nodded as your eyes began to water. You went back to your room and put the letters back. You were about to close the container when you saw a stuffed puppy Bucky won you at Coney Island on yours and his first date. You took it out of the container and sat on your bed, holding it close to you as the memory of that day appeared in your mind.

You stood next to Bucky and watched him knock down all the bottles with a small ball. You smiled and cheered him on.

“What prize would you like, doll?” Bucky asks you.

You looked at the variety of stuffed animals displayed in front of you. You smiled when you seen a stuffed puppy with a red bow on it.

“That one.” You say, pointing at it.

The worker handed it to you. You took it from him and held it close to you.

“Thank you, Bucky.” You say, smiling up at him.

“Anything for my best girl.” He says, kissing you sweetly.

You sadly sighed and laid down with the stuffed puppy in your arms. You didn’t even know you fell asleep, because you woke up to the sound of someone knocking on your bedroom door. You got out of bed and opened the door to see Bucky.

“Can I help you, Sergeant Barnes?” You asked.

“Can I come in?” Bucky asks.

You nodded and stepped aside, allowing him to come in your room. You closed the door behind you and waited for him to say something.

“I just wanted to apologize for the way I’ve been talking to you the past couple days.” He apologizes. “I just don’t understand why you keep saying we were engaged years ago when-” That’s when Bucky seen the picture of you and him on your nightstand. “This is me.” He says, picking up the picture to look at it.

“It’s me and you in 1941.” You tell him. “I have more pictures if you want to see them.” You say.

Bucky nodded. You went in the closet to get the pictures. You opened a photo album, showing him a bunch of pictures of the two of you when you guys were together. He took the photo album from you to get a closer look at them. He looked through the pictures without saying a word. Another hopeful smile grew on your face, hoping that Bucky will remember who you are this time. The smile was short lived when Bucky shoved the photo album in your hands and left your bedroom without saying a word. A sad sigh left your lips and you put away the pictures. You were beginning to think that Bucky was never going to remember you, but you weren’t going to give up that hope.

Bucky was supposed to be getting ready for a date with another agent, but those pictures of you and him together were the only thing on his mind. He sat in the lounge room, trying his best to remember who you are, but nothing rang a bell. His thoughts were interrupted when the agent he’s supposed to go on a date with walked in the room.

“Hi!” The agent chirps. “Are you ready?” She asks.

“Yea, I just-” That’s when his memories of you flowed back in his mind like a broken dam. “Actually no. I can’t do this anymore. I’m sorry.” He says, leaving the room and leaving the agent confused.

Bucky searched around the whole compound for you, but couldn’t find you. He accidentally bumped into Steve without realizing it. Steve walked after him and grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

“Buck, calm down. What’s wrong?” Steve asks.

“Y/N. Where’s Y/N?” Bucky asks.

“She’s outside.” He tells him. “Why?” He asks.

Bucky didn’t answer Steve’s question. He just ran outside, looking for you. He didn’t have to go far. You were sitting on the bench trying to figure out another way to get Bucky to remember you. He walked over to you and grabbed your arm, pulling you up from the bench and kissed you passionately. You were caught by surprise, but kissed him back. He pulled away from your lips, leaving the two of you breathless.

“I remember.” Bucky tells you. “I remember you.” He says.

“You remember me?” You asked, making sure you heard him right.

“Yes.” He confirms. “Seeing those letters and pictures made me remember everything.” He smiles. “I’m sorry for the way things ended between us. I was just pissed. Please forgive me and give me another chance, doll.” He says apologetically.

Your eyes began to water with happy tears, a couple tears rolled down your cheeks. Hearing Bucky call you doll for the first time in years made you happy.

“Don’t cry, doll.” He wipes your tears away. “I’m sorry.” He apologizes again.

“I can’t help it.” You sniffled. “I just missed you.” You say.

You wrapped your arms around him, hugging him tightly, not wanting to let go. Bucky wrapped his arms around you, holding you close to him.

“How about we picked up where we left off.” Bucky suggests.

“You still want to marry me?” You asked, looking up at him.

“Of course I do.” He smiles widely. “You’re my best girl.” He says.

“I don’t have the engagement ring you gave me anymore. I accidentally lost it.” You say, feeling ashamed.

“It’s ok. I’ll buy you another one. In the meantime…” Bucky took his dog tags off and put them around your neck. “You can wear these as an engagement ring.” He says.

You looked down at his dog tags, smiling widely. You looked up at him and cupped his stubbly cheeks. You stood on your tippy toes and kissed him passionately. Bucky’s hands found their way to your waist and pulled you against his body.

“I love you so much, Bucky.” You say against his lips.

“I love you more, doll.” Bucky says softly.

🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵

-Bucky’s Doll

[hederasgarden]

Stand By Me - Part 3

Summary: When a local ranch hand’s attention evolves into something more sinister, Rhett Abbott becomes an unlikely source of comfort and protection for you. Pairing: Rhett Abbott x F!Reader Word Count: 4.8K Rating: Mature, future chapters will be explicit and 18+ only. Stalking, anxiety, and Rhett being protective. Future chapters will include some violence. No spoilers for Outer Range. A/N: Welp, here we are a year later. 😬 Sorry it has taken me so long to update. I cannot thank my beta N, @mayhem24-7forever and @whatblogisthis216 enough for their help and support putting this together. Thank you @callsignhurricane for the absolutely gorgeous header.

Please comment and reblog if you enjoyed this story. Your interactions keep me writing and inspired.

Masterlist | Lewis Pullman Characters Masterlist

"I see you're in with the Abbotts now," your boss remarks, watching Rhett climb into his truck. "Got a phone call from Cecilia this morning about you not closing up by yourself anymore. That woman has a real way about her, all polite-like when she's handing you your ass." 

“Mr. Anderson,” you start, rushing to explain but he waves you off. 

“She was right, of course. I know you got that, er- fella who hangs around too much.”

“My stalker?” You question, your tone harsher than you intend. He looks down at you, surprised. There’s an apology on the tip of your tongue but you resist, meeting his brown eyes. Maybe it’s knowing you had Rhett and Cecilia on your side, or maybe some leftover frustration from the Sheriff. Either way, you don't back down from your statement. 

“I suppose he could be,” Mr. Anderson agrees. “Anyhow, I’ve got Johnny set to close from now on. You go on and tell that to Cecilia now. One dressing down from that woman is enough.”

“I’ll let her know.” 

He nods, patting your shoulder briefly before disappearing into the back office. You exhale and look back out to the empty street. It’s stupid to miss Rhett but a small part of you does. You’re safe in the store; there’s no need to have him here with you. He has a life of his own and a ranch to help run. 

“Was that Rhett Abbott?”

You turn to face the owner of the voice, finding your coworker Sandra watching you excitedly. She’s got that glint in her eye, the one that means she’s not going to let this go easily. Wabang didn’t have a town gossip, but if they did, everyone knows she’d happily take the job. In high school, she was in everyone’s business, spreading rumors and ferreting out information. She never looked twice at you back then, you were too boring and quiet. 

“It was. He just gave me a lift. Not a big deal,” you promise her.

“Uh, nope," she says, popping the p and stopping you with a hand on your arm. "We’re not going to breeze past the fact that you left your car here last night and now the manwhore of Wabang is dropping you off. Spill," she demands.

"We're not…," you start, an automatic denial falling from your lips before you can stop it. She gives you an incredulous look and you stammer out an answer. "It's not a big deal. We're, um, dating," you explain.

"Rhett Abbott doesn't 'date'," she tells you, eyes narrowed. "He has sex with whatever buckle bunny catches his eye.”

“He’s not like that,�� you argue, defensive at the way she speaks about him. You know Rhett’s reputation, pretty much everyone does, but you saw a different side of him last night and this morning. You know there’s something more under that charming smile. He listened when no one else did and that means something to you. 

“Honey, please,” she says dismissively. “That boy is nothing but trouble and trash. You best stay away from him."

“Don’t talk about him like that,” you tell her, voice warbling with emotion. “He’s not like everyone says.”

Sandra’s perfectly plucked brows disappear into her hairline. “Alright, alright,” she concedes, hands held up. “Just be careful. He might not stick around after he gets what he wants from you.”

“He’s stuck around the last two months just fine,” you fire back, only realizing after the words are out that you and Rhett never talked about a timeline. 

“Really?” Sandra says, leaning in closer enough for you to catch the fruity scent of the gum she smacks noisily. “That certainty explains why he hasn’t been hanging around the Handsome Gambler lately. I just thought maybe he was getting serious about bull riding or Royal had him on a short leash after the last fight.” She leans back, looking contemplative. “Well, that was some exciting gossip for a Friday morning.”

“Please don’t spread this around,” you ask her, knowing full well she would. Although the idea of people talking about your personal life made your skin crawl, you knew if Rhett were here he’d say it was good. The more it spread, the more likely your stalker would learn of it and back off. 

“Your secret is safe with me,” she promises you, crossing her fingers and winking. 

Sandra spends the rest of your time together on her phone, chewing on the endless supply of gum she keeps next to the register. You’re normally not a self involved person but you’re fairly certain she’s texting about you and Rhett. During lunch, you send him a text of your own about your conversation with Sandra. He responds immediately with a thumbs up emoji which doesn’t help your anxiety. What if he was mad? What if he was with another girl at that time and you just screwed up this whole story?

You spend your shift distracted, overthinking what you told Sandra enough that you keep losing track of the inventory you’re working on. Eventually you give up and volunteer to work the till. An unexpectedly busy afternoon keeps your focus on the task at hand and you don’t even notice it’s 5 p.m. until you look up and find Rhett in line for your register, a shopping basket in hand. 

He steps up to the counter and smiles. “Hey.”

“Hey,” you return, feeling unexpectedly shy. You stare at him long enough that he clears his throat and nudges the basket towards you.

“You gonna check me out?” he asks, his tone playful. 

Beside you, Sandra scoffs. When you spare her a glance, you find her watching Rhett. His attention, though, is focused on you. 

“What’s all this?” You question, taking out the deadbolt kit and some window locks.

“For your apartment. When I was there last night I saw they could use an update.”

“Rhett…” you trail off, embarrassed. 

He seems to sense your emotions and leans forward, resting his elbows on the counter. “I think this is the part where you ask me, cash or card,” he whispers. 

“Will that be cash or card?” You ask, thankful for how easily he dispels your discomfort.

After you’ve finished checking him out, you clock out and let him walk you to his truck with an arm around your shoulder.  Once you reach your apartment he pulls out a tool bag from the bed of the truck and says he’ll install the new deadbolt while you get ready. A part of you wants to protest or offer to pay him for the supplies, while another is too embarrassed to draw attention to what he’s doing for you, so instead you say nothing and disappear into your room.

“Pretty sure they’re doing line dancing tonight,” Rhett calls out in between the sounds of the power drill. “You got some boots you can wear?”

“Uh…I think so," you half yell back, staring at the contents of your closet. 

You have to get on your hands and knees and pull aside a few boxes to find a pair of brown boots. The last time you wore them was for high school graduation, back when your grandfather had been alive. You trace the delicate lines of embroidery around the calf, pale pink and periwinkle flowers connected by green vines. There hadn’t been a reason to wear them since, all you did was go to work and come home. 

Tonight seems as good as any and you stand to finish getting dressed. The sundress and jean jacket are a little dated but they’re comfortable and look nice enough. Once you’ve managed to fix your hair and makeup, you return to the living room to find Rhett replacing the old window locks.

The creak in the floor draws his attention to you briefly before his eyes return to the window. A second later they’re back on you. He blinks and stands, clearing his throat. 

“I think I’m ready," you announce. 

“You, ah, look real nice,” he tells you, nodding. “I like the flowers.” 

“Thanks. You look nice too,” you add, touching your neck self-consciously when he doesn’t immediately speak again but keeps watching you.

“Well…we should probably get going then.”

“Yeah,” you agree, watching Rhett gather up his tools. “Thanks again for installing that stuff.” 

Rhett nods. “I’ll finish up with the other windows tomorrow.”

The drive to the bar is quiet. Rhett’s fingers drum on the steering wheel as you wait at the stoplight. You cycle through potential conversation openers but discard them all. Nothing feels right, and you realize that the sour pit in your stomach only grows the closer you get to the Handsome Gambler. 

Would he be there tonight you wondered? Just the thought of seeing him is enough to make your breath come quickly and your hands tremble. You exhale and close your eyes, trying to get yourself together. Rhett is here. 

When the engine cuts out you look up, eyes drawn to the neon glow of the Handsome Gambler’s sign. Rhett’s quick to meet you at the curb, offering his arm. You curl your hand around his bicep and he draws you close. At this time of night, the bar is busy, humming with energy and conversation. Rhett navigates the crowd with ease, exchanging brief hellos with a few people, finally stopping at an empty booth. You slide in and he follows. 

“Want a beer?” He asks.

You’re not much of a drinker but you nod anyway. Rhett flags down a waitress and a few minutes later two cold beers are dropped off at your table. You fiddle with the label as Rhett takes a long swig and leans back, shoulders relaxing. When you sense him watching, you bring the bottle to your lips and take a drink. It’s cold and a little bitter on your tongue. Your distaste for it must show because Rhett cocks his head to the side with a faint smile on his lips.

“I can order you something else,” he offers. “Wine? Something fruity?”

“Maybe something fruity… honestly though this is okay. I don’t want it to go to waste.”

Rhett shakes his head and flags down the waitress again, ordering you a daiquiri. “It won’t go to waste,” he assures you, pulling the beer toward him.

You return his smile as he rests his arm along the back of the booth. His fingertips hover just above your shoulder, not quite touching your jacket. This close to him you can smell his cologne, faint and a little musky but nice. Everything about this is surprisingly nice, including the way his denim-clad leg presses against yours, warm and firm. 

“He’s not here,” Rhett announces and you look up at him sharply. He’s still scanning the bar as he sips from his beer. For one silly moment, you forgot why you were even here, something that seemed impossible earlier. 

“Should we go?” You ask Rhett.

You’d only come to make it clear to the man that you were with Rhett.

“What?” Rhett’s brow furrows as he glances at you. “Why? You wanna go?”

“No.” You shake your head just as the waitress arrives with your drink. “We came so he’d see…”

“There’s more than one way to make sure he knows,” Rhett tells you, pushing up the brim of his hat before leaning in close. You can feel his breath against your cheek. “Look to your right, past the pool tables. You see those men?” You nod, watching the rowdy group in the corner playing darts as you absently sip your drink. 

“They all work at the Dustin ranch, including the one in the baseball cap who keeps looking at us.” At that moment, the man in question stands up for his turn and looks back, meeting your eyes. If he is surprised to find you looking, he doesn’t show it. He holds your gaze for a second before glancing at Rhett who smirks and waves. His expression doesn’t change but when he turns back you catch a brief flash of something.

“He’ll make sure Jimmy gets the message that you’re with me.”

“Jimmy?”

“Your stalker," Rhett clarifies. "After I dropped you off this morning I paid a friend of mine a visit that’s friendly with the foreman of the Dustin ranch. That’s the man’s name. He hangs out with the guy in the baseball cap, Rick.” 

“Oh.” You stare at the table, trying to process the information Rhett gave you.

When he says your name softly you realize several minutes have passed in silence. “Sorry, I….” you trail off and look back at the man with the baseball cap. 

“Nothing to be sorry about,” Rhett says. “This is a lot.”

You nod, lips pressed together because you don’t trust yourself to speak. 

“Line dancing looks fun,” he notes, taking a swig of beer. “Might be a nice distraction and you can put those fancy boots to good use.”

“They’re not fancy,” you defend. 

“Hmmm, don’t look like nothing I’ve seen at the feed store,” he teases. “Come on.” He stands and offers his hand. 

You let him pull you up and follow him to the dance floor as Vince Gill’s What The Cowgirls Do fades from the speakers and a soft, more subdued song  plays. The crowd thins and you realize the remaining dancers are pairing up. Rhett doesn’t seem deterred by the change in music, grasping your right hand and wrapping his left arm loosely around your body. His palm rests firmly on your shoulder blade, pulling your body close to his. After a moment of hesitation, you settle your left arm on his bicep.

“It’s been a while since I’ve danced like this,” you admit, watching how easily the other couples move around the dance floor. 

“Nothing to it. All you gotta do is follow, I’ll lead,” Rhett promises, surging forward and taking you with him. 

You stumble a little but he’s quick to adjust his pace for you, whispering words of encouragement. Maybe it's how Rhett guides you around the dance floor or some long buried muscle memory from high school but soon enough you’re moving in sync. Then he raises his arm to spin your body in a circle before quickly drawing you back into his arms. When he does it again a second time, a breathless laugh escapes you. 

“Atta girl,” Rhett says, drawing you closer. 

Your skin tingles and you feel warm all over when he speaks those two simple words. The world narrows to Rhett’s handsome face, his blue eyes dark pools in the dim light. Your chest constricts, only allowing you to pull in shallow breaths that leave you lightheaded. It’s only when someone else bumps into the two of you and the spells breaks that you realize a new, more upbeat song is playing. 

Rhett’s lashes flutter and he releases you, his gaze falling away a moment later. 

“Beer’s probably getting warm,” he says and you hum your agreement, letting him lead you back to your seat.

Before you can make it, two men you don’t recognize stop Rhett. 

“Shit, that you Abbott?” The shorter one questions, swaying on his feet. 

You watch Rhett for his reaction, only relaxing when he smiles. “Smitty.”

“Heard you’re riding tomorrow.”

“I am,” Rhett agrees.

“Damn,now we gotta go to see that,” he tells his friend before turning his attention to you. “Did you know your boyfriend's one of the best damn bull riders in these parts?" He asks. 

You’re not sure what to say so you just nod. 

“You guys gotta come get a drink with us,” Smitty says. 

“Thanks, but my girl and I were about to head out,” Rhett says, capturing your hand in his. “Y'all have a good night.”

My girl. 

Rhett uses that phrase so casually, like he’s done it 100 times before. For a moment, you let yourself imagine a world where it’s true, losing yourself in the fantasy long enough to miss the rest of their conversation. When Smitty and his friend stumble away, Rhett leads you back to the booth where  your daiquiri has all but melted. If Rhett’s beer is warm, he doesn’t show it, finishing it off in one gulp. 

“If you want to get a drink with your friends…,” you start hesitantly.

Rhett’s quick to cut you off with a shake of his head.  “Not with those two dipshits. They’re fun for sure but… trouble too.”

You turn to face him. “Sounds like there’s a story there.”

He waves your comment away, grinning with one side of his mouth. “Maybe, but it aint suitable for girls with flowers on their boots.” 

The rest of the evening passes surprisingly easy, so much so that before you know it, it’s nearly midnight and you’ve all but forgotten about Jimmy and the man in the hat. Rhett pays your bill with cash and walks you to his car, keeping a hand on your lower back. 

Once you arrive at your apartment, Rhett turns off the truck and leans forward to look out the windshield.

“Want me to stay the night?” He asks, leaning back. 

You do, but you’re aware of just how much he’s done for you already; staying over last night and pretending with you at the bar. You should decline and let him go home to sleep in a real bed but behind him you can see the dark windows of your apartment and the words catch in your throat. 

“Never was an Eagle Scout,” he starts, pulling a black duffle bag from behind the seat, “but I came prepared.”

You stare at the bag, surprised, and when you look back at Rhett he gives you that half smile of his, brow arched. You find yourself nodding before you can think too hard about it.

“Alright,” Rhett says, opening his door, “come on.”

That night you sleep better than you have in weeks and when the morning comes, you quietly slip out of your bedroom.  Rhett is already up, a mug of coffee in hand. He looks lost in thought, a deep crease between his brows but his expression clears when he sees you. 

“Made coffee,” he says, raising his mug. “Hope that was alright.”

“Of course,” you’re quick to tell him. 

“I won't be able to pick you up after work,” Rhett says, following you into the kitchen and leaning back against the counter. “Gotta be at the rodeo early but my Ma said she’d be there.”

“Okay.” You yawn as you doctor your coffee to make it sweet enough to drink.

“Looks like I kept you out too late,” he observes, watching you over the rim of his mug. 

“No, it was…” you pause searching for the right word but come up short. “I appreciate it,” you finally settle on. 

Rhett nods, looking away. “It’s nothing.”

When he sets his empty mug in the sink, you head back to your room and get ready for work.  Once you’re dressed, you reach for the beat-up tennis shoes you always wear, stopping short when you see your boots from last night. You hesitate for only a second before slipping them on instead. 

Rhett drops you off with a kiss on your cheek and a wave to Sandra, who watches the two of you from the front window display. The day passes uneventfully, without any sign of Jimmy. A little after 6 pm the Abbotts come to collect you. Cecilia is warm and open, asking about work while Royal drives, glancing at you occasionally in the rearview mirror. You’ve only met Rhett’s father in passing and always found him to be an intimidating man. Tonight he’s mostly silent, only chiming in when you tell Cecilia about an issue that happened today with Donald Everrtt’s lumber order.

“That man’s got more cows than sense,” Royal grumbles and you laugh when Cecilia chastises him.

Leaning back and gazing out the window, you think about your own parents. They weren’t so different from Rhett’s and you’d forgotten how nice something as simple as this could feel. Thinking of them hurts like it always does and you swallow around the lump in your throat, distracting yourself by listening to Cecilia and Royal talk about Rhett and the bull he’s meant to ride tonight. 

When you arrive at the rodeo, it’s loud and chaotic. The announcer booms something about the bull riding beinging soon. It doesn’t escape your notice that Royal and Cecilia keep you between them as they guide you through the crowd of people to the metal bleachers where Rhett’s brother and his family are waiting. Their daughter, Amy, is quick to question you once you’re seated. 

“Are you Uncle Rhett’s girlfriend?” she asks, leaning around Cecilia to see you.

You stare at her, unsure how to answer with so many people around. Rhett had shared the plan with his parents but you weren’t sure who else knew the truth. Your silence makes Amy’s  little brows furrow, a look so reminiscent of her uncle that it almost makes you smile. 

Thankfully Cecilia interjects before you have to figure out what to say. “Yes, Amy.”

Before Amy can ask you any more questions, her mother suggests they get some popcorn. Once they disappear, Perry takes a swig from the flask in his boot, and when he sees his mother looking, he makes a face.

“Come on Ma,” he grumbles, but Cecilia pins him with a silent, angry look and he eventually puts the flask away, sighing heavily.

There are several riders before Rhett and you watch each of them get thrown from their bull with increasing anxiety. You search for him among the crowd of riders at the far end of the fence. When you spot him, you’re surprised to find he’s watching you. He grins, tipping his hat. It’s such a simple gesture, but it fills you with a fluttering warmth that lasts long after he looks away to acknowledge his parents. 

When it’s finally Rhett’s turn to ride, you rub your hands on your thighs anxiously. The buzzer goes off and you flinch as the gate is ripped open. The world narrows to Rhett, the bull, and the sound of your own breathing. The seconds tick past agonizingly slow until he’s thrown from the bull. 

Dust flies and the bull stomps. You stand up, searching until you find him stock still in the dirt. You make a small, terrified sound and Royal touches your shoulder drawing your gaze. 

“He’s okay. Just got the breath knocked from him,” he assures you. 

You look at Cecilia who seems just as concerned but then a second later the bull is gone and Rhett stands. His gaze is focused on the scoreboard but you watch him. His expression is serious, lips pressed into a thin line as his chest heaves. Then suddenly he smiles, open joy written across his features and the crowd cheers. When you look up his name is first on the board. 

Beside you, Royal yells and Perry sticks two fingers in his mouth and whistles loudly. Cecilia shouts his name and Amy jumps with excitement. You expect Rhett to come straight to his parents but he makes a beeline for you, climbing up the bleachers and past people with ease. 

“Rhett,” you start, whatever you were going to say cut short by his lips on yours. The kiss is intense but brief. When he pulls away, he looks as surprised as you feel. You stare at one another before suddenly he’s pulled back by an older man who claps him on the shoulder. More people push forward to offer him congratulations. 

“Let him hear you one more time,” the announcer encourages. “Ladies and gentlemen, your hometown hero, Rhett Abbott!”

You touch your lips, mind working hard to process what just happened. Rhett looks back, eyes glued to yours as he’s pulled back into the ring.

“Come on sweetheart,” Cecilia urges, patting your arm. “Let’s wait for him at the other end. Less people.”

You can’t see her eyes under the brim of your hat but you suddenly realize she and about a hundred other people just witnessed what Rhett did. You have no idea what his parents must think. There’s another feeling under the embarrassment and awkwardness that you don’t investigate too closely. 

“Well that was something,” Royal says and you glance up at him sharply before you realize he’s talking about Rhett’s ride. 

Cecilia smiles. “He’s gonna ride next weekend in the finals for sure.”

“I knew he’d make it,” Royal says proudly and you smile at both of them, nodding your agreement. 

After a few minutes, Perry arrives alone. “It was getting late so I thought it best Amy went home,” he tells the three of you, hands on his hips. “She can celebrate with us tomorrow.”

“Hmmm and I suppose you’re gonna help your brother celebrate tonight?” Cecilia asks, judgment clear in her tone.

“Yeah. Handsome Gambler,” he confirms, clapping Rhett on the back as he arrives. “You’ll be drinking for free, that’s for sure.” 

“Did you consider that your brother might not want to go?” Cecilia asks, looking at you pointedly. 

“Oh, that’s alright. We can go,” you say, feeling even more awkward.

Perry grins and leans in. This close you can smell the alcohol on his breath. “Great, I’ll get us a booth.”

He disappears before Rhett even has a chance to speak. Cecilia sighs and Royal rubs her back. “Nothing wrong with having a little fun,” he reminds her.

“I know,” she concedes. “But be safe,” she adds, looking intently at Rhett.

“I will,” he promises her, nodding seriously.  

Cecilia offers you a tight hug, promising to stop by the store later in the week. Once she and Royal are gone, you’re alone with Rhett. He rubs the back of his neck and clears his throat. 

“I’m sorry.” He pauses, looking back at you. “For the kiss. I shoulda asked if you were okay with that. I was out of line.”

“It’s okay. It uh, was good. Lots of people saw. That’s the point right?”

He stares at you for a long moment, an unreadable expression on his face. “Yeah, that’s the point," he agrees, finally before his gaze flicks away. “But, we don’t have to go to the Gambler tonight. Perry’s just… Perry,” he finishes with a long suffering sigh. 

You think about how excited he was before and what tonight means for him. He’d done so much for you lately, the least you could do was go with him to the bar. There was no way he’d drop you off and home and go alone. You had fun with him last night after all. Maybe tonight would be just as nice. 

“We can go,” you tell him but he frowns, clearly unconvinced. It’s late and you’re tired but it isn’t hard to manage a genuine smile for him. “Afterall, I brought my dancing boots,” you add, pulling up your jeans to reveal them. 

“Alright,” he agrees, his expression lightening. 

The bar is more crowded than last night and Rhett keeps you close. Everyone wants to talk to him, including Maria. You can’t help but feel jealous at the way she lays a hand on Rhett’s arm and leans in close to speak to him. She’s even more beautiful than she was in high school when half the town knew he’d been in love with her.

Watching them together and seeing the easy way he smiled at her, you wonder if he still is. That makes your chest ache, which is silly. You and Rhett weren’t actually together. Nothing, from the dance last night to his kiss earlier, was real. It was an act because you caught the wrong kind of attention. Suddenly, you want to be anywhere but here. You take a step away but Rhett’s quick to face you, his hand shooting out to grasp your elbow.

You lean in to be heard over the din of the bar. “I need to use the restroom but Perry said he can come with me,” you lie, looking over your shoulder at his brother. 

“I can come,” Rhett tells you, setting his beer down. 

You wave him off. “Catch up with your friends.”

When you realize Rhett doesn’t turn around immediately you’re forced to actually ask Perry. He agrees and finishes off his beer, following after you a little unsteady. You take your time in the bathroom, splashing water on your face and staring at your reflection. It’s quiet here but your mind is buzzing. You close your eyes and sigh. You’re not sure how long you stay like that, lost in thought but eventually a toilet flushes and you stand straight. You were being selfish, Rhett deserved to celebrate tonight without worrying over you. 

With a deep breath you head back into the bar, searching for Perry. When you left he was leaning against the wall, scrolling on his phone. Now he’s nowhere to be found. You only make it a few steps before someone’s hand closes around your wrist and tugs you back. You spin around, half expecting to find Rhett but it’s not him. 

Green eyes meet yours. 

“Hi baby,” Jimmy says, smiling. 

[little-diable]

Labour - Tommy Shelby

This came to me as I listened to “Labour” by Paris Paloma, and boy, do I love love love this story. Be aware that this is somewhat loosely set in S2, but it doesn’t really follow the shows plot line. Please like and reblog if you enjoyed reading this, your comments keep us writers motivated! Enjoy my loves. xxx

Summary: While Tommy keeps pulling away from his wife, she gets tangled in a web of lies to protect her husband, making deals behind his back with his enemies.

Warnings: 18+, smut, unrotected piv, troubling relationship but with a happy end, mentions some fighting and misogyny

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x fem!reader (3.5k words)

header by @deathofpeaceofmind

Why are you hanging on so tight, to the rope that I'm hanging from?

“Oh (y/n), isn’t it lovely how naive you women all are?” Inspector Campbell’s voice echoed through the small side street, lips pulled into a grin that made bile rise in (y/n)‘s throat. Her eyes didn’t dare back away from the contact he held, not wanting to come off as scared. 

“I have no time for games, inspector. It’s the same deal as always, you’ll pull your men away from our area tomorrow, and you’ll get your money, easy as that.” Her fingers searched for a cigarette in the pocket of her warm coat, sighing in relief as she finally felt the familiar paper against her fingertips. He watched her light the cigarette with his sharp gaze, forcing holes into her skin like bullets made to kill. 

“Do you really think your money still satisfies me?” He took a step closer, but (y/n) didn’t move, she held her ground, blowing the smoke of her cigarette into his direction. With the click of his tongue he came to a halt like Hades himself coming to claim Persephone, forced into a bond that held more power over her than she liked. “We both know how much your husband loves you, but how will he react to your betrayal? How will he react once he hears about the deals you force his enemies into?” 

She wanted to laugh at his words, finding amusement in the way he imagined her marriage, full of love that had once been but no longer was. His cold hand found her chin, gripping it all too tightly. With a growl rumbling through her, (y/n) pulled away, throwing the burned out cigarette to the ground. 

“Your threats may work on others, but not on me, Campbell. We both know you need the money as much as a child needs its food. I have no problem with asking others who like to do business with me to take care of you and the pathetic excuse of a life you live.” He clenched his jaw, hands balled into fists as his tongue kissed his teeth. For a few seconds neither of them spoke up, letting the silence rest heavy on their shoulders. 

“Fine, we’ll keep your streets empty tomorrow, I’ll expect the money by Friday, not one day later.” The inspector turned from the now grinning woman, disappearing in the dark shadows lingering around them. Only as (y/n) knew that he no longer could see her did she wipe away her fake smirk, back clashing against the nearest wall, bracing herself. 

By now (y/n) was all too used to making deals with those that could interfere with her husband’s business, taking over the work he didn’t know about, believing that everything was simply working out in his favour. But fate hadn’t been nice with Tommy Shelby, at least not till (y/n) had stumbled into his life, slowly taking over, working in the shadows Tommy found no interest in. 

It was a dangerous game she was playing, set on giving her life for the man she loved more than any words could describe, walking closer to God than any other woman she has ever crossed paths with. 

All for a man who asked more from her than he’d ever be able to understand, drawing away from his once loving touches, fully focused on his business rather than his failing marriage.

Who fetches the water from the rocky mountain spring? And walk back down again to feel your words and their sharp sting and I'm getting fucking tired

……

“Where have you been?” Tommy’s voice echoed through their dark bedroom, naked upper body bare to her now wide eyes. She hadn’t expected him to come home tonight, preferring to stay away from their quiet home that had once been filled with love. (Y/n) stood in the middle of their bedroom, shaking off her coat with a sigh rumbling through her.

“I was at Margret’s, you know how much she struggles with her new baby.” The lie rolled off her tongue all too effortlessly, even though his piercing eyes didn’t leave her features once, trying to figure out if she was speaking the truth. Slowly (y/n) laid down next to him, no longer used to feeling Tommy this close. Without anticipating his next movements, (y/n) flinched away as his hand found her chin, grasping her just like Campbell had done, digging into the forming bruises. 

“We need you here, it was your call to take over the household, this home needs its woman, just like I do.” His voice had an almost threatening touch to it, forcing a sharp inhale of cold air into her aching lungs. (Y/n)’s hands tightened their grip on the warm blanket, searching the comfort of the bed she had been sleeping in alone for weeks that have felt like years.

“What is a home with a woman without a husband to share her marriage with? Don’t you lecture me on my whereabouts when you’ve been hiding from me like a scared boy for weeks, Thomas.” (Y/n) turned from Tommy before he could reply, squeezing her eyes shut with her teeth buried in her lower lip. In these moments she desperately wanted to speak up, and wanted to lay all her deals on the oblivious husband that didn’t even notice where his money was going. And yet she kept her mouth shut. 

She felt his eyes on the back of her head for a few more moments before Tommy shuffled around in their bed, wordlessly placing his arm around her waist to draw her into his naked chest. And with a squeeze of her hand, the both of them gave into the call of darkness, searching for some much needed hours of sleep. 

And the silence haunts our bed chamber, you make me do too much labour

……

“Please sit, love. Tea?” Alfie Solomon’s voice echoed through the new apartment, leaving (y/n) smiling. She nodded her head, sinking into the comfortable chair with a sigh. “You look tired, is your husband keeping you on your toes lately?”

“I barely see him around these days, so there’s not much going on to keep me on my toes. How have you been, Alfie?” The man fumbled with his glasses, watching her as if he was expecting (y/n) to strike any moment now. 

“You see, a smart man knows to never cross a woman like you, your wicked mind will one day force us all to our knees, if it weren’t for your eyes.” She pondered over his words for a moment, head slightly tilted to the side, wondering what the man was talking about.

“It’s as if God himself had spoken to me, Alfie, he’d say, she’s dangerous, worse than any enemy you’ve ever killed, but her eyes tell you all about her sadness, about the help she needs but won’t ask for.” A laugh bubbled out of (y/n), eyes fluttering close to let go of a tired sigh. Her hand found her forehead, rubbing her temples to get rid of the headache that kept tourmenting her, robbing much needed hours of sleep from her. 

“You’ve always had a talent with words, Alfie. Can’t believe the young Jewish boy I once shared my bread with is now trying to lecture me on my way of living.” Alfie’s throaty chuckles reverberated through the room, welcoming the warm memories of the moments he and (y/n) have shared all those years ago. Once they’ve been nothing more than oblivious children, searching for the comfort one another could offer. 

“Tell me, what is it this time you need? I’m meeting your husband tonight, so you better tell me now if you want me to kill him, yeah? I always told you, you should have married me, would certainly have saved you from all these struggles.” Her hand found his, squeezing the fingers she had always been reaching for, needing the man she loved like a brother close, though keeping their relationship hidden from the husband that didn’t know anything about the dark past she had been forced to live through. 

“It feels as if something is going to happen, I can’t lose him, Alfie. Who did you do business with lately?” Their eyes didn’t break contact, not as he took a sip of the hot tea, not as he leaned back in his chair, eyes flickering from hers to the big windows. Rain was pouring from the dark sky, pitterpattering against the windows that gave off a view others would pay too much money for, not knowing what else to invest in. The end was near, both could feel it, even though they wouldn’t share the same end, ripped away from one another by wrongdoings that were still buried six feet under like rotten corpses. 

“The business is rough, you’ve got to survive somehow, yeah? Always remember that, love.”

……

The cold lingering in her home had something almost amusing to it, a clear reflection of her relationship with the man who had once lured her into this house, promising her a life that had been nothing more than a game, a dream so fulfilling she couldn’t help but ache for it. (Y/n)‘s feet met the ground, staring at the watch that told her there was still enough time till evening would roll upon her, wondering how the meeting between Alfie and Tommy would play out.

“(Y/n)?” Tommy’s voice left her frozen, head whipping towards her husband. 

“What are you doing at home? Two days in a row, did something happen?” With his hand stretched out for her to take, he slowly pulled her closer, gently cupping her cheek. Tommy studied her for a few moments, the confusion swimming in her gaze, the tension clinging to her body. She quietly thanked herself for covering the bruises on her chin with enough makeup to hide what had happened from the man with eyes so piercing he’d outshine the stars twinkling in the night sky. 

No words left him as he kissed her, making her gasp at the almost unfamiliar touch. Her arms found their way around his neck instantly, not daring to break the contact she had been aching for. Tommy tasted of cigarettes, of expensive alcohol, and of secrets he never intended to share with her, not knowing that she knew more about the business than he ever will. He tasted of everything he once hadn’t tasted of as their paths had crossed years ago, changing into a ruthless man that toyed with those keeping him company.

He pushed her against their dinner table, forcing her to sit on the expensive wood with her legs wrapped around his waist. Moans left the two that tugged on one another’s clothes, needing to scratch the itch that forced them to keep on moving, hands not daring to let go. She was trembling with anticipation thumping through her veins, trying to silence her thoughts, not wanting to pull away from the husband that hadn’t touched her in weeks.

“Don’t, just fuck me, please Tommy.” Her words drew his fingers away from her already soaked folds, undoing his trousers as her lips found his again. The kiss managed to distract her from the feeling of his cock nudging against her entrance, slowly sinking into her tightness. Both moaned in unison, needing to adjust to one another’s body for a moment before they could give in.

“Fuck, I almost forgot how perfect you feel.”

(Y/n) wanted to speak up, wanted to scold him for keeping his distance, but no word managed to leave her, nothing but moans filling the seconds fading by. 

His hips snapped against her middle with every rough thrust, perfectly teasing the swollen spot that made her see stars so bright (y/n) feared she’d end up blinded. The moment wasn’t sweet, wasn’t even loving, but it was everything they needed, distracting them from the racing thoughts that would eventually force their skin from their bones. 

(Y/n) clawed her fingernails into his neck, keeping him close as their moans clashed against one another’s lips, wordlessly communicating their arising high. Soon they’d give in with trembling limbs, racing hearts, and swollen lips, an inferno so strong it’d burn their bodies to the ground.

“You’re mine, don’t you ever forget that.” The possessiveness dripping from his words left her aching her back, head thrown back as she fell over the edge with his name leaving her. Tommy gave it a few more ferocious thrusts before he released himself inside her, painting her walls white. His heat filled her system, clinging to her like a second layer of skin, forever remembering this very moment. 

“I have to leave for some meetings, do me a favour and stay at home tonight, eh?”

I know you're a smart man, and weaponise the false incompetence, it's dominance under a guise

……

“(Y/n)?” Arthur’s voice echoed through the home, luring her from the quiet garden back inside. The older Shelby brother studied her with an unreadable gaze for a few seconds before he cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze. “Tommy wants to meet you at the Garrison, I’ll drive you there.”

Wordlessly she followed Arthur outside, fetching her coat before stepping out into the brisk afternoon, wrapping the fabric tightly around her body. She didn’t dare ask any questions, not wanting to distract the man she had shared too many drunk conversations with, turning towards him whenever Tommy left her behind to mingle with those she’d meet in the dark shadows of side streets even the most ruthless gangsters would avoid. 

The houses they passed grew bigger with every street they turned into, housing families that desperately tried to overcome the ruins war had pushed them into, financial struggles that left them drowning in debts. (Y/n)‘s heart ached whenever she walked past those struggling more than her mind could even begin to imagine, living a life filled with sorrows, with fear, with anger. A life she wouldn’t ever want to live.

“Cigarette?” Arthur pushed the cigarette into her hand before he opened the car door for her, allowing her to walk into the all too familiar pub. Only as she set her foot inside did she begin to notice that the pub wasn’t filled with its usual crowd, no, but an unexpected duo was watching her every step. Her insides screamed at her to turn around, breath hitched in her chest.

“Sit.” Her husband pointed towards the chair in front of him, smoking his cigarette with an unemotional expression tugging on his features. Arthur gave her a slight push, forcing (y/n) to walk closer. Her eyes didn’t part from those she had held contact with ever since she had been a child, heart clenching in her chest as she began to realise what was about to happen. 

For a few seconds they were surrounded by nothing but silence, with four pairs of eyes watching the woman, waiting for her to speak up, to ask questions, but (y/n) knew better, keeping her mouth shut. Her eyes fluttered from Tommy to Arthur, to John, and lastly to Alfie. 

“I called Margaret this morning, tell me, (y/n), why did she tell me that she hasn’t seen you in weeks?” Tommy’s sharp voice left her tensing, tongue running along her lower lip to find the right words to speak. But she couldn’t, her throat was too tight, mouth too dry to even articulate a single word threatening to leave her pressed together lips. “You see, at first I didn’t think any of it, it’s true, I pulled away from the marriage I should have paid more attention to, but if I’d known that my own wife would betray me, I would have locked you up in our bedroom. Tell me, how deep does your betrayal run?”

A scoff left (y/n), ignoring her husband’s words as her eyes focused on Alfie. She tilted her head to the side, just like she had done the day prior, thinking through their conversation again before she finally broke the silence, “This is what you call surviving, Alfie? Going against your oldest and most trusted friend? And don’t you dare to tell me God fucking told you to go against me. What are you even getting out of this?” 

She couldn’t help but pick up on the confusion now swimming in Tommy’s pupils, gaze flickering between (y/n) and Alfie.

“It’s like I told you, yeah, surviving is always what you should focus on. Your husband here is a bit slow, but he asked questions you gave me no answer to.” Alfie kept his voice calm, keeping details from her she’d have to beg for. She had always known that he was giving into more deals than any other gangster she knew, eventually betraying those he treated like his own family. But not once had (y/n) even dared to think that he’d betray her. 

“Arthur, John, show Alfie Solomons the way out, I have some things to talk about with my wife.” Tommy’s eves didn’t leave hers, not as Alfie rose to his feet, coming to a halt next to (y/n) to try and squeeze a shoulder, a touch she flinched away from, not as Arthur and John disappeared outside with Alfie slowly following them. And once again (y/n) and Tommy were engulfed by the all too familiar silence they’ve grown to accept, but today it had an uncomfortable touch to it, making her skin crawl. 

“Solomons and who else? Who else did you do business with?” She kept quiet, squeezing her eyes shut as Tommy smashed his palm flat against the table. Anger flushed through his veins, too blind to see through the fog of confusion he was trapped in, not understanding what she had done and why she had done these deals after all. “Fucking speak to me, woman!”

“Fuck you, Thomas. Do you even understand what I did for you? I saved your life too many times to count. I managed to hold Campbell back as much as possible, I stopped Alfie from giving into deals that would have ended your life before you could even begin to understand what he was doing, even the fucking Italians. But you had to fuck this up, you had to boast your fucking ego, while you were too blind to even realise that your own fucking wife, the one you left behind like some used whore you forgot to pay, was the reason your business kept growing.” She rose to her feet, walking past Tommy to pour herself a glass of bourbon, drowning the shot in one go. Her eyes fluttered close as the alcohol burned down her throat, welcoming the distraction from the pain that forced her heart to clench. 

“Why didn’t you tell me? We could have worked together.” No longer did his voice carry any anger, almost quiet as if he was whispering. Slowly she turned back towards him, keeping her distance with her back pressed against the bar. 

“Work together? You pushed me away whenever I tried to speak to you about the business. You were simply too proud to work with your wife, so I had to take matters into my own hands before your pride would kill you.” He lit a cigarette, pulling it from his lips to reach it out for her to take. It took (y/n) a second to snap into motion, walking towards her husband with slow, calculated steps. His hand snapped out to grasp her wrist, pulling her into his lap before she could turn away. 

“What shall I do with you, woman?” She deeply inhaled, letting the smoke flush through her lungs, leaving deathly marks that would eventually be her death call, should the business she was now fully trapped in not catch up with her first. “You won't tell those you do business with that I know about this, perhaps we can use this to our advantage. But I need you to be honest with me from now on, are we clear?”

“Who would have thought we’d ever end up doing business with one another, mister Shelby.“ He took the cigarette from her, placing it between his lips for one last drag, watching her with curiosity filling his pupils. „I have one condition though.”

“Come home to me, Tommy, I won’t endure the silence in our home any longer.” 

[anoant-haikyuu-dump]

bestie give me your most recent yaku headcanons, I need them like I need water 🙏🙏

YAKU THE GOAT!! Happy late-birthday to that guy, wish I drew him for the occasion :')

I have a bunch of team-based rambles sitting in the drafts that i’ll probably dump this week but here are some specifically Yaku-centric thoughts! 

Fastest runner on the team by a long shot, there's no escaping him once you're being chased (ESPECIALLY if you pissed him off). Before practice you'll often see Lev sprinting from the club room only to be tackled to the ground a few seconds later (he probably said something dumb again or knocked shit over with his gangly-ass arms).

Because he's so fast Kuroo sends Yaku to fetch stuff from the main building when needed, which only works because he lays the flattery on THICK ("Because you're soooo fast, you're the only one who can do it! I can't trust anyone else for this Yakkun, the whole team is relying on you" etc etc). Yaku grumbles but he's incredibly weak to praise and usually ends up caving.

Of the third-years Yaku spoils the first-years the most. He's constantly buying them meat buns after practice or taking time during breaks to help them improve their recieves. Again, he's super susceptible to compliments and loves being looked up to so he's willing to spend a bit of money to win their approval. He and Kuroo are always arguing about which of them is the better senpai, when asked they answer Yaku to keep their free food privledges (much to Kuroo's despair). Yaku would never choose favorites... but it's totally Shibayama.

Speaking of Shibayama he's so fucking proud of that kid, he acts like his father even though they're only two years apart in age. After the timeskip Yaku makes a point of watching his games on TV and messaging him about it afterwards. He's the type to point out moves and go "I taught him that." They stay pretty tight as adults

Him and Suga also keep in touch, after their first meeting at the practice match in s1 they started texting each other stupid things their idiot teammates are up to and tips on dealing with them.

Fourth biggest eater on the team (Behind Inuoka and Tora, tied with Fukunaga). It's baffling how much food he can put down in such a short period of time.

Obsessed with this detail from one of the chapter headers, I think Yaku is a serial food stealer and he GETS AWAY WITH IT since he's so fast and nimble. Menace, do not take your eyes off him when in the possesion of snacks.

Thats all i got for now, thanks for the ask anon!! I need to talk about him more lmao

[i-me-mine]

𝙈𝙧. 𝙁𝙞𝙭 𝙞𝙩 | 𝙀𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝙈𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙭 𝙛𝙚𝙢!𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

Header done by the loveliest soul in the world @aftermidnightwriting Thank you! 💜 Older!Eddie pic is from by the incredibly talented @eddiemunsons-missingnipple

Summary: Moving to a new home after your divorce meant having a house requiring a lot of repairs - and Eddie, who was once your crush, was the helpful staff member of the hardware store that would help you fix what was broken.

Word count: 3.3k

My Masterlist | AO3

≿━━━━ ᴹʳ. ᶠᶦˣ ᶦᵗ ━━━━≾

As you entered the hardware store for the first time, a strong smell of sawdust and paint filled your nose, and the store was quieter than you expected. At a glance, you saw some of the things you were looking for, nails, screws, a hammer… but you know that to get everything on your list, you would need help.

It shouldn’t be a problem, right? Except it was. The only employee you saw around was sitting behind the counter, discreetly eating a donut while checking what seemed to be a catalog or an order book, wearing an apron with the nametag written “Eddie”. Not that it was needed; you would recognize those curls anywhere.

He glanced up, greeting you. “Welcome to Boyd Hardware Store. How can I help you today?”

He didn’t recognize you. You felt your chest heavy, reminding yourself he had no reason to remember you.

The last time you spoke was still burned in your mind. You were just a stupid girl asking the Corroded Coffin guitarist to go with you to the Junior Prom and being rejected.

You knew that Eddie despised those school events, but you had a crush on him, and back then, it seemed like a good idea, but the outcome left a bad taste in your mouth.

You swore that no one would reject you again; you started cheerleading, and as you joined the popular circles, you and Eddie grew apart as he was seen as the town freak, and you never spoke again. You hated to admit that even over a decade later, you never got over his rejection.

“What can I do for you?” Eddie insisted, staring at you intently.

Blood flushed your cheeks as you noticed how weird you were acting, standing there silently. The back of your hand rubbed against your forehead to clean the sweat forming. While you wished you could blame the hot weather, it wasn’t even that hot - the matter was that you felt like a spotlight was focused on you, waiting for you to mess up. It was stupid to be so self-conscious, and you knew that, but learning how to deal with everything alone was not getting easier with time. Finally, you took a deep breath and opened the piece of paper that contained your shopping list, which was already crumpled from being handled so much.

“Would you help me get these, please?” you handed over the list to him, wishing that it wasn’t in such a deplorable state.

His eyes scanned the list, and he turned to get a shopping cart, nodding for you to follow him while he entered the aisles, starting to pick the items listed, occasionally asking if you had any preference, while you just answered with a shrug.

“So the happy couple is getting a house renovation…” he teased.

“Something like that,” you shyly replied, your right hand instinctively reaching out to the finger on your left hand where your wedding ring used to be. So he did remember you after all; he just didn’t know how your life had turned upside down recently.

“I never imagined I would see you here; I thought you’d hire contractors or something like that to get things done.”

“No, I’ll do it all by myself,” you replied, staring at your hands.

“I cannot picture you as a do-it-yourselfer at all; I’m afraid that’s too much for you. I’m not sure if you can make it…” he said quickly, smirking, and you felt that he was laughing at you.

‘For Christ’s sake, Eddie! I don’t even have a choice! I’m all alone and don’t know what I’m doing with my life. I don’t need you to tell me I’ll fail; my mirror already tells me that every day; thank you very much!”

You bit the inside of your cheek and shut your eyes, trying to stop the tears from falling; the feelings of rejection and insufficient filled your body and itched your legs, fueling them to run away from there. The warm touch of his hand on your shoulder stopped you, and when you opened your eyes, his chocolate button eyes filled with concern were looking straight into you.

“Hey, I-I’m sorry. I d-didn’t mean to upset you. Shit, that was awful. I was trying to make you laugh. I didn’t know.”

“That’s okay, Eddie; we don’t talk anymore. You couldn’t have known,” you murmured, embarrassed.

Eddie opened his mouth to speak but closed it again without saying anything, with a conflicted look. He finished taking your items and helped you wrap them when your fingers touched. You felt an odd exhilarating shiver run through you. You withdrew your hand, embarrassed.

“My shift ends in 15 minutes. I can give you a ride home, so you don’t ha-”

“I’d hate to be a burden, Eddie,” you interrupted him.

“You won’t be. Please, let me take you home.” he tried to infuse his ask with as much sincerity as he could and opened a big smile when you agreed.

You haven’t noticed how much you craved to have a normal conversation with another human being until being in the car with Eddie. At first, you were worried that there would be an awkward silence during the ride, but being apart for years meant that there were a lot of stories yet to be told, and the atmosphere was like you were still just two kids having fun and laughing.

The sudden car stop at your door brought you back to your reality. You were genuinely having a good time in what seemed to be forever and didn’t want it to end.

“Wanna come in? For a coffee, a beer, or something?” you wondered if he would notice that you were desperate for his company or would just think you were being polite.

“Sure!” he rejoiced, picking up your bags and following you to your door, happily entering right after you. “Wow, where are your things?” his voice echoed in the empty house.

You were so blind by your excitement of having Eddie tag along that you forgot that your house was in no condition to receive guests, with little furniture and scattered boxes.

“He left me empty-handed. I was able to get my personal stuff, but no more than that… I… I lost everything.”

Sadness sinked its claws into your heart and filled you with the pain of having wasted years of your life in a failed marriage and being left with nothing, not knowing how to move on. You could feel your body curling in as the shivers that loneliness caused you started to appear again until a wave of warmth and coziness invaded you: Eddie’s arms wrapped around you. The comforting feeling of his hand petting your hair and breaking down the walls you’ve built to appear strong.

He kissed the top of your head, whispering that it was okay, that you’re not alone right now, and you allowed yourself to cry, to be vulnerable for the first time in ages. The weight of life has been too much for you, but Eddie, in these few moments you’ve shared, seemed like a ray of sunshine chasing away the dark clouds that have populated your life for so long, and you decided to enjoy it while it lasts.

“The house is not that bad; it just needs some love, some repairs here and there… we can do it! We can go to the thrift shop later and get you some nice furniture...”

“Wait, what do you mean by ‘we’?” you interrupted him.

“You and me. I’m your neighbor; my house is just down there, so it’ll be easy to come here to help.”

“You don’t have to.” you countered without thinking.

“But I want to. If you allow me, of course.” his smile was so contagious that you just mirrored it, agreeing with it.

≿━━━━ ᴹʳ. ᶠᶦˣ ᶦᵗ ━━━━≾

For the following weeks, you threw yourself into the house repairs, with Eddie stopping by almost daily to help you with something. You were in the middle of the room, surrounded by paint cans, brushes, and drop cloths - You had decided to face the daunting task of painting the walls, but instead of being scared of it, you were both grinning from ear to ear. It was so much easier to face life having Eddie by your side!

Your fingers brushed very briefly, and you felt that current zapping again through you like a shock. You gasped involuntarily as you felt it going all the way down to somewhere deep inside you. Eddie had his sleeves rolled up and his hair in a wild bun, and you couldn’t help but notice how big his biceps were, the details of his tattoos, and how cute he looked with the small curls that the bun couldn’t hold falling on his face, imagining how it would feel to be in his arms or to touch his face, his hair…

“Hey, sweetheart, let’s get to work; I’m not painting this alone!” he chuckled while pressing play on the radio, metal being the soundtrack for your work.

You wondered if he noticed that you were daydreaming about his beauty but decided to focus on the task, brushing into the paint and spreading it across the wall. He followed you, filling the spaces you missed, you both working together in a kind of synchronicity, moving around each other, laughing as you painted, as Eddie pretended to play guitar using the paint roller, and occasionally, you had fun painting each other instead of the walls.

As the work progressed, you were more and more covered in paint, your clothes and faces splattered with colorful splotches, but you didn’t care; you were having too much fun. You danced around each other, singing along to the radio and making jokes as you painted.

When you finally finished, the room was transformed, and you were both tired but happy. You were sitting cross-legged on the floor, taking out and sorting some things still in boxes.

“What kind of filthy things you hide here, huh?” his lips quirked up in a half smile. Eddie was holding one small box with “Do not open” written on its side.

You tried to take it from him, but he was already opening it. Photos, music tapes, cards, drawings… that box contained many things from when you were young that you locked there and did not allow yourself to look back on anymore.

“Is this what I think it is? Have you kept it?” he asked while holding pieces of wood.

“Yes…” you murmured, burying your face into your hands, ashamed.

Many years ago, you were paired with Eddie during an art and craft activity in school. You created a wooden heart piece that he painted, transforming it into a flaming heart. “It will look more metal,” he said. Later he also drew the corroded coffin logo and signed it, giving it to you as a gift.

Unfortunately, you mistakenly took it as a sign that he liked you, which got you the courage to ask him to the Junior Prom. He reacted very badly, you discussed, and when you pushed him in a moment of anger, you dropped the heart, and it broke into pieces, the same pieces that he was holding now. You kept those pieces because they represented how heartbroken you were that day.

“I was so stupid… I got scared. It’s not an excuse, I know… believe me, I would change it if I could.” He put the box aside and gently tried to hold your hands, to pull them away from your face. “I lost you that day, didn’t I?”

“It’s in the past, Eddie. We were just teenagers; it doesn’t matter anymore.” you let go of his hand and stood up. “I think we both deserve a rest. Thanks for the help.” you left the room, running to your bedroom before he could see the tears in your eyes.

≿━━━━ ᴹʳ. ᶠᶦˣ ᶦᵗ ━━━━≾

You regretted later the way you reacted. There were not many house repairs left, which already made you worry that he would stop coming to see you after it was done, and you were afraid that you just gave him more reasons not to come back. But the next day, he was at your door, happy to continue helping as if nothing had happened. The final touches were done, you had lunch, and he went to complete the last fix needed.

You stood in the doorway, watching Eddie work diligently to repair a broken shelf. The way his muscles flexed while lifting the heavy tools and materials was mesmerizing for you. Despite the sweat on his brow and the dirt on his hands, he was still gorgeous.

You were captivated by how the light streamed through the window and illuminated his body. You couldn’t help but notice how his curls caught the sunlight, how much you wanted to run your hand through his hair, how his eyes sparkled with concentration, and how his smile lit up his face when he finally fixed the shelf.

You could barely remember the pain and the loneliness that you felt when you had to move to that house. But meeting Eddie again changed everything; his company made you feel happier, lighted the weight of the hardships of life, he made you feel like life could be great again.

At that moment, you felt overwhelmed with gratitude and admiration for him. You felt lucky to have him, someone who was strong, capable, kind, and caring. As he wiped his hands on a rag and turned to you with a smile, you felt your heart swell with love and appreciation.

“Thank you, Eddie,” You said, wrapping your arms around him. “You’re amazing.”

He chuckled and pulled you close, holding you tight. You then felt that strange sensation in your chest, your heart beating faster than usual, the fluttering in your stomach. You try to push the feeling aside, telling yourself it was just the excitement of seeing things done and Eddie being friendly to you.

But as he pulled away and looked at you, You saw something in his eyes that made your heart skip a beat. There was a tenderness there, a warmth that you had never noticed before or maybe have not allowed yourself to see it - and you realized that you were really in love with him.

The realization hit you like a ton of bricks. You tried hard to shield your heart against it, but it had no use. You felt torn between your feelings for him, the knowledge that he might not feel the same way, and the fact that he already broke your heart once. You wanted to tell him how you felt, to pour out your heart, hoping that he would feel the same, but you were also afraid of ruining what you have built together recently, of losing him again if he didn’t feel the same way.

“I need to go now… but would you let me take some of that lasagna home?”

You smiled and hurried to the kitchen to pack his lunch leftovers. When you came back, he was already at the front door. As you said your goodbyes, you walked back inside, and he walked away. You then stood there momentarily, noticing an addition to the repaired shelf.

The wooden heart from your childhood stood there in one piece, with a card next to it. You recognized Eddie’s handwriting, which has not improved over the years: “Here I am, trying to glue your little heart back together.”

You were not sure if he realized how much this meant to you. You felt lost and confused, afraid to be once again misinterpreting the signs. You knew you had a decision to make but didn’t know what to do. All you know is that you have never felt this way before.

≿━━━━ ᴹʳ. ᶠᶦˣ ᶦᵗ ━━━━≾

You had been nervous all day, your stomach hurting each time you thought about telling Eddie how you felt. So when he showed up in the afternoon suggesting watching a movie, you accepted it, thinking that this would give you more time to plan what to do.

It turned out that it wasn’t such a good idea. You couldn’t concentrate on the movie, feeling again that familiar electric current that seemed to happen between you two. Once in a while, you glanced in his direction, and he didn’t look relaxed either. You felt an overwhelming craving to touch him that was not fading, but you made an effort to keep your hands holding a cushion until you mustered up the courage to talk to him.

“ThankYouForTheHeart,” you said quickly, and it sounded like it was a single word.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. D-Did you like it?” he turned his body to look at you, ignoring the TV altogether.

You took a deep breath and looked up at him with a serious expression.

“Yes. But I have to tell you something.” your voice shook slightly. “I already made this mistake once; I won’t do it again.”

Eddie looked surprised and took a moment to process what you had just said. You notice the sadness in his eyes as he starts looking down. Then, he takes your hand, and you feel the warmth and connection you longed for.

“I understand…” he said softly. “I blew my chance years ago, I know… but it was worth trying again.”

“Wait, no. I have not finished” You shake your head, your eyes filling with tears. “My mistake was assuming things and never coming to talk to you about how I felt.”

You took another deep breath and raised his head so he could look at you and told him, your voice barely above a whisper, “I love you, Eddie. And I’m scared as hell about it.”

Eddie gently squeezed your hands and smiled a warm, affectionate smile that made your heart skip a beat. “I love you too. Maybe I always have; I just didn’t realize or had the courage to admit it until now.”

You nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over you. You were afraid of confessing your feelings, but he said he loved you too. You sat silently for a moment, both lost in your thoughts and emotions.

“I don’t want to rush things if you are not ready,” he said. “But I also don’t want to hide how I feel. I care about you too much to stay away.”

Your face lit up with joy as Eddie leaned forward to kiss you. You smiled into the kiss and cupped his cheeks as you kissed him back. Unlike other kisses you had before, kissing Eddie seemed natural and comforting.

Your lips molded into each other, finding a perfect rhythm, and soon you were opening up, breathing him in, and letting him kiss you dizzy. You kissed with a tenderness and passion that you have never experienced before, feeling as if you had just discovered a love that was both new and familiar.

“You deserve more than being loved by a broken girl with a broken heart, Eddie.”

“I thought you would have noticed by now, sweetheart… If it’s broken, I can fix it.”

You then kissed him fiercely, grabbing his shirt to tug him closer. But, instead of satisfying you, the kisses had the opposite effect of increasing your need for him. He skipped his hand under your shirt and traced his fingers over your abdomen, and you felt as if you were melting into him as he held you closer and closer while exploring each inch of your body.

You didn’t want him to stop. And he didn’t.

[rizlowwritessortof]

A Little Rowdy

Laney Marcus returns from a leave of absence to a new boss - Sheriff Beau Arlen. From day one she finds out that easy Texas charm is hard to resist. But maybe resistance isn’t the way to go...

Pairing: Beau Arlen x OC Laney Marcus

Word Count: 6032

Warnings: Non-graphic talk of abusive relationship, fluffy smut

HUGE THANKS to my beautiful friend Michele (@editsbymichele on IG) for making the lovely header!! And thank you so much to @firefly-graphics for the dividers!

Laney opened a drawer to stow her bag, eyes scanning over the top of her desk. It felt good to be back, although she was dreading the possible backlog of emails she had waiting for her. Now that Sheriff Tubb was gone, she’d have to acclimate to a new boss, too.

“Laney, you’re back!”

She turned at the sound of Poppernak’s voice, instantly enveloped in a bear hug from the big man. “Hey, Mo,” she said, muffled for a moment in his chest before moving back to grin up at him. “Good to see you, too.”

“How’s your mom?”

“She’s doing great now, thanks for asking. She said to tell you hi.” Laney moved back to her desk and sat down while he perched himself on the corner. “So, how’s it going with the new sheriff?”

“Great! He’s a good guy, I think you’ll like him. Hard not to.” Mo turned his head as the front door to the office opened, and grinned. “Speak of the devil. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

She stood, trailing behind the big deputy as he met the sheriff on his way to his office. “Morning, boss. Someone here you should meet.”

“Hey, Pops. Well, how did I miss you?” he smiled, sticking a hand out towards Laney. “Beau Arlen.”

She shook his hand, his grip firm and warm. “Hi, sheriff. I’ve heard good things. I’m Delaney Marcus, everybody just calls me Laney. I’m the office manager.” He looked a little confused, so she continued. “I’ve been on a leave of absence. My mom was sick, and then had surgery, so I’ve been in Bozeman helping her out. Just got back this morning.”

He nodded in understanding. “She’s doing okay now?”

“She’s much better now, thanks.” She smiled up at him. He was tall. And extremely good-looking. And he had the most beautiful green eyes, eyes that were focused entirely on her as she spoke. “If you have any questions about what I do here…”

“Yeah, why don’t you grab yourself a cup of coffee and come on into my office, we can get to know each other a little better.” He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a completely disarming way, and she nodded.

“Sure, I’ll be right in.”

A half-hour later, she was still in his office, put at ease by his effortless Texas charm. “So, you run all the basic supply/vendor aspects of the office, help with phones, correspondence, sometimes dispatch, and you’re like my political bullshit shield?”

Laney laughed. “I’m more like a buffer. If there’s a report or something being requested by the City Council or Mayor - or from the City Police Department - that doesn’t need your direct involvement, I take care of it so you don’t have a pile of time-wasting crap on your desk.”

“Sounds like a political bullshit shield to me!” he grinned.

“Well, anything I do have to handle, I will be running it past you for your approval before I respond, but other than that, I do what I can to free you up to take care of the important stuff.”

“Well, I don’t know who’s been filling in for you while you were gone, but I haven’t had to deal with much of anything like that.”

“I’m glad you weren’t bombarded while I was away.” She stood up with a sigh, and he rose to his feet as well. “I suppose I should get out there and actually do my job now. If you need anything from me, just let me know.”

“Same here. Welcome back, Laney.”

They exchanged smiles, and she left his office, settling herself behind her desk and preparing to tackle her email. Those green eyes and stunning smile still had the butterflies in her stomach fluttering, but she had work to do. “Come on, Laney. Focus,” she muttered to herself, opening the first email and digging in.

Several weeks later, things had calmed down to a routine. Beau (he insisted on her calling him ‘Beau,’ not ‘Sheriff’) was incredibly easy to work with, but he was haunting her thoughts way more than was comfortable. The man was too charming for his own good, attractive as hell, and the timbre of his voice sent heat zapping through her at the most inopportune times. She found herself avoiding all the invitations to after-work drinks with her co-workers, not trusting herself with the combination of alcohol and attraction. She would glance up and find his eyes on her often, as well, and that was not helping the situation. Even when she filled in at dispatch, she found herself forgetting to breathe as his voice came back to her over the radio. She had to get a handle on her infatuation, or it was going to drive her crazy.

Jenny Hoyt came to plop down in the chair next to her desk one day, a friendly grin on her face. “We’ve barely had a chance to talk, girl. Good to have you back. But we haven’t gone out for a drink together in ages. Is everything okay?”

She smiled at her friend, leaning back in her chair. “I just – I don’t know, haven’t been really ready to hit the bar yet, I guess.”

Jenny’s smile widened knowingly. “Avoiding someone?”

Laney closed her eyes and sighed. “Is it that obvious?”

Jenny laughed quietly. “Probably only to me. I know, because I was there myself for a hot minute – I recognize the look.”

“So you and…”

“No. Nothing ever came of it. He was still pretty wrapped up with his ex, and my mom was back, and everything was kind of a mess. And then I met Matt, and… our moment just kind of passed. We’re good friends, and he’s a great guy. And now Carla’s finally out of the picture. I think he’s kinda got a thing for you, too. I mean, maybe you should just give it a shot.” Laney wrinkled her nose, doubt in her eyes. “Seriously, Laney. just think about coming out with us some night. I think it’d be good for both of you.”

“I’ll work on my nerves.”

“Good. Do that.” The blonde rose to her feet. “Guess I’d better get to work. Talk later.”

Laney sent her friend off with a smile, turning back to the letter she’d been typing. The thought of letting her guard down around Beau was terrifying. Or maybe exciting. Probably an equal measure of both. She glanced up to see Jenny and Mo finishing a quiet conversation, and his eyes landed on her. She looked down at her desk with a rueful smile. Those two – they were conspiring. She should have known.

Laney shut down her computer and shifted gears, heading over to the dispatch area. Marvella, who usually worked this shift, had needed to come in late, so she was filling in for a few hours. She took over for the previous dispatcher, who had just sent Beau and Poppernak out for a domestic disturbance call a few miles outside of town.

“Okay, have a good night,” she said, slipping into the chair and putting the headset on. She looked at the information on the screen and stopped breathing for a moment when she saw the familiar address. She hit the button to transmit, her heart pounding. “Base to Sheriff One.”

“Sheriff One, go ahead.” Poppernak’s voice cracked back on the radio.

“What route are you taking to the scene?”

“We’re on Highway 29 going west.”

“Alternate route. You should turn north on Patterson Road.” She could hear Mo as he relayed the instruction to Beau, who was driving. A few more seconds passed, then Mo came back.

“Okay, we’re on Patterson.”

“Go two miles, turn west at the Weichman Dairy sign. Then 3 miles, and right after the third intersection, take a left. That’s a back drive into the place. You may be able to get in without him seeing you coming. The back door of the house is usually unlocked.”

“10-4, Base. Thanks for the heads-up.”

Laney listened, every muscle tense, responding as they reported themselves on scene and waiting, almost afraid to breathe, for any news. Domestics were always touchy, and this one – this one had the potential to be bad. It seemed like forever before Beau’s voice came over the radio stating suspect in custody and requesting that she dispatch an ambulance. She breathed a sigh of relief that Beau and Poppernak were safe and called it in. Apparently he’d managed to do some damage before they arrived, but hopefully his victim would be okay.

It was a while before the scene was cleared, the ambulance on its way, and the sheriff and deputy on their way back to the station. Marvella had arrived, and Laney gladly surrendered the chair to her, filling her in on the pertinent information and chatting for a few minutes before heading back to her desk to grab her things.

The front door opened, and soon Beau and his prisoner came into view. She turned, watching with arms folded, a little knot in her stomach. The handcuffed prisoner’s eyes drifted her way and he stopped, his mouth in an ugly snarl. “You fucking bitch!” Laney glared back at him, her chin raised a little in defiance.

“Hey!” Beau’s voice echoed through the room, and he roughly shoved at the man’s shoulder. “Shut your mouth and move your ass!”  Laney stood there unmoving as he steered his prisoner to the back room where the holding cell was located.

Poppernak came in, stopping for just a second to ask, “You okay?” and moving on as she nodded. She was still standing there, her arms clutched around herself, when Beau came back, concern on his face, leaving Mo to book their suspect.

“Laney? You all right?” he asked softly, and she nodded, gnawing at her lip and staring straight ahead. Beau put a hand on her shoulder, and she finally lifted her gaze to his.

“Yeah. I just – yeah, I’m fine. It’s just been a while since I’ve seen him.”  

Beau opened his mouth, then closed it deliberately and nodded. “Okay. Story for later on, I think.  After a couple of beers maybe.”

She avoided his eyes, asking softly, “So – is she going to be okay?”

“Thanks to you. We went in quiet, just in time. He had a gun on her. She’s got some injuries, but nothing life-threatening. If we wouldn’t have been able to surprise and disarm him, she’d be dead. You saved her life.”

“No, you saved her life. I just gave you directions.”

“Directions we wouldn’t have had without your help. You did good, Laney.” He looked down at her steadily until she finally met his gaze. “So… I know you’re not big on going out for drinks after work, but – Pops and I, we’d really like you to come along. Have a coke if you don’t want to drink or whatever. But we were a team tonight, and we saved somebody, got the bad guy. It’d be good for you to celebrate a little.”

She smiled, then let out a little sigh. “Okay.”

Beau grinned. “Good, meet you at the Boot Heel.”

“Right behind you.”

The waitress couldn’t help but smile as she brought the next round to the table, the laughter was contagious. Laney was in the middle of a story about herself and Poppernak from their days in high school. “We literally skipped the last day of our senior year, and then we were stupid enough to drive around the school to wave at everybody still sitting in English class. Mr. Claussen stared at us out the window, pointed at us, then down, like ‘get your asses in here.’ Busted.”

Beau shook his head, still laughing. “I can’t believe two straight-laced employees of the sheriff’s department would pull a stunt like that!”

Laney shot him a look. “I’m sure you’ve got a few stories from back in the day, mister.”

He smirked. “More than a few. But Laney, I just pictured you the type to be studiously doing your homework every night and running for homecoming queen.”

She snorted. “I was not the homecoming queen type. At all.”

Mo geared back in his chair with a grin. “You know, her nickname our senior year was ‘Rowdy.’”

Beau cocked an eyebrow, looking at him expectantly. “Okay, this I’ve gotta hear.”

The deputy turned his head, looking at Laney, who was shaking her head, eyes closed. “Go ahead, Mo, you’re dying to tell him,” she said with a sigh, and Mo grinned.

“So, our senior class – we had a lot of parties. Usually out in somebody’s pasture with a keg, music blasting from somebody’s pickup. One night Laney was – pretty wasted, and the party was kind of dead. Some country rock song came on, and she hopped up on a picnic table, yelled ‘Let’s get rowdy!’ and started dancing, like Coyote Ugly style. Pretty soon a couple of her friends jumped up in the back of a pickup nearby and joined in. Once the guys stopped standing there with their mouths hanging open, they started chanting, ‘Rowdy! Rowdy! Rowdy!’ That was her name from then on!” Mo chanced a glance Laney’s way. “And then later I found her making out with some football player in the back of a pickup, had to drag her away and tell her it was time to go home.”

Beau looked at Laney’s blushing face, his eyes shining. “So there is a wild child in there. I knew it. Hell, I would’ve voted for you for homecoming queen!”

Laney laughed, hiding her face for a moment before grabbing her beer and taking a swallow. “That was a long time ago,” she retorted. “But yeah. I used to drink too much and get a little crazy. Too crazy sometimes. That night is kind of a blur.” She laughed, shaking her head again. “Wish I had a more embarrassing story about you right now, Poppernak.”

Her friend laughed, grabbing his phone from the table as it lit up. “Hey, Mom. Oh, damn. Yeah, yeah, I’ll be right there.” He stood, stuffing his phone in his back pocket and grabbing his jacket. “Mom’s kitchen sink just turned into a geyser, gotta go help her get the water shut off and clean up.”

“Do you need help?” Laney asked. “I can come…”

“No, no, we’ve got it. You guys stay, finish your drinks.”

Beau piped up. “Call us if you do need help, Pops.”

“Thanks, boss. See y’all later.”  The big man headed for the door, and Beau turned back to smile at Laney.

“So, any more good stories I need to hear?” he teased, and she narrowed her eyes at him.

“I think you owe me one, now.”

“Ok, but we’re gonna need another beer.” He waved the waitress over, launching into a description of his first run-in with the law when he was 16, and the run-in with his dad afterwards.

After a couple more beers and more reminiscing, things quieted down, and for a moment they sat there silent, sipping at their drinks. Beau toyed with the label on his bottle for a second before raising his eyes to hers, searching. Finally, he took a breath and spoke. “So – what’s the story between you and our new prisoner?”

Her lips quirked into a cheerless little smile, and she stared at the table for a minute before looking back at him candidly. “I lived with him for a little over two years. At the place where you arrested him tonight. That’s how I knew how to get in there the back way.”

Beau nodded. “Did he…”

Laney shook her head. “No. He wasn’t physical with me, not until the end. But he just kind of slowly took control of my life, a little at a time, and I guess I didn’t really see it. Not until I wanted to apply for the job at the sheriff’s office.” Beau was listening intently, so she continued. “We fought about it all the time. One night, after we’d been at the bar, I told him to back off, that I was going to interview and take the job if it was offered, and he blew up. Slapped me. I locked him out of our room, told him to fuck off.”

“Asshole.”

“Yeah. Next day, of course, he was apologetic, ‘I’m so sorry, it’ll never happen again, blah, blah, blah.’ So I gave him another chance. But a few nights later, we got into it again, and that time he backhanded me, split my lip. I grabbed my jacket, told him we were done, and left. Stayed with Mo that night, and the next day he took me to the house and we packed up my stuff and moved me out. That was that.”

“Well, I wanna go back to the holding cell now and punch him in the face. Glad you got out of there when you did. Otherwise, it might have been you instead of that girl tonight.”

“I realized after I got out of there just how much control he had taken from me, how much he ran my life. Felt really good to be free.” She blew out a breath, looking down at the table again. “That’s the reason I don’t go out much. Sometimes I feel like if I’d stayed out of the whole bar scene with Garrett almost every night, I might have been clear enough to see what was happening, to see that he was just – erasing me.”

Beau reached across the table, putting his hand over hers. “He didn’t erase you. You fought back and you’re strong enough now to know what you want and what you don’t.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right. It’s been a couple of years now. And I feel good about my life and where I am.” She looked up and smiled at him, and he squeezed her hand.

“You should.”

Beau’s green-eyed gaze was making her feel warm, and she slowly pulled her hand back, nervously tucking her hair behind her ear before she picked up her beer and drained it. “Well, I suppose…”

“Yeah. Probably that time. Had a few more than I planned on, but it’s been a good night,” he responded, finishing his beer as well. He left a tip on the table for their waitress and they sent her a little wave as they headed for the door.

Beau followed her out into the cool night air, eyes scanning the sky as distant lightning backlit the heavy clouds that had gathered while they were inside. Laney came to a sudden halt right in front of him, causing him to stop and take a half-step back to avoid a collision.

She turned to face him, looking up at him with an unreadable expression, then stepping up close on tiptoe and kissing him, her arms curling up and around his neck. His surprise wore off quickly, his response welcoming, one hand on the small of her back and the other gently cradling her face. When they parted slightly, he looked down at her with a one-sided smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his green eyes warm and inviting.

“Well, hey there, Rowdy.” Beau’s arm tightened around her as he bent to kiss her again, his fingers buried in her hair as he held her close, his tongue gently tangling with hers. They lost track of time and place, finally pulling apart as a rumble of thunder brought them back to reality.

Laney took a step back with a soft little laugh. “I suppose we shouldn’t be standing out here making out like teenagers where the whole town can see us. I mean, you are the sheriff.”

Beau grinned. “No, we should make out like teenagers in private like normal people, I guess.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, neither one of us should be driving, though. So I guess I’m either hoofin’ it back to my place – or we could call Pop for a ride.”

“Or… you could walk a girl home. My house is about two and a half blocks that way,” she pointed, watching as he raised an eyebrow and grinned even more.

“Lead the way.”

They headed in the direction Laney had indicated, walking quickly, the air growing heavier with the approaching rain. They were getting close when a loud thunderclap resounded around them and the first fat raindrops began to fall. “Come on!” she laughed, grabbing Beau’s hand and running towards the little white house with green trim one house over. She fumbled with the keys, the two of them almost falling inside as the sky opened up, and Beau swung the door shut as they laughed breathlessly. “That was close,” she said, smiling up at him. That smile slowly faded as she stared at him, the hair falling down over his forehead, his eyes crinkled in that irresistible way, and she moved closer, reaching to touch his face as she kissed him.

She stopped quickly, taking hold of his shirt to pull him farther into the room, then tugging until it was free from his jeans, working the buttons open as she went. Once his shirt was completely undone, she stepped back and peeled her shirt over her head, dropping it to the floor as she let him surround her with his arms and pull her close, his lips sealing over hers in a searing kiss. ‘Shit, he’s good at this,’ she thought to herself, and she lost herself in it, let it consume her. His hands roamed over her skin, squeezing at her waist, pressing her against him as a hum of appreciation vibrated in his chest.  

They parted for a breath, and Beau stared down at her lacy lavender bra, his fingers tracing down the strap. “You always wear things like this to work?”

Laney dropped her gaze with a smile, looking back up at him through her lashes. “I like pretty lingerie.”

His fingers continued their path across the swell of her breast, his voice soft and low as he answered. “Well, I’m gonna have one hell of a time not thinking about this when I see you at work, wondering what kind of sexy things you’re hiding under your clothes.”

She reached to push his shirt off his shoulders and he let it fall to the floor. She trailed her fingertips slowly down to his waistband, slipping her fingertips inside, tugging. “Let’s move this somewhere more comfortable.” She turned, trying to move forward, but Beau wasn’t following her lead.

“Whoa.” Laney turned her head to look at him over her shoulder, confused, then ducked her head a little with a shy smile at his open-mouthed stare.

“My tattoo?”

“Yeah.” He moved closer, touching her back lightly here and there as he examined it. “I need to see the whole thing.” Laney took a breath, then reached behind her to unclasp her bra, letting it fall from her shoulders and drop to the floor. Beau was silent, his gaze scanning over the art work of a phoenix in flight. The flaming bird’s wings spanned Laney’s upper back, the tail trailing down and over her hip. “That’s really beautiful. Impressive.”

“It was kind of my – declaration of independence, I guess.”

Beau traced the path of the phoenix’s tail to where it disappeared into her jeans, his fingertips lingering just under the edge of her waistband. “So, where’s that tail go?”

She laughed softly. “Well, if you come with me, maybe you’ll find out.”

He followed her into the bedroom, waiting for her to turn and face him, his eyes roaming over her breasts. He dropped to one knee in front of her, looking up at her expectantly, waiting for her answering smile before he reached for the button on her jeans. He slid the zipper down and pulled the denim apart, his eyes following the flaming feathers below her navel and across to her opposite hip bone, where they faded into a shower of sparks. One section was still hidden from his view beneath lavender lace, and his tongue darted out over his lower lip as her abdominal muscles tightened at his whisper-soft touch. “Looks like we’re gonna have to get all the way naked,” he teased.

Laney caught her breath a little as he stroked his finger along the top of her panties. “I will if you will,” she responded. “It’s only fair.”

Beau nodded in agreement, his eyes fixed on her as he slowly pulled her panties and jeans down, letting them fall to her feet. The final feather laid just above her pubic bone, curling up slightly at the end as it tapered off. He let out a low whistle, letting her steady herself with a hand on his shoulder as she stepped out of her clothes.

“I hope it’s not a turn-off for you – the tattoo.”

He rose to his feet, his eyes glowing as he looked into hers. “It’s sexy as hell.” He unfastened his jeans and finished undressing, then stood still as her gaze roamed over his body.

“Wow. They do grow you big in Texas.” She blushed profusely, her hand flying to her mouth for a second before she continued. “I can’t believe I just said that out loud.”

Beau chuckled, his cheeks flushing a bit in the dim light of the bedroom. “Well, don’t worry, darlin’ – you’ll fit like a glove.” His expression changed as he looked into her eyes again. “Speaking of… I don’t suppose you have condoms?”

Laney shook her head. “I don’t. But I trust you. I’m on birth control, and I – I’m healthy. I haven’t been with anyone since…” She trailed off, looking away from him, teeth playing at her bottom lip.

“Hey.” He put a hand beneath her chin and lifted her head until she looked into his eyes again. “Nothing wrong with that.” He bent to kiss her gently, taking hold of her hand and resting his forehead on hers. “We don’t have to do this if you’re not ready. Just say the word, it’s okay.”

She tilted her face to kiss him again, squeezing his hand. “I want to. I’m just – a little nervous.”

He guided her to the edge of the bed, gesturing with a nod of his head for her to lie down. He laid down beside her, pulling her to her side to face him and kissing her, his hands caressing her face, her hair, her shoulder, not touching her anywhere else. When she sighed and put her arm over his waist, pulling herself closer to press her body against his, he let his hand roam farther, over her back and hips, then up to cup her breast as he moved his lips to her neck, humming against her skin as she moaned softly at his touch.

He coaxed her over to lay on her back as he kissed his way down until he could tease at her nipple with his tongue, moaning a little as she gasped and arched her back, her hand grasping at his hair. He let one hand roam between her thighs, his cock jumping a little as she let them fall open, her head rolling back as he explored her with his fingertips, dipping slightly inside her and then moving to rub gently over her clit. When she breathed his name, her hips raising to meet his touch, Beau growled softly and sucked her tingling nipple into the heat of his mouth, tugging at it gently with his teeth. He glanced at her face as he moved to the other breast, watching her as he slipped a finger, then two inside her. “Damn, Laney, you are somethin’ to see,” he said, his voice low and rough, then bent to tease at her other nipple, his fingers stroking deep inside her.

“Beau, please…” she begged, raising her head a little to meet his eyes as he lifted his gaze. “Please, I want you inside me, now.”

He moved up to kiss her, groaning as she sucked on the tip of his tongue. “How d’you wanna do this, darlin’?”

She stared up into his eyes, her fingers combing through his hair. “I want to see your face. I want to be able to kiss you.”

“Sounds perfect to me,” he answered, kissing her once more, then shifting his body to move over hers, fitting himself between her legs. She whimpered a little as the head of his cock nudged at her, teasing at her entrance before he pushed forward, swearing softly as her body yielded to him and surrounded him with wet, velvety heat.  

He stilled, lowering himself over her to kiss her, then raising his head a little, his eyes searching hers. “Like this?” he asked, grinding into her gently and watching her eyes flutter closed for a moment before she smiled up at him and nodded.

“Just like that,” she murmured, moving one foot gently up the length of his thigh before clasping her legs around his hips. “Only… more.”

“Oh, you got it, darlin’,” he growled, bracing his forearms on either side of her head as he kissed her again, their bodies rocking together in a sensual rhythm, their moans and sighs swallowed up by their kiss.

When she turned her head a little, soft little whimpers escaping her lips as she began to tense up, Beau slipped one hand beneath the small of her back, shifting a little and making her moan at the increased friction on her sweet spot.

“Beau…” she cried out, her fingers now clutching desperately at his shoulders, her legs clamped tight around him as she began to quiver. He began to move harder and faster, cursing softly as she began to pulse and squeeze around him.

“Fuck… Just let go, Laney.”

The sound of his desperate voice was the trigger, and she came hard, bucking up beneath him, their bodies colliding as Beau swore again and hammered into her faster yet. The swelling and throbbing of his cock inside her as he filled her with heat sent another wave through her as they thrashed together, chasing every second of pleasure before she went limp underneath him and he collapsed, spent, his breath hot against her neck.

Laney sat in her car in the parking lot, scrolling on her phone, trying to work up the nerve to walk into the office. Not that she regretted what had happened with Beau, because the weekend had been – well,  amazing. But was it going to cause issues with work? And was it just a weekend fling for him? She was definitely in deeper than that after what had happened, she had to admit to herself. But if he wasn’t… She sighed, impatient with herself, getting out of her car and heading for the building, telling herself to stop stressing and just go face whatever was going to happen.

She walked in, heading for her desk, relieved that Beau wasn’t in yet. Neither was Poppernak, or Jenny, or anybody she had to hide her awkwardness from, so she took a breath and sat down at her desk, diving into the day’s work.

Beau walked in a little while later, his eyes immediately seeking her out. She was at her desk, absorbed in a phone call, occasionally jotting down a note, completely oblivious to his entrance. He greeted a couple of people on his way to his office, heading inside and taking a seat. He couldn’t see her from behind his desk and he frowned, momentarily contemplating rearranging his office. He abandoned that fleeting thought, shaking his head at himself.

He worked for a while, going over reports, catching up on paperwork. Finally he couldn’t take it any longer and walked to his door, looking over to make sure Laney wasn’t on the phone before calling her name. “Hey, Laney – when you have a minute, can I see you in my office?”

She looked up in surprise, trying valiantly to keep her expression in the range of normally pleasant, not schoolgirl crush giddy. “Sure, I’ll be there shortly.” Just the sound of his voice saying her name sent her heart pounding, and she took a deep breath, trying to convince her body to calm down. Finally she locked her computer and stood, grabbing a file from her desk to take with her, internally rolling her eyes at herself for trying to manufacture the appearance of an excuse to go to his office.

“Hey, Beau – what’s up?” She asked cheerfully as she stepped through his door. He motioned to her to close it, and she did, looking at him nervously as he rose to his feet and approached her.

“That’s a really awkward question right now, Laney,” he said quietly, crowding her against the wall next to his door and kissing her, his hands braced on either side of her head. She let out a soft moan, the file folder in her hands hitting the floor as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers grasping at his hair as he pressed the full length of his body against hers. He finally lifted his head, both of them panting a little for air, and a slow smile curved her lips.

“I see what you mean,” she teased, thrusting her hips just a little against his evident erection.

“You are not funny.”

“A little. I’m a little funny.” She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief as he smirked down at her.

He bent for one more kiss, then stepped back, blowing out a tense breath. “Damn it, woman. I told you I wouldn’t be able to look at you at work. Just tell me one thing – what color?”

She giggled softly, unbuttoning the top button of her shirt and opening it enough to show him the red and black lingerie beneath her clothes. He swore softly, turning to go back behind his desk and sit down. “Will there be anything else, sir?” she asked, an innocent expression on her face as she buttoned back up.

“Oh, don’t push your luck, darlin’ – this is hard enough the way it is.” he growled, the corners of his mouth twitching with amusement.

“We did establish that, yes,” she retorted, then clamped her lips together to keep from grinning. “I’m sorry, I’ll stop.”

He shook his head. “I’ll deal with you after work. Right now – I think you’d better get back to your desk before the whole office figures out what’s going on.”

She nodded, bending to pick up the scattered contents of the file she had carried in with her. “So then – I’m seeing you after work?”

He scoffed at the question.“Hell, yes, you’re seeing me after work. We should talk anyway. Among other things - like maybe gettin’ a little rowdy again.” Laney giggled softly, and he grinned, a dangerous glint in his eye. “Damn it, get the hell out of here, would ya, before my self-control disappears completely?” Laney grinned back at him, feeling like a weight had lifted from her chest. He wanted to see her again. This wasn’t just a one-time thing.

She reached for the door, swinging it open with a, “Yes, I’ll take care of that,” for nosy coworkers’ benefit and heading back to her desk.

It was mid-afternoon before Poppernak showed his face in the office after spending most of the day in court on a case. Laney called him over to her desk, a stern look on her face. “So, your mom called today. I asked her if you got her sink fixed. She said her sink wasn’t broken. Explain that one, Mo.”

Mo shoved his hands into his pockets, guilt all over his face. “Yeah, ummm… sorry. I just thought that, maybe, you and the boss should have some time to, you know, get to know each other.”

“You and Jenny thought that, right? I saw you two whispering the other day.”

He shrugged. “Well? You needed a little push. Jenny thought so, too.”

“Mo Poppernak.”

He looked at her with a sheepish expression. “Yeah?”

Laney grinned. “Thank you.”

Tags for my lovelies:  @saenalife    @deanscarlett    @jensensgotyoudean    @jinkieswouldyoulookatthis    @deansdirtylittlesecretsblog    @geeklibrarian    @leatherwhiskeycoffeeplaid      @mrswhozeewhatsis    @littlegreenplasticsoldier    @sleep-silent-angel     @winchesterprincessbride    @ellen-reincarnated1967    @eyes-of-a-disney-princess      @deanslittleangel2y5    @melanie451      @bookchic20    @jodyri    @selma-jean-blog           @savingapplepie-eatingthings​    @kittenofdoomage    @masked-maiden42    @lean-mean-deanwinchester    @ericuhlorain       @ceeceewinchester    @typicalweirdbookworm          @callmesweetheartifyoumeanit    @youtoldalie    @tanithlowisabamf-blog    @deandoesthingstome    @jxackles    @nerdwholikesword    @soivebuiltupaworldofmagic    @kreweofimp  @gabavaldman    @chaos-and-the-calm67-blog    @darkx143    @disassociativedogma    @ioanashalala    @jencharlan    @deansthirstblog     @dorky-and-i-know-it    @mischief-maker1    @winchestersandwordprocessors    @percussiongirl2017    @bringmesomepie56   @akshi8278    @torn-and-frayed    @sandlee44   @wingedcatninja  @evansrogerskitten   @emoryhemsworth  @peaceinourtime82  @dean-winchester-is-a-warrior  @sarcasmqueen74   @maliburenee      @mrsjenniferwinchester   @yeehawbitchs   @emily-winchester  @hobby27

[whiskeyswriting]

Peter's Way Home | Chapter 1: Peter's Ladybug

{ Masterlist }

A/N: Image header by me using Canva; divider by @silkholland

It had been the hardest three months after losing your mom and now today is the first day back at Midtown Science High School. While it wasn’t the first day of school, that’s what it felt like to you.

It had been an accident they said. The fire couldn’t be contained in the restaurant's kitchen. She died saving her coworkers. She was a hero. Yet, it didn’t feel like an accident when it felt more like negligence on her job’s part. Had the fire extinguishers been properly maintained or the windows not been painted shut, you would still have your mother.

The sound of a skateboard along the sidewalk drew you out of your thoughts. “Hey, ladybug!” Your best friend calls out to you.

“Hi Peter,” you say softly, needing to get used to using your voice again.

“Are you sure you’re ready to come back to school and deal with the idiots?” He teases.

“Someone has to keep them in line right?” You bump your shoulder with his. “So tell me everything that I’ve missed.”

You smile as Peter starts on his rambling catching you up on everything that had been going on at school.

The morning at school had gone by quicker than you anticipated. Your teachers had already been reminded that you had been homeschooling while you were in your months of grief.

It wasn’t easy. There was no point in lying about it. There were days when you would do your schooling at your dad’s fire station. On other days, you stayed with Peter’s Aunt May and Uncle Ben. They had always been great neighbors since you moved into the neighborhood but in the last few years, they became your second family.

During lunch, you head to the courtyard and you spot Peter and make your way to him. Before you can reach him, you hear him telling Flash to put another kid down. Next thing you know, Flash is beating Peter up.

“Eugene!” You yell out at the same time as Gwen approaches him. “I’ll walk with Flash. You check on Peter,” you tell Gwen, knowing of Peter’s crush on her.

You had once hoped he would crush on you but his happiness mattered more to you, so you would help him win the girl of his dreams.

“Flash! What the hell was that for?” You ask him harshly. “You promised me you would leave Peter alone.”

He wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you in close for a hug. “I’m sorry. Welcome back to school. I should have given my best girl a hug before now.”

You return the hug. “Thank you, Flash! But I won't tutor you again if I see or hear you making fun of Peter... No matter what.”

You didn’t notice that, as you talked with Flash, Peter spotted you and felt annoyed that you two were hugging. He knew he had no right. You were entitled to your own friends. But did Flash have to be one of them?

It was surprising to anyone to hear that Flash Thompson and you were friends. You were considered one of the nerds. Flash was the jock everyone loved. Well, mostly everyone. Your friendship with Flash blossomed from your days studying at the firehouse. His father and older brother were firefighters, so he would often visit and sit with you as you tutored him.

“Since you’re my best girl, it’s only fair that I take you as my date to homecoming,” he says smiling charmingly at you.

“That would be fun,” you reply. “Come on, let’s get to class and we can talk more later about homecoming.”

“Actually,” he shuffles his feet nervously. “I was hoping you’d say yes to being my girlfriend. I’ve got a crush on you and well we’re a good team.”

You weren’t blind. Flash was handsome. You both got along pretty well. You both actually had things in common. Though it’s not the guy you would have hoped for, you nodded yes. 

“Woooo! She said she’ll be my girlfriend,” Flash yells with a laugh.

When you’re in class, you can hear Gwen asking Peter if he knew his name. You try not to giggle when you sense him getting flustered at talking with her. 

After school, you and Gwen discuss what topics to go over at the next debate team meeting. The subject then changes to boys.

“So I heard Flash asked you out,” Gwen says with a teasing smile.

“Did the whole school find out?” You reply laughing.

“Oh Flash was telling everybody that would listen that he got his dream girl.”

“Dream girl?” You scoff in disbelief.

“That’s what he was saying to the basketball team in gym,” she continued teasing.

You groan and hide your face. Never had Flash shown any such interest in you so it left you confused as to why he would say you were his dream girl. It’s not that you weren’t pretty, but you knew the more popular girls in school would typically be the Dream Girl for someone like Flash. 

Of course, hearing those words boosted your self-esteem a bit. It took you a few more minutes to refocus on the debate team. 

Once done with debate, you waited for Peter to finish his photographs so you could walk home together. 

“Ladybug!” He came and hug attacked you, wincing when his sides brushed up against your backpack. 

“Peter, when will you stop calling me that?”

“Mmmm… Let me think about it… Never.”

“What about when you get married? And then I get married? And we’re both old…? You’ll still call me ladybug?”

He turns to you and grabs your shoulders. “We’ll be ghosts and I’ll still call you ladybug… Besides, it’s how I keep your mom’s memory alive.”

You stop walking for a moment. “What?”

“Your mom. The day you moved into the neighborhood… you were wearing a ladybug dress and so was your mom. She was calling you her little ladybug.”

“I never knew you knew.”

Arriving home, you find your dad had the night off today. “Hey! So I decided we could have pizza and wings. I also got your mom’s favorite movies so we can make fun of her taste,” he teases but the pain could still be heard.

You rush to hug him. “Sounds like the best night we’ve had in a while… So, uhm guess who asked me out?”

“Peter finally asked you out?”

Your eyes widen. “No. Why would you think it was Peter?”

“Because you two are always together and inseparable. I know one day you’ll end up together.”

“Sorry to burst that bubble, Dad. But it was Flash that asked me out… Both for homecoming and as his girlfriend.”

Your dad sighs deeply and pouts. “I don’t want you growing up. But know I’ll help you with anything for the dance… You know you have May to help too… I have some of your mom’s jewelry that you can use.”

“I love you, Dad.”

As you’re getting ready for bed after the movie, there’s a knock on your window. “I’m decent Peter. You can come in.”

He smiles at your fuzzy socks and the fact that you’re wearing your mom’s cheerleading sweater as your pajama top. “Do you still have her perfume to spray on the sweater?”

“Yeah. I sometimes wear it to feel her close again.”

“Tell me more about her,” he says as he lays on your bed. He knows you have been having a hard time sleeping after your mom’s death so he’s kept his promise of being there with you at night to help you sleep.

Only that today would be the last night for a while he would be there for you. Eventually, another entity would take over your thoughts at night.

--

PWH 🏷 List: @dxmerons @1lellykins @scarlett-witchh @asoulsreverie

Whiskey's Barrel (Permanent Tag List): @askmarinaandothers @bayisdying @breadsquash @callmemana @callsignscupcake @cycbaby @dragon-kazansky @gracespicybradshaw @hisredheadedgoddess28 @ladylanera @starlit-epiphany

[imyourbratzdoll]

Your already got me In love with elf! Jake and Elf! Lee😫 with theses two I’m in need of some fluffy smut bubs! Maybe some angst? Jake’s all shy and lee is being a bully to him but reader isn’t having it with the bullying 🥹

hey baby, I hope you like what I wrote, I hope it was okay that I didn't write any smut... kinda wanted to keep it pure...

christmas masterlist

summary - lee is a big meanie for someone so small, leaving you to calm a sad jake.

warning - angst.

the headers I use aren't mine.

Lee snickers, stuffing Jake’s chocolate into his mouth as he stares down the crying elf. He shrugs, “You shoulda eaten it when you got it.” Lee shrugs, “Your loss.” Jake pouts, tears brimming his eyes as he watches his fellow elf eat all his chocolate, the particular kind you made just for him, the kind he was saving for a perfect day.

Lee didn’t see you entering the room behind him, nor did he see the scowl on your face as you heard every word. Jake’s vision was too blurry with tears to notice, either. Your arms cross over your chest as you glare down at the little shit, “Lee Bodecker, that isn’t a way to treat Jake.” He whips around, chocolate covering his fat fingers and chubby cheeks, staring wide-eyed at you. You point as you continue to glare. “Out. I’ll deal with you later.” Lee grumbles as he begrudgingly leaves the room, dragging his feet slowly.

Once he leaves the room, you shut the door and kneel, scooping Jake into your hands. “Hey, baby. It’s okay. I’ll make you some more.” You press a kiss onto his little head, letting him nuzzle into your palm as he cries, saddened by his lack of chocolate. “How about we go and make some right now? I’ll make sure it’s extra protected.” Jake looks up at you, sniffling as you softly wipe away his tears, stroking his little cheek. He nods, snuggling into you as you walk out of the room and into the kitchen, gently settling him down onto the kitchen counter and gathering the ingredients. 

The two of you spent most of the day making enough chocolate for Jake to stash away, ensuring they were well protected. He looked up at you with a dreamy look, softly smiling as you reached down and picked him up, bringing him closer to your face. Jake leans forward and kisses the tip of your nose, placing both hands on your cheeks as he looks at you. “Thank you, I really love you.”

You smile and press a kiss on his head. “I love you too, baby.”

thank you for reading!

feedback and reblogs are greatly appreciated.

[airbendertendou]

you fill, you fill, you fill ♥︎ sakusa kiyoomi 

synopsis : reader remembers their childhood friends and it causes them to get drunk ; weekly. sakusa and the miya twins are there to hold you ; always.

timeskip!haikyuu + bonten arc!tokyo revengers ; they / them pronouns used

if you have a blank blog [no bio, no user, no header or profile pic, nothing reblogged, etc] do not interact with my content. you will be blocked.

He doesn’t ask questions. Sakusa doesn’t ask why you moved here so young ; he doesn’t ask why Osamu was so quick to hire you with pitying eyes. He doesn’t ask why you stare at the stars longingly ; he doesn’t ask why Atsumu is tender and gentle when you’re around.

And he really doesn’t ask why he always finds you here ; drunk and incapable of doing anything other than sob.

“My water heater is broken,” you’re crying to the bartender. Suna sees Sakusa and relief floods through him — crying, he can not deal with. Your bottom lip wobbles with another wail, “if there’s a god, they’re against me! There are so many in Greek history, how can they all hate me?”

Blubbering, garbled words escape as you let out a whine and flop your head down on the bar. Sakusa sighs — that’s his queue to get you home. Cold hands nudge against your shoulder as you jolt, suddenly alert with the touch. When your eyes meet his, you soften, lips pouting even further.

“‘Kusa,” you cry. He sighs again and prepares himself for the way you’re going to drape over him. You do just as he thought ; just as you always do. “Why? Why do I still miss him? Why can’t I stop crying?”

“You’re drunk,” he answers simply. These questions aren’t new — you ask them every time he takes you home. And his answer is always the same. “Your emotions are heightened by the alcohol. Are you ready to go home or do you want to go somewhere else?”

You sniffle into his shoulder — Sakusa cringes but sucks it up. “Miya,” you mumble, “wanna see my Miya’s.”

They do always make you feel better, the twins. Their dynamic reminds you of two old friends ; the bickering pair reminds you of two others and suddenly you’re frowning again. You whine into Sakusa’s neck, “why can’t I let you in?”

That’s something new, Sakusa thinks with wide eyes. His mouth parts under his mask at the question. Instead of answering, he slides you higher up his body, cradling you awkwardly. “Let’s go find your Miya’s, hm?”

As soon as Atsumu is in your sights, your arms are slung around his neck. He’s giggling into the top of your head, squeezing you as you sway side to side. You’re blabbering again, but he answers every word enthusiastically. Osamu shuts the door to his restaurant, leaning against a table as joins Sakusa to watch over the two of you.

“Bad day, huh?”

Sakusa sighs, exhaustion laced in the sound. He rubs the curve of his nose with closed eyes before nodding. “It’s been a while since they’ve been this drunk.”

As Osamu goes to answer, your phone vibrates in Sakusa’s pocket. He had to keep it for you, you said. “Have no pockets or grippy fingers, ‘Kusa! I’ll lose it!” Against his own thoughts, he smiles as he remembers the tone of your voice. Another vibration and he’s pulling your phone out before he can think.

rinnie ! i know today’s a tough day… we miss you, [name]. all of us do. i just wish you wouldn’t have run away, you know? wish you would be here, with us, so we can all grieve. together. … visit soon.

stinky haitani ):< thinkin of u today sweetheart n missin u always …i’ll tell him you said hi call me later, hm?

Sakusa tilts his head before pocketing your phone again. So you had been drinking more today — he didn’t think this was as usual for you. Before he can speak, arms are thrown around his waist and you’re crying again. With a sigh, Sakusa meets Atusmu’s wasn’t me! gaze before drifting down to meet your teary-eyed one.

“They’re liars,” you sniff. You’re staring right at Osamu now and it’s a little unnerving but he allows you to — you aren’t looking at him, not really. You’re so spaced out and in your head that Sakusa doesn’t think you know where you are anymore. “Those dumb brothers. It doesn’t get better ; it hasn’t and it won’t.”

Sakusa is gentle as he rubs a hand down your back. “It might.”

“It won’t,” you argue. Your bottom lip trembles and you bite it hastily. “It never will. I’ll miss him forever and they’ll go on with life and forget about him. I can’t ; I won’t.” A deep breath and then you’re snuggling your face into his chest. “I don’t think I want to stop hurting. Reminds me of him.”

“Kiyoomi,” he finds himself saying. Anything to get your focus back ; anything to get you to stop crying. “You never call me Kiyoomi.”

Your sniffling stops abruptly as you pull away from his chest with a frown. “Didn’t think you wanted me to! Are we close enough for that?”

“I pick you up from Suna’s bar weekly,” there’s the ghost of a smirk on his lips as he peers at you. “Think we’re close enough.”

“‘Kay,” you snuggle into his chest again with a yawn. Osamu is watching the two of you fondly as Atsumu takes a picture of your cuddling figure. “Kiyoomi. Thanks for takin’ care of me all the time, ‘yoomi. Sorry I’m so drunk and a crybaby.”

Kiyoomi stays silent as you nod off, the alcohol in your veins simmering and lulling you to sleep. He shakes his head with one thought — I’m screwed.

— idk how obvious it is but reader is grieivng izanas death </3 the way these guys would never cross paths but hehe oh well!! i was washing my face n this idea came to me so um here it is!

airbendertendou © do not copy, plagiarize, repost, or translate my content on any platform. if you see my content under any other name than my own, let me know. i only have this tumblr and an ao3 account under the same name.

[sergeantbarnessdoll]

Deal » Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier

Pairings: Avenger!Bucky Barnes x Nurse!Female Reader

Summary: You’re the new nurse for the Avengers and Bucky pretends to be hurt just to see you so you make a deal with him and agree to go on a date with him.

Warnings: Fluff, language, flirting, kissing, pet names

Written on my phone. My apologies for any mistakes.

Header made by @buckys-wintersoldier

GIF IS NOT MINE! Credit goes to the creators. I found it on Pinterest.

“What happened this time, Sergeant Barnes?” You asked as Bucky walked in your office.

“Nothing too extreme.” Bucky took a seat on the exam table. “During the mission, some dumbass thought it would be a good idea to try to stab me when I wasn’t looking.” He explains.

He took his shirt off, revealing the cut mark on his right shoulder. You walked over to him and examined it. You walked away for a moment to get the supplies you needed to stitch him up.

“You need to learn how to be more careful during missions, Sergeant.” You say, setting everything up.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time, doll. I know what I’m doing.” He says.

“I know you do.” Your voice is soft. “Now be a good boy and lay back for me.” You say with a smile.

“Yes ma’am.” Bucky says flirtatiously as he laid back on the exam table.

You numbed his shoulder and began stitching him up. You were so focused on stitching him up that you didn’t know he was staring at you. Actually, he was admiring your beauty.

“You’re staring.” You say, not taking your eyes off of his shoulder.

“I’m not staring. I’m simply admiring your beauty.” He says softly.

You couldn’t help but blush. Bucky will do anything to see you and flirt with you. That’s why he’s in your office most of the time. He’ll pretend to be hurt just to see you. You just go along with it. Bucky has a crush on you and you have a crush on him.

“Go out with me.” Bucky says out of nowhere.

“What?” You asked, caught off guard.

“Go out with me.” He repeats.

“Bucky, I-I-” You didn’t know what you say so you just said the first thing that popped into your mind. “I’ll give you an answer when I’m done stitching up your shoulder.” You say.

You put your focus back on stitching up Bucky’s shoulder, but you could help but imagine what it would be like to go on a date with him. You smiled to yourself when an idea popped into your head.

“You’re all done.” You say, doing the last stitch.

Bucky looked down at his right shoulder, admiring the great work you did with the stitches as you cleaned up. You went to your desk and wrote down in his chart that you put stitches on his right shoulder.

“What’s your answer?” Bucky asks, hopping down from the exam table and put his shirt back on.

“I’ll go on a date with you on one condition.” You say, turning around to face him.

“Anything. What is it?” He asks.

“Try not to get hurt for a week. Deal?” You say.

“Deal.” He agrees. “Kiss on it?” He asks flirtatiously.

Bucky kissed you before you could say anything. He put his hands on your waist and pulled you against his body. Your hands found their way to his head, running your fingers through his long hair. He pulled away from your lips, leaving you breathless.

“That’s just a little preview of what’s to come for our date.” Bucky says softly.

You were speechless as you watched him walk out of your office.

1 WEEK LATER

The week has finally ended. It took everything in Bucky to not fake an injury. He was definitely looking forward to his date with you and so were you.

Bucky walked in your office just as you were finishing up work. He knocked on the open door to get your attention. You looked up from your desk and smiled when you seen him. You walked over to him and greeted him with a kiss on his lips.

“You went a week without getting hurt or faking an injury.” You smiled. “I’m proud of you.” You say, pecking his lips.

“I tried my best.” Bucky says with a smile.

You grabbed your things and closed your office door and walked hand in hand with Bucky.

“Does this mean you’re mine now?” He asks with a cheeky smile.

“We’re just now going on our first date and you’re already asking me to be your girlfriend.” You say with a small giggle.

“Well, what do you say, doll? Do you want to be my girlfriend?” He asks with a big smile on his face.

Instead of saying yes, you stood on your tippy toes to kiss his lips passionately.

“Does that answer your question, Sarge?” You asked softly.

“Mhmm.” Bucky hums with a smile, kissing you again.

🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵

-Bucky’s Doll

[lilith-little-world]

Sneak Peek of Chapter 2|| The Isekai’d Oracle

This is short but this was all I could write atm. I tried making this chapter with more interaction with the characters in the show, but interaction with the main cast might be in a later chapter. Either 3 or 4. Remember this is but a rough draft and the final thing will be slightly different. You can always send in questions or requests.

(I desperately need a header for this and draw the items and clothing for the reader/oracle. Fuck the melatonin is hitting me so hard rn.)

She slowly walks up to you, getting a good look at your face and at the dog.

“In all of my years, I never expect the divine oracle coming to visit little old me. Especially dressed like this.” She motions to your torn-up clothes before cackling.

The Spider Queen snatches the scroll away from Almond and your hands. Earning a yelp from the dog.

“Look I think you may be confusing me for someone else. My dog ran off and we were honestly not planning to steal anything.” You said backing away, trying to exit this situation as peacefully as possible.

“Oh? Playing pretend, are we?” Spider Queen said, closing the distance between you two. “Did your precious Goddess, threw you out?”

You bump into the display stand. Quickly the Spider Queen leans in close, making sure there was no room for escape. Your arms tightened around Almond, fear peaking.

“You definitely got the wrong person, I swear! I’m sorry for my pet, I didn’t know what got into her but we meant no harm-” You were cut off by the demoness laughing.

“Aww, look at you! I can basically smell the fear.” She leans in close, her stare drills into yours.

“Tell me little oracle,” She shoves the scroll into your chest. “Would you help this poor demon and look into my future?”

You felt your face twitch, not knowing what to do. The Spider Queen was adamant that you were this “little oracle” person. Which you know for sure that you aren’t.

Pushing the scroll back, you gathered all of your courage.

“I truly meant it when I said, you got the wrong person! I’m just some woman living on the street. I am sorry that my dog ran into your booth.”

Spider Queen smirk fell from her face. A stern look replaces it, not wanting to reveal her thoughts.

“So this little show is not pretend. That explains why the scroll hardly had a reaction. Just great, after all these years and the Oracle has lost their memories and most of the divine energy.” She sighs and finally steps back giving you space.

“How many times do I have to say it? I'm not an oracle, just a normal human!” You nearly yell it out, yet Spider Queen rolls her eyes and stares back at the scroll.

“If you’re not then why would the scroll, that belonged to the Oracle, shine? Albeit dimly, it still reacted to you.” She waves the old thing, showing the finials glowing softly.

You shrugged, not knowing how to answer. Spider Queen clicks her tongue, crossing her arms.

“You mortals are so annoying, this is why I eat you for dinner.” She mutters.

“Look this scroll here, belonged to the Oracle and will only react to her. So if this useless artifact is reacting to you then,” She leans forward. “You’re the Oracle!” She explains but it was clear her patience was running thin.

“Well tell that thing, it got the wrong person! I’m not getting mixed up in this mess.” You said, putting your foot down.

Spider Queen, pinch the bridge of her nose, sighing loudly.

“I can easily make you into one of my next meals. Here is how we’re going to settle this peacefully. Go retrieve something for me, I can get my prediction and I’ll let you go scot-free.”

You raise an eyebrow, while she smiles. As if she didn’t threaten you being her next meal.

“Pay me for retrieving this mystery item, then we got a deal.”

“Oh? Greedy are we?”

“I wasn’t lying about living on the street. It’s rough and I’m hungry.”

“And why should I care?”

“Then I won’t be doing anything for you.”

There was a short silence. She was waiting for any sign that you were bluffing. However, just like before you meant every word. Spider Queen sighs.

“Alright fine, but after this I don’t want you to see anywhere close to here.”

“Deal.”

[alieinthemorning]

Assigned Seating [Alhaitham | Lalya]

Content: Enemies to Lovers (More like Enemies? to Undefined), Banter, Other Layla is called Alyal, Alhaitham is being a little shit, Alyal is sick of him, and Layla is so fucking confused

Pairing: Alhaitham/Layla

Header: @/luckylalal on Twitter (Direct Link)

Notes: Ashely (Layla's EN VA) made a funny, so I decided to make it a fic.

Reblogs: Let me know that you enjoy my work and want to see more, so don’t forget to like and reblog (and comment in the tags. I love seeing people’s rambles in the tags)!

This work’s concepts, plot and original characters are my own which means I do not allow any sort of creative theft nor do I allow my work to be entered into any sort of A.I. bots. Thank you for respecting my space and boundaries.

The Akademiya was near silent in the dead of night, so quiet that you could hear the crickets chirping from outside. There were a few people about, but they were all on their own, minding their own business, so Alyal had nothing to worry about as she grabbed the last few books for Layla’s report. She would have gotten this done earlier, but there were many disturbances hindering them. So, despite Alyal being the one who was usually brimming with energy, even she was feeling drained. Oh well, that was then and this was now, and now there shouldn’t be any more issues.

However, as she made her way over to her usual seat, she found that someone else was perched there instead. He was leaned back in his seat, one leg crossed over the other, with his hazed lowered to the book before him. He was absolutely absorbed in it, so much so that he didn’t hear her approach.

“Excuse me.” He didn’t respond, so she tried again, but that also failed. Alyal held back a sigh as she not-so gently placed her stack of books on the table, and leaned down closer to his face.

That got his attention.

He blinked at up her. “Hmm? Oh, Layla.”

Alyal smiled warmly at him, but her gaze was anything but. “Hello, Alhaitham.”

“Is there an issue?”

“Yes, you’re sitting in my seat.”

He raised a brow. “The Akademiya doesn’t have assigned seating.”

Alyal leaned in closer. “I don’t care—get the fuck out of my chair.”

Alhaitham’s eyes widen, obviously not expecting that from her. He opened his mouth to say something else, but quickly closed, and instead did as she asked.

“Thank you.” Alyal huffed as she took the seat, immediately driving into her work.

Her words may cause problems in the future, but that was going to have to be something she dealt with then because she couldn’t care less now.

Unfortunately, later came with earlier than expected, and there was no way for Alyal to intervene.

“You’re not sitting in your seat?”

Layla jumped, pen flying from her hand. “H-huh?”

Althaitham’s face remained neutral, but Alyal could have sworn his lips flicked up just a bit. “You told me last night to get out of your seat, and yet this morning, you’re seating somewhere entirely different.”

“I…what?” Layla gave him a confused look, but after a moment her head dropped into her hands. “Oh no….”

“What?”

“I think you caught me sleepwalking last night…” She pulled her head out of her hands, but didn’t look at him. “I’m sorry for anything I might have said to you…please just disregard it.”

“Hmm…alright then.” And then he was gone.

However, that had frazzled Layla enough that being productive was out of the question. Alyal supposed she’d deal with that later.

Alyal was beginning to hate dealing with things later, only ever being able to operate in that way.

“Do we really have to do this again?”

“You told me to disregard it.”

“And now I’m taking it back.” She nudged him, “So move.”

“I don’t think I will. I’d rather not have you apologize to me again in the morning.”

Alyal rolled her eyes, “Fine.” and took the seat beside him. “I hope you don’t mind the company then.”

“I’m sure I’ll be just fine.”

Surely, this wouldn’t progress any further than this, right?

Spoilers: She was wrong. So incredibly wrong.

:) At first, I was just gonna write this because I was like: "Yeah, I can make a fic outta this." and now we've added a side of "outta spite".

Anyway, enjoy this because this is a once and a blue moon work. (I don't write canon/canon, BUT WHEN I DO, it's either out of spite or THE VOICES).

Ko-Fi | Commission | Masterlist

[thefootballobserver]

Newcastle 4-0 Spurs: Match Review

In the ornithology derby, the magpies reigned supreme over the cockerels.

Ouch. So that one hurt. I would have personally taken a draw from that game, even with Newcastle’s heavily depleted squad - but I never foresaw this happening. I suppose it’s better than the 6-1 thrashing last season that spelt the end of Stellini’s time at Spurs, but 4-0 without a reply is pretty bad.

Of course, as much as this hurts for Tottenham, it was an excellent result for Newcastle as it puts them 6th, 10 points below Spurs, and they’ll end the weekend above Manchester United on goal difference (17 to -1, yikes). The Toons’ hopes of European football remain alive, especially with a run-in of several bottom-half sides. On the other end, not only is the loss damaging for Tottenham’s top-four hopes (it lowered the goal difference to be under Aston Villa, who are now fourth), but it doesn’t bode well for the team and their next few fixtures, who have to play the top three and Chelsea.

In all honesty, I don’t want to talk about the match - I didn’t even stay long enough to see the fourth goal - but to summarise the game:

Spurs couldn’t deal with the high press, and it never looked like they were getting anything from it. Although they did create some half-chances (Werner notably missed a few), Newcastle created better-quality ones throughout the game.

Newcastle capitalised on mistakes from Spurs fullbacks Udogie and Porro, as Gordon bullied Udogie far too easily to assist Isak’s opener. An inexplicable pass from Porro moments after the restart gave Gordon an easy way to the second. Van de Ven created from comical moments trying to defend both of them, slipping for both and even doing an acrobatic headstand for the first goal.

Porro appeared to have injured his hamstring after halftime, and Isak then made it three on the counter from the halfway line only two minutes later. Not even Van de Ven could catch up, and Vicario probably should have come off his line for that one.

Spurs tried to change it up, taking off their defensive midfielders, who were largely anonymous, and their leading man, Son, who couldn’t get involved and, when he did, couldn’t hold onto the ball.

Spurs had a few half chances again, but Newcastle’s low block meant nothing meaningful went through.

Newcastle probably should have scored more from 16 corners - Isak, in particular, missed multiple free headers - given Spurs’ defensive set piece woes and the towering heights of Isak, Burn, and Schär. Still, they finally gave it one last stab at Spurs when the Swiss cornered a corner that Vicario was nowhere near.

This goal sealed the game, as Newcastle subbed on Hall (who hadn’t trained all week), Ritchie, White, and Dummett to see off a resounding result at St James’ Park.

Newcastle: The Start of a Great End of the Season

The Toons are finally showing some consistency after a bumpy season.

I’ll admit: For all of the pain Newcastle has inflicted on me (6-1 gives me war flashbacks), I actually quite like the team and have a bit of a soft spot for some of their players…bar Wilson. Apologies, but I’m a Richarlison defender, and I fear I haven’t forgiven him yet.

Newcastle knew Spurs’ weaknesses and exploited them to perfection - and probably could have done even more if Isak’s head could be as clinical as his feet. They caught Spurs off on the counter, pressed them hard and were quite physical (if you ask me, the referee lost a bit of control of the game very early on), got onto virtually every corner unless it didn’t beat the first man, and played a five back whenever the London team were on the attack.

Newcastle home and away are basically black and white (much like their kit), and this game proved how good they are at St James’ Park. I genuinely believe that they could lose every away game, concede ten goals every time, but still win ¾ of their home games. They also had a massive injury list, though it ended up with one less man as Livramento returned to the squad and even got some minutes, as expected from the scoreline. This is the kind of team Newcastle like to play against, and Howe got everything right.

Player Ratings

Dubravka (6): Had basically nothing to do and got a welcome, clean sheet.

Burn (7): He probably should have done better on set pieces, given he was marked by the 6’1” Johnson. Didn’t have much to do defensively, though he did get a high boot to Bentancur’s chin (he can thank his height for avoiding the yellow).

Schär (8): Unlike Burn, got the goal from a corner. Likewise had nothing to do otherwise.

Krafth (7): He had nothing to do defensively but got his clean sheet.

Murphy (6): He could have done more in the attack, but the out-of-position right-back did fine.

Anderson (7): An energetic showing and got close to scoring a few times. Personally, he surprised me.

Guimaraes (8): He did what he always does dutifully (though it wasn’t too hard) and got an assist to end the night.

Longstaff (6): Anonymous for me, but he didn’t have much to battle out on anyway.

Barnes (7): Energetic as ever, maybe unfortunate not to have left with a goal contribution.

Isak (9): He scored a brace and should have had more. A great night for the striker, whose home form remains spectacular.

Gordon (9): His form this season has been a joy to watch, even if he would prefer to play on the left wing. His corners were generally excellent, and most of Newcastle’s chances went through him.

Livramento (N/A): I didn’t watch long enough to see him subbed, but it was good to see him get some minutes after getting injured in the West Ham game.

Lewis Hall (N/A): With this win, the buy clause in his loan from Chelsea is activated, and Hall will remain with his boyhood club beyond this season.

Ritchie (N/A)

Dummett (N/A)

White (N/A)

Unused players: Karius, Gillespie, Murphy, Parkinson

Tottenham Hotspur: The 6-1 Demons Come Back To Haunt Them

I hate to quote Arteta, but this performance was a disgrace (and they aren’t getting away with this one).

I don’t want to talk about this performance from Spurs; I think I’ve said enough really. Van de Ven sums it up quite nicely in the photo.

However, I do want to add that I wish Postecoglou had made those changes at halftime instead of at the hour mark.

Player Ratings

Vicario (4): Technically, he wasn’t at fault for any of the goals, but he conceded four and should have probably done better despite a few good saves.

Udogie (4): Gordon bullied him far too easily for the first goal but was fine otherwise, although Spurs were flat anyway.

Van de Ven (3): Comical defending and his recovery pace couldn’t save Spurs from conceding the third.

Romero (4): Again, technically not at direct fault, but really should have done better. Started looking like the old, rash Romero and didn’t help the backline.

Porro (3): Didn’t provide much, but the assist for the second with a poor, poor backpass. He was subbed off for injury, and hopefully, it isn’t too bad.

Bentancur (4): I mean…he was okay but didn’t provide much in attack or defensive.

Bissouma (3): He gave me anxiety every time he had the ball. He should’ve provided more protection as a number 6.

Maddison (5): He occasionally created a few half-chances, but it felt like he lost his head early and was booed the entire time, as usual.

Werner (4): Had a chance, but the ball was at an awkward height. Otherwise quiet.

Son (4): He hasn’t been up to his performance-wise standards lately, and the decision to sub Son for Kulusevski was bold but welcome.

Johnson (4): Again, quiet but was slightly better in the central role after Kulusevski’s substitution, although the bar is very, very low.

Royal (4): Didn’t do much to help defensively and did concede 2 goals.

Sarr (4): Not the sort of game Sarr thrives in, but the midfield needed a change. At least he brought on some fresh legs.

Hojbjerg (4): I thought he’d start. Had a few nice ideas but poor executions, like most of the team. For me, this sort of game really highlights his weakness on a possession-based side. But he was better than Bissouma, although Newcastle stopped stepping on the pedal a bit.

Kulusevski (4): He brought a bit of life when he came on, even if it was temporary and very little, though he’s somewhat at fault for the last goal. Thought he should have been subbed on at the 45-minute mark for some control.

Lo Celso (N/A): I stopped watching at this point. It's not a game in which he’d thrive anyway.

Unused players: Austin, Dragusin, Davies, Gil

What’s Next

The North London Derby looms for Tottenham Hotspur…

Due to Manchester City’s involvement in the FA Cup semi final, Spurs have a two-week break until their next game, when they will host rivals Arsenal for the North London Derby. This marks a run of challenging games for Spurs, who play Arsenal (H), Chelsea (A), and Liverpool (A) next before playing Manchester City (H) not soon after. It’s very much possible that Spurs will get a fat zero points out of 12 in these games, especially with their recent form, with their away form in particular being a considerable concern. The Lilywhites’ final two games are against relegation-threatened sides Burnley (H) and Sheffield United (A), though points here may not save them on their way to a Champions League spot.

With their massive goal difference, Newcastle’s next few fixtures could bounce them above West Ham and Manchester United - as well as threaten Spurs - for good as they play Palace (A), Sheffield United (H) and Burnley (A) next. The Toons’ away form may be questionable (14 points from a possible 45), but that should be at least six points from those three games alone. Newcastle have one last home game against Brighton - another very winnable game considering the Seagulls’ similarly horrid away form this season. Otherwise, they play Manchester United and Brentford away. They could give Spurs a run for their money with these fixtures as they look to secure Europa football, especially if fifth place fails to guarantee Champions League football.

Newcastle and Spurs will meet again for a post-season friendly in Melbourne before their respective players and staff head off for a well-deserved summer break after a busy season - though less busy than usual for Spurs without European and many Cup games, hence this friendly.

Match Review

This photo hurts more and more.

Unless you’re a Newcastle or Aston Villa fan, I struggle to see the appeal of this game as it’s very one-sided, and the goals weren’t too impressive, given they were basically gifts from the Spurs players. It only felt like one team was trying throughout, and especially given the game's stakes, it felt like a major let-off.

Review: ★★☆☆☆ (⅖ stars)

[wytfut]

59 big window

I get accused of being a bit hasty in disposing of items that appear to have no worth or of no interest to me anymore. So I toss it, or sell it, and have been known to bury such items out back.

I think to myself that I’m cleaning up the place, but in reality, it maybe that I’m tired of said items haunting me, and I’ve had enough. Really not sure, but this makes sense. I do know, when the mood strikes me and someone were to come up and ask about said items... I’d probably just hand it over to them, I just don’t want to deal with it anymore, or see it.

There’s this old 1959 Ford short box big window we had around for a long time. 

This truck had a lot of Waverly owners for years before we got it. Initially purchased by old friend Make Danley.... some how he got it from a Shriners chapter or a 3rd party. They had used it as a parade truck, and it was then a loud turquois. And LOLOLOL, buckets of bondo... 

Little 223 inline 6, Mike painted the truck implement white, and thus the nickname “the milk truck” started, and was with this truck until I sold it. 

From there Mike sold it to the “Harris’s” who drove it for hi school one son, and then our neighbors the Nelsons had it for their sons lawn service and also hi school. 

Never really showing any major rust, the truck was litely abused, and had a fair  look to it, by the time we bought it. 

This was Lukes hi school vehicle, white and Inline 6, bench seat. Luke being constantly broke and no spare change, would run this thing on fumes a lot. In our cold winters this would obviously create frozen fuel lines, and I’d have to come to the rescue. Never had to worry about dirt in the fuel system with it being run on empty a lot of the time.

That old truck would just keep on chugging along. Never using any oil...  

Josh got to hi school age, and Luke buying his 1991 F150.... Josh became the new main driver of the Milk truck. 

Being I can’t leave anything alone, and Josh was game for anything to make it cool..... it became a project. 

I don’t remember which was first... paint or the engine. Don’t matter, I’ll just wing it.

Milk truck was starting to show lots of small spots of surface rust. On white, that just didn’t work back then. And I painted it Dandy Lion Yellow (see pictures), that was a Mopar Viper color. As you can see REAL LOUD YELLOW. 

Little bit of time went by... Luke found another big window 59 with a 292 V8 “Y”block in it. Motor ran horrible. And Luke wanted a motor to build in hi school shop class (I believe last class to do so in the Waverly district). I gave him the 223 out of the milk truck.

The Y block ended up in the milk truck, after I had done a tune and gaskets. And still ran horribly. I remember looking down in the heat riser pipe and seeing flames in the exhaust manifold.

 Looking at the heads before I sent them, I was shocked to see how far the valves were seated in the valve seats. The edges of the valves were like razors. Someone had done a hack valve job thinking on this engine just to revive it to “one more time”.  I ended up sending off for a valve job.

I don’t know why or how, but I had 3 sets of heads for a 292 laying around, for the machinist to build one good set. 

Got those heads back and it ran like a top. Replace 2bbl manifold with a 4bbl. Put headers on it with some smitties....   it actually ran hard and sounded great.  Became a very dependable motor. Rumor on this very engine, was the past owner had put it in Lukes purchased other 59, after he had found it laying in a mud driveway for many years. 

Gaskets and a valve job later.... great motor. 

We had around for a number of years an old 4 cylinder mustang that was a college car..... something to drive to school. It had been Jake’s college car, and then Lukes college car. Was getting pretty tired, as it was far from new when we got it. It had a T 5 transmission.

Being we were pretty lucky on the paint and engine, now we were going to put a T 5 in it. 

Found a web site that adapted Y block bell housings to T 5 trannys and bought it. Next thing was tranny placement, and then rebuilding drive shaft to fit the tranny on the ‘59.

Now we had something!!!! out standing!! That torquey Y block seemed to love that T 5.... perfect couple. Drove great, looked great, and sounded sweet. It was far from a show vehicle, but was a nice looking fun driver. 

One day one of my LTT working buddies (Paul Anderson) wanted to know if I wanted bucket seats out of a Square body super cab conversion. He wanted to put a bench back in it. I think we paid $$25 for both.  Looked good, no tears or stains.

Overall the 59 was a great lil ride..

Lincoln for a couple of years attracted, a large National Hot Rod tour. They’d hang out and tear up the streets of Lincoln for 2 days. Was a huge event the cops were not even close to prepared for the first year.

About 2 days before the second year of this event, Josh decided I needed to paint flames on the milk truck for this event.    Uh.... thanx Josh.. just as much my fault for agreeing to do it.

Thus the purple flames. This color came about by mixing up all the colors I had on the shelf...  didn’t look bad at all. 

Josh got out of hi school and it sat many years outside and in my barn. A couple of parts robbed off of it. My hopes were that Josh was going to want to go back and revisit the milk truck. Josh at that time had lost ALL interest in that truck by then.

Ended up selling to a fellow Gana employee who bought it for the tires and wheels. He then sold it rumored to someone out side of Waverly. I haven’t seen it since sold... 

The past is history, but sometimes I wish I had held onto it. Anymore work to it was going to be major, body work wise. Engine drive train, probably ok. 

Had a ton of fun with that truck... so did 2 of my boys. 

I’ve still got these pictures, and all of the memories. Can’t take the memories away from me.

[rizlowwritessortof]

Unforgivable Part 3

Sequel to A Little Rowdy, because I just wasn’t done with those two! Here it is - the final part!

Huge thanks to editsbymichele (IG) for the lovely Beau header - beautiful as always, my friend!! And thank you to @firefly-graphics for the divider!

Beau and Laney have settled into a comfortable relationship, things are smooth and easy - until Laney is threatened, and Beau strongly suspects she’s not the real target.

Pairing: Beau Arlen x Laney Marcus

Word Count: 5867 (Got a little wordy 😁)

Warnings: Smut (as usual), stalking, menacing behavior

Part 1 Part 2

Laney stared down at the photos, a cold numbness seeping through her body. She stood there silent for a moment, then pushed away from the desk. Beau called her name as she rushed towards the door, jerking it open and heading out into the main office. He looked at Poppernak, frustration and anger in his eyes. “Goddamn it, Pops,” he said softly through clenched teeth, then followed after Laney.

She was busily sorting permits and complaint forms to be filed, her hands visibly shaking, and Beau closed his eyes for a moment, wishing he had the person responsible in his hands. He pulled a chair up close to her desk and sat down, leaning forward with his arms braced on his knees. “Laney, look at me,” he said, his voice quiet and gentle.

She shook her head, continuing on with her task. “No. I can’t deal with this right now, Beau. I just need to work. I just… I need to keep busy. And if I look at you, I’ll start crying, and… I just can’t.”

“Okay. I get it. Or you can come in my office, and I’ll just hold you all afternoon if that’s what you need, honey.”

She shook her head again. “No, you can’t. There’s too much going on right now, you’ve got a job to do, and so do I. I’ll fall apart later.” He sat there looking at her, barely restraining himself from pulling her into his arms in spite of what she’d said. She stopped moving suddenly, staring down at her desk, her eyes stinging with tears she was fighting to control. “Beau, please. I’m okay. I promise.”

He took a deep breath, shaking his head as he stood reluctantly. “Okay, Laney. Okay. Promise me you’ll call me if you need me. If you need anything. I mean it.”

She nodded, and he turned away, heading back to his office, where Poppernak stood watching in the doorway. “Is she okay, boss?”

“No,” he answered shortly, going to his desk to gather the photos, the note and the envelope. “Take these to be processed for prints. And then meet me outside, we need to head back out to the fairgrounds.” He grabbed his Stetson and left his office, glancing at Laney one more time before he headed for the front door.

When Beau unlocked the door to Laney’s place that night, it was past midnight. He walked in, sending a weary half-smile Cassie’s way as she uncurled herself from the sofa. “Hey, Beau.”

“Man, I’m sorry, Cassie. This all couldn’t have happened at a worse time. I hope you know how much I appreciate you hanging out here with Laney.”

“No worries. I crashed on the couch, not like it’s the first time I’ve done it. I’ll survive.”

“How was she?”

Cassie shrugged. “Pretty quiet. She went to bed early.”

Beau nodded. “Yeah. Rough day.” He ran a hand back through his hair. “I hate that I couldn’t…”

“Stop it. She knows. Quit beating yourself up.”

He quirked a rueful smile and nodded. “Wish it was that easy.”

Cassie rose to her feet and grabbed her jacket, giving Beau’s shoulder a squeeze on the way by. “See you later.”

“Yeah. Thanks again.” He locked the door after her, then turned and hung his hat and jacket on the hook by the door before pulling off his boots. He quietly made his way through the bedroom, closing the bathroom door softly, shedding his clothes and climbing in for a quick shower.

Laney was sound asleep as he crawled into bed beside her, and she let out a contented sigh as he pulled her into his arms. “Hey,” she mumbled into his chest, snuggling into his warmth.

“Hey, honey.” He kissed her hair and gave her a squeeze, smiling as she kissed his skin in return.

“You okay?” she whispered.

“Long day, but I’m okay. Are you?”

“Better now.”

“Yeah. Me, too, darlin’.”

The next morning, Jenny popped into Beau’s office with a cup of coffee in each hand, and he shot her a grateful grin. “You read my mind.”

“I figured you could use a little extra boost.” She sighed. “So, I came in early to go through the security cam footage from yesterday.”

“Oh? Jenny, you didn’t have to do that, but thank you. Get anything?”

She huffed out a breath in frustration. “No. Whoever sent that envelope was smart enough to bribe some kid, probably nine or ten years old, to bring it in and drop it off. So no help there. I’m sorry.”

“Not surprised. Thanks for checking that out, I appreciate it. I just hope nothing else blows up until this goddamn festival is over.”

Jenny headed for the door, turning back to nod in agreement. “Hope so. Catch you later.”

Beau took a big gulp of the coffee, grabbed his hat, and walked out into the office. His eyes slid over Laney’s way, but she was smiling and talking to a co-worker, so he shoved that worry down below a few of the others on his mind. He headed to the front and turned, speaking loudly to get everyone’s attention. “Okay, everybody, listen up. We’re gonna have our hands full for the next few days, so just letting you all know that Powell and Jefferson Counties are sending some deputies to help us out for the festival. I’m sure most of you already know these guys, they’ll just be pitching in. City police are gonna be pretty busy here in town, too, but they’ll help out when and if they can. State Patrol are also aware, they can be called on if we need ‘em, but hopefully that won’t be necessary. I’m giving the assignment list to Madge, so check in with her and get familiar with where you’ll be and when. Okay, let’s hit it. Any problems, give me or Deputy Hoyt a yell.” He caught Laney’s eye and he sent her a wink in response to her smile before plopping his Stetson on his head and heading out the door.

Laney and Denise were sitting in her living room chatting when Beau walked in the door late that afternoon, and Laney jumped up to greet him with a hug and a happy grin. “I didn’t think I’d see you tonight!” Her smile faded quickly as she continued. “Or do you have to leave again?”

“Nope. Everything’s covered for now. Calm before the storm. Everything’s set up and settled out at the fairgrounds, the rodeo isn’t until Saturday and Sunday, so the cowboys won’t be here to raise a ruckus until Friday night. And I brought pizza.” He hung his hat and jacket up and grabbed the pizza he had set down on the hall table. “Pepperoni. Extra pepperoni.”

Laney took the pizza from him and stretched up to give him a kiss. “Well, I’ll grab some beer and plates,” she offered, “and you sit down and relax.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He pulled his boots off and headed for the couch, settling in with a sigh and propping his feet up on the coffee table.

They talked Denise into staying for pizza, enjoying each other’s company for a while before she stood up and stretched. “Okay, you two, I have stuff to do at home, so better hit the road.” She looked at Beau sternly. “Bo-bo, you need to get some sleep.”

He shot her a crooked smile. “Planning on it.”

Laney walked her to the door, sending her on her way with a hug and thank you before locking up behind her. She came back and sat at the opposite end of the couch, and Beau shot her a pouty look. “Hey… do I need a shower that bad?”

She smiled, shaking her head. “No, you goofball. Come here.” She patted her leg, and he perked up.

“Yeah?”

“Yes, get over here. Stretch out and get comfy and relax for a change.” He mumbled about the bossy women in his life as he shifted positions, but the contented sigh when he laid his head in her lap made her laugh. “You love it. Sometimes.” He pulled her arm over him and hugged it to his chest.

“You’re right. I do. Sometimes.”

She grabbed the remote and flipped through channels until she found an old detective series marathon, then put her feet up on the coffee table and ran her fingers through Beau’s hair. He hummed in approval, so she continued, letting the soft strands run through her fingers, sometimes very gently scratching over his scalp with her nails.

“I’ll give you two years to quit that,” he mumbled, and she laughed softly. He was practically purring in her lap, and he pressed a kiss to the hand he held captured. “You’re gonna put me to sleep, darlin’.”

“I don’t mind. I’ll wake you up when it’s time to go to bed.” He snuggled in a little more, and she gladly continued, even when he began to softly snore.

The festival kicked off on Thursday afternoon, and it didn’t take long for the sheriff’s office to be overrun with members of the public coming in to report fender-benders at the fairgrounds parking area, car break-ins, and apparently a very talented pickpocket who had relieved several people of their wallets. A good portion of the deputies were at the fairgrounds, and everyone left in the office, including Laney, were busy taking reports. The only time she had seen Beau all day was when he came in to take someone to the holding cell that he had caught red-handed breaking into a car.

Laney looked up as Madge brought yet another person to her desk to file a complaint. The dark-haired woman was in tears, the front of her shirt torn, and Laney helped her take a seat, handing her a tissue as she sat down to take her report. “Are you hurt?” The woman shook her head. “What’s your name, ma’am?”

“Mya. Mya Cameron.”

“Okay, Mya. Can you tell me what happened?”

The poor woman had been assaulted, dragged behind one of the buildings, but when someone happened to walk by, her attacker had grabbed her purse and run away. Laney did her best to calm the woman, taking down all the details Mya could remember and listing the important items that had been stolen from her.

Mya was still shaking when they finished, and Laney put a sympathetic hand over hers, giving it a squeeze. “Do you have someone that can come and pick you up?” she asked, but Mya shook her head.

“N-no, my car is parked in back, there was no place left in front. I don’t live far, I can make it home. But – can you walk me to my car? When I get home I can drive into the garage, but I’m afraid to go outside alone.”

Laney nodded. “I understand.” She glanced around, but everyone was busy helping someone, so she gave Mya’s hand another squeeze. “I’ll walk you out.”

She ushered the woman back through the booking room to the back door, and Mya pointed to the small, dark sedan parked behind the building. “That’s my car.” They walked out together, Laney’s hand on her back reassuringly as Mya thanked her. “Thank you so much, I just couldn’t come back out here alone, you’ve been so kind.” They reached her car, and Mya pulled her keys from her pocket, hitting the button to unlock the door and opening it. “And now I need you to get in.”

Laney’s eyes widened as the woman grabbed a gun from the drivers seat of the car and gestured inside. “Get in. Now.”

“How the fuck did this happen?” Even in his office with the door closed, Beau’s voice carried through the entire office.

“Beau. You need to calm down.” Jenny’s voice was firm, and Beau glared at her, but took a deep breath and stopped shouting.

“I’ll start checking the security cam footage, see if we can see where she went,” Poppernak offered, and Beau nodded curtly, his teeth clenched. He grabbed his football from the shelf, kneading it between his hands, and Jenny put a hand on his shoulder.

“Breathe.”

“I should have assigned somebody to her full time. I thought she’d be safe in here. Goddamnit!” Beau growled, setting the ball down and heading out the door to Poppernak’s desk. “Anything?” Pops was scrolling through, watching sped-up footage of everyone who had been at Laney’s desk. Beau gripped the edge of his deputy’s desk so hard his knuckles were white, watching with narrowed eyes as a dark-haired woman was led to Laney’s desk by Madge. “Slow it down, Pops.”

“You recognize her?” Poppernak asked, slowing the footage down.

“Not sure. Maybe.”

They watched closely as Laney appeared to look around, then stood and walked with the woman to the back of the room. “Let me switch cameras, boss.” Pops moved to the view from the booking room, then to the outside view of the back of the building. They watched as the women walked to the car and Mya aimed the gun at Laney, and Beau swore under his breath as she forced Laney to get in, then looked straight at the camera before getting in beside her. “Shit. Mya.”

“You know her?” Jenny asked, and Beau nodded.

“Yeah. From Houston. She was my partner’s confidential informant.”

“The one who was killed?” Beau gave a grim nod, and Jenny took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. “What do you want to do?”

Beau looked into her eyes, the struggle for control evident on his features. “Pops, put out an APB on that license plate. But she’ll be calling. She’s after me.”

Less than half an hour later, Beau’s phone rang. He looked at it as if it would bite him for a moment, then grabbed it and answered. “Yeah.”

“Beau?”

He stood up, his heart thudding in his chest. “Laney? Laney, are you all right?”

Her voice shook a little as she answered. “I’m fine. She hasn’t hurt me.”

“Baby, I’m so sorry…”

“It’s not your fault. Beau…” He closed his eyes, his face working as he fought to stay calm. “Beau, she said come alone. She’ll text you the address. But stay away, don’t come…” The call went dead, cutting her pleading short, and Beau dropped back down into his chair. A few seconds later, the text came through, and he nodded silently.

“Okay. I have to deal with this. Jenny, you’re in charge.”

Jenny glared down at him. “You’re not going alone. We’re coming with you. We’ll stay outside until you need us, but…”

“She’s right, boss,” Poppernak joined in. “We’re coming.”

Beau stared back at them, his mouth held tight. “Fine. But I’m going in alone. Got that? I’m not risking it. If she wants me, she’s got me. As long as she lets Laney go. Houston’s been haunting me long enough.”

Laney shifted uncomfortably, unable to move much since Mya had bound both her wrists and her ankles to the chair with duct tape. They were in an old car repair shop, long empty from the looks of it, windows boarded up and only one functioning regular door at the front next to a huge garage door. “Why are you doing this?”

Her captor threw a glare over her shoulder, turning back to watch the door. “Nothing to do with you. You’re just bait.”

“So you’re a coward. Waiting here to ambush him when he walks in.”

“Shut up. You have no idea what he’s done.”

“I know he’s a good man. And whatever he did, there had to be a reason.”

Mya sighed, impatient with the conversation, pacing the floor and keeping her eyes on the front of the room. “Just shut up before I find an old grease rag to shove down your throat.”

Laney fired a venomous look at the woman’s back, continuing to try and loosen her bonds. Unfortunately, the tape didn’t loosen easily, but she kept working at it, desperate to do something. Mya still had the gun in her hand, and Laney was struggling not to panic at the thought of Beau walking straight through that door and into a bullet.

She heard the sound of a vehicle pulling up outside, unable to stop herself from speaking again. “Please, Mya – please, I’m begging you, whatever it is, you two can talk about it. Maybe he can help you. Just please don’t…”

“SHUT. UP.” The woman rushed towards her, grabbing the roll of duct tape and tearing off a strip, slapping it over Laney’s mouth. She still let out a muffled shout as the door opened and she watched the silhouette of Beau’s tall form against the brightness outside. “Come in and close the door,” Mya ordered, and he complied, his hands held out to his sides as he walked closer. “Far enough.”

“Laney, are you all right?” he asked, and she nodded, relieved to see he was wearing his bullet-proof vest.

“She’s fine. For now, anyway.”

“Okay, Mya. I’m here. How about you let her go, then you and I can hash things out?”

“This ain’t Houston, Sheriff. You’re not in charge here.” She backed away from him, turning to point the gun at Laney’s head.

Beau raised his hands, taking a step back. “Whoa, whoa… Mya, take it easy. Whatever you need, just – I’m the one you’re pissed off at. She didn’t do anything to you.”

“Randy didn’t do anything to you, either. You said he was like your brother. He was your partner. And you – you put all those other people, people you didn’t even know, ahead of him. You let him die. He was screaming, they were torturing him, and you left him down there while you saved strangers.” Her eyes were full of tears, the hand holding the gun shaking, and Beau took a slow step forward.

“I have to live with what happened to Randy every day. Damn near destroyed me. It did destroy my family and everything else I had in Houston. It was unforgivable, leaving him down there - but we had no choice. We had to get those people out of there before the gunfire started, or a lot of innocent people wouldn’t have walked away that night.”

“He needed you!”

“I know! I know he did. I also know what the coroner told me. That Randy wasn’t gonna survive, even if they wouldn’t have cut his throat.”

“That’s your story.”

“That’s the truth, Mya. If you remember one thing about me, you should remember I never lied to you.”

She let a little sob escape, tears wetting her face, and she aimed an enraged glare his direction. “We were supposed to be together!” she shouted. “After the case, when it was all over, we were gonna leave Houston, start a new life! And you let him die!”

Beau stared at Laney, willing her to read what was in his mind. He held a hand down at his side, making a little gesture that he hoped she would understand. Her eyes widened a little and she tilted her head to the side, and he gave a little nod, covering it by clearing his throat. Then he took a deep breath and prayed that it would play out the way he hoped. “Mya. Randy wasn’t gonna leave with you.”

“Yes, he was.”

“No, he wasn’t. He told me he screwed up, got too close to you and slept with you. He was my partner, Mya, he told me everything. He felt bad, he did. But he wasn’t gonna leave his wife and kid to run off with his CI. After it happened, he had to keep you happy, keep you in line until it was all over.”

“You’re lying!!” She screamed, moving towards him and swinging the gun his direction, a crazed look in her eyes.

He shot a look Laney’s way, and she heaved her weight sideways, sending her chair crashing to the floor. Mya screeched and turned the gun back towards where Laney had been, and Beau rushed forward, making a flying tackle, his hand clamped around Mya’s wrist to aim the gun towards the ceiling as they fell. He slammed her arm into the floor, and the gun went sliding away as Beau fought to keep her from clawing at his face, finally capturing her hands in one hand and hitting his radio button with the other. “I got her, get in here!”

Poppernak and Jenny came bursting through the door, guns drawn, quickly assessing the situation. Jenny pulled her cuffs from her belt and ran to help Beau while Pops rushed to Laney’s side, pulling out his pocket knife to cut her free. She tore the tape from her mouth, breathing ‘Thank you’ and hugging the big man as he helped her to her feet.

And then Beau was there, wrapping his arms around her and holding her so tight she could barely breathe. She clung to him just as tightly, finally looking up at him as he took her by the shoulders and looked down into her eyes. “Are you okay? She didn’t hurt you?”

Laney shook her head. “No, she didn’t. I’m fine, Beau. I’m okay.”

He took her face in his hands and kissed her, then leaned his forehead against hers, his eyes closed. “Hey,” Laney said softly, waiting for him to look at her again. “I’m okay. We’re all okay. It’s over.” He nodded, finally sending her a soft smile and kissing her again.

“Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Saturday night rolled around, and Beau took the steps at Laney’s house in one leap, bursting in through the door with a grin. “Ready to go?”

“Be right there!” she called out, and Beau’s eyes widened as she sauntered her way around the corner. “Rodeo appropriate?”

He let out a low whistle as he let his eyes roam up and down, taking in her Lucchese cowboy boots, her short denim skirt, cute little t-shirt that said ‘Not my first rodeo,’ and the fawn-colored Stetson perched on top of her hair. She whirled around, blushing a touch at the look in his eyes as he came close, pulling her hard against him with one arm as he swept the hat off with his other hand so he could bend to kiss her.

“Do we have to go?” he asked with a wink, letting his hand drift down to give her tush a little squeeze. “I can think of things I’d rather look at than cowboys gettin’ their asses kicked.”

Laney giggled softly, giving his lips another quick taste. “Yes, we do. We’re meeting everybody, remember? But… maybe… we can take a little walk sometime while everybody’s busy?” she teased. “Unless you end up having to work.”

“Pops is handling things for tonight, unless something really goes to shit, so hopefully I won’t have to worry about it. But I’m gonna hold you to that little walk. Those boots are makin’ me a little crazy.”

She grabbed her hat away from him and plopped it back in place. “What about the hat?”

He shook his head with a muffled growl. “Move your cute little ass, cowgirl, or we still might not make it to that rodeo.” She laughed at him and scooted for the door with Beau right on her heels.

Jenny had saved them a seat, and they settled in between the other two couples. Cormac brought a round of beers for everyone except the two unfortunate law enforcement officers who had to behave just in case they were called to duty, and the bronc riding event kicked off just as he returned. They cheered on the few local boys who were riding, thoroughly enjoying the rowdy atmosphere.

It was just hitting dusk, the lights coming on around the arena when Beau leaned in to whisper in Laney’s ear. “How about that walk you promised?”

She looked up at him, slipping her hand into his as she nodded, her eyes shining. “Yeah. Let’s go before the bull riding starts.”

He laughed. “Never knew you were such a buckle bunny,” he joked, and she smiled up at him.

“Oh, I’ve got all the cowboy I need, mister,” she retorted, standing up with him and telling their friends they’d be right back.

The two of them strolled around, hand-in-hand, chatting with a few people on the way, but Beau slowly led them away from the crowd and out towards the two small horse stables at the edge of the fairgrounds. Most of the rodeo animals were trucked in the day of the show, but the workers usually kept their mounts on the grounds for the duration of the festival.

They walked into one of the buildings, eyes adjusting to the dim lighting. The sweet smell of fresh hay filled the air, and Laney breathed it in with a smile. Beau stopped and took off his hat, then reached for hers, hanging them on two posts on a nearby stall, pulling her inside and kissing her softly. “I’ve been thinking about doing this for hours.”

“You’ve been thinking about it for hours, or you want to do it for hours?” Laney grinned up at him as he made an exaggerated thoughtful expression.

“Would you believe both?” He backed her further into the stall, gesturing behind her with a nod of his head. “Feel like a roll in the hay?” She turned her head, spying the large pile of clean straw taking up the back half of the stall and returning his grin. “One second, that might look great in the movies, but you’ll get scratched all to hell. I saw something out here…” he went back out of the stall, returning with a new horse blanket and clean towel. He tore open the plastic and shook out the blanket, spreading it over the straw, then held out a hand with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

“I feel like I’m about to star in a farmer’s daughter porno,” she laughed, taking his hand.

His eyebrows shot up, his eyes lighting up with his smile. “I can work with that.” He went to one knee in front of her, looking into her eyes as he smoothed his palms up the back of her thighs. “Might as well take these off for a bit,” he said softly, his fingers sliding around and into the waist of her panties. Her breath hitched at his touch, and she took her lip between her teeth as he slipped them down her legs and over her boots, then tucked them into his pocket with a wink.

He kept his eyes on her as he pulled his gun from the holster, laying it down beside the straw, then unfastened his belt and his pants with a smirk that sent a flash of heat through her veins. He moved quickly, gently tackling her onto the blanket, surprising a shocked giggle from her as she landed, his arms propping him up above her. Before she could speak, he bent to kiss her, stealing her words along with her breath.

“Show me what you got on under that shirt, darlin’,” he coaxed in a low rumble, raising up enough to let her pull her shirt up, revealing her white lace bra, her nipples visible and straining against the cloth. He moaned, mumbling, “Damn, woman, you drive me crazy,” before biting down gently on one hard nub and giving it a tug with his teeth as his fingers slipped up beneath her skirt.

She was wet and ready for him, her hips rising up to welcome his fingers, and he wasted no time in shoving his pants down far enough to free his throbbing cock. He filled her slowly, making her whimper as he went deep and held himself there, his lips crashing down on hers once again. She wrapped her legs around him, moaning into their kiss as he bucked into her hard, then hit a steady rhythm, her hips meeting every thrust.

It didn’t take long before she was trembling underneath him, beginning to pulse around him, and just as she was about to lose control, a loud voice echoed through the barn.

“Tyler! You in here?” Footsteps on the concrete floor made them both freeze, and Laney clapped both hands over her mouth to smother the sounds she couldn’t quite control. Beau gritted his teeth, swallowing the groan that was building in his chest as her cunt squeezed him tight,. The footsteps stopped as the man listened, then headed back for the entrance. “Goddamn kid. I’m gonna fire his ass.”

“Fffuck…” Beau grunted as Laney clutched at his back, still arching up into him as she rode out the orgasm she had been unable to stop. She finally stilled, lying quiet for a moment before rolling her head to the side, a soft laugh escaping her lips, and Beau grinned down at her. He began to move again, hard and fast strokes, punching a whine from her as she clamped her legs around him tight again, moaning his name as he came inside her with a soft growl. He kissed her quick and hard, then gazed down at her with a satisfied smile on his face, and she stared up into his shining eyes as she reached to brush his hair off his forehead.

“That was intense,” she breathed, and he nodded with a chuckle.

“Yeah, we almost got caught. Totally worth it, though.”

“Completely.” She pulled him down for another kiss. “But we’d better get back, huh?”

He blew out a breath, reluctantly pulling out and grabbing the folded towel he had appropriated. “Yeah. I’m sure they’re wondering what happened to us.” He helped her clean up and slip her panties back on, then got his clothes and gun back in place before pulling her close for a lingering kiss. They left the blanket and towel behind and grabbed their hats again, walking back towards the arena, once again hand-in-hand.

The bull riding was already in progress when they climbed back to their seats, and Jenny shook her head at Laney. “Where have you two been?”

“We just went for a walk on the grounds,” Laney replied, watching the action in the arena to avoid meeting her friend’s eyes.

“A walk. Right.” Jenny reached to pull a long piece of straw from Laney’s hair, a knowing smirk on her face, and Laney shrugged, ducking her head with a sheepish smile.

“Well, there was walking involved,” she protested and Jenny laughed, bumping their shoulders together. Laney just kept smiling as Beau laced his fingers through hers on the other side.

A few nights later, Laney sat snuggled in Beau’s arms as they watched a movie together, basking in the peace after the hectic week before. He dropped a kiss to her temple and gave her a squeeze with a little sigh.

“What?” she asked, tilting her head to look up at him.

“Oh, nothin’ – I just need to make a run to the trailer. Unless you want to start Naked Sheriff Thursdays around here.”

She laughed. “I’d love Naked Sheriff Thursday, or Friday, or any day you want, actually.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him with an impish gleam in her eyes.

“Yeah, well, nobody else in town would probably agree with you.”

“Oh, I don’t know – Mrs. Ortiz loves to spy on you, so…”

He laughed softly, shaking his head. “Too cold in Montana for that.” Laney waited for a moment, then pulled out of his grasp and climbed aboard his lap to face him, staring into his eyes. “What?”

“I had an idea. I just don’t want you to think you have to, or that I’m putting demands on you.”

“To think I have to what?” He reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, and she smiled a little nervously.

“Well, I’ve been thinking. I mean, you’re here most of the time anyway, and if you just moved in, you wouldn’t have to keep going back to the trailer for clothes and stuff, and I’ve got plenty of closet space. And I talked to Cassie, she said she’s got a little pasture in a spot away from the house, and there’s a well house there so there would be electricity available and you could move the trailer there and we could still have outdoor movie nights when the weather’s good and when it’s not you could just winterize it and then you wouldn’t have to pay for lot rent. And…”

An amused smile was playing on Beau’s lips as she rambled, and he finally put a gentle finger to her lips to stop her. “You want me to move in? Like, my boots and dirty socks all over the place, and my stuff in the bathroom, and no privacy?” She smiled, dropping her eyes for a second before she answered.

“Well, I have a hamper for your dirty socks, and I kinda like your boots all over the place. I like all of your stuff all over the place.” Her smile faded slowly, her expression a little unsure as she looked at him again, biting at her lip before she continued. “I love you, Beau. And I don’t want you to feel like you have to feel the same way yet, but I just wanted you to know.”

His eyes searched hers, his hand raising to her face and his thumb stroking softly over her cheek. “You love me?” She nodded, leaning into his touch, her eyes sparkling a little with unshed tears at the strength of her emotions. He leaned forward to kiss her, his lips clinging to hers as if they never wanted to leave. He pulled back a little to rest his forehead against hers, his voice wavering just a touch as he started to speak. “I guess that makes me just about the luckiest man I know. I love you, too, Laney – so damn much.”

She tilted her face to kiss him again, his thumb catching a happy tear as it escaped down her cheek before she wrapped her arms around him tight, and he held her close as they sat in silence for a few moments, surrounded by each other. When she finally pulled back, she smiled at him with such excitement in her eyes that he laughed.

“What? Better say it before you bust,” he teased.

“I was just gonna say – we should go to the trailer. And pack your stuff.”

“Are you really sure about this? Me moving in?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” She slid from his lap and took hold of his hand, pulling at him. “Come on, boots on, mister!”

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, heading for entryway to follow orders as she slipped her shoes on. He grabbed her as she met him by the door, kissing her breath away, his hands splayed on her back, holding her tight against him. “Maybe we’ll just give that trailer a goodbye christening while we’re at it, huh?”

She grinned in response. “Sounds perfect to me.”

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