#Nick Jackson x you | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

midwestmade29 · 3 months

Text

TLC 🩵

This one is for you @supakixbabe 🖤 I hope this brings a smile to your face! Word count: 1,129 Divider by: @saradika-graphics GIF credit: @tekkers

Disclaimers: None really! Just some feel good fluff with the world's most precious soul 🥰

Original request: Nick Jackson. Maybe the reader is having a bad day, has shut everyone out, and Nick breaks down her walls to help her? I think a lot of people could benefit from reading that. Maybe they can be best friends to lovers or just best friends.

Nick Jackson knows you better than anyone, so when you're stuck in a rut he comes and saves the day...

It was going on day 3 of you feeling crummy. Things weren’t working out in your favor; your self-esteem had taken a hit, and you just weren’t feeling well. You had shut everyone out, ignoring phone calls and texts and only traveled between the couch and your bed. After about a day and a half, your phone stopped buzzing with notifications which left your apartment feeling how you did inside, quiet, and alone. You were laying on the couch flipping through the tv channels with your hair a tangled mess, empty food wrappers and dirty dishes on the coffee table, and you were wearing the same pajamas you’ve had on for days. Suddenly, there was a knock at your door that made you about jump out of your skin! There was another soft tap on the door, but you laid there silently hoping that whoever was on the other side would go away. “Y/N, it’s me. Nick,” a familiar voice spoke softly. Your eyes grew large when you recognized it, panic started setting in when you remembered the current state you and your apartment were in! You rolled off the couch and onto the floor, trying to run your fingers through your hair to smooth it out when Nick spoke again, “Please Y/N, let me in. Your neighbor is staring at me,” You chuckled at the slight dismay in his voice and figured you should put an end to his suffering. “I’ll be right there!”

“Hey,” Nick greeted tenderly. He didn’t seem to notice your unkempt appearance when he smiled at you and explained why he showed up unannounced, “I’m sorry I didn’t call or text, I wasn’t sure if you would’ve answered or not. I know you’ve been having a rough time lately, so I wanted to check on you,” Nick held up a canvas bag that looked like it was filled to the brim with random items, piquing your curiosity. “Yeah, sorry about that. I’ve just been stuck in a rut, and it’s been hard to pull myself out of it. Um, thank you for coming by. Please, come in! Ignore the mess…” You stepped aside and ushered Nick into your apartment, following behind him as he made his way into your kitchen. Embarrassment started to cover your cheeks when you noticed his eyes scanning the room, your urge to apologize for things being so untidy was strong. “I guess I’ve fallen behind on my chores,” you laughed nervously. “And maybe my personal hygiene. Sorry Nick, I-” was all you were able to say before Nick stopped you, but for good reason. “No need to apologize Y/N, I get it. I didn’t come here to make you feel bad or embarrassed. I’m going to order us dinner and put away some of the things I brought with me. Why don’t you take a hot shower, take your time and I’ll have everything ready when you get out?” Nick’s kindness made your heart swell, his presence was everything you’ve been needing the last few days. “Are you sure?” you asked hesitantly, Nick responded quickly with a “yes” and shooed you away.

Thick pillows of steam flowed out of the shower and filled the bathroom while you stood underneath the hot water. It felt amazing on your skin, every swipe of your loofa made you feel like you were coming back to life. You followed Nick’s instructions and took your time, staying put until the water turned cold. Once you were done, you dried off and brushed your hair before grabbing some clean clothes from your dresser. When you reemerged into the kitchen, you saw Nick close the front door behind him with a pizza box in his hands, a smile covering his face when he noticed you watching him. “There she is,” he stated affectionately. “I ordered your favorite pizza; I hope you’re hungry. I’ll grab plates and drinks and meet you on the couch,”

On your way over to sit, your eyes scanned the room and noticed that Nick had been busy while you were in the shower. You saw that your dirty cups and dishes that were all around had been placed in the sink and dishwasher, the trash had been bagged up and sat by the front door, a new candle had been lit and fresh flowers in a vase sat on the coffee table. You bent down to smell the sweet blossoms when Nick walked up behind you, his voice making you jump a little in surprise, “I was hoping they would make you smile. I remembered they’re your favorite kind. There’s also a new blanket waiting for you on the couch,” Tears pricked the corners of your eyes as you wrapped Nick in a tight embrace, nearly making him drop everything he had in his hands. He quickly sat it all down and hugged you just as tightly. “Hey, no more tears, Y/N. It’s all going to be okay,” he whispered.

“It’s not that. It’s just you’re so thoughtful and caring and it just means so much, you know?”

The pizza was delicious as you and Nick devoured it while watching your favorite show on tv. He took care of cleaning up while you wrapped yourself in your new blanket and took a seat on the floor by the coffee table. The both of you had picked out a board game to play and it was your job to get everything set up for it. The night was filled with laughter, smiles, and happiness which was something you hadn’t felt in a while. All the weight you had carried on your shoulders lately didn’t feel quite as heavy, and it was nice having someone there to help you lift it. Nick’s smile lit you up inside every time you were the reason behind it, his laughter breathed life into you. “You didn’t let me win, did you?” you asked suspiciously. “Do you know who you’re talking to, Y/N? I’m as competitive as they come! Of course I didn’t let you win, you beat me fair and square this time,” he replied with a wink.

At some point, you and Nick had fallen asleep on the couch together with your new blanket draped over you both. You were facing his chest with your arms wrapped around each other when you started to stir, but the slow and steady beat of his heart soothed you right back to sleep. You remained tangled together most of the night, even after the two of you migrated to your bed. That night you had the most restful night of sleep that you had in a long time, you slept without fear of waking up alone because just like always, you knew Nick would still be there with you no matter what.

#nick jackson fluff #nick jackson fanfiction #nick jackson x you #nick jackson x reader #nick jackson #the young bucks #young bucks #aew #all elite wrestling #fanfiction #aew fanfiction #nicholas jackson #youngbucks #the elite #nick jackson x y/n #Spotify

26 notes · View notes

punkshort · 1 month

Text

i know who you are | 8. the return

Pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader

Chapter Summary: You help Joel recover from his injuries and you finally confront your feelings for him.

Chapter Warnings: language, angst, mutual pining, sad!Joel, amnesia, slow burn, descriptions of wounds/injuries, some smutty situations but nothing very explicit, dare I say fluff?

WC: 8.2K

Series Masterlist

"Joel, wake up."

He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut even tighter.

"C'mon. You gotta get up."

"Five more minutes," he mumbled.

"Joel," you tried again, your voice sounding so far away. Why did you sound so far away? "Joel, please wake up. I need you."

You needed him. Okay. For you, he would wake up.

His eyelids fluttered.

"Joel?"

Your voice didn't sound so far away now.

"Joel? Can you hear me?"

Fuck, his head hurt. His side hurt. Everything fucking hurt.

Then he remembered.

He forced his eyes open, blinking rapidly as his pupils adjusted to the bright light until he focused on you. You.

You were so pretty. So, so pretty, standing next to his bed with that little worried crease between your eyebrows, leaning over him. You didn't need to be so worried. Don't be worried.

Your eyes brightened when he saw you and he slowly began to recognize where he was.

He was back in Jackson. At the infirmary, in a bed.

You jumped up, calling over your shoulder for Nick and Tommy before turning back to him and grasping his hand.

"Are you in pain?"

He didn't answer. He just stared at you, dumbfounded, his brain struggling to catch up. He squeezed your hand and you gave him a shaky smile.

Tommy and Nick barged into the room and you dropped his hand. Nick began to take his vitals while Tommy tried to stay out of the way, but Joel's focus remained on you. He watched as you drifted around the room on autopilot, handing Nick instruments and supplies from a table, then disappearing out into the hall when he asked you to get some medicine he had no idea how to pronounce.

"What's your pain like, Joel?" Nick asked, reading the blood pressure cuff.

He opened his mouth to answer but immediately started coughing. Tommy twisted around to grab the water bottle next to the sink and Nick lifted it to his lips. "Slow," he reminded him, so Joel sipped slowly then sat back with a sigh.

He was so tired.

"Your pain?"

Joel took a deep breath and winced.

"Ain't great," he croaked, voice all gravelly. You came back into the room and handed Nick the medicine, giving Joel a reassuring smile. God, he missed you so much.

He heard Nick ask you to fill a syringe for him and Joel watched you work, your hands steady and your breath even as you concentrated on getting the dosage exactly right.

"Joel? Did you hear me?"

"Huh?" he asked in a daze, dragging his eyes to his brother.

"I said, what the hell happened out there?" Tommy was pressed up against the wall, making himself as small as possible while you and Nick worked.

"Ran into some raiders- fuck!" he exclaimed when the needle entered his skin.

"Sorry," Nick murmured before pulling it out.

"Where?" Tommy asked, and Joel shook his head.

"Not 'round here. Out in California."

Everyone in the room paused to look at him.

"You got this fucked up out in Cali and you made it back?" Tommy asked in disbelief, and Joel slowly nodded his head. "Fuckin'... how?"

Joel's eyes found yours again, the corner of his mouth twitching up into a half smile.

"Had a guardian angel," he said, his eyelids beginning to droop.

"The hell does that mean?" Tommy asked. Joel pointed to his pack on the floor.

"Side pocket."

Nick lifted the blanket covering Joel's bare torso so he could inspect his wounds, which had been freshly cleaned and patched up in his sleep. Then he heard the telltale sound of pills rattling in a plastic bottle.

"You found meds out there?" his brother asked, rolling the bottle around in his palm before handing it over to Nick.

"Mhm," was all he said, then watched as you looked over Nick's shoulder to read the label. Your eyes went wide with surprise then looked up at him.

Your lips parted like you wanted to say something, then your gaze darted to the other two men in the room and you decided against it.

"This probably saved you from getting sepsis," Nick said before placing the bottle on the small table next to his bed. "I'm gonna need to keep you here for a bit," and as Joel began to protest, Nick held up his hand. "Just for a bit, I said. Til you get your strength up and I feel confident you don't got any infection or serious internal damage. Then you can go home and recover."

You could see the turmoil in Joel's face. He wanted to go home, he wanted to be in the comfort of his own bed after a week of putting himself through hell.

"I'll stay here overnight, keep an eye on him and come get you if anything seems off," you said, and all three men paused to look at you in surprise. You shrugged and cleared your throat. "Unless you don't-"

"No," Joel said, cutting you off. His throat felt so tight all of the sudden. "Please stay."

Nick and Tommy exchanged glances before shifting around the room, gathering used instruments and picking up Joel's discarded, bloody clothes.

"I'll grab the cot for you," Nick said on his way out the door.

"Do you need anythin' from home?" Tommy asked and you quickly shook your head.

"I'll be fine."

Joel wanted to tell you everything, but he could feel himself fading. Another time, he thought as you rolled out the cot on the floor next to his bed. You turned off the light before he drifted off to sleep, finally being able to properly rest now that he was back with you.

It took five whole days until Nick finally agreed to let him go home. You stayed with him every night, only going back home to shower and get fresh clothes once a day. It seemed like he was always surrounded by Tommy or Ellie or Nick and there was never a good time to talk to you. He wanted to tell you why he did what he did, he wanted to give you some comfort. But any time the two of you were alone, it was always too brief or he was asleep.

Unbeknownst to Joel, you were struggling with the same issue. You wanted to get some time alone together so you could talk to him about everything you had a chance to reflect on while he was gone, but you knew it would likely be a long and emotional conversation and you really didn't want to do it at work.

There was so much that needed to be said, but the rare few minutes you had alone together you spent holding his hand or feeding him or gently wiping the sweat off his forehead and chest with a wet washcloth. You hoped your actions spoke louder than the words you weren't brave enough to say.

Nick helped you restock your first aid kit at home while Tommy got Joel settled back in his bed. You could hear them talking from the hallway, Tommy scolding his brother when he didn't listen to him and he ended up wincing in pain.

"So you're gonna want to make sure he takes this twice a day with food," Nick said, handing you a bottle of orange pills. "For inflammation. Til you run out, then he should be good. And this is only if the pain gets intolerable," he handed you a small baggie of four white pills and narrowed his eyes. "Use them sparingly, we don't have much."

"I know."

"He shouldn't need any more antibiotics but be sure to take his temperature throughout the day and push the fluids. If the numbers get over 102 for more than four hours, come get me right away."

"Okay," you nodded, hoping your sleep deprived brain was absorbing everything.

"Maria agreed to help out at the infirmary for the next couple days, so take as much time as you need. You know I can manage without you," Nick said, and you gave him a feigned look of hurt. "I can manage, I said. Doesn't mean I prefer it," he told you with a roll of his eyes and you had a stifle a laugh. Tommy stepped out of Joel's room and joined you at the top of the stairs.

"All good?"

"I think so," you said, looking back down at the pills Nick gave you.

"You need anythin', you just holler, sugar," Tommy said and you gave him a tired smile in return. The two men walked down the steps and saw themselves out while you filled a glass with water from the sink in the bathroom, bringing it to Joel.

"How are you feeling?" you asked him for what felt like the millionth time in a week.

"Not bad," he said truthfully. You handed him the water and although he wasn't thirsty, he still drank it because it seemed to make you happy and he really liked when you took care of him.

You shifted your weight and glanced around the room awkwardly.

"Do you need anything? Are you hungry? Do you want me to get you a book or something?"

Joel smiled and dropped his gaze to the floor. You were so fucking cute and it was killing him.

"I'm good."

"Good," you nodded, chewing on your bottom lip as you tried to find another reason to stay. When you couldn't think of one, you sighed and hitched your thumb over your shoudler.

"I'll be right next door and I'll leave the doors open. If you need anything or if you're in pain-"

"I know," he said, giving you a soft smile as you tried your best to not stare at his bare chest peeking out from the top of the sheets.

"Okay, then," you said, backing out of the room. "Good night."

You had no idea how long you laid in your bed, staring up at the ceiling while your mind raced and your fingers tapped anxiously against your chest. You couldn't sleep. It must have been hours because the light flicking off in Joel's room felt like ages ago and you hadn't heard any shuffling since.

It's this bed, you thought to yourself. It was the first time in a long time you slept in your own bed and you just couldn't get comfortable.

Or maybe you were too worried about him, even though it seemed like most of his strength was back. The color returned to his cheeks and he was able to stay awake most of the day. Deep down, you knew there wasn't a need to be concerned about him at that point. In all likelihood he was out of the woods. But you still felt the urge to check on him. Just in case.

You slid out of bed and tiptoed quietly out of your room, walking the few feet to Joel's door and leaning against the frame. You tried to observe him from a distance but it was hard to see in the dark, so you crept closer.

He was sound asleep, his hands resting peacefully over his soft stomach, his lips parted ever so slightly as he lightly snored. You bit the inside of your cheek and looked at the other side of the bed. Deciding not to overthink it, you closed the door and silently made your way around the foot of the bed and slipped underneath the covers with a quiet sigh.

Just for a minute, you thought. You had just grown so accustomed to sleeping in his bed, that's all. But before you knew it, his steady breathing and soft pillows lulled you into a deep sleep.

The sun bled through the curtains, inching across the floorboards and slowly made its way up the sheets until it found your face, but you didn't wake. Instead, you buried your face deeper into the warmth underneath you, far too comfortable to bother waking up just yet.

Joel, however, had been awake before the sun even rose.

He had felt your arms wrapped around his waist at some point towards the early morning. He had managed to turn so your head rested against his bare chest while you continued to sleep so peacefully. It was far too tempting. He fucking ached for you for so long and to wake up and find you in his bed caused his heart to flutter wildly in his chest and all his blood to rush directly between his legs.

He had been doing okay. He was content with just holding you, feeling you, pretending things were back to normal, if only for a little while, but when you nuzzled into his chest and tightened your grip around his waist, he couldn't resist burying his nose in your hair and breathing in deep. He missed you so much it fucking hurt. It was torture, fighting the urge to pull you into him every day and crawl into bed with you at night. He knew it would backfire one day, all his pent up emotions. When Angie caught him during a particularly low point at the Tipsy Bison, drunk and sad and missing you so fucking much, it all blew up in his face. Kissing her was a mistake but he was just so goddamn lonely. He didn't realize how much he had come to depend on your touch to soothe him until he no longer had it.

He wouldn't make that mistake ever again.

He thought he ruined everything in one moment of weakness, but here you were, tucked safely into his side, sound asleep in his arms and he didn't even dare question what brought you into his bed because all that mattered was you were there now. And you made that decision yourself. You sought him out. You wanted to be with him.

Testing the waters, he carefully pressed a kiss on the top of your head, and when you didn't react, he did it again. Sliding his eyes closed, he dragged his lips a little lower, kissing your forehead while he savored the feeling of your breath fanning over his neck. Other than your fingertips fluttering slightly against his stomach, you still didn't move, so he kissed your forehead again. You were so warm and you smelled just like him that he quickly felt himself getting lost in his desire. His kisses became faster and more urgent, finally causing your breathing to change and your body to stir. He knew you were waking but he kept his eyes closed, too afraid of seeing apathy in the face that used to be filled with such love for him.

He was just setting himself up for more heartbreak but he couldn't seem to stop.

His lips traveled a little lower, pressing tenderly against your temple, bracing himself for when you would inevitably push him away. Maybe you weren't fully awake yet because you remained perfectly still, so he continued to take and take, his kisses becoming feverish as he brushed over your eyelids. God, he missed this so much. He missed these lazy mornings with you. They were rare, but on days neither of you had any other commitments you would lounge in bed for as long as your stomachs would allow, holding each other close, getting lost under the sheets.

His time was coming to an end now. Your arms loosened around his waist and soon you would realize where you were and who you were with and it would all be over. He breathed deeply, as if he could bottle you for later. Maybe his sheets would trap your scent. He really hoped they would. He could use another good night's sleep and having you at his side had always ensured that, but he could pretend as long as his pillow still smelled like you.

With his lips still roaming over your brow, you stretched your legs and let out a breathy little noise that made his cock twitch and his stomach tense. He kept his eyes screwed shut, hoping you would assume he was half asleep and therefore unaware of his lips dragging across your face. He didn't want to lie to you again but his heart could only handle so much rejection.

He felt your eyes flutter open, your eyelashes tickling his neck and he really should have stopped kissing you at that point, but it felt like he was spiraling out of control. Like his body had enough of constantly being denied what it craved.

You paused for a moment, giving your brain a chance to catch up. Figuring out where you were and why you were there. Any second now, you would pull away. He kept bracing for it, his heart thundering in his chest now that it knew time was running out, that this feeling of bliss was about to end and it was scrambling to hold on to every split second.

Thinking it would be the last chance, he kissed the corner of your eye and then your cheek. There was no way he would be able to pretend he was still asleep now, but he didn't care. He was growing frantic, his need for you overwhelming, even if this was all he could get, it would have to sustain him until he could figure out how to earn back your trust.

His eyes flew open when your lips pressed wetly against his neck. He froze, his mouth hovering over your ear, waiting to see what you would do next.

Then you did it again. Only this time, you sucked on a bit of his skin, leaving the beginnings of a red mark he would cherish for days.

Before you could blink, he rolled over, his body caging you in underneath him as he examined you with wide and hopeful eyes. You gazed up at him, your breath shallow and your lips parted as your eyes roamed over his face, taking in every freckle and every wrinkle up close. His beard was getting grayer in spots you hadn't noticed before, somehow adding to his appeal. His lips looked dry from the cold but his eyes looked bright and clear and the way the sun was beaming in through the window behind him, his messy curls sticking up every which way made it look like he was wearing a halo.

With a shaky hand, you reached up to thread your fingers through his hair. It was so much softer than you expected. His eyes fluttered shut and he leaned into your touch. You watched his throat work as he swallowed nervously and you wanted nothing more in that moment than to taste the skin there again, so you did. Leaning up, your lips suckled at the spot between his jaw and neck, his pulse strong and fast under your tongue. A reminder that he was alive and healthy and finally back home. Your nails raked against his scalp and you sucked at his skin a little harder, a little more urgently, a little more desperately and then he was the first to break.

He whimpered.

He fucking whimpered and that was all it took for you to maneuver slightly under him and spread your legs, wrapping them around his waist and pulling him close.

Fuck. He was hard. You felt it in the loose confines of his sweatpants, bobbing against your center when you pulled him down further and it set something on fire inside of you.

You brought your other hand up to get lost in his hair, giving it a tug to pull his head back just a bit so you could angle your mouth over his and you latched onto him hungrily, the contact sending a jolt through your entire body. He slipped his tongue past your teeth and finally allowed himself to touch you, hand cupping your jaw at first, then dropping to grip your ass under the sheets before sliding up your shirt, rough fingers skating up your stomach, then brushing over your tightened nipples, drawing out a sweet little moan which he swallowed down eagerly.

He flattened his hand over your heart, leaving it there as he licked into your mouth, both your jaws pried open as far as they could go, as if you were trying to swallow the other whole. He could feel your heart pounding through your chest, like it was trying to break free and jump into his palm. Like it was saying here, take me, I'm yours. And if you were to untangle your hands from his hair and place one over his own racing heart, he had no doubt you would hear what it was screaming in his chest.

I love you, I love you, I love you so fucking much, I'm so sorry, please forgive me.

And of course you forgave him. He was in just as much pain as you. Both of you had been mourning the same person without even realizing it.

And none of that seemed to matter anymore. Not in that moment, anyway. The two of you tangled together, the early morning glow from the sun washing over you, wrapping you up safe and sound in each other's arms.

You dropped your hands, abandoning his hair, nails dragging over his broad shoulders and leaving little red trails in their wake. His own hand slid down from your chest to grab your hip, pulling you impossibly closer to him, forcing you to feel how hard he was for you. All for you.

His facial hair burned your chin but you didn't mind. In fact, it felt good. You chased the feeling, pushing your mouth even harder against him, wanting to make sure you would feel that burn for the rest of the day.

Then you heard a knock on the front door.

Joel didn't react.

Either too lost in the moment or unwilling to allow it to end. Your hands drifted lower, over his relatively smooth chest and over his ribs, your fingertips dancing over each one like piano keys, careful to avoid his wound.

Another knock, louder now, made you pause. Breaking free and turning your head slightly to the side to open your eyes, you tried to listen, but Joel's mouth just slid down your jaw, nipping playfully as he went before biting gently on your earlobe. You gasped softly, momentarily forgetting about the door, your back arching underneath him. His tongue flattened against the hollow of your exposed throat, his exhale tickled your skin and caused a wave of goosebumps to emerge and he smirked, tongue still lavishing your neck as his fingers dug harder into your hip, like he was afraid to let you go.

Now you heard the front door unlock and carelessly swing open, but Joel still didn't stop.

"Joel," you whispered, your voice raspy from disuse. He only hummed in response, then his mouth latched onto your clothed breast, his tongue flicking against the thin material and you had to bite your lip to keep from crying out because you heard Ellie's voice now, along with Tommy's, making their way up the stairs.

"Joel!" you said, firmer this time and pushing him back. His dark eyes snapped up to yours, his parted lips wet and swollen as he gasped for air. Thankfully, it sounded like they had tried the master bedroom first. You heard Tommy's heavy steps enter your bathroom before walking back out into the hall and it finally clicked with Joel that you were no longer alone.

"Fuck," he muttered right before the door swung open. He dropped his upper body to cover yours best he could, protecting your modesty even though you were still fully clothed.

"Shit! Sorry!" Tommy exclaimed, backing out of the room. You squeezed your eyes shut as embarrassment flooded your veins, tucking your face into Joel's neck to hide.

"What-" you heard Ellie say from the hall, then the door slammed shut, leaving just you and Joel. The two of you stayed frozen, his body still pinning yours into the mattress under the covers, legs still wrapped around his waist as you listened to Tommy and Ellie's hushed voices trail down the stairs.

"Fuck," he sighed again, dropping his head against your shoulder.

Your heart fluttered in your chest as the both of you slowly regained your senses. Your hands drifted lightly over his back as he nuzzled into your neck, and you were perfectly content to remain just like that, but unfortunately he pushed himself up on his elbows with a sigh.

"I should go see what he wants," he murmured, giving you a heated look that told you talking to his brother was the last thing he wanted to do.

"Okay," you squeaked, feeling your cheeks warm under his gaze. He looked like he wanted to say something else but decided against it and instead sat up with a grunt. You pulled the covers back over you, the cool morning air prickling your skin now that you didn't have his body heat to keep you warm, and watched as he fumbled around the room for a discarded shirt. When his back was turned, he tried to subtly tuck his throbbing cock into his waistband, but you noticed and bit back a grin. Secretly, you were grateful for the interruption. As much as you wanted him, you needed to take things slow.

He walked down the stairs, his pace slower than usual as he favored his side with the wound. When his eyes met Tommy's in the kitchen, he saw the flash of guilt across his face for interrupting what was shaping up to be a really good fucking morning.

"Sorry," he said again, glancing quickly at the back of Ellie's head as she rummaged through the pantry for something to eat, completely oblivious to what they almost walked in on. "The kid let me in."

"Yeah, I got that," Joel grumbled as he made his way to the coffee maker and flipped the switch.

"Hey Joel, can I take this?" Ellie held up a box of granola bars and he nodded. She ripped into one and practically shoved half of it into her mouth. "How's it feel to be back home?" she asked with a mouthful of sticky oats. Joel made a disgusted face at the visual and she smirked at his reaction.

"Good," was all he said, turning away before the heat crept up his neck. It felt really fucking good to be home. "So what's goin' on?" he asked Tommy, who was leaning up against the kitchen sink.

"Couple of guys found some tracks this mornin'," Tommy began, and the hairs on the back of Joel's neck stood up.

"Tracks?" you questioned as you appeared in the doorway in a fresh set of clothes. Joel tried not to let his gaze linger on you, noting with a sick sense of pride that your neck still looked a little pink from his mouth, but it was hard. He should have just stayed in bed with you.

"Doesn't look like a big group," he said as Joel's face fell. "It ain't your fault-"

"They followed me here, Tommy," Joel rubbed the heels of his hands into his eyes.

"We'll handle it," Tommy replied calmly while you and Ellie sat down silently at the table to listen. "Shit was bound to happen sooner or later."

"Goddamnit," Joel growled angrily under his breath. "I shoulda been more careful. Stupid fuckin'-"

"Joel, you were passed out on the back of a horse," Tommy reasoned, "it's a miracle you even made it back at all. The tracks were a few miles south, I'm gonna get a group together later this mornin' and see what we can find."

"I'll go with you," he said but before Tommy could respond, you piped up.

"No, you're not."

Joel twisted around, taking in the alarmed look on your face. He held your gaze for a moment, your eyes pleading with him. Please don't. I just got you back. He immediately caved.

"Okay," he agreed, and you visibly relaxed with a smile. You desperately wanted to go to him, pull him close and thank him for listening to you, but your audience held you back.

Ellie glanced between the two of you with a knowing grin, finally sensing the change in the room.

"I wasn't lookin' for volunteers, anyway," Tommy said, breaking the heavy silence and pushing off the counter. "Just comin' by to tell you what's goin' on. We're headin' out in an hour, I'll stop by later and let you know what we find."

The coffee maker beeped and Joel grabbed two mugs from the cupboard. "Be careful out there," he told his brother as Tommy slid on his boots and swung open the door. "Don't do anythin' stupid."

"That's rich, comin' from you," he replied with a chuckle and Ellie snorted. Joel shot him a glare before he left, pouring coffee into each of your mugs. He took a grateful sip before bringing yours to the table and sat down. The both of you sipped your coffees in silence, eyes glued to the table while trying to ignore the obvious tension building. Ellie began to connect the dots and stood up.

"I should get going," she announced.

"You don't have to-"

"Stay and warm up a bit-"

She cut you both off. "I got shit to do. Homework and all that," she said, lying through her teeth as she headed for her boots. "Don't worry, I'll lock it behind me," she teased, slipping out the front door while your cheeks burned hot with embarrassment.

"Jesus," you muttered and Joel had to hold back a laugh. He stared down at his coffee, the mug now half filled with the dark, steaming liquid as he struggled to come up with something to say. There was so much he didn't even know where to start.

"Oh! Your meds!" you exclaimed, jumping up from your chair to retrieve the little orange pills Nick gave you the night before. "He said you need to take these with food. Let me make you something," you told him while you shuffled around pots and pans, looking for anything to keep yourself busy.

He sat back in his chair and watched you move around the kitchen with ease. Pulling oatmeal out of the pantry, measuring it out, boiling the pot with water.

You looked nervous. The thought made him smile. He made you nervous.

Right as you turned the burner off and grabbed a bowl you felt his hands circle your hips. You sighed and couldn't resist melting against him, closing your eyes for a moment and resting the back of your head against his shoulder while he buried his face in the crook of your neck.

"Thank you," he whispered while pressing a chaste kiss behind your ear.

"It's just oatmeal," you whispered back. He swallowed and shook his head before planting another kiss in the same spot.

"No, it's not."

You knew what he was trying to say and it made your heart swell. Thank you for taking care of me. Thank you for giving me a chance. Thank you for staying. Thank you for saving my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

"You're welcome," you replied, your voice wavering a bit as you turned around in his arms. You laced your fingers together behind his neck and gazed up at him, examining every wrinkle and scar, fighting the urge to kiss each and every one.

"I love you," he said softly while his thumbs tucked underneath the hem of your shirt, searching for any bit of your soft skin he could find. "I know you can't say it back yet and that's okay. I just really needed to tell you."

You blinked back your tears and nodded, pulling him down to your level and slotting your lips together once again. He sighed as his shoulders relaxed and for the first time everything just felt right so you tentatively flicked your tongue over his lower lip. You felt him smile before he allowed you to deepen the kiss, your tongue slowly and deeply massaging his as he pulled your body closer, pressing you firmly against him.

A deep groan rumbled from his chest when you raked your fingers through his hair, your knees practically buckling at the sound. He walked you backwards until you felt the counter pressing against your back, his kisses growing hungrier and his fingers gripping your hips tighter.

"Your food's getting cold," you mumbled, turning your face towards the oatmeal cooling on the stove.

"Don't care," he said, his lips grazing over your throat. He missed you so much and now that he finally had you, he couldn't get enough. When he dropped to his knees, his fingers hooking into the waistband of your jeans and his mouth ghosting over the apex of your thighs, you gasped and grabbed his hair, stopping him.

"I-I'm not ready for all that yet," you admitted as the warmth of embarrassment flooded your cheeks and chest. "I'm sorry, I know you've been waiting for so long-"

"Shh, it's okay," he said sincerely, then stood back up with a grunt. He cupped your face and gave you a gentle kiss. "I can wait. I'll wait forever, I don't care," he still cradled your jaw as he nuzzled his nose alongside yours.

"This is all I ever want, anyway," he whispered, and you smiled.

It was the first day of your fresh start.

Nick had offered you time off to care for Joel but it quickly became apparent as the day went on that he was doing far better than any of you expected.

He only had a little trouble going up the stairs so the two of you spent the rest of the day in the living room. You had thought he was going to try and nap so you busied yourself with a book, his head resting in your lap as your fingers absentmindedly carded through his curls while you read on the couch, the fire crackling next to you. It wasn't until you lifted your hand to flip a page when you noticed his eyes on you and you grinned.

"I thought you were going to try and sleep?"

"Not very tired," he replied, gently reaching up for your wrist and putting your hand back in his hair. "Feels real nice," he explained. You put your book face down, the spine spread open to hold your place, and began playing with his hair again.

"Joel?"

"Hm?"

"Did you go to my parents' house?"

Shit. In all the chaos since arriving back in Jackson he never had a chance to tell you.

"Yes," he said, staring up at you from your lap, watching as the shadow from the flames danced across your face.

"Is that where it happened?" you asked, your eyes traveling to the side where he was stabbed. He nodded and you sniffled, dropping your gaze to the floor. "I thought so. Because of the pills," you said quietly, "my name was on the bottle."

"I know," he replied, watching as your eyes clouded with guilt. He frowned. "What's wrong?"

"You got hurt because of me," you said, lower lip trembling. "If I hadn't been so immature we could've talked about it but instead I pushed you away and you almost died trying to prove a point-"

"Hey," he cut you off and sat up next to you, "it's not your fault, don't you dare think that, alright?" He cupped your face but you still refused to meet his eye. "I fucked up. It was on me, okay? I fucked up with Angie and I fucked up out there."

"You could've died," you said, two tears trickling down your cheeks. He wiped them away with his thumbs.

"But I didn't."

You took in a shaky breath and finally looked at him. "Don't do something like that ever again," you told him, an undercurrent of anger in your voice, and he smirked.

"Yes, ma'am."

He dropped his hold on your face and leaned back, stretching his arm across the top of the couch. "Can't deny it got results, though," he teased after a moment and you shot him a glare but he could see you biting back a smile. You picked up your book, leaning into his shoulder just a bit as you continued to read and he stared into the fire, his mind still reeling to catch up with how fast things changed. It felt like a dream.

"What did you go there for, anyway?"

Joel rolled his eyes. "It sounds so stupid now."

You put your book back down and twisted to face him. "I'm sure it's not."

With a groan, Joel pushed himself up from the couch and began to rummage through his backpack, which remained idle next to the door since the day before. You tucked your legs underneath you and watched curiously.

When he pulled out a familiar looking binder, a faded beige color with a black trim, you could have sworn your heart stopped.

"I wanted to give you somethin' that you would recognize. Somethin' that felt like home," he began, holding it out to you. "Maybe bring you some comfort or... I don't know. Like I said, it sounds stupid now."

"No," you whispered as you carefully took the album from his hands. "Not stupid, Joel." You pursed your lips as you stared at the cover, your fingertips gently skirting over the fabric. Your family was right in your lap. So many wonderful memories... right fucking there.

The tears welled up without warning and began to pour down your cheeks.

"Are you okay?" he asked, and you nodded.

"Yeah," you said, laughing through the tears. "You... you gave me my family back, Joel. How-" your voice cracked and you averted your gaze, doing your best to compose yourself but you knew it was no use. "How could you think this was stupid? This is everything to me."

He gave you a shy smile and shrugged. "Then it was worth it."

He had been listening to you for the better part of an hour as you walked him through each photo in the album and his only regret was he wasn't able to stay long enough in California to find more pictures. He loved hearing you talk about your family, about your childhood, about everything you loved. The look on your face and the tone of your voice was all he ever wanted. You were so fucking happy, so content and at ease that he knew without a doubt if he had to go through it all over again, he would do it in a heartbeat.

"Oh my god, so this was taken the day Matty tried to teach me to surf," you said with a giggle, dragging his eyes from your face to a picture of you and your brother on the beach in wetsuits. "He had learned in college because he went to school on the coast. I told you that, right?"

"Yep," he said with a warm smile.

"Anyway, it went as well as you could imagine. I have no coordination whatsoever. I fell, like, every single time, no matter how small the wave... Oh! This must have been his graduation," you said, pointing to the next photo of the four of you all dressed up in front of a regal looking building. "He was so smart, Joel. He was going to be a chemist. Who does that? Who majors in Chemistry? I absolutely hated chem," you said with a shake of your head. Your eyes hadn't stopped shining since you opened the album and the smile never left your face. Your gaze softened and you quieted down as you stared down lovingly at the pictures, your fingers tracing over them delicately. Occasionally you would tell him a story and other times you would grow quiet and thoughtful. He sat by your side and just listened, letting you work through your feelings and memories at your own pace.

"I miss them so much," you eventually said softly.

"I know," he replied, pressing a kiss to the side of your head.

"Thank you, Joel," you said, voice thick with emotion when you turned to look at him. Your eyes were wide and wet with unshed tears, and he saw your throat bob when you swallowed tightly. "This means so much to me, I don't know how to put it into words."

"You're welcome, baby," he told you. He pinched your chin and leaned in to kiss you when a sharp knock sounded from the door.

He stood with a frustrated huff and you hid your smile, setting the photo album down on the sofa next to you.

"Hey, come in," Joel said once he opened the door. Tommy stepped through and shrugged off his coat, locking eyes and giving you a nod. "What'd you find?"

"There were only four. Two of 'em were half frozen and the other two didn't have much fight in 'em."

You made a face and looked away as Joel led Tommy into the kitchen.

"Who were they?" Joel asked, and you heard the telltale sound of liquid pouring from a bottle. You stood and made your way towards the kitchen.

"Don't know," Tommy admitted, tossing back the whiskey. Joel gave him a refill right as you were entering the room. "We questioned the two that were conscious but they didn't give us much. Said they were alone. Said they were part of a bigger group that got picked off."

"The men I killed?" Joel asked, brow furrowed as he took a sip of whiskey.

"They didn't say, but they did tell us a few of their guys were out scavenging and never made it back, so maybe."

Joel nodded and you leaned against the doorframe, crossing your arms.

"You think they were tellin' the truth? That there ain't any more of 'em?"

Tommy shrugged. "Didn't have reason to think otherwise. We scoured the area. Couldn't find any other tracks-"

"But the snow coulda covered it up," Joel offered anxiously. He scratched his chin, staring blankly at the floor while the gears turned in his head. "They probably followed the horse tracks and when the snow got to be too much, they lost their way. They were comin' for me, Tommy."

For some reason it never occurred to you that those men were looking for revenge. It sent a shiver down your spine.

"Or they were just lookin' for someplace warm. You don't know, Joel. Besides, it don't matter now. It's dealt with."

Joel didn't look convinced but he kept his mouth shut, for your sake. He could tell he was worrying you and he had already put you through enough as it was.

"Listen, I oughta get back to Maria. I'm sure she's got her hands full," Tommy said after a brief silence. He handed Joel his empty glass and shot you a look. "Don't worry, sugar. We got this under control."

You gave him a tight smile and moved out of his way so he could gather his things.

"Thank you," you told him quietly while Joel rinsed out their glasses.

His eyes flicked up to yours as he laced up his boots. "Don't mention it. Ain't nothin' bad gonna happen, I promise."

You wished his words brought you some comfort but you couldn't shake the nagging voice in the back of your head.

"C'mon. Why don't you show me more pictures," Joel urged once Tommy was on his way. It was clear he was trying to get your mind off things.

"Actually, I think I'm gonna go to bed," you told him. He was in the middle of picking up your photo album when he paused and glanced up. His eyes scanned your face, clocking the anxiety you were trying to hide. He could tell you still felt responsible, even though he had insisted what happened wasn't your fault, and now the raiders following him back into the mountains just made matters worse.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," you replied, your voice sounding more confident as you tried to shrug off the bad feeling Tommy left. Your eyes flickered to his awkwardly. "Do you... need help getting up the stairs?"

He frowned and shook his head, too lost in his own head to pick up on what you were too nervous to really ask. "I'll be alright. Go get some rest, I'm gonna stay up for a bit."

After you went to bed, he tried to distract himself from the possibility he put the entire town, but more importantly, you, at risk. He poured another glass of whiskey and picked up a book, but he found himself rereading the same paragraph over and over for half an hour.

What a stupid fucking thing to do. He pinched the bridge of his nose, kicking himself for being so careless. Maybe he could convince you tomorrow to let him go out with Tommy. He trusted his brother, but he knew he would feel better if he explored the area himself. He knew he had to be careful. He made so much progress with you, he couldn't risk fucking that up, either, and based on the way you looked at him earlier, it was clear the prospect of him leaving Jackson again so soon scared you.

Warmth bloomed in his chest and the corners of his lips twitched into a smile. The idea of you scared didn't please him, but scared for him? Well, that was different.

The way he woke up that morning still felt like a dream. Your arms wrapped around him, your face nuzzled into his shoulder, your scent invading his senses. It felt strange for a split second until his memories came flooding back from a time when he woke up like that every single day and he foolishly wondered if you had finally remembered. Once you opened your eyes he knew instantly you hadn't, but somehow he was even more excited that someone as perfect as you found your way into his bed twice.

Bed.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes before tossing back the rest of his whiskey. He was procrastinating now, tending to the fire one last time before dragging himself back to his empty bed. How was he going to sleep when he knew you were right in the next room? God, what he wouldn't give to curl up in bed with you.

He froze, the poker hovering in the air halfway towards the fire as he thought back to your words when you went to bed, now hours ago.

Do you need help getting up the stairs?

You sounded a little strange but at the time he just chalked it up to Tommy's news about the raiders. When you asked if he needed help, were you trying to get him to come up and sleep with you?

"Oh, you fuckin' idiot," he growled to himself under his breath before slotting the poker back in the stand. Was it too late?

He crept quietly up the steps, hoping to see your light on under your door but unfortunately, your room was dark. Shit.

Changing into his sweatpants, he mentally chastised himself for being so goddamn thick and missing his opportunity to go to bed with you. After he washed up, he paced around his room, anxiously chewing his nail and wondering what he should do. Should he just go to sleep? Should he slip into your bed the way you did the night before? Would you be upset if he did?

Just when he thought he was about to wear a hole into the thin carpet he heard a light tapping on his bedroom door. He froze and held his breath, wondering if he imagined it until he heard it again.

He rushed to the door and whipped it open where he found you standing in the hallway wearing a thin T-shirt and sweatpants of your own. You didn't look like you had just woken up, your eyes didn't look like they were clouded with sleep. You were waiting for him.

Your gaze darted quickly over his bare chest, like you were trying not to look but couldn't help yourself. His cock twitched, excited by the notion that you could be fighting your own arousal, same as him.

"Can I stay with you?" you asked, your voice impossibly small and fuck, his heart squeezed in his chest at how sweet you were in that moment.

"Yeah," he breathed, hoping he didn't sound as desperate as he felt. He widened the door and stepped aside, watching as you slipped past him and curled up underneath his sheets.

Neither of you said a word. He just flicked off the light and slid into bed beside you, turning onto his side and pulling you against him. His face nuzzled the back of your neck and his arms wrapped around your waist and he heard you sigh. He held you close and with tears in his eyes whispered how sorry he was, how he would never hurt you again, how he was weak and stupid and he loved you so much.

You didn't say much in return. Just the occasional nod or sniffle or squeeze of his hand in acknowledgement.

All of the stress and anguish from the past several months were the furthest things from both your minds as you fell asleep that night, each of you finally assured that everything was going to be okay.

Please follow @punkshort-notifs and turn on notifications for fic updates ❤️

#joel miller #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller fic #joel miller smut #joel the last of us #joel miller x reader #pedro pascal #joel miller fluff #pedro pascal characters fanfiction #the last of us game #the last of us hbo #the last of us fanfiction #the last of us #ikwya fic #joel miller fanfic #joel miller tlou

1K notes · View notes

leovaldezluvr · 3 months

Text

𝐍𝐀𝐈'𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 !!

hi people!! my name is anaiya, but feel free to nick name me whatever! I usually go by nia, nina or nai. my pronouns are she/her and i'm a young writer! (I don't feel comfortable revealing my age just yet haha) my favorite artists are kali uchis, bryson tiller, mac demarco, frank ocean and many more! i'm mainly going to be writing the sturniolos and some pjo characters for now, might change in the future. all my chris fics are dedicated to @thesnshinee (aka the biggest chris girl ik LMAO) i love making new friends, so feel free to write me!!

THINGS I WILL WRITE:

— headcannons

— small fics / oneshots

— angst

— fluff

– x reader or ocs

THINGS I WON'T WRITE:

— incest

— any weird kinks

— nick x fem!reader/oc (romantically)

— pure smut (but some of my fics might contain suggestive content)

I DON'T CONDONE PLAGIARISM!! writers put time and effort into their work, so don't just go and copy it and mark it as your own.

i'd love to take request!! just write stuff in "ask away" and i'll get to it when i have time.

my bestfriend in the whole world @thesnshinee inspired me to start writing, so go follow her n show some love!!

that's all for now, talk to you soon 🎀

— 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄, 𝐍𝐀𝐈.

20 notes · View notes

in-a-nook-with-a-notebook · 1 month

Text

Capture The Flag | Anything For You

Masterlist

Franchise: Percy Jackson

Pairing: Luke Castellan x Nick Oliver (original character, pronouns are he/him/his)

Word Count: 2k

Warnings: canon violence, angst if you squint, swearing, making out, idk horny demigods, sleepy Luke

Series Summary: Nick Oliver was on track to figure out his life after high school. One day in a bookstore, and suddenly, post-high school plans were the farthest thing from his mind. One day in a bookstore, he met Luke Castellan.

Chapter Summary: Nick's first game of capture the flag, featuring Nick trying to talk Luke out of running away.

A/N: Did not thing it would take me this long to get around to uploading a new chapter, I checked when I put out the last part and dear gods it's been a hot minute. Enjoy! Hopefully I'll be posting a little more often now

It’s been two weeks now since Nick has been claimed. He spends his nights in the Big House, because Hades doesn’t have a cabin at the camp. Luke always visits him, and Mr. D seems to have taken a liking to the son of Hades.

One afternoon, Nick is in the middle of his first game of demigod capture the flag, and he has a plan. Well, part of one. A girl from Athena cabin, Annabeth Chase, had thought of it. When Nick had mentioned to her that he had a tendency to blend in with the shadows, she had immediately started devising a strategy before the game started.

Presently, Nick stands silently in the shadows of the trees surrounding his team’s flag. Right in cue, Luke sneaks into Nick’s line of sight. He’s sweating and he has a cut on his bicep. He looks relieved when he sees the flag, but his expression changes once Nick noiselessly slips out of the shadows and holds his sword to Luke’s neck from behind.

“Surprise, Castellan,” Nick says jokingly.

“Should’ve known,” he murmurs. “Didn’t see you out in battle, and I fought just about everyone on your team but you.”

“Well, that’s almost true.”

A cheer roars from the other side of the woods and Luke takes the opportunity to slip away, pointing his sword at Nick’s throat.

“My team already got your flag, thanks to Beckendorf,” Nick says, grinning. “What’s the point of you coming for ours now?”

“Camp is nothing but training and more training, right?” Luke counters.

Then, they were locked in one of the most intense capture the flag battles in Camp Half-Blood history. The two teens fought from one flag to the other, through almost the entirety of the woods, over the river, past Zeus’s fist, until they reach the sheltered clearing of Luke’s team’s flag. Other campers leap out of the way of them, but neither Nick nor Luke are aware of people in their surroundings.

Nick ducks under Luke’s slash, disappears into a shadow and reappears behind the blond, sweeping his legs out from under him. He plants his foot on Luke’s chest plate and points his sword at Luke’s neck.

“Give up yet?” Nick taunts playfully.

Luke stares up at him for a moment. Finally, he drops his sword and slowly holds his hands up in surrender.

A mix of whispers and congratulations erupt from the crowd. Campers on Nick’s team congratulate him for beating Luke, who’s one of the best swordsmen in the camp, while Luke’s team is mumbling to each other about Luke’s surrender. Even Nick finds the blond’s loss surprising, though he doesn’t show it. Luke never surrenders…

Nick offers his hand and helps Luke to his feet. Luke leans towards Nick’s ear. “Meet me in the dining pavilion after everyone’s gone to bed,” he mutters. He smiles when he pulls away, clapping Nick on the shoulder. Nick watches him walk away until Annabeth and the son of Poseidon, Percy Jackson, drag Nick along to the victory party.

“Surprise, Castellan,” Nick says jokingly.

“Should’ve known,” he murmurs. “Didn’t see you out in battle, and I fought just about everyone on your team but you.”

“Well, that’s almost true.”

A cheer roars from the other side of the woods and Luke takes the opportunity to slip away, pointing his sword at Nick’s throat.

“My team already got your flag, thanks to Beckendorf,” Nick says, grinning. “What’s the point of you coming for ours now?”

“Camp is nothing but training and more training, right?” Luke counters.

“Give up yet?” Nick taunts playfully.

Luke stares up at him for a moment. Finally, he drops his sword and slowly holds his hands up in surrender.

————————

As Nick leaves the Big House, he pulls on a jacket. It’s surprisingly cold outside for a summer night. He strolls through the damp grass, making his way through the camp. He finds Luke waiting for him at the pavilion, leaning against one of the columns.

“Hey,” Nick says quietly, but loud enough for Luke to hear. Luke jumps a little, looking for the source of the voice. He relaxes when he notices Nick.

“Don’t sneak up on me like that,” Luke jokes.

“Sorry. I can’t always control the whole shadow thing.”

“It’s fine.” Luke shoots him a grin. “Guess I just have to get used to it.”

Nick nods, leaning against the column next to Luke’s. “So… what’s up?”

The son of Hermes stays silent for a moment. “Do you ever feel like… I dunno, running away?” He says finally. Nick frowns at the ground.

“I’ve been running my whole life, Luke. Before I met you, I had no idea where I’d end up next. Hell, I was planning for university, but that feels like it’s out the window after finding out all this. Now, I’ve finally found a safe place, a place that feels like home, here with you. I’m kinda getting tired of running.”

“We’re almost adults, Nick, we could leave if we wanted.”

“Why do you want to?”

Luke sighs, staring up at the stars. “The gods. They don’t care about us.”

“Luke…”

“Do you know why my cabin’s always so crowded?” He asks. Nick shrugs. “It’s not only children of Hermes in there. All of the unclaimed demigods get stuck there, too, because the gods won’t take a moment to acknowledge the existence of their own children. If the cabin wasn’t so full, we’d have you in there as well. The gods don’t help us, they don’t talk to us. Why should we obey them?”

Nick chews on his lip, thinking of how to respond. “I can see your reasoning,” he says after a minute of silence. “The gods give us life, then they leave with no contact whatsoever. I’m not always their biggest fan, at this point.” Nick turns his gaze on the blond. “Luke, I know I probably can’t change your mind on this, but sometimes, I think they left us down here for a reason, for our best chance at a normal life before we get thrown into all…” Nick gestures to the camp, “this. Maybe they left to protect us.”

“Well, you’re right about one thing,” Luke says. Nick raises an eyebrow. “You can’t change my mind.” Luke smirks when Nick chuckles softly. Luke looks back towards the sky.

“Your eyes are really pretty in the moonlight,” Nick says without thinking. His eyes widen and Luke blushes red, visible even in the darkness. “Sorry. Um. That was weird, wasn’t it? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t ha-”

Before Nick can finish his sentence, Luke pushes off his pillar, cradles Nick’s face in his hands and gently presses his lips to those of the son of Hades. It takes Nick almost too long to realize what’s happening. Just before Luke pulls away, Nick wraps his arms around Luke’s neck, keeping Luke where he is. He feels the blond smile into the kiss.

Finally, they both pull away to breathe.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since the bookstore,” Luke confesses shyly.

“Glad I’m not the only one,” Nick murmurs.

Luke slips his hand into Nick’s. “Are you alright?” He asks. “I mean, in general? You… I dunno, you don’t seem like yourself, other than during capture the flag.”

Nick clears his throat. “‘Course I’m fine.”

Luke tilts Nick’s head up to look at him. “Are you sure? You can tell me anything, you know.” Nick sighs, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I dunno,” he says honestly. “I mean, I feel a lot safer here at camp, and a lot more comfortable than I did our there with the normal mortals, but…”

“But?” Luke prompts.

“Campers talk,” Nick states quietly.

“Wanna walk and talk?”

Nick nods and allows Luke to lead him over the grounds as he talks.

“They watch me like I’m some kinda ticking time bomb,” Nick explains. “Like I’ll snap and kill everyone or something. They whisper about me when I pass as though I won’t notice, they leave me out of things on purpose, and they avoid me like the plague if they can help it. There’s like, a handful of people here who treat me like a normal person. Well, as normal as one can be with this life. You, Percy, Annabeth, Will, and Beckendorf.”

“Nick…”

“I’m not an idiot,” Nick says bitterly. “I’ve developed a Hades-kid rep by now, I know that no one thinks I’m good news because of who my dad is, but I was judged enough out in the fucking normal world. I thought it would be different here, you know?”

“Hey, look at me,” Luke says. “You belong here, Nick. Here with me, and all the other campers, regardless of parentage. If anyone tells you otherwise, I will personally kick their fucking kólos on your behalf.”

“That’s incredibly reassuring, Mr. Master Swordsman,” Nick says sarcastically.

“I’m serious,” Luke says. “If they mess with you, they can answer to me.”

Nick blushes red. “That means a lot, coming from you.” Luke grins, slipping his hand into Nick’s. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

Nick shrugs. “Just… everything. I mean, I’ve found myself here. With you. All thanks to a bookstore in Brooklyn Heights.”

Luke laughs, and the sound of it stirs up butterflies in Nick’s stomach.

“Well, I’m eternally grateful that I met you, Nick Oliver,” Luke says in a soft voice. The butterflies in Nick’s stomach are doing acrobatics. Luke squeezes Nick’s hand as he leans down to press a kiss to Nick’s cheek.

Nick stops the blond in his tracks, wrapping his arms around Luke’s neck again for another kiss. Luke’s arms automatically snake around Nick’s waist, pulling the son of Hades flush against him. Their lips move against each other in perfect harmony. Nick’s fingers thread into Luke’s hair, tugging lightly. Luke groans into the kiss and Nick pulls away, catching his breath with a grin.

“You like that?”

“From you, I’ll take anything,” Luke mutters almost hungrily, dipping his head to press kisses to Nick’s neck.

“Luke,” Nick gasps. Luke hums against Nick’s skin, pressing his soft lips to Nick’s jawline. “Fuck…”

Nick’s vision is obscured in black momentarily. Suddenly, the two boys are in the corner of Nick’s temporary bedroom in the Big House.

“Holy shit, what just happened,” Luke says in one amazed breath.

“I… I think I can travel through shadows?” Nick says, though it comes out as more of a question than a statement. “Like teleportation? Shadow travel. Huh.” Nick stares at the wall for a second before remembering what was happening before the shadow travelling.

“So, where were we?”

Luke blinks twice before properly returning to Nick. “I believe I was right about here.” Luke continues where he left off, kissing along Nick’s jaw. Nick hums, tugging at Luke’s hair the way he had done before.

The boys slowly make their way to Nick’s bed, where they lay down and make out for a surprising few hours, not that either of them were paying attention. They were a little preoccupied with each other to notice the passage of time.

Sometime later, the two fall asleep in each other’s arms. Luke’s arm is wrapped tightly around Nick’s waist while they sleep. Little do they know that Chiron had seen them like that in the ungodly hours of the night (no pun intended). He said nothing and didn’t interrupt, since they looked so peaceful and happy with each other. Chiron hadn’t seen Luke so at ease in a long time, so he figured it best not to disturb.

————————

Needless to say, it was quite awkward when Chiron woke them the next morning.

Nick wakes first, tensing in Luke’s arms at the sight of the activities director standing in full centaur form over Nick’s bed.

“M-Morning,” Nick says.

“Good morning, Mr. Oliver.”

“Luke,” Nick whispers. The blond shifts, but doesn’t wake. “Oh my gods. Luke!” Nick gives him a little shove.

Luke groans tiredly. “Don’t wanna get up. Too warm.”

“Luke,” Nick hisses, shoving him again.

“Nicky…”

Luke’s eyes slowly blink open. He finally realizes that Chiron is right there. The blond jumps so high in surprise that he falls off the bed with a yelp.

“Good morning, Luke.”

“Morning, Chiron,” Luke groans from the floor, holding his head. “We can explain.”

“I asked him to stay,” Nick says quickly. “I’ve been having really bad nightmares and having him around makes it better. I’m sorry, I never mentioned it.”

“No need to apologize, child,” Chiron says. “Whatever helps you sleep at night. Though, Luke, I suspect you may wish to return to your cabin before your siblings interrogate you on your whereabouts.”

“Oh, that would be a nightmare.”

Luke drags himself off the floor, rubbing the back of his head. “Training later?” He asks Nick. The son of Hades nods. “Great. See you then, Nick. Chiron.” Luke nods to the centaur before hastily exiting the bedroom.

Chiron regards Nick with a twinkle in his eye. Nick’s face heats up.

“Nothing happened.”

“I didn’t say a word,” Chiron says with a shrug. “Though, if something did… well, that’s the most content I’ve seen Luke Castellan in years.” He sighs. “I’ll see you for archery in a few hours.” He then leaves with no further comment.

Nick lays down again, staring at the ceiling. A smile creeps over his face, and he can’t stop the happy little giggle that escapes him.

A/N: send help I graduate in less than two months

#percy jackson #percy jackson and the olympians #luke castellan #son of hermes #son of hades #nick oliver #anything for you #luke castellan x male oc #luke castellan x male reader #oc #original chracter #male oc #male original character

13 notes · View notes

cowgurrrl · 1 year

Text

She’s A Gun

Pairing: Joel Miller x fem!reader

Author’s note: *John Mulaney voice* My wife is a bitch and I love her SO much (gif by @salome-c) I also didn’t know how to end this so sorry

Summary: Somebody didn’t give the new guy a heads up about talking about Joel Miller’s family [1.6k]

Warnings: idiots in love, a quick mention of a queer slur, I can’t think of anything else!!

You catch him looking at you across the room as you sip some new whiskey Tommy traded for. He looks young and fresh-faced without many scars or littering the surface of his skin. His eyes are bright when they meet yours, and you give him a polite smile before returning to your drink. Unsurprisingly, he bellies up to the bar a few minutes later. You glance at the door, and the man follows your gaze.

"You meeting someone?" He asks. The bartender, a kind man named Nick, flashes you a look, but you wave him off, turning to the younger man, who is dead set on making his presence known.

"You must be new." You say, and he laughs as he holds out his hand.

"You got me. I'm Luke," He says. You meet him halfway and shake his hand, giving him your name. "Where are you from?"

"I came here from Boston."

"You're a long way from home. What brought you here?"

"Long story."

"Is it longer than the time it would take to get you another drink?"

"I can get my own drink, but thank you."

"'Course," he says but doesn't move from his place next to you. "What do you do here in Jackson?" He asks, and you open your mouth to say something, but he cuts you off. "Let me guess. School teacher. No, a nurse."

"I work patrols, but good guess."

"Oh, I'm going to work patrols, too. I actually just signed up for my first shift tomorrow. Speaking of which, do you know anything about this guy… Miller, I think, is his name. I heard he's a hard ass."

"Joel or Tommy?"

"There's multiple?" He asks, and you smirk as you sip your drink.

"There's a few of 'em hanging around, yeah. What did they say? Maybe I can," you shrug and try to hide the amusement in your voice. "Help you figure it out."

"Well, this guy, Seth, said Miller shouldn't even be in Jackson. Something about him killing people to get by before coming here, but he gets to stay because he's buddies with Maria. Apparently, he's a hell of a shot, though. I heard a rumor that he once shot an Infected from a mile away, but I'll believe it when I see it." He says, and you nod.

You remember that day well. Tommy had been bragging about his marksmanship, mostly telling big fish stories, and you finally got sick of it. Joel told you to leave it, but you had to see. When you went on patrol the next day, you and Tommy had a competition to see how far he could actually shoot. You passed the gun back and forth to see who could hit accurately and how far. You were the one holding the gun when the Infected bound his way up the hill and quickly went down as the bullet buried in his skull. You didn't think that story would've made the rounds, though.

"What else did Seth say?" You ask, and he puffs his cheeks out as he shakes his head.

"He told me to stay away from him. Something about not fucking with people like that because he's ruthless, especially when it comes to his kid. He said Miller yelled at him last week because he said something to her. Just... totally lost his mind like a crazy person." It wasn't just something. He called my daughter a dyke, you think to yourself. Joel may have pushed him and made him leave, but you threatened to ruin his fucking life. If you ever hear him say something like that to Ellie again, you'll make Joel look like the poster child for forgiveness. You bite the inside of your cheek and save that information for later.

Seth wasn't warning Luke about Joel. He was warning him about you.

"And you're sure he was talking about a man?"

"Pretty sure. I mean, I know people do lots of shitty things to stay alive, but I can't imagine a woman instilling that much fear in a man like Seth," He says, and you hum. "No offense."

"None taken." You smile and watch his guard come down just enough for him to feel comfortable reaching for your arm.

"I wish I had known they let women as beautiful as you out on patrol. I would've signed up with you instead of Miller." He says, and you almost gag. Joel's hand skims your lower back almost as if on cue, and you turn to face him. He kisses you a second too long before looking over your shoulder to face the stranger who looks embarrassed. His arm wraps protectively around your middle, and he's close enough that you can smell his shampoo over the bar’s stench of stale beer.

"Great timing. This is Luke. He's starting patrols tomorrow," You say. Joel reaches across the space to shake his hand, and Luke winces at his too-tight grip. "Luke, this is my husband, Joel Miller," you wish you had a camera to take a picture of the stunned look on his face when he hears the last name. "Joel, we were just talking about the last time I was on patrol with Tommy."

"You're Miller?" Luke asks, suddenly looking pale. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Oh, I thought I mentioned it. I'm sorry, I'm probably losing my mind." You echo Seth's words and smack yourself on the forehead dramatically. Luke drains his drink before glancing around the room.

"It was great to meet you, man. Um, I'm gonna run to the bathroom really fast." He says and takes several steps away from the bar.

"Oh, so soon? I was hoping you and Joel could talk about routes."

"Maybe later." He says, and with that, he's gone. You smile and turn in Joel's arms to face him.

"Jesus, I thought he was going to have a heart attack. What did you say to him?"

"Seth was warning him about the mercenary who's buddies with Maria and shot an Infected from a mile away, asked if I knew anything about the guy."

"Seth should learn to keep his fuckin' mouth shut." He grumbles, and you nod.

"It didn't help his case that he tried flirting with me. Even asked if I was a school teacher." You say, and he gives you a look. His warm fingers reach under your shirt collar to pull out the chain with your wedding band on it.

"Maybe if you actually wore this, that wouldn't happen so often."

"C'mon, everybody knows I'm yours. It's not my fault no one gave him the run down," you say, and he tugs on the chain to kiss you, his big hands moving to hold your jaw. He swallows your gasp when he licks into your mouth, sending a zing of electricity down your spine. He's a touch too handsy for a public space, but you're not complaining. "I don't see you wearing yours out on patrol either." You say, pulling away before he can start something he can't finish, at least not in public. Still, his hand slips into your back pocket, squeezing your ass through the denim.

"Don't want to lose a finger. Besides, everybody knows I'm yours," he parrots, and you smile. A familiar, old country song plays over the speakers, and Joel lights up at the first few chords. "Will you dance with me?" He asks, pressing light kisses to your jaw to butter you up. You lock your arms around his shoulders and let yourself forget about everyone else in the bar.

"And to think there was a time when you hated PDA."

"That was before someone tried hittin' on my wife," he says, and you feel like your face will get stuck from smiling so much. It's been three months since the small backyard wedding officiated by Tommy and Maria. Ellie walked you down the aisle— more of a patch of grass than anything else— and acted as your maid of honor. When Tommy asked if she agreed to give you to Joel, she said, "it's not like she's fucking property, but sure." She beamed so brightly when she realized you each included her in your vows, promising to love and protect her as much as you love and protect each other. It wasn't planned, but the unexpected matching further proved that you three are a family. Still, you don't know if you'll ever get used to hearing Joel call you his wife. "Dance with me, please." He pouts into your neck, and you finally give in, grabbing his hand and leading him to the dance floor.

He pulls you close, and you bury your face in his neck as you slowly dance to Tanya Tucker's voice. He sings along for only you to hear, his accent getting stronger as he does. You could stay like this forever, wrapped up in him and listening to him sing the same song you used to sing along to while driving on backroads. You would marry him again if you could. You think you would marry him in every lifetime.

Scary rumors of mercenaries and blood on your hands fade from your mind. To men like Seth and Luke, you are a subversion of their holy mother. You are bloody and broken, a monster beyond saving. You are a warzone with a heartbeat.

But to Joel, you are the most sacred thing he's ever held. It's not enough to erase the rumors and nightmares about you, but it's enough to knock the wind out of you and make you love your husband that much more. That has to count for something.

🍓

Tag list: @evyiione

#joel and ellie #joel miller #the last of us #joel miller fic #joel miller x reader #joel tlou #the last of us x reader #joel miller the last of us #joel miller fluff #i wrote this for me but you can read it too i guess

5K notes · View notes