#Richard rider x reader

[xxoxobree]

I wanna write a Nova fic , I’m obsessed with Richard Rider and Sam Alexander 😩🩷

[bettyfrommars]

I'm on Fire//biker!older!Eddie x fem!Reader//90's au

Part 12: For Whom the Phone Rings

WARNINGS PLS READ: 18+ONLY, MATURE THEMES, violence, unprotected p in v, oral (f receiving), creampie, jealousy, threat of violence, homophobic slurs, threat of sexual violation (does not actually happen), threat to someone's family, foul language, derogatory slurs in general, mention of a gun, financial struggle, bribes, mention of blood, ANGST, biker MC, mention of violent past, hurt and comfort. WC: 8.2k

Summary: You and Eddie take another leap in your relationship and get cozy together, while Steve rolls into high gear with the MC, biting off a bit more than he can chew. Robin takes matters into her own hands to protect Oliver, and past relationships come back to haunt. Playlist

Series Masterlist

A/N: I rarely go into these chapters knowing what will happen, and this story in particular definitely has a mind of its own now. That being said, you won't ever read about the act of sexual violation in these or any of the main characters getting killed or detrimentally hurt, because I just can't stomach writing about it. This part is definitely angsty, but I hope you enjoy ❤️

pls NO MINORS beyond this point

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For Whom the Phone Rings

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You decided that making it through the rest of the dinner with John would be too painful knowing that Eddie was in love with you and he was out there on his motorcycle waiting like some Cool Rider dream out of Grease 2. Knowing that you were also in love with him and all of the endorphins that went along with that feeling made your body tingle. You didn’t want to let go of his hand; you wanted to just walk right out with him. Yet, the business side of you didn’t want to lose John as a contact, or Richard Gere for that matter. No need to burn unnecessary bridges.

You went back to the table and gave John a reluctant, sad smile, and told him the phone call was an emergency and you had to run. He got to his feet and insisted on driving you, but you assured him that your boyfriend was coming to pick you up. You realized in that moment that’d you’d never referred to Eddie as your boyfriend out loud before, and it felt really fucking good.

Eddie was straddling his motorcycle and smoking a cigarette when he caught sight of you coming out the front door, and you both grinned like idiots at each other.

“That was quick,” he swung his leg off, taking hold of your hand so he could yank you toward him faster, cause he couldn’t wait to get his lips on you again. He pulled his leather jacket out of one of the saddlebags and opened it up for you to put on. “It’s cold out on the road, baby.”

And so you let the heavy jacket with all of it’s zippers and buckles envelope you, smelling his cologne and a hint of nicotine in the leather. You of course hadn’t brought the helmet he bought for you, so you wore his again, buckling it under your chin as he revved the bike, throwing one of the body guards a dirty look for keeping his eyes on you for too long.

The only problem was your dress. Eddie anticipated the slit that went all the way up to your hip when you mounted behind him and the material fell back, exposing your entire leg. He instantly swung his arm back to block the view of your limb from the other dudes present, palming your knee. “Scoot in as tight as you can, baby,” he said to you above the growl of the engine, his wrist working at the throttle. During the ride home, his hand kept returning to the same spot, and you rubbed his chest with your hands, pinning your cheek to his shoulder, liking the way the ends of his hair flew back and tickled your nose.

Back at the garage, neither one of you could keep your hands off of each other after Eddie parked the bike. He actually tossed the helmet skidding to the pavement when you handed it to him because he didn’t want to miss a moment of being able to cup your ass and pull your mouth to his.

“God, I love you,” Eddie breathed, parting ways only to get the key out and unlock the door, and then you both stumbled in, laughing as you playfully bit his arm. You shrugged out of his jacket and he threw that over his head to the bottom of the stairs, just as your fingers hooked into his back belt loops and you stomped up the old wood stairs behind him.

This was one of those moments you knew you would cherish for the rest of your life. Even as it was happening, your body was registering it as one of your favorite memories. This new love with Eddie, this intense urgency to get somewhere to worship each other in peace.

He tugged you inside his apartment, pushed you back against the door, and held your hands above your head, kissing you as he braced you there. Tongues were quicker to touch than lips, and then his forehead pressed to yours; adrenaline surging.

Eddie’s hands released yours and slid down to feel you, pulling your breast free from the front of your dress so that his thumb could graze your nipple. His other hand found your bare leg beneath the slit of the dress and dipped down between your legs.

“Shit, baby,” he hissed, fingering your arousal as his cock flexed in his jeans.

“See what you do to me?” You slid your hands around the back of his neck, fingers into his hair, and picked your chin up to find his mouth again.

His knuckle dragged along your damp underwear, and you had your hand down his jeans now, palming him through his boxers. Your pussy throbbed as you got a hold of the bare skin of his length, tip leaking for you.

“Get me out of this dress,” you begged against his mouth, knowing that you couldn’t reach the zipper in the back by yourself.

“I hate this fucking dress,” Eddie added, blocking you against the door, slipping your underwear aside, dipping his finger into your pie, making your breath catch. “I hate that he bought it for you.”

You pushed away from him only to try and pull the dress up over your head, but the material was too stiff, and you were only able to wiggle the lower part of your ass out.

“Stop right there, baby,” Eddie mumbled. He came up behind you to pull your thong aside and press his cock up along the warm wet silk of your slit. “Fuckkk,” he groaned, cupping the front of your throat and pulling you back.

You shivered as his tip got close to entering you; the need pulsed at your core, and you whimpered as his tongue found your ear, flicking around the outside. With his cock stiff and lifted enough to ride between your legs without assistance, both of his hands pushed the front of your dress down, cupping your breasts, pinching and twisting the nipples, making you drop your head back with a gasp. You were only wearing the dress around your mid-section now, knees weak, sighs hot and heavy.

“Are you my girl?” He grumbled it, and then blew air on your neck where his saliva was, making you shiver.

“Mhmmm,” you responded. His pelvis was bouncing off your ass as he worked his length along your dripping slit.

“Tell me,” he demanded. “Tell me who you belong to.”

You reached a hand up to grab his head, ass pressing back against his thrusts, pussy clenching. “You, baby, only you,” It was urgent; the hole between your legs begging to be fed and filled by this man, and this man only.

Eddie reached down to finger your core with his big hand, cock kicking up at the mess he found there soaking through. “I love you so fucking much. You’re killing me.”

He ducked back to try and find the zipper, but it stuck at the top. In a moment of passionate fury, he took hold of the material with both hands and ripped the back open with a grunt. The threads spit open at a jagged angle, exposing the soft skin of your back, and then he just kept pulling, yanking the material away. “Fuck this dress,” he hissed as it met the ground in pieces.

He ripped your underwear off with a single yank, the sensation of breaking material hot against your hip, and you yelped at the surprise, but then he had you on the bed, pulling his shirt up over his head to expose the wash of tattoos, and pushing his jeans and boxers down. The length of his cock bounced up, showing the thick vein underneath, the upper shaft still glistening with your juices.

He crawled on the mattress after you and you urged him closer, sealing his mouth to yours, brushing his hair out of his face. “I need it so bad right now baby, please,” you mewed, a desperate whine in the back of your throat. You felt the head of his cock knocking at the swollen folds above your entrance, and you spread your legs wide; dripping and begging.

“I need it too, baby,” he breathed, pressing his forehead to yours. “So fucking bad.”

You looked down to watch him hold his huge cock at the base so he could run the tip along your slit; preparing it for duty. “Tell me if it’s...too much?” He whispered it just before he kissed you again. You were sure it would just melt right in.

But then he buried the tip and your body stiffened, a tiny squeak escaping your throat. Eddie’s hand clamped onto your hip as his lips parted and his eyebrows cinched together. “Fuck, you’re so tight baby,” and he rose up a bit to look down at the way he disappeared inside of you, working the tip back and forth, taking his time. “This is all mine, yeah? No one else.”

“No one else, baby,” you gasped grabbing his neck, meeting his eyes. He searched your face, flexing his hips to sink in another inch. He had one hand braced on the bed while the other cupped your jaw, and then his thumb sank into your mouth and you sucked it.

Eddie glanced down again at your beautiful body open for him, and decided he couldn’t wait another second to own you, and buried himself the rest of the way in, cursing, feeling like he might cum right then and there. You cried out, exposing your throat for him to paint with his tongue.

He sat back on his knees briefly to thrust in hard a few times, base deep, needing to know he was deeper than anyone had ever been inside you before. Needing to look at what he did to you; the way you unraveled for him.

But then his eyes snapped to yours, needing something else.

You could see the ask in his soft dark orbs as he braced his hands at your hips, locking his length inside of you for a few breaths as the gravity of emotions vibrated in the air.

“I love you,” you told him. And then the dam broke and you said it over and over and over, and he dropped his body close, bucking his hips, his own affirmations of love flowing with each breath. You clung to his shoulders and wrapped your legs as he stretched you out, digging heels in, needing him to be as close as two humans could possibly be.

The intensity of the experience mounted a quick release and soon Eddie’s face was right above you, taking your chin to turn your face. “Look at me,” he said. “Don’t look away, okay?”

His pace quickened, forehead tightening, and a warmth started to spill through your body like liquid sunlight until all you could do was search his eyes and babble, “fucfuckfuckIloveyou...fuck.”

Eddie slowed for a moment. “I’m gonna cum so hard inside you, baby. Do you want that?”

“Yes baby please,” you whined. “Fuck, please, all of it.”

And then he was down close to you again, slamming into you with purpose, one hand on your throat, headboard banging the wall. Your eyes locked and then you were cumming, hard, seeing white, velvet tugs rippling at your core.

Eddie felt your walls clench like a heart beat around his cock and watched your eyelids flutter, sending his release into action, the bark of an exhale in his chest.

You were riding the wave of your orgasm when you felt him tremble, his hips stuttering, pupils blown. The feel of his warm seed pumping extended the ripple affect, and you both clung to each other with aching breaths as Eddie dropped his head to find your mouth.

You palmed his cheek as he finished, eye clamping shut for the first time to take in all that had just happened. He brushed his lips on your palm, your eyelids, your cheeks, all while buried inside you; nurturing a desire in his belly to curl up and live there forever.

His jeans and boots on, denim pooled at his ankles, too ripe with eagerness earlier to even consider the seconds it would take to remove them. It was a while before he pulled out of you, and the tender way he brushed his lips across your face and neck had your ears ringing, skin buzzing. It wasn’t fair that you would automatically think the worst in a situation such as this, but you were afraid of how much you loved this man. Already considering the rejection or the thing that would inevitably go wrong, and how bad it would break you. How you might never recover from this one.

He officially had your heart and he could do whatever he wanted with it. There was no longer a decision to be made or pros and cons to consider: you were completely, utterly gone.

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“I hope you rot in hell you greedy cunt!” Steve said as he slammed the phone down on the receiver with a clang.

Robin rushed into the kitchen from the living room, eyes wide, hoping that Steve’s outburst hadn’t woken Oliver from his nap. They both froze for a few seconds, ears perked to listen for the sound of his tiny footfalls or a door opening.

“I hope that wasn’t your mother,” Robin chided, throwing the dishtowel in her hand over the side of the sink.

“Think bigger cunt,” he said in a much lower voice, throwing on his leather Coffin Kings cut. “They’re staying at that seedy motel over on Chestnut.”

Robin bristled, knowing it has been Tina, Oliver’s biological mom. She crossed her arms. “Do we need to get a lawyer?”

“With what money, Rob?” He braced his hands on the back of one of the dining table chairs, facing her, rolling his neck.

Robin was taking on more shifts at the hotel and Steve at his two jobs, but it felt like they could never dig out of the hole they were in lately.

Steve took a deep breath and straightened, rolling his shoulders. “Don’t worry, okay? I got some things lined up. We’ll have enough to make that pickled whore and her dog-faced pimp go away for a bit. Hopefully they overdose and fucking die---”

“Steve.”

“What? I hope they die. I’m not afraid to say it.” He snatched his sunglasses off the table and slid them over his eyes. “I won’t be back till late. I got a thing with the Kings, and then I’m at the Hammer tonight.”

He said it all over his shoulder as he was crossing the distance to the door and opening it.

“Wait,” Robin called after him. “What thing with the Kings?” He’d promised her numerous times that he wasn’t doing anything illegal or detrimental to his health for Oliver’s sake, but the Coffin Kings weren’t ones to just meet up for a casual cheese and wine picnic in the park.

He stepped outside into the early afternoon sunlight and shut the door behind him. “It’s nothing,” he told her through the open window. “Kiss my boy for me when he wakes up.”

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Earlier that morning, around 4am, you were tucked close to Eddie as he spooned you, the fingers of one hand intertwined with yours, his warm breath on the back of your neck. His cum sticky between your legs. You were out of the habit of sharing a bed with someone, and so your sleep was a bit restless, but every time you snapped awake and remembered where you were---a warmth came over you, and you nuzzled against him, kissing his hand.

Eddie, on the other hand, was sleeping like a bear. Knowing you were safe in his arms was like a sedative for him. He stirred briefly a few times only to squeeze your hand or kiss your shoulder, but for the most part, you listened as his heavy breathing turned into a rattling snore in the back of his throat, and it made you smile.

You jumped when the phone rang loud and shrill, and Eddie’s head popped off the pillow with a grunt, his eyes closed.

“Whoever it is, they are dead fucking meat,” he mumbled out of the side of his mouth after dropping his cheek back to the pillow.

You moved as if you were about to get out of his way so he could reach the phone that was on your side of the bed, but Eddie’s arm held fast, locking you in place. “Let the machine get it, baby,” he whispered, tongue clicking in his dry mouth, already halfway back to dreamland.

It was so cute to think about how he ran out and bought an answering machine because you asked him to. You knew he hated them, and it was something he’d done just for you, so that he would never miss a message if you called.

It rang three times before you heard beep and the machine click on, and then there came a woman’s voice you didn’t recognize:

“Um, hey Eddie baby, long time no talk…”

Behind you, Eddie stiffened. Your eyes blew wide open.

“...I can’t believe you finally stepped into the modern age and got an answering machine. Maybe people do change, I know I have,” there was a shuffling and the sound of ice clinking in a glass. “I’ve really been missing you lately and thinking about that time we went to Sturgis and we missed Steppenwolf because we were too busy fucking in the back of the…”

Eddie started to crawl over you, ready to yank the phone cord out of the wall, but you put your hand up to stop him, and he paused there, one hand braced on either side of you, hair hanging down. “This is nothing, baby, she’s--” he whispered, but then the message continued.

“...and then on the way home ate burgers in the park. Fuck, those were good times. I know you never sleep, so I figured you’d hear this message and pick up, but maybe you don’t want to talk to me anymore? I can’t say I’d blame you. Anyway, I’m coming to town this weekend for a wedding and I’d love to see you if you want to see me. I’m staying at Chrissy’s moms house, I think you still have the number.”

Eddie fell back on the bed, gnawing on his bottom lip, one hand on your thigh, waiting for the nightmare to end so that he could explain to you that it was all ancient history. He hadn’t been with Melanie in almost 5 years, and he hadn’t from heard her for at least 2, and he didn’t want to hear from her, not ever again. If he had to guess, he’d bet that she’d dumped another one of her boyfriends and was looking for comfort; the likes of which he had none to give. God, why was this happening to him? Why now of all the times in the fucking world for her to call?

He wanted to pick that answering machine up and break it in half with his bare hands.

Meanwhile, you were trying to push down the discomfort rising in your throat. This was clearly someone from Eddie’s past, someone he hadn’t spoken to in a while, but you couldn’t help the jealousy that tightened your flesh over your bones and made your tongue push against the back of your teeth.

“Anyway, maybe if you’re up for it, we can get a drink at the Hideout for old time’s sake? Well, now I feel stupid talking to this thing. Call me, okay? Same number as before. Oh, and this is Melanie by the way, remember me? The one you were supposed to grow old with?” Melanie took a moment to giggle to herself before she finished. “Okay, miss you lots. Bye bye.”

The phone clicked on her end and the message beeped again to announced that it was finally over. You and Eddie lay in the loud silence for a few seconds, and then Eddie swallowed hard.

“Let me explain? I haven’t talked to her in---”

But you cut him off, rolling over on your other side to face him, nudging his arm to open up so you could slide into his armpit and put your head on his chest, your leg stretching over his, hand palming his bicep, thumb grazing his nipple.

“We can talk about it later,” you hushed.

He pulled you close, kissing the top of your head, “she means nothing to me, baby,” he reiterated, and then it wasn’t long before you heard the purr of his snores again. His arm went lax and slipped down to the bed with a flop.

But you, you were wide awake. Blinking ever so often with the rhythm of the red light on the machine cast on the ceiling, announcing that there was a new message.

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In the dark corner of an abandoned warehouse in the industrial district, Steve’s fist cracked into the jaw of a guy tied to a chair with duct tape over his mouth. This was not the first punch, and his knuckles were raw. The guy in the chair was a snitch who’d tried to run, but Steve and a few of the others caught up with him. He had a shaved head covered in tattoos, his eye was now swollen, and nose broken, so he was struggling to breathe through the snot and the blood.

Steve stepped back, kicking his chin up, signaling to two of the Hell’s Belles that were there. “Take his Kutte,” he told them.

One of the two women slipped a knife of of the sheath at her hip and twirled it in the air before slicing the leather of his cut off at the arm hole so that they wouldn’t have to untie his hands. They cut and yanked on both sides until the material opened up and The guy screamed inside the duct tape, drool dripping down his chin from a tiny gap in the tape.

Steve’s tattooed hand was seeping watery blood from one knuckle as he pinched a cigarette between thumb and forefinger and took a drag. “You know, Jerry Dog wants your head. He told me to bring it to him in a bag with a pretty bow on it.”

The guy had stopped trying to battle the restraints, but he glared at Steve with hard, dark eyes, shouting something that only came out as muffled noise. Two of the Coffin Kings were standing at Steve’s back, legs braced wide, hands resting on the hilts of weapons at their sides. Steve turned on his heel, following the Hell’s Belle with the torn leather vest out of the damp building and into the sunlight. She had shoulder length, orange hair with one side completely shaved, and she went by the name Ratchet.

Ratchet made sure to put the cut in the saddle bag on the back of her bike and tighten the buckle closed before she turned around to address Steve again. “I thought you and War Machine were taking a step back from the life? That’s the rumor, anyway.”

War Machine was Eddie’s nickname, and had been ever since they were young and he was always getting into fights with kids who tried to pick on him or others. Steve had been known as Taz around the MC, in honor of the Tasmanian Devil, because if he was in a mood, he’d fight anyone--even if the odds were stacked against him. The gold tooth he had was to replace one of his incisors due to the original one getting knocked out when he was 21 by a guy with metal rings on. Steve’d spit the tooth out at the time and started laughing, blood dripping down his chin like a mad man. He never though things through like Eddie did. Back in their school days, Wayne would come around the corner to the principals office with that tired look on his face as he removed his hat, and there’d be Steve and Eddie; bloody noses and swollen lips. They were both never far from each other, and neither one let the other go into battle alone.

But Eddie hadn’t gone by War Machine in years; he’d grown to hate it, actually. The things he’d done in the name of the MC as War Machine were some of the things he hated most about himself.

“I got a son now, ya know,” Steve sucked hard on his smoke, cheeks caving in, and then he exhaled to the side. “And Eddie’s just, a good guy I guess. Just cause you grown up in the life doesn’t mean you’re made for it.”

Tiger Lily—the other female biker with Ratchet--and the two Kings with Steve were also wandering around, having a smoke break and taking a piss, while they let the guy inside sweat, wondering if these were his final moments.

Ratchet tucked the long side of her hair behind her ear, her nickname tattooed in cursive on the side of her throat. “How’s Robin?”

Steve hadn’t seen Ratch in a while, but it was standard procedure for her to ask after his best friend. The two had a thing many years ago, but Ratch was a dog at the time and went sniffing too many other butts for Robin’s liking. Fucking things up with Buckley was still one of her biggest regrets.

“We’ve got our share of the shit pie,” Steve assured. “But we’re making it work. I couldn’t do it without her.” He tapped his heel on the toe of his boot and flicked his cigarette. “I’ve got a gig lined up with some rich bitch. Easy bag, some lame body guard gig. It should get our heads out of water, at least.”

“Who’s it for?” Ratchet squinted, exhaling smoke out her nose, down the piercing in the middle of her bottom lip.

“I don’t really know,” Steve shrugged. “She seems to have a lot of money to throw around, that’s all I give a fuck about.”

“Careful, bro,” Ratchet held the two fingers up holding her cigarette, chipped black polish on her fingernails. “There’s a wealthy cougar in town who likes to hire MC’s as body guards and she’s been pitting different clubs against each other. Three of Lucifer’s Own got the piss beat out of them the other weekend trying to defend her fortress. Put Donnie in intensive care.”

Steve’s mind flicked to the night Eddie was stabbed, and the way Eddie wouldn’t tell him who did it because he knew Steve would go off the rails.

“Like I said,” Steve rolled his neck, crushing the end of this cig into the mud with the toe of his boot. “I don’t care what the drama is, long as she pays.”

Ratchet respected this, offering a twitch of her brow.

“Let’s get this over with,” Steve motioned to the rest as he opened the aluminum door to head back into the building. “I got shit to do.”

The guy in the chair was struggling to breathe through some miracle opening in his inflamed and bleeding nostrils. His broad chest heaved, nearly popping open the buttons on his black and blue flannel, gasping for air, cheeks puffing out, his bald head slick with sweat.

Steve took position in front of him again. The whole cutting his head off thing was a bluff. Jerry Dog had never requested such a thing. The other two Kings, Rooster and Emmett, would toss him in the back of the utility van and dump him down at the train yard and wait for further instructions.

The guy in the chair barked something at Steve through the tape, eyes narrowing, but it only came out as a strangled mumble.

“You trying to say something to me, Inky?” Steve cocked his head, referring to the man’s nickname.

Steve reached across to rip the tape off in one quick swipe, taking some of Inky’s mustache with it. The guy wheezed, bending his head to take a few deep inhales through his mouth, coughing a few times at the greedy pulls of air his body was taking.

“I got good news, man,” Steve’s tone was sarcastic as he rested his hands on his hips. “You get to keep your head. For now.”

Inky spit. He’d clearly intended the projected saliva to land on Steve, but it hit the ground next to his boot instead. Steve looked down at the spit, and then back up at Inky. “To think I thought you’d be grateful?”

“Fuck you, Taz,” Inky sneered at Steve, his voice full of vitriol. “I never did like you. Jerry Dog is gonna let me walk, and then you know what I’m gonna do? I’m gonna come to your house and fuck the gay right outta that dyke roommate of yours, and I’m gonna make your kid watch.”

If Steve ever had a voice of reason that spoke to him in his head, it wasn’t about to change the impact those words had on him. There would be no more talking, no more negotiation, and no one in that room would dare to try and stop him, even if they wanted to, as he started pummeling his fist over and over into Inky’s face. At one point, Inky lost consciousness, jaw broken and slack, and the chair fell sideways, landing his head to the cement with a thunk. Steve followed, dropping on top of him, seeing red, unable to stop his fist from working, smashing, breaking.

When the other four were finally able to pull Steve off, it was too late for Inky.

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“Who is this Melanie bitch?” Katie came to visit you that night during your shift at the Velvet Hammer because you felt like you needed a pep talk. You’d just come up next to the bar where she was having her whiskey sour, and the ask was loud enough for Shanna, the longtime bartender and manager to hear.

Shanna had on a platinum blonde wig shaped in a 1920’s bob cut, a row of 6 tiny hoops curving up one ear, and a long, red upside down cross dangling from the other. She squinted at Katie while she squeezed fresh orange juice to make a screwdriver, and then her eyes shifted to you. “Melanie. You mean Melanie Drake? Your old man’s ex?”

You knew Eddie had a past, and you were glad for the most part. He was in his early thirties, for godsake, and if he hadn’t at least tried to commit to someone before you, it could easily be seen as a red flag. And it didn’t matter how much in love you knew you both were, or how devoted he clearly was to you—there was something unsettling about the girlfriend before you coming to town. Not just any girlfriend or one night stand, but someone he’d clearly had deep feelings for. Not only was she coming to town, but she explicitly wanted to see your boyfriend.

“Yeah,” you moved your jaw and absently straightened the little black pocket apron around your waist. “She left a really flirty message early this morning on his machine while we were in bed together.”

“Nooooo,” Katie blanched, making a yuck face. “What did you do? What did you say? What did HE say?”

Shanna passed the screwdriver and two pints of beer over to Jackie who loaded them on her tray. The dancer in the back was giving a wild show to the tune of Unsung by Helmet, sliding down the pole slowly, both legs spread wide, dropping to the floor in the splits with a head bang.

Shanna was clearly invested in the story now too, waiting with baited breath for you to answer Katie’s questions. “We just...went back to sleep. I told him we could talk about it in the morning. But then we woke up late and he had to rush out.”

Shanna and Katie exchanged a look.

“He loves me, we are good, I trust him,” you moved the four tequila shots and limes to your tray as Shanna passed them to you, and you couldn’t tell if you were trying to convince yourself or them.

“Of course he loves you, but is he planning to meet up with her, though?” Katie asked, taking the two tiny red straws out of her drink. “Cause, I don’t like that idea. Feels wrong. Sends her an encouraging message.”

You didn’t have a chance to answer before Shanna spoke up. “Melanie won’t show her face in here if she knows what’s good for her,” she paused only to rim a margarita glass with salt. You and Katie both directed your attention to hear the rest. “Years ago, she was hired on as one of the dancers for a couple months. Found out she was stealing from the other girls and giving blowjobs to customers in the bathroom.”

You blinked a few times, not liking the fact that she’d also had a job there. Katie lifted her glass to her lips but paused there, giving you a side eye.

Shanna raised an eyebro, smoky eye makeup rimming eyes that were so brown they were almost black. “And that was when she was still supposedly with your old man. I’m not even sure if he ever found out about it. Probably would’ve killed someone if he had.”

The news of Eddie being blatantly disrespected and cheated on like that didn’t sit well with you, either, and you realized that you knew nothing about this woman, how long they’d been together, and why it ended. You had to run your tray of drinks over to a table, and Katie ordered another whiskey sour while she waited.

You checked on other tables, and then on your way back to Katie at the bar, you saw Steve come in. He was an hour late, but he’d already called to let Shanna know, and one look at him told you why he was late.

While normally Steve had a charming, cheerful disposition, tonight his jaw was set at a hard angle, his eyes cold and weary. He was favoring his right hand, holding hit against his stomach. It was wrapped up, but poorly, as if he’d done it himself in a rush, red/orange seeping through at the knuckles. Normally, Steve would saunter over to see what the girls were gossiping about at the bar, and be eager to give his two cents. But, that night, he found his stool, and prepared to do nothing above the bare minimum required for his job. He lit a cigarette and checked ID’s, but made no move to add any banter to his interactions.

And no one bothered him or asked any questions because they were all realizing, perhaps for the first time, how scary he was once all of the casual, jovial exterior was removed.

----------

The rain was drizzling that night as Robin sat in her car facing the seedy motel on Chestnut, planning her words. She dropped off Oliver with Wayne for the night, and when they got there, Wayne already had cartoons on and some pigs-in-a-blanket in the oven; his face lighting up in a way they all thought the cancer had long ago removed.

Behind the wheel, facing room 11, here were two manila envelopes in her lap: one was full of cash and the other contained official government paperwork. She had a private savings account she’d been trickling money into for years. Even then, it only had about six grand in it. She pawned some of the gold jewelry her grandmother passed down to her, and a few other keepsakes she’d been saving to pass down to Oliver, and the final product was the best offer Tina would ever get from them. They were usually able to buy her off for a year or so with a grand or two, so ten grand should make her eyes sparkle long enough to sign away her rights to Ollie.

Steve and Katie had no idea what she was up to. Steve would’ve tried to stop her. He would’ve showed up and caused a scene, and his temper would get the best of him. Robin was calm. The only endgame that mattered to her was keeping Oliver safe and in her arms, and she didn’t care how broke she was or how low she had to grovel to make that happen.

She could see them through the window between the break in the curtains. Tina with her curly black hair, long and wild, wearing a tight, red spandex dress, and then her fiance Louis, shirtless, wiry muscles littered with prison ink. They appeared to be in the middle of an argument, but that was nothing new; they both thrived on chaos.

Robin also had a gun.

She strapped her bag across her body and reached in to palm the cool steel of Steve’s protection piece he usually kept in a safe in the closet. There was always the chance that Tina and Louis would try to jump her and take the money without following through on the paperwork, but she wasn’t going to let that happen; her plan was solid.

This bullshit would end tonight.

---------

It was so early in the morning when Steve’s bike rumbled around the corner to Astrid’s house that it was still dark. He dismounted right next to the dilapidated picket fence with the chipped white paint, and looked up to see that she was already on the porch in her nightgown, arms wrapped in a shawl, waiting for him. He hadn’t called to tell her he was on his way, in fact, it had been a last second decision as he idled at a stop light on his way home after work.

Steve needed comfort, and for some reason, Astrid always knew how to give it without him needing to ask.

“How’s your hand?” She asked across the lawn, even though he’d taken the bandage off and, from that distance, in the dark, there’s no way she could’ve known it was swollen and fleshly with raw patches.

He didn’t answer, he just came through the gate and made his way at a tired pace toward her, clomping up each step in his heavy boots, wallet chain jangling.

“Let me see,” she said, holding out her hand, palm up, for him to oblige. She hissed at the damage, and when she tapped his middle finger, he winced. “Honey, we need to get this cleaned and bandaged properly. It might even need a splint. Come inside. I put a beer in the freezer.” She always moved a beer from the refrigerator to the freezer when she had a hunch he was on his way so that it would be extra cold for him. She also had leftovers heating in the oven because it was typical of him to forget to eat.

Once inside the house, while he followed her through the candlelit living room to the kitchen, Steve caught her elbow and spun her around. Astrid’s eyes sought his, trying to anticipate his needs, but then what she found there was exhaustion, both emotional and physical, and a palpable sense of dread. Of fear that life would always take and never give. That time would continue to accomplish nothing but to wear us down and break our hearts.

He bowed his head, and then he dropped to his knees, arms wrapping around her legs, cheek pressing into her thigh, a sob hitching in his chest. He loved the fullness of her stomach and hips, the way his fingers sank in. She used both hands to comfort him, one stroking his cheek that was already damp, while the other combed through his thick head of hair, gently tucking strands behind his ear, tracing down the back of his neck.

She lowered to her shins and met him on the hardwood floor, scooping his head against her bosom while his shoulders jerked and the tears rolled. She was the only person Steve let himself cry in front of. Maybe only once or twice it had happened around Robin, and he always left the room to pull himself together. His father had drilled it hard into his head that crying was a weakness and it made you less of a man. It turned you into a sissy boy or a faggot, as if that were the worst thing, and set you up to be bullied and teased for days to follow. Better to yell, better to hit things, and make other people afraid so that they could be just as sad as you.

Wordlessly, they held each other there for a long while, as Steve choked on sobs and Astrid kissed the top of his head over and over, content to stay like that for hours if that was what he needed. After a bit, there were tears streaming down her cheeks as well.

"You're safe with me," she hushed.

-----

Eddie extended you an open offer to stay with him whenever you wanted, he even casually mentioned that he planned to have another spare key made so that you could come in and make yourself at home even if he wasn’t there.

Giving someone a key to your place was no small step in a relationship, and your heart swelled at the sincerity of the gesture.

But, you decided to go back to your place after your shift at the Hammer. You were tired, needed a shower, and some time to yourself. Plus, your cat Charlie had a lot of questions about where you were the night before.

Just as you were getting home, Katie was headed back out, her pajama bottoms still on. Apparently, she’d received a call from Robin that spooked her a bit, and made her want to go and check on her girlfriend, even though she had to be up early for work. She was in such a hurry, you didn’t have time to ask any questions, but you hoped that Robin was okay.

After washing your face and getting into something more comfortable, you were just about to sit on the couch to let television numb your brain for a bit when the doorbell rang.

Eddie’s head was bowed when you opened the door, one knee cocked out to the side, thumb hooked in his belt loop while the other fingers fanned out on his thigh.

“It’s a little late to be visited by a Bible salesman, isn’t it?” You teased.

Eddie met your eyes and leaned forward to brace his forearm on the door jam, white tee straining against his muscles just under the cut of his Coffin Kings leather. Not for the first time, you noticed the War Machine insignia on the front and realized you kept forgetting to ask him about it.

“I waited up,” he mumbled. “I hoped you’d come over tonight.”

“Work was exhausting, and I needed to feed my cat,” you explained. “But I’m glad to see you. Come in?”

Eddie couldn’t get what had happened that morning out of his mind, and the last thing he wanted to do was give Melanie any more of his precious air, but he also didn’t want you to think he had any residual feelings for her.

The living room was dark, but for a soft light from the kitchen and glow of the TV, when you tilted your chin up to meet his lips with yours. You didn’t stay there to kiss him, though---you didn’t linger with hungry sighs like you were prone to do—you just spun on your heel to head back around the couch.

Eddie let the screen door shut behind him as he grabbed your waist with both hands. “Hey now, don’t run away from me,” he came up behind so that your body was flush with his. His mouth came down to graze your ear, “tell me you fucking missed me.”

“Of course I missed you,” you tried to shrug away from him, albeit playfully, but he was too strong; you were completely locked in place. “I always miss you.”

He released you only so you could turn to face him again, reaching up to cup your hands behind his neck, fingers dipping into the downy hair behind his ears. The kiss that came next was the kind that sent emergency bells off in your loins; tongues twirling each other, tight groans on the exhale.

You pulled back to meet his eyes before you were completely incapacitated again. “Please tell me you’re not planning on meeting up with your ex this weekend?”

“Hell no,” he responded quickly, a tightness in his brow as if it were ludicrous for you to even ask. “Believe me baby, if I never see her face again, it will be too soon.”

“What are we even doing?” You asked, throwing your hands out to the side as you stepped back to rest your hip on the back of the couch. “I mean, look at us. We’ve barely known each other for two months and everything that possibly could go wrong has. It’s just one stressful situation after the next. I’m exhausted, Eddie, and I’m sure you are too.”

Eddie brought his chin back and crossed one arm over to hold his bicep. “Are you breaking up with me? Is that what this is?”

“No,” you coughed a laugh. Surely he didn’t think he could get rid of you that easily. “Believe me, I couldn’t stop being in love with you at this point even if I wanted to.”

A smile twitched on Eddie’s lips, and he came close, straddling your hips between his legs, taking your face in both of his hands. He kissed the tip of your nose, the look in his eye was tender but serious. “She never had my heart like you do. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, ever. I’d kill or die for you, baby.”

Clothes started to come off right there at the couch, but then you remembered that Katie might not stay at Robin’s and could be home any moment, and so you moved the party to your bedroom with Eddie’s belt undone and your shirt bunched up around your neck.

Eddie was on his knees with his head between your legs in a flash, flicking his tongue right where you needed it, making you fist his hair and bite your lip as you watched.

After the first orgasm, you were on your side while Eddie held your leg up and sunk his cock in over and over, hips clapping at your wetness. You turned your head to take his mouth while he stretched you out again and again, making you whimper, and your wrist flexed at your swollen nub, another release mounting.

“Oh godohgodohgod,” you whined. Eddie’s cock slipped out briefly, and when he thrust it back in, you began to see stars.

You looked up at him as your body rocked from the impact, “no one has ever been so deep, baby,” you promised, and the admission brought Eddie to the edge, twisting you to piston his hips faster.

He barked a groan of pleasure as he emptied himself inside of you, holding one of your legs up by the crook of his arm, and your walls clenched around him, producing a mingling of cum on his shaft.

Still inside of you, Eddie grabbed your chin so that your blown pupils could meet his. “I’ve never loved anyone like I love you,” he said, sealing the words in your mouth with a kiss, hoping to bury them deep in your heart.

-------

Hundreds of miles away, a phone next to a full ashtray and a tumbler of whiskey was ringing.

Before the second ring, a guy with a military insignia tattooed on his forearm picked up.

“Yo,” the voice on the other end greeted. “This Craig?”

“Yeah, dumbass, who else would it be?” Craig answered gruffly.

The other guy cleared his throat. “It’s Gopher. Hey, listen, that chick you’ve been trying to track down? I had my guy look her up at the database over at the station. She ain’t in no Oregon, man. She’s in some podunk town in fucking Indiana.”

Craig sat down on the bed next to the gun he was cleaning, eyes hooded, blonde hair in a buzz cut. “You sure it’s the right girl? My girl?”

“No doubt about it man. She just had her license renewed.”

Craig pulled a notepad and pen out of the top drawer. “You got an address for me?”

“She’s got a roommate. Katie Clayton I think her name was.”

“Fuck, of course,” Craig worked his jaw, excitement edging in his veins. All this time he’d been nosing around in the pacific northwest while you were only a state away, right under his nose.

He should've known you’d never want to be too far away from him. A love like the two of you shared never died.

Part 13

Thank you for reading! xoxoxoxo

-------

Taglist: @notsobubblybaby @eighty6babyyy @unfocused81 @aysheashea @etherealglimmer @manicmagicmayhem @dream-a-little-nightmare @hellv1ra @chaoticgood-munson @ms1oftheboys @emxcast @rhirojo @bexreadstoomuch @micheledawn1975 @lma1986 @falling-solar-system @secretdryrose @kurdtbean @whatwedontdointheshadows @miarosso @seventhlevelofhell @corrodedcoffincumslut @lofaewrites @goldyghoul @chloe-6123 @kelsiegrin @chelebelletx @stylesxmunson @dandelionnfluff @lilpotatobean2 @clincallyonline17 @tlclick73 @munsons-mayhem28 @eddiemunson95 @sidthedollface2 @hideoutside @truffleshuffle12 @tenthmoon @texasblues @emilyslutface @mmunson86 @onegirlmanytales

[teddyeyeseddie]

To Hell I Go

Open the Gate

Bull Rider!Steve X Reader

masterlist

warnings: reader calls steve cowboy a lot, a party, drunk reader, steve smokes some party darts, he also drinks budweiser, and chews gum like a cow, injury to main character, use of a belt for punishment, minimal understanding of how bull riding works

(a/n: poor baby stevie :( thank you @lofaewrites for looking this over!! Love you eternally)

Now Playing: Open The Gate

Monday comes faster than Steve would have preferred. The dawn creeps into his room as he sits up in his bed, groaning at the way the sun perfectly breaks through his curtains. He grabs his phone off of the end table, bringing it in front of his face in order to unlock it. He smiles when he sees a goodnight text from you. The timestamp reads 2:17 so Steve prides himself when he realizes you probably went to bed thinking about him. 

Good Morning, Dandelion

He gets up from bed, sitting on the edge in order to stretch out his limbs. He’s about to make his way to the bathroom when his phone buzzes in its place on the end table.

Good Morning, Cowboy

He smiles to himself, quickly picking up the phone as soon as he sees the preview of the message. 

What are you doing up so early, summoning all the ranchers?

Steve abandons his phone, heading to his closet in order to put on his work clothes. He settles for a pair of wranglers and an old competition shirt. He shrugs on his denim jacket before grabbing his hat and heading out for the morning. 

While he waits for his coffee to brew, he pulls out his phone. 

Girls have ranching duties too 

Steve has to bite his lip, because the idea of you doing ranch chores has his mind whirring. He pours his coffee into his yeti, mindful to shake the images of you away before doing so as to not spill and scald himself. 

He pushes his way out the front door, hopping into his truck and heading over to where the cattle are kept. When he gets there, Jamie and Richard are already at work.

Steve spends his day riding between the main house and the barn all day, finally giving up driving his K10 and begging Eddie to take one of the horses or his beloved razor. Eddie relents, giving him the keys to the razor since the horse Steve usually rides was being used for the lesson Eddie was giving. 

Steve smells like shit by the time he is done working for the day. He called it quits at around 3, leaving Richard and Jamie to tie up some loose ends. 

He heads up to his bedroom, shucking off his clothes before hopping into the shower. He rinses the day from his body, careful to wash under his nails and behind his ears. He wallows in the rinse for a while, the ache in his bones washing away in the warmth of the water. 

Once Steve decides it's been enough, he gets out. He wraps a towel around his waist, fetching his phone out of his pants. 

Having friends over at my place tonight, care to come?

Steve makes his decision rather quickly as he gets dressed without any hesitation.

Steve’s boots crunch on the gravel as he makes his way down the driveway. He had to park almost on the main road given how many people were at this party? Hangout? Steve didn’t know what it was.

He pushes his way through the gate he had seen people going in and out of, rounding the corner to reveal a gorgeous backyard. There are people swimming, enjoying the summer sunset in the water. Some are around a fire, and some are mingling on the deck. Steve feels very overwhelmed as he stands at the edge of the yard, unable to find you. He’s about to duck inside in order to track down a beer, but your voice stops him.

“Steve!” you exclaim, smiling up at him as you wrap your towel around your body. 

“Dandy,” Steve tips his hat, smiling down at her as he chews the gum in his mouth. 

“So glad you could make it,” you grab his hand, leading him to the deck before bending over to dig in a cooler. Steve looks away in respect to you, you take notice and blush at what a gentleman he is.

He stays with you for the duration of the night, sipping on a budweiser and smoking the occasional party dart. He keeps his hand on your lower back when you push through crowds of people, your cheeks flushing each time he does so. 

You begin to sway in your spot when you make it to the back garden, Steve settles you down once you reach a set of patio furniture that is tucked away. 

“You okay, darlin?”

“M’ ok cowbo- hic,” 

“You’re real drunk, ain’t cha?” he questions, you offering a small giggle. You pinch your fingers together and hold it up to your eye.

“Just a teensy bit,” 

“Come on, Dandelion. Let’s get you where you need to be, yeah?”

Steve hunts down someone to help get you to your room, finally giving up when the beat of the music becomes too much for him. He comes back to where he left you, groaning when he sees you’ve fallen asleep, he gently nudges you awake, startling you as he does so. 

He helps you up from your seat, hand finding its way back to your lower back, his other hand holding yours to keep you steady. You direct him to your room when he oh so politely asks you where it is at. 

“Darling not for any other reason than getting you to bed safe, where is your bedroom?” 

You simply giggle and attempt to lead the way. 

You finally make it to your room at the back of the hall, Steve opening the door and smiling at the decor that litters the walls. There’s horse decals peeling away from your old bookshelf, stuffed animals are strewn across your mattress, he even has the privilege of seeing your award from your 4th grade spelling bee. 

“Please stop looking, it's embarrassing,” you mumble from your spot on the bed. Steve grabs a sweater that is hanging on the back of your chair and hands it to you before turning towards your drawers.

“Where can I find pajama bottoms?” he questions softly, his voice gravely and smooth. 

“Third- hic drawer,” 

He fishes out a rather childish pair. They’re a soft yellow with little owls littering the pant legs. You blush as you reach your hand out to take them from him. 

“Listen um, I’m gonna get goin’...” he backs away from your bed and towards the door, tipping his hat to you as he is about to dip out of your door. 

“Wait- Steve,” you say quietly.

“Yeah, Dandy?”

“You won’t tell your daddy I threw a party at the ranch right? Mine will have my behind if he found out,” 

“I don’t kiss and tell, darlin,” 

“And I’ll see you again, even though I embarrassed myself?”

“You didn’t embarrass yourself, just got a little too drunk is all. Of course you’ll see me again,”

He doesn’t call, you don’t see him again.

He knows why he didn’t call, he couldn’t get out of his own head. His dad’s voice echoed in his mind, “I made you,” 

Normally, Steve did a good job at keeping his dad’s words in the back of his mind, but in times like this when self hatred was such an easy pill to swallow, the ammunition was there. Steve knew deep down he was right, his dad made him. Through hard work and enough times at the end of his father’s belt, Steve Harrington would always be just like his father, made in his image. 

He sees his mother, Steve knows she wants a better relationship with his father. He knows she aches and yearns for a man who is present and loving. Steve knows his father takes his mother for granted. Steve saw all of this and knew he loved just like his father. All or nothing. 

When he looked at you and saw all your potential and grace, Steve decided he wasn’t going to be like his father and ruin you.  

Not only was he equipped with daddy issues, but he had his lifestyle to take into consideration as well. It had him hopping from location to location, so he told himself it wouldn't work.  Steve knew you’d find yourself a cowboy, no matter how much he wished it would be him, he told himself it couldn’t be.

But now, here he is, telling himself that that’s not how things have to be. He has a string of hope tied to his heart, willing that this won't go belly up.  He fiddles with his phone, thumb hovering over your number as he lays his head on his pillow. He finally decides fuck it and calls you. 

“Steve?” you’re confused as you answer the phone, the two weeks of radio silence having broken your heart. You spent every waking moment waiting for his phone call, finally giving up after a week had passed. 

“Hey, Dandelion,” Steve rasps, sucking in a breath when he shifts on the bed. 

“It’s been awhile, cowboy,” you say, a little bit of irritation lacing your tone. 

“Sorry about that, darling. Had important cowboy stuff to do,” Steve lies. “Just a few things to settle away before I could get to ya, darlin,” He wishes he could tell her the whole truth but he knows that would be grounds to scare anyone away. He figures he will save the boo hoo my daddy doesn’t love me mess for when they make it to third base. 

“Watched you while you were in Cheyenne,” you say, getting up from your place on the bed as you begin to pace. 

Steve's mind plays back to his weekend, nerves flowing through his body, making its way up his neck, flushing his face. He was in the chute, ready to take his ride in Cheyenne. He grabs the braided strap, holding on tight as the chute is opened. The bull he is riding, Tank, begins to buck. Steve’s body ebbs and flows as the bull erratically attempts to get Steve off of it. 

The bull gets exceptionally high after Steve has been at it for several seconds, the bull bucking him off, Steve falling to the ground. The next two days were filled with endless bull rides, broken ribs and dirt. He rode hard and stayed on long, his score on his final ride coming out to a 93.4, winning him the competition in Cheyenne. 

He comes home days later on a red eye flight, his mom picking him up in the city. His bones ache when he gets into his bed, his torso bruised by the falls he had taken throughout the weekend. 

The two of you talk about it for a while, the casual conversation flowing easily between you two. 

“I really am sorry I went MIA, Dandelion,” he says with a small sigh, angry at himself for letting his own insecurities cloud his ability to be normal with a woman. He was a gentleman through and through but daddy issues coupled with his irrational fear of abandonment made for a concoction that was too dangerous for anyone to swallow, let alone you.

“It’s okay, just don't let it happen again,”

And he doesn't, every morning you wake up a “Good Morning Dandelion” text was always waiting on your phone. He would send you pictures of every dandelion he would find while on his ranching duties, he even sent a selfie with one tucked into his hat. He kept it there all day. 

And it’s still there when he takes you out to dinner the night before he leaves for regionals, which is luckily a few towns over. 

“Are you nervous?” she questions. He Oshrugs his shoulders, taking a sip of his coke. 

“Not really? I mean kind of? I have to ride this bull. His name is “To Hell I Go” so that is intimidating in and of itself,” he says with a chuckle, rolling a straw wrapper between his fingers and twisting it around his finger. 

“Sounds scary,” 

“Yeah, but I’ve got it, I’m the best out there right now, at least that’s what I gotta tell myself to not- pardon my french- shit my pants,” he states as he begins to twist the ends of the straw wrapper together. 

“You’re good at what you do, it’s good to be confident,” he shrugs his shoulders at your words before reaching his hand across the table to take yours. He slips a paper ring around your finger and smiles widely at you.

“Something to remember me by,” 

“You’re only gonna be gone 3 days cowboy, plus it’s only a few towns over. Maybe I can make it out to a ride or two,” 

“Don’t sweat it if you can’t, I’ll be sweaty and dirty anyways,” 

“Just how I like em, cowboy,”

Steve has ridden in 3 of his 5 rides, avoiding going up with To Hell I Go. His coach pulls him aside after his last go and tells him what to expect next.

“The next one is it, kid. To Hell I Go, you last at least 8 on him you have this in the bag,” he says as he pats Steve on the shoulder.

Steve spends the next hour settling his nerves, he knows he’s got this. He can handle Ajax no problem back home, what's 2,000 more pounds gonna do, right?

Sweat slips down his temples as he gets situated on To Hell I Go. His hands grip the braided leather tightly, clammy hands making it hard to hold on. 

You’re up in the stands watching, you were able to beg your boss to let you cut out of work early to come see Steve ride. You watch him make his way to the chute, shoulders pushed back and confident as he walks towards his enemy of the night. 

He keeps his head down, focused on going the required 8 seconds. He’s got this, he’s always got this.

The chute opens.

To Hell I Go comes out of the gate much like a bat out of hell, strong, ferocious and fast. 

Steve holds on the best he can. 3 seconds. He’s found a rhythm. Four seconds. His grip is tight. Five seconds. He’s got this. Six Seconds. He’s totally got this. Seven seconds. He totally does not have this. 

To Hell I Go delivers one off rhythm buck that sends Steve flying. He got so comfortable and it all happened so fast, Steve didn’t have time to tuck and roll. He lands to the floor of the corral with a loud dense thud. 

The next thing Steve can remember is white hot pain radiating throughout his shoulder and arm. He writhes on the gorund as others distract To Hell I Go. His coach and the medical team flood the corral and are next to him in seconds. Steve knows it’s his shoulder, it has to be. He knew he felt it break, the loud crack resonated in his ears despite the crowd. 

They’re able to assess the situation rather quickly and get his shoulder stable enough to get him off the ground. They offer him a stretcher but he politely declines, walking off the dirt and back behind the chutes. The ambulance is waiting for him, Steve hating the theatrics of it all as he loads up into the vehicle. Before they can close the doors, he remembers you. 

“Fuck, we can’t leave without Dandelion,” Steve shouts to his coach.

“Dandelion this, Dandelion that! Boy, your shoulder is broken.” 

“I’m not goin til we find her,”

“Well, too bad,” The paramedic slams the door shut at the request of his coach, driving away and to the hospital. 

[mischiefmanaged71]

Let’s Fall In Love For The Night - (3/10)

Summary: Being the eldest daughter of a Duke and Duchess means that Lady Y/N has been prepared for society; to fulfil her duties as the next heir to her family name and estate. However, she dreams of so much more than that, particularly, finding someone she truly loves rather than a political match. Intrigue sparks an idea with the introduction of Tom Bennett, a soldier she meets on a Press tour - forming a new relationship that could either make or break her apart should things turn against her favour.

Pairing: Tom Bennett x fem! Reader

1938

The annual Westminster Charity for Orphaned Children, hosted by the House of Richmond, wrapped up last night. Photographs of the Duke and Duchess of Richmond featured with their children, Lady Y/N, Lord Matthew, and youngest Henry. Many stipulations over the Lady Y/N circulated with several people sighting an interaction with Lord Edward Dashwood.

***

1939

Coverage of the races over this past weekend saw many royals and sportsman's on the racing fields... A reported interaction with the Lady Y/N approaching one of the riders before the races began sparked discourse on the young woman's social circle, residing to herself.

***

Tuesday, the 19th March | 1940

The Duke Richard II and his daughter, the Lady Y/N, pictured below with naval soldiers. The ship is scheduled to depart in two months time where it will provide British allied support abroad.

The paper smacked against the breakfast table, the clinking of cutlery and chatter filling her ears once more.

"Darling, what is it?"

Y/N tilted her head, looking to her father at the end of the table, "Nothing. The publication is out now."

He stretched his hand out, accepting the paper from her. It wasn't necessarily the journalist's depiction of her in the article at all, moreso than the photograph. From another's perspective it was perfectly normal looking photo with Y/N standing at her father's side along with the rows of soldiers.

However, to her own knowledge, she could see the very moment before she turned away. It was the fact that Tom was still very much looking at her in the photograph. It had sent her heart racing off as she held the paper in her hands. Proof that it had happened. A reminder of the encounter. Of the day prior when she had returned to Manchester, Tom, keeping to his word, had shown her around the local square. He was kind, and playful, albeit flirtatious most of the time.

Her father nodded, "Hmm, you did splendidly, darling. I actually heard around you were quite popular with the soldiers."

She looked at him in astonishment, "What do you mean?"

He placed the butter knife down, "Well, I mean, they were pleased to meet you."

"Oh, yes." She looked down at her plate, hmming "Of course. Although, I gather being restrained to a ship of men for a time can do that to a person. Seeking out other attention."

"I suppose." Her father agreed, sipping his tea.

She glanced at her mother who eyed her after the comment. "Wouldn't you agree?"

Her mother nodded, glancing at her youngest sons as they munched on their toast before school.

"I understand we make these...appearances, but does it not grow tiresome?" She stared out the window into the garden.

"Elaborate." Her father beckoned.

"Pretending. Putting on a fake smile and accepting all the backhanded compliments and sly commentary on your life."

Her mother paused, "It's what we must do."

"It's how we work, darling. I understand it is difficult sometimes, but always been this way."

She nodded, swallowing the itch in her throat, "Course. But change isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it?"

A moment of silence passed as they soaked up the question.

"May I?" She stood from the table, gesturing at the paper. The Duke nodded and she grabbed the paper from the table before departing to her room.

***

A calm feeling flowed through her, thoughts fading into the background as Y/N brushed through the horse's mane. She found herself spending more time at the stables each day. Time she spent riding across the fields was a getaway from her overthinking and anxieties.

The sound of approaching footsteps broke her from her daze, turning to the doorway. Much to her surprise, she was met with a familiar mop of blonde hair, and that slight smirk.

"What are you doing here?" She breathed, "How did you even get on the premises?"

"I was in the neighbourhood." Tom shrugged, "Also, wasn't too hard to get past the back fence."

"That is reckless. You could have been caught."

He shrugged, "But, I wasn't. I managed to get here."

She sighed, a smile growing on her lips "And what other reasons brought you to my abode?"

"Oh, a promise. I believe I'm owed a tour?" He stepped forward.

She chuckled, a glint in her eye "Of course."

"Who's this?" He glanced at the horse between them. The black and white stallion grumbled, glancing around.

Y/N smiled fondly, patting his mane, "His name is Orion. I picked him out when I first started my lessons."

"Why Orion?"

"I've always had an affinity for history and mythology, especially Ancient Greece. The name suited him."

"You must come here often then." Glancing around.

A shy smile crossed her features as she flickered between the two, "This is my favourite place to get away."

"Won't say I'm jealous."

"Guess you'll have to settle for second then." She surmised, a grin tugging at her lips.

"I'll have to work on it." Lips pursed.

A glint in her eye, she hummed to herself and they made eye contact.

"What've you got in mind?"

"Have you been riding before?" She asked.

"A few times."

Tom followed as Y/N left him with a grin on her features, "What?"

***

The blood rushed in her ears, the thudding of the hooves beneath racing in tandem with her heart. She pushed on, the excitement of the wind blowing through her hair akin to flying as she raced through the field atop Orion. She glanced over her shoulder at Tom behind her. A laugh bubbled from her throat as she slowed and circled around, feeling breathless.

"I'd hardly call that fair, love." Tom called out, circling his horse to her side.

"You're not up for a game, then."

"Can't exactly compete." He retorted, a breathy laugh to follow.

"You're not bad for a beginner, you know."

"Yeah?"

"Although, my twelve-year old brother is far more competitive."

Tom shook his head at her, teasingly narrowing his eyes. Arriving at the stables, he hopped off his horse and glanced up at her.

"You bring all of the boys round here?"

"No." She replied immediately, hopping off Orion and landing on her feet. She found herself stood in front of Tom, now looking up at him. The silence drew them closer as she felt herself drift in his direction. The lingering stares drew to a tense close, his hand cupping her jaw. Her breath drawing shorter and eyes fluttered shut, breathing each other in and-

Footsteps drew close and Y/N turned, Tom's hand dropping from her face. Her heart raced in her chest as she saw Charlie, one of the carers approaching from the entrance. He was an older man in his sixties who dedicated himself to caring for the horses. He'd taught all of the children of their House to ride, including her father.

"Ma'am. I didn't expect you today."

She waved her hand, a flush to her cheeks "I took Orion for a ride. You know how he gets anxious staying in for too long."

Charlie nodded, glancing at Tom, "Who might this be?"

Her mouth opened and closed as she glanced at Tom, "This is Thomas. He is a new member of my security."

Charlie glanced between the two, clearly sceptical but nodded nonetheless. "Well. I'll leave you to it."

A sigh left her mouth as she finally looked Tom in the eye. "Thomas?"

"What?"

"Bit on the nose, isn't it?"

She rolled her eyes, tugging Orion's reigns to the stables.

"I'm joking!" He laughed, and she found herself smiling despite her effort to stifle it. She replaced Orion in his stable, removing the saddle and reigns to begin and placed them on the side. The door swung behind her and she turned and the air left her lungs as warm lips pressed against her. She gasped lightly into Tom's mouth, breathing him in. His touch sent shivers along her skin as he gently brushed the hair away from her neck. Her hands found their way around his neck, needing him closer. He deepened the kiss, only releasing for air as they exhaled deeply.

A neigh sounded in the background, but she was too absorbed in him leaning against her forehead, their exhales mixing together in the heat of things. Eyes half lidded, gazing into his blue eyes that faded into a gunmetal blue when fully blown.

"Charlie is probably still around." She whispered.

He hummed, "I don't think that's gonna stop me." Pressing another soft kiss to her lips as she sighed, hands resting on his chest.

***

The sun dipped below the horizon as they sat beneath the tree, settled in a comfortable silence. Y/N nestled her head in Tom's shoulder.

"This is nice."

"It is, isn't it?" He hummed, glancing at her. He brushed her hair from her face.

"Would you...want to do this again?"

"This?" He feigned confusion, begging her to elaborate.

She glanced up at him, "You know. Seeing each other."

"D'you mean as mates or..." He smiled at her, "Just thought I'd confirm."

She sat up, tucking her hair over her shoulder "As in, I'd like to see you again, Tom."

He smirked, "I'm only pulling your leg. I understand perfectly."

Leaning in to press a kiss to her cheek, "I'd love to see more of you. Just know, I'm known for getting into trouble sometimes."

"I'm certain there's never a dull moment with you." She remarked, breaking into a grin as he tugged her into his arms.

"So it's settled then?"

"Yeah." She breathed, glancing between his eyes and lips. "Although, there is the one thing. To keep this secret."

He listened, "The media are known for distorting stories, and I wouldn't want that for you...us."

"Okay. If that’s what you want." He nodded.

"Thank you." She smiled, caressing his hand. "My family wouldn't know either. They're...my parents are open-minded, but-right now, things are uncertain. I'm unsure of what they're thinking."

"Understandable." He replied, "Not sure about dad, but I think Lois would agree. Try not to worry about all that." Tom clasped their hands together. "Focus on right now."

She exhaled, "I'll try, yeah."

Although it was a wishful thought for the most part that they could exist together without question. Without doubt of intervention or disapproval of their relationship.

Tom tugged her into his chest, "One of these days, I will beat you in a race."

"Oh, yeah?" She tilted her head, "You're about twelve years behind in training. I'm sure you'll get there, though."

"Hey," he murmured in her ear in a teasing voice. She giggled and the sound caused his heart to flutter. "I could-"

"-I'm sure you will." Y/N laughed as he tickled her neck.

TAGS

@pearlstiare @dothrckis @aemonds-sapphire @xcharlottemikaelsonx  @filipinamultifandom ​ @padfooteyes ​ @batsyforyou @yentroucnagol @cl-0-vr @viviartsy @h3k3t @arcana-greenleaf  @yummycastiel @lauraneedstochill @ladybug0095 @rntrsna @schniiipsel

[georgiapeach30513]

Closer to Heaven and Closer to You, Part 2

Summary:  Frank gets hurts.  You can’t stand Richard and Linda

Pairings:  Frank Adler X Reader (Past), Ransom Drysdale X Reader (Present)

Rating:  explicit

Warnings:  oral sex (F receiving), language, broken bones, 18+ ONLY

Word Count:  4.2K

Previous

Series Masterlist

*dividers created by @firefly-graphics​

“So how are you and the cowboy?” Mindy smiles at you, stuffing a bite of eggs in her mouth.  Your eyes go down to your plate, and you know your cheeks are heating up in embarrassment.  You thought you and Frank had kept it relatively low key.  “Hmm,” she begins shaking her head.

“There’s nothing going on between me and Frank,” the minute she picks up her cup of coffee and takes a sip, you know that somewhere you messed up.  Thinking back at the nights that you had snuck into his room, while Bucky and Steve were off at some bar.  Or sometimes he would sneak into your room, and you didn’t even bother with clothes.  Although the latter was much more enjoyable, there was something sexy about the thought of a drunk Steve just walking in on the two of you.

“I never said anything about Frank.  But, let’s see how I know there is something going on.  For some reason, none of the other cowboys talk to you now.  Half the time they won’t look at you, and some have even refused for you to work on them.  Almost as if another one has staked a claim on you.”

“No!” Was that really what was going on?  Had Frank somehow told the riders to not talk to you?  To not even let you bandage them?  “That…no…that’s not…”

“Or could be the fact that you tense up when it’s his turn to ride.  Clench your fists, and when he actually rides the full eight seconds you get excited, only to gasp when he has to get off the damn bull,” were you making it that obvious?  He was just supposed to be a fun time while you were on the road.  Frank was’t the most romantic person, but he was fun, and a great lay.

“No, probably my favorite is hearing Steve talking about how you rode him for a lot longer than eight seconds.  That he was a bucking bull, before he flipped you around and was riding you.  Seriously?  I tell you to stay away, and you’re fucking him in front of Steve?”

“First off, I am an adult, and I can fuck who I want.  Secondly, Steve doesn’t know what he saw because he was passed out.”

“No, Steve is a slut.  A proud slut, and we love him for it.  Steve doesn’t care if the porn is on his phone or on the bed next to him.  He can be slowly fading in and out of consciousness, but he’s going to hear you, and believe me, he’s watching.  You have your own damn room.  Ride your cowboy there.”

“It’s not that serious.  It’s just…fun.”

“Mhmm,” she purses her lips, nodding her head.  If it wasn’t so playful, you might be offended.  “Frank isn’t a bad guy.  He just…”

“I know.  I’m only looking at this with me and Frank, just for what happens on the road.  It’s not that serious.  I can tell he’s very much involved with the rodeo.  And I’m having fun.  Sex is fun.  Sex with him is fun and…oh, so good,” you get the biggest smile on your face imagining Frank over top of you.  He seriously did know how to ride things.  He proved it every single night you were together.  “We giggle during sex.”

“Okay…that’s about enough to of that, so let’s go to that damned ole rodeo. We need to head out.  Get everything set up.  Let you have fun.”

“Ransom,” you giggle as he steps into the shower with you, “What are you doing?”

“Saving water,” he laughs right along with you, but that laughter turns into the softest neck kisses.  His hands roam over your wet skin, pulling you closer to his body.  “Hey,” he begins, pulling back, “You know that no matter what my parents say, that it’s not the way me and Harlan think, right?”

“Hon, if I cared about what Richard and Linda Drysdale thought, would I be with you?  Hughie, all they want to do is split us up.  It’s not happening.  I’m not in a relationship with them, I’m with you,” you give him a quick peck to his lips.  Rubbing your hands over his hips, before jerking him closer to you, and he wraps you up in his arms.

“I don’t care about them.  I don’t even see them.  I see you, and I see Harlan.  And Linda and Richard can kiss my ass.”

“Mmm, I don’t want my dad anywhere near your ass,” he bends his knees, sinking down into the shower, and you whimper out his name, “What was that?”

“We’re supposed to be taking a shower.”

He lifts one of your legs up over his shoulder, and you lean back against the shower wall to brace yourself, staring down at him, but he only has his eyes on your glistening cunt.  “You can take a shower.  I’m going to have my dessert before supper.  I need this Buns,” he softly coos before he buries himself in your folds.  Flattening his tongue to lick up your slit. Moaning at the taste of you.  Chuckling when you grab his hair by the roots and shove him even closer to your mound.

He knew you could never say no to him using your body to calm himself.  And my god, if he didn’t know how to use his mouth.  Sucking on your little nub until you couldn’t even look down at his pretty face.  Head thrown back on the cold tile, while your voice sings out his praises.  Fuck, he was a god with his mouth.  

His hands grip tight to your ass cheeks as he grinds you over him.  You were always just a mess on his mouth, no fingers needed.  His teeth nibble on your swollen bundle of nerves, and you try to push him off you.  He just clings tighter, “Ransom!” You gasp, and you could feel him smiling on your sex, he wanted you to be pliant.  Pushing you past your limits.  

“Ransom!” Screaming his name like a crazed mad woman.  “Ahh!” He finally slows when your entire body starts trembling.  Pulling himself out from in between your thighs, he wipes his face against your skin.  Your labored breaths make your chest heave, and he just smiles so serenely up at you.

“Just remember, there’s more to that when we get back home.  You know they make me angry, so I’m going to have to fuck you into the bed.  But I’ve got you good and relaxed, so be a good girl at dinner, okay?” You nod your head slightly, and he stands up from the shower floor.  Kissing all the way up your skin.  “You look like you need a drink of water?”

“Don’t be an asshole, I’m coming down from my high.”

“Oh, you were definitely coming,” you playfully smack at him, and he laughs, “Mmm, and that taste is going to linger on my tongue for the rest of the evening.  I’m gonna need that.”

“Yeah, whatever you need, Hughie.”

“And don’t call me that in front of anyone.  You think you can behave in front of my mother?”

Your hand drifts down the front of his chest.  Tickling over his smooth chest, giving his nipple a quick squeeze, and running over the mountains and valleys of his abs.  Sinking lower, until you cup his balls, “You think she can not make disgusting comments about my boyfriend?  I don’t give a shit what Linda thinks about me.”

“I think she never saw me being with someone like you,” you cock up an eyebrow, and smile at him.  “I mean…I don’t think she ever saw someone that would give it to her right back.  You intimidate her.”

“And I won’t let her say disgusting things about my boyfriend, and her son,” puckering up your lips, you let him give you a chaste kiss, “I love you, Ransom, you know that right?”

“You make sure to tell me everyday.  And I love you, too.”

You nervously watch as Frank climbs into the chute with the bull.  Looking towards you, making sure you were watching.  You always were anxiously watching.  It was your job, but with Frank, you watched his every move when he saddles onto the bull.  Watching as Steve and Bucky help him get his hand wrapped up.  He gives another look over to you, flicking his hat with the biggest smile.  Taking a deep breath as he looks down at the bull, “Okay boys!  Okay!”

The gate opens up and the bull is brutal with the bucking.  You grab tightly to Mindy’s arm as you watch nervously.  He always looked like a rag doll in these moments.  It is painful looking as his body is thrown around, arm slinging in the air, and then the whistle blows for the eight seconds, and you rejoice.  

It was short lived as Frank struggles to get off the bull, and when he does the bull bucks on his body a few steps, and you jump up, running to the side of the pin as the clowns move the bull away from him.  No one wants to let you past the gate as you watch scared for him to be carried off.

“Where’s my Bunny?” He screams over the clowns.  “Shit!  Dammit!  Bunny!” Mindy gives you a quick head shake, but you don't care.  If everyone already knew that you and Frank were fucking, then so be it.  You rush over to his side, and grab at his arm, “They’re taking me to the hospital, what’s my score?”

“Frank, shut up,” his dirty gloved hand wipes away your tears that you weren’t aware was leaking down your face.  

“No.  No, that was a good ride.  You were my good luck charm.  Must be all that extra riding practice I’ve been getting,” you roll your eyes, holding tight to his hand as you wait for his score.  Even the paramedics were trying to urge him to leave.  “I ain’t doing it.  Can I take her with me?  She’s my favorite nurse.  If you’re taking me to the hospital, I need a private one.”

“And what a ride for Frank Adler.  Best score of the night, that cowboy is walking away with an eighty-nine!”

Frank pulls you down, until he’s crashing his mouth into yours for a bruising kiss.  Letting the entire rodeo know that he was spoken for.  Not caring about what anyone might say.  He had claimed you, and he claimed you for everyone to see.  “Now, take me to the hospital.  I need someone to ride with me though.  I’m a baby.  I volunteer, Bunny to go.”

“Ma’am, you got a problem with that?” You shake your head no, and follow him to the ambulance.  Waving back at Mindy who was just as shocked as you were with the public display of affection from Frank.  A declaration of him finally being off the market.

“Oh,” Linda groans as you walk into Harlan’s home with Ransom.  She had opted to open the door, and was disgusted at seeing you on her son’s arm.  “I thought you were given the night off?”

“She was.  She’s here with me,” Ransom holds you even tighter to his body, while Linda looks you up and down with disgust.  You could almost see her judging comments on your dress, your shoes, the way you styled your hair, and even your manicure.  “Don’t,” Ransom warns, pulling you into the house.

“There’s my favorite people,” Harlan smiles as you and Ransom go into the sitting room.  Leaning over you give Harlan a kiss to his cheek.  “It’s always so refreshing to see you like this,” he looks up at Ransom beaming with pride as he walks you over to a seat.  “Ransom, go make you and Bunny a drink.”

While Ransom heads to the bar cart, Harlan leans in closer to you, “So you’re taking Ransom out west?” Ransom wasn’t going to quit talking about where you grew up, until he went out there.  You had reservations, but it made him so happy to plan the trip out.  “Are you going to make him wear boots and feed the horses?”

“Oh, please,” Richard answers, sitting across from you.  “Like my son would ever lift a finger to do any manual labor.”

“Hmm, that’s funny considering he was helping me put together a shelf.  He’s willing to try and learn.”

“Did it fall apart?” Ransom sets his cup on the cart a bit too hard, while his father smirks at him.  “I’m sorry, Ransom, you know you’re just no good.”

God, you hated his pompous ass.  Ransom brings you the drink, but you set it down on the coffee table, so you could wrap your arm around him.  You were thankful that Richard and Linda had Ransom, but you also wondered why such vile humans that acted like they hated their son, would even have a child.  “Ransom is always a big help around the house.”

“Ransom has been quite a big help around here,” Harlan winks at you, and turns towards his grandson.  “He’s been doing a lot lately.  I’m very proud of him.  He’s making big moves,” Ransom’s cobalt blue eyes look up at Harlan, and you lean a bit on his shoulder, “I’m proud of you, son.  You’re doing a lot of work that people don’t even realize.  It’ll be good for you in the long run.”

“Would you be a dear and check on dinner?” Linda smiles over at you, but Harlan shakes his head no.  “Well, she is part of the help.”

“Tonight, she is a guest.  She is not working currently.  And if she was you would still speak to her with respect.  But tonight, she is my guest, and Ransom’s date.  You go and check on dinner,” Linda takes a sip of her drink, staring at nothing at all.  Ransom grabs at your knee and starts rolling his fingers on it.  Nervously about to say something snarky that wasn’t even worth it.  “Now, Linda,” sucking her cheeks in, she stomps into the kitchen, and Ransom finally relaxes a bit.

He was nothing like them.  While the first time you met Ransom, he had a lot to be desired.  But now after two years later, and one of those you had been dating Ransom, you know where his attitude came from.  His idiotic parents.  He was never given a chance to be the man that he had the potential to be.  They undercut him every chance they could.  Degraded him like it was a sport, but to you, Ransom was perfect.  A gentleman, and he was always there.  He never left you for someone or something else.

Ransom had proven more times than not that he was reliable.  He loved with every fiber of his being, and he was simply, just perfect.  You give him a quick kiss to his shoulder, getting his attention back on you.  Mouthing, “Hughie,” it wasn’t for anyone but him, but the way his forehead relaxes, and he leans back into you made you feel better.  Ransom deserved better than his parents.  He turned out to be a good man, despite their lack of involvement.  

You just had to take a deep breath, and get through the rest of the evening.  Ending the night either reassuring Ransom that he was worth it, or let him use your body to take out his aggression.  Just a couple of hours, and you and him was going home.

“You’re going to have to take some time off,” Frank glares up at the doctor, shaking his head, “Mr. Adler, you broke four ribs, you’ve got severe bruising to your hip, and…”

“I know my injuries, but riding is my life.  I just had a good ride, I can’t get out of the season yet.”

“I’m very sorry.  Take some time off.  Enjoy your company,” the doctor’s eyes rake over you, giving Frank a sigh, “I’m sorry.  Be happy you have someone that cares about your well being.  Do you think he should ride?”  You look away from Frank when you shake your head no.  The last thing that he needed was to get on the back of a bucking bull.

“You think I need time off?” He asks the moment the doctor leaves.  “Just throw away my season like that?”

“What good are you doing to your season if you get on a bull, and you can’t stay on because of your ribs?  Frank, the last thing I want is for you to give up on this season.  Rodeos aren’t every weekend.  You take a couple weeks off, you go back rested, and better.”

“Fine,” he groans, reaching over to pull him closer to you, “I’ll take time off, if you become my personal nurse.  I really really could use some massages.  You can come back home to my family’s ranch.  Meet the parents.  Show you the land,” he gives you a pitiful little shoulder shrug, and you get the biggest smile on your face, “Don’t make something big outta this.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, Franklin.  We’re just going to your family’s ranch.  That’s all,” cupping your cheek he runs his finger over your lips, and you start sinking lower to him.  He was intoxicating, and you weren’t sure why.  Didn’t know what this magnetic pull to him was.  But you didn’t care, you were just living in the moment.

“I’m really really going to need babied the next couple of weeks.  Like…it’s all up to you.  I can’t do anything, I’m broken.”

“I’m going to break your ass in if you don’t kiss me,” whispering right up against his lips, you get a bit closer.

“Or I could break in your ass?” You shake your head no, and press your lips against his gently.  “Not even just a little bit?”

“No.  Get some rest.  You get to leave tomorrow.”

“And then you become my personal nurse?  Yeah, I like that idea, Bunny,” his eyes start to flutter close, and you give him a quick kiss to his forehead.  You would have to leave him when there was a rodeo, but you would help him out when you could.  He did look quite adorable, doped up and sleepy.  Just another part of Frank that had melted your heart.

“Hey, mama,” Frank steps into his parents house, pulling you along with him.

“Oh, hey, baby,” she rushes out to give him a hug, but with a grunt at her squeezing she pulls back.  “Oh, you must be the famous not buckle Bunny?  My Franklin has told me all about you.  Well, come on in.  Frank, get her some tea.”

“I’m hurt.”

“And you walked your happy little ass in here.  Get her some tea.  Or would you prefer water?” You let her know tea was fine, and Frank walks off to the kitchen to get you something to drink.  “Now, don’t worry, Frank doesn’t live here.  He lives in the apartment above the garage.  It gives him some privacy, plus he’s not far away to help his dad.  He does work really hard; chopping wood, helps with the cattle, makes sure the horses are well taken care of.  Oh, if I embarrassed you, I apologize.  Name is Evelyn by the way.  You can call Evie.  Oh, Franklin, you’re a peach,” his mother was proud of him for doing even the simplest of things, including getting you some tea.

“How are you feeling son?  Still a bit sore?”

“Yes,” he puts on some fake misery as he sits down beside you.  “This one wouldn’t let me do the next rodeo.  I have to sit and watch.  But, she is allowing me to go.  Ow,” he giggles when you pinch him.  “Mama, I’m kinda tired.  I think we’re going to go ahead and take our things to the apartment.”

“Okay, supper is at six.  And I know Black Jack would love to see you,” she calls out to Frank as he guides you to his apartment. The second you get out of her eyesight, you turn to smile at Frank.  His mom was adorable.

“Nope.  Don’t say it.  I know, I got a mom that loves me so much, and I am a mama’s boy.  It is what it is.  And she’s right.  I need to see Black Jack.  You wanna ride?”

“Frank, no!”

“Black Jack is the most docile horse ever.  He’s always been an old man.  Come on,” pulling at your hand he takes you out the barn, and walks you to his stall.  Clicking his tongue on the way until you see the most handsome of horses.  “Hey buddy,” Frank says softly, leaning his forehead against Black Jack, “We’re gonna saddle you up, and we’re going to show Miss Bunny over here the special place, okay?” Black Jack nods his head a moment, and you reach up to pet him as well.

“Black Jack was my first and only horse.  We got more, but he…he’s the best.  Aren’t ya, buddy?  Will you let her saddle you?  I’m a bit broken, and my nurse says that I can’t do anything.  She won’t even let me ride her,” Black Jack whinnies, and looks over at you blowing air out his snout.  “Don’t be hard on her.  Maybe I’ll let her ride me.”

“Frank!” He was ridiculous.  “You act like because we haven’t had sex in a few days that you’re going to die.  Black Jack, you tell him that if he doesn’t know how to behave I won’t even suck on his carrot.”

“Aw, man,” Frank throws his head back, and the horse gets excited hoofing the floor, “You said his favorite treat, and then compared my dick to one.  Alright, alright, I’ll get you a carrot, and you can eat it, while you get saddled.  And you…will suck on my carrot.  Ugh, I don’t know if I like the way that sounds.  Kinda leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

“And this right here,” Frank pulls on the reins to halt the horse, gesturing out into a clearing surrounded by trees.  “This is where I’ve always wanted a house.  This is the special place,” he was trying to be smooth, dropping the rein to rest his hand too high up on your thigh.  

“Would have a two story with a wrap around porch.  Annoying little kids running around, and there would be no one around.  Wouldn’t have to worry about them.  Look at that tree, isn’t it perfect for a tire swing.  It’s still on Adler land, but it’s got its own privacy.”

“You like keeping things private?” You ask, turning to the side to look back at him.  

“Well, I’d prefer it, yeah.  There’s something so fucking hot about Steve trying to see us fucking though.”

“Oh, really?” His eyes drift down to your lips, and he gives you a head nod.

“Really.  But those nights alone in your room when I just get to see your tits bouncing with every thrust into you,” his hand dips down lower, and he starts palming you over your jeans.  Leaning into you.  His tongue dips past your lips, and you suck on the muscle.  A sweet moment was turning way too hot, and you were still on the back of the horse.

“But of course,” he pulls back from your mouth, his hand pulling at the reins.  “I honestly have nothing, and no idea where I was taking this conversation.  But the way you were moaning in my mouth, I needed it to stop.  I’m going to hold out on you for as long as you hold out on me.”

“Is that a challenge, Frank Adler?”

“I believe it is.”

“Hmm, well, it’s a good thing I brought my vibrator.”

“Wait a minute,” Frank gives your shoulder a quick nibble as he leads the horse back to the house, “You were going to masturbate in the shower?”

“No, I was going to masturbate lying right beside you.”

“Ugh…or you could let me use it on you?  Or even get you off on my fingers?  I mean just because I can’t have sex, doesn’t mean one of us shouldn’t get off, right?  Am I right?”

“Are you putting up your white flag already?”

“Yeah.  I failed.  You could just ride my face.  That’s completely nowhere near my ribs.  Wouldn’t that be fun?” Giggling, you try to ignore his constant sexual talk.  Trying to look at the property, and not get too attached.  You didn’t want to ask how many women he had brought out here.  Didn’t want to know how many women have saddled up on Black Jack with him.  You just wanted to enjoy this moment for what it was.

“Frank, I need a nap.”

“And I need pussy.”

“Stop that,” you smack at his thigh.  “Surely there’s more we can do besides sex.”

“Is it as fun though?”

“The more rest you get, the sooner you get back on the saddle.”

“Mmm, can I get back in your saddle,” there was no use.  No matter what you said, it was constantly going to go back to sex.  So instead you lean back on his chest, and close your eyes.  Taking a deep breath as the setting sun warms your skin.  No drama, no road, no friends always with you, it was just you and Frank, and the horse.  You could get too used to this moment, and that scared you.  But, you also believed with the right woman that Frank would fall for her instead of the rodeo.  Maybe.  You just didn’t know if that was you or not.

Next

Masterlist

Taglist: @tis-thedamn-season​ @marveloustaylortot​ @pono-pura-vida​ @sstan-hoe​ @infatuatedharleys​ @missusbarnes-rogers​ @peaches1958​ @seitmai​ @smile1318​ @andydrysdalerogers​ @cjand10​ @patzammit​ @lavender-annd-lilac​

[anantradingpvtltd]

Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details) [ad_1] This in-depth resource teaches you to craft mechanics that generate challenging, enjoyable, and well-balanced gameplay. You’ll discover at what stages to prototype, test, and implement mechanics in games and learn how to visualize and simulate game mechanics in order to design better games. Along the way, you’ll practice what you’ve learned with hands-on lessons. A free downloadable simulation tool developed by Joris Dormans is also available in order to follow along with exercises in the book in an easy-to-use graphical environment. In Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Design, you’ll learn how to: * Design and balance game mechanics to create emergent gameplay before you write a single line of code. * Visualize the internal economy so that you can immediately see what goes on in a complex game. * Use novel prototyping techniques that let you simulate games and collect vast quantities of gameplay data on the first day of development. * Apply design patterns for game mechanics—from a library in this book—to improve your game designs. * Explore the delicate balance between game mechanics and level design to create compelling, long-lasting game experiences. * Replace fixed, scripted events in your game with dynamic progression systems to give your players a new experience every time they play. "I've been waiting for a book like this for ten years: packed with game design goodness that tackles the science without undermining the art." --Richard Bartle, University of Essex, co-author of the first MMORPG   “Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Design by Joris Dormans & Ernest Adams formalizes game grammar quite well. Not sure I need to write a next book now!”  -- Raph Koster, author of A Theory of Fun for Game Design. ASIN ‏ : ‎ B008CG8E8Y Publisher ‏ : ‎ New Riders; 1st edition (18 June 2012) Language ‏ : ‎ English File size ‏ : ‎ 38010 KB Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Up to 5 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled Print length ‏ : ‎ 442 pages [ad_2]

[harveywritings92]

Batboys scenario: Secret Model Girfriend. 1/2

The following is a non profit fan based story Batman, Red hood, Nightwing etc. belongs to DC Comics please support the official release.

_

I gain no profit from this nor do I own anything other then OCs  and whatever sprouts from my imagination. Thanks for reading!

Batboys Scenario 1: secret model girlfriend.

Boys are dating a nerdy, clumsy and very plain looking girl, not knowing she's a very gorgeous model they've been obsessing over and one day they're invited to a shoot to meet s/n [Stage name] and let's just say the boys say some pretty hurtful shit, needless to say they get the biggest shock of their life when the model sounds an awful lot like their girlfriend!

Dick Grayson: Kori got him backstage he was so giddy about meeting [S/n] he has a lot her posters on his old bedroom back at the manor and a few cleverly hidden magazines hidden back at his and Y/n apartment, His girlfriend has no idea he's here...His eyes wonder around the set ladies of every shape and various stated of dress eye him, some flirtatiously, other curiously and few could care less.

You meet a lot of attractive men in this industry so the more seasoned models have learned *not to flatter yourself, chances are he's just window shopping or fishing for attention.* Then she came into his view [s/n] she looked more stunning in person than on paper.

She wore a dark blue cover dress over a white bikini, her short/long glossy hair was flowing, her plump red lip were curled into a friendly smile that brighten the room her eyes were covered by sunglasses, Dick felt butterflies in his stomach as the [y/height] woman approached the he caught wisps of her perfume in the air...

that caused Dick to stall for moment. It was familiar he quickly pushed that aside and introduced himself. Y/n being the ever good actress she was used her s/n's [accent], They hit it off pretty well they talked about the show and her up coming tour and eventual somehow got on to relationships. "So.. Kori says you have a girlfriend, what's she like?"

the model asked as the raven haired snorted, not his cutesy 'OMG I thought you'd never ask!~' snicker this was a sarcastic snort. "Oh...yeah, she's nothing special... pretty boring really." Kori and S/n both gawked at as he continued. "It's not serious, I'm only with Y/n because of a dar-" he was suddenly cut off by a seething Kori "Richard! that is Y/n!" she snarled ready to pummel him.

Dick's stomach suddenly felt like it was full of sand a lumped formed throat as the familiar little hiccups his girlfriend would make when she was trying hard not breakdown crying filled the very quiet set. he swallowed hard as S/n took off her wig and sunglasses letting her natural hair fall over her face, as her teary e/c eyes looked up at him in betrayal,

 before Dick could say anything she pulled the keys to their apartment off her key-ring and threw them at him before running off sobbing, Kori went after her while all the other models gave the flabbergasted man the evil-eye, now Dick really was living up to his name sake.

Jason Todd: Artemis was your bodyguard when she wasn't with the outlaws, Jason got curious where the amazon was getting her extra cash from and followed her. to say he was excited was an understatement, S/n was he dream girl, 

he had her posters,magazines and a few of her interviews saved on his phone, he used to and still does have a few inappropriate dreams about her, So, when he saw the Amazon talking the the Model who was in a red  bunny girl outfit; Jason was over the moon.

While Artemis was very against the idea of letting Jason meet S/n..."He's going to hurt you." she said in hush tone, But you brushed it off saying that you've known Jason since before he was the hood and knew he wouldn't do anything! 

Sure, he's S/n fanboy, but he loves you...Or so you thought! It's seemed like a normal interaction he asked for S/n's autograph and talked about her her travels and shoots then...got bad, Fast!

One second Jason was talking about his time in Japan talked about the cherry blossom festival how the petals reminded him of pink snow, the model felt a little off by this...he never talked to Y/n about this maybe thi...no, she was being silly! 

"Oh, I've always wanted to go during that time, but scheduling is a bitch." She suddenly Jason's hand on hers the model cocked a brow looked up at the raven haired man, He said he was in the country for an escort mission got to spend a few night in a traditional hotel in the mountains...it was pretty relaxing.

"And it just so happens they gave me a free trip for two the next time I was there, how about it?" he smirked as S/n pulled away from him "Artemis tells me you have a girlfriend why d-" Jason's smirk immediately dropped then S/n mentioned Y/n who was hoping Jason was just joke flirting with her alter-ego. 

But was soon throw out the window along with your broken heart! "Oh..her..Yeah, she a real prude, just dead weight" Y/n felt her anger boil over as he continued talking shit about her.

Y/n didn't even realize she punched Jason in the face, till she heard a crunch, and felt pain erupt in her left hand that was now broken. When her vision cleared she saw Jason on the ground clutching his now broken nose looking up at her shocked. "What the fuck? You broke my nose!" he snarled as the model took off her wig and sunglasses and his eyes widened in horror and awe as his girlfriend glared down at him tearful and angry.

"Fuck your nose! and fuck you!" she spat before running off, Artemis looked between them both before helping Jason up as she glared the raven haired man in anger and disappointment. "I told her this was a bad Idea..." the amazon huffed as she gathered Y/n's things and went looking for her, all while Jason just stood there too stunned to move as his mind kept repeating...

*Y/n is S/n...Y/n is S/n,*  Y/n his small mousy (ex) girlfriend who he's known and trusted since his Robin days, was the pin-up model glaciers would sprout a pair of legs for, and earn a degree in linguistics just the for the off chance that she'll talk them?!...and he just fucking ruined it!

Tim Drake: Stephanie who found out S/n's true identity by accident, was the one who convinced Y/n to tell Tim about her other life, he was getting suspicious about her business trips, and late night phone calls...However, every time she had the opportunity to say something she'd chicken out or something would come up for either Y/n or Tim leaving it for another day of cancelled plans or Tim giving her the silent treatment for standing him up.

Then she came out of her bathroom to find Tim going through her phone! "What are you doing?!" The h/c demanded the raven hared man lips formed a tight line. "Who's Grant?" he huffed ignoring her question. "Nobody, just a co-worker!" she hissed trying to snatch her phone back but Tim kept it out of her reach. "Really? then how come I've never met him?" his eyes narrowed suspiciously. 

"He's been overseas the last few months, It's a lunch meeting we're discussing filming locations?" Y/n said wasn't a complete lie she did say she worked in a photography industry, And Grant was a fellow model who also doubled as location organizer for the firm, But Tim was still skeptical he could tell she wasn't being truthful.

"Really, Just a co-worker?"

" Is that a problem?"

"Yeah..actually you're my girlfriend, why hell is he calling you his sweetheart and baby?!"

"Sorry, I didn't realize my friends needed your permission to call me nicknames!"

Y/n snapped as Tim's jaw set indicating he was furious. "OH! So, now he's a friend, what the hell happen to just a Co-worker?!" The raven haired man demanded as the h/c flinched at his raised voice, This wasn't fair this wasn't fair at all! "I don't see that the big deal is, I don't give you shit for hanging out with Stephanie or Cassie?!" She huffed bringing his exes into the mix big mistake..."Well at least I can trust them!?" Tim seethed shoving passed her.

"What are you talking about?!" Y/n demanded she already knew where he was going with this. "I know you're cheating Y/n, So just save us both the god damn time and just tell me!" Tim snarled as Y/n looked affronted she knew it was coming, but it still stung that her Timmy would assume that she was sleeping around!

 "Fine! You want the truth Tim? Well here it is, I'm S/n!" She said crossing her arms as Tim gave her a once over a sneered. "The model?...Right, If you're gonna play around at least make up a better lie then that..." He spat storming out of her apartment... leaving a sobbing Y/n in his wake.

Later while on patrol with Spoiler, Tim let her know that he and Y/n broke up when the blond demanded why? He told her how he went through Y/n's phone and found her texting Grant and how the H/c had the audacity to lie and tell him she was S/n the pin-up girl! "Tsk, can you believe her?" he snorted then noticed how nervous Steph suddenly got.

"Uh, Tim she wasn't lying..." the blond said meekly as Red robin looked at her incredulously. "Wh-What you mean?" he asked feeling clammy all of the sudden, Stephanie explained that Y/n pulled a Hannah Montana and really was S/n..Grant is gay and her set manager they really were just co-workers...

She was actually going tell him in the morning before she left for her meeting, But he had to be jealous,distrustful and nosy...then the reality slowly crashing down on him like bucket of cold water... He broke up with Y/n over nothing, he went back to her apartment intending to apologize, but it was locked down tight and Y/n was gone...

Adult! Damian Wayne: Y/n was bored she was stuck at home playing Skyrim and eating junk food, "Well I can't be having a worst time than Dami." she mumbled to herself, her boyfriend Damian Wayne was stuck at some conference in Bludhaven...the poor guy. After doing the thieves guild quest line, the h/c got bored and decided to watch some TV when she switch over she was met with a Vicky Vale live at a Wayne charity gala...

*Gala? Damian never mentioned a Gala.." Y/n was confused as she saw Dick,Tim even Jason on the screen with dates...Did Dami lie? She though for a moment. No, he's up-tight but Damian isn't a liar...The h/c stomach dropped when she saw her boyfriend on screen with some d-listed blonde wrapped around his arm.

Y/n's face contorted into anger as she shut the TV off, What the hell! why didn't he tell her about the gala?...She looked at her reflection from the floor length mirror, She was wearing her big glasses, no make up and a Transformers t-shirt...Was Damian embarrassed of her? the h/c felt tears welling in her eyes then shook her head and wiped them.

She'll show him! But first she needs a date! Y/n pick up her phone and called her friend Robbie Reyes (ghost Rider)."Ey, Robbie! It's N/n are you still in Gotham?" The Latino man confirmed that yes he was still in the city. "Good, there's this charity thing downtown and I need a date." 

She smirked as the mechanic said he'll go but, he doesn't have anything to wear. "Oh,don't worry about that I got you covered." Y/n already called her stylist and the formal wear shop they got there the same Time Robbie did.

by the time they were done getting dress S/n and Robbie Reyes looked like a Hollywood couple. She in a dark purple gown with gold flowers decorating the front and dipped low in the back, and Robbie was in dark tux with a matching purple shirt and gold tie.  

"Remember, I'm only doing because we're friends...And you promised an autographed poster to Gabe." the Latino chided causing the model smile that's Robbie always big teddy bear when it comes to his little brother! "Don't worry I haven't forgotten.." She eyed him int the tux and smirked Y/n was Robbie was fine.~ "Y'know you should clean up more often! you'd be a real chick magnet...you could use a girlfriend."

the man next to her snorted and rolled his eyes annoyed "You sound like my brother..." he sighed as they pulled into the Hotel parking lot a few men whistled in amazement at the black 69 Charger. the Valet took Robbie's keys eagerly, but not before the Latino gave him the 'don't hurt my car!' speech causing Y/n to roll her eyes...Men and their cars, She doesn't get it and never will, She looped her arms around his left arm as Vicky Vale zeroed in on them.

"Oh, speaking of late arrivals S/n has just arrived with a Bad boy!~ could love be in the air in Gotham?" The reporter questioned as S/n fans booed or cheered as as the 'couple' walked along the carpet. "Is it always this bright and loud?" Robbie whispered in the model's ear cringing as some girls squealed at the little interaction and the camera flashes went off around them.

"Yeah, but it get's pretty quiet once you get inside." She whispered back to the camera's it looked like they were flirting, as the blond reporter asked about their relationship, "Sorry, everyone but, Mr. Reyes is just dear friend of mine, he's got more important things going on then dating at the moment." The [fake/h/c] explained with a tight smile Robbie confirmed causing Vicky to pout as the two got inside.

Robbie was immediately blindsided by a man Y/n recognized as Jason Todd who started asking the mechanic about that sweet 69' outside! the two men started mingling and talking about cars.

 while Y/n rolled her eyes and wandered the ballroom the model surveyed the room for Damian and found him and his little tart...Taking a deep breath Y/n made her way over to them, when she got close enough to hearing what they were saying.

her heart hurt as the man she loved told his fake entourage how plain and frigid she was not worth bragging about! Dick who knew about S/n looked very uncomfortable and disappointed in his little brother. then he noticed you and looked stunned to see you there, Damian must told them you were sick or something... feeling more determined Y/n stood up straighter and spoke.

"Really now, because an hour ago you were telling me how much you loved me..." She hissed in her normal voice Damian stiffened shoved his date away and whirled and looked around in a panic.

 "Down here love." She said in her S/n accent his green eyes looked at her bemused as his date and 'Friends' all looked at Damian like he grew three heads. "Dude, your dating S/n??!" One of the men said befuddled remembering all the crap he was saying about his girl...they all pictured some librarian spinster type! Not one of Gotham's top desirable women.

"More like he was...oh, here take this I don't need it anymore." she huffed taking off the necklace he'd giving her for their anniversary and handed it to Damian, She got close enough for him to see some of her natural h/c peeking out from under her wig and the outline of her contact lenses. "I...But." Damian still in shock tried to figure out how to talk,

 It was too late he dug his grave and he dug it deep. "It's been fun, Now if you'll excuse me I gotta find my date and go..." She said calmly and walked into the crowd disappearing in the sea people, Damian snapped out of his stupor and followed after Y/n just in time see her get in a black muscle car with an unknown male and drove off into the night....  

[wiypt-writes]

Barking Up The Wrong Tree

 Ransom Drysdale One Shot

Summary: It’s the Annual Pre-Easter meal at the Thrombey’s and Ransom and you are in attendance. As usual, there’s fireworks, a lot of swearing and there’s only one way you know he can get rid of his frustrations…

 Warnings: Bad Language words. SMUT (NSFW) NO UNDER 18s!

Pairing: Ransom Drysdale x Reader

A/N:  So this was originally written last year for @jennmurawski13​ who requested a smutty one shot with an Evans character of my choice for her birthday. It was coined from a Brainstorming sesh me and @icanfeelastormbrewing​ had for our intended Ransom x OFC series (we might get round to it in 2022…so by then you’ll have forgotten if we use it again.) FYI Eighteen year old Ransom is totally Bryce from Fierce People, you can’t convince me otherwise… I also very much now see this being the same Reader as in mine, @ohthankevans13​ and @sweater-daddiesdumbdork​’s  Real Life Tasks With Ransom Drysdale series.

Your brown leather, knee high Saint Laurent boots (a gift from the man whose lap you were curled up on) were on the floor by your feet leaving you in your grey, woollen over-knee socks. One of your boyfriend’s large hands was resting on your left shin, the other just at the top of your right thigh, almost on your ass cheek. You were well aware your black sweater dress was riding up so went to shift and shimmy it down a little, conscious that you were, after all, sat in the large drawing room at his grandfather’s house whilst the rest of his family milled around as the pre-Easter dinner, which always took place the weekend before the actual holiday, was being prepared.

“You okay?” Ransom looked up at you, noticing you shift on his lap and you smiled.

“Yeah, just don’t want to flash everyone too much if you get my drift.”

Ransom cocked an eyebrow at you, then peeked around the room, before he gave a snort as his eyes fell on his cousin Jacob who was watching the pair of you.

“Yeah, we wouldn’t want Adolf junior getting a boner now would we?”

You gave a chuckle as you re-arranged your dress, making yourself more comfortable.

“He’s just a kid, Ran.” You soothed.

“He’s a deviant, Princess.” He replied, his voice quiet.

“So were you when I first met you.” You grinned, looking at him as you bent closer to whisper into his ear “Still are when the mood takes you.”

Ransom pulled back to look at you, his face inches from yours, his eyebrow raising slightly as that dirty smirk spread across his handsome face. “Stop it.” He warned, and you shrugged innocently, as he placed a soft kiss on your mouth.

“Come on son, put her down.” Richard’s voice rang across the room and instantly you felt Ransom’s entire demeanour change. Gone was the relaxed, jokey, happy Ran you knew and loved and in his place was Hugh Ransom Drysdale, asshole extraordinaire.

“Piss off, Father.” He shot back, his head moving back from yours, fixing his dad with a steely glare.

“Hey.” Richard glowered “Don’t speak to me like that…” he turned to Linda. “Did you hear that Linda?”

“Ransom…” Linda said lazily, not looking up from her phone. “Don’t speak to your father like that.”

Ransom rolled his eyes and you gently looked at him, shaking your head, silently telling him to stay calm. It was always the same with the Thrombey family gatherings. Ransom despised them for the simple fact that Harlan was the only one he had any time for, bar his mother on a good day, and you were inclined to feel the same way. It always ended in chaos, each individual nuclear sects within the extended family trying to get one up on the other, prove they were the best players in the game.

Frankly, they made the fucking Lannisters look normal.  

All your friends were constantly asking you how you managed to stay tangled in this web of dysfunction, but the answer was right in front of you, his crystal blue eyes now narrowed as he shot a sarcastic reply back to his mother.

The simple truth was, you loved him and couldn’t walk away if you tried.

It hadn’t always been that way, mind. When your High School had been asked to submit nominations for the coveted position of Harlan Thrombey’s Summer research assistant, you’d been short listed along with 15 other candidates from the New England area. Each of you were asked to produce a five-thousand word thesis on a literary subject of your choice to be submitted for reading by Harlan. You’d been ecstatic when you received the call from his Publishing Company to say you’d made the final three and were requested to attend an interview.

You’d been and bought a new suit. Nothing fancy but decent enough quality. You made sure your hair was tamed, your make up was as on point as you could get it, and had driven the thirty minutes or so out to his mansion from the home you shared with your Nanna in Brookline, following the directions on your GPS to the area near Pierce Park where the Thrombey Mansion was located. You were greeted by his housekeeper and shown into the large office where the man himself was waiting. Harlan was nothing like you had expected him to be. He was eccentric, sure, but also dmaned good fun. He’d asked you a few questions about why you wanted the position “I’m going to major in English at college and I hope to work in publishing when I graduate, this would be an invaluable experience.” He had then discussed your paper with you and after a few more general questions he had reduced you almost to tears of laughter by telling you a about an incident when he had been at college and was almost caught climbing down the trellis of his girlfriend’s parent’s house following a late night rendezvous of the very naughty kind “Don’t think too badly of me, we ended up married for forty-seven years…”

Then, just as he was showing you out of his study a tall, well-built young man, your age you had correctly guessed, with a strong jaw, dark hair flicked to the left side of his forehead, and a pair of the bluest eyes you had ever seen, waltzed down the hallway. He was dressed in a pair of riding breeches, a polo shirt and wore a long pair of tan leather riding boots.

"Ransom?” Harlan looked at the young man “I wasn’t expecting you till this afternoon.”

“Yeah well, the fucking horse I should have been riding is lame.” Ransom shrugged “Which means I can’t ride, and I probably can’t compete this weekend.”

“Dressage?” you had asked, your mouth speaking well before your brain had engaged, for some reason thinking it was a good idea to comment. Ransom had looked at you with disdain, scanned you up and down and cocked his head to one side, his eyes cold as they locked onto yours.

“Polo.” He had answered, a sneer on his face “Do I look like a dressage rider to you? Mind you, from the state of your cheap high-street dress the nearest you’ve probably ever been to a horse is those shitty little trail rides they run at kids parties.”

“Ransom!” Harlan had snapped sternly “Enough!”

You felt the heat rise in your neck and cheeks, and you drew yourself up to your full height, folding your arms as you looked at the ass hole stood in front of you. One thing your Nanna had told you was that, despite your humble origins, you were as worthy as the next person, no matter how much money, status or self-importance they may have.

“My apologies. I always thought polo was played by arrogant, snobby, stuck up pricks.” You retorted as you made a show of looking him up and down in the same way he had done to you. “Actually, on second thoughts, I should have guessed.”

As soon as the words were out of your mind you let out an internal groan. Way to go, flush your chance of landing this summer internship down the fucking toilet by insulting Harlan’s grandson. Nevertheless, you held the gaze of the man in front of you who stared back, his expression and face utterly stoic bar the blink of surprise his eyes made.

You heard Harlan chuckle behind you and the old man dropped a hand to your shoulder. “Fran, could you see Miss Y/L/N to the door.”

Two days later Harlan had personally called you to offer you the position, and it had turned out to be everything you ever wanted, and more. Three weeks into your internship, to your utter surprise, Harlan confessed that he had been looking to fund a worthy, local candidate through college and as the successful applicant it was yours for the taking. Some strings had been pulled, and in the last week of September thanks to his generosity you started your English Major at Harvard.

And so did Ransom.

He pursued you with a dogged determination, seemingly viewing your indifference towards him and his advances as some kind of challenge. You weren’t fooling yourself, however. He was devastatingly handsome and your traitorous vagina and that part of your brain that controlled your libido harboured a deep desire to fuck his brains out, a desire you finally gave into at the end of your first year when, following your final exam, you got drunk and woke up the morning after in his bed.

It wasn’t all puppies and roses though. You were on and off more than his boxer shorts, as simply put, Ransom was a player. And it didn’t bother you to start with. He was a hook up, a way to relieve tension when you needed to, and he was a very handy person to know with his seemingly endless network of connections. But by the time you graduated you knew you were head over heels for him, and needed to break this seeming cycle of being in and out of his bed.  So you turned down Harlan’s offer of a job at Blood Like Wine and were ready to move away from Boston after landing a job at a publishers in Manhattan…but then your nanna had been taken seriously ill and suffered a stroke meaning you had to stay.

As a result of her illness, your nanna was unable to live in your house in Brookline alone and so you were forced to sell it so she could afford to move into a supervised Retirement Village a five minute or so drive away. You were now jobless, drowning with the house-sale which would leave you homeless, and your emotions and been all over the place. You had no other family since your Grandfather had died at the start of your senior year so had no one to turn to.

Enter Hugh Ransom Drysdale.

You’d called him one evening, drunk and emotional and needing a release and he came over alright, but instead of fucking you into the mattress he made sure you drank water, ate something, and then got you into bed. The next morning, Harlan had shown up, telling you the job offer at his company was still open, and then to your utter surprise and initial horror he had offered to buy your nanna’s house, meaning you could remain there as a tenant. At first you had refused, insisting you weren’t a charity case but Harlan had simply waved your concerns away by insisting it was an investment. After a little discussion he agreed to allow you to pay rent which, all things considered, was a pittance in comparison to what other properties the same size in that area commanded but it was a rent nonetheless and made you feel better.

And you knew all of it had ben Ransom’s idea.

This was the side to Ransom he very rarely displayed to anyone. A softer side, a caring side, a gentle side. A side that held you as you cried at the thought that your nanna was growing old and may soon leave you behind, a side that made you a sandwich when you hadn’t eaten in days, a side that helped you pack up and move your Nana’s stuff to her new home, a side that turned up at 9pm with several tubs of ice cream and a bottle of wine after you’d messaged him earlier that afternoon to tell him what a shit day you were having when his Uncle Walt was being a dick at work.

The rest, they say is history. History which meant you were now curled up in his lap some eight or so years post that initial meeting in the hallway of this very house, listening to him bicker with his family, feeling his leg beginning to shake in that way it always did when he was agitated.

“Ran…” you said gently, squeezing his arm and you felt him take a deep breath and he looked at you, his mouth closing as you shook your head “Don’t.”

He turned away, looking to the other side of the room and his face glowered as he spotted Jacob once more had his eyes trained on your bare thigh. God the pubescent creep did his fucking head in, and if he stayed here he was going to end up putting the lanky streak of shit through the wall.

“Can we go?” Ransom looked at you, tucking your hair behind your ear.

“We’ve not even had dinner yet.”

“Please.”

That single word was enough to make you understand. It was a word he hadn’t learned until he’d met you, when he realised that his demands and arrogance got him nowhere with you. He still rarely used it mind, but when he did, you knew he was in desperate need of what he’d asked for.

“How about we take a walk?” You suggested “If you still wanna go after then we will”

He took a deep breath as he considered what you had said. Compromise was another word that hadn’t been in his vocabulary until you. His eyes locked onto yours and you looked at him, encouragingly and he took a deep breath, nodding.

“Okay.”

You uncurled yourself from his lap and stood up, him following so you could sit down and place you boots on.

“Are you leaving?” Linda asked, looking up for the first time.

“For a walk.” Ransom said simply, grabbing your hand and pretty much dragging you from the room. He didn’t say a word as he reached the coat stand and retrieved your lightweight Ted Baker belted mac, holding it out for you to slip your arms into, in a display of chivalry he reserved only for you. Once you’d done it up, he took your hand in his and you headed through the kitchen and outside into the reasonably mild April afternoon.

“Don’t let them get to you.” You said softly, leaning into him a little and he sighed, untangling his fingers from yours so he could drop his arm round your shoulders. He hated the fact his family could make him feel like this, like he wasn’t in control, like he was insignificant in the grand scheme of things. He could quite happily go without seeing any of them, well, bar maybe his grandfather, but you had told him he would regret it if he pushed them away completely because you had always wished you’d had a large family unit like that. So, despite the fact he knew deep down that was a load of bullshit, he played the game. He attended the damned gatherings more for your benefit than any as you adored Harlan and seemed to get on fairly well with Joni, Meg and his mother. He hung onto a glimmer of hope that maybe one day it would all change and he’d feel part of it.

But it never did. And he never did.

The two of you walked in comfortable silence across the Mansion grounds, round the lake where Ransom stopped by the small pier, looking out over the water.

“You know my most vivid childhood memories are of this spot.” He mused, his gaze focussed over the lake “Grammy used to bring me down here to feed the ducks.”

“It’s beautiful down here.” You agreed, snuggling further under his arm. “Peaceful.”

“Yeah unlike that fucking house.”

You gave a chuckle, as his hand curled over your shoulder, absentmindedly rubbing over the smooth material of your coat. He was agitated, you could tell, and there were very few ways in which he could calm down when he was like this. One was riding his beloved BB- a polo horse Harlan had bought him for his 21st, one was the pair of you curling up on the sofa with snacks and a good scotch or bourbon, getting drunk and watching Trashy Films, in particular horrors-you both loved to pick plot holes and insult the main characters, declaring the victim a dumb bitch for running up the stairs and not out of the door and the other, well…

You glanced around, checking you were alone before you pulled away from him, taking his hand and tugging on it slightly.

“What?” he asked looking down.

“Come on.” You gave his hand another pull.

“Y/N?” he questioned again, but followed nonetheless despite you not answering. You tugged him away from the lake, into the thin thicket of trees a little further round. You could still see the house here but you knew there was no way anyone from up there could see you.

“Seriously, Y/N what the fuck?” he groaned, as he stepped in the slightly squelchy mud “You’re gonna ruin my Gucci’s…” “Should have worn something a little more substantial then shouldn’t you?”

“I didn’t know you were planning on going fucking hiking in the fucking woods.”

“That’s not what we’re doing.” You said, stopping in front of a large oak tree, looking up at him.

“Then what are we doing? Reconnecting with Mother Nature? Or are we on the hunt for Oberon, Titania and Puck?”

“Ooh, good Shakespeare reference.” You grinned at him and he rolled his eyes as you slid your hand up over his navy blue lightweight Barbour jacket which was done up to his sternum, leaving his plain white, Armani t-shirt slightly visible at the neckline. “Does that make us Lysander and Hermia?”

“You got a hidden suitor called Demetrius I don’t know about?” he arched an eyebrow, his hands falling to your hips.

“Nope, I’m all yours Tiger.”

The sound of your ridiculous nickname for him drew a large smile across his face and he shook his head, giving a genuine chuckle. Here, with you there were no annoying voices to listen to, no family politics, nothing to care about but the gentle brush of the wind as it blew through the canopy of trees above your heads and the faint sounds of birds as they went about their business and Ransom felt a sense of comfort. Because you were his rock. The one person that saw through his bull shit, the woman in his life that knew all his horrible personality traits as well as his slightly less horrible ones and loved him all the same. The girl that had rounded off his harsher edges no matter how much he protested to the contrary.

You were his better half for sure.

“Well that’s good, because I don’t like sharing.” Ransom smirked, dipping his head to capture your lips in a soft kiss.

“Don’t I know it.” You mused against his mouth. His fingers flexed on your sides, pulling you closer to him as he slid his tongue across your bottom lip. You opened your mouth slightly, allowing him control over the kiss, knowing that’s what he craved when he was like this. His lips were soft on yours, tongue domineering as he kissed you deeply, slowly. Eventually he pulled back, his nose bumping yours slightly as he gave a little chuckle.

“I know you’re trying to distract me from those shit heads in the house.” He said, his tone playful and you loved playful Ransom. Another side to him only you really got to see.

“Is it working?” You played along.

“Yeah.” He nodded, his lips pressing to yours again.

“Good. Now why don’t you let your inner deviant come out to play?”

“You don’t need to ask me twice, Princess.” The words were barely out of his mouth before he had pressed you into the harsh, earthy bark of the tree behind you, kissing you hard again, groaning as you palmed his crotch through his designer denims. He grabbed your wrist, pinning it above your head before he did the same with the other one, easily holding both in place above you with one large hand, his other softly tracing up the outside of your thigh, fingers skating under your skirt.

“Is this why you wore this?” he smirked, toying with the material slightly. “So you could tempt me away for a fuck in the woods?”

It wasn’t, it was because it looked and felt good, but you decided to play along “Maybe. Was it a good choice?”

“Damned right it was…” he growled against your mouth, his long, soft fingers sliding your lace panties to the side. His index finger traced a path up your slit and you gasped at the feeling as he gently began to toy with you. Soft, teasing touches, his eyes never once leaving yours. That was one of his things, he liked to see your face, watch as your expressions changed as he undid you, fuelling his ego. Your hips gently started to move in time to his strokes as he played you, like an instrument from which he could always draw a tune. And in no time at all, he was listening to the music as you let out a soft keen, a purr almost as your head fell back against the tree, your mouth parting slightly.

“Like that?” he asked, and it was all you could do to nod, panting brokenly as the familiar feeing began to rise in the pit of your stomach, the fire growing hotter and hotter. “God you’re a fucking minx. Come on, cum on my fingers, you know you want to.” And you did, hard, your knees trembling, as you let out a loud cry of his name as the lights exploded in front of your eyes. Ransom pressed into you, his erection evident as it dug into your stomach, keeping you pinned between him and the tree as he coaxed you through your orgasm, before he moved his hands, allowing yours to drop to his shoulders as you held onto him tightly.

The clanging of a belt buckle, then the zipping of trousers and the rustling of fabric broke through the post-orgasm haze as Ransom undid his flies, reaching into pull out his painfully hard cock. He gently pushed forward, sliding the tip against your folds, gathering your slick as you gave a moan, the feeling of him sliding against your clit sent lances of red, hot desire through your veins.

His hands gripped the back of your thighs as he pulled you off the ground and you hooked them round his slim waist, ankles locking at the base of his spine. In a swift, fluid moment, no teasing, no gentle ease, he buried himself inside you with a deep thrust making you cry out as he filled you. His lips crashed onto yours as he drew back, then thrust back in hard, his cock dragging against your walls inside, hitting that spot that he knew would leave you seeing stars.

Yes, if there was one thing on this Earth Ransom knew he was good at, it was fucking you.

His lips traced a path from your mouth to your jawline, then to your neck, biting and sucking at any bit he could get to, his hips moving back and forth in a slow but deep pace which was torture, and you needed more.

“Ran, harder…” You groaned, digging your heels into his ass and he gave a dirty moan of his own as his hands held your hips.

“You’re such a needy little slut.” He smirked against your lips, not waiting for your reply as he picked up the pace, his hips snapping back and forth with a vigour that was merciless as he pistoned in and out of you again and again. Your hands gripped his shoulders tightly as you kissed him, teeth clashing together as your back repeatedly brushed against the harsh, rough surface behind you as you clawed desperately at the material of his jacket.

It wasn’t long before you felt another orgasm brewing and your head fell forward, teeth nipping at his ear drawing a growl from his throat. Your hands moved into his hair and you pulled sharply back causing him to hiss and look up you.

“Fuck, Y/N….” he groaned, the pupils of his eyes blown wide with a desire you would never tire of seeing. You pushed your hips down against him causing him to drive deeper and you let out an almost primal cry, the noise you made simply revving him up even more, his rapid movements growing even more urgent.

“Fuck Ran…” you moaned as your head rolled back against the tree, hands back on his shoulders, as once more that snake in your belly moved. Ransom felt the tell-tale flutter of your heat tightening round him and he continued his voracious pace, his eyes locked onto yours.

“You feel so fucking good…” he panted “So fuckin’ good Princess...”

His words made you moan again, and he pushed up once more, stilling slightly, grinding up against you as opposed to thrusting and a few rolls of his hips later you were done. The world faded around you as you came hard, with a loud scream before your head dropped to his shoulder, as you moaned his name, again and again whilst he pounded through your orgasm chasing his own.

“Shit, Y/N…I’m…fuck…” his words tumbled into your hair as his movements became desperate and he came a short while later with a loud yell. You felt him fill you up, as his hips stilled and he groaned, face buried into your neck, his chest heaving, sweat beaded both his brow and yours as he simply pressed into you, panting and shaking.

Neither of you had any idea how long you stayed like that, but eventually Ransom managed to gain enough control to pull his softening cock out of you and set you gently on your feet as he brushed the tendrils of your hair that had fallen over your face back with a tenderness he reserved only for you. He said nothing, simply looked at you, his lips gently greeting yours in a soft, loving kiss, a stark contrast to the violent ones you had shared moments before. You smiled at him, unadulterated love in your eyes as you moved your hands to brush his hair back before you leaned up and kissed him again, your nose sliding against his.

“I adore you Hugh Ransom Drysdale. Don’t ever forget that.”

“Don’t fucking call me Hugh.” He grumbled and you chuckled as he pulled you to him, nuzzling into your hair as he sighed. “But for the record, the feeling is mutual Y/F/N, Y/M/N, Y/L/N.”

You gave a laugh and were about to reply when you felt his head snap up, and his entire body tense and he let out an angry cry causing you to jump.

“Jesus Fucking Christ! The perverted little shit!”

“Ran?” You saw his face contorted in anger as he pushed back from you, striding away from the tree, rearranging his jeans as he went before he broke into a sprint. You watched him go and then, to your horror, saw the retreating back of a smaller male running away from the thicket of trees on the curve of the bank to your left and you felt yourself grow cold.

Jacob.

How long he had been there Ransom had no idea but he chased the little fucker all the way to the house, yelling insults and threats as he burst into the kitchen. Ransom finally caught up with him just as he ran into the hall and grabbed the kid by the collar, spinning him round and pinning him to the wall, arm crossed over his windpipe. “Enjoy the show did we?!” He yelled, the noise drawing the rest of the family out from the sitting room into the tiled hallway. Walt started to shout angry threats about what he was going to do to Ransom if he didn’t take his hands off his son, which then sparked Richard to bite back at Walt saying if he touched Ransom he’d give him a damned good hiding. If Ransom hadn’t been so focussed on the dirt little bastard he had pinned to the wall he would have laughed because the idea of his dad fighting anyone was hilarious, he couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag.

“Give me your phone.” Ransom demanded.

“I didn’t…” “GIVE ME YOUR PHONE NOW YOU PERVERTED PRICK!” Ransom yelled, and reached into Jacob’s pocket, grabbing his hand where it was curled around the offending item, bending the boy’s fingers back. Jacob gave a yell, pulled his hand out of his trouser pocket and Ransom seized the phone, yanking it out, just as you walked into the hallway.

He looked at you, then to Jacob and saw you pale as the realisation washed over you that you’d not only been seen but recorded or snapped, by a twelve year old boy nonetheless.

“Unlock it.” Ransom demanded, thrusting it back at him.

“Now listen here…” Walt started until Harlan turned to him.

“Walt, shut up.” He barked, turning to Jacob “Unlock the phone, now Jake.”

Jacob sullenly took the phone from Ransom and did has he was told, Ransom snatching it back. He glanced down at the screen, flicking to the Gallery and let out an angry noise as he saw not only footage of you both in the woods but ten or so photos of your bare thigh and close ups where he had attempted to see up your skirt when you had been on his knee before. Thankfully from the snaps there wasn’t really anything visible, but still the fact he had even taken them in the first place made Ransom apoplectic with rage.

“You dirty little prick.” he mumbled, looking back up at him. Jacob visibly recoiled under Ransom’s glare.

“Ran?” You questioned as you gently touched his arm and he tilted the phone so you could see the screen and your eyes widened, your entire body growing warm as you saw the close up of your thigh on the screen.

“How the fuck dare you?” You exploded, glaring at Jacob.

“Can you explain what he has supposedly done?” Donna, Jacob’s mother spoke for the first time and you turned to face her, your pretty features contorted in rage.

“He’s…” You shook your head “Taken photos of me, before up my skirt.”

Noise erupted in the hallway, Joni and Meg screaming about you being violated, Richard and Linda yelling at Walt and Donna whilst Harlan shook his head, making a noise of disgust. Ransom ignored them all as he selected the photos and images, deleting them, and showing it to you.

“Gone, Princess.” He turned the screen off before he leaned over and kissed your temple.

“Look, he’s a teenage boy…” Donna was protesting “He’s a bit curious…”

“He’s a dirty bastard.” Richard snorted and the irony wasn’t lost on Ransom as he’d seen his father eyeing you up on more than one occasion. He looked at his dad, eyebrow raised as Jacob bit back at the dig.

“I’m a dirty bastard?” The pre-teen snapped, his eyes flicking from Richard to Ransom “I’m not the one that was having sex against a tree!”

Everyone paused and their heads turned to you and Ransom. You gave a groan, your hands sliding up to your face to hide your utter embarrassment, but besides you Ransom’s expression never changed because, well frankly, he couldn’t give two shits about everyone knowing what you had been up to.

“I’m a grown ass man.” He snarled “If I wanna fuck my girl outside on private property I will”

He held Jacob’s phone out to him, but as Jacob went to take it Ransom opened his hand, dropped it to the floor with a loud “oops” and stomped on it, the metal and glass crunching under the heel of his expensive, leather boots.

There was more yelling, and Ransom simply turned, taking your hand in his. “We’re leaving.”

This time you didn’t argue. The pair of you walked away, ignoring the screaming which grew fainter as you headed down towards the large front doors, only to hear Harlan calling after you. Ransom stopped, took a deep breath and tuned to face his grandfather.

“Y/N are you ok?”

“Of course she’s not.” Ransom snapped but you gently squeezed his hand, shaking his head.

“I’m okay Harlan, thank you. But I think its best we go before Ransom commits murder.”

“Well, I can assure you I’m not far off killing the little turd myself.” Harlan shook his head, sighing. He then took a deep breath, looked at Ransom, and there was a flash of something which you knew only too well to be amusement in his eyes. “Which tree?”

Ransom frowned “What?”

“I asked which tree you two were doing the naughty against.”

You groaned as Ransom blinked and then shrugged “Just in the thicket to the south side of the lake, near the little jetty. Why?”

“Well, instead of barking up the wrong tree so to speak, next time stick to the North side.” Harlan grinned cheekily “It’s in the dip and no chance you can be spotted by anyone unless they’re a foot or so away.”

Ransom’s mouth curled up into a smirk as he looked at his grandfather then to you.

Meanwhile you simply wanted the ground to open up and swallow you.

Harlan bid the two of you goodbye as you headed out to Ransom’s Beemer. He stopped just besides it, turning to you, his hands falling to your hips again. “Well, I don’t know about you, Sweetheart, but all that excitement has made me a bit hungry. Seeing as we’re not getting dinner here, how about I take you to Asta?”

Your face lit up at the mention of your favourite restaurant and you gave an eager nod before you frowned “Aren’t we a little underdressed? And it’s Saturday evening, we’ll never get in.”

“Baby girl, enough money can get us in anywhere, and you look fine.” He said, dropping a kiss to your lips before he grinned “You might wanna brush the twigs outta your hair though.”

[suchalonelysunflower]

Searching Clearer Skies

Where The Storm Gathers - Chapter 1

Pairing: Stable Lad! Calum Hood x Princess! Reader

Summary: Safe and sound at the Crimson Islands, Y/N and Calum adjust to their new life

Warnings: Mentions of abuse. Violence. Blood. Murder. Guilt. Language. Some grammatical errors (English is not my first language, I’m sorry)

Word Count: 8K

Author’s Note: My babes are here! I would love to know your thoughts for this 🥺Remember that Reblogs, Feedback, Comments and likes are super important and they help me a lot 💕 Hope you like it and Happy Reading 🦋🌻✨

My materialist // wanna be part of my taglist?

Book 2 Materialist || Prologue

The whinny of the horse echoed throughout the woods as the horseshoes crashed against the mud, slipping a few times on its steps but still standing tall as the race continued, encouraged by its rider.

The storm was strong and merciless, dark clouds hovering over the sky crashing one against the other and creating thunders that lasted for more than a minute. The winds whistled threats as the raindrops soaked the ground violently, flooding the path. One wrong move and everything could be lost for those who wander under this storm, but only madmen are capable of doing it.

But Calum was not a madman, he was desperate. His heart beat fast as he hunched over the horse, commanding him to go faster and faster into the darkness. His clothes were soaked and his eyelashes were glued together due to the raindrops that cut through his body like a knife, making it impossible for him to see past the head of the horse.

Lightning crashed, the thunder roared and still, they weren’t as loud as his voice calling his beloved’s name.

He went wherever his heart would tell him to, no second-guessing as he jumped over the fallen carcass of trees that were hit by the wild winds that were blowing, but his determination allowed him to stay put, never once failing to catch himself back in the moment, running faster and faster hoping to get there in time.

“Y/N!” He shouted above the thunder, commanding the horse to take a sharp left as a flash of lightning came crashing down near them.

How did they end up there? So far away and without each other. What made them torn apart? Yet, none of those questions could be answered right now. There was no point to them. Not when she was gone and he couldn’t find her.

The woods seem to expand with every gallop, just a sea of darkness in front of him, an endless void of a starless night, and an unreachable ending as his hopes were starting to falter.

“Y/N!” He cried, voice already hoarse and strained. The strings of his heart almost breaking to the point of feeling nothing but pain every time silence would answer him “Y/N!”

“Calum!”

It was faint, almost inaudible over the rain. Anyone could think that it was just a simple and cruel trick of the mind. But only Calum could recognize that voice anywhere; it was his love and she was in danger.

“Calum!”

She called again, but from where? The echo made it seem like she was everywhere and nowhere at once. Almost as if she was some kind of bird in which his name was cursed to be her calling, always chasing but never catching it.

“Y/N! Where are you?!”

He ran, as far as the horse’s legs would let him as he encouraged the animal to go even faster as they went against the storm walking right into it as he kept calling her name. Knowing that even if she was in the middle of a hurricane, he would never stop until he found her.

“You’re running out of time, boy” A sinister voice accompanied by her cries mixed with the thunder echoed through the woods, but for Calum, it felt almost as if they were whispered in his ear.

The stable lad tightened his grip on the reins and commanded the stallion to go faster “Y/N!”

But he hears nothing but cries. Earth Shattering screams bleed into his head, suffocating him as he cried for her, praying to every deity that was still loyal to them that she would be okay.

“Calum!” It seemed so far, but so close at the same time “Calum!” So he kept going.

Trees would fall; lightning would scatter and the thunder roared, and he ignored all of them. He just needed to get to her even if the world around him seemed to fade into nothingness.

Y/N’s screams seemed to get louder and louder until suddenly, they disappeared.

Calum pulled on the reins, making everything but the rain stop. His heavy breathing was ringing in his ears as he looked around, wondering where she went. But it wasn’t until a ray of lightning hit the ground that he saw her.

She was standing at the edge of a cliff with a tear-stained face, looking straight at him but not moving an inch. Her hair clung to her face as the rain-soaked her entire figure, making her white dress become nothing but a rag.

“Cal…” She whispered, but he still heard it loud and clear.

He jumped off the horse the moment he saw her, an immense sense of relief and happiness came over him as he started to run, calling out for her as the moon calls her stars.

But then, he saw it. A silver light shine pressed against her neck; only a glimpse, only a second, but enough to make him stop in his tracks, just a few meters far from her.

“Glad to know that you have some common sense, boy” The sinister voice called again, but this time Calum knew exactly who it was.

As quick as a bolt of lightning, King Richard made his appearance, wrapping a leather-gloved hand over Y/N’s throat, making her head fall back onto his shoulders as he squeezed just enough to make tears spill from her face.

A condescending, pleased smirk came to his face, watching with red-blooded eyes how she succumbed to his strength. Then, he slowly turned to Calum, showing all of his teeth in a wicked smile.

“So glad you could make it,” He said, pressing the tip of the knife into her skin “I was starting to think you would never find us, and what’s the fun in that?”

“Let her go” Calum nearly growled, taking a step closer to them but stopping the moment Richard pressed the knife harder, drawing a drop of blood from her neck.

Richard smiled “You’re smart. Good At least I know my daughter has a bit of sense when it comes to her choosing a partner” He sneered

“Let. Her. Go” Calum repeated, clenching his fists at his sides and with his heart beating as fast as the rainfall “She’s got nothing to do with this”

“She has everything to do with this!” Richard barked, moving the grip from her neck into her arms and digging his fingers into her skin, leaving marks that might stay there for days.

“Father, please-” Y/N begged in between coughs for air “Leave him be”

“Oh, I will dear. But I must teach this boy a lesson first”

Calum set his desperate eyes on her, unable to hide the fear in them as he watched how she tried to regain her breathing without any sudden moves that could get her closer to the knife.

“Y/N-”

“Cal, please go” She begged, pressing her lips into a thin line to try and drown the pain and the fear “He can’t hurt you here”

He shook his head “I’m not leaving without you”

“How touching”

Calum’s eyes became hard as stone as he turned to the King, standing straighter despite the rain’s attempt to bring him down with them.

“Leave her alone,” He said coldly, taking one step closer “Or I promise you, your head will roll down that cliff with the scum where you belong”

The King just laughed hysterically, closing his eyes as he shook his head slowly “You really think you can threaten me? Me?! I am your King!”

“Calum…”

“You are nothing but a fake! A coward who hides behind his daughter’s body. If you’re so valiant, come and face me like a man”

Richard smiled, almost as if he was waiting for it.

“Oh, Calum, Calum… That’s where you’re wrong” He said, eyes darkening as his smile widened “I’m not a man. I’m a King”

And all that Calum could hear afterward was the sound of the knife slashing her throat.

*

He jolted awake with beams of sweat running down his forehead, his whole body was drenched in sweat which made him think he was back in the woods. But Calum wouldn’t, Calum couldn’t because the woods were at home in RoseWood and there were no woods in the Isles.

His brown eyes quickly landed on his side, finally being able to breathe with some sort of relief the moment he saw her sleeping there: His wife.

Y/N had her face pressed into the pillow, shifting slightly and mumbling something in her dream when his hand came to brush some of her hair that had fallen into her face, covering her beauty from him. Calum watched her sleep for a few minutes, thanking every god there is for allowing him to live this moment, even if it was just for a few more hours before they have to wake up. He just wished she could sleep peacefully tonight, no nightmares.

Outside the window it was still raining, it hasn’t stopped since they came here almost six months ago. He couldn’t remember the last time he saw the sun, but he knew he always felt warm with her by his side. And she was by his side, and that was the most important thing. She was there with him, alive and well and still in love with him. He could go a lifetime without sunshine if it meant to keep her safe.

Thunders were roaring and he was thankful that Y/N was a heavy sleeper, he even was a little jealous because he knows he won’t be able to fall asleep again. He never does after those kinds of nightmares.

The memory of that afternoon in the woods still haunts him. The screams the Princess let out when she begged her father for mercy still live in his head, reminding him that this was all his fault. He could still hear her call his name; feel her cling into his aching body on the damped, humid cells of the dungeon; and, even if she won’t admit it, he still remembers the sadness in her eyes when they had to leave home because “home” was not safe enough. And he can’t help but to feel guilty.

Calum rose from their bed, wiping a damped cloth over his face as he walked up to the window, hoping that the rain could wash out his fears and bring him back to the present. He leaned over, pressing his forearm to the glass as he watched the clouds crash against one another, counting the seconds after the lightning to hear its sounds.

He doesn’t know how much time he stayed there, maybe a few minutes, maybe hours. What he knows is that he could never truly relax until he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist, smiling when he noticed a gold wedding band adorning one of the fingers.

“It’s cold without you there” She mumbled, pressing her cheek against his back.

“I know, I’m sorry,” He said, placing his hands on top of hers.

“Hmm, you knew and you still left” Y/N reprimanded, making him chuckle as he lifted her hand and placed a soft kiss on her palm “It was another nightmare, wasn’t it?”

“It’s always the same, at least the ending is”

“You could talk to me, you know? Maybe it could help” She offered, slipping into his arms and ending up in front of him, doe eyes looking straight at him “I hate to see you so caught up in there,” Her hands flew to either side of his face, cupping it delicately “Just let me in, let me help you”

Calum smiled softly “You’re too kind, my rose. But this is not a burden I’d want you to carry. It is only mine to bear”

“It doesn’t have to be,” She said. “You’ve helped me carry my burden for years, creating a safe space with you while my nightmare was just beginning. You’ve helped me so much, Cal. Why can’t you let me do the same?”

“Because I’m selfish,” He smiled “And besides, now it’s not a time to talk about nightmares”

“Why?”

“Cause the sun’s coming up”

Y/N gasped and turned around, but was only met with cloudy skies and a light drizzle. Then, she turned around with a frown only to find Calum trying not to smile.

“That’s not funny,” She said, punching him lightly on the chest. “Besides, how do you know it’s morning already? You can’t see anything past those clouds and the fog”

“Take the word from a man who worked his whole life on a field” He laughed, placing one hand at either side of her waist and pulling her closer “And you also look gorgeous in the morning”

Y/N hummed as he kissed her forehead “Didn’t my husband say I look gorgeous every single time of day?”

“Did he?” Calum asked, placing kisses all over her cheeks and down to her jaw and neck “Must be a very observant and smart man”

“Yes,” She let out a breathy giggle, tangling her hands at the back of his head. “But don’t tell him, or his ego would be unstoppable…” She sighed when his lips met the spot behind her ear, curling her fingers but finding nothing to hold on to “God, I miss your curls”

“They’ll grow back” He whispered in her ear, biting it slightly as his hands traveled to the back of her thighs, picking her up with ease without ever stopping the work of his mouth on her skin.

“Cal…” She breathed, “Take me to bed”

“As you wish”

He pulled away just in time for her hand to cup his cheek, bringing him closer as their lips met, carefully savoring their moment as he carried her to bed.

*

Life at the Isles was nothing like in RoseWood, that was for sure.

Thanks to Ashton, Y/N could keep her title as The Princess of Roses, yet the benefits she used to hold at her birthplace did not follow. Here, she was just another member of King Alex’s court and so was Calum and although it was not what they were used to, they managed to adapt pretty quickly.

Early in the mornings, all members of the court were expected to stand in the throne room to receive the King and Queen and discuss what’s been going on with the Kingdom; after that, Y/N and Calum went their separate ways.

The ladies of the court were free to choose any activity or class of their liking, something foreigner to the Princess who's been told all her life what she should do. While the men of the court were sent to train or to their own business to negotiate trades with other kingdoms. When they arrived, Calum offered his service as a Stable Lad, yet that position was already taken and King Alex thought he might work better as an apprentice of the Welder, hence the ring on his wife’s finger and his matching one on his left hand, made out of just for her by his own hands.

Still, life at the Isles was pretty lonely. Words travel fast, especially when a runaway Princess and her new not-Royal husband escape their Kingdom a day before her wedding to a powerful King. And while King Alex was very aware of the situation, the other members of the court had their own ideas, and so, rumors started to spread.

But neither Calum nor Y/N paid much attention to them. They knew their story, they knew what they went through. So the words of strangers did not damage them but made them stronger, ready to prove them wrong when they were underestimated. And, after all, they had each other and they were safe, that was the only thing that mattered to them.

“Do you think he’ll notice we were late?” Y/N asked as she hurried her steps through the stone-floored hallway

“There is still time,” Calum assured her “Although we might not make it to our places in time”

“And surely Lady Johana will have something to say about it” She rolled her eyes “I can’t believe you convinced me to stay in bed a little longer than we’re used to”

Calum chuckled “It’s not like you needed much convincing anyway, Rose. After all, dear wife, who was the one that couldn’t keep her hands off-“

“Say another word and I’ll tell Lord Gillian how interested you are in learning ancient geology” She challenged with a smile, the same one she held every time she playfully threatened him since they were children.

Calum just rolled his eyes and grabbed Y/N by the waist, sweeping her off her feet and pulling her closer to him as she squealed, trying to get away from his grasp as he started to tickle her.

“Cal! Noooo” She tried to hold her laughter as he hid his face on her neck, putting her down and wrapping his arms around her waist, holding her closer “You’re a menace”

“Yet, you still chose to marry me” He kissed her cheek “So I’m your menace, no one else’s”

“Hmm, you better” She pecked his lips “But my menace of a husband is going to make us late”

Y/N slid from his grasp, grabbing his hand and pulling him with her as they made their way to the throne room and take the small space in the corner, earning a few glances from the not-so-friendly members of the court.

King Alex’s throne room was not as big as the one in RoseWood, nor as brightly lit. But it was enough to hold all 30 members of the court, the monarchs, their pets, and a few servants who always stayed put in case they were needed.

All members of the court stood in a semi-circle around the two throne chairs, all of them with an assigned space where they would wait until the King or Queen asked them something, or until the meeting was over.

It was weird for the couple to see such order and respect for each individual, given that Y/N’s father was not one to take advice from people and just act out of his own thoughts and ideas, no matter how cruel or crazy they might be. But King Alex was always fair, a bit eccentric and sometimes narcissistic, but always fair and respectful towards others; not to mention a good friend for the RoseWood’s Prince, taking Y/N and Calum in and promising them nothing but safety in his realm.

He was a respected man, a noble, humble King that carried no weapons in his court because his trust was always in his friends. Yet, today when the servants opened the door for him and the Queen, it was the frown set upon his face that made all conversations die as he made his way to his throne.

King Alex’s eyes surveyed the room, biting the inside of his cheek lightly as he laid his eyes on the RoseWood bound couple before sitting down.

“Sir Steriff!” The King called, making everyone in the room shake at the sudden boom of his voice.

“Y-yes, your Majesty?” Poor Sir Cleamont Steriff stuttered, but King Alex just rolled his eyes.

“How’s the situation down at the bay? Sources say that there’s a clear decline in the production”

The questions were not as serious or as important as his voice made them out to be. Y/N could recognize that tone of hidden anger, it was the same tone her father used when he had to speak to her in a public setting, and the same one Ashton used when something about his royal duties as an heir bothered him. She knew Calum could recognize that too, so when her eyes met his she found the same comforting look he used to give her, as well as a tug on her hand for reassurance.

It was in the small moments where Y/N found herself back in RoseWood; a simple whisper or ill-intentioned look brought back the memory of her father; the sound of crystal shattering or the sound of a whip or a slap; even the shadows that surrounded the palace made her wary of what may hide inside them, wondering if there could ever be free of the crows and her father’s power over her.

Because even when they were kingdoms away, a father’s harm can still hurt and the memories may never be forgotten as long as they shall live, but they’ll live differently in a separate perspective where one is a villain and the other one is smiling over that fact. Y/N was still learning to live with that darkness, make it part of herself so she could let go and grow with it and never let it win.

Luckily for her, Calum was willing to do anything and everything to make sure that she was safe in every single sense of the word. For Calum has had his own share of darkness, the moments that haunt him at night even though the proof of their victory is still the beating of their hearts. It was the demons they had to face, but they would never do it on their own, not as long as their hands are intertwined and their love lives in their hearts.

“I would like to request an audience with Princess Y/N and Sir Hood” Alex’s voice made them go back to reality, feeling all eyes on them as they solemnly nod and bow “Alone. You are all dismissed”

The whispers were louder this time. A handful of eyes looking in their direction going from pitiful to curious to confused. The King rarely asked for private audiences, so no one really knew if they should feel grateful or jealous at the couple’s fate.

Once the room got cleared out except for The King and Queen, a few servants, and Calum and Y/N, King Alex finally let out a sigh, leaning his back against the throne and pinching the skin right between his eyes.

“Your Majesty,” The two of them said in unison as they approached the throne, bowing.

“Rise,” King Alex commanded. “I assume the two of you would not hide something from me after I gave you shelter under my kingdom, correct?”

“Yes, Your Majesty” Calum answered, not even batting an eye “We could never hide something from you”

“You’ve been so good to us,” Y/N added, a kind smile playing on her lips as she looked between the monarchs “We owe you two so much for all your kindness and understanding. We might never be able to repay it”

“There is no need for a settlement of debt” The Queen smiled, placing her hand over her husband’s “And we have no doubts about your intentions in our kingdom, knowing how difficult it was for you to get out of RoseWood. But-”

“But there’s been some unsettling news that traveled all the way overseas” The King finished “And any information you have about it would be useful for us”

“If we can ease Your Majesty’s mind with something, then we’ll do our best for it to be so,” Calum said with a nod, standing straighter and looking directly at the King so he knew he wasn’t lying.

“There is a rumor running around,” The King of the Isles said gravely “That the King of Roses has an army ready for battle and that he wants to go to war with all the nearby Kingdoms who oppose him”

Y/N’s breath hitched in her throat “It can’t be”

“It is said that other kingdoms have started to revoke their promises to RoseWood until a true leader comes along and that Richard is not happy about it. Would you happen to know anything that could confirm or deny this rumor?”

“I’m afraid we possess no such information, Your Majesty” Calum said, practically ripping the words out of Y/N's Mouth even though she was too frightened to even speak “The last time we heard news about King Richard was that he lost all support from The Vail when King Luke swore allegiance to his son, Prince Ashton. Maybe the other kingdoms got winds about the deal and did the same”

“And my father does not have an army,” Y/N added, hands shaking at the memories “He offered to marry me to King Luke to gain the most powerful army with the warriors of The Vail since RoseWood’s soldiers could not face so many kingdoms at once. The last news we got was from one of King Luke’s letters saying that my father was in shambles when it came to political power, and do believe me Your Majesty when I say that King Richard is not a strong man to pick himself up on his own”

King Alex’s hummed, seemingly pleased with the answers “I know your loyalties lie with the right side of the story,” He said, making the two of them let out a breath of relief “But truth is that you’ve been away from home for far too long to know if things have indeed changed in the months you’ve been here in Crimson Isles. Say, Your Highness, any news from our dear Prince?”

Y/N visibly tensed and her hand reached for Calum’s in an unconscious and instant move at the mention of her brother's name, the only one who’s been consuming her thoughts with worry for she didn’t know anything about him since they went away.

“I’m afraid not, Your Majesty,” She said, clearing her throat “Although I’m hopeful that by the next shipping news will come from RoseWood”

“Let us pray it’ll be that way” The Queen answered with an understanding smile “Our dear Prince Ashton must be very busy as always, but he will not forget us”

“Captain Merrick will come in a fortnight” King Alex added “I’ll request an audience with him and with the two of you. My Lord,” He said, referring to Calum who nodded “I take your lessons are going well?”

“Yes, Your Majesty”

“And your lessons, Your Highness? Is Maester Lorcas treating you well?”

Y/N smiled with ease “I’m learning a lot from the Maester, it’s an honor to be his pupil and I’m thankful for the opportunity”

King Alex smiled as well, pleased that the two of them were content in his court “And we are grateful that you’re here and safe. Now, you may go on with your day. You’re dismissed, if anything new comes regarding King Richard, I’ll let you know”

Calum and Y/N thanked the King and Queen with a bow before exiting the throne room. They walked a few meters, making sure no one was following them when Calum pulled her to a secluded hallway, finally letting out their worried breaths as they stood one in front of the other.

“Calum…” She said, eyes wide open with a threat of tears gathering at the corners.

“It’s okay, Rose,” He said, cupping her cheek with his palm, masking his own worry. “It’s just a rumor. We both know your father cannot do much with Asthon there, and even if he sent him to another political trip, the army is not strong, not under his command”

He was trying to be reasonable. RoseWood’s army was good and it could manage in a battle. Yet, with King Richard on the throne the administration of it never really progressed into anything else than a simple guard. They were not equipped for war and it seemed rather impossible for them to become a force to be reckoned with in less than a year.

“But we don’t know where Ashton is!” Y/N whispered, trying to bite her tongue almost as if the blood that might drop from it might keep her grounded “Calum, it’s been months since his last letter and I know my brother. I know he won’t break his promise to write to us; to me. And I can’t shake this feeling that maybe-”

“If anything were to happen we would already be informed” Calum tilted her head so she could look him in the eyes “I’m not disregarding your feelings, my love. But we also try not to draw conclusions too quickly. The weather here might’ve delayed any letters and if Captain Merrick is on his way he might bring news from him. We must remain hopeful, Ashton will be fine”

The stable lad pulled her close, placing a small kiss on her forehead as he felt her shoulders relax into the embrace.

“Do you want me to walk you to the laboratory?” He asked with a small smile, running his hands up and down her arms. Y/N shook her head.

“I’ll be fine, my love, thank you. Thank you for everything”

Calum smiled, cupping her face one more time as he took her in. All of her and her beautiful eyes looking at him, filled with love and comfort, he knew he was right where he was meant to be just by looking into those eyes.

“I love you, my little rose”

“I love you more”

*

The color of the liquid changed from yellow to green inside the little pot as it started to boil, making the Maester gasp as Y/N smiled proudly at her mixture.

“Your Highness! That’s a perfect ointment there!” The old man said, practically jumping with joy as he mixed the spoon with the now gooey product “And on your first try! May the gods bless those hands, Princess. You’re a natural!”

A small scoff was heard around the room, undoubtedly coming from one of the other ladies from the court that also chose to learn more about medicine. Yet, Y/N kept her head held high, as a Princess she was raised to bow to no one that didn’t deserve her respect and she was not going to let some ill-intended comments get to her, not after everything she had to endure from people that were meant to love her.

But that didn’t mean Maester Lorcas would keep the same composure.

“Lady Gillian,” He said, raising one of his white, bushy brows “Care to share with the class what this ointment does? From what I see, you still haven’t finished yours”

Lady Gillian gasped as her cheeks turned beat red, mumbling under her breath: “I did finish mine”

Maester Lorcas hummed with disdain “Can anyone else tell me what is that you’re doing right now? Why is important? Anyone?”

Y/N raised her hand “The ointment is mostly used to treat scars; one needs to scatter it across the damaged tissue every six hours and let it rest on the patient’s sink. If treated immediately, it could potentially erase the scar and prevent further damage and infections. It also works to erase any dark spots of the skin if accompanied by other treatments”

The old Maester smiled and laughed joyfully at her answer “See?!” He asked the other ladies “That’s what happens when you pay attention instead of talking about the latest gossip that everyone already knows on this small Island. You learn. Good job, Your Highness, as usual”

“Just because she’s a princess doesn’t mean she gets special treatment” One of the other ladies scoffed under her breath. Y/N only rolled her eyes and went back to her mixture “She had the perfect life anyway”

“Maybe if you stop whispering about her as if she wasn’t in the same room, you’ll be able to do something more than to waste everyone’s time,” Y/N said, not even turning around as she added a bit more chamomile seeds “I was raised to see honor and value in everything except on empty words and ill thoughts, and to respect every soul as an equal, no matter their background, something that you all lack. But maybe it’s a Princess’ thing and you wouldn’t know about that” She said, finally turning around with an unreadable face “Feel free to keep talking, it’s your right. But it is going to take more than that to try and hurt me. And maybe I could take it more seriously if you say it to my face”

The ladies all snickered and scoffed, lifting their noses and going back to their own pots as they tried and failed to get the recipe right. Y/N turned around, sending a complicit look to the Maester who stood and watched with a proud smile at how those nasty women were put back in their places with such grace.

Still, Y/N could not share the same joy as she sighed, going back to her work without saying another word.

She knew that life at the Isles would be a hard adjustment, but she was doing a great job considering the rumors that surrounded her. From the very first day in court whispers about how she was a runaway bride, breaking a powerful King’s heart as she decided to flee with her secret lover from a much lower social class. Others said she was bewitched; others that she was some kind of witch herself. No one knew about the hell she went through or the pain inside her heart at having to leave her hometown and the only family she loved behind.

Yes, she always dreamt of flying away from home, finding new horizons with Calum by her side. Find the home she never had on RoseWood, to begin with. But the guilt of leaving her beloved brother behind after knowing what her father was capable of; the pain of leaving behind all her mother’s memories; and the undying feeling of knowing something was wrong consumed her every day, wishing she could have more time to say goodbye to the place that saw her become the person she was today, maybe one last goodbye to the tree that saw her love bloom or one last trip to the square town, promising to go back one day when the skies were clearer and the danger was far gone.

She knew that time would come eventually, but without any news from Ashton, those hopes seemed farther and farther away.

“Your Highness?” Maester Lorcas asked, bringing her back from her thoughts “May I have a word?”

Only then did Y/N notice that the lesson was over and they were the only ones in the old lab.

“I must say, Princess, that I am very impressed,” He said, sitting on his chair with some difficulty “Are you sure you’ve never had any experience in the medical field?”

Y/N smiled, looking down as her cheeks were tinted pink “I can’t say I have, Maester. RoseWood didn’t let the royal family ever step foot into the infirmary unless it was an emergency. Fearing we might get sick”

Maester Lorcas laughed, raising his brows “Say, I never took you for one to follow the rules”

“Certainly not,” She laughed as well. “There were… situations in which I had to fend for myself to get an ointment or two without anyone noticing. My husband used to help me get them after I told them which one would be useful and effective, taking the information I stole from the Maesters at the palace”

“Must be a loyal one, that husband of yours”

“I wouldn’t be here without him,” She said, smiling at the memory of Calum helping her heal the wounds her father would give her, stealing from the town’s Maester or directly from the palace with the empty promise of it being the last time he would have to see her in pain because “it won’t happen again, you’ll see” until it happened again “Still, I was always interested in healing. So when King Alex so kindly offered to take these classes, I knew I couldn’t say no and prevent myself from so much knowledge”

“And let’s pray you might never have to use this knowledge if you come back home”

Those words seemed to spark something in her as she raised her gaze to the old Maester who looked at her with crystalized eyes and a knowing, merciful and understanding smile. Almost as if he could see the scars and old bruises that still covered her body. Still, he said nothing and Y/N was thankful for that.

“It’s an honor to have you as a student, Your Highness,” He said “For what its worth, I am glad that you came here”

Y/N pressed her lips in a thin line, nodding lightly before bowing and leaving the room. Feeling somehow validated by a stranger, finally someone she could trust.

*

The evening rain was stronger than this morning’s, still, that didn’t stop Calum from training, nothing did.

He swung the sword with such ease, cutting through the rain in synchronized moves; placing his feet where they were supposed to be; his breathing calm and collected as he raised his elbow to the level of his eyes, ready to strike again against the invisible evil that stood in front of him.

Grunts due to the effort escaped his lips as the rain fell on top of his buzz-shaved head, soaking him completely and making his white shirt cling to his skin, rain, and beads of sweat mixing and falling to the ground. But Calum didn’t care about how tired he might be or who might see him fight the rain. In his head, he could still hear her screams and watch her fall to her death without him being able to do anything about it.

The vivid memory of Y/N’s screams back in the woods; her father’s laughter as he started to hit her, grabbing her by the hair and kicking her sides while she pleaded for mercy on him, pleading with tears in her eyes for his guards not to hurt the man she loved.

All he could see at that moment was her. He did not care about the guards beating him up, if anything he couldn’t feel anything anymore, not while she was in pain, and all because of him. He tried to stand up, oh how many times did he try, but all that got him was mocking laughs from the King and his guards, feeling pathetic as he couldn’t protect her.

The sword made a swoosh sound, cutting his thoughts short as he started to hit the mock doll that they had ready for training. Only a crazy person would be training under the rain; but Calum was not crazy, he was determined. Determined to get those screams out of his head.

When King Alex offered him a job as a welder apprentice he took it with the condition to also have time for training. Y/N asked him why the sudden interest in learning how to fight with a sword, but how could he even explain without bringing her more pain than the one she was already carrying?

For years he stood and watched the mistreatment she suffered at the hands of her father; the abuse and cruelty she went through. Still, she managed to smile and see the beauty in everything, carrying such compassion in her heart and the hope for things to change. He wished he could be better, just like her. And he tried when she begged him to wait for her birthday so they could finally be free… He now knows he should’ve strode into the castle that night and confronted him, consequences be damned, but at least she would’ve been safer.

His heart was beating strongly inside his chest as he closed his eyes and let his instincts guide him on his next movements, imagining that exact moment in the woods and all the things he could’ve done.

Y/N watched with a heavy heart how her husband moved under the rain, hitting the target once, twice, three times before starting again with different moves.

She ponders on how much Calum has changed since they came to the Crimson Isles. He cut his hair short, fearing someone might recognize him upon arrival and bring Richard’s rage upon them; the muscles on his back and arms were more defined, more broadly as he scheduled at least two training sessions every day without missing a single one. But it was in his eyes where she could notice the biggest change, they were still warm and full of love whenever he looked at her, but it was in the moments when he thought she wasn’t looking that got her worried; she could see the storm that was hiding in them, all the thoughts he didn’t share, the pain and cold memories that haunt him.

It was impossible to lie. For Calum, it was impossible to lie to her, even if he was just hiding the truth.

She jumped when the iron sword hit the ground, Calum was still giving his back to her as he crouched to get the bow and arrow that was lying on the ground, moving swiftly towards the Alamy that stood at the other side, shooting arrow after arrow as the muscles on his back tensed.

Her eyes gazed at the sky, getting darker as the storm was getting restless, not thinking twice as she walked towards him, letting the mud cling to her dress as the rain covered her whole.

“It’s late,” She said as Calum hit the target.

“I know,” He answered, grabbing another arrow from the quiver, not even turning around to see her “I’ll be there soon”

“Calum,”

The thunder roared above them, but neither of them even dared to flinch as the arrow hit the target once again.

There were so many things unsaid under the rain, a pang of shared guilt and an indescribable fear, so similar and yet so different at the same time.

“Calum, let’s go to bed” She insisted with a sweet but firm voice “It’s time”

“Just- I need to get this right”

“Why? We are safe here” She put a hand on his shoulder, making him visibly relax “Cal…”

“It’s okay,” He whispered with a sigh, turning to look at her through the raindrops “I’ll be up there soon, my rose. You don’t have to wait out here in the rain”

“You shouldn’t be out here in the rain, my love”

“I want to be ready”

“For what?” She sighed, shaking her head before meeting his gaze once again “Sometimes I wish I could know what you’re thinking, the things you’re not telling me for some reason”

Calum looked at the floor “I don’t think there’s anything you don’t already know, my rose”

She nodded, giving him a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes like she used to do. Then, she took a step back but stood still as her eyes never left his.

“Y/N,”

“I’m not letting you be in the rain all on your own, Cal,” She said, squinting her eyes due to the rain.

“You’re going to get sick,” The stable lad argued, but the Princess just shrugged.

“Too bad!” He was about to say something else but she cut him off “We are a team, Calum. Where you go, I go. If you get sick then so will I. You knew that before we married so don’t pretend I’ll leave without my husband”

Calum couldn’t help but smile, even though he tried, but the word “my husband” coming out of her lips still brought butterflies inside of him, reminding him of how lucky he was to be able to call her “his wife”

He knew there was no way to stop her if she wanted to stay. Y/N was never the one who took a no for an answer when her head was stuck on something so firmly, so stubborn yet so kind and loving. Calum could not love her more even if he tried, and he knew she loved him, too. So how not rejoice in that?

“What kind of husband will leave his wife standing in the rain?” He asked, taking a step closer to her.

“The worst kind, of course,” She smiled, placing her hands on his chest “But mine stays with me, so the debt is paid”

“The other husband should take notes”

“Maybe he should”

They both smiled before Calum wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing her closer as she stood on her tiptoes, brushing their lips together as they started to feel warm under the cold storm. Knowing they’ll be alright after all.

*

When the morning came so did the breeze, making Y/N shiver as she nuzzled into Calum’s chest, letting his heartbeat be the melody that will lure her back to sleep. She could feel his strong arms wrapped around her, bringing her closer as he stirred awake, placing a soft kiss on the top of her head.

Their legs were tangled under the sheets, finding warmth and comfort in each other’s embrace as they didn’t say a word. There was no need to say what they already knew, what they already felt deep inside their hearts. Safe and sound as they let the morning take its time to arrive.

Still, the breeze kept blowing, getting colder each time as it blew through the sails of a ship called the Kaleidoscope where a man stood proudly with a smirk as The Crimson Isles could already be seen standing a few kilometers away.

“My Lord?” The captain of the ship called his attention “We’ll be arriving shortly, just wanted to let you know so you can get your luggage ready”

“Thank you, Captain Merrick” The man smiled, extending his hand, taking the captain to shake “You are so very kind. I’m anxious to go back to the Isles after so many years”

“You said you were traveling a lot?”

“For work, yes”

Merrick hummed, narrowing his eyes “What do you do for a living, my Lord? If you don’t mind me asking”

“Ah, I worked for several Ladies and Lords from different courts around the world” The man smiled “Some easier to work with than others”

“I see,” The captain nodded “Is that where…?” He was pointing to the scar that ran down the mysterious man’s left eye, a mark he seldom saw in travelers.

“This? Got it from an altercation at The Vail. A misunderstanding, you see, people from The Vail are… not as trustworthy as one might think”

The charming smile that man wore could convince anyone of his lies as the captain clearly believed him.

“Haven’t heard from people from The Vail in a while”

“Really?”

“Yes, the last conversation I had with someone with a connection from that place was a Princess and her new husband,” The captain said, trying to sound as vague as possible for the stranger that unbeknown to him was already aware of the story “I heard nothing but good things about their King”

“You might be surprised” The man muttered under his breath “You said you were going to King Alex’s court once we get there, is that correct?”

The captain nodded “King Alex is an old friend, and he requested an audience.”

“Would it be okay if I come along?” The man asked “I want to present my loyalty and service to the crown and I believe it would be comforting to do it in the presence of such a nice acquaintance”

“I don’t see why not. Could you remind me of your name, my Lord? That way I can let the King know we’re on our way”

“Jefferson,” The man said “Bernard Jefferson”

And just like that and with a simple but elaborated lie, the crow’s plan started to take flight.

*

*

tags: @iknowyouthinkimbulletproof @mystic-232 @talksoprettyjjx @theshyspy @hoodhoran @flaneurcth @conversecake @bubblegum18 @irwin-fletcher-ash @just-here-to-escape-from-reality @1980holland @wiiildflowerrr @hoplessromantic727 @fivesecondsofonedirection @another-lonely-heart @aabc5sauce @dudethisiswhyyoudonthavefriends @fakebetch9694 @5sos-imagine @SunflowerAngel2123 @perfectnouis @in-superbloom @lukeisstillapenguin @sadcupofcoffee @superstarmarvel @personalmuyverypersonal @cnco.angels @vtte @as-hs-blog @himbohood @sofiaaraee @irwindoll @lolzkye @ashtonsunflower @nicebasscalum @calumspupils @secretsicanthideanymore @the-ghost-of-ash @alltimepogue @wontlastimokwiththat @ttinahood @lukespitinmymouth @perfectnouis @cncoangelss @darrensos @whywontyoulovemecami @itwouldburnupintheatmosphere-de @yeah-and69 @fckingpernico @multistann @averageantichrist @a-darneddarling @tpwkcth @f-mu @kindahumanbutalsoinsane @floweronyourskin @ihavenoideawhattodowithyou @bittersweetb4by @aria-grace-scott @thestarsandtheircoffee @bvbygxrl @luisa180206 @xxxlaura

[chayacat]

Devil’s Sweet Star (10)

Fandom : Dead by Daylight

Ghostface x Female Reader  

Rated M for Violence, Language and Smut  

***

The sky is clear on this evening, the wind is not too cool, almost an ideal time to go kill or stalk someone. Unfortunately for Danny, this ideal evening is a bit taken by Mr Hoggins' reception. Melina invited you with him and Mattew to come to her house to get ready, so you will quickly be at the reception. As the women prepared in Melina’s bedroom, the boys changed in the guest room.

“Damn I don't like costumes! I feel way too different! How can you...” he starts, turning to Danny before freezing on the spot. “wow...”

Danny was in front of him, putting the sleeves of his jacket back on. His hair was not tied this time, cascading over his shoulders. He had left his glasses in their boxes, revealing his piercing blue eyes. Did I ever tell you that this boy was beautiful? Tell you that, in a suit, he's divine to look at.

“Damn Jed! You've got fucking class like that! You're going to get everyone's attention like that.” said Mattew impressed.

“You... You think so? Well, thank you. You're not bad either.” answer Jed with a little smile while Danny smiles bigger. Of course, he’s handsome. he knows it since a long time.  

“Frankly, you should have more confidence in yourself and your physique.”

“Is everyone ready?” said Melina by putting on her earrings. “woah what a class... If I didn't know you, I would have invited you for a drink.”  

Danny sighed, shaking his head before he saw you. His heart missed a beat when he saw you in this purple dress, your hair well-coiffed, a very discreet makeup on your face. You looked like an angel. If you had been alone, believe me that Danny would not have hesitated for a moment to explore every part of your body. As Ghostface of course.

“You’re...you’re beautiful.” He said by placing a kiss on your hand.

“So are you.” you respond blushing at this gesture.

“If these gentlemen, ladies, are ready... we have a scandal to find.” replied Melina with a wink.  

Danny slit his throat, in order to regain a countenance and then headed with the others to the car. As a good gentleman, he opened the door for you and let you ride the first one before settling down. Melina got behind the wheel and once everyone was tied up, she set out for Mr Hoggins' villa for the reception.

“Well remember everyone, the purpose of our presence is not only to cover the event, but also to find evidence about the plots of Hoggins and McKellan. Jed has to go to Hoggins' office without getting noticed, find the evidence, and then we're off. Got it?” said Melina looking at you and Danny in the rear-view mirror.

“We'll stay in contact with the little earbuds that our boss gave us! If we ever see any movement, we will notify you immediately!” said Mattew.  

“if you're not too distracted by the butlers or some of the guests.” said Danny sneering.  

Mattew slapped him on the knee, making him laugh even more. Then he put his attention to you, a big smile on his face thinking back to last night. Seeing you as confident but frightened as a little doe amused him a little.  

The road seemed endless, almost falling asleep, but after an hour and a half drive, the villa of Hoggins was visible. Danny looked at you and saw that you were slightly stressed when you saw the building.

“Just relax. It's going to be all right. stays natural no matter what, okay?” He said, laying his hand on your shoulder.  

“Okay...I’ll try my best, but It's going to be difficult.” You answer with a little smile.

Melina parked a little further and everyone got out of the car looking closer at the building. The group advanced to the front door, Danny warning the security that you were accompanying them. There were a lot of wealthy people tonight, discussing everything and nothing with such arrogance that, if Danny had a knife on his hand, he'd slit them all to the last, before gutting them and cutting them into thin slices.  

They had a drink handed to them by a butler and took the opportunity to listen to the discussions between the guests. While some were delighted and surprised about this partnership, others were not really surprised.

Among them was Richard Hoggins, the master of the place. He must have been in his fifties, bald but straight and proud as a prince. Everything about this man was sweating lust, and that's what disgusted Danny to the point.

“You must be the journalists of the Roseville Gazette, I suppose? It's strange, your boss told me you'd only be 3...who is this lovely lady?” said Hoggins, placing a kiss on your hand.  

“She came with us.” Said Danny, taking you by the waist to get closer to him. If there's one thing Danny doesn't like, it's to share what’s HIS. And if he doesn't want to end up as a headless rider, Hoggins better leave you alone.

“Well, I count on you to immortalize this evening so that all the newspapers of the state see the magnificence of my success. For the fifth time.”  

“Sure Sir! Mattew and I would like to ask you about this, our readers want to know more about this new partnership you signed and its long-term future. it should last... 1 or 2 hours maximum?” Said Melina staying calm looking at Danny who nodded, understanding the message.

Hoggins nodded and took Melina and Mattew to a room away from the noise to chat quietly. Danny took his camera out of his purse and started taking pictures of the reception. If he didn't want to be spotted, he had to play his role. He took the opportunity to take a picture of you, which surprised you.

“A little souvenir of the evening, and the best photo I would have taken.” he said with a smile.  

“So... what’s the plan?” you ask innocently.

“We'll take some pictures for the newspaper as planned. We have to go into hoggins’ office and find out what we are looking for. Don't lose sight of me and stay close enough to me. Okay?” he whispered at your ear.  

“Okay.”  

Danny took a few more pictures before putting his camera in his bag. Noticing that in the next room there was music and people dancing, a mischievous smile came to his lips. And why not enjoy it a little?  

“Wanna dance? since we're here... we might as well enjoy it, right?” he asks, reaching out his hand towards you.  

“I... I don't know how to dance... I never had the opportunity. And then we don't really have time for that... Don't you think so Jed?” you answer shyly and embarrassed.  

“It's true. But it's not every day that you can go to a reception. And don't worry... I never had the opportunity to dance either.” replied Danny with a little smile.

You hesitate a few seconds before taking his hand. You both find yourself in the middle of the dancers and, if you didn’t know how to dance, Danny is an expert. He couldn't help but smile when he saw your desolate look every time you missed his foot or missed a step.  

But little by little you pick up the pace. Everyone was looking at you two, Unintentionally, you became the center of attention. Danny doesn’t care, it flattered his ego, his narcissism fed on this attention.

And among all these worms, these rotten bourgeois to the marrow, there is you. An angel among the demons, a sheep among the wolves. You are HIS toy, and only to him. If you must be afraid, if you must feel in danger, it will be only because of him. And his mask. Until he kills you, tired of you.

After about thirty minutes, you finally stop dancing, but you don't let go of each other. Danny ends up being the first, clearing his throat to regain a countenance.

“See? You’re pretty good for someone who has never danced. Come on, we still got something to do.” he said before leaving the room, you at his heels.

He walked to hoggins’ office, but the corridor leading to it was closed and guarded. We're going to have to find another way in. One advantage for Danny is that there is no security camera. How does he know? When Danny does research, he studies everything. Absolutely EVERYTHING.  

What? Did you forget who he was or what? It shouldn't surprise you though. Danny went outside, pretending to take some air before beckoning you to follow him discreetly. He was impressed to see how involved you were. You could be a good accomplice... if you were less naïve.  

Escaping from all eyes, he saw the window of Hoggins' office slightly open. What an idiot... he is so pretentious that he leaves the windows open. It's an invitation to go home for our dear assassin. he is almost flattered.

“I could pass through the window... But I need to know if Hoggins is still interviewed. Mattew? Do you hear me? Hoggins left the room or not?” ask Danny  

“Hey! No Melina continues to interview him. But she'll be soon run out of questions. How about you?” respond Mattew through the earbud.  

“I found a way in. Stay careful and watch the door in the main room. It's the hallway that leads to the office.”

“No problem! Be careful! I'll warn you at the slightest movement!”  replied Mattew.

“If you see anyone coming this way, stay natural, okay? Just pretend you're getting some fresh air outside.” said Danny to you before getting inside the office from the window.  

One thing is for sure, this office is more luxurious than the rest of the villa: statues, paintings, a library going around the room, and an office so large that you could put 5/6 computers on it. This is what serves as an office for one of the most influential men on the market.

“It doesn’t surprise me to see this when you are one of the biggest crooks in the country... Tsk he deserves more than prison.” said Danny before examining the desk.

He opened the drawers one by one, looking for a folder, a letter, something that could be used for the newspaper. He eventually found a printed e-mail sent by McKellan. He said he was just waiting for the green light from hoggins before taking action to sink his competitor with whom he had just signed a partnership. That's exactly what he needed.

“Well, Hoggins...seems like YOU’LL be the one who sink soon. And maybe your head will fall too...just like McKellan. I think I found a new victim.”

“Jed! Hoggins goes to his office. Get the f**k out of here quick! Said suddenly Melina through the earbud.  

Danny took a picture of the mail before closing everything and coming out the window, closing it as it was. Taking you gently by the arm, you return to the interior to find Melina and Mattew. But it's hard to spot them with all this crowd. He beckoned Melina when he saw her with Mattew and they both joined you.

“I found something. I'll show you this in the car.” said Danny discreetly.  

“Too bad I would have liked to have taken advantage of it a little more …" said Mattew.  

“Are you leaving already? I hope you were able to take some pictures...” Said Hoggins, looking at Danny with a smile.

“Don’t worry, I'm the best photographer you’ve never met.” responds Danny before taking a photo of Hoggins. “You will soon be able to admire your face on the Roseville gazette as well as on all the newspapers of the state.” he replied with an Insolent smile.

“Looking forward to seeing you again... Miss.”

You fake a smile and then leave the reception with the trio. You sigh in relief when you finally reach Melina’s car.  

“I don't want to see this guy again... Never again.” you said worried.

“I promise you won't see him again. Look what I found.” said Danny before showing the picture to the others.  

“Tsk motherf***er. He will pay soon. Let’s get out of here. This place made me sick. Said Melina before starting the car and go home.

The way home appeared shorter, and once you arrived, you and Danny picked up your bags where your clothes were. Then he drove, greeting Melina and Mattew before taking the road with you in the passenger seat. Arrived at your destination and once on the doorstep of your apartment you take off your shoes.

“I'm glad I'm not a woman. I don't think I would have had the faith to wear these things.” said Danny laughing.  

“it's real torture. I'd like to be in your shoes. At least the only shoes you're wearing are sneakers.” you respond with a sigh. “but I don't regret this night. I had a great time. Let's hope we don't do this for nothing.”  

“With this e-mail, we're sure to make things happen. Even the bribes won't save him this time.”

“Thanks Jed... Good night.” you said, placing a kiss on his lips unintentionally.

Danny was speechless. And it took him a few seconds to regain his spirits. You realized what had just happened and not knowing what to say, you back up to your door and go back to your apartment without saying a word more. Danny quickly returned home and quickly slammed the door, knocking on her.

“Shit! This is not the time! I have to stay focused... I can't destroy everything now. I can't... not right away.”

He goes to his office and get his bag before looking at his hunting board, especially Mike's photo.  

He still has some work to do.  

He has a gift to prepare.  

***

(Done! I'll hope you liked it like the others! By the way, do you have a tumblr page to recommend me about slashers? See ya!)  

[teddyeyeseddie]

To Hell I Go

Part Two: With Daddy By My Side

Bull Rider Steve Harrington x Reader

masterlist

warings: alcohol consumption, sexual harassment, general violence

(a/n: when I say I am having the time of my life writing this, I mean it. I have never poured more of myself into something than I have this. Please enjoy and as always feedback is so so encouraged ! thank you @lofaewrites for helping me with this chapter xx)

Now Playing: Open The Gate

Steve wakes the next morning hungover and running late. He throws on the jeans he wore yesterday before shrugging on a denim jacket over a white t-shirt. He pulls on his boots, grabbing his hat off the nightstand and heading downstairs. He's racing down the flight when he hears his dad yell. 

“Come on Steve, I haven’t got all day,” he barks from the porch through the screen door. Steve rushes into the kitchen to pour himself a travel cup of coffee and then he is out the front door, speed walking to his dad’s truck. 

The pair had to drive over to the Bounds residence, the family hosting a meeting about this year's cattle raising and how the families were going to split the revenue. 

The ranch sat on the outskirts of town so any drive into Jefferson was a lengthy one. The bounds lived on the east side of town, an area where the more influential families lived. 

Steve’s dad pulls into the driveway, a large white house with black trim in front of them. It was nice, big, bigger than the ranch house. Steve shakes away his nerves, the feeling in his stomach always spiking every time he has to attend a meeting. Luckily, he knew the Bounds well so it was at least easier to deal with them. 

Richard knocks on the door, waiting for Mr. Bounds to answer the door. Steve and his dad step back when the door opens, Mrs. bounds standing before them. 

“Richard! Steve! It’s so good to see you two, come in!” Mrs. Bounds shouts as she moves to the side to make room for them to peek through the rather large front door. She leads them to the dining room where Mr. Bounds and Jamie are sat. Jamie usually sat in on these meetings, one day he would be taking over the business just like Steve, or so his dad thought. 

The meeting goes off without a hitch, the family splitting the revenue fairly and planning for the next season. Steve and Richard make their way out of the house, his dad actually in a good mood giving how well the meeting went. 

“God I can’t wait to leave this ranch in yours and Jamie’s hands! You guys are going to make a great team,”

Steve sucks in a breath, his nerves back in his belly. Steve Harrington wasn’t afraid of much, his list consisting of spiders and making his dad angry. His dad was keen on teaching Steve lessons when feathers were ruffled, so the idea of telling his dad he was going for nationals again made him sick to his stomach. The car slows once it reaches the corral, his dad pulling beside his beloved K10 he had abandoned last night. 

“Not this year dad,” Steve finally says, hand picking at the frayed edge of his denim jacket. 

“What do you mean not this year?” Richard grits through his teeth. His knuckles turn white as he grips the steering wheel, one hand leaving the wheel to turn off the radio. 

“I’m going for nationals again. Want to beat the all time record, I’m at the top of my game and I can’t stop now Dad,” Steve states confidently, a surge of courage flowing through him as he stands up to his dad. 

“How many times do I have to tell you that this bull riding is a waste of your time! You’re gonna get hurt, better yet you’re gonna get killed,” his dad seethes, knuckles still stark white.

“Dad, I’m good at it! I am the top bull rider in the nation and all you see in me is a brain that can crunch some numbers and a body that can shovel some hay,” Steve begins to raise his voice, swinging the passenger door open, hopping out and marching toward his truck

“Don’t you walk away from me, boy,” his dad yells from the truck, “I am not done discussing this,” 

“Yes dad, we are done discussing this. I’m going to nationals and you can’t convince me to step down. I was made for this, I wasn't made to run around a ranch, I was made to prove that I’m better than my father,” Steve spits, his dad now out of the truck marching towards him. Steve turns on his heels, meeting him halfway in the middle.

“You’re lucky I taught you hard work, you’d be nothing without me, Steve, nothing. I made you,” 

“Get fucked, dad,” 

Steve backs away, climbing into his truck and speeding off. 

He pulls into Goldie Jane’s shortly after his fight with his father, throwing his car in park and rushing inside. After the morning he’s had, he needs a drink. 

He sits at his usual place at the bar, Steve smiling at the newspaper clippings of all of his rides that litter the walls.

“My handsome boy, what brings you in so early. Line dancing doesn’t start for another 2 hours!” Goldie asks as she pours Steve his usual shot of whiskey. Steve says nothing, taking the shot, throwing his head back and downing the alcohol as if it were water. 

“That bad, huh?” Goldie asks, pouring him another shot. 

“You have no idea,” 

That’s where Steve spends his afternoon, talking to Goldie about anything and everything going wrong in Steve’s life.

“You know what you need?” Goldie inquires, smiling widely as she watches people flood the bar, ready for line dancing night. 

“What might that be, Goldie,” Steve has moved to sipping whiskey instead of throwing doubles back, the first few doing a good job at numbing his feelings about his father. 

“You need you a girl. I’d volunteer but I’d break a hip trying to keep up with you,” 

“You know this life’s a lonely one Goldie, don’t think there’s many ladies lining up to take a bull rider home to mommy and daddy,” 

With that, Steve gets up from his place at the bar. The line dancing has begun, loud twangy country music playing throughout the room as patrons make their way out to the main floor to dance. 

Steve simply watches, leaning up against the wall with his legs crossed. He tilts his hat at a few people who stare at him, even snapping a quick picture with Goldie’s husband, albeit his biggest fan. 

He enjoys his time people-watching, chuckling to himself when someone trips over their feet. He sips his whiskey, eyes shooting to the door as it swings open, the bright evening sunset blinding him. When the door finally shuts and Steve’s eyes adjust he is met with another blinding sight. A yellow sundress and white cowboy boots take all of his attention. That’s when he realizes it’s you. The girl he saw at the rodeo, except this time you’re alone. 

You sit at the edge of the bar, Goldie walking towards you and taking your order, a rum and coke. Steve watches you for a moment, admiring the way the strobing lights of the bar illuminate your face with every pulse. He tips his hat to you when you look up and meet his eyes, a smile forming on your face as you tip your fake hat back. 

You’re enjoying being alone, having spent the past few days attending the Summertime Rodeo events with your friends. They were amazing, Robin and Nancy always down to tend to your cowboy loving tendencies no matter how bored they were. You all grew up in Jefferson but Nancy and Robin never saw the hype in the cowboy culture that the town curated. 

But for you, a “yes ma’am” said in the right accent could make you swoon, the tip of a hat could make you blush. You loved every ounce of living in Jefferson, the endless ranch hands at your fingertips made your pick of men quite large. 

But nothing ever sparked with any of them, sure they were all gentlemen but they lacked a certain energy you needed in a man. You eventually gave up, deciding the men in this town were better to look at than to take home. 

You make small talk with Goldie for a while, that is until a large figure looms behind you, blocking the lights from the stage. You turn around and look up, groaning internally when you’re met with Billy Hargrove. Billy was known in town for being a bit rough around the edges. He broke horses for a living, the work leaving his skin tanned and toned. He was handsome, but oh so arrogant. 

“Darlin’ what are you doing here alone?” he rasps, liquor heavy on his breath as he leans over you. 

“Get lost Billy, I’m not in the mood,” you groan, turning back around to face Goldie. 

“Now don’t be like that, pretty thing. I know you like to ride cowboys,” 

“Billy, leave her alone,” Goldie begs, eyes silently pleading with him to not start something. 

“Stay out of this locks,” He waves his hand at her, shooing her away before he turns back to you. 

Steve sees all of this go down, making his way over when Goldie shoots him a look.

“Billy, is there a problem?” Steve questions as he taps him on the shoulder.

Billy turns around, laughing when his eyes meet Steve’s

“Mudslinger, did you come over to get your dick wet too? This one loves us, she’s us cowboys biggest fan,” Billy slurs, barely able to keep himself up. 

In a moment, Billy is on the floor, no one really registering what happened. All they see is Billy on the ground and Steve shaking his hand as he draws in a breath through his teeth. 

Goldie’s husband picks Billy up from the floor, his tail between his legs as he is ushered out of the bar. 

“You okay there, Dandelion?” Steve asks once Billy is gone.

“Dandelion?” you question, your eyebrows furrowed. 

“Yellow dress, it fits,” he simply states, pointing at your dress with a smile. 

“Goldie, can you fix him a drink?” you ask, turning back towards her. You motion for Steve to sit down, sliding his drink towards him once he is settled beside you. 

“So what brings you in?” Steve questions, taking a sip of his whiskey. He presses the cold glass to his knuckles, wincing slightly at the contact. 

“Needed a drink after being out in the heat all day,” you state, turning towards him so you could see his features better. His cowboy hat covered his face with a shadow making it hard to really see him, you could make out that he was handsome but that was about it. 

“What about you?” you question. 

“Hard days work is all,” Steve drawls. 

“And work would be..?”

“Ranching. Business meeting about this year's revenue and how we’re splitting shit up, it's boring,” Steve drones, his ill humor in the matter evident in the way he grimaces. 

“I uh- ride bulls though. For actual work, you ever heard of the mudslinger?”

You nod, taking a sip of your drink.

“Heard a little bit about him, heard he’s from around here! I guess he announced the junior awards at the rodeo last night but I couldn’t make it,” you ramble causing Steve to chuckle. 

Steve removes his hat, revealing his face to you. He looks familiar as he looks down at you, his brown eyes boring into yours as you try to place where you’ve seen him. 

That’s when you put the two and two together.

“You’re The Mudslinger? What’s your name, uh sean?” you question, hopeful you got it right. 

Steve chuckles and shakes his head, putting his hat back on. 

“Steve. Harrington.” He sticks his hand out towards you, you take it and firmly shake it. His hands are calloused, the rough skin contrasting the softness of yours. 

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Harrington, care to dance?” you stand from your place at the bar, holding your hand out to him. He takes it, his large hand engulfig your smaller one as you drag him to the dance floor. You both fall in line and begin dancing to some old country song. 

9 to 5 begins to play and Steve groans, line dancing to this song is like running a marathon. But, when he sees the excitement on your face, he decides it's worth it. He would die line dancing if it meant he got to see you smile like that again. 

By the time the song is over, sweat is beading down Steve’s back, his chest heaving from lack of oxygen. You, on the other hand, look like a breath of fresh air, your hair slightly sticking to your face. Steve is pretty sure you were made up in his dreams. 

The two of you make it back to the bar, closing out your tabs before stepping out into the warm summer night. 

“I had a lot of fun with you, mudslinger,” you say, your hand reaching out to grab his. He smiles down at you, taking off his hat, placing it over his heart. 

“I had a lot of fun with you, dandelion. Please don’t break my heart and tell me I can’t see you again,” his voice is like honey, the Texas drawl evident after his several drinks. 

“I’d never,” with that, you put your phone number into Steve’s phone, texting yourself so you could have his number. 

“I’ll be out of town in a few weeks, riding in “The Daddy of em All” out in Cheyenne. Think I could take you out before then?” he questions, hat still covering his heart as he looks down at you. 

“Of course, cowboy,” 

[brrahbrrahcharacterimagines]

Night Queen (The Night King x Reader)

MASTERLIST

Pairing: The Night King (Game of Thrones) x Reader

Word Count: 1210

Warnings: Death mention

A/N: I know the Night King is kinda out of character, but he doesn’t exactly talk in the show so I had to make do. @yetanotherlurker2 I tried my best!

You had lived north of the wall for as long as you could remember, a proud member of the free-folk. After spending your entire life free, you couldn’t even imagine a world of Lords and Ladies. A world where women such as yourself were treated as less than men.

You were actually born in the South. South of the wall, that is. Rumor had it that you were born into a high-ranking family, but you had your doubts. The leader of your group of free-folk had found you as a baby during a raid on a village, taking you in as his own. He had died years ago, but during his life you had thought of him like a father.

Today was a day like every other. You were trekking through the snow, trying to ignore the way that the cold seemed to burn your skin. The wind was blowing strong today, blowing the furs around your face and making it harder to see. It seemed colder than it had before, the same way it had for days. You swore that every time you went to sleep you woke up colder.

Something felt different about today though. Something in your bones told you something big was going to happen. At first you had tried to ignore the feeling. That was a mistake.

You heard them first, the tapping and creaking of their limbs alerting you. However, that alert came to late as you rounded the corner only to come face to face with a herd of them.

Wights.

You quickly drew your bow, quickly pulling an arrow out of your quiver to shoot at the creatures. The rest of your group began pulling out their weapons as well. You aimed at one creature, shooting it straight through the heart. At least, where its heart would have been.

It did nothing. You aimed for the head this time, hitting the creature straight through its left eye. This only seemed to make the creature angrier. It ran right towards you, so you turned heel and ran the other way. Unluckily for you, this led you straight into the middle of a horde. They looked angry. 

“Help,” you cried to no response. The rest of the group had either been taken down already or had fled for their lives. This was the end for you. You saw the wights approaching you from all sides, grabbing another arrow to make a final stand.

You shot the arrow, and as it hit the skull of one of the wights they all stopped. You were shocked. Had you managed to kill it?

Your surprise was only heightened as they all turned, looking to an overpass to your right. You squinted, trying to make out what they were looking at. At first you saw only snow and haze, but the longer you looked you were able to make out the shapes of horses. You even thought you had seen riders.

The snow seemed to clear for a moment, revealing a man atop the center horse. You blamed the snow obscuring your vision, because he looked blue in your eyes. Surely this couldn’t actually be the case. His hand was raised in the air. 

He must be their leader, you thought as he looked straight at you. His eyes seemed to bore into your soul, burning his image into your brain. The next thing you knew you were being lifted up by one of the creatures, and the world went dark.

--

You awoke some time later in a cave. Although the place was covered in snow, it felt warmer than it had outside. You sat up from where you had been laying, wavering as you stood on ground made of pure ice. How am I not freezing? You thought.

“You’re up,” you heard a voice say. You spun, almost too quickly as you slid slightly on the ice. As you turned you saw him, the same man you had seen up on the mountain. His voice was deep, and it sounded almost familiar.

“Who are you?” You asked, squinting your eyes at him.

“I have gone by many names,” he said. “Richard, Vladimir, and others. But you may know me as the Night King.” You couldn’t believe your ears.

“You’re real?” You questioned. “I thought that you were just a story.” You sighed. “But then again, I had thought that wights were mere stories until I saw them first hand. The murdered my father.”

If you weren’t as smart as you were, you might have even said that you saw regret in his eyes. His piercing, blue eyes. You had heard stories about men with blue eyes, the bright blue eyes of the dead. Yet for some reason you couldn’t help but stare into his eyes just a little longer. Something about them intrigued you.

“My apologies,” he said as he stood from the seat he had been sitting in. He was taller than he first looked, making you take a step back. He may be intriguing, but that didn’t make him less intimidating. “I won’t hurt you.” He revealed.

“Why not?”

He saw no point in lying to you; the truth would come out eventually.

“I have seen visions of you for hundreds of years,” he said. You felt your mouth open in shock. “We are going to unite out peoples.”

“What are you suggesting?” You asked. You had a gut feeling that you knew what he meant, but you still had to ask. 

“We are to be joined forever” He said. You were right.

Despite the fact that this was obviously an unconventional situation, you still felt excitement rise in your stomach. Free-Folk did not marry in the same way that Southerners did, but some did pair off and remain exclusive. 

Part of you was horrified. The Night King was no man. How would this even work? Yet another part of you rejoiced. Something in that part of you was tugging at your heart, trying to whisper to your mind that this was your destiny.

“But I am just a Wildling,” you retorted.

“Not just any Wildling.” He said as he took a few steps closer to you as he spoke. “You were born Y/N Tully. Stolen by enemies of your father as a child you were brought North, only for your captors to be killed by the Free-Folk.”

The rumors you have always heard were true. You are the member of a famous house south of the wall. Some part of you was not surprised. You took a few steps towards the Night King, looking up at him.

“If we are to be joined, then what will I be?”

“You will be my Night Queen,” he responded. You felt butterflies stir in a deep part of your soul. This was what you were born to do.

You reached out, grabbing one of his hands in yours. It was freezing, but somehow his touch was not unpleasant. He looked at you quizzically, and you made a mental note to teach him about human affection.

“Then you better show me around,” you told him, “my King.”

You thought you saw a hint of a smile on his lips, encouraging you. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

[nerdzgarage]

In the weary times of blaring news and unrest, watching an event unfold with a happy ending is necessary. Today’s hero is Richard Davis.

Richard’s story starts in the capricious town of Wilmington, North Carolina, where the arts were blossoming.

Filled with a concept of build it and  watch it grow, he opened The Browncoat Theatre, named for his love of Firefly series.  That guerrilla theater established for new writers, actors, set designers, and producers to cultivate their talents. His trust gave way for many in that town who are still thriving in their field.

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Every superhero’s path cross with an antagonist and true to the genre; Richard and his wife, Amber, were confronted with a considerable one. At their young age, they had to battle an incurable disease that would typically attack older people, that was invading his wife. Feeling helpless and focusing from minute to minute to find ways to fight this villain was draining. Witnessing the most crucial person, your wife slip away takes all the strength you can muster to be there for them. Richard, who filled those around him with energy and encouragement, had nothing left to give. He slowly became a stranger to the theatre just making sure the lights were on, and fridges were full. Our heroes retreated to Knoxville TN, where there was a family network and University Hospital system for them to get a footing on solid ground.

Knoxville’s Friendly Neighborhood Comic Book Shop. We believe in fun, friends & community.

The next chapter. Amber’s journey to normality has been earnest and seeing progress. That motivated the couple to construct a new beginning, and that was the dream of owning a comic bookstore. That dream is Nirvana Comics. Doing what comes naturally, Richard evolved the comic bookstore to a place for family, friends, and community. During the time of Covid19, when most stores closed for two months, he took that time to give Nirvana Comic book store a remodel. In place of laying off his staff, they kept their hours, and then some to provide Nirvana Comics a makeover.

Moody, Gritty, & Original Story

During the time since leaving Wilmington, Richard had written his first comic book, Cult of Dracula, based on the folklore of Dracula mixed with the cult of the Manson Family. He describes the comic as moody and gritty. He stated, “that as a child, two things terrified me: Count Dracula and Charles Manson, and with Cult of Dracula, I follows Stephen King’s advice to ‘write what scares you’ by bringing these two nightmares together.”  With the world shutting down for months, printers stopping the presses and publishers saying that they will not be looking to sign anyone in the near future, Richard was planning the next move for Cult of Dracula. During this time, I was able to read his story thus far. It resembled a screenplay with the depth and detail of each scene, emotion, and character intonation. It is a fresh voice, a new genre, and I found captivating writing. Involving his community opened suggestions for self-publishing, however, costly and the printers could not give a date when they would be reopening. The next thought was to share the idea globally, through Kickstarter and when funded, there would be months before it would have to go to print. During this process, the words matched with the image with artist, Henry Martinez. Henry and Richard both have a cinematic scope towards their work. They both agreed that communication was essential. Henry truly understood the characters and motivation, thus capturing the detailed expressions and the mood of each panel. They formed a dynamic duo at the eleventh hour.

Georges Jeanty’s new cover for Cult of Dracula!

The happy ending moment when fate and Second Sight publishing collide by chance.

Second Sight Publishing announces that it has secured the rights to publish Cult of Dracula! This unique reimagining of Bram Stoker’s classic tale of terror adapted from the award-winning stage play by creator Rich David and that “Cult of Dracula is the perfect vehicle to launch our Second Sight Presents line of horror comics.

  Second Sight describes Cult of Dracula, beginning with the grounded sensibilities of a true-crime detective story. Special Agent Malcolm Bram is investigating a tragic event dubbed by the media as the “Cult of Dracula Mass Suicides.” Bram’s investigation serves as a framing device to keep readers grounded as they tumble down the rabbit hole to discover that this weird little cult is much older and much darker than anyone could imagine.

Colorist, Trevor Richardson.

Bram is an original character, a nod to Dracula author Bram Stoker. The remaining cast is re-imaginings from the original novel. Abraham Van Helsing, as an example, is a defrocked Eastern Orthodox priest turned college professor. Together with grad students Mina Murray and Jonathan Harker, he forms a documentary crew working on a film about Robert Renfield, the cult’s enigmatic guru and leader.

Predictions for the future Richard Davis, 100 % percent badass.

“You only have your thoughts and dreams ahead of you. You are someone. You mean something.” – Bruce Wayne, Batman.

  Cult of Dracula will be release 7/29/2020 to your local comic store.

Cult of Dracula is available now for pre-order through corner-box.com.

http://www.secondsightpublishing.com/

https://www.facebook.com/CultOfDraculaComic

  Writer/Creator: Rich Davis

 Art: Henry Martinez (Ghost Rider/Spirits of Vengeance/Blaze)

 Colors:Trevor Richardson (Fangoria)

 Letters: Ed Dukeshire Covers:Carla Cohen (The Boys: Dear Becky)  Gyula Nemeth (Criminal Macabre), Sanford Greene (Bitter Root), and Georges Jeanty (Buffy/Firefly/X-Men).

Richar and Amber

    Nerdz Garage

JOIN THE GAME!

Suzzan Smith

A Superhero Story Ends With a Win.    In the weary times of blaring news and unrest, watching an event unfold with a happy ending is necessary. Today’s hero is Richard Davis. In the weary times of blaring news and unrest, watching an event unfold with a happy ending is necessary.

[gamerszone2019-blog]

How to Read Marvel's Absolute Carnage Crossover

New Post has been published on https://gamerszone.tn/how-to-read-marvels-absolute-carnage-crossover/

How to Read Marvel's Absolute Carnage Crossover

The dust has barely settled from War of the Realms, but already the next major Marvel crossover is brewing. Absolute Carnage officially kicks off on Wednesday, August 7, as Earth’s heroes unite against a deadly attack from a super-charged version of Carnage, Spider-Man and Venom’s eternal foe.Whether you’re a hardcore Marvel reader or simply have fond memories of the Maximum Carnage crossover and its tie-in video game, we have a full breakdown of this new superhero epic and how you can follow the story.

What Is Absolute Carnage?

Absolute Carnage might be described as a spiritual sequel to 1993’s Maximum Carnage. While its plot isn’t directly connected to Maximum Carnage, Absolute Carnage again features Spider-Man and Venom teaming up with a wide variety of Marvel heroes to deal with the threat posed by Cletus Kasady.

Art by Ryan Stegman. (Image Credit: Marvel Comics)

This time around, however, Carnage is flying solo. Where in the past Cletus Kasady was interested only in causing chaos and bloodshed, he now has a more specific mission. He’s intent on killing everyone who’s ever bonded with a symbiote, hero or villain. By absorbing the trace remnants of the symbiotes in their bodies, Carnage hopes to achieve his ultimate power and finally free Knull, the god of the symbiotes, from his eternal prison.

Marvel’s New Symbiote Mythology

If you haven’t been reading comics like Venom recently, you may not be aware of Knull or his place in the mythology of the symbiotes. The current volume of Venom has introduced Knull, a godlike being revealed to be the creator of symbiotes like Venom and Carnage. Knull existed in the black void before the Big Bang. He was angered when light and life exploded into being and invaded his endless dark realm. Ever since the Big Bang, Knull has been waging war against the Celestials and other cosmic deities, hoping to restore the perfect nothingness that used to be everywhere.

Venom’s 30 Most WTF Moments

During the course of that war, Knull created the symbiote race known as the Klyntar. The symbiotes exist as a hive mind controlled by Knull himself, and their weakness to fire and sound is basically a design flaw created from their original forging. However, the connection between Knull and his creations (also known as the codex) was severed, and now Knull remains trapped in a prison within the Klyntar homeworld, waiting for the day when he can break free and resume his war on creation. Through Cletus Kasady, Knull has found his most devoted and capable servant.

The Road to Absolute Carnage

Before getting to the main event, we should cover the essential comics fans should read to prepare for Absolute Carnage.

A Visual History of Venom

Most of the direct build-up to Absolute Carnage has taken place in the current volume of Venom, which is written by Donny Cates and mostly drawn by artist Ryan Stegman. That makes sense, as Cates and Stegman are also the creators behind Absolute Carnage itself. Interested readers should check out the first trade paperback, Venom by Donny Cates Vol. 1: Rex. This book collects the story that rewrites Venom’s Marvel history and introduces Knull. The second volume, Abyss, is less directly relevant to the events of Absolute Carnage, but it does deal with some important developments in Eddie Brock’s personal life.

Also key is a one-shot special titled Web of Venom: Cult of Carnage #1, from writer Frank Tieri and artist Joshua Cassara. This book, as much as any other, directly sets the stage for Absolute Carnage. It resurrects Cletus Kasady (following a brief period where he was dead and Norman Osborn inherited the Carnage symbiote), reveals the bond he’s shared with Knull since birth and establishes Kasady’s new mission of hunting down and killing every person who’s ever bonded a symbiote. That includes traditional Spider-Man characters like Peter Parker, Eddie Brock and Mac Gargan as well as other Marvel heroes like Captain America, The Thing and Wolverine. All of them are now in Carnage’s crosshairs, as he seeks to absorb their trace symbiote fragments, reassemble the codex and open a doorway for Knull.

Art by Danilo Beyruth. (Image Credit: Marvel Comics)

Finally, readers should also hunt down the recent Free Comic Book Day 2019 – Spider-Man/Venom comic. The Venom portion is handled by Cates and Stegman and acts as a direct prologue to Absolute Carnage. It may be tough to find a print copy at this point, but the digital version is available to read for free on Comixology.

Absolute Carnage: What to Read

The Absolute Carnage crossover officially begins with the release of Absolute Carnage #1 on Wednesday, August 7 and runs until early November. In addition to the core Absolute Carnage miniseries (which was originally announced as being four issues but has since expanded to five), Marvel will publish a number of other Absolute Carnage-branded tie-in books. Alongside those releases, both the ongoing Venom and Amazing Spider-Man titles will tie into Absolute Carnage. Marvel released this checklist for all the comics involved in Absolute Carnage:

Naturally, fans who want to follow the main story threads without buying dozens of tie-in books can follow Absolute Carnage alone and get a complete story. The rest of these books will focus more on how other characters like Spider-Man Miles Morales, Deadpool, Ghost Rider and Hulk are impacted by Carnage’s global attack. Amazing Spider-Man will build on the recent “Red Goblin” storyline from 2018, as Norman Osborn and his grandson Normie are targeted by Cletus Kasady.

If any tie-in book is worth prioritizing, it’s probably Venom. This is the only Absolute Carnage tie-in also written by Cates. This book will deal with Eddie Brock struggle to protect his son Dylan from an army of symbiotes.

What’s Next for Marvel?

As massive as Absolute Carnage is in terms of scope and importance to the Spider-Man/Venom franchise, it also serves as the next step towards a major mystery project Marvel has been teasing in 2019. According to this image, Absolute Carnage, along with War of the Realms and House of X and Powers of X, is a piece of a larger puzzle that culminates in a new project in December 2019.

What this mystery project might be is still anyone’s guess. We don’t expect Marvel to reveal much until their December 2019 solicitations are revealed in September. However, we wouldn’t be surprised if this book revolves around Knull. If Carnage is ultimately successful in freeing his god, then the entire Marvel Universe will have reason to fear the wrath of Knull. Marvel has already been making efforts to tie Knull to other Marvel characters through books like Thor and Silver Surfer: Black. That could all be in preparation for a Knull-focused crossover event to cap off 2019.

Another, wildly different possibility is that Marvel is setting the stage for an X-Men vs. Fantastic Four crossover. The two teams were shown butting heads in the recent House of X #1. With Charles Xavier’s recent power grab reverberating across the Marvel Universe, these former allies may find themselves becoming bitter enemies, with powerful mutant Franklin Richards caught in the middle.Jesse is a mild-mannered writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Source : IGN

[geminiwrld]

The Jacket 01.

Sweet Pea x Reader

   Riverdale, a town where everybody knows each other and their business. A place that had a great divide better the posh north side and the destitute south side. One side had the Serpents and the Ghoulies  while the other had the Lodges. Each side had their dirt, maybe more than the other, but there was something special about the both of them.

A new family was coming to Riverdale, and rumors were already brewing. Well, one of the family members was familiar with the small town. The mother, Diane Jackson, a chocolate firecracker, with an afro big enough to supply Earth, Wind and Fire,was born and raised in Riverdale. When she was eighteen she left her hometown, because she wanted to see what was outside of her tiny town. She went to Seattle, Washington a city where her past would not catch up with her and she could peacefully start a new  life their and she did. A force drew the family to Riverdale and the three members all agreed that the city life was becoming to reckless. So they decided to pack up, leaving their life in Seattle and moved to the seemingly peaceful town called Riverdale.

                                                       -------

         The gruff sounds of a Uhaul and the soft humming from a motorcycle were the only sounds heard on the road. Upon the family’s arrival the weather was depressing, grey skies and  cool winds, shades of green whipped passed the drivers as they made their way to the town. In the Uhaul, Diane sat in the driver seat and her husband Vontae, a tall caramel man and had a short fro,  who was the sunshine of Diane’s eyes slept in the passenger seat.They met soon after Diane moved to Seattle and were connected by the hip  ever since. Their daughter

rode behind them, trying not to go too fast.

     Cassandra Jackson, the new sophormoreat Riverdale High. A medium toned African-American teen, with tight brown curls touching the middle of her back. Her dark brown eyes ignited with passion and rebellion as she goes about her days. She was a perfect mix of boom and street smart, just like her mother. She always knew how to play the game, without getting caught up,even in unfamiliar places  like Riverdale. Another thing Cassandra got from her mother, was a jacket. The leather jacket, with a two headed red eyed, green serpent on the back. The words “South Side” on the top and “Serpents” on the bottom, was always found on the teen. The jacket came from her mother, a symbol of her time in Riverdale, the truth but not the whole truth.

                                                          ------

 The family continued driving along the bumpy road and soon made a turn disappearing amongst the trees. The further they drove, a sign on the side of the road became more visible.A curious Cassandra slows down and puts her foot on the ground as she stopped to read the sign.

  “Riverdale, the Town With Pep!” she mocks in a high pitched voice  “Tch.”

She sets herself back on the bike and continues to drive to her destination

                                                       ————

    The trees left and were replaced with shabby houses, trailer parks, small shops, an abandoned school with graffiti all over,and this large log cabin styled building with motorbikes decorating its parking lot. The trees took its place once again and Cassandra began to ride faster. After playing speed racer behind her parents and hearing the glorious honks of the other riders on the road, the family crossed the train tracks that led to the other side of town. A retro diner right by the train tracks,caught Cassandra’s attention.

     “How cute.” she thought.

    She continued to ride and soon the scenery changed again. This was obviously the nicer part of town. The small shops looked more kept together and the streets weren’t as dirty as it was on the opposite side of the tracks. The homes on this side were a lot more upscale. A complete 360 from what was behind the diner. This is the side of town the Jackson family would be residing for the rest of their time in Riverdale.

    Driving through the suburban neighborhoods of Riverdale,the Uhaul began to slow down approaching a of a white two story house. Cassandra stopped at  the mailbox and took off her helmet, while her parents backed into the driveway next to their red Toyota Camry and her navy blue Ford truck behind it. The cars and the bigger furniture was brought to their new house a 3 days  in advance. She leaned on the bike and waited for her parents to come out. Her mother, Diane, jumped out of the truck first followed by her father,Vontae. Her father started unloading the U-haul while Cassandra and Diane started talking.

  “Hey mom, I got the jacket,” Cassandra smiled “almost forgot it.”

 “All these years and this jacket still looks good as new.” Diane rubbed her daughter shoulders

 “That’s ‘cause it has an awesome owner.” she gave spin with a smirk.

  Diane laughed softly at her daughter antics.

 “Come on let's help your father with the stuff.”

  “Yes m’am.” She nodded.

   After what seemed like a decade, everything was unpacked. The only that remained was a small box in Cassandra’s bed that contained memories of her past life back home. Diane and Richard were down stairs fixing dinner, while the curly haired girl was upstairs taking a shower.She came out of the bathroom with a purple cotton towel wrapped around her body and made her way to her room, shutting the door behind her. Cassandra changed into pajamas, black shorts that stopped mid-thigh and a random shirt, and went downstairs to eat.

    Everyone ate in silence, until Cassandra decided to break that.

   “So, what’s the school called again?” She looked up at her parents

   Vontae dropped his fork, “How could you forget and we just told you?” His deep voice could vibrate the table.

  “You told me a week ago, how could I not forget.” Cassandra said sarcastically.

    “Riverdale High is the school and you start tomorrow.” Diane sighed and continued eating.

   “Tomorrow! I can’t even see what this town is about?” She dropped her fork.

  The parents continued to eat.

  “You can… after school.” The mom stuck out her tongue in a cheek my matter.

   “If you say so” she sighed “Where is this place at?”

“We passed it up on the way here. ”  She knew her daughter was trying to get out of going to school.

  “Right.” She rolled her eyes and started eating again.

  “It is a good school, I enjoyed going there.” she said reassuringly.

  “I thought you went to Southside High?”

   “Yeah I went there for my last two years since they finished building the school after ny sophomore year.”

  “Oh.” she nodded

  “You have to start for eight, so be up at 7 or before then”, He said sternly, “and no shenanigans!”

She took a final bite of her food and said, “Yes sir and yes m’am.” She got up from her seat and headed to the kitchen to put her plate in the sink. Cassandra told her parents goodnight and headed up the stairs, to her room, and finally to sleep.

                                                         ————

  Banging on the door slowly faded in the sleeping teens ears.Cassandra peaked from under her covers, immediately regretting her decision as she groaned at the sunlight that passed her curtains.

  “Wake up sweetheart, it’s your first day!” A loving voice came from the other side of the door.

Cassandra huffed and sat up, glaring at the door through her hair in her face.

   “Kill me why don’t you?!”

The door opened and Diane leaned against the threshold. She put a hand over her heart and gasped.

  “Oh, I couldn’t do that.” she shook her head.

Cassandra slung the covers off of her body, letting her feet touch the tan carpet.

   “Oh yeah why not?” In groggy voice she stood up.

   “Duh, I would go to jail and who wants to go jail?” She yanked one of Cassandra’s arms and dragged her to the bathroom.

   “This counts as abuse you know.” She whined.

   “No it’s not.” Vontae says standing next to the bathroom door, sticking out his tongue.

    “I know my rights, and this” she pointed at her parents, “aint right” you shut the door.

     “Sure Jan.” They said together and laughed.

   The curly haired beast looked  at herself in the mirror and huffed. She started to the run the water and brushed her teeth while waiting for the water to get warm. Cassandra spat into the sink and rinsed her mouth out. She smile  at herself in the mirror and proceed to take her shower.

                                                  ——————

  After her shower she returned to her room to get dressed for the day.

She went to her closet and found a pair of ripped skinny blue jeans and a loose white t-shirt. After putting those on she went to her vanity and picked out her hair and then brushed it up into a bun. Light makeup was applied and she was ready. Cassandra grabbed her black combat boots, her book sack, and her leather jacket and left her room.

     “Come on!” A feminine voice rang from down stairs.

     “I’m coming!”

She walked down stairs and met her parents at the bottom of the stairs.

   “How do I look?” Cassandra gave a fake smile.

  They stared at her.

   “Alright let’s head out” Richard said.

   “Slander. Pure slander.”she said under her breathe.

   Diane had Cassandra’s keys in her hands. Cassandra grabbed the keys from her mother’s hand and started going towards the door.

    “Alright I’ll be on my way.” she rushed out of the house and locked the door.

  Her parents stood side by side of each other stared at the door  that their daughter went through.

“Have a nice day” Vontae said softly

 The rumble of her motorcycle was heard from outside and soon faded out as she took off to her new school.

“Shit!”  Diane jolted, scaring her husband.

“ What ?”

“Was she wearing the jacket?”

“I don’t know I was paying attention. I think so..”

 “Shit!”

 “What’s the problem  she wears it all the time?”  Vontae crossed his arms.

Diane sighs, giving up “I need to tell you something.”

[putthison]

eBay Roundup

There’s a lot of great menswear on eBay, but to find the good stuff, you have to search for hours. Which is why we do these roundups, so that our readers can find good deals easily and quickly. For those looking to get an extra round-up each week, subscribe to our Inside Track newsletter. We not only cover the best of eBay, we also list each week’s store sales.

Today’s roundup has some great stuff for the coming spring -- a vintage Banana Republic safari jacket (made when the company was an adventurer themed outfitter), Archival Clothing rolltop bag, and some unlined Alden chukkas. There are also some really good prices on Ben Silver rep striped ties, with the auctions ending soon. 

To find more menswear on eBay, try using our customized search links. We’ve made them so you can quickly hone-in on quality suits, excellent dress shirts, fine footwear, good jeans, workwear, contemporary casualwear, nice ties, great bags, and well-made sweaters.

Outerwear

Eidos tailored overcoats, various sizes

Navy Brooks Brothers duffle coat, 36

Tan Brooks Brothers duffle coat, 38

Vintage Banana Republic safari jacket, S (pictured above)

Gray Walker Slater quilted tweed jacket, S

Navy ripstop Norse Projects overshirt, M

Brown checked Kapital jacket, M

Navy Brooks Brothers duffle coat, 40

Navy Sandro leather double rider, M

Raw denim Sandro trucker jacket, L

Navy Richard James leather double rider, L

Denim Real McCoys anorak, XL

Beige Nigel Cabourn anorak, 44

Black Buzz Rickson MA-1, 44L

Sweaters and knits

Brooks Brothers Shetland sweaters, M (green, navy)

Brown herringbone Wallace & Bares cardigan, M

Textured RRL shawl collar cardigan, L

Shirts and pants

Benjamin Bixby t-shirts, S

Shoes

Keds x Mark McNairy blue suede sneakers, 8

Vass quarter brogues, 8.5

Edward Green suede perf toe boots, 8.5

Alden tan suede chukkas, 8.5 (pictured above)

Edward Green burgundy shortwings, 9

Edward Green shortwings, 9

St Crispin’s suede quarter brogues, 9

Brooks Brothers suede tassel loafers, 9.5

Heinrich Dinkelacker black longwings, 10

Margiela suede side zip boots, 10

North Sea navy sneakers, 12

Ties

Navy striped Brooks Brothers tie

Green striped Brooks Brothers tie

Ben Silver rep striped ties (1, 2, 3, 4)

Green E. Marinella foulard

Brown floral Drake's tie

Red Ben Silver grenadine

Tie Your Tie gray textured tie

Cobalt blue Tom Ford grenadine

Red Drake's dotted tie

Gray glen check Tom Ford tie

Burgundy Sam Hober grenadine

Red striped Sulka tie

Bags, briefcases, and wallets

Gokeys Battenkill leather bag (1, 2)

Archival Clothing rolltop bag (pictured above)

Filson dry duffle bag

Misc.

Dark tartan Paul Stuart scarf

Wine bottle carrier for bicycles

Rutherfords bridle leather folio (1, 2, 3, 4)

Black leather Ghurka folio

Absurdly expensive Mappin & Webb honeypot

Navy Filson dopp kit

Patchwork Filson folio

Bee motif cufflinks

US Navy miniature models

Lock & Co flat caps, various sizes (1, 2, 3)

Vintage coin cufflinks

Leather Omersa rhino footstool

If you want access to an extra roundup every week, exclusive to members, join Put This On's Inside Track for just five bucks a month.