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eraluxewatches · 5 months

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Luxury Watches: A Timeless Investment Piece for Your Collection

If we talk about evolution, humankind has achieved many things ever since life originated. There were days when there was no concept of time and no one knew that there are 24 hours in a day. The first ever clock was invented by Peter Henlein in 1542, since then watches have become an integral part of all our lives.

Be it the time on your smartphone, the watch on your wrist, or one of the best luxury watches in the world, we cannot keep ourselves apart from this ticking time bomb. One of the most common formats of keeping track of time is by wearing watches.

You can not keep your digital gadgets with you all the time but you can always keep your watch with you. Over the decades watches have become more than just a necessity. Watches are a fashion symbol for some and a daily accessory for others, it is an investment and collection of goods.

In this article, we are going to talk about why people invest their money in luxury watches. If you are someone who wants to start collecting such watch pieces for your collection then read the article till the end. So let’s get started!

Why Should You Invest In The Best Luxury Watches?

For watch enthusiasts luxury watches are not just a passion it’s also a form of investment. It’s a status of class, a symbol of success and achievement for them.

Under this section of the article read about why you should put your money into luxury watches:

1. It Adds Value To Your Collection

Premium timepieces with a strong build from well-known brands can retain or even increase in value. Certain limited-edition and older versions have become valuable as collectors' hot commodities.

2. Brand Recognition and Prestige

Having a high-end watch indicates your refined taste and admiration for the finest piece. In both personal and professional contexts, it is a useful accessory that subtly conveys your commitment to quality.

3. Durability and Longevity

Best luxury watches are made to last long. To guarantee they stay in top operating shape for many years, they frequently include guarantees and servicing options. That means you do not need to waste your time and money frequently for their maintenance, just simple care and cleaning is enough for such good quality watches.

4. Functional Features

Numerous high-end timepieces possess sophisticated functions and intricacies, such as water resistance, perpetual calendars, and chronographs, augmenting their usefulness and adaptability.

5. Personal Connection

For some people buying some of the best luxury watches is a form of joy, satisfaction, and a symbol of achievement. Who doesn’t like to wear a luxury peace every day to add extra charisma to their personality, Right?

6. Portable Asset

Luxury watches for men are like a portable asset. They can carry this collectible asset with them wherever they go or store it in a safe place.

7. Alternative Investment

Luxury watch investments have greater returns than precious metals like gold and silver. While gold and silver are some of the best forms of investments. Luxury watches have shown returns that are 12 times higher than silver and four times higher than gold in the market.

8. Diversification

Investing in a luxury watch is a way to diversify your investment portfolio. It is not all your eggs in one basket, and the saleability of some luxury watch brands makes this a more liquid asset.

9. Tax-Free Investment

In the UK, watches are exempt from capital gains tax, which makes them an attractive investment for those looking to avoid or minimize tax liabilities. So next time you want to gift your wife something you can always go to the collection of luxury watches for women.

10. Investment of Passion

Luxury investments, including watches, are often referred to as investments of passion. They are not just about the potential for financial gain but also about the enjoyment of owning a beautifully crafted, high-quality timepiece.

If you are someone who wants to start your journey of watch collection then good luck to you. But also you do not need to go out of your pockets to buy one. Many brands offer luxury watches at affordable prices and Eraluxe is one of them.

Let’s Understand What Is Luxury Watch Market

When you see a luxury watch, have you ever thought about why it is so expensive? Well, multiple factors decide the watch price and make it costly. Here are some of the major factors:

● Luxury watch brands only hire skilled artisans who know how to manually assemble each component. This way they maintain the highest level of precision and quality.

● Every brand has its unique feature that makes its watches appealing and expensive. It could be the mechanical movements. Sometimes it's all about the design and the precision and time it takes for the assembly of each part to achieve the right accuracy and reliability.

● A brand tag/ name also affects the price of a watch. Whether it’s a known brand or a popular one it also carries a legacy for its innovation, quality, and prestige that one needs to pay for.

● Trust me when we say this, watch-making does take a lot of R&D, marketing, and other overhead costs. These expenses when added to the watch are also factored into the price of luxury watches.

● No best luxury watches get ready on their first trial. It takes time and a lot of resources to invest in research and development. The cost of prototyping and testing is something that also gets added to the final price of the watch

● Best luxury watches have their exclusive manufacturing processes for limited editions. This way they can keep control of the product's quality and contribute to higher prices.

If we see it from an economic standpoint, if a watch is rare and bought from a bid brand, its market price will keep increasing with time. That’s why brands launch their limited edition at such a whopping price.

Conclusion

Luxury watches aren't just for telling time anymore. They've become valuable investments that can make your collection even better. These fancy watches show off the skill and prestige of the brands that make them. They're built to last a long time, often coming with warranties and ways to keep them in top shape.

Best luxury watches use special materials like gold and platinum, making them even more special. They also have super detailed mechanical parts that make them super accurate. Some can even do cool things like track the date forever.

Buying the best luxury watches isn't just about enjoying them yourself; they can also make you money over time. As they get older, their value can go up, making them a smart addition to your investments. Plus, wearing one can make you look extra cool and successful.

Whether you're already a big collector or just starting, luxury watches are a great way to invest in something you'll love. There are so many different brands, styles, and features to choose from, so there's something for everyone. If you want a watch that's beautiful, practical, and might make you some money, think about getting a luxury one.

Hence hope after reading this article now you know why one collects luxury watches. Also, do not forget to check the Eraluxe luxury watches for women and men collection. You do not need to break banks to buy luxury watches, which is what Eraluxe believes and promotes through their affordable luxury watches.

#Best luxury watches #luxury watches for men #luxury watches for women

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thebigphonestore · 10 months

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BEAUTY IN TECH- BEST WOMEN'S SMARTWATCHES

Smart Watches for Women are offered at The Big Phone Store

Smartwatches have evolved as adaptive companions in the ever-changing world of technology, and The Big Phone Store is delighted to offer a superb assortment, particularly for females. Our favourite smartwatches for women combine pragmatism with a touch of beauty, from fitness monitoring to getting notifications with flair.

Fashion and Technology

Explore our carefully picked assortment of smartwatches created particularly for ladies. These things mix elegance and cutting-edge technology to keep you connected and contemporary. Every piece represents our commitment to integrating elegance and innovation, making each smartwatch a stylish addition to your wrist.

Top Women's Smartwatches in 2023

We know that females have a wide range of preferences, and our selection reflects this. Our smartwatches appeal to a wide range of needs, whether you're a health nut or a fashionista. Discover the most recent models, which offer health tracking, changing watch faces, and app compatibility.

What are the advantages of shopping at The Big Phone Store UK?

The Big Phone Store stands out when it comes to selecting the best smartwatches for women for a multitude of reasons. Our understanding of consumer electronics guarantees that you receive knowledgeable advice, allowing you to make an informed purchase that fits your lifestyle. With a focus on authenticity, our smartwatches are extensively tested to assure both performance and genuine quality.

You may embark on a journey of style and innovation with The Big Phone Store's selection of smartwatches for women. Rethink how you will stay connected and fashionable in 2023 by combining fashion and technology.

Learn more about the wristwear of the future at https://www.thebigphonestore.co.uk/smart-watches-for-women/.

#smart watches for women #best smartwatches for women

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wearablewizard · 1 year

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Popglory Smart Watch Review

Get ready to elevate your fitness game with the Popglory Smart Watch. This high-definition fitness tracker is equipped with a range of impressive features, including a blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen monitor, making it a must-have device for tracking and maintaining your physical health. With multiple sports modes and the ability to track steps, calories, distance, and active minutes, this smartwatch ensures your training is scientifically optimized. It even automatically measures your sleep patterns to help you understand your sleep quality. With customizable wallpaper, music control, and an IP67 waterproof design, the Popglory Smart Watch has it all. And with its perfect size and lightweight construction, it's the ideal accessory for women and teenagers. Join the thousands in the UK who have been enjoying the convenience and reliability of the Popglory Smart Watch for the past three years. Why Consider This Product? Looking for a smart watch that can help you take your fitness routine to the next level? Look no further than the Popglory Smart Watch. This innovative device offers a range of features and benefits that can enhance your training and help you stay on top of your health and wellness goals. With its multi-sports modes, the Popglory Smart Watch allows you to track your activity in a variety of different sports, including walking, running, cycling, skipping, badminton, and basketball. This makes your training more scientifically accurate and helps you understand your progress and areas for improvement. Not only does the Popglory Smart Watch track your activity, but it also monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels. These functions are essential for monitoring your physical health and ensuring you are training within safe limits. While the data should be used as a reference, it can provide valuable insights into your body's response to exercise. In addition to its fitness tracking capabilities, the Popglory Smart Watch can also monitor your sleep patterns. It automatically measures your awake, light, and deep sleep data, allowing you to understand the quality of your sleep and make adjustments to improve it. Features and Benefits Stylish Design and Customization The Popglory Smart Watch features a sleek and stylish design, making it the perfect accessory for both women and men. Its 1.4-inch HD touch screen is sensitive and easy to navigate, ensuring a seamless user experience. Plus, with the ability to customize the wallpaper, time position, and color according to your preference, you can truly make this watch your own. Stay Connected Never miss an important message or call again. With the Popglory Smart Watch, you can receive notifications directly on your wrist. Simply raise your wrist to view incoming messages and calls, all conveniently controlled through the "HeroBandIII" app. Music Control on Your Wrist Say goodbye to fumbling with your phone while working out. The Popglory Smart Watch allows you to control your phone's music player directly from your wrist. Change songs, adjust the volume, and pause your favorite tunes with ease, keeping you in the zone during your workouts. Waterproof and Lightweight Designed with an IP67 life waterproof rating, the Popglory Smart Watch can withstand water contact while washing your hands or sweating during a workout. Its silicone strap ensures a comfortable fit, and with a weight of only 45g, it's lighter than an egg. It's the perfect companion for an active lifestyle. Product Quality When it comes to product quality, the Popglory Smart Watch excels. It has been popular in the UK for three years, gaining a reputation for its stable and convenient operating system. With its durable design and reliable performance, you can trust that this smartwatch will meet your expectations. What It's Used For The Popglory Smart Watch can be used for a range of purposes, from tracking your daily activity to monitoring your health and fitness progress. Here are some of the ways you can use this versatile device: Tracking Daily Activity The Popglory Smart Watch accurately tracks your steps, calories burned, distance covered, and minutes active throughout the day. This data allows you to set goals, measure your progress, and make adjustments to your fitness routine to achieve optimal results. Monitoring Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Blood Oxygen Levels With its built-in sensors, the Popglory Smart Watch monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels. This information provides insights into your overall health and helps you stay within safe and healthy ranges during your workouts. Analyzing Sleep Patterns By automatically measuring your sleep patterns, including awake, light, and deep sleep, the Popglory Smart Watch helps you understand the quality and duration of your sleep. This can be invaluable in identifying any sleep issues and making lifestyle adjustments to improve your sleep. Customizable Notifications Stay connected without constantly reaching for your phone. The Popglory Smart Watch allows you to receive notifications for calls, messages, and social media alerts directly on your wrist. You can even customize the alerts to suit your preferences and ensure you never miss an important message. Product Specifications Product Name Popglory Smart Watch Screen Size 1.4-inch HD touch screen Strap Material Silicone Water Resistance IP67 (can be worn while washing hands) Supported Operating Systems Android, iPhone, iOS Weight 45g Sports Modes Walking, Running, Cycling, Skipping, Badminton, Basketball, etc. Who Needs This The Popglory Smart Watch is a perfect fit for anyone looking to enhance their fitness routine and stay on top of their health. It's ideal for both women and men, and its customizable features allow each user to tailor the watch to their personal style and preferences. Whether you're an avid athlete or simply want to lead a more active lifestyle, this smartwatch is a valuable tool. Pros and Cons While the Popglory Smart Watch offers many benefits, it's important to consider both the advantages and any potential drawbacks. Here are some of the pros and cons to consider: Pros: - Stylish design with customizable features - Accurate fitness tracking for various sports - Monitors heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels - Automatic sleep tracking and analysis - Convenient music control on your wrist - Notifications for calls and messages - Waterproof design - Lightweight and comfortable to wear Cons: - Data should be used as a reference only - Potential sensitivity for individuals prone to allergies - Requires periodic charging FAQ’s Q: Can I wear the Popglory Smart Watch while swimming? A: Although it has a waterproof rating of IP67, it is not recommended to wear the watch while swimming, as it may not be suitable for prolonged water exposure. Q: Is the Popglory Smart Watch compatible with all smartphones? A: The Popglory Smart Watch is compatible with Android, iPhone, and iOS devices. Ensure that your smartphone meets the necessary system requirements for optimal connectivity. Q: Can I change the strap of the Popglory Smart Watch? A: The strap of the Popglory Smart Watch is made of silicone and is not interchangeable. However, it provides a comfortable fit for most users. What Customers Are Saying Customers who have purchased the Popglory Smart Watch have praised its stylish design, accurate fitness tracking, and ease of use. Many users appreciate its ability to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels, providing them with valuable insights into their health and wellness. Overall Value When considering the overall value of the Popglory Smart Watch, it is clear that it offers a wide range of features and benefits at an affordable price. With its accurate fitness tracking, health monitoring capabilities, customizable design, and seamless smartphone integration, it provides excellent value for individuals looking to enhance their fitness journey and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Tips and Tricks For Best Results To get the most out of your Popglory Smart Watch, here are some tips and tricks for optimal performance: - Ensure the watch is dry before wearing it to prevent discomfort or skin irritation. - Avoid wearing the watch too tightly to maintain comfort throughout the day. - Regularly charge the watch to ensure uninterrupted usage. - Follow the instructions provided in the user manual for proper setup and utilization of all features. Final Thoughts The Popglory Smart Watch is a game-changer in the world of fitness trackers. With its innovative features, customizable design, and reliable performance, it offers a seamless and comprehensive experience for users of all fitness levels. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast or simply want to stay on top of your health, this smartwatch is a valuable companion on your wellness journey. Product Summary The Popglory Smart Watch is a 1.4-inch HD fitness tracker with a range of functions, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and customizable notifications. It offers accurate fitness tracking for a variety of sports and features a stylish design suitable for women and men. With its lightweight, waterproof construction and compatibility with both Android and iPhone devices, it's an excellent choice for anyone seeking to enhance their fitness routine and overall wellness. Final Recommendation If you're in the market for a smartwatch that combines style, functionality, and affordability, look no further than the Popglory Smart Watch. With its range of features, accurate tracking capabilities, and user-friendly design, it offers exceptional value for both fitness enthusiasts and those looking to lead a more active lifestyle. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your fitness journey with the Popglory Smart Watch. Read the full article

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markcharliee · 1 year

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Top 3 Mothers Day Gift Ideas

People are brave enough to start online shopping without realistic reconsideration of offer. But mothers Day gift selection need properly managed ideas through understood features to impress your lovely mum. Top most mothers Day gift should be in your mind while searching for sweetest mom on the earth. Pick best of all gifts from latest collection offered by shopping carts online. Here we are discussing top 3 preferred gift ideas for your super mom.

All in One Gift Package

Try out the best of all gifts in form of multipurpose gift packs offered by online stores on discount prices. Package includes most preferred brand of products for your mum. Lots of new gift packages offered by shopping stores now which includes 1-7 different products which are quite handy for women. Commonly preferred mothers Day gift basket consists of Branded wrist watch, Perfume bottle, Chocolate box, Red Wine and Health supplement. You can pick that gift for her if nothing else works in your budget.

Its quite common gift idea for mothers Day as I suggest you should pick unique gift and that’s why it’s not my choice of gift. Such gift doesn’t make perfect appearance that we wish for.

Handmade Gifts

It’s another popular gift idea followed by many people but depends on their interest in handmade gifts. Read new ideas to create innovative handmade gifts for mom on her best day of the year. Such gifts have pleasant appearance and touch the heart effortlessly. Homemade gifts also fall in your preferred budget as cost-effective material can be used in such products.

Such handmade gifts can prove their significance while money matters to us but handcrafted work needs plenty of skills with perfection in design so it is not my recommendation for many.

Canvas Prints

It sounds better when your mother has interest in uniqueness of your selection. Canvas prints make greatest gift for mothers Day thus preferred by people who want innovation in gift ideas. Order canvas prints from any printer in UK and get the job done within specific time limit. Mother’s day gifts presented with all new gifts box makes it better.

About us:- In my view, lots of things we can consider while looking for the mothers day gifts but it is better to choose some sort of memorable gift that will remain in your mother’s heart forever.

#Canvas prints

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queenshelby · 4 years

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Foreigner – Peaky Blinder Fanfic

PART ONE – WAY BACK HOME

Featuring: Tommy Shelby x Reader

Warning: Angst (don’t worry, Smut is coming in the next part for you dirty minded people)

Words: 3462

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Your Story

It has been 8 years since you left Birmingham and embarked on a journey to the US with your parents. Your brother was killed by Arthur Shelby, after having stolen from the Lee Family and getting involved in your father’s business.

It wasn’t your brother’s fault that he resorted to stealing. In fact, it was all he had ever known since he has been a young boy. He was stealing to feed you and your mother while your father was preoccupied interfering with Thomas Shelby’s gambling business.

Over 8 years ago, your father was employed by the Shelby Family to fix races but, at the same time, he was trying to skim money from their forged winnings and it wasn’t long after your brother’s and father’s actions had come to the attention of Thomas Shelby that a war emerged between your family and the Shelby gang.

The war was bitter and a threat made by Thomas Shelby against your father’s life caused your family to flee to a safe haven offered by your aunt Esme Bortelli in Atlanta. Just like you and your parents, your aunt was gypsy. But, she made a deal with the devil after her first husband had passed away from Spanish flu.

Her second husband was no other than Luigi Bortelli. Luigi had a direct affiliation with the North Italian Mafia in Atlanta. He enjoyed the dangers in life. Handling and dealing with cocaine, heroin and alcohol, which, at the time, was prohibited in the US.

Luigi was shot a few years ago by police along with his brother Pepe while collecting a shipment of cocaine from the port of Atlanta. Following Luigi’s death, your aunt Esme took over the family business and dealings with the North Italian Mafia. Unfortunately for her, she wasn’t taken serious by some of her suppliers. It wasn’t common for a woman to be in this kind of business. Your father became her assistant, taking shipments and dealing with suppliers on her behalf. Nonetheless, it was her all along who pulled the strings.

The business ran smoothly for several years until, one day, a dispute occurred between the Sabini family and yours. As a result, your mother was shot in your family home by Sabini’s men. Giovanni Sabini resided in the UK and was Darby Sabini’s brother. He had family in the US which operated a rival gang importing the same products as your aunt Esme. After your aunt Esme ignored several of Giovanni’s demands to cease dealings in the area and accept shipments from the UK arranged by the Changratta family, he sent his men to send a message and kill Esme’s sister (your mother).

Esme and your father soon declared war on Giovanni Sabini but, your family’s local men turned against Esme as word came to them that Sabini had turned on the Changratta Family and, as a result, Luca Changratta was killed in Birmingham and the Peaky Blinders took over the supply of alcohol and cocaine to Atlanta exclusively to Giovanni Sabini’s men. This caused the Sabini family to gain greater power within the Atlanta area, much to the disadvantage of your aunt and the North Italian Mafia.

Your aunt Esme saw only one option to rectify this issue and replenish her standing within the North Italian Mafia. She sent your father back to Birmingham to make Thomas Shelby an offer he could not refuse, namely an alliance between the Peaky Blinders and the North Italian Mafia, guaranteeing exclusive supply to the entire West Coast.

Since you had become interested in the family business over the past few years and your aunt had taught you a lot about her supply and trading operations, you demanded that you join your father during his trip to Birmingham. Whilst your father had grown fearless and calculating, you were smart and practical which is just what your aunt Esme needed in order to represent her business.

Unfortunately, whilst your aunt was suspicious of your father’s recent behaviour, what she didn’t know was that he had a very different plan of his own. He wanted revenge on both, Arthur Shelby and Giovanni Sabini, even if it would cost him his own life. For this reason, your father was against you joining him on this journey. You were his only living child.

But, aunt Esme demanded that you join him and so you went.

‘Watch him and his men and report back to me’ were your aunt’s words as you left the port of Atlanta.

Back in Birmingham

After a three day boat journey, you and your father arrived in Birmingham along with several of his men.

Three of your men were questioned by border security upon their arrival. Fortunately for them, aunt Esme’s men in Birmingham had already made pay offs and you were escorted to your hotel.

Birmingham has changed a lot since you have been there last. Most factories, bars and residences were owned by Shelby Company Limited and even the hotel you were staying at was owned by Thomas Shelby.

You never met anyone from the Shelby family. Your father and older brother both worked for the Shelbys for many years until conflict emerged between them. Nonetheless, during this time, your father shielded you and your mother from these dealings. He always said there is no place for women in this business. It therefore comes as a surprise that your father works for aunt Esme now.

You know that your aunt does not trust your father. She always tells you that your father is a danger to himself and you have begun to believe it. His anger and hate has taken over in the last few months and that is why aunt Esme has sent you.

As you finally arrived at the hotel, it became clear to you that Shelby family already had tabs on you. A note from Thomas Shelby was left at reception for your father. It was an invitation to a charity event.

‘Smart’ is what you thought when you read it. Thomas Shelby obviously doesn’t know whether or not he can trust your father. What better place to discuss their business could there be than a public event where your father and his men cannot strike against him. After all, most men in Birmingham work for the Shelby family in one way or another.

Your father, however, was not impressed with the invitation and liaised with two of his men. A message was to be delivered to Thomas Shelby at the Garrison. You only ever heard of the Garrison in conjunction with your brother’s death. This is where he was killed just over 8 years ago by members of the Lee family. But, despite this, you recalled your promise to aunt Esme, to keep an eye on your father and his men.

Shortly after the two men had left to the Garrison, you sneaked out of the hotel.

The Garrison

‘Excuse me sir, how do I get to the Garrison?’ you asked the delivery driver who was delivering Gin to the hotel you were staying at.

‘The Garrison? This is really no good place for you Love’ the delivery driver said.

‘I have business to attend to at the Garrison. I am new in town and am looking to promote a new type of champaign to all of the establishments in the area’ you explained.

‘I don’t think you are going to have much luck at the Garrison Love, but I can take you there after I finish unpacking these. It’s my next delivery stop’ the man said.

‘Thank you sir, I much appreciate it’ you said as you climbed into the man’s truck.

The drive was less than 10 minutes and after you gave the man a couple of pounds for his troubles, you climbed out of the truck and went inside the Garrison while keeping a careful lookout.

The Garrison was full of drunk men, some steel factory workers and some men nicely dressed in suits.

Unfortunately for you, you could not see the men your father had sent. You carefully removed your hat and ordered a glass of whiskey.

‘Top shelf please sir’ you said as you sat down at the quite end of the bar. To your surprise, the bar tender didn’t question you or your choice of drink. It wasn’t common for women to drink in establishments like this. In fact, it was prohibited.

You decided to stay for maybe ten or fifteen minutes to see whether your father’s men would turn up. You took a careful look around every two minutes or so but the men couldn’t be found.

There was, however, one man who caught your eye. He was incredibly well dressed for a place like this and accompanied by a beautiful blonde woman. It was obvious to you that the woman wasn’t his wife. In fact, she looked just as much out of place as you did.

His eyes were blue like the sky on a sunny day in Atlanta and his hands were perfect, clean and masculine as if they had been crafted by an artist.

You couldn’t stop starring at him. His charisma was almost overwhelming.

It wasn’t long until he noticed you too. His eyes gazed over to you several times, much to the dislike of his female companion.

His looks were intimidating and you didn’t know whether he noticed you starring at him or whether he had taken an interest in you. Probably the earlier, considering that he was obviously much older than you.

After 15 minutes had passed and you felt surprisingly awkward in this man’s presence, you quickly finished your drink and decided to call it a night. You did not think that your father’s men were going to appear any time soon and it was getting quite late.

As you left, you noticed two drunk men following you.

“Ey Love, how much for the both of us?” one of the men said as he followed you.

‘In your dreams’ you said with laughter as you turned around for a brief second as, all of a sudden, the man grabbed your wrist.

‘Feisty… I like feisty girls’ the man said as he pulled you closer towards him while his acquaintance approached you and ran his hand over your blouse.

‘Fuck off and leave me alone’ you responded angrily and with some ignorance towards their actions.

‘Oh, you like it rough love?’ one of the men shouted in return while the other pushed you against the wall.

You tried to reach for your gun which was pinned to your left upper leg as, suddenly, you heard a gunshot from near the entrance to the Garrison.

It was a dark and foggy night and you couldn’t see much more than a shadow of a man approaching you and the attackers.

‘The lady said that she wants to be left alone’ another man said from the distance while pointing a gun at the attackers.

‘Piss off man’ one of the attackers yelled in a rather drunken tone, ignoring the first gunshot that had already been fired by the mysterious man.

Suddenly, you heard a second gun shot and a loud scream from one of the drunk men right beside you. He had been shot into his left knee and was in agony.

‘The next time I will aim higher’ the gunman said as he approached you closely, just before the uninjured drunk man scrambled and ran off, knocking you down onto the gravel in the process, while the other man began pleading for his life.

‘I am… I am very sorry please. I won’t…It will not happen again’ the man said. The tone of his voice was frightened and you could tell that the men knew each other.

‘I will not see you and your friend at the Garrison again, you understand?’ the gunman said angrily before allowing the injured attacker to leave.

You were lost for words. This mysterious man may have just saved your life.

Getting to know the Stranger

‘Are you alright, Miss?’ the man asked as he put away his gun and reached for your hand to help you up.

‘Thank you, I am fine’ you said quietly.

As you looked up towards the mysterious man you noticed that he was the man you had seen before, at the bar, with the beautiful blonde lady by his side.

With thoughts racing through your head, you almost didn’t notice that your legs were shaking and you had an awful pain in your left knee.

‘You are bleeding’ the man said, but you barely noticed the red staining on your white skirt. It was like you were hypnotised by this stranger.

‘Common, lets get this sorted out for you, ey?’ the man said with a caring voice and, without further words, you followed his lead back to the Garrison.

The Garrison was still as busy as when you had left and no one really noticed you walking in.

‘Bring us some bandages and whiskey. Top shelf, two glasses’ the man said before guiding you to a private room next to the bar.

‘Thank you for your help but I am fine, really’ you said to him as he pulled out a chair from beside the table in the middle of the room.

‘If you do not get this cleaned out, it will get infected. Now sit down love’ the man instructed as the barmaid brought bandages and a bottle of top shelf Irish whisky with two glasses.

The man poured you a glass of whiskey and handed it to you. Without words, you took a hasty sip knowing that, what was about to follow, would hurt. Your mother used to clean out your wounds with whisky on numerous occasions after you had fallen off your bicycle, just not as expensive as the bottle that was standing on the table right in front of you at this moment.

Without warning, the man kneeled down in front of you and lifted up your skirt just above your knees. He poured a good amount of whisky onto your wound, which caused you to clinch your teeth and some tears escape from your eyes. He then used his handkerchief to carefully pull some pieces of gravel and broken glass from your knee before wiping the wound again with some more whiskey.

‘So, tell me, what brings a girl like you to a place like this? You are clearly not from here’ the man asked as he wrapped your knee up with a bandage.

‘Business’ you clinched as you grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the table and poured yourself another glass while the man finished bandaging you up.

‘Business?’ the man asked surprised as he sat down opposite from you while lightening himself a cigarette. ‘What kind of business?’ he added.

‘Export of products to the US’ you said carefully. You didn’t know who this man was so you didn’t want to reveal anything that could be of detriment to you or aunt Esme.

‘Now that is interesting’ the man said with a grin before taking a short pause. ‘Let me guess, you want to export alcohol to your country because of the prohibition’ he added.

‘What makes you think that?’ you asked carefully with a little pretend chuckle. It was not your place to discuss matters like this and you were surprised that he caught onto you almost immediately. Could he read you, you wondered, and regretted saying anything at all.

By this time, you were quite intimidated by this man and were contemplating to leave. On the other hand, you didn’t want to be rude. After all, he had just saved you from an attack.

‘What else could you possibly export from Birmingham to America? You manufacture machinery, vehicles and weapons yourself. This means you have no need for them. You are after something you cannot get where you are’ the man said as he leaned back into his chair.

‘Let’s not talk about business’ you said nervously. You felt as though you had been cornered.

‘Alright…let’s talk about something else’ the man said before pausing again. ‘Maybe let’s start with your name. What is your name?’ he added.

‘Y/N’ you said.

‘It is nice to meet you Y/N…’ and, before the man could introduce himself, another, older man stormed into the room.

‘They fucking got him, we need to move now’ the man yelled.

‘I am sorry Y/N, I have one of my drivers take you to wherever you are staying’ the man said before storming out of the room and grabbing two guns from behind the bar. With him were several men and all you heard was yelling and cars driving off within moments after.

Family Confrontation

A young man came into the room and introduced himself as ‘Finn’.

‘Apparently, I am your driver’ Finn said rather annoyed. ‘Where are you staying?’ he asked.

‘Renaissance Hotel’ you answered.

‘Alright, then let’s go’ Finn said in a haste.

This was an abrupt ending to an eventful night and the drive back to the hotel was rather quiet. Finn didn’t speak a word with you, not a single one.

As you approached the Hotel, Finn wished you a pleasant night before racing off. Your guess was that he was going to join the others for some kind of fight.

It appeared to you that life in Birmingham wasn’t so much different to life you knew in Atlanta. Violence, gangs and conflicts. It all was the same.

‘Y/N, what the fuck did I tell you?’ your father shouted at you as you entered the penthouse suite.

‘Father, I am not a child anymore. I can look after myself’ you said.

‘What is this, on your knee? Your skirt is full of blood’ your father asked worryingly.

‘I fell. It turns out that heels do not go well with all the horse shit on the streets here. A nice man at the Garrison helped me to get bandaged up. It is not a big deal’ you explained, not wanting to admit that you had gotten in to trouble.

‘The Garrison? What the fuck did you do at the Garrison? This place is dangerous, you hear me Y/N?’ your father said angrily.

‘I am keeping an eye on your men, something which you have obviously failed to do as they weren’t there’ you answered, causing your father to raise his hand at you.

‘Careful Y/N. This business is not for you and I wish that your aunt would learn to understand this. Get yourself cleaned up’ your father said before walking away.

And, so you did. You ran yourself a nice warm bath, knowing exactly that it will hurt, but this was exactly what you needed. Sometimes pain makes you feel alive and there has been a lot of pain in your life in the past eight years.

Your mother never got over the grief of losing her son while your father never gotten over his hate for the Shelby and Lee family. Your aunt Esme was the one who took you in, who ensured you were educated and who had confidence in you.

Being in business with her was something you wanted. You both felt that change was needed and the success that came with the business was something that gave you satisfaction. You were running her accounts for the past two years and you knew how lucrative this business was. But did your father care about it? This was always something you were wondering about.

‘Perhaps these questions and thoughts were for another night’ you said to yourself as you poured yourself a glass of whiskey and climbed into the warm bath.

It stung terribly but soon the pain went away and all you could feel was the warmth over your body.

Your mind soon drifted off into more pleasurable thoughts about the man you had met tonight.

You only ever had been with one man before and it didn’t take long for him to bore you. That being said, he was barely a man at all. He was the same age as you and studying to become lawyer. There was no adventure and no intensity. But, this man you met tonight, who was a fair bit older than you, he appeared to be far from being boring. There was some kind of intensity in his eyes, it was almost hypnotising. His voice was calming but yet intimidating and the thoughts that appeared about him in your mind were unfamiliar to you. They were intense. They were pure pleasure.

You kept wondering who this mysterious man was and whether you would see him again.

#cillian murphy smut #cillian murphy #Tommy Shelby #tommy shelby smut #tommy shelby x reader #Peaky Blinders #peak #peaky #peaky blinder imagine #peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinders fanfic #fanfic #arthur shelby

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fanficshiddles · 4 years

Text

Zigzag, Chapter 1

Summary: Grace, a journalist, hears of a new serial killer in the city. Who seems to be choosing his victims carefully, some say they deserved it. Others say killing is wrong, no matter what they’ve done… But Grace does her best to find out information about him. Unknown to her that it’s her lovely, goofy boyfriend Tom Hiddleston. Who works for an oil company and treats her like a Queen.

I’ve made up a city name just for the sake of it, but it’s based in the UK.

Warnings: Obviously murder, violence, choking (both for murder and kink). Super tooth-rottingly-sweet fluff too. And smut. Of course. Some D/s stuff.

The leather belt tightened around the man’s neck, no matter how hard he struggled he couldn’t get free. He could feel the life being drained out of him, his oxygen lessening with every passing second.

‘You deserved this.’ A deep and calm voice said into the man’s ear, right before the life was taken from him.

The man fell to the floor with a thud. The killer stood and flexed his belt in his hands before putting it back on casually. He dragged the body over to the wall and propped him up, folding the man’s arms over his chest. Taking a blade out of his pocket he made a deep cut into the man’s left cheek, in a zigzag mark.

Looking around, he then took a few steps backwards and admired his work. With a nod of approval for himself, he headed off down the dirty alley.

Climbing the wall at the end with ease, he jumped down the other side and landed in the city park. He broke into a steady jog until he was near the park entrance, then he pulled off his balaclava and leather gloves and stuffed them into his rucksack. He slung it back over his shoulder and headed for home.

As soon as he stepped inside, he could smell something delicious. He made his way to the kitchen after dropping his bag by the door and found his girlfriend, Grace, in the kitchen. There was stew cooking in the slow cooker.

Grace hadn’t heard him come in, she had music on and was too busy singing along to her favourite song while she did the dishes.

But large hands on her hips made her squeal and she jumped, almost dropping said dishes. She turned around and looked up, wide eyed.

‘Tom! You sneaky bastard.’ She laughed and hit his chest, making him laugh.

‘Nice to see you too.’ He grinned and leaned down, capturing her lips with his.

She moaned as he pressed into her. She could feel his bulge evident against her.

‘Someone seems happy to see me.’ She whispered over his lips.

He chuckled and started kissing down her neck. ‘I’ve been thinking about you all day.’ Tom purred, his hands sliding up and down her sides.

‘Work was just so interesting, huh?’ She giggled as his hands slipped under her top and he lightly stroked her skin, round to her back.

‘Always is.’ Tom hummed. ‘How long before dinner?’

‘About twenty-five minutes.’ Grace said, glancing at the timer.

‘More than enough time.’ Tom grinned and lifted her up over his shoulder, making her squeal and laugh.

‘Such a charmer.’ She giggled as he carried her upstairs to the bedroom.

He gently tossed her onto their bed. She rolled over and tried to crawl away, but Tom moved over the top of her and playfully tickled her sides, making her laugh as she collapsed under him unable to move. He rolled her over onto her back.

‘Where do you think you’re going?’ He teased and leaned down to kiss her hungrily.

‘Maybeeee you need to tie me up so I can’t go anywhere.’ She replied once he stopped kissing her, she bit her lower lip and fluttered her eyelashes at him.

Tom frowned and raised an eyebrow at her. ‘We don’t have long, darling.’

‘Pleaseeee. Use your belt?’ She suggested, glancing down his body and licking her lips.

‘You are certainly full of surprises, my kinky little minx.’ Tom chuckled and started unbuckling his belt as he loomed over the top of her.

She almost came on the spot just watching him. He looked so strong, so powerful. And he was. All the running he did and weight lifting, he kept himself in incredible shape.

She enjoyed sex with him, he was mind blowing. But she enjoyed taunting him sometimes, he was so damn nice all the time. Which she did love. But she also enjoyed it rough and sometimes spicing things up a little. Being submissive. She was slowly managing to get him to come round to the idea, too. Though he was always worried about hurting her.

Tom enjoyed it though, a lot more than he let on to her. When she was submissive around him, he was always hard in an instant. Unable to control himself sometimes.

Grace put her hands out on front of her, squirming excitedly as he looped his belt around her wrists. Tightening them nicely, making her gasp.

‘Too tight?’ Tom asked.

She shook her head, calming his concern. Tom then lifted her hands up and tied the end of his belt around the headboard.

‘You certainly seem rather skilled with tying.’ She grinned.

‘Mmm, certainly when it’s tying beautiful women to my bed.’ He growled playfully and started kissing her again.

Even though they were short on time, he still took his time kissing down her body as he flipped her shirt up over the top of her breasts. Making sure to hit all her favourite spots, making her moan and whimper. She arched herself up against him when he softly licked just below her naval.

‘I wonder what kind of surprise you have for me down here.’ He said teasingly as he tugged at her jogging bottoms, peeling them down her thighs.

‘Why don’t you hurry up and find out.’ Grace said breathlessly.

Tom chuckled and pulled her joggings right down and off. He kissed up her ankle and licked his way back up. Growling deep at the fact she wasn’t wearing knickers. But he made good use of that and pushed her thighs wide open before diving in.

Grace cried out in pleasure as he worked his magic down there. Licking and sucking in all the right ways, slowly moving over her throbbing clit. She was already wet for him as soon as he started touching her downstairs in the kitchen. No other man had ever made her feel the way Tom did. Nor had she been treated so amazingly either, Tom had eyes only for her and always made her feel like a Queen.

When he slipped two fingers into her and curled them forward, hitting her g spot as his tongue lapped over her clit, she cried out in pleasure and came over his face. Tom growled like a mad man as he slurped up as much as he could.

With timing in mind, he crawled up over her body, licking his lips as he shoved his trousers down far enough. She wrapped her legs around him when he positioned himself between her legs, his cock brushing against her cunt.

‘Please, Tom! Hurry up and take me!’ She begged.

And Tom was unable to resist when she begged. He thrust in home to her, both of them moaning loudly as he built up a steady rhythm. Grace moved underneath him, meeting his thrusts. When she squeezed around him, that drove Tom wild. He gasped loudly, his head falling down to her shoulder as he slammed into her.

‘Oh fuck, yes!’ Grace cried out.

Tom started grunting as he kept up a rough pace, his balls slapping against her lewdly. She started cumming again on his cock, then Tom followed not long after, spilling into her. Her walls gently squeezing him.

‘Ohhh fuck.’ Tom moaned, slowly pulling out and rolling over beside her. Completely spent.

The sound of the timer going off could be heard from downstairs.

‘Perfect timing.’ Tom chuckled, unable to resist squeezing at her breast again before he untied her.

‘I think… We should go for round two after dinner.’ Grace said once she got her breath back. Tom rubbed her wrists gently, making sure she was ok as he helped her to sit up.

‘I think we should too. I will be able to take my time with you properly.’ Tom grinned, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

‘Oh god, you’ll kill me with your teasing. That was bad enough.’ She said playfully and pushed at his chest, making him laugh.

‘It’s not my fault. You’re just too cute to resist rushing with.’ He hummed, grabbing her arm and pulling her into him so he could steal another kiss before letting her go.

‘Well… One condition if I have to endure torture later.’

‘Anything, darling.’

‘You wear your leather gloves?’ She asked a little shyly, making Tom grin.

‘Of course. Who’d have thought you’d have such a thing for leather.’ He chuckled as she slipped off the bed and pulled her top back down, then grabbed her jogging bottoms and pulled them on.

‘I don’t know what it is about them… They just make me weak at the knees when you wear them.’ She blushed.

Over dinner, they talked about their day. Tom worked for an oil company high up in the offices, very well paid. Grace didn’t need to work, but she was a journalist for one of the biggest newspapers in the city, The People’s Press, and she enjoyed it. Even if news had been a bit slow in the city of Hurnth lately.

They were just finished eating when one of their friends rang, asking if they wanted to go for some drinks. Tom said they would be there.

‘Awww.’ Grace pouted. ‘I thought you were going to ravish me after dinner.’

Tom cupped her face and kissed her pouting lips. ‘Don’t worry, love. We are both off tomorrow, so I can keep you up all night.’ He purred.

‘Fair point.’ Grace giggled.

Grace got changed and was ready to go, Tom met her at the door and she noticed he was wearing his gloves. She clenched her thighs together. ‘Ohhh, Tom… You have to be wearing them when we go out.’ She whined.

‘Why? Whatever is wrong with my gloves?’ He mocked, holding his hands up and wiggling his fingers.

‘I’m going to be soaking all bloody night.’ She huffed, grabbing her coat. Tom quickly took it from her and helped her with it on, making sure to deliberately brush his fingers over her bare arms, making her shiver as she felt the leather.

Instead of getting a taxi, they decided to walk to the pub since it was only fifteen minutes down the road. Tom took Grace’s hand while they walked, which of course was more torture for her. Especially since he kept rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand.

‘You’re going to be the death of me, I swear.’

‘So you keep saying, my darling Grace.’ Tom grinned, giving her hand a squeeze.

They met their friends at the pub, there was a nice group of them. They all got a table and ordered some drinks. They were having a good catch up when there was a news bulletin that came on TV. Silencing everyone in the pub.

‘We have just found the body of a man by the name of Ronald Sugden on Contine Avenue. Police are investigating but it seems to be linked to the previous five murders from this past year. We are almost certain it’s the same person, so we urge the public to be cautious and to not take any risks. Stick in groups and if anyone sees anything suspicious, let us know.’

‘Wasn’t he a suspected paedophile?’ One of their friends, Matt, asked.

‘Yeah, he was being investigated the last I heard.’ Tasha said.

‘Well, good riddance he’s dead. He won’t be sneaking around the school anymore.’ Grace said as she took another sip of her drink.

‘But looks like there’s a serial killer on the loose. Which isn’t so good.’ Adam said as he put his arm around his wife, Tasha.

‘Weren’t the previous five people bad too?’ Evelyn asked the group.

They all mumbled and nodded. ‘I believe so.’ Sonia said. ‘One of them broke into the nursing home, gave some of the older people a right fright and one had a heart attack.’

‘That’s right. I did an article on that.’ Grace nodded.

Tom put his arm around Grace. ‘If there is a killer on the loose, we better be careful. No going out after dark for any walks.’ He said, concerned.

‘I’m sure we’ll be fine. Seems like he goes for bad men anyway.’ Grace assured Tom, leaning into him.

‘But still. Can never be too careful.’ Tom said quietly, brushing her hair back from her forehead.

#tom hiddleston #fan fiction #zigzag #au!Tom #fluffy #and not so fluffy #serial killer

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gamergirl929 · 4 years

Text

Your Eyes Give You Away (Rhea Ripley x Reader)

The NXT Champion finds a pretty commentator backstage is not only able to see right through her with a simple look in the eye, but soon she’s breaking down Rhea’s walls like she never could’ve imagined.

Rhea cockily rolled her eyes as you approached her for an interview, but you simply gave her a sweet smile.

“Rhea, I’d like to ask you about-

Rhea snickers, holding a hand up.

“Listen, I’m not the type to answer questions.” She rolls her eyes before stomping off, leaving you to watch her go with a small smile.

The short haired woman acted hard, brash, but you could see her blue orbs held a softness to them, no matter how much of a brutish façade she’d try to put on.

Your eyes widen when Rhea glances over her shoulder, the woman’s brows arching when she realizes you’re still watching her go.

“Damn it.” She mumbles under her breath as she picks up the pace, leaving you again to watch her go with a smile.

***

“Why are you always smiling at me?”

You turn around a brow arched when you see the NXT Women’s Champion standing before you, her arms crossed across her chest.

“Why wouldn’t I?” You cock your head to the side and Rhea swallows hard, finding the look on your face absolutely adorable.

“Do you know who I am?” She says stiffly and your brow arches so high you worry it’s buried in your hair line.

“I’m Rhea Ripley, I’m the first WWE NXT UK Champion.” She growls and you nod.

“I know who you are Rhea.” You smile stretching across your face. “But I also see who you REALLY are.” You wink, Rhea blinking rapidly as she watches you go, attempting to bite back a small smile.

You turn on your heels, giving the woman a massive grin, accompanied by a shrug before turning on your heels and continuing down the hall.

Rhea’s smile finally breaks through a grin nearly splitting her face in half.

“I think I kind of like this one.”

***

“EY!”

You jump at the sound of someone’s shout, your eyes widening when Rhea puts herself between you and Shayna Baszler, the aforementioned woman having just been in your face.

“This doesn’t concern you Ripley.” The cage fighter scoffs and Rhea rolls her eyes.

“If it involves her, it concerns me.” The Aussie growls and your eyes double in size, your cheeks flushing red.

The two exchange angry snarls, glaring at one another before Shayna takes off, leaving you and Rhea behind.

Rhea turns towards you with a small smile.

“Can you at least try to stay out of trouble?” She asks, smile widening and you chuckle.

“Eh, I’ll try, but I make no promises.”

Rhea chuckles, grinning as she turns away and takes her leave, leaving you behind once again, though this time you watch her go with a stomach full of butterflies.

***

Getting your ass kicked wasn’t something you expect that night, but when you’re flat on your back staring up at the backstage lights, Shayna towering over you, you realize that you should’ve expected it, the cage fighter dropping down to grab you.

Suddenly, a shout and a kick to the face sends her sprawling, the woman making a quick retreat as refs, and security put themselves between her and you.

“Can you hear me?” You hear a familiar Australian accent and you smile.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay out of trouble?” She asks and you inhale sharply, the woman pulling you into her arms before making her way down the hallway.

“I told you, I made no promises.”

***

Rhea angrily paces the trainer’s room, watching with a snarl as the trainer disinfected a cut running from your forehead down to your temple.

The second the trainer is out she snarls loudly, the man putting his hands up before he hastily retreats.

Rhea's blue orbs dart to you, the woman frowning when she sees your spilt lip.

“She’s going to fucking pay for this.” She snarls, worried blue orbs darting around your face.

You surprise the NXT Women’s Champion by reaching for, and taking her hand.

Rhea’s eyes widen, cheeks flushing pink when you give her hand a squeeze.

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

Rhea’s blue eyes were soft, even as she scoffed, jerking her hand out of yours.

“I’m not worried, I don’t give a damn about anyone.”

You watch with a frown as Rhea leaves the room, making a hasty exit.

***

“I’m sorry, you were right I was worried.”

You turn around, the Aussie standing behind, you blue orbs full of shame.

You smile, shrugging.

“I know.”

Rhea’s eyes narrow, the woman scoffing.

“And how could you possibly know that?” She scoffs and you turn to her, smile split into a grin.

“Those pretty blue eyes of yours give you away.”

Rhea watches as you swiftly move our of sight, the Aussie's heart skipping a beat.

“She thinks my eyes are pretty.”

***

You push the door to the trainers room open, frowning when you see Rhea holding an ice pack to her neck with a grimace.

“Are you okay?” You ask, the NXT Champion scoffing.

“Of course I’m-

Her blue eyes meet yours and the woman sighs.

“It’s you.” She whispers and you chuckle.

Rhea lets out a small shudder at the feel of the ice on her neck.

You give the trainer a nod, and the man abruptly leaves.

Rhea watches you intently gasping when you take the ice pack from her and hold it against her neck.

“I guess I should’ve told you to stay out of trouble.” You smile softly, Rhea’s cheeks flushing pink as you brush a strand of hair out of her face.

“I doubt it would work, trouble finds me.”

You chuckle.

“I don’t know you’re a pretty big trouble maker yourself.”

Rhea rolls her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips.

You take a deep breath, your chilly hand slipping onto Rhea’s cheek, her blue orbs wide.

“I was worried.” You mumble Rhea’s words from months ago and she smiles, her hand sliding on top of yours.

“Be careful, I may start actually liking you.” She grins and you giggle.

“Start? You already like me Ripley, admit it.”

Rhea scoffs.

“I thought I did but not now.” She teases as you roll your eyes.

“Sure, whatever you say.”

***

Wherever you went, Rhea Ripley wasn’t far behind, her face impassive as the two of move backstage.

Rhea catches you staring out of the corner of your eye, the woman stopping mid-stride, to turn to you.

“What’s on your mind?” She asks, a brow arches.

Blue orbs double in size when your hand moves to rest on her bare shoulder, down her muscular arm until your fingers tangle with hers.

You shrug, her hand in yours as you continue onward.

“Nothing.”

Rhea shakes her head, glancing down at your tangled fingers, the woman smiling softly.

***

Rhea didn’t think what she was feeling for you could be constituted as ‘like' anymore.

You’d broken down each and every one of her walls leaving her entirely bare to you, a single glance into her blue orbs and you knew.

Unfortunately for you, Rhea had started putting distance between the two of you, out of fear that you’d see her feelings for you through her blue eyes.

***

You searched the backstage area in hopes of finding Rhea, but unfortunately came up empty.

The backstage area wasn’t the same without the Aussie who’d do everything in her power to fight of a smile every time you’d talked.

You shuffle through the backstage area with a pout, hoping you’d run into the Aussie, but its to no avail.

“Someone looks lonely.” Your nostrils flair at the sound of Shayna's voice.

Before you can even speak someone slides between you and Baszler, that someone being Rhea Ripley.

“There she is.” Shayna smirks. “Knew you had to be lurking around here somewhere.”

Rhea’s lip curls in a snarl.

“Piss off.”

Shayna's eyes dart between the two of you for a moment before she leaves, leaving the two of you alone in a secluded area backstage.

“Didn’t I tell you to-

You cut Rhea off, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into a nearby empty room.

“Why have you been avoiding me?” You frown, the blue eyed woman staring at her shuffling feet.

“I just… I was…” Rhea swallows hard, turning her back to you.

“Why won’t you look at me?” You ask sadly and Rhea huffs.

“Because you’ll see it.”

Your brows furrow as you make your way towards her, your hand running down her back.

“You don’t have to hide anything from me.”

Rhea surprises you by turning around and grabbing your waist.

“How did you do it?” She asks and your eyes narrow.

“Do what?” You ask trying to catch her gaze.

“Break down everything I built around me so easily?”

Rhea finally picks her head up, soft blue orbs locking with your Y/E/C's.

It’s in that moment you realize exactly what Rhea had been trying to hide.

“You see right through me.” She mumbles, glancing away.

You shake your head, putting your hands on her chest and guiding her back against the wall behind her.

“I see the woman hidden behind her beautiful blue eyes.” You whisper, cupping her cheeks.

“You see more than I want anyone to…” She swallows hard.

You gasp when suddenly the roles are reversed your back now against the wall.

“You don’t want me to see you?” You ask in a hushed voice and Rhea sighs.

“You’re the only one I’d be okay with seeing me…”

You smile, your thumb running along her cheekbone as she leans into your touch.

Rhea places her hand on the wall beside you before slowly leaning in.

You meet her halfway, finally closing the gap between you.

The kiss is tender, yet passionate, Rhea cupping you cheek as she changes the angle of the kiss.

You grip the woman’s vest tightly pulling her close as your lips move against Rhea’s.

Reluctantly the two of you part, a grin stretching across Rhea’s face.

You bite your bottom lip tangling your fingers in Rhea’s hair, the woman sighing contently as your nails dig into her scalp.

“I’ve been wanting this for so long…” Rhea whispers, bumping her nose against yours.

She lets out a surprised gasp when you flip the two of you around, her back now against the wall.

“Your lips…” You mumble, your eyes darting around her face as your tongue wets your lips.

Rhea hums, a brow arched.

“So addicting.” You whisper, your lips meeting again.

“So soft.”

Your lips again meet, fingers in Rhea’s hair as you passionately kiss.

Again, you reluctantly part your noses brushing as your foreheads rest together.

“I’m glad.” Rhea whispers and your brows furrow in question.

“That my eyes gave me away.”

You giggle, messing up Rhea’s hair as your hands slide down her face, finger tips tracing her sharp jawline.

“They’re almost as soft as your lips.”

Rhea’s cheeks flush as your lips yet again meet, the woman grunting at the feel of your nails digging into the nape of her neck.

“God, I could kiss you all night.” She whispers and you shrug.

“My schedules empty.”

Rhea chuckles as she leans back in.

“Mine too.”

#wwe #wwe imagine #Rhea Ripley #rhea ripley x reader #rhea ripley imagine

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benaffleckofcrowdsurfing · 4 years

Text

Lazerquest - part 1

Alex Turner x Reader

Chapter 1/?

Description: you are an impulsive bartender who recently moved to London after traveling across the United States and living on the road for a few years. You befriend Alex, a musician who recently got out of a long term relationship, and you show him the ways of your free-spirited lifestyle in an attempt to help him move on from his ex. However, you become more of a muse than a friend for Alex and all is revealed when he releases his band’s fourth studio album, “Suck it and See”.

Word count: 1.7k

Warnings: none ;)

**************

“You know, Y/N, this isn’t a terrible place to have to work,” your flat-mate, Tatiana, sighed. The two of you were sat sipping glasses of red wine at the bar of a rather bustling club in London. You couldn’t stop thinking about how six months ago if you had told yourself that you finally settled down in one spot for long enough to get a serious job and a flat with a lease for more than 6 months, you would have laughed in your own face. Although, you could say that about anything you had done as of late. Your recent life decisions had been everything but predictable.

“I know. I’m just not thrilled to be the only female working the bar. The guys here sketch me out and I’m not too keen on getting womanized in a foreign country. That was on my mind enough as is when I was living in my parents’ house,” you joke. As lighthearted as you and Tati were being, you very much did feel uneasy. After travelling the United States for nearly 3 years after high school, you felt that you needed to move on to something bigger and more exciting, but you had never left the country before and you knew only one person here.

You had always been the spontaneous type. Your parents worried about you most of your life, as you were extremely impulsive and constantly making brash decisions. When you turned 18 and decided to take off across the country on your own instead of going to college, they were absolutely furious. You went nonetheless, what they thought had never stopped you before. Your excursion was originally only going to be a year long, but you absolutely loved being on the road. You had met so many wonderful people and seen so many wonderful things that going home never once crossed your mind. You just kept on sleeping in hotel rooms and on strangers’ couches until you turned 21.

That couldn’t last forever, though. You were getting bored of the lower 48 states, and your parents, still completely livid that you were ‘wasting’ their college money on what they saw as a cross-country bender, cut you off financially. It was an extremely stressful time, you can vividly remember searching for hours on end for roommates and jobs in Europe before meeting Tatiana and getting a bartending job in the UK.

Now, 2 short months later, you were in London, living alone with a stranger. Luckily, though, you and Tati were getting along famously and your flat already felt like home. You were eager to start this new adventure.

Tati looked over at the clock before pouting a bit and resting her hand on your knee. “Looks like it’s time for your first day of work, love.”

“Shit. I’m nervous. Do I look okay?” You got up out of your seat and did a little spin for Tati. She squealed and gave you a hug.

“You look fantastic, love. Now go make some money!”

You smiled at your new friend and bid her farewell before walking towards the back of the club. Once you approached the door with a sign that read “EMPLOYEES ONLY”, you took a deep breath. Here we go kiddo. New job. New country. New life.

The second you placed your hand on the door, a large man barged through it. The man huffed and began to tell you that you couldn’t go into the kitchen unless you were an employee. He stopped his lecture and just smiled and when he noticed you were in the club’s uniform of a black dress, Mary Jane heels, and a red name tag, though.

“Oi! You must be Y/N, then?” He chuckled. When you shyly nodded he gave you a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “I’m your manager, Chuck. Let’s get you behind the bar, shall we?”

**********************

After an hour or so of Chuck showing you where things were, how to ring people up, how to use the cash register, and making sure you actually knew how to make drinks, he left you on your own to serve customers. There were only a few stragglers left in the club as it was near closing time, and all you had done the whole night was pass out some tequila shots to a group of rowdy middle aged women and make some small talk with a man who reminded you a bit of Frank Gallagher from a show called Shameless that you used to watch back home. You were exhausted and started to clean up behind the bar so you’d have less to do when the bar closed for good. It was nearly 2 in the morning and all you wanted to do was get out of your tight ass dress and your heels.

“What kind of work uniform is a slutty dress anyway, huh? I look like I work on the corner” you mumbled to yourself as you wiped down some glasses.

“I think you look lovely, miss,” a voice said from the corner of the bar. His accent was unlike most men in Londons’ and his voice was raspy and thick. His sudden presence startled you a bit, making you jump a bit and let out a gasp.

“Didn’t mean to creep up on yah and scare yah like that, I’m sorry.” The man chuckled. When you turned around you saw an attractive man, maybe a bit older than you, smirking at you and smoking a cigarette. He had messy hair and a tee shirt on, you thought he looked like he had just gotten out of bed.

“You’re alright, it’s my fault for zoning out while on the clock. What can I get for you?” You smiled weakly, partially hoping he’d just order a quick drink and then get out of your hair so you could go home.

“Well, what are you good at making?” the man asked. “I’ll take anything as long as it’s alcoholic.”

You smiled. Making drinks for friends back home had been one of your favorite things to do, and you were excited to show off your skills to an actual customer. “Well, I’ve wanted a grapefruit daiquiri since the beginning of my shift. How does that sound?”

“That sounds fantastic,” the man rubbed his hands together in excitement, “but first I’d like to know how long you’ve been in London. You sound quite American.”

Oh brother, you thought. The attractive stranger seemed to be here to stay and the idea of making conversation when you were this tired made you want to cry. If you had been any less worn-out you would’ve been more than eager to talk to him, brown eyes were always a weakness of yours and there was something particularly enticing about this boy’s, but right now you just wanted to curl up into a ball and sleep.

“Well go on then, don’t just stare off into space and leave me hanging,” the boy said.

“Sorry, I’m just a bit tired. I’ve only been here for a few days now.”

The boy was rather amused by this. “A few days? And here you are working the closing shift at one of the best bars in London? I’m going to need some more information, love. You’ve drawn me in now.”

The boy’s excitement perked you up a bit. You had been rather proud of yourself to land a job at such a well-known club with only over-the-phone interviews, and you weren’t going to miss the opportunity to brag a bit. Especially to a cute boy.

“Yeah, I went to bartending school like right after my 21st birthday back in the states and then when I was looking for jobs here in the UK a few months ago I saw there was an opening here. I was really surprised to even have gotten an interview, especially since we had to do everything over-the-phone,” you beamed, knowing that it was impressive to get a job like this in the way you had. The boy looked at you intently while you made his drink. His eyes focused on your hands gripping the cocktail mixer and when you began to shake he had to do his best to hide a smirk.

“You know I never caught your name,” the boy cleared his throat and broke the momentary silence.

“You could’ve looked at my name tag,” you murmured just loud enough for him to hear and rolled your eyes playfully.

“Well I’m sorry Miss Sassy, I find it impolite to stare at a woman’s chest without knowin’ her. Not my fault that’s where your name tag is,” the stranger chuckled, then looked closely at the red tag pinned to your dress. “It’s nice to meet you Y/N. I’m Alex.”

you did your best to hold in a giggle. Alex sounded good saying your name, his accent was rich like honey and you couldn’t help but think about how it’d sound in…other situations.

“It’s very good to meet you, Alex, now here’s your daiquiri,” you said after pouring the contents of the shaker into a martini glass and adding a sprig of mint to the top. You slid the glass across the bar and nodded your head in satisfaction when he took his first sip and let out a little laugh.

“My goodness, Y/N, that’s a fantastic drink.”

“Thought you might like it. Now drink it quickly, it’s nearly closing time and I’ve still got to wipe down the counters and walk myself home,” you imitated pointing at a watch in your wrist.

“Walk yourself home? Love I couldn’t let you do that. Why don’t you let me finish this drink while you clean up and I’ll escort you home. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to you,” Alex proposed. If it had been anyone else you would’ve politely declined the offer, you knew that walking with a complete stranger in the middle of the night was just as sketchy if not more so than walking alone. But something about Alex made you want to trust him. Even when he had been checking you out while you were making his drink he hadn’t been creepy, his brown eyes had a sort of innocence to them and his smile was soft. You felt comfortable with Alex, and thought his company might be nice on the walk home.

“Deal.”

“Brilliant. Now get to work, Y/N, I’ll be done with my drink before you know it.”

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mayhemproduces · 4 years

Text

ANarChY vs The Alliance

As the two teams settle into the ring, the snotty mean girls opposite from the deathcore-inspired punk duo, Catherine and VIOLET elect themselves the first legal entrants as the bell rings. A tie up ensues, with VIOLET getting the better of the smaller woman from the UK, switching into a wristlock, transitioning into a hammerlock just as Catherine forces a break by holding onto the top rope. VIOLET relents, but stays close enough to grab Catherine by the wrist and shoot her off. Catherine ducks the swift spinning back kick aimed at her skull, bouncing off the ropes again as VIOLET drops down, leapfrog. Somersaulting and rolling through like a waterfall as they trade positions. VIOLET with the charge, Catherine grabbing her in a waistlock. VIOLET elbows out, going for a standing switch, but Catherine gets a reversal of her own. German suplex - VIOLET lands on her feet! But Catherine POPS her with a nasty forearm smash straight to the jaw! VIOLET stumbles, holding her jaw in the palm of her hand. Catherine grabs a handful of hair and drags VIOLET into The Alliance’s corner, smashing her face into the padded turnbuckle. A foot pressed to VIOLET’s throat keeps her pinned as Catherine tags in her partner, the sultry Amaya replacing Catherine’s onslaught with one of her own. Repetitive shoulder thrusts knock the air out of VIOLET over and over, until Amaya finally drags her out of the corner, propped up across her shoulder. Amaya carries her to the center of the ring, showing off by doing squats, before planting VIOLET with the powerslam. Shoulders down!

One…

Two - Kickout!

Amaya wastes little time synching in a headlock, squeezing tight as she pins VIOLET to the canvas. Wrenching back and grinding down as VIOLET begins to fight back to her feet. As she does, VIOLET’s able to reverse out with a jawbreaker, dropping all the way down into a split to ensure her freedom. Amaya flounders around, holding her jaw, and pays the price for turning her back on her opponent with a superkick to the back of the neck! With both women down, nobody is there to stop VIOLET as she starts to crawl towards her tag team partner, desperately needing the reprieve… but she won’t get it just yet, as Amaya somehow manages to get in between them and land on VIOLET with a sharp elbow. Amaya yanks VIOLET to her feet and sends her in the opposite direction with a hard irish whip to the Alliance’s corner. And Amaya ensures there won’t be any further protest by connecting flush with a running enzuigiri. Tagging Catherine back in, Amaya pulls VIOLET out of the corner, both teammates getting in an arm wrench, hitting simultaneous kicks to the French woman’s front and back, leaving her in a world of hurt. To make matters worse, Catherine floats over into a russian leg sweep, then a lateral press.

One…

Kickout!

Quickly, Catherine transitions into a surfboard legbreaker, not allowing VIOLET even a moment to think about tagging Matsumoto in. The larger, stronger Japanese monster would easily tear the five-foot-two Williams apart, and her tag partner wouldn’t stand much more of a chance after the abuse they’ve inflicted onto VIOLET, forcing Matsumoto to watch, to seethe. But Catherine doesn’t intend to stop there, dragging VIOLET up to her feet by her dyed locks after crunching her knees. A hand wraps around VIOLET’s throat as Catherine begins to choke her, staring straight into her eyes as she blows a kiss. STO attempt follows, but VIOLET reverses out of it, turning it into a hip toss. Knee strike comes right after and Catherine looks to be out cold! Finally VIOLET’s opportunity has arisen, and she wastes no time going to her partner and diving for the tag …. But Matsumoto isn’t there?! Amaya pulled her off the apron! Matsumoto is LIVID! Amaya’s eyes go wide as she realizes her grave error, even if she did potentially save the match for her team. The fury in Matsumoto’s body is causing her to shake, and with all of it directed at Amaya, she does the smartest thing she can do - run. Matsumoto gives chase, wanting to rip Amaya limb from limb.

Back in the ring, Catherine sneaks up behind VIOLET. Jumping up on her shoulders in an electric chair, Catherine spins into a hurricanrana, trapping VIOLET into the pin! The Alliance may have just stolen the win!

One…

Two…

THR - KICKOUT!

The referee’s hand stops mere centimeters from the canvas, his hand still hovering where it stopped before throwing up the official count: two and a half. Both competitors roll to their feet after breaking free from the pinning attempt. Uppercut from VIOLET reversed into a back suplex - which gets reversed into a rolling facebuster! Matsumoto reappears on the apron as VIOLET makes her way over… THE TAG IS MADE! Catherine looks up in horror as The Machine enters the ring, VIOLET dropping to the apron for a much needed, and deserved, break as Matsumoto tore onto the scene. Amaya charges into the ring in a desperate attempt to save her partner. But it’s for naught, as Matsumoto lifts her off her feet and absolutely chucks her clear across the ring! With her back turned, Catherine takes the opportunity to jump on Matsumoto’s back, trashing in and trying to lock in a sleeper hold, but Matsumoto doesn’t even seem to notice. Quickly and effortlessly backing into a corner and squashing Catherine between a rock and a hard place. Amaya, perhaps foolishly, charges at Matsumoto once again. Fearlessly throwing herself in the line of fire, but it’s another rookie mistake as Matsumoto dodges, and Amaya ends up trapped with her own partner as Matsumoto scoops them both up onto her shoulders! Double samoan drop to The Alliance! Amaya rolls to the floor as Matsumoto covers.

One…

Two…

Kickout!

Wanting to put an end to the match so they can return to Riley, their stablemate facing a daunting task in tonight’s double main event, Matsumoto runs the ropes, hoping to crush all of Catherine��s bones with a huge splash, but Catherine rolls to the outside. Luckily, Matsumoto catches herself on her forearms - another testament to her power - and follows her less than lucky opponent outside. A handful of Catherine’s hair is snatched, payback for doing the same to VIOLET earlier, and whips her into the steel barricade like a ragdoll! This couldn’t be more than a simple exercise to Matsumoto with how easily she’s throwing people around. To prove that point, Matsumoto lifts Catherine up into a powerbomb - and sends her SPINE FIRST INTO THE RING POST! Not even taking a second to breathe, Matsumoto rolls them both back into the ring, hooking Catherine into a swinging leg-caught belly to back suplex, rocking her like a baby, and planting her on the back of the neck. Matsumoto covers.

One…

Two - Kickout!

This time, Matsumoto may have an answer, lifting Catherine onto her shoulder, looking for The Gallows, an over-the-shoulder piledriver, but Amaya reemerges and pulls Catherine down. She absolutely blasts Matsumoto with a windup forearm, rocking her back, and sending her to her knees with a running low kick to the knee. Amaya stays on the offense, despite not even being legal, but what are referees good for anyway, and puts Matsumoto down with a running enzuigiri to the side of the head! She drags Catherine to their corner, temporarily hopping to the apron to tag herself in, the dazed Catherine not much more than dead weight right now. As this happens, Matsumoto gets herself pulled to her feet and resting against the turnbuckles. Amaya thinks she has an opportunity and charges, but Matsumoto side steps. Amaya bounces off the turnbuckles and into Matsumoto’s awaiting arms, getting forcefully YEETED across the ring with a german suplex! What an impact, what strength! Matsumoto gets Amaya to ANarChY’s corner, tagging in her partner. Double team move in action, Matsumoto leads with a uranage into a backbreaker from VIOLET. Amaya arches in pain as Matsumoto returns to the apron, leaving her in VIOLET’S hands. She gets Amaya back to vertical base, sending her straight back down with a lightning quick snapmare. Running the ropes, VIOLET wipes her out with a running hip attack, slapping her behind in Catherine’s direction after the impact. VIOLET laughs to herself as she lifts Amaya up for another move, this time a swinging neckbreaker. But VIOLET doesn’t stop there, pushing herself up into a handstand and squashing Amaya with a body splash. Left leg hooked for the pin!

One…

Tw - Catherine interrupts the pinfall by yanking VIOLET off her partner and tossing her into the steel ring post! VIOLET dangles as Matsumoto charges in to make the rescue, but gets caught off by a german suplex from Amaya! She gets the big woman off her feet! Catherine sets VIOLET up in the corner and the duo take turns taking their shots before perching her up on the top turnbuckle. They climb to the second, hoping for a double superplex, but quickly turns into a tower of doom scenario as Matsumoto gets underneath them. VIOLET headbutts and forearms her way free, and Matsumoto sends the Alliance crashing to the canvas. But Matsumoto holds onto Catherine, pulling her back up into a powerbomb right on top of Amaya! As this happens, VIOLET stands on the top turnbuckle, hitting them both with a swanton bomb! Amaya is shoved out of the ring, both of Catherine’s legs being hooked for the possible victory!

One..

Two…

KICKOUT!

As soon as the shoulder comes up, VIOLET locks in UltraVIOLET, her version of the Rings of Saturn! VIOLET wrenches back on the hold, trying to force Catherine to submit. Just when it looked like she might, Amaya runs in to make the save - and pays the price, again, as she finds herself face to face with Matsumoto, who grabs her by the throat. Hoisting her up into a military press, Matsumoto lets her hang for a mere moment before just as quickly dropping her down into a vicious spinebuster! Behind them, Catherine rakes VIOLET’s eyes, allowing The Queen the space to spike VIOLET on the top of her crown with a DDT. Catherine looks to fly, climbing the ropes backwards, and attempts an 054 - but VIOLET gets to her feet as Catherine climbs as nails her with a SUPERKICK MID-AIR! Catherine is all but limp as VIOLET tags in Matsumoto. Catherine is lifted up onto Matsumoto’s shoulders as VIOLET hits the ropes - BOOT OF DOOM CONNECTS! Matsumoto with the deep pin!

One…

Two…

THREE!

“And here are your winners, the team of VIOLET and Matsumoto, ANarChY!”

#match #submission

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anxiety-trademark · 4 years

Text

The week in review:

Raw 10/12 NXT 10/14 NXT UK 10/15 Smackdown 10/16

Raw:

Love that Dana and Mandy now have a theme, but drop the “Mandy” intro.

So they’re saying Miz is the reason these 2 were traded over before the draft?

Unfair nitpick: Mandy deserves to wear all the Gucci she wants, but I’m a little irritated because that’s Charlotte’s thing. I’m an idiot, I know.

I appreciate that wwe is taking this new team serious enough to give them a platform to work out any pre-teaming kinks.

Mandy doing real decent mic work. Especially compared to Lana and Dana. Good for her.

Dana needs to work on her speed.

I like the way Mandy went into that armdrag by hitting the ropes first. Point.

*Dana pins Lana*; *Mandy climbs halfway through the ropes like she might interrupt* ???

Mandy can be a decent face, why not. She’s a little bland rn but it’s a work in progress.

Like the knee strike by Mandy into the senton by Dana, especially off Mandy’s shoulders. Fine finisher.

Lol Nattie mad Lana lost them the match again. Ma’am tbf you get taken out by a punch and then crumple up into a ball far too often.

“Are you really that stupid” in kf I kinda get splitting them up, but in a meta sense, Nattie was the perfect partner for Lana.

Zelina: “Alexa Quinn seems to have a little bit of an identity crisis going on [...] she’s a joke to me,” Why do you care about Alexa Bliss? Cuz she’s cute and psychotic and makes me fear for my life, as she should for you too.

“Twisted union” omg they did dual Sister Abigails. See Zelina you should’ve just sat there and ate your food.

Zelina ran her mouth about Alexa, so Fiend accompanied Alexa in an ambush and they took out Zelina and her client together. This is precious, I love this story. Love that Fiend will do Alexa’s bidding just the same. Points.

Fitting to make Nia and Shayna the 2 hated ones in the battle royal. Still love their dynamic.

Sexy Muscles Friends rekt by Nia. Shame.

Nia is so fucking funny. Sees all of the women looking at her with fire in their eyes, and she’s like, “just breathe” before they stampede on over.

Lmfao Nia eliminated in part by Shayna. I can’t stop laughing.

WELP RIP LANA. I know who’s winning this one now.

Not an ounce of me cares about Drew and Randy brawling.

Wise of Lacey to use Nikki’s tornado ddt attempt to set her over the rope. She gets a point.

Good for Bianca getting the elimination over Shayna. Deep history there.

Love seeing Riott Squad evade each other in the ring. This spot was totally planned, but it’s still great.

Lana won by eliminating Nattie lmfao. I hate that she won cuz wow that’s an awful challenger for Asuka, but that’s hilarious karma.

Again I don’t fucking care about Drew or Randy, bye.

Highlight: Alexa & Fiend wrecking Zelina & Andrade

---

NXT:

I mean Ember should definitely be in nxt, that’s where she’ll shine. She was spinning her wheels as a mere spot monkey on the MR. If she learns how to do promos, maybe she can try up on the MR again in the future.

*The Garganos plan to overcome all odds* No.

Rhea may not own the place but she owns the division. Io may be champion but Rhea is the obvious standout. Sorry bout it.

I liked that. Challenge is made in the pc by Raquel, Rhea overhears it, and they decide to fight then and there before being held back by officials. I approve of this segment. Points.

The disrespect shown to Shotzi’s helmet. Whew what a bitch lol.

Love the block to Candice’s neckbreaker, hate how long it took Shotzi to kick Candice. Full second wasted.

Ugly suicide dive. Didn’t feel impactful whatsoever.

lol kicked out at one. Candice said fuck your suicide dive. Fair.

Candice and her sorry ass attempt at her discount Natural Selection EVERY SINGLE MATCH SHE FIGHTS IN infuriates me. Negative 3 points.

Candice’s entire demeanor isn’t buyable. Her and her slow, methodical bs style. She’d be eaten alive on the MR.

Good counter by Candice. There are high risk moves that Shotzi needs to not do on random tv matches.

Haha Shotzi kicked out of the backstabber and springboard moonsault. Good.

That moonsault is absolutely not textbook. Io’s is textbook. Lacey’s is textbook. Charlotte’s is textbook. All of them can do the backflip part perfectly aligned and straight. Candice’s is ugly as sin in comparison, only difference is hers is a springboard.

*sigh* okay so if you want to built a repertoire between Indi and Candice, having Indi give her brass knuckles to help her win the match is great. But ffs Candice, after you pop Shotzi on the apron, fucking THROW THEM DOWN ON THE GROUND and then go for the cover. How awkward, watching her hold her arm behind her back for 2 friggin minutes before giving them back to Indi. Mk.

So Toni’s entire repackage is literally JUST new music and calling herself a heel?

GREAT neckbreaker by Aliyah.

Sure whatever. Anyway.

Highlight: Raquel & Rhea pc segment

---

NXT UK:

I don’t know what’s worse; watching a long match of nothing but wrist locks and rest holds, or watching the competitors become exhausted from doing nothing but wrist locks and rest holds.

This is wrestling with no ropes, no turnbuckles, and no running allowed.

I remember once in 2019, people said Piper Niven is what wwe wants Nia Jax to be, but 10x better. You know what Nia Jax does well? Comedy. She understands how to be an entertainer. She understands how to perform in the ring without busting out that sweet workrate. Nia Jax found her niche, and that’s why she has a title rn. Piper Niven has not. In the spirit of fairness as well, the pandemic has not treated a lot of these women kindly, and it’s apparent to me that Piper has supremely suffered from it.

This makes me want to go watch Sasha vs Nia 2019. That’s how you make an intriguing match utilizing the difference in size between competitors.

Lol so Piper is in the corner, Isla hops up onto the turnbuckle in the opposite side of the ring, Piper slowly walks over and stops a mere 2 feet from where Isla is crouching up top, and then just stands there until Isla hits a meteora. Lmao. This should’ve been 3 mins with zero wrist locks. Anyway.

Highlight: the ending sequence by Piper was fine

---

Smackdown:

Great video hyping up Bianca. It’s cool to see how highly wwe rates her. Hopefully they take their time with her, because there’s still some things she needs to work on in the ring, but she has the full package imo. Just needs more time to cook.

It’s interesting how it worked out that Sasha became the queen of Hell in a Cell.

Bayley’s such an asshole, I love her so much.

“...which I did ALL BY MYSELF by the way,” lmfao PLEASE. That shit would have been gone at Wrestlemania had it not been for Sasha.

To be fucking fair, it’s buyable for Bayley to be overly paranoid and believe Sasha turning on her was inevitable, considering Sasha HAS been eyeing that title since 2019. She still stayed loyal though, Bayley. Could’ve let some nobody win it off you and then take it from them herself... but she didn’t.

The execution isn’t the best, but the points that Sasha is bringing to the table are valid. Problem is they went over 2016, 2017... and skipped to the tag titles in 2019. Y’all had ISSUES in 2018 lmao but it’s fine, we’ll pretend it never happened. Probably for the best. 6 month build that amounted to nothing other than a brilliant one liner of, “YOU AIN’T SHIT SASHA”

Lmao Bayley refusing to sign it. Bahahaha. Sasha should be calling her a chicken shit lesbireal. Coward isn’t strong enough.

Highlight: Bayley being a delusional asshole

---

*Raw shined the brightest this week thanks to Alexa and the battle royal.

#wwe #issa review #feel free to ignore these #cuz who tf cares lesbihonest #today's props goes to:#alexa bliss

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queensdivas · 5 years

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A Damned Soul Chapter 1 (Gwil Fic)

So something new has popped out of my brain earlier this week and one thing that I love to do is avoid homework and papers as much as I possibly can!

I’m warning yall right now! This isn’t gonna be a light hearted fan fic! It’s got witches, vampires, magic, death, fluff, angst and of course and eventually...smut! I’m really gonna have fun with this one because I enjoy learning and writing everything under the sun.

I also will be posting this on Wattpad if it’s easier for you to read there instead of here. (TOTH-Girl is my username on Wattpad). If you would like to be tagged just let me know and I will be more than happy to tag you!

Here we go ladies and gents..I hope you all enjoy this possible train wreck of a fic!

Next Chapter

Masterlist

@mexifangorl @leah-halliwell92 @bonafiderocketqueen

The flame crackles,

Spitting shining sparks

And ashes and fire

Into the warming air.

It’s always fighting,

It’s Always changing,

Seems always so close

To life.

To it’s burning,

But beyond its brilliance

The fire defies, denies

And defeats it’s death.

Patience, I believe,

Is learned in the view.

Because with strength and defiance,

The coals burn anew.

-Sandra Osborne

I’d like to think that when you’re executed in public it’s because of the fact you’ve done something horribly wrong. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to go anyhow? When you’re in the 13th century England.. eh. Not so much. Being a woman is already hard enough in this time. Being a women whose about to be burned at the stake because she's a full blooded witch..just absolutely peachy.

“BURN HER!” The village began to scream as I was beginning to enter the village by the priest. A village that once welcomed me to heal their sick, to help women give birth without passing away, and even teach them simple remedies. And now that a church has brought their God...Well..you see how it’s going now.

Escorted to the top of the wood pile then was shoved against the wooden stake as I just started into the soul of man who dragged me out of my home. The priest...hypocritical bastard! My wrists were bound so tight that it was beginning to cut through my skin already when I tried to at least get somewhat comfortable before I die..and might as well spew the truth and call the priest out for being an absolute hypocrite!

“You poor minded fool who has a twelve year old locked in the basement of the church. Tell me. Doesn’t your God tell you to love all men! To love thy neighbor! Great job at loving thy neighbor you old bastard. I’d like to remind you that your savior Jesus hung around a prostitute in his life when he was preaching your word! Yet he loved her because he preached to love thy neighbor! You are all massive hypocrites who are so caught up in your daft religion that you’ve forgotten the true meaning of love! Go on then! Burn me! It will make you feel better that the only thing you have in your life is religion! I refuse to give you the benefit of me begging for my life!” Screaming to them as moed their torches towards the oil soaked wood. The priest opened his bible to start spewing bible verses from the wretched book!

“I condemn they to die by fire for going against the nature of God's will! By the spirit of judgement and the spirit of burning! For it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you! You will be cleaned from all your sins before the Lord! Be not conformed to this world! But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind! That ye may prove what is good, and what is acceptable, and perfect for the will of God! In the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit! May God have mercy on your soul! Any final words before you are taken to the almighty.” His final words echoed in my mind as I looked out into the crowd..

“I’ve been good to you...I’ve been good to all of you as you have been for me. Those who are sane..please hear my final words and I hope that they carry with you through time. Do not follow the path that this priest has laid out because he is a liar...a crook..and no religion should make one kill another! True religion should be love..not execution like this man.” Grinning at the priest as he slammed the Bible shut to walk towards one of the villagers. Yanking the torch from one of them and holding it right over the oil.

“I condemn you to hell!” He screamed then I tried to lean down close to him with my grin still bright.

“Can’t wait to see you down there then.” Leaning back up then taking one last glance through the crowd.

His eyes were glowing red even though he wore a black cloak to hide himself from the audience. Though a normal human wouldn’t be able to see this, but I could see him in complete rage. He’s smart enough to know that stepping in would only kill him in the end...he’s already lost most of energy for being outside in the first place.

We just...we never get the timing right in our lives.. it’s in the end when everything begins playing back again..and again…

~~~~~

The last book from the moving back fit perfectly on the shelf! Nieve floated the last jar of sunflower seeds up to the top of the seed shelf. Now all that’s left is to bless and protect the new building then step up the tablet for payment and we’re open for business!

Nieve yanked down the tapestry we had over the wall to reveal the new mural she had painted on the only empty wall space we have that’s not a bookshelf. The mural was a woman out in a very high grass field with the sun setting. The setting was a very green blue that had white clouds spread across the entire wall.

“Probably my best work since Campbelltown.” Nodding in agreement as I slid down the ladder so I could see the mural and all its glory.

“Beautiful. Nice job Nieve.” Telling her as she put her arm on my shoulder.

“Is everything ready?” She walked over to her pile of brushes so that she could start cleaning up before we open.

“All that’s left is setting up the tablet. Spices and herbs are on the shelves, books in place, and the reading table is all set to go.” It’s not that I don’t mind that I do most of the work for setting up the shop. I love setting it up because everything has a place and needs to be done right. Sort of a perfectionist.

“Tell ya what. You get the tablet all set up and I’ll get the place ready for casting out the bad jujus. Should I use cedar or pine this time?” She walked into the back and began cleaning her brushes.

“Cedar.” Yelling back as I took a glimpse around the shop for a moment. Shop number four I believe now. Don’t think that we go absolutely bankrupt then move on to the next town. On the contrary. As witches we can make our own money if done right and it was our last order given through our teacher Madame Rouge.

Madame Rouge was our mentor who trained us in the ways of becoming a grande witch. She would always move her shops to small towards across the Uk and even Ireland some times. The ultimate goal of moving around constantly is that we help fellow witches and warlocks who either hide in the shadows from the world or even help them with perfecting their spells.

But all good things must come to an end. One night Madame Rouge decided to take the evening off so she could rest and we found her passed away in the night with a note for her after life instructions. The first goal being that we continue her work on going across the country to help

Madame Rouge was my mentor who helped me with spells, hexes, becoming one with the gifts I’ve acquired. It was as if I found my new home with Madame Rouge and Nieve eventually joined us after she turned 18. But all good things must come to an end. Madame Rouge was reaching the end of her life and told us to go across the country to save other fellow witches and warlocks who are casted out. When she passed away. Nieve and I set off on our journey throughout the entire country with now calling an abandoned library home in Balmedie Scotland!

Finishing up the last few details on the tablet as Nieve closed her book to grab the sage that also had rosemary, juniper, and a hit of cedar in it. Rosemary allows for fresh new starts, juniper for bringing a comfort feeling for us and any new sort of people coming in and out, then the cedar for basically cutting off those bad jujus out of the store.

“You almost ready?” Nodding as I put the tablet onto the stand as I pulled out my rose gold evil eye necklace and grabbed the box of matches from under the counter. She lit the end of the sage as we began with the door and saying the incantation.

“Blessed be that light energy to come..blessed be that good souls wander through our store.” It’s a simple incantation that does the trick about 90% of the time. It’s almost impossible to keep bad juju away from your living dwelling because it’s as powerful as good juju. Besides. Incantations don’t need to be super long anyhow since if you’re in an emergency situation, you won’t have the time to say a one hundred word spell.

Once we finished the doorway, a customer already poked their head in as I let her continue onward with the blessing. It was a very old lady with her tiny pug and came into the store. She looked around for a moment as I approached her with my hands rubbing together.

“Good afternoon! Welcome to Le Rouge! Is there anything I can help you with?” She snapped her fingers so the pug would sit then flicking her finger to lock the door to the shop. OH god..did we enter ministry territory?

“My name is Madame Maia Whyte. I’m from The Ministry obviously and I’ve heard about you two through the grapevine. You must be Robin La Torneau and Nieve Macleenan We’ve been watching you two for the past few years. The ministry is very pleased on what you two are trying to do and are sitting very well with us. If you should require anything from us then feel free to give us a call.” A business card came out of her pocket as I looked to see only a number on the card.

“Thank you Madame Whyte. We’ll keep this handy.” Smiling as she nodded then proceeded to leave the shop. Didn’t realize we were causing that much good in the UK anyhow. I know our fellow brothers and sisters over in America are having a difficult time with everyone hating each other.

The Parliament of Witches and Warlocks was formed a little after the 9th century when we were beginning to be cooked alive, being drowned, and hung by humans who were scared of us. But it wasn’t just humans who were coming after us after a while. Would you believe me if I told you vampires are also running around this world of ours causing mayhem? Just sounds unbelievable doesn’t it? We can cross that bridge in the future with that whole long history lesson.

This is it! A new store! A fresh start in a little off the coast town. What could possibly happen to us out here!?

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moshymosh · 5 years

Text

Feel the beat of my heart 3

Photo credit: First pic: Late Night Discoveries via tumblr, (Found it on WeHeartIt, and the credit was given to them.) Second pic: dont-try-to-pursue-the-happines on tumblr (Found this on WeHeartIt as well, the credit is listed to this person.)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Deaf!Enhanced!Reader

Series Warnings: SMUT, Past abusive relationship, depression/ depressing themes/thoughts, Fluff, Angst, Mutal Pining

Warnings: Mentions of domestic violence (massive trigger warning, please read the A/N.) Slight Fluff, Panic attacks, mentions of some non-domestic violence, Angry Bucky

A/N: If you’re in a domestic violence situation, there are people who want to help you get out of that. Here is the domestic violence hotline number 1-800-799-7233 (this is the US one I could not find the one for Canada and the UK) In NO way am I trying to make fun of the victims of these situations, its a very real thing. I want to give hope to those that are in these types of situations, give them hope that you can get out. That being said this is the third part, this part is a doozy I had a little trouble writing the ending because it made me think of all the men and women and non-binary people who feel as if they can’t escape something like that. Some feedback about this part is really encouraged due to not getting many likes on the last part, if the same happens here this may be put on hold for a later time or never picked up again. Again here is the Hotlines number 1-800-799-7233

Y/N woke up to the lights flickering in her bedroom, a glance at her clock on the side table told her it was two in the afternoon, getting up with a sigh, she went to the panel on the wall. When she got there, the screen lit up with the picture version of F.R.I.D.A.Y. who greeted her.

"Good morning, Y/N. My records say that today is Y/B/D. So Happy Birthday Y/N. This series of flashing lights is to let you know that your presence is requested in the gym. Steve said that they want to see how much training you require to get you mission ready. There will be an interpreter there, so there is easy communication between your teammates." A.I. signed to her. F.R.I.D.A.Y. gave her directions to the gym, and Y/N went to her closet to get changed into workout gear instead of her embarrassing bunny slippers, old pink Juicy sweatpants and matching pink shirt.

Y/N was walking into the gym as she pulled her hair up into a messy bun on top of her head, her black hearing aids visible. She noticed the interpreter and went over to greet her, and the whole team minus Tony, Clint, and Banner. Peter was off at school.

"Hello, I'm Y/N." She signed her sign name and spelled it out, so the female interpreter, Sarah, knew what to call her. "What's up? I was told to come here by F.R.I.D.A.Y." Little did Y/N know that this interpreter was also the A.S.L. teacher that Tony hired to teach them.

"We want to see what all you can do, minus the full extent of your powers. We know you can feel the vibrations of the people in the room, even without them moving and without seeing them." Steve said, and the interpreter followed along with him, telling Y/N what he had said.

"Ok. Where do you want me, and who all am I supposed to be fighting?" Y/N signed with a small smirk on her face, thinking about the self-defense classes she took after her ex got arrested. Sarah relayed what she signed.

"Just stand in the middle of that large mat, and you'll be fighting all of us." Steve said, watching Y/N take off her hearing aids, the sound as she took them off her ears, almost like the sound of microphone feedback before she switched the power off. She walked her way to a small table that held towels and water bottles, setting the black pair against the table's surface.

"Don't let me forget those. They might be old, but I paid a lot of money for them, and I don't want to lose them." Y/N signed to Sarah so that she would remind her about them. When she got a nod from Sarah, she turned in walked to the middle of the mat, stretching her shoulders and neck as the team formed a large circle around her. She looked at Steve signing as she closed her eyes, knowing Sarah would say her words for her. "Bring it on then."

As she closed her eyes, she automatically distinguished who she was fighting from all the people in the room. She felt one presence sprinting towards her, their hands raised as if to punch her. She grabbed their wrist when they got in range of her and sent an uppercut to their jaw, sending them flying onto their back all within an instant, barely breaking a sweat. She continued fighting all her teammates, all while keeping her eyes closed, moving around smoothly as if she was doing this with her eyes open. She was countering whatever attacks were thrown her way and so on.

Y/N huffed as she felt Sarah's hand on her shoulder, knowing to open her eyes. When she did, she looked at all her teammates lying on the floor around her, and her eyes gravitated to Bucky, who was laid on the floor in a starfish position looking dazed as he panted softly. Steve was the first one up, rubbing his jaw and neck as he walked over to her. At this motion, she deduced this was the person who she sent an uppercut straight to his jaw.

"If I were a normal person, my jaw would've been broken." He said, smiling widely. Y/N looked at Sarah and grinned.

"I'd say she doesn't need a lot of training, maybe only on how to shoot a gun if needed." Tony said as he came up behind her squeezing her shoulders. Y/N flinched slightly and tried to shrug it off as she was stretching, but everyone noticed, minus Bucky, who was still on the floor.

"Is Bucky ok?" Y/N signed and looked at the lump of a man that was Bucky on the floor which held up the universal sign for 'i'm good." At this, Y/N giggled and nodded as she headed back to her hearing aids. She slid the molds into one ear and fitted the rest around her ear, turning the first one on, she pushed the second one into her other ear, knowing that the other one would sync up to the beginning. Y/N started making a clicking noise as she adjusted the sound volume on the first hearing aid. Once it set right, she looked at everyone who looked at her with questioning looks on their faces, even Bucky, who was now propped up on his elbows.

"What?" Y/N signed as she looked around at everyone.

"Why did you make that clicking noise when you were messing with your hearing aids?" Natasha asked. Natasha knew that it was unusual to hear because Clint didn't do that when he turned his on.

Y/N's face held a smile as she looked down bashfully, looking back up she started to sign." I was adjusting the volume on them because when I turn them off, they automatically go back to no sound. Part of it's because they're old and part of it's because they're broken. I click because if I can hear the clicks with the hearing aids, I know I set it loud enough, but since my sounds are different than yours. All your voices are much louder than my clicks."

Everyone nodded in understanding before Tony held a finger up. "I can make your hearing aids for you."

Y/N shook her head "No because you'll make them so powerful that I'll hear if Sam farts five stories away from me." She signed with a laugh, everyone following her. A "Hey!" coming from the man mentioned above. "If you make me some, make them the same as these just not as shitty."

Bucky was now stood up, giving a knowing nod at Tony. Bucky took a deep breath then signed, not as well as Y/N and Sarah but well enough for someone who only had one long class of A.S.L. "Want to go to the kitchen, we can all sit and chat there."

Y/N looked at him, her mouth agape, eyes wide in shock at the fact he was signing at her, she then turned a look to Tony. Who, with everyone in the room began to spell out their names in the A.S.L. alphabet.

"Woah Woah Woah! Time out! Whose idea was this, and who taught you in what a matter of a couple of hours?" Y/N signed out her hands, shaking from excitement and shock. She looked at Sarah, who raised her hand.

"I taught them." Sarah signed.

"It was my idea." Bucky signed as he came up beside Sarah He grinned as Y/N's hands came up to cover her mouth, physically saying a muffled and distorted 'Oh My God.'

After the shock was over, the whole team headed to the kitchen that was attached to the common room. All the way, Y/N had a full conversation in sign with Bucky. The two were shyly throwing flirts back and forth in their discussion. When Y/N stepped into the room, being that she and Bucky were the last to leave the gym. She looked at the dimmed lights and then to the faint glow of Pepper, with the help of Tony, holding a large cake that had "Happy Birthday Y/N!" written on it with lit candles dotted around the cake.

Y/N began to shake with fear, a panic attack soon hitting her as she shook her head side to side, tears streaming down her cheeks. She began to back out of the kitchen into the hallway, signing "No." over and over. Bucky looked at her, then the cake making a connection. He then slid around in front of her. Her back was now facing the room as she struggled to calm her breathing.

"Hey, Y/N," Bucky said softly, knowing she could hear him with the help of the amplifiers in her ears Y/N looked up at the tall man who was now soothingly rubbing her upper arms up and down. He pulled his hands back, formulating the signs in his head. "Is it the cake or candles?"

Y/N signed a shaky "Candles." Bucky relayed the information to the shocked group of people still surrounding the pair holding the cake. Tony then quickly blew the candles out and removed them before setting the cake on the counter. Bucky steered Y/N to the couches and sat with her, beginning to rub her back in circles as her panic began to subside.

The team began to sit down around her, in worry for the shook up girl who was curled up on the couch, knees tucked up under her chin. When Y/N felt like she was sufficiently calmed, she untucked her knees and looked down at her friends. "Something happened to me involving candles." She said, folding her hands down on her lap, looking at Bucky for some comfort, wishing he could engulf her into a tight hug and never let go.

Y/N sighs as she looks back down at her hands. Bucky could sense her discomfort and continued to rub soothing circles on her back in an attempt to calm her down and comfort her.

"Hey Y/N, you don't have to tell us if you're not comfortable." Natasha signed to her when Y/N finally looked up.

Y/N shook her head, signing, "No, It's fine. I think it's time I told someone what had happened. I didn't have anyone to tell. I never told my own family the whole story, and I even told them that it was my fault about the bruises and broken bones. I trust you guys." Y/N looked around at all the new friends she amassed recently. "I dated a man about two years ago. Before I moved to New York. Like any relationship that escalates to domestic violence, it started ok." She took a shaky breath and continued

"Then everything turned for the worst about around the one year mark. We moved in with each other, and my silent life became a loud nightmare. My pained screams fell on deaf ears of people who could very much hear them." Y/N rubbed her hands together in an attempt to calm her startled nerves of thinking back on the memories of her time with the man. She looked over at Bucky, who gave her a sad smile and nodded his head slightly, mouthing 'It's ok.'

"The night I got him arrested was on my birthday two years ago. He decided he wanted to play a 'Joke' on me." Y/N signed putting air quotes around the word joke. " He pushed my face into the cake, I know it would've been funny if I was with anyone else but him. He put those stupid trick candles on it, the ones that you can't blow out." As Y/N signed, this Bucky looked at her face noticing the silvery signs of a scar that he never saw before. Bucky began to grow angry at the sight, having to unclench his fist that wasn't rubbing her back in fear of breaking his hand.

"The left side of my head caught on fire... " She trailed off as she took another shaky breath " He just laughed, but he was an idiot. He didn't notice that I had someone install security cameras around the apartment." Y/N smiled at the memory of the look of shock on her ex-boyfriend's face when she told the officers about the cameras and where to find the backup videos. If he wasn't in handcuffs, she was sure at the time that he would've killed her.

"I had them installed because some of my more valuable things started to go missing. It turns out that my ex and his buddies were pawing my stuff for drug money." She felt Natasha laugh beside her and smiled back at the redhead who looked at her with smug pride at her actions.

"I got out with my life and my mental state semi-intact." Y/N signed and then turned her head to show everyone who had the looks of a mixture of anger at the man who could do things to someone so kind and pride at her actions to get away from that type of person. Y/N turned her head to the right so that the left side of her face was to the group and lifted her Y/H/L Y/H/C out of the way, revealing her burns scars. These scars covered the left side of her temple and spread back to just past her left ear. The silver scars and the bald spot from the scars that reached into her hair on full display for her new family. "My hair will never fully grow back in that spot if it grows back at all."

Bucky felt the anger he still held in his body towards the man who hurt Y/N, subside slightly at the pride he felt for her brave actions and how she always holds herself high after all the hardship her ex put her through. At the sight of her scars, he itched to kiss the silvery lines and run his fingers through her hair. He wanted to do this in hopes that he could ease some of her pain away, to give her form of comfort. He suppressed the feeling because they were not a couple, as much as they both wished they were. Bucky had no idea of Y/N feelings for him and Bucky's feelings for her.

Y/N was saying thank you to whatever gods and their saints that blessed her with the comforting feeling of Bucky's warm hand rubbing soothing circles on her back, that's what grounded her to complete her story without panicking and crying again. Bucky was smiling at her as she leaned into his touch, giving him a sideways hug. Bucky knew the feeling of how perfectly Y/N's body fit up against him that he was thoroughly in love with her.

Bucky vowed to himself and her, at that moment, that nothing would ever hurt her again if he had a say in it.

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A/N Pt 2 : I know I made the reader put her hair up in the gym, everyone could have seen the scars but they way I wanted to write it and hopefully achieved that, is that they were too busy to notice it, or thought that it wasn't important or caused by her hearing aids

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lostinfic · 6 years

Note

I couldn't decide on the kiss prompt so I will share both I was thinking of and you can pick if one strikes your fancy between Hardy/Hannah 34. to pretend orrrrrrrr Ten/Rose 26. as an apology.

A kiss to pretend

Hardy x Hannah. 1920s/Gangsters AU. Hardy is working undercover and infiltrated a criminal gang. Hannah is the mistress of the dangerous gang leader.

2700 words.

A/N: For UK folks, by “suspenders” I mean braces, the kind that hold up trousers, not the lingerie type.

➙ Kiss prompts

London, 1922

They both pretend to be other people. He pretends to be Emmett Carver, henchman for Enzo “The Ruby” Crawford, an infamous gangster. She goes by Belle and pretends to love Enzo.

In reality, he’s Alec Hardy, an undercover detective investigating the East End gang’s activities.

In reality, she’s… well, Hardy doesn’t know her real name and doesn’t want to learn it. That way, he can’t betray her. But he knows she’s friendly and smarter than she pretends to be. He knows she fears Enzo.

Hardy went undercover a year ago. The Metropolitan police needed a copper from outside London to investigate the corruption amongst their own officers. Enzo’s gang has contacts in every police station, every branch of the government, every bank. Blackmail and bribery are the bricks and mortar of his criminal empire. He deals in illegal betting, protection rackets, black market weapons and opium. He built his reputation on cruelty: as far as Enzo’s concerned, everyone is fair game, even women and children. His nickname “The Ruby” is a reference to the colour of blood. The story goes that he loves to keep the stains on his clothes after a murder.

In the name of public protection and justice, Hardy replaced his suit and tie with rolled up shirtsleeves and steel-capped boots. Traded his police badge for the dark red suspenders symbolic of Enzo’s gang.

They told him he’d have to work his way up the ranks of the criminal organization. It could take months, years even, before Enzo trusted him with sensitive information. So for now, he’s relegated to menial tasks: surveillance, deliveries, dodgy transactions. Hardy’s not built for intimidation, but his accent alone forestalls backtalk.

Most policemen fear retaliation against their loved ones if their cover is blown. It’s not a problem for Hardy anymore. He came back from the Great War to find out that, while he was fighting for his life in the trenches of France, Tess had fallen in love with another man. They tried to put it all behind them and rebuild a life, they had a baby, but it only delayed the inevitable: Tess left and took their daughter with her. After that, for Hardy, becoming another person didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

One task he didn’t expect was driving the boss’s floozie to and from his home.

Chauffeur to the flapper.

These days, so many young women wear short dresses and makeup, at first he can’t tell whether Belle is a prostitute or fashionable. On the drive back, she counts bills, but it doesn’t mean anything either. Enzo sees other girls, of course, but Belle is his favourite, the only one he sends a car for.

Hardy watches her in the rear-view mirror. A cloche hat sits low over her blond bob and obscures her kohl-rimmed eyes. She gnaws at her bottom lip, wrings her hands in her lap. He escorts her to the fourth floor of the hotel, in the lift, she takes deep breaths. When the doors open with a ping, a smile springs on her lips.

“Honeybear!” she says, running into Enzo’s arms.

She arrives with bright red lipstick and returns home without it, as if Enzo himself drained the colour out of her.

Hardy wonders if she once cared about Enzo. Is he blackmailing her? What does she need the money for? Does she have other clients? And he wonders why he wonders about her so much.

They’re long car rides; she lives on the other side of town. But he comes to appreciate these moments more than any others. She sits in the back and therefore cannot see his face. He can relax. Somewhat.

She’s friendly to everyone from members of the gang to the hotel staff. Hardy’s grumpy attitude doesn’t deter her. It starts with small things, a kind smile, a funny comment on the latest Chaplin movie, a snack shared. “Did you bake those scones yourself?” he asks. She laughs and it fills the whole car. The tunes she hums that haunt him all day (“Are you lonesome tonight? Do you miss me tonight?”). The shine of her sequined dress against the drab backseat of the model T’s interior.

One day, he finds out she’s lying about where she lives. She forgets a novel in the car, but when he tries to return it to her, he finds she’s not a tenant in the building where he drops her off. He doesn’t try to find out her real address. The less he knows and all that… She doesn’t want anyone in the gang to know where she lives. Smart lass.

He gives her the book back later, and she immediately notices he’s read it. “What did you think of Poirot?”

For a second there, he panics, thinks she’s asking because she knows he’s a detective. “Too intelligent,” he answers carefully.

“I hope this Agatha Christie will write other books. Have you read Evelyn Waugh?”

They begin exchanging novellas and paperbacks, a book club of their own with little notes in the margins like coded messages. He tells himself it’s innocent, yet he hides the books carefully.

He eats some of her taffies. She drinks from his flask.

When she’s in a hurry, she changes outfits while he drives. She adjusts her garter straps when she knows he’s watching in the rear-view mirror.

He pays her a compliment. Her hand brushes against his in the elevator.

“Laters,” she says with a wink when they part ways. And he watches her hips sway, heart in his throat, as she walks down the hotel corridor to meet Enzo.

Theirs is a friendship built on things unsaid, on averted gazes, on lingering nothings. It’s fog. Unsubstantial, yet it can swallow the whole city.

Maybe it’s a test. A trap. Set up by Enzo himself. It’s plausible. More than. But he’s pretending to be another man, so he might as well pretend he’s the kind of man Belle could be attracted to.

Every day, he awaits the request to fetch her with a knot in his stomach: dread or eagerness, he can’t tell.

He drives slower. Stops fully at every sign. Offers to wait if she has errands along the way.

Now, when he stops in front of her fake house, he kills the engine. They share a cigarette and companionable silence.

He never invites her to sit at the front. He needs the physical barrier between them. To keep rumours at bay. To control his own yearnings.

It’s one of those days, when it seems winter will never end, that she tests the boundary. She leans forward, elbows atop the back of the front seat, chin rested on her hands. Very close. He keeps his eyes on the road and his hands firmly on the wheel, but he’s acutely aware of her proximity. Her perfume isn’t light or floral or sweet, it’s tangy, raw cocoa and smoke, linens tangled in heated bodies. It’s raspy like a tongue along his scruffy jaw. He swallows thickly, squirms on his seat. She brushes something off his shoulder. Her fingers linger on the worn out cotton. The first human touch in months that’s not a shove or a jab. His blood fizzles.

“Sit back, it’s not safe,” he says.

“If you really cared about my safety, you wouldn’t take me to him.”

Her anger isn’t directed at him. It’s unwarranted, but it cuts him deep. He halts the car on the side of the road.

“You only have ask,” he says, eyes trained on the windshield.

He’d lie for her. He knows it with blinding clarity.

“But if I didn’t go, then I wouldn’t see you,” she says.

He arm dangles over, on his side of the car. An offer. An overture.

His heart pounds in a way it hasn’t since the trenches. A flush creeps up his neck. He brushes the back of his fingers down her skin, from elbow wrist. He grazes her palm. Their little fingers wrap around each other.

If he drove away, who would find them?

“Emmett,” she says softly.

She doesn’t even know his real name. None of this is real, he tells himself. Then why is it so hard to let go of her hand?

“Maybe another time,” she says. “Keep driving or we’ll be in trouble.”

He hates himself for pressing on the gas pedal.

She leans over every time now. Always near, forgiving.

Hardy’s superiours at the Metropolitan police think she’s valuable. She might know something, sensitive information overheard or confessed by Enzo in a moment of post-orgasmic weakness. “Befriend her,” they say. He doesn’t want to use her, doesn’t want her mixed up in this. If the police act on knowledge revealed by Belle, and the leak is traced back to her, she would pay the price dearly. “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her,” they say. But he has no faith in their words.

Inevitably, she does reveal something to him.

The car is parked in front of the house that’s not her house. She smokes the last of their shared cigarette and flicks it out the window. Normally, she’d leave now, but she stays. She runs a finger under his collar, as if smoothing it. He slopes down, rests his cheek on top of the seat, mirroring her position. She’s so close, his vision blurs, but he’s too tired to make his eyes focus.

“I won’t see you next week,” she says.

“Why not? What’s wrong?”

“I mean, ‘cause Enzo will be in Bristol.”

“Right.”

“It’s like a vacation for me.”

“What will you do?”

She shrugs. He wonders if she’ll propose they meet. There’s a moment of silence, a pregnant pause, a crossroad of possibilities.

“Anyway.” She chuckles nervously. “Maybe I’ll learn to cook.”

“Lord have mercy.”

It’s only the next day, when the effect of her touch and smile has somewhat faded, that he realizes the significance of her words. If Enzo is in Bristol, he may be trying to create an alliance with the gang up there. He should warn the police right away. Yet he waits. Waits for someone else to mention the trip, but no one at his level seems aware the boss is out of town.

The next day, he’s asked to fetch Belle, and he thinks it’s too late to alert his colleagues now. But when she comes out of the hotel, her hair and lipstick are intact. She got paid to sit by herself in an empty hotel room. Obviously, they’re doing everything to keep the illusion the big boss is still in London. If word gets out, they’ll narrow down the list of suspects real fast.

Unaware of Hardy’s inner turmoil, Belle is in a great mood. As soon as they round the corner, out of sight, she wraps her arms around his neck from behind. Her breath brushes his ear when she says, “take the scenic route”.

Driving by Hyde Park is the closest thing to a scenic route London has to offer. They stay in the car, they can’t risk meeting someone they know. He drives around three times, and, through the window, they watch springtime London blooming to life: sheep graze on the lawn, children run, pushing old tires with sticks, young female factory workers stroll arm-in-arm.

Belle’s hand slips inside his shirt. His heart drums under her touch. He nearly crashes into another car.

He drives until the sun descends on the horizon.

It’s the happiest he’s been in a long time, but the dilemma eats at him. An alliance between London and Bristol means a wider network of criminal activities— wider than ever before— and more innocent bystanders caught in that web. But they’re faceless, anonymous bystanders whereas Belle is so very real. She’s flesh and bones and loveliness. Her life would be on the line. His too, he realizes belatedly.

In the end, his conscience wins. He’s a cop, not a crook. He sends the superintendent a coded message and waits with fear in his heart.

The next week, he’s sent to fetch Belle again. As usual, he escorts her to the fourth floor, but he keep his hand poised near the butt of his revolver. This time, Enzo shows up to welcome her.

“Hello, Babydoll.”

She jumps in his arms. “Honeybear! I missed you.”

Hardy grits his teeth and ignores the pang in his heart. He’d have preferred a bullet.

Rather than go back to the pub that doubles as the gang’s HQ as he usually would, he stays nearby. He sits in the service stairwell, attentive to any sound out of the ordinary.

A few hours later, she comes out, and one glance from her tells him she’s unwell. A tense silence fills the elevator, it’s not the place to talk.

In the car, she rests her forehead against the window and follows the path of raindrops with her finger.

Did they question her? Threaten her?

“You alright?”

“Yeah… I liked my little vacation.”

“What happened?”

“Enzo was pissed. Something happened, and he thought I’d said something I shouldn’t.”

Hardy gripped the wheel so tight his knuckles turned white.

“I didn’t even know what he was talking about. What could I have said?”

He hates the hint of doubt that creeps up his spine. The paranoid voice that asks: does she really not remember what she revealed about Bristol or is it a test?

“After a while, he believed me. I think. But then he wasn’t… as nice as usual.” Her voice is thin, vulnerable.

Anger flares in Hardy’s chest, and he punches the car horn. “Did he hurt you?”

“Not exactly. But I’m just, really—” She rubs up and down her own arms. “Can I come to the front?”

He parks the car in the shadow of a tall oak tree. She’s out and back in in a flash.

His whole body is still taut with anger. She slides closer on the seat, and it’s restraint now tensing his muscles.

“It’s okay, Emmett, don’t be shy.”

It’s not shyness, it’s survival. Full of hesitation, he stares at her. She’s so beautiful, and she needs him. A lump rises in his throat.

“Can I get a cuddle? Please.”

He thinks of the hand-grenades he used during the war.

He breathes out slowly, and opens his arms. He’s pulled the pin, there’s no going back now.

Seven seconds before the explosion.

She snuggles up to him, head on his chest, arm around his torso. His blood sparks to life.

Six.

He tightens his embrace around her. Holds on to her. Protects her.

Five.

His thawed heart swells against his ribs. Warmth spreads out from his chest.

Four.

Belle tilts her head back, gaze searching his face. She gently wipes the hair off his eyes and cups his cheek.

Three.

He rests his forehead on hers. Ragged breaths mingle between them.

Two.

Her lips brush against his.

One.

He captures her mouth.

Zero.

And they kiss. Desperately. And they pretend this can end well.

#Hardy x Hannah #teninch fic #a historical AU what a surprise #:p #lostinfic writes stuff #kiss prompts #lots-o-huggindoctor #Thanks for the prompt!#sorry it took so long.

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