#and then she met luca (the friend’s oc). and the two got on like a house on fire | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

niemernuet · 10 months

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A little oneshot that I've been chipping away for this weeks' osws fandom challenge for the prompt

❄️ Fake Relationship ❄️

Justiel, set somewhere after Justin's second knee injury.

Rating: M characters: Daniel Yule, Justin Murisier, Luca Aerni, Marc Rochat, Ramon Zenhäusern, Matteo Joris, Nicola Macron, OC length: 4'000 words

The training went well, the coach was in a good mood the entire morning, the weather promised to deliver another flawless summer day, and when the cardio coach announced that they would have the afternoon off, everyone should have cheered. The rejoicing was subdued though because a mysterious cloud hung over the group that cast a dark shadow over all of them. On the long gondola-ride down into the valley, Justin could not hold back any longer. He poked Daniel in the ribs with his elbows.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing!" Daniel snapped, and moved away as far as the narrow bench, and Ramon occupying the remaining space, allowed.

"Yeah, sure," Marc said from the opposite bench, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "That's why you've been in such a sunny mood the entire morning."

"I am not in a bad mood!" Daniel exclaimed angrily, his voice getting louder the higher Marc's eyebrows rose over his forehead.

"You have been snippy since we left the house," Luca threw in.

"You almost kicked a tourist up there," Ramon added, and nodded towards the mountain station that gradually became smaller and smaller in their field of vision.

"He was cutting in line!" Daniel yelled. "Just because you've travelled ten thousand kilometres and have one day to see Zermatt, Lucerne and Zurich doesn't mean you can just do as you please! This is…"

"Daniel!" Justin barked, and Daniel pressed his lips together. His furious glare crumbled like the snow on the glacier once he met Justin's eyes, and with a groan he let his head fall back against the scratched glass of the gondola.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"What is it?" Luca asked. "We can help you."

Daniel laughed joylessly, his eyes closed. "No, you can't. Not with this."

"Try us," Marc said.

For a moment, Daniel remained motionless. "We're going to Scotland for Grandpa's 75th in two days."

"And you…don't want to go?" Ramon asked when he would not continue.

Daniel shook his head. "I want to go but things have become so awkward since…since his neighbour got it in her head that she has to set me up with one of her grandchildren."

With a sigh, he sat up straight again, and stared gloomily on his feet while the rest of the people in the gondola tried to process his words.

"Does she know you're…" Luca began but petered off.

"It's her grandson," Daniel explained.

"So just tell her you're not interested," Justin said, and made Daniel laugh again.

"Wish it were so easy." He sighed again, and after a short hesitation added. "Because he is interested."

He looked up into the faces of his sympathetic yet also barely comprehending friends, and finally his desperation burst out of him. "He's fucking interested and he just can. Not. Take. A. Fucking. Hint! It's all 'oh, you see, at St. Andrews where I study…' and 'at St. Andrews we always do blah blah…' and 'My mates from St. Andrews and I love to go skiing in Courchevel. The French Alps are just so blah blah…" and every word out of his mouth just makes me want to vomit. I'm trying to be considerate and sensitive because my grandparents have been living next to them for the past fifty years, and they like their neighbours and I don't want to make things awkward for them but their grandson is just such a bloody bell end. And the worst of all is that you can't take one step up there without the old biddy knowing about it so as soon as I arrive on Grandpa's door step she'll call him."

Silence fell after that anguished declaration. It was Justin who broke it.

"That's it?"

Daniel's head whipped around. Justin's smile turned into a laugh when he saw the outrage on Daniel's face.

"I thought it was something serious, like an injury," he said while he pulled his phone out of his backpack. "Or that you want to retire."

He handed his phone over to Marc, and threw his arm over Daniel's shoulder. Marc understood him without words, and snapped a row of pictures of Justin grabbing Daniel's head, and putting their foreheads together.

"What the hell?" Daniel exclaimed.

Justin let go, and turned his face towards Marc. "Smile!" he ordered, and rested his head on Daniel's shoulder.

"And?" he asked Marc.

Marc shrugged, and flipped through the pictures. "He didn't smile but I think it just makes it better. It looks like he didn't know the camera was on him." He handed the phone back to Justin who mustered the pictures with a satisfied nod.

"Congratulations," he then said, and grinned at Daniel. "You now have a boyfriend."

"What?" Daniel repeated helplessly. "No, that's not…"

"It's genius!" Luca threw in.

"Thank you," Justin said, still grinning. He typed away on his phone, and shortly afterwards, Daniel's own gadget vibrated in his pocket.

"You can put one of the pictures as your home screen. When he asks you say we're keeping it low-key for the time being."

"Tell him you fell in love with a handsome country boy from another valley but his family doesn't accept you so you have to keep it secret," Luca threw in.

"Or you can say I just don't want to shout it from the rooftops yet," Justin said, and pointedly stared at Luca.

"Tell him they're savages in Val de Bagnes," Marc added. "Barely human. But you can't help yourself, the sex is simply mind-blowing."

"Excuse me!" Justin yelled.

"Tell him you bet you can't find a country boy like that at St. Andrews," Ramon said, and they laughed when Justin threw up his hands.

"Guys!" Daniel spoke up. "I can't…" He was interrupted by the telltale rattling that announced the entrance to the valley station.

"Hold that thought!," Marc grinned, grabbed his things, and jumped out while the doors were still swinging open.

They lugged their skis and material through the crowds of tourists and back to the house where they had spent the past week. Putting everything away took its time, and when Daniel had all his skis lined up the way Nicola liked it, and hanged the inside of his ski boots out to dry, and stuffed his suit and the jacket into the wardrobe, the others had long left for their own rooms. He smiled when he opened the message from Justin with the two pictures, and sank down on the edge of his bed. Justin found him like that when he came crashing through the door, and unceremonisouly dropped his things on his own bed.

"And you don't mind…" Daniel asked without looking away from the picture. It really was a lucky shot, Daniel's wide-open eyes hidden by Justin's hand, and his surprised exclamation frozen to something that seemed like a laugh as Justin came in for a kiss.

"Of course not!" Justin panted, and kicked the shells of his ski boots under his bed. "I wouldn't have done it otherwise."

Daniel hummed, and switched to the other photo. Indeed, it looked as if Daniel was staring out of the window on the other side of the gondola, and not at Marc, his confused expression making him look as if he was deeply lost in his thoughts.

"I don't plan on ever going to Scotland," Justin said as he plopped down next to Daniel. "And I don't think you'll ever invite him here, so we're safe." He chuckled as he looked at the picture. "I make a great pretend-boyfriend."

Daniel snorted though he could not hide the fond smile washing over his face. "Don't flatter yourself."

"I do!" Justin exclaimed, and stood up again. He walked to his suitcase next to his bed, its contents spilling out on all sides. "I am funny, easy-going, romantic…what else?"

"You snore and you leave your stuff scattered all over the room," Daniel added.

"You love that about me," Justin retorted, grabbed his towel, and disappeared in the bathroom.

-----

The hottest weeks of summer passed, and with the first gust of autumn winds, the unending river of tourists pouring down on Zermatt died down to a trickle. Their absence finally left enough space in the restaurant at the top of the mountain for all the groups using the glacier as training ground and, as always, Marc and Luca had managed to snag the one with the best view. Justin joined them with a cup of coffee, and with a contended sigh sank down in a free chair. Training had picked up speed, the new season was fast approaching, and the coaches became sterner with every day.

"When will it end?" Luca muttered, his head resting on a bunched-up sweater.

"You tell me," Justin said as Daniel sank down next to him. "I have to do something. The coach's jokes about me changing the group are getting less and less funny. I don't want to leave! And he wants to send me to the giant-slalom-group of all things! Can you imagine having to train day in day out with that uppity Caviezel? Also I've heard they want to send the snooty brat from Hérèmence too. No thanks."

"Eh, Loïc's nice," Marc threw in. "He's just shy. And you're not exactly helping him come out of his shell."

"Snooty," Justin muttered in his cup before he turned his head to Daniel. "Anyway, I don't want to leave you guys. I love it here and…" He broke off. Daniel sat unblinking, his face white as a sheet. When he realised that everyone was staring at him, he flinched, and jumped up again.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" he muttered, and clamped his hand into Justin's shoulder. With a confused look back to their friends, Justin put the cup down, and followed Daniel into the hallway towards the souvenir shop and the gondolas.

"What's wrong?" he asked while Daniel restlessly paced up and down on the sturdy felt carpet.

"He's coming here," Daniel blurted out, and wrung his hands.

Justin frowned, and pressed against the wall to make space for Daniel pacing in front of him. "Who?"

"The guy!" Daniel exclaimed, and finally stopped. "Grandpa's neighbour's grandson! He…" Here Daniel gestured quotation marks into the air, "…convinced his mates from St. Andrews to come to Zermatt instead of Courchevel for a fun weekend before the start of the new semester."

Justin burst out laughing but Daniel was still in utter distress, and began to pace again.

"He wants to go for a pint with us. I don't want to go for a fucking pint! Not with him!"

"Daniel, that's no problem," Justin said, and grabbed him by the shoulder. "How often do you see couples over the age of 16 make out in broad daylight? It'll be the easiest thing to keep this up. All we have to do is sit next to each other, touch each other's arm once or twice, maybe call each other Honey Bear or Poulette, and we'll be fine."

"I can't keep going on with this," Daniel muttered, and stared into the distance. "I'll have to come clean; tell him I don't fancy him at all."

"What? And risk the good relationship between your grandparents and their neighbours?" Justin laughed. "It's our duty to…"

"I wrote to him that we broke up."

Justin's laugh fell, just like his hand from Daniel's shoulder.

"This was insane from the beginning!" Daniel spat, and tore his fingers through his hair. "What if someone from our team sees us in the pub and comes over? Or really just anyone who trains next to us on the snow? Back in Scotland I told him we're fresh, not even my own family knows about it, because what if he had talked to them? Or to his grandmother who would have told my Grandpa who would have told her that he doesn't know anything about a boyfriend?" He stared at Justin but he was too focused on his ski boots all of a sudden.

"I'll just tell him I don't like him in that way, and whatever happens in Scotland, happens. I don't care."

Justin's chest heaved with a short snort.

"You won't meet him," Daniel continued, "not if I can help it. But if you should cross him in the unlikeliest situation, just tell him we didn't pan out. Don't invent stuff, just…don't. Please."

"We just weren't meant to be," Justin said flatly. He smiled, though it did not reach his eyes. "Shit happens."

Daniel exhaled, and closed his eyes for a second. He tried to meet Justin's eyes. "Exactly. I'm glad you understand."

Justin nodded, and pushed away from the wall. "Of course. We should go, the break's over."

-----

The snow kept its form longer this time of the year, and did not turn into unskiable sludge like during the height of summer. The coaches had left the course from the morning to simulate a worn-out track, and one after the other the athletes hurtled down the slope. A small patch of the mountainside was fenced off. It was reserved for the first winter tourists, and amateurs of all skill-levels pushed the soft snow downwards. A handful of them always lingered near the fence, watching the pros at work. At first, nobody took any heed when another group stopped by, only when they started to hoot and cheer did they turn their heads. Their ski outfits were top of the line and pristine, their faces young and forgettable.

"Oh god, just kill me now," Daniel muttered, stepped into the pair of skis Nicola had prepared, and slid away towards the group.

"What?" Nicola asked into the air.

"Old…acquaintances from Scotland," Justin explained.

"He better acquaints himself with the course soon unless he wants to walk down to Zermatt," Matteo grumbled as he fiddled with the radio strapped to his chest.

“I’ll go first,” Justin said, and lined up at the start gate.

They practiced until the sun started to sink towards the mountain peaks. The group from before had long since moved onto the patio of the restaurant, and had watched them from above.

“We’re going for a beer first before we’re going down,” Luca said to Justin while they finished putting together their things. “Should I order one for you too?”

Justin shut his backpack, and threw it over his shoulder. He shook his head. "I don't feel so well. I'll see you back at the house."

"Okay…" Luca said with a frown, and watched as Justin walked through the turnstile. Only a few people were standing in line, which only existed because nobody felt like sharing a gondola. Justin also stayed put while the couple ahead of him entered their cabin, even though there would have been more than enough space for him. Nobody except Daniel took notice of the man with the eye-wateringly expensive skis coming from the restaurant, and slipping past the queue.

"No no no!" Daniel yelled, and dropped the pair of skis he had in his hands, grabbed his jacket, and sprinted towards the turnstiles. "Dave, wait!"

Justin was too busy with his bags and backpack, and only realised that he was not alone in the gondola when the man was already sitting on the opposite bench. Daniel ran past the queue and the flimsy barrier separating the people from the exit ramp, and slipped in at the last second before the doors shut, and the gondola bolted out of the mountain station. For the first few seconds, while they were still rattling over the masts, only Daniel's gasps filled the silence. Justin stared at the guy with a blank look while he seemed very pleased himself. Daniel, meanwhile, looked miserable.

"I'm sorry for butting in like that," the guy eventually began, with a grin that showed he was not. He held out his hand to Justin. "I'm Dave."

Justin looked at the hand, and back at Dave without moving one muscle. "Daniel's grandfather's neighbour's grandson who studies at St. Andrews," he said.

Dave laughed, and dropped his hand back into his lap. His ski trousers and ski jacket were brand new. "The one and only."

Neither Daniel nor Justin said anything but Dave was not bothered in the least.

"I could convince my mates to change up our usual pre-semester trip," he explained. "Something different for once. It's not quite like Ibiza but almost. I guess that means we'll have to go somewhere warm for New Year's," he mused, and looked out of the window. "Maybe the Caribbean? Though everyone always loves Courchevel…" Slowly they crossed the tree line, and scraggly firs started to spring out of the ground.

With a shrug, Dave came back from his thoughts, and grinned at Justin again. "It's fun, I mean, getting out of the usual rut for once. And even more fun when it means I get to see Daniel." Here he winked, and stared at Daniel until he pulled his lips into a thin smile. Then, Dave turned to Justin. "But now I also get the chance to tell you what a bloody idiot you are."

Justin slowly cocked his head. That and a slight frown was the only indication that he had listened.

"He's just joking," Daniel pressed through clenched teeth.

"I'm not!" Dave laughed. "Do you know how many words Dan used to speak to me before he met you? It was like trying to communicate with a tree. A handsome, handsome tree." He let out an exaggerated sigh as he looked at Dan. "But then I ask one little question about the picture on his phone, out of politeness, I might say, and all of a sudden I can't get him to shut up anymore."

"I was drunk…" Daniel interjected, his cheek glowing bright red.

"It was early afternoon," Dave corrected. "And I learnt more about motocross than I ever cared to know in my whole life. Also I'm happy your knee is okay again, and also that your sister found another job, and…" He leant forward, and mustered Justin's face intently. "Yeah, those are grey. But not that pretty, no offence. I mean, if you're into that…"

Justin barely acknowledged him, his gaze locked in on Daniel who was leaning his head on the scratched window with his eyes closed.

"So imagine my surprise when I come here and learn that you broke up with him. I…"

"It was mutual."

Dave paused, and stared at Justin with a surprised expression.

"I didn't break up with him. We both agreed it's just not the right thing," Justin said softly, and looked at Dave.

As if he was finally realising the tense situation in the cramped gondola, Dave's eyebrows shot up. A short frown flickered over his face before it was hidden under another grin. He turned to Daniel again.

"All the better that I'm here now, right? I'm at the Cervo, we could take our pint at…"

Justin did not let him finish. "You could take a hint, for one."

Dave's glare was now unmistakably hostile but Justin still was unbothered, even as the silence stretched uncomfortably long, and only ended when the gondola suddenly sagged a little before dashing into the valley station.

"I'll write to you," Dave said to Daniel, and with one last, withering look to Justin climbed out.

Daniel and Justin followed him outside, and watched him trot away without sparing them another glance, his skis dangling against his leg. When he had turned the corner, Justin adjusted the straps of the heavy backpack, and lifted one pair of the skis on his shoulders.

"I've forgot my stuff up there," Daniel said, trying to fill the heavy silence. "I'll just…"

He broke off as Justin turned away wordlessly, and walked away.

"Justin!" Daniel said with rising desperation but Justin ignored him.

-----

Marc, Luca, and Ramon were lounging on the patio of their chalet when Daniel returned from his trip back to the glacier. The sun was setting in earnest behind the mountains now, and a cool breeze carried the first signs of the coming winter down the golden hillsides.

"Why is Justin sulking in his room?" Luca asked through the open door, and grabbed a handful of peanuts from a bowl in the middle of the table.

With hanging shoulders, Daniel walked through the living room towards the hallway. "I'll talk to him," he muttered.

"Dinner's ready in twenty minutes," Marc yelled as Daniel disappeared through one of the doors.

With his last strength he carried his stuff through the room, and dropped everything on the ground in front of his suitcase. Justin sat on his bed with his back to the wall, scrolling through his phone. Without a word Daniel shrugged out of his jacket and ski trousers, grabbed a towel, and walked to the bathroom. He stooped, the door in his hand, took a deep breath, and turned around.

His voice was brittle. "I'm sorry," he said. "About…everything. I should have shut this down way earlier, not…" He broke off, and took a deep breath. "Look, whatever you're thinking now, I don't want things to change between us. My feelings for you are my problem alone. It won't change how I…your friendship is too important to me and I'd never do anything to threaten it. So…yeah." He shrugged, and quickly fled into the bathroom but he had no chance to turn the key as the door was roughly pulled out of his hand again. Daniel flinched back, at the sight of Justin blocking the entire door , effectively locking him in the windowless room.

Justin did not move or speak, only stared at Daniel, and quickly he wiped over his cheeks. Justin kept staring even as Daniel helplessly stared back, until he finally gathered all his remaining little courage so he could look him in the eye. His breath hitched when he saw those bright, grey eyes lingering on him.

Lingering.

Tears swimming.

Daniel's shoulders slumped.

"Oh."

Justin laughed, and before Daniel could move, had him wrapped in a painfully tight hug.

"Oh…" Daniel sighed again as he clung to Justin like a drowning man.

"Yeah," Justin laughed, and noisily pulled up his nose.

“Why did you never say anything?”

“I didn’t want to lose you too,” Justin rasped. “Duh.”

Daniel laughed. Hugging Justin was not new, and yet it was, and he never wanted to let go of him anymore.

“We can never tell the others,” he said, and they both laughed again.

“Luca will never let us hear the end,” Justin muttered. “He will be insufferable.”

Slowly, Daniel released his grip around Justin until he could look at him. His head spun madly when Justin closed the gap for a kiss, and when he remembered that from now on, he could do it whenever he wanted, he laughed again.

“I felt like crying when you broke up our fake relationship,” Justin confessed, and a soft blush crept over his cheeks.

"I was sure you'd forgotten about it," Daniel whispered.

Justin shook his head. “But when that moron told that story…”

Daniel groaned, and leant his forehead against Justin’s shoulder. “You know the worst thing? I really was drunk.”

Justin burst out laughing. “In the middle of the day?”

Daniel sighed. “It was the last lunch, and Grandpa had pulled out his entire Whisky-collection for a tasting. I was just trying to get sober again in the garden when he came over…god, just the memory...”

“Lightweight,” Justin teased.

“Am not!” Daniel exclaimed, and pushed Justin off. “You have no idea how big Grandpa’s collection is!”

Justin grinned, and kissed him again.

#osws fandom challenge #justiel #alpine skiing #it just doesn't want to flow right these days

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your-old-sins-tournament · 8 months

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OC NAVAL WARFARE

/ -- Romantic

*-- Unlabelled/Other

+ -- QPR

& -- Familial

HG^2 (Charlie "Chuck" Beaumont/Octavian "Tavi Osborne)

Tavi is a cringe-fail loser spoiled rich kid protegy who never properly developed any social skills aside from making people swoon over them. They fell off their god-complex high-horse so hard it landed them in prison for their parents' murder. (They got better, though!) (Tavi, not the parents. The parents are still very much dead.) Chuck has extreme middle child syndrome and enough guilt to strangle the horse Tavi just fell off of (figuratively) .They were so desperate for outside validation that their old girlfriend straight-up poisoned them and they thought nothing of it. Grades and success always meant the world to them until they met Tavi and discovered that reputation wasn't everything. Sometimes being "evil" can be fun, too. Between these two they could fill a lake with their self-loathing, and then fill another with their love for eachother. They are in it together to the end, along with the children they somehow manage to pick up along the way. (These two are technically Marvel/Spiderverse OCs, though they are very separated from the Canon. My partner and I have gone kinda nuts with them over the years, and their story now includes elements/characters from: Ouran High School Host Club, The Magnus Archives, Danny Phantom, Ace Attorney, Supernatural, Harry Potter (as a parody), and many more that I cannot recall.)

Tavi (or Octavian [They/Them]) is the child of two multi millionaire parents. Though they had quite the god complex as a child it was slightly dampened by their roommate/rival/friend Chuck when they got to college at the age of 16. Though they had many wacky adventures during their four years together, that soon came crashing down when their parents were murdered during graduation. So like any sane person they cut off all contact to anyone that they cared about and started getting a Doctorate (after they were miraculously proven innocent). From their they spiraled until they turned 28 and started working at their parents' old company were they run back into Chuck. Chuck (or Charlie [They/Them]) is the middle child of 8, being sandwiched in-between two sets of twins and one set of triplets, wants to noticed within the family. This is achieved when they manage to graduate highschool early and get a huge full-ride scholarship to MIT. They are lead to be roomed with the other 16 year old, Tavi. Through their four years of people assuming that they are dating (they would like to date the but they definitely don't feel the same [they do]) their time together was cut off when their mother had to got to the hospital where she would die a year later. Gets into a toxic relationship, or should I call it poisonous?, relationship with a girl named Gray. That relationship ends and they get a job at a big science place where they eventually reunite with Tavi. Though their relationship starts off very rocky they find bonding time after becoming villains against a common foe and starting a twitch together. Eventually they find a bigger bad and adopt the first villain together <3 (Technically they are Spiderverse/Spiderman ocs but do NOT follow canon very well. Their lore goes further down the rabbit whole but I feel like this gives a good impression of them both haha [I kinda got carried away is what I am saying])

LuNal-Maisther (LuNal and Maisther)

LuNal (Luca/Nalis)

Luca (he/him) and Nalis (she/they) are two street kids, at 14 they’re the oldest of their group and take care of the others. Luca is a panromantic boy who crossdresses, Nalis is a genderfluid (fem to enby, rarely masc) genderqueer kid who’s usually something like a girl. Luca is a big bombastic personality, always there to make sure everyone is okay and come up with a plan of action; he’s also desperately in love with Nalis. Nalis calm, cool, and collected, keeps to herself, and hates relying on others but is smart, competent, and helpful herself. She makes a game of spurning with a deadpan attitude, but she’s just as attached to him as he is to her. They’re a power couple crossed with a vaudeville comedy duo. To Nalis, Luca is someone who won’t abandon her and says that maybe it’s okay to let her guard down a bit, that she won’t be burned if she does. To Luca, Nalis is an equal, someone he doesn’t have to take care of, and the funniest person in the world; no one else sees it! But her dry sarcasm sends him into a fit everytime.

Maisther (Esther/Maidy)

it’s a very simple ship I made up as a plot device for my novel but I fell in love with it. Two girls who are so so autistic in different ways and also are best friends are growing apart (projection time baby!) and go from besties-worsties-lovers essentially. Blah blah blah they forge a new bond through their struggling relationship .. I’m sure you’ve heard it before but these two freaks mean a lot to me and I’d be grateful if you could vote for them 👍

#oc ship tournament #oc ships #oc #bracket tournament #polls #romantic ship #maisther #hg^2 #lunal #lunal maisther

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kiwiwinjindouche · 10 months

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hiiii show your dh ocs!! (if you want to ofc)

YES YES YES!!!!! (thank youuuuu)

They're on ToyHouse too (just Octave is hidden and Nelly you have to be logged or idk cuz I have some things to change)

i'm about to kill myself I was almost done with the post and then lost everything

Aldina's story contains spoilers from the last book, The Veiled Terror!

(also this is set in the AU where Jindosh lives because the denial is real, and they almost all met him at some point too omg my love for this man is showing a lot)

I have a lot to say about some of them, so left to right =>

Sybill Howlet (SH)

I'm obsessed with Sherlock Holmes too and this was a way for me to combined two things I like, even her name is a ref to Sherlock!

She's from Dunwall, she was living in the streets with her sister but they lost each other a long time ago. The Bottle Street Gang was her family (Slackjaw went to father figure to friend over time). Then, one day, Archibald (Vinz's dad (see later)) found her and got impressed by her thinking and mind, and decided to take her out of the streets and help her use her full potential. Soon enough, the Outsider took great interest into her, and started to visit her dreams and help her find little secrets about everyone. He never gave her his mark.

When the Coup occurred, she left Dunwall a few weeks, only to come back and finish her current cases then leave once again but for Karnaca this time. That's when she heard about Billie's actions and omg what a queen. The Bank Job? such a masterpiece, outstanding, amazing. She loved following her trail around the city, trying to understand what she was looking for. She met Jindosh because of this, cuz she wanted to talk to him about the break-in. She enjoys quite a lot to annoys him (and just to roast people).

Aldina/Al

Her parents were nobles/friends with Luca, but she always despised him a lot actually. She prefers women company, and that's how she found out she was lesbian. The only man she never really hated was Jindosh, because she likes the Clockwork Soldiers. Her biggest inspiration was the witches, tho. She loved going to the Conservatory and spend time with Breanna, she wanted SO MUCH to meet Delilah, to be part of the Coven, to join them!!!! it was her biggest dream. But then, what?? Corvo comes and the witches are now gone.

Old men are so BORING.

Later, when the Outsider was no more, her parents died because of the nightmares. Then, she wondered alone on the streets, and kind of managed to fix a Clockwork Sentinel because the main program and such were still in good condition. That is how and when Jindosh met her for the first time. He took her to his mansion, thinking she could be of some use, and taught her some things too. Al' likes to creep behind the walls and scares the staff by singing lullabies and sea shanties.

Everything was fine, until Corvo came back. She wanted SO BADLY to kill him, to rip off his skin, to boil him alive, for what he's done to her, to the witches, to Delilah, to her first found family, to her broken dreams. She wanted so badly to do it, then found out Jindosh cared about him. She's making a very lot of efforts to accept the fact that the man who destroyed her hopes and dreams is now part of her new family, and eventually she'll come to terms with it... many years later.

Thanks to the Void stones in her arm, she can use a little magic, but it's very complicated. Jindosh likes to call her "little mouse", and she's friend with rats. Also she steals Jindosh's stuff a lot and likes to spend time with Alex'.

Vincent/Vinz MacIntosh

Archibald MacIntosh is a private detective from Morley, after a failed attempt at the Academy. He married a tailor, who died cuz of the plague, and likes to paint too. He worked with the City Watch for some time.

As for Vinz, he got inspired by his father, but decided to become a journalist instead (not like it was less dangerous, moreover he's working with one if not the most dangerous gang in Karnaca, needless to say it worries his father a lot). Anyway, Vinz came to Karnaca a few years before the Coup, and he's more than happy to be part of this major history event. Because of his father's past and everything he was taught, he recognized Corvo quite easily, and tried his best to convince him NOT TO KILL JINDOSH. Because, yeah, Vinz is a HUGE fan of Jindosh's works.

The silvergraph? omg THIS IS SO COOL to illustrate the news or just have portraits of people! The audiograph? perfect to record things and testimonies! The Clockwork Soldiers? They're not really worse than the Tallboys back then, and they could be useful too!! for, like, THE FUCKING BLOODFLIES??? people of Karnaca have more chances to get killed by the bloodflies than the Clockwork Soldiers. It's not like Jindosh was kidnapping children to torture them and eat their organs??? He's killing INTRUDERS in his very OWN HOUSE. How are thieves treated at Dunwall Tower, I wonder?????

Anyway, Vinz likes to draw and to listen to Jindosh ranting about his inventions, trying his best to understand.

(Archibald doesn't have a clean ref but he's not really important anyway)

And then, I don't have much about them.

Nelly

She's a maid at the Clockwork Mansion, and quickly became friend with Aldina. The two of them like to prank the others and going out. I think, at some point, Nelly will leave the place and do something else. It's not like she has a bad treatment - Jindosh barely knows about her, mostly thanks to Aldina (also she's the maid I make appear when I need someone in the mansion) - it's just she wants to do something else. Going on a trip maybe. I have to think about it. Btw, she's from Serkonos, and knows many things about Corvo because he's such a legend there, everyone knows about him. She probably likes to cook.

Caleb

He's a grumpy old man from Tyvia, but he lived most of his younger years in Baleton. He went to prison, but soon entered the navy when the choice's been given to him. They weren't expecting him to last this long. Now, he's pretty strong, and would like to have a fight with the Royal Protector to test his limits. Caleb likes poetry and the sea.

Octave Hearly

He's also from Morley. Octave is into cartoon and cinema, mostly. When he heard about Jindosh's work on the silvergraph and the "moving images", his heart skipped a beat and he decided to join him and work with him on all this.

#dishonored oc #dishonored 2 #dagyne_rambles #and i'm thinking i could do another one maybe aaaah!!!!!!!#thank you for letting me rant about my dishonored bbies much love mwuah <3<3<3

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lyramundana · 11 months

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WIPS

I mentioned before that I came up with a full story about my ocs with members of Skz years ago, but it’s all in my head and it hasn’t seen the light. Since I’m still polishing it and considering if I should start posting bits about it, I’ll leave the plot here.

The oldest was Olivia and her love interest was Christopher Bang. The story was a childhood pen-pals/friends to co-workers to lovers. She lived in Australia for a while with her family and they befriended the Bang family. She was three years younger than him and had this puppy crush on him, and in return, he was very caring towards her and they often played together, sharing the burden of being both the oldest siblings. When she returned to Spain, her native country, they remained in contact through cute messages. Olivia had relatives in Australia, so they still travelled there from time to time, and each they had to meet up with the Bang family at least twice. She was heartbroken when he left to Seoul to follow his dream, but as time passed by and they lost contact, she moved on and stopped thinking much about him. She took upon herself to treat Hannah and Lucas like her own younger siblings to somehow deal with it. Olivia was gifted with a beautiful voice and had a talent for singing, which pushed her to become interested in songwriting and music producing. I recall she was involved in sports and that was the reason she went to Seoul for a while, but she had trouble adapting and mantenaining herself there, specially since she was keeping the situation hidden from her parents for some reason. She was offered a job in JYP until it was her time to move out and she took it. She knew Christopher became a trainee, but she never got to know which company, and so when they meet again, it was a cute moment. There’s a lot more, but I want to keep it short.

Violeta, or Vivi, was the second sister, two years younger than Olivia,and she was paired with Minho and Han, who were a couple in my work. She was fascinated by dancing as soon as she could walk and so started practising really young. Her dedication and passion moved her to become a professional and achieve a lot at a young age, pretty much like Olivia. I remember she had to use a prosthetic forearm due to a tragic accident in her childhood that was actually one of the major points in her character. She was captain of her own crew, member of a prestigious artistic academy and a “bad girl” type. A chaotic, extroverted troublemaker. She had a hard life and her biggest comfort was her dancing career, in which she excelled at. She travelled overseas in competitions, won, starred some scandals here and there, and gained a certain reputation as a professional who always owned the stage. Her plot started when Olivia and Chris were already a established couple, and her relationship with Minsung is full with ups and downs. I think it’s the most dramatic romance out of all. I know she used Vivi as a nickname for non-hispanic people that had trouble pronouncing her full name.

Then it was Melisa or Mel, Violeta’s twin, and her love interest was Hyunjin. This one I explicitily remember it was a full enemies to lovers one, with the enemies as one-sided because Hyunjin didn’t actually despise her. Aside from not really looking like Vivi, she was shorter than her, which was an important detail connected to their birth. She was the first introvert to appear, since the first two are the opposite. She had a talent for arts, like painting and photography, and she was in the same academy as Vivi as the brain behind the recordings, the edition and etc. She was an audiovisual artist. She was a rather innocent and sweet girl, but far from naïve. If pushed enough, she had a vicious bite, which was how she met Hyunjin. It was an unfortunate encounter, btw. Due to past experiences, she had the rule to never trust pretty faces, specially those who work in the entertainment industry. She was the type to observe things fold from the side and act upon them from behind, only intervening when she deemed it absolutely necessary.

The three of them are, obviously, spanish, and they were all very confident girls (because at that point I was sick of always reading the same patron of timid, insecure Y/Ns and I wanted to see something different). Olivia and Violeta could often seem like straight up egocentrics about it, while Mel just kept it to herself. Which makes this wip so dear to me is not because it’s a skz fanfic, but because it started sorely as self-insert oc for my fantasies with Christopher Bang and it developed into a full fledged story about generational trauma, friendship, growing up, copying mechanisms and multiple personal hardships the girls went through, both together and individually. I got so inmersed in their characters that they became their own people, with their own backstories and motives. They weren’t just self-inserts no more, they were fictional characters on their right with their goals and traumas aside from the boys. Literally, the romance with the boys was brushed a side a bit in favour of the girl’s development, because I got really into their personal stories that had nothing to do with the guys. I admit that I self-reflected a lot sometimes on them, writing them to let out my own emotions.

Anyway, my mind is full of headcanons about it, so that’s why I’m starting to post shit up here. I don’t know if I’ll have the courage to write the whole thing, but posting small things about it makes me feel better.

@channieandhisgoonsquad since you’re the only one that knew something about my specific, secret wip, opinions??

#i may regret this in the future #but i really needed to get it out #plus what's the worse thing that can happen?#weirder stuff has been seen on this site #yeah i pulled a type of bridgerton and wrote a story about each sister #it was intentional #i didn't like using the same oc to ship with the rest of guys and that's how the sisters were born #i wanted the new ocs to be connected with Olivia somehow so #it was easy #self-inserts #ocs #skz x reader #skz scenarios #skz stuff

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simpforfictionals · 2 years

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ABANDONED LOVE

description: tamara hunts love was thought to be abandoned. until it was remembered.

. chapter one

where’s will?

pairing eventual steve harrington x oc

warnings: kidnapping/disappearance, maybe a cuss word or two? tell me if I forgot any

Read on Wattpad

series m.list

previous <> next

Tamara Hunts believed in having her camera with her at all times. She was a believer in waiting for the right time, the right moment, then you can capture a beautiful sight.

Jonathan Byers shared her same beliefs in that way. Jonathan and Tamara were always connected in that way. They were always connected by the cameras they both hung around their necks.

Jonathan Byers and Tamara Hunts had known each other since their two siblings, Danielle Hunts and Will Byers, became friends with Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, and Mike Wheeler.

The five children had found each other in a scary time they had in Hawkins Elementary. All feeling alone, like freaks. But in reality, they all liked the same “nerdy” game. Dungeons and Dragons. They had formed their party in the early years of their friendship, opting to play the game in Mike Wheeler’s basement on most weekends or even some weekdays. But there were always the days that they’d switch houses. Sometimes going to the Henderson’s, Hunt’s next-door neighbour, or the young Sinclair’s house.

But there was always the time they decided to spend their time in Danielle’s room, all but forcing the older girl to spend time in her younger sister’s room. While the five children had been on the ground, talking excitedly about the new campaign they had started the night before, she snapped pictures of the scene.

It was a rare occasion that Tamara was noticed in the room, let alone included in their conversation, but the Byers boy had looked at her, asking if she had ever met his brother, Jonathan. According to the boy, he loved to take pictures, sometimes even converting his room into a dark room.

She giggled a bit at the thought. Not that she hadn’t done it before. She had already implanted the thought of meeting the boy in her mind, and she was not going to let it go until it happened.

Luckily for her, Jonathan had come by on his bike to tell Will that it was time to go home. Their mother, Joyce Byers had needed them back within the hour.

The boy standing in her doorway, her age it seemed, was looking at her as well. They both eyed the cameras that were hung around both of their necks.

When they started to talk, it didn’t take long for them to become fast friends, hitting it off immediately. Their love for photography resonated deep in both of their hearts.

Photography, to them, wasn’t just the taking of a picture, it was the capturing of a moment. It locked the moment into time and space forever. Taking the emotion displayed in the photo, hiding it in a little box until unleashing it onto the world.

The beauty of the picture always spoke volumes to, not just the moment, but the person who captured that moment, putting it in their little box to keep for themselves or putting it out for the world to see.

They developed a fast friendship, easily leading to the stage where they spend almost every waking minute with each other. She was around the Byers' house so often that she was brought in and considered family by Joyce and Will.

Will was happy that the girl he had looked up to for so long got along well with his brother. It was his dream come true.

Joyce loved the idea of having Tamara over all of the time. She seemed to be a good influence on both of her boys. Being the person who Will had looked up to the most, next to Jonathan, of course, Joyce encouraged them to hang out a lot more at the Byers' house.

As the two best friends entered High School, and Jonathan got his driver's license, the girl went to the Byers' house every morning on her bike.

Every time she arrived in the early morning Will would be sketching on the kitchen table, usually his family or friends, Jonathan would be cooking breakfast, three portions and sometimes a small one for his mother if she felt like eating, and Joyce would be scrambling around the house looking for her keys.

The morning of November 6, 1983, was different. The latter two things happened as normal, but Will was nowhere to be seen as Tamara opened the door to her best friend's house.

“Morning, Byers!” She said happily as she wrapped her arms around the boy's midsection.

“Morning, Hunts.” He reciprocated the hug with his left arm while continuing to cook with his right.

“Where the hell are they?” Joyce said as she rushed from the hallway of the house, presumably looking for her keys, as she did every day. “Jonathan? Tamara?”

“Check the couch!” He responded to his mother.

“Ugh.” She groaned. “I did!” She dug into the couch before pulling out her jangling keys. “Oh..got them.” She held the keys in the air for the teenagers to see.

“Okay, sweetie, I will see you tonight.” She said as she squeezed the boy's shoulder.

“Yeah, see you later.”

“Where’s Will?” Tamara asked the two as she saw the metaphorical light bulb go off in Joyce’s mind.

“I didn’t get him up yet,” Jonathan responded easily, still making breakfast. “He’s probably still sleeping.”

Joyce sighed before she said, “Jonathan, you have to make sure he’s up!”

“Mom, I’m making breakfast,” Jonathan responds lamely.

“I told you this a thousand times.” She said before hurrying to the back of her home to get her youngest son out of bed.

“You gotta wake the kid up, Jonny!” She said teasingly.

“Leave me alone.” He grumbled, jokingly. He pushed a plate of breakfast towards her and motioned for her to sit.

She had a strange feeling about Will, who was usually up before Jonathan, even on late nights. So she went back with Joyce after patting her friend on the shoulder.

Joyce came from the hallway, looking frightened. “He came home last night, right?”

“He’s not in his room?” The older boy asked, beginning to worry.

“Did he come home or not?” She pushed.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“No.” He stammered. “I got home late. I was working.”

“You were working?”

“Eric asked if I could cover.” He explained. “I said yeah. I just thought we could use the extra cash.”

“Jonathan we’ve talked about this.” She said exasperatedly. “You can’t take shifts when I’m working.”

“Mom, it’s not a big deal. Look, he was at the Wheelers’ all day.” Jonathan waved toward the phone to try and find an explanation. “I’m sure he just stayed over.”

“I can’t believe you,” Joyce said as she grabbed the phone.

“Jonathan.” Tamara shook his arm slightly.

“Dustin and Danielle came home last night.” She told him. “Dustin came over for a second and said something about owing Will his X-men 134 because he beat him in a race.”

Jonathan’s eyes were blown wide with shock and realization that his brother might not have come to him one night.

They overheard the conversation between Joyce and Karen Wheeler, Mike’s mom as she told her that Will had left a bit after eight. Joyce tried to come up with a reasonable explanation for Karen, but as soon as she set the phone down, her features littered with fear.

Tamara told Joyce what happened the night before with Danielle and Dustin. She watched the colour fade from Joyce’s face as the story continued.

She mentally decided that she was going to help the family find their missing boy in any way she could.

She offered to ride her bike down to Hawkins Middle and ask any of the boys and Danielle if they had seen him arrive for school or if he had stayed over with Lucas.

She biked down to the school with fear in her eyes. The boy she’d known as a brother was missing.

She spotted them slotting their bicycles in the rack and looking around, presumably for Will.

She biked down towards them, they looked like they were about to enter the building.

“Hey, have you guys seen Will?” She asked the group.

“No, but he probably just went to class early again, at least that’s what his mom said,” Lucas replied.

“Shouldn’t you know?” Her sister asked her.

“You were at the Byers' house this morning.”

“He probably left before breakfast then, thanks,” Tamara said as she left for Hawkins High.

Without her only friend, it felt like the bell took forever to ring.

She hadn’t planned on overhearing a conversation about Nancy Wheeler and Steve Harrington by her locker, but it happened.

She didn’t exactly care much for Nancy, knowing the girl hated her.

She took her seat in Chemistry, next to a girl she hadn’t bothered to remember the name of. She noticed Nancy come in a second after the bell had rung, she knew what had happened thanks to the conversation she overheard at her locker. She only lightly rolled her eyes before she started to think about Will and searching for the missing boy after school.

“Tamara Hunts.” A woman said as she came into the room. She had the sheriff and a couple of officers trailing her. “We need to speak to you.”

She followed the officers towards the cafeteria where she put her bag down and sat at a table.

“When was the last time you saw Will Byers?” Sheriff Jim Hopper asked her.

“Yesterday morning.” She answered. “I always ride with Danielle and Dustin to Mike’s to make sure they get there.

“Why?” Hopper asked.

“Well, Danielle’s my sister and it’s convenient for Dustin because we’re neighbours.”

“Do you ride home with them?” Officer Callahan asked.

“No.” She said. “I never really do unless they hang out at Will’s house.”

“Why don’t you stay around at the Wheelers’?” Officer Callahan pressed.

“Well, I stay at the Byers because of Jonathan, but I don’t like Nancy too much and she doesn’t like me. Doesn’t make sense.” She explained. “And usually when I am over at the Wheelers’ it’s because I’m helping Mike make a campaign or they need an extra player or even me making the campaign as they play.”

“Campaign?”

“D&D.” She said but then continued based on the confused look the two sent her way. “Dungeons and Dragons. It’s kind of a nerdy game that the kids get bullied because of.”

“When Danielle got home last night, did she mention Will at all?”

“Yes,” she said. “Dustin came over too and he told me that he was mad he lost a bike race to Will. Now he owes Will his X-men 134, it’s comic.”

“Thank you, Tamara,” Sheriff Hopper said as he stood up, ready to leave.

“Is there anything else I can do to help?” She asked.

“Yeah, you can stay home, kiddo.” He said as he ruffled her hair.

They’d always known each other as when Hopper had gone to school in Hawkins, he and her dad, Patrick were best friends. There was also the fact of Tamara not being able to stay out of trouble, her and Callahan’s resentment for one another only added to the problem.

“Fine,” she huffed as Hopper walked away and she walked back to class.

Tamara decided to be with her little sister for the night, knowing the girl wouldn’t be able to get any rest until they found her best friend.

They spent all the time after they returned home sitting together in silence. Just thinking. Until her walkie started to make noise.

“Dani? It’s Lucas. Do you copy?”

She grabbed the walkie and started to speak into it after extending its antenna. “Hey Lucas, it’s Danielle and Tamara. Over.”

“I, Mike and Dustin are meeting in ten. Over.” Lucas’ staticky voice told them.

“Can I bring my sister? Over.” Danielle questioned.

“As long as you come. Over and out.” Lucas said as he moved to bike to the woods to meet.

The sisters grabbed two flashlights and the older girl's camera and left on their bikes.

As they biked passed the Wheeler residence, Tamara saw Steve Harrington sneaking into Nancy’s room. Rolling her eyes as she kept moving.

The two girls met up with the other members of the party and left on the way to Will’s home.

“Ah, man,” Lucas said after a couple of minutes of long, not unwelcome, silence between the five.

“This is it.”

They heard the thunder rumbling as they came across the police tape.

“Hey, guys.” Dustin piped up. “You feel that?” A rain droplet fell onto his cheek as the group pulled their hoods on. “I think maybe we should go back.”

“No.” Mike quickly disagreed. “We’re not going back. Just stay close.” As they all moved into the woods they passed the police tape. “Just stay on channel six. Don’t do anything stupid.”

They took to abandoning their bikes and climbed under the tape.

Dustin had called for them to wait up, as he was sceptical, but decided to go anyway.

They advanced further into the woods calling for Will the whole way. It started to heavily rain.

“Guys I think we should turn back.” Dustin expressed.

“Seriously, Dustin?” Lucas rolled his eyes.

“You wanna be a baby, then go home already!”

“I’m just being realistic, Lucas!” He fought back.

“No, you’re just being a big sissy!”

“Do you ever think Will went missing because he ran into something bad?” Dustin asked rhetorically. “And we’re going to the same spot where he was last seen? And we have no weapons or anything?”

“Dustin, shut up.” Mike snapped.

“I’m just saying does that seem smart to you?” He asked.

“Shut up. Shut up.” Mike said.

“Did you guys hear that?” Danielle asked them when they heard rustling.

Tamara quickly turned to where they heard the rustling and pointed to her flashlight. There was screaming in the distance, and then they heard someone stand behind them.

A small girl. She wore a yellow Benny’s t-shirt that for her like a dress and she had no shoes and no pants. Her head was shaved into a buzz cut. She seemed so young, no older than twelve. Her eyes were filled with fright when she looked at the group.

The fear in her eyes only grew as they kept pointing their flashlights in her direction.

#steve harrington #steve harrington x original character #stranger things #st1 #jonathan byers #abandoned love #nancy wheeler

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mikunato · 2 years

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River of Gods [wmmap x oc]

Headcanons

synopsis : this is a self-created world including characters of the famous manhwa "Who Made Me A Princess" and my oc "Arium Daphne Obelia".

disclaimer : any original characters mentioned are contributions from my friends. quite plot divergent. ships include lucas × athanasia, roger × anastacius, claude × original character(brief), claude × diana, original character × original character

1. Arium is a Latin name that roughly translates to 'gold'. It's a reference to her eye color that is a perfect mix of yellow and the Obelian Imperial jewel-like appearance.

2. Unlike most mothers in manhwas (ya'll don't think it's sus how they're all...y'know...ded), Arium's mother is alive and kicking and decided to follow through with the grueling process of divorce.

3. Divorce application from females was a new concept at that time and thus far difficult to appeal for, even harder considering her husband's Emperor status.

4. The reason? She, for a lack of better words, hated how callous Claude was with the empire, her loathe even further fueled by the Ruby Palace Massacre.

5. Manon Grire, Arium's mother, is a descendent from the Obelian family's biggest trade associate and military power supplant. She was also crowned Empress so she wasn't killed with the other concubines unless Claude wanted a revolution to break out and lose his throne.

6. Arium inherited Claude's honey blonde hair and decent height — standing at 5'10.

7. Personality-wise, she is a complex character. Unlike her parents, she isn't detached from her emotions, nor completely stern like her mother. She is normally sweet and doesn't mind taking the backseat in regards to displaying her feelings for the sake of catering to others' needs.

8. Arium has a dark side that first appeared when a lady wanted to behead a commoner girl for crossing the road while the lady's carriage passed, causing it to stop. Arium was being assisted by her knight around the capital when she threw her first temper tantrum and it was b a d.

9. Needless to say the noble was locked up, the woman being reduced to tears when Arium was through with her and she was only seven at that time. Seven.

10. In reality, Arium had awakened what the Grire's called 'Possession of Heaven and Hell'. It lets the user summon massive bouts of mana, that comparable to part of the World Tree and regarded as godly or demonic, varying on the summon type.

11. Arium is three years older than Athanasia and two years older than Jenette [I hc athy and jettie as one year apart]

12. Arium and Ijekiel met at the Arlantan Academy and became almost inseparable from then on. Ijekiel told her about the 'lady angel' thing and Arium just burst out laughing (cue a confused baby Kiel)

13. Arium was first introduced to Jenette after her return from the five year academic course in Arlanta.

14. Already being adept at recognizing mana nature, she easily concluded there was an illusion placed over the girl. Despite her suspicions, they got along very well, instantly bonding over their love for animals and recent trends in fashion.

15. Speaking of sisters, Arium and Athanasia have a love-hate relationship, just not to the extent of lucathy. Arium enjoys teasing Athy and Athy responds by acting like a mad/flustered bunny. But if her sister gets hurt, the person responsible will have a literal demon after them 😃

16. Arium met Lucas way before he met Athy. This happened when a four year old Arium, left unsupervised by her father who was getting frequent migraines, stumbled upon the Black Tower.

17. Long story short, she ended up getting spooked by a sleeping figure surrounded by cobwebs and ended up letting out a small jet of mana straight towards Lucas that woke him up.

18. Lucas planned to kill the 'vermin' who had disrupted his centuries worth of sleep only to find a girl that resembled a kicked pup, staring at him in awe (he let her go ahsvjajskas)

19. From then on, Arium frequented the Tower. At first Lucas would cast a boundary spell to prevent her from entering but after seeing her spend a particularly bad storm outside, he was forced to relent.

20. Lucas was then intrigued by her heritage, having never actually crossed paths with a Grire, he agreed to be her mentor (more for his amusement than to actually teach her) and surprisingly, his vague words and audio effects got through to the princess.

21. I headcanon mana to have certain types (like Lucas' is fire, Athy's being wind, etc.) Arium has two different types from the Possesion of Heaven and Hell. Her own individual mana, though, has water nature that helps in healing magic.

22. Arium immediately recognized Anastacius in Athy's debutante, having spent countless afternoons on her uncle's shoulders till the age of two, chasing butterflies and devouring savory food, 'cuz neither has a particularly sweet tooth.

23. Arium doesn't have infantile amnesia which means that she remembers everything she heard since the time she could hear from her mother's womb.

24. At age seventeen, just before her sister's debutante, she participated in the war against the Taboks, the empire that shared borders with Obelia in the north. She was just supposed to be a healer but whrn the enemy successfully invaded the battle camp, she alongside a few other capable mages had to fight, long enough for most of the defenseless ones to make an escape.

25. Alenox, the northern border, was defended and ended with fewer casualties than anticipated. Since then, Arium was granted a seat at the Council of Obelia.

Incorrect Quotes

Athanasia : So what's Lucas' type?

Arium : Blonde hair, blue eyes, oblivious, obsessed with chocolate, dog lover.

Athanasia : Sounds kind of like me. Too bad we're just friends.

Arium : Did I mention oblivious?

Athanasia : Yeah, why?

Arium : No, just making sure.

---

Athanasia : Thanks Lucas!

Lucas : Yeah, yeah. Whatever.

Arium : *hiding behind bushes and watching from afar with a telescope* Now...kiss!

---

Jeanette : So, what do I bring to the table?

Arium : You're the cute one.

Jeanette : ...?

Athanasia : *sigh* I'm the hot one, sis is the cool one and you are the cute one.

---

Arium : You know what strength is? It's forgiving someone who isn't even sorry.

Lucas : Not to be dramatic but I would literally rather die.

---

Ijekiel : I have a bad feeling about this.

Arium : What do you mean?

Ijekiel: Don't you have that little voice in your head that tells you if something is going to get you in trouble?

Arium : No.

Ijekiel : ...That actually explains a lot of things.

---

Claude : I'm having a tea party.

Arium : I don't want tea.

Claude : I never asked you to join me.

Arium : ...Then why tell me?

Claude : It's a conversation starter.

Arium : It's a horrible conversation starter.

Claude : Is it? We're conversing. Checkmate.

#mikunato.blogs #wmmap lucas #wmmap ijekiel #wmmap #who made me a princess #suddenly became a princess one day #wmmap athanasia #wmmap diana #wmmap x oc #wmmap headcanons #wmmap anastacius #wmmap jennette #wmmap claude #wmmap x reader #wmmap oc #manhwa #manhwua #isekai

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im-in-love-with-pizza-bites · 2 years

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Yours, Mine, Ours: Epilogue

Single-Dad!Chris Evans X Single-Mom!Reader

Series MasterList

List of OCs for this series

Series Summary: Your husband Caspian Richardson Senior died while serving in the military, so you move your three sons to Boston, MA. Where you meet an actor and his sweet daughter.

Series Warnings: Death of a spouse/parent, divorce of parents,

You and Chris got married on July 7th, 2026. While engaged, you bought a house together. 7 bed, 4 bath with a large yard, also with a pool like Jace wanted. Caspian had the smallest room since he wasn't technically living with you guys and really it was just going to be there to hold his belongings. Okay, let's talk about the wedding! It wasn't small but it wasn't huge either, since you both were married before. It had family and friends at it. Chris chose Scott as his best man, then his groomsmen were Anthony, Sebastian, Caspian, Jace, Connor, and Benjamin. A lot of the marvel cast was also invited but weren't a part of the wedding party. You chose, Maya as your maid of honor obviously, then, Shanna, Carly, and four of your other friends. Most are also wives of soldiers that you met before Caspian's death, but one was a woman who served with him who you became friends with. Now you may be wondering if the boys are groomsmen what was June? She was the cutest flower girl ever with Chris' niece, Stella. Then his nephews were the ring bearers. You guys also invited Senior's family to the wedding since they are also your family. They showed up of course to support you but you knew it was hard for them. You changed your name from Y/n L/n-Richardson to Richardson-Evans. So you could have the same last name as all four of your kids, June included. Chris could've cared less if you changed your name as long as you are happy. You two didn't plan on having any more kids, deciding four kids were enough especially since your oldest already moved out and the other three were all in school and everything. But you ended up getting pregnant a year after you got married and had another boy, named August. You quit the job you hated to be a stay-at-home mom again. If it was a job you liked you probably would've kept it despite your husband being rich. But you wanted to be a stay at mom for June and August like you were for your oldest three while they're young. Also you despised that job. Anyway onto the kids!

Caspian ended up proposing to his girlfriend, Kelly after dating her for a year and a half. Her brother, his basic training buddy was both excited and pissed. Caspian and Kelly had three kids together, Gregory, Milly, Jackie, and Luca. Gregory was named after him, his dad, and his grandpa. Since his and his dad's middle name is Gregory after his grandpa. Gregory was also named after your dad, with his middle name being Robert. Now, Milly, she's named after you, while Jackie is named after Kelly's family. Luca was named after Chris though, his name being Luca Christopher Richardson. Chris was ecstatic, he couldn't believe that Caspian would want to name his son after him. He cried, it's on video. Okay on to other things, Caspian retired from the army at 40 as a Sergeant Major. He then moved back to Boston with his family. After retirement, he started working for a construction company after a few years of being a stay-at-home dad for his kids.

Now let's talk about Jace! So he continued playing baseball during middle school and high school before getting a full-ride scholarship to play baseball for Mississippi State. He then went on to play for the major leagues. The teams he played for are, Tampa bay rays, Toronto blue jays, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and finally the Boston red sox. He was super excited when he got traded to the red sox since her be close to you and Chris, and his siblings. Now as for his family life outside of you and Chris. He married a girl his college girlfriend, Michelle.. They adopted three kids they're a sibling group so they're all biological siblings, their names are Dion, Josephina, and Esme. They continued to foster but didn't adopt again after that. Okay anyway, Jace is pretty famous. Mostly in the sports world, but some people not into sports know his name. Some claim it's only cause he's Chris' step-son. Also in interviews that either of them may have. If they're asked about each other. Chris always expresses how proud he is of Jace and how he loves going to his games. Not just cause he gets to sit in the box. Okay, that's one of the reasons. Jace always says that he loves having Chris as a step-dad and he tells some random story about something that Chris did when Jace was in high school at one of his games.

Alright moving on to Connor! He continued playing soccer all through middle and high school but unlike Jace, he didn't go pro, instead, he became an officer in the army. Caspian was a little salty cause his brother outranked him right when he joined. But he was proud since he knows Connor had to work twice as hard to become an officer over just enlisting as he did. Okay so Connor married a fellow army officer, Camilla Diaz, they had two daughters, Elana and Luna. If both Camilla and Connor got deployed the girls would either stay with you and Chris or Camilla's sister depending on who would be better available to take them for however long until one of them came home. Most of the time it was you and Chris since you were a stay-at-home mom for August anyway while Camilla's sister was working and didn't have the time to care for them especially when they were super young. Anyways Connor retired at 46. His wife retired at 40 though. Anyway, they decided to move back to Boston and they opened a sandwich/hoagie shop. It's called War-Subs, it's really popular. Especially for veterans, and active duty since they offer a discount. Obviously, since it's veteran run, anyway both Jace and Chris have slightly advertised it. Like when they opened Chris posted photos and stuff about opening day, and while Jace couldn't be there he reposted his brothers' story on his saying he couldn't wait to try it. So yes some of its popularity comes from his famous family but they didn't post much about it after. Though people could often find Chris there hanging out with his grandkids or having lunch with you. Also, Connor hired his nieces, nephews, daughters, and August to work there during high school/ college. It's a family-owned and run business.

Okay, let's pause before we talk about June. The boys started a non-profit. It's called Families in war. Its whole purpose is to help widows/widowers of soldiers rebuild their lives, get jobs, finding housing, childcare, schools. All the things that probably would've helped you so much those first few months. They also help veterans, with the same things, it's helped lower the veteran homelessness rate. Now the charity is obviously for Americans but they did once work with the brothers trust and put 50% of profits towards paying for Christmas presents and food for the veterans/widows and widowers of American soldiers and the other 50% was to do the same but for UK soldiers. It worked perfectly since the big prize thing was a dinner with Chris Evans, you, the Hollands, Jace, Caspian, Connor, and June, as well as their spouses. Not August cause he was a teen and really didnt want to go. Also, you'll find out why June went now!

Before we get into that though. You adopted June when she was 10, her mom tried objecting but since she skipped town when she was 2 the judge didn't pay any mind to her. Now for the good part, she joined tackle football in 4th grade, it was a boys team because they could find a girls team and thought it would be fine. She started as a kicker but eventually got moved to running back which was the position she stayed in. Well, she went on playing football, on an all-boys team until college where she got a free ride scholarship to play football for the Oklahoma state cowboys. She then went on to be drafted to play for the NFL like a fucking girl boss. Anywho the teams she played for are Pittsburgh Steelers, then the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Kansas City Chiefs. She went to two super bowls while on the Kansas City Chiefs but only won one. She never played for the Patriots though but she was really hoping she would. Also, she's famous, like super famous and a ton of young girls look up to her! That's why she went to the dinner since she too was famous it was a big deal cause the winner and 2 of their friends could have dinner with four famous actors/ athletes and their families. Now I do think she retires earlier than most players do. Just cause she is playing a male-dominated sport so she was playing against a lot of people who were either bigger or stronger than herself. Now onto other things like love! Who did she marry? Matthew butler. Her childhood best friend, and obviously your best friend's oldest son. Maya and Butler ended up having another baby the same year you had August. But we're not talking about them we're talking about June and Matty. Now of course he stopped going by Matty in middle school, he started going by Matt to everyone except family. Your family obviously included in that. Her and Matt had a son and daughter, Griffin and Violet. Both are very athletic, like there parents. Matt played football with her in middle and high school but enlisted in the army for four years before going to college for engineering.

And I don't have a personality for August yet so there's nothing for him. PLEASE READ MY A/N IT GIVES YOU ALL THE SEQUEL INFO THANK YOU

Taglist: @anacrcarvalho @traceyaudette @deputy-videogamer @stillthatbetch @queenofthepouges @dontbescaredtosingalong @hauntedmuffinpersonarascal @food8me @cedricdiggorysimpp @findthebeautyinbreakdowns @selluequestrian @killerqueenfan @lharrietg @liecastillo @denisemarieangelina @wisepeanutlady @unicornblueberry @stitchattacks @milacolibri @spooky-stoner @marvelmenwhore @saahmi @boldlypessimistic @freakyevanss @asuni921 @srhxpci @supriseeshawtyy @nova10711 @nik2write @blueeyeddemon1016 @happinessinthebeing @winterberryfox @sunwardsss @ellerosie2332 @tanyaherondale @hollzo-03 @xuxszx @patzammit @dakotazzzzz @scarletmeii @janaev4ns @channiechanchan @hibernocaledonian

A/n: Hi, you may be wondering, will there be a sequel. No, I honestly think it would be forced and not that good since I don't have a place to pick the series back up at. But good news! Once I open my requests you can request headcanons, side chapters, and just talk to me about the series if you would like. It's up to all of you whether or not the series ends completely, but I do have some ideas so the first few side chapters probably won't be requests. Also if you just want to talk about the series you don't need to wait until my requests are opened.

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raindancer2004 · 3 years

Text

I wish you were my mummy

Word Count: 6,325 Demetri x Child OC x Swan OC Warnings: Fluff, Angst

Polly was only covering for their usual secretary Gianna, who had been given time off to say goodbye to her dying mother, who sadly passed whilst she was there and Aro had kindly extended her time off to allow her to bury her mother.

Polly wanted immortality but knew once Gianna returned from leave, she would likely be killed as she would no longer serve a purpose, so she came up with an idea to seduce one of the guards, hoping that he would care enough to change her instead of allowing her to be killed when the time came. Her idea evolved after she overheard some of the guards talking about Renesmee Cullen, a half vampire / half human child.

Demetri was known to be friendly and somewhat flirty with the fairer sex but had never taken a secretary to bed before as there was always a chance, a small chance but a chance nonetheless that they could be turned and he’d have to see them every day. After a week or two of Polly’s shameless flirting with him, he decided to sleep with her knowing Aro had decided Polly would be killed upon Gianna’s return…Polly wasn’t that good at her job and Aro liked Gianna as she was very efficient. As arranged, following guard duty one Friday evening he knocked on Polly’s door and entered to find her dressed in very little.

To say Demetri was shocked when he discovered Polly was pregnant with his child was an understatement, he had been careful, used protection…he made sure of it. Unknown to him Polly had lied, she wasn’t on birth control and after he left her room, she attempted to impregnate herself using a turkey baster and the contents of his discarded condom. ‘hopefully this works’ she thought to herself having seen this technique work in a TV show she had seen recently.

Once Demetri found out about the pregnancy, he went to see Aro, who read his thoughts and was curious as to how Polly had conceived a baby when the tracker had been so careful. Upon reading Polly’s thoughts, he discovered her deception and was less than pleased. He informed Demetri of his discovery and it was decided once the baby was born, Polly would not be turned.

Heidi’s doctor friend who looks after the secretaries when they’re ill came to the castle and delivered the baby, Heidi acting as the nurse. Demetri and Felix waited outside of Polly’s room “I’ll ‘take care’ of Polly, if the birth doesn’t kill her” Felix said low “I don’t care how you do it Fe, she’s nothing to me” Demetri replied coldly, he hadn’t forgiven her despite her pleas for him to do so. He liked the idea of being a father and hoped he’d get the chance once he met his mate…if she was human, that is. He envied Edward Cullen a little, because he got to have a family with his mate, unlike him who was tricked into it.

Demetri loved his son the moment he saw him, noticing his son blue eyes; the blue eyes he had back when he was human. Demetri made his way to the throne room to introduce the Kings to his son “Masters, I would like to introduce you to my son Luca Marcus Volturi” Marcus smiled wide when he heard the baby’s name and was happy that Demetri had honoured him that way. Aro and Caius were also happy as they saw the light return to their brother’s eyes the moment the tracker had spoken. Aro knew that Marcus was close to Demetri as he had been his brother’s personal bodyguard for a millennia as well as the two sharing a love of history and the Arts.

Heidi and Jane helped Demetri look after Luca when Demetri was on duty, which wasn’t as often as Aro wanted to ensure Demetri and Luca bonded as it was just the two of them and Carlisle had mentioned how quickly Renesmee had changed in the first few months after she was born.

Aro received word that the Romanian coven had turned a number of humans in an attempt to rebuild their coven. The informant didn’t know numbers or where they were based but didn’t want to wait to find out, in case they decided to start a war.

Aro called Demetri, Felix and the twins to the throne room and explained the situation “I’m sorry Demetri but I need you track the Romanians and their ‘creations.’ I will need you to go with Felix and the twins to do so and I don’t know how long this mission will last” “I understand master. May I make a small request?” Demetri asked “Of course” Aro replied “I would like to ask Carlisle and Esme to take care of Luca in my absence as they have experience in raising children and I know Heidi will be busy arranging ‘tours.’ I will drop Luca off myself before meeting back up with Felix and the twins” “That is a reasonable request and it makes the most sense, although I will miss the little one dearly” Marcus replied, Aro and Caius nodding in agreement.

“Hello Carlisle, it’s Demetri. I hope you and your family are well” Demetri greeted once Carlisle answered the phone “Hello Demetri, we are well thank you, hope you are well too.” He replied. “I’m well too. I became a father recently…” “Congratulations, I wasn’t aware you had found your mate” Carlisle said cutting him off “Thank you. I haven’t found my mate…it’s complicated. I’ll explain when I see you” Demetri replied “Are you coming to visit, to check on Renesmee?” “Not exactly. I need help, a favour really from Esme and yourself” “I understand. How can we help you?” “I have to leave on a mission for the Kings and am not sure how long I will be away for and was hoping that you and Esme might agree to look after Luca for me. You have experience with raising children and I trust you to look after him” “Of course we will. Esme will be happy to have a little one in the house again” Carlisle told him “I bet” Demetri chuckled “When was you thinking of bringing him over?” “Within the next day or so, I apologise for the short notice” “That’s not a problem. Esme and I are leaving tomorrow morning for a short break, we’ll only be gone for a few days but Rosalie and Bella can look after him till we get back” “Thank you Carlisle, it’s appreciated. Enjoy your time away” “Thank you and look forward to seeing you soon” Carlisle and Demetri ended the call.

Carlisle told Esme and their children about Demetri’s phone call and that Luca would be coming to stay, Esme’s eyes lit up at the thought of having a baby in the house again ‘I know my wife so well’ he thought to himself. “When is Demetri dropping Luca off?” Esme asks “In the next day or two. He is aware that we are away for a few days but I said that Rose and Bella will look after him until we return” Carlisle responded “Why would you agree to that? He’s a Volturi” Rosalie asked not sounding very happy “Despite Demetri being an elite guard for the Volturi, he and I always got along even after I left the castle. I see him as a friend and he has asked for our help in caring for his son and I agreed” Carlisle answered her “Why do Bella and I have to care for him?” “Because Carlisle and I are away for a few days and you both have experience with looking after children” Esme replied this time. The Cullen teenagers were not happy but knew better than to argue seeing as the decision had been made.

Luca is three weeks old when Demetri drops him off at the Cullen house. Luca is able to talk and crawl, developing quickly as Renesmee had a few years before. Edward opened the door and greeted Demetri and led him inside the house. “Esme has set the travel cot up for Luca in the guest room” “Carlisle mentioned that Esme had kept hold of it, just in case it was ever needed again. Thank you” Demetri replied. Demetri put the small suitcase with Luca’s clothes and a few toys in the hallway and followed Edward upstairs. “Thank you Bella for helping look after Luca until Esme gets back, it’s much appreciated” Demetri said with a smile “That’s ok” Bella replied and took Luca from Demetri. Once he knew Luca was ok with Bella and Edward, he said goodbye to his son, kissing the top of his head and left to meet Felix and the twins.

An hour later Bella put Luca down for a nap and waited for her sister Elena to arrive. As Elena made her way to the family room, she heard the voices of her sister and the Cullens. It sounded like they were arguing “Jasper and I are not ‘playing house’ with the baby. If I wanted a baby I would adopt one” Alice said firmly, Jasper nodded and added “Don’t get us wrong we love Ness and would do anything for her, but Luca…Luca is not family.” “Who’s Luca?” Elena asked, curious. Bella and the Cullens turned to look at her. “Luca is the hybrid son of a friend of Carlisle’s and we have been asked to look after him until he and Esme return” “Oh ok, that’s the baby Esme said was coming to stay for a bit. So, what’s the problem?” “His dad is an Elite Guard for the Volturi” Emmett answered her, his tone wasn’t pleasant. The argument about who would look after Luca resumed.

“I can’t believe you lot, you won’t help out a friend of Carlisle’s just because you don’t like his ‘family’…” “It’s not just that. We’re not very fond of him either” Bella says cutting Elena off “Ok, you don’t like his father much either but Luca’s just a baby and you’re refusing to look after him. From what Esme told me, the baby’s father is without a mate and trusted you lot to look after his son while she was away” Elena replied “Well Alice and Jasper aren’t interested in ‘playing house’ with him. I have plans with Edward, Jake and Ness and don’t need the added complication of a baby” Bella said as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Wouldn’t Ness like a playmate or something I mean, he’s a hybrid like her?” “I said NO” Bella replies glaring at her sister. “Well, he needs someone to look after him. You can’t leave him home alone” Elena argued back and turned to look at Rosalie “For someone who misses being able to have children, I can’t believe you are turning down the opportunity to care for him. I mean you have experience of looking after a hybrid” Silence fills the room for a moment “HOW DARE YOU…” Rosalie begins “NO! HOW DARE YOU?” Elena shouts back “Considering his family moto is ‘The Volturi don’t give second chances,’ they have given you all multiple chances in the past due to the actions of my sister and Edward and you can’t be repay them with a simple act of kindness. It’s disgusting, and you say they’re monsters. You’re refusing to look after a baby, an innocent baby despite Carlisle giving his word that the baby would be cared for whilst he and Esme were away for a few days” Elena adds eyeing the Cullens with distain. “You don’t understand…” Emmett starts but Elena cut him off “I understand perfectly. You’re all selfish assholes. I mean I know about your world, which we all know breaks their most basic law and unlike Bella I don’t have a reason to become immortal…so I’m dead when they find out. You really have learnt nothing over the past few years�� Elena doesn’t wait for a response and makes her way upstairs to the guest room to check on Luca.

She enters the room to see a baby boy asleep in the travel crib, he appears to be older than he should be ‘vampire genes’ she thought to herself. After a few moments Luca’s eyes flutter open and she notices his blue eyes looking up at her. He sits up and raises his arms “Up please” He says with a smile on his face. Elena smiles back and lifts him up into her arms. “Hello Luca, I’m Elena. It’s nice to meet you” “And you” He replies softly and rested his head on her shoulder, she breathed his scent ‘Aww, he has that new baby smell’ she thought smiling “Daddy does too that when we cuddle” Luca told her “Sorry, you just have that new baby smell” She told him, her cheeks a little flushed “You smell nice too” He replied low.

A door slammed downstairs and she felt Luca flinch in her arms “How about a sleepover at my house? It’ll be quiet there as my dad is working tonight” She asked and he nodded “I don’t like the shouting” He replied softly “Me neither.” Elena put Luca on the bed and collapsed the travel crib and gathered his things “Stay right there sweetie, I’ll be right back” “Ok” He replied and watched Elena go downstairs. Elena put the crib and his suitcase in the trunk of her car and made her way back inside to collect Luca. She picked him up off the bed and went downstairs with him in her arms “What are you doing?” Bella asked just Elena reached the front door “Taking Luca to my house to look after him. It’s quiet there” She replied and walked out of the house to see Emmett putting Ness’ car seat in her car “I figured you’d need it” “Thanks” She replied and strapped Luca in, before getting in her car and driving away, not sparing a look in her rear-view mirror.

“I can’t believe she took him” Bella said looking at Edward “I can. She’s human and she seemed pretty angry with us” Rosalie replied from inside the house “Not to mention none of us were going to look after him, I mean if we upset him or something happens to him, they’d have our heads” Emmett added “Well, that’s her problem now” Edward stated “Edward! That’s my sister” “I’m sorry Bella, but Luca is better off with your sister than being left here alone until Esme and Carlisle return” Edward replied.

Elena parked on the drive and took Luca’s crib and suitcase in the house and then returned to the car “We need to get some stuff for you. What do you like to eat?” She asked “I don’t know. Daddy and Auntie Heidi and Auntie Jane give me bottles of milk, something about it being good for children’s teeth and bones” He replied “Let me guess, they’ve read a baby book” She mused “Yep. Daddy has a few of them” Elena took a deep breath “You don’t need to drink blood, do you?” Luca shook his head “Daddy gave me a little bottle of blood last week just to see if I liked it. It was ok” He replied “Ok then. Well, I’m human and can’t give you blood so…I’m going to nurture your human side and feed you food that us humans eat. Sound good?” Luca nodded and smiled at her.

Elena parked the car and turned to look at Luca “Right, I need you not to talk whilst we’re in the shop” Luca looked confused “Ok, so human babies don’t speak until they’re about a year old. You look like a six-month-old baby, despite being less than a month old” “Oh, so I have to pretend to be a human baby who can’t talk?” “Yes please, just while we’re in the shop. Is that ok?” “That’s ok” He replied.

Elena put Luca in the seat on of the trolley and made her way around the shop picking up the items she required, being stopped every so often by someone complimenting Luca. “Aww, he’s adorable” One old lady commented, Luca just smiled at her. “Oh, he’s gorgeous and so well behaved, unlike some” Another lady said as she side eyed a toddler throwing a tantrum. Elena politely thanked them all and continued on their way.

“Are all humans that friendly?” Luca asked on the drive home “Most, you get a few that aren’t very nice, so it’s best to avoid those people” Elena replied and Luca nodded. Once they arrived back at Elena’s house, she carried him inside and unpacked the shopping, Luca watching her with curiosity in his blue eyes.

That night Elena cooked sausage, mash and peas, figuring she’d try something simple for Luca’s first-time eating food. “This is nice, thank you” Luca said with a smile “I’m glad you liked it sweetie” She replied “If you want you can have some milk before bed?” “Ok, thank you” He responded.

Elena set the travel crib up in her room and after bathing him she put him to bed, reading to him whilst he drunk a bottle of milk. “Goodnight Luca, sweet dreams” She said softly, “Goodnight Elena” He replied and drifted off to sleep.

Elena woke the next morning to find Luca sitting up in the crib “Morning Elena” “Morning Luca” She replied and got out of bed and lifted him out of the crib. Once downstairs, Elena gave Luca a bottle of milk and made herself a coffee as she made them both Vanilla and Honey flavoured porridge “Mmm, this is nice” Luca said smiling “It’s one of my favourite flavours” She replies. Elena introduced Luca to the world of Disney, both of them getting teary as they watched Bambi.

Esme and Carlisle returned home two days after Luca arrived to find Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper and Alice in the family room, but there was no sign of a heartbeat or anything belonging to a child “Where is Luca? Is he with Bella and Edward at the cottage?” Esme asked looking at them, they looked at each other before looking back at her “Luca isn’t with Bella and Edward” Rose answered “Where is he, I know he isn’t here?” She replied “He’s with Elena. She took home the day he arrived” Emmett answered and Carlisle sighed loudly, pinching the bridge of his nose “Why is he with her?” He asked “None of us wanted to look after him in your absence and well…Elena called us all out on behaviour and went upstairs grabbed Luca and his stuff and left. We haven’t seen them since” Alice replied this time “I did give her the car seat for him” Emmett adds “Oh, well, that’s alright then, as long as she has the car seat” Carlisle responded sarcastically “I’ll go call Elena and let her know we’re home” Esme left the room and heard her husband tell their children how disappointed he was with all of them.

Elena and Luca were at the park when Esme called to tell her she and Carlisle were home. “Luca, Esme and Carlisle are home and have asked that I take you over there” “Ok, when do we go?” He replied “Whenever we’re ready” He nodded “I’m ready to leave the park” He told her and helped her gather their things before going back to the car.

A few hours later they arrive at the Cullen house “Hello Elena” Esme smiled “Hello Esme” “This must be Luca, I’m Esme. It’s nice to meet you” She said softly “Hello Esme, it’s nice to meet you too” He replied. They followed Esme upstairs and saw Carlisle waiting for them “Hello Elena, Luca” “Hello Carlisle” Elena replied “Hello” Luca responded. Carlisle noticed how Luca stayed beside Elena even when Esme was talking to him, he wondered if Luca felt safer with Elena than with them given the attitude of his children.

“Well I should get going, things to do and all that” Elena said as she stood, Luca got up too and slipped his hand in hers “It was nice to meet you” Luca said smiling at Esme and Carlisle “Luca, now we’re home you’ll be staying with us as per the arrangement with your dad” Esme said softly, Luca shook his head “I want to stay with Elena” He replied “I can come visit you whilst you’re here” Elena said as she crouched down to his level, noticing his eyes had filled with tears. “I want to stay with you. I don’t want to stay here” He said and tears began to fall, Elena’s heart broke a little and she decided she wouldn’t leave him, not whilst he’s upset “How about I stay over tonight with you? If that’s ok with you Esme?” Elena asks, Luca turns to look at Esme waiting for her answer “Of course, that’s not a problem” She replied. Luca wrapped his arms around Elena “Thank you” His voice sounding muffled as he snuggled into her.

Luca liked Esme as she seemed nice but he preferred Elena looking after him, this included bath and bedtime. “I think it’s bath time” Esme said looking at Luca “Ok, come on Elena” He replied and got up from the floor where he was sitting and looked Elena “I think Esme planned on bathing you tonight” Elena told him and he shook his head “Can you bath me please?” He asked, Elena looked at Esme who nodded at her “You know where everything is” She said with a smile “Come on then Luca” Elena took his hand and they went upstairs to the bathroom. “Don’t take it personally love” Carlisle said low in his wife’s ear “He’s just gotten used to Elena caring for him. Give him time to get to know you” He kissed her temple “I know, I just thought he’d be ok with us looking after him now we’re home, that’s all” She replied.

Once Luca had been bathed Elena gave him a bottle of milk and read him a bedtime story “I like the stories you tell me” Luca said, his voice sounding sleepy “I’m glad. These are some of favourite stories too” She replied low. Elena showered and changed into the pyjamas Esme lent her.

Luca had been in Forks for about a week when he started walking, Elena felt bad that his dad was missing his son’s first steps so decided to take videos of his attempts and she was so happy she managed to capture his actual first steps on video too.

The following day Elena took Luca into town with her and visited her favourite bookstore, taking him straight over to the children’s section. His eyes went wide when he noticed the number of books in the store “Wow, and I thought daddy had lots of books” Elena chuckled but found his reaction cute. She bought him a copy of the fairy tale book she’s been reading him of a night-time. “Thank you Elena” He said with a smile “You’re very welcome sweetie” She replied with a smile of her own.

That night Elena took Luca back to the Cullens stopping to pick up some of her stuff. Elena sat in the bathroom with Esme and Luca as she gave him a bath. Luca had agreed to let Esme bath him as long Elena was there ‘it’s a start’ Esme thought to herself. Esme also read him a bedtime story before tucking him in and wishing him goodnight.

Elena took Luca to the Transport museum as she figured he’d probably like the different cars and trains. He found it amazing “I’ve never seen a train before” Luca told her “You know they have a small train outside that leaves the ‘station’ every hour and goes around the grounds. Would you like to go on the train?” She replied “Yes please” He answered, both curious and excited by the idea. They saw the different cars, buses and trains on display, Elena read out the information about each one. “I think I like the trains the best” Luca told Elena on the drive back to Elena’s house.

Over the next few days Elena and Luca baked cookies and brownies and made pizzas for dinner. They also coloured in the new colouring books she had bought for him following their trip to the Natural History museum, where Luca saw lots of dinosaur skeletons and found them fascinating.

Demetri had checked in occasionally with Carlisle via text and had a short phone call with him to advise he should be coming home the following day. Esme relayed the message to Elena, but asked her not to tell Luca in case something changed.

Elena took Luca to the Zoo and watched as Luca looked at all of the animals with awe and curiosity flashing through his eyes. Luca fed a baby giraffe some leaves through the fence “That was fun. I’ll have to ask daddy to bring me back here” He said bouncing up and down “Glad you’re having fun sweetie” She replied as they headed to the Elephant enclosure and Elena noticed a sign ‘Elephant’s bath time – 5 minutes’ “Would you like to watch the elephants have a bath?” “Yes, please Elena” He replied. Luca found it funny when the baby elephant went and rolled in a muddy puddle just after having his bath “Silly little elephant” He said pointing to the animal and Elena chuckled “Maybe someone should have told him how bath time works” She replied and he nodded.

Demetri had been away for nearly three weeks and arrived at the Cullen house to find Marcus waiting for him, but not his son. “Hello master” He greeted Marcus with a bow of his head before turning to look at Carlisle “Where’s my son? I know he’s not here” “He’s safe. He’s with Elena, they’re on their way over now” Carlisle replied “Who’s Elena?” “She’s Bella’s younger sister and…she’s been taking care of Luca whilst you’ve been away” “WHAT?...WHY?” Demetri demanded “It would seem that whilst Carlisle and Esme were away their children and Bella refused to look after Luca and Elena gave them quite a talking too and then decided she would care for your son until they returned. However, Luca has become quite attached to the human girl and didn’t want to stay here without her. So, Elena has continued to care for him, splitting her time between her home and the Cullen’s” Marcus answered calmly. “I have helped Elena out a little since I’ve been back but she has taken great care of him and they have become almost inseparable” Esme added smiling. “Another human knows about us? That means she has to be dealt with and as I’m the only guard here, that job falls to me…” He trailed off, Esme and Carlisle paled and looked to Marcus “It’s our law…your children shouldn’t have told her about us unless one of them planned on changing her” Marcus answered their unasked question. “What a great way to say thank you to the girl who has cared for my son” Demetri mumbled, although they heard him. This was one order he was hoping Marcus wouldn’t give, but he knew if the situation wasn’t dealt with now Caius would send Felix and possibly want to start a fight with the Cullens. The four vampires were so busy talking about the less than ideal situation they didn’t notice Elena and Luca enter the house; they heard everything, Elena knew her time was up…today.

Elena took a deep breath and entered the room “Hello Esme, Carlisle, sorry we’re a bit late I took him out for breakfast” Elena said with a smile “We had waffles with berries and syrup” Luca added, sounding excited. “Hello Luca and you must be Elena. It’s nice to meet you” Marcus said with a small smile “Hello Marcus” Luca replied “It’s nice to meet you too” Elena added.

Luca noticed his dad on the opposite side of the room and ran to him “Daddy, daddy” Demetri scooped him up into his arms holding him close, breathing in his scent. “I’ve missed you daddy” “I’ve missed you too, more than you know” Demetri replied. “You’ve grown so much and you’re walking, when I left you could only crawl” Demetri said as he looked his son over “I-I took videos of him attempting to walk and of his first steps for you. I know it’s not the same as seeing it in person but I thought you’d like to see it all the same. If you give me your number, I can forward them to you. If you have an email address, I can send you the many photos I’ve taken from our days out” Elena said softly, with a smile. “Thank you. I’ll write them down for you” He replied not looking at her. Demetri was angry, no seething, his son had thrived under the care of the human girl, the girl who had no reason to step up and take care of his son and he had to kill her…just to keep their secret. He refused to think about her name as it would only make his ‘task’ harder.

“We went to the Zoo yesterday and there were so many animals daddy. We watched the elephants get a bath and I got to feed a baby giraffe some leaves through the fence” Luca eyes were full of excitement “Elena even bought me a stuffed dolphin.” “Sounds like you’ve had fun” Marcus mused “Yep. We’ve been to the park, the Transport Museum, I really liked the trains. We went shopping and she bought me a book of fairy tales. Elena and I also had a hot chocolate and a gingerbread man once we finished shopping. It was yummy. Oh, and we saw dinosaurs too” Demetri and Marcus looked confused, Elena chuckled before replying “I took him to the Natural History Museum, there are dinosaurs on display.” Demetri nodded, still not looking at Elena, she knew why and didn’t mind. She was just a little upset that he had to be the one to kill her considering she had cared for his son for the past few weeks. She decided she’d tell him that she understood that it was his job to protect their secret and would give him her forgiveness, hoping that would help him live with his actions.

Luca’s voice bought her out of her thoughts “Oh, and we baked cookies and brownies. We even made pizzas for dinner. We had a few duvet days…” Demetri looked confused again and Luca laughed “It means we stayed in our pyjamas and watched movies all day. We ate popcorn and ice-cream too” Luca added smiling. “I hope you don’t mind but I kinda nurtured his human side, seeing as I’m human so he’s tried many human foods and seemed to like most of them” Elena explained “That’s very good of you, thank you” Demetri replied “Well, I figured you have an eternity to nurture his vampire side so…” She replied trailing off and he nodded. Elena noticed the look Marcus gave Carlisle and Esme and took a breath “I’m going to get his stuff from the car” Elena made her way outside “I’m going to help her” Luca added and followed Elena outside.

Luca sat on the steps leading up to the house, Elena sat beside him “Thank you for looking after me” “You’re very welcome sweetie” She replied and wrapped an arm around him. He got up and climbed into her lap and wrapped his arms around her, his head resting on her shoulder. Elena wrapped her arms around him and held him close, resting her head gently on his, both of them feeling tears build up in their eyes.

“I’m sorry Elena” He said softly and she knew what he meant for he had heard their conversation too. “You have nothing to apologise for…” “If you hadn’t looked after me, they wouldn’t know about you” Luca cut her off, a tear slipping down his cheek “I don’t regret looking after you Luca and they would have found out eventually” She replied softly and held him a little tighter.

The four vampires inside the house could hear their conversation and Demetri had never hated their laws or his job until today. He didn’t have a problem with humans, probably because he spent so much time in their world tracking vampires and he has no problems killing them to survive but this human did not deserve to die. He knew Luca wouldn’t fully understand the situation and was likely to hate him for killing his friend. ‘Gods I hope Marcus doesn’t give the order’ he thought to himself.

Meanwhile, Elena and Luca were still outside saying goodbye “I want you to promise me something Luca” She felt him nod against her “Do not blame daddy, he is just following orders. He has to keep your world a secret from mine.” Luca didn’t say anything. Demetri couldn’t believe how kind she was being despite knowing what was to happen to her. “Promise me Luca” He nodded and held out his little finger and she wrapped hers around it gently “Pinky promise” Luca said. This was something she had taught him when she promised not to leave him at the Cullen house.

A few moments of silence passed before Luca broke it “I’m sorry you don’t get to get married and have a family, like Esme” She felt tears slip down her cheeks too “I may not get to be a mummy but that’s ok. I at least got to see what it was like to be a mummy by looking after you” She stroked his hair gently “I wish you were my mummy” He said tears falling down his cheeks “Me too sweetie, me too” She replied “I love you” Luca snuggled into her further “I love you too” She replied holding him closer.

Demetri’s undead heart broke upon hearing their declarations, standing up he looked at Marcus “I can’t kill her. I won’t kill her. I’ll take her home and turn her. We’ll raise Luca together” He didn’t wait for a response and made his way outside to comfort Elena and his son, hoping Marcus would understand and not object to his decision.

“Elena” Demetri said softly as he stood in the doorway ‘this is it’ she thought and pulled back from Luca “I need you to go inside and stay with Esme and remember what I said ok?” She said softly, wiping his tears away with her thumbs “Ok” He replied low and wiped the tears from her eyes too. Before Luca could get up from Elena’s lap, they both felt strong arms wrap around them “Please don’t cry, I can’t bear it” “But…” “I’ve told Marcus I won’t harm you, in fact I’m taking you home with me” Demetri said cutting her off “Why?” She asked low “I will not repay your kindness that way and I couldn’t live with myself knowing I killed someone as sweet as you. You looked after my son when you had no reason to. You have come to care for one another…I heard your conversation, his wish, your reply. He already lost one mother before he got a chance to know her, I will not let him lose another” Demetri vowed and tightened his hold on them “But what about when you meet your mate?” Elena asked but before Demetri could answer Marcus spoke up “He already has my dear” Demetri, Elena and Luca looked up at him, confused looks on their faces “Demetri was so angry when he discovered that the Cullen children refused to look after Luca in Esme’s absence, that they had let you do so; knowing what that meant for you, that he refused to look at you. He didn’t want to look at the kind and caring human that had taken care of his son, knowing what he had to do, if ordered” He paused for a moment to see if they understood, and then continued “If Demetri had looked at you…just once, he would have known that you are his mate, his one true love” Elena and Demetri wore matching shocked expressions as their gazes switched between each other and Marcus, Demetri’s hold on Elena tightened slightly. “How-how do you know, if-if he didn’t?” Elena asked “It’s my gift. I can see relationships between people, how they are tied or bonded to each other. For example, I can see that a strong mother and son bond has developed between you and Luca in the few short weeks you’ve known one another. There is the beginnings of a strong mate bond between Demetri and you, it just needs to be nurtured, in order for you to live happily ever after, as they say” Marcus replied smiling.

“Does that mean Elena is coming home with us daddy?” Luca asked sounding hopeful “It does…as long as she agrees” Demetri replied looking at Elena and his son “Y-you really want me?” She asked Demetri “Yes, darling I do…I planned to take you home remember, to turn you and raise our son together and that was before I knew you were mine. Marcus has just confirmed that you are my mate…which means you will be with us for eternity” He looked into her eyes trying to read her “I want you to come home with us too…please” Luca added, she looked down at him still in her arms and smiled. “O-ok I guess we can try out this eternity thing” She replied looking at Demetri, giving him a small smile “I promise to look after you both and I will do everything I can to make you happy” He replied, Luca smiled knowing his new mummy was coming home with them…Forever.

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lorna-d-m · 3 years

Text

Lights Out: Ch. 17

Summary: Roxanne, recently graduated and unemployed, gets a call from her childhood friend and hero: her cousin James hunt. In need of a social media manager after one too many scandals, he can think of no one better than Roxanne for the position. Excited about a fun job and getting to know more about her cousin, she jumps at the chance. However, amongst all the bright lights of both the circuit and the media, Roxanne falls in love with his rival: Niki Lauda.

Pairing: Niki Lauda (Rush 2013) x fem!OC Roxanne Hunt

Word Count: 4,506

W: language, angst, some slut shaming (we don’t support it folks), explicit sex

A/N: Check out the race report here for more info! We’re finally into the 1976/2021 season :) Any mistakes are my own, and let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!

previous chapter

Long Beach Circuit, United States of America.

Thursday, April 8th, 2021

After the first two races of the season, which Niki won with a comfortable lead, he was summoned to the stewards. He didn’t bother to hide his surprise that it took the FIA nearly a month to talk to him directly about the “incident”; that was the FIA. Senseless, inconsistent, aggravating, but with the power to punish and penalize him. Niki ran a smoothing hand down his brown pants leg to wipe the sweat off his palm and studied the room.

They sat at a conference table in the FIA quarters, hastily put together on press day, and the fluorescent lights flickered overhead. Niki wasn’t sure if it was the lights or the meeting that made him nauseous Both, he decided, both. He had his interrogation, discussion as Luca reminded him twice, in the morning, and Roxanne would go in for hers in after. She waited outside the building at the coffee station across the way. He didn’t like that they went separately, but she assured him she could hold her own.

“Let’s start with an easy one, shall we?” Michael glanced at Niki and the Ferrari executives accompanying him. Niki already answered Ferrari’s questions, but they were there to ensure Niki answered as he should and to defend him should it prove necessary. “How did you and Ms. Hunt meet?”

“So Netflix can hold the mics to the door while we fuck but can’t show how we met?” Niki scoffed. “Typical.” At Luca’s harsh glare, Niki bit back another retort and answered. “I met her at the season opener, so March 26th, 2020.” Michael looked at him expectantly, so he continued. “She was lost, so I showed her the way to the press area.” They spent their one year anniversary in South Africa, two days before the race, and he found it oddly fitting. They met on the track and they stayed on the track.

The men scrambled to write and type his answers. “And did you know at this time who she was?” As if that could have stopped him. Niki was tempted as soon as she called him an asshole.

“I knew she was James Hunt’s personal assistant; I did not know they were related.” There was no mistaking who she worked for: the overstuffed backpack and crisp uniform said it before she could. “I found out that night when she accepted my Instagram request,” he added. Niki took a sip of the coffee he bought with Roxanne before the meeting. She convinced him to add a touch of caramel to it, and the sweet flavor reminded him of her and every time he tasted it on her lips.

“And when did your relationship move beyond friendship?”

This was the one question Niki and Roxanne discussed. She claimed when they met as their anniversary, but in an investigation into the nature of their relationship, he needed a more specific pinpoint of when they went from being friends to “beyond” as Michael put it.

“Shortly after Brazil,” he tried to remember the date. “April 14th?” he hazarded. That was when they almost fucked in his car rather than the 19th in South Africa where they did fuck in his car. Niki remembered the odd stare he got when he returned the Ferrari rental, glancing from the stain on the seat and back at the man, before smirking and walking away.

“And why did you keep your relationship a secret?” Michael's tone bordered the line between harsh and overly friendly as if that would make him share more. “You do understand that regardless of her personal connection to Mr. Hunt, any relationship across team lines must be reported to HR and to the FIA to be closely monitored?”

“I didn’t want to deal with all the bullshit.” That was the simplest Niki could make his answer. He could say it was because it would put her job at risk, and ultimately did, that it would draw more attention from the press than any of his racing, that he’d have to answer stupid questions, when to summarize all he had to say was call it all bullshit. Luca glared at him again, and Niki shrugged. It was the truth of how he felt.

“Did you ever discuss any aspect of racing or cars with her? Did she ever ask for any technical information?”

“Of course.” Niki rolled his eyes and licked his lips. “We only talked about cars, and aerodynamics make me hard, and when I’m balls deep in her talking about the tyre wear of the car is the only thing that can get me off.”

Michael sighed and set down his pen. Luca frowned at Niki after stifling a laugh. Niki sat back in his seat, crossed his arms, and smirked.

“Mr. Lauda, this is a serious inquiry into the nature of your relationship. We do not mean to pry, but we must rule out any chances of foul play.”

“I’m being serious, too.” Niki grew more stern, his brows furrowing together and his tone sober. “We never talked about my car, his car, the team developments, or anything else of that nature.”

Quick typing filled the awkward silence. Niki pressed his thin lips together, anticipating another question.

“Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Lauda.” He quirked his eyebrows. That was one way of putting it. “We will inform you of the results when we have them.”

“Thank you.” Niki shook the man’s hand and left, the Ferrari members hot on his tail. Once out of the FIA area, he pulled out his phone.

Niki: As we expected, when did we meet, did I know who you were, when did it get serious, why was it a secret. They should ask you the same bullshit and then let you go.

***

Roxanne was not afforded the same level of Ferrari security and priority. They sent one press team member with her to record her answers, no doubt to match them up with what she told them, and that was it. Niki was busy doing press interviews with Sky F1, so Roxanne remembered what he told her about keeping her head up high. If she walked with confidence she would feel confident.

Sitting in the flickering conference meeting, she glanced all around her. Official men in suits sat with laptops and notepads, already typing and writing away before she could say anything. Roxanne grew self-conscious about the dress she wore, maybe it was too low cut or too brightly colored or too short or anything else they might use to paint her like the whore the media wanted her to be.

“Ms. Hunt,” she quickly focused on the man speaking to her. Michael. Niki told her the lead man’s name was Michael, “is it correct that you are no longer an employee of McLaren Racing?”

“Yes,” she tried to sound firm but congenial, straightforward but kind, “I resigned on February 28th, and my contract with Hesketh racing ended when the company went under.”

“So you are not currently employed by any Formula One team or organization in any capacity?” These were formalities she expected. If she stood any chance of being allowed back into the garages and the team areas she needed to be thoroughly vetted.

“That is correct.”

“When did you meet Mr. Lauda, and what was the nature of this interaction? Were you aware of who he was?”

Was she aware of who he was? She called him an asshole, for Christ’s sake, and then instantly realized who she spoke to. There was no mistaking a man like Niki Lauda. “At the season opener, March 26th. He showed me where the press area was since I was lost.” The other men at the table leisurely wrote what she said as if it was less important. “And yes, I recognized Mr. Lauda on that day.”

“When did your relationship move beyond friendship?”

“A little after the Brazilian Grand Prix.” She couldn’t help but smile at the memory. Niki had been so eager in the car that night. If only the windows were tinted… No matter. She learned in South Africa what he could do in a more private car. “It was the fourteenth. He offered to drive me home from the circuit,” was all she offered.

“Why did you keep your relationship a secret?” Michael’s voice was condescending. “You could have reported it to HR, your team, the FIA, or even your cousin at any time. Inter team relationships, specifically between assistants and drivers, are serious matters.” As if Roxanne didn’t understand the implications until now.

She kept her voice level. “I enjoyed the work I did as a personal assistant and media manager and wanted to continue working. I did not want the hassle and fuss of a public relationship with a driver.”

I did not want to upset my cousin, which I clearly did. Roxanne shook the thought from her head. James hadn’t spoken to her since that fateful day in the McLaren garage, and if he didn’t know how to be civil then she didn’t care. Roxanne didn’t trust herself to remain dignified either. When the metaphorical cat came out of the bag, she had been too frightened to put up a fight. Now, after picking up the pieces, she knew that if James said the same thing again to her she was liable to say much worse to him.

“Were there any other perks to your employment that you exploited? Such as accessing intimate knowledge of the car set up or debriefing information?”

“Exploited?” Her brow creased, and her jaw clenched. “I never exploited anything. I wasn’t interested in designs, technology, or anything else.” She reaffirmed, “Only Niki.”

Michael looked at her skeptically as he wrote down her answer. “You’re dismissed, Ms. Hunt.” He was mocking her, she thought. The way he said Ms. Hunt, with a sneer and cold derision in his voice.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Roxanne left the table. She made plans to meet Niki after- he promised to sit down and review what happened- and she couldn’t wait to tell him everything Michael said to her. Niki would be just as pissed off as she was.

***

Niki couldn’t believe what Roxanne told him. Well, he could believe it, but he couldn’t stand it. He needed to say something, more than he said in Brazil, more than he said in South Africa, more than he’d ever said before. Niki needed to say enough to get the American press at Long Beach, which was sure to hound him about the situation, to back the fuck off.

He didn’t settle into the uncomfortable chair they used for press conferences. Niki tapped his foot on the floor and he chewed his bottom lip as he waited for them to settle. Roxanne wasn’t allowed in the room, which he thought was absolutely ridiculous since everyone else was allowed in, but he knew she watched it on her phone in the coffee shop.

“Niki, do you have any news on the investigation? We heard you were summoned to the stewards this morning. Is there anything you’d like to share?” Some poor man in the front row was the first to speak, and Niki prepared to tear him to shreds.

He nodded and looked out across the room. The Ferrari press manager sat off to the side and jotted down everything Niki said for their records. “I do have something I would like to say, yes.” Everyone leaned in, waiting to see what the newest crumb of gossip would be.

“The way you have latched on to this story and treated Roxanne is disgusting.” His eyebrows furrowed and his lip curled in revulsion. “You all treat her like your own entertainment, a cheap floozy to sell headlines.” Niki pointed directly at the audience, directly at the man who asked. “You’ve taken my private relationship and turned it into a tawdry scandal, as if there aren’t other drivers cheating on their girlfriends, cheating on their wives, cheating on both at the same time.” The driver next to him blushed and looked away from Niki.

“You could have asked me anything.” Niki raised the hand that wasn’t holding the microphone and gestured wildly. “The car performance and how it’s far superior to anything on the field, how I’ve won the first two races of the season which is an incredible feat, how I feel about this street circuit being used for the first time ever, anything, and you ask me this shit?” He scoffed. “Fuck you.”

Rather than storming out as he had in Spain, he remained seated with his hand tight on the microphone. Niki wanted to watch them squirm, cross out the question from their lists, really think about what he said. Pens scratched on paper, keyboards clacked, and several people cleared their throats or awkwardly coughed to break the silence. Finally, someone else raised their hand to speak, and Niki nodded at them to continue.

“So what do you think about the Long Beach track?” Niki felt relieved to receive a real question for the first time in weeks.

“I know it’s been likened to an American Monaco, but I can’t say how it compares until I drive it in practice tomorrow.” They dutifully recorded his response. “The two hairpins and the tight corners should work in our favor.”

Sunday, April 12th, 2021

Roxanne couldn’t see much of the street track from the Paddock Club vantage point, so she relied on the screens and the commentary. The track was likened in the media to an American Monaco, and after qualifying fourth on the grid Niki had much to say about it. It boiled down to the sentiment that the course was much bumpier than Monaco and harder on the car, but far easier on the driver. Clay, Depailler, and unfortunately Hunt all started ahead of him, and the cameras showed Niki clenching his jaw and staring as the team put the final touches on his car on the grid.

“This is Niki Lauda’s first start outside of the front row in seven races.”

“That’s right, it was last year’s British Grand Prix last year when he started on the second row, wasn’t it?”

“It was indeed. He’ll be looking to get a good start off the line, and at least jump ahead of the man beside him, James Hunt.”

Niki, who now wore his bright red helmet with his name printed clearly on the side, turned to look at James. Roxanne remembered what James allegedly told Niki after their shared podium in South Africa, and she knew it troubled him more than he let on. He laughed at the time, saying how ridiculous it sounded when James said “You know that wind you feel is me breathing down your neck. Next time I’ll have you,” and how Niki countered with a cool “We’ll see,”. But, Roxanne knew James out qualifying Niki for the third time in a row cut him much deeper.

Roxanne didn’t consider herself to be superstitious, but there were a few goofy rituals she kept for Niki. For instance, she started every race day with a fresh coffee, a touch of caramel to sweeten it, and some baked good from wherever they raced. In France, she tried pain au chocolat, and in Austria Niki made her try an authentic strudel. In Long Beach, she forced him to take a bite of her fancy “cronut” before he reported to the pits.

And, they shared some post-race traditions too. Niki loved to take her out to some dazzling dinner where they racked up a frightening bill. Sometimes he invited the team members and mechanics to come with them, insisting on paying for them as well, and sometimes it was just the two of them and a ridiculously expensive bottle of wine or champagne. After sharing a decadent dessert where Niki tried to get chocolate on the edge of her mouth as an excuse to kiss it off, they returned to their hotel room where Niki took his second victory of the day.

“And it’s lights out and away we go at Long Beach!”

Clay Regazzoni, who took pole position on Saturday, took the lead at the start on Sunday. Hunt got the jump on the field, while Niki remained in fourth. On the exit of the first turn, Brambilla squeezed Reutemann into the wall, the narrow track lined with concrete, and both drivers were out. They managed to nurse their cars into the pitlane, so they escaped a red flag.

“It’s the fourth lap here, and Hunt is putting pressure on Depailler, who is eager to remain in second position! Hunt tries to slip down the inside on the hairpin, but Depailler slams the door in his face! Relentless, Hunt tries again on the left!”

“They’re exiting the turn side by side, and oh!”

Depailler moved to the side which pushed Hunt’s McLaren into the wall. James stalled by the wall, and Niki narrowly avoided colliding into him. The pack moved past James’s stationary car, and when it was clear he coaxed the car to move again.

“And James Hunt is out of the race as well! That makes three drivers retiring to the pits before the fifth lap!”

“It’s shaping up for a lively race here in Long Beach! There were doubts that the temporary circuit would fail to entertain, but there’s no truth to that!”

On the fifth lap, Niki caught up to Depailler who ran with a damaged front wing and easily overtook him. He still ran seven seconds behind Clay, who couldn’t even be seen at some points of the track, but Roxanne knew he would push hard to win. Niki always pushed hard to win.

As the laps continued, the engines roared, and the fans cheered, the gap to Clay widened. Roxanne watched as the seven seconds grew to thirteen seconds and wondered what was wrong with Niki. She thought for sure he would have shortened the gap by five seconds rather than let it grow. Roxanne paid close attention to how his car shuddered when he entered the turns and was reluctant to come up to speed when he left the corner. She knew before the announcers said it that the car’s gears resisted his every move.

“It appears as if Lauda’s car is having trouble selecting gears. With twenty laps to go, I wonder if he’ll be retiring too or nursing his car across the finish line.”

If there was a chance for points, Niki would go for it. He ran with a healthy lead from Laffite, Mass, and Fittipaldi, but as he continued they would continue to close in on him. Additionally, the harder he pressed the car to perform the more he risked losing it heading into a turn or stalling on the way out. Roxanne took a deep breath in, knowing Niki knew how to manage risk in the car and he wasn’t a rookie hotshot driver. He won a championship. Niki knew when to drive hard and then to pump the brakes.

Niki fell further and further away from Regazzoni in the lead and ever closer to the cars chasing him. There was a forty-two second gap to Clay in the lead and only seven seconds between him and the man in third. Roxanne saw him start driving more defensively, making sure to block any chances of being overtaken on the hairpin and persuading his car to have more pace on the long straights to avoid being caught.

Roxanne grinned dumbly. Niki, never one to crack under pressure, cradled his car to the finish line in second place. He brought the bright red Ferrari to the parc ferme markers, nearly toppling the second place sign, as he struggled to shift the gears to park. Niki shook hands with Clay, no doubt congratulating him on a great drive.

When he finally took off his helmet and balaclava, Roxanne could see how annoyed Niki was. She watched him towel off his sweat and drink from his water bottle, avoiding the impatient press, and wondered if he was angry with himself or the car. Both, she decided as he approached the microphone. Both. Niki worked constantly and consistently on the car, staying late most nights and emailing when he didn’t, making calls to check the test results and hear new data analysis, reading new articles and developments at every opportunity. When the car failed Niki failed too.

***

Niki didn’t want to leave the track and go to dinner. After the podium ceremony where he forced himself to smile for photos and celebrate the Ferrari 1-2, Niki called his head engineer. He wanted to stay late, take apart the car, and find the issue whether it lay in the gearbox, the gear shaft, or anything else, and he wanted to analyze it. Niki needed to know more than just what caused the issue; he needed to know how they could prevent him from having the same problem again.

Roxanne understood as she always did. If she were allowed in the Ferrari garage she would have found someplace to sit and settle down, near him, but out of his way. Somewhere so when he finally took a break, when his back ached and his eyes were tired, he could find her and feel comforted. Somewhere close by so when the hours stretched on and he still hadn’t eaten dinner she would order food for him and the poor mechanics and ask if anyone wanted coffee to continue their long night.

She would be near him, supporting him, loving him, rather than waiting in an empty hotel room for him to return.

***

Niki returned well past dusk, a chip still on his shoulder. Roxanne hoped he would return tired and curl up into the bed next to her, but she knew from his heavy sighs and frustrated walk he hadn’t worked out all his irritation. She sat up in bed and watched him strip out of his track clothes and wash the grease and oil from his hands and face. It wasn’t just anger, she thought, but a wound to his pride.

To everyone else Niki triumphed. He finished on the podium despite his gear troubles. But to Niki, he never should have had troubles to begin with. He should have qualified better, he should have beaten James and Clay off the line, he should have taken an easy win as Clay had. He should have come back to Roxanne a winner on the weekend he defended her, and instead, he returned feeling like a loser.

Roxanne urged him to come to bed with her, and he did. She pulled him in for a kiss, and he froze before grabbing her face and kissing her harder. Niki forced his tongue into her mouth, tasting her, possessing her, controlling her. His hand slipped under her nightshirt and cast it off before squeezing her breast until she moaned and pinching her nipple to hear her gasp. His other hand slid down to her plush thighs and started teasing her there, gripping and grabbing the soft flesh there. She surrendered to his touch, letting him take what she thought he needed, and giving him what he wanted.

At his prompting she moved onto her hands and knees, her front half falling into the mountain of pillows, and her ass up for him. Niki knelt behind her and grabbed her hips, fingerprints sure to cover them in the morning, and guided her into the perfect position for him. He rubbed his dick against her, letting the wetness that already dripped out of her cover him, before pushing himself inside her in one fell swoop. She moaned and squeezed the pillows. Usually, he took his time, teasing her and pleasing her, but that night he was different.

The obscene hip slapping and wet squelching filled the room. Noise complaints from their neighbors were common, but Niki could never bring himself to care. He kept one hand on her hips, holding her in place for him, while the other moved to toy with her clit. Niki thrust much harder and faster than he had before as if he was trying to fuck the anger and the failure out of himself. Roxanne realized that might be what Niki wanted, but it wasn’t what he needed.

Niki deserved love, even when he thought himself unworthy of it. Pounding Roxanne into the mattress, as much as she enjoyed it, would not heal the bruising to his ego. It would only hurt him in the end, when he failed to receive the tender touches he so desperately needed.

“Hey, hey,” Roxanne said firmly. Niki stopped moving and pulled himself out of her, his eyes searching her for any signs of pain or discomfort and his lips pinched together. “Wait a minute.” She laid down on her back, her head and chest propped up by the pillows, and studied Niki’s flushed face. Roxanne pushed one of his adorable curls out of his eyes and kissed his cheek. “Niki, it’s okay.” She didn’t say it, but her actions did. You don’t have to win to be worthy of love.

Blushing, Niki nodded. He kissed her again, much more gently than he had before, and fell into her soft touch. She ran her fingers through his hair and cupped his face, admiring the faint sun freckles splattered across his cheeks. Then Roxanne ran her hands across his chest and back, holding him and touching him tenderly. Niki inserted himself again and started thrusting, much slower and more loving than he did before. He sucked at her chest rather than nip at it, and his fingers stroked her hips and thighs rather than bruise them.

Niki muttered her name as she played with his hair and ran her hand over his chest. He rubbed her clit again, in time with his loving thrusts, and brought her over the edge. She gave him love rather than let him take it from her, and the love she gave him was sweeter than anything he had ever known. Niki came in her with a soft whine, and he buried his face in her neck.

Roxanne ran her fingers through his hair again and felt his breathing steady against her. “Are you alright?” She knew he wasn’t, but she hoped he would feel better now. Maybe once he ate and took a shower he would feel alright.

Niki hugged her closer and inhaled the scent of her shampoo. He grunted a yes and nodded against her. She tugged lightly on his hair and pulled him out of her neck before kissing his forehead and cupping his face. “I love you, Niki,” she whispered, not wanting to ruin the moment.

He blinked at her and all traces of his former frustration and bitterness were gone. Niki looked at her with so much love and adoration he didn’t need to say it back, but he did. “I love you, too, Rox.”

Next chapter

Tag list: @apparrio @scuttle-buttle @lieutenantn @fictionlandslanddreams @danielbruhlswife @livvyshmiv @somethingthatsaysbubbles @hardlyinteresting

#daniel brühl #niki lauda #niki lauda rush 2013 #rush 2013 #daniel brühl niki lauda #niki lauda fanfiction #rush 2013 fanfic #daniel brühl fanfiction #niki lauda x oc #niki lauda x reader #f1 fanfic #niki lauda smut

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wiypt-writes · 3 years

Text

Leave No One Behind

Ch 14- Well, fuckin’ Shalom.

Co written with @icanfeelastormbrewing

Summary: After another dangerous encounter with Ahmed’s troops, Ari is back into a corner and comes out fighting.

Warnings: Bad Language words. Smut (NSFW, 18+) Violence, angst and death.

Pairings: Ari Levinson x OFC Hannah Horowitz

A/N: It’s Hannah’s birthday today so Happy Birthday, Firefly!

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Fliss Gallagher and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Leave No One Behind Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Chapter 13

Ari pushed a grumbling Simon off his face and sat up, trying not to move too much. Once out of bed, he stretched before sorting himself out in the bathroom and dressing as quickly and as quietly as possible so as not to wake Hannah who was, thankfully, fast asleep.

After the events of the previous day, when Rachel had gotten him and Sammy out of jail and they had driven back to the resort only to find Ethan was shutting them down, Ari had had a rough night, memories of the ordeal making his already light sleep almost impossible at times. He had spent a few hours wide awake in the dark, lying still to avoid disturbing Hannah, simply staring at the ceiling of their hut as his restless mind continued to deny him a peaceful sleep.

He had been, and somehow still was, physically and emotionally exhausted. The mere thought that Hannah had intended on ending what they had just a few hours ago still made him shudder. Following their heartfelt conversation on the dock they’d stumbled into the hut, and he’d loved her softly, slowly and intimately in the shower before they’d collapsed into bed. All of that combined with the whispered sweet nothings they had shared in the still of their hut might tell a different story, but Ari was well aware he had fucked up and almost lost her a second time.

And it made him sick to his stomach.

Ari shook his head, a reflex action, almost as if it would shake the thoughts from his mind and he sighed gently into the quiet of the hut as he finished buckling the laces on his trainers, turning from where he was sat at the edge of their bed to look at his Firefly sleeping with Simon who had curled up by her side. He smiled softly at the scene as he leaned in to place a loving kiss on her head before leaving the hut.

A few minutes later, Ari emerged in the breakfast area after a short stroll down the beach. The bruises and cuts on his face and over his left cheekbone were beginning to heal but the dull sting of his skin was a clear reminder of what had gone down in that prison cell in Khartoum and the depth of Sammy’s anger towards him. Still, as arranged the previous night, Sammy showed up along with Jake and Max early so no one else was around. As he brewed a pot of coffee, Ari went over his plan to set off to find Kabede and explained his last-minute decision to only take Max and Sammy with him, leaving Jake in charge of the resort and the girls. He wasn’t willing to take any risks after the events of their last mission only a couple of days before.

“Don’t lose sight of them, Jake. However feisty they get, especially Hannah.”

“Sure thing, boss.” Jake agreed as he took the mug Ari was handing him and Max snorted.

“You know she’s gonna give him a hard time, right?”

“I don’t much care.” Ari snapped at Max with a stern voice, causing the man to raise his hands in mock surrender. At that Jake sighed so Ari turned to look at him, his voice softer. “If she’s getting an attitude, tell her to take it up with me when I’m back. There’s a reason why her and Rachel don’t know where we’re going. And they won’t need to either until it’s done.”

As he finished instructing Jake on how to act upon a more than probable tantrum on Hannah’s part, Ari could clearly see Sammy rolling his eyes.

“More lies, huh.”

“Will you stop with your comments, Sammy?” Ari groaned. He’d had enough of the man’s accusatory looks and snarky comments to last him a lifetime. “I get it, you hate me, you already made your point.” And to make his, Ari gestured to the bruising around his face.

Sammy didn’t answer, but simply maintained giving his so-called best friend a cold stare until Max’s groan put an end to the war of deadly stares.

“Come on guys. This is it, we’ll be out of here in a few days. Let’s go find Kabede, give him the news and-” he sighed, “-wrap it up and get out of this fucking sandpit.”

Ari looked at Max at he spoke and then back at Sammy who scoffed and, without so much as a word, started walking to the jeep as he lit a cigarette.

Ari looked down and sighed, hands on his hips before his head tipped up to the sky. He then turned to Max, who simply shrugged and stuffed a piece of toast in his mouth as he followed Sammy.

***

When Hannah woke later that morning, she instinctively turned and reached for Ari, missing his touch. She was used to waking up him either holding her from behind, sometimes peppering kisses on the back of her neck or, as the case usually was, hearing him groaning and cursing as he pushed Simon off the mutt’s preferred sleeping pillow, his face. But that morning there was nothing, because Ari wasn’t there. Blinking she laid still, listening for any sound that gave his whereabouts away, but she could hear nothing at all, no sounds of the taps running, or the water from the shower splashing down into the tray. Frowning, she stretched her arm and her hand felt Ari’s side of the bed to find it was cold, well, as cold as it could be in a beach hut in Sudan with no air-con.

As she sat up, Hannah thought to herself that the most likely explanation was that Ari had just gotten up and gone for a run after he had been unable to sleep following the events of the previous thirty-six hours or so. He’d been restless all night, and no matter what she had tried to do to help, and she had to admit she had tried a lot of things to help him relax so to speak, Ari couldn’t settle completely.

Hannah sighed, remembering her attempts to soothe her Lobo’s uneasiness as her eyes roamed the hut and when her eyes landed on Ari’s bedside table she noticed his watch wasn’t on it. He never wore his watch when he went running as it irritated him but, strangely enough, his running trainers were gone too so she was at an utter loss.

“Where’s your daddy, huh?” She asked softly as she looked at Simon who moved his tail and gave a little yawn and a huff in response making her chuckle, scratching his ear. “You couldn’t care less, huh?”

Pondering, Hannah got up and, after washing and dressing, she went outside. The sun was particularly scorching that morning and she had to pull her shades down as she greeted some of the guests who were already milling about. But as hard as she tried to spot Ari, there was no sign of him on the beach. She made her way to the main building, Simon hot on her tracks, and found Jake and Rachel serving breakfast.

“You slept in.” Rachel said as she greeted her with a warm smile.

“Yeah sorry, must have been tired after everything. Guy was tossing and turning all night.” She apologised in her thick, Spanish accent, as she looked around at the various tables sporting the guests. “Where is everyone else?”

“Luca says the guys went to the market.” Rachel deadpanned, but Hannah could read the disbelief behind her words so she frowned at the blonde woman.

“To the market? Ari?” She scoffed, dropping her voice. “And with my brother?” Hannah then turned to look at Jake who had approached them but he only shrugged as she arched her brow. “You’re full of shit.”

“Hey, that’s what they told me, Red.” He repeated as he started walking into the kitchen area to fetch another tray of toast.

“Where are they really?” Hannah inquired, following him.

“Told you. Market.” Jake answered as he left the tray on the serving counter by the kitchen.

Hannah noticed he was avoiding her stare and when their eyes met for a split second she took advantage of it and glared at him. “I know you’re lying.” She hissed.

But Jake wasn’t going to give in that easily. Whilst he feared Hannah’s rant, he also feared Ari’s should he blow their cover, so he was determined to play the part he had been asked to till the very end. Thus, he had no choice but to shrug again, the expression on his face unreadable, and keep on with his breakfast duty- to bring a pot of coffee to a guest table.

Hannah huffed in frustration and turned to Rachel. “Do you believe him?”

“Not a single word.” Rachel smiled

“Then where the hell...” she began to ask, more to herself than to her friend and team mate. And the frown on her face softened as her eyes opened wide when it suddenly dawned on her what was really happening and she groaned.

“Kabede.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.” Rachel nodded with a little sigh.

“What the fuck... why didn’t they tell us?” Hannah scoffed, her hands laying on her hips. And Rachel thought she couldn’t look more like Ari when she did that even if she tried.

“I’m betting on Ari’s stupid sense of protection.” Rachel shrugged.

“Yeah well, he’s gonna be the one needing protection when he comes home. Fucking asshole.” Hannah growled as she grabbed a piece of toast and chewed it, angrily.

****

When Ari, Max and Sammy reached the shanty town, it was instantly apparent something was wrong. They found Kabede slumped against a wall, a stab wound to his chest that Sammy suspected had resulted in a punctured lung. But his injury was completely forgotten by the man when Ari informed him that Mossad had pulled the plug on the mission.

“Mission? This is not a mission for me. This is my life. My family. You go.”

Ari was torn. Kabede was right, this was more than a mission. It had been his life for two years and on top of that, he wasn’t sure he could go back to Israel knowing that they were leaving over three hundred innocent lives behind to their fate at the hands of a tyrannical regime which, most likely, would torture and kill them once they were found.

Ari swallowed and looked at Max and Sammy, jerking his head and the three of them headed out of the hut into the heat of the sun.

“You wanna pull off one last rescue, don’t you?” Max asked once they were outside.

Ari looked at him and it was all the answer he needed to give as Sammy groaned at his silence.

“I can't force you guys to do this one. This is up to you. You know the risks.” Ari spoke calm but determined, his mind made up.

“I'm in.” Max deadpanned as he nodded.

Ari then turned to Sammy who rolled his eyes. He looked back at Max and asked him to give Sammy and him some alone time and Max obliged, heading away without a glance back.

“Whatever you want to do, I'll back you up.” Ari told Sammy once he found the words to convey the most honest message he could give his friend. It was not the time for absurd displays of testosterone and he knew it.

Sammy scoffed and blurted out a “Fuck you.” before bringing the cigarette to his lips.

Ari stood there, his arms folded but didn’t protest at his friend’s jab. He lifted his head to look at him instead and spoke softly. “You're right. I'm an asshole. I let my ego get in the way. I get an idea, and I go with it. I don't listen. I take risks. Sometimes it works, sometimes people get hurt. I'm sorry. And if you wanna go home, I'll back you up.”

“I'm not going home without Hannah, Ari. How can I? How can I leave her here with you?” Sammy snarled though he knew better than to raise his voice where they were.

“I’d never do anything to...” Ari began to defend himself but was cut off.

“To what? Put her in danger? You already did! By simply bringing her here, her neck has been on the block, in fact all our necks have.” Sammy hissed gesturing at him with his hand before throwing his cigarette down and stamping on it, looking up at Ari before shrugging and dropping his head again.

“Here we go again, huh?” Sammy spoke after a few seconds, his eyes piercing Ari’s before he shook his head as he walked off.

****

When they arrived back at the resort, Ari was on edge for a number of reasons and his anxiety was compounded when Hannah railed at him for leaving without telling her where he was going. After a very heated exchange, he finally managed to calm her down enough to get her to listen along with Rachel and Jake as he filled them in on what he, Max and Sammy had found. When Ari explained that he needed either her or Rachel to go with them to pick up the refugees, Hannah nodded and said she would go, much to Sammy’s annoyance. But as usual, she paid her brother absolutely no attention whatsoever.

The problem Ari had, was that he was back to operating with no plan. His priority was getting the refugees out of harm’s way but after that, he was flying blind and banking on managing to talk Ethan around. But, as usual, he was in act now, think later mode. And for the most, it was working. The collection went without a hitch, and a few hours later, just as darkness had fallen, they were pulling back up to the resort.

And then they spotted the military jeeps.

Ari exchanged a look with Hannah who let out a curse and an exhale as she too spotted their unwelcome visitors. Ari hopped out of the truck, and motioned to Max and Sammy, indicating the jeeps. They both nodded to show they’d understood, and then he took Hannah’s hand.

“Follow my lead, okay?” He looked at her, squeezing his fingers around hers and she nodded as they headed inside. Ari began to laugh and Hannah, picking up on his signal, grinned at him as he closed the lattice door behind them, his hand still round hers, the other running through his hair. He gave a little false surprised start as he looked at the man in front of him, his best acting skills on show as he gave the man a smile and a puzzled look.

“Colonel. To what do we owe this pleasure?”

“I was just treating my men to some of Abu Aziz's famous cooking.” The man drawled back.

“Great,” Ari let go of Hannah's hand and planted his palm on the base of her back, guiding her forward, “let's not keep him waiting.”

They both walked past him, smiling at a few other guests, but Ahmed didn’t follow. “Stop.” He spoke loudly and Ari did as he was told, glancing at Hannah before the pair of them turned to look at him. “I just want to see what is in the back of your truck.”

“What for?” Ari shot back, a frown on his face, his stomach in nervous knots.

“It will please me.” Ahmed gave a huge grin displaying his bright white teeth before he barked something in Arabic to a soldier who obediently ran off.

Ari looked at Hannah, then to Rachel, fake puzzlement on his face as the two women both gave an exaggerated shrug, feigning nonchalance. There was a lot of shouting, as they all waited with bated breath, but eventually Ahmed’s smug grin slipped and Ari felt a huge wave of relief wash over him.

But, his relief didn’t last long. As they sat for dinner, the soldiers continued to patrol around the resort and the tension in the air was palpable, not merely across the team but also the guests. Ari was getting more and more frustrated and nervous as the seconds passed not least because he actually had no idea where Max and Sammy had hidden the refugees. He cleared his throat a little, his right arm leaning on the back of his chair, almost facing Hannah who was sat next to him, her body language tense. His left hand dropped to her back, gently rubbing circles over her T-shirt which was tacky with sweat as they both watched a soldier who walked amongst the tables, with his rifle held in his arms.

“Is there something I can help them find?” Ari turned to Ahmed.

“They are just doing their jobs.” The man shrugged before he looked at Nathifa who had come to clear away their starter plates, and began speaking once more in Arabic. Ari, Hannah, Jake and Rachel all exchanged a look. Whilst they had no idea what was being said, they could hazard a pretty good guess the man was digging for information. As he watched, in the corner of his eyes, Ari saw Rachel glance around, before she turned to him, taking a deep breath.

“I'll be right back,” she stood up. Hannah’s eyes followed her before she glanced at Jake who met her puzzled expression with one of his own. Giving a little cough, she reached for her glass of water at the same time Ari shifted in his seat, his hand dropping to Hannah’s thigh as he spoke to Nathifa who was now visibly distressed.

“Nathifa, go help Aziz with the food.”

Taking her leave, she did just that and a few minutes later their main course arrived. But, unlike normal, the entire resort was pretty much silent bar the chatter of the soldiers who were raucous around the table. Ari really wasn’t hungry, none of them were, they were too nervous as it wasn’t just their safety that was on the line but the hundreds of refugees hidden around the place, not to mention the guests who were all equally as tense at the armed guards. Taking Ari’s lead, Hannah forced herself to eat, keeping up appearances, and after what felt like a lifetime Ahmed placed his knife and fork down, letting out an appreciative noise.

“This was delicious.” He waved his arms over the table. “Maybe I'll bring Abu Aziz to come cook for me, hey?” He let out a chuckle as Nathifa made to move away with the plates, but in a flash he reached up and grabbed her arm, once more speaking in Arabic. And none of them needed to be able to understand the language to know the man was being forceful, and the young girl was scared.

Ari took a deep breath through his nose as Hannah’s hand dropped to his thigh and he steadied himself, quelling the anger that was simmering in his mind at the assholes treatment of the girl he had hold of. When he spoke, his voice was calm but stern, a far cry from how he felt inside. “Don't do that,” he shook his head, his gaze locked on Ahmed, who simply stared back at him, that arrogant, smug nature he exuded was almost suffocating. The man tossed his head at Ari, goading him further as he made a simple noise of questioning whilst he continued to feel up the young woman, his hand round her waist, rubbing up and down her thigh.

Ari clenched his teeth together, Hannah’s nails now digging painfully into his leg through his denims and he was aware of the deathly silence that had filled the room, all eyes now on him and Ahmed waiting to see how the clash of the two alphas was going to play out.

“Do you know why I love Hadandawa women?” Ahmed snorted as his hand slid round to Nathifa’s ass. “Because they are absolutely wild in the sack.” With a laugh he pulled her onto his lap as the soldiers around laughed as she let out a sob of protest.

“Hey!” A voice shouted from the rear of the room and Hannah turned her head slightly to see Rachel had returned and was stood a little behind them, her eyes fixed on the scene as it played out, her face set in anger. And then, in the corner of her eye, Hannah saw Ari slipping the steak knife off the table, his hand clenched around the wooden handle. His entire body was coiled like a snake, ready to attack, and Hannah knew he’d reached the point where if he was pushed anymore he wouldn’t think once, let alone twice.

Ahmed ignored Rachel completely, and continued his disgusting little monologue. “Because they don't feel anything down there.”

Hannah glanced at Jake, who shook his head slightly as he too had noticed Ari take the knife, and Hannah realised then she had to diffuse the situation before someone got killed. Ari might be fast, and strong, and in normal circumstances she’d bet on him to win, but these soldiers had guns. And he wouldn’t stand a chance, none of them would.

“Their fathers cut them when they are very young, so...” Ahmed chuckled, his hand straying across Nathifa’s thighs travelling slowly upwards. “You have to be very rough for them to feel anything at all.”

Hannah felt Ari besides her, moving as if he was going to get up, but before he got the chance, she reached over and deliberately knocked the water jug across the table. There was a sudden flurry of activity, as the liquid spread across the table, some of the soldiers jumping out of its way, and Ahmed made a clicking noise and pushed Nathifa up off his lap as the pool of water spread towards him. The sudden movement caused the girl to stumble to the floor and before Ari could stop her, Hannah jumped up to help.

“Do you have to be rough with your girl, Mr Thomas?” Ahmed asked, and Ari’s eyes flicked to his, his palm gripping at the knife even more as the man’s eyes moved to Hannah, a grin on his face. “Does she like it? Maybe I should try and see.”

And that was it, Ari was done. No one threatened his girl, no one.

Ahmed’s hand moved towards Hannah as she helped Nathifa to her feet, but his fingers had barely brushed her arm before Ari was out of his chair and right in front of the asshole.

“Don’t you lay a finger on her,” he hissed, the blade of the knife pressed into the man’s neck, fury radiating from every inch of his body as he glared at the man who dared to threaten his girl. Around him, soldiers were all raising their guns as everyone else stood stock still, the sound of his own breathing was all that Ari heard for a moment before Ahmed smirked.

“Or what? Huh? What is it that you are planning on doing with that knife, Mr. Thomas?”

“Hopefully just eat my dinner.” Ari’s voice was low but threatening, because consequences be damned, he wouldn’t think twice about slitting the man open, ear to ear. The two men faced off, neither backing down, the tension simmering until Ahmed eventually gestured for the soldiers to lower their guns. As they did so, Ari let out a deep breath, the hand holding the knife dropping slowly, his eyes not leaving Ahmed for a second.

Which was a mistake, as he missed the soldier approaching him from behind. The first he knew about it was a scream from Hannah at the same time he registered a searing pain as he was clubbed on the back of the head by the butt of a rifle. With a grunt, Ari fell to his knees, hands clutched to the back of his head as stars exploded in front of his eyes. His hands clutched to the back of his head in an attempt to alleviate some of the pain as he slumped back against the leg of the table, his head spinning. He blinked as Hannah dropped to her knees in front of him, her hands reaching to cup his face as he struggled to focus. He was aware that a few people were talking, and then there was a flurry of movement, and he blinked again, the room fading back into view as Hannah looked at him, her eyes full of tears.

“Lobo? Hey, let me see.” She whispered and he shook his head, swallowing as he brought his hand back in front of his face to check for blood. There was none.

“I’m okay.” He nodded to her, and she looked at him for a second before she stood and offered him her hand. He took it and rose to his feet, the other hand still pressed to the back of his head as he watched the remaining soldiers leave the room. The last one had barely left before he moved and pulled Hannah to him, his arms wrapping around her as he grimaced against the throbbing in his skull. Taking a deep breath he held Hannah’s trembling frame tightly, pressing a kiss to her head.

“Did he hurt you?” he asked, cupping her face and she shook her head.

“He barely touched me, Ari. I’m more worried about you.”

“He shouldn’t have even done that.” Ari ignored her concern as he shook his head, swallowing. He turned his head to glance around at the guests who were all watching with trepidation. With a nod, he gestured to the kitchen just as Max and Sammy both appeared and the team headed away from prying eyes.

Ari immediately headed to the lattice screens over the windows, his hand wrapped around Hannah’s as the pair of them watched the jeeps driving off.

“They're gonna be back soon. With numbers.” Ari said, as he turned to look at his team over his shoulder as he felt that horrible, shitty cold feeling of dread flood his system. Their timescales had just shrunk, dramatically.

“Especially when they figure out they're one man short.” Max sighed.

“What do you mean?” Hannah frowned. “What did you do?”

At that, Max shot a pointed look at Rachel as Sammy looped an arm round her shoulder, giving her a squeeze. Ari blinked as Rachel looked up at him, swallowing, and he gave a groan as he realised what was going on.

“Where is he?”

Less than a minute later the group of them were looking at exactly where he was. Dead on the floor of a hut. As they all stared down at the deceased soldier, none of them sure what the next steps were, Ari was frantically wracking his brain for a solution. This was his responsibility as leader after all.

But, it was Sammy that broke the silence to state the obvious. “We need a plan, Ari, and fast.”

Painfully aware that Sammy was right, Ari rubbed his face with his hand before he took a deep breath. He had been hoping to back Ethan into a corner and force him to backtrack and effectively mount one last rescue op before they all bailed, but that had completely gone out of the window. There’s no way they could even attempt it, not now that Ahmed was into them and one of his soldiers lay dead by his feet.

This was a fucking mess, and Ari suddenly found himself wishing there was one of Bowen’s dammed cargo planes coming for them…

Oh. Oh...

“Okay.” Ari gave a nod as the bones of a plan formed in his mind, letting out a deep exhale as he turned to Rachel and Jake. “Buy me a day, make sure they're taken care of but completely invisible. Don't let the staff in here.” Rachel nodded as he looked round at the guys in turn as he spoke. “Max, Sammy, take the truck, get the rest of the group.” He then looked at Hannah, squeezing her hand. “You and I gotta call Ethan.”

And you’re not leaving my side till we’re out of this fucking country…

Hannah looked at him, frowning a little and Ari knew why. Given that Ethan had warned him not to go near the remaining refugees he knew he was in for it. But he didn’t give a shit. Ethan could yell at him all he wanted, Ari’s priority now was his team and the hundreds of frightened people they had hid at the resort.

Quietly they all left the hut, peeling off in different directions. Rachel and Jake strode back up to the main part of the resort to see to the remaining guests that were still milling around following dinner, whilst Max and Sammy headed off to the trucks. Ari led Hannah back towards the resort a little behind Jake and Rachel, running through his plan in his head. It was such a long shot, but the only one they had.

“What are you gonna do, Ari?” Hannah’s voice was soft and he paused, turning to look at her.

“I’m gonna tell Ethan we need imminent extraction.”

“What? He can’t. There’s no exfil plan!” Her eyes widened as she shook her head. “And even if he could, now we have like three hundreds refugees after he told you not to get them!”

Ari dropped his head, hands on hips. “I know, sweetheart, which is why we’re gonna have to play the Bowen card.” His eyes met Hannah’s as she hesitated, and then frowned, opening her mouth to no doubt protest but Ari cut her off. “He knows who we are and what we’re doing, Han. He even mentioned your father’s name.”

“Yes, but what the fuck makes you think he can help when our own government can’t?” She shook her head. “Ari, this…”

“He talked about cargo planes, didn’t he?” Ari pressed. “Coming to evacuate them all?”

“Yeah, but... “

“We just have to convince him to get us one.” Ari shrugged, as if it was an easy and obvious solution, but he wasn’t fooling Hannah. She scoffed and snorted.

“Why would the US give a shit about-“

“You got a better idea?” Ari snapped, “because if you have, now is the time to share it.”

Hanna’s mouth pressed tightly into a thin line and she folded her arms across her chest, looking away. Ari gave a sigh, and when he spoke his voice was softer, contrite almost, but still carried an unmissable tone of frustration.

“Just hear me out!” Ari implored as Hannah continued to stare into the distance. “Because it’s the only thing I got. And last time I checked I was still in charge.”

Hannah raised her eyebrows at that, and after what felt like an age, she turned to face him, her face stony and Ari took a deep breath as she looked at him.

“Go on then.” She instructed as Ari raked his fingers through his hair, the way he always did when he was stressed or thinking.

“We reach out to Bowen tomorrow, come clean,” he licked his lips, the salty taste of his sweat mixed with the sea air stung his tongue as he took a deep breath. “If we can get Ethan on side he might be able to pull some strings, get our people to call his.”

Hannah blinked, before she shook her head, letting out a deep breath from her nose. “If you say so.”

Her tone was flat and Ari’s shoulders sagged a little as he glanced out over the dark surface of the ocean. She didn’t think it was going to work, and even he had to admit he wasn’t sure it would either. But right now, he could see no option. They were past being discreet, this wasn’t merely dangerous, it was now a straight out battle between life and death, and he wasn’t going to sit around and simply wait for the inevitable to happen.

“Hannah, I know it’s a long shot…” He turned back to look at her as she gave a derisive snort as she met his eyes.

“Long? That’s an understatement-“

“-but right now it’s the only shot we have!” His voice rose once more as he threw his arms out to his side, his palms slapping against the outside of this thighs as the snapped back down. “So I’m gonna take it, with or without your help.”

Hannah’s tongue poked the inside of her cheek and Ari could tell she was biting back another response, undoubtedly a smart quip about this being no change from normal, that he came up with these off-the-cuff ideas and ran with them, because he was a reckless asshole. But this time was different, he was in a corner and there was no alternative but to come out fighting. And, unlike normal, he was unable to find it in him to assure her it was all gonna be okay because he didn’t know it would be, not for certain. And he couldn’t lie to her.

Instead he waited, impatiently, simply watching as she stared back at him, an expression on her face so like Sammy’s when he too thought Ari was being a dick, as she shook her head, her tongue making a clicking noise against her teeth. “Fine.” She popped her shoulder. “Let’s call Ethan.”

*****

As predicted, Ethan blew his absolute fucking shit. He railed at Ari and Hannah over the radio, firing Ari, again. Both of them knew better than to interrupt his mad rant so they let him continue his angry diatribe until he finally finished and Ari picked up the conversation calmly and quietly. As he spoke and explained the spark of idea, Ethan’s logic kicked in and he agreed to do what he could at his end, but reminded them what they were already painfully aware of, essentially they were on their own. This whole operation had been illegal and off radar of the main Israeli government, so whilst Ethan was certainly able to provide them with a glimmer of an idea as to where they could exit the country, it was completely up to them to sort the when and how.

They spent the rest of the evening going over how they were going to approach Bowen and pull this off, Ari growing increasingly frustrated at the fact he didn't have the answers to Jake and Rachel’s questions. Eventually, Max and Sammy arrived back, and their attention then diverted to getting the remaining refugees quickly and quietly into the huts, providing medical treatment where needed and then some food. By the time that was done and the group reconvened in the kitchen area, it was almost half past three in the morning. To Ari's surprise, when he explained his plan to go to Khartoum and that he wanted Hannah to go with him, Sammy raised no objections, most likely because he was as keen to put as much distance between her and the potential returning soldiers as possible. And, whilst they were effectively about to officially blow their cover to the CIA, the US Embassy was the safest place for any of them to be.

They both took a quick shower and changed, Hannah dressing in a pair of faded jeans which grazed her ankles along with a pair of sneakers, whilst Ari pulled on a denim shirt and a pair of dark jeans before he sat on the edge of the bed to push his feet into his trusty boots as Hannah tied her hair back with a scrunchy. They then took Simon down to Max knowing the dog would try and follow the jeep unless he was occupied, and made a swift and quiet exit.

Ari could have driven the long journey to Khartoum with his eyes closed, it felt he'd done it that often over the past two years, but he was glad his eyes were firmly open as they both got to see the stunning sun rise over the desert horizon. It was a slight reprieve in an otherwise tense journey, both of them caught up in thoughts about what they had to do. At one point, however, Hannah fell silent mid discussion and Ari turned to see she'd fallen asleep. With a soft smile, he turned his attention back to the road happy to leave her to it. She might be exhausted but she was safe.

They arrived at the US Embassy at just gone Nine-Thirty, and a flash of Ari's 'Guy' Passport saw them through the guarded gate.

“Can I help you?” The receptionist looked up and Ari flashed her his most charming smile.

“We’re here to see Walton Bowen.”

“Do you have an appointment?” The woman beamed back, batting her eyelids at Ari, but before he could try and win her over with any more of his charm, Hannah rolled her eyes and cut in.

“We don’t need one.” She gave the woman a curt smile. “Tell him Guy Thomas and Rosa Gomez are here. He’ll see us.”

The receptionist blinked and Ari looked away, fighting the smirk that was threatening to spread across his face at Hannah’s tone. She kept her eyes on the receptionist, her mannerism not faltering for a second and the woman behind the desk gave a little cough as she reached for the phone. After a short conversation she replaced the receiver and looked up.

“He’s going to send someone down to collect you, in the mean time I’ll need you to sign in as Visitors.”

“Thank you.” Hannah replied sweetly as the woman slid over the register she needed them to fill in before she moved to a filing cabinet at the back. “What?” Hannah raised an eyebrow at Ari who simply shook his head.

“Nothing, Firefly.”

Less than five minutes later they were being led into the office upstairs, Bowen greeting them both in the main part before he led them through to a smaller room at the back which was clearly his office. They both politely declined his offer of something to drink, taking a seat opposite where Bowen himself sat at his desk. Ari’s hands clasped together in his lap as he took a deep breath, his eyes on Bowen,

“So, are you going to finally tell me who you really are?”

Frustration filled Ari’s system at how deliberately obtuse the guy was being. “You know who we are.” Ari’s voice was calm but authoritative, indicating that he wasn’t in the mood for whatever stupid horseplay Bowen was trying to tease them into. “I wish we had time to play games, but we don't.”

“Right.” Bowen was completely unfazed by Ari’s tone as he leant back in his chair, gesturing to them both “But I'd really like to hear it. From you.”

At that Hannah stiffened and took a deep breath, she was pissed off too. Ari gently laid a hand on her arm, as he turned to Bowen.

“Hypothetically?” Ari spoke, his eyes fixed on the man. “I'm the Israeli government.”

“Well fuckin' shalom.” Bowen’s voiced was laced with sarcasm as his eyebrow raised, a smirk on his face. Ari took a deep breath as he narrowed his eyes, Hannah making an angry noise through her nose as she shook her head, glancing around the room, teeth worrying at her bottom lip in a nervous, yet irritated manner.

“Let's assume for a second that we know something about these disappearing refugees.” Ari broke the tense silence. “And, we theoretically need your help getting about four hundred of them out of the country, immediately.”

“Oh?” Bowen questioned, although both Ari and Hannah could tell he wasn’t in the least surprised. “How would I do that?”

“You mentioned planes.” Hannah looked at him as she crossed her left leg over her right. “Here on the ground in Khartoum, cargo planes.”

“Uh-huh.” Bowen replied, taking a deep breath before he shook his head. “Even if I could help you, Ari and Hannah.” He paused, levelling Ari with a look as Ari stiffened at the use of their real names whereas besides him Hannah merely blinked. “I don't have that kind of pull.”

“Okay, look,” Hannah uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, hands resting on her knees, “my dad didn’t found Mossad for you to come in riding shit shot over everything we’ve done or are trying to do.” She paused as Bowen took a deep breath, not an inch of surprise on his features confirming Hannah’s suspicions that he knew a dammed site more than just their names. “These are our people. They’re hungry, sick and being persecuted in a way you couldn’t possibly imagine. So much so that they’re willing to risk their lives to escape. Now, if we don’t find a way to get them out of here, then you’re gonna have a massacre not only on your hands but your conscience. So, I’ll ask again, are you gonna fucking help us or not?”

Her voice as steely, and as Ari looked at her, she was radiating a deathly, silent fury, fire burning in her eyes and for the first time since they’d started their meeting, Bowen’s cocky demeanour faltered a little as he shifted uncomfortably under her glare.

Despite everything, Ari couldn’t help but smile at how quickly Hannah had turned this round on Bowen by calling him out and he was reminded exactly why he had wanted her on the mission in the first place. Sure, her skills lay in the medical field but in situations like this she was fearless, quick thinking and had an authority about her when she was in this mood that could make the bravest of men quake in their boots. Right there and then, he didn’t think he could love her any more if he tried.

And he was also highly inappropriately turned on.

Bowen sighed and shook his head, an apologetic look on his face, his body language now shifting from cautious to open. “Honestly, the best I can do is talk to my bosses.”

“Well then,” Hannah nodded to the two phones on his desk, her arms folding back over her chest, chin jutting upwards in a display of defiance, “get talking.”

Bowen looked at her before he took a deep sigh and picked up the phone. From then on in it was a flurry of calls, back and forth it went as Ari explained in detail his idea and what he had agreed with Ethan.

For hours the wrangling went on until Bowen made the final call and informed them there was nothing more he could do formally. Ari, frustrated by the amount of red tape the man seemed to be caught up in had started pacing up and down, hand running through his beard. Hannah remained nervously in her seat, her foot tapping the leg of Bowen’s desk as the man gave her a small smile.

And then the red phone rang.

All three of them looked at it, Hannah rising to her feet as Bowen took a deep breath before he reached to pick it up, but Ari stopped him, hurrying over from his spot in the doorway, panic flooding his system as he suddenly realised there was a pretty big chance this wasn’t gonna go the way they wanted.

“Wait, wait, wait!” His large hand curled on the receiver to prevent Bowen answering as it continued to ring shrilly. “I don't know what this person's gonna tell you. They may tell you to throw me out of the building or the country, but I promise you, what you do right now will be your legacy.” He paused as Bowen looked at him. “When you look back on this moment, it will either fill you with great pride, or great shame.”

Bowen looked at him, before Ari moved back and he picked up the phone. “This is Walton.”

Ari and Hannah exchanged looks, her hand slipping into his giving it a squeeze as Bowen spoke. Eventually, he put the phone down and took a deep breath.

“They told me to throw you out.” He shrugged and Hannah felt her heart sink.

“Fuck!” Ari slammed his hand on the desk before he stood up, both hands flying through his hair.

“But lucky for you, we’re cut from the same cloth Ari, I don’t much care for stupid decisions from up the chain either.” Ari blinked, his hands dropping to his side as he stared at Bowen, who shrugged a little. “You’re right, I don’t want four hundred deaths on my conscience so I’ll get you a plane, but I can only get you one.”

Ari let’s out a sigh of relief, his mouth dry as he thanked every single one of his damned lucky stars. He turned to Hannah who was looking up at the ceiling, swallowing and blinking back tears, letting out the breath she had been holding pretty much since the phone rang.

“We got a thirty minute window tonight.” Bowen continued, as he turned and walked to a filing cabinet, pulling out a scroll “I can’t buy any more time.” With a flourish he unrolled the paper out onto his desk and Hannah instantly spotted it was a map as he pinned it down with a stapler at one side and a book at the other. He glanced up at Ari then Hannah, pointing to it. “You mentioned an air field?”

****

By the time they had fleshed out their plan, which involved numerous calls on secure lines back to Mossad HQ, it was almost two in the afternoon, and Ari was conscious that they needed to go if they were to stand any chance of meeting the schedule. After bidding Bowen a hasty good bye, they made their way swiftly to the jeep, hopped in and Ari sped away from the embassy back down the main road that would lead them out of Khartoum for what Ari was hoping would be the last time.

They felt like it was taking forever, and this time it was the setting sun that filled their eyes as Ari navigated the jeep down the deserted dirt track through the desert, once more avoiding the main road. They made small talk, a mix tape playing over the speakers as they went, Hannah mostly concentrating on going over their plan so they had it down to the last detail. But after a few hours, Ari had fallen silent and had taken to huffing impatiently, the foot which wasn’t pressed on the accelerator was jiggling nervously and his jaw was clenching in that tell-tale way. After half an hour or so of watching this silently, Hannah instructed him to pull over and take a moment before they had an accident, something he was extremely reticent to do but obliged anyway because she knew she was right. He needed to stretch his legs and clear his mind as much as he could. He would be no use to anyone if he arrived home in this state. He needed to be calm, focussed and together.

Ari left the ignition running, in case they needed to make a quick get-away and climbed out of the vehicle where he had pulled off the dirt track slightly and parked in the shelter of two sand dunes. He cracked his neck, ran his hand through his hair and began pacing a little, his toes scuffing at a few loose rocks as he took a deep breath, while Hannah watched from her spot against the rear fender of the jeep where she leaned back against the warm metal, her eyes tracking his every movement.

Ari bit his lip as he paced, running anxious hands through his hair, wringing them together, murmuring to himself. He thought back to his conversation with Sammy the day before and the incident in the dining room which until now, he had managed to compartmentalise. He was so desperate and determined to get this escape out properly without further damage to any of them, not least make sure Hannah was safe, that he had focussed all his energy and mental capacity on plotting and organising their route out. But now, the realisation of how close he had come to risking everything getting blown in a split second crashed over him, and it felt like a knife in the gut that was being slowly twisted, compounded by a constant hammer on the head, reminding him of exactly how dire the situation was.

Abruptly, he quit pacing and stalked over to Hannah, his hands cupped her face and crashed his lips to hers in a kiss that was bruising and possessive, but ever so careful as well, a combination Ari managed effortlessly when it came to his Firefly. “I love you. I love you so much...” he mumbled against her mouth.

She made no protest, bar a huff of surprise, but she welcomed him, almost like she needed the release as much as he did. Their kisses became more heated, and before he knew what he was doing, Ari's hand was fumbling for the door. Then effort was clumsy at best, teeth clashing together as he blindly pried the door open and pushed her inside till she was lying on the backseat.

Hannah grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him down to her, furiously kissing him, teeth clashing, beard scratching as she emptied every single emotion she was feeling into his mouth as he pressed her into the well-worn, creaky back bench of the jeep, groaning as he ground his hips down against hers. It wasn’t comfortable, trying to contort his large frame across the rear of the car but, right at that moment, comfort was the last thing on his mind as her hands tangled into his hair, nails scraping his scalp as she keened underneath him.

Ari pulled away if only for a second but Hannah's eyes told him everything he wanted to hear.

"Make me yours, Lobo," she whispered against his ear as his lips nipped and licked at her neck.

"You're already mine, Firefly," he all but growled, moving so that he had one leg bent on the bench, the other extended into the rear foot-well. The clanging of buckles, zipping of trousers and the rustling of fabric filled the car as, with a swift, hurried movement, Ari undone his belt and jeans, shoving them and his boxers down over his hips, just enough to allow his erection to spring free.

With a feral movement, he swatted Hannah’s hands away from where they were fumbling with the flies at the top of her own faded blue denims and quickly pulled them and her panties down over one of her legs, leaving her to kick them off the other, or not, he didn’t give a shit as long as they weren’t in the way. He shoved her legs apart as best he could, the tight position of the back seat giving them little room as she braced herself against the door arms above her head palms flat against the door.

Ari wasn’t wasting any time, because they simply didn’t have any to waste. Not only were they up against the clock due to their schedule, if they got caught as they were, out in the open, well, there was a jail cell waiting for both of them, and all things considered, had he been thinking straight he wouldn’t have instigated any of this. But he wasn’t, he never was as far as this woman was concerned.

Laying back over her, with a long, deep rut forward he thrust up into her, making her groan loudly as he nipped roughly at her neck whilst he retracted his hips and thrust back into her, harder still. A few thrusts later, his hips were set in a rhythm, snapping back and forth with a pace and a vigour that was merciless as he pistoned in and out of her again and again. His hands firmly gripping her hips as his lips met hers in a hard, deep kiss which was furious, tongues lashing against one another, obscene noises filling the vehicle, the inside of which was already hot and sweaty thanks to the heat of the day still being present, and was growing muggier by the second thanks to the heavy, exertive activities taking place on the back seat.

After a particularly deep thrust, an animalistic growl burst from his throat as one of her hands snaked into his long hair and gave a tug. As he glanced down at her, he could see the pupils of her eyes were blown wide with a desire he would never tire of seeing. She titled her hips up against him, causing him to drive deeper and she let out an almost primal cry he had never, in all their times of being intimate together, heard her make before. It simply revved him up even more, his rapid movements growing even more urgent.

“Fuck, Lobo,” she moaned, her head falling back, smacking against the metal of the car door as Ari thrust into her harder over and over again and it wasn’t long before he felt the tell-tale flutter of her clamping around him, a sign she was close and her hands flew from where they’d been braced against the door to his back.

“Firefly,” his hand reached up, grasping her chin between his finger and thumb, forcing her face round to his and his lips claimed hers once more. “Come on, baby,” he panted against her mouth, his thrusting pausing for a moment as he ground up against her, causing her to cry out. “Cum for me, Hannah.”

Another rotation of his hips saw her mouth drop open in as she chanted his name, again and again, her tight heat gripping him like a vice as she came, her back arching, hands clawing at his skin over his denim shirt. The bite of pain from her nails overwhelmed him and he felt his own stomach tighten.

“Shit, Hannah, I’m gonna…” His words tumbled into her hair as his movements became desperate before his hips stuttered as he came with a surge that made the world around him go silent, almost like someone was squeezing the air out of him inch by inch.

They lay there in a tangle of clothing and limbs, chests heaving, sweat glistening on every part of their bodies that was exposed, clothes sticking to the parts that weren’t. Ari held his girl to him, panting and shaking, and he was desperate not to let her go, but he was also painfully aware that their stolen time together today was coming to an end. As he managed to gain enough control push himself up on his arms, Hannah looked up at him, gently brushing the tendrils of hair that had fallen over his face back, raised her head, her lips pressing gently to his in a soft, tender kiss, a stark contrast to the violent ones they had shared moments before.

“Marry me.” He said softly, his eyes only on hers, awaiting her answer.

Hannah blinked as the two simple words resonated in her brain and those gorgeous eyes that Ari could stare into all day long grew wide in surprise. “What?” Her question was nothing more than a breathy whisper and Ari took a deep breath, before he spoke again, his voice clearer than it had been moments ago.

“Marry me, Hannah.”

As he watched her process his request, her eyes began to water and a single tear trickled down her cheek. Ari reached up to wipe it away, his hand shaking a little with nervous apprehension. Had he overstepped? It really wasn’t how he’d ever seen himself asking her, in a million years, but he wanted her to know just how much he did love and need her, especially as they were about to embark on the most dangerous part of their mission yet. And if it did go wrong, then at least she would know what she meant to him truly.

“Han?” He managed to croak her name out as she laid there, simply looking at him. And after what felt like an age, she gave a sniff and then the faintest nod.

But a nod nonetheless.

“Yeah?” Ari inhaled, hardly daring to believe it but then her face cracked into a huge smile and she nodded once more.

“Yes! A million times yes! It’s always been you, Ari Levinson.”

He spluttered a happy chuckle as her words sunk in and the sheer joy flooded his system at her answer, the love he felt for her warm in his chest like a talisman as she beamed at him. Grinning like the Cheshire cat, he closed the small space between them, sealing their engagement with a kiss. As much as he wanted to slowly make love to her until the sun crested the dunes and the stars started to shine, they were on a time crunch and this little detour would have already set them back some. But it was all fucking worth it, it would be. He had to believe it, or no one else would.

They made themselves presentable and began the rest of their journey back to the resort, time no longer on their side. And as Ari drove, Hannah's left hand nestled lovingly and snuggly in his right, he pressed his lips to her knuckles.

“I didn't mean for this.” Ari sighed as he glanced at her and then back to the dirt road ahead. “Well, I did in a way but not for it to end like this. I don’t know how I would have made it through any of this without you.”

“Ari.....” Hannah gave a little tsk. “You’ve pulled a lot of missions without me in the picture.”

“Maybe but,” Ari shook his head, “this is different.”

Hannah sighed now herself and leaned over to kiss his cheek, “the Red Sea Diving Resort will always have a place in our hearts, huh? If we make it, that is.”

“Don’t...” Ari shook his head. “Don’t say that. It’s gonna be fine.”

“I really wanna believe you.” She whispered, looking down at their entwined hands, taking a deep breath. “In an ideal world, then yeah, but I don’t know, Ari. I’m scared.”

He felt defeat in that moment, for he wanted nothing more than for Hannah to feel safe and secure. His body slumped a little in his seat and for a little while he didn't utter a word, his mind reeling and when he spoke his voice was a sad, barely there whisper. “I’m sorry, Firefly. I’m so sorry I dragged you into this. Fuck...Sammy’s right, I’m an asshole, I...”

“Hey!” Hannah cut him off sternly, “You listen to me right now, I wouldn’t change this, any of it for the world. It brought you back to me and even now I’d go back and do it all over, just to make sure we had these last two years.” She trailed off with a little swallow and a shrug as Ari took a deep breath.

“We’ll have more, Han. We didn’t go through all this to fail now. We’re gonna make it. We have to.” It was a plea more than a statement, his eyes searching hers as she held his gaze, pleading with her to give him this, assure him he was right, because for once in his life, Ari Levinson wanted his gut feeling to be wrong.

And she did. “Okay. If you’re telling me that then I trust you.”

Despite the tension of the day, Ari felt himself relax a little, both from the touch of her hand against his and by her words. He pressed a soft kiss again to the topside of her hand.

He couldn't admit it, maybe later once this was all over he would, but he was scared too.

**** Chapter 15

#leave no one behind #Ari Levinson #ari levinson x ofc #ari levinson x original female character #red sea diving resort #red sea diving resort fan fic #chris evans #chris evans characters

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jeyramarie · 3 years

Text

good life (pilot)- pogues x oc

summary: the pogues find a sunken boat in the middle of the marsh... what now?

wc: 5,331

a/n: i hope you guys like it! remember to let me or @themaddies-obx know if you wanna be in the taglist💛 happy reading everyone 🦋

The day was a bit cloudy when the pogues left the Chateau. JJ had mentioned something about a new kook house being built on Figure 8 and of course they had to go explore. The house didn't even have walls for the rooms yet, just columns. They explored every floor, JJ being the first one in the house. The kitchen counter looked freshly done, it even smelled like glue meaning that the marmol was recently glued there. Some of them went out to the terrace on the second floor and some stayed inside, exploring a bit more. Something was being built on the last floor which meant they had that giant ladder type thing. Of course, John B was the first one up there to step on the edge of the roof. He was drinking a beer while balancing on one foot which, after some time, made him stumble a bit.

“Don’t spill that beer. I’m not giving you another one.” the blonde boy shouted at the pogue while sipping from his beer and staring out at the ocean.

That's JJ, my best friend since the third grade. He's about as local as they come. Latest in a long line of fishing, drinking, smuggling, vendetta-holding salt-lifers who made their living off the water. Second best surfer I know. Just don't tell him I said that. Mild kleptomaniac and a future tax cheat.

“Hey! Dude, don't drop the beer! It’s precious!” a blue eyed girl shouted from the bottom floor, sitting next to JJ, looking up while trying to shade the sun from her eye with her hands.

Then we have Fallon, she’s basically a female version of JJ. Met her in the third grade too and JJ and I instantly befriended her. She’s a kook by blood but a full pogue by heart and mind. 100% a badass, best flirt on the island, and she’s the best surfer I know. A full-time troublemaker who doubles as a princess.

“You want another one?” she asked JJ softly making him turn his head and look at her. Their eyes meeting, creating an infinite wave of blue. Both of their souls overflowing but none of them acknowledge that they’re soulmates.

You see that weird look that they just gave each other right now? Well that's a daily thing. You see, they’re madly in love with each other but they’re both too stubborn to actually admit it.

“That's what, a three-story fall to the deck? I’ll give you about a one-in-three chance of survival.” the brown eyed pogue stated out while playing with a power drill.

And that's Pope, the brains of the operation... finalist for the Lucas T. Vanderhorst Merit Scholarship. And the smartest person I know. Little bit of a weirdo. His father's this legendary character, Heyward. Anything you wanted on the island, Heyward could get for you. Now, I'm not sure Heyward knew what to make of his oddball son, but it didn't matter. He was a Pogue, just like the rest of us.

They started making jokes about shooting with the drill when two ladies from the pogue squad walked out.

“They're gonna have Japanese toilets in there with towel warmers.” the curly haired pogue said leaning into one of the metal poles from the construction site.

And that's Kiara, or Kie, as we call her.When not saving turtles or listening to Marley, or getting a dolphin tattoo, she hangs out with us. I'm not really sure why, though. So, she's a rich kid, actually. Foot in both worlds.Her family owns The Wreck, this Outer Banks institution.Total cash cow with the tourists.You know, I'm not really sure how her parents feel about us. We all have a thing for her.

“Yeah, I read somewhere that this used to be a turtle habitat.” the kook said, crossing her arms and looking at the boys, avoiding making eye contact with Fallon.

Oh, that girl over there? That’s Kilani or as everybody calls her Lani. One of the nicest people I know. She’s the new kook in town that for some reason decided to be our friend. Not sure why but I’m not complaining. Her and Fallon aren't on the best terms right now but we’ll sprinkle some of that pogue magic on that.

“But who cares about the turles, I guess?” Kie said rolling her eyes and moving closer to the boys to look up at John B.

John B dropped the beer can which resulted in Fallon and JJ scolding him for a few seconds. It all quickly ended when Pope interrupted the conversation.

“Hey guys? Security is here!” he said leaning over the terrace railing a bit to be able to look down at the side of the driveway. He turns to the guys and starts walking toward them.

“Let’s wrap this up.”

“Boys are early today.” JJ said looking up at John B, avoiding Fallon.

“Humpty dumpty, let's roll!” he exclaimed, pulling his knees to his chest and turning around to stand up.

“Let’s go boys” Kie said as they all got down from where they were. Everyone started running down the stairs to the twinkie.

“Gary, is that you?” JJ shouted, making Lani giggle as she ran across the porch.

“Get down!” the man shouted, getting out of the car and walking towards the house.

“It’s me, Gary!” the blonde shouted again running behind the rest of the teens. They all ran inside the house trying not to trip over boards and tools that were on the floor. Luckily the stairs that led to the first floor was opened giving them the perfect opportunity to run away from Gary. They made it to the backyard, where the guard already was, and started running around the columns around the room. JJ crashed into Gary, almost getting caught but he quickly got away from his grip and made his way to the gate that led to the front of the house. Everyone was in the twinkie already, except JJ and Pope. The brown eyed pogue jumped over the fence immediately falling on his face, he's not that athletic. Then JJ jumped, landing perfectly on his feet, then instantly helping Pope stand up.

“Get up, Pope, fatso’s coming.” he laughed and kept running with Pope next to him, getting closer to the van.

“Come on, boys!” Lani shouted, sticking her head out of the front seat. John B drove to them while Kie held the door open as the boys jumped into the van. Gary made it close to the van and started running, attempting to catch them.

“Hey, hey! Hey, hey!” the guard shouted, running behind the van. He kept running after the teens, sweating through his shirt and panting like he was about to faint.

“Check out Gary, gunnin for a raise.” Pope laughed with Fallon while they both stared out the back window.

“Come on Gary!” JJ shouted, sticking his head out the door. He quickly had an idea and turned his head to John B with a playful smirk.

“Wait, slow down.” of course the pogue did, making the sweaty guard closer to them.

“You’re gonna give him a heart attack.” Kie laughed while looking at John B and Lani. As Gary got closer, JJ stuck himself out of the van a bit more and started shouting encouraging things to him so he could run faster to grab the pogue was holding out.

“JJ, JJ, stop, stop.” Fallon laughed, pulling him into the twinkie making him look at her for a while in complete adoration as everyone else laughed about what happened. Lani leaned to the front and turned on the radio looking for her favorite radio station, which is Kie’s favorite.

The ride to the Chateau was smooth, filled with laughs and bad singing from JJ. They pulled up at the house and Lani got out first to open the back seat door. Fallon got out first and stumbled, almost crashing into the kook.

“Get out of the way.” she said harshly, making Lani step back while looking down at the ground, feeling her anxiety creep up. Fallon made her way towards the dock while everyone else got out not paying attention to the situation. Until, John B walked around the van to wrap his arm around Lani’s shoulder making her look up at him.

“Don’t worry about her, she’s just trying to scare you.” he said, giving her a sad smile and walking to the rest of the pogues. Lani was the last one on the boat so it was hard for her to find a safe spot to sit at. The last one was next to Fallon, it made her anxious but she already knew that when it was time to go she’s gonna be the first one on the boat. She made her way next to Fallon which caused the pogue to look up from her phone and stare at the kook, like she was invading her territory.

“Um…why are you sitting next to me? This boat is big enough.” the pogue said with an irritated expression.

“There’s nowhere else to sit.” Lani said softly, pulling her knees to her chest.

“Well I'm sure someone else would tolerate your presence.” Fallon said crossing her arms over her chest and rolling her eyes. The kook hugged her legs tighter and looked to the side of the boat towards the water, ignoring everyone’s sad eyes. “Hey princess, I’m gonna do a trick for you.” JJ called out to Fallon, making her smile and roll her eyes playfully at the boy.

JJ stood up and took a beer out of the cooler.

He walked to the front of the boat, perched his feet up and told John B to go faster. The pogue then brought the beer bottle to his mouth and tilted it, letting all the beer fly out. Everyone was laughing, Kie complained about the liquid getting into her hair when the boat came to an abrupt stop. JJ flew to the water and everyone else just jolted forward. They all recovered from the hit as Pope went to the front of the boat to see what had caused it.

“Hey, guys. I think there’s a boat down there.” he said looking into the water, Lani was the closest to him so she stood up quickly and walked towards him, standing next to him.

“Oh my god..” she whispered and turned back to Kie who was giving her a questioning look.

“Guys, no, seriously. It’s a boat.” he rambled pointing at the water while the rest of the passengers of hms pogue stood up and walked to him.

“Holy shit, he’s right. We have to go.” Kie blurted out quickly fiddling with her shorts to take them off. Lani and Fallon saw this and got rid of their clothing, staying in their bikinis. That caught JJ’s eye, of course, making him stare at the caramel haired color pogue as she dove into the water. The girls resurfaced and called John B and Pope who were still on the boat. They all swam underwater towards the boat, Lani was the more experienced swimmer so she swam a bit further and longer than the rest of the group. She saw something red, noticing it was a key tag she quickly picked it up and resurfaced.

“Guys, I-I found a key.” she stuttered and held it up, showing the pogues. Fallon ripped it off her hands and quickly turned around, ignoring the kook. Lani let out a breath and swam to the back of the boat, climbing on to see the pogues raving over the key. She wrapped herself in her beach towel and sat down next to the wheel. John B and JJ debated over reporting the boat or going to the motel first. Of course, Pope said to report the boat, being the good citizen he is. Almost every OBX citizen was there complaining about their broken windows, flooded basements and fallen trees.

It was officially time for plan B, going to the motel. The ride there was smooth and full of arguments on who would go explore and who would stay on the boat being lookout. JJ and Fallon won the argument, leaving the rest of the pogues on the boat talking about the hurricane and the status of their houses. The blue eyed pogues made it to the second floor to continue to look for the room. Of course, JJ got bored so he decided to create some conversation with Fallon.

“I notice how you treat Lani.” he said, running his hand through his hair.

“Are we really gonna talk about this again?” she asked, rolling her eyes.

“Yeah we are, especially when you told me you were gonna try-”

“Do you like her or something? Cause you sure as hell love to talk about her.” Fallon said cutting JJ off and raising her voice a bit.

“Why do you have to get all defensive?” he said while pulling on her elbow, making her stop and turn to him.

“Because I don't like her, JJ. I don't like her and apparently she’s the only thing you wanna talk about. It's like you’re in love with her or something.” the pogue stated rolling her eyes and ripping her arm from JJ’s grip, making her way to the last room of the hall.

“This is the room, it’s the number on the key.” Fallon said looking at JJ and looking around at her surroundings. The blonde pogue leaned to the door and knocked in a rhythmic sequence.

“Housekeeping.” he said in his ‘girl’ voice making Fallon look at him and scoff, hiding her laughter.

Back on the boat, the pogues were sharing a comfortable silence when a thought came into John B’s mind.

“Do you guys think they’ll admit their feelings one day?” he said squinting his eyes, due to the sun, causing the rest of his friends to look at him.

“I hope they do soon. That little game they have on is kind of annoying.” Kie chuckled leaning back onto her hands.

“Wh-what game do they have exactly?” Lani asked, looking at John B while crossing her legs.

“The famous ‘I’ve been in love with you since the third grade but I’m too scared to admit it’ game.” Pope said leaning against the control panel of the boat.

“The third grade? You’ve got to be kidd- that's ridiculous!” the kook chuckled running her hand through her curls. Kie and Pope started a weird conversation about the environment when the sheriff car pulled up to the motel.

“Um guys, the cops are here.” she said softly, moving her hair to one shoulder making the pogues look over to the car and quickly duck, trying to hide from the cops.

“Why are you hiding?”

“Just get down!” Kie said with gritted teeth while pulling Lani down to her level.

“Someone has to go warn them.” John B whispered looking back and forth between Kie and Pope. They looked at each other and made their way to the side of the building while John B and Lani stayed back. They could see Kie and Pope having an argument and signalling JJ and Fallon about the cops.

“What are they doing?” the kook whispered seeing how the pogues climb out of the motel room window and get extremely close to each other against the wall.

They were trying really hard not to breathe too loudly, not to move yet all Fallon felt was JJ’s breath on her neck and surprisingly, she was feeling JJ Jr too.

“Oh my god, please tell me that's a weed stash I’m feeling and not what I think it is JJ!” she whispered yelled at JJ while trying to take away the hair that fell on her face due to the strong wind.

“I’m sorry okay? You’re just really close to me right now and my need hasn’t been taken care of in a long time.” he whispered yelled back at her, making her roll her eyes.

“Oh please, you’re just fooling yourself. Can’t you keep it in your pants for one day, Maybank?” she rolled her eyes and ran her hand through her hair while trying to stay still.

The cops finally left letting Fallon and JJ climb down from their hiding spot. The pogues made their way back to town to see that a dead body was found on the marsh. They returned to the Chateau with scary faces, mostly Lani who was quickly noticed by Fallon.

“Can you chill the fuck out? I can feel your heartbeat all the way over here.” she blurted out making the kook look down and sit next to Kie. JJ looked at Fallon, giving her a look, making her roll her eyes and push on his shoulder playfully.

“I hate you so much.” she laughed making him smile and wrap his arm around her shoulder.

“We didn’t see anything, we didn’t hear anything okay?” Pope rambled walking into the Chateau porch.

“Exactly, Pope is right. Deny, deny, deny.” JJ said playing around with his lighter.

“Yeah definitely, we can’t let them track it back to us so the best thing would be to deny… deny everything.” Fallon said sitting on the arm of the chair JJ was standing next to.

“What if people start asking questions?” Lani asked, still shaking from before.

“Oh my god, can you like not freak out for one minute? Why are you like this?” the caramel haired pogue shouted feeling annoyed and rolling her eyes at the kook.

“Fallon, lay off a bit.” JJ whispered, making the pogue look at him.

“Well maybe because we found a missing boat in the middle of the fucking marsh that can be involved in a murder!” the kook shouted standing up and walking out of the porch making her way to the dock. Fallon felt pissed that Lani had talked to her that way, making her throw off JJ’s arm from around her and stomp into the Chateau. The rest of the pogues stayed silent, looking at each other not fully processing Lani’s outburst.

“I better go check on her.” Kie said softly and walked outside to the dock.

“Yeah, I’m gonna go check on Fal.” JJ muttered walking inside, leaving Pope and John B on the porch.

Okay, you can’t understand the Outer Banks without understanding the boneyard. It’s kinda like a three-layer burrito. There’s us and our friends, the working-class derelicts. Then, there’s the kooks, the rich second-homers. They’re mostly from poncey-ass boarding schools, just rich trustafarian posers. Our natural enemies. And then, there are the tourons. Totally clueless. Here for a week on vacation with their families. Chum for the sharks.

John B and JJ spent the day flirting with tourons all around the beach, handing beers to everyone. Kie and Pope making small talk with fellow pogues and some tourons. Fallon was making sure no girl made a move on JJ while Lani was sitting on a broken tree drinking her beer.

“We are family!” JJ shouted drunkenly and stumbled off of the tree he was standing on.

“JJ! Be careful.” Fallon said grabbing his arm, keeping him from falling.

Kie walked towards her friends but stopped abruptly when she saw a particular person. The girl was sitting on top of a metal thing that was washed up to shore because of the storm.

“What is she doing here?” Kie asked, grabbing John B’s attention making him turn to where his friend was looking.

That’s Sarah Cameron. Kook princess. Kiara’s best friend in ninth grade, worst enemy tenth grade. I work on her dad’s boat, so, you know, I've seen her around.

“What are you doing?” a blonde kook asked, getting closer to Sarah trying to get her down.

Then that’s Topper, her not so pleasant boyfriend. He actually thinks that pogues were made to mow lawns.

The night went on smoothly, no one threw up, Fallon didn't fight anyone. The boys were walking around while Kie and Lani talked about going surfing the day after when a familiar kook’s voice came out of nowhere.

“Hey, let’s go.” a tall blue eyed kook said standing up from the fallen tree he was sitting on.

That’s Rafe Cameron. Sarah’s older brother which makes him kook prince. He’s not the most likable person, at least to us. The only one who tolerates him is Fallon and she’s the only pogue he tolerates, we still don't understand why.

JJ started walking towards them with a cup of beer which, of course, gained John B’s attention.

“What are you doing?” the pogue asked while walking behind his friend.

“Yo, what’s up?” he asked again, trying to get JJ’s attention.

“I got this for you.” the blonde said getting closer to the kooks while extending his arm out offering them the beer.

“Can I interest you in a tasty Milwaukee beverage?” JJ asked.

“No, thanks.” Sarah smiled, getting hair off her face.

“Is it not fancy enough for you?” JJ retorted laughing.

“No, we were just leaving-”

“You know what? I’ll take it. Thank you, man. I appreciate it.” Topper said, interrupting Sarah and reached for the cup JJ was holding.

“That’s nice, but I didn't ask you. If you said pretty please, maybe, but you didn’t.” Fallon heard JJ’s voice raise a bit which caught her attention making her walk toward her friends.

“What’s going on here?” she asked looking at her friends and then at Rafe.

“Nothing, everything's fine.” the kook prince said dryly looking at the girl and then the pogues.

“She said she doesn't want it, you-” Topper said while hitting the cup JJ was holding, making the cold beverage spill over his face and all over Fallon. Rage ran over the blonde pogue’s body making him hit Topper’s hand away and walk forward to push the kook. John B immediately stood in front of his friend and pushed him back.

“What the fuck man?” Rafe shouted, shoving Topper back which of course made him confused.

“What the hell has gotten into you?” Sarah asked her brother with a confused expression while helping Topper recover from his stumble.

“Be careful where you throw your shit.” the kook said angrily and turned to Fallon who was still wiping beer off of her face.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.. wasn't expecting to be showered with beer but i’m fine.” she chuckled and smiled at the kook, making him smile too. Pope, Kie and Lani saw the commotion so they went over to the teens trying to figure out what was happening. JJ was being calmed by John B and Pope when Topper said something that was definitely another piece of wood into the fire.

“Dirty pogues!” he shouted making John B abruptly turn around and longe himself onto the kook, pushing him back. The crowd around them gasped and murmured.

“John B.” Pope said, trying to get his attention.

“Hey! Hey, we were supposed to be incognito, remember?” JJ asked pulling John B towards him and Pope. Sarah was calling Topper over to her which he completely ignored while walking towards John B to punch him the face. The pogue flopped to the ground, into the ocean shore. Topper walked over to him and kicked him making the pogue roll onto his back in pain. The pogues were shouting and trying to make the kook break out of the haze he was in.

“Hey, John B, don't make me drown like your dad, all right?” Topper said jokingly and kicked him again which made the pogue stand up to go to the kook and basically try and beat his ass. The guys started fighting, making the crowd chant ‘fight,fight’ repeatedly while their friends tried to make them stop.

“Stop, you guys!” Kie shouted while being held back by Pope who was also trying to make them break out of their trance.

“Guys, come on. Please stop!” Lani shouted on the verge of a panic attack.

JJ was encouraging the fight, while everyone else tried to make them stop. Topper rammed John B onto the ground and got on top of him. He wrapped his hands around his neck, pushing him into the water not letting him breath. Fallon who couldn't handle to see more of the fight, had an idea, she ran to JJ and leaned into his ear.

“Get the gun.” she whispered, making him smirk at her and turn around to look for the gun he had stolen from the motel room earlier. The pogue came back with the weapon and pushed it against Topper’s head, making him freeze. Everyone ran out of the beach but of course, the pogues stayed.

“Yeah, you know what that is.” he muttered making the kook stand up and turn around with his hands up.

“What the fuck man?” Rafe asked, looking at JJ and then at Fallon.

“JJ, put the gun down. Please..” Lani said, trying to stop him from making things worse. Topper turned to JJ who held a gun to his head.

“Okay, man just.. Please put it down.” the kook said shakingly, feeling scared for his life. JJ pushed Topper to the ground and turned to his friends.

“Kie,Fal, can you control your psycho friend, please?” Sarah shouted pointing at JJ with her hand, before the two female pogues could reply, the blonde boy pulled out the weapon again.

“Okay, everyone listen up. Stay the hell off our side of the island!” he shouted and then pointed the gun to the sky, shooting at nothing.

“JJ!” Lani shouted at the pogue and ran her hands through her hair.

“Are you crazy?!” Kie shouted, pushing JJ to turn to her.

“You’re gonna make things worse!” Pope said waving his hands around, feeling anger course through him. Everything died down, the girls went home and the boys stayed at the chateau making sure John B woke up okay.

The morning, they all met up at a little shack that was next to the chateau to discuss the boat matter.

“I think we should call it off..forget about everything. Peterkin told me she could help with DCS if we just stay out of the marsh.” John B said, gaining everyone’s attention, making them stop what they were doing.

“A cop, John B. You believed a cop.” JJ said playing with a rock.

“All we have to do is stay out of the marsh… for a few days and she will help me. It doesn't help that your dumbass was the one to shoot a gun from a crime scene might I add. ” John B said leaning against a chair while one hand ran through his hair. Lani heard ‘gun’ and she quickly listed her head and lowered her sunglasses to look around at everyone’s reaction.

“You know what? I should’ve left Topper drown you.”

“He was gonna drown me?”

“Yeah pretty much, have you seen your face?” JJ said while standing up and walking toward the shack.

“Tell me some more, come on.”

“They’re always gonna win don't they? Kook vs pogues...and they always win.” the blonde boy said sitting next to Lani while playing with a curl sticking out of her bun. Fallon saw this and immediately rolled her eyes, turning her head to look somewhere else. She despised Lani and her brother-sister friendship with JJ. Then the conversation shifted to JJ trying to convince John B to basically steal scuba gear from the Cameron's boat. Not the best idea of course but it’s JJ… his ideas are never great.

A few hours later, John B picked up the pogues and Lani on his dock and took them to where the sunken boat was. Kie and Lani sat at the front of the boat to check the oxygen tanks.

“This one’s empty.” the pogue said pushing it aside.

“And this one is a quarter full, that’s enough for one of us.” the kook said and pulled her knees to her chest.

“Great you stole empty tanks…who knows how to dive?” Kie asked, pushing hair out of her face.

“Don’t even look at me.” Fallon said, crossing her arms.

“That’s more of a kook sport.” JJ said leaning against the driver’s panel.

“I..I’ve read about it.” Pope sighed crossing his arms while leaning back in his chair.

“Great, Pope read about it so someone’s gonna die.” Kie said looking back and forth at the boys making Lani chuckle.

“Well, you put that thing in your mouth and breathe. How hard can that be?” JJ asked and scoffed not knowing what he was talking about.

“If you come up too fast the nitrogen gets into your blood and you get the bends.” Pope said looking at the pogue who of course wasn't understanding a thing.

“Bends like, bend over and-” JJ said arching his back as he looked at Pope and Fallon.

“The bends kill you.”

“Oh.” JJ said quickly standing up straight. He moved his eyes to Fallon who was still looking at his ass which made him turn around, breaking her trance.

“You love it when I bend over don't you princess?” he asked teasingly, making a soft pink tint come onto her cheeks.

“In your dreams, Maybank. You’re disgusting.” she smiled, making him chuckle and wink at her, Then he turned back to his friends who were still deciding about who should dive.

“I-I can dive.” John B said running his hand through his hair.

“Since when can you dive?” Fallon asked scratching the side of her nose looking at the pogue in confusion.

“Since now.” Everyone moved on to listen to Pope calculating how long John B should be underwater, how much time and air he has to be able to search most parts of the boat. Fallon quickly had an idea making her walk to the front of the boat, gaining everyone’s attention, she took off her Queen t-shirt and dove in the water leaving everyone in silence.

“Uum...what was that?” Lani asked, pointing at the water while looking at the pogues.

“I don't know but I liked it..a lot.” JJ muttered not taking his eyes off of where Fallon had dove into. She came back to the surface and swam towards the boat.

“I tied my shirt to the anchor chain, it’s 10 feet down, that’s your safe point.” she said a bit loud while swimming. They went over the calculations again and put John B into his gear. Pope explained how to do it, how to breathe, where he could see the level of oxygen and how much time he had. The pogue dove in, leaving everyone else in silence and nervousness. Everything was going smoothly until the sheriff boat came into view.

“Guys, the cops are here.” Lani said feeling her hands start to shake.

“Okay calm the fuck down. Just…let me do the talking.” Fallon said fixing her wet hair and straightening her posture. The sheriffs came by, checked out the boat and warned them about being in the marsh. Kie stayed next to Lani trying to calm her shaking hands so the cops wouldn’t notice. Pope looked at his watch and noticed that John N’s time ran out making his leg start bouncing up and down nervously.

The cops finally left which made them jump up and run to the edge of the boat to look for their friend. He came to the surface making everyone let out a sigh of relief. John B threw a black duffel bag onto the boat making JJ cheer and make loud noises.

They went back to the Chateau, getting onto the dock quickly putting the bag on the floor. Everyone got around John B as he opened the bag and found a metal cylinder. He unscrewed the cap and turned it upside down to let the object inside fall down to his hand. It was a compass.

good life taglist: @ilovefandoms102 @agardenofbooks @cloverrover

#good life #obx fic #jj x oc #kie x oc #Pope x OC #john b x oc #sarah x oc #jj maybank x reader #jj maybank #kiara carerra x reader #kiara carrera #pope heyward x reader #pope heyward #john b x reader #john b

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