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spooderboyandtincan · 3 years

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You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone

Chapter 2

There’s a spider on the ceiling.

Peter can barely make out its eight gangly legs through a blur of tears. He feels some sort of bond with it- not only because of the DNA they share- but because they’re both alone. Then again, the spider has probably spent its entire life in this room, and Peter’s only been here- on a whole different continent- for a good couple of hours.

Maybe it’s just the jet lag. According to literally anyone who’s known him at all- he gets adorably grumpy when he hasn’t gotten his beauty sleep (Tony’s words, not his.)

Who does he think he’s kidding? He’s homesick, he’s alone, and he really, really misses Tony. Misses him as in the his heart is literally being torn apart sort of missing. He wishes he’d considered how his severe separation anxiety might play a part in this when he’d still had a choice.

Peter chokes on a whine- the one that forces its way out of his throat until he’s full on sobbing and gasping for breath.

He scrambles for his phone on the nightstand. He needs Tony, he needs him, like a fish needs water. He fumbles with the lock screen and desperately taps on Tony’s icon (a picture of Tony holding a proudly displaying a mug that reads “Number 1 Iron Dad.”) It rings once, twice-

“Pete? How’s it going, kiddie?” Tony’s voice, so gentle, so full of love and concern- he already knows something’s wrong, of course, because his Dad Senses are off the charts- makes the tear in his heart rip open.

“Tony,” he sobs. “Tony. I don’t- I can’t, I can’t do this. I wanna go home, Tony.”

“Whoa, hey, it’s okay Petey, breathe for me okay?” He can hear, just barely over his sobs, that Tony is pacing, can hear that his breathing is just a bit too fast, and Peter feels awful for freaking him out, but just can’t stop crying.

“‘M so sorry,” he wails, “‘M so sorry. I-I wanna go home, I want you Tony.” He grasps his pillow tightly and buries his face in it, trying to stifle his sobs, pretending that Tony is there, wrapping his arms around him, kissing his hair, rocking them back and forth.

“I know, baby, I know,” Tony croons, “Everything’s gonna be okay, we’re okay. Right now I just need you to take a deep breath, buddy- in, two-three, out, two-three, okay?” Tony demonstrates for him, taking exaggerated inhales and exhales, which are probably benefiting him as much as they are Peter. “You’ve got this, Pete, I know you do.”

“I miss you, Tony,” Peter whispers after a few seconds of shaky breathing. “I wanna go home.” He feels so immature, begging Tony to fly across the Atlantic in the dead of night just because he��s a little homesick.

Tony, however, seems to consider his request very seriously. “Do you want me to fly out? I could be there in a few hours.”

Peter almost laughs, imagining Tony arriving to the hotel at daybreak, dressed only in sweatpants and a stained AC/DC t-shirt. It’s actually not a bad idea- Tony could act as a chaperone, they could explore the city together, make another precious memory.

“Yeah, um, that-that would be great, Tony,” he sniffs, wiping the wetness of his cheeks. “A-are you sure? I don’t wanna, like, make you, there’s probably Iron, um, Iron Man things, I don’t-”

“Pete, listen to me,” Tony interrupts, voice again so impossibly gentle. “Nothing- nothing- is more important to me than you, understand? I’m here for you. Always”

Peter smiles wetly, relaxing back into the covers, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “I know. Tony?”

“Yeah, bud?

“Can-can you, um, talk? Please?”

“‘Course I can, Pete. What about?” Tony says fondly. The idea that his voice can bring such comfort to this sweet kid makes him feel all… schmoopy.

“Anything. I just… wanna hear your voice, s’all.” He tugs the covers up and curls into a ball, resting the phone on the pillow next to his ear.

“I’ve got you, bud,” Tony says. I miss you too. “Oh, you’ve gotta know what DUM-E did today….”

Peter feels himself relaxing as Tony talks about his day. It’s not just the words that soothe him, but the familiar sound of his warm voice that’s full of such love and affection. His thoughts begin to wander as he drifts into a barely conscious haze, but the voice remains steady and present in his mind.

Tony is quick to notice that Peter is on the precipice of slumber and wakefulness, and is just as quick to provide the last bit of reassurance Peter needs to fall asleep. “Sweet dreams, buddy. I love you,” he murmurs.

Just before Peter slips away, he finds himself slurring, “Love you too.”

Tony stays on the call for a solid ten minutes after Peter conks out, listening to the steady whoosh of his breathing against the speaker. Before he finally makes himself hang up, he whispers a quiet, “‘Night, Petey. I’ll be there before you know it.” Tony leaves for the airport at daybreak, not able to spend another second in that horribly empty penthouse. The absence of Peter’s presence is tremendously obvious, and Tony finds himself desperately trying not to imagine the unimaginable.

~~~~~

With a pilot on-call 24-7, and without the hassles of a public airport, he’ll be back with Peter around early afternoon.

Thank god.

He steps out of the Cadillac, barely noticing the blistering wind and the tiny snowflakes biting at his cheeks in his haste to board the plane. He greets the pilot- Allison, he thinks- with a nod, but she gestures to stop when he moves towards the stairs.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Stark!” she says over the howling wind. “We just can’t fly in this weather!”

To hell with that, Tony thinks. “When’s it letting up?”

“I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Stark,” Allison says apologetically. “Not for a few days at least.”

Tony activates the suit with a simple tap of his watch, the nanobots rushing over him within seconds. Allison gasps and jumps back, gaping as he rockets into the air.

He’s been flying for a good 50 seconds before a neon red warning lights up the HUD.

“Boss,” F.R.I.D.A.Y says, tone filled with caution. “The wind is blowing at a speed of 78 mph. I must advise that you return to the ground immediately, or you run the risk of losing control of the suit.”

Tony curses loudly. Just his luck, really. “How high is the risk?”

“89%, boss.”

“So, not all that bad,” he chuckles.

Then, F.R.I.D.A.Y reminds him how devastated Peter would be if anything happened to him.

Tony returns to his car on foot and pulls out his phone to call Peter.

~~~~~

Peter basks in the sunlight outside of a bustling café, sipping from a cup of hot chocolate. He’s ordered a chocolate croissant, and added the tasteless protein powder Tony and Bruce had synthesized to keep up with his spidey metabolism to his mug. Despite the jet lag, he’s eager to explore the city and it’s merits, his enthusiasm only growing knowing that Tony will be here within a few hours.

Feeling pleasantly full, Peter leans back in his chair- it’s an armchair, on a stool, and it’s driving him nuts, he loves it- and beams at Ned, who lounges next to him in an identical chair. “Dude,” he says.

“Dude,” Ned agrees.

Peter is grinning, Ned is grinning, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, life is sweet-

Peter’s phone rings.

His first thought is that Tony’s plane has crashed.

His second is one of relief when he realizes it’s Tony who’s calling him.

His third is that his plane has crashed, and Tony’s calling him, mortally wounded, to say goodbye.

Ned stares at him, taking in the panicked look on his face, and mouths You good? Peter shakes his head and scrabbles for his phone.

“Pete?” Tony says as soon as he’s answered. He sounds fine, at least. “Hiya.”

“Are you okay?” Peter asks first, because he knows that even if Tony sounds like he’s fine, that doesn’t mean he is.

“Yeah. Yeah, Petey, I’m just fine, I promise,” Tony assures him. Peter relaxes in his chair, flashing Ned a quick thumbs up, because knows Tony would never lie to him, especially not if he was hurt. “How’re you doin’?”

Peter’s face lights up. “Oh, great! There are like, dogs everywhere here, even in the restaurants, and I saw this German Shepherd eating like- dog ice cream or something? And I got this super good chocolate croissant where we’re having breakfast. Y’know, I really thought the jet lag would be super bad but I’m not like, tired at all yet!”

“Aw, buddy, that’s great, I’m glad you’re havin’ a good time,” Tony says, voice dripping with fondness. “You’re drinking enough water, staying hydrated and all that, right?”

“Yup! Are you?”

Tony scoffs. “‘Course I am. Hafta set a good example n’ shi- stuff.” Peter snorts. He knows Tony does his best not to curse around his- and he quotes- “young, unsullied ears" but he ends up failing quite a lot.

“Which reminds me bud, how’s Ted?” Peter’s best friend’s health has pretty much no correlation with cursing, which makes the teen think that Tony has a specific reason for asking about him. He decides not to bring it up though.

“It’s Ned,” he sighs in mock frustration. And he’s good, he’s right next to me! I guess I didn’t tell you yesterday, but the hotel guy put us into two different rooms ‘cause they had extra or something and we didn’t realize ‘til we got to our rooms.” He sighs again then, for real, his good mood evaporating.

Tony’s Dad Senses pick up on it instantaneously. “Not ideal, huh?” he says gently, which earns him a small laugh from the kid. “D’you want me to talk to them?”

Peter nods sheepishly, then realizes Tony can’t see him. “Yeah. Thank you,” he says in a small voice, embarrassed that the genius is going to all this trouble just because he’s a little lonely. “Are you gonna be here soon?” he asks then, because he misses Tony, misses him just like he knows Tony is missing him.

Tony clears his throat. When he speaks, the guilt in his voice could rip him in half. “About that, buddy, well- Jesus, Pete, I’m so sorry. The, uh, the wind is too dangerous for me to fly over, and it’s not letting up ‘til around Monday. I’m so sorry, kiddo.”

Peter’s heart sinks. “Oh,” he says numbly.

He hears Tony lurch up. “Hey, Petey- shit, I’m so sorry, buddy. I- you know what, fuck it, I’ll fly over anyway, I-”

“No! No, I’m okay, I’m fine!” Peter says, wincing silently at the forced cheeriness in his voice, and knowing that Tony has seen right through.

“Hey, hey, buddy, it’s okay, I’ll be perfectly safe-”

“You can’t,” Peter pleads, desperate to keep Tony safe. “Please, Tony, you can’t, you’ll crash, or-”

“Whoa, Petey, deep breaths,” Tony interrupts, voice gentle. “I’m right here, I’m fine, you hear me?” He waits for Peter’s breathing to resume a steady rate, then says, “Bub, I won’t fly over if it’s not safe, I promise.”

Peter sighs. He’s relieved beyond belief that Tony is keeping both feet on the ground where he’ll be safe- he better be- but he misses the billionaire more than ever.

“And hey, who knows, maybe the wind’ll let up in a few hours!” Tony chuckles. Sobering a little, he says, “If the weather is on schedule, I’ll be there on Monday, 6 am, sharp.”

Peter prays he will. “I miss you, Tony,” he mumbles- he feels childish, knowing that he’s just begged the man to stay in New York, and now is just making him more miserable knowing that he’s miserable.

“I miss you too, Petey,” the genius murmurs back, voice filled with sorrow.

“Peter!” The phone nearly flies out of Peter’s hand as Mr. Harrington taps on his shoulder. He gasps a little, and though his teacher doesn’t seem to notice, Tony sure does, his gentle voice turning harsh with barley contained panic. “Who was that, Pete? Are you okay?”

“Um-” he tries.

“Come on, now! The bus is almost here, I can see it around the corner!” Mr. Harrington says loudly, and abruptly struts off, frantically waving down the bus that is already stopping.

“Peter!” Tony exclaims.

“I’m fine, I’m fine, it was just Mr. Harrington,” he rushes to reassure him. Tony breathes out a heavy sigh of relief. “Uh, the bus is here, I- I have to go.” He hurries to catch up with his best friend.

“I love you,” Tony says. “I love you so much, Pete, stay out of trouble, be safe.”

He doesn’t want to say goodbye. Neither of them do.

“I love you, Tony,” says Peter. “I’ll be safe, don’t worry about me!”

And with that, the call ends.

#wip #chapter 2 #peter parker #tony stark #protective tony stark #worried tony stark #anxious peter parker #irondad #spiderson #roger harrington #ned leeds #anxiety #anxious thoughts #spider-man #iron man #st*rkers dni

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pillow-anime-talk · 4 years

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chibi-chan.

synopsis: A little bit of jokes about your height from GoM’s boys or situations where you need some help. But don’t worry, we all know that you are super cute and adorable.

# tags: scenarios; current relationships; comedy; fluff; romance; jokes; also protective/helpful boyfriends; sfw

includes: female reader ft. ryouta kise, daiki aomine, shintarou midorima, atsushi murasakibara, seijuurou akashi & tetsuya kuroko {knb}

— RYOUTA

You’ve been wondering how to impress your boyfriend for a few days, because he hasn’t paid much attention to you for a long time. Even when you came in a different hairstyle or changed your perfume, Ryouta just smiled at you, then stole one kiss from you and run for basketball team training...

Oh, right. Basketball. You didn’t know a bigger fan of this sport than your boyfriend. Stupid thought of playing basketball passed through your head to show off your skills (or rather attempts to have any skills to play in this sport) to Kise.

The more you thought about it, the more convinced you were. You decided to try and on Friday immediately after your lessons you went to the gym. You knew that at 5 p.m. the Kaijou team would start their training, so you only had an hour to take off your whole uniform, jump into the P.E.’s tracksuit and pick one ball from the big bin and start slowly throwing into the basket hoop.

Of course, it’s easy to guess that it was hard for you to hit into the hoop with your... small height. Certainly when you were born, you didn’t queue for ‘being tall’, but rather for a nice smile and big eyes. No wonder that for the first ten casts only one was successful and it was certainly a coincidence, because the ball spun three times on the rim before falling inside.

“I suck in this game.” You muttered under your breath, again taking a position on the first line on the court.

You were so absorbed in the game that you didn’t even notice how a curious blond-head looked inside the gym because of the noise and the light on. What a surprise for Kaijou’s ace who saw you in front of the basketball board and the ball in your hands.

However, when he noticed your next inaccurate shot he laughed under his breath. “I think you’re a little too short for this game, Y/Ncchi.” He said in an amused voice, entered the room. You turned to the voice and then sighed.

“And too short for you to notice me, huh?” You added wearily, catching the ball.

“Y/Ncchi... I always see you!”

“I don’t think so. But I don’t blame you. I just wanted to... impress you. You like basketball, so maybe you would like me more if I could play with you.” You shrugged, throwing ball into the hoop again. Miss. “Shit.”

The blonde man shook his head approaching you. “I like you no matter what you do or how you do it. You don’t have to play basketball to impress me. You should change you for you and only you, not me or someone else. Anyway, I said what I said. I notice you all the time, Y/Ncchi. You looked pretty last time when you had a ponytail. Your new perfume was amazing too. Hmm, now when I think about it, I don’t praised you for that, right? But know that I appreciate everything you do.” He confessed quietly, patting you on the head. “And now Chibicchi, I’ll show you how to play basketball, because you have a terrible position to throw a ball...”

— DAIKI

Aomine definitely loved teasing you the most if your height was at stake. He usually made you as his own armrest or asked what’s weather below. They were a puppy jokes that somewhat irritated you, somewhat amused you, and somewhat embarrassed you, but what can you do? After all, they were just pokes and you knew that well. In retaliation, you often mocked him by calling him a ladder, giraffe or Eiffel Tower.

Daiki was glad you weren’t offended about it because... you were incredibly cute to him when your cheeks turned red and slight insults came from your lips. Of course he would never say it out loud, but you were super fluffy for him and he liked this side of you. And hey, as your tall boyfriend he had nice views from above. For this and if necessary he liked to take you on his lap or cuddle with you on the armchair, because you were the pocket-sized person and he could cover your whole body by his.

But as I wrote, Aomine would never have said it out loud. He just always laughed, saying you were shrunk again.

Of course, Daiki wasn’t such a bastard to you.

I mean, yes. Aomine had the right to make fun of you, but no one else him could do it, because he knew that after all your height is your complex. Your boyfriend spoke his jokes in a gentle way, always saying at the end that he loves your body anyway, because of this he feels more manly and needful. He didn’t spare wet kisses or hickeys on your chest at that time, so you didn’t feel bad with him. You love each other very much.

However, when other people’s jokes were involved, such as those from girls who were jealous of your blue-haired man or gross jokes from boys who didn’t like Aomine or wanted to pick you up... Daiki changed his mood immediately.

Just like now, when you were walking towards Aomine’s class to go to the roof with him and have breakfast. Unfortunately, just before the door a couple of first-year students stopped you; one of them hit the wall with his hand, blocking the way for you.

“Hey, Y/N-chan. Oh, this bento is for me?” The tall black-haired boy took your breakfast box, then raised it high up, smiling broadly. “Thank you, it’s really nice. You are such a damn cutie.”

“Please, no. W-Wait...”

“Maybe we’ll arrange a date? We can go to the cinema and then to me. I think it won't be a problem with you getting into my bed, because you're so small...”

“Don’t touch me and give my bento back!” You jumped to catch the white box, but in vain.

“Oh, I have great views from my perspective.” The teenager laughed, not even noticing the shadow of a much taller person behind him. The box with your bento was picked up and the perverted student was pressed against the wall next to you.

“Why don’t you repeat what you just said a moment ago?” Daiki asked and you immediately ran up to him, hiding behind him. “Harassing girls... especially girls in the relationship... It’s really shitty, don’t you think? Get out, brat and never approach my girlfriend again.”

As I said, only Daiki can use your height for kissing or joking.

And of course to show that he’s the best boy on the whole world.

— SHINTAROU

Your boyfriend was a difficult man. He rarely showed any emotions, but you knew that he cares about you very much and despite his cold behavior he always worries about you.

No less, Midorima is... Midorima. You didn’t know any bigger tsundere than him; especially when you two were together at the random moment.

Like. Did you forget your scarf? No problem, Shintarou will lend you his own and tell you that you are irresponsible and childish. You’re hungry? All right, your boyfriend will buy you something from the school cafeteria or share his bento saying it’s the last time he does it for you (spoiler: this isn’t the last time because he’s a simp for you anyway). You’re tired? Girl... Midorima will take you on his lap and hug you so tight that your heart will melt, but three times he will mention that you can’t tell anyone about this situation. Mom, I love him.

In any case, Shin has his own way of showing affection, which is primarily based on texting to you or bringing for you your lucky items for the day; for example, recently, Midorima brought you a key ring with a puppy's pendant, because Oha Asa mentioned that this wouldn't be a good day for your zodiac... Sweet.

Today, however, he brought to school only an item for you (by the way, it was a Tokyo’s guide), or so you thought, because Shintarou always discusses with you about his lucky thing. And today he didn’t say a single word about it. He only took your hand and led you to class, saying that he would come for you at your next break.

And so, throughout today’s day Midorima didn’t leave you even for a moment, and by the way he still walked with you by the hand, which was a bit strange for you because Shin didn't like a public PDA. Takao was equally surprised.

Only when you started coming back to home with the green-haired man who was walking next to you (of course with your fingers laced with his) you decided to ask Shintarou if something had happened.

“So... your today’s happy item is a holding hands or maybe rather a woman’s hand?” You asked seriously, laughing under your breath, at which Midorima looked at you surprised.

“No.” He said honestly, so you immediately thought that your boyfriend joined into a PDA lovers! You were about to say something, but he continued. “My lucky thing for today is something small, that’s why I thought about you.”

You hit the boy on the shoulder, blushing furiously. “Idiot.”

— ATSUSHI

With Murasakibara, no matter if you were 155 centimeters tall, 168 centimeters tall or even 180 centimeters tall... you would still be small for him. And because you were below average, your relationship looked at least funny, but also sweet.

Of course, Atsushi didn’t care about your height, what’s more – he considered that it’s your advantage because he was pleased to took you in his arms while watching movies or grab your hands and play with them. Therefore, while you were next to him, you praised him and (maybe) from time to time you fed or played with his hair, Murasakibara paid no attention to your height. And when someone asked him if he didn't mind about it, he answered with his the most weary voice ‘Why would that kind of things should bother me? My Y/N-chin is my Y/N-chin and I like her no matter what. Do you have any problem with her or me?’

Of course, Atsushi is a big baby who likes to tease you, but he doesn’t use words for it; I mean, very often, when you want to kiss him, a tall boy laughs quietly and specifically asks that ‘huh, do you have a problem’ to reaching his lips. He always suggests bringing a ladder or chair. You snort, hitting him at the waist and laught shortly after that. Finally, you always pull him by the shirt to bend him down. He can't refuse you anyway.

Especially when you threaten him with not giving him snacks the next day.

Atsushi is a very supportive boy! If someone else teases you and you feel bad about your height difference, then your man always grabs the other person's head and asks rhetorically whether to crush him. Therefore, in order not to feel bad about it, you immediately offer him something to eat; if it's one of his three favorite dishes he'll probably follow you like a faithful dog.

‘Sushi likes to lift you up and help you to get to the basket board. His height is also very helpful when you cook something together, and he has the task of reaching for ingredients or bowls.

Nevertheless, sometimes he can’t refrain from saying that you are really smol. And if you’re together among the crowd, he sometimes he loses sight of you.

Fortunately, Atsu is so tall that you can find he quickly (usually at food stalls).

“You’re lost again, Y/N-chin...”

“You went to the snack machine without even telling me anything!” You laughed reaching for your wallet to buy ice cream for both of you.

“Sorry, sometimes I forget that you’re so small and have short legs, Chibi-chin.”

— SEIJUUROU

Your boyfriend definitely isn’t one of those type who joke about such serious matters as appearance, style or diseases. However, if he only saw or heard that someone was laughing at you, he immediately appeared next to your figure, which caused the tormentor escape. No one dared to object to Seijuurou, it’s a fact.

Akashi, of course, didn’t laugh at your height as I wrote, but this doesn’t mean that he didn’t like the fact that you asked him a favor or asked him to give you something or help you in doing a random thing. This brat asked for something in return each time; usually it was a kiss but sometimes it was also something more.

In any case, your man always went into defense mode when he was with you, through what many people were surprised by his change from Akashi in the basketball team > Akashi in the company of Y/N.

For example, imagine such a scene: You go to your home with Seijuurou because the boy decided to help you with chemistry and physic, but on your the way you unfortunately stumble over the protruding curb and fall into the ground, injuring your knee. Sei immediately changes from ‘full seriousness’ to “God, honey, are you all right?”

“Sei-kun, I’m not dying.”

“Yes, but it looks really bad. Let me take you in my arms.”

“Seijuurou-kun, I can really go on my own legs.”

“I won’t let you. Come here.”

“You’ll be tired and I’m heavy.”

“No, you’re not. You’re tiny.”

There really is no point in arguing with him because you won’t win anyway. Although you have to admit that thanks to the pink-haired you feel really loved and appreciated. There is no person in the world who cares about you like Akashi.

— TETSUYA

This boy is literally an angel. He probably won’t say a bad word about your height, but if he does, he will be 100% unknowingly about it and if he quickly understands his mistake, he will apologize for it; for example, he says you have recently seemed taller, but after a while he will remember that you were wearing shoes with a higher heel that day, not sneakers. Tetsuya is the most supportive boy in the world who will help you with everything you have a problem with.

You can’t reach the top shelf in the store? Kuroko will take your favorite cereal without a word and say that if you need something else from this or other shelf, just tell him. Do you have a problem with hanging laundry or putting curtains on your window? Tetsuya will gladly help you or lift your body to make you more comfortable. Are you cold? This cutie will lend you his sweatshirt/jacket/blanket, saying that you should take care of yourself, because you quickly catch a cold.

You! Literally! Have! Nothing! To! Complain! About!

Angel. I said what I said.

Kuroko isn’t one of the highest either people, so he is somewhat happy that his girlfriend is much shorter than him and sometimes needs his help for even such simple matters as changing a light bulb, reaching for a book in the library or chips from the storage locker in kitchen.

Sometimes, however, you get the impression that Kuroko is too worried about you. Like at this moment when you were going to go swimming with your boyfriend in the lake because you and your friends from Seirin went for a little rest. And also ‘cause the basketball team has a training under the supervision of Riko.

“Y/N-chan can you swim here? It’s quite deep. I’m worried.”

“Yes, Tetsuya, I can handle it. But I will take your hand when I feel threatened.”

“Yes, but you can hurt yourself. Grab me now. Pretty please.”

Kuroko is definitely cute and lovely, but he should chill.

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chibsytelford · 4 years

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Beaches and Brawls

*** GIF CREDIT TO CREATOR ***

@rebel-without-cause-x requested // Can I get a Jax T x reader please with the prompts “She’s crazy. And just when you think you’ve reached the bottom of her craziness, there’s a crazy underground garage.” And “I already know that I’m going to hell. At this point it’s really go big or go home.” Maybe the reader gets into a massive brawl and comes homes covered in cuts and bruises and the guys realise she’s crazy and Jax gets all cute and fluffy.

Anon requested // Jax teller x reader! Jax and the reader are on a trip and something vad happend

Taglist - @agirllovespasta @everyhowlmarksthedead @rebel-without-cause-x @whyisgmora @sadeyesgf @talicat713 @jadesamhart @starrynite7114 @angelreyesgirl @sheeshgivemeabreak @scuzmunkie @trulysuccubus @naytraydr @lady-pswrld @fangirlingaesthetics - if you would like added to my taglist just ask :)

You and Jax both had some time off from work. The MC had rare quiet days, so you decided to pull a sickie from work to spend the full day with your boyfriend. You couldn’t remember the last time you both spent quality time together, just the two of you. You didn’t mind that the other Sons were constantly around you and Jax, you loved them all like they were your older brothers, but you would be lying if you said you were not looking forward to some alone time.

“What do you want to do then babe?” you asked Jax who was currently getting dressed after his shower.

“I was thinking we would take a road trip on the bike, go to that beach that you like?” You were shocked that he had remembered where your favourite place was. You loved Jax, but sometimes you felt like he didn’t listen to a word you said. It was understandable because being president of the MC was a huge job that he took seriously. You admired him for it.

“That sounds amazing!” You gave him a kiss on his cheek and finished getting ready yourself. You both were ready to leave 20 minutes later.

You and Jax both clashed when you first met, and you hated each other. Your personalities were far too similar. You were both stubborn and headstrong and were not afraid of confrontation or putting people in their place. He took the last crate of beer from the supermarket fridge, and boy you were angry. You told him you travelled all this way specifically for that kind of beer, and he just looked at you with his shit eating smirk and his blond hair and blue eyes. He thought that smirk would work on you, but really it just made you angrier.

You told him you’d give him 10 seconds to hand the beer over or he would regret it. Of course he didn’t back down so you actually punched him, causing him to lose his grip on the beer. You grabbed it from his hands and quickly paid for it, running to your car. He had chased you out and practically begged for your mobile number. Fast forward 2 years later and you were going strong as a couple.

If you had any disagreements you sorted them out in the boxing ring. You could hold your own against Jax which always surprised him, and each time made him fall more in love with you.

You jumped on the back of his bike and you headed towards the beach. It was a hot day but there was a gentle breeze, which was your favourite type of weather. You arrived at the beach 30 minutes later and picked out your favourite spot which was close to the water but far away enough that if the tide came in it wouldn’t get you wet. You and Jax spent the morning sun bathing, splashing in the water and just talking. You hadn’t properly spoken to him about life in general in so long, due to him being so busy with the MC and you working too.

Jax was actually very smart which honestly did surprise you at first. You just thought he was all brawn and no brains, but you loved that he had an intellectual side. He often kept it hidden for some reason, but you knew that he knew a lot about the world and other stuff. When it came to the MC he didn’t use his brain as much, and just rushed into decisions without really thinking of the consequences. But since you came along he was trying his hardest to actually think before acting.

You decided to head back to his bike and head home. You noticed there was a group of guys standing around staring at his bike. They looked like they were drunk. They then noticed you and Jax heading towards it and smirked.

“Fancy riding me and not the bike?” one of them asked you. You laughed out loud and shook your head ignoring him. You looked to Jax who looked just as amused as you did. He only got involved if it looked like you needed help, which was very rare.

“I asked you a question bitch” the same man spat at you. You turned around and punched him in the nose. The blood came spurting out immediately and you were proud of yourself. You gently pushed Jax out the way and the rest of the drunken guys formed a circle around you.

“No way you can take us all” Again you laughed out loud and rolled your sleeves up. You were not one to back away from a fight, and you weren’t about to start now. Some of the guys managed to get some punches in but they were definitely worse off than you. 5 out of 6 were lying on the ground, holding their noses and their crotches. One guy was left standing, but he decided he wasn’t going to continue and backed off leaving his friends on the floor.

You turned around and saw Jax sitting on his bike staring at you with adoration in his eyes and a smirk on his face.

“I let them punch me” you shrugged with a smile.

“Yeah yeah I believe you, I literally can’t take you anywhere” he playfully tutted at you. He loved that you could easily stick up for yourself, it meant he could worry less when you were left alone when he had to go on runs. He still worried and cared about you, but knowing you would always put up a fight helped him sleep a bit better when he wasn’t with you.

“Let’s go back to the clubhouse and I’ll get Chibs to fix you up”.

You walked into the clubhouse and the guys all came over to you asking what had happened. You had a fresh bruise under your eye, and a few cuts from where the men’s rings had caught you.

“She got into a fight at the beach. One guy made a rude comment and called her a bitch. She took on 6 of them by herself. She’s crazy. And just when you think you’ve reached the bottom of her craziness, there’s a crazy underground garage.”

The Sons all shook their head laughing. They knew what you were like when it came to sticking up for yourself so they were not surprised to hear what happened.

“I already know that I’m going to hell. At this point it’s really go big or go home”. You shrugged. “Now patch me up Chibsy please”.

The Scotsman finished cleaning your cuts and putting plasters over them. You walked over to your man who was sitting at one of the tables drinking a beer. He pulled you down onto his lap and kissed your cheek.

“I love your crazy ass” he said offering you a drink of his beer.

“And I love that you love my crazy ass” you smiled at him.

#jax teller x reader #jax teller imagine #sons of anarchy #jax teller

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astralaffairs · 4 years

Text

put a ring on it 03 | philip hamilton

title: put a ring on it

pairing: philip hamilton x reader

words: 11k 🤪

warnings: rlly none! hectic families, stupid pet names, uncomfy emotions, compromising positions. also dont any of u dare get as close to another human as is depicted here anytime soon. pls flatten the curve. social distancing is cool i swear.

a/n: lmao remember on part 2 when i said i wouldn’t take as long to update this time? here we are, almost exactly a year later, even tho i wrote 8k words of this in the past couple days. enjoy!!! better late than never ig.

desc: You’ve never liked Philip Hamilton, and have always assumed the feeling has been mutual. But when you’re roped into pretending to be his girlfriend for a family reunion, you feel all your truths beginning to melt away, and find them instead taking form in his smile.

tags: @stargazelaurens @ivory-haired-queens @exoticxchicken8 @assbuttstyles777 @superbarriobrothers @tf2germanvillain @ela-ena @abundant-stars @heytheredee-lilah @abovethyfold - lmk if you want to be added; sorry if i missed anyone!!

Philip had brought you coffee without you asking.

It was mid-morning after your shower; the carpet of Philip's room was soft under your feet as you grabbed your phone off the marble countertop of his sink, just enjoying the peaceful silence. You scrolled briefly through your texts, smiling as you declined an offer for a manufactured emergency from Patsy (not before you seriously considered it, though). You slid it into your back pocket before padding down the stairs to find wherever Philip had gotten off to.

And thus, you were met with the distinctly strong smell of coffee.

Your footsteps stalled only a moment. You furrowed your brow; the corners of your lips quirked as you continued into his kitchen. You found him sitting at the end of the table opposite where you stood, glasses pushed down the bridge of his nose, reading a newspaper and sipping coffee from a paper cup. Your smile grew as he didn't even realize you were there; you leaned forward, resting on the chair nearest you as you bit your lip.

"Hey." Your voice was soft as he looked up, giving you a soft smile as he met your eyes.

"Morning, princess," he hummed, taking another sip from his cup as he eyed you, his eyes crinkling at the corners with his smile. "How'd you sleep?"

"Pretty well." Your yawn came through in your voice despite your words, and he nodded, averting his eyes back to his paper. Neither of you dared mention how you'd woken up tangled in each other, your legs intertwined with his, hands in his hair and with his arms wrapped loosely around your waist, your head against his bare chest. Instead, you broke the silence with, "So, you gonna share any of that coffee with me, Hamilton? Or were you just gonna ignore these bags under my eyes?"

You pointed to yourself with mock annoyance, and he chuckled, putting down the newspaper. "What, you don't think I picked up anything for my girlfriend?" He raised an eyebrow, and you rolled your eyes, slumping into the seat opposite him.

"Oh yeah? What'd you get me?" Your tone was flat as you pinned him with a skeptical stare. He only grinned, leaning back and grabbing another paper cup from the counter behind him. You raised your eyebrows, eyes widening in the slightest. It probably shouldn't have come as a shock to you, but you couldn't help your surprise at the gesture.

He chuckled at your expression. "I can't believe you'd underestimate me like this." He put a hand on his heart with a mock pout as he passed the coffee across the table to you, and you took a seat, rolling your eyes.

"What's the catch?" you asked dryly.

"Does there have to be a catch?"

"Last time you brought me coffee I ended up here." You raised your eyebrows, looking at him knowingly, and he chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"Alright, I get it. Point made." He grinned as he reached again behind him, grabbing a small brown bag and holding it out to you by its rolled opening. "But I brought you a croissant to make up for it."

Your eyebrows shot up when you saw the other bag, eyes widening in the least. "Coffee and food? Now there's definitely something up." You shot him a questioning look, and his obvious self-content didn't waver.

"Think of it as a "thank you'." Your skepticism far from dissipated, but something in the soft smile he wore made you take the bag from him with no further questions, a soft smile of your own gracing your lips.

You breathed in the warm, sweet air from the bag as you opened it, sighing at the smell of the croissant. As you broke a piece of it off, you looked up at him with an eyebrow raised. "So anyway, where's your family? House seems eerily empty."

He chuckled, raking a hand through his loose curls. "Yeah, it is. My siblings are all still at school for the next couple hours, and Mom and Pops are out getting breakfast with the Lafayettes. Said something about wanting to 'give the happy couple some time to themselves'."

You rolled your eyes. "So no one else is home?"

"So we're finally alone." He wiggled his eyebrows at you suggestively, and you scoffed.

"Just 'cause you brought me a croissant doesn't mean I'm about to jump your bones, Hamilton. Don't get your hopes up," you informed him dryly, but his amused grin didn't waver.

"Since we have the day free, though," he continued just as brightly, ignoring your unimpressed expression, "I figured I'd show you around the town a little, take you a few of the places I used to go."

You raised a brow. "Oh, yeah? I'm getting the grand tour?" A smile had at that point worked it's way back into your expression, sitting slightly lopsided as it played at your lips, though you tried to contain it. "Where are you gonna take me, Hamilton?"

His grin grew at your words, taking another sip of his coffee to hide his self-content. "You'll see."

-----------------------------------

"Where are we going?" you groaned as he tugged you around another corner in the quaint downtown of his small city. His grin never faltered; he seemed very much to have a set agenda. There were people and places he wanted to see. Seeing as this was his family reunion weekend, you couldn't have blamed him.

"C'mon, we're on the block now," he assured you, pulling you along in his haste to find the little storefront, wondering if it had yet changed the aging display in its frosted glass windows. You scoffed audibly, and he let out a little laugh. "What, don't believe me?"

"You'll forgive me for not trusting the eighth time you've told me we were almost there," you said dryly, letting him pull you along regardless. He shot you a look over his shoulder.

"No need to exaggerate, princess."

"Don't think I haven't been counting, Hamilton," you shot back, giving him a pointed look, and he rolled his eyes.

"Just come on."

You (grudgingly) allowed him to drag you along three more blocks, unsure what had overtaken you -- your feet were getting sore, your stomach was starting to cramp (you needed to work out more), and you really just wanted to sit down. Yet, something about how earnestly excited Philip was managed to keep you going, just a few more yards, just a few more yards. You tried to ignore the lopsided grin thrown over his shoulder and the teasing lilt to his voice that met your complaints.

"Here we are." He skidded to a halt in front of three stairs, a stone stoop, leading up to a glass door. You raised an eyebrow, turned your gaze to him.

"Where, exactly?"

His smile grew, and he nodded forward. "See for yourself."

You rolled your eyes as you followed him up, and he reached for the handle just before you, holding it open. You didn't acknowledge the action, just continued forward into the small shop.

It was an adorable space, dimly lit and colorful. Leafy plants spilled over from pots above the windows, contrasting with the bright red window frames on the sunny morning, interspersed with framed photos and paintings packed tightly together on the limited wall space. Soft guitar music drifted through under the buzz of chattering customers who'd arrived for their morning coffee. You could smell the coffee brewing behind the counter, the scent mixing with the sweeter one wafting from the ovens behind a swinging door.

"C'mon." You yelped in surprise as Philip's arm found its way around your waist, and he shot you an amused glance. You let him lead you forward, though, fighting the heat that began to rise in the back of your neck.

You neared the back of the store together, your gaze still wandering around the adorable coffee shop as you walked, and as the woman behind the counter caught sight of you, her eyes lit up in recognition.

"Philip!" She dropped the rag she'd been wiping her hands with onto the counter, rushing out from behind it to greet him as his arm came back around from your waist, instead pulling her into a tight embrace. You sighed internally as his warmth left your side.

"Hey, Aunt Maria," he said, grinning as he pulled back from the hug. "How've you been?"

"Worse without you," she scolded, whacking his chest lightly. "It's been what, four years since you've been home? Felt like an eternity."

He laughed, eyes still shining as he spoke to her. "Yeah, it's been too long. I've just been so busy."

Maria scoffed and promptly turned her attention to you, clearly not caring for any excuses for Philip's absence. "And who is this?"

“I’m Y/N,” you started, your smile unsure. At this, Philip also turned his gaze back to where you stood, grin growing on his face. “His girlfriend.”

Her face lit up again at this, immediately pulling you into a bone-crushing embrace. "Oh, you're the pretty thing I've been hearing about from Philip's parents for so long? It's so great to meet you."

You laughed as she finally pulled away, tucking a lock of hair behind your ear. "I guess that must be me, unless there's another woman, hm?" You raised an eyebrow at Philip, grinning, and he just rolled his eyes. "It's good to meet you too, though."

Philip rested a hand on Maria's shoulder as she released your forearms, an affectionate look in his eyes as he glanced down at her. "Aunt Maria's an old family friend, Y/N. Pops helped her out of a tough spot when I was younger, and we’ve forced her to stick around with us ever since."

She smiled, putting a hand on his as she looked over at you. "I owe the Hamiltons big. They really changed my life a while back, helped me get away from my ex-husband, start a new life on my own. Can't thank them enough, honestly."

Philip rolled his eyes at that, giving a dramatic huff. "You owe us nothing. You’re all we need."

"Then stop spending so much time in the city!" she lectured him, giving a shell of a glare, and he laughed.

"I'll keep it in mind."

She glanced back at the counter over her shoulder, where her employees were still diligently taking orders, making coffee. "Anyway, I've gotta get back to work, but can I get you two a cup of coffee? Donuts? Crêpes?"

Philip looked at you as he came back around, pulled you softly to his side with an arm around your waist and a raised eyebrow. You gave Maria a warm smile.

"Just a coffee would be great."

"Same for me, then," Philip added, and Maria winked at the two of you as she made her way back to the counter.

"Two coffees coming right up for the happy couple. Feel free to have a seat anywhere," she called to you over her shoulder, and you grinned.

"Wanna sit down?" Philip asked, and you pursed your lips, pinching the hand that was squeezing your waist. He yelped, withdrew his arm from you with a wince, and you nodded and gave an easy smile.

"Let's go by the window."

He rolled his eyes as he followed you. You slid comfortably into one of the smooth wooden seats, glancing out at the sunny morning before you, and he sat across, an eyebrow raised.

"So, what do you think of my hometown so far?"

You looked back at him wearing a soft, mischievous smile and cocked an eyebrow at him. "You really wanna know?"

He fixed his stare on yours, and your grin grew (though you tried to suppress it). "Yeah."

"It'd be better without you here."

He scoffed loudly at that, turning his head from where he had sat facing you, his grin near indistinguishable in his indignant expression, and you couldn't suppress your full-bodied laugh at his reaction.

"C'mon, really?" While he tried to maintain his scowl, turning back to you had his smile widening at your repressed giggles. He fixed a glare over his gaze as you tried to swallow your grin. "God damn, I ask you a legitimate question, and you can't resist ripping on me?"

"It was just too easy!" you defended, brushing your hair away from your face as you looked sheepishly back at where he sat, shaking his head. "Honestly, though?"

"I dunno, am I gonna get an honest answer?"

You knew very well his skeptical expression was well-earned, and you grinned, rolling your eyes as you defended yourself. "Yes!"

He shrugged, motioning to the space between you, a silent go-ahead. You sighed.

"It's really nice." You glanced around the coffee shop as you spoke, your eyes ultimately finding his again, though now a dreamy look was painted across your features. "It's... homey."

"'Homey'?" he repeated your answer with a breathy laugh, and you rolled your eyes, playfully shoving the arm he had resting on the table.

"See, this is why I don't take your questions seriously, Hamilton," you scowled, feeling your face begin to grow hot at his reaction. "Give you an answer and you just make fun of me."

He chuckled as he reached for your hands, still resting on the table as the heat did not subside from the back of your neck. He took them in his, enveloping them as he gave you a simper. "Aw, c'mon, I'm not trying to tease you." His simper turned to a mocking pout, and you scoffed, rolled your eyes.

"Oh, whatever, Hamilton." You didn't pull your hands out of his grasp, though, refusing out of sheer spite to meet his eyes.

"I'm not kidding!" he defended himself, and you could see out of the corner of your eye the grin return to his face, seemingly entertained by your reaction. You were a bit preoccupied, though, with inhibiting the blush from your cheeks as you couldn't seem to focus on anything other than, God, how warm his hands were. You were painstakingly aware of every time they shifted against yours.

"'M glad you feel at home in my old town." Your annoyed gaze was still fixed on the table before you as you heard him let out a sigh, dropping his face to break your line of vision. "Princess?"

"Don't call me that, Hamilton."

He deadpanned. "Y/N."

You met his eyes with an expectant look, and for a moment, you just held his stare, almost didn't notice when your breath caught as the corners of his lips quirked upward. You frowned.

His grin only grew at your adverse reaction, breath coming out in a puff of laughter. He shook his head, tongue in cheek. "Loosen up."

The way he squeezed your hands reminded you how close the proximity between the two of you was. You could feel your heart jump in your chest. When his thumb smoothed over your knuckle, you felt suddenly very self-conscious about how sweaty your hands were.

You took a deep breath, feeling unable to hold his gaze any longer, looking out the window beside you. Thankfully, Maria chose that exact moment to arrive with your drinks.

"Two black coffees, right up!" You froze when you met her beaming expression, flinching as you almost tried to yank your hands from Philip's, feeling like a deer in headlights. He squeezed your hands softly, his expression concerned at how panicked you looked. You plastered on a smile, reminding yourself as your face heated up that you were there as his girlfriend, this was supposed to be normal, it was expected. What made you uncomfortable was exactly how normal it felt.

"Thanks, Maria." You withdrew your hands with a smile to take your coffee from her. You ignored her raised eyebrow, her pleased half-smile.

"You sure there's nothing else I can get you?" The maternal look in her eyes turned playful as she folded her arms. "Anything else to drink? Some lunch?" Her eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch. "Some privacy?"

You choked on the long sip of coffee you'd been taking, trying to catch your breath as Philip just laughed. You set the mug down as you coughed into the back of your hand, trying to stifle it.

"I think this'll be all for now," he said, "We probably aren't gonna loiter too much longer, don't worry."

Maria gave him a warm smile, a smile you only caught a glimpse of as you emerged from your coughing fit. (You also caught a glimpse of Philip suppressing a laugh at you, and made a mental note to chew him out for it later on.)

"You know you could spend forever here and I wouldn't mind."

"I know." You couldn't help but notice that his smile in return didn't quite meet his eyes; something melancholy lay behind them as well.

As she pursed her lips, you thought her expression looked quite a bit like your mother's when you left for college, almost tearing up, but holding it together for you. "Well, let me know before you all leave," she said softly, "You know I don't see enough of you around here as is."

"I know. We'll see you tomorrow, though? At the reunion?"

"Wouldn't miss it." The quiet sadness in her eyes disappeared as quickly as it came, and she reached down to squeeze your shoulder affectionately. "Looking forward to seeing the both of you there." Her wink before she turned away was blatant. You couldn't help your soft smile.

------------------------------

"So, when do I get to meet the rest of your family?" He'd taken you out through the middle of town, refusing to let on to your destination. It was a nice day out, luckily for you, but you still weren't fond of having to reach all your destinations on foot -- if you'd wanted a walking tour, you'd have asked.

He shrugged, hands in his pockets as he walked alongside you down the sidewalk, appreciating the lush greenery that lined the streets, and your gaze rested on his faraway expression as you raised an eyebrow.

"Dunno. Whenever my siblings get home. Angie'll be coming in before they all get outta school, so she might even be there when we get back, but the rest of them have classes for a few more hours."

"'The rest of them'? How many siblings do you have, Hamilton?"

"Just six."

"Six?!" you repeated, eyes wide, and he just nodded.

"Yeah. The youngest is four, that's Eliza, and I'm the oldest."

"How old are the others?"

He pursed his lips, as though deep in thought, and you really couldn't imagine having to strain to remember a sibling's age. "There's William, at seven, then John, who's eleven, James is fifteen and Alex is seventeen -- they're the ones in high school right now -- and then there's Angelica, who's nineteen."

You couldn't help but let out a low whistle at that. "Sounds exhausting for your parents."

"Really. I was the easy child, and it was all downhill from there." He grinned, and you rolled your eyes.

"You were the easy child? Tell me why I find that hard to believe." Your challenging tone just made him shrug.

"Dunno, princess. I've just always been so responsible that my parents had an easy time with me."

"And at what point did you lose the responsibility trait?"

"I mean, when I found out I could pawn off all my responsibilities onto you..." He trailed off with a grin, laughing when he saw your glare. "Aw, c'mon, I'm just kidding."

"What, about being responsible? Or about pawning your responsibilities off on me?" You raised a skeptical eyebrow as he shrugged. "Because we both know it's not the latter."

"Hey, let's not forget that you're here because you didn't wanna take on a responsibility."

"A responsibility you pawned off on me!" You scoffed, and his amused smile only grew, hands stuffed in his pockets as you walked alongside him.

"Why must you be so focused on pointing fingers, Y/N?"

"I'm not pointing fingers, you just--"

"We're here." You skidded to a halt as he cut off your rant at it's beginning, too absorbed in your argument (despite how obviously he was baiting you) to have realized he stopped walking. You raised an eyebrow, turning to face exactly what he was looking at, and while he began walking in without a second thought, you paused a moment, taking it in.

What stood before you was the oldest building you'd seen so far in town, its structure essentially in ruins, ivy crawling up the eroding brick, moss running down it. The only thing that tipped you off to the fact that you weren't being lead to a remote location where no one could hear your screams was a small metal sign above a descending staircase, a single light above the path. By the time the full sight had processed, Philip had since reached the staircase and was watching your reaction with an eyebrow raised, a soft smile gracing his lips.

"You coming?"

You exhaled. "See, I'm not trying to make any accusations, but all I'm saying is that if I were to murder someone in this town, this would be the place for it."

You followed him, though, as he grinned at your hesitance, and what you found at the bottom of the staircase was far from what you'd expected. You entered behind Philip into a sleek but old-fashioned bar, somehow teetering on the line between an antiquated tavern and a nightclub. Your eyes were wide as you scanned the place, empty at the moment, save one person standing behind the bar, wiping down glasses. The chairs were up on the tables, the televisions were shut down -- you assumed Philip hadn't brought you there for drinks, but instead for the handsome stranger who had just caught Philip's eye with a growing grin.

"Philip Hamilton?" he called out the moment the door shut behind us, his disbelieving smile echoed in Philip's reaction. "Never thought I'd see the day. Thought you'd abandoned us all for city living by now."

Philip let out a huff of laughter as he reached the counter, pulling the man in for a hug over the bar. "Whatever, man. I don't wanna hear it." He pulled back with a skeptical look in his eye, holding him by the forearms. "It's been two years since I've been home, but I've never gone three damn months without seeing you since college."

"Touché. It's good to have you back." With that, though, the man's gaze flickered over to you, eyeing your form with an eyebrow raised, a small but triumphant smile. "But you've still managed to keep your lady from me ever since you and her got together. Afraid I was gonna steal her?"

"More afraid she'd meet my friends and immediately run for the hills," Philip snorted, causing the other man to shove him lightly from across the counter.

"Anyway, I take it you're Y/N?" He seemed to be ignoring Philip's jab at him in favor of redirecting the conversation from him.

"That'd be me," you said as you went to join Philip, smile wary and your hands tucked in your pockets.

When you reached the bar, he narrowed his eyes, leaning down to eye you skeptically. "Tell me, how much is Philip paying you? Hm?" Your eyebrows shot up, and he continued, "I mean, we both know he has the money to be battin' above his league, but I didn't think he'd be willing to fork over that much just for a weekend."

While his manner had you hesitant at first, his words made you laugh. If this was what Philip's friends were like, the weekend might go by quicker than you'd expected.

"This is actually pro bono," you sighed, raising your eyebrows as though you were confiding in him. "I've always been a bit of a philanthropist, so I took pity and decided to help out the less fortunate--" You gave Philip a pointed look, though he just rolled his eyes. His entertained smile betrayed his feigned annoyance. "--for a few days."

"You really are a saint."

"I consider myself more of a martyr." While his friend laughed, Philip raised an eyebrow at you, expression toeing the line between amused and exasperated. You extended your hand. "It's great to meet you, though, um..."

"Georges Lafayette," he supplied, shaking your hand. "I'm an old friend."

"Ahh, so that's you," you folded your arms, smile growing. You stole a glance to your right, and Philip was busy feigning shock that you'd actually listened to his friends-and-family crash course. When he met your gaze, you rolled your eyes. "Philip speaks fondly of you, regardless of how he may speak to you." There was a teasing lilt to the tail end of your sentence, and while Philip scoffed, Georges cracked a grin.

"Hope he's been doing me justice." He sent you a wink as he went back to wiping down the rims of the glasses that sat before him, pulling them from the dishwasher and shelving them. "Knowing him, I'm betting it's nothing compared to how he talks about you, though. Ever since you joined his office, it's been nonstop."

"Oh, really?" You raised an eyebrow at Philip, but he didn't meet your eyes as he took a seat next to you at the bar.

"You'd better bet. You've become something of a household name these past few years."

"Should that worry me?" you teased, electing to sit as well. You hopped up onto the barstool.

"Not this time." He chuckled, nudging Philip where he sat, leaning forward on the bar. "Worried me at the start of the whole thing. I figured he'd immediately fucked this up." He motioned between the two of you. "By the time you got together, I'd already found him three eligible rebounds."

"Aww, babe." You plastered on a teasingly contrived pout, turning to rest a hand on Philip's knee, meeting his unimpressed gaze. "Maybe if you hadn't spent three years pawning your responsibilities off on me, I would've been more receptive to your total lack of tact."

Georges laughed, and you grinned unabashedly as Philip let out a huff devoid of annoyance. "Oh, c'mon; let's not pretend I was the tactless one." The corner of his lips twitched as you raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

"Really, now, be honest." You hadn't the slightest clue where this was going, and Philip looked increasingly satisfied with your expression. "You were the one always yelling at me for leaving early, chewing me out for showing up late, finding excuses to come talk to me--"

"We work together," you interjected, unimpressed. Your words didn't seem to hinder his monologue.

"Now that I think about it, is that why you always looked so agitated when Theo came around?" He raised an eyebrow, looking thoroughly pleased, and you ignored the heat creeping up the back of your neck. You chalked it up to annoyance. “I’ve gotta say, jealousy actually is a good look on you.”

"Whatever," you scoffed. "I had to come to talk to you about the projects I was working on because they were the ones you pawned off onto me. And you know Theo has been obnoxious since day one."

He laughed, disregarding your vexation. "I mean, yeah, but she brings me coffee."

You narrowed your eyes, genuinely in disbelief. "Is the fact that you're just using her for coffee supposed to make me feel better?"

"Of course." He shrugged, as though it was obvious, and you caught Georges's amused expression out of the corner of your eye. Philip winked. "You know I've only got eyes for you, princess." You groaned, turning away from him in your chair, not wanting to look at the satisfaction you caught dancing in his eyes. You didn't like how consoled you felt.

You turned to Georges, deadpan. "Has he always been this unbearable? Or did that develop after the manipulative streak kicked in?"

"In our Philip? What manipulative streak?" He furrowed his brow in contrived disbelief. The two men shared a look, their smiles mirroring one another. "But if you wanna know if he's always been this tactful, then for sure."

It appeared Georges had decided to take Philip's side on this one. You groaned internally. "Don't you start now!"

"Sorry, Y/N, Philip claimed my loyalty years ago. You're on your own."

You pinned the pair of them with an accusatory stare, a smile playing on your lips nonetheless. You didn't love that it was turned against you, but you couldn't help but find their rapport entertaining. "You two are insufferable, you know that?"

"We've heard." Georges shrugged.

"Usually from each other," Philip chimed in.

"Or your siblings." Georges glanced at Philip. Neither of them was addressing you anymore.

"Or your ladies," Philip shot back, "Usually your exes by the time we heard it."

"We were always a little hard of hearing, huh?"

"Always. Think we heard that one from Emilie, though." Philip raised his eyebrows, gaze playful. You could only assume that was one of Georges's exes. He huffed.

"You leave my wife outta this!" Indignant was the only word you could use to describe his expression, and Philip snickered as he ducked away from the rag Georges had tried to hit him with.

"You're still lucky she took you back after that."

"She loved me too much not to." He looked smug with that, but his voice had softened. "Anyway, it's your girl we're talking about this time, so you'd better tread carefully. Right, Y/N?" He looked over at you, an eyebrow raised, obviously expecting you to jump on the chance to tease Philip. You folded your arms.

"Oh, so now you're on my side?"

Philip grinned, obviously pleased with your response, whereas Georges groaned. "Hey, I'm tryna balance the scales back out, alright? Didn't wanna let Philip get too cocky, but it looks like you let that one happen anyway."

"Don't you blame me!" You jabbed your finger at him, eyes narrowed. "You took his side first; I didn't take his side at all!"

"Sure seems like you're on his side now." Georges raised his eyebrows at Philip, who looked positively smug.

"I'm against you now. This isn't about him."

He laughed. "Tough. Looks like your girl's already cutting you out, Pip."

Philip's face fell as he grumbled, "Don't call me--"

"You call him Pip?" You hoped your expression came off as endeared. Blatantly finding ways to antagonize him didn't seem like it would've fit your role. "That's adorable!"

"Y/N." His tone was warning. Your grin didn't falter.

"Oh, can I steal that?"

"All yours."

You let out a soft aww, a hand held to your heart, and put your other hand on Georges's forearm. "I can't thank you enough."

Philip stood with a huff, seemingly having had enough of you two. You raised an eyebrow -- were you leaving already? "I'm gonna run to the bathroom," he said, annoyed gaze never breaking from Georges's. "Don't cause too much trouble while I'm gone."

"I dunno, Pip; I was never the responsible one." Georges shrugged innocently, and Philip couldn't seem to help his amusement at his antics. "Do my best, though."

"Can't thank you enough," Philip mocked you to Georges as he turned, walking off toward the back.

Georges called after him, "You're welcome!"

Philip didn't respond, but Georges seemed more amused given that. He turned to you with a grin, leaning on the bar.

"So, Y/N." You raised an eyebrow. "I need to hear more about you; Philip's been holding out on us all these years. Took the entire family to even convince him to bring you home to meet us."

"Then I guess I shouldn't mention how long it took him to convince me to come here, huh?" The words were truer than he knew; however, he interpreted them very differently from the truth. You raised a playful eyebrow, and he laughed.

"That's tough."

"You asked."

"Sort of," he corrected you, brow furrowed, and you grinned.

"No, but really," you started, deciding to actually explain yourself. "We've just been busy, couldn't find a time to get down here together."

"Oh yeah? Been getting a little too busy down in NYC?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively, and you rolled your eyes with a huff.

"You know I didn't mean it like that!" You swatted at his arm, coaxing a laugh from him. "Our schedules just didn't line up. We never had the same weeks or weekends free to get out of the city."

"So this is your first time traveling together?"

"Guess so."

"Try not to kill him before the weekend's up." He winked. You kept quiet; Georges didn't need to know quite how high the odds of that happening really were. "But really, enough about him. Where are you from? Where'd you go to school? When are you and Philip getting married?"

You ignored the last question altogether, knowing that reacting to it one way or another would only encourage him. "I'm from the west coast. I was born just outside of LA, moved later on to Chicago, and then came to New York City for college."

"Yeah? What made you choose NYC?"

"My ex, actually."

"Oh, really?" He looked surprised at that tidbit of information, and you tried to just shrug it off. "Must've been pretty serious then, huh?"

"It was." He noticed how quiet you went at that, and he didn't press the point, deciding instead to change the subject.

"So Philip must've been a pretty good rebound?" He nudged you, wiggling his eyebrows, and you couldn't help but laugh.

"He..." You paused, considering how you were supposed to respond to that. "He's definitely exceeded expectations, to be perfectly honest."

"Hmm, I dunno how good that sounds, Y/N." He raised a skeptical eyebrow, small smile playing at his lips. "How low, exactly, were your expectations?"

You pursed your lips, but your amusement betrayed you. You hadn't expected to be called out on the truth behind your statement. Your gaze dropped to the bar before you, and you drummed your fingers on the varnished wood. You shrugged. "Not that low."

He let out a snort of laughter. "What an absolutely glowing review. I'll be sure to let him know."

"Hey, don't you betray me like this!"

"I've made it clear where my loyalties lie." He held up his hands in mock surrender. "In all seriousness, though, why were your expectations so low?"

Again, you were unsure of how much to reveal. "Let's just say that Philip isn't much for first impressions."

"Really?" His surprise appeared genuine, before he tilted his head to the side, considering it, and shrugged. "I guess, with you, that shouldn't surprise me."

"What's that supposed to mean?" You folded your arms, needing more information before you could decide whether you were offended. He saw your furrowed brow and grinned.

"I don't mean that as a bad thing. Honest." He paused, considering himself, and you raised an eyebrow, prompting him to continue. He leaned onto the bar, and he spoke matter-of-factly, beginning to explain. "So, Philip's always been good with people. And he's definitely never had any problems with girls. He was in and out of casual relationships all through high school and college just for the hell of it."

Your eyebrows shot up. "Really?" The disbelief in your voice was blatant, and he cracked a smile.

"Yeah, he actually did have some tact, once upon a time. Was a charming kid; I never could figure out how he did it." He shook his head, amusement in his eyes. "But... well, when something matters to him -- or someone -- he goes looking for advice, and everyone else's input just ends up shaking him up. Think I mighta given him advice about you once or twice, so I guess you have me to thank for that."

For a moment, you were stunned. You swallowed, trying not to get too caught up in your head with the information he’d shared, but given its nature, it was hard not to overthink. You tried to match his lighthearted expression. "And what advice would you have given him?"

"Well, five years ago..." He squinted ever-so-slightly as he considered your question. A silent laugh slowly etched itself into his features. "Y'know what, it doesn't matter. Just trust me when I tell you, it was bad advice."

"Georges!"

"Seriously, you don't wanna know." You glared at him, leaning onto the bar where you sat. "I'm sorry to leave you hangin', but I promise, telling you helps no one."

You huffed as you slumped back in your seat. "Are you that bad at relationship advice?"

"Worse than what you're imagining," he assured you, and you shook your head, exasperated.

"How in the world are you married?" The question was a joke, but despite his chuckle, his answer wasn't.

"I think some things are just meant to happen." You raised an eyebrow. He shrugged, wearing a small smile. "Seriously, I was an absolute fool in college -- and I mean that -- but no matter how many times I fucked up with Emilie, she always ended up back in my life. It was usually just coincidence. We were taking the same classes; we had the same advisor; we were on the same subway through town; our dorm rooms were right across from each other.

"And honestly? She kinda hated me at some point, but we kept being thrown together, and we got to know each other pretty well. Call me crazy, but it felt like fate." The distant look in his eyes shifted to something akin to entertainment, after that. "Similar thing happened with Philip, actually."

"Really? When?" You were genuinely invested by that point.

"Junior year of high school." He nodded to himself, thinking back with a grin. "Yeah, that was a hell of a time. Like, one week in, Philip and I had this huge fight. Don't even remember what it was about, but it had us really heated."

"Honestly, I can't imagine you two fighting," you said, and he gave a shrug, his smile agreeable.

"Nah, not anymore, not like that, but we were teenagers," he said, as though that entirely explained it. "But I was only supposed to have one class with him that year, so he tried to switch out of it to get away from me. They ended up having to remake his schedule so he was in every other class with me. Poor kid couldn't escape it, but if it wasn't for some underpaid high-school administrator, we probably wouldn't be friends."

"Sounds like you have a lot of luck," you said, and he grinned.

"That's just it, though." He pinned you with a thoughtful look. "Was it luck, or was it just meant to turn out that way?"

You considered it for a moment. His stories did sound like the longest odds imaginable, but when you thought about your own life, you couldn't help but hope he was delusional. You'd had more than your fair share of bad luck in your life, and once upon a time, it had driven away almost everything you cared about. You didn't like to think that your misery could just have been some cruel twist of fate.

You opened your mouth to respond, uncertain, but Philip had apparently chosen that moment to re-emerge, inadvertently cutting you off.

"Speak of the devil!" Georges called out, his grin wide, and Philip eyed you both skeptically.

"You two are still talking about me?"

Georges glanced at you, and you told him, "I'm hearing all about your high school years."

Philip groaned. "Oh, c'mon man, what are you telling her?"

"We just covered your junior-year mullet and your fez-wearing phase," he informed him, meeting your eyes with a playful smile. "I was just about to fill her in on when you joined the bowling team in our senior year, but--"

"Alright, that's enough outta you." Georges shot you a conspiratory wink as Philip cut him off, though neither you nor Philip could hide your amusement. He, however, tried to play it off as annoyance. "Sounds like we're gonna need to get out of here before you get to the highlights of college."

"Aw, but Pip, I'm learning so much," you pouted, and he looked mildly exasperated as he met your eyes.

"That's what concerns me." Georges laughed while you groaned, and Philip's smile reappeared as he took a seat to your right.

"Then just wait'll I tell her about middle school."

---------------------------------

The rest of your evening was a whirlwind. Having grown up with only an older brother, you hadn't realized quite how many six siblings were -- that changed quickly. You really couldn't believe Angelica had managed to grow up with five brothers without losing her mind. Family dinner stretched on into the night, chaotic to the brink of your comfort zone. You found yourself enjoying it much more than you'd expected to, however. The Hamiltons were as lively as they were numerous, and you couldn't help but laugh along.

"But you were the one who got the room alone!" It took an hour or two, but you'd gotten Philip's siblings' names down. That was James, the younger high-schooler, yelling across the table at Angelica, who made a face.

"I was a seventeen-year-old girl! I couldn't keep sharing a room with my younger brothers!" she shot back, "You scared away three of my boyfriends! Three!"

"You never had to bring them up to our room, but you wanted some alone time with them." It was John, the eleven-year-old, who chimed in this time, making kissy sounds at Angelica who just mocked him.

"I had a right to some privacy!" she shot back. You didn't remember how they'd wandered down this line of discussion, but it seemed to be an impassioned one. Alex Jr. scoffed loudly.

"Hey, I'm seventeen, and I don't have my own room," he interjected, glaring down the table at their dad. "This is a double standard!"

"We have a toddler in the house; grow up," Alex Sr. sighed, which only seemed to further upset Alex Jr.

"Hey, William was Eliza's age when Ang was my age! That's not fair!"

"It doesn't matter; you aren't getting any girls anyway." The sneer came from John.

"Hey, I'm getting plenty--"

"Oh, yeah? Where are they?"

"I haven't brought them home because you can't seem to--"

"Boys! Relax!" Eliza did her best to quell the growing argument, but it seemed to be to little avail. Alex put a hand on her shoulder with a suppressed laugh as she huffed, clearly exasperated.

"Don't make this about me! I'm an incredible roommate!"

"Have you seen our bathroom lately?"

"Come on," Angelica groaned, her annoyance getting lost in the growing cacophony. John was shouting now, leaning over the table at his brother, and you jumped in your seat when James yelled back, deciding it was now his place to join the conversation.

You didn't realize you had grabbed Philip's forearm in your startled fit until he broke your train of thought.

"Alright, princess?"

Your head whipped toward him, surprised to see him leaning in to talk to you, and he looked thoroughly amused by your reaction. You released his arm from your grasp, giving him a sheepish smile. "Your family really is something."

"Believe me now that I was the easy child?" he asked, and you let out a snort of laughter, gaze falling back to his family.

"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that you were like this ten years ago."

"Hurtful," he scoffed, mocking offense, and you just shrugged, smile growing.

"They had to learn it somewhere."

"It was all Angelica."

"I'm sure."

The woman in question broke the wall of noise at almost exactly that moment, raising her head from her hands. "This is exactly why I needed my own room!" That just turned the younger boys into a united front against her, and she looked to Philip with a sigh. "I'm starting to understand why you waited so long to bring Y/N home."

"No idea what you could be referring to. They're so charismatic!" Philip shrugged, plastering on over-exaggerated confusion, seemingly just to get a rise out of his sister. She rolled her eyes with a groan; it appeared to be working. She turned to you.

"Please don't run for the hills just because our younger brothers are absolute monsters," she said, gaze pleading as she reached for your hand. You smiled, amused despite yourself. "We really need some sanity in this family. I can't take family dinners being just me with six boys."

"Aw, Angie, are you saying I'm not one of the absolute monsters?" Philip interjected with a pout. "I'm touched, really."

You and Angelica both rolled your eyes at his antics. It was then that you decided you liked her.

You leaned over the table toward where her hand was desperately clutching yours. "You've got me for the rest of the weekend, but I'm not sure I can promise more."

She groaned exaggeratedly, and Philip nudged you lightly in the side, grinning mischievously. "What, don't you love my family so far?"

His words were teasing, but your soft smile as you looked back at the people surrounding him was anything but. "I do, actually."

When you met his eyes again, his gaze was softer, grin less pronounced. "Good."

The table had slowly grown quieter throughout your interaction, and it seemed you'd held Philip's gaze for just a moment too long, and you turned to see the entire family watching the two of you. You felt your face heat up, took a sip of your water. From then, there was silence, until a grinning William decided to break it.

He'd been quiet for the majority of the meal, so it surprised you when he turned to you, eyes shining. "So, Y/N," he addressed you, tone businesslike.

"I think we've spent enough time questioning Y/N already," Philip interjected before he could continue, resting a near-protective hand on your arm. You cast him a grateful look.

"C'mon, humor him," James said, his grin matching William's. "It's hardly eight; we have plenty of time."

"We started dinner at five." Philip sounded unamused.

"We haven't spent that whole time interrogating her," he defended, and Philip gave him a pointed look. James turned to you. "Right, Y/N?"

While you sighed playfully, playing up your exasperation, you really didn't mind it. You'd never had a family like this before. "I suppose not."

"Anyway," William interjected, looking as stern as a seven-year-old could. You pursed your lips, fighting back a laugh as you folded your hands and leaned toward him, mirroring his expression. "Y/N."

"William." You did your best to imitate his tone.

"When are you and Pip going to have a baby?"

Your eyes widened immediately, and your mouth fell open in shock, if only for a moment. Philip groaned beside you, leaning back in his chair, and you could hear his parents laughing at the end of the table. Some of his siblings looked exasperated; others waited eagerly for your answer.

"Well, um..." You trailed off as you glanced at Philip desperately, hoping he'd shut his family down so you didn't have to. He hadn't yet seemed to have recovered. Your face was burning as you tried to continue. "We aren't married, so not anytime soon, but--"

"When are you getting married?" William pressed, seemingly unaffected by everyone's reactions to his words. You leaned forward, had to take a sip of your drink to hide your surprised laugh.

"Sorry to say it, but right now, we don't know that we are getting married, so I'll have to get back to you on that question." You gave him an apologetic smile before you looked back at Philip, eyes wide. This was territory you didn't think you'd have to cover. He just shook his head and mouthed, 'I'm sorry.' He appeared wholly exhausted.

"Surely you've talked about it before, though, haven't you?" It was the older Alex who chimed in that time, hesitant. Eliza gave him a look. "I mean, getting married, having kids and all that. You've been together for two years; you must have considered it at some point."

"Pops," Philip said through gritted teeth, the word carrying an unsaid warning.

"What? I'm just curious," he defended, despite Eliza swatting his shoulder. He raised his hands in mock surrender as he glanced at her, eyes wide. "If you haven't, it's fine. I don't mean to rush you kids into anything, but I just wanted to know."

By then, though she sighed, you could see Eliza looking at the two of you hopefully. The whole table fell silent, expecting an answer you didn't have. "It's just... not something we've taken into consideration at this point. We aren't really set on making decisions about that anytime soon."

"Do you want kids, though?" Angelica asked you, and Philip sighed. Like you, he'd hoped the topic would fall away after your weak explanation. You hesitated, not sure whether giving them a legitimate answer would only egg them on. Ultimately, you shrugged.

"I mean, personally? Yeah, probably at some point," you offered, playing nervously with the edge of your napkin. You didn't want to look at Philip. "The whole 'settling down and starting a family' thing is something I've kind of always pictured"

"Is it more appealing now that you see how great having a big family is for us?" Alex Jr. asked, words saturated with sarcasm. You laughed as he grinned exaggeratedly, gesturing to everyone down the table.

"I know you're joking and all, but I really wouldn't mind this being my day-by-day."

"Really?" Philip chose that moment to finally interject, an eyebrow raised, and you nodded, feeling suddenly defensive.

"I mean, yeah." You shrugged, shoulders tense. "What, wouldn't you?"

"I would.” His lips quirked as he sat forward in his chair once again. “But, honestly, I didn’t think this was your style.”

"I'm not totally set on anything, but..." You didn't elaborate further. Confessing to him the future you wanted had you feeling uncomfortably vulnerable. His smile was soft as he faintly nodded, eyes crinkling at the corners.

There was a pregnant pause before Alex Sr. spoke.

"I guess now you've talked about it."

------------------------------------

Dinner ended much later than it needed to, and afterward, they just herded you into their living room. It seemed that now since they all had you in front of them, they were going to take advantage of the opportunity to ask you anything and everything about yourself and your love life (with a focus on Philip, of course). You did your best to field the seemingly endless barrage of questions, and though it took you a while, you finally figured out how to deflect the more uncomfortable ones onto Philip. It wasn't until you yawned -- rather loudly, too -- that the conversation reached any sort of stopping point.

"Tired, princess?" Philip wrapped an arm around your waist, lightly squeezing your side, and you sighed, not having enough energy to push back on the pet name.

"Little bit," you mumbled, a weary smile still adorning your lips. He chuckled, and you couldn't help but lean into his embrace, feeling more drained than anything, and rested your head on his shoulder.

"You two should head up and get some sleep," Eliza said. The look in her eyes as you met her gaze was affectionate. You didn't notice your smile growing.

"I second that. You look exhausted, Y/N," Alex added, looking to you and Philip sympathetically.

You chuckled at that, and you couldn't help the lazy sarcasm that leaked into your voice as you responded, "Thanks, Mr. Hamilton; glad to hear it."

"Alex," he corrected you, his smile kind. He didn't seem to take any offense at your tone; instead, amusement danced in his eyes, and you nodded, matching his expression.

"Alex."

You couldn't decide whether the warm feeling in your chest as you bid everyone goodnight, letting Philip lead you to the stairs, was the result of your fatigue, the merlot Eliza had offered you around seven (and then three more times in the hours that followed), or if it just came from being around his family. It had to be some combination of the three, but you had a sneaking suspicion it leaned mainly toward the latter.

The two of you walked in easy silence, you still reminiscing on everything that had happened that day, everyone you'd met, and you didn't notice Philip watching you as you hung onto the railing to your left. You weren't in any sort of headspace for vigilant observation. Instead, you were fixated fondly on his family. It was never an environment you'd been in, so rowdy and energetic, but tender and caring all the while. You'd been dreading this weekend -- seriously, you spent about an hour on the drive down drowning out Philip's soliloquy, spaced out and wondering whether it was too late to just turn around and dump him off on the side of the road. (Patsy wouldn't have even questioned it when you arrived home.) The past however-many-hours, though, almost since you'd just woken up, had you questioning a number of assumptions you'd made, and not just about the family reunion.

You stumbled over one of the last stairs as you lost yourself in your train of thought. Your eyes snapped wide open; your grip on the railing tightened. Just as you felt yourself beginning to tip backward, you found yourself in Philip's arms, his grip on your waist steadying you as he looked down at you, amused.

"You alright?" The air hadn't yet returned to your lungs; your pseudo-crisis must have begun and ended in under a second, and you stared up at him blankly. You blinked, just beginning to process your surroundings.

Catching your breath was more of a struggle than it should've been, however. All you could discern was the feeling of his fingertips pressing into your skin, the feeling of his breath on your neck as he looked down at you. You weren't even that close together, but clinging to his arms for what seemed like dear life had you feeling mildly defenseless. You couldn't miss the growing concern in his eyes.

"Yeah," you breathed as you realized you'd let the silence stretch on too long, long enough for Philip to question it. Being tired (and gravitating toward wine-tipsy) must have just heightened the panic in your system, must have slowed your reaction time. Another beat passed, and you finally pulled yourself upright, taking a deep breath as you continued up the last couple of stairs and down the hallway. Philip's concern didn't dissipate as he came up after you, but your mind was elsewhere.

You had to promise yourself to keep from drinking the next day, feeling exasperated with yourself as you couldn't seem to collect your thoughts. He caught up to you as you entered his room, and pulled the door shut behind him with an eyebrow raised. You didn't see him watching you, a silent question in his gaze, as you dragged yourself over to your suitcase.

You turned around after pulling your pajamas out and froze when you met his eyes. "What?"

He pursed his lips. "You sure you're okay?"

"Of course," you reassured him, giving a weary smile. "I'm just tired; don't worry."

You didn't let yourself ponder any longer, and though you could see your answer hadn't quite appeased him, you ignored it. The room was quiet as you both picked through your suitcases, brushed past each other entering and exiting the bathroom. You were both more than ready to get some sleep.

Just before you were about to climb into bed, you paused, unable to help your drifting gaze. Philip was still in the adjacent bathroom, brushing his teeth, and you glanced back at him. Considering the circumstances, briefly vetting his room felt like fair game.

Your eyes scanned the walls, noting the different posters he still had hung up, appearing to all be from different times in his life -- some were much more worn than others, and you couldn't imagine he'd been anxiously awaiting the new Scooby-Doo movie anytime recently. You wandered over to the desk, the corners of your mouth twitching up into a small smile as you noticed the books and pictures stacked high on the surface. Your fingertips brushed against one photo, and your gaze fell to it, seeing Philip and three other people all in party hats, their celebration frozen in time.

You could hear his footsteps stall behind you as you poked into his belongings, but it didn't discourage you.

"When's this from?" you asked, turning to him with the polaroid you'd uncovered. He chuckled as he walked over, plucking the picture from your hand.

"Eighteenth birthday party," he said, eyes crinkling at the corners as he eyed the photograph. He turned his gaze back to you with a small smile. "You're actually gonna meet all the people in this photo this weekend, assuming they all show up."

You raised an eyebrow, stifling a yawn as you took a seat on the perfectly made bed a few feet in front of him. "What, couldn't get anyone but family to celebrate your eighteenth with you?"

"Hardly." He hummed, ignoring the aim behind the insult. "My dad lost most of his family when he was young, though, so while you'll meet all of Mom's family this weekend, Pop's is all just his friends who he's adopted into the family, and then their families. These three are his friends' kids who I grew up with," he said, motioning again to the photograph.

"That's sweet," you said softly, pushing yourself further up the bed, hugging your knees to your chest.

"Hmm?"

"That your dad chose this entirely new family, I mean." He shrugged, walking over to join you on the bed.

"Yeah, I guess so," he said, "Never really thought much of it, I guess." He paused, eyeing you with a raised eyebrow where you sat. "What's your family like? You don't talk about them much."

You pursed your lips. "Small."

"Yeah?" He took a seat next to you after pulling himself onto the bed. Your skin jumped as the outside of his thigh rested against yours, his hip less than an inch away, and you could feel his body heat radiating off of him. You nodded, swallowing hard as a soft smile grew on your lips.

"Just me, my parents and my brother."

"That's it?" He looked surprised at your explanation, and you just shrugged. "What about cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles?"

"Two aunts, no grandparents, no cousins."

"Really," he sighed, seemingly still in disbelief. A teasing grin worked its way onto his face as he elbowed you lightly. "So I won't be going to any family reunions in the L/N household anytime soon, then, huh?"

You laughed despite yourself. "Doesn't look like it. The closest we ever get is when my brother and I are together in NYC and Mom and Dad drive up to meet us for a couple days. Not much of a production."

"Sounds nice, though." His grin had grown by then as he looked over at you, leaning back to meet you where you sat. By then, he was sitting angled toward you with his legs crossed, reclining back on his hands. You shifted, and the hand behind you brushed against his. "Next time the L/Ns get together in New York, though, I'd better be invited. Quid pro quo, princess."

"Oh, of course," you replied jokingly, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Might be a little quieter than what you're used to, though."

He rolled his eyes. "At least you're letting me know ahead of time." You shifted to turn yourself toward him, again finding him only inches from you. He looked as surprised as you did, but neither of you moved, and he continued, tone light. "Speaking of, sorry for not warning you about how... chaotic my family gets. It's been a while since I've been with them all at once, and I forgot to consider that this isn't how everyone's families work."

You chuckled, your smile growing. "No, don't apologize. They're sweet."

"Not the word that comes to mind." He pursed his lips, looking down at you skeptically. You rolled your eyes, but he couldn't have missed the mirth in your expression. "Then again, considering that, it's no wonder you get along with them."

Your jaw dropped in mock outrage. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

He shrugged, feigning innocence despite his smirk. "Nothing much. Just that I'm glad you feel at home with my family."

You huffed out a laugh, pulling yourself up to jab a finger in his chest. "Now don't you dare even pretend that wasn't an insult!"

"I don't know what you're talking about." His grin didn't waver.

"Oh, don't play dumb," you scoffed. You both knew the fury in your voice was contrived, and his amusement seemed to grow. "We both know what you meant."

"Oh, yeah?" He pushed back on you, leaning in against your hand, an eyebrow raised. "What'd I mean, princess?"

"I said don't pretend," you warned him. He was looking increasingly smug the more indignant you became, and you narrowed your eyes.

"Who said I was?

"I'm not stupid." You raised your eyebrows.

"'Course not." He mocked your expression. "So you must already know I would never mean anything other than praise by that, huh?"

You rolled your eyes with a groan, having had about enough, despite the smile you were failing to stifle. He laughed, and you reached out to shove him away by the chest, but just as you did, he tried to grab your wrist, eyebrows raised.

He was too late.

As he grabbed your wrist, you couldn't pull back to where you were sitting, and your eyes widened as you lost your balance. Your momentum turned what would've hardly tipped him over into a much more forceful push, and you sent him falling backward, his legs unfolding as he tried to catch himself, with you, in turn, collapsing forward with a yelp. You ended up on top of him, one hand still held to his chest, the other beside his head, and you knelt straddling his waist. Both of you had wide eyes as you realized the position you were in, nose-to-nose, and your breath caught in the back of your throat.

He was the first to speak, eyes shining, his voice low. "Y'know, this wasn't quite what I had in mind when I asked you to come home with me for the weekend."

However, you were still stunned into silence, hyper-aware of any movement either of you made. You had to focus on your breathing in an effort to calm your pounding heart. (With your hand on his chest, you could tell you weren't the only one.)

You felt your hair brushing against your cheek as it fell forward, draped beside your head over Philip. It must have been subconscious when you found yourself leaning in further yet, must have been instinct based on the situation. Nonetheless, when you did, the side of your nose brushed against his, and you felt his heartbeat quicken, saw his eyes widen.

You paused when you must have been less than an inch above him.

"Y/N," he murmured, voice cautious as his free hand found its way up to your waist. You stalled, though, for another moment, shivering when you felt his breath fan across your lips. He was all but immobile beneath you, too apprehensive to make any move one way or another.

The anticipation in his eyes only heightened with each passing second.

It was then that you pushed yourself off of him, blinking hard, and you couldn't decide whether you had lost your nerve or regained your sense. You swallowed, took a deep breath. "Sorry, I... I didn't mean to, um--" You cut yourself off. What in the world were you thinking? The question arose in your mind desperately as you scrambled further back, further from him. Your face was burning. "I wasn't--"

"You're ok," he said softly, giving you a reassuring (yet, slightly worried) smile. You didn't meet his gaze. "It was a mistake." You were so lost in your own train of thought that you didn't notice when Philip finally stood, walked to the empty side of the bed to join you.

"We should get some sleep," he said, turning on the lamp beside him, and you nodded. The past few minutes had you spiraling. All his actions were hesitant; had you scared him? You didn't mean to end up in that position. He knew it was just a mishap, right? Did you know that it was?

He stood briefly to hit the light, and you crawled under one side of the covers. After a moment, he joined you. Neither of you knew quite what to say next.

"G'night, princess," he finally murmured, voice as wary as it was soft as you curled into the sheets, and he pulled them over himself alongside you. You closed your eyes in an effort to forget that you were still facing him, shifted over to give him space. Your calf brushed against his knee, but you didn't pull away.

When you heard the lamp turn off, you finally spoke again. "Night, Pip."

The room was completely silent after that, but neither of you was at rest. You lay with your eyes tightly shut, your thoughts running a mile a minute as you willed yourself to stop replaying one specific moment on a loop.

You didn't realize your brow was furrowed, but Philip did, watching you for just a moment longer with smiling eyes.

The bed was just a little bit warmer that night.

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lovemeafterhrs · 4 years

Text

boys (that i dated in highschool) | suna ending

chapter 12.5: (dream)

fun fact: SUNAS ENDING FINALLY UGH IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO WRITE THIS AHHH I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOY i spent so long on this fic and i can’t believe its almost over :((

~~~~

suna rintarou didn’t know how to calm his racing heart, frozen outside her apartment door. he’d never been so nervous; observing the plants next to her doormat as he twiddled with his thumbs.

she was supposed to be his friend, but why did she leave his palms sweaty without even being in the room? he was at a loss for words, unable to ring the doorbell as his feet stood firmly cemented to the floor. it was as though his hands wouldn’t obey his brain, instead clutching to the rings that decorated his fingers.

after what felt like an eternity, he was met with a radiant smile through the now opened door. he couldn’t remember how it had even happened, too stunned to smile back as he caught himself observing every one of her features.

she looked so content, an adoring expression painted over the scowl she normally held so firmly.

“did i get all dressed up to stand in the doorway or what?” she smirked, and he shook himself out of his daze as he held out his hand to her.

“it’s a surprise.” suna couldn’t hide his grin as she took his hand, and it was his turn to drag her down the rickety wooden staircase.

the bustling city streets that usually surrounded their apartment complex were surprisingly quiet, and her long dress fluttered behind them as the wind carried them through the bright lights of the nearby shopping district. they observed the couples occupying the nearby park benches, and he cringed as he remembered what was to come. because he had to tell her, even if it would ruin everything.

unsurprisingly, she was completely unaware of the questioning eyes that pried around them. it was as though they could sense his nervousness, and cast him looks of pity as she pulled him to the window of a candy store.

“we’re going to get dinner, you can’t eat dessert first.” he snorted, and she pouted up at him.

“why not? the restaurant is so far-“

“you don’t even know where we’re going.” he sighed dramatically, and she snickered as they continued their journey down the brightly lit sidewalk.

“you’re so easy to rile up, suna. didn’t our kids teach you anything?” ah, yes. the twins had taught him many things, but being in love with his best friend wasn’t one of them. it was more of a side effect; one that left his heart pounding in his chest as her laugh rang through his ears.

“you raised them, it’s your fault!” he accused, stifling down a laugh as he tried to pass off the poorly hidden smile that rested behind his free hand.

“i’ll take that into account for the next set of heathens we adopt.”

“you think we’re doing that again? there’s no way.” scrunching up his nose in disgust, he led her to the entrance of the restaurant. she hadn’t taken notice of the twinkling lights in the window, instead her gaze permanently locked onto his as she wordlessly mocked his expression.

“we’re here, unless you want to stand out here all night.” he laughed, and she rolled her eyes at him as she opened the door. it was only then that she noticed their still-interlocked fingers, and he noticed the brief hesitation in her eyes before she seperated her hand from his.

as she observed the books that flooded the shelves of the restaurant, all he could see was the adoring smile that had found its way onto her features.

“it’s so beautiful..” she whispered in awe, and he grinned as they found a table next to the window.

“i knew you’d like it.”

“i love it, rintarou.” she beamed, and his heart jumped into his throat as he mirrored her expression.

with the soft music echoing behind them, they observed the couples occupying the surrounding tables, making jokes and giggling amongst themselves as they waited for their food. a warm sense of comfort had washed over the two, as though they were in their own little world. with the twinkly lights overhead, they ate in serenity with eyes shining and loving gazes.

it wasn’t until they left the doors of the restaurant that the night began to settle, and the truth rested slightly below the surface as they strolled to a nearby park. staring at the sparkling skies above, she pulled him into the grass and laid back against the dewy ground.

“what are you doing?” he asked, eyeing her curiously as she stared at the sky.

“we’re watching the stars, obviously.”

“it's almost midnight-“

“as part of our marriage contract, i’m making you sit on this gross wet grass in the middle of the night and look at stars with me. you have a problem with that?” she questioned, and he flushed as he shifted to glare at the stars above him.

“nope. none at all.” he did have a problem, and the silence began to slowly devour him as his brain flooded with words that he’d never got around to saying.

“rintarou,” she paused, and he turned to face her as she spoke up again. “you’ve been acting really weird recently, what’s up with you?”

fuck. she noticed? how was he supposed to explain..

“you know you can tell me anything right?” she added quietly, and he nodded nervously as his eyes darted away from her curious ones.

“nothing’s wrong, i’ve just been thinking.” he sighed, and she perked up slightly at his response.

“about what?”

“do you ever think about what it would be like if it wasn’t all pretend..?” he trailed off as his hands once again found the rings that decorated his fingers.

“what?” confusion met his eyes as he faced her again, courage coursing through his veins as he stumbled with his words.

“i don’t think i can keep acting like i wouldn’t do anything for you, even if you don’t feel the same. you’re my best friend, but i can’t ignore my feelings anymore.” he paused again, sending a glare straight into the clouds as he tried to keep his composure.

“i-“ she started, only to be cut off.

“i know you want to interject but please, just let me finish before i lose the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” he sighed, pulling his fingers through the grass as he contemplated his confession. “you feel like home to me, not that stupid little apartment complex we met in. it might just all be a game to you, but i don’t want it to play pretend anymore. i want to be able to hold your hand in public with no questions, and wrap you in my arms every night like you’re the only thing that matters. because to me, you are.”

“i.. don’t even know what to say.” if he had the confidence to look at her, he would’ve seen the tears that pricked her eyes as she smiled fondly at him.

“you don’t have to say anything, i understand.” he replied solemnly, rising to his feet as he cursed himself internally.

you really fucked it up this time, huh. losing your best friend, that was so smart! stupid fucking-

“suna, wait!” in a rush to stop him, she grabbed his hand, inadvertently pulling them both back into the damp dirt.

“seriously, it’s not that big of a deal-“ when he finally met her eyes, that adoring smile was back to taunt him as his heart stopped dead in his chest.

“it is that big of a deal, because i don’t want to play pretend either.”

“w-what?” he stuttered, eyes bulging out of his head as she stared him down like he was the stupidest person she’d ever met.

“i said that i don’t want to play pretend anymore, did you not hear me?” she taunted, poking his cheek as he realized exactly how close they were at that current moment.

“so does that mean i can kiss you?”

“well i would expect you to, you did just confess to me after all.” she grinned, placing both of her hands on his cheeks to balance on either side of his equally bright smile.

and he did, as the stars twinkled above and cars bustled around them as the night met the morning. suna rintarou silently thanked the elevator that he once hated as they walked up the stairs to her apartment, hand in hand.

but what if it had turned out differently?

masterlist:

taglist: @bby-bokuto @momoinot @crushingonsuga @k4tiepie @levisackerwoman @ashleefo @yammmers @heyitzwolf @pharvhs @disaster-rose @just-snog-already @laughingismorefun @kac-chowsballs @dae-kirei @centinoahs @ack-aashi @nerdynstoned @newfriendjen @moonlightaangel @paripedia @oxoai @well-imnotdead-yet @mygreat-perhapes @mochahyuck @tycrackculture @anngelllla @toaster-stick @rhaynedaze @nekomasbrain @maramalademadara

#haikyuu x reader #haikyuu smau #akaashi keiji #akaashi smau #akaashi keiji x reader #suna smau #b!tidihs #rintarou suna #suna rintaro x reader #mwah suna ending #i luv him

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labyrinth-runner · 4 years

Text

In the Eye of the Beholder

Part of the “A Garden in Gotham” Series, a Roman Sionis x Reader fic

Words: 1900

No warnings

It had been a couple of weeks since you had first met that man, but he kept coming back. Every morning like clock-work, he’d stroll into your shop and order another bouquet. Every time a different meaning. Your heart skipped a beat every time you touched as you passed payment or flowers to each other. The way he smiled at you made your knees weak. Whoever was receiving these flowers was a very lucky woman, you thought. Part of you wished it was you. Sure, you work with flowers every day, but to have someone bring you a personal bouquet every day… to be adored like that… one could only dream.

This morning, you were making arrangements for a charity ball hosted by Wayne Enterprises, Inc. It was a prestigious ball. You were keen to deliver these arrangements personally, wanting a glimpse at how the other half lived. You didn’t want a life like that, but you were always curious about the kinds of people who had everything. Part of you wondered if they were truly happy in their castles surrounded by their belongings. You were so engrossed in your musings that you hadn’t heard the bell chime.

“Those are beautiful, darling,” a voice called out.

You jumped a bit, blushing. “Mr. Sionis, you caught me off guard.”

“What are those for?” he asked curiously.

“A charity ball later this evening,” you informed him, stepping back to wipe your hands on your apron.

“Ah, yes, when the rich pretend for an evening to care about the poor. How quaint,” he grinned awkwardly.

“What are your thoughts on charity?” you asked curiously.

“Oh, darling, you don’t want me to bore you with that,” he grinned as you came over to lean on the counter. In truth, he didn’t think you’d enjoy what he thought of charity. As someone who had to build his own empire, he was of the mindset that it should be every man for himself. Or at least… that’s what Zsasz always encouraged.

You smiled softly at him. “What are you trying to say today?”

“I want to ask her on a date,” he told you seriously.

“You haven’t done so yet?” you chuckled. “You’ve been buying flowers for her every day. I’m sure that she’ll say yes. She’d be incredibly stupid not to.”

You turned your back to him as you perused the flowers on the wall. “Lilies? No… Roses? No, that’s too heavy-handed,” you murmured to yourself. Your eyes settled on the irises, going over to pick up a handful of the purple flower, placing them in the carrying basket. Your eyes swept over the wall once more, lighting up on the black-eyed Susans. Color theory kicking in, yellow and purple were complimentary colors. Yes, you thought, those should pair nicely. Next, you picked up some of the filler greens to fluff out the bouquet before bringing the basket back to your work station.

“What do those stand for?” he asked.

“Irises stand for hope, because you’re hoping she’ll say yes. Black-eyed Susans represent encouragement. You’re encouraging her to take that next step with you,” you explained while your hands worked.

“You truly are an artist,” he grinned, causing you to blush scarlet.

“Oh, it’s nothing, really,” you murmured, hoping your words were heard over the thumping of your heart in your chest.

“Nonsense, flowers are your medium, and you create works of art,” he pressed. “Never discount that.”

“My art is fleeting,” you replied with a sad smile. “All flowers die at some point. They lose their beauty.”

“Not if you dry them,” he commented.

You peaked over at him. “Who has the time for that?”

“Someone who truly values the flower,” he murmured. Somehow you felt as though he wasn’t talking about flowers.

After tying the bouquet up with a bow, you walked over and handed it to him in exchange for his credit card.

“She’s lucky,” you blurted, looking at the screen of your card system, before sheepishly adding, “or at least really special if you buy flowers for her every day.”

“You are,” he said pointedly.

Your eyes flicked up to his. “What?”

“There is no other woman,” he smiled, “I keep coming back for you.”

“But all of those bouquets, and the meanings…”

“Were about you,” he repeated, holding the bouquet out to you with a charming smile. “Will you go out with me?”

Your mouth went dry. The various bouquets flipped through your mind, all those meanings were about you? He liked you? “I… I don’t know what to say,” you stammered.

“Well, hopefully these flowers will encourage you to say yes,” he grinned. His hand was shaking. Was he nervous?

“Yes,” you replied, reaching out to steady his hand, smoothing over his leather gloves. “Yes, I’ll go out with you.”

Relief washed over his face as you took the bouquet with your free hand, still holding his hand with the other. “Great, I’ll pick you up here after you close.”

“But, will I have to change? Is this acceptable?” you asked, looking down at your jeans and t-shirt.

“Don’t worry about that,” he grinned, taking your hand up to his lips to kiss across your knuckles. “I’ll take care of you.”

You watched in awe as he turned to leave, ringing the bell as he exited. After his car pulled away from the curb, you bent down to smell the bouquet, holding them tightly. You had it bad.

“Well, boss, how’d it go?” Zsasz asked in a bored tone as Roman looked down at the glove that had held your hand.

“She said yes,” he said, smiling softly.

They made it back to the apartment and Roman did a slight dance of glee.

“Does this mean we can get rid of all of these flowers?” Zsasz asked with a grin.

“Of course not!”

“Boss, they’re taking over the loft. It’s making it seem less… intimidating.”

“I don’t care, Zsasz. I collect art. Those bouquets are art.”

“But, they’re replacing the heads,” Zsasz sighed exasperatedly.

“So? These look much nicer. Not to mention, they smell better, too,” Roman said, raising an eyebrow at him, daring him to challenge him.

Zsasz backed down. “It’s your loft, boss.”

“Yes, it is, Zsasz,” he said in exasperation. “Just as she will be mine.”

“Is she going to be yours, or are you going to be hers?” Zsasz asked pointedly.

“What the fuck does that mean?” Roman asked, eyes ablaze.

Zsasz shrugged. “I’ve got business downstairs to take care of.”

Roman scowled as he walked away. “Of course she’ll be mine. It’ll be a cold day in Gotham when a woman owns Roman Sionis.”

Zsasz smiled to himself as he heard that. Good. The boss wasn’t losing his touch.

The rest of the day went smoothly. You dropped the arrangements off at the ball, in awe of the blatant display of opulence at an event meant to give money to the less fortunate. By the time you got back to the shop, your employees had closed the shop, so all you had to do was wait for Roman.

The car showed up minutes after you did. It was so odd to not take public transportation or a cab. The ride was silent as the driver sized you up in the mirror. You felt incredibly self-conscious, and incredibly grateful when the ride was over. However, when you found yourself in front of the club from the other day, you were confused.

“Are we at the right place?” you asked the driver.

He smirked. “Yes, sweetheart. Go inside and tell the bartender you’re here for the boss.”

The boss.

Your legs were wobbly as you made your way into the club. Who had you agreed to go on a date with?

The bartender picked up the phone after you told him who you were there for. A man with scars that you recognized as the guy who had given you a bit of trouble came up to you. “Follow me.”

Unease settled in the pit of your stomach as you followed him up the stairs and into an apartment.

“He’ll be out soon,” was all the man said before disappearing.

You walked down the main hall, pausing when you saw bouquets on pedestals. Your bouquets. He had kept them all. They were all in various stages of drying out. On the desk up ahead was the first bouquet you had given him. Footsteps sounded down the hall, tapping on the floor as they got closer.

“You kept them,” you murmured as he came up behind you. You looked over your shoulder at him.

“Of course. They’re works of art. I’m a bit of a collector,” he grinned.

You turned fully to take him in. He was in another one of his velvet suits. Hesitantly, you reached out to place your hands on his chest, running them up like you’d been wanting to do since the day you met him. The air was charged as he looked down at you, eyes darkening with a dangerous glint.

Roman bit back an admonishment. Normally he didn’t like it when people touched him without permission. Zsasz always told him he needed to make an example out of people who didn’t respect boundaries. But… he didn’t want to stop you. It was like you were exploring. It intrigued him. No one had ever looked at him like they didn’t already know everything about him, like they weren’t already afraid of him. But, not you. You weren’t afraid. You saw him like a normal person. You saw him as he was, not the image he’d built for himself. Hesitantly, he took a step back.

“I have an outfit for you,” he murmured.

“I thought you said this was fine?” you asked in confusion.

“I said I’d take care of it,” he corrected, taking your hand.

He led you over to his guest room where he had a few dresses laid out for you.

“Mr. Sionis, I can’t wear these,” you murmured.

“Roman, darling. Call me Roman, and you most certainly can,” he said, leaving to let you change.

You ran your hands along the fabrics. They were all so finely made. All so expensive. You would never have been able to afford one of these things yourself. You settled on the flowing silver dress. It was the least extravagant, which wasn’t saying much. You looked like a cross between an angel and a goddess, and took a moment to do your hair to match before leaving your clothes neatly folded on the bed. Somehow you felt like a different person, but not in a good way. You practically glided into the next room.

“You look gorgeous,” he breathed. “Turn around.”

You awkwardly spun. He may have thought you looked beautiful, and sure, you had to admit that you did look nice, but you felt fake. You didn’t belong in these clothes. They weren’t you.

He clapped as you stopped. “Splendid. Shall we?”

“Shall we, what?” you asked.

“Go on our date,” he smiled.

You nodded, shifting uncomfortably. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad? After all, as long as you were with Roman, everything would be okay.

#Roman Sionis #Roman sions x Reader #A Garden in Gotham #roman x reader

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minsugapie · 4 years

Text

Make Me: part 4 (1897 words) - apartment 702

• • • • • •

After you find out the apartment building you want to move into doesn’t allow singles, you meet Jin, a man in the same predicament as you.

You never knew that being fake engaged to somebody would simultaneously make your life so much easier and that much harder.

And like all fake dating stories, shit hits the fan when one of you starts to catch feelings.

• • • • • •

PREV // 4 // NEXT

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Tags :

@zxlla @rjsmochii @nmjcn @tan-dulset @fantasia-minhyuk @ephyra1230 @atinymaiden @its-yagirl-raelynn @uxwi @imynnow @lowlifeoeuvre @hannahdinse8 @samros95 @daegufeels @yoongisabby @dreamcatcherjiah @echointhelibrary @live-2-fangirl @jinsearth

• • • • • •

You were kind of nervous, if you were being honest with yourself. Jin was going to meet you at the shop and then the two of you would walk over to the apartment together with Bambi. Today was finally the meeting with the landlord to sign your half of the contract. You were still wondering how Jin was able to sign his half of the contract early, but you weren’t going to pry. Maybe you’d find out later anyways.

You thought it was unlike yourself to jump into something the way that you were jumping into this, but you were desperate to leave Yoongi and Moonbyul alone. You were sure that they’d never kick you out, but you didn’t really want to impose on them and their relationship. They’d never get any alone time.

There was barely anyone in the shop as you waited for Jin to meet you here —only Yoongi dealing with a single customer behind the counter.

Looking down at your left hand that you were using to pet Bambi, you observed the small gold band you’d found to put on your ring finger. It wasn’t much, but it was all you could find in the short notice to make you seem engaged. It was convincing enough, you thought; however, you can’t help but know that it’s not what you’d actually want as an engagement ring. You didn’t want something huge, but you wanted at least a diamond.

“What time is he supposed to be here again?” Yoongi asked from behind the counter, breaking you out of your impractical fantasies. The bell of the shop rang as the customer he was just helping exited.

“He should be here any minute, I guess. I’m just nervous, you know,” you admitted, scratching under Bambi’s collar. It was his favourite spot. He leaned into you, almost collapsing onto the floor. Hobi left him here this morning because he knew that the landlord would want to meet Bambi when signing the agreement.

“Hopefully by the end of the day you’ll be a new leaser, right? And you won’t have to live on my couch for a month…” He said the last bit under his breath, but you knew that it was all in good fun. It wasn’t that you would have wanted to live on his and Byul’s couch, but that was certainly better than behind the counter of the shop.

The door bell chimed again; this time a man in a police uniform came into view. You didn’t want to smile, but you couldn’t help it. He had a goofy look on his face when he saw you, and it only became more funny as he walked to where you and Bambi were waiting for him. In a second, he got down on one knee.

He hadn’t even said hello yet.

“Y/N, I just knew that you probably didn’t have a ring, so I have this one for you to wear,” he said seriously, picking up your left hand.

You gaped at him, barely noticing the surprised expression on his face when he saw the gold and already there. He shook his head and feigned hurt, “Ouch, babe, you already got one?”

But he still took it off and slipped on a beautiful diamond ring. If you weren’t gaping before, you definitely were now. “Jin! What is this?! Get up!” You grabbed his arm and led him back onto his feet.

“What?” He smiled, making eye-contact with Yoongi behind the counter. He’d seen the exchange and was silently laughing at the situation in front of him.

“This…you…no…I can’t…” you trailed off, not knowing what to say. That was too expensive for you to wear around when you weren’t even together!

“Relax,” he drawled, taking your hand and opening the palm before placing the gold band into it. “It used to belong to someone but she no longer wants it. Plus, if you’re going to be my fiancee, you have to at least look the part! I would never settle for a gold band…I mean unless she hated diamonds but that doesn’t even matter I guess, so I don’t know why I’m talking about it again. Uhh, but yeah, it’s not important. Just wear it.”

You didn’t ask any questions, smiling at his nervous rant, but you heard deep sadness in his voice around all the joking.

Bambi whined at your feet, wanting attention again. Jin was the first to come to him and picked him up from he ground. He was in his element. For some reason, Bambi loved men, and you knew right now that he was a fan on Jin. He licked his neck a few times and couldn’t stop wagging his tail. You really couldn’t help but smile.

“Are you ready to go?” He asked, putting Bambi back into the floor, locating his leash hanging on a hook beside the door. Walking over to grab it, he bent down and hooked it onto Bambi’s collar. When you didn’t answer right away, he looked up at you expectantly.

“Oh, uh, yeah. Are you going to change?” You asked. He was still in his uniform after all.

“I have to get back to work right after.”

You nodded, it made sense…but… “What if she thinks it’s unprofessional?”

Jin thought about it for a second and then shook his head. “Nah, she’s not too bad.”

You deadpanned. “Her unwritten apartment rules are low-key illegal, I think, and you think she’s chill? I mean fine. It’s your call.” You threw in a small laugh, trying to hide your anxiety.

Looking back at Yoongi, you called, “Okay, we’re leaving! I’ll be back soon!”

Yoongi waved you off like he couldn't care less. “Yeah, yeah I got it covered here. Go!”

You looked at Jin, who seemed to be happily walking Bambi. “So do you think we’ll be convincing enough?” You asked, falling into step beside him.

“Sure? Why wouldn’t we be?” He asked, grabbing your hand. Before you could ask why, he continued. “We need to b comfortable touching each other, Y/N. That’s what couples do. I will hold your hand at the meeting, so I want it to feel like we’d at least done it once before.”

“Oh, okay,” you answered, linking your fingers with his. It felt nice, actually. You hadn’t bothered to date recently, just because you didn’t find anyone to be that interesting. But this felt good. Human contact was nice.

“Are you okay with this?” He asked, stopping once the apartment building came into view.

“It’s a little late, don’t you think?” You joked, nudging your shoulder with his.

“Then don’t freak out, but I’m going to kiss you right now. We need to get it over it.” His eyes didn’t meet yours. Instead, he looked at your lips.

What?

He kissed you as soon as he said he was going to, not really giving you a chance to think. It seemed like he pulled away as soon as he started, however.

“You call that a kiss?” You joked, tilting your head to the side.

“What?” He laughed, pulling further away. He was blushing, and you thought it was adorable.

“Don’t freak out, but I’m going to kiss you right now,” you used his own words against him. You kissed him a little more forcefully than he had, not worrying about being gentle. You realized that you’d wanted to kiss him. You held onto his neck as you nudged him. You could tell he was hesitant to kiss you deeper, but you were satisfied when he finally did.

But he still cut it off by pushing your shoulders back. “Are you ready to go in?”

You pretended to not feel a little hurt, but the feeling vanished once he smiled brightly at you. “I guess…”

“It’s not you, Y/N. I promise. You’ll find out in a few minutes whether I want you to or not,” he revealed, pulling you into the office where you were meeting the landlord.

“What do you m—” You tried to ask but were cut off by the landlord herself.

“Are you two ready to come in?” She seemed nice enough, but you knew that was probably an act considering her strict rules for tenants. “Cute dog,” she added as she was walking back to her chair.

“His name is Bambi,” you revealed sitting in one of the two chairs opposite her desk. Jin took the seat to your left and naturally took your hand in his. He pulled in onto his lap. Bambi jumped onto yours, settling into you like he did every night after work.

“So Jin, this is your fiancée?” She asked, eyeing you. “Did you like your wedding present?”

“I’m so pleased,” you answered, putting a few pieces of the puzzle together. Clearly, Jin was supposed to move into here with is fiancee, but she was nowhere to be found. Also, your guess was that the ring was hers. It almost made you a little sick to be wearing another woman’s ring. The only consolation was that it wasn’t like you two were actually engaged.

“If you two don’t mind, I’ll just run over the agreement with you and then we can sign and I’ll show you your apartment!”

You nodded, petting Bambi as you tried to settle your nerves. It was kind of boring, but you took it all in. You still couldn’t believe this was all happening. When she was finished, you quickly signed your name on the dotted line, and you were headed to the assigned apartment.

Jin held the door open for the both of you and then quietly grabbed your hand again. It calmed you, having his hand in yours, and you wondered if he felt the same, considering he rarely let it go.

“You two will have apartment 702. So we’ll just head to the elevator…”

You looked at Jin, who was tapping his feet to the elevator music and then to the landlord, who had an almost pleasant smile on her face.

In a second, you were outside the door to the apartment, and she was handing Jin the key. He opened the door for you and you walked inside, amazed at the place. It wasn’t furnished, but the hardwood floors were beautiful and the kitchen was huge. “It’s perfect,” you whispered before leaning down to Bambi and telling him, “This is your new home, Bud!”

You smiled up and Jin and then the landlord before handing her your phone. “Do you mind taking a picture of the three of us?”

“Oh! Of course!” She said, taking the phone from your hands. You walked back to Jin and put your arms around his waist. He looked down at you and then at the camera with a smile.

“If you could take a few, that would be perfect,” Jin added, kissing your cheek before turning you to kiss your lips.

“Ok, I got them! I should get back to work though, so…have fun you two,” she said, giving you back your phone and then closing the door behind her with a wink.

Once the door was closed, you looked back at Jin with a big smile on your face and then raced to look inside the bedrooms. Oh yes, you would be happy here.

• • • • • •

YIKES i’m sorry. i think i say that a lot...but i really mean it. i hope to update regularly now but i’m still working on dealing with some personal problems so please bare with me :(

on a more positive note, is anyone else excited for school to start up again? or just me? all my courses at uni are online which sucks but i fr fr love school so lol

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artificialqueens · 4 years

Text

Galactica, Chapter 37 (Group Fic) - TheDane/Veronica

A/N: Click here if you’re looking for previous chapters (or here if you’d rather read on AO3). 💫

Last Chapter: Things looked up for Violet as she finally settled into the new normal of working in design.

This Chapter: One of New York’s most illustrious editors-in-chief turns 40--in style.

***

Shit.

It had been an absolute hell week, Courtney being run ragged all day, everyday. She’d missed more meals than not, barely slept, had gotten used to only using the bathroom when Fame was occupied.

It was really the first time that she and Miss Fame had to interact directly for more than a few words, and if Courtney thought she was high-maintenance before, she had no idea how weird it would get.

On Tuesday, Courtney had been torn a new one for ringing the doorbell when she had dropped off a package at Fame’s house, Fame looking at her like she was absolute vermin.

How was Courtney supposed to have known that it was a deathsin not to just let herself into her boss’ house, Fame explaining to her like she was a retarded toddler that she valued her family life and private time too much to be interrupted, not at all catching the irony of the fact that she was imposing on Courtney’s private time by forcing her to come to her house at 10 pm.

And now, a casual text from Adore that she’d be there around 7:30 reminded her about Bianca’s party and she was absolutely panicking. She had less than an hour to make herself presentable with literally nothing to wear.

She’d meant to ask Ivy about a dress, days ago, and then again yesterday when she was arranging the delivery of Miss Fame’s present to the Marie Claire offices, but it had slipped her mind amongst all the other things she had to remember.

She jumped up and raced into Raja’s suite, a cramp in her side, relieved to find the redhead still at her desk.

“Courtney? Are you okay?” Ivy rose from her seat, a concerned look on her face, ever the empath.

“I just...I forgot…” Courtney tried to catch her breath.

“Okay, take a breath. Whatever it is, it’s fixable. I promise.”

Courtney gulped. “I forgot that I’m supposed to go to this party tonight at the Guggenheim and it’s super fancy and my ride will be here in 40 minutes and I don’t have anything to wear and I don’t even know what the dress code means and I was just wondering if I could borrow something and I promise I’ll have it cleaned and returned by Monday but-”

“Courtney, breathe. Okay?” Ivy took her hand, inhaling deeply and then blowing out dramatically.

Had this job really killed so many of her brain cells that she needed assistance breathing now? Regardless, Courtney followed Ivy’s lead, taking a few deep breaths to slow her racing heart.

“Now,” Ivy began. “What does the dress code say?”

“Creative black tie?”

“Ah. Okay. Follow me.”

Courtney nearly cried with gratitude as Ivy led her into the wardrobe closet.

“Luckily, you’re a sample size, so this shouldn’t be too much of a challenge,” Ivy said. “It’s Bianca Del Rio’s party, right?”

“Yeah,” Courtney said, watching her paw expertly through the racks.

“Are you going for anything in particular?”

“I guess I wanna look…” Courtney racked her brain, unsure of what to say, when the word, “older” slipped from her lips.

Ivy paused, clearly not expecting that answer, and gave Courtney a curious look before nodding.

“I can work with that. Now, Bianca likes bold colors and dramatic silhouettes with clean lines, so I think something like this…” Ivy pulled a stunning, beaded blue cocktail dress out off the rack. “This will look good on you.”

Ivy was truly a gift from god. Not only did they find a dress that fit perfectly (they settled on a short, fire-engine red silk number with a plunging neckline), along with shoes, accessories, and a glamorous faux-fur wrap, but she even stayed to help Courtney with her hair and makeup, giving her a chic updo and dramatic winged liner.

“Ivy, honestly, if you ever need anything. Someone to cover your desk...a kidney...whatever...you know who to ask.”

“Good to know.” Ivy laughed, checking her makeup one more time, adding a little more glimmering highlighter to her cheekbones, and then proclaiming, “Alright, I think you’re done.”

“Thank you so much,” Courtney said again, pulling out her phone. She hadn’t heard from Adore in awhile, and wondered if she was stuck in traffic or something. She seriously hoped that she hadn’t rushed like crazy, inconveniencing Ivy and nearly giving herself an ulcer worrying, just to sit around waiting for an hour.

COURTNEY: ETA?

ADORE: Soon, I think. I’m on my way to Pearl’s, then we’ll pick you up. Do you want a gyro?

COURTNEY: I’M A VEGAN

ADORE: Oh yeah. Gross. I’ll text you when we’re close.

***

“Bianca! Darling!” Fame reached out her arms to pull Bianca in for a tight embrace. “Happy Birthday!”

She and Patrick had just arrived at the stunning event space a few minutes earlier, and were immediately whisked off to a VIP area with a private bar, where Raja and Raven were already relaxing on sofas, Sutan and Violet standing at the bar chatting with Detox and Jujubee.

It was perfect, removed enough from the chaos of the dance floor, but with a perfect view over the railing. And the speed with which Bianca had arrived to greet her told her that she’s given special instructions for the staff to alert her to Fame’s presence--exactly the kind of preferential treatment that Fame expected.

“Thanks, blondie,” Bianca grinned, “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Fame smiled widely, fluttering her lashes. “So do you. I love this dress!”

“Yeah, your tits look great!” Raja chimed in.

Bianca was wearing a sinfully tight black bandage dress, the neckline showing off her breasts and glowing skin, the hem just above her knees, her legs one of Bianca’s best assets.

“You can barely see that you’re turning 40.” Fame grinned, which earned her a pinch from Bianca, the other still keeping her in her arms.

“Shush.”

“Please,” Fame squeezed Bianca’s forearm, “So, tell me the truth, do you like the ring?”

Bianca held up her hand, where it glittered on her index finger.

Yesterday, Fame had had Bianca’s birthday present delivered to her office at the exact time of her birth, 3:57 pm. Fame knew Bianca liked her statement pieces, so she had custom ordered a cocktail ring, but not just any cocktail ring. Instead of the usual single band, a stone in the middle, Fame had gone for a three part twist in gold, sparkling garnets adorning it.

“It’s perfect, I love it,” Bianca said.

“Wonderful!” Fame clasped her hands together. “You’re impossible to shop for.”

“No I’m not! I love stuff,” Bianca countered. “Plus, you know...I’ll never say no to a present that’s unavailable in stores…”

She grinned wickedly, dimples deep, hand drifting down to Fame’s ass. Fame swatted it away with a scolding look.

“Really, Bianca.”

“What, it’s my birthday!” Bianca said. “You gotta give me something.”

“Fine, a tiny something,” Fame laughed, leaning in and giving her a sweet kiss on the lips, then following up with a light smack to her cheek.

“That’s not where I like being spanked,” Bianca said.

“Oh my god, you’re impossible!” Fame exclaimed, breaking away and stepping over to the bar while Bianca laughed gleefully behind her. “Now come on, tell me about your presents.”

***

“And a drink for the lady.” Sutan smiled as he handed Violet a glass, his date taking it with a sweet smile and a thank you, Sutan putting his arm back around her waist as they walked around.

He had picked Violet up at her apartment, his heart almost skipping a beat as she had pushed the double doors open and walked down the steps, her dress of the night absolutely stunning, the back open and taunting with it’s promise of bare impossibly soft skin.

“So,” Sutan rubbed his thumb up and down, gently caressing Violet’s back, “are you having fun?”

Sutan was happy that she was there, enjoyed spending time with her, but as he got to know her more and more, he slowly realized how little she actually enjoyed big crowds.

“Yes.”

“Okay.” Sutan bit his lip, hiding a smile at Violet’s quick but short reply.

***

Alaska giggled delightedly, letting Jinkx twirl her on the dance floor. If you’d told Alaska a few years ago that she’d have a friend who she could have this much fun with sober, she’d have laughed in your face. But, even though Jinkx didn’t mind it, Alaska really didn’t enjoy drinking around her. So when they were together, Alaska felt like it was the least she could do to hold off on the booze. What she did enjoy was being with her, sober or not, looking into her sparkling brown eyes as they tripped all over their feet.

“For a Broadway star, you’re really uncoordinated,” Alaska laughed, and Jinkx pretended to be offended, then giggled.

“It’s hard to be mad when you call me a Broadway star.”

“Well, you are!” Alaska said, wrapping her arms around Jinkx’s neck and gazing at her happily. She loved these moments, just the two of them having the time of their lives, dancing and laughing and ignoring every other person in the room. They always had fun, but tonight, Jinkx seemed to have an extra bounce in her step, radiating a kind of joy, and it made Alaska feel so grateful to be around her.

“Thanks Lasky...you’re the best.”

They whirled and stumbled around the dance floor some more, until they were both breathless and needed a break.

“What are we feeling like tonight? Ginger ale? Cranberry and soda?” Alaska asked.

“You choose,” Jinkx said, clinging to her arm.

Alaska ordered a couple of drinks for them and then turned back to Jinkx, who was looking at her with the cutest little dreamy half-smile. She couldn’t help the tingling rush that went down her spine as she lowered her eyes and asked, “So...what’s going on with you tonight?”

“What do you mean?” Jinkx asked, eyes widening innocently.

“I mean...you’re just very...I don’t know...” A smile tugged at Alaska’s lips. “...twinkly tonight.”

“Well...I wasn’t gonna say anything because...it’s kind of silly, but,” she lowered her voice, eyes shining. “I ran into her again. Ivy.”

Alaska felt her whole chest deflate, forcing a smile as Jinkx continued.

“At Zabar’s! It’s like the universe is just conspiring to help us get together, you know?” Jinkx giggled happily.

A lump rose in Alaska’s throat and she nodded, using all her willpower to keep the smile painted across her face. “Oh, wow. That’s...that’s cool. Did you talk?”

“Yes. You’d be so proud of me, I even got her number!”

“Wow. Awesome!” Alaska felt like she was going to throw up, shifting her gaze to the bartender, grateful for the distraction as he slid two ginger ales across the bar. She couldn’t help wishing that half the glass was Jack Daniels. She handed one of them to Jinkx and took her own. It tasted just dust.

“Yeah, but she was still a bit formal, you know? I think I need to see her in a more relaxed setting. Do you think she likes opera? Maybe I can ask her to Madame Butterfly?” Jinkx chattered, away, oblivious to Alaska’s shift in mood.

“You really think the Met is a relaxed setting?”

Jinkx threw back her head and laughed, squeezing Alaska’s arm. “Omigod, you’re right. I’m such a dingbat. What would I do without you, Lasky?”

“I don’t know…” Alaska stirred her drink.

“What do you think she likes?”

“Uh, I’m really not sure,” Alaska said. And it was true. She knew that Ivy was sweet, and professional, and did her job with a kind of calm efficiency. But she didn’t know her very well on a personal level, their professional paths rarely crossing directly.

“Hmm, maybe you can ask around? If that wouldn’t be too weird?” Jinkx looked so hopeful and earnest that Alaska couldn’t help but smile for real in spite of herself, immediately agreeing to help her on this quest to capture Ivy’s heart.

“Of course. I’ll ask around.”

Jinkx sighed happily, leaning on Alaska’s shoulder, eyes falling closed for a moment. “You really are my favorite person, Lask.”

“Back atcha, Jinxky.”

***

Adore walked into Bianca’s party, feeling like a million bucks. Everyone that was anyone and even some who were nothing were there, and Adore knew she looked better than all of them with her purple hair, her pouty red lips, her short black leather dress, fishnets, and best of all… Pearl, the sexiest fucking goddess she’d ever seen in her life at her side.

She hung on Pearl’s arm, enjoying the jealous looks she got; knowing that everyone at the party wanted to be in her place. She even got a nasty look from some models, who were clearly all in love with her girl, but Adore didn’t care.

Pearl was here with her and only her. Pearl glanced at her every few seconds with a smug grin on her face, like the cat that just ate the canary. Well, if the canary was Adore’s pussy. Which would mean the cat was… Well whatever, Adore wasn’t an English scholar. She was in love.

The only thing that sucked was that Courtney looked so fucking miserable. They’d been a little late picking her up, due to getting, well, sidetracked for a while at Pearl’s, and then stopping for food. She thought that Courtney would be a bit more understanding, but she’d barely spoken two words in the car, even Pearl picking up on her obvious anger.

And now, even though she was at the coolest party in Manhattan, she didn’t look happy at all. Adore caught her eye, offering a hopeful smile, but received only a resigned nod in return. She reached out to touch her hand.

“Have I told you how gorgeous you look?” Adore asked, hoping that a compliment and a charming grin would be enough to lighten her mood.

“You think?” Courtney asked, adjusting one of her straps nervously. “I don’t look out of place?”

“Bitch, you put all these other girls to shame,” Adore promised, and was rewarded, finally, with a pleased smile from Courtney.

“Thanks.”

“Pearl!”

Adore looked over at the group of giggling socialites who were approaching them, only slightly annoyed when they swept her girlfriend up. She pouted as Pearl dropped her hand, but smiled again when she doubled back to whisper into her ear, “I’m gonna try and squeeze some gossip out of these hoes, and then I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Okay, but don’t be too long!” Adore pulled her in, branding her cheek with a dark red kiss before taking Courtney’s arm and sauntering away, pleased with herself. She scanned the party, looking for her sister and finally spotting her holding court near the bar. She cupped her hands over her mouth to shout through the crowd. “Bianca! Happy birthday, you ancient whore!”

Bianca turned towards her sister’s voice, barking out, “You’re late!”

“Whaddaya mean, we’re right on time for a grand entrance!” Adore countered, laughing.

“Well-” Bianca stopped, completely losing her train of thought when her eyes landed on Courtney. She was wearing a short red dress, the first time Bianca has seen her in a color other than pastels, and she looked absolutely fucking stunning--legs a mile long, one blonde curl falling into her eyes. Damn.

“You look cute, B. Very boobalicious,” Adore said, giving her a hug. “Not bad for an old lady.”

“Yeah, thank you,” Bianca said, eyes still locked on Courtney. “Hi, Courtney.”

“Hi. Happy birthday,” Courtney said, giving her a sweet smile. “Sorry we’re late.”

“Oh, that’s alright,” Bianca told her. “But here, uh...this’ll help you catch up.”

She took a couple of the signature drinks from a passing tray and handed them over. Adore immediately began to suck hers down, but Courtney hesitated.

“Um, what’s in this?”

“Courtney’s afraid of tequila. It makes her messy, right bae?” Adore bumped her hip.

“Something like that.”

“It’s called a Madras. Vodka, orange juice and cranberry. No tequila, but it will fuck you up. Be warned,” Bianca said with a wink.

“Well...cheers,” Courtney said, giving an adorable little laugh.

“Cheers.” Bianca took a sip of her own drink, then leaned in closer. “You look amazing, by the way.”

“Yeah?” Courtney’s eyes shone, her fingers twirling that stray lock of hair.

“Yeah.” Bianca tried unsuccessfully to wipe the stupid grin off her face, and instead broke the tension with, “I’m shocked that someone who’s friends with my sister has such good taste.”

“Hey!” Adore exclaimed.

“Don’t be too impressed. It’s a loaner,” Courtney replied drily, causing Bianca to throw back her head and laugh.

“Fair enough.” She downed the rest of her drink, waving off a couple of acquaintances who were trying to get her attention.

“Be right back,” Adore said, scampering away towards Pearl, of course jumping the second the blonde so much as crooked a little finger.

Courtney reached out for her, but she was already gone. She sighed slightly, looking a little bit dejected, and Bianca cleared her throat.

“So listen, I heard through the grapevine that you’re looking for a way to avoid your, uh, Galactica employers while you’re here?”

Courtney looked up, startled. She seemed shocked that Bianca was still talking to her, and she stammered uncomfortably. “Oh. Yeah, no, I just-”

“Listen, it’s understandable, you wanna have a good time. Can’t do that while your boss is breathing down your neck, right?” Bianca flashed her dimples.

“Well...yeah,” Courtney admitted, laughing a little.

Bianca stepped closer, slipping an arm around her shoulders and lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Fame and Raja are well contained, don’t worry. I made a VIP section since those two need a velvet rope to feel like they’re having a good time.”

Courtney giggled. “Like a rich person playpen?”

“It’s a prison of their own making,” Bianca affirmed, giving her a wink. “Trust me, they’re looking down on everyone the way they prefer, and they ain’t leaving.”

“Well...thank you.” Courtney bit her lip. It was hard to tell in this light, but it looked like a slight blush had crept into her cheeks, and Bianca found herself even more enamored.

“Anytime.”

A second later, she felt someone tap on her arm: one of the Marie-Claire board members, who she sadly couldn’t ignore.

“Sorry, I have go...do hostess shit,” Bianca said, regret flooding her chest, and Courtney nodded.

“Of course.”

She turned towards the middle-aged man and his young wife, saying her cursory hellos and giving air kisses, making small talk with them both. As soon as she could manage, though, she spared a glance back at Courtney.

The plan, from the moment Adore told her that Courtney was coming, had been to seduce this smoking hot friend of her sister’s. And she figured that the “rough break-up” that Adore’d reported would make it a sure thing. An easy and fun little fling--a birthday present to herself.

But now, something about the wistful, faraway expression on her delicate face as she smoothed down her skirt made her look vulnerable, in a way that gave Bianca pause. As stunning as she was--and fuck, she was an absolute knock-out--it didn’t make Bianca want to seduce her. Instead, it made her want to protect her. Ugh, why did her fucking conscience have rear its ugly head tonight, on her birthday of all nights?

“Thank you so much. Be sure to check out the raw bar!” she said, finally escaping and ready to head back to Courtney--but Adore beat her to it.

She watched as her sister came bounding up, Pearl in tow, and grabbed Courtney’s hands to pull her onto the dance floor.

Well, good. She should have a good time. Lord knows, anyone who worked for Fame deserved to blow off some steam. Bianca snatched another drink from a passing tray, trying to redirect her attention to the Welsh model who’d been giving her bedroom eyes all night.

***

Violet was having a surprisingly good time, taking small sips of her champagne. She had hurried home from work, almost ready when Sutan had texted that he was downstairs, the smile on Sutan’s face when he had seen her dress almost, almost, almost worth it’s price tag.

She had never been to an event of this size without having to worry if catering ran out of ice, or if she’d need to get taxis for whoever got way too drunk. It was nice to just stand by Sutan’s side, nice to be allowed to just be, without having to entertain or constantly think about everything that could go wrong.

“Ah, yes, of course.” Sutan smiled, his thumb rubbing up and down the small of Violet’s back. He was talking to one of the models from Elite, Violet vaguely recognizing her from some of the headshots she had presented to Fame for the fall collection. “I’ll be sure to tell Marcel about that.”

“Excuse me,” Violet turned, her eyes falling on a man with a camera, the card around his neck instantly telling her that he was from OK! magazine. “I was wondering if I could take a few pictures?”

“Oh,” Violet didn’t know what to do, her stomach instantly tightening.

“Sure,” Sutan grinned, turning towards the camera. “Right girls?”

“I-” Violet didn’t want to be in the picture, didn’t want someone she didn’t know documenting where she was, didn’t want to risk it ending up online. “I don’t-”

“Oh of course,” Sutan took her glass, handing it off to someone. “There we go.”

“Sutan”

“Come here,” Sutan put an arm around the model, posing both of them.

“Please-” Violet could feel Sutan’s hand on her hip, holding her tight, keeping her trapped, her throat closing up.

“Should we smile?”

“No,” The photographer looked out from behind his camera, “just be natural.”

Violet pushed away, forcing Sutan to let her go as the camera went off. She didn’t hear Sutan say her name, a quick flicker of a question on his face, didn’t see him smile apologetically to the photographer and pose with the model, didn’t notice any of it as she made her way outside, escaping the only thing she could think of.

***

Juju strolled through the crowd with Raven. She appreciated the whole VIP setup as much as anyone, but this was a massive party, and they’d decided to come spend a little time where the action was, maybe dance a bit -at least as much as her poor pregnant body would allow. They were stopped by a group of models, Raven proudly showing off her engagement ring and letting the other girls fawn all over her.

Juju put up with the schmoozing for a couple of minutes--after all, those girls were potential clients, until she spotted Bianca nearby and politely excused herself from the group, knowing that Raven would be perfectly content with her little fan club.

Bianca was chatting up some sweet young thing (typical), and Juju couldn’t resist messing with her a little. She wrapped her arms around Bianca’s waist from behind, asking in a low, husky voice, “Tell me I’m your favorite, Daddy.”

It was a joke between the two of them, something that had started years ago when Juju and Detox were first dating. They’d shown up at brunch one morning in the middle of a heated argument about whether it was appropriate for her to call him “Daddy” during sex--ironically, only a few months before she got preganant with their first child. It wasn’t a kink thing, exactly, it was just that she thought it was funny, and especially so when she saw his freaked out reaction. The group agreed that right or wrong, if it bothered him then she probably shouldn’t say it. But Bianca, ever the good sport, had pulled the smaller woman into her lap and declared that if she really needed to call someone Daddy, she was ‘willing to take one for the team.’

Juju accompanied her breathy greeting by biting gently on Bianca’s ear, adding, “Pwease?”

Bianca burst out laughing, pulling her close and introducing her to a very confused looking girl. “Tayce, you must know my friend Juju Sanderson. The brilliant hairstylist who owns Jujubee’s downtown?”

“Oh, yeah! It’s an honor!” Tayce said, her brown eyes lighting up as a dazzling smile spread across her face. “I’ve been trying to get an appointment with you, but you’re booked up for months!”

Juju had to bite back her laugh when she heard Tayce speak--Bianca always was a sucker for an accent.

“Well, play your luck with Daddy here, and you might jump the queue,” Juju said with a wink.

“Among other benefits,” Bianca cackled. “You know you’re the only one who I’d let get away with that Daddy shit, right?”

“Yes, thank you. You’re a lot more fun than my husband.”

“In so many ways,” Bianca said, turning to Tayce and giving her a playful smirk.

***

Violet took a deep breath, letting it out through her teeth as she could finally feel her heart slow down, though the knot in her stomach wasn’t going away.

She knew she couldn’t help it, but it was impossible not to feel an inkling of shame travel up her spine, the feeling that she was being ridiculous impossible to push down.

Sutan hadn’t meant anything by it, taking photos a part of his life, being in the public eye something that simply came natural for him.

Violet took a last breath, pushing away from the wall she had been leaning against to go back to the party, hoping that Sutan hadn’t noticed how strange she was acting.

It wasn’t that Violet liked acting this way, that she wanted to feel the panic rising in her body whenever she saw a camera in a stranger's hand, but she couldn’t help it.

She was an adult now, she had her own life, her own money and even her own job and her own apartment, but it was hard not to hide, impossible not to react to the instinctive fear that welled up in her at the risk of being found.

Violet walked back inside, the noise and the amount of people feeling so much more overwhelming when she wasn’t at Sutan’s side. She made her way through the crowd, easily spotting both Fame and Pearl, avoiding both of them.

She was starting to think Sutan had left, Raja nowhere to be found either, when she saw him sitting at a table, surrounded by models. He was laughing loudly, his arm around one of the girls, several of the models’ phones taking pictures of everything that was happening.

Violet’s stomach did a flip, the panic from earlier rushing through her body. She couldn’t go over there, couldn’t be a part of that part of Sutan’s world, so instead, Violet did what she always did.

Turned around, and walked away.

***

[Raja?] Sutan put a hand on Raja’s hip, turning her around. Sutan had been sitting with a group of models, doing shots and having fun right up until one of them had touched his legs under the table, and he had abandoned ship instantly.

[Have you seen Violet?]

He hadn’t seen her in over an hour, and while Sutan was more than sure that Violet could take care of herself, he had started to worry.

[Sutan!] Raja grinned, stepping into his space, looping her arms around his neck. [Hello brother dear.]

[Hello.] Sutan smiled, once again reminded of how much he truly loved Raja. She was tipsy, her eyes swimming slightly, which was probably why she hadn’t responded to his question. [Have you seen Violet?]

[Violet?] Raja tilted her head, her hand fiddling with the hairs at the nape of his neck. [No?]

[Shit.] Sutan bit his lip, his hands resting on Raja’s hips.

[Maybe she just left?] Raja smiled, running her fingers through his hair. [There’s no need to worry.]

[Maybe...]

[She can handle herself.]

[Mmmh.] Sutan knew that Raja was probably right, but it still felt weird that VIolet hadn’t said goodbye, and if he was honest, he was disappointed that they wouldn’t be going home together at the end of the night. [I’ll send her a text.]

Sutan was just about to reach into his pocket, was just about to get his phone out, when he saw a photographer to his left, just outside the VIP section. The paparazzi always loved to get photos of him and Raja together, and while he was sure Raja hadn’t noticed, he made sure to twist her slightly to the left, getting her good side as he smiled at the camera.

***

“Every guy here is drooling over you, bae,” Adore giggled, spinning Courtney on the dance floor before accepting another drink from Pearl.

“Not just the guys,” Pearl added with a wink.

Courtney laughed. In spite of her hesitation in tagging along, she’d been having a pretty good time. The attention was fun, of course, but Courtney’d barely noticed the alleged guys drooling over her. She couldn’t help thinking about the way she’d felt when Bianca put that arm around her, the way her brown eyes had sparkled in the dim light. The way goosebumps prickled her skin as Bianca’s fingers grazed her shoulder.

Her gaze kept being pulled in Bianca’s direction. Eyes drifting over her enticing curves in that tight dress. And occasionally, to her absolute thrill, Bianca would be looking back at her. Every time their eyes met, her stomach flipped around like crazy.

It was silly, she knew that. She knew that Bianca was only being nice to her because she was Adore’s friend. A nice kid. That it didn’t mean anything deep. This was, after all, a woman who dated supermodels and Oscar winners. Like the gorgeous girl by her side most of the evening, who had a face that Courtney instantly recognized from last month’s British Vogue cover.

Still.

The reality of the situation didn’t stop her from pretending, even just to herself, even just for the night, that maybe there was something there, that warranted all these confusing feelings swirling around inside her like a tornado.

And later, when they were saying goodbye, she allowed herself to enjoy the way Bianca’s palm pressed to the small of her back. She even let her lips linger for a few moments on Bianca’s warm cheek, kissing her goodnight.

***

SUTAN: Did you leave?

[MISSED CALL]

SUTAN: The party is still going.

SUTAN: Did you get home safe?

[MISSED CALL]

SUTAN: I can’t find you.

[MISSED CALL]

SUTAN: Violet??

VIOLET: I’m fine.

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vaguely-gestures-to-the-void · 3 years

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Hindsight: My thoughts on Loki (2021)

Welcome back! Spoilers below!

I need to clarify that I watch Loki purely as an escape. I've got a biased perspective in that regard because I don’t actively try to find fault with the show, though there are definitely things I’m not so inclined to. This is more of what I noticed and think things mean and it’s something I’m doing for fun. Anyways, here's my thoughts on episode 2 my loves.

Episode 2: THE VARIANT

Pre-title scene

Miss Minutes’ monologue in the recap is different to the one last ep.

1985 Oshkosh, Wisconsin

C-20!

“Today’s guest performances” on a board. Don’t really know if it means anything tho.

The Iconic (TM) I Need A Hero scene.

Pony.

The green tent - the lair of Loki.

I know not everyone’s a fan of the lighting, but it made sense to me. They’re still in the dark about who Sylvie is.

Why does C-20 take off her helmet? For the drama?

I hope Sylvie cleaned her blade. Narnia taught me well.

The Time Samsung (I can’t remember what it’s called right now) says that the date’s 04/12/1985.

Loki’s first mission (?)

‘Volume 26’ - how many of these does Mobius have?? #giveMobiusajetski

“ONLY at your LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER” - subtext about the TVA being control freaks? Jet ski safety?

I googled Wake Magazine. They’re up to volume 20 from what I saw, whilst Loki is reading volume 26, so I guess that’s something

Loki and Miss Minutes lmaooo.

Behind Loki’s elbow is the taxidermy something from the last episode. Also confirms that Loki threatened Casey at Mobius’ desk lol.

The thing has an egg?? What the hell is Mobius collecting? (He’s a Harry Hart variant lmao).

There are little twitches in Miss Minnutes’ hands. That’s so cool!

The egg timer’s a nice easter egg (I’m a comedian).

Mobius! B-15! :)

Is it just me or do the minutemen look similar, but not exactly the same. Makes sense if they’re variants.

I just realised the lights are built into the ceiling. Whoops.

What’s Mobius’ favourite?

Couple of things:

The racks full of identical uniforms/ones just hung up on doors.

The music has started to pick up the pace, but not in the way we see later on in the episode.

There’s a sign saying ‘FARE THEE WELL’ on it. Google tells me that it’s ‘used to express good wishes on parting’. Dang that was some good foreshadowing!

The person that looks like Agatha is still present.

I wonder whether it was supposed to be colder or whether the weather was just like that when they filmed.

The pony’s still around.

I think B-15 certainty that “a Loki couldn’t have gotten the jump of C-20” comes from her experience with them. She constantly tries to make it clear that because she’s not a variant, she’d know Loki better than he would, which (personally) makes the revelation that she’s a variant feel more devastating.

Again with the lighting, they’re still in partial darkness, constantly moving in and out of the light. Whilst what Loki says about the variant setting a trap is true, it isn’t in the context that he says it. Sylvie whoops their asses later.

The black and red-orange flags remind me of tomb markers. It’s a stretch, ik.

B-15 only has tally marks on one side of her helmet.

Mobius has fake pockets in his suit jacket. They’re the worst.

The ticking increasing in tempo as they approach red line - great for setting up tension.

I believe that Loki uses personal space like a weapon - slowly approaching them from the front, and then going behind Mobius’ back when he wants his way. It would make anyone uncomfortable, especially on a subconscious level because there’s a threat behind you.

Or maybe it’s that I have different personal space boundaries, not everyone likes being approached from behind. Loki’s movement felt intentional at least.

Getting Mobius to physically turn his way because of that might have been very subtle manipulation?

Loki looking back and forth trying to judge their reactions lol.

I liked the music in this scene, it sets up tension for Loki’s first attempt at betraying Mobius but then doesn’t completely dismiss it when it’s resolved.

Ravonna Renslayer’s office

The music here is 18 morceaux, Op. 72, No. 2. Berceuse. 18 morceaux, Op. 72: No. 2, Berceuse (Arr. For Theremin and piano) by Clara Rockmore for anyone that’s curious. I found out through Natalie Holt’s Twitter (I think).

The score is, and always will be, perfection.

Mobius’ small talk amuses me.

“Why do you get to keep all the trophies from my cases in here, you don’t think I’d love having that roller skate?” Mobius, what about the thing on the shelf behind your desk????

Ravonna seems like she’s answered these questions before, but she has a fondness for him that makes me think they’re good friends.

Also does Ravonna have multiple complete collections of the Encyclopaedia Britannica in her office? What are those books??

“I hope it’s a double.” Me too Mobius, me too (drink responsibly).

I don’t get how people think Mobius doesn’t remember leaving the stains. It sounded like Ravonna was chiding him for a bad habit and Mobius just made up a remark, not confusion.

Although he does place the cup at a different spot to the rings.

The ship flying past in the windows is a wonderful detail.

“The variant likes to stall for time.” It's very satisfying to me how everything stays relevant. Every detail advances the plot/contributes to it.

“Look, I know you have a soft spot for broken things.”

“I don’t think so-”

“Yes you do.”

Both Mobius and Ravonna only look at the middle figure when referring to the time Keepers. Either the other two are side-lined or don’t contribute at all.

“I’ll delete him myself.” At this point in time, I think Mobius is serious. As the episode progresses, his status may have changed, especially after the Jet Ski philosophy session.

Ravonna’s sash on the peg reminds me of the ones the people talking to Casey were wearing in episode 1.

Man those doors are so cool.

Peak sitting outside the principal’s office energy.

Mobius whistles at Loki as opposed to talking to him like he does later.

Any screen shot from the following scene is pristine chaotic disaster bi Loki energy featuring tired-of-your-tomfoolery Mobius.

“Isn’t that precisely why I’m here?” This marked a change in Loki to me. Up until that point, he’d tried to use what he’d known, who he’d been by scheming his way to the Time Keepers. By admitting he wasn’t sure of his purpose, we’re back with the person at the end of the last episode. It’s very Loki to try all avenues to get what he wants, and after having his world turned upside-down a few times in a short period, maybe he just wanted the familiarity of his old tricks, who he thinks he is.

Loki tensing up and then trying to assert control again reaffirms what I just said.

Man, give Mobius a holiday after all of this. Loki really tested him, huh?

Loki definitely likes validation on some level.

TVA archives (a.k.a the Salad Scene)

I can’t believe that place really exists. The looks combined with the music are just *chef kisses*.

I’m not sure if I’m thinking of the right progression, but the music reminds me of a plagal cadence. Google examples and play it side-by-side, you’ll get what I mean, maybe someone knows what it really is?

On either side of the elevators near the Time Keeper statues are the signs TVA archives.

The symmetry pleases my goblin brain.

I believe the entire show was just flexing the skills of the Loki crew and I couldn’t be happier.

“Pretend your life depends on it. I’m gonna get a snack.” This was so funny in the trailers but Mobius is dead serious (delete him myself comment). And he couldn’t even enjoy his salad.

Love that the end of credits takes from some of the scenes in episode 2.

The archivist has neat glasses.

I want some TVA stationary y’all.

It’s that moment fam.

I can’t be the only one curious by the ‘DISPLACED by 000:000:002:162’. Is that in Units? It would explain why the time line looks slightly bendy whenever we see it, especially if Apocalypses are so frequent.

IT’S THE SALAD LADS!

Mobius is reading the magazine that Loki was looking at earlier. Jet skis are Mobius’ comfort character.

“Don’t set fire to the palace.”

Tom Hiddleston has so much energy, he can move so fast.

“Oh God.” - Mobius, Null Time Zone

“YOU.” - Casey, Null Time Zone

Casey!

No thoughts, head empty, the Salad (TM).

But seriously, people only seem to be at their tables with others that work in a similar section. Not hunters and analysts eating in tandem to me, folks.

Oh Casey. Please don’t hurt him.

Aw, Mobius’ little giggle warmed my heart. Owen Wilson’s giving me whiplash with Mobius. My heart can’t take this y’all.

79 AD Pompeii, Italy

They’re both so giddy, Your Honour, I love them.

Mobius snuck them out lol.

“Bird noises?”

“BE FREE MY HORNED FRIENDS, BE FREE!” The post wouldn’t be complete without this.

Loki just throwing food at people and telling them “...enjoy your last meal while you can” is top tier comedy to me.

This is the first time we see Loki openly say nothing matters. I feel like the case file on the destruction of Asgard really pushed him to treat fate as unchangeable.

LXXIX is 79. Nice one Loki crew!

Mobius’ eye twitching as he checks the variance is a nice touch.

Loki throws away the stick that was holding the goat pen closed at the end.

TVA Archives, TVA cafeteria

Mobius picked up those files so smoothly I had to re-watch it.

Their position reflected what they were talking about - when Loki thinks it’s his individual contribution, he’s walking separately to Mobius, but they meet up when working together. I loved the blocking in that little moment.

I seriously thought that Loki was unconscious when I first saw him asleep around Mobius. I’ll admit it, it felt out-of-character for someone with such bad trust issues. Both of them seem pretty tired tho.

It’s the Jet Ski conversation comrades!

I’m beaming. Mobius talking about Jet Skis was the only time I’ve really remembered it’s Owen Wilson talking. It’s such a fun line to think about!

Loki’s smile. Adorable.

Just go watch the scene, it’ll give you good brain juices.

Mobius does it all for the Jet Skis and nothing else. I don’t make the rules, the Time Keepers do.

“My own glorious purpose.” This is a recurring theme in the season. Ultimately, I think that Loki is going to run for as long as it brings in money/until Loki gets killed again. However, I do like to think that in following seasons we’ll move beyond setting up Phase 4 Marvel stuff and just get deep dives into Loki’s character, though it may happen in the later eps or not be as interesting. Part of what made this show so interesting is the new setting in the Marvel universe but it’s hard to make predictions as to whether it will last in a show featuring the God of Mischief. Whatever happens, I’m happy that we got to see Loki’s existential crisis together, lads.

The music picks up, signalling that this quiet moment is about to end.

“No one bad is ever truly bad. And no one good is every truly good.”

“Scared little boy.”

These lines mean a lot to me. Loki perceives Mobius as an equal, similar to himself but not completely identical. The TVA’s whole aesthetic is Kafkaesque (Disney+ used that word), the imperfections keeping the place from looking mechanical and orderly like what the TVA promotes itself to be. Loki wants Mobius to acknowledge it, but Mobius is in the past, not addressing what’s right in front of him, surrounding him. That’s probably because Mobius doesn’t believe, he accepts what he’s been told though Loki wants to change that. He’s still focused on his job, the variant. I don’t think Mobius will struggle against change in the ‘belief’ part as long as things are rational.

Kate Herron (director) said that the Kablooie scene was improv which makes me wish we had more B roll of Owen and Tom. They seem so professional, invested and fun on set.

“No wonder you’re so bitter.” I’m sorry Mobius you sound as salty as your salad.

‘Artificially flavoured chewing gum’ Has something happened causing artificial flavouring to be preferred?

‘Blue’ has canonically changed to ‘Bloo’ by 2050 in America in the MCU. I blame capitalism.

Why does Mobius look so tiny? I say that like Owen Wilson wouldn’t look like a giant next to me lol.

Owen Wilson is 3.5 inches (9 centimetres) shorter than Tom Hiddleston. Yet he is dwarfed as Mobius. I need to stop talking about this and move on.

There’s no ‘variance energy detected’ line in the report.

“You’re gonna take my job if I’m not careful.” Loki looks so chuffed.

One day, I’ll properly address my thoughts on the shipping. Until then, I just want no one to die.

“Yeah, he’s doing great.” Mobius is so hyped. Good for him.

Owen Wilson has dimples.

Ravonna’s screen doesn’t show the timeline like it does later.

Ravonna is the done mom friend. Sane, undeserving of this, please give her a jet ski moment.

Buckle up folks because the last twenty minutes of this episode are my favourite so far.

At 34 minutes in, we get the music fading in with “Okay. But Mobius...” and a transition to my favourite composition so far. Natalie Holt outdid herself. The soundtrack is nearly constant, there’s no break for a moment of clarity anymore. The progression of events is inevitable, tying the bow on a plot line created in an hour and a half. The little embellishment from the strings (possibly) as Mobius and Loki exit is perfect. Combined with Loki’s raised fist leading to a pan to the ceiling, it prepared the audience for everything being turned upside down.

The changing camera angles and shot lengths (the continuous shot when B-15 takes the knives, the circling behind as the briefing occurs) keep viewers on their toes. The continuous shot is fluid, B-15 doesn’t look at Loki or Mobius, her reaction is natural and that just proves that the timing on that scene was impeccable. The circling behind reminded me of Loki positioning himself behind Mobius as he did earlier, but now he’s on the same side, part of the team though he continues to distinguish between himself and the variant. The building sensation that change is coming is met by the incredible swell in the music as we watch the picturesque Haven Hills get destroyed by modern technology and face the terrifying reality that is the Roxxcart store. There’s a close up on the Roxxcart storefront with school buses with the words ‘Evacuation shuttle’ in the background as we see the TVA’s minutemen come out reinforcing that even when the end is nigh, large corporations will loom over. A storm is raging with worse to come. I can go on and on, but you get the point.

2050 Roxxcart Disaster

I love that y’all are calling this the Alabama supermarket breakup. Makes me chuckle, that’s for sure.

I too hate when people can hear my footsteps. Someone that gets the struggle.

Sylvie places the TVA Samsung over a Roxxcart Security manual. She’s overridden both and is in control.

The date is 03/15/2050.

I think that the way the Hunters and minutemen hold their baton things is so that they don’t get yeeted. Neat.

As always, the beats are slick yo.

I hope the Azaleas guy gets some Azaleas wherever he ended up.

I love the way Loki says “In this storm.” It’s so satisfying for no real reason.

The wonderful Wunmi Mosaku does not get the recognition she deserves for this scene. She switched from B-15 to Sylvie so effortlessly. They’re two distinct characters, her facial expressions, body language everything changed in that instant. Even from the one line, “No, they usually survive,” her delivery had changed in a way that was noticeable. It’s uncanny, exactly what was needed when facing a foe that remained unseen. And the smile? It’s before we know the variant as Sylvie, so naturally it’s that signature Loki smile with a hint of malice we associate with the variant. Damn y’all, Wunmi’s incredible! I really hope she’s recognised for being so talented in this series, if not in all her other work!

Mobius really cares about those people. I really want his redemption (?) arc.

It’s been pointed out that even in those conditions, Roxxcart were selling blankets and water. I think it means that by 2050, cash would be defunct. If only electronic payment existed, as long as there’s electricity they can run a business. Chew on that.

If the man they speak to is 50 to 60, he was a 90s kid.

There must be a difference in the reprogramming or kind of variant selected to be a hunter as compared to an analyst. The Hunters look after their own, but the analysts (or Mobius) go as far as empathising with variants.

C-20 is sitting in front of safety standards.

“A bit amateurish.” Loki knows that the variant isn’t as skilled with magic as he is.

As Loki and the possessed people walk, the lighting becomes brighter. He’s moving out of the shadows.

Me too Loki, I’m worried about B-15 too.

Sylvie unironically saying bless is hilarious.

Randy must be hella tall.

There’s a low angle shot as Loki and Randy face off with the flickering light above with a sign hanging above them like a sword of Damocles and a physical separation. Terror is nearly constant in Loki's life now, but he responds by letting go of his drive to survive.

The subtle swells in the music just add to my rising blood pressure.

C-20’s voice over is sad lads.

“I wanna go home,” we know she’s not referring to the TVA.

Mobius seems like a caring person.

When B-15 sits up and searches the room, I think it’s her realisation. Her shiver was from fear and shock, the music wasn’t about her not seeing Loki, it was about the TVA and what had happened to her.

The head snap and the score timing matching. So satisfying.

“I would never treat me like this. Hi.” I think that’s Loki realising that his foe is not willing to talk their way through conflict.

This fight scene contradicts all the magic we see later ik, but if he didn’t want to hurt anyone and was trying to draw out the real enemy it made sense.

Some of Sylvie’s powers must come into the people she possesses. The guy punched a glass screen and didn’t even bleed.

“I have shit to do.” Sylvie wasn’t raised with court etiquette (from what we know) and her lexical choice reflects that.

Dell computers survive into 2050 in the MCU. So do those robot dogs and Roombas. I am only happy about the Roombas. Where did the real dogs go? :(

“Mobius.”

“Where is he?”

“I lost him.”

“What happened?”

“I...”

Until now, B-15’s delivery has felt slightly rhythmic, like she was used to having the same arguments, particularly with Mobius. When she trails off however, I think it’s her trying to rationalise what she’s been through with Sylvie’s possession. Her devotion to the TVA was rooted in the fact that she wasn’t a variant, her life had a purpose and it was intentional. This must have rocked her, I’m invested in where she’ll go.

THE CUT TO BLACK OH GOOD GOSH.

Sylvie, my queen. I’d roll off a cliff for her.

The person with the moustache (you know the one) has pure fear on his face.

Ravonna knows what’s up.

And so do you, yes it’s the music, go listen to it.

THE RED LIGHTING

The zoom out to that incredible hallway shot and then stopping behind the time door. It was never about him after all, he was in the background of her plans.

Sylvie’s wave in Roxxcart vs. Loki’s on the train. Discuss.

The blackout, thunder and Loki’s pause under the flickering red and white light, do y’all really want me to talk about the s y m b o l i s m????

He’s conflicted, you know it, I know it, Mobius knows it.

Speaking of Mobius, there he is, we cut back to Loki and see him make his decision, zooming back in on him.

And with that final flourish in the score, we are done with episode 2!

Cue the most amazing end credits score you’ll ever hear.

Do yourself a favour, listen to all of it, including the part after the main credits, both are Works. Of. Art.

Ep 2 review

In case you didn’t notice, this is my favourite episode so far. There are parts I didn’t take to as much, but details from the previous episode being used in the plot as well as others being explained by Sylvie in episode 3. Rewatching it was easier than episode 1 though it left me wanting more. It will get more interesting from here, but until then, that was a fun romp.

See y'all next time. I hope whoever's reading this has a wonderful day!

Part 1, Episode 1 extend review link:

#spoilers #loki review #Loki spoilers #my respect for people that write scripts/analysis of any kind has increased immensely.#opinion #things i've noticed #sorry if they're not original #b-15 deserves love #the analysts (mobius) the hunters the minutemen casey every one of them deserves love #here's to everyone who worked so hard and put so much into this series #WUNMI MOSAKU IS AMAZING #I love Ravonna #It's great

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drunklander · 5 years

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Drunj!Der Yells About Outlander

Thoughts on Ep. 501

We’re back again for another season of men never having to demonstrate any personal growth on screen because the writers don’t feel like that’s important to show and instead force the audience to just forget everything that previously happened because look! The characters, who aren’t real and are just what we write them to be, are all cool now so why aren’t you? #BadFans

As a standalone episode/series premiere of a new show, this episode was really good! I enjoyed it a lot, with some obvious exceptions. As the season five premiere of a show with a long history? What the actual fuck, why do you keep doing this, writers?

In season one, Jamie beats Claire, never actually apologizes for it, and we’re expected to be like oh lol it’s cool now. No worries.

In season two, Jamie takes his pants off with some prostitutes while his pregnant wife is at home, blames it on his “mission,” and we’re expected to be like oh lol it’s cool now. No worries.

In season three, Jamie is an asshole and a half to Claire when she gives up literally everything (including their daughter) to come find him and knowingly marries the woman who tried to have Claire killed because of one dance with random children at a holiday party, and we’re expected to be like oh lol it’s cool now. No worries.

In season four, Roger is a rancid garbage heap to Bree all season and is only begrudgingly down to stay with her as if *he’s* the one who’s been wronged by her, and Jamie literally sends a guy into what he thinks is like certain death/slavery without getting any real information, and we’re expected to be like oh lol it’s cool now. No worries.

So watching this premiere, I was not at all shocked that there was a convenient time jump where everything was so handily worked out off screen and we’re all super cool now, and Jamie thinking Roger isn’t good enough for Bree is played for a joke instead of being THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. #BreeDeservesBetter

Anywho, onward under the cut because I’m back on my drunken bullshit.

Ooo, a rape warning before the episode, starting off very on brand for you I see, show.

Fuck them very much, again, for including that very unnecessary story line in the first place.

I miss Scotland, y’all. Also, young Murtz can get ittt.

So can old Murtz.

#TeamMurtz

This bit though with wee Jamie made me feel feelings. Jamie and Murtagh’s relationship is literally one of my favorite parts of this whole damn show and saving Murtagh was the best adaptive choice these fuckwads made.

Unpopular opinion alert, but I actually really like the new credits music. I will always like season one’s the best, but this one is up there.

Also, am I a giant weirdo for being happy that even though they change stuff in the credits all the time, they keep in the shot of Claire’s legs running from the pilot? Idk why, but I’m like sentimentally attached to that shot.

Also, that is a fucking microscope I see in the credits, are we gettING SCIENCE!JIZZ?!??!?!?!

SCIENCE!JIZZ! SCIENCE!JIZZ! SCIENCE!JIZZ!

“Careful, or ye’ll lose yer head.” And we’d all be definitely super sad if that happened. Yep, can’t have that. #TeamCutthroatRazor

Jamie threateningly shaving and insulting Roger is the fandom minus the stans who for some inconceivable reason still like that fucker.

Seriously, fuck Roger. Jamie is apparently the only one who hasn’t gotten amnesia about how terrible he is. I guess it’s because Jamie has been really fucking terrible many times and like recognizes like.

I fucking love that Murtz made Bree’s ring. Makes it more meaningful than the random trinket Roger picks up at the Gathering Without End in the book. Like Claire’s Lallybroch key ring was more meaningful than the book!ring. Fuck the show for ditching the Lallybroch key ring because tHe BoOk RiNg Is WhAt FaNs LiKe. No. Stop. Bad choice.

The aerial shot going over the big house makes me hopeful that this season won’t be as fucking claustrophobic as last year. Because seriously, we can all tell you’re still in Scotland. Doing a whole season in basically closeups doesn’t make it seem any more North Carolina-y.

CLAIRE MAKING BREE’S DRESS AND GETTING TO BE THERE FOR HER DAUGHTER’S WEDDING WHEN SHE DIDN’T THINK SHE’D BE ABLE TO GIVES ME ALL THE FEELINGS! CLAIRE DESERVES ALL THE GOOD THINGS! I JUST LOVE CLAIRE A LOT OK! SORRY NOT AT ALL EVER FUCKING SORRY! #BeauchampBrigade5Eva

Bree’s dress is fucking gorgeous. I lowkey like it better than Claire’s.

Da!Jamie on his something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue quest is fucking adorable. He also never thought he’d get to see this one of his kids’ wedding so yay for him too.

“And we’re giving her away to a man who loves her.” “Oh.” “What? You doubt his love?” “Um, I’m sorry, did you SEE all last season?! Did everyone else get amnesia?!”

Also, bullshit about Roger being terrible aside, this right here, with Jamie and Claire actually talking to each other in an adorable and snuggly way. Like being all close and cuddly and shit. THIS IS MY SHIT. When we all bitch about wanting more Jamie and Claire couple stuff and the writers are all like “but the sex doesn’t advance the story” it’s like no you fuckwits, we don’t always mean sex! Sometimes we mean sex, because sex is important in their relationship (and sex does not necessarily equal nudity), but most of the time we mean SHOW US THAT THESE PEOPLE LOVE EACH OTHER WITH THE SMALL CUTE STUFF LIKE THIS! I’m *rull* curious to see how much more of stuff like this we get this season now that Balfe and Heughan are producers. Balfe especially, considering how dirty they did Claire last season...

DA!JAMIE AND ANOTHER OF HIS KIDDOS! Da!Jamie being sappy and sentimental at his kids’ weddings is 100% my jam.

HIS FACE WHEN BREE SAYS JE SUIS PREST MAKES ME FEEL ALL THE FEELINGSSS.

MOM AND DAD ARE AT THEIR LIL GIRL’S WEDDING AND MY SKIN IS CLEAR AND MY CROPS ARE THRIVING. Except that one weed over there in the groom’s place that just won’t go away.

I am so fucking glad they did away with the Gathering Without End. I swear to fuck 17% of a book that’s just like camping and periods and breast milk is aggressively not my jam.

Unfortunately the groom being a douchenozzle is not a legal reason to object to a wedding. But it really should be.

Fersali being all snuggly and cute during the vows is fucking precious. I love Fersali. Protect Fersali at all costs.

I’m ok with playing Jamie and Claire’s music over Bree and Roger’s wedding because like, this is the culmination of all the shit that Jamie and Claire went through together and I’m all for making stuff just about them, haha. But otherwise, weird choice to not give Bree and Roger their own theme?

Also, I get that it’s a better choice to have a character we already know and have established stakes with be here to do the red coat stuff, but loool at the thought of the fucking governor coming to this random backcountry wedding. Tryon, buddy, I get that Murtz is your white whale, but you look obsessed in a bad way, bruh.

GERMAIN!!! I FUCKING LOVE GERMAIN! I FUCKING LOVE THAT JAMIE TALKS SHIT ABOUT PRESBYTERIANS TO GERMAIN! GIVE ME ALL THE SASSY SMOLS!

“Some of us like to think before we act.” Oh fuck all the way off, Roger. ALL THE WAY OFF.

“There was me thinking that you were just trying to shut me up for a minute.” I mean, that was an added bonus, Rog.

Sophie has really gotten so much better at acting. She’s always such a goddamn delight on press tours and I’m like *rull* glad to see her growing into the role.

Lizzo/Flute Lady from the Wedding Band 2020

I 100% wanna chill with JQM and Fersali. This squad of cool kids seems aggressively more fun than the dancers.

Oh Isiah Morton. If only you could keep it in your pants.

I LOVE FERGUS WITH MY WHOLE HEART.

I LOVE MARSALI POSSIBLY EVEN MORE.

GODDAMN IT I JUST LOVE FERSALI SO FUCKING HARD.

Seriously, the sass and theatricality and sarcasm of Marsali Fraser. I stan. I fucking stan.

Also I 100% kept reciting “To sit in solemn silence...” through that whole scene. Once a theater kid, always a theater kid.

Don’t be a buzzkill, LJG. I love that posh nerd. Except when he’s being a fucking creeper about Jamie to Claire.

“Mistress, can I dance with the guy I thought raped you because he was such a twatwaffle?” “Sure, Lizzie, go for it! Because we’re all friends now.”

We’re just leaning in on the dad stuff this episode. The hot dads of Riverdale should form a gang with the hot dads of the Ridge just for kicks.

Obligatory fuck the writers for including Bree’s rape. Since they did though, good on them for showing her PTSD. Although fuck them for including such a graphic flashback. Much like the choices they made in the season one finale, it centers the rapist and the act more than the survivor.

Can this please be the only Fred reference this season? Also love to lightly joke about an emotionally abusive asshole who treated Claire like shit and used Bree as a weapon against her. Claire, being the bigger person she’s always been, will obvs not speak ill of Fred to Bree (unlike how Freddy boy undermined Claire in front of Bree), but Bree is now aware of just how shitty Fred was. Even if he wasn’t overtly shitty to her, her still being all lovey about him, knowing what he did to her mother, is lowkey super fucked up. “Well I know he was shitty to other people, but he never did anything to me” is never a good look.

Bree hugging Jemmy, oh man, I just wanna give her a hug and tell her everything’s gonna be ok.

Jocasta is still trash (there’s no such thing as a benevolent slave owner) but this Murcasta scene is a goddamn delight.

OK BUT NOW I NEED FAN ART OF MURTZ AS A FAIRY KING!

Roger singing to Bree is cute and all, but then using the music for the whole montage is cheesy af and I don’t think I like it.

Is that Arch and Murdina I spy there in the crowd?

Marsali is literally the most fertile woman in the Colonies.

Grannie and Granda trying to get it on veryyy quietly so they don’t wake Jemmy is fucking adorable as shit and I lowkey love it.

Awww, poor LJG. I ship Lord John with someone who actually loves him.

Ok I get Murcasta having to break up because of his regulator stuff, randomly introducing Duncan Innes is a fucking weird choice.

Maria Doyle Kennedy really was the fucking perfect casting choice.

Oh hey, Josiah Beardsley. I was hoping they’d cut out the whole thing with the Beardsleys and Lizzie, but honestly, I’ll take that silliness over Emo!Roger any day.

Good on Jocasta for being a clever MacKenzie, but fuck Roger for only doing the right thing when he’s insulted into it. TL;DR: Fuck Roger.

Is Gerald Forbes going to randomly turn into Neil Forbes at some point like he does in the book?

DOCTOR CLAIRE FOR THE WIN GIVE ME ALL THE DOCTOR CLAIRE.

Srsly, I am here for Jamie shitting on Roger at literally every opportunity. Preach, Jamie. Preach.

“I’ll leave you to yer patients. And to wage war with your wee invisible beasties.” Seriously though, this is my jam. This playful banter. For so much of the series, it’s been like do these two even like each other? Because the writers kept trying to make the show into something it wasn’t. Politics, war, characterization flipflops and assholery FoR tHe DrAmA. It was so hard to see why Claire would ever pick this guy. I’m very cautiously optimistic that more shit like this will be peppered in this year because dammit, this is why we’re all fucking here.

“Then ye must find yerself a lieutenant.” Can it be Marsali? Please? Can Marsali be Claire’s lieutenant?! Because cutting the whole Malva bullshit would be ideal. And Fersali gets so sidelined in the later books that I’d fucking LOVE the writers to make changes so they can be more centered with the rest of the fam. And I am fucking obsessed with Claire and Marsali’s relationship. Marsali is the most Claire Jr. character in this whole damn show and I WANT THEM TOGETHER IN FRONT OF MY EYEBALLS.

Roger pricks his index finger but smudges the blood on Jemmy’s head with his thumb. Not the takeaway of this scene at all. But since I don’t like Roger, that’s my bullet for it.

Also I love that they switched the whole raise a militia thing to a hunt for Murtz & Squad rather than needing to do it because some randos are somewhere doing a thing and then lol jk they left so you can all go home like it is in the book.

Totally called it that they were going to combine the two bonfires and that this was when the kilt was gonna make its triumphant return.

Also I fucking love that it’s the music from Je Suis Prest during the scene when Jamie puts his kilt back on.

And thank fuck they didn’t put any dialogue/voiceover in this scene when Claire sees Jamie. It’s so much more powerful without it.

Aaand we’re burning a cross. At least they were smart enough not to burn a Roman cross, but they’re still burning a cross instead of just doing a bonfire. The scene could be just as powerful had it been adapted to not have a burning cross. Fuck them, tbh.

Remember that time that fuckwit Roberts tried to be like oh we’re not *really* burning a cross so we’re not racist but we’re not gonna address it directly because lol out fanbase is fucking wicked conservative and also a fucking cult who will yell at us for changing anything.

Because seriously that twatwaffle really tried to pretend like a celtic cross isn’t a religious symbol so they’re not having a KKK rally in this white supremacist hellscape. FUCK THAT GUY FOR BOTH HIS SHITTY DECISIONS AND ALSO FOR ACTING LIKE WE’RE ALL FUCKING IDIOTS.

BuT hIsToRy AnD tHe BoOk! Fuck that. Do. Not. Burn. Crosses. But they showed a lynching last year for the sole purpose of showing the shocked white people, so of course they fucking burned a cross.

Jamie being both himself and Colum from the Gathering in season one at the same time is a fucking sight to see.

The look on Knox’s face is *chef’s kiss*. Bruh you don’t even *know* who you’re dealing with.

Aaand in a move that is not at all shocking, Roger hesitates *again*, when Jamie extends his hand to him. Fuck, and I cannot stress this enough, that guy. I get that he’s untrained and scared or whatever, but buddy you deal with that shit tomorrow. You don’t fucking leave Jamie hanging when he’s doing this big theatrical thing in an effort to fucking save his land and tenants. Ugh.

FERGUS, SON OF HIS NAME AND HIS HEART! Jamie and Claire’s first kid getting the props he fucking deserves. ILY SO MUCH FERGS!

Marsali’s face when Fergus goes to give his oath. Just the pride and love there. I JUST LOVE THEM SO FUCKING MUCH OK.

I appreciate the commitment to the shitty green screen of that titular Ridge, haha.

That is a *rull* phallic rock in your circle, Murtz.

BUT...ALWAYS TAKE A MURTAGH! *cries*

This is a real gut punch of a scene, tbh. It’s 100% the right thing to do, but damn, right in the fucking feels.

This episode, with my selective amnesia activated per the above lol, has me more hopeful for how a season might be than I’ve been in a while. But this feeling has consistently been crushed in the past. Here’s to hoping the show finally stops doing us dirty!

#*#outlander starz #outlander 5x01 #drunj!der yells about outlander

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peeterparkr · 5 years

Text

limits of desire⤳t.h.||7

chapter 7: hire vendors

story summary: you met Tom a night he was trying to sleep with you, it didn’t work and you became best of friends. Wedding bells might be ringing for when you both realize what you really feel.

summary:the one when someone gets on one knee

pairing: fuckboy!tom holland x best friend!reader

warnings: swearing,alcohol mention, didn’t proof read, poetry, miguel, lizzie

word count: 5.9k

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When Tom, at last, knew the answer, y/n had a different question. Maybe it had taken him too long. But it wasn’t like he hadn’t hinted it. But they belonged together. Didn’t they?

But 6 months was a long time, and time knew no mercy. But it didn’t make any sense. All was lost. He had lost the battles, the war. It had been his mistake, he didn’t choose whom he was supposed to choose. She was, after all, the one who chose him before anything and everything.

And who was this y/n? He had changed her. She was there reciting poetry, not like she had never recited poetry. But it was different. Talking about Borges, Cortazar and Neruda. Like she could only speak in poetry to Miguel.

“Surprise!” The people yelled as soon as Tom, Y/N, and Miguel had stepped into Tom and Harrison’s place. The ride hadn’t been pleasant either. She had driven, claiming Tom had drunk a little too much. Miguel was copilot, and had been kissing her hand and pointing everywhere. With that silly accent of his.

Just to add more to Tom’s hell of a night, he had forgotten about the surprise welcome party he had planned for y/n. Of course, this wasn’t how he had pictured arriving. If it were for him, he’d already had his arm around her, placing kisses on her cheek and neck, just finally enjoying her presence. Probably triumphantly, maybe even announcing they were finally a couple.

However that dream wasn’t even near happening, instead, he was watching Miguel’s perfect hand posing on y/n’s shoulder, delicately as she hugged him with fake surprise, as their friends were running over to her.

Her hand was on Miguel’s chest, showing off the big engagement ring embracing her finger and her smile was the brightest. Her nose was slightly red, and even freckled. And the cold from London was accentuating her blushing cheeks. She looked perfect. How dare she even look that way. Now that Tom couldn’t have her.

Harrison widened his eyes and frowned as he looked at her and Miguel, he raised an eyebrow at Tom, who was tipsy enough already but just gave him a shrug. Harry, Sam, and Tuwaine were as confused. Tom wanted to hit his head against the wall, repeatedly.

Lizzie, Hannah, and Jess jumped over to y/n and screamed. Some other friends approached her to meet with her, while she introduced them to Miguel. Miguel was incredibly and annoyingly handsome and nice with everyone.

So y/n continued to say hello to her friends and to enjoy the party. Between her and Miguel they were stealing all the spotlight, making everyone laugh with their adventures.

Tom left the party to go to his room, he needed to process it. From one day to another she was engaged. Y/N was engaged. The woman he was deeply in love with was engaged with another man. He went straight to his bathroom to wash his face. He just couldn’t believe it. He stared at his reflection as if trying to come up with an answer, trying to wake up; he pinched himself trying to get out of this terrible nightmare. He then dug his pocket and took out the small blue box.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, as he sat down. He didn’t even want to open it. Why had he bought it?

A knock was heard on the door, Tom quickly shoved the blue box into his drawer. The door opened to reveal a very confused Harrison.

“Who the hell is that?” Asked Harrison, with a frown.7

Tom didn’t answer.

“Man! I thought that you were supposed to arrive with her bridal style or whatever, what the hell happened?”

“Miguel happened.” Tom pinched the bridge of his nose as he was getting a very unpleasant headache.

“Who the hell is he?” Harrison asked.

“A jerk.”

Harrison rolled his eyes. “Is he her boyfriend?”

“Worse,” Tom answered as he walked past his friend making his way back to the party, to which his surprise hadn’t yet finished, and was perfectly real. No nightmare was gone. That idiot was still there. So, of course, that Miguel guy was still there.

Harrison followed him.

“Is he the guy from her Instagram?” Haz asked him.

“Uh-huh,” Tom said as he picked up a beer. He stared at y/n, her laugh was filling the room, music to Tom’s ears. He wanted to kiss her. Miguel was doing that for him.

Tom rolled his eyes and turned around.

“Weren’t they supposed to break up?” Haz asked.

Tom turned to his friend, took a sip of his beer and then flipped him off.

“Tom!” Haz rolled his eyes. “I’m not the enemy here.”

Tom frowned as they both watched Miguel. He was talking with Tom’s brothers.

The twins were looking up at the handsome tanned man with them, he was speaking excitedly, and trying to make the best impression. But the twins were more focused on trying to understand the situation. Tom just shrugged at them,

y/n suddenly stopped the music. “Hey, everyone, may I have your attention please?” She grinned as everyone stopped and glanced over at her. “I thank everyone for coming, seriously, I missed all you so much, and Tom, thanks for organizing this,” she smiled at him.

Tom smiled back but then watched as Miguel walked over to y/n, wrapping his arm around her waist. Miguel smiled at Tom as well. Tom’s smile was erased and exchanged for a frown.

“Anyway, well, I’ve got some news,” y/n continued. “Well, and since I have all of you here, I might as well take the chance…. So, you all met Miguel, right here, you’ve probably seen him on my insta, too,” Y/N grinned at him and kissed his cheek. “Miguel and I met back in Mexico.”

“We sure did,” Miguel added kissing the top of her head. Tom rolled his eyes.

“Well, and long story short,” y/n said and lifted her hand to show her ring. “We’re engaged! We’re getting married next month in Mexico! And you are all invited!”

Harrison, Tuwaine and the twins all stopped looking at y/n and turned their attention to Tom, who seemed to be emotionless.

Tom was feeling the worst he had ever felt. The world was spinning around him, and all the voices were clear. Her words were echoing through his head, and he just stared at them as she kept rambling and as her friends approached to congratulate her.

Lizzie approached Tom, and Tom tried to escape but Lizzie laughed.

“Tommy!” She chirped.

Tom rolled his eyes as he kept walking. She followed after.

“Oh, you’re not hitting on me, huh? I’m sorry am I breaking any rule?” Lizzie chirped, crossing her arms above her chest.

“The rule of basic social human interaction, yes,” Tom snapped, rolling his eyes.

Lizzie grinned. “Seems like I don’t have to be her shield tonight.”

“I’m sorry?” Tom questioned.

“I’m glad Y/N got to her senses,” Lizzie commented.

Tom scowled. “To her senses?”

Lizzie laughed. “Please, she won’t be mourning any more, y/n was blinded before she left.”

Tom scowled. “What do you mean?”

“You won’t play with her anymore, Tom, she deserves better,” Lizzie said. “We both know that.”

“I never played with her,” Tom defended herself.

“Not the same way as you played with me, no, but you gave her hope, like just before she left,” Lizzie accused. “Yeah, I know what happened, perks of being her female best friend.”

“And what exactly did she tell you?” Tom inquired as Y/N and Miguel shared a kiss. Tom rolled his eyes.

“Ah, nothing just that you shared a moment and you backed away,” Lizzie shrugged, Hannah and Jess joined them. “But hey! Now you don’t have to worry about her trying to make a move! Look at the hunk she got.”

“He’s not that good looking,” Tom faked a laugh.

“Are you kidding?” Hannah giggled. “He’s my definition of Prince Charming!”

“I got damned lost in his eyes,” Jess sighed with a smile. “He’s got the whole deal. It’s like Chris Hemsworth and Zac Efron had a baby!”

The three friends started to adore him as if he was an actual god. Tom couldn’t stay there so eventually he walked out, to enjoy his beer all on his own. He couldn’t stand seeing her closely because Miguel was around her. So he stared at her from the outside sitting down on that old table he had outside, seeing her oh so radiant and so happy. With that jerk.

Harry, Sam, Tuwaine, and Harrison joined him.

“Hey man,” Harry greeted him.

Tom looked up. “Don’t even dare to say I told you so, I know it was too late.”

Harry sighed as he sat in front of him. “How are you feeling?”

“I want to punch him in his perfect teeth,” Tom admitted, drinking from his beer. “He is an asshole.”

Sam shook his head. “He is actually quite nice.”

Tom scowled.

“He made me feel bad about myself,” Sam explained. “Dude’s a fucking greek god.”

“He’s not-”

“Woah,” Harrison laughed. “I guess he’s not saying-look, I know we don’t like him, but he doesn’t seem like a bad guy, and okay, yes, gotta admit it took me by surprise.”

“How are you feeling?” Tuwaine asked.

Tom scowled. “I…How am I supposed to know it? How the fuck am I supposed to react? Engaged!” Tom said with disgust. “Want to know what’s the worst?”

“What?” Asked Tuwaine.

“She asked me to be her maid of honour.”

The four of them burst out in laughter. Tom growled and rolled his eyes.

“You’re the-no!” Harrison was red from laughing, he was holding his stomach and throwing his head back.

“You’ll look so pretty in a pink dress!” Sam joked laughing.

“Guys! Cmon, cmon,” Tuwaine tried to stop them in between fainted giggles. “We all know Tom’s colour isn’t pink!”

Tom crossed his arms. “Ha-ha.” He kept watching y/n, while his brothers and friends kept laughing. “You done now?” Asked Tom. “I need to solve this.”

“Tom, it took you a lot to realize your feelings,” Harry said wiping a tear off. “Okay, no, no, don’t make that face Tommy boy,” Harry kept teasing. “Look, okay, I just… wow, karma is a bitch, ain’t it Tom?”

“Well, did you say yes?” Asked Tuwaine.

“I said I would… think about it, because honestly? I can’t be able to see her marry that idiot, look at him! He is awful! And she looks at him as if he can shit unicorns.”

They turned to face him, and just on cue, he was smiling with his bright white teeth, staring at her. His brown, slightly curled hair as his beard made him look extremely handsome. And just as the latino was laughing, the four friends realized, the guy was just perfect. Made by hand, even.

“Uh, okay, okay,” Haz tried to calm down Tom. “Look, uh, she is not... that in Love…” and then again, just in time, they watched y/n look at Miguel, her gaze was completely lost in his eyes, she was mesmerized by her fiancé. “Hey, uh, why don’t you… try to make a move on her? We can get rid of him, you make your moves…”

“Yeah, try and seduce her, as you do with everyone else!” Tuwaine tried to encourage Tom.

“That didn’t work four years ago,” Sam commented.

“Buuuut she basically told him she had feelings for him when she left!” Harry pointed out.

“Okay, let's make it this way, you can just flirt with her a little, make your magic and boom, you’ll have her tonight.” Sam agreed.

“It’s not like that, I want to prove to her I’ve changed,” Tom defended himself.

“Then you will have to say yes,” Harrison answered.

“You’re saying he needs to be a maid of honour? Pink dress and everything?” Sam laughed, joined by the perky giggles of his twin brother and friend. Haz rolled his eyes.

“I’m saying this would give you the perfect excuse to be all around her, all day, help her with everything, and make her realize it’s not him who she wants,” Haz explained.

“Yes! Be her confidant!” Harry added. “And point out to her that she’s doing some crazy shit.”

“I don’t even wanna help her plan this wedding, it just… no,” Tom frowned. “I can’t be able to plan her wedding unless she was marrying me.”

“Okay, if she’s marrying in a month, in Mexico that means she is leaving man,” Tuwaine pointed out. “Might be easier to stop a wedding from the inside than from another continent.”

“You need to do whatever it takes,” Sam added.

“All is fair in love and war,” Harry sang.

“Now shush, she’s coming,” Haz said.

Y/N walked out. “What are you all doing here?” She asked them, she ruffled Tom’s hair. “Why aren’t you hitting with one of my friends?”

Tom stayed quiet. “Because…I’ve changed.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow and then laughed. “Sure, Tom,” she rolled her eyes. “So, what are you doing here? It’s cold…”

“We wanted some fresh air,” Harrison said. “So, you’re gonna get hitched, Y/L/N?”

“I sure am, Osterfield,” y/n answered.

“Where is Mr Perfect from again?” Tuwaine asked.

“He’s Mexican,” y/n nodded. “And about that, I have to settle some things tomorrow, and I was wondering if you guys could hang out with him.”

Tom shook his head. “No way.”

Harrison kicked him. “Sure.”

Tom glared at Haz.

“Tommy?”

He glanced over at her, she was confused.

“You’re mad cause I didn’t tell you I was seeing someone, huh,” she said.

“Uh, Sam, Harry, T, hey, join me inside… there’s yes,” Haz said as the boys followed after.

Y/N chuckled as she sat across Tom. He looked away from her gaze.

“Tom.”

Tom couldn’t look at her.

“Tom,” she repeated.

Tom looked at her. “Y/N.”

“You’re mad,” she said, reaching over for his hand.

He blushed and coughed. “How couldn’t you tell me?” Tom asked her. “I’m…”

“It was unexpected Tom,” Y/N said.

Tom sighed. “He seems nice,” Tom commented with poison, but a part of him meant it and that was the worst part. “So, are you staying tonight?”

Y/N chuckled. “No, told you I have a room at the hotel, with him.”

Tom took a sip of his beer. “Right.”

“Tommy I really want you to be my maid of honour.”

“How would that even work?” Tom asked her. “I mean, I don’t even know what they do.”

Y/N reached over for his hand again, Tom’s heart jolted. “I know it sounds silly, but usually the maid of honour helps the bride by planning the bridal shower, and they help the bride all along the way because they can calm her, look you don’t have to be called my maid of honour, it can be… like my sidekick.”

Tom scoffed as he looked away.

“There’s no one in this world who knows me like you do,” y/n explained. “I just want someone to help me get my dream wedding.”

“What about your future?” Tom asked her.

“What about it? For the first time in my life, I’m… spontaneous! Just like you are.”

Tom shook his head. “You see y/n I didn’t mean to marry a stranger.”

“He is a stranger to you, but when I met him it was as if we had known each other since we were kids,” y/n defended herself. “And he makes me happy, I just… know we are meant to be, he is just perfect for me.”

Tom felt his heartbreaking apart, shattered into tiny pieces as he was hearing.

“So the wedding… next month?” Tom Asked.

“Yes… so I’m… just buying my dress here and then I’m off to Mexico to see the rest.”

Tom bit his lip as he took a deep breath. “When?”

“In two weeks,” Y/N answered.

“So you’re gonna spend Christmas there?” Tom frowned as he started to peel off the paper from his beer.

“You can come, I mean if you’re my sidekick...” she offered. Tom looked up at her. “Please?” begged Y/N.

“y/n, I don’t know…” Tom gulped.

“Oh, so you’re gonna make me do this?” She chuckled and got on one knee. “Thomas, will you be my maid of honour?”

Tom sighed as he rolled his eyes. “Alright.”

She chirped and jumped over to hug him.

Oh, what was Tom getting into?

—

Y/N had dropped Miguel at Tom and Haz’ place early in the morning, of course leaving him after having a small makeout session in her car. Tom had clenched his jaw trying to ignore it.

“Hey!” Miguel greeted them. “No puedo (I can’t), I can’t believe it, Man, I’m hanging out with Spider-Man.”

Tom felt his pride pushing him up, as he smirked, coming up with an idea to make the man regret he was trying to compete with Tom. Of course, Miguel didn’t even know it was a competition because it certainly wasn’t, but Tom wanted him to regret it. Tom was going to win.

“Sure,” Tom laughed as he made him walk in. “I’m Spider-Man.”

“So how did you meet y/n?” Miguel Asked. “She told me it was at a Halloween party.”

Tom nodded, as Harrison joined them. They both had a plan to know what exactly we’re his flaws and where and how they would take him down.

“Yes,” Tom agreed. “I was trynna sleep with her.”

“Tom Holland, the Spider-Man,” Harrison added getting to Tom’s game.

“And she rejected you,” Miguel added. Tom and Haz paused and stared at each other.

“Yeah, but I’m glad, we are the best of friends,” Tom said after he cleared his throat. “So, uh, Miguel, we usually go to the gym and train a little, hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, need to go to the gym, too,” Miguel answered.

Sooner or later the three of them were at the gym, Tom and Harrison realized that Mr Perfect was even more than perfect. He was boxing as well, and he trained at the gym as well.

Tom had borrowed him a shirt, and he didn’t know why or how but it looked better on Miguel. As if Miguel was made for that shirt.

But Tom and Haz had another plan to destroy him while gathering information about him.

He was 27 and had studied at Harvard. Mr. Perfect had plans to continue studying and they included y/n. He was a singer and had graduated with honours. He also spoke 4 languages fluently. He played the piano and the guitar. Of course, Tom only thought the only thing he didn’t know how to do, Tom guessed, was how to fly.

He was perfect. And Tom and Harrison were watching him as he was boxing, sure, he wasn’t as skilled at Tom, but hell, he looked good while doing it. Quick learner he was.

“This is gonna be tough,” Harrison commented, as they walked to the locker room. “He’s gonna be more competition than you thought.”

Tom glared at his friend. “I know her better than him.” Miguel was taking off his shirt, and walking to the shower just to reveal just a perfectly tanned and sweaty body. Tom scoffed. “And… I mean, I’m pretty ripped too.”

Tom leaned against his locker, as his coach approached them.

“Hey, Tom, who’s that guy?” Patrick asked. “Man’s got skills.”

Tom bumped his head against his locker rolling his eyes, before turning to Pat. “He’s y/N’s fiancé.”

“Oh, y/n as in… y/n? but weren’t you….?” He pointed at Tom confused.

“Yep, y/n as in the woman who has Tom drooling,” Haz laughed. Patrick blew his cheeks and shook his head.

“You’ve got it bad, then, that boys got mad cows disease,” Patrick commented. Tom lost it.

“What?”Tom Asked.

“You know what I mean,Y/N is having fun” Patrick shrugged, Tom bumped his head into the locker repeatedly. “I mean, sorry, sorry.”

“Guy’s a damn Greek god,” Harrison admitted.

“Look, I’ll… just,” Tom rolled his eyes. “I mean, I know her. I’ll just.”

“He must have some dirt on him,” Patrick pointed out. “Hire a P.I., I know a guy, everybody's got skeletons in the closet. Nobody is skweeky-clean, he can find something on him.”

Tom rolled his eyes. “That sounds cheap.”

“I’ll charge you double,” Patrick laughed.

Tom faked laugh. “I meant it’s a cheap thing to do.”

“He play's cheep, you gotta match that,” Patrick pointed out.

Tom laughed. “How does he play cheap?”

Haz nodded. “That whole thing with y/n, being latino. Making her fall in love with him in Mexico.”

“That "monster thing" of his,” Pointed out Patrick.

Tom frowned. “Fine. Get the dirt.”

Miguel had walked back in, towel around his waist. Tom was slightly jealous of the tan the guy carried. Big sculptured body.

“Hey,” he greeted them, showing his ad-material smile. Tom coughed. “Hey, oh, y/n told me, you’re having lunch with her, right? And with the rest of the bridesmaids.”

“Shoot,” Tom cursed and nodded. “Right, So… you’ll be stuck with Harrison.”

“He’ll be stuck with who?” Asked Haz. Miguel laughed. “Right, guess I’ll show you around London…”

Y/N was waiting for her friends anxiously at Lantana Cafe Shoreditch, she was drinking from her hot coffee as she tapped her foot. Her life was about to change in just a month, and she needed them to give her all the strength she needed. The last six months had been the best for her, it had helped her get her mind off Tom. She was over him, of course.

Or that’s what she had thought, at least. The moment she had seen him with flowers at the airport, her world had slapped her back into reality. But said feelings had been completely erased the moment she had seen Miguel. Miguel was everything she wanted, and Miguel was everything she needed.

He was a good guy, perfect in every way. And she had said yes.

She stared down at the ring, Tiffany’s. It was funny since he had proposed without one. But when she had said yes, he had called his mother and gotten her a ring. It was beautiful. Miguel was her dream come true. Or she tried to convince herself. Her mother had first questioned her, but when she had met Miguel the day before, every question was forgotten. Everybody had congratulated y/n, especially her girlfriends who described him as the perfect catch. He was handsome, intelligent, and he had money. Not that that mattered, but her friends had been kind to point it out.

But she still knew that she was still stuck somewhere else. But she had convinced herself that she couldn’t think about it anymore. Being in love with Tom had been so hard, all those years. They belonged to different worlds, and sometimes it was too present. And y/n knew how hard it would be to be around him if they were to ever date. As if they would’ve dated. He didn’t love her.

y/n needed to sort everything out before leaving to Mexico, because of course, she hadn’t told anybody, but these were her last weeks in London. She was going to move, say goodbye to her precious life.

To everyone. Because otherwise she’d be attached to hope.Hope which, had arrived first.

Tom arrived first, all washed up with that black leather jacket he liked to wear. He had a flower again, a single sunflower, and he was taking off his helmet, making y/n warm up. She stood up and hugged him while he kissed her cheek.

“Oh my god, thanks for coming,” she said, as Tom chuckled and handed her the flower. “Thanks, Tommy, you’re an angel….Oh, where is Miguel-?”

“Stayed with Haz, he was going to show him around,” Tom answered coldly.

“So. thoughts?” Y/N asked as the waitress walked over. “Ah, he’ll have tea with cream.”

Tom chuckled as he shrugged. “Yeah, I’ll have that,” he smiled at the waitress who bashfully winked at him. Tom ignored the wink and turned back to y/n, who frowned.

“Wow, you really did change,” she pointed out, and Tom shrugged.

“So, Mr. Perfect, huh?” Tom said, changing the subject. “Is there anything he can’t do?”

Y/N stayed quiet, rolling her eyes. “Well, he is indeed perfect,” she gave in. “No, but really, what did you think? Be honest, Tom, that’s what you do best.”

“Does it matter? I mean, I’ve always talked about your boyfriends, but now you’re getting married, what’s the point?-”Tom gulped.

“Tommy,” y/n laughed.

“Don’t get married,” Tom said seriously looking into her eyes.

Y/N felt her heart sink and blinked watching him. He meant it, he was serious.

“What?” Y/N asked, and stared deep into his eyes, he reached over for her hands.

“Don’t get married.” He repeated.

“Why?” Y/N stared down at his lips, and at their holding hands.

“You don’t even know the guy!” Tom insisted.

“I need a real reason,” y/n cleared, frowning. “I’m in love with him.”

“You just met the guy!” Tom reminded her.

“So? Time knowing someone doesn’t mean a thing, I mean, I’ve known Lizzie for 15 years now, yet she is not my best friend, you are! Love is timeless,” Y/N defended herself. “That’s no reason, I will marry him.”

“You’re asking me for reasons and I’m giving them, you’re just giving comebacks,” Tom snapped.

“If I can have a comeback then it isn’t a good reason,” Y/N declared. “Give me a real reason, one which I can’t give an excuse for. Is he a bad guy?”Tom stayed quiet staring into her eyes as if he was trying to say something but words wouldn't come out. Y/N leaned over. “I need a reason, be honest Tom.”

Tom gulped and closed his eyes as he looked down, avoiding her gaze. He couldn’t speak.

There were 3 words, they could be transformed into 6 even, that could stop the wedding. Y/N was perfectly aware that if Tom dared to say those words, if he felt them, she would stop the wedding.

“I know you don’t believe in weddings Tom,” she murmured.

“Maybe I do,” Tom said.

She looked at him. “Then, I ask you again, why shouldn’t I marry him?”

“I…” Tom murmured, and he looked up at her. “Does he make you happy?”

“Very much so,” y/n confirmed but stared into him, begging him to say those words.

“Then I’m happy if you’re happy,” Tom finally conceited.

Y/N sat back and crossed her arms over her chest, not believing what was happening, really disappointed. But Tom was honest, so y/n knew that this whole thing was stupid. She was marrying Miguel, Miguel loved her and she loved him.

“How did you fall for him?” Tom asked. “How does he make you feel?”

“I don’t quite understand it, I wouldn’t know how to explain it, seems like I knew more about love when I didn’t have it,” y/n said. “It was an accident.”

“Two souls don’t find each other by accident,” Tom said.

“That’s from Borges,” y/n pointed out. She blinked.

“Yeah, I read his works, I also read Pablo Neruda,” Tom commented. “Well, now, if little by little you stop loving me, I shall stop loving you, little by little, if suddenly you forget me, do not look for me…”

“For I shall already have forgotten you,” y/n finished. “That’s actually the poem that got me into him.”

Tom grinned. “Really? Funny, that’s the first one I read last night, I read it and ended up all night reading his works.”

“I…” Y/N had to clear her throat. “Yeah, I shielded myself in poetry.”

“I guess I have to, as well,” Tom gulped. “ I want you to know, one thing,” he started reciting again. “You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if I touch near the fire the impalpable ash or the wrinkled body of the log, everything carries me to you.”

y/n just stared at him, mesmerized. Feeling her skin warming up but cold at the same time. As if he knew how she had felt when she had found that poem. Because that particular poem was for him. Because she had found poetry that was speaking to her broken heart.

Poetry that had healed her and made her fall in love with Miguel. But now the same poetry that had healed her, was ripping her apart. She had to stop.

She cleared her throat. “That’s cheating you probably heard Madonna’s version.”

Tom shook his head. “No, I figured that if you’re into poetry now I might as well be into it.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, chuckling. “Really? What for?”

“Because it’s you,” Tom said. “We’ve been apart 6 months and 6 months we’ve grown apart, and I really don’t want that, I still want to be the one who knows your thoughts before you can even think of them.”

Y/N blinked, watching him. She was broken again.

The door opened to greet her friends, Lizzie, Hannah and Jess had arrived. “And there are my bridesmaids,” Y/N grinned standing up. “Please behave, Tom, with Lizzie, now she’s even madder at you because she wanted to be my maid of honour since we met.”

“Great.”

Tom sighed as he stood up to give them a smile.

They all hugged her and Hannah and Jess said hello to Tom.

“The bride to be!” Hannah sang. Y/N blushed as she nodded.

Lizzie basically screamed as she hugged y/n, then ignored Tom completely, Tom rolled his eyes.

“Hannah, Jess, Liz,” Tom said with a smile. “How are you guys?”

Liz ignored his question as she sat down, ordering a coffee.

“Well, this isn’t awkward,” Tom mentioned as the five of them were all sat down now. They started to gossip about something about dresses or shoes, y/n wasn’t really listening, she was just smiling, her eyes glued on Tom.

“Oh gosh, now, you were with Miguel, weren’t you Tom?” Hannah asked and Tom nodded as the waiter brought them all their coffees. “He’s the dreamiest.”

Y/N chuckled and nodded in agreement.

“Hey, pass me the Splenda, please,” Liz asked, and Tom passed it over. “Can anyone else pass me the Splenda?” Liz asked again and Hannah quickly gave it to her. “Oh wait no, did you just break a rule, Tom?”

Tom sighed as he looked down at his own tea. Y/N rolled her eyes, as she was going to speak trying to defend him, but her phone vibrated. She smiled and got out to show a text from Miguel.

He had sent her a picture with Harrison. “Wish it was you, love you, amor mío.”

Y/N got back to her senses, Miguel was the love of her life. Yes, it was him. The poetry that had healed her. She smiled and showed it to her friends. “Isn’t he adorable?”

“Lovely,” Tom said as he looked away. Clearly, there was something bothering him.

“So, okay,” Y/N said. “We have three weeks and there’s a lot we have to do before I leave.”

“Do you have a venue?” Asked Lizzie, taking out a notebook. “I’m prepared,” she glared at Tom.

“So what do we need?” Tom asked, taking out his phone.

“So I have a checklist,” Lizzie continued.

Y/N sighed as she looked down. “Okay, so it’s… This is too much.”

“No, look, we’ll start with this… So there are 5 important things, we have to set the budget.”

“Right, uh, Miguel is taking care of that, and he gave me this number,” y/n wrote it down on a paper.

“Holy shit,” Jess commented. “Damn.”

“Now, wow, okay… date?” Hannah asked.

“New years,” Y/N answered.

“Who gets married in New Years?” Jess laughed. “But hey, it’s nice! New year, new you?”

“Now, we have to book the venue,” Lizzie continued.

“Ah, his mom is taking care of that, we’ll get married in Bacalar, Quintana Roo,” y/n explained excited, taking out her phone to show them pictures of the beautiful place, it was a garden in a lagoon, it was beautiful. It was amazing, just a paradise. “It’s this place called Paraiso Bacalar which means… Well, paradise We’ll arrive in a boat and everything, it’s amazing… The most romantic place and Miguel proposed to me in that town, and that venue is just perfect..”

The three girls let out a sigh and smiled, letting out an ‘aww’. Tom stared at the place. “It has a lagoon?”

“Yeah, yeah, we’d get married in the lagoon,” Y/N smiled.

Tom looked down. “All fairytale-like,” he commented.

“Now, the guest list!” Lizzie smirked. “Who are you inviting?”

“Uh, I have the list already, and besides it’ll be around 300 people, I mean most of them Miguel’s family, apparently Mexican families are big and they invite everyone to their wedding,” y/n laughed. The three friends stared at each other, and Tom kept quiet.

“Oooh,” Hannah smirked and wiggled her eyebrows. “What about the honeymoon?”

Y/N smiled. “Ah, apparently we will take a cruise.”

“Uh, the florist…” Lizzie continued.

“Okay, Liz, thanks for all of that, but I’ll plan that when I’m in Mexico, I already have a wedding planner helping me with all of that, I need the things I can solve here-” y/n explained.

“Right, look, I’ve been MOH 6 times now so I know everything that needs to get done, I’ll help you, even if I’m not the official one,”

“Mo?” Tom asked confused.

“Made of Honour,” Liz rolled her eyes. “Honestly, y/n he doesn’t… Okay… So it’s… So, we've got the bridal shower, the bachelorette, dress fittings,” Lizzie explained. “Shopping for your trousseau.”

“What’s a trousseau?” Tom asked again even more confused, as the girls laughed.

“Lingerie, darling, for the wedding night” y/n answered. “Oh, you’ll be a good help with that, you’ve seen more lingerie so you’ll know what’s up.”

“I’ll… be what?” Tom’s eyes widened as he blushed.

“Now, for our dresses,” Lizzie continued. “What colour?”

“I was thinking turquoise? To go with the lagoon…” Y/N felt overwhelmed. This was really happening and she couldn’t back away. Or, she could, but it wouldn’t feel right. But this whole information was too much.

“Great, what’s your dress size, Maid of Honour?” Lizzie asked with poison as a smirk was placed on her face, Tom frowned.

“What’s your jock size, Liz?” Tom snapped.

“Guys, please, behave,” y/n rolled her eyes. “Okay, so… I need my wedding dress, I already have my appointment tomorrow so.”

“When is Miguel leaving to Mexico?” Asked Jessica.

“Tomorrow, as well,” y/n sighed. “He needs to get everything arranged.”

“And your bridal shower will be this Friday,” Lizzie was speaking mostly to herself as she was looking down at her calendar. “Tom you need to plan that one, at your place.”

“You’re getting married, y/n,” Tom murmured, staring down at his tea.

“I’m getting married, Tom.”

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ella-se-vuelve-loca · 5 years

Text

The Fake Fiancé | Christopher Vélez

I thought y’all might enjoy some some Christopher content today lmao it’s a little cliché, I know but whatever alsydcvs I’m in a really fluffy mood right now so don’t come for me

Warning: None lol just sOME MAJOR FLUFF

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The car slowed down to a stop as he looked out the window. “Wait… isn’t this that new fancy restaurant you were talking about?” Chris turned to look at me. “I know you said we were going out to eat but I thought you meant McDonald’s or something. Why are we here?” That’s right. I haven’t told him yet. Oh boy, he’s going to freak. “Are you going to propose to me for the free dessert again?” He joked. “We don’t do that all the time.” I laughed.

“Wait you’re not about to propose for real, are you? Finally gonna make an honest man of me, huh?” He smiled “Well, if you must know, we’re going to be eating in here.” He tilted his head slightly and gave me a confused look. “We’re eating here? I’m uh not exactly dressed for the venue, though I did wonder why you started putting on your makeup and new dress for a fast food place.” Now I really wish I had told him before. “If you saw me getting dolled up and change into something nice, why didn’t you?” He shrugged his shoulders.

“I just assumed you thought one of the workers was cute.” Well, I guess it’s now or never. “Chris um.. tengo que decirte algo.” He looked me and nodded his head, an indication that I continue. “We’re actually here for Sebastián’s wedding reception..” I bit my lip, nervous of his reaction. “Qué? You’re not seriously telling me this, are you? Okay, what the hell are we doing here?” I sighed. “He invited me to his wedding.”

Christopher isn’t the type of person who doesn’t normally get upset. This, however, might have triggered something in him and I don’t blame him. “He invited you to the wedding? What is he trying to do? Rub in your face for the fact that he left you for this girl? You know I can’t stand the guy.” I know I know you can’t. I’m sorry that I’m dragging you into this. “It’s not like that. I told him that I found someone else.” If he wasn’t upset before, he’s not going to like what I’m about to ask of him. “Oh? You’ve told him you’ve moved on? Con quien?” I looked down in embarrassment. “I sort of.. kind of.. made him up..”

“No you’re kidding me. You made up a new boyfriend?” I nodded. “When he invited me to his wedding, I freaked and asked him if I could bring a plus two for my boyfriend and Chris, I can’t go alone!” He just shook his head. “I know you’re my best friend, but this means I’m aloud to call you out for being crazy.” I just gave him a look and glanced at the building in front of us. “What is he called? Is this a full time imaginary friend?” I cleared my throat. “Well.. no..” I don’t want an imaginary friend, I want you. Why did I agree to go to this? “Hang on.. why am I here?”

“Umm..” C’mon! You have to let him know! “Are you gonna tell him that your boyfriend was on a business trip or something? He won’t be happy to see me. After your breakup we had uh.. conversation.” This is so embarrassing. “No, I didn’t tell him.” Oh, boy. Can’t he figure this out without me having to tell him? “So you haven’t told him that your fake boyfriend couldn’t come, okay. What will he say when he asks about your new love interest?” Is he really gonna make me say it? Well, I guess this is what I get for not informing him about this beforehand. “About that um.. I was wondering if you could.. maybe be.. my..” I can’t get the words out.

“O - Oh.. you want me to be your boyfriend?” I gave him a nervous smile. “Please?” He glanced out the window and then back at me. “Um.. no.” I was shocked, but not entirely surprised. “What why?” He shook his head and moved his hair away from his face. “No he already thought I was in love with you when you were dating. I’m not adding fuel to that fire.” I turned to fully face him. “Please, Christopher help me out! I can’t do this by myself!” I’m literally begging at this point. “No no I can’t and don’t pull the “but you love me and I’m your best friend” card because that has gotten me in so much trouble since we were kids.”

“Aye Díos, Christopher por favor. I promise I’ll make it up to you! Whatever you want!” Please don’t let me go in there alone without you. This is humiliating as it already is. This is my fault. He grumbled and sighed. “Fine. Okay okay.. I’ll be your Prince Charming, but you owe me a nice steak dinner, alright?” I practically jumped on him and gave him a hug. “Oh my God, gracias Christopher! I’ll take you out for your steak dinner after this.”

“No no no a nice one.” I smiled. “Of course. A nice steak dinner. I promise.” I sighed in relief. “You know you’re my favorite person, right?” I chuckled. “Yeah I know.” He smiled. “But you could’ve at least worn me not to wear jeans.” I gave him a small frown. “I’m sorry about that.” He reached over and opened the door. We walked out and started walking to the venue. “You do look very handsome though.” I smiled at him. “Enserio?” He laughed. “Gracias, but it’s too late to be buttering me up. There better be an open bar.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What? I’m looking for the perks. Seeing your ex boyfriend is definitely not a perk, but free food.. bars.. are always a prize.” He stopped walking suddenly and glanced down at me. “If we’re gonna do this, we need to make it look real so.. hold out your hand, please.” I held up my hand and he grabbed my favorite ring. “What are you doing?” I asked him “I’m moving your ring to your wedding ring finger and will talk about how romantic my proposal was last week and I’m thinking somewhere exotic like uh.. like a Buenos Aires somewhere - ”

“What about Disney?” I cut him off. He gave me a look and chuckled. “You seriously want to say Disney World?” I smiled at him. “Yeah, why not? It can be romantic.”

“Fine, I proposed at Disney World.” He chuckled. “In front of the castle and everybody was crying with joy. Whatever you want, princesa.” He held onto my hand. “Let’s go.” We made our way inside the building. It was filled with so many faces. Some recognizable as I have already met some of his family before we split. “I will hold your hand and you just try to look like you want to be here. Fair deal?”

I nodded as we made our way to one side of the room. People were dancing and chatting amongst themselves. I looked up at him and realized that he looks a little tense. “Are you happy to be here with me?” I asked as I placed y hand o his arm. He just chuckled. “Of course I’m happy to be here with you. You just get me into the craziest situations sometimes.” He joked.

“Remember that night that you - ” He stopped as his focus was suddenly somewhere else. “Oh wait, your ex is coming our way. Remember, we’re the perfect happy couple with Disney magic, apparently.” He held onto my hand as Sebastián made his way to us. “Hey guys.” He smiled. “Hola! Congratulations on tying the knot and thank you for the invite. It really means a lot to us that you wanted us here.” Christopher responded. He glanced at me and chuckled. “Hey, (Y/N).” I gave him a smile. “Hey Sebastián.”

“So, where’s your so called “boyfriend”, hmm?” He glanced at the two of us. “Couldn’t make it or something?” Chris grinned. “Her boyfriend? She didn’t tell you?” He looked confused for a second. “Tell me what?” He glared at the both of us and placed his hands on his waist. “We got together a few months after you uh.. yeah. I just realized I was in love with her and I couldn’t almost let her get away from me again. I just adore her so much.”

He leaned in and kissed my cheek. My face must’ve been so red at that moment. Calm down, (Y/N). It’s… all for show. He leaned closer to my ear and whispered. “He looks annoyed that we’re happy. I swear you’re a terrible influence on me. I’m bragging at his wedding.” He pulled away all too soon and turned his attention back to him.

“Sorry, I was just asking her if we could share our news with you or whether it be inappropriate, being your wedding day and all.” He just shook his head and glared at me. “No, by all means. Tell me, I’m interested.” Oh here we go. This ought to be interesting. “I just can’t wait to tell everybody that we’ve made it official! We’ve only just returned from our holiday when I asked her to marry me. Isn’t that amazing?” He held up my hand and showed him the ring on my wedding finger. “He proposed in Disney World, in front of the castle.” I smiled. “Really?” He asked.

“Yes what she said, in uh Disney. It’s always been her dream for that to happen, right?” He brought my hand up to his lips and placed a kiss. “I’m so.. happy for you guys.” He smiled. “Uh congratulations.”

“Well, whatever mi prometido wants, I try to make it happen. She deserves to be happy. I want her to know how much I love her..” He looked down at me and had a small smile on his face. If only he knew how much I loved him back. He cleared his throat and broke our eye contact. “Yes, sorry of course you must have other guests to welcome. Sorry about that. She’s just so perfect. I just sometimes get lost in my thoughts when I look at her.”

Sebastián just nodded. “I’m uh happy for you guys. I should get going. Lot’s of people are coming in so..” Chris gave a short wave. “Well, I hope you have a good night. Congrats again, we hope you have a great honeymoon.” He walked away and I felt like I could breathe again. I noticed a slow song started playing and couples slowly made their way to the dance floor.

“Gracias a Díos that he’s gone. He doesn’t get any more interesting, does he?” I laughed. “I guess not.” Since my hand was already in his, he pulled me closer to him and started walking. “C’mon, let’s dance.” I stopped in my steps and shook my head. “Oh no, I’m fine really.” He raised his eyebrow and smiled. “I know you love this song. I can see you taping your foot. It’ll be fun.”

“Chris, I..” He walked closer to me, seeing as I wasn’t going to move any further. “I know you say you’re a terrible dancer, but if I put my hands here..” He placed his hands on my waist. “And you wrap your arms around here..” and grabbed my wrists and placed them around the back of his neck. We were now chest to chest. I want to stay in this moment with him forever. “Just sway a little and uh haha I’ll do the rest, okay?”

We started to sway back and forth, eyes locking onto each other. “I know I’m talking a lot. I always do when I get nervous.” He’s nervous? “Why are you nervous?” I asked him. “I.. I guess it’s the pressure.” Not fully believing him, I just nodded. “Sure, Chris. It’s just the pressure.” He shook his head, a smile forming onto his lips. “Alright alright I just feel like.. I don’t know.. I didn’t realize how much I’ve wanted to say that you you for years.”

“Say what?” He twirled me around and brought me back close to his body. I felt him get a little tense. “Uh.. t - to say that.. to say that I’m..” He took a deep breath. “To say that I’m in love with you.” I just stared at him in awe. He’s.. in love with me? How.. I didn’t.. I never knew he felt the same. “I don’t.. I don’t want to make things awkward.” Coming back to earth, I asked him. “How long have you felt this way about me?”

He sighed and thought for a moment. “God, how long have we been friends? Since we were six, right?” Since we were kids.. oh my God. “Since that moment we met.” Our dancing became more slower as he continued to confess to me. “Every bad relationship you’ve had and heartbreak you’ve suffered through, I just wanted to tell you I wouldn’t treat you like that because I am in love with you. But you’d always thank me for being your best friend and.. you know, I couldn’t tell you then.”

“Why are you telling me now?” He frowned, and his gaze shifted between my eyes and my lips. “I’m only telling you now because I can’t keep acting like I’m not dying to kiss you when your lips pucker because you’re trying to concentrate.” One of his hands traveled up my body to play with a stand of my hair. “I can’t keep pretending I don’t want to wrap my arms around you when your back is turned or that I don’t lie awake at night wondering what it would be like to wake up next to you and be there when you open your eyes and smile at me.”

I can’t believe this is happening to me right now. He’s in love with me… he’s in love with me! “Um.. ahh I can.. I can get a cab home. I realized how awkward this must be for you.”

“Why can’t I keep my mouth shut?” He mumbled to himself. Why can’t I bring myself to say anything? Speak up (Y/N)! “Look I.. I understand if you want me to leave you alone for a while so you can figure how to turn me down without feeling guilty or whatever I..”

“I love you too.” I said. He stared at me, shock written all over his face. “What? Uh.. say - say that again.” He chuckled. I played with the back of his hair and smiled at him. “I.. I love you too.” He grabbed one of my hands and held onto it. “But you never said anything.”

“Did you?” I retorted back at him. “Touché, I guess I didn’t either.” I could no longer hear the music playing in the background, for my attention was solely in him and only him. “Please don’t leave me.” I mumbled, afraid he didn’t hear me, but he did. “I’m not - I’m not going anywhere. I promise I won’t leave you alone at a wedding.”

“That’s sweet, but I wasn’t quite talking about that..”

“Oh, you meant not to leave you alone to.. think things through, right. Well I.. um promise I won’t do that either.” It felt like we were the only two people in the room. Nothing else mattered but this moment here in time. “So what now?” I asked. “Well, we don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to. We can go get ice cream and talk things through. I guess there’s a lot we never said to each other.”

“But, we only just got here.” I told him. “Yes, I know we only got here like.. however many minutes ago. Well, how about we dance until the end of this song? You’re not such a bad dancer after all, mi amol.” I blushed as he leaned in and kissed my cheek, as he did earlier. “Te ves preciosa esta noche, mi corazón. I should have said that to you earlier. You could outshine the bride if we stay longer, so we better be kind and go before we ruin her evening.” He chuckled. He’s such a sweet talker sometimes. I looked at the ring and started to move it back to its original place. He notice and grabbed my hand.

“No uh.. keep it on. I like seeing it and thinking about our imaginary Disney engagement. I wonder if Mickey and Minnie were there?” He joked. I pushed him away from me, laughing. “Of course they were.” I smiled at him. He glanced down at the ring and placed a kiss on top of it. “One day.. one day I’ll get you a real one. I promise, but that’s a conversation to have some other time.” A future with Chris is something I can’t wait for.

“Now, let’s go. We can do the love story stereotype and split a sundae.”

“No, I won’t be able to get any because you always eat most of it!” We both laughed. “Alright, we can get two so you don’t miss out on ice cream, geez. This is why I’m in love with you. You think of all the little things.” I bit my lip as the song ended. We started to make our way out of the building as I couldn’t stop thinking about what he said. “Can you please say that again?”

“Say what again? I love you?” I nodded, wanting to hear it come from his sweet lips again. “I’ll say it to you so often, you’ll get tired of hearing it.” He laughed. “I don’t care because it’s from you.” We both stopped in our tracks as he turned to fully face me. I can’t believe I get to call him mine.

“I love you.. more than anything or anybody and I mean it nena.”

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED! AS ALWAYS, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SEND LOVE, REBLOG AND COMMENT! I LOVE READING WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY! IT MAKES MY DAY

#cnco imagines #christopher velez imagine #christopher velez #I HOPE THIS ISNT SHIT LMAOOOO #I HOPE I DELIEVERED #I hope I delivered some good ass content #a little cliché but idc #I'm in such a fluffy mood rn and I needed something like this #lmaoooo

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michael-langdon-appreciation · 5 years

Note

part 11 of the foursome please queen? ❤️

Your wish is my command.

Hold onto tight and keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times please.

Part 11

——————————————————————————————-

JIM

He knows he’s being a helicopter dad, but Jim can’t help himself. Nothing matter more in the world to him than the health of his little baby. It is paramount as he lifts his head up from Y/N’s laptop for the third night in a row. Her hand strokes his back gently, a cup of coffee wafts in front of his face as Jim blinks and rubs the sleep out of his eyes.

Y/N’s expression is forlorn, ‘You can’t keep doing this to yourself.’ She cautions, her voice light as if speaking to a nervous cat. ‘You’re burning yourself out.’

The research has become one big fog of mumbo jumbo for Jim anyway. He takes the mug of coffee and blows on it, ‘Anything I can do, anything I can try to help-’

‘You aren’t helping anyone by not taking care of yourself.’

Jim swallows a big gulp of coffee. It’s strong and a little too hot still as it travels down his throat, ‘You’re right.’ He mutters, putting the mug down. ‘I just-’

‘You just can’t help yourself.’ She finishes off, making Jim smile.

‘Bingo.’

Y/N pulls up a seat beside him, sharing the desk space with him. She closes the laptop lid and ruffles Jim’s hair, ‘You’re going to be an incredible father.’

Bitterness burns Jim, the rage he still carries with him every single day. The outrage and spark for justice, that his baby is fighting for its life every day, every minute, every hour. His hand falls onto Y/N’s stomach, the bump noticeably prominent since Jim has been living at the apartment. ‘It’s only been two weeks,’ Jim mumbles. ‘But already they are getting so big.’

‘They are playing hell on my back.’ Y/N smiles, ‘Every time I wake up I feel completely wrecked.’

‘A good wrecked?’ Jim asked, ‘Like you used to say after we’d gone a few rounds?’

His hand squeezes her thigh as Y/N’s laugh fills the office, ‘You could say that I suppose. But a bath would usually fix me right up.’

‘Then that’s what you need.’ Jim decides, finding the energy to drag himself and Y/N to the bathroom. ‘A good long hot bath. Some aftercare, just like the old times.’

Jim starts running the tub, putting the plug in and dumping in some bath oils. Y/N watches him, her tongue poking out of her mouth, it’s adorable to Jim, mostly because Y/N never realises she does it. It’s a habit she displays whoever being spoiled. Usually Duncan was the most privy to it, but Jim’s vision seems to brighten as he drops a couple suds on her nose. ’Are you going to pamper me, Jim Mason?’ She asks, her voice coy. Y/N teases the bottom of her pyjama shirt, running her fingers along it to expose a hint of flesh.

Jim’s eyes are glued to it, ‘Yes.’

‘Will you do whatever I want this morning?’ The top slips higher, revealing the bump and just under Y/N’s breasts. It reminds Jim of his favourite swimsuit at once, the one that teases him all day with the under-bust visible for everyone’s eyes. Jim swallows, forcing down the rush of blood that is running to his cock.

This morning is about Y/N, not him.

Y/N’s eyebrows rise, waiting for his answer and Jim supplies it on instinct. ‘Yes.’

She could have asked him to jump off Mount Everest and Jim would still say yes.

Jim tugs off his own shirt, along with his trousers. ‘I’m getting in.’ He decides, ‘I think we are long overdue for some alone time away from Duncan and Jerome.’

Y/N climbs into the tub, waiting for Jim to take his place. ‘Such much male ego about the place, it’s nice to have some time just us.’

Jim leans back against the bath, his muscles singing at the hot water. Bubbles flutter around him as Y/N relaxes back against his chest, jasmine and honeysuckle trickle through the air as she presses a kiss to his chest. Jim’s eyes fall shut, his girl’s weight resting against him. His fingers dip into her hair, stroking gently.

Paradise.

How Jim took the simple things for granted.

‘I’m glad you stayed.’ She murmurs, ‘You’re growing Jim. You put aside your temper and…possessiveness for the good of us and our baby.’ She peeps up at him, ‘That’s still so weird to me. Our baby.’

The chloroform rag dances in Jim’s mind and he squashes it immediately.

No.

He’s past that.

Y/N right, never again will he resort to such levels.

‘I was reading about this hospital in Philadelphia who specialises with difficult births.’ Jim reveals, ‘They have an incredible success rate. Most of the births happen in water and stuff so it’s natural and helps. You know, gravity and stuff.’ Y/N nods, her mind not really with him. Her eyes have that far-away look as Jim peers closer at her, ‘What is it?’

She hesitates, and then plunges on, a finger tracing over Jim’s chest. ‘I know you have your concerns.’ She begins, ‘But I believe with every fibre of my being that Michael will never let anything happen to our baby.’

‘It’s about precautions.’ Jim fights to keep the edge from his voice, ‘It’s about being in the right place. Michael is…many things but he isn’t infallible.’

‘I have faith in him.’

‘Yeah.’ The mood has been ruined for Jim, he’s over-heating in the hot water. He wants to be back at the laptop, just as he does every time the Antichrist is mentioned these days.

‘You won’t keep him away Jim.’ Y/N’s voice too has hardened, ‘No one will be able to keep Michael from the birth of his child.’

‘As long as he stays back unless needed.’ Jim says, ‘And lets me have my moment with my child.’

Y/N’s eyes glint, ’Our child.’

Jim smirks down at her, ‘My apologies, our child. Of course.’ His lips press against her forehead, ‘Our beautiful child.’

The moment relaxes, Y/N turning round to rest her back against Jim. His hands skirt over her belly, cupping water to pour over her exposed shoulders. ‘Have you thought about names yet?’

Jim thinks, ‘Not really.’ He admits, ‘I’ve been too focused on making sure the pregnancy goes well. That our baby survives.’

‘Maybe we could look up names that mean fighter, or survivor?’

Jim scrunches up his nose, ‘Nah, I don’t want this moment to define her.’

‘Her?’

‘Them.’ Jim corrects himself, ‘I feel it’s a girl.’

Y/N hums, ‘I’d like a girl and a boy.’

Jim grins, ‘Well what you want, baby. You get.’

Y/N splashes some water at him, ‘I’m not that entitled.’ She protests, ‘Not my fault Duncan likes to splash his cash.’

‘Yeah adding a specially modified twin baby-seat to his jet was real necessary.’

Y/N giggles against him, some of the water slopping out of the bath. ‘Oh absolutely.’ She grabs the shampoo bottle and squirts some into her hand, reaching for Jim’s head. ‘Either way, they will be…blank Mason.’

‘Blank?’

‘Till we have a name.’ She grins, ‘But the baby will carry your last name.’

‘I never expected anything less.’

The bathroom door swings open as Jerome walks in, newspaper in hand. Y/N freezes beside Jim, her hands stuck in his hair. Suds drip down Jim’s face as he makes sure Y/N is obscured by bubbles. Jerome recovers first, ‘Can I join?’

‘Get out!’ Jim bellows, tugging Y/N to him.

Jerome smirks, ‘You really should lock the door, that’s what it’s for.’

‘Out, Jerome.’ Y/N echoes watching as the Salesman backs out of the bathroom with a snicker.

‘Well don’t be long.’ He calls, Shepherd is in the en-suite and you know it takes him an hour to do his beauty routine and my bladder won’t hold out that long.’

——————————————————————————————-

DUNCAN

The bathroom door squeaks, the hinges protesting horribly as it is treated to yet around round of pounding. ‘You’d better be taking that long cause today’s the day.’

‘None of your business.’ Duncan calls back through the door. He smoothes a strand of hair into place, his fingers jumping through the array of hair products dumped along the sink.

‘Come on man I’m dying.’ Jerome whines, ‘Y/N and Jim are having a precious moment in the bath and you’ve beaten your hourly record. I’m sure you’re beautiful, sport. Now let me in!’

Duncan sighs, opening the door as Jerome barges inside. ‘You’re welcome.’

Jerome stops his watch as he sits on the toilet, ‘An hour and twenty minutes, congratulations on the new record.’

‘Fuck you.’ Duncan turns back to the mirror as the Salesman starts undoing his belt, ‘Seriously?’

‘You won’t leave.’ The trousers fall down, ‘I’m desperate. This is what you get, buddy.’

Duncan rolls his eyes, abandoning the task. ‘Fine, but you’re cleaning up.’

‘Abuse the Nanny, I see how it is.’

Duncan slams the door shut and leans against the wall. He doesn’t know why he hasn’t left as he waits for Jerome to finish up, ‘Maybe today is the day.’

The toilet flushes and Jerome emerges, his eyes triumphant. ‘It’s about time. I’ve had to hide the ring twice to stop Jim finding it.’

Duncan’s insides twist. He is hiding this from Jim, isn’t he?

Jerome leads the way to the kitchen, ‘So how are you doing it? Dinner? Walk by the beach? Take her up in the jet?’

Fear grips Duncan for the umpteenth time that day, ’I….don’t know.’

‘You’ve had two weeks.’

‘Someone else plans events for me.’ The panic is evident in his voice, but Duncan can’t calm himself down. He twists his fingers together, ‘My Mom or someone. I don’t do this kind of thing for anyone.’

‘Well it’s time to toughen up, cookie.’ Jerome starts cracking eggs into a pan. ‘If you don’t do it tonight, I’m telling her.’

‘You’re an asshole, you know that?’

‘Yes.’

Duncan groans, ‘Fine. Tonight I will do it.’

The bathroom door opens, Y/N emerging first in just a towel. She smiles at Duncan, before catching Jerome’s eye. ‘Be out in five for breakfast, thank you so much Jerome.’

The Salesman winks back at her, ‘Sure thing. Just no Round Two with Jimmy boy in the bedroom.’

Her cheeks flood with colour, her eyes skipping too Duncan. The spark of jealousy is there, but not as strong as before, as if the tip of the knife has been dulled.

Duncan offers her a small smile, ‘When you’re out, can we talk?’

Y/N frowns, ‘Never good words, Duncan.’

‘I promise it is.’

She nods, ‘Sure. I’ll just-’

Jim appears in the doorway. A towel hangs low on his hips, exposing that perfect V sculpted from so much swimming and surfing. He flicks his wet hair out of his eyes, droplets dancing on his chest. ‘Do I smell bacon?’

‘In the oven.’ Jerome supplies, busy slicing peppers.

Duncan tears his eyes from Jim to help with breakfast. From behind he can hear the shuffle of Jim as he shuffles into the spare bedroom while Y/N makes her way to Duncan’s.

Jerome eyes him over the omelettes he’s got on the go, ‘You don’t get mad, seeing them like that?’

‘Like old times.’ Duncan says, pouring orange juice into four glasses. ‘You get used to it and cooking for four.’

There’s a slight pause, the absence of Michael echoing in the air.

Duncan presses on, ‘Besides, Y/N sleeps with me every night. It’s only fair Jim gets to spend some time with her on their own.’

‘Seems like things are back to normal than for the three of you.’

‘It will never be normal without Michael.’ Duncan blinks, having spoken before he realises it. He brings the glasses onto the dining table and rests his hands on it.

Jerome brings over the plates, ‘Well you said it. Not me.’

The weight of his words drags Duncan down.

He misses Michael.

It’s not that surprising. Not really. Michael has been there since Day One, a couple days after Duncan was released from prison. Together they scraped Duncan’s life back together, Michael giving Duncan a senior position with Kineros before the Media Mogul had enough to win back his empire. But Duncan cannot overlook what Michael has done. Every time he sees Y/N, sees that bump and how Jim isn’t functioning properly out of fear and desperation. He cannot forgive him for putting the two people he loves through hell.

Maybe that is what Michael will always do.

He is the Antichrist.

Jim emerges first. His denim jacket is strung over one arm as he takes a seat at the table, ‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’

‘More like thinking about one.’

Jim’s eyes flick down to his lap, ‘I miss him too.’

‘We all do.’

When Jim’s eyes flicker up again there’s something defiant in them. ‘It doesn’t change anything.’ He spits, ‘I won’t kill him when I see him, I won’t do anything stupid but I’m not having him near my kid.’

‘That’s your decision to make.’ Duncan nods, he knows it isn’t his place to fight Jim on what the beach boy thinks is best for his child. Duncan takes the seat opposite Jim and waits till Jerome is out of earshot before speaking. ’Does that mean…the plan is off?’

‘I…don’t know.’ Jim’s fingers run over his plate, ‘I kinda made a promise to myself not to do underhand shit again. Trying to be a better person.’

The ring flitters through Duncan’s mind.

He has to tell Jim.

If he doesn’t, he’s just as bad as Michael.

Isn’t he?

‘You two seemed to have a nice bath.’

Jim smiles, ‘It was nice, if not punctuated with Michael.’

‘He’s everywhere.’

‘Always.’

‘I’m going to ask Y/N to marry me.’ The words rush out of Duncan before he can stop himself. ‘I have a ring, I’ve had it for about two and a bit weeks now. Made my mind up before you came back.’ Jim’s eyes burn into him. He doesn’t say a word as Duncan rushes through his words, ‘You have a baby coming.’ He says, ‘Michael has a baby too. ‘I….’ Duncan gulps, ‘I have nothing. There’s nothing that ties me to her. To all of you, not in the same way. Nothing that meaningful or official. You’ll always be together because not only do you both adore each other, but you have a child to care for. I….I need something like that too. And the only way I can think to do that is to marry her-’

‘Okay.’

The air is punched out of Duncan’s lungs. ‘What?’

Jim’s eyes are soft. The softest Duncan has seen them in a very long time. His hand reaches out across the table and rests over Duncan’s. ‘I can’t imagine how hard it is for you. Seeing Y/N pregnant. You knew before anyone else and you’ve done nothing but respect her and me. You’re a good guy, Duncan.’ Jim presses his lips together, his eyes becoming glassy. ‘I know you’ll give her the life she deserves. I hope I can continue to be part of it, God I need it so bad. But you should marry her. You deserve each other, so…you have my blessing. If that’s what you want.’

Tear tracks drop down Duncan’s cheeks, he sniffles hard unable to keep himself in check. Jim stands and crosses round the table, Duncan stands too as Jim pulls him in for a hug. Duncan holds his Beach Boy as tight as he can, taking in the scent of jasmine lingering on his skin. ‘Thank you.’

‘Don’t cry.’ Jim orders, ‘Ask her, today. You put a ring on that finger and make it the most special proposal a girl has ever had.’

‘She still has to say yes.’

Jim smiles, ‘Do you think she’ll say no?’

‘Maybe!’

Jim chuckles, ‘She shares a bed with you, Duncan. You have nothing to worry about.’

They pull away as Jerome sets down breakfast. The Salesman is astute enough to make himself invisible, but Duncan catches his smile of approval.

Bastard must have been listening in.

‘This doesn’t mean you aren’t in her life.’ Duncan is quick to say it as he takes his seat again, ‘It’s just like before, before this whole mess. When we’d go to dinner all of us and get up to…things under the table and have fun and love each other. That’s all I want.’

‘Just with babies added in the mix.’ Jim supplies, making Duncan smile.

‘I guess it was gonna happen someday.’

Jim glances at Duncan’s bedroom door, ‘As for the plan…I think we keep it on the back burner and see if we need it. She’s only like…three months right now. Anything could happen.’

Duncan downs his orange juice, wishing he could slip a little vodka in. ‘If that’s what you think is best, I’ll respect your decision.’

Y/N emerges, her hair up in a towel as she takes her place at the head of the table. ‘Sorry! I was trying to get the hairdryer to work but the fuse has blown. It’s just growling at me and might explode so….’

Jerome is the last to take his seat. Together the four begin eating, Duncan shoving his omelette down as fast as he can to try and settle his stomach.

Jim is okay with it.

Jim said yes.

Now he has to do it. Now Y/N has to say yes too.

Her eyes slide to Duncan, Y/N putting down her knife and fork, ‘So Duncan. What did you want to talk to me about?’

——————————————————————————————-

MICHAEL

He knows the risk she is taking by seeing him. Michael has the evening set out with the most perfect precision. A finger straightens the wayward fork, just a centimetre off-kilter. Before it threw off the perfection of the night, but now, now Michael is sure that nothing can ruin the evening. He waits sitting in one of the chairs, his jacket pressed and freshly dry-cleaned. The velvet, so luxurious against his skin comforts him. The only friend he’s had for a month, the only touch he’s received.

Tonight that all changes.

Tonight he will remind her why she loves him.

Why it is he who she risks everything to see.

The knock comes and Michael opens it with a wave of his hand. No one can see him at the door, he cannot trust Shepherd not to have had her followed.

Y/N steps into the apartment, her eyes roving round the dark interiors. Everything is black marble and stonework, the high arched windows each a work of art. Michael rises to greet her, taking her coat in his hand. She hands it to him without giving anything away. Without the coat there, her baby bump is evident. Peeking through and smiling at him through her red dress. The dress Michael gave her, his beast purrs with satisfaction.

It proves she cares.

‘I am so glad you came.’

‘It isn’t right to deny you the chance to see your child.’ She says, ‘To have a part in the pregnancy.’ Michael’s arm beckons her to the dinner table, the single candle flickers and illuminates the two plates set out. The silverware glimmers as Y/N ventures closer, ‘This is very elaborate.’

‘You know that’s how I do things.’ He turns her round, capturing her lips with his before she can protest. Michael engulfs her, his arms holding her gently to him as he takes her breath away. He’s determined to give her his entire everything in one kiss. To show. To prove to her. When they slip apart, Y/N’s eyes are wide. She has that same look in her eyes she did that first night, when Michael stole their first kiss, sucked on those succulent lips and bruised them as he pounded into her.

‘That may not be such a good idea.’ She whispers in the gap between their lips.

‘Why, because of this?’ Michael lifts the ring, nestled on Y/N’s finger. ‘You must know I’d find out about it.’

‘It wasn’t a secret.’ Y/N pulls her hand, complete with the engagement ring out of Michael’s grip.

‘I’m happy for you.’

‘Don’t lie. She scolds, crossing to the dining table.

Michael’s jaw clenches, ‘Do I wish it was me, of course. But I understand Duncan’s desire to make you his. I know it all too well.’

‘You’ve made your claim pretty clear.’

Michael takes his seat opposite her, ‘Yes, I did.’ He uncorks the wine and pours a decent measure into her glass, Y/N holds it aloft in a practised manner for him. She makes sure to sample the wine with her engagement ring on show. ‘Let me guess, Harry Winston?’

‘You know my motto.’ Y/N smiles, ‘If it isn’t Harry…’

‘Don’t marry.’ Michael finishes, ‘You used to love singing that whenever we were in Barneys.’

‘Jim said I was spoiled.’ She says, ‘I think maybe he’s right.’

‘You are completely spoiled.’ Michael smirks, ‘But we can’t resist treating you. You’re so precious to us. I’d do anything for you.’

She nods, Y/N’s eyes flickering back round the apartment. She takes a long drink from her wine glass, ‘They’d be mad if they knew I was here.’

‘I’m sure they would.’

‘They don’t trust you.’ She offers, ‘But they do miss you. I heard them talking about you.’

‘I miss them too.’ Michael makes sure he is looking directly into her eyes, ‘They may think all I wanted was to put my child in you, but I want all of them.’

‘Seems like we all want the same thing.’

A silence falls as Michael rises to take dinner out of the oven. It’s takeout, he can’t cook for shit but he knows Y/N will appreciate it. He puts the steak with Bourderlaise sauce before her complete with new potatoes and asparagus. ‘I don’t think that’s exactly true.’

She doesn’t take a bite. Michael knows that Y/N knows him well enough to catch the subtly in his words. ‘Why am I here, Michael?’

Michael sighs, putting his own plate down. ’Straight to it then.’ He laces his fingers together, ‘I would give my life for you and our child. Do not think I don’t know my actions have caused me to be ostracised. Perhaps I was right to do so, perhaps I went too far. What I do know is the plan that Jim and your fiancee are planning. Something I will not let happen.’

She stares at him. ‘I am sick and tired of your drama, Langdon.’

‘Oh believe me, I would rather my own Grandmother rise from the dead before this happened.’ Michael’s tone has a bite, ‘You will hear me out.’

Y/N sits there, waiting for him to continue. She waves her hand, gracing him to do so. ‘When you check in for your next appointment, Duncan has the measures in place to abort my child-’

‘Our child.’

‘Our child.’ Michael nods, ‘It’s been in place for rather a while now, but ever since the Doctor’s last reports indicated the runt’s trouble with getting enough nutrition they’ve become desperate.’ Michael leans forwards, ‘When you next go in, they will drug you and remove our baby. They will kill it, the monster, to ensure Jim’s lives.’

He watches as the horror slowly expands all over Y/N’s face. ‘You’re a liar.’

Michael’s hand slams on the table, ‘I have NEVER lied to you.’

She’s stuck to her seat, completely frozen in place. ‘I…won’t let them.’

‘They won’t give you that choice.’ The Antichrist explains, ‘It’s already been decided for you. They’re going to force your hand.’

‘I can’t believe you.’

‘Because you thought they had changed.’ Michael nods, ‘I had hope for Shepherd. I thought he would be shining example for the rest of us. But sadly, it isn’t the case.’

‘I won’t marry him. I’ll fight it. I’ll go and challenge them about it right now.’ She stands, heading for the door. ‘Why would you go through all this just to tell me!’ She demands, ‘You have a dinner in place with fucking candles only to tell me one of my babies is going to be ripped from me.’

She tries the door, but it doesn’t move. Y/N doesn’t face him, ‘Unlock it. Now.’

‘I’m afraid that isn’t going to happen.’ Michael drifts closer to her. His hands ghost along her shoulders, ‘You see, my sweet Y/N I cannot take any chances when it comes to my child. You are potentially carrying the next Antichrist in your stomach, our child.’ His hands snake around her middle, resting over her bump. ‘I will make sure both your babies are born alive, happy, healthy.’ He coos into her ear, pressing a kiss to her temple. ‘But you won’t be leaving this apartment again until after they are born.’

——————————————————————————————-

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#the foursome #michael x jim x duncan x y/n #michael langdon #Jim Mason #Duncan Shepherd #the plot thickens #plot twists #oooooh #the runaway saga #the kinky quartet #the reign of Michael isn't over #it's just beginning #Michael Langdon x reader #y/n

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