#happy easter day t-shirt

[wallartdesignergift]

(via T-shirt classique « Joyeuse chemise de Pâques - Rabbits drôles à l'intérieur d'un panier de Pâques » par Digital-for-you)

[bellavistatshirts02]

Easter Bunny funny Tshirt

this T-shirt is perfect for wearing to Easter egg hunts, family gatherings, or just lounging around the house. Whether you're a kid or a kid at heart, this Easter Bunny T-shirt is sure to bring a smile to everyone's face. So why wait? Hop on over and grab yours today!"

Happy Easter day

https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/44963250-easter-bunny-funny-tshirt?store_id=2222162

[jenjen4280]

It’s lesbian visibility week. In general, I haven’t been very visible lately on this blog because my Dad died (fuck cancer).

Warning: Long post. TLDR - my Dad was a great Dad and a good man.

Prior to that, I was spending a lot of time with him and Mom, helping as best I could. And afterwards, spending time with Mom getting everything done that needs done.

The Hot Wife has been at home, keeping everything going there and providing a lot of love and support.

My Dad was from the Silent Generation (the one before the Boomers). Unlike most people his age, he never stopped learning, growing, and adapting to the changing times. He believed in equity and justice not because he was “woke,” but because it is the right thing to do and he participated in civil rights protests in the 60s.

He taught me how to throw a ball and was always up for a game of catch.

He shared his love of folk music, classical music, science fiction, existentialism, art, and weird cult/art house/foreign films with me.

When I came out, he apologized for the times when he and Mom told me to act more like a girl, while encouraging me to be myself and grow up as a tomboy. He would buy fireworks for me and martial art supplies so my bff and I could terrorize the neighborhood in our ninja suits every summer night and a few other nights too.

He always bought boxes of candy for Mom, Seester, me, and my girlfriend on Valentine’s Day.

He randomly showed up at the Baltimore Gay Pride Festival one year (the year I wore my fav t-shirt that said “let go of my ears, I know what I’m doing”), and for many years after we went to Pride together.

We gossiped about our celebrity crushes together.

He refused to take my Mom shopping at Hobby Lobby and refused to eat at Chick-Fil-A.

He was so happy when I married the Hot Wife and he loved her too.

I didn’t know this until I cleaned out his desk - he had been donating to the Human Rights Campaign Fund for years and he had a few different clippings from magazines and downloads from the internet about how to challenge transphobes.

I didn’t just lose my Dad, we all lost an LGBTQ+ ally, a voting Democrat, and an example of non-toxic masculinity.

Good-by, Dad. Easter pizza dinner won’t be the same without you.

[octuscle]

Sun's out, guns out

After the long flight, Philip had gone back down for a nap. After his brother moved from Boston to Wyoming, they hadn't seen each other in over a year. But it was nice that they could finally spend a few days together again. And now he was looking forward to the two of them going out for a bit. Philip was showered and shaved and had put on a fresh blue button-down shirt. His brother was waiting for him in front of his computer in the study. "Dude, are you going to dinner like that?" his brother asked with a laugh. He himself was wearing an old sleeveless T-shirt, dirty jeans and cowboy boots. "Lad, this isn't Boston, and we're not going to the opera!"

Philip was a little irritated. His brother had always made a point of looking dapper in the past. But since he lived in Wyoming, he seemed to put more emphasis on big muscles. And on clothes that showed off his muscles well. Now he had gone into his bedroom, pulled some clothes out of the closet, and tossed them to Philip. "Dude, put this on or the other fellas will laugh at you."

Philip had thought it silly to go to dinner in sweatpants and an undershirt. His brother snapped a photo of him in front of the car in the evening sun before leaving. "Bro, you don't look silly, you look hot." Philip looked at the photo. Oh yeah, he was hot. He didn't wonder about his own impressive muscles. He didn't wonder about the stubble on his just-smooth chin. He also didn't wonder about the fact that he could sing along to all the country songs his brother played on the drive.

After they had a massive burger with a mountain of fries at a diner, his brother commented that Philip needed sensible shoes. "Fucking idea," Phil replied, "I'm jealous of your boots like shit." With a pair of jeans to match and a new tank top, Phil left the store with his bro after half an hour. Phil had still donated hats to both of them, now they were ready to get properly drunk with their buddies. After the second round of beers, the hair on his body started to sprout. A real man couldn't be hairy enough. After the fourth or fifth round, one of the hot chicks who had joined them asked what the tattoo on his left arm meant. Phil had never asked himself that. He was usually hammered anyway when he got inked. "Is Spanish for 'Sun's out, guns out,'" he replied, flexing his biceps.

Phil loved his job as foreman on the farm. It was work for a real outdoorsman like him. At one time he had lived in the city, too. But was only for sissies. Hard work, rodeos, beer and a good fuck in between, that was what a man needed.

Dudes, this is probably the last story that came out of the Wife Beater challenge. @changinghumans, I hope you like it. If you don't surprise me with a new challenge, I'll take a break for a few days. Happy Easter, a peaceful Passover and a blessed Ramadan to you all!

[the-froschamethyst4]

Easter Breakfast

𖤐Pairing: Hook up! Gaz x F! Reader

𖤐Pronouns: She/Her

𖤐AN: If I have to cry, you have to cry

𖤐Warnings: fluff, angst, morning after, aftercare, language, sad ending, more use of Kyle, the ‘L’ bomb, short fic, blaming Price,

𖤐Summary: When Y/n and Gaz hook up before he has to leave for duty. He is usually before the sun even up, but today was different, and Y/n doesn't know why?

————

————

6:00AM

Y/n yawns when she hears birds chirping and the sun just barely poking from her curtains. She rolls on her back and looked to her left seeing an empty bed.

He quick hook up was gone for the day. He probably had to get back to the military base. She sits up and grabs a shirt off the floor and opened her bedroom door, but a scent of freshly made pancakes filles her nose.

She was confused and walked downstairs seeing a tall man, gray sweatpants and no shirt.

"Kyle?" He turns when hearing his name. "What are you still doing here?" She asked.

"Oh good morning...thought I'd make you some pancakes, I know how much you like them," he says with a smile and scraping a pancake on a plate.

He then pushes the plate across the counter and smiled at her. "I found strawberries, bananas, syrup, whipped cream, and some chocolate chips, make it how you like it," he says.

"I thought you were gone. You usually are by now," she says, sitting at the counter. She looks down at the plate and saw the pancakes made a little bunny.

"Thought...maybe I leave too soon and thought maybe you deserve a few things."

"A few things?" She asked.

"Yeah, homemade pancakes, I also have a few gifts for you."

"Gifts? Kyle, you didn't have to. I didn't get you anything."

"Nah, it's okay, it's okay," he says. "It's just for you."

He walks off and went to go grab a paper bag and come back placing it in front of Y/n. "I didn't have time for wrapping paper and I couldn't find a gift bag either."

Y/n opens the bag and looks down in it and then pulled out a small light tan teddy bear with a small dark army green t-shirt with 'Task Force 141' on it and Kyle Gaz Garrick on the back.

"Kyle? What's this for?" She questioned him, looking up at him. "I don't understand, what is this for?" Gaz and Y/n aren't a couple, so what's the teddy for?

"Just to show my love for you," he says. Y/n felt some sort of suspicion going on, why is he, a hook up, doing all of this?

“Kyle…you don’t this ever! What the hell is going on? Tell me. I’m not going to be mad or anything…” she asks him.

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

“Okay…I’m going on a year long mission…it’s…it’s going to be in Russia and my Captain says…we may…we may not come back…”

“What?” Y/n was shocked. “You might not come back-THAT’S FUCKING SUICIDE! You are going on a suicide mission and you’re okay with that?!”

“I don’t have a choice, Y/n…” he says with his mouth open and taking in a sharp breath. “I leave tomorrow morning. That’s why I didn’t leave right away like normal…I wanted to spend more time with the one person…that…that makes me feel happy and loved…I know I’m just a hook up but I’ve learned from you and what we do together and you make me feel happy…I love you, okay?”

"Kyle," she gets off the stool and placed her left hand bend his neck pulling him down into a hug, his arms immediately went around her waist holding her tightly. "I love you too," she felt tears in her eyes.

Soon they fell and she buries her face into his shirt.

-----------

Rain hits her umbrella, she stares down at the head stone, reading his name to herself and tears fells from her eyes again.

"I miss you," she says to the headstone. She bends down and placed her hand over the photo of Kyle, smiling in his Military uniform, he surprising looked happy in that photo and not forced like all the others she's seen of him.

Going home was hard because of the memories that were made in her home, so she moved from Manchester to Yorkshire to get away. She lives happily in Yorkshire but misses Kyle dearly.

She comes and visits his grave every so often, when she thinks about him really. She placed a sunflower down and touched his grave once more.

"I love you," she says before leaving the graveyard.

As she heads to her car she sees his friends dressed in tuxes and looked sad for Y/n. Kyle use to talk about Y/n all the time.

"Came to pay respects as well?" She asked, sounding a bit sarcastic towards Price. Price and the guys were badly injured but Kyle paid the price with his own life, while the others were just in the hospital and came home to their families.

"Y/n-"

"Don't...I'll be leaving, so you guys can pay respects to him..." Y/n blamed Price for Kyle's death, he had a chance to save Kyle like he did with the others, but Kyle 'didn't want to be save,' is what Price told Y/n.

She didn't believe that.

[shy-urban-hobbit]

Lambert tried to let the yelling and squealing fade into the background as he sat at one of the picnic tables keeping one eye on his niece, the bright pink bunny ears he'd bought her on the way in paired with her blue dress making for an excellent marker as she ran around in circles like something possessed in her hunt for chocolate eggs. Ciri had talked about nothing but the children's Easter egg hunt at the local petting zoo all week and then of course, both Geralt and Jaskier had to fall sick when Yenn was also out of town and Eskel's car was busted, leaving Lambert to step in to save the day. Or giving him a convenient excuse to not work on that paper which was due when college classes started up again. Potato, potahto. So long as Ciri was happy, right?

Speaking of, Lambert frowned when he saw Ciri attempting to climb the fence on the far side of the playing field. They'd been expressly told the perimeters of the hunt before they started so unless she'd gotten distracted or bored, there was no reason for her to be over there. He made to yell her back before realising she'd probably be too far away to hear him and started walking over. He picked up the pace when he saw a dark skinned man who looked to be around his age in the bright yellow t-shirt which marked him out as farm staff come over and lean on the other side of the fence, smiling as he said something to Ciri. Lambert was still too far away to hear but he caught the gist as Ciri diligently placed both feet back on the ground and instead started gesturing to the large tree which the other man was stood underneath.

Lambert reached them both just in time to hear him laugh before he practically launched himself into the branches and disappeared amongst the thick foliage.

"Ciri?" He asked coming to stand next to his niece, "What are you doing over here?"

"He with you, sweetheart?" A voice from above piped up and Lambert looked up to see the mystery employee perched on a branch, staring down at him critically with eyes so green they could almost blend in with the leaves.

"It's Uncle Lambert. My daddy's his big brother and that's why he's my uncle!" She called back happily, giving the explanation which had now become routine ever since they'd explained the basics to her of how family trees work and proceeding to hang off his arm for emphasis.

He nodded, seemingly satisfied, "Well, Uncle Lambert. How are you at catching?"

Lambert barely had time to process the question before an egg wrapped in bright blue foil was plummeting downwards, Lambert lunging to catch it on instinct before dropping it into Ciri's basket. It was swiftly followed by many others in various colours, the two adults building up something of a rhythm somewhere around the fifth.

"Think that's all of them!" Was the only warning they got before the other didn't so much climb down the tree as drop down, startling Lambert a little with the suddenness and impressing him with the fact that he'd managed to stick the landing from that height.

"Thank you!" Ciri cried out happily, giving him a gap toothed smile, "Uncle Lambert, I want to play on the slide." She shoved her now near overflowing basket into Lambert's side before darting off towards the playground, leaving Lambert to follow behind.

"She's got a good eye." The other said, vaulting over the fence and falling into step next to him, "Name's Aiden by the way." He said pointing to the name badge plastered with various animal stickers which declared as much, "Figured it was only fair seeing as I found yours out."

"Who the hell decided to hide eggs up a god damn tree anyway?" Lambert asked looking back over his shoulder, "How were the kids supposed to find those?"

"I don't think they were." Aiden replied. Lambert raised an eyebrow, inviting him to elaborate, "That tree has a hollow about halfway up. I think one of the guys who was in charge of setting this up stashed a bunch for himself up there and accidentally left that blue one your niece spotted poking out." Aiden gave him a wide grin, "Honestly, that's the best karma ever for literally trying to take candy from babies."

Lambert gave a matching smile, allowing himself to share in the enjoyment of karmic justice, "You being serious?"

"Unfortunately. If it's who I think, they can be a bit of a dick whenever they get scheduled during the holidays. You should've seen the Christmas display, they put a few of the elves in some rather suggestive poses."

Aiden pulled out his phone and started scrolling before holding it out for Lambert to look at, sure enough there were numerous shots of plastics elves in various positions and poses which would have had Geralt and Jaskier covering Ciri's eyes but had Lambert laughing in delight, "Ok, but those are pretty funny."

"We thought so, too. The parents very much wouldn't have though. Luckily our supervisor noticed before we opened for the day."

Lambert gave another laugh before looking over to where he could see Ciri waiting in line for her turn on the slide.

"Hey uh, nice job too by the way. Not just on the egg retrieval but-" Lambert petered off awkwardly.

"Checking that she actually knew you?"

Lambert nodded.

"Of course. Can't be too careful with kids, right? Especially at something like this, although you'd be surprised how many guardians take offence. Still, I'd rather get yelled at than be the one who let a kid go off with a total stranger, you know?"

"Uncle Lambert, come push me!!" Ciri yelled from the swings.

"And that's my queue." Lambert sighed, adjusting his hold on Ciri's basket. Surprisingly, he'd been enjoying the others company, "Thanks again, Aiden."

"Don't mention it. I'd better get back to work too." He turned to leave before seeming to think better of it and turning back, looking slightly hopeful, "Hey. Our baby pygmy goats should be old enough to meet the public next weekend. If you guys are free you should come and say hi, they're seriously cute."

"You working that weekend?"

Aiden nodded, "I'm scheduled for the Sunday."

"Then we'll see you on Sunday, Aiden."

[igotanidea]

Clingy - Matt Murdock x reader

Story asked by anon:

Hey, I know it's kinda cliche but could you please write frank(or matt, or poly fratt)/f!reader getting into huge argument, reader is called clingy etc, so she stops giving any kind of attention to frank/matt, with happy ending 🥺❤

Hope you enjoy :)

A/N: There's a little easter egg in this story, marked with (*). I wonder if you will come up with the source of this reference :D

- Hi, Mattie – I opened the door to his apartment and immediately went t hug my boyfriend. Regardless of the fact that he was a bit distant of late I still kept my affectionate attitude towards him. Matt could be … harsh, especially after his night shift, but deep inside I always knew he appreciated my love language. – How was work today? – I embraced him from behind breathing in his signature smell

- Hello, honey – no difference this time as he leaned into my touch, all his body slowly relaxing as my hands move towards his shoulders – same old, same old, you?

-Stressful, not gonna lie about that. But I’m home now with you, so maybe we could have a nice, peaceful evening together?

-I don’t know about the evening – he hedged and turned to face me – but how about I make you dinner instead? We can talk and then….. – I already knew what he was going to say

-  Mattie, please…. You can take one night off. I know you think this whole damn city needs you, but I do to. I need you tonight. Please – I cupped his cheek – please, stay. Don’t make a girl beg. – I smiled sadly.

-As much as I love to hear you beg for me….

- Stop teasing, Murdock. Please, please say yes. – now I grabbed his hand and interlaced our finger to remind him how well they fit together. How comforting and satisfying it will be for him to be with me instead of running the street getting beaten up. – Please? – I pouted and made puppy eyes. He may not have seen them but surely he knew how I was playing.

- Damn it, honey, you can be so convincing at times.  

- Believe me, I’m only getting started.

***

So he stayed with me. We haven’t really had an evening together for weeks now and I was truly going crazy because of the time apart. Sadly, he did not seem to care or at least care in the same way I did. I mean, I knew well enough that his love language was more acts of service which he was showing as Daredevil, but I needed touch. That was the way I was showing affection. Hence after having dinner I just made him lay down with me and embraced him tightly. The light in Hell’s kitchen was slowly dying, most of the people were safe in the houses, the movement and haze slowly coming to halt. That was the moment to bring another part of my plan into life. Gradually, almost inconspicuously I slided my left hand up, moving towards his hair, massaging his scalp, earning  a small groan from him.

- Mattie – I muttered against his chest, fingers of my left hand tracing shapes there – I meant what I said… I need you.

- Do you now? – he shifted his position, grabbing my waist and facing me.

- Not just now. Always.

-I like the sound of that, darling – painfully slowly he climbed up on top of me and pressed his lips on mine with hunger and passion.

I could not hold back a moan. God, how I missed this. His touch, his undivided attention towards me. I didn't even realize how neglected I truly felt for the last couple days. Our kiss was becoming more passionate, Matt slowly moved his mouth to my neck, collarbone and breast.

- You’re breathing has fastened, darling. What is the cause of that? –he smirked, his hot breath on my skin.

- I don’t know – I gasped as his hands moved under my shirt, caressing my ribs and skin just below the bra -  it's not like there’s anyone or anything to turn me on.

- Isn’t it? – he resumed his little kisses and bites, which were definitely going to leave a mark the next today – maybe this no one should try harder than? What do you think, sweetie?

-It’s always worth a shot. But I would suggest picking up the pace – I buried my hands in his messy hair  as Matt started kissing my stomach.

-You are so impatient…..

- Can you blame me? You are the one who left me ….. – suddenly he raised his head, tilting it slightly towards the window as if he heard something. I was less than happy about it and was not going to hide my annoyance – why did you stop? – I whined – come back to me – I reached my hands towards him in best effort to make him resume, but he shook them like an irritating fly.

-Could you not? I’m trying to …. – he hissed

- Matt. Don’t. You promised me.  No Daredevil stuff tonight, remember? I….

- Oh for god’s sake! Someone is in serious danger, why can’t you understand that. Do you really want me to leave someone in need? Is that what you want? If someone ends up dead because you kept me here, would you be able to deal with that?

-I don’t want to ….

- Shit! Why are you so clingy and selfish?! – he jumped up from the bed leaving me both unsatisfied and frozen by the words.

-Clingy? – I repeated - Selfish? - anger was rising inside of me– is that what you really think? That I ask my boyfriend of too much? God! Matt! I just wanted you to be with me. Like really be with me. With both your body and mind, but you always seem to be elsewhere!  

- You don’t understand it. No one does.

- You know what, you are right. I don’t. All this time I was here, dealing with what you doing by night, never saying a single word of complain – I started gathering my things and fixing my clothes. – Tending to your wounds, hugging you when you needed,  giving you comfort…

-Well, I’m not like you! I’m not going to just sit and do nothing while there are bad people there. If you don’t understand it by now, then maybe we should not be together.

Oh, how painful words can be. Like a knife straight to the heart. I opened my mouth, unable to process what he just said to me. Was he breaking up with me? I really thought we were having a moment but apparently it passed. For good. A single tear rolled down my cheek but I quickly wiped it off. Matt has this signature look on his face, when he knew I started crying but said nothing. His whole body and gazeless eyes full of regret when he took a step forward, but I instantly backed off.

- Goodbye, Murdock – I managed to say before sprinting out the door, shutting them behind me. As soon as I was out of his reach I leaned over the entry from without, falling to the ground, sobbing from all the harshness coming from my boyfriend. Or maybe ­ex-boyfriend, since I had no idea where this mess left us.

He knew. He perfectly knew I was crying my heart out on his doorstep and yet he did nothing about it. He went to help some poor soul of hell’s kitchen. I was barely capable of moving and it was already dark outside so with shaking hands I retrieved my phone from the bag and called the only person I could trust with everything that happened, Matt’s superhero alter-ego included.

-Foggy – I sobbed – I need your help. Can you please pick me up from Matt’s?

***

- What happened? – Franklin Nelson aka Foggy, Matt’s and my best friend run the stairs losing his breath somewhere in the middle. Between the call I made and his arrival I managed to calm myself down and was now just staring into the wall, numbness overwhelming my whole body. - Hey, hotshot, what’s the emergency?

- I think Matt and I just broke up.

-Wait, what? No way. I don’t believe that. What exactly went on? Is there any chance you are overreacting? – he crouched next to me, patting my knee in attempted reassurance.

- I never overreact, you know that. I am not like those girls who make a mountain out of a molehill.

-I know – he sighed – but hey I’m trying my best here.

- I know – I sighed gathering myself – sorry, Foggy. That came out way harsher than intended.

- No offence taken. Now, talk to me – he looked me straight into the eyes – What went down?

- He left me.

- What? – Foggy frowned in confusion.

- We were … you know – I waved my hand trying to make it as little awkward as possible  - having a moment and then he just heard some voices or maybe screaming, don’t know, don’t care, and went to do his devil shit.

- Oh, oh, that is bad. A girl should never be left undone.

- Foggy! – I gasped scolding him and hiding my face in hands.

- What?  - he shrugged – it’s universal truth. Now, I believe Matt is in dire need of a good lawyer.

- And why is that?

- Because if you ever decide to press charges for jeopardizing your integrity and destroying a relationship I will be your legal representation - he smiled proudly and I couldn't hold back the tiniest of smiles - As we all know, I am a hell of a good lawyer, so Murdock won’t ever realise what hit him.

- What would I do without you and your infallible sense of humour? – I let out a little laugh

- You would be rooting on the floor outside Matt’s apartment – now, get up before you get sick from the coldness. Let’s get you home. Or maybe you want to stay at my place?

It took me a minute to convince him that I’ll be fine to spend the night at my own. However, since I was dealing with a lawyer, he made me promise I will walk to work with him the next day. It was going to be awkward, since it was Thursday and on Thursdays and Fridays I was always helping Nelson&Murdock in their administration work and papers. Seemed like a long way to weekend.

***

It wasn’t as awkward as I imagined.

It was way worse.

For the entire day Matt was just successfully ignoring me, talking to clients, Karen and Foggy and one time even to the neighbour from across the floor, everyone but me.

So I had no choice but to requite like for like. If there was anything, anything that required Matt’s decision or attention I spoke to him through the other member of the law firm. Foggy was familiar with the situation and he was dealing with it, but Karen was far more impatient and irritated by being used as a messenger between Matt and me.

-Ok, that is enough! – she finally snapped confronting us – what the hell is going on between you two?

- Nothing – Matt spoke first – everything is going on well, isn’t it, honeybee?

- Right – I confirmed crossing arms over chest – perfectly. Just, you know, normal relationship hitting rock bottom due to some particular circumstances.

- Oh my god, did you guys have a fight?

- No – we said in unison.

- We had a um...., a talk  - Matthew explained turning his head away – nothing to worry about. Now, I got to get back to work.

- Yeah, nothing to stress over. I have work to do too. After all, someone I used to know is a workaholic on two utterly different fields so perhaps I should follow the lead – I walked the opposite direction of the room while Matt locked himself in his office.

- Guys … - Karen throw her hands up making greatest, yet completely futile effort to make us come to terms with each other. I wasn’t sure if there were any pieces left to pick.

- It’s fine, Karen, really, don’t worry about it. And by the way I will probably be taking a day off tomorrow, so …

- I almost forgot – Matt emerged from his office – I have some things to take care out of the office tomorrow so you will be on your own. No worries – he looked towards my direction, once again this sad, almost apologising look on his face. 

That bastard heard my every word and outhustled me! I should be mad because of the games he was playing so why was it that I had a feeling he was trying to make it better?

***

Friday passed without any troubles. With Matt out of the office the atmosphere became lighter as after work me, Karen and Foggy went out to Josie’s for a drink. It was their suggestions that now I was probably fresh out-of-relationship (because Karen was smart enough to wrap her head around the situation) I should clear my head and maybe flirt with someone else. I passed hard on the latter and gladly accepted the former. Broken heart needed time to heal. I couldn’t just jump straight forward into a fling. However, even if that was my opinion on the matter, some dudes at the bar had minds of their own.

-I’m going to grab us drinks – I offered standing up from the table and heading towards the bar while Karen and Foggy were playing (Karen) and trying to play (Foggy) billiard.

-Hey, doll – one of the man sitting by the counter – how about I buy you one? Such a pretty face should not be here all by herself – he moved closer. Too close for comfort and I instinctively moved back.

-I’m not alone. I’m with my friends, over there – I glanced towards my companions.

- They see rather busy with each other – the second man came from my other side, so now I was squeezed between them, my heart race fastening significantly – how about we take care of you, pretty one? – he laid a hand on my tight putting some unpleasant pressure on it.

-I can take care of myself – I assured .

-Sure you can, doll. But a man’s attention is always worth it, trust me, you won’t regret hanging out with us.  – ok, now they were definitely too close and sure as hell way to touchy, Foggy has now realized what was going on and was heading my direction but someone else was faster.

- I suggest you leave the girl alone – of course it was Murdock. I wondered why the fate decided to mock me that way.

-And what will you do if we won’t? – the first man eyed Matt up and down – It’s not like you can beat us, blind man.

- You have uneven breathing – Matt spoke calmly not even reffering to the previous sentence – probably some lungs issue. A little pressure in the right place and you will be suffocating. As for you – he directed the other man �� that displaced bone in your arm is only waiting to snap it. And trust me, it would be painful. Excruciatingly painful – he put on his signature smirk.

- This man is a freak. Probably a devil himself – if only they knew how close to truth they were. – Let’s get out of here – they rushed through the door.  

- Are you all right? – Matt turned toward me.

- Yes. Thank you, Murdock. – after those couple words we just stood in silence. Matt opened his mouth like he was trying to add something but Foggy chose this moment to finally reach the bar.

-Hey, are we ok here? What was that?

- Nothing – I mumbled – who won the round?

-Karen of course, I am terribly terrible at every sport, this one included.

- Can I join then? – Matt chimed – to even the score.

Foggy hesitated. He was torn and dragged into a fight between his best friends. This must have been hard on him too. Being loyal to both sides of conflict. I decided to be merciful and spare him this dilemma as I nodded my head in agreement.

***

After that little encounter at the bar me and Matt went on radio silence. Weekend passed at the speed of light and in rather lonely atmosphere. Then Monday and Tuesday. I was purposefully trying to avoid any news concerning the devil of hell’s kitchen latest activity but it was hard since he was almost everywhere. I hated myself for that but I was still catching up with Foggy every night to make sure that whatever Matt was doing left him breathing and alive. But that was just it. The rest of the feelings for him…. Well, to be honest, they were still there, but I was hoping time will heal the wound.

Then, something changed on Wednesday. I came back from work with groceries and a bottle of wine ready for a new season of my favourite TV show with a clear plan for the evening and night. Unfortunately it only came to partial fulfilment. I was in the middle of episode three when I heard a knock on my door. At first I got scared. Who on earth could possibly pay me a visit at 10 pm? Should I grab something to protect myself? Like a baseball bat, maybe (*)? Slowly reaching the entrance I peeked through the viewfinder and sighed in a mix of relief and frustration.

-What …. – I began after opening, but I was never mend to finish as a pair of soft, yet a bit swollen lips landed on mine, familiar, calloused hand closing around my waist and pulling me close towards toned and bruised chest. I was taken by surprise and without having a moment to think what I was doing in some crazy reflex I kissed back, my muscle memory making me burry my fingers in Matt’s stoked hair. – What …? – I tried again but he silenced me by putting his index finger on my mouth.

-Shh. Let me speak, please. I am so, so sorry, sweetheart. I called you selfish, but the only egoistic one in this relationship was me. I realised how unfair that was of me. And I missed you.

- You also called me clingy – I reminded.

-Worst mistake of my life. A week without your touch and hugs and your sweetest little kisses. A torture. Way worse than all the pain from my street fights. I was such a fool, darling. Can you forgive me? – Matt put our foreheads together trying to convey to me how sorry he was.

- How can I? – I tried to move away but it only caused him to tighten his grip – How do I know you are not going to do the same thing following week? And then again and again? How do I know we will not be going around in circles all the time? How, Matt? Give me something, anything to hold on to. ­– please, please give me something plausible – I silently begged in my mind.

- I am here, now, right? I’m not leaving you. No daredevil tonight, I swear. Just me and you. Please, you have to believe me. I really do want to make things between us right. Please … - once again, this sad, pleading eyes that always made me melt. How weak was I?

- One chance, Matthew Murdock. One final chance. – my voice broke – Look, I don’t want you to give up something so important to you. That would be selfish. I just need you to promise you’ll be careful. And that you will have some more time for me not as your nurse to tend to your cuts and bruises but also to me as your girlfriend. Is that really too much?

-No – he leaned forward trying to capture my lips once again.

- Promise me – I didn’t let him kiss me. – seriously, Murdock.

- I promise. Cross my heart. Now can I have a kiss?

- No. Since apparently I am too clingy, you're going to have to work to deserve it.

- You are not going to let this go easily, are you?

- Not in a million years. Not get inside – I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the flat – you have so much work to do to earn what you need.

- Why the wait then? – he  pulled me towards him smirking and my heart skipped a beat at all the crazy thoughts and possibilities coming inside my head.  

@pinksirensong

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Text under the cut

A/N: I really liked the request for a summer camp fanfic, so I thought I would give that a go! Just a disclaimer that I haven’t written fanfiction in years, but I am very confident in my writing ability, so I hope you enjoy it! Also, this story is essentially a Summer Camp AU and is not tied to the canon game, as the characters are all about the same ages (except Charlie) instead of there being like a 6-year age gap between Erin and Kate, for instance. In this story, Jamie & Erin are 14 while Kate & Mark are 16. I also may have incorporated some of my headcanons about the characters, as well as some headcanons I’ve seen from other people because I liked them! Oh, I also have included a little easter egg referencing The Quarry if anyone happens to catch it. It’s very subtle but let me know if you find it! Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy it! <3

Jamie always hated these things. The stupid orientations on the first day of camp where the adults go over the rules & regulations, give sleeping arrangements, discuss the “itinerary” of activities instead of actually doing said activities, talk about the code of conduct, etc, etc. It was already hard enough for any teenager to sit still for a prolonged period of time and listen attentively while monotone adults droned on and on, let alone a teenager who already has difficulties with attention regulation such as Jamie. As the counselor moved on to talking about how meals would work, Jamie huffed and slouched even lower in her chair.

As she scanned the room, she recognized only 2 familiar faces. One was a man, one of the counselors, who was sitting up at the front with the other counselors, flipping through a stack of papers. Charlie was the director of activities, which Jamie considered a joke since she was pretty sure the man would lose his own head if it wasn’t already screwed on. Actually, Jamie questioned if it was even screwed on tight enough, or possibly even a little too tight. That would explain his constant stress responses to every little hiccup he encounters. The other face Jamie recognized belonged to a boy, another camper whom Jamie knew from both her previous 2 years at camp. He was wearing a well-loved gray hoodie and had his favorite camera strapped around his neck. During their first year at camp together, Jamie and Mark didn’t know each other too well. Jamie was extroverted and liked socializing and getting into trouble with the other kids, whereas Mark was more introverted and preferred keeping to himself and his camera. However, all of the kids that Jamie had hung out with during her first year did not attend camp the following year, leaving Jamie to make new friends. One of the only faces she recognized was Mark’s, so she decided to adopt him as her designated introvert, as many extroverts like to do. Even though they were different, the two of them got along pretty well and Jamie was happy to see that he was back.

Just then, the girl sitting next to Mark leaned over and whispered something to him. She had auburn hair and was wearing a beanie that looked almost as well-loved as Mark’s hoodie. Jamie didn’t recognize her. Was she someone Mark knew from school? Jamie shrugged and resumed slouching in her chair. She bent her head back, looking up at the ceiling, and heaved a sigh. These stupid things always dragged on.

After the orientation finally ended, Jamie quickly found her cabin and was surprised to already find another girl inside. She didn’t notice Jamie come in, she had her back turned towards the door and was rummaging inside her bag.

“Hey,” Jamie gently greeted the girl to get her attention.

“Oh!” The girl spun around, holding something in her hand. She greeted Jamie back with a small wave, “Hi.”

The girl was wearing a yellow t-shirt over a black long-sleeved shirt and a pair of headphones around her neck.

“I’m Jamie,” Jamie stuck her hand out for the girl to shake.

“Erin,” The girl replied as she softly took Jamie’s hand and gave it a gentle shake.

“It’s nice to meet you, Erin.”

“You too,” Erin gave Jamie a soft smile.

Their hands lingered a little longer than normal, still awkwardly and slowly shaking for a good couple of seconds before Jamie chuckled and retracted her hand.

“What were you looking for in your bag? You forget something?”

“Oh, no, I was looking for this,” Erin held up a blue inhaler. “There’s probably a lot of dust and stuff at camp, so I wanted to make sure it was accessible, because the last time I had an attack and didn’t have it on me, it was— well,” She stopped herself short. “I’m sorry, that’s probably too much information, i-it just helps me breathe.”

“You’re good,” Jamie gave a small, amused chuckle. “I don’t mind, I like learning things about people. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t care.”

“Oh, well that’s a relief,” Erin plopped down on her chosen bed as Jamie set her bag on the other bed and started to unpack. “I’m just so used to people getting annoyed with me for sharing too much.”

“Those people are lame,” Jamie said in such a blunt tone that caught Erin off-guard, but in a good way. She wasn’t used to other people immediately having her back in such a confident manner like the one Jamie exudes.

“Yeah,” Erin giggled. “I guess so.”

“Go ahead, say it.”

“Say what?”

“Say, ‘those people are lame.’ It’ll make you feel good, promise.”

“…Will it?”

“As someone who’s been saying it practically my whole life, yes. I guarantee.”

“O-okay… Those people are lame?”

Jamie stopped rummaging in her bag and turned to Erin.

“Mmm, no. Like you mean it.”

“But what if I don’t mean it?”

“Come onn, just say it.”

“Okay, those people are lame…”

“Louder.”

Erin looked around, unsure of herself, as she was a much more quiet and reserved person than Jamie was. It would appear that Jamie had found her designated adopted introvert for the summer.

“I won’t judge you,” Jamie encouraged her. “In fact, I’ll think you’re pretty cool. Go ahead, let it out.”

“Alright… Those people are lame.”

“One more time.”

“Those people are lame!”

Jamie chuckled, “Pretty good, does that feel better?”

“A little,” Erin admitted with a sheepish smile, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“Good! Sometimes you gotta let that stuff out instead of letting it bottle up, y’know?” Jamie finished unpacking most of her stuff before she turned back towards Erin. “You wanna go look around?”

Erin looked up at her, “Don’t you still have to finish unpacking?”

“Eh, that stuff can wait, I wanna go see everything. Wanna join me? It’ll be fun!”

Erin, wanting Jamie to continue to think she was cool, shrugged and placed aside the book that she had gotten out.

“Sure, I suppose. Where are we going?”

“Anywhere! I wanna see what kind of activities they have set up.”

Jamie headed for the cabin door and Erin followed after her, inhaler in her pocket and headphones still around her neck.

At another section of the camp, Mark sat on a bench and pointed his camera at a small family of ducks floating in the lake across from him. As one of the ducks popped back up from the water and shook its head, Mark clicked his camera and took a couple of quick photos. After a short succession of shots, he took the camera away from his eye and reviewed them, determining which ones to keep. As he clicked through them, the auburn-haired girl strolled up to him.

“Get anything good?” She asked him.

“Just some trees and ducks,” He turned the camera screen to show her his favorite from the bunch, which was a snap of the duck shaking off the water.

“Looks good! Is that a new camera?”

“My mom got it for me for my birthday. She gave it to me a little early so I could have it at camp.”

“That was sweet. How is your mom?”

“She’s good. She says hi.”

“Ah, well, tell her I say hi back! You know… when you get back home, of course…” She trailed off before letting out a sigh as she sat next to him. Mark chuckled and turned towards her.

“For sure. You all unpacked?” He shut his camera off and put it back in his camera bag.

“Yup! Ah, so, Mark… I—”

“I’m really glad you could come along this summer, Kate. It’s a lot of fun and I’m pretty excited to finally share it with you.”

Kate gave him a soft smile, “Me too, Mark. I’m really happy we get to have a fun summer together. There’s just, um…” Kate looked at her hands, picking at the skin around her fingernails.

“Who knows, maybe if you enjoy it just as much as I do, we can come back next year and be counselors or something.”

“I thought you had to be eighteen to be a counselor.”

“Oh, yeah, you’re probably right. I just assumed that because sixteen was the cutoff for campers, that meant that seventeen was the eligible age for counselors. Although maybe there’s a junior counselor option? I don’t know, it was just a thought.”

Kate gave him another warm smile, “Well, you should definitely look into it, I think that would be really great for you. Maybe you could teach these kids about photography!”

“You think I could?”

“I don’t see why not. You’re a really good photographer, Mark.”

Mark couldn’t help but blush a little. “Thanks, Kate. Maybe you could teach them about journalism or something!”

Kate smiled at him again, although this time it was more of a sad smile. He was so excited and she was so happy to see him thinking about the future, especially since the Mark she’s used to usually just lets life happen. How was she supposed to tell him about her mother’s new job and about how it would take her away from him?

“Mark, I have to tell you about something—”

“Hey, Mark!” Kate was cut off by Jamie, who was waving and walking up to them with Erin at her side.

“Hey, Jamie, good to see you again!” Mark stood up and caught Jamie slightly off-guard with a hug.

“Oh, hey, yeah, you too!” She patted his back before they let go.

Mark, realizing he had to make introductions, awkwardly gestured to Kate, “This is Kate, we go to school together. She’s that friend I told you about last year.” He then turned to Kate and gestured towards Jamie, “Kate, this is Jamie, she was my friend last year at camp.”

Kate stood up and shook Jamie’s hand, “Nice to meet you, Jamie.”

“You too. Mark told me a lot about you last year. In fact, sometimes it seemed like he wouldn’t shut up about you.”

Kate looked at Mark, who opened his mouth to object, clearly blushing. “Really?”

“I— I wouldn’t say I wouldn’t shut up about you, that’s… an over-exaggeration, I just had a lot to say about… school, and… stuff…”

“Uh huh,” Kate smirked before turning back to Jamie. “Well he told me a good bit about you too, he said he had a lot of fun last year.” Kate then turned to Erin, “What’s your name?”

“I’m Erin.” Erin awkwardly lifted her hand, unsure of whether or not she should hold it out for Kate to shake. When Kate extended her own hand, Erin clumsily took it and gave it a small shake. “I’m just… Jamie’s roommate. Or, uh, cabinmate,” she said before she awkwardly folded her arms just so she could have somewhere to put her hands, which she was suddenly overly conscious of.

“I’m taking her around, showing her all of my favorite spots, telling her which places to stay away from, et cetera,” Jamie jumped in, taking the attention and pressure off of Erin.

“Did you show her the waterfall?” Mark asked.

Kate echoed, “Waterfall?”

“There’s this little lake that we all used to go swimming in, and above it there’s this stream that has a mini waterfall flowing into it.”

“I haven’t gotten that far yet,” Jamie answered. “I was actually heading that way now when I saw you guys. You… wanna join us?”

“Sure! Kate, you wanna go?”

Kate hesitated. She knew that she shouldn’t put off what she needed to tell him, but she also knew that she technically had all summer. She figured it was best to not dump it on him right away, so she said, “Sure, that sounds like fun.”

“Alrighty, campers, let’s goo!” Jamie started leading the way, Erin right behind her, and Mark and Kate behind Erin.

When the four of them made it to the waterfall, they laughed and talked about everything they thought of, simply having fun getting to know each other. They splashed around in the water a bit, but Mark was resistant to getting his favorite hoodie wet while Erin was protective of her headphones, not wanting them to get ruined. They hung out for about an hour or so before a counselor came looking for them.

Later that night, after dinner, Kate knocked on Mark’s cabin door just as he was finishing getting unpacked. Because the doors had mesh windows on them, Mark could see Kate standing outside under the glow of the lantern that was mounted on the outside wall.

“Come in, Kate!” Mark called to Kate, and she opened the door to let herself in. Mark was organizing his camera bag for what Kate could only guess was maybe the fiftieth time since they got to camp that day. Mark’s roommate was sitting on his own bed on the farther side of the cabin, listening intently to something on his phone with earbuds in his ears. “Hey,” Mark greeted Kate, “What’s up?”

“Hey, Mark, do you have a minute?”

“Luckily I just finished unpacking, so yeah! Why?”

Kate shrugged, “Wanna go on a walk? It’s really nice out tonight.”

“Sure,” Mark finished crewing a lens on his camera. “Should I bring my camera?”

“I don’t know how good the lighting is here at nighttime.”

Mark looked down at his camera, contemplating what Kate said. “Good point,” he said as he put his camera back in its bag and zipped it shut. “Okay, let’s go!” Mark grabbed his gray hoodie and wrapped it around himself, zipping it up, before following Kate towards the door. Before leaving, Mark turned to his roommate and said, “I’ll be back, man.”

His roommate gave him a small thumbs up as an acknowledgment before Mark followed Kate outside and let the door swing close behind them.

“Where to, m’lady?” Mark asked Kate, putting his hands in his pockets.

“Anywhere, really, I just thought it’d be nice to look at the stars. It’s so much easier to see them here than back in the city.”

Mark followed Kate’s gaze up towards the sky, where he could indeed see more stars than he had ever seen back in Chicago. “Think you can recognize any constellations?”

Kate chuckled, “No, I’m not really familiar with any constellations.”

“You’re not?”

“No, not really. What makes you think I am?” Her tone wasn’t snappy at all, she was genuinely curious as to why he thought that about her.

Mark shrugged, “I dunno, I just thought since you’re into crystals, that you would be into all of that kind of stuff.” Mark gave her a sheepish smile, which Kate returned.

“Nah, not really my thing. I do like astrology and studying the zodiac signs, but I’m not really a constellations girl.”

Mark let out a chuckle and said, “Fair enough.”

The two of them walked in silence a bit longer, appreciating the night sky and the sounds of the crickets around them. They eventually made it to a little hiking trail that led away from the main camp. As they started walking down the trail, Kate looked at Mark, who was still admiring the night sky. Kate smiled to herself. She was going to miss this big dork a lot.

“Mark, I kinda have to tell you something.”

Mark looked back to Kate. “What’s up?”

“Well, firstly, nothing is wrong,” Kate reassured, not realizing how strange of a statement that was to start off with until Mark gave her a weird look.

“O-okay? Is everything ok?”

Kate was suddenly very aware of the cool breeze that was blowing through the trees around them.

“Y-yeah,” Kate let out a shiver. “Everything is f-fine.”

Mark, noticing Kate shivering, immediately unzipped his jacket and, without saying anything, removed it from himself and wrapped it around Kate’s shoulders. She gave him a sweet, grateful look before graciously taking it and putting her arms through the sleeves. What was she ever going to do without this big meatball? Once Kate had the hoodie on, Mark wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him so she could share his body warmth. Kate had always been one of those people who got cold pretty easily, and Mark was always more than happy to warm her up.

“What did you wanna talk about?” He asked.

“S-so,” Kate let out one last shiver before relaxing into his embrace. “You know how I told you my mom was looking for a new job?”

“Yeah, she wanted better pay and a better work environment, right?”

“Right… Yeah, so… She, uh, she found one.”

“Oh yeah? That’s great!” Mark smiled at Kate, who still looked nervous, which seemed strange to Mark considering the good news she just shared. “So how come you don’t seem happy?”

“The job is in Georgia.”

Mark stopped walking and loosened his embrace on Kate.

“What?”

“The job is located in Georgia, which means… We have to move,” Kate gave him a sad look. Mark dropped his arm and turned to face Kate fully.

“You’re moving?” Mark searched Kate’s face, looking for some type of indicator that there was hopefully some good news to balance out the idea of them having to split up. “When?”

“At the end of the summer. When we get back home, I basically have to start packing right away. Our flight is August 28th.”

Mark felt like someone had just jabbed a needle through his chest.

“So…” He started, trying to wrap his head around what he was hearing. “What does this mean, then? For us?”

“It, well… It means we have to break up,” Kate’s voice hitched as she said that. She hated the idea of them having to break up, but she hated the idea of a long-distance relationship just as much. “I’ve never done long-distance before, and to be honest, I don’t think I could handle it. I just think it would be even more painful than just being friends, which I don’t wanna do either, I want to be with you, I just… I don’t have a choice. Not until I’m an adult with my own job and can stand on my own feet.”

“You have a job.”

“I mean a real job, one that pays an actual living wage.”

Mark looked down at the ground, not wanting her to see the pain on his face. Mark was one of those people who hated the feeling of sadness so much that he would rather feel anything else, even if it was anger. To him, it was easier to be angry than it was to be sad. It was like an unhealthy coping mechanism designed to suppress his feelings rather than regulate them.

“Is this why you came to camp with me this year? Because you felt bad that you’ll have to leave me?”

“No, Mark, I wanted us to have a good summer before I have to go! I didn’t want to dump it on you right before we leave, which is also why I thought I should tell you now instead of at the end of summer. That way, I figured we could just focus on having a good time before, y’know…” Kate trailed off, not wanting to finish the thought.

“Kate, how am I supposed to have a good time when I know that it’s going to end when we go back home?”

“Because we can make the most of it, you know, knowing that it’s… our last few months together. We can go all out— water balloon fights, hiking, scavenger hunts, swimming, all that stuff!”

“But knowing that you’re going to leave doesn’t make me wanna do that stuff, it makes me just want to reverse time or find a way to keep you here. Or, well— not keep you here, at camp, but I mean— like, keep you in Chicago. With me.”

Kate gave him another sad look, not entirely knowing what to say. It wasn’t her choice to leave him, she very much wanted the opposite, but her mom needed this new job to better make ends meet.

“I’m sorry, Mark, I wish I had a choice. You know how much my mom needs this job.”

Mark sighed, feeling his anger wash away as soon as he looked into her eyes. From just one glance, he could instantly tell just how much this was tearing her apart. That was the thing about Kate’s eyes— they always did the best job at portraying her inner thoughts and feelings, even more so than her words sometimes. That was one reason she often wore sunglasses when she could— they allowed her to be mysterious whenever she was around people she didn’t fully feel comfortable letting in. Mark, however, was not someone she felt the need to keep a guard up around.

“I’m sorry, too,” Mark took Kate’s hands. “You’re right, I know that, and I know you don’t have a choice, I just…” Mark sighed again. “Tell me there’s a chance that it’s not goodbye forever?”

“Oh, definitely not, you know I couldn’t do that,” Kate pulled her right hand free and used it to cup Mark’s face.

Mark looked back down at the ground, feeling slightly overpowered by the emotion glistening in Kate’s eyes, afraid that he would fully break if he were to continue looking into them; but it was too late. A tear started rolling down his cheek, which Kate promptly wiped away upon feeling it reach her fingertips.

“Hey,” Kate said softly. “We still have all summer before we have to worry about it. Let’s have fun, okay? I want you to show me everything you love here, like Jamie was doing with Erin. I want to see all your favorite spots, I want to do your favorite activities, I want to do dumb, reckless teenager stuff before we have to deal with boring, shitty adult stuff. Can we please do that?”

Mark nodded, “Yeah, of course.”

Wanting to ease the tension a little, Kate joked, “Good, because I’m really looking forward to crushing your ass in a water balloon fight.”

Mark chuckled. “You wish,” he said.

“Is that a challenge? Alright, buster, well we’ll just see who crushes who then, won’t we?” Kate gave him a playful kiss, which Mark quickly melted into, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. The two of them deepened the kiss, not wanting to let each other go. They could have stayed like that for hours if it weren’t for their need to break for air. When they finally parted lips, they kept their faces close together and leaned their foreheads together. They held that position for a good minute or so, feeling more connected than they ever had before. Neither of them was sure what they would do without the other, but they both figured they would put that thought off for as long as possible. For now, they just wanted to be present together, keeping company in each other’s warm embrace.

Back at the cabins, Jamie and Erin were chilling in their respective beds. Erin was reading a book, while Jamie played with a baseball, bored out of her mind. She suddenly looked over at Erin, who was still wearing her headphones around her neck.

“I’m bored,” Jamie said, getting Erin’s attention. “Do you wanna do something?”

Erin, sensing that Jamie wanted her full attention, placed a bookmark in her novel. “Like what?” She asked.

Jamie pondered before suggesting, “I kinda wanna go back to that lake. You feel like swimming?”

“Oh, uh, I don’t know. I’m not much of a swimmer.”

“Do you know how?”

“I do, I just… don’t do it very often.”

“Well, why not do it now? Did you pack a swimsuit?”

Erin wasn’t sure why, but she felt herself blushing at the question. Erin wasn’t the most comfortable person in swimming attire, especially not around someone she just met, and especially not around someone as intriguing and alluring as Jamie was.

“I-I, well, I— I mean, I did, but—” Erin stuttered.

“Okay!” Jamie popped off her bed. “Then let’s go!”

“Oh, uh, r-right now?”

“Yes, silly, that’s why I asked if you wanted to do something,” Jamie said in a light-hearted tone to let Erin know she was joking and not actually making fun of her.

“Oh, o-okay, sure!” Always the people-pleaser, Erin put her book aside and got up to get her swimsuit.

Jamie took a quick moment as she observed Erin rummaging through her bag. There was something adorable and charming about Erin’s awkwardness that Jamie couldn’t really explain. Jamie had been aware of her attraction to girls for a while now, but this attraction was especially interesting to Jamie because Erin wasn’t typically her type. She was used to being attracted by the girls who exuded even more confidence than Jamie did, but there was something about Erin’s soft and caring nature that Jamie couldn’t help but be drawn in by. Though Erin likely saw herself as an open book, she was somewhat of a mystery to Jamie, who couldn’t wait to learn more about her.

Once the girls both had their swimsuits on underneath their camp clothes, they started on their way back to the lake. They walked in silence for a few minutes, appreciating the nighttime ambiance, before Jamie noticed that Erin still had her headphones around her neck even though they were going to go swimming.

“Hey, can I ask you about something?” Jamie asked.

“Sure.”

“What are those headphones for? The ones you’re always wearing?”

“Oh,” Erin blushed as she looked down at said headphones, not even realizing she was still wearing them. “I guess I just get so used to having them on me, sometimes I forget to take them off when I don’t need them.”

“Have you ever fallen asleep with them on?”

“No…” Erin chuckled before a realization hit her. “Wait, yes…”

Now Jamie chuckled. “Yes?”

“Yeah, I forgot that one time I— well, it’s kind of embarrassing…” Erin trailed off.

“You can tell me,” Jamie reassured, “I won’t judge you. Trust me, I’ve heard plenty of crazy stuff from plenty of people, nothing really fazes me anymore.” Jamie and Erin both chuckled.

“Well, sometimes I use them for noise canceling. You know, to drone out overwhelming noise?”

“Yeah, lots of people like noise-canceling headphones.”

“Right, and, well… One night I heard… some people arguing and it just got to be a little too much for me, so I put them on and curled up in my bed, trying to ignore it, and I… eventually just fell asleep,” Erin let out a sheepish chuckle, not sure if she was sounding dumb or crazy or both.

“Ah, I’m sorry those people were arguing so much,” Jamie frowned.

“It’s okay, I’m used to it.”

From Erin’s demeanor and tone of voice, Jamie could sense that the arguing wasn’t just annoying neighbors, but likely possibly coming from somewhere within the same house that she had been in. Not wanting her to feel uncomfortable, Jamie changed the subject.

“So, what do you wanna do when you grow up?”

“Me? Oh, I don’t know…” Erin pondered the question before replying, “Well, I like doing sound editing.”

“What does that entail?”

“Sound editing? Well, it’s kind of like how movie editors choose certain sound effects for their scene, or how they’ll balance their channels so that the music doesn’t overpower the dialogue or vice versa. I’ve been doing it for a little while by making edits and things, but I’m just getting into doing it for shows. This past year, I helped with the sound design for a show that the theatre department put on at my school. It was really fun, and they said they’re always in need of more tech people, because, y’know, most kids want to do acting, so I said that sounded great, and…” Erin suddenly realized she was probably rambling. Feeling self-conscious, she quickly finished her thought, “Anyway, yeah, sound design! I like it,” she let out another sheepish chuckle.

“That sounds like a lot of fun,” Jamie smiled at her genuinely, allowing Erin to relax the tension she hadn’t realized she was holding. “I’m glad you’ve already found something you’re so passionate about, not everybody has something like that.”

“What about you?”

“Nah, not really. I kinda like art but I have no idea what I’d do with it, you know?”

“Well,” Erin started, “I think the thing about art, is you can do anything you want with it, really. What kind of art do you like?”

“I dunno… I like colors.”

“Have you thought about technical theatre at all? Maybe you could do lighting design. They use colors all the time, depending on the mood and atmosphere of the scene.”

“I hadn’t really thought about that, no. Maybe I’ll look into it,” Jamie smiled at Erin, who returned the smile.

When they finally reached the lake, Jamie stood up on a rock that looked much too slippery to Erin.

“Careful, Jamie!”

Jamie chuckled, “I’m fine, don’t worry.” She looked at Erin, who looked even more captivating under the moonlight shining through the trees. “You know, you’re cute when you worry about my well-being like that.”

“I just don’t want you to—” Erin cut herself off, realizing what Jamie had just said. “Wait, cute?”

“Yeah, that’s what I said,” Jamie said, not backing down from her very true observation regarding Erin’s adorableness.

Erin’s cheeks suddenly felt very hot. “I— I don’t—” Erin stuttered, hoping that it was too dark for Jamie to see just how red her face had turned. “I don’t know what you’re—” Unsure of what to do with her body, Erin awkwardly shifted her feet, accidentally stepping on one of the wet rocks. “Oh!”

Erin suddenly slipped and stumbled forwards, into Jamie’s readied arms.

“Whoa! You okay there?” Jamie chuckled as she helped Erin get reoriented on her feet.

“Oh, y-yeah, thanks…” Erin started blushing even more, which she hadn’t even thought was possible. “Can I ask you something now?”

“Of course,” Jamie replied as she sat down on one of the drier rocks. Erin slowly followed suit, making sure to check that the rock was dry before sitting on it. When she was seated, she let out a small huff.

“How are you so…” Erin trailed, searching for the right word.

“Awesome?”

“Cool. I mean, like— chill.”

“You mean how am I so confident?”

“Y-yeah, I— guess that’s the word I was looking for.” Erin smiled sheepishly.

Jamie shrugged, “I don’t know, I guess I just learned how to fake it really well.”

“You mean, you… don’t actually feel confident?”

“Well, no, I do— but I didn’t always. I guess my dad kinda helped me with that. He’s an actor, so I guess it kind of runs in the family… even though I’m adopted,” Jamie cocked an eyebrow, realizing how silly it sounded for her to have inherited something from someone she wasn’t biologically related to. It was the first time that day that Erin had noticed Jamie double-guessing something she said, which made her seem a lot more relatable than she originally did.

Erin smiled at her. “That still makes sense, though, if he taught you.”

“Yeah, that’s true,” Jamie returned the smile.

They both made direct eye contact for the first time that day and instantly found themselves looking into each other’s eyes for longer than anticipated. Neither of them could quite place their finger on just what exactly was so intriguing to them about the other person, but they were both experiencing the same butterflies and racing heartbeat. They weren’t sure what gravitational force was at play when they found themselves slowly leaning in, suddenly much closer to each other.

Jamie broke the silence, “Am I crazy, or do you feel something too?”

“I-I don’t know, I mean… I feel— something, I just— it’s new to me,” Erin admitted, having little to no experience with crushes or the like.

Jamie smiled at her. “It’s new to everyone at some point. I can help show you if you want,” Jamie said, not wanting Erin to feel pressured.

Erin blushed again. The idea sounded so daunting to Erin, but in a completely amazing and incredibly tempting way. She had never received this type of attention before and she wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Not knowing how to respond, Erin simply nodded.

“Okay, only if you’re sure though,” Jamie reassured.

“Y-yeah, sure, I’m sure,” Erin stuttered, causing Jamie to emit a small chuckle.

Jamie looked back into Erin’s eyes, ensuring that she was good, before finally closing the gap and tenderly touching her lips to Erin’s. Erin quickly leaned into it, giving Jamie the greenlight to deepen the kiss on her end as well. Her hands swiftly moved to Erin’s face, placing each palm on a — still very red — cheek. Erin placed her hands on Jamie’s upper arms, not completely sure about what to do with them. The two of them both leaned into the kiss more, but Erin must have leaned in a little too far because she suddenly slipped off the rock she was sitting on and plopped onto the ground, breaking the kiss and catching Jamie off-guard.

“Oof,” Erin grunted as she dropped to the ground.

“Oh, are you okay?” Jamie asked with a hint of amusement in her tone.

“Ugh, yeah… I should have figured that would happen to me,” Erin said, chuckling at her own misfortune. Jamie joined in her giggling, slipping off of her rock and joining Erin on the ground.

“Maybe we can try again later, when we’re in a drier environment,” Jamie suggested.

Erin perked back up. “Y-yeah, that would be— great. Maybe there’ll be fewer rocks, too,” she joked, and the two of them giggled some more.

“Well,” Jamie said, leaning back on her hands and looking up at the night sky, “Maybe for now, we can just admire the stars and listen to the crickets.”

“Yeah, that sounds good,” Erin smiled as she joined Jamie in looking at the sky. “It’s so beautiful here. You can’t see the stars anywhere near this well back in the city.”

Jamie looked at her. “What city are you from?”

“Chicago.”

“Dude, no way, that’s where I’m from too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! We should definitely keep in touch after camp is over. If you want to, of course.”

Erin giggled, “Yeah, I think I’d love to.”

The two of them smiled at each other, both even more excited for the summer they were about to have than they originally were. After a moment, they turned their gazes back to the clear night sky.

Jamie pointed up at something she saw. “Is that a shooting star?”

Erin looked at where she was pointing and squinted before giggling. “No, I think that’s just a plane.”

“Oh,” Jamie said, disappointed, as she put her hand back down on the ground behind her. “Can’t believe I was just about to make a wish on a plane,” Jamie joked, earning an even heartier giggle from Erin, which of course made Jamie smile.

The two of them sat in quiet for a moment before Erin asked, “So, uh… Were we going to go swimming? I mean, like, did you still want to?”

‘Yeah, for sure, I mean… if you want to,” Jamie looked at Erin, who returned the gaze.

Erin shrugged, “I dunno, I mean… I’m pretty good just looking at the stars, but I don’t know about you.”

Jamie smiled. “I’m good with that too.”

Erin smiled back at her. “Cool,” she said before catching Jamie’s eye.

They both leaned in and shared another gentle kiss before pulling back, Erin feeling her cheeks get flushed once again. After a moment, they both gazed back up at the twinkling stars and sat there for a good while, simply enjoying each other’s company and the atmosphere around them.

[illicitaffairs1989]

Aside from the music videos, have you noticed any other signals that they could've been sending each other or any coincidences this year? Also, if there's been any indication they have met up or are talking behind the scenes?

So much has happened this year that I can't remember everything at the top of my head, but other than the music videos I would say they're sending signals through their choise of clothing, on tour especially. Quite frankly Taylor is in her Era's Era so it's fitting to be giving out many Easter eggs on which TV is next, some of those would obviously be for 1989 TV, however when she wore the Gucci lion ring that's similar to the one Harry has, that one was so out of nowhere and obvious, it was SCREAMING Harry from miles away and it was a little after she broke up with Joe too, meanwhile she was preparing to announce Speak Now TV, it didn't make much sense for her to be teasing 1989 TV at that point in time. Another example is Harry wearing a lot of clothes with nods to purple and purple lighting around the SNTV release date as well as his Saturn t-shirts.

Their speeches during tour. Harry saying 'moving swiftly on' even though there are so many other words he could've used instead. Taylor saying that the song Questions...? brings her a lot of happy memories right before playing it on the day of the 1 year anniversary of Harry's House. Referring to James' love interest to which he apologises as the love of his life and Harry has a song with that title.

There are also so many coincidences between them too. It's a haylor world and we are simply living in it. The way the universe is conspiring in their favor and linking them together one way or another it's just so 🥺.

I'm sure they are talking to each other behind the scenes. I don't even for a second believe that them wearing blue outfits with stars on them in the same night is coincidental. When they started talking, whether they've met in person or any other questions regarding that I don't have the answers to, but they're definitely communicating with each other.

[pleasantlycrazyworld]

can I request headcannons about how eddie steve and billy would spend valentines with reader

This is adorable!! Thank you so much for the request love <3

I just had to add Wayne to the Eddie part 🤭

Eddie

This is his first time having a real valentine

People used to ask him as a joke when the bullying started in his younger years

BUT! When your relationship is still new he knows that he wanted to spoil you on all the big days. That includes birthdays, Christmas (or any holiday you celebrate), anniversaries, easter, Halloween, and especially valentines day.

What he didn't expect was for you to spoil him as well.

When it comes to Valentine's day itself he makes sure he is prepared. He wakes you up with cereal in bed (isn't it like canon the boy can't cook) if it's a school day he surprises you with flowers in your locker, and he made sure that there is something special for dinner.

He tears up when you give him his gifts. He never expected anything so when you smile and hand him a gift box he's in shock.

After dinner, you two cuddle on the couch and watch a movie. Soft kisses are exchanged, and nothing but soft caresses are experienced between the two of you.

When Wayne gets home he smiles softly seeing his nephew with the person who loves him just the way he is. He sees you two and how your limbs are entangled together and a small laugh passes his lips before he can bite it back.

He nearly chokes in shock seeing that there are leftovers on the counter next to a small gift you got him.

Wayne doesn't show it but he tears up seeing that you got him something and he makes a mental note to pick you up something small when the stuffed animals go on sale in the next couple of days.

Steve

He knows the way around Valentine's day. He has it down to a T.

He makes the reservations, picks up the best-looking red roses the stores have, he gets the biggest stuffed bear and the biggest box of chocolate

He talks to Robin beforehand to see if it's too much but he doesn't listen to her.

"Oh, what do you know? My baby deserves the best and more" He says while rolling his eyes

He picks you up in a nice shirt and tie and he blushes seeing how beautiful you look "Y-you look so beautiful" He stutters out making you blush

You gasp seeing the restaurant he got reservations for. It's one of the fanciest restaurants in the next town over, "How did you even get reservations, Stevie?" He smiles and shrugs "I know a guy"

The dinner went amazing, he takes you back to his place where dessert is waiting. He ordered your favorite from the bakery you love...but sadly the dessert is pushed until the next day. You two got....busy ;)

Billy

He isn't used to a romantic Valentine's day

This is the first Valentine's day where he wanted to be as romantic as possible

He talks to Max reluctantly in hopes of finding out what he can do for you, both were blushing brightly and stuttering through the entire conversation but Max does love you and she knows what you deserve

With Max's help, he gets you a nice necklace and he makes dinner for the two of you (and with your help he makes sure Lucas takes Max out for a nice Valentine's)

To me, Billy can cook! So he spends most of the day making your favorite meal

You come over just in time, and you moan softly at the delicious smell that is in the air

As you two are eating he gets nervous to give you the gift, he knows you'll like it...but what if you don't?

When he does give you the small box he watches you tear up seeing the beautiful necklace. He smiles knowing he did good and he gets up to go put it on for you.

"Oh B...I love it!" You squeal before wrapping your arms around his neck and attacking him with kisses

He chuckles and tries to brush it off as no big deal but you kiss him deeper to make him lose his breath

He picks you up and carries you to his bed...let's just say the night ends with you just in that necklace ;)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY MY LOVES!!!

I loved the request and I hope you enjoyed! If you did please reblog and comment it means the world!!

Request are open so please don't hesitate to request anything loves

Taglist:@ghosttownwherenoonegoes @ceriseheaven @manyfandomsfanvergent @munsonology @moonchildquinn

[wallartdesignergift]

(via T-shirt classique « Chemise Joyeuses Pâques - Lapins drôles à l'intérieur d'un panier de Pâques » par Digital-for-you)

[downwiththeficness]

Shadow and Veil-Chapter Thirty Two

Summary: Eva Moore’s life was a carefully constructed fiction.  Every day, she did exactly what her mother in law, her husband, and his  best friend expected of her. No mistakes. And, that was going pretty  well for Eva right up until a huge complication literally tried to run  her over. Now, she’s faced with trying to keep the pieces of her life  from falling apart while attempting (and failing) to keep her feelings  for her husband’s new business partner at bay.

A/N: This fic is a sister-fic to A Need So Great and A Need Unleashed.  You do not need to have read ANSG or ANU to read this fic, but there  are Easter eggs from those fics in Shadow and Veil for readers with keen  eyes.  This fic is explicit for canon-compliant blood, gore, violence,  and sex. As such, it is intended for an adult audience, only. A/B/O  dynamics come with their own warning. Anyone under the age of 18 should  not interact with this work. I do not consent to reposting this work to  other platforms. Reblog only to Tumblr.  

Word Count: ~3500

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Eva stood in the motel bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror. Nothing about the reflection staring back at her was any different than it had been several days before. And yet, everything was different.

Her feelings about it were somewhat ambiguous.

Two days ago, Eva would have said that she was happy—no, that she was ecstatic. She was away from Josh, and the business, and the worries all packed together in that house. She was with a man she was slowly developing deep feelings for, that she could see herself loving in the not too distant future. She had money and a destination. Things were looking up.

That was two days ago.

On day one, it hadn’t seemed very important that Horacio was distracted. He was either focusing on the road, or making a call, or memorizing their route on a map they bought at a gas station. By day two, Eva started to worry that something was wrong even though he assured her over and over that everything was going exactly how it was supposed to go.

Today, Eva was beginning to have serious doubts.

She woke alone that morning and the place beside her in the bed was cold. There was no note on the nightstand to tell her where Horacio had gone or when he would return. With nothing else to do, she dressed and wandered to the lobby to find some breakfast and spent about half an hour picking at a bagel before she went back to the room.

There was no sign of him anywhere, but his bag was still sitting next to hers. Eva was certain he hadn’t abandoned her.

Why did she feel so uneasy?

The TV was a nice distraction for an hour or two, but eventually Eva’s worry began to overcome her meager ability to cope. She paced the room, occasionally peering out the window. Then, to keep herself busy, she counted and organized the money so that it laid neatly in her duffel.

Eva ignored the fact that there was a pistol sitting at the very bottom.

When that was done, she emptied her personal belongings onto the bed and took stock. Some of her favorite dresses were mixed in with more comfortable jeans and t shirts. She had heels in black, navy, and brown along with a pair of sneakers. A small cosmetics bag held her make up, a bit of moisturizer, and a hair brush. An even smaller bag held all the most valuable pieces of jewelry she owned—most of them gifts from Myra.

Eva opened the zip and poured out it contents. She was glad she had the foresight to thread her necklaces and bracelets through straws so they wouldn’t get tangled. Eva examined each piece in turn and dropped it back into the bag.

Her wedding ring.

It glinted at her in the low light of the room, a physical reminder that Josh was still alive and that she was technically still married to him. The ring was a simple piece, a two carat diamond set into a yellow gold band. Eva stared at it, turning her hand from side to side so that the facets in the stone flashed at her.

Eva pulled it from her finger—or, tried to. The band caught stubbornly on her knuckle. She turned it and tried again, then wiggled it back and forth. The thing refused to budge.

Little fucker.

Sucking her teeth, Eva dug into her cosmetics bag for her moisturizer and dabbed it around the circumference of her finger. The ring fought against the glide of the lotion, but she was eventually able to get it free of her hand. With a feeling of triumph, Eva tossed the ring into her jewelry bag and zipped it closed.

At the very bottom of the duffel, carefully folded into a linen, was Eva’s baby blanket. The very last piece of her childhood that she had left. Unfolding the linen, Eva lifted the blanket up so that she could see it in its entirety.

It was nothing special. A two by three foot quilt that was somewhat faded. The edges were frayed, but the batting was still thick and fluffy. In one corner, almost completely invisible, was a small “E” stitched in a thread that matched the fabric. Eva ran her thumb over the letter, wishing that she had more memories of her parents to take with her.

She’d left them too young, was too stupid to hang onto them for a few more years. And now, they were gone and all Eva could do was try to remember them. Her mother singing hymns in church. Her father smelling like oil and gasoline after coming in from working on the tractor.

The way cornbread tasted fresh from the oven.

The wail of a record as it played after dinner.

The both of them slow dancing in the kitchen after they thought she was in bed.

Eva wiped her face of the tears and folded the blanket back into the linen. With a sense of ceremony, she put it back into the bag and set her other belongings on top of it. Then, because she was suddenly very, very tired, Eva laid down and rested.

The sound of a lock turning roused her from not-quite sleep. Eva blinked blearily up at the ceiling until her vision came into focus. She turned her head to the side in time to see Horacio closing the door behind him.

“We need to go.”

Her voice was rough when she replied, “Go where?”

“An air strip not too far away,” he explained while he ambled over and sat on the bed next to her. “Its small. Out of the way. Too risky to use the airport.”

Too risky.

Horacio used that term a lot over the last few days. They took the long way into Mexico, crossed the border at night. He guided their car on detours, just in case. In case of what, he wouldn’t say. When she asked, Horacio’s answers were vague and Eva was beginning to tire of it. She sat up and passed her hand over her face with a sigh.

“What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, not wanting to start a fight. Her misgivings were small in comparison to the larger problems they were facing. They could wait until they were safe.

A hand touched her arm, “Talk to me, Eva.”

Oh, now he wants to talk, she thought angrily. What she said was, “Talk to you? Really?”

Eva couldn’t keep the anger out of her tone, nor could she school her face into something less annoyed. She was tired and vaguely hungry, and it was so incredibly frustrating to feel like she was being intentionally kept in the dark.

Horacio’s brows drew together in confusion, which only fueled her ire. She looked away for a moment and tried to figure out if she wanted to uncork the bottle of her feelings.

“What happened?”

“Nothing,” she said airily.

“Nothing?”

“Yes!” Eva hissed, “Exactly.”

He shook his head slowly, “I don’t understand.”

Of course, he didn’t.

She inhaled a calming breath, “You were gone this morning.” Eva held up a hand when he started to defend himself, “That’s not really the problem. The problem is that you haven’t told me anything. Nothing. Not a single answer to my questions. And when you do answer, you won’t elaborate. I have left everything I have ever known to come with you, and you’re making me follow you blindly. You have to understand how frustrating that is.”

Horacio was silent for a moment, as if waiting for her to say more. When she didn’t, he said, “I’m sorry.”

Eva looked away and took another deep breath.

He scooted closer and touched her hand to draw her attention, “The call I made after you agreed to come home with me was to Javier. Josh made bail within an hour. He called in a few favors with state police to find you—his kidnapped wife. We were lucky to already be in Texas at the time. If we hadn’t...it would have been difficult to get you across state lines.”

God, it sounded so logical. If she were a little less angry, Eva might have felt remorse for lashing out at him. Instead, she grew even more frustrated, “You should have told me.”

“I was afraid you would change your mind,” he said honestly, “that you would tell me to send you back to him.”

He was right.

Eva was abashed at how accurately Horacio predicted her behavior. She would have been scared, would have suggested he send her back so that he didn’t compromise his cover. Might have even demanded he put her on a bus back to Louisiana.

The hand atop hers squeezed, “I was afraid I would have to actually kidnap you.”

She almost laughed, her lips spreading in a knowing smile. Horacio nudged her with his shoulder and the laugh escaped her.

“And,” Eva hedged, “everything else? That was only the first day.”

He shrugged, “Caution. I didn’t know how far he could reach. Its why we’re flying into South America on a privately owned plane. Less likely he’ll be able to get his hands on the manifests.”

A slow wave of affection rolled over her. It mollified the anger she felt at being left out of the plan, but didn’t take it away completely.

“You should have told me,” Eva asserted again in a gentler voice, “I would have understood. We could have talked about it instead of…”  She trailed off and gestured ambiguously around.

Horacio nodded, “I thought it would worry you to be looking over your shoulder.”

She could admit to herself that he was right. That any sense of safety would dissolve like cotton candy in water. But, not knowing felt like it made her worry more.

“You’re right,” Eva retorted, “I was worried. But, not about Josh—Josh, I can handle.” Her voice softened with emotion, “I thought, I don’t know, that you…”

Again, she trailed off. Thinking the words was one thing, saying them was another.

“That I…?” he pressed forward as he tried to catch her wandering gaze.

Eva couldn’t look at him, “That, maybe, you changed your mind. It seemed like it was too much work to help me get away.”

She could hear him take a breath. And then he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. Eva chanced a look at him, instantly caught in the intensity of his eyes. He looked upset, but she didn’t sense that the feeling was directed at her.

“I have not…” he began, then started again, “How…?” Horacio’s free hand brushed against the skin below her ear, barely skirting her gland, “My decision is the same.”

It felt good to hear him say it. The knot of anxiety in her chest unwound a bit, allowing Eva to breathe a little bit deeper. Every one of those breaths was touched with his scent, and it calmed her just as much as his words.

“I don’t like it when you don’t tell me things,” Eva admitted.

Horacio pulled his lips between his teeth, “I know that, now.”

“Please don’t do it again.”

“I won’t,” he promised in a voice not much above a whisper.

“Okay,” she said, “thank you.”

Leaning forward, he sealed their agreement with a kiss. His mouth lingered on hers, soft and warm. When he moved to end it, Eva followed. After days of feeling a growing distance between them, she needed the physical contact to ground her.

His arm wrapped around her middle, free hand drifting up her thigh to rest heavily on her hip. Eva leaned into the touch and traced the seam of his lips with her tongue. He let her deepen the kiss, let her shift her weight so that she sat astride his thighs.

Her senses drank him in—his scent, his heat, the way his chest arched into hers. His hands alternated between gripping her hips and sliding beneath the hem of her top to caress the length of her spine.

Horacio broke the kiss, “The taxi will be here soon.”

“Taxi?”

Eva was not ashamed of the neediness in her voice, nor the way she interrupted his response by kissing him until she was dizzy. Horacio certainly didn’t seem to mind.

“For the plane,” he gasped against her mouth. “I, ah, sold the car.”

So, that’s where he was that morning.

Her chin lifted as he peppered her neck with kisses, “The plane…”

She got a kind of rasping ‘uh huh’ in response. He was more focused on nuzzling the hollow of her throat.

“The plane,” Eva said again, “to take me home with you.”

Horacio nodded absently as his fingers curled into the neckline of her shirt. He pulled it to the side, kissing down her chest until he met the cup of her bra.

“To take me home,” she repeated, impassioned, “as your wife.”

Oh, he liked that.

Horacio’s hands moved to tangle in her hair. His kiss grew fervent. Commanding. Eva could only hold onto his shoulders while every touch of his mouth took the very breath from her lungs.

A car horn blared loudly from just outside the door.

Eva flinched, whipping her head to the side. Beneath her, Horacio also stilled. She could feel his breath fanning across her neck and chest.

When she looked at him again, he said, “Taxi.”

Disappointed at the interruption, Eva let Horacio ease her to the side. They sat for a moment, exchanging shy glances.

The horn sounded again.

Rolling his eyes, Horacio stood and went to the door. He opened it and waved to the driver. Then, to her, he said, “I’ll get us checked out. Can you take our bags to the car?”

Eva nodded, “Uh huh.”

After another lingering look, Horacio stepped out into the noon sun and closed the door. Eva ran her hands over her hair and calmed her racing heart. Then, she climbed off the bed and shouldered her two bags.

The taxi outside already had its trunk open. She dropped her bags into it and went back for Horacio’s. By the time she stowed them safely away, he was strolling away from the motel office towards her.

Just like in the bar, Eva found herself unable to look away from him. It was as if the axis of her entire world was balanced squarely on Horacio. His broad shoulders. The little curl that hung down over his forehead. The way his smile grew bigger as he came near.

Eva stood in that spot until he slowed to a stop in front of her. She rose up on her toes to meet him in a brief kiss, couldn’t help but to share his grin when she dropped back down again.

The ride in the taxi was surprisingly short, not even a half hour down a winding road. Horacio had been correct when he said they were going to a small air strip. It was not much more than flattened dirt atop which sat a small propeller plane.

Horacio, carrying two of their bags, greeted the pilot with a handshake and a few sentences in Spanish. Eva, bag slung over her shoulder, offered a smile in greeting and let the pilot take the bag from her. Horacio helped her into the plane, guided her through fastening her seat belt, then saw to his own.

In what felt like no time at all, the plane was in the air and the ground was falling away from her at breathtaking speeds. The ride was a little bumpy, but the pilot looked utterly calm as he confidently navigated them to the South.

A few minutes into the trip, Horacio reached over and took her hand. Eva turned her attention away from the window to find that he was looking at her with a joy that was barely restrained. Although it hardly seemed possible, they were almost to the finish line. Eva’s smile started soft, then spread into a grin, then to a giggle that felt like relief.

When they landed, Horacio guided her to another taxi and gave an address to the driver. In the backseat, he pulled her into his side and draped an arm around her shoulders. Eva let her head rest against him, content, as the car moved through traffic. She lost track of time, didn’t even bother to orient herself as unfamiliar towns passed by. Figuring out where she was could be handled later.

The taxi pulled to a stop in front of a two story house in a residential area. There was no car in the driveway, but the porch light was on. Horacio paid the driver while Eva got their bags. She waited on the sidewalk with them, unsure.

Horacio had no such hesitations. He simply picked up two of the three and ambled up the driveway and onto the porch. Eva, bag in hand, followed him slowly. She watched as he set the bags down and felt behind one of the shutters. He tugged free a key and used it to open the front door.

Horacio looked over his shoulder at her, then jerked his head to the side in a silent bid for her to come with him. Eva stepped through the threshold of the house, looking around with curiosity.

It was sparsely decorated—a couch sitting against the far wall of what was probably the living room, a TV sitting on a small entertainment console. Through an opening she could see a staircase that led to the second floor and on her left was an empty room.

Setting her bag down, Eva closed the door and asked, “Whose house is this?”

Horacio set his bags down, too, and replied, “Ours.”

She looked at him with confusion, “You bought a house?”

He hummed in confirmation, “My apartment was too small for two people.”

Eva’s mouth opened, her confusion growing, “When?”

“Yesterday,” Horacio answered, as if it were the easiest thing in the world. “I had a colleague fax me the paperwork to our motel.”

Slowly, Eva put together all the work it would have taken to acquire a property without even being in the same country. It was a lot of fucking work.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said, eventually, “I wouldn’t have minded a small apartment.”

His smirk was almost too reminiscent of Diego, “You wouldn’t have minded until we were both trying to use the tiny, tiny bathroom in the morning.” He stepped up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, “It was a place for a single man, not a married couple.”

Eva felt her cheeks warm as he referenced their ‘marriage’. It didn’t really seem to matter to her that it was more or less a piece of paper, that there was no one there to witness it but them. She liked it, all the same.

“How did you even find the place?”

Horacio took her hand and began leading her through the house, “I know the neighborhood. Its quiet. Good schools.”

He was thinking about schools?

The empty room led to a kitchen that had an island topped with groceries. Horacio loosed her hand and began to sort through them.

“You arranged for a house and groceries,” Eva asserted in a dis believing tone.

Looking up from a bag of coffee, Horacio shot her a dimpled smile, “It was Trujillo’s idea.”

“Your colleague.”

“Mmhmm.”

Eva looked at the bounty of food in front of her, “I should send a fruit basket.”

He chuckled, “I’ll buy him a beer after work some time.”

Not convinced that a beer would square the debt, Eva added, “I’ll send his wife a fruit basket.”

Dinner was a kind of soft, sweet bread and fruit served with beer that was ice cold from the fridge. They ate on the floor of the living room, passing a paper plate between them while the TV played quietly in the background.

With the leftovers packed up and their bellies full, they collected their bags and climbed the stairs to a bedroom that already had a bed with fresh linen, a nightstand, and a dresser. Too tired from the journey to shower, Eva pulled on her pajamas while Horacio checked that the house was locked up.

She watched him undress from the bed with sleepy eyes. He climbed in beside her and slid beneath the sheets. Eva stared at him, wondering if she was dreaming. Nothing about the last few days felt real. Some small part of her brain kept telling her that Josh might have actually got her to drink the fentanyl. That she was laying on the floor of The Lounge, dead, and that this was the afterlife.

And then Horacio reached out to take her hand, and Eva’s mind was quiet.

[mega-aulover]

Santa Baby...

This week a little M-rated FLUFFY sweetness for Everlark Christmas. Katniss one-ups Peeta once more in the Gift giving department.

It was their 10th wedding anniversary. And Peeta was rushing to get to their fifth-floor walkup. He was late as he rushed, navigating through the bustling shoppers. The faint Christmas music could be heard coming from the holiday-themed storefront windows. Peeta tried to leave early, but the bakery was packed tonight as Christmas was a few days away.

Peeta couldn't wait to get home to be with his wife and little girl Melody. He couldn't believe ten years of marriage had passed by. Ten years ago he was eighteen and in disbelief that he was marrying the girl of his dreams. They got married at Christmas because Greasy Sae decorated her small restaurant and they didn't have to spend money on decorating a venue. It was a small home-spun wedding, but it was filled with light, warmth, and love.

Ten years later and Peeta still had to pinch himself.

This year Katniss claimed she didn't want any hoopla. She told him she was going to make him a simple homemade dinner. Peeta wanted to do something grander, but Katniss said to save it for their twenty-fifth anniversary.

Peeta found it funny, Katniss wanted to do something small, because his wife, was the ultimate gift-giver.

Peeta could never beat Katniss when it came to their anniversary gifts. For their first anniversary, she gave him a piece of paper with the lease of his Bakery. On their 2nd anniversary, she'd gotten his mother to work in the Bakery. His mother who was opposed to their entire marriage showed up at the baker with the cotton tee shirt with Peeta's Baked Goods emblem. Each year Katniss always topped his gift making their anniversary memorable.

He was rather relieved that he was coming home to a home-cooked meal and to his daughter. He loved his family life. Loved his life with Katniss. Walking away from his wealthy upbringing when he was a teen, and choosing to be with Katniss, led to an exquisite life.

It wasn't easy because, they barely scraped by, but they were happy.

Peeta held his small gift bag tighter as he rushed down the stairs to catch the subway. According to legend, they were supposed to exchange tin. Peeta had gotten a shiny tin ornament for their tree at home. It was inscribed with their wedding date and the words "Happy Tin-th Anniversary."

Peeta checked his watch as he gripped the strap hand on the subway. There was a crush of people inside the train. As much as he loved the holidays, he loathed the mob of people fraught with high levels of anxiety over getting the perfect gift.

There were two types of Christmas shoppers. Those who purchased throughout the year, and those who waited until the holidays to shop. Peeta and Katniss were the people who purchased their gifts ahead of time, they saved money and it afforded them the ability to really enjoy the holidays.

Getting to his stop he sped up the stairs, out of the subway, and made the right. He briskly strolled to the apartment building. Using the key he opened the front door and stepped into the slightly warmer interior of the 7-floor building.

The lobby was empty as Peeta pressed the button for the elevator. He could have walked up the stairs but tonight, Peeta couldn't wait to get home.

He recalled his fifth anniversary when Katniss told him she was expecting their daughter Melody. It was the greatest present because he always wanted to be a father. Ever since then, Peeta had never been able to top that gift. He and his daughter were thick as thieves.

Entering their modest apartment, he paused to put his keys inside the bowl on the consul table. Pictures of their small family were hung on the wall. Melody was the carbon copy of her mother but with his eyes. One of his favorite pictures of Melody was when she was two. She'd found an easter egg. Her joy over finding the egg radiated in her wide blue eyes. Her small little mouth was thrown open in a triumphant shout, and her bow sat askew on her head. Melody was the sweet song in their lives.

"Katniss," Peeta called as he hung up his coat on the coat tree. And took off his shoes at the door. "Melody!"

Peeta frowned. Normally his five-year-old would be barreling her way to him by this point in the evening, and Katniss would be just behind her watching them. Tonight the entry was quiet and when he walked into the living room the lights were low. The Christmas tree lights were on the only noise in the apartment was the instrumental holiday music.

"Katniss," he called out.

In front of him were their small dining area and the galley kitchen. The table was set up for two not three. There was a bucket of bubbly on the dining table and the most delicious smells were coming out of the kitchen.

Peeta was going to call out again when he saw a folded note on one of the armchairs.

"Sit Down," he read out loud. "Melody with grandparents."

As soon as he sat the music changed. "Ba-boom, Ba-boom..." Came the familiar soundtrack of Santa Baby sung by Eartha Kit.

Katniss sashayed out of the kitchen in sync with the music.

Peeta's mouth went dry. She wore a long faux-fur coat on, red heels. her dark glorious locks were done up in 1940s finger wave. Her lips were red and her grey eyes sparkled. Katniss was his version of Jessica Rabbit. Suddenly his pants became tighter as she stood before him, and the faux-fur coat she wore slipped to the side showing her creamy olive skin.

Katniss's siren voice enveloped him as she sang, "Santa baby, just slip a Sable under the tree for me."

She turned around and let the coat slip to show the slender column of her back. Peeta gripped the arms of the chair as he realized Katniss was naked under the coat.

As she sang, "Hurry down the chimney tonight," she held the coat tighter and wiggled her bottom at him.

Peeta swallowed, he loved her ass.

She turned around as the brass instruments played.

Peeta gasped at the way her eyes told molten silver. They turned that color when she was turned on. He sat at the edge of the chair wanting to reach out to her but she pouted and shook her head no. She began dancing, shimming showing off her toned lean leg.

As she sang to him, she flashed small slivers of skin. He was sweating, and he wondered if perhaps the thermostat in the apartment was broken.

"Katniss," he gasped, desperate to touch her.

Peeta didn't have to feel disappointed at the lack of contact for too long, because she sat astride him and sang. "Think of all the fun I've missed. Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed."

Katniss leaned forward and Peeta could feel her hot breath on his lips and his heart wanted to escape the confines of his chest. He actually wanted to haul her into the bedroom like a caveman. But at the same time, he didn't want to move, because she was gyrating on him giving him a lap dance. It was the sweetest torture.

She stood up and shimmied away from him and Peeta wiped his forehead and gripped his hair, as Katniss danced slowly, and sang. "Come and trim my Christmas tree..."

Peeta was panting as she walked around the chair and whispered in his ear, "Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing."

His leg was shaking as Katniss began walking away toward their bedroom, singing, "Hurry down the chimney tonight..."

Katniss stopped at the door winked at him, then called him forth with her finger, before her coat slipped off her body and she disappeared into the bedroom.

Peeta tore through the apartment and found Katniss lying in the middle of their bed in tiny red briefs with the words, "Define Naughty," written in silver.

Once again Katniss had out-gifted him. But once more Peeta was a gracious loser.

[nancypullen]

Not Dead Yet

It's me, the lady who used to spread nonsense far and wide courtesy of this blog. I can't express how much I miss emptying my brain into this space. I drag home after nine hours in the book mines and it's all I can do to eat, soak in a hot bath, and go to bed. I'm sorry to the handful of readers that I have left. Don't give up on me, this isn't forever. The reason that I'm here tonight is because this handsome guy just had a birthday.

He was born sixty-eight years ago in Washington D.C. when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. His father used to tell the story of walking around and around under those cherry blossoms waiting for news that his firstborn had arrived. That was back in the stone age when fathers weren't allowed in the delivery room. Although his birthday was earlier in the week, we'll be celebrating him tomorrow when the Edgewater gang arrives. I have to work until 2 o'clock but they can't start without me because I know where the presents are. He requested red velvet cake so that's what he shall have, and there will be gourmet pizzas (Jamie's recipes, Tyler manning the pizza oven - what a team!). Hopefully Mickey will feel the love and understand how happy we are that he was born. Of all the choices I've made in my life, he might be the very best one. While looking for an old photo of us to add to this post I came across this one. This was a few days before our wedding in 1984, at my parents' home in Florida. We were opening wedding gifts and apparently very excited about some flatware.

But I have questions. Why are we dressed alike? More importantly why are we dressed like WHAM?

Weren't they the guys who popularized wearing t-shirts under vests? I think Hall and Oates did it too. Regardless, you can bet that Mickey and Nancy were on the cutting edge of fashion, and out on the dance floor every chance we got. In hindsight, we look ridiculous. But the point of this ramble is, we looked ridiculous together. That's how we've gone through life since 1982. Now he's sixty-eight and I'm sixty and we still enjoy looking ridiculous together. Again, I'm awfully glad he was born. As the song says, he puts the boom-boom into my heart. Moving on. I'll work Saturday, I'm off Sunday, then I work three more days. On Thursday our plan is to drive up to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and spend a couple of days. It's just about two hours from us and we'd like to explore the area. I was excited until I saw the forecast for rain, rain, and more rain. I'm not sure how much exploring we can do in a downpour. Crossing my fingers that the forecast will change. We may need to change our plans if it doesn't. I'm off to bed, busy weekend ahead - work and an energetic six year old who was recently visited by the tooth fairy, twice. She lost her first tooth on Easter, and another at school on Wednesday! I can't wait to hear all about it. Is there anything cuter than a snaggle-toothed kid? Alright, sweet people, I'll sign off and go read until I fall asleep. I'm reading about shipwrecks (kind of like my life since we moved to Maryland, but you know I'll sing in the lifeboat). I hope that spring is making your heart light. I hope that whatever troubles you is small compared to what brings you joy. And, as always, I hope that you are safe and well. Sending out loads of love tonight. Take some and pass it on. XOXO, Nancy

[sarifinasnightmare]

Something for Herself

Rating: For Everyone

Summary: Sarah rarely get to have anything for herself.

Author's Note: Sorry, I'm currently not okay and I've been focusing on my health, but I got back to Tumblr and remembered the writing prompt. This isn't much but I wanted to contribute something.

Prompt: I think it looks nice.

During the five years that Sarah struggled to keep her family afloat, she sacrificed so much of herself. The last time she pampered herself, gave herself a break or just bought something for herself was before her husband passed away from cancer. She had dedicated herself to help him with his treatment and then he died. Then Sam got in trouble with the Avengers. Then a hurricane almost sank the boat. Then the Blip happened, and money became even tighter. She could no longer think about her needs and had to focus on everything else.

When Sam came back he quickly sussed things out and wasn’t pleased to see how cheaply his sister had treated herself. The minute he came into some money he got her a little gold necklace with a small plump heart at the center. “Filled with love, that’s what you are.” He said when he gave it to her.

Sarah decided to wear her new gift on Easter Sunday but none of her dresses looked good enough so she went to some thrift shops to see if anything would do. As much as she would’ve wanted a new dress, growing boys went through clothes like tissues, so she was still limited in funds. Eventually she found something acceptable; a plain, yellow cold shoulder dress that she cinched at the waist so it fit her properly.

Easter was a happy affair. Sam came down so people were excited to see how the new Cap was doing. He announced the egg hunt which sent the kids bounding into the wide-open lawn looking for brightly colored, candy filled plastics before taking tons of pictures and allowing himself to be cooed over by the ladies.

Meanwhile Sarah rolled her eyes at it all and focused instead on manning the dessert table.  Her sons were off messing around with their friends, no doubt dragging Bucky with them to join the fun. He hadn’t been back to Delacroix since the last celebration. Apparently, the government had been keeping him busy. They had barely got to speak before other things parted them, but Sarah had to admit that he looked nice in his blue jeans, white t-shirt and black jacket, although it was a bit too hot for it. He had stared at her, looking as if he had wanted to say something before her sons got a hold of him and whisked him away.

So far things have gone well. The kids were checking their eggs, the adults were sitting around on the beautiful April day eating and conversing while she and the other volunteers organized and store the leftovers.

“Hey.”

Sarah looked up and saw Bucky standing in front of the nearly empty dessert table with his hands shoved in his pockets offering a timid smile.

She smiled back. “Hey got a sweet tooth? Still have a bit of pies left.”

“Uh no…I had some earlier…”

“No, you didn’t. I’ve been here all afternoon and I never saw you.”

“You didn’t…Yeah, you’re right. Don’t know why I said that.”

“You want to try some then or you don’t have a sweet tooth?” She asked kindly.

Bucky shrugged. “I used to, before. Most things nowadays taste overly sweet.”

“Mm, I imagine sugar back then wasn’t as processed.” She mused. “How about something light then?”

“Actually, I came here because I wanted to talk to you.” He blurted out.

She straightened. “Did the boys do anything?”

“No, no! They’re great. They’ve done a lot to make me feel welcomed and no doubt it’s because they’ve had such an amazing role model like yourself.”

She grinned. “Why thank you, Bucky, that’s very sweet of you.”

“I also wanted to say that you look very beautiful in that dress today.” He added.

A flush of heat swept over her cheeks, and she laughed. “You’re kidding. This old thing?”

“Is it old? I can’t tell. I mean I don’t pay much attention to the fashion nowadays but I like this.” He swept his gaze over her openly. “I think it looks nice.”

His gaze made her stomach tremble, and she fingered the simple fabric of her skirt, then shrugged. “It’s just an old thing I found at a thrift shop. I liked the color.”

“It makes you look bright…and happy.” He cleared his throat a bit. “I was wondering if you would wear it again if I took you to dinner.”

Her heart suddenly decided to freefall to her feet. He had spoken to her in a flirty manner once before and now here he is trying again. Dare she return the favor? “I-I mean I could wear it again…if you’re asking me out to a romantic dinner.”

He caught on and started to grin. “You’re in luck. I specialize in romantic dinners.”

“I’m glad one of us does. I haven’t had any type of romance in nearly a decade.” she admitted.

“Are the men of this town dead? I noticed you since the first time and yeah your brother threatened me not to flirt with you, but,” he sighed, “I can’t help it. You’re too beautiful to pass up.”

The blush spread from her cheeks down to her toes and she lowered her head modestly. “Flattery will get you somewhere At least with me.” She smiled sweetly. “I’ll call you.”

“Yeah, I can’t wait.” Bucky agreed with a matching smile.

A date with a man cute enough to make her heart skip a bit.  She couldn’t dare pass it up, besides she deserves something for herself.

[socknerd]

I forgot rowany festival isn't over Easter this year. So i may end up going down for a day or maybe the weekend.

Speaking of, I really should bite the bullet and buy those new swords and ringmesh shirt so I can get back into fencing. I miss it. And I should work out getting C&T authorised. Two-handers, my beloved...

Also. I sharpened my skates the other day, and holy shit I should have done that sooner, everything is so much easier now. Shame today was the last training session for a few weeks. I'll have to try and go skating before work for a few days next week to.be able to get some practice in. Also lol it's so much easier to learn this shit with padding on - I should wear kneepads more often so I'm not worrying so much about falling over, lol. My knees are still a little sore from the falls I've managed over the past few weeks. The bruises have faded though!

Gods, I've been having a shit overall time, but goddamn is being on ice nice. And the progress I'm making, too. Actually feel quite happy and content right now.