#heartcereql

[heartcereql]

tommy shelby x finn's teacher!reader

when you first read his name on the class list, you freezed, a shiver running down your spine. of course you weren't oblivious as to who the shelbys were or what they did. but he was so young. twelve. you actually had a tiny bit of hope that finn shelby would be different than his brothers were. you were soon proven wrong.

finn and what he called "his boys" soon started doing their business around the school, and, before you knew it, inside the school as well. bringing cigarettes, picking on younger students, terrorizing girls...

you had had enough. it was one thing for adults to get their hands dirty doing whatever businesses. but a kid? hell no. and while you couldn’t do anything about what they did outside school, you could try to correct their behaviour in school.

so that's how you found yourself one grey and cloudy evening in front of the shelbys' door, mustering the courage to knock.

you knocked three times. nothing. as you were about to knock again, you heard the lock and then the door opened, revealing a man with the same ocean eyes as finn.

thomas shelby.

you knew him, naturally, but this was the first time he was so close, let alone about to talk to you.

“good afternoon” you greeted as you tried to ignore the way your chest was tightening.

“afternoon. may i help you?” he asked, hand resting on the doorknob.

“yes, actually. i’m y/n y/l/n. i’m finn’s teacher, and i wanted to discuss certain behaviours of his with you" you explained firmly. “if that’s okay” you added in a mumble.

he just stared at you for an instant. an instant that felt like eternity to you. then he nodded, letting you come into the house.

he led you through the betting house to his office.

he sat on his chair; you took your place on the other side of the desk.

“so” he said, pulling out a cigarette, “is he getting in a lot of trouble, eh?”

you smiled timidly, admiring his sharp features.

"more like he's the one creating the trouble." you watched as tommy lit his cigarette and exhaled a cloud of smoke before resuming. "he and his presumed gang sometimes drink beers or smoke cigarettes, torment some younger kids maybe. mr shelby, i understand that he spends a lot of time at the cut, and that ... um, that..." you were suddenly at a loss of words. you didn't want to say it, but that's how you felt it: he had grown up in a similar environment.

thomas smirked, knowing your thoughts. he knew what your mind instinctively told you. but he didn't feel enraged. quite the opposite, your concern seemed genuine, and you looked like a lovely young woman; even if your thoughts were a bit tainted by the reputation that preceeded him, he knew you meant no harm.

he also took a moment to admire how off place you looked there. your clothes were rose golden, which seemed to accentuate the soft aura that surrounded you. even with the dim lights and the greyish ambience of the office, your skin appeared to glimmer.

"i guess i'm okay with whatever he does outside school, that's what i'm trying to say. but as of late, finn and his boys have been taking their businesses around the school area. and that is of my concern. we can not afford to have children intimidated, girls harassed; hell, if a child were to try substances because of your brother and his friends, and the parents found out, we could be- the school could be sued and-"

"miss y/l/n" tommy interrupted your ramble.

"y/n." you corrected, offering a smile. "please, no one calls me miss y/n/l; it would feel weird"

"i see then. y/n" you tried not to feel butterflies tingling on your stomach as your name rolled off his tongue. he smiled as well, more to himself than to you.

"finn is his own man now" tommy continued. "i will talk to him about this, but i can not guarantee that he will do as he is told. truth is, i don't have much power over him now."

he took another drag of the cigarette, eyes finding yours through the smoke.

"what do you mean? i'm sure there's something you can do"

"not really, much to my displeasure. i assure you, y/n, that i will do what i can to correct finn's behaviour at school. he used to want to be like me, y'know? but now he's... he's him. "

"i don't think that's entirely true. you know, one of the only assignments finn turned in this semester was an essay about the person they admired most. not only finn excelled in the task, handing a beautiful composition, well structured and showing a wide range of vocabulary; but the essay was about you, mr shelby. it professed how he wanted nothing but to be like 'his brother tommy'. he truly looks up to you. he still does, mr shelby. so, i think you will succeed at getting him to change his mind."

now it was tommy who seemed to have run out of words, only inhaling from his cigarette. his eyes studied you meticulously. how your eyes fluttered around the room, unable to settle, refusing to meet his; how you clutched your hands in your lap; how your chest rose and fell as you breathed.

“i’ll give it a try, eh?” he finally spoke.

a smile lit your face.

"wonderful. well, thank you for your time, mr shelby", you showed him your appreciation to him listening to you as you stood up.

"tommy"

"what?" you asked, genuinely confused; you thought you hadn't heard correctly.

"if i am to call you y/n, it is only fair for you to call me tommy. i suppose" he stated. though he refused to look directly at you, a smile was tugging at his lips.

"very well, then. thank you for having me this evening, tommy" you offered a tight-lipped smile.

he just gave you a curt nod, taking another drag of the cigarette. you smoothed some wrinkles on your clothes and, after giving him one last grin, you made your way to the door, ready to leave.

"wait" he uttered, his voice low, as if he was rethinking his decision.

you turned to him, hand resting on the frame of the door.

"would you- maybe, consider going for a drink with me?" he hadn't looked at you as he posed the question; but his gaze locked with yours when he was expecting your answer.

you felt heat creep up your neck and cheeks, praying to whoever was listening that he didn't notice.

"only if you stay true to your word, tommy" you responded before heading out, smiling like a fool when you were finally out of sight.

© heartcereql, 2023 || thank you for reading ! 𓆩 ♱ 𓆪

[kaylasficrecs]

thomas shelby recs

safe with me | series | @kgficz

shattered | imagine, angst, smut | @earlgreydream

frozen fear | imagine, flangst | @theonewiththefanfics

a small mishap | imagine, flangst | @gypsy-girl-08

the governess | imagine, fluff | @cillmequick

casual | imagine, flangst (more fluff) | @everythingelseisextra

protection | series | @writers-hes

ain't she sweet | imagine, fluff | @look-at-the-soul

men with blue eyes and dark hair | one shot, fluff (some angst) | @dandelionprints

wailing teapots | imagine, flangst | @oddaodd

an unfair loss | one shot, angst | @wutheringcaterpillar215

back to december | imagine, flangst (more angst) | @wutheringcaterpillar215

don't be late | one shot, angsty flangst | @dandelionprints

drunk confession | imagine, smut | @iluvzaddies

for once let me have | imagine, flangst | @mrkdvidal1989

pawn shop blues | imagine, flangst (mostly angst) | @heartcereql

toy horses outside the brothel | series | @writers-hes

new chapter | imagine, fluff | @gypsy-girl-08

no man works alone | drabble, fluff | @muneca-lemon-steppa

midnight interlude | imagine, fluff | @awritesthings1

the complaint | imagine, fluff | @look-at-the-soul

[joshlmbrt]

request; ‘charlie walker letting you braid his hair. like imagine him with lost of cute lil braids.’ - @heartcereql

i had accidentally posted it without finishing it so i had to delete and start again 😭 i apologize. BUT this request was too cute not to stop everything and write something for it. thank you for ur request lovely, i hope you like it! <3 w; short & very sweet!

he drops the remote onto the coffee table, sighing after dropping onto the couch, rolling onto his side. you smile when his head lays on your thigh, hand resting on your knee, thumb swiping back and forth.

“how’s your paper coming along?” he huffs, eyes watching as the trailers for older movies play out.

“it’s… coming,” he mumbles. you say his name and he chuckles. “i’ll start it soon! maybe after this movie,” his brows lift, finally tilting his head back and staring up at you. “maybe you can help.” he grins.

your eyes narrow, fingers reaching around and dragging your fingernails up and down the side of his neck. “you tell me i distract you. how would i be able to even help?”

“i don’t know… bribing works sometimes.”

you hum softly and nod. “one condition,” his brows lift slightly. you smile. “i get to braid your hair.”

he lets out a small sigh, nodding. “fine.” you giggle and drag your fingers up his neck and towards his hair, sliding your fingers through his hair.

“on the ground.”

he mutters under his breath, but does as you say, sitting in front of you with his back pressed against the couch. you clap or closer, your leg resting over his shoulder. he leans over and presses a quick kiss to your calf.

“sit still.” you tease, fingers working on the first mini braid. he smiles to himself, resisting the urge to shake his head.

he tries to keep his eyes open, really, because this was his favorite movie. but with your gentle fingers sliding through his scalp, his eyes grow heavier and heavier, finally shutting.

your eyes glance up every once in awhile to the screen, the flannel, that you chosen of charlie’s, slides down your shoulder every so often.

by the time the credits roll, your finishing and grabbing your phone, taking a photo of the braids before wrapping your arm around his shoulder, pressing your lips against his temple and cheekbone. “charlie.” you whisper softly.

he mumbles softly, shifting his legs out in front of himself, wincing at the fuzzy feeling. “you finished?”

“mhm. so is the movie. so you know what that means.”

“bed?”

“homework,” you laugh softly. “we’ll both work on it, that way we can finish it together - if you’re strong enough to stay awake fully.”

he sighs and tilts his head back against your shoulder. “what’s the bribe?”

“i won’t stay the night when your parents are gone.”

that seems to catch his attention, quickly standing from the ground and holding out his hand. the braids hit his cheeks. “let’s go.”

you laugh and stand, patting his chest. “knew i could blackmail you.”

[kisses4kaia]

i- thank you so much. i’m actually tearing up right now. to everyone who’s been here through my ups and downs and my uncalled for hiatus’s, my heart is so full of you and your tolerance for me and my stupid inconsistency.

special thanks to lucy @heartcereql, sunnie @cybersunnie, celeste @murdrdocs, yaya @beachyma, ophelia @phefics, and olivia @enviedear - and all my lovely anons - for being my muses and inspiring me everyday. love you, gals.

i’ve poured my blood, sweat, and tears into my work and you guys somehow actually like it and for that i couldn’t be more grateful. i don’t know what else to say because no words can truly encompass my gratitude. thank you thank you thank you. a million times over. mwah 1k special coming soon.

- kailana🫂💋!

[enretrogue]

𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗙𝗜𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗦

.☘︎ ݁˖ = BLACK/POC WORKS | 23' FIC REC M.LIST

HOTD

AEMOND TARGARYEN

Homemade Dumplings — @inkareds

Little Dragon — @valeskafics

Sleep Well, My Queen — @aglaias-blog

Stress Relief — @hematoanne

The Best Way To Learn — @fleurriee

Remedy — @the-dendrophile-bookdragon

PEAKY BLINDERS

ALFIE SOLOMONS

Mr. and Mrs. Solomons — @readyouforfilth

September Drabble Challenge: Day 16 — @dlmlufics

Tie Me — @raincoffeeandfandoms

Reddish Marks — @dearshelby

I Know Him (ft. Finn Shelby) — @anonymooseforever007

THOMAS SHELBY

The Ring — @anotherblinder

Imagine Tommy Seeing Your Spine Tattoo — @heartcereql

The Wrath of a Mother — @cinewhore

A Man With a Reputation Masterlist — @kadwrites

Don’t Be Late — @dandelionprints

Pawn Shop Blues — @heartcereql

Until We Meet Again — @cryingforlife

I’ve Got My Eye On You — @padfootdaredmetoo

Seventeen Days — @gypsy-girl-08

Time After Time Chapter Twelve — @all-mirth-no-matter

For You — @noforkingclue

SHELBY FAMILY

Are You Laughing At My Brother? — @zkvry

TRIPLE FRONTIER

BENNY MILLER

It’s You — @theunbearableweightofpedropascal

Gym Crush — @crazyk-imagine

Good Luck Charm — @grownup-thatbeautiful

I Got You, You Got Me — @reveluving

FRANKIE MORALES

The Day Three Words Are Said — @undercoverpena

Gold Band — @moralesispunk

TRIPLE FRONTIER BOYS

Home Is Where The Heart Is — @violentdelightsandviolentends

MCU

BUCKY BARNES

Bumblebee Being Your Muse — @angrythingstarlight .☘︎ ݁˖

BLEACH

BYAKUYA KUCHIKI

Byakuya As A Father — @sashi-ya

Devoted Husband!Byakuya — @driaswrld

JUSHIRO UKITAKE

Interrupted While Making Out — @brittscafe

KENPACHI ZARAKI

Don’t Worry About It (ft. Yachiru) — @j-u-u-z-o

Opposites Attract — @brittscafe

KISUKE URAHARA

Supa Special — @wiinterz .☘︎ ݁˖

Fluff HCs — @halcyon-writings

RENJI ABARAI

By The Light Of Dawn — @mrs-kurooo

Roommate!Renji — @fairyoddmelinda .☘︎ ݁˖

Touch Me, Feel Me — @backwzzds .☘︎ ݁˖

Blurb 2 — @dreadsuitsamus

Reminisce With You — @feitanii .☘︎ ݁˖

Simple Things (+Ichigo Kurosaki) — @karikarasuno

SHUNSUI KYORAKU

Yellow Dress — @eiflawriting .☘︎ ݁˖

Feature Me — @dejwrites .☘︎ ݁˖

ATTACK ON TITAN

CONNIE SPRINGER

Touch Starved!Connie — @s-sugustar .☘︎ ݁˖

We Leavin’ — @nadiahshaven .☘︎ ݁˖

Trigger Fingers — @nysrage .☘︎ ݁˖

EREN JAEGER

Show Off (+Jean) — @theragethatisdesire

JEAN KIRSCHTEIN (KIRSTEIN)

Husband!Jean HCs — @jeankirsteinsgirl

Three Little Words — @310802

Heaven — @firefly--bright

ONYANKOPON

Play Fighting w/ Ony — @dilfl0v3rss .☘︎ ݁˖

All Mine — @halfrican-heat .☘︎ ݁˖

Backseat Driver — @halfrican-heat .☘︎ ݁˖

Upstanding Gentleman — @halfrican-heat .☘︎ ݁˖

Jamaica Trees and What’s Between Your Knees — @aiyaaayei  .☘︎ ݁˖

REINER BRAUN

Recovery — @pinkmirth

MULTI CHARACTER

Smutty Blurb — @ getoscrybaby

DIVERGENT

FOUR/TOBIAS EATON

Power Couple — @heliads

[heartcereql]

shades of cool

୨୧ young!coriolanus snow x f!reader ୨୧ IN WICH Coriolanus is the person you've grown to hate and compete against. But when you and him have to work together to achieve what you want, the tables start to turn. (6.2k+ words) ୨୧ cw: cursing, a LOT of tension (yall r going to hate me for the cockblocking but next chapter will make it up i promise), probably ooc snow (acting like he's a sweetheart and not a psycho lollll), like one mention of blood?

a/n: snow lands on top (of me pls)

𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝐼 - 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝐼𝐼

There were only two things that you completely and utterly despised: breaking your favorite nail and the voice of Coriolanus Snow.

"Y/n!"

You made no sign whatsoever to acknowledge the man following your across the crowd of burgundy uniforms. You just clutched your books tighter and quickened your pace.

"Hey, Y/n- wait up!" he called again.

Sighing, you stopped in your tracks and turned around to see a platinum blond running in your direction. The usual shit-eating grin plastered on his face. You put on your best effort to suppress the eye roll that was begging to be released.

"Yes?" you asked, unamused.

"I was just wondering- you seemed kind of distracted in class today." His words were sugary, almost enough to trick anyone into thinking he was truly concerned. But not you though. You had learn to identify the glint in his eyes from a mile away. "Well, just in cas you missed this-"

Before you knew it, you had an A+ graded exam shoved in your face. Making a face of disgust, you scrambled away to look at his face, expression filled with pride.

"That's great, Coriolanus, real great. Would be even greater if I had asked", you scowled, turning away while Coriolanus scoffed behind you, quickly catching up with you again as you resumed your way out.

"Oh, c'mon, Y/n! You're not the only one who's allowed to brag", he said, nudging your side.

"Clearly not. You do it all the time", you deadpanned.

"Don't be mad 'cause you weren't able to beat me. Again."

The smell of roses was too stuck in your nostrils for your liking. Sweet and inviting, but remembering who it came from made the flowers lose all their charm.

"Also, exercise three's answer was option D," he pointed out, that annoying smirk on his face again.

"What?"

"It was option D, not A."

"How did you even- Nevermind. Option A is the literal definition, care to explain how it is option D?" you argued, rolling your eyes.

"I- A's not the definition!" Coriolanus tried to rebute.

"It is. Try paying attention for once."

"It's not!" He stopped fully, leaning against a wall and opening his bag.

"What are you doing?" you raised a brow at his franctic search. Sometimes you forgot how infuriating he was.

"I'm looking for the textbook," he replied, face almost buried in his bag.

"Unbelievable," you scoffed, turning around. "You really are unfixable, Snow."

Walking away from the mess of papers he had made around him, you could hear him protest.

"Hey, don't go! I'm finding the page!"

You shook your head. The exasperation in his voice was like music to your ears.

You knew who you wanted to be from a very young age. You knew exactly what you wanted and what you had to do to achieve it. You wanted everything.

Top of your class since you were five. Student of the month every month. Class president. Winning every single award that could be won by a child under twelve years old.

You wanted to take everything from a life that had given you nothing. Like a phoenix, your mother used to say, risen from the ashes to burn in the most blazing fire. With little to no resources, your family had incredibly made it work so that they could afford a small apartment in the Capitol (if you dared call the cubicle that your family shared a house). But your family had made it. And so had you, child prodigy, wanting to rescue your poor parents and sister. Specially when your mom's frequent coughing developed into something far more serious.

You were unstoppable. Nothing in your way. Praise. Applause. Recognition. It was all in the back of your hand.

Until Coriolanus Snow appeared.

He and you were basically the same. Same drive for power, same desire to rescue your family, same overachiever character, same flawless grades. One would think you would get along, being so impossibly similar.

And perhaps you could have. You could've befriended him and helped each other. If he had not equalled you with such aptitude. Before you knew it, Y/n Y/l/n was never mentioned without Coriolanus Snow. You were no longer the only student to pass with distinction. You weren't the only clear winner, or the only candidate for class president, or weren't so easily distincted class president, for Coriolanus was your vicepresident (something that had never been a thing, that appeared as suddenly as him).

But he was fighting you for your spot. Naturally, you didn't even consider him as a potential friend. He was an obstacle in your way, as you were in his. Soon, you two were always engaged in bantering, cruel comments, trying to bring the other down by showing off your accomplishments and grades and awards and titles.

It was more than safe to say that you and Corolanius held special hatred for each other.

And then came the Plintz Prize. Both of you wanted it with equal burning ache, and gave your very best since the first day. Obviously, you weren't the only students who were interested in winning the prize, but you were the ones ready to sacrifice everything, the ones to always make the most of an opportunity, even if it was minimal.

You were so deeply convinced that you were nothing like the other.

But neither of you was willing to let anything come in your way.

"A new financial aid is going to be gifted."

The words echoed in the room as students hushedly commented, whispered to one another.

"Students will submit a proposal, individually or in pairs. A suggestion with your own design of the Hunger Games. You'll go into detail about every little thing, so that in the end, Dr Gaul will select the project she fancies more to be the winner and receive the financial aid."

You and Coriolanus shared a look from opposite sides of the room.

The prize is mine.

As per usual, you were determined to go for everything. You needed to nail this. That very same afternoon you were sat in front of your desk, scribbling down what was supposed to be the first draft to your proposal project. You'd noted some ideas, but they didn't seem to make sense altogether.

Groaning for the umpteenth time, you got up from the spot you'd been occuppying for the last two hours. Your home was no inspiration, which was why you gathered all your scattered pages and notes and made your way to the Academy's library.

There was a spot you liked there. Your spot, though only you referred to it as that, of course. A comfy chair with a green cushion on the end of a large oak table, between the shelves of Geometry books and medicine articles. Golden rays of sunlight filtered through the large window on spring afternoons, and even in the bleak winter it felt nice to look through it.

Making your way over to your spot, you could almost feel the comfort of the chair, how your thoughts would clear and start to make sense. Eyes half closed anticipating the delight. But you opened them only to find a familiar (and annoying) blond sitting in your corner.

"Move" you said as you finished your way over to him.

"What? No. I'm working. Thinking", Coriolanus answered, unbothered, without looking up from his notes and papers, some scrambled, some with big ink stains.

"I don't care. It's my spot. Move.”

He raised his head to look up at you and stopped writing.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realise this chair had your name engraved on it,” he pettily remarked.

“Whatever,” you exhaled, plopping down on the seat next to him. “You are such a pain in the ass, you know.”

“Back at you,” he replied, eyes focused on his papers again.

You huffed and reached inside your bag to grab your notes.

Your messily written ideas were mocking you, at this point. If you thought they didn’t make much sense at home, they definitely weren’t making any now. You had so much in mind. And they were great ideas, really. But you couldn’t find a way to connect them, for them to make sense altogether. And you were missing something. Something so essential, something that you couldn’t quite place.

How will the games be watched if they’re held in the middle of a desert? Where will the cameras be?

You scrunched your paper, groaning again and dropping your head to the table.

"Something wrong?"

You lifter your head to find Coriolanus looking at you, carding a hand through his hair.

"None of your business."

"Jesus, chill out Y/n. I was just asking if you were okay.." he spoke, not in his usual bratty tone; he sounded just worried.

Your eyes widened a bit with a mix between embarrassment and shyness.

"I'm just... stressed. I'm stuck on the whole proposal thing, it just won't make any sense. I feel like it's missing something, but I just can't know what," you told him, rubbing your temples.

Coriolanus let out a breathy chuckle, to which you looked at him disbelief.

"I knew you were cruel, but laughing at my miserable state is just-"

"I'm not laughing. I'm relieved," he explained. You looked for any signs of mockery, but his eyes were truthful and soft.

"Relieved?" you frowned.

"Yeah. I-I thought I was the only one having a kind of block," he looked down to his notes and that was when you noticed the messy paragraphs the crossed ideas, the lines and arrows that tried to connect everything.

You gave Coriolanus a tight-lipped smile. He was right. It was somewhat relieving to know that your only real threat was having a hard time like you were.

"Hey, I've got an idea."

His voice pulled you out of your thoughts. Oh hell no. No idea Coriolanus could want to share with you would turn out great.

"Shoot"

"I think we should partner up for the project," he bluntly said.

"Pardon?" you asked raising your brows. You really thought that you hadn't heard him correctly.

"Yeah, I mean, think about it. We both have a lot of ideas but feel something missing. We-we could help each other out!" Coriolanus clarified, somewhat flustered. "We'd win the prize and split it. Highbottom said the proposal could be submitted by pairs. If we do this together, we'll be unstoppable."

You blinked twice, digesting his words like you couldn't believe they were real.

"I think that's the worst idea I've ever heard."

Coriolanus scoffed. "Right, because you're so well known for your good ideas."

True. Though being a straight A's, perfect student, you had a certain fire inside you that had given you a reckless and flaming reputation.

"I'm in."

You were back in the library the next day, only this time you were sitting in your spot, and Coriolanus was besides you. You had been sitting in silence for the past fifteen minutes, reading the other's anotations and doodles.

When you finished, you leaned back into you seat, stretching your neck and pushing loose strands of hair behind your ears.

"So?" Coriolanus inquired when he noticed you were done. "What do you think?"

"I'm... surprised," you told him, chin resting on your hand as you looked at him. "It's almost identical to mine."

He chuckled. "Yeah, that's what I was noticing. I guess great minds think alike, right?"

"Could be, or you just copied me," you said. Coriolanus sneered and you saw the complains forming behind his lips, so you were quick to clarify. "I was joking, Snow. It seems we're not so different."

"Or you just copied me" he mocked, using your words from earlier.

"You wish," you smile, scoffing in a playful manner.

"Hey, what was it that you were unhappy with about your ideas? Because I think they're pretty great," Coriolanus asked, handing your notes back to you.

"They don't make sense to me. I couldn't come up with a way to connect it all," you shrugged. "Maybe we shouldn't use all of this, I don't know."

The entire day was spent between countless bickering and snacks, you and Coriolanus discussing the project and how insufferable the other was, shielded by the brimful shelves and the hushed conversations between students.

Over the next few days, your begrudging meetings with Coriolanus continued, each session marked by a mixture of tension and reluctant cooperation. The library became your unofficial battleground, the hallowed halls witnessing the clash of two strong-willed minds.

As you both settled into your usual spot once again, there was a palpable air of wariness. However, you couldn't help but notice a subtle change in Coriolanus. He seemed more open to discussion, his usually stoic facade occasionally cracking to reveal a hint of vulnerability. The topics ranged from the project at hand to personal interests, and amidst the disagreements, you discovered shared preferences and surprisingly similar perspectives.

By the first week, a sort of unspoken truce had settled between you. The bickering had mellowed into a more civilized exchange of ideas. Coriolanus, despite his initial resistance, began to respect your opinions and even admitted to finding some merit in your perspectives. You, in turn, acknowledged the sharp intellect beneath his icy exterior. Shared laughter became more frequent, often catching both of you off guard.

Throughout these encounters, the library transformed from a battlefield to a space of reluctant collaboration. Despite the lingering differences, a strange sense of partnership emerged. The once insufferable project discussions turned into an exploration of each other's intellect, and with each passing day, the library witnessed the evolution of an unexpected connection between two seemingly incompatible souls.

Your bag hit the leg of the table as you slipped in your chair, the blond taking the seat next to you. A soft thud was heard, along with something rolling. You were going to duck down to reach it, but Coriolanus was already grabbing it.

"Hey, are these yours?" Coriolanus asked, holding a bottle of pills.

Your eyes widened. Your mom's medicines. You reached inside your bag to check if the bottle you had picked up from the chemist's before school was still there. It wasn't.

"Yeah. Well- my mom's."

He handed the bottle to you, whcih you were quick to put back in your bag.

"Is she okay? Not like it's any of my business, but those pills are like one of the strongest shits ever," he frowned.

Taking a deep breath, you explained, "She's not. She hasn't been for quite a while. And the doctors don't say much, but it isn't looking good."

"I- um, I'm sorry," he stammered, looking down. "If you or her ever need anything, you know you can talk to me, right?"

You nodded, leg bouncing up and down.

"Here," he said, scribbling down something on a ripped piece of paper. "My address. If you ever need it."

"Thank you," you looked into his eyes, words barely a whisper. "I really appreciate it."

His knee bumped yours, like soothing it down, keeping it steady. "Anytime," he smiled.

You gave him an awkward smile, looking away.

The green folder, clutched tightly in your arms, contained the first draft of yours and Coriolanus' design for the Hunger Games. You both were going to introduce it to Dean Highbottom, since you needed to inform him of who formed your team and some other information. Then, he would grant the two of you an interview with Dr. Gaul.

Once, Coriolanus had referred to the folder as 'your baby'. You had given him a blank stare for a second before the two of you broke down in laughter.

Mindlessly turning around a corner, you bumped into someone's shoulder. A pair of arms caught your own, steadying you, keeping you from falling.

"Whoa, sorry-"

The folder. You quickly stepped back, freeing the folder from being crushed any further. Compulsively checking if the folder was okay, you failed to identify the pair of arms that had held you seconds before.

It was okay. Your baby was okay.

"So sorry, I- Coriolanus?" you asked as you finally lifted your gaze. "I thought you were coming by later?"

"Couldn't wait. I was actually looking for you. I just saw Dean Highbottom enter his office. Campus is pretty deserted, so I'd say we could be the first ones."

A soft smile graced his face.

"Shall we then?" you posed the courtsy question playfully.

"We shall"

The two of you made your way to the Dean's office, gushing about the project like two schoolgirls. Grades and rivalry were not brought up once. Perhaps just because you wanted the day to be perfect.

After knocking on Dean Highbottom's door and hearing a 'come in', Coriolanus opened the door and both of you came in.

"Look who it is! Snow and Y/l/n. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes", the Dean greeted you.

Coriolanus and you shared a glance before giving the Dean a polite smile.

"Are you here about the project?"

"We are," you answered, gesturing to the green folder in your hands.

"As in the two of you are submitting the proposal together?" the bearded man asked, raising his eyebrows. When Coriolanus nodded, he let out a chuckle. "I thought I wouldn't live to see the day."

You offered an awkward smile as you and the blond sat in the seats before the Dean's desk. You silently handed him your folder. After opening it and browsing through the various concepts and sketches, Dean Highbottom closed the folder, tapping his figertips against it.

Nervousness gnawed your insides, your leg bouncing up and down in anxiety. You hadn't even noticed this, too caught up into thinking the absolute worst of the situation; until you felt a knee- his knee- press into yours. Suddenly very aware of what was happening outside your mind, you blinked once, as to come back into reality, and then again, swifting your eyes to Coriolanus besides you.

For a moment, just a moment, you saw only a pair of eyes that guaranteed comfort peering into yours, crowned by the softests of golden curls. And then you saw the snarky comments, the whole usurping-your-place scheme, the perfect grades and the annoyingly pitched voice. The smile froze on your lips. Fuck.

"So," the Dean's voice broke the silence. "Are you two dating yet? Because it would really benefit you"

Both your head and his snapped into the Dean's direction.

"Pardon?!"

"What?"

Two pairs of eyes now looked wide and with a mix of disbelief and annoyance at the Dean.

"I take it you're not." No shit.

You were still too astounded to speak. What did he mean yet? He was your proffesor. He should, must, know that everything between the two of you is rivalry. Right?

"What, um, what did you mean it would benefit us?" Coriolanus asked, his voice as thin as thread.

"Well I eyed your proposal. And it's good. More than good. It has a lot of potential. But Volumnia Gaul loves one thing more than her creations. Gossip. Drama. If she hears the two of you are dating, she'll make you the Capitol's power couple. She'll give you a story. You will become her favourites. If you want to win at all costs, I'm just giving you a shortcut." He stared at the pair in front of him."But, overall, you've done a great work. I'll leave you to ponder it and I'll alert you when Dr Gaul is ready to see you."

You nodded, as Coriolanus and you mumbled 'thank you's and 'goodbye's and 'have a nice day's before leaving the office.

Campus wasn't very crowded yet; only a couple of students could be seen lurking around. The morning still preserved its coldness, dew remained on the grass.

Biting the inside of your cheek, you started walking, the blond boy quick to catch up.

You hated how you got caught up in this mess. All because you and him needed help. And because he and you were the only answer to the other's problem.

"Y/n?" Coriolanus spoke softly. "How do you feel... about what the Dean said?"

Sighing, you replied, "I just don't know. I mean, this was all crazy before but now? I'm confused, I guess."

"Don't you think it can help us even more?" he frowned.

"But we don't need any more help. We joined forces, no one can beat us, there's no need for us to-"

"I know we can do it without Gaul's help. But it’s one thing to win this aid, and another thing to become Gaul’s favourites. Do you realise how many doors she could open for us?” Coriolanus had stopped both of you now, his body blocking your way, hands in your shoulders, eyes fixed on yours.

“C’mon, Y/n, it’s just pretending,” he pleaded. “Plus, we’re in this to help each other out, right?”

A warm smile spread over his lips, one that only encouraged you and painted a smile of your own on your mouth.

“Fine. We’ll do this lunatic shit. Since you’re not able to reach my level without my help,” you teased, moving past him and resuming your way.

“Sure, Y/n. Whatever makes you sleep at night!” you heard Snow shout behind you.

You just gave him the finger, biting back a smile as you walked away.

The news spread like wildfire through the campus. The dean's offhand comment had ignited a storm of speculation and gossip. As you navigated through the university halls, it was impossible to ignore the curious glances and hushed conversations that followed you.

The library, once your sanctuary of academic warfare, now became the epicenter of buzzing rumors. Students stole glances at you and Coriolanus, whispering behind cupped hands as you pretended not to notice. The atmosphere had shifted, and your every move seemed to be scrutinized under an invisible magnifying glass.

Your next meeting at the library felt different. The air was thick with unspoken words, and the weight of the rumors hung in the room. As you both delved into your project, the tension was palpable. Every accidental touch or shared smile now carried an added layer of significance.

By the third week, the rumors had taken a life of their own. The once reluctant collaboration now felt like an uncomfortable alliance, forged not just for academic success but to navigate the newfound attention. Your life, once a sheltering and private, now felt like a fishbowl.

The doors that led to Gaul's lab appeared impossibly big. You let out a shaky breath, one you didn't know you were holding. Bouncing your leg usually was how you showed your nerves, but, since you were standing, you settled with just a trembling pinky finger.

Cold fingers were wrapping around your hand before you knew it.

"What are you doing?" you turned to Coriolanus.

"Gaul's no fool. We have to put on our best efforts to make her believe we are together. You have to help, too. And your hands were shaking," he shrugged.

Taking a deep breath, you swallowed his words and leaned further into his arm, clinging to him like a good girlfriend would.

As if on cue, the door swung open, revealing brown and blue eyes shooting a daring look. The woman’s face was instantly lit up with a smirk.

“Coriolanus Snow and Y/n Y/l/n. The sweethearts Dean Highbottom has told me so much about,” Volumnia Gaul greeted the both of you. “Please, come inside.”

She stepped aside to let you in. The ceiling seemed to be miles away from the floor. White, ivory columns welcomed you, glass cabinets displaying all sorts of weird creatures and experiments.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Gaul commented behind you.

There was just something so... unsettling about her, something you couldn't quite place but that was ticking you off

It's for the better.

That had been your mantra for the past few days. The end justifies the means. You kept telling yourself that you didn't want this, that you were only doing this for convinience. But lately you hadn't really been feeling that way. Not when you were sitting right next to him, laughing mere seconds ago, his eyes staring into yours, not trying to intimidate you but more in an attentive way.

He thought you looked so delicate and alluring. You did often, as of late. There were a few stray strands of hair that hid your dashing smile from Coriolanus. A smile he had so recently grown so fond of.

He just couldn't resist the urge to tuck them behind your ear; his fingers a soft caress against your skin. And so he did.

His touch was feather-like, as if you were a porcelain doll that was about to break. At the sudden contact, you shifted your gaze from the papers on the table to look at him. And, god, you almost wish you hadn’t. Because he looked otherworldly just sitting there besides you, hand behind your ear, lips parted slightly, dangerously close to you.

“Your hair was getting in your eye,” he mumbled.

The proximity was going to kill you. He was invading all of your senses. And you hated it. You hated it because this wasn’t even real. It was just supposed to help you with Gaul, nothing more. You hated it because it didn’t feel that way. You hated it because this was not the Coriolanus you knew; not the Coriolanus you chose to know.

“Thanks,” you breathed.

You were scared. As pure and simple as that. This was uncharted territory for you; you had never seen this part of him. It frightened you because you were losing control over your emotions.

"Coryo..."

He was convinced you were goingo to give into his desires. You were convinced for a moment, too. But then it occurred to you that this wasn't supposed to be real. That whatever you had between you both was just a scheme. That he was just joking.

"What did you score on the last biology exam?"

You mentally cursed yourself as soon as the words left your mouth. You felt yourself involuntarily slipping away from his touch.

“100%,” he responded, frowning. “Why?”

“Guess all these time around me wasn’t enough. I got 102%,” you smiled, trying to sound (hoping to sound) less awkward than you sounded in your head.

“How’s that even possible? I thought there were no extra exercises.”

You swallowed the lump forming in your throat before continuing. “I detailed every answer more than it was needed, so.”

“Oh. Well, congrats.” His lips were pressed into a thin line that he tried to transform into a smile, but ended up just contorting his face.

You looked at the papers before you, laying in a mess on the table, surrounded by pencils, sticky notes and highlighters. Then your eyes peered at the window besides your spot. The sun was setting behind the Capitol’s skyline, painting golden and rosy hues over the library. It was getting late.

“I- I think I should go. I’d better go home before it darkens.”

Coriolanus nodded. "Cool. I'm gonna get going too."

You bit your lip as you stood up, gathering your work. Not another word was uttered until you noticed the librarian peering over at you from behind some shelves, and students at the end of the aisle were turning their heads to you.

Perks of being Gaul’s favourite couple, you supposed.

You leaned to Coriolanus’ level again, pulling him into a side hug as you whispered in his ear.

“They’re looking.”

And then, you pressed a kiss to his forehead and walked out.

Too overwhelmed thinking about that moment with Coriolanus, you missed the way his eyes stayed on you until you left the library, and the way his fingers lingered on the part of his forehead that had been in touch with your lips.

The thought of him plagued your mind as you made your way home. Not even the biting cold of the evening could take the warmth spreading over your cheeks. What was going on with you? He was the guy you hated, you used to hate, the one that was trying to take over your spot.

But your attempts to convince yourself were vain. Because you no longer felt raging hate when you thought of Coriolanus. You couldn't excatly pin what it was, but it was definitely not hatred.

Reaching inside you bag for the key of your family apartment, you sighed, as if that was going to clear and sort out your messy feelings. Yet you didn't even need to open the door, for it was opened swiftly in front of you.

"Y/n!" your father pulled you in. The frown between his brows, the worry reflected in his eyes, the way he held you. Something was not right.

"Dad, what's wrong? I-"

"It's your mom, she- she started to cough so much blood. She's unconscious now, I- I was just about to take her to the hospital."

"Oh my God." Tears stung in your eyes. You knew she was bad, worse than she'd ever been, but this was far from what the doctors had informed you about. "Shit, where's Deena?"

"Your sister's staying over at a friend's. Is there anyone who can take you for the night? Someone who knew about your mother, if it makes you more comfortable?" he asked, rubbing your arm.

Coriolanus. You hated that he was the first person to come to mind, but the truth was thas this project had swept you up from practically every other aspect of your life. You hadn't seen your best friends much, since they were also focused on their projects. Most of your time had been spent with Coriolanus. And you didn't know how to feel about that. Disgusted, you supposed. But that didn't quite match the tugging in your chest whenever you met him at the library, or the calmness that took over you when his knee pressed into your anxiously bouncing one.

"Yeah. Yeah, I think so," you nodded, blinking the tears away, though they slid down your cheeks anyway.

"Good. I don't think it'd be good for you to be alone right now."

You hurriedly packed your essentIals and some extra clothes, making your way to the door. You held it open for your dad as he carried your mother.

"I'll see you soon. Be safe, Y/n," he whispered.

"You too, Dad."

You tried your hardest not to break down as you saw your father making his way to the doctor's with your mom in his arms.

But once he was out of sight, you rushed out of the filthy apartment building. As you ran through the Capitol's streets, you remembered the now wrinkled paper that he had written his address on.

"Here. My address. If you ever need it."

It sat scrunched in your coat's pocket. You kept running as your trembling hands unfolded it, and quickened your pace once you'd read the address.

You arrived at his door short of breath, cheeks reddened from the effort, tears dried from the wind. Your knuckles softly knocked at his door.

Mess. You felt like a mess. Everything you had known to this day seemed to have completely flipped around, changing everything all of a sudden. Your mind was a tangled, impossible knot of thoughts and feelings and emotions that were constantly contradicting each other.

A blonde girl opened the front door. To your blurry eyes, she looked like an angel.

"Can I help you?" she kindly prompted, a concerned frown appearing in between her brows.

"Yeah- I'm looking for Coriolanus?" you said, voice on the point of breaking.

"Come in, he'll be right here," the woman spoke, stepping aside so you could come in and closing the door right after. She sat you down on an armchair, her touch gentle and tender. "Coryo! Someone's here for you."

As soon as the words left her mouth, you heard footsteps tumbling down the hallway and into the entrance. The instant his eyes met yours, he put everything else aside. His sole focus was you. The red around your eyes, eyelashes glinting from the recent caress of tears, shaky hands, bottom lip between your teeth, and your leg bouncing up and down almost uncontrollably.

He wanted to hold you forever. Take you in his arms like you were a fragile flower, yet the most fierce of them all. Rivalry long forgotten and buried, mean comments and hurtful offenses forgiven without a second thought. He saw Y/n. Not perfect grades, not snarky remarks, not an opponent. Just Y/n. Sweet, sweet, Y/n.

And you didn't see Coriolanus Snow. The blond standing in front of you now was not the one you'd been fighting for the better part of your teenage years, even before. He was not the one competing against you. Who was him then, if not the Coriolanus Snow you had known all your life?

Coryo.

"Y/n, hey, hey, what's wrong?" he asked, voice surprisingly soft, even for his cousin. He crouched down, placing a cold, calming hand on your fidgety leg.

You could feel the tears welling up again, because he was there for you.

“I… I’m going to head out,” the woman said. “I’ll be back in a while.”

Coriolanus muttered a goodbye and then she was gone. And as soon as she was, you broke down.

Burying your head in your hands, tears burnt past your eyes, flowing now freely. All that could be heard were your heavy, shaky breaths. His hand on your back, tracing small circles, made you pull your head up.

Fuck, why were you even here?

"Y/n?"

"It's my mom." You tried to dry your cheeks, only for tears to fall down again. "She-she lost consciousness. The doctors didn't even say she was that bad. And I.. I just arrived there and there was nothing I could do-" your voice broke before you could finish the sentence.

He instantly pulled you into a hug, your head hidden in the crook of his neck, arms around it. One of his hands was wrapped around your torso, safely drawing you to him, while the other was tangled in your hair.

"I am so, so, sorry," he whispered, breath tickling your ear. You only clinged to him tighter; the only thing on your mind other than your mother right then was how warm and guarded you felt in his arms.

When you finally retracted to look at him, you found your body almost leaning into him again, yearning for his embrace. You inhaled sharply.

"I'm by your side no matter what, okay?" he assured you, eyes piercing yours, hands sliding up your figure to cup your face. "I'm here for you."

You did your best to gather yourself and nod at his words. But then you felt him pulling away in the slightest. No. You wanted him close. You wanted him.

You rose a hand to his neck, fingers dancing along his skin, messing with the blond curls they could reach.

"Hey, Y/n," Coriolanus called out. "She's going to make it. She'll be okay. And so will you."

A knot formed in your throat, the prequel to infinite tears, because who was him and what was he doing to your heart?

Whatever prejudice or thought you had against him was blurrying in your mind. The person he was supposed to represent in your head was further and further from the one barely inches away from you now. And then it hit you. Right then, right there. It didn't scare you. You wanted to know this person. You wanted to give the both of you a second consideration under different lightning.

And so, you closed the gap between Coriolanus and you, as he had tried and wanted so bad to do mere hours before. His lips were warm, contrary to every other part of his body you had ever been in contact with.

For a fraction of second, he hesitated, frozen in his spot, convincing himself that this was happening, that this was real, that you were real. But once he kissed back, he just couldn't let you go.

His hands were suddenly everywhere, exploring your body and drawing you to him as he kissed you, all the desire and passion (and even the resentment, too) poured into the kiss. Coriolanus wanted to make you feel okay. Not just now. But 'now' would have to do as of that moment. And if this was how you wanted the pain to go away, so be it. Fingers digging in your hips made you leave out a mixture of a gasp and a moan, which Coriolanus used to slip his tongue inside your mouth. Everthing he did got you addicted, craving more.

You had both been sitting on the floor, but now you were climbing into his lap, pulling away for the smallest of seconds, but either way Coriolanus was quick to reunite your lips again. Your mouths danced together. Your sking tingled pleasantly under his touch; a constant fire travelling beneath his fingers. But when his hand raised to your cheek, checking for the trace of any new tears. It was simply enough to melt you on the spot.

Tugging at his hair, you angled his face to leave a trace of open-mouthed kisses along his jaw. His groan reverberated through your skin.

The pain was buried somewhere in your mind, but your heart didn’t ache in that moment; he was all your senses were taking in. And you felt safe.

© heartcereql, 2023 || thank you for reading ! 𓆩 ♱ 𓆪

[heartcereql]

"𝐩𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬"

☆ tommy shelby x fem!wife!reader

𝐂𝐖- mentions of pregnancy and pregnancy loss, mentions of death, cursing, not proofread.

you hadn't dared to move since the doctors last came and spoke to you. you had barely blinked. it was like everything inside of you had suddenly stopped. you had stopped hearing the busy chattering of nurses in the hallway, the clattering of metal here and there. you had stopped smelling the clean cotton of the hospital bedsheets, the sweat that had now dried all over your body. you had stopped feeling the way your hair stuck to your forehead, and the lingering feeling of rubber gloves all over your skin. you had stopped tasting the blood on your lips from all the anxious biting; and only reminiscences of the anguished screams.

you only counted the times you inhaled and exhaled, focused only on your breath as tears fell from your eyes, silent and unnoticed.

in... seventy-three... out.

and again. wishing they carried some other mystical power to relieve your pain other than keeping your mind busy, you felt limp. like all life had just expired from you. in a way, it had. you felt empty because you were. after all this time, there was nothing.

your silence and self absortion was, however, disrupted by loud fluttering in the corridors, voices shrieking louder everytime. you gained consciousness over yourself again, slow but steady. your hands, now trembling faintly again, wiped out the recent and dried tears on your face, the touch feather-like, as you didn't have much force left in you.

but, amidst the chaos of voices, footsteps, trays and other unidentifiable noises, you found a voice you did recognize.

"-the fuck is she? i will find her myself if i fucking have to"

you perked your head at the familiar voice, irking straighter at the sound of your husband.

"sir, we've told you, she's not stable enough for-"

but tommy interrupted the nurse again. "where is my wife?"

"sir! you can't reach her now, she's-"

thud. after another voice told the nurse to just take mr shelby to your room, for the love of whoever was listening, the voices seemed to cool down and then the chatter and steps intensified as they approached your door.

"you stay away" was tommy's last warning to the nurse, before barging in.

you had tried to look away from the door, focusing on the green tiles of the hospital floor, desperately attempting to hide your vulnerability to tommy. but your eyes betrayed you, immediatly shooting up at your husband as he entered the space.

his cheeks were rosy, probably a mix from the cold weather outside and all the shouting to the nurses. his eyes weren't harsh and piercing, as many would recall; they just showed preoccupation. his cap was on his hand, held tightly out of nervousness.

"what? what happened? how are you? how is she?" tommy bombarded you with questions since the second he walked into the hospital room, rushing to your side.

your eyes were red and puffy, tears dried out and wiped away on your skin. your lip quivered when you spoke, as did your hands. "i'm sorry. i am so, so sorry, tom, i-"

you couldn't finish, for you broke into sobs. he laced a hand with yours, while the other came to hold your head, petting your hair in an attempt to calm you down.

"what happened, eh?" he asked, tracing the patterns he knew relaxed you where his skin touched yours.

he tried to remain calm. nevertheless, alarm was ringing through his body.

all sorts of questions and thoughts raced through tommy's mind. questions about his daughter, fear of the worst, worry about his wife. he pressed a kiss to your temple gingerly, as you let out a shaky breath, gripping his hand tighter.

"she- oh god." you paused to wipe some tears and to catch your breath after a hiccup. "when the nurses pulled her out, she-she wasn't, tommy she was-" you couldn't finish the sentence.

and you didn't have to. tommy could guess how it ended, and he pulled you closer to him, resting his chin on top of your head as you wept into his shoulder, gripping him as if he was going to disappear. as if he was going to disappear too.

the fact that tommy wasn't crying didn't mean by any chance he didn't want to. his eyes stung and he wanted nothing but to break down. but not there, not with you. because you needed him.

he was still recovering from the shock as well. everything was perfect a few hours ago, when you'd gone into labor. so what had happened? and why to you?

your voices danced; you muttering quavering 'sorry's, tommy gently reassuring you that it was okay, and that it wasn't your fault. but the feeling of impotence was constantly hovering over you; the guilt, the rage, the sadness, the fear, all the emotions blended together to overwhelmingly drown you.

"i'm sorry, tom" you snifled, voice sounding suddenly too young, too fragile.

he just held you tighter, closing his eyes as if that would make the pain go away.

after some moments, you pulled away. now your breathing was more controlled at tears only welled in your eyes.

"she wasn't breathing. when the nurses pulled her out, she wasn't-" hiccup "fuck, sorry. she wasn't breathing, tom..." you ended the sentence in a whisper.

you then told him what the nurses had tried to explain to you in your hysterical state. though you were now considerably calmer, you still refused to meet his eyes, as if they would only confirm that your daughter was dead even before she was born.

"she choked on the umbilical cord apparently. nothing they could do; she was born dead" you explained, voice breaking but managing to keep the tears at bay. pain stung in your chest, anxiety, desolation and guilt clawing and scratching you inside out.

"fuck.." tommy muttered under his breath. he ran a hand over his temple, curling it then into his hair.

but he grabbed you hand with his free one, a silent vow of inconditional solace, a reminder of the promise to forever be there for each other.

as he noticed your eyes watering again, he gave a gentle squeeze to your hand. " 's okay" he mumbled, his voice hoarse but still soft. " 's gonna be alright." tommy pressed a kiss to your hand, your fingers and knuckles icy under his lips. "everything's gonna be alright".

as he put your hand back down to rest at your side, tommy stood up and leaned down a bit to embrace your quivering figure into a hug.

"i won't be long, love, i just have to go for a moment" he softly said, voice so unusually calm for him. making his way to the door, he was stopped in his tracks when you called his name.

"tom" you called again, making him turn to face you. "don't go, please" you said, your voice breaking at your plea.

he froze in his spot. he was mentally and emotionally wrecked, but still, he knew he couldn't just let the world he had built for himself, for you (even for her, though he didn't even dare think about it), fall apart.

"o-or don't, i'll be fine. sorry, it was stupid and pretentious. just stop by-"

but he was by your side again before you could even finish your sentence.

"i'm not going anywhere. i'm staying." he mumbled in a raspy whisper, sitting down next to you on the bed and bringing your hand in his again, his eyes watery. "'m staying."

you nodded, mumbling a quiet 'okay' and clutching his hand tighter.

he was staying.

[heartcereql]

a/n: i'm a slut for this man.

war!tommy shelby x nurse!reader

chattering in the background. the faint smell of alcohol. but not that alcohol. not rum, not scotch. clean alcohol. hospital alcohol. more voices. cloth against his forehead. it was cold. ice cold. and then he remembered. the fire. the wound.

tommy's eyes shot open, upper body lifting slightly from the sudden action, though it was mere seconds before he fell again on his back, his body tired and hurt, unable to support him.

and then he saw you. his eyes must have been blurry from the time they spent closed because he could have sworn there was a glazy halo surrounding your figure, all dresses in white, hair pulled back from your features, allowing him to gaze upon your features. you looked like an angel.

before he could even process the woman before him, said woman was approaching where he laid.

"you're awake! how are you feeling?" you spoke in a sweet tone, a smile softening your face.

he just gaped at you for a moment. you were even more beautiful up close. how was he feeling. all the better now that you were here, certainly, but even in his shocked and dumbfounded state he could distinguish that he couldn't tell you that. he tried to check if his body hurt. he felt a bit numb, probably he was on some sedatives; besides a light headache, he didn't feel much.

even though all these had happened in a few seconds to him, you were getting worried at his lack of response. maybe he was worse than you thought.

"sir?" you called his attention, a frown clouding your expression.

this seemed to bring him back to earth.

"yes, i'm alright, yeah" he nodded, giving you a smile of his own.

adorable. sharp cheekbones, the most beautiful eyes you had ever seen, he was certainly delightful to look at. and he seemed like a sweetheart.

"that's great. let me check this..." you put your hand over his forehead to check his temperature. you were short on thermometers so you had to do it the old fashioned way for now.

his world stopped. breath caught in his throat, eyes widening in the tiniest bit- so that you couldn't notice, heart picking up its rate. your touch was feather-like, but lasted enough for him to feel the softness and warmth of your skin; the trace of your fingers still lingering on him when you pulled your hand again.

"not bad; the fever's going down... i'm going to change the bandages now, okay?" you said. you couldn't explain it, but you couldn't cease to smile.

he mumbled in agreement as your hands found his wounded arm, untying the now stained cloth. as you unwrapped his pained arm, your hands steadied on his bicep, making goosebumps arise on his skin.

once the wound was uncovered and fresh air hit the injury, tommy winced. you gave him an apologetical smile before turning to find a wet towel to clean the dried blood. his eyes never left your figure, studying your every move. when you returned and started washing the blood off, he forced himself to look away. he didn't want to creep you out.

but, on the other hand, nurses came and went easily; what if he never saw you again? so, on second thought, tommy's eyes returned to you, savouring every second.

as you finished, you looked at him, only to meet those enchanting icy orbs. you both smiled again, soft laughs, looking away shyly to hide your embarrasment.

you started to bandage his arm again. he wanted to ask you about yourself, find out about you. though knowing he was the reason you kept smiling made him feel all the better.

"um, so, you've been a nurse for long?" he asked, voice unsure, testing the waters.

he immediatly regretted it: you looked his age, 'been a nurse for long'? please.

but you didn't seem to share his thoughts, as your eyes glimmered a bit before answering.

"not really, no, but my mother and grandmother were nurses for the better part of their lives, so i know my way around" you answered, eyes suddenly too timid to meet his.

as the both of you engaged on a pure and warm conversation, bandages finished long ago, you lost track of time. your only focus was on him.

“y/n!” you were pulled out of the conversation as someone called for you.

“shit, uh, that’s me. i- i have to go.. but it was lovely to talk to you!, um…” you trailed off as you still hadn’t caught his name.

“tommy. tommy shelby” he replied with a smile.

“well, tommy shelby. you get better. and when you do, you look for y/n y/l/n” you offered him one last grin before sprinting off to where the voice came from.

y/n. oh he would definitely look for you. granted.

© heartcereql, 2023 || thank you for reading ! 𓆩 ♱ 𓆪

[heartcereql]

imagine tommy seeing your spine tattoo..

his shirt had already been discarded, and laid now somewhere on the floor.

tommy was standing behind you, so close you could feel his breath tickle your skin. your body remained covered by the dress you had chosen to wear that evening, not knowing you'd end up without it in tommy fucking shelby's bed.

his fingers were occupied unclasping the buttons at the top of your dress; yours were busy curling a strand of hair, which had been pushed aside so he could unbutton your garment.

once the button was freed, tommy's hands wandered along your shoulders and the back of your neck, fingertips dancing against your skin, pushing then your dress down, pooling at your feet. you could tell he noticed it by the sudden lack of contact and the way his breath got caught in his throat.

he traced the ink pattern drawn forever on your spine, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind.

you peered over your naked shoulder, gazing at tommy, who was still studying your tattoo. you felt him inching closer as you turned your head again, his hands now travelling down your waist.

"wild child much, eh?" he whispered, breath fanning your neck.

"three older brothers and huge parental issues, it all left its mark" you admitted, turning around to face him.

now it was your turn to run your hands over his chest, fingers sliding deliciously, stopping to trace his very own tattoos.

"but you're one to talk" you teased. "you have some fine ones yourself."

"yours was all the impressive, love" he said, reaching to caress the tattoo on your spine once more.

he spun you back again, pulling you closer by your waist. tommy ducked his head so that his chin rested on the crook of your neck. your hands found their place on top of his, fingers laced. you felt ecstatic, anticipation and yearning consuming your insides. you fitted perfectly in his embrace, and you leaned even further into his touch.

not being able to suppress his own desire anymore, tommy started leaving a trail of kisses along your shoulder, which quickened your breathing as your head lulled to your side, granting him more access. in view of the now exposed skin on your neck, you felt his teeth grazing you occasionally, before he decided to leave a lovebite on the curve of your neck.

the whimpers that you tried to subdue got caught on your throat, reverberating on tommy's mouth, which made his touch even more fervent.

only a few innocent neck kisses, and you both were so worked up? boy, you were up for a long, long, night.

© heartcereql, 2023 || thank you for reading ! 𓆩 ♱ 𓆪

[heartcereql]

𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀

ao'nung x fem!metkayina!reader

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒- after an abrupt break up, your feelings for your best friend's brother arise again.

𝐂𝐖- slightly ooc ao'nung (felt like writing him soft for once; bear with me) cursing, english is not my first language.

𝐀/𝐍- i love this song ong

tsireya and you had been joined at the hip since you were mere babies. you'd been there growing up, through life's ups and downs, knew each other like the back of your hand.

so, naturally, you knew her family as she knew yours. your parents had also grown closer over the years, used to their daughters spendind the better part of their time together. and you got to know the other's siblings. which you would certainly be grateful for.

at first, you were intimidated by tsireya's brother. he scared you, to be completely honest. but then he actually talked to you, you must have been nine or so, and fright turned to childish infatuation.

of course, once you identified your feelings, you immediatly buried them and tried your best to avoid and forget ao'nung.

as you grew, you used to stay up all night, sneaking out, looking for a taste of real life. you met new people, loved to explore, discovered secrets and messed around some more. you had eventuallt found a guy. he and you were no more than a fling, but to tsireya always seemed like a big deal. and then the omaticayas came and she got involved with that sully boy. you were beyond happy for her, but you didn't miss the way it was more and more difficult to find time for you both alone.

this all led you to standing in front of her marui, doing your best to not break down crying again about some dumb idiotic kid, hoping to be able to see your best friend.

"uh, hey" you said, startled by ao'nung there, immediatly trying your best to hide the trace of tears on your face. "is tsireya home?"

"no, she went out for a while. with that sully boy." he replied, smirking.

you laughed softly.

"well, alright, i'll come back later" you were already turning around when he grabbed your wrist, turning you to face him again.

"you can wait for her here. if you want, of course"

"really?" you grinned lightly. he just nodded and let you in.

only when you passed by his side he noticed the tears running down your bambi, round eyes.

"hey is everything okay?" he sat down as he spoke, motioning for you to sit down as well.

"yeah, yeah, why?" you tried to smile.

he gestured around his eyes and you realized you had entered in your rather vulnerable state.

"oh, yeah yeah yeah, i'm fine" you attempted to lie but your voice broke.

ao'nung knew about that guy you were seeing; he wasn't quite fond of him. after all those years you spent with tsireya, he couldn't help but develop a sense of protection over you. you didn't exactly keep this guy a secret, but hadn't told him directly. after observing him for a while, he realized the guy was a complete asshole. he wanted you to see that too, but you were rather infatuated.

"is it about that dickhead?" he asked, putting his arm around your shoulders; your skin turning to fire where his flesh met yours.

you nodded, a single tear rolling down your cheek. he immeadiatly brought you closer in a half hug, your head resting against his shoulder.

"he didn't deserve you. at all."

"gosh, i feel so incredibly stupid. you even tried to tell me!" you laughed under your breath. "but this is what makes us girls, right? we know what's gonna happen and yet we put love first. it's like our curse. making the same mistakes over and over again"

he laughed with you too, before moving to sit in front of you. he gently wiped the tears off your cheeks.

"don't cry about it, 'kay? i'm here for whatever you need" ao'nung assured you quietly.

you smiled at him.

"i'll be fine. he's just a guy" you laughed it off, not missing the way his hand didn't leave your cheek.

you had thought about ao'nung like that a few times, but you pushed away the thought every time. he was tsireya's brother, for eywa's sake. how would she react?

as a comfortable silence fell between you both, you glanced at his lips- you mean, his eyes. you could hear his breathing, unconsciously synchronizing yours with his. faces inching closer every second, losing control of what you were doing.

"fuck. i really want to kiss you" he whispered, lips so close they were fanning against the others'. "but it wouldn't be right. not now"

you nodded. you understood. you shared his worry. now wasn't the time; you had just called it quits with that boy- you hated how you weren't even a thing. it would seem like a rebound on your side and taking advantage on his, though that was far from the truth of your feelings, hidden, deemed as childish over the years.

as if on cue, you heard tsireya's happy and giddy steps. you and ao'nung scrambled away, not wanting to look suspicious to his sister. she entered the marui instants later, a smile painted bright on her face.

"well, well"

"someone had a nice time with forest boy" you teased.

"shut up!" she put on her best show to sound annoyed, but she was madly blushing and grinning.

"i, uh, i'll leave the two of you to catch up" ao'nung announced before walking out, not before directing one last glance your way.

"tell me everything!" he could hear you gushing as he walked away.

you didn’t expect to see him. then again, you hadn’t seen him for a couple of weeks, so it was only a matter of time before you ran into him.

“i guess it’s kind of our thing, huh?” you joked, a smirk appearing on ao’nung’s face. “finding you when i come looking for tsireya”

“yeah, uh, well, you wanna come in?” he asked.

your mind flashed you a memory of the last time you’d been with him. but that only encouraged you further to come with him.

"so. how have you been?" ao'nung said once you entered.

"good. better. much better" you looked at him as you replied, grinning a bit.

“that’s nice”

awkwardness settled between you.

“tsireya’s out with lo’ak again” he bluntly spoke.

“figured”

you fidgeted with your fingers nervously, debating wether you should bring it up or just forget about it. your eyes danced around the room, averting your gaze to the spot on the floor besides your feet. your eyes could have burnt holes in the spots they bored into from the harshness of your stare.

so focused were you on the texture of the floor or whatever, you missed how ao'nung snaked closer to you. you remained oblivious to how near he stood now until his fingertips ghosted over your shoulder, making you turn around to face him.

he brushed a loose strand of hair away from your face, his own face hovering over yours. your eyes shot up to meet his, eyes round, looking at him with longing and desire.

and then you weren’t able to hold the need for him any longer. you kissed him, and eywa did it feel good. your lips fit like pieces of a puzzle.

you gave him enough time to regret it, to back away, to tell you this was just a misunderstandment, and never speak to you again. but he did more than just stop you. he kissed you back, feverishly, the hand that had been gracing your cheek now cupping your face, pulling you even closer to him. warmth blossomed in your chest, sparks igniting from ao'nung's touch.

your hands steady on his chest, your heartbeat quickening as your lips parted slightly, allowing his tongue to slip inside, mouths exploring each other with the suppressed eagerness from all the years prior, which had remained hidden to the other. he traveled your body with his free hand, trailing every curve, sailing above your skin. ao’nung felt like he wanted to learn every bit of you.

the kiss soon went from sweet to needy and blazing, holding onto each other as if you were going to disappear once you pulled away. maybe for the sole purpose of contradicting this thought, ao'nung broke the kiss just for an instant, just to look at your messy state: cheeks flushed, lips plump, a blessed expression upon your features. but then he resumed the kiss, impossibly deepening it. you two were almost absorbed by your own bubble, away from everything else.

that's why, perhaps, you didn't sense the person approaching until it was too late.

"what. the hell. is going on here?" tsireya's voice shrieked, making you abruptly pull away to face her.

© heartcereql, 2023 || thank you for reading ! 𓆩 ♱ 𓆪

[heartcereql]

tommy shelby x finn's teacher!reader pt.2 || read pt.1 here

the sun was supposed to be setting at this time of the day. but, as you outstared at the skyline, you saw nothing but a silvery sky only getting darker.

usually, after a long day at school, exhausted by your students' behaviour, you went to an abandoned dock on the canal to watch the day fade into the night, hoping to relieve the tension of the day and to diminish the headache in your temple.

but it didn't seem like you were very lucky today, as the landscape was an ash-colored blur, clouds heavy. you turned your head to both sides, chasing sunlight, stars, anything. and that's when you saw a figure approaching.

dark coat, cigarette's smoke surrounding the shilouette, flat cap, confident stride. he was unmistakeable.

"mr shelby" you greeted. he shot you a glare and you remembered. "right- tommy."

he acknowledged you with a nod of his head, a cigarette dangling from his lips, icy blue eyes staring ahead at the horizon as he arrived by your side. you directed your eyes at the sun setting, too.

"i have seen the results of you staying true to your word and giving my suggestion a try", you hummed. "thank you"

you turned your body to face him, watching him exhale a cloud of smoke.

"turns out you were right, eh" he shrugged, taking a drag of smoke and exhaling it.

you gave him a small grin.

"but you still have to fulfill your part of the deal"

you tried to ignore the way your heart fluttered at his words, as you remembered what you had promised him. you had agreed to go for a drink with him.

"well, i am waiting for a proper invitation" you remarked, your tone playful.

"as the lady wishes. miss y/n, will you join me in this-" he paused, looking at the sky for a second. it was painted with dark clouds, auguring storm. "- in this bleak and unsurprisingly grey afternoon for a drink at the garrison?"

you smiled at his words, having to bite your lip, preventing yourself to smile any wider.

"it'll be my pleasure" you replied, watching him drop the cigarette to the ground and stomp on it. "care to lead the way, mr shelby?"

he was about to correct you when he noticed the mocking tone in your voice and the grin on your lips. he started walking, -

"what will it be?" tommy inquired.

the two of you had taken a seat besides the bar almost immediatly. the people had appeared to go silent for the slightest second, observing you, but then had quickly returned to their affairs.

your eyes explored the pub, resting delightfully on the golden details, scanning every detail. quite nice for the reputation that preceded it.

"whatever you're having" you answered, finally directing your gaze to him.

he raised his brows, not quite impressed but amused.

"it's strong"

"oh i'll be able to handle it"

he just gave you a smug smirk before ordering the barmaid another drink for you.

"so what is it?" you wondered as you stared curiously at the amberine drink.

"whisky. scotch." he sipped his drink as if it was water.

you copied his action, putting on your best efforts to suppress a face as you swallowed the stinging alcohol.

very soon, you were caught in the joyous mood of the garrison, establishing light conversation with tommy, mostly exchanging courtesy questions, drinking and sharing some laughs.

"i understand you own this pub" you brought up, voice louder than usual so tommy was able to hear you above all the noisy chattering and giddiness from the garrison.

"my brother. arthur."

"well it's a beautiful place. he must be proud." you complimented, downing the rest of your drink, trying not to grimace as it burnt down your throat. it sure was strong.

"aye, that he is" tommy took a swig of his drink as well. "how's it going with the kids?"

you frowned in confusion for an instant before realising he meant your students.

"they're alright. they get introuble, make fuss about everything, but then again, they're children. they're actually sweet when they want to."

"and how's finn doing?" his eyes locked on yours, unable to escape the others'.

"he's a bright kid, he really is. but he loses focus more often than not. he gets carried away. and then it's even more difficult to help him back on track. but i think he can do it." you informed, sending a sympathetic smile his way.

he only hummed, his reaction to your comment unreadable.

you decided not to ask how his own business was, knowing better than to pry on affairs that didn't concern you. instead you asked something else, something that would make him warm inside.

"finn mentioned you have horses. you race 'em, right? how're they?"

tommy's gaze immediately softened. though only the corners of his lips seemed to curl into a smile, he was beaming inside. you actually asked about his horses. not many people did. it was something he appreciated.

"alright, yeah. we got a new addition a couple of weeks back." he answered as he grabbed the bottle and refilled the glasses for the third time. "she's being trained now. great promise, that one. she's got a resistance quite difficult to find, an endurance rather auspicious. lot of potential."

he handed you the drink. you thanked him, head a bit fuzzy. but there was something about the way he spoke about horses. passion. you would've never guessed, not before getting to know the man, he could speak so fondly, so committed. you sipped the whisky, listening to tommy attentively.

the pub was cleared out by the time you two decided to leave. your head was spinning, groggy from the alcohol. you could barely contain your smile anymore.

but as you stepped outside, birmingham's weather hit you like a splash of cold water. literally.

“it’s raining!” you laughed. “fucking storming”

“here”

tommy unfolded a black umbrella, holding it your way. you scooted closer, under the protection of the umbrella. for a moment, neither tommy nor you moved, both standing under the ubrella. droplets of water splashed lightly as they fiercely hit the ground and already formed puddles.

"care to lead the way, miss y/l/n?" he repeated your words from earlier.

"where to?"

"your residence, of course", he replied. seeing you were still as confused, he clarified "you're not going home alone, in the rain and certainly not tipsy as you are"

you were taken aback from his stern but concerned demeanour. and how come he was not affected in the slightest from the drinking? were you really such a lightweight?

"okay then" you smiled up at him as you started walking your way through the dark streets of small heath, praying the man wouldn't notice the way your skin heat up when your arms brushed.

after what seemed like an eternity, you reached the disheveled door, once white, that led to your house. stepping into the porch, you now stood in front of him.

"thank you, thomas. for the walk, for the drink, for the talk, for talking to finn. and" you smiled, mostly to yourself, before continuing, "i had a really good time."

he silently nodded, also smirking.

"stay safe, y/n"

"you too"

you watched as he turned and walked off into the night, under his umbrella, with the stride you were getting so used to.

"wednesday evening" he called out as he walked away.

"what?" you exclaimed in disbelief. was he asking to meet again? not that you were complaining, or that it wasn't thrilling and making your stomach churn with eagerness; but you knew it was risky.

"be there"

he disappeared around a corner, and you shut the door quietly, resting against it, smiling like a schoolgirl.

© heartcereql, 2023 || thank you for reading ! 𓆩 ♱ 𓆪

[heartcereql]

𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀

☆ neteyam sully x reader

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒- the four times neteyam knew he was head over heels and the one time he confessed it. 

𝐂𝐖- tooth rotting fluff, sappiest shit ever, kinda corny if u squint but they’re so parents, none overall. 

𝐀/𝐍 - oh no what’s happening to me i’m actually active?????!!!  also i had a bit of trouble posting this one so lmk if there are any mistakes x

I.

the skies were in peaceful and unbothered calm. warm breeze caressed neteyam’s skin as he made his way through the forest, to the pond. to you. birds chirming in the background; it all confered the setting an idyllic ambience.

it didn’t take him long to finally reach the hypnotising, crystal-like waters of the pond. and there you stood, surrounded by sun rays and beautifully decorated branches. every thought he carried seemed to dissolve, as it always did.

watching you get undressed of your ornaments, only to dive into the water moments later, he realised that, with you, he was able to live in the moment. other worries ceased importance when you leaned in for a big kiss, wrapping his favourite perfume, your own, around him. you were enhacing in all ways possible. 

he walked away from the hiding of branches, his figure becoming visible to you.

your face light up with his sight, a truthful and ebullient smile, calling out his name.

II.

he knew you were around his pod; however, he did not expect the scene he’d encounter as he approached his home. 

you were sat on the ground, knees bent. tuktirey, his youngest sister, was sitting in the same position before you. besides the two of you laid a collection of wildflowers, jewels and beads. some of those he had previously seen on you. your hands were occupied combing tuk’s hair, tangling flowers into her braids and adorning some other braids with beads. while you ornamented her hair, you were entertaining tuk with stories, which went from tales to some of your experiences. 

your face was relaxed, the softest of smiles settling on your lips, eyes looking at the younger na’vi with kindness. tuk’s smile was way wider, due to the constant laughter. truth be told, she admired you and loved spending time in your presence. 

“and there you go!” you finally exclaimed, accomodating the last details. 

tuk turned her body to you, excitement washing all over her. 

“you look so pretty” you smiled at her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. 

she returned the smile, giving you a big hug. “ ‘m gonna go show mama!” she grinned before sprinting to find neytiri. 

once she was gone, neteyam approached you. 

“hey” you stood up to greet him with a kiss to his cheek. “your sister is the absolute cutest”

“she is. you know, you didn’t have to do this. you could’ve just, i don’t know, done something else. something fun” he said.

“this is my idea of fun” you shrugged, smile never abandoning your lips. 

“and i adore you for that”

III.

his chin rested on your shoulder, embracing you with his arms from behind. one of his hands was laced with yours, caressing the back of your hand. 

your eyes were locked with his in the reflection that the abandoned ship shot back. a lovesick smile adorning your and his features. 

“i love us” 

the words slipped off your mouth so casually they surprised neteyam. but he wasn’t complaining. he was eager to hear more, to listen to the mellifluous sound of your voice. 

“what?” he asked in pure and bening confusion.

“i love us. i love you and me together” you elaborated, turning to face him. “i love how we fit each other.”

he tuck a loose strand of hair behing your ear. but his touch still lingered against your cheek. 

“heaven is truly a place on pandora with you, y/n” he softly said. “better than i ever even knew”

you planted a kiss to his cheek before dozing off into the forest again, motioning for him to follow. 

IV.

you couldn’t really recall how it had started. it didn’t really matter, though. the point was you both were laughing. laughing so wholeheartedly much. your laughs laced together melodically, although you were almost out of breath.

your cheeks hurt from all the grinning. your tummy hurt, too, that’s how hard and pure the laugh was. you couldn’t even open your eyes. 

“i-” you broke into laughter again. “i can’t stop!”

you threw you head back, resting it against his shoulder. but it didn’t last long, for he was laughing so much. the whole scene only made you laugh even harder. 

that same day, later on, you’d realise you could have stayed in that moment forever. worries dissolved, no tasks to fulfill, just him and you, enjoying such a mundane yet satisfying activity as laughing, living in your very own bubble. 

as for neteyam, well, he was a goner as soon as he heard you giggle. it sounded so- addicting? yes, perhaps that was the word. the only thing he was sure about was that he never wanted to stop hearing you laugh. 

V.

“y/n!”

you turned to greet him with a warming smile, one that never seemed to leave your face whenever he was around. 

“listen, i’ve ... i’ve been meaning to tell you something” he started, face suddenly flushed. 

you immeadiatly frowned. confused and, yes, slightly afraid. those words didn’t usually announce good news. 

“is everything okay?” you asked carefully. 

“yeah, totally” he flashed you a smile, before avoiding your gaze once again. “it’s just i’ve been feeling different lately. i, well i don’t know how to word it, but, the world suddenly was more beautiful. life’s been refreshing. i felt like doing really pointless things, but doing them made me happy. and i found someone to do them with. i found someone who sees me. i found someone worth living this world with and for.”

your heart swelled with happiness. you didn’t consider yourself to be able to elaborate a worthy response. there was a glint in your eyes that made you even more ethereal now. 

“well that might have been the most beautiful thing i’ve heard in my entire existance” you cracked a smile. “you truly are one of a kind”

he stepped closer to you, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

“i can’t promise you forever, y/n. but i can promise you now, and everything i am”

you allowed yourself to avert your eyes to his lips for a fraction of second, before darting your orbs back at his. you couldn’t ask for more.

“you make my life better for just being in it.” you finally said, voice quiet. “and i can’t promise you forever either, because forever wouldn’t be enough”

he gifted you a smile, one you had grown to adore, to need even. 

“kiss me” you whispered, not able to hold in your yearning anymore. 

“all for you”

and then his lips were on yours, not for the first time, certainly not for the last time, but fervently, exploring in a way they had never before, saying unspoken words that translated that feeling you wanted the other so desperately to know but were afraid speaking wouldn’t be enough. feelings that would accompany you forever.

© heartcereql, 2023 || thank you for reading ! 𓆩 ♱ 𓆪

[heartcereql]

𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻

☆neteyam sully x fem!metkayina!reader

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒- neteyam decided to get a metkayina tattoo after your mating.

𝐂𝐖- sorta au where pookie doesn’t die, aged up characters (they’re in their 20s), tooth rotting fluff:(

𝐀/𝐍- y’all sorry i disappeared; i was having a rough time buttt i’m back on the tracks! also bare with the title bc neteyam is technically half american so…

“stay still! it’s almost finished” you tried to hold neteyam steady, a cheeky grin on your face.

“it tickles” he managed to get out without moving too much.

it amazed you how quickly yet perfectly everything had flowed between you two. he had barely just arrived at the reef when you met him. of course, plenty of metkayina girls were all over him, swooning and admiring. he’d courtly tell them meaningless compliments, flirting with the girls like ‘you’re so pretty’. but he had no intentions with them. not since the moment he laid eyes on you.

you got involved in the blink of an eye, and, before either of you could even have a second thought about it, you were mated.

you were the happiest you had ever been. he made you alive in a way nothing or no one had before. he made you crazy, he made you wild.

and that very same morning, he had approached you with a reckless idea. one that could have been deemed as unimportant, but that to you meant so much more. neteyam wanted to get a tattoo, a metkayina tattoo. a mark that would permanently remain on your skin, a mark that carried a symbolic significance to your clan.

now, as the last drops of ink we’re being imprinted on his flesh and your hand held his, you couldn’t help but wonder. what had you done to deserve such a wonderful man?

“all done here” the tattooer said, patting neteyam’s shoulder and nodding to you both before disappearing.

you scooted around him, contemplating the tattoo with a smile of pure admiration.

“i still can’t believe you did this” you murmured, fingers tracing his newly acquired drawing.

“what can i say, you make me wild” he said as he pulled you in for a kiss.

your hands secured themselves on his chest, but, just as you were beginning to accommodate, neteyam lifted you in his arms.

you gasped at the sudden change, breaking away to look at him, your gaze amused with a hint of confusion. with another peck to your lips, he started spinning you around, almost like a child.

neither of you could help but break into laughter and giggles, relishing in the other's touch and presence, young, dope and proud.

as he set you down again- not without steadying you first to make sure you had shaken off all the dizziness from the twists-, your hands reached to cup his face.

"you make me the luckiest person" you softly spoke, leaning more into his embrace. "only you can."

© heartcereql, 2023 || thank you for reading ! 𓆩 ♱ 𓆪

[heartcereql]

without you

✩lo’ak sully x fem!na’vi!reader

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒- lo’ak can’t help feeling insecure. you could have anyone you wanted, yet you chose him? ࿐࿔*:･ﾟAll my dreams and all the lights mean Nothing without you ࿐࿔*:･

𝐂𝐖- reassurance, kisses kisses kisses, established relationship, like one angsty moment, english is not my first language.

𝐀/𝐍- lo’ak is so bbg. so sorry for disappearing i had like 9284747 things going on also besties i need ideas for ride bc it’s a masterpiece and i don’t wanna ruin it :(( xxx

pandora’s skies acquired a captivating shade of blue during late mornings, almost reaching midday. flocks of birds could be observed, wandering above the forest, and, if you were lucky enough, there were little clouds hovering above the forest, letting the sun rays warm your skin, without making it insufferable.

that’s why you and lo’ak could spend the morning focused on each other, under the hypnotising sky, talking about everything and nothing, melting into the other’s company.

your head laid on his chest, rising as he breathed, hearing lo’ak’s comforting heartbeat. one of his hands secured you by your waist, while the other one was tangled in your hair.

your mind drifted to the pleasant sensation that you’d always get when you were with lo’ak. he didn’t know, but he was the one that saved you from the dark side of your life no one knew about. he was the reason you kept trying, and you thanked eywa for a man like him.

everyone thought you had it all, but it meant nothing without him.

lo’ak, as head over heels as he was, was starting to feel doubts rotting his brain. you were like a gift fron eywa, to him? why would eywa gift him?

overthinking was clouding his mind. in all seriousness, why him? he often thought of himself as cool, except when it came to the romantic area.

you glanced at his frowning gaze. you kissed the corner of his lips, hoping to get him away from whatever was upsetting him. but he only sent a smile your way, continuing to ponder instants after.

you found yourself frowning now. intertwining lo’ak’s fingers with yours, you caressed the back of his hand.

“lo’ak?” you decided to break te arising tension. “is something wrong?”

“i don’t get it” he mumbled.

you lifted your face from his chest, looking at him with confusion.

“you could have anyone you wanted. you’re literally perfect, in every possible way, and you’re here with me? i’m sorry but it doesn’t make sense” he rambled.

you were now propped on your hands, supporting them on either sides of lo’ak.

you knew that despite his fierce and extroverted personality, lo’ak was insecure when it came to your relationship. and you didn’t mind to reassure him every single time he had doubts, even more, you adored doing it.

“lo’ak” you tried to interrupted him, softly.

“no, i’m serious this time, y/n” he had raised his voice a little. “why be stuck with me when you have all those-“

“lo’ak i’m not stuck-“ you tried to speak again, but he didn’t let you.

“was it out of pity? just for fun? a dare?”

“lo’ak!” you grabbed his face in your hands. “can you hear me for once?”

he went quiet. his name rolling off your tongue tingled his ears, and he took a moment to admire the determined yet gentle look on your face.

“lo’ak, i see you. and i am not with you out of pity or for fun, but because i feel seen with you as well. and i have come to realise that i am nothing without you. all my dreams and all eywa’s lights mean nothing without you”

you pressed a peck to his temple, as a gesture of tenderness.

“everyone is always saying life is beautiful, and they think that i have it all. but may my life be as sweet as vanilla that i have nothing without you, lo’ak”

the hands holding his face were now caressing his cheeks. lo’ak was out of words. he knew you had no problem in reassuring him, yet he had never seen you express it with such emotion until now.

you feather-like kissed the top of his nose.

“i” peck “see” peck “you” peck “okay? and no amount of good hunters or fine suitors is going to change that”

he was mesmerised by your words. as weightless as they could have been taken, they meant the world to him.

he tried to elaborate a worthy response to you. but he was at a loss of words. in the best way possible.

one of his hands went to cup your jaw.

“you got it?” you asked in a hum.

he nodded, leaning to connect your lips. you met him halfway, eager to show him how much he meant to you.

“i got it” he mumbled against your lips.

[heartcereql]

#LUCYSPEAKS- academic rivals to fake dating to lovers with coriolanus snow on the making🫡🫡

[heartcereql]

there’s nobody here, just us together

☆ xavier thorpe x f!reader

SYNOPSIS- soft moments between you and xavier

CW- lowecase intended, established relationship, just pure fluff

A/N- wrote this while writing a bigger fic i’m working on hheheheh. anyway, hope y’all like it, requests still open :)

light shone through xavier’s dorm window. you could feel his breath hovering over you. his hair softly tickling your face. bodies tangled with each other underneath the bed sheets. your skin caressing his, one intoxicated with each other’s touch. 

you wanted to stay like this forever. make the world disappear, just the two of you, bathed in the morning sun, taking in each other’s presence. 

xavier opened his eyes. he looked down at your resting figure, admiring how the reflections of sunlight gave you an ethereal aura. just laying there, in all of your pureness, eyes closed, chest rising as you breathed, head resting on his arm, he knew he wanted to be with you. now and forever. a smile made its way to his lips as he pressed a feather-light kiss to your forehead. 

you weren’t asleep. you hadn’t been for a while. but you liked the feeling of you in his arms, the warmth irradiating from his body. you were merely resting, longing for an eternal moment like this. 

you finally opened you eyes, only for you to find your dear lover looking at you, a smile softening his features. some strands of hair fell over his face.

“hey” he said, as soft as a whisper.

you leaned into his arm, the air you exhaled through your nose soothing his skin.

“hi” you looked up at him again, observing his eyes, shimmering under the golden rays of sunlight. 

he leaned down, and started pressing tender kisses to your temple. you smiled, hands finding their way to his hair, stroking it gently. 

“xav?” you hummed. 

he tilted his head to look at you, foreheads almost touching. your lips captured his for a few instants. your fingertips were now tracing delicate patterns on his neck. both of you heartbeats speeding up. 

you pulled away, smile not leaving your lips. your hands moved to cup his jaw.

“thank you” you said. a playful frown appeared on xavier, encouraging you to carry on. “you know, for everything you’ve done for me. for every time you’ve been there. for every noticeable and not so noticeable sign of care and affection” your hand moved away from his jaw to his hand, interwinning your fingers. “you make me feel like, not like home, like my safe place. i love moments like these, where there’s nobody else but us.” 

he pushed a strand of your hair behind your ear, before leaning in again, noses almost rubbing each other. his gentle smile adorned his face once again. 

“we’re the captains of our own souls. and mine led me to yours.”

and with that your lips were devouring each others’ again. your hands were now around xavier’s neck, deepening the kiss. joy bubbling up in both of your guts. the kiss was eager as it was delicate. how his fingertips brushed against your skin, how his lips tangled with yours perfectly. 

xavier’s lips were hot on yours, settling, nibbling, pulling at each other for more. when you eventually stop, gasping for air, he can’t help but admire you once again. eyes closed, exhaling heavily, strands of hair ruffled. you look like the prettiest mess ever.