#i will never get over that shot of meena

[hoperays-song]

Sing 1 Commentary and Review Pt. 2

Welcome back to the madness loves!!! Also, I tried to tone down the commentary so I get further in the movie this time (I say while making at ton of random comments at the restaurant. Is this an elaborate plan to distract me from my fic being with my beta reader? Yes! Am I using it for content? Also yes! Enjoy!

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Eddie is just like me in the last months of school fr fr.

Mood, chicken. Mood.

✨Deja Vu.✨

We get to see Buster's expenses list! He's bought two sandwiches and cookies, but I'm way more interested in where in the world he found printer ink for only $15!!!

Actually, I am a 100% sure that is not how prosthetic eyes work.

Top ten anime moments before disaster (could apply to like 99% of this movie tbh).

(Don't have a screen shot but update: The Lance puntable moments counter is now at 6.)

Ok, Johnny having to jump to reach the door handle is adorable. He's so small. Like it's obvious one of his family members opened it so they can clearly reach that, and yet Johnny's over here channeling his inner bouncy ball to reach.

Friendly reminder that at this point, we have no proof of Johnny's dad disapproving of a music career besides Johnny hiding the flyer. So I'm sticking with my theory that he has no problem with it and never has, Johnny's just terrified of disappointing him (starting strong with the queer allegory here aren't we?) and how his dad sees him changing.

RIP Rosita's house phone. You will be missed.

(PS: If anyone makes or has made a gif of Buster poking his head out of his drawer like a meerkat right before the auditions start, please send it to me, it just is so cute and yet so so goofy.)

His first reaction was to succeeding call Eddie, that's bloody adorable.

ICON. THE ICON HAS LANDED. EVERYONE BOW DOWN TO THE ICON, GUNTER.

OK OK OK, ADORABLE HEADCANON. Some of Rosita's kids have skateboards guys. Like after they meet Johnny, they beg him to teach them tricks and how to skate better and he does. They follow him around the skatepark like duckings.

They are the mother-son duo of the series, just look at them, so cute!

The lesbians are back + a rare sighting of a 13 year old who says "bro" all day.

The face of "I'm gonna become a father figure to a scary teenager wether she agrees to this or not".

Lance puntable moments counter: 8

Writer 1: Hey, which kid should we call the rebel?

Writer 2: I was thinking Johnny.

Writer 1: Oh! You mean the kid who actively told his dad when he was leaving to singing auditions and came back within a reasonable amount of time?

Writer 2: Yeah, that's the one!

But seriously, he doesn't even sneak out. He legit tells his dad when he leaves that he's leaving. He doesn't say the location of where he's going but still, worst rebel of the century. He doesn't even have to sneak out!

Also, Marcus and him are clearly close enough and Marcus trusts Johnny enough for him to leave to go who knows where for hours at a time. They're nice to each other and (besides the singing instead of robbing bit) they seem to communicate with each other really well. Father-son duo of the year everyone.

I completely forgot Rosita was stuck in line behind Mike. The poor thing. Rosita, you have my sympathies.

Who is this and what have the done with the evil mouse man???

Also... Mike puntable moments counter: 9

This is giving me Toddlers & Tiaras flashbacks. 😬

The bestest boy. So awkward, so sweet, such wet cat stumbling over it's own feet energy.

Mike, this is what NOT to do when a teenager is having a panic attack. I feel so bad for Meena here, really, She did not deserve Mike being an absolute tosser in the slightest.

Also... Mike puntable moments counter: 17 (I don't like bullies)

Hat Man!!!

I completely forget that four whole members of the troupe were not first round picks. Johnny, Rosita, Gunter, and Meena all were either picked second, afterwards, or fell into the role eventually. Buster did not originally plan on having Johnny and Meena in the singing competition at all even.

Number 1 supportive boyfriend right there, love him.

Ok, this moment. This is the exact moment where Eddie suggests that Buster and him do something together instead of the theatre. His exact words are "i don't know, maybe we could do something together."

... Look at that face. There is no heterosexual explanation for saying that with that face.

Eddie coming in with the best "my boyfriend's gonna be in jail by the end of this" expression of all time.

Yeah... Marcus, Stan, and Barry definitely know that Johnny wants to be a singer. They definitely know he was going to the theatre. Why you ask? BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE BLOODY NEWS!!!

Lance... what to say here? Oh yeah!

Lance puntable moments counter: 14

Street saxophone players, attention please. DO NOT DO THIS. This is how you get pepper sprayed! 😊

Look at my boys!!! Planning a robbery as a family! Bonding! I'm so proud of them. <3

Also, in the plan they deliberately state they're avoiding the guards entirely. So no, they were never canonically violent until the second movie and that was in self defense. They don't hurt the people they're stealing from. They are genuinely good people and absolutely were non violent offenders.

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Ok ok, more self restraint with the screenshots next time, I know. Be right back! - <3 Gooseless

[ash-the-porcupine]

Busita being the best parents to their theater children headcanons, please?

*Claps hands together* You have no idea how long I have waited for this moment-

As a bonus, here are some no context Buster sketches XD

-Buster always does his best to remember their birthdays

-It generally takes about six tries and one or two explosions, but he bakes them cakes.

-Rosita has had to let him use her toaster when his own exploded many many times

-There’s an interesting story I made about that

-Buster and Ash drag one another to random places like arcades, movie theaters, and more very often

-Buster and Nooshy conspire together to prank Rosita on April fools’ day.

-Rosita does the same with Ash but to Buster

-Buster and Johnny play piano together sometimes

-The theater gang surprised Buster and Rosita with cupcakes when they had been together for a full year

-Buster is hilariously protective

-He knows all of the piglets’ names and faces by heart. The guy is devoted UwU

-Buster can play guitar and does so with Ash and Clay sometimes

-Rosita and Buster love pulling pranks and surprises in each other

-Sometimes they all play hide and seek. Rosita and Ash are the only ones who know Buster’s hiding place (The air vent)

-There was a big, long, awkward conversation about the drawer bed XD That’s why Buster has a room now. We have Johnny, Rosita, and Meena to thank, lol

-Ash finds the comfort drawer thing hilarious

-Buster freaks out over the smallest scratch or bruise on his little family

(-Yet often has these himself XD)

-Buster once punched Lance for messing with Ash

-Ash once spiked some guys picking on Buster this one time (I have a one shot about it LMAO)

-Buster’s favorite ice cream is Pecan Pralines and Cream

-Rosita’s is Peppermint Bark

-Everyone knows these and loves to surprise each other with ice cream. Buster always gets Rosita’s and Rosita Buster’s when possible (meaning “if Ash didn’t beat Rosita to it”)

-Buster tried to give Porsha acting lessons

-Before Rosita laughed her head off and accidentally knocked him off of the stage

-She took it from there

-Buster’s a great actor, but he’s not great at trying to teach the skill

-Buster is not allowed in anyone’s kitchen

-Except at Meena’s house when he’s invited over. Meena’s mother (who I named Elenore) always gives him random treats.

-They all randomly spoil each other

-Buster and Rosita are sometimes anonymously booked for tables at restaurants by Ash and Porsha, who ship the two obsessively.

-Porsha likes to hug Buster randomly, but she’s quiet so Rosita always likes to stand by as she scares the life out of the guy to hug him XD

-Gunter once dragged Buster and Rosita into the most chaotic game of Never Have I Ever that has ever existed.

-Rosita found out that Buster liked her when one of her kids found sketches of Rosita on some papers. He had been secretly leaving her flowers for months.

-Ash knew it was him but purposely didn’t tell Rosita

-She wondered how long it would take for the mama pig to figure it out

-Buster hid in his office for about a month

-Then he asked her on a date

-BUSITA WAS BORN.

-The whole groups ships them now XD

Buster's the sweet chaotic dad, Rosita's the total mom of the group UwU 0w0

[indiejones]

OF 1963: THE YEAR THAT CHANGED MEENA KUMARI FOREVER! ... OF 'OPERATION MEENA KUMARI' IE THE 'OPERATION CHINESE WHISPERS' !

Pradeep Kumari once, in fact many a times, described Meena Kumari as "the nicest person he'd ever met" & "a veritable angel on earth". Even going on to add, "I don't think there is any person on earth who couldn't fall in love with Meena Kumari".

The media narrative around Meena Kumari was always very sober & dignified & respectful. Till 1962.

You see Meena Kumari was always a very big star, from 1952 (& 'Baiju Bawra') yet not in a league of her own, but in the very top rung with 2-3 other actresses.

But her cinematic career took on a whole different trajectory in 1961, when the film 'Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan' released, & "The Bollywood Goddess" was born!

In many expert & mass assessments till today, one of the greatest performances by a female on celluloid, in history ever!

This was followed by 1962, with 3 more legendary performances in 'Main Chup Rahungi', 'Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam' & 'Aarti', & March 1963's 'Dil Ek Mandir', & within a gap of exactly 2 yrs & 5 Films, 4 of which are in The Forever All-Time Top 50 of Indian Cinema, Meena Kumari had gone from sure-shot No. 3 Of All Time, to, the most likely 'FOREVER NO. 1 ACTRESS OF INDIAN CINEMA", infact challenging the WORLD NO. 1 tag too!

Such was her craze & hold on public imagination then, that Filmfare did something they've never ever done for anyone else till today ever! - They nominated her in all the nomination slots for 'Best Actress" that year, as a mark of salutation, & as a statement indicating the "Crowning of Bollywood's First Queen nee First Female Megastar"!

Wonderful. But scary.

The reason this was or atleast should've been very scary & a warning sign for Meena Kumari, is that 'Bollywood Estt' or 'Deep state Bollywood', & the faction or rival groups that control it, akin to the criminal underworld, if we know anything till today, doesn't give free lunches, & extracts much more than it gives! .. If they were heaping away so much free historic praise upon her, were impossibly unlikely to try leave anyone even with the potential to overrule their dictat or narrative hold over the masses, & were sure to quietly bts extract more than their pound of flesh too!

AND A RANSOM WAS SOON PLACED ON HER REPUTATION, WITHIN THE FRATERNITY, WITH REGULAR REWARDS FOR THOSE THAT SUCCEEDED!

And that's when, mysteriously enuf by 1964, Dharmendra entered her film life, & via it, her life in general! Film magazines all of a sudden sprang to life, & news of "the crazy uncontrollable affair btwn Meen & Dharam" made it to all film headlines, to be continued in same vein for good more yrs thereafter. Stuff like "Dharmendra arrived at a airport one night all drunk, & upon being stopped, shouted, "Oh but I must get back to Bombay, I must. Meena is waiting for me!" were actually splashed all over the next morning's papers. Even further, of things like how Meena got so agitated in a outdoor shoot seeing her Dharmendra not sitting with her on way to the location, & having gone by another entourage car, stopped her car, & went to the middle of the road, sat on the road & started loudly repeating "Where is my Dharam! Oh where is my Dharam!", were being read by the Indian masses & classes on a daily basis now on. Going a step further, they even created fist fights & slapping incidents btwn the 2, & how she'd be regularly restraining her lover from brawling in drunken fights over her, were now the new norm. They then, took it to a tangential emotional plane, by renaming her "The Tragedy Queen", even in real life, equating her performances with some necessary strain in her own life. People began regularly being witness to Dharam entering Meena's room everytime, & leaving w/o fail in a sobbing state, & when asked about this reaction, saying things like "I just cant help it!". They even went after her husband,labeling her a wife-hater, & of how he egoistically once refused to hold Meena's purse, got publicly enraged at being called Meena Kumari's husband, etc etc. And how his secretary'd manhandle Meena & refuse her freedom. All false!

IT WAS THIS RELENTLESS MEDIA WAR DIRECTED AT THE COUPLE, WITH NOT A SHRED OF EVIDENCE TO SHOW FOR EVEN ONCE, THAT TOOK IT'S TOLL ON KAMAL OVER COUPLE OF YRS, FORCING HIM TO DECIDE TO LEAVE MEENA'S LIMELIGHT, TILL THIS OUTSIDE MADNESS CONTINUED.

Anyone with half a assessment, can see how Kamal's entire professional life,revolved around & was devoted to making her wife the best!

This was the final straw! & Meena took to drinking to numb herself to the world, determined to not lose & to continue working at her best. Do you know, 'deep state' even took away her most personal possessions, in return for her continuing career!?

Sadly,she didn't have the arms or tactfulness of Rajesh, to carry on next 18 yrs, nonetheless managing good 6-7 yrs within this 'golden solitary confinement Bolly jail' at the top!

(Watch Polanski's 'The Tenant'(76), for better feel on how this troll/suicide army works!)

Of the supreme sacrifices, India's legends made, to leave us awe-inspiring cultural history & worldly life lessons too.

[themackenzieboydchronicles]

Mackenzie Confides in Aaron.

Mackron fanfic.

"Mack I'm sorry for flying off the handle with you yesterday" said Aaron as he called into the bar hoping to to see him.

"You're doing that a lot lately Aaron and it hurts" said Mack "Having digs at me"

"I'm sorry" Aaron said taking hold of Macks hand "Come and sit over here with me" he said ushering Mack out of the office.

Aaron put his arm round Mack who moved away.

"Don't play mind games with me Aaron" saud Mack..

"I'm not" said Aaron. "I know you have a lot on your mind since you found out about Trudie"

"You don't know the half of it" Mack replied

"Then tell me" said Aaron.

"I dont want to talk about it" said Mack "Its doing my head in"

"Then let's go back to your place and let me take your mind off it" said Aaron wondering what to say to make Mack feel better.

"You mean let's have sex" Mack said feeling annoyed.

"Why is that such a bad idea?"asked Aaron "It's been a long time"

"Coz it is" Mack replied. "You think I'm a sex maniac"

"What's up you're usually gagging for it?" Aaron replied.

"Well I'm not" said Mack who stood up and went into the bar and closed the door leaving Aaron in the office wondering what was going on.

"Mack please tell me what's wrong" said Aaron as he opened the door and followed Mack into the bar.

"Sex. That's what's wrong" said Mack

"I dont understand" said Aaron.

"That's the problem. You don't understand" said Mack who was trying hard not to breakdown.

"Help me understand then Mack" said Aaron "What's wrong?:

"Look you'd better just forget me" said Mack "You seem to think I'm some over sexed maniac and nothing could be further from the truth so find someone else"

"Mack talk to me" said Aaron.

"I'm useless" said Mack "I'm so scared"

"What about?" asked Aaron who was getting worried by now.

"I can't get close to you again Aaron ciz I'm scared" said Mack "Scared of having sex with you"

"Mack this is because of Frazer isn't it?" said Aaron.

"Yes and you threw him up to my face again saying I loved him more than you and you accused me of sleeping with Nicky" said Msck.

"I was angry and jealous Mack" said Aaron. "Mack I'm not rushing you into anything honestly. I'll take it at your pace but please say there's still a chance for us"

"I love you Aaron" said Mack "And everything is happening so fast with Trudie and everything and the thought of having sex scares me after what Frazer did"

"Mack I'm so sorry" said Aaron "The last thing I want to do is hurt you"

"But we're always hurting each other Aaron" said Mack.

"Manpreet explained everything to me about Catherine being your sister" said Aaron. "I think Meena's got into your head again"

"It all brought up horrible memories of my dad" said Mack. "And what he put my mum through must have been really bad for her to give her twins away. I never knew they existed"

"Oh Mack come here" said Aaron putting his arms round him "I love you and I'm going to get you through this. That's if you still want me"

"Of course I want you but I don't want to let you down in the bedroom" said Mack.

"Mack I've told you you're in charge. You call all the shots" said Aaron "I just want you back"

"Aaron I'm sorry for being so needy" said Mack.

"I can deal with needy" said Aaron "I just want you back"

31.7.23.

[sirthisisa-wendys]

The Enforcers (Part 8.5): Geto Suguru x Fem!Reader

wc: 1.4k

tw: NSFW

masterlist

The sounds, the smells, the items in the market are enough to drive you crazy with excitement. Suguru watches you brighten at the sound of live musical instruments like pianos, guitars, and handheld drums echo around the open-air space, and you dart around the stalls, looking at the fruits with fascination - papaya? - and even purchasing a mango. Finally, you settle on a bunch of wild orchids, the newspaper they're wrapped in crinkling as you walk beside Suguru, who has funded your entire excursion.

"Can we go back for the cinnamon sugar pecans?" you wonder giddily, almost forgetting everything that came before your little exploration.

"Sure," Suguru offers, smiling brightly at you. His mission has fully succeeded, and for a moment, he sees you as he dreamt you many moons ago: by his side, beaming, enjoying the things he could offer you. "We'll come back in a few days."

And when you settle back in his room, you place the flowers in a mason jar barely big enough to keep the flowers from falling over. When you turn around, you see Suguru stripping out of his shirt, and for a moment, you watch the ripple of his muscles as he undoes his hair from its bun, letting it fall loose around his shoulders.

"I smell like meat," Suguru mumbles, turning around and catching your gaze. When he sees you staring, his lips part slowly.

The second between you two coming together passes so fast - it's as if it never happened. One minute you were standing at the edge of the counter in the kitchen, minding your own business (sort of), and the next... you're in his arms with your lips planted firmly against his.

"Is it okay to touch you like this?" he wonders between kisses, but you only moan in response, tangling your fingers in his loose hair. When Suguru pulls away though, cradling your face in his hands, you close your eyes, exhaling deeply. "Is it okay to touch you like this right now, y/n?"

"Just... forget about everything before this," you plead, but Suguru shakes his head.

"I can't. I really can't," he breathes, stroking your cheek with his thumb. "You're so precious to me, and I can't..." His black eyes search your face as he trails off, running his fingers across your bottom lip. "I can't lose you." You press your lips against the pad of his thumb and wrap your arms around his neck.

"No more lies," you whisper. "No more secrets." Suguru nods slowly, dipping his head as you raise up on your toes.

"No more."

The kiss is deep, sensual, and almost hedonistic as you tangle yourself in his embrace once more, adding, "Then, you won't ever lose me."

Your head swims as Suguru spreads you across his bed - naked and spread eagle, hands drifting around your hips, down your back, and past your ankles. They scrape against the fresh bandage on your wrist, taking care to be gentle with their grips and touches. His lips run from your forehead to your shins and then back up again, worshipping the shape of your body with a level of care you'd never think a former Leviathan and leader of an ostracized society would be capable of.

"I need you," Suguru murmurs in your ear, sending shivers down your spine and making your toes curl. He hasn't even touched you in a sexual way, and yet... every single cell in your body is on fire. Your nerves light up again when he finally does, dipping a finger into you before adding another. "Always so wet," he hisses, smearing your slick on your thigh as he pulls his fingers out.

"Please, Su," you beg, and Suguru sits up on his elbows, eyes firmly planted on your face. You can't speak as your chest heaves up and down, but the feeling of something gnawing at your insides makes you sit up with him, pulling him on top of you once your hands capture his perfect face. "Just make me yours."

"You're playing a dangerous game, y/n," the black-haired man warns, turning you over on your stomach. "But I'll do whatever you want me to do." Suguru slides a hand between your legs, finding your slit again and then pressing his cockhead right there, sliding into you without parting your legs at all. You arch off the bed a little, but Suguru grabs your chest, running his hand over to the opposite shoulder and resting his face on the other shoulder, sighing as he pumps into you with deliberate slowness. He only picks up the pace when you grip his hand, moaning loudly.

You have to admit, the bed never stood a chance.

The poor headboard smacks against the wall, but you can't hear it as Suguru fucks your hips into the mattress, hammering away at your cunt while you shake fiercely in his grip.

"Such a beautiful woman," he breathes into your ear. "So smart and kind... so pure." You grunt softly, beginning to feel overwhelmed by the sensations while your eyes roll into the back of your head.

"S-Su, I can't--"

"Don't worry, love," Suguru mutters, lips pressed against your temple. "I'm right here, y/n. I'm not letting you go."

"Oh god..." you moan, cunt contracting around Suguru's cock repeatedly. "Suguru, I'm--" He keeps pumping into you despite feeling your orgasm, grunting and panting. Your high is extended by his refusal to stop, and you really don't want him to. So you're in suspension for what feels like forever, fully drunk on your orgasm and Suguru's bruising strokes.

"Shit..." he moans, and you feel his cock twitch fiercely, warm cum shooting inside of you. When Suguru tilts your head back, you can barely see anything except his black eyes looking into yours, and the rest is blurry. A kiss is pressed to your cheek, and you relax in Suguru's arms, sighing.

When he pulls out, you curl up against his side, tracing the Leviathan tattoo on his side carefully.

"Ever considered just..." you begin, and Suguru places his arm under his head, looking up at the ceiling. You don't need to finish the sentence for him to know what you mean.

"A few times," he whispers back, and you look up at his face, which is grim. "Thought about it a lot more recently."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." You both lapse into silence, and Suguru rubs his hand up and down your back. "Thought about just walking away and taking you with me. Start fresh somewhere new. Have kids, maybe..."

"Is that what you want?" you ask, raising onto your elbow. "Is that your new dream?" Suguru turns his head to look at you, but before he can answer, his computer pings thrice. He jolts up from the bed and walks over to his desk, where you watch him look at something, his face slowly turning pale. As you open your mouth to ask what's wrong, Suguru switches on the TV facing the bed, turning it to the only news channel.

"...live from the Civil Service Bureau headquarters, where a deluge of files has just recently come through about various projects aimed at recruitment and retaining of the forces here, as well as underground dealings of the Grand Council that could lead to federal charges for many of those involved." You jolt up, watching the scene in front of the CSB, thousands of protestors holding signs and chanting slogans for the release of the rest of the files.

"At this time, the CSB has declined to comment, but we expect to hear from either side by the end of the week. Thomas?"

"Thanks, Pierre. We turn next to the revelations made evident by Kenjaku, a source notorious for leaking classified documents to sway investigations of and recruitment to the Civil Service Bureau--"

Suguru growls, running his hands through his hair and pacing naked in front of the TV.

"We're in big trouble," you breathe, but Suguru shakes his head.

"No, they're in big trouble. But this wasn't part of the plan," the man moans, rubbing his face. "The CSB isn't going to let this fade into the dust."

"I'm surprised they let anything fade into dust," you huff. "So, what do we do?"

"We have to wait," Suguru groans. "The CSB has the upper hand right now. And whoever let those files get into the public's hands just dealt us a blow."

"What if the Grand Council did it?" you ask, leaning forward.

"Either way it happened, the lives at stake have just shot up to figures I can't control." His computer pings again, and this time you hop up, checking his email.

Seven words are in the email with no sender and no subject.

"What does it say?" Suguru asks, coming up behind you.

"It says... they're going to get rid of us."

_____________________________________________________________

TAGLIST: @missbonekitty @wack0-genius @thankuary @jsqeeut @r-i-m-f-009 @sunfloweroranges @leanne-tamashi @girlruby23 @rein-icu @brownskinnedgirll @chanelmalandro @savantsoulfinder @jibe-gajima @chilledlucifer @amnxsia @kontentious @fuyuko26 @everybodylovescayrayray @flare-on @sammytamaki @meena-in-a-nutshell @falling-through-pages @naoyasdarling @vabybizzle

[musicprincess1990]

Hi cute,

I can't get over the cavernous wasteland thing on your post, I mean is that how you talk in real life or that's just for us? If is the second, I feel special, hope you know...

Anyway here's a sentences for you... for Sherlolly, "I just have the most beautiful dream... you were there... just less clothed"

Just for you, darlin’! 😉 Lol when I'm with my posse, the people I feel most comfortable with, I like to think I'm quite clever, but in other situations, I tend to struggle because of anxiety. When I'm put on the spot, or otherwise dragged out of my comfort zone, my mind tends to go blank, and words utterly fail me. Writing is one of the main ways I express what I can’t say aloud.

And that just went super angsty, sorry about that.  Love the prompt, took some liberties with the first sentence, hope that’s ok with you! 😘

*

Dreams

“I just had the most beautiful dream…” a slurring and thoroughly pissed Sherlock mumbled into the haphazardly folded scarf in Molly’s lap, against which his face was pressed.

Molly smirked to herself at the scene.  Honestly, how could a man of his size and mental capacity be such a lightweight?  According to John, who was in only much better shape than the detective, they’d only had two shots, and their night of investigating a string of pub robberies came to a crashing halt.  John had called her immediately, knowing that Mrs. Hudson would be out, and that Molly… well, Molly never went out anymore.  This was getting out for her.  Besides, she was endlessly, stupidly in love with the daft genius.  How could she have said no?

“You were there,” Sherlock went on, reclaiming her attention. “Just… less clothed…”

She stiffened as her mind replayed his words.  Had he really just…?  Did he mean…?  He couldn’t have…

Without prompting, he continued, “You were wearing that little red bikini you keep hidden in your wardrobe.”

The breath she’d been holding whooshed out through her mouth, her tension easing a bit, but not entirely.  “How do you even know about that little red bikini?”

“Guest room,” he replied.  “Photographs from Lyme.”

Oh, bugger.  She’d forgotten all about those photographs, taken during an all-girls holiday with Meena and a few other friends from uni, just after graduation.  Molly had purchased the bikini in question from a shop near the beach.  She’d worn it only once before stuffing it into her suitcase, and naturally, that one time happened to coincide with the day that Meena got out her camera.  And Sherlock had seen them, and apparently, had chosen to file it away in the corner of his mind palace reserved for her.  But… why?

“Why exactly were you dreaming about me in a bikini?” she asked carefully.

“You were only in it for a few minutes before I took the bloody thing off.”

Molly’s stomach did several backflips in rapid succession.  “I… you… wha…?”  Sherlock sat up abruptly, his eyes meeting hers with perfect clarity.  Molly sighed in exasperation, her head thudding against the wall behind the sofa.  “You’re not the slightest bit drunk, are you?”

“Weeeeell, I might be a bit less inhibited than usual, but not drunk, no.”

“Then why—”

Her sentence was cut off by his gloriously full lips attaching themselves to hers, and a shudder rippled through her as his hands skimmed her sides.  Of their own accord, her fingers dove into his curls, while his mouth continued to taste and explore and drive her absolutely mad.  A hint of Scotch still lingered on his tongue, with subtler notes of pub mints and an afternoon coffee lingering just beneath.  As he withdrew and met her gaze, Molly grinned unreservedly.

“You know, you didn’t have to pretend to be smashed just to kiss me.”

“Pfft,” he scoffed.  “That was just to see how you’d react to my drunken confessions.”

“Git,” she muttered, lightly punching his arm.

He swooped in an pressed another quick kiss to her lips.  “But I did, in fact, dream about your little red bikini.”

“About taking off my little red bikini,” she shot back.

“Well, yes.  As lovely as it looked on you, I can only imagine how good it will look off.”

“And if I told you I hate that little red bikini?”

“Perfect, just leave it off altogether.  It’ll only get in the way, anyways.”

Molly giggled and shook her head.  “Git,” she repeated, and he replied with a waggle of his eyebrows and a lingering kiss.  She wondered, distantly, if she might be dreaming this whole thing up, but decided that even if she was, she planned to enjoy every delicious moment.

[starshine583]

Crossing a Line (Epilogue)

(A small epilogue because I love happy endings)

Part 1 / Part 20

Marinette hopped up the front steps to the Agreste mansion, a bright grin on her lips. She didn’t bother knocking on the large, wooden doors before pushing them open. That formality had been thrown out the window a while ago. 

“Good afternoon, Mlle. Marinette.” A woman at the front desk greeted her as she walked inside.

“Hello, Mlle. Marie.” Marinette smiled at the brunette. “How are you today?”

Marie returned her smile. “Oh, busy as usual. I’ve informed Felix that you arrived.”

Marinette nodded. “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

Soon after Nathalie and Gabriel’s arrest, they hired a new secretary to help sort through the Agreste business. She was a young woman in her twenties and extremely sweet. Marinette liked to consider her a friend.

“Marinette.”

The call of her name brought Marinette’s attention to the library across the main floor, where Felix was just now exiting. 

“Sorry for the wait.” He apologized as he closed the gap between them. “I was finishing a chapter from my book.”

Marinette chuckled. “So your book is more important than my company?”

“Of course not.” Felix laughed. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against him. “You’re my top priority.”

Marinette hummed. “Is that so? I’m not sure I believe you.”

Felix snorted and leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on her lips. Marinette, of course, sank into it and wrapped her arms around his neck. No matter how often they kissed now-a-days, it still felt like the first time, skipping her heart and melting her insides.

They broke apart, if only for the sake of Marie, but Felix stayed close enough that she could still feel his breath on her lips as he said, “Do you believe me now?” 

Marinette giggled, touching her forehead to his. She hoped that this warmth flooding her chest never went away. “I don’t know.. You might have to try harder to convince me.”

A soft laugh passed Felix’s lips, but before he could pull her into another kiss, another voice rang across the mansion.

“Hey, Bugaboo! I didn’t know you were coming today.”

Marinette leaned back to give Adrien a smile. “Felix invited me. He says that we haven’t spent enough time together lately.”

“Didn’t he say that when you visited two days ago?” Adrien replied, a knowing grin on his lips.

Marinette nodded. “And the evening after he visited my house the night before that.”

“It’s still true.” Felix defended, lacing his fingers behind Marinette’s back to keep her close to him. “Anytime spent without you is a waste.”

A blush bloomed across Marinette’s cheeks, and she wondered if her smile could get any bigger.

“Is that my future daughter-in-law I hear?”

The boys perked up, immediately whirling around to see Emilie standing at the top of the stairway. She gave them all a warm smile and started her descent to meet them on the main floor.

“Mom!”

“Mother.”

Adrien jumped to help Emilie make her way down the steps, and Felix followed behind him, taking Marinette’s hand to drag her along as well. She would have walked with them anyway, but she wasn’t going to complain about Felix holding her hand.

Emilie waved Adrien away with a laugh. “Oh, don’t fuss over me. The doctor said that I need to work on moving alone anyway.”

“I just don’t want you to fall.” Adrien said, stopping next to her.

Emilie wrapped an arm around him in a side hug. “I know, dear, and I appreciate the sentiment. I still need to practice by myself, though.”

Felix stepped forward as well, and Emilie gave him a chaste kiss on the forehead before turning to Marinette and holding out her hand.

Marinette gladly obliged the silent request and moved forward to receive a side hug of her own. “How are you getting along? Does anything hurt?”

Emilie shook her head. “I’m doing wonderfully thanks to you, sweetheart. I just got the ‘okay’ to walk around without my crutches yesterday too. The doctor thinks I’ll be in perfect condition in about a month or so’s time.”

“That’s good to hear, Mlle. Agreste.” Marinette smiled. “I’m glad you’re doing well.”

They’d gotten quite a scare when Emilie didn’t wake up after Marinette’s attempts to heal her. Marinette had thought that she failed, that she went through all the trouble of getting her miraculous back for a lost cause. 

Thankfully, however, that didn’t turn out to be the case, as Emilie woke up a few minutes later. Her reaction to the magic hadn’t been immediate, but it still worked. That was all Marinette could have hoped for. 

Emilie shot her a playfully stern look. “Now, now, we’ve talked about this. Just because I’m your employer doesn’t mean you have to address me formally. Call me ‘Emilie’.”

Marinette chuckled. “I’m glad you’re doing well, Emilie.”

Emilie nodded, a satisfied smile gracing her lips. “Speaking of which, does my top designer have any new sketches for me?”

Due to Gabriel’s forced retirement, Emilie became the new CEO of the Gabriel brand. She started off by throwing away the strict guidelines that Gabriel had been wrapping around his staff and hired a handful of new people to stretch out the creativity. One of those people included Marinette.

“I’ve been experimenting with a few things.” Marinette admitted. 

“Good, good! Let’s all talk over a cup of tea.” Emilie beamed. She paused at the bottom of the stairs and turned to Marie. “Marie, darling, would you be so kind as to get us some Ruby Oolong tea?”

Marie stood from her desk chair. “Of course, Mademoiselle. Shall I bring it to the living room?” 

“Yes, please.”

The group moved to the living room, while Marie left for the kitchen. Marinette and Felix took the love seat, naturally, and Felix made sure there was little space between them as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Adrien and Emilie sat down on the three-cushion couch, both throwing a teasing smile to the couple.

“You two have no shame, do you?” Adrien joked.

Marinette giggled and leaned into Felix’s shoulder. “Should we?”

“No, not at all.” Emilie replied hastily. “It’s good to see Felix so happy.”

Marie joined them in the living room a few minutes later, holding a tray that had three cups and a small kettle on it. She set it down on the coffee table and began filling the cups with tea. Then, upon their requests, she put a certain amount of sugar or honey into each of the cups. 

“Please enjoy.” Marie said after handing out the drinks.

“Thank you very much.”

With her job finished, the secretary scurried out of the room so she could return to her paperwork, and Emilie continued the conversation.

“She’s such a lovely lady.” Emilie remarked, taking a sip of her tea. “Always willing to help.”

Marinette nodded in agreement. “It’s always a pleasure to talk with her.”

Emilie hummed and reached forward to grab the tv remote. She clicked a round button on the corner of the device, and the tv in front of them flickered on. A woman appeared on the screen, flashing the camera a bright smile as she talked. 

~Yes, two months has passed since big-time fashion icon Gabriel Agreste was taken into custody and charged with terrorism for being the infamous villain known as ‘Hawkmokth’. Unfortunately, his assailant known as ‘Le Paon’ is yet to be found.~

A smile found its way onto Marinette’s lips, and she glanced up at Felix.

“That’s quite a shame.” Emilie commented, holding the same smile. She threw Felix a mischievous look. “Don’t you think?”

Felix smirked. 

“Quite.”

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[imadisneyfan]

Chapter nine of my future sing story

Right after what had happened at the hospital with Jimmy present johnny was still with ash,Logan and his little one alicia who just got shot,and was at her side and never left he was also in tears when his little one was hurt and he couldn't understand how someone would kill a little kid. Later they were interrupted when big daddy and future johnny came back and johnny was holding onto Ryan and big daddy was holding onto barry in there arms. Porsha saw her Ryan and went towards him and said in tears 'Ryan! Ryan! My love please wake up!please!' She said qently to him. ' he is hurt badly Porsha but I think he will make it I heard him breathing "said johnny to her. ' Oh thank you johnny I need my love ' she said as she kissed Ryan's cheek. Then Alfonso took him and future johnny went near his little one and cried 'my little one, I will kill him, I will KILL HIM!' He yelled as he hugged his daughter close towards him and he cried again as did Logan to. 'Johnny, I just had Logan a sleep again ' warned ash. 'Sorry hon but alicia, my little alicia ' ' I know my love I miss her to were's darius and nooshy with Angie?" Suddenly present johnny looked at his dad and saw barry in his arms and said ' dad is barry all right?' Big daddy had a tear down his cheek and future johnny announced for him' I am afraid barry didn't make it,his dead ' everyone grew quite. Pansy cried as meena comfort her daughter, and Alfonso and rosita went near them and said sorry. ' Thanks, I knew barry since I was little he and Stan are like brothers to me' said big daddy. ' I know I will miss him' he said crying as present johnny went near him and comfort his father while future johnny was still holding onto his little one. Later darius,nooshy and Angie came in and she found the three hurt patients in the room.' Oh my,what happened?' She asked. 'Jimmy is what happened ' growled johnny while holding onto alicia. 'Jimmy is back?' Asked Angie in shocked. She grew worried for her own three children and husband. 'Yes and he killed barry here and Ryan and alicia are hurt' explained big daddy. 'What little Alicia on no.my daughter loves to baby sit for her she will be heart broken ' said Angie as she went near Ryan to check on him first while Porsha was near her husband. ' Well good news he is breathing, and he will be okay Porsha. ' she said. ' Oh thank you Angie,thank you!' And she kissed Ryan's cheek again. Then she went near alicia and checked on her , 'how is my baby Angie?' Asked johnny while getting scared for his little girl present johnny was to as he walked over towards them and put his hand on Johnny's shoulder johnny looked up and smiled at him. ' I am afraid she will be out cold for awhile she had a really bad shot in her body ' ' what nooooooooo!' Cried johnny as he placed alicia gently on the ground and ran towards the wall and hit it hard and began to cry. Ash looked at Angie and said 'is there anything else Angie please? There's gotta be something else please?' 'Well leave her here over night and one of you can stay here with her if you like to keep her company and keep talking to her and maybe she will come around 'said Angie. 'I'll do it' announced present johnny. Future johnny stopped crying and announced ' what ,no I wanna stay I love my little girl she needs me more ' growled johnny. 'Johnny that's enough son I might need your help with barry here tonight to get a funeral for him ' scowled big daddy to his son. Future johnny sighed and said ' fine dad,take care of her for please you know how much I love her ' he told present johnny as he placed his hand on his shoulder. 'Hey Don't worry I will ' said present johnny with a smile. 'Thanks when she gets better text me right away " he added. " I will 'added present johnny. ' ash you and Logan will come with my father and me okay ' said future johnny. 'Okay hon' said ash as she was still holding onto little Logan as he fell asleep again in his mother's arm's. 'Angie thanks again your help ' said future johnny. ' No big' said Angie. ' Mommy can I stay with Alicia to?' Asked pansy

as she looked at meena with big eyes .' Me to ,I am staying as well ' Came a voice from outside the room it was Casper a young 8 year old who loved alicia very much and never wanted to leave her side especially when she was born. ' Casper? Honey were did you come from?' Asked rosita his mother as she went near him. 'Pansy texted me and told me what happened and alicia " he saw her body on the floor and ran towards her and hugged her and cried. Present johnny couldn't believe that Casper was in love with his daughter he turned to future johnny and said ' oh yah he loves her as much as I do ' he said with a grin. Suddenly Norman came and said 'Casper there you are and oh what happened in here?' He asked as he saw alicia, Ryan and barry 's bodies. 'A long story hon I will tell you later' said rosita as she kissed his cheek. 'So can I stay with alicia mom?' Asked Casper. 'Well ' she looked at future johnny who said ' oh course, it's okay right other me?" "Yah of course it's okay " said present johnny. Soon everyone had to leave while ash,Johnny both kissed alicia good bye,as Porsha kissed Ryan goodbye who was in the same room as alicia that night everyone left expect for future johnny who turned to present johnny and said ' please keep a eye on her I beg of you,I love her soooooo much,and if she doesn't mane it" future johnny began to cry again as present johnny hugged him. ' hey Don't worry she will be okay I promise " " thanks buddy, we'll I better go Pansy, Casper you behave all right especially you Pansy ' he said with a grin. " he he I will ' said pansy with a laugh. ' keep a eye on her she's a wild one' said future johnny with a laugh. ' I will ' laughed present johnny but suddenly they heard a voice and it said 'daddy?'

Hope you will like this chapter 😃

[jarael]

Novi studied the ancient structure, one dark eyebrow cocked underneath her helmet.  “This must have been the palace,” she concluded.  “I recognize the patterns on the base.”

“So the Zakuulans were a bunch of fancy pants after all,” Javix chimed in dryly.  “Wouldn’t have thought your clan would have been fans.”

“Not really.  Bralova let Lorna do her thing--when they weren’t arguing.”

“They sound like such good friends.”

“They were.  You know my clan’s history.”

“Oh, yes.”  The Pantoran flicked their bubblegum pink undercut mockingly before puffing their chest.  “Clan Ordo-Teniir, descendants of the great Revan and Canderous Ordo!  Revan, whose crusades against Vitiate made him saltier than Manaan’s seas to the point of forcing their descendant Bralova to be his new Wrath!  And then Bralova had to Rasputin him!”  They rolled the r’s, drawing a snort from Novi.

“You exaggerate.  Anyway, I want to look around.  I sense...something.”  She wasn’t entirely cut off from the Force, at least not any more.  Sensing her mother and her cousin die as a child had been a lot, to say the least.  Meena, wife, then widow, to her cousin, had said a few times before her own death, that Novi had once been cheery as a child.  But what was she supposed to do?  Meena had done the best she could have.  Now Novi was the last known survivor of her clan.  It wasn’t entirely the Empire’s fault.  If she ever met a member of Clan Kryze--the audacity of them calling themselves a clan, when they had inflicted so much damage to Mandalore and her ade!  No, she needed to focus on keeping herself alive.

The Spire’s elevators still worked.  Perhaps things weren’t as abandoned as the duo had thought.  Novi sensed something...strange, but not threatening.  They weren’t in the swamp any more, so they didn’t have to worry about giant arachnids or other beasties chasing them down.  And yet...

“What might you be looking for?  A sign of life?”  This voice was very aristocratic, a bit condescending, and probably friendly.  Novi spun around, blaster drawn.  It wouldn’t have done her any good; ghosts couldn’t be shot.  This ghost was a few inches taller than Novi, her fair skin contrasting with her dark robes, raven hair framing piercing blue eyes and a smug grin.  The ghost chuckled a bit at the response.  “You’d shoot a family friend?”

“Didn’t think I’d see you in real life, Vaylin.”

“You do recognize me?”

“Of course.  You’re in a lot of old holos, at least the surviving ones.”

“Surviving holos?”

“Um, excuse me.”  Javix stuck their head in between the two conversationalists.  “Are you having a weird Force moment thing?  Or do I need to run the fuck away very fast?”

“He can’t see me, can he?” inquired Vaylin.

“No, they can’t,” Novi answered.  “Javix, go see if there’s anything we can use on the ship.”

“Whatever.”  They sauntered off, muttering underneath their breath about how not having the Force was, actually, a good thing.

“They seem nice,” Vaylin quipped.  “And it’s nice to meet someone from your clan 3000 years later.”

Novi thoughtfully brushed her hand over the clan sigil on her left breastplate: a golden mythosaur with red strings woven about it, and a Kell dragon beneath it, baring its teeth.  “Why are you still here?  You should be at peace, with your family.”

“My master, Darth Imperius, Empress Lorna, gave me orders to serve her allies as I served her, until all was right.  I’m following that order.”

“All this time later?  Your...”  Should she call Vitiate her father, after everything that he’d done?  “Vitiate died, killed by Lorna and Bralova.  And you played your role in democratizing Zakuul.”

Vaylin sought the right words.  “I used to have dreams about the future, on top of my nightmares borne from Vitiate’s actions.  I knew that peace would be temporary, and that both Lorna’s descendants and Bralova’s--genetic or not--descendants would need my help at one point or another.”

“But Zakuul is abandoned now.  Why?”

“Not everyone took to Zakuul moving away from authoritarianism, believe it or not.  They liked it even less than a Togruta, married to a pirate, had both a Miraluka and a Force blind Cathar as her heirs.  When Alijandra decided to marry Ruusa, your ancestor, and abdicate the throne, there was an uprising.  It was never fully put down, even with Moshishi--Alijandra’s sister--killing their first two leaders.  1000 years ago, the leader of the Old Zakuulan Society, Kaleb Corr, got fed up and ordered his army to bombard as much of Zakuul as they could.”

“Zakuul rejected a dictatorship, so he...bombed his own people?  What a fucking basket case.”

“Thankfully, Zakuul’s president had a mole, who let him know of the planned attack and managed to evacuate 80% of the population.  They settled on other worlds.  When Korr found out, he set out on a quest to get to the heart of the matter, to destroy those most intent on keeping Zakuul free.”

“That’s a dictator for you.  Can’t be worse than Palpatine.”

“Oh, he runs the show now?  He can’t be worse than Vitiate.”

“I don’t know that he’s eaten planets.  But his thugs took my mother and my cousin, and maybe my dad.  I’m a treasure hunter now, and an archaeologist, and just...trying to save my clan.”  

“You inherited your clan’s affinity for the Force,” Vaylin noted, “but you’re not trained.”

“I’m not, and I don’t want to be.  Respectfully, the Force has only caused Clan Teniir a lot of pain.”  

“Maybe so.  I always sensed that Bralova was never really happy with their lot in life.”  Vaylin hesitated.  “Do you not want my help then?”

It would be a risk, yes.  Even in death, Vaylin’s presence in the Force couldn’t be ignored, even though her power was lacking.  But she could bring an unique perspective to Novi’s life.  She remembered how her mother would complain about how closeminded her Jedi master had been, and how she didn’t want that for Novi.  “Join me.  Fulfill your duty.”

“Of course.”

[unicornbitchface]

Raat ki Rani

Pairing: Henry x OFC

Summary: The plot moves ahead. 

No warnings yet.

Beta’d by the lovely @madbaddic7ed​ !

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Chapter 2

That’s it. 

She was so over it. 

How was it even allowed? 

There had to be some decorum, some sanctity to the institution. Someone had to make it right, and it will have to be her. Enough was enough. 

Bursting through the carved door of the zenana mahal, her eyes searched for the culprit. Today she would make it clear what goes where, and she is not to be trifled with. 

She kept her head low in front of her father, but Damini deserved to be hit for how she talked to their father! What was so wrong about what he said? Rajputana women are to serve their janmabhoomi (motherland) and later her husband’s jaagir (feudal estate). 

And everyone knows, with that tongue no Kunwar would take that disgrace. 

The only use for her is to make sure Father keeps his gold. How is that so bad? 

Worse than wearing men’s clothes to Meena Bazaar? 

Kite flying with locals like an imbecile? 

Running around like a bloody camel in the palace?

Pranks on the Generals, priests and the guests without a care for her stature?

Surely not.

There she was, giggling with the kids, up to no good as always!

“Damu!” Revati roared. 

The mischief in those almond eyes could not be hidden, not that Damini would ever try to. Their eyes met, and she walked to her elder sister with a poise that would put peacocks to shame. 

“Khamba Ghani bai sa! How can I help you?” 

Smack.

Head to the side, Damini’s insides fumed at the atrocious insult. Fire consumed her when she looked back at her sister. But before she could say anything, Revati had her hands on her ear as she dragged her to the chambers.

“Bai sa! It hurts, ow, stop!”

Revati was silent until they reached her room and spun Damini around making her fall near the bed.

“What is wrong with you, Damu? Why are you so hell-bent on soiling your father's name and reputation all the time? Are you not his ward? Do you not love him? If not any of that, please tell me you at least hold remorse!”

“Remorse for what, Bai sa? Of course, I love him but he clearly doesn’t love me” A lone tear escaped the lioness, her heart squeezing in waste, for a relationship that won’t exist beyond a mention in history books. 

“What was so wrong about what he said? You get to save the maan of our ancestors! You get to maintain your old life while helping Father! You should consider this an honour and-”

Damini stood up and walked to her sister, “I spit on such honour. If it’s so glorious, why don’t you warm his bed? I am sure you don’t miss your husband anyway!”

Revati stood there, speechless. She had no words for the indecency her sister had unfolded without hesitation. 

“Do you know what you are saying? I cannot. I am bound to my husband. I have taken vows, and I shall not bring shame to his name. Never.”

Smirking and raising an eyebrow, Damini shot another crude arrow towards Revati, “Cannot? Shall not? So you mean to say you would if you could?” 

The silence and red cheeks gave her what she needed to know. 

“You haven’t seen him. You are lucky to have a specimen like that in your bed. He has blue eyes, Damu and looks like a foreign God, here to ravish and ravage. He is a Lord you know? That means he is almost in our ranks. He must have lands, and his pockets must be overflowing with gold!” Hands to her chest, Revati’s breaths were close to being shallow and her eyes were dazed/had a faraway look to them.

Damini never understood this weird fawning that women did over certain men. She has seen women literally drool over their choli and panting like parched animals. 

Weird. 

“Brown hair, those curls! When he looks at you, oh those ice cold eyes! Time freezes and you feel a strange fire consume you, pooling in your gut, giving you these ideas that would put apsaras to shame. I haven’t seen him smile yet, but it will be brighter than the sunrise on the highest hills of our kingdom! I’m sure of it! And those muscles Damu! His angrezi trousers barely fit him and oh how the mighty muscles might rip it to shreds. Hmm, and you have to see his shoulders ! Broader than my husband’s best swords, imagine-”

Damini cleared her throat loudly, and said, “Look, I have no interest in that buffoon even if he had 3 eyes, 4 limbs and walked on bloody water! Just leave me alone, and you can continue with your weird fantasy in private, thank you!”

As Damini was leaving,  Revati grabbed her. 

“You will have to bend over for the bright future of Junagarh, little sister. Save the fire and use it in his bed because Father is not going to let this go. You know his penchant for gold Damu. We need that to keep the God at our doorstep satisfied. Think of yourself as a sacrifice! Don’t we sacrifice goats in Dussera? This is not much different. Appease him Damu, and he will shower blessings on our kingdom. You know we need it! 

 Do it by your own will, or you shall be delivered, hands and legs bound. You’re a smart girl, I’m sure you know what is the better option, hm?”

Smart girl?

Smarter than you think sister. 

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

Meanwhile, Lord Cavill was ready to rip his hair out. How has this country survived for so long? You call these jokers ministers? Oh, dear God.

After the first meeting, the Maharaja had insisted that the British envoy must meet and greet with the ministers to get a better understanding of their system. The Lord had reluctantly agreed, after all, he was sent here to keep an eye on the state and its keeper.

While a few tried to speak in English, most of the meeting was held via translation services offered by Mount General, Kulwant Singh. Honestly, Cavill would never get the measure of this odd human. He surely was not intimidated, but this man left him uncomfortable.

Cavill was busy analysing this giant’s diet and lifestyle, wondering how he became what he is. It was a result of mere boredom and not due to any frivolous intrigue. Just as Cavill hid a yawn about to escape, a voice grabbed his attention.

“Long live Cavill Saab, I, Bikram Rajawat, minister of the esteemed court, have a few proposals to put forth. May I?”

Cavill waved him to continue.

“As My Lord must be aware, our lands are arid causing water shortages. The lands beyond the capital need wells, sir. It is hard to-”

Cavill, leaned forward on the cushioned chair, eyes darting to the familiar voice of the Maharaja as he spoke.

“Rajawat! That is enough. I am sure Cavill Saab does not need to be bothered with trivial issues. He must focus on the bigger picture, am I right, sir?” Ganga asked meekly.

“And by bigger, do you mean the palace you want the money for, Mr Singh?”

Chuckling awkwardly, the Maharaja replied, “I am a representative of the subjects my lord! My standard of living reflects on their prosperity. The palace would function as an object of pride for every citizen of my raj.”

“Not your raj, The British Raj.”

Everyone stood up faster than the lightning, swords drawn, ready to get bloody.

“EXCUSE ME?”

Cavill looked around the room and took a breath. These ignorant fools have no idea what they signed up for.

He chuckled at the thought of their possible reactions to his heavy-handed revelations.

“Have you read the treaty, Maharaja Ganga Singh? Have you truly read it?”

Furious by his tone, Bikram yelled, “You are talking to a King, Lord Cavill. I suggest you watch your tone. An insult to him is an insult to the entire court!”

“Respectfully minister, he might be your king and you are allowed to feel so, but I am not talking to a King. When I stand here as an officer from the company, I talk to the WARD of Britain. Not a King, not a Maharaja.”

There was pin-drop silence as Cavill rose from his seat. It was time to show them how things are going to work from now on.

“I suggest you take your seats, honourable ministers and you too Mr Singh. I must clarify that I do not intend to hurl any sort of an insult at anybody. I am merely stating the facts.” Looking at Kulwant, he could only hope for a fair translation. The language was another thing he had to master if he was going to stay here.

His face contorted in distaste as he thought of learning this primitive language, an utter waste of his time.

He pushed those thoughts aside and continued once the ministers had sat back down.

“The British are paying for all of this to be maintained as it were. We are supportive of your lifestyle and would like to see you flourish. However, this is not a charity. The use of our resources need to be monitored, and we are here to provide advice and guidance you all will only benefit further from.” 

The Maharaja nodded and agreed with the envoy. However, he still felt discomfort at his earlier tone. He somehow needed this buffoon under his control, and his only ticket seemed to be Damini. 

That wretched fool. He had a lot of work to do. 

Ganga looked at the Lord and wondered if stoking lust would fetch him anything. There was certainly no harm in trying. 

“Ahem, I would like to extend an invitation to you, good sir. I would like to hold a feast in your honour in the evening. It would be an honour to have you present! This way you get to meet my family and my successor Maan Singh as well.”

A native party? Really? Lord Cavill groaned internally at the thought of fake pleasantries yet responded, “I don’t engage in a lot of social commitments Mr Singh, but I suppose I cannot say no to a feast organised in my honour. I shall be there.”

“So, now that we know what our roles are, I would like to see your proposal for the wells Bikram Singh. I think it will benefit the people and help our taxes in return. There are a few other proposals I would like to work on, so I am requesting you to be prepared with your plans. Include expenditure, time, labour and other needs in detail. Take notes from your Maharaja, as his notes were flawless for the palace plan.”

The court missed his cheekiness and was genuinely impressed by the king’s efforts.

Ganga Singh puffed his chest in pride and got lost in the praise.

Interesting. The king was not hard to read, and Cavill knew what had to be done now.

Ha! A piece of cake.

Previous chapter

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Hindi terms:

Khamba Ghani: Rajasthani salutation and a way to say hello. 

Apsara: celestial nymphs 

Angrezi: English, used commonly to describe any kind of foreign objects, beliefs etc, but mostly rooted in British connotation. 

Maharaja: King 

Dussera: A festival celebrated in India, to honor the various forms of Hindu goddesses. It goes on for 10 days, each day for a particular goddess, and on the 8th day, Goddess Kali is worshiped. Some followers believe in sacrificing animals as a tribute to please her. 

Tags:

@madbaddic7ed @henrythickcavill @toomanyfandomsshreya @inana999 @maximumninjavoid @mistress-of-ward

[punkscowardschampions]

Ali & Tommy

Ali: I am SO glad this holiday centres around drinking beyond reason

Tommy: Me too, like, But why are you?

Ali: I wouldn’t even wanna get into it if it weren’t for the fact I couldn’t with her

Ali: Obvious clue is obvious

Tommy: Oh darling, Kitty, what’s she done now?

Ali: It’s not even what she’s done

Ali: It’s her total lack of desire to try

Ali: I know I shouldn’t take it personally and it’s symptomatic of the bigger picture

Ali: But that’s the problem, it’s so hard to watch, to see it so clearly when she has no front to put up

Tommy: Yeah, it always puts a lovely, thick layer of extra dread onto my homecoming

Tommy: the regularly scheduled updates are bad enough & it’s not like I can do more for being back under the same roof

Ali: Oh God, please don’t start, it’s like no one wants to be here, pure depressing, like

Ali: That’s how I ended up feeling, it wasn’t like she wanted to come but you know, anxiety, strangers etc

Ali: Because my suggestions to alleviate those problems were shot STRAIGHT down

Ali: So she just doesn’t want to

Ali: but not just that, I should feel like shit for going and leaving her alone...which put like that, should I? I don’t even know now

Tommy: Honey, fuck that! I’ve had to veto Fi going full Elphaba on all our faces so that diva maybe this close to not, but there’s no stopping me, Will, Gwen or Steph 🥳🥳🥳

Tommy: she’s getting worse, I dunno what any of us are meant to do

Tommy: other than being certain that I’m not gonna let you have an utter shit time

Tommy: That’s what she wants, that way you’ll stay with her forever 💀🥀🕷🕸

Ali: Nice to hear some genuine enthusiasm, which is fecking ridiculous considering this is apparently every fucker’s fave holiday as standard, I swear everyone but Da is in a right mood atm

Ali: Thank God that everyone’s gotta let tourists be tourists for the 💸🤑 or your mates would need some serious babysitting 😏

Ali: Little green men is fully my groupies’ aesthetic so you’re welcome to out yourself any time, like

Ali: I dunno, I mean, she’ll be alright won’t she? It’s a fairly long sesh, I know…

Ali: Hence my life’d be a lot easier if she’d come for a bit but there we go

Tommy: My honoured guests have got it in spades & buckets tbh 🧶🧚‍♀️🍀🎩🌈 dress up is already well underway just can’t let ‘em also start 🚗💣🍺🥃 or they won’t last to see it in

Tommy: cba to stick in it a 🍼 you know

Tommy: how many groupies you got now? Only 👏 while it’s still underground, avant-garde & super niche, naturally

Tommy: What’s she got planned? Other than putting a 💔 hex on you and Carls

Ali: Sensible

Ali: And not in a scrooge debbie downer kinda way

Ali: Found out the tents for yous to sleep in but I’m taking ‘em out first

Ali: 🌄 are calling, obvs

Ali: Naturally 🙄 just don’t click instead that shit is TOO pretentious even for your lot

Ali: She said she was WELL busy, but you know, the usual I imagine 📚💭

Ali: Drew won’t pay her no attention way too busy with the tourists etc 💸🤑

Tommy: 👍 cheers 😸👼 you are

Tommy: 🍀 are calling, is what you mean

Tommy: 🙄 be a waste of a 🙏 I know it’s 1 of her other highly rated activities, like, but still, I don’t need to imagine the two of ‘em getting together rn

Ali: They make NO sense

Ali: Unless his thing is dating a girl like his sister, in place of the standard wanting a mum 2.0, which understandably is not his vibe

Ali: Suspect don’t cover it but we’ll see

Tommy: It’d make more sense if I dumped Will for Fi & suss wouldn’t cover that & that’s a NO from us all

Tommy: Excuse you whore! That’s Meena slander

Ali: You know what I mean though

Ali: Where did this come from, like 🤯

Tommy: 🤯 over straight boy behaviour since forever

Ali: I usually find them so boringly easy

Ali: not the brag it sounds

Ali: I’d rather get her again… I’d know what to do, before

Ali: It was safety, for her and us

Tommy: Before she would’ve followed you anywhere, you can’t keep her safe if she ain’t even gonna try to meet you halfway at anything

Ali: Like you said, nothing to be done, I suppose

Ali: At least today

Ali: I’m going to mass with her, she’s helping to set up, it’s something

Tommy: & I’ll squeeze in a 1 on 1 for me & her before I leave 🩰👒🎹🎤✨

Ali: Tah

Ali: If only getting people to spend time with her was the issue

Ali: Be fully booked if she wanted

Tommy: But like you said, it’s something & if anyone can talk her out of an unsuitable romance, it’s me 🧚🏼‍♂️

Tommy: don’t have your track record

Tommy: there’s at least a chance she’ll take my advice about doing better than a dealer 🤞 now I’ve got myself the “happy ending” of decent hair & only petty crime

Ali: None of my romances have been unsuitable

Ali: You underestimate how discerning her taste is when it comes to other people’s partners

Ali: He might not be Carly levels of demon but don’t mean you’ll find a nice word to be said, like

Tommy: put your claws away, Kit, talking Ro’s POV, Carls is my angel

Tommy: & I guarantee I’ve heard worse than she can dish from the other bitchy ballerinas who couldn’t get their 💅 in first

Tommy: simply not quaking, sorry

Ali: Just saying, if it were that easy, it’d be done by now

Tommy: just saying, I’ve not taken a turn yet

Ali: If there’s any day for luck…

Ali: It ain’t one where she’s decided to be in the worst mood ❌🍀

Tommy: I’ve only got the weekend, like

Ali: I understand her a bit better than that tah

Ali: as well as the appeal of prohibition

Ali: the more everyone weighs in on her being wrong, the more bolstered she feels in how right she actually is

Ali: one fuckboy mistake she’ll have to learn from

Tommy: & I don’t? PLEASE 🙄 No notes needed for this performance

Ali: She always gets worse when Bea comes back

Ali: I’ll be the one dealing when you all fuck off again

Tommy: I know

Tommy: so let me deal with her this time, Will, Gwen & Fi have all been here enough & they’ve got each other

Ali: Sorry, the moods catching

Tommy: She can run but the house ain’t grown any new hiding places & I remember ‘em all

Ali: She’s still small enough to fit in all the gaps and cracks, you less so

Ali: Anything is worth a shot

Ali: The party will be enough, loads of my mates are coming, yours won’t get bored 🤞

Tommy: True but when she gets in one she ain’t got the strength to get to another quick as I can 🐁🩰

Tommy: yeah, yeah the party don’t stop when I walk out, I know ☹️😏

Tommy: & Carls isn’t just my angel, she’ll save that bit of the day if needs

Ali: Tourists love St Paddy’s

Ali: and no one does it better than da

Tommy: if I were gonna disagree it’d only be to annoy him

Ali: @ the family group chat for that hilarious bants, Tommo

Tommy: 🐻👈

Tommy: 1st time I’ve used those not as a euphemism? Oh definitely

Ali: Please, you’re a couple of 🧚🏼‍♂️🧚🏼‍♂️s

Tommy: Tah, Darling

Tommy: flattery will get you an invite to the next teddy bears picnic

Ali: Bit rude to Carly that you think that’s my type

Ali: no 🧔s here

Tommy: It’s not me trying drive a wedge, she’s invited too

Ali: Thoughtful 😏

Tommy: You shall go to the ball

Ali: Glass shoes is an idea… 🤔

Tommy: One way to keep hold of your drink or stop a fight

Ali: Me and my shoes are keeping well out of any more fights, fuck that

Tommy: What is your outfit plan then?

Ali: I’ve got all the material to construct it now, I think

Ali: See what it comes out like 🤷‍♀️✨

Tommy: Fi don’t believe you can top last year’s

Ali: I love a challenge and a chance to impress, obviously

Tommy: chop chop 😼

Tommy: shameless distraction tactic I’m throwing at you, who?

Ali: Christ knows I’m running out of time with the to-do list never ending, hey ho

Tommy: Same tbh

Tommy: we’d better get back to it 🧹🎃

Ali: Fuck being a middle kid, right? 💔

Tommy: Honestly

Ali: You know what you’re getting Rocky yet, speaking of the little shit

Tommy: Probably that bow with the glowing arrows that stick to windows & shit, he keeps seeing the ad & reckons they’ll fly over the house

Ali: Alright, going for 🥇 sib, fair play 👏

Tommy: Sure you’ll have me beat with whatever you’re planning

Ali: I’ll think of something

Ali: Once this is all out the way

Ali: If ma will let us, we’ll take him camping with his 🏹

Tommy: Once all the 🍬🍫🧁🎂🧃 hits she’ll be glad to be rid

Ali: not the baby though 🙄

Tommy: thank god for daddy’s girl, yeah?

Tommy: you’ll never lose that 👑

Ali: try as you might, yeah yeah 😉

Tommy: 😏

[sophiainspace]

Saving Time - Chapter 10: Past

Read at AO3 here

Leonard Snart/Barry Allen/Iris West-Allen

Also featuring: Meena Dhawan, the Speed Force in various guises

Chapter summary: Answers are demanded from Len, and he gives up his secrets. And Barry and Len get a little time to themselves while the Speed Force contemplates Len’s fate.

Thanks to @zariadriannatomaz for insightful beta reading!

Snippet:

Len met his father’s eyes with a tired sense of deja-vu.

“You know I’m a time traveler, yeah?” he said to the Speed Force. “This doesn’t impress me. Done this before.”

The Speed Force leered at him. “What - invaded places where you don’t belong?” it scoffed, in an unsettlingly good impression of Lewis Snart.

It wasn’t just the voice, either. This was his father - no doppelganger or conjuring trick. Len could feel it the moment Lewis strode forward in an oh-so-familiar movement and clamped a hand on Len’s shoulder, an old warning in every movement. He was younger than when Len had shot an icicle into him, his still-wiry frame and graying hair putting him in his 40s. The same age as Len was now. And, damn - Len had forgotten how much like his father he looked. Those hard eyes, holding Len’s gaze, were brown where his were blue - but there was something callous behind them that was all Len.

Years ago, that voice, that hand on his shoulder, would have put the fear of G-d into Len. Once, there was almost nothing he wouldn’t do, when Lewis Snart gave the order.

But times had changed. He had changed. And Len wasn’t going to be so easily cowed by an illusion of his father. This was the Speed Force - and the form it had appeared to him in was telling. It wasn’t exactly aiming for welcoming.

He pulled himself up to his full height - he’d always been a little taller than Lewis, and never unaware of the irony of having outgrown at fifteen the man who would keep browbeating him till his forties - and pulled away from his father’s hand. Tapping his thigh, finding the cold gun still there, Len drew and aimed in one fluid motion. The gun’s signature whirr was a nice reassurance, something normal to hold onto in this bizarre place. Being able to stand safely behind it wasn’t bad, either. “Yeah, we’ve come places we don’t belong,” he drawled. “I’m being pursued by an inter-dimensional superhuman being who thinks my time travel powers—you know, the ones I got by accident?—need to be wiped out, along with me. Apparently Blue has a grudge against your golden boy over here, too.” He gestured at Barry, watching wide-eyed beside him, while Meena hung back silently behind them both. “Where else would you have liked us to go?”

Lewis Snart’s face twisted as he laughed, and Len restrained himself from wincing. “You got bold, son. Learned to stand up to me. I like it.”

[ukthxbye]

Rationale

Prompt from @leidibrf

rated T on ao3

Oxford English dictionary

Jealous

Adjective

Origin Middle English: from Old French gelos, from medieval Latin zelosus (see zealous).

Feeling or showing an envious resentment of someone or their achievements, possessions, or perceived advantage                       Synonyms: envious, covetous, desirous

 John Watson’s face, never a canvas of subtilty, gesticulated back and forth between Sherlock and Tom, making connections and observations so loud that Sherlock could hear them in his own head.

 A mirror before him, if said mirror was dull, cheap and marred, Sherlock thought to himself. Smile.  He attempted it in all its falsehood and dropped it soon as Molly and Tom drifted to the other side of the room toward Mrs. Hudson.  

 John narrowed his eyes with a knowing grin.

 “So--”

 “Do not attempt to traverse whatever path your mind has discovered, we will not travel down it. I recommend you abandon it entirely,” Sherlock’s voice near a whisper and as he turned to John he hoped the look on his face would end the matter.

 John gave his best, “Ok, whatever you say” face and moved on to talk to the others in the room. Sherlock strode to his chair where he flopped.

 Very normal, not clever in the least but did he just make her laugh? Good. No. No, that’s good. Ignore him. He won’t be a threat to our mutually beneficial... well, perhaps not. But nonetheless the friendship we have. I’m sure.

 Another smile in the general direction of the rest of the room and back to his mobile. Sherlock regretted it immediately as Tom took it as an invitation to walk to him and attempt conversation.

 “It’s great to meet you finally...well now that you are alive and all,” Tom nervously giggled out.

  Not gay just awkward. Nothing to report there.

 Sherlock kept his eyes on his mobile, shifting in his seat and nodding, “Yes, excellent to meet you as well, Terry.”

 “Tom, its...its Tom.”

 “Ah yes, sorry, just busy--” Sherlock began with a raised eyebrow.

 Tom put his hands up, “World’s greatest detective at work, don’t let me disturb.”

 Sherlock spied Molly standing up and moving toward them while trying to break conversation with Mrs, Hudson. Her eyes wide, almost like fear...but of what? Oh Molly dear, he doesn’t know yet, does he?

 Tom shifted his feet, and Sherlock glanced up at him.

 Tom grinned, “Of course if you ever need help, I like to think--”

 Sherlock frowned and opened his mouth to cut Tom off there but Molly beat him to the punch.

 “Hey Tom darling, we need to meet Meena so maybe we should go? Traffic and all.” Molly’s hand gripped firm on his arm, pulling. Sherlock watched the muscles in her hand tense as they wrapped.

 “Sure thing, babe,” he smiled at her and she returned it. Sherlock observed through squinted eyes.

 Tom gave a faint wave and Molly a nod at Sherlock, though her gulp was telling, Sherlock thought.

 She missed his when she turned to leave. Tom laid a hand on her shoulder to guide her. Sherlock’s mind flashed to a number of times he did the same and he felt a twitch internally.

 With a shake of his head and a blink,  he returned to his mobile and his mind. But not so far in that he missed when John walked past him to his own chair.

 “So--”

 “John, I believe I made my point earlier--”

 “I like him.” John stared at him, unyielding with admonishment.

 Sherlock pulled a long breath through his nose, but he felt that twinge again.

 “Of course you do...he seems perfectly normal, the furthest thing from a master criminal and I am sure they will be very happy,” Sherlock steepled his fingers as he spoke in a soft tone. “And if you and I are wrong? Well,--” he chuckled lightly, “May God have mercy on him.”

 John grinned, nodded and chuckled to himself as he sat back to look at his mobile.

 “Protective now are we?”

 Sherlock’s lips curled up, “It would seem it is part of my nature after all.”

         2. Feeling or showing a resentful suspicion that one's partner is attracted to or involved with someone else.

            Synonyms: suspicious, distrustful, mistrustful, doubting, insecure, anxious

 Sherlock’s ears focused to his left, voices in a room to the side of the hall, behind half-closed doors.  Hushed but biting in tone. He might in any circumstance listen in, but the voice of the woman piqued a deeper interest in him. Hearing his own name caused him to hang back and prepare a plan to exit quickly to avoid being caught if needed. But he listened intently soaking in every nuance.

 “I might be a bit pissed but even I can see that there is something you aren’t telling me about you and a certain detective,” Tom said through his teeth.

 A throaty soft laugh escaped from Molly and Sherlock in his mind see her incredulous look that he knew well. But he heard no words leave her lips.

 “Molly?” Tom whispered, the edge of exasperation peeking through. Sherlock held his breath, uncertain and if he was honest, anxious about what she would respond.

 Tom’s turn for a throaty laugh and Sherlock gulped unconsciously, straining his ears to hear her response.

 “Well then--”

 “Ok,” she spat out suddenly, “I’ll tell you everything I can, later but not here...I promise, just... ”

Sherlock sensed her moving closer to Tom by the change in her voice. “Let’s just enjoy this, ok? Music, food, drink, dancing and a very happy couple are in there and we can have a good time still. Let’s get you some food and we’ll dance, ok?”

 A false cheer veiled her desperate plea. Tom’s following sigh, and “Ok, babe,” told Sherlock that he missed that emotion. He heard his hand rub across her dress, letting him know an embrace was the result. It was his cue to leave out of sight as they would likely leave the room soon.

 But he foolishly remained for a moment more as Molly said to Tom “I love you” breathlessly. A tightness crept in Sherlock’s chest, freezing him. But his better sense kicked in and he pivoted and ducked into a near room just in time to be missed by the couple as they left that room and down the hall.

        3. Fiercely protective of one's rights or possessions.

           Synonyms: protective, defensive, vigilant, watchful, heedful, mindful,                careful, solicitous, attentive

He contemplated the words “I love you”  every day. Like clockwork, he played the scenario in his mind, focused on the small moment. Trauma from the rest he pushed aside for those musing briefly. Their precise meaning eluded discussion though he and Molly spoke late into the night after he tied up loose ends from Sherrinford. But words got hijacked by his sister once again, both avoiding the cumbersome for the more practical concerns Eurus’s existence presented for Sherlock.

Their friendship, terse at times and others at ease as before, found its place once again. Perhaps words said aren’t as determining as he feared, he pondered. But his heart, previously unaccounted for, continued to appear in a tenderness, especially with her, that shocked him and he often countered it quickly. But lately, he let it stand. And he became quite skilled in hiding his disappointment when she countered it herself in a protective dismissal.

So was their dynamic. She dated and he found fault with every one of them. The latest? Well took a bit of legwork but found him cheating. Well, he supposed, being un-privy to whether this man and Molly had a monogamous arrangement. Nonetheless, when she dropped off Rosie, he planned to speak with her about it.

 “It’s what any good friend would do,” Sherlock sighed at John shaking his head at him.

 John smirked, “ Ah yes, like when you found out that Emily was cheating on me…” He paused, looking up in mocking surprise then his face fell as he stared at Sherlock. “Oh wait, you didn’t.”

 John sat back in his chair, arms folded. “Molly is special, Sherlock, always has been and its damn well past due you faced that truth.”

 Sherlock laughed, “And what is that?”

 “That knowing you love her isn’t enough, not for either of you. That it can’t just be said and felt and ignored,“ John pleaded. “I was there Sherlock, remember? I heard the words. You two have played a back and forth game apparently for years, and now it’s obvious enough for me to see.”

 Sherlock sat still, looking off to the side, and then down at his lap, rubbing his chin absently. “Perhaps so but circumstances are what they are. I am what I am.  We have reached a contented agreement--”

 “Jesus H. Christ.”

 Sherlock narrowed his eyes at John who kept the same disheartened look as he dramatically threw up his hands and stood.

 “Leave her be or get over yourself and love her properly like you are more than capable of doing--”

 John cut off his words as he heard footsteps near the door, small ones of his daughter stomping up the steps with the light steps of another.

 John shot Sherlock one more look of determination before the door opened.

 “Dada!” Rosie half ran to her father, with open arms. John scooped her up and planted a kiss on her cheek.

 Molly followed into the flat, setting down a small bag. Sherlock’s eyes run over her as she bends and stands, noting the tightness of her jeans before he caught himself and looked away as he stood.

 “Were we a good girl for Aunt Molly?” John asked cheerily, turning he and Rosie toward Molly.

 Rosie nodded as Molly giggled, “She ran me all around the Science Museum, but she loves the space exhibits. We have to see everything twice.”

 “Rocket ships!” Rosie shouted, pointing up.

 Sherlock continued to stand by his chair, hands in his pocket, but he winked at Rosie when she waved at him.

 John laughed, “Yes, baby girl. Now say bye to Uncle Sherlock and Aunt Molly.”

 “Buh-bye!”

 John leaned down to pick up the bag and set Rosie down. Molly glanced at Sherlock and he gave a small smile.

 “I’ll walk with you two," Molly offered but John waved his hand.

 “I think Sherlock had something he wanted to discuss with you, right?” John stared at Sherlock.

 Eyes narrowed, Sherlock held John’s stare. But he turned and glanced back at Molly.

 “Yes, if you aren’t in a hurry to leave,” Sherlock asked, feigning nonchalance.

 Molly looked between the two men, but if she suspected anything out of the ordinary, her face did not reveal it. She gave a soft smile and shook her head. “Free the rest of the afternoon.’

 Sherlock realized he had held his breath but he breathed it out slowly to not reveal his nerve. You are not going to address what John perceived to be the issue. This is to inform her about Jack,  Sherlock assured himself.

 When John and Rosie closed the door behind them, Sherlock motioned for her to sit in John’s chair.

 Molly sat stiffly at first and silence fell between the two as Sherlock searched in his mind for the words to begin. Soften the blow, she might really like him after all. Or perhaps find out more at first? No, she is used to blunt words from you. The other might be more shocking.

 “What is it that you need, Sherlock?” Molly asked, hint of weariness in it that made him suddenly anxious.

 He realized they had been sitting for a longer period of time than he intended in quiet. She was sitting back, one leg tucked under her .

 “I...well, to be frank, I have some terrible news about your boyfriend, Jack,” he said plainly, looking away from her for a moment to the floor but he turned his eyes back to her as he steepled his fingers and leaned forward.

 She laughed. “What now? Drugs? Murder? God, it’s always something,” she grunted, her head falling into her hands and her fingers began to rub her forehead.

 Sherlock’s brow furrowed, “No, he has two other women he is dating but what...what is your meaning of ‘its always something’. “

 She snapped her head up, eyes dark fire meeting his. “George, Mark, Geoff, Pragdeesh. Most I only got one date and you’d find out the name. Every one of them you found something--”

 “I’m just trying to protect you, after all, you do have your tendencies in your choices of dates skews toward the criminal element,” he half laughed but clamped his mouth shut as she shot up from her seat.

 She leaned over him in his chair, and poked a finger in his chest suddenly, and kept it there. He gripped his chair arms, staring first at her finger but he lifted his chin to meet her eyes once again.

 “ Sherlock Holmes, I did not ask you to be my protector and frankly it's getting pretty dull at this point."

 “I take it that you aren’t broken up about this news," he sighed.

 “You never let me get attached before you drop the evidence” she leaned back, removing her finger and returned to the chair.

 “Perhaps there is another reason for this” Sherlock murmured.

 She cast her eyes down to her hands, clearly undecided what she wanted to do with them, folding and unfolding them.

 “Oh, I am sure there is. But you won’t acknowledge it”

 “We spoke of it once.”

 “Oh my God Sherlock let's not start this again.”

 “We never ended it”

 She swallowed hard, “Please do not try to confuse me. My God I cannot take that today.

 His brow furrowed but the words running across his brain were not fully formed yet.

 She studied his face and laughed, that sad throaty laugh that rattled through to his chest every time.  “We can’t end something that never began, Sherlock. We have never been--”

 He cut her off, letting his thoughts flow. “You asked to have coffee, I deflected and you served it to me anyway. I remember that day. Mused on all the possible outcomes if I had just said yes. I asked you to chips. I thought about if I kissed you then,” he paused, seeing her gulp and matched it with his own.

 “You made me apologize, oh so many times. Even today I’ll apologize again. You risked everything to assist me in both legal and illegal schemes and received nothing in return but stares, smiles and more than enough heartache for a lifetime.” His face ached suddenly, realizing it had tightened with emotion. He continued anyway, “ I am worse for you than any man you’ve rejected. Well minus one perhaps, but it's a narrow contest. I awarded you nothing but grief and anguish and yet--”

 “Don’t say it like that, you have given me more than that. We’ve been friends, we have...I just…” she attempted to soothe his worry, it was second nature to her but he watched her shake her head as if to reset her thoughts.

 “Sherlock, I am not gonna hold your hand on this.”

 “I thought that is what couples do,” He grimaced internally at his own attempt at levity.

 She sighed, “ I mean, you gotta work this out on your own. I’ve exposed my heart for years to you, but it's your turn. I’m not gonna pull anything out of you that you don’t want to let go. Your sister caused enough trauma. And…”

 She held his eyes, and the tenderness in it caught his breath in his throat.

 “I cannot bring myself to make you do anything you don’t want or cause more pain for you--

 “Molly, that is never something you are capable of...well, emotionally speaking.”

 “Don’t be a sentimental fool, it should be impossible for you to be such so don’t play at it. You deal in realities and I am telling you them. You know enough the costs of sentiment as you call it. Every cou--...relationship, someone will hurt the other at some point--”

 “I’ve done my fair share of this...perhaps I want to balance the scales if possible. This is not my expertise, I will fail daily.”

 “More than you already have?”

 “Perhaps you have a point there.”

 He stood but found himself immediately kneeled in front of her. She leaned back retreating instinctively in the chair in her initial shock. He scanned her face, the tightness in her jaw determined to bridle herself and her words to protect herself. And rightly so. But those dark eyes as he captured them with his betrayed her. Hope and desire fired there, melting any ice she desperately held as the water dripped out the corners. In the past the compulsion to embrace her, he threw off, only allowing himself to kiss her cheek. Always soft, and warm beneath his lips. His hand found that same cheek now, his thumb caressing it without hesitation and her eyes squeezed shut. Hope, that’s the word for it, and she always gave him a steady supply. Could he dare to think he could provide something comparable?

  I am going to try.

 “Say the words, Sherlock, say them to me here now if you meant them, in spite of being forced before, I am only asking for the truth. You need it just as much as I do. It’s just you and me here. Say them again if you can...and if not then please let me be,” she whispered breathlessly, desperation and desideratum clinging to every word.

 “I love you.” The words slipped out effortlessly now, a culmination of every stirring in his heart spilling forth in the most obvious fashion.

 His other hand found the opposite cheek and she leaned into its caress.

 “Then let me love you... it's all I ever wanted. If you love me, let me love you.” She opened her eyes as she spoke, dark brown steady where her voice wavered with fervor.

 She was asking for the last time; he knew this was the one moment he must perfect in its completion or forfeit it all. That thought scared him to the core.

 Blessedly any words fell out his mind, they could only hinder. He responded in the only way possible at this fixed point in time.

 He leaned up and his lips found hers, gentle and chaste but for a breath. Her hands found his neck and every nerve tingled at her touch, aware of every fingertip across his skin. With his permission of a smile against her lips, she deepened the kiss till they both needed air, though they sought it recklessly from each other's empty lungs. What was I afraid of? He knew then that passion he applied to his study and work he could apply fervently to the study of her.

 Reluctantly, they parted. Words again fell short to describe the emotion crackling between them. Dilated pupils open and drinking in flushed skin. Every chemical traveling together, cementing the logical to the inconsequent in his person. But declarations found him once again.

 “Molly Hooper, you will have me to love until you tire of the burden,” he vowed heartfelt.

 “Until the end of us then, whenever that may be, I will love you”  she declared.

 “Perhaps even beyond that,” he added, staring at her lips he already pined to kiss again.

“Death do us part?” she smirked but lost the look of jest as she met his gaze.

 “No, I will follow you even then,” he breathed out, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her down to his lap on the floor. He held her tight to his chest, a balm to wounds they both left open.

 They sat in quiet soaking in the closeness. Molly broke the silence first.

 “Dinner first?” she mumbled into his chest, keeping her arms tight around him.

 “Take away?” he murmured into her hair.

 She nodded and he felt her grin widen and his heart leapt. Pulling up his mobile, he began ordering them food with a few clicks.

 She shifted and indicated she wanted to get up and he let her. She walked to the sofa and sat, pulling out her own phone.

 “I hope you are texting your date tomorrow that you will no longer be seeing him?” he finished the transaction of food ordering and looked up at her with a grin.

 She frowned, “I am not sure if text is the best--”

 In a blink, Sherlock was on his feet, and two steps he kneeled on the couch hovering over her as she pressed against the back of the sofa. Wide-eyed her words stopped as her chest rose and fell quickly in response, watching his face expectantly. His lips curled devilishly and she shuddered ever so lightly much to his delight at the effect, now free to be explored to all its ends.

 “Has he kissed you more than once?” His voice low as he lowered near her ear. “Then that is one time too many, considering he has shared those kisses with others. A text is more than he deserves.”

 “Sherlock…”

 “I’ll text him and we’ll worry no more about him,” he said matter factually as he grabbed her phone from her and shifted to her side to sit. She snatched it back immediately.

 “OK, look here, I will take care of my own business here, got it?” Her face was serious and Sherlock was taken aback, frowning.

 She looked back at her phone and began texting quickly, Sherlock leaned trying to sneak to spy what she typed on the screen, but she shot him another rebuke from her eyes.

 He sat back and waited impatiently and out of the corner of his eye saw her pause and then hit send. He opened his mouth to ask what she typed but his word was cut off by her flipping her legs over as she straddled his lap.

 “You are a jealous arse, but I’ve always known this,” she said huskily biting her lips she stared at his lips.

 His lips curled up again, “Never indicated I wasn’t. Like it, don’t you?”

 “Maybe...” she grinned, hand sliding up his chest to his neck before their lips met once again and her fingers began to work the buttons on his shirt. One more thing to text which he did before he was indisposed; an update to the order to make sure they just knocked and left the food outside.

[themackenzieboydchronicles]

Moira and Lucy Take Mackenzie Home.

Can Mack and Lucy make up?

Mackenzie boyd fanfic

God you look rough Mack" said Brenda to Mack who was sitting in the corner of the cafe.

"I feel it" said Mack.

"And that coffee is stone cold now. You're supposed to drink it not stare at it" Brenda continued "And look at the state of you. You're filthy"

"My life is worthless Brenda. I'm going to sign everything over to Aaron and go back to Scotland. I think I'll buy a little croft on one of the outer hebredes and just fade away" said Mack.

"Over my dead body" said Moira walking into the cafe. "There's someone here to see you"

Mack looked up "Lucy" he gasped.

"Mack I think we need to talk" said Lucy. "I'm sorry I just walked out on you"

"What for? It was me that was an absolute jerk going to see Meena" Mack said.

"Well whatever. I just know that I've missed you so much" said Lucy sitting down next to Mack.

"Lucy I've missed you and I was heartbroken to think I'd never see you or our baby again" said Mack. "I couldn't handle it"

"Well I've calmed down now and I want us to start again for the sake of the baby" said Lucy.

"Not because you love me then" said Mack staring down at his cold coffee.

"Yes because I love you and being apart proved just how much" said Lucy.

"Lucy I love you so much it hurts" said Mack. "I've been a complete idiot"

"Are you two going to make up or what?" said Brenda.

"I'm hoping so" said Mack looking at Lucy for approval.

"Well thank God for that" said Brenda bringing Mack a fresh cup of coffee.

"Here here" said Moira "You two need your heads banging together"

"Well we have a lot of talking to do if we want to mend us" said Lucy "Come on let's go home"

"Moira he's limping I would check on him if I were you" said Brenda as they left the cafe. "I heard he drank a bottle of Whisky and fell over and gashed that bad leg of his" said Brenda.

"Thanks for telling me" said Moira "I'll have a look when we get him home"

They all arrived back at the cottage and Mack limped across to the sofa.

"He's a sorry sight Moira" said Lucy.

"He certainly is. Right" said Moira "Get those Jean off"

"What?" said Mack.

"Get them off I need to see your leg" said Moira.

"I haven't any underpants on I lost them" said Mack.

"How did you lose them" asked a puzzled Moira.

"Dunno had to use them as toilet paper" Mack answered hiding his face in his hands in shame.

"You're filthy where have you been sleeping?" Moira asked getting a pair of scissors out of the kitchen.

"In the shed at the allotment" Mack said.

"Right I'll cut your jeans off by the legs if you wont take them off" said Moira "So don't worry I won't see your John Willy"

"Oh my God" said Lucy looking at the filthy dressing on Macks leg. "Its infected you'll have to get it seen to Mack. "You could lose your leg" she said with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Lucy go upstairs and run him a bath and I'll ring the surgery and get this dressing off" said Moira.

"Right you" Moira said to Mack when Lucy went upstairs. "How dare you put that wee lassie through all this Mack. Have you forgotten she's carrying your child"

"Please don't shout Moira" Mack cried."I feel bad enough about it"

"What the hell" shouted Aaron as he came into the cottage followed by Manpreet.

"Aaron please don't you start I've had an ear bashing off Moira" cried Mack.

"I've just come from the allotment as I had thought you might be there" said Aaron "And I had to fight my way through the empty bottles of booze and you peed in the teapot"

"Aaron please don't tell Lucy" Mack begged.

"Don't tell Lucy what" she said coming down the stairs.

"Well that's a nasty gash and it's badly infected" said Manpreet "I'll give you a high shot of anti biotics and leave a prescription"

"Come on Mack" let's get you in that bath" said Aaron helping Mack upstairs.

"Moira I'm worried to death about him" said Lucy who was in tears as Aaron took Mack upstairs to the bath.

"Lucy he can't handle rejection" said Moira "He just goes to pieces"

"I know" said Lucy "And I feel so guilty"

"It's not your fault Lucy. He should never have gone to see Meena" said Moira.

"Do you think he still loves her Moira" Lucy asked.

"Absolutely not" said Moira. "He can't handle rejection and that's what Meena did to him and he just went off the rails when he thought you had rejected him as well"

"I was I was so jealous and it really hurt to think he still loved her" said Lucy.

"Come here darlin' he loves you" said Moira putting her arms round Lucy.

"If he didn't he wouldn't have taken it this badly would he" said Moira.

"Now come on let's have a cup of tea and I'll go and get his antibiotics" said Moira " Don't forget he has to go to the surgery tomorrow to change his dressings. Manpreets put some dressings on his prescription so we can sort his leg out after he's had his bath"

[asotoriver-blog]

Unwelcome Return

Taking a deep breath, Elisabeth made her way to the cafe table at the corner, pulling the chair out and sitting down, not saying a word as she looked at the person in front of her. The question was written on her face, but he seemed more than unwilling to answer until it was voiced.

Her will had never been as strong as his, and eventually she caved, letting out a small huff of annoyance. “It’s been a while,” she stated, her gaze boring holes into his eyes. “Where have you been?”

“Around,” was his only reply, though he shifted in his seat, pushing himself so that he wasn’t just draped over the armrests. He took one glance at Elisabeth’s expression before he shook his head and took a sip of the now-cold coffee. “I was in New Jersey for a while,” he finally offered. “Did the whole East Coast tour thing.”

“And not once in the last ten years did you think of calling to let us know you were still alive?” she shot back. At his incredulous frown, Elisabeth ran her hands down her face. “I know we weren’t really friends, but you didn’t bother to even check on Meena and Carter? Do you even know what happened?”

He was silent, and for a moment Elisabeth was about ready to just stand up and leave. "I know Carter’s dead,” he muttered, flipping the lid off of the coffee cup. “Mason called me.”

She frowned and bit her lip, holding herself back from yelling curses and accusations. “Why didn’t you come back?” her voice cracked, and she fought to keep her composure. “Parker, why didn’t you come back?”

Parker glanced away. He was all too aware that his tells were clear as day to Elisabeth. It had been a long while since he’d had to try and lie to anyone who knew him well. Ten years was a long time to be away from home, and while he was pretty sure that he hadn’t been missed, he also knew that the youngest of their former crew had a tendency to get rather emotional in her anger. Especially at him.

“I didn’t want to be reminded,” he finally replied, pulling his jacket around him, and Elisabeth knew that she’d hit a sore spot. “Don’t tell me that you wouldn’t have done the same.”

Her glare hardened at his words, and Parker realized that he’d misspoken. “I would have come back,” she spat out. “I would have. For him.”

Grimacing, Parker pushed his chair back and grabbed his coffee, Elisabeth’s glare following him. “Well I’m back now,” he returned. “Just wanted to let you know, so let’s try to be civil while it lasts.”

“Don’t bother me, and I won’t bother you,” she shot back. “I’ve worked too hard for you to screw my life up, thanks.”

He let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head as he pushed himself up. “Don’t worry, Prinsesa, I won’t fuck anything up.”

Elisabeth scoffed, ignoring the pet name. “The day you don’t screw up is the day Carter comes back from the dead.”

She watched Parker roll his eyes, then pointedly turned away as he left the cafe.

....

Aiden hadn’t realized that the grip on his cup had been so tight until the lid finally popped off. He received a curious glance from the patron sitting at the table next to him, but a reassuring grin and wave later and he was back to being unnoticed.

He didn’t truly relax until he saw Elisabeth’s car pull out of the parking lot through the reflection of his screen, and only then did he let himself breathe.

“You okay?” the same patron asked, and Aiden let out a small laugh in reply, waving away the concern.

“Yes, I’m all good,” he said.

“Just thought I saw some people I knew.”

[musicprincess1990]

2 & 15 for the trope duos please! :))

Taken from this prompt list (still accepting, always accepting!)

I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG!!  The last few weeks have been hell, between my dad getting sick and my job being stressful, I’ve been hard-pressed to find any motivation.  But!  You’re not here to read my sob story, you’re here for some tropey goodness!  Pre-series AU, Sherlock’s slightly OOC, but it’s AU, so it works.  Happy reading!

*

Molly cringed as a roar thundered from the room below hers, followed by a resounding thud, which she guessed was someone’s foot colliding violently with the nearest wall.  That someone being her temporary flatmate, Sherlock Holmes.

With her new position at Bart’s, she finally had the funds to have a flat all her own, and was supposed to have moved into a nice little spot over a week ago.  Unfortunately, the building had been very suddenly condemned, leaving her homeless until she could find a new place.  She made do with kipping on Meena’s sofa, but with her friend’s frequent visitors (particularly those of the male variety), she had a feeling her welcome would soon wear out.

One morning, while having lunch in the canteen, she’d been absently scrolling through listings online, when a familiar voice interrupted her perusal.

“I would recommend steering well clear of Southall Green,” he said, startling her into dropping her fork on the table.  He ignored this, and went on, “I know the landlord, an old schoolmate of mine.  I also know he charges exorbitant fees from his tenants under the guise of a homeowners association, but in fact uses the money to fuel his gambling addiction.  Can’t prove it yet, of course, but I will eventually.”

She swallowed the bite of pasta she’d taken before he’d turned up.  “Oh, well… thanks for the tip.”

He nodded, appearing satisfied she’d taken his advice, but remained where he stood, watching her with a curious expression.  Just as Molly was about to ask if he needed anything, he spoke again.  “Incidentally, I’ve recently moved into a new flat myself, and there is an extra room…”

Molly’s jaw dropped.  “Are… are you saying…?”

“Obviously, it would be temporary, until you find a new place of your own, but the location is rather ideal.  Baker Street, just a few minutes’ cab ride away.  And should I need access to a body for one of the Yard’s cases, it would be convenient to have you just upstairs.”

Of course, it was all about his convenience.  Nevertheless, Molly felt a blush forming beneath her cheeks, and a swarm of butterflies in her belly.  There was no denying her attraction to him—really, just look at the man!—and he was right, it was much closer to work than the condemned flat would have been.  That combined with the subtle arch of one eyebrow over his mercurial eyes… well, there really was no hope of refusal.

“Well… if you’re sure, that-that would be… fine.  Great, actually... thank you, Sherlock.”

He smiled briefly.  “I’ll text you the address, feel free to move your things in whenever is convenient.”  Sherlock glanced at his phone, then offered another smile.  “Sorry, must be off, missing persons case, rather high-profile.  I’ll leave your key with the landlady.”  And with that, he swept off in his usual, dramatic fashion, leaving her in her usual, befuddled state.

In the week since then, life at Baker Street had been fairly quiet.  In fact, Molly had seen Sherlock only twice since she’d moved in.  She knew he came home at some point each day, the odd used cup added to the sink full of unwashed dishes proving he at least took tea now and again.  She supposed he tended to come in after she’d gone to bed, and left each day before she woke.  She’d seen him in passing while she visited with Mrs. Hudson, their delightful landlady, acknowledging them both with a smile before reaching into one of the cupboards and swiping a handful of ginger nuts.  Mrs. Hudson scolded him, but made no further efforts to stop him, leading Molly to believe she was already quite fond of her new tenant.

The second time she’d seen him was perhaps an hour ago. It was her day off, and she’d spent most of the morning lazing about, but the aforementioned sink full of dishes demanded emptying, and put a brief hold on her lazing. She had just finished, and was about to settle into the new, comfortable-looking chair by the fire, when Sherlock pounded his way up the stairs, storming into the room and throwing himself onto the sofa.  He scowled at the ceiling, either ignoring her or oblivious to her presence.  Something about the look on his face told her not to try and make conversation, so she quietly made her way up the stairs, in order to give him some privacy.

A second thud yanked her from her thoughts, and Molly bit her lip in concern, mingled with annoyance.  Really, did he have to behave so childishly?  But her concern won out, propelling her down the stairs and back into the sitting room.  She peered in from the doorway in time to see a cricket ball soar across the room and make contact with the wall behind the sofa.  Ah, so not his foot then, she thought absently, watching the ball ricochet and land with a plop on one of the cushions.

“Molly,” Sherlock muttered grumpily by way of greeting.

“Bad day, was it?” she asked.

“I’m fine.”  He produced another cricket ball—just how many did he have?—and gave it a violent toss, producing the same result.  She counted four remaining on the sofa, and glanced back at him in time to see him reach into a box for yet another.

“Did you have a row with the wall?” she quipped.

Thud.  “Don’t make jokes, Molly.”

“Well, something must have happened for you to abuse it like this.”

He paused mid-throw and scowled at her.  “Is there a point to this conversation?”

“Well...” she floundered, her reticent nature pushing her to retreat.

“Spare me,” he cut her off, and threw his sixth cricket ball, which seemed to be the last, as he picked up the box and refilled it with the balls that had settled on the sofa.  “There is nothing wrong with me.  I did not have a bad day, I simply... want to practice.  Never know when a good throwing arm might come in handy.”

“Bollocks,” she blurted without thinking, and his eyes shot up to meet hers.  “I-I mean...” she stammered, but then, from somewhere deep within her, a burst of courage found its way up.  “I don’t really... I don’t know you very well, but I know enough that oftentimes, your actions speak louder than your words.”  When he made no response, just stared at her, listening, she went on.

“You try to put on this... this emotionless mask... but anyone looking closely enough can see that’s all it is.  A mask.  You do have emotions, I see them when you come into the lab or the morgue, when you’re on a case.  It... excites you.  And I know you care very much for Mrs. Hudson, even if you won’t say it.  Clearly, there’s at least some level of affection, or she wouldn’t let you nick her ginger nuts,” she laughed softly, then sobered and looked him in the eye.  “And it doesn’t take a genius to know you’re upset about something right now.”

Sherlock continued staring, blinking a few times.  She’d seen that look before... once at Bart’s, he’d been on a case, trying to work out some clue or other.  He’d been stumped, something he was not used to being.

Had... had she stumped him?

“Um... Sherlock?” she frowned, feeling uneasy under the weight of his gaze.

Something in him seemed to snap.  In two quick strides, he had crossed over to where she stood, eyes blazing, and before she could stammer out a coherent question, he had cradled her face in his hands and kissed her.

Oh Lord, did he kiss her!

His lips, soft and sweet and urgent, attacked hers with a passion she soon felt pooling in her belly.  As she reached up to tangle her fingers in his hair, his arms moved to her waist, hoisting her up and pressing her against the nearest wall.  On instinct, she wrapped her legs around him, and was rewarded with a deep, guttural groan that shot through her like lightning.  He pressed closer, until, apparently not satisfied with their proximity, he pulled her away from the wall and carried her right into his bedroom.

Molly had no time to survey her new surroundings before being tossed onto the bed in a giggling heap.  Sherlock followed, and soon it was all tangled limbs, breathless sighs, and removal of clothing, leading up to what was undoubtedly the best shag of her life.

While she caught her breath, she half expected him to close off, maybe even leave (though it was his room).  Instead, he surprised her by wrapping his arms around her, guiding her head to his shoulder.  Sherlock Holmes is a cuddler! she thought gleefully, but kept this thought to herself, lest he push her away.

“Sherlock?” she began tentatively.

“Hmm?”

She gnawed on her lip thoughtfully.  “What exactly was that?”

He was quiet for a moment, then, “Molly, did your parents neglect to give you ‘The Talk’?  If that is the case, I have to wonder how on earth you managed such a glowing performance just now.”

Molly grinned at his compliment, but jabbed him in the side with one finger. “Not what I meant, and you know it!”

Sherlock sighed, shifting them both so they lay on their sides, facing each other.  His eyes, so stormy and intense before, now made her think of the ocean under a clear blue sky.  “I don’t think anyone has been able to read me so clearly.  Not even Mycroft.”

Mycroft?  Molly wondered who the owner of such an unusual name could be.  Then again, Sherlock wasn’t the most common name, either.  Still, she couldn’t imagine any other name suiting him so well.

“I lost a client,” he spoke again, his eyes shifting pensively to her hair on the pillow.  He moved a hand between them and toyed with the long, loose strands.  “Eighteen years old.  Looking for his younger brother.  I solved it... but not until after I’d found them both dead in a warehouse in Chelsea.”

Molly’s throat tightened.  “Oh, Sherlock...”

“I felt... guilt,” he admitted, his eyes still fixed on the strands of her hair that slid through his fingers.  “Such a young man, barely a man at all, and his brother was even younger, only fifteen.  I deal with death on a regular basis, and it has never bothered me... until today.”  His eyes closed on an exhale.  “If only I’d been there sooner—”

“Stop,” she said firmly, and his eyes opened in surprise.  “Don’t you dare blame yourself, this isn’t your fault.  Sometimes, these things just... happen.”  She brushed her fingers along his cheekbone, and his breath stuttered a bit.  “You can’t save everyone, Sherlock.”

“Easy for you to say, they’re already dead when you meet them.”

Molly frowned and removed her hand, and the look he gave her as she did reminded her of a boy being scolded for doing something he didn’t know he’d done.  “Not good?”

Oh, the adorable man... it was all she could do not to kiss those pouting lips.

Molly sighed.  “No, not good.  But you’re upset, so I’ll forgive you. This time,” she added with a grin.

He smirked, all traces of boyishness gone.  “And I suppose the sex has nothing to do with it?”

“Keep that up, and I’ll un-forgive you,” she swatted him.

“That’s not a word.”

“It is now.”

“Mollyyyyy...”

“Sherlooooock...”

He silenced her with a kiss, and Molly completely forgot why she was cross with him to begin with.  Sherlock shifted until he was leaning over her, deepening the kiss and turning her insides to jelly.  She had just enough presence of mind, however, to break off and give one final warning.

“You can’t just snog me into getting what you want, Sherlock Holmes.”

“What if what I want is to snog you?” he countered.

“I mean it, Sherlock.”

He sighed.  “Fine.  I will never use your addiction to my body as a means of getting my way.  May I please get back to snogging you?”

“Oh, you—!”

But whatever insult she’d planned to throw at him was swallowed by Sherlock’s insistent lips.  And Molly just couldn’t bring herself to care.