#leah you look stunning sweetheart

[legendofrhythm]

The outfit I wore yesterday was cute so I doodled one of my ocs in it

[givemequeen]

Accidental Confessions: Pedro Pascal x reader

request: What about a Pedro Pascal friends to lovers? He just seems like such a great friend. It would be cute to see an angsty/fluffy friends to lovers. a/n: I’m back bitches? pairing: Pedro Pascal x reader summary: you go to a party with Pedro and accidentally let something slip. warnings: sexy time. slight oral (female receiving). honestly just normal sexy stuff. oh! unprotected sex (remember to wrap it before you tap it, lads) word count: 5409

You stepped into the party already anxious, your hands were slightly shaking as you made your way around the room overfilled with strangers. Pedro had invited you to some fancy actor party of his and you had regrettably agreed. The last thing you wanted to do right now was fake smile at a bunch of people you didn’t know. It would’ve been so much better if you had just stayed home in bed watching TV. 

You shook the thought out of your head, no, you were here for your friend. He invited you specifically. He wants you here.

As you silently chastised yourself for wishing you weren’t here, you found yourself at the bar. The bartender – a young man with healthy, bouncing curls down to his shoulders whose smile revealed two small dimples on each cheek – asked you what you wanted as he prepared a drink for a girl in a stunning dress.

Pedro hadn’t exactly told you what to wear, just something “formal”, so you had landed on a long, thin, silver dress with spaghetti straps that you had bought on a whim. Thankfully, you seemed to fit in with the rest of the people. Though they did seem much more put together than you did.

You told the bartender your order – lemon vodka – and sat on one of the stools. You were about to take your phone out of your small purse when the lady that was sat next to you spoke. She called out your name and you shot up. 

“Is it you?” she said with a dashing smile. Her teeth were perfectly straight and extremely white. She had a tan and a nose that you could ski on. 

“Yeah?” you said, a bit unsure. 

“It’s wonderful meeting you.” She stuck her hand out, of course she had a perfect manicure. 

“Thanks, you too.” You shook her hand; thankful you had at least attempted to paint your nails a colour to match your dress. “I don’t mean to be rude but who are you?” 

She laughed – obviously a perfect laugh, no snorting or high-pitched squeals – and told you her name. “I’ve worked with Pedro.” 

You cringed at the way she said his name. “Oh.” You said with a slightly pang of jealousy. “So, how do you know me?”

“Are you kidding? He talks about you all the time, sweetheart.” She laughed, completely taking you back. “So how long have you two been together?” 

Just as you were about to open your mouth to tell her you guys weren’t together and what a ridiculous suggestion that was, the bartender handed you your drink. You smiled at him and politely took a sip before turning to the woman and again. 

However, this time, Pedro was stood right next to her. 

“Pedro!” you said, a smile light up your face. You stood up, set your drink on the bar, and gave him a hug. His strong, large, warm hands rested on your hips as you tucked your head in his neck and pressed yourself against his warm skin. He smelled perfect. Like the cologne you had seen in his bathroom one too many times and like him. Like his skin and his sweat and morning mist and almonds. 

You stood back before it got too weird. You felt hyperaware of his hands on your hips and how he had kept them there. “I was just talking to-” you turned to face the lady but she was gone. “Oh, she must’ve left.”

“Leah? Yeah we worked together last year, I told you about it.” He smiled and you nearly melted right there. That gorgeous smile that revealed a dimple in his right cheek and crinkled his eyes. “You look gorgeous.” He said as he took a step back and took you in. You spun around in order to give him a full view. “Absolutely perfect.”

“So do you, ver handsome.” You took a sip of your drink in order to hide your blush. 

“Come, I want you to meet some people.” You nodded and allowed Pedro to grab your hand and lead you through the masses of people. You spent the next three hours going from group to group. You knew some of the actors, either personally - well more like from some other party Pedro had invited you to - or because you had seen them in some show or movie. You politely listened to whatever they had to say and then kissed everyone goodbye before moving on to the next group. 

Though sometimes what the actors were saying was interesting, the thing that took your attention away the most was Pedro. Whenever he laughed, he would clap his hand on his chest and lean backwards. You couldn’t stop paying attention to the heat coming from his hand when he would place in on your lower back as he guided you to the next group. 

It was around eleven o’clock when you stepped outside from some air. Pedro had offered to fill up your drink but you refused as you were starting to feel a little light headed. So, instead, he went to get you both a snack and a glass of water. 

You were standing in the apartment’s balcony, it was pretty high up but it had the most breath-taking view of the city. All around you lights from different buildings and streets winked up at you. You took a deep breath in and gripped the railing of the balcony. You were alone and did not hear when Pedro came out. 

“Hey there.” He said, he was holding a bowl of peanuts and a glass of water. “I already had some water; I hope you don’t mind sharing.” He grinned sheepishly. 

“Of course I don’t mind, silly.” You smiled and took the glass. “Thank you.” You said as you popped a peanut into your mouth. 

You sat down on one of the outdoor sofas and, sighing, lifted your legs so they laid across Pedro’s lap. You both quietly munched on the snack and stared at the sky. Pedro moved your dress out of the way, lifting the hem until your knees. He began drawing on your leg and you nearly groaned out loud at how good his touch felt. 

“So, how long are you in New York for?” you finally asked. You always dreaded this answer, he wasn’t here for long, always in one country or another filming. 

Of course, you were happy for him. He was doing what he had always dreamed of doing but a small – or large – part of you was selfish and wanted him to stay in New York so you could see him every day. 

“For a while.” He said. You look up at him and smiled. 

“Really? No show to shoot? No premier or award show to attend?” you tried to hide your excitement but failed miserably. 

“No.” he laughed. “I’m all yours.” He said as his finger glided up and down your leg. 

“Awesome.” You said, unsure what else to say. I wish you were all mine… 

“Hmm?”

“What?” you echoed looking up at him. 

“What did you just say?” he asked, arching an eyebrow, his hand had frozen highway up your shin. 

“Nothing. I didn’t say anything.” You sat up, pulling your legs away from him. “Fuck, did I say “I wish you were all mine” out loud? Fuck.” you thought. You probably had had more to drink than you had initially thought. 

“Are you sure?” he asked. 

“Yes, anyway I better get going.” You quickly stood up and before he had the chance to follow, you dashed inside. “Thanks for inviting me.” 

Quickly, you made your way through the crowds of people, carefully avoiding those you knew were chatterboxes, and left the apartment. You looked behind you and nervously began pressing the call button for the elevator. As soon as it opened, you darted inside and began repeatedly pressing the close button. 

Soon enough, the elevator reached the reception and you bolted across it. You waved goodbye to the concierge who had helped you earlier last night and quickly glanced over your shoulder as you stepped outside. Pedro was nowhere to be seen and you weren’t sure whether to be disappointed or relived. You hailed a taxi down, but they all zoomed past you, either busy or completely ignoring you. 

“Hey.” You heard Pedro call your name from behind. “Where are you running off to?” he tapped your shoulder and you spun around. 

“Hi, sorry. Just gotta get home, yknow.” You smiled, trying to play it cool but Pedro saw right past your act. 

“Okay, let me accompany you.” He stood beside you and hailed a taxi down. Of course, they immediately listened to him. He opened the door for you to get in. 

“It’s okay, you don’t have to. I’ll get home fine.” You said as you got in. 

“What kind of a friend would I be if I didn’t take you home?” he said as he too got in. 

Reluctantly, you nodded and he gave the taxi driver your address. You spent the ride staring outside and cursing New York’s traffic. Walking or the subway would’ve taken you less and maybe you wouldn’t have been caught up by Pedro. But the subway wasn’t the safest especially with what you were wearing and your feet hurt too much to walk all the way home. 

Pedro sat silently next to you, his hand on the middle seat, and eyes glued outside. When you finally got to your place, you jumped out of the taxi and thanked Pedro. However, he too stepped outside. He paid the driver and followed you inside your apartment’s foyer. 

You couldn’t exactly slam the door in his face, so you let him in and got into the elevator. You expected this ride to be just like the taxi drive, silent and a tiny bit awkward. Pedro surprised you by hitting the emergency button - which caused the elevator to jolt to a halt - and turning to you. 

“Hey, talk to me, why did you run off? And don’t say you needed to get home.” He said, he stood completely in front of you. You glanced up and mustered a smile. 

“I- well- it’s just-” you couldn’t help but glancing down at his lips and back up at his eyes. Those deep brown eyes you could just lose yourself in. 

“Yeah? You just what?” he prompted, taking a step closer to you. You held your breath, unsure as to what to do. 

“I think you know.” You finally said, you pushed your shoulders back and held your hands together behind your back. 

“Oh? I do?” he asked, he was so close you could feel his breath fanning across your face. It smelt like mint and alcohol and you so desperately wanted to put your mouth and his. 

Gently, he cupped your cheek and you let out a breath, your hands went to his chest as his other hand went to your hips. “Please let me kiss you, I’ve been dying to kiss you.” He whispered. 

You nodded and closed your eyes, waiting for the heavenly taste of his lips. Slowly, Pedro pressed his lips against yours, you let out a sigh that sounded almost like a whine, and pulled him closer by the jacket of his suit. You moved your head to the side, allowing him more space to kiss you. 

His lips felt so extremely smooth and soft, almost like what you imagined kissing a cloud would feel like. He groaned into your mouth and that noise made you weak in the knees. Pedro let his hand drop to your waist and you both walked backwards until your back hit the elevator wall. 

He pulled you up so you could rest on the safety rail. You wrapped one leg around his waist, the dress restricting your movement, and he pressed himself against you. Now it was your turn to groan. He was clearly hard; you could feel it pressing against where you needed it the most. 

He rolled his hips and you moaned again. Taking advantage of the situation, he slipped his tongue into yours. You allowed it and let your tongue dance over his. One of his hands move to your behind, he grabbed the soft flesh there and pressed himself even harder into you. His other hand went to your leg, he pulled your dress up, feeling how smooth your legs were. 

“Fuck.” He whispered against your lips as he pulled apart for air. “I want to-” 

“Everything alright in there?” a voice called out from the intercom. 

You jumped away from Pedro, slightly pushing him away. “Erm, yes, just an accident.” You coughed and tried to fix your dress. 

“Alright.” Said the voice. Pedro hit the button again and the elevator lurched into life. 

You let your fingers glide over your lips, reminiscing on how sweet he tasted.  Pedro was now leaning against the back wall of the elevator, not staying anything, as you stood near the doors. 

Finally, they opened and you stepped into the corridor. You could hear him follow you and wait patiently as you took your keys out. Once you found them, you fumbled with them until you managed to slide them into the keyhole. You turned the key and a small click resonated. 

You turned to face him and struggled to meet his eyes. He was staring down at you, his face tense as though unsure of what to do and hands in his pockets. 

“Do you want to come in?” you asked. Smiling, he nodded and followed you in. You turned the lights on and made your way to the living room. 

“Sit. Do you want a drink?” Pedro stood by the entrance of the living room, his body leaning against the door frame, and stared at you. 

“No.”

“Oh… Do you want water? Or some food?” you said as you moved your weight from one foot to another. Your heels were killing you. 

“No.” he repeated, his voice dark and low. He pushed off the door frame and took a step towards you. 

“Oh.” You swallowed and watched in anticipation as he got closer to you. “What do you want then?” you stuttered. 

“I want you.” He said as he placed his hands on your hips again. “And you?” 

“Me too.” You quickly said before kissing him. 

Pedro groaned into your mouth and grabbed you wherever he could. Your hands were on him like metal on a magnet. He yanked you up, hands on your ass. Your heels fell off, making a loud thump when they reached the floor, but you didn’t care. 

“Careful, my dress.” You breathed. He pulled it up, nearly uncovering your ass, and squeezed your thighs. He pressed you to the wall and continued kissing you. His mouth was wonders on yours, drawing out the dirtiest of noises. 

“My room.” You said. 

Wordlessly, Pedro pulled you off the wall and started making his way to your room with you in his arms. You grabbed his shoulders and felt the muscles underneath the suit. Fuck, you couldn’t wait to tear all this extra fabric off of him. Once you reached your room he dropped you onto your bed and crawled on top of you. 

You pushed the jacket off of him as his lips attached themselves to your neck. Like a starving man, he began kissing and licking your neck. His kisses were soft and harsh at the same time, his tongue sliding over what his teeth marked. You moaned his name and begged for more. 

“Clothes.. there’s too much…” you mumbled pushing him back. He laughed and began unbuttoning his shirt. Impatiently, you pulled his shirt free from his pants and undid the buttons at the bottom. Pedro grabbed your chin and made you look up at him. 

“Patience, mi amor.” he said, a smile creeping onto his face. 

“Don’t laugh at me.” You grumbled, crossing your arms over your chest. 

“I’m not laughing.” He finished undoing all his button. “You’re so beautiful, I’m just happy.” You felt a rush of heat making its way up your neck and down your stomach. 

“Oh shut up.” You covered your face. 

Slowly, he peeled your hands away from your face and kissed you gently. “You are.” He kissed you again. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” 

He was finally done with all his buttons. You pushed the shirt off of his shoulders and sighed in delight. Your hands went to his stomach, feeling the warm skin, and kissed him right above his belly button. There was a trail of dark hair leading down into his pants and for a moment you wandered if that hair grew there just to tease you. 

He kicked off his shoes and let his shirt fall to the ground. You pushed him onto the bed and pulled your dress up, so it pooled at your hips, in order to straddle him. His hands returned to their familiar positions at your hips, and you took in his chest. 

Sure, you had seen him shirtless before whenever you went to the beach or pool – or when you drunkenly searched up shirtless photos of him with your friends – but you had never seen him laying on your bed like this, his hands on your ass and eyes on your breasts. 

“I think now it’s you who has “too much clothes”.” he said, quoting you. His fingers went to your straps, leaving your ass cold, and with a nod from you, he pushed them off your shoulders. Slowly, the dress fell and left your breasts exposed. You though, you would perhaps want to cover yourself, but something about the way he stared at them made you stand up straighter. 

He sat up, pulling you against him, and kissed your chest. He moved to one breast, planting opened mouthed kisses onto the soft skin and held the other breast with his hands. He gently squeezed and let his mouth hover about your nipple. His breath fanned over it, hardening it. You pushed forward, forcing him to make contact. 

He kissed you softly, like he had all the time in world, and gently. But you wanted more, and you want it now. You had waited too long for it to be this slow. You told him so. 

“I have waited too long for it to go too fast. I’m going to take my time.” You didn’t know what was hotter, the fact he wanted to take his time with you or the fact he had wanted this for a long time too. He kissed you harder and took your nipple between his teeth. You moaned his name and grabbed his hair, tugging on it slightly. This earned you a small groan, you did it again and he groaned your name. 

His hand squeezed your other breast, his fingers pinching and rolling your nipple. You sighed in pleasure and grinded against him. You wanted to feel him everywhere and weren’t sure how long you were going to let him “take his time” with you. He was rock hard and you were dying to see him. Completely see him. 

He moved away from your breast and swapped sides, making sure both sides of you got the same treatment. “Oh, Pedro, fuck.” You said, each moan making him go harder and faster. “Please, I need you…” 

Pedro pulled away and tugged the dress over your hips. You lifted your arms, allowing him to completely take your dress off. He threw it off the side and groaned as he took in your entire body. 

“You’re perfect.” He leaned forward and kissed your chest. You arched your back, pushing yourself towards him. He flipped you over and held himself above you. You wrapped your legs around his waist and tugged him down, wanting to feel his weight on top of you and between your legs. 

“Take your pants off.” You said, your hands fumbling with the belt. “Please.” You added after he gave you a cheeky look. 

Pedro rose and quickly took off his pants. You sat up, resting your weight on your elbows, and let your mouth fall open as you stared at his crotch. His erection was extremely obvious, it was creating a tent in his underwear. He placed his hands at his hips. 

“Wow. Okay. Come here. Now.” You pulled him towards you and kissed him, eager to get to it. 

He kissed you hard, taking your lower lip between his teeth and tugging on it. You couldn’t take it any longer, you stuck your hand between you and down his underwear and wrapped your fingers around him. He winced when you touched him and let his head fall onto your shoulder. 

“I’m sorry, did that hurt?” you went to move your hand away but he grabbed your wrist. 

“Continue.” He begged. “I’m just… really hard.” He laughed, refusing to meet your eyes. You bit your lower lip and attempted to hide the smile that was threatening to jump out. You wrapped your fingers around him again. He was thick and, you quickly discovered, long. You began stroking him and his hips began rolling, meeting you halfway. Some pre-cum leaked out of his tip, wetting your hand. You squeezed your thighs around him, eager to have him inside. 

Almost as though you had requested it, Pedro let one of his hands fall between you. He pressed his thumb against you through your underwear and began rotating it. You moaned, bucking your hips. It felt too good. 

“Please, let’s…” you didn’t have to say anything else. He laid on your side and placed his warm hand on your lower stomach. 

“Is this okay?” he asked, slowly itching downwards. 

“Yes.” 

“If you want me to stop at any time, tell me.” He said as he stared into your soul. 

“Yes.” You looked away, terrified your eyes would betray your deepest secrets. 

“Look at me.” His voice was low and husky, it made that warm feeling in your lower stomach drop lower. You turned to look at him, the hand that wasn’t on your lower stomach tucked your hair behind your ear before returning to its position holding him up. 

He kissed you gently and slowly slipped his hand under your underwear. You gasped as his finger touched you, it was barely anything but with Pedro if felt like everything. He moved his finger in small circles and watched you, entranced by the soft noises you were making. You grabbed his shoulder and squeezed. 

Gradually, he slipped a finger inside of you, just one, and kept it there. You looked at him, mouth slightly open, and nodded. He slipped another finger and curled them. You fell back, unable to support yourself, and squeezed his shoulder harder. Pedro began slipping his fingers in and out, each time he entered you he curled them. His thumb began drawing small circles just where you needed it. You closed your eyes, allowing yourself to enjoy the moment, and opened your hips, giving him all the space he could need. 

“Fuck.” You breathed as he stroked something deep inside you. 

You arched your back, pushing your breasts into the air. As though by invitation, Pedro placed his mouth around your breasts and sucked. His kisses were harder this time but you welcomed them. Your hand went to his hair, tugging and scratching his scalp. The joint pleasure coming from his hands and mouth was overwhelming. You pushed your hips onto the bed and breasts into his mouth. 

“Pedro… I’m gonna…” you moaned. He picked up his pace and helped you reach the place you had been chasing. You felt that pleasure ripple through you, erupting from between your legs and reaching all the way down to the tip of your curled toes. It then rushed all the way up and exploded out of your mouth as a series of moans, whimpers, and pleas. 

When you finally came down your chest was rapidly rising and falling, as though you had ran a marathon. Pedro had pulled his finger out from you and was holding them in front of his face. You turned to look at him, your vision slightly blurry, and watched in awe as he slipped his fingers into his mouth, licking them clean. 

You pulled him to you, urging him to rest his weight on you, and kissed him. You kissed his neck, his sweat tasted sweet. You licked a line across his jugular vein and felt his rapid heartbeat under your tongue. 

“That was really good.” You said. “Your moans drive me crazy.” 

He rolled his hips against you and you moaned again. “Mmhm, just like that. You like this?” you nodded and he did it again. “What do you want now?” 

“You.” 

“You have me.” You looked over at him and gave him a look. “C’mon, you’re gonna have to be more specific than that.” he pressed his hips against you and arched an eyebrow. 

“Well… Okay…” you looked up, not wanting to reveal how flustered he made you. 

“Yes?” he cupped your jaw and kissed you. 

“I want you in me.” You finally said. 

“Lets get rid of these then, huh?” he said, tugging at your underwear. Pedro kissed his way down your torso until he was level with your hips. He hooked a finger around the band of your underwear and pulled it over your hips, knees, and, eventually, feet. He flicked them off to the side before taking you all in. “Fuck.” He said before planting a kiss right between your legs. He licked once before kissing your inner thigh. Then, he kissed his way back up to your lips. 

“Your turn.” You said, a smile tugging at your lips. Your hands went down to his underwear and you tugged it down, making him completely bare. You glanced down and let your mouth fall open. Pedro wrapped his hand around himself and pumped it a couple times. 

“I’m on the pill.” You blurted out. 

“That’s good.” He said, smiling down at you. 

“Are you- like, clean?” 

“Yes, even though I’m an actor-” 

“And a heartthrob.” You interjected. 

“Yes, right.” He laughed as he made his way back to you. “- I don’t go sleeping around with everyone.” 

“No, yeah, right, I didn’t meant that. Just…” 

“I’m messing, I know what you meant and yes I am. You?” 

You nodded. 

You reached your hands out and placed them on his shoulders, they were broad and warm, his skin felt reassuring under your fingers. You wrapped your legs around his hips, pulling him closer. Pedro lined himself up and momentarily pushed his hips forward. You sucked in a breath and shut your eyes, your legs squeezing him. 

“Hey, relax, okay?” he kissed you gently and you nodded, relaxing your thighs. He pushed in a little more and you let out a moan. He was stretching and filling you up in all the right ways. He pushed even more and you gripped his shoulders. His head fell beside yours, his voice was sweet like honey and reaching parts of you that you didn’t know existed. His words were carefully and perfectly chosen. 

Finally, he was all the way in. He groaned and rested his weight on you. He was heavy but it felt oddly reassuring, you wrapped your arms around his shoulders and sighed, causing him to inch further into you. 

“Please, Pedro, move.” You urged. 

He complied and slowly pulled himself out halfway before sliding back inside. Each movement causing you to moan his name. You arched your back, pressing your chest against his, as he picked up the pace. Your hands were desperately moving up and down his back, one slid down to his ass and you gave it a squeeze. He didn’t seem to mind so you squeezed again. This time he reacted, he pulled himself further out and slammed into you. The noise of his flesh against yours was almost deafening. 

You grabbed his hair and pulled so he turned to look at you. His eyes were half closed, and mouth half opened. You kissed him and he kissed back with a force to match his thrusts. You felt him go deeper and deeper. His hands went to your face, cupping your cheek. You squeezed your legs around him. 

“Can I go on top?” you asked, pulling your lips away from his. 

“Yes, of course.” 

You both awkwardly rolled over and gasped at the new angle. His hands went to your hips, thumbs slowly drawing circles onto the soft skin. You spread your legs and moaned as you sunk further onto him. That feeling that drove you wild was starting to build up again in your lower abdomen. 

His hands started to guide you, urging you to rock forwards and backwards. You gladly complied, moaning at how gratifying it felt. One of his hand went to your left breasts and squeezed it. You leaned towards him and kissed him. His lips were a taste you could not get enough of. His tongue danced around yours at a beautiful pace. You pulled yourself up slightly and lowered again. He gasped. You did it again. He gasped again. 

“You like that?” you said. 

He kissed you harder and began lifting his hips to meet you halfway. As though this was a dance you had practiced for many hours in order to perfect, the two of you fell into a comfortable rhythm. His hand squeezed, tongue licked, hips bucked. It was perfect but it couldn’t last long. 

“I think I’m close.” He said, almost apologetic. 

“Please cum in me.” You begged, surprised at how pathetic you sounded. 

In one quick motion, Pedro spun you around, holding you tight against his chest as he did so. He grabbed your hands and pinned them over your head with just one of his and resumed the thrusting of his hips. Then, his other hand settled between the two of you and his thumb began rapidly circling your clit. 

You moaned and moved, chest pressed against his, legs wrapped around him and quickly squeezed. His movements were becoming irregular and sloppy. 

“Fuck, you’re so gorgeous. I’ve been staring at you all night in that dress. You’re - shit - fucking perfect.” He said as he pounded into you one last time before grunting in pleasure. 

Just then, the overwhelming feeling that had been building itself deep inside of you toppled over. 

“Don’t stop.” You said as you felt him slow down. 

Pedro listened and bucked his hips hard. You pushed your shoulders into the bed, hands tightly gripping his hair, and let yourself enjoy the pleasure. You rolled your hips against him, hyper aware of the warmth shooting into you. You collapsed into the bed, chest heaving even faster that before. 

Pedro collapsed onto you, his weight comfortably crushing you. You stroked his hair as he nuzzled his face into your neck. 

“Was that also really good?” his voice was muffled. 

“Even more.” You said, happily sighing. Pedro pulled away from you as you whined in protest, him leaving your body felt like a betrayal. You were left empty, cold, and bare.

“Gotta get you cleaned up, mi amor.” He laughed. 

He walked into the bathroom and you grinned at the sight. He had an amazing ass. Fuck, you couldn’t look away. You rolled over in the bed to get a better view. Your smiled grew even more when he turned around, his boner not fully gone yet. 

“Damn.” You said. 

“Thanks?” He plopped down on the bed with a towel in hand and helped you get cleaned up. 

Then, you slid under the duvet. He clicked into placed behind you, his arms wrapping around you and dwarfing you. He pressed a kiss to your shoulder and let his fingers dance over your thigh. And into the darkness, he spoke your name. 

“I don’t know what that meant to you…” He began. “But that was special to me. I’ve honestly been wanting to do that for a long while.” 

You froze as though remaining as still as possible would also freeze the moment, like any sound would shatter this dream and forcibly pull you back to a cruel and lonely reality.

“And, erm, you?” he nervously asked when you remained silent. 

You rolled around and stared up at him. “Me too, Pedro. I really like you and not just as a friend.” You smiled and kissed him. 

He wrapped his arms around you and pulled you on top of him. You gasped when you felt something poking your butt. 

“Put that away!” 

“You don’t want a round two?” he smirked. 

“Pedro!”

[stardewremixed]

More random Halloween headcanon

Olivia would make a kickass Jessica Rabbit. That glittery red dress would look stunning on her. 💃

Robin could pull off the Rosie the ariveter. Freaks Demetrius out. Embarrasses Maru. Seb wouldn't care. Just another day in the Valley with his weird mom swinging her ax. 💪

Harvey is a bit of a Trekkie. Has a uniform he pulls out at Halloween. Oh Doc Bones. Laughs halfway through his line. Damn it, Maru, I'm a doctor not a rocket scientist. 🦴

Caroline is a bit of a prankster on Spirit's Eve. A sugary spider in the orange Jello, anyone? 🕸

Pierre hates the holiday, but it's a great way to make money. All the pumpkin and candy sales. Abigail calls her dad a grinch. Wrong holiday, sweetheart. 😁

Elliott would make a dashing swashbuckling pirate. Complete with an eye patch borrowed from Marlon, a sword borrowed from Lance, the 18th century tricorn borrowed from Willy, and the parrot 🦜 from Emily.

Willy dusted off the old Sherlock Holmes outfit. A good excuse to smoke his pipe. Plus he's solved a mystery or two at sea, and reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle helped pass the time. 🕵️‍♂️

Marlon doesn't really like dressing up, but he does it for the kids. Jas especially lights up when he arrives with his purple glowing orb. , Fortunes abound. It brings a smile to Marnie's face too. 🔮

Lance can't go as an Adventurer. It would be too obvious. Instead he cosplays another famous Arthur - a king from Camelot. The Round Table does sound ideal. Plus he hopes to tempt a pretty townsperson to play his Guinevere. 👑

Morris drunkenly crashes the festival, dressed as Daddy Warbucks. 💰 🤑 💸 Bald is not a good look on you, dude.

(Somehow I headcanon Claire as his neice. She was attending as Marian the Librarian from the Music Man musical. And she is beyond embarrassed when her uncle shows up). 📖

Gus came as a cowboy and rides to the rescue, offers to drive Morris home. 🤠

Sam and Shane, fellow Joja buddies, both try to make a distraught Claire feel better, after they find her hiding out on the beach. Well really Sam with his quips and Shane smoking and leaning against the rocks, offering to TP Morris' home nonchalantly. 🧻

Penny makes an amazing Amelia Earhart. Famous pilot who disappeared over the ocean somewhere. Cute coiffed curls peeping out from her aviator cap. Random aviation facts gathered from her library research. Harvey is smitten. 🛬

Clint wants to impress Emily. He goes as the Karate Kid. 🥋 Nearly gets wiped out during Marlon and Gil's annual demonstration.

Gunther tries juggling. He keeps dropping the ball. Everyone appreciates the effort. 🤹

Leah makes an appearance as Diana, alter ego Wonder Woman. She looks incredible in leather. Alex is drooling. He can't believe he's never noticed her before. 🦸‍♀️

[zealoushound]

The Lunch

Summary: Henry takes you to lunch with his Aunt

Pairing: Henry x reader

Word Count: 835

Warnings: RPF fluuuufff, a booty grab, that’s about it, first person pov.

Disclaimer: FEEL FREE TO REBLOG IF YOU LIKE THE STORY! Writers live off reblogs. Do not copy any portion of my material to claim as your own. Do not repost my work, or any portions of my work on any site and claim it as your own. Like all my other fics, this was written on my phone and not beta’d.

Also, not my pictures so credit goes to owner!

***

Sitting at the table outside the restaurant with Henry and his aunt was peaceful. Henry had been in the states with me for a little while so he knew when he got back his family would want to catch up; Leah was the first to call.

Before we left I had to ask, “are you sure you’re ready for this?”

“Of course! They’re going to love you, sweetheart.” I’d met Nik already but none of the rest of the Cavill crew just yet.

I had chosen to wear something simple: jeans, my old Def Leppard t-shirt, and the new sparkly flip flops that Henry had given me.

I caught his gaze while walking down the stairs at his house. “You look.. you look beautiful.” He stood straighter, leaning down to kiss me as he took my hand in his.

“And you’re looking dashing as always, Mr. Cavill.” I winked at him, allowing my free hand to roam across his broad chest. He smiled a crooked smile at me then led me outside where Kal and Leah were waiting.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting! I hadn’t realized you were here already.” I was worried I’d made a terrible first impression.

“Oh, don’t be dear! I’ve only just arrived.” We introduced ourselves, talking like two old friends; as I was getting into the van I wondered what I’d been so worried about.

At the restaurant Henry, and his aunt caught up for a bit before we ordered. I was quietly listening to them, enjoying watching the happiness dance behind those beautiful blue eyes that I’d fallen so deeply in love with.

He took my hand in his as the waitress took Leah’s order, he brought it to his lips, placing a soft kiss to the back. My heart flipped as he smiled at me then placed our hands in his lap as he ordered our lunch.

Leah was so nice. She was definitely invested in her nephew’s life, his happiness. She asked me all about myself, my life back in the states, what I did with myself here while Henry was busy.

Leah invited me to go shopping tomorrow while Henry was in a meeting. I accepted immediately. “That sounds wonderful! Thank you!” They shared a smile.

After dessert I excused myself to the restroom. Henry, ever the gentleman, stood as I did. He put his hand on my hip as I stood. I briefly rested mine on his forearm, casting him a loving look before pulling on my mask, and walking into the restaurant.

“Thank you for doing this, Aunt Leah.”

“Of course! I’m so happy for you Henry. She’s such a lovely woman!” She gushed to her nephew discreetly pulling a small, navy blue box from her purse, sliding it to him under the table.

“She really is.” He said, taking her offering. “She’s perfect.” He said softly as he cracked open the small box in his hands to look at the beautiful diamond ring he’d picked out weeks ago. He closed the box, being sure to pocket it before anyone saw it.

Henry was picking up the check when I came back. He stood to pull out my chair as I removed my mask. “Baby you don’t have to..” he ah ah’ed me, making me laugh. “Thank you, sweetheart.

“Certainly, my love.” He leant down to place a soft quick kiss on my lips. Out of love, and a little bit of habit, he leaned his forehead to mine and nuzzled his nose against my own, making my heart soar once again.

“Ohh, you two are so adorable together.” Leah spoke from the table. The blush that spread across his cheeks made me grin. He reached out for my hand as soon as he was seated.

We waited a few more minutes for the waitress to return with his card then went back to the van. “Hey buddy.” Henry softly said to Kal as he moved into the seat by the door. “Good boy.”

I stood by Henry waiting for my turn to step inside, still holding onto his hand. Knowing no one was looking, I let go of his hand letting my arm slip around his waist. Grinning mischievously I dared to go lower, running my hand over his ass giving it a soft squeeze.

I dropped my mask, tip toed up to his ear, “are you going commando?” I shifted my eyebrow at him as I stepped back. He nodded, I could see the smirk under his mask. “Huh. Me too.”

The look on his stunned face was priceless as I got in, my denim covered rear, completely on display, literally, in front of his face, and he couldn’t do a thing about it. I called Kal over to me as Henry sat down.

The look on his face as he took his mask off let me know he was coming up with a proper punishment as soon as we were alone. Returning my smile with one of his own.

***

Tag list: (As always if you want on or off please let me know!)

@littlefreya @foodieforthoughts @wendimydarling @nuggsmum @captainsy-cookiemonster @summersong69 @oddduckthatgirl @winter2112rose @ysmmsy @christhickevans @ladycavillry @mary-ann84 @twhstuckylover @cavills-little-princess @luclittlepond @beck07990 @eldarwen333 @littlebirdofrivia @themaskismyface @enchantedbytomandhenry @supermamabear123 @diegos-butt @atomicsoulcollecto @alexakeyloveloki @kebabgirl67 @cynic-spirit @cavillsharman @janenyfl @sillyrabbit81 @littlewrenofrivia @viking-raider @fucky-bucky

[goldeneyedgirl]

TwiFicMas Day 8: Forgotten

Happy Day 8! I have been travelling all day, and plotting Forbidden Fics, so on with the show!

Today’s fic is an untitled riff on the concept of Alice being found in the woods of Forks not only having forgotten her entire life, but still human - her last solid memories are running from James. It was very much meant to be an exploration of Alice and Jasper relearning each other, and falling in love again - though it got quite dark and depressing at one point - and looking at how far Alice has come from her human years. She is absolutely unclear of the year she’s in, and whilst she has some memories of the asylum, she is also unaware of just how damaged she was before she was changed. I hope that all makes sense. 

Onwards!

--

What does she remember?

That is a loaded question. Matron asks her that every morning, as if she is a small child, whenever she can manage to talk. Her mind is gossamer thin, and tattered from shock therapy. She doesn’t remember much, but she does remember that her name is… her name is… Alice, yes.

The waking dreams she has are an illness, a terrible one, and she is mad.

Her dearest friend is Eli, the orderly. He was special, and a good man. He looks after her.

That’s what she remembers. The hunter. Eli taking her away from the asylum, wrapped in his itchy, old coat that smelt like smoke and grass. She was cold and tired and so frightened for Eli, because he is old and the hunt was strong… but he hid her away and went off to defeat the hunter.

//

This Alice is not their Alice, that is clear.

She is undeniably human, and so frail that Carlisle must resist the urge to check her immediately into the closest hospital. She speaks quietly, wringing her hands nervously. She doesn’t make eye-contact.

For Jasper, all he can think is that her eyes are blue. Blue-grey, really, a colour that nearly matches a scarf she bought back in the 50s. She has faint freckles over her nose.

//

The Cullens are very kind to me, whilst Eli has gone. Dr Cullen seems to think that Eli and I will be living with them for now on; that does make sense, I suppose, since Dr Cullen is a doctor, and I am still very ill. They had a very nice bedroom to give me, and clothing, so Eli must have written them. And Mrs Cullen was very nice when the dress she gave me was far too short and it upset me. The second one was much better, though it was black and I am sure made me look as pale as a ghost.

Mrs Cullen has cooked for me, as well – the smells are awful to a vampire, and the rest of them vanish whenever she disappears into the kitchen. She is always asking me what I like to eat, and she looked so sad when I told her I didn’t know, because the food at the asylum was so awful.

I keep away from the others, like Eli warned me. Though, Miss Rosalie was so lovely, I couldn’t believe she was real. I… I think I had a doll like her once. Her husband was a giant of a man who reminded me of the orderlies at the asylum, who seemed nice enough, but I wasn’t getting too close.

The redheaded boy seemed to like watching me a lot, but refrained from talking much. He seemed to have a lot of friends, though, as when he did speak, he was always talking about ‘Bella’ and ‘Jacob’ and ‘Seth’ and ‘Leah’.

The young blond man did not seem to be pleased I was in the house, leaving the room anytime I entered it, and when he was forced to be in my presence, he glowered at me, as if I were the most unwelcome creature in the universe.

Perhaps it should have upset me, but I am used to such glares.

Dr Cullen insisted that I spend a lot of time resting quietly in my room, though he allowed me to sit in the garden for a little while each day, and there was a never-ending supply of books, which was wonderful. I spend a lot of time attempting to pen letters to Eli, though my hands were still quite shaky, and my handwriting abysmal. My drawings moreso. I cried about it a little, when I was in my room, but I should be very grateful – my alternative to this lovely place was death.

//

My bedroom remained a mystery. Mrs Cullen assured me that it was mine, and I adored everything about it – the way the light filled the room every morning, to the dandelion lamp on the nightstand, to the bed with the silk headboard and piles of pillows. Mrs Cullen was always worried I was cold, bringing me as many pillows and blankets as I wished for.

But, I wondered if perhaps this room wasn’t intended for me. Mrs Cullen had filled the dresser with my clothing, and apologised, explaining the closet was used as storage, and I shouldn’t go through it until she had some time to clear it out. I had peeked, just once, and found it full of boxes and clothing. The clothing! I had never seen so many dresses! Most of them had been terribly short, but there had been every colour and fabric. I couldn’t imagine leaving behind so many beautiful things.

There were spaces in the bookcase as well, as if several editions had been pulled out in a hurry.

And I had found a necklace that had been left on the window sill, behind the curtain – a thin silver chain, with a glass teardrop on the end. It was lovely, and clearly beloved – the initials had been rubbed off the clasp, as had the engraving around the setting.

I had simply left it on the dresser and never asked, even when it vanished without mention.

It wasn’t the only mystery. I had noticed that I was kept out of many of the rooms of the house – my meals were served to me on trays or in the dining room. I was allowed in the garden or in my room.

But who am I to criticise their hospitality? Perhaps they keep things in this house that are not fit for human eyes.

//

Today, a man arrived. A policeman, though his uniform was quite odd. He looked quite stern, and when Mrs Cullen went to greet him, I disappeared back to the dining room to finish my breakfast.

Mrs Cullen is determined to discover my ‘favourite’ foods at every meal; I don’t have the heart to tell her after the ‘soups’ and ‘porridges’ of the hospital, every food is my favourite. Today, it is eggs that are like little yellow clouds.

“Alice!” the policeman sees me there and he smiles, but looks confused for a moment.

My glass of orange juice slips from my fingers and all I can think is that he is looking for me, the hospital has searched for me and they will drag me back to that dark, dim little cell, and I’ll be without Eli this time.

I know I am crying and screaming, though it sounds quite feeble to my own ears, and Mrs Cullen is trying to calm me, and the policeman looks bewildered, and the redheaded boy – Edward – is there and trying to fix everything.

“She thinks Charlie is going to take her back,” he keeps saying. “Get Jasper down here to calm her down.”

I must look a fright, my hair has fallen around my face, and there is orange juice spilt all over my dress and Mrs Cullen’s floor and there is glass everywhere.

“Carlisle left some sedatives,” Miss Rosalie says finally, looking rather stunned. Everyone looks rather pained but finally Edward nods.

And then I am calm.

I slump to the floor, my arms wrapped around myself. I am still frightened, my heart pounding, but I am calm.

“Charlie is a friend,” Mrs Cullen is telling me soothingly, smoothing my hair from my face. “No one is going to take you anywhere you don’t want to go, we promise.”

The calm fades into grief, and I fling my arms around her neck and sob like a child and beg for someone to fetch Eli for me.

//

They sit me down in the lounge room, all of them watching me. Esme has an album in her lap, and looks so kind and worried. I keep checking my hair, to make sure it hasn’t come loose. It’s not really long enough to pin up well, and Miss Rosalie never pins hers up, but it feels right.

And then Dr Cullen speaks. His voice is gentle and sad and it takes a while for me to understand the words he is saying.

Eli is, most certainly, dead.

But so is the hunter, and his vile companions.

I don’t make a sound, but suddenly my cheeks are wet, and I am crying. Esme pulls me into her arms and rocks me.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’m sure he was a good man,” she murmurs against my head, and ice and fire rip through my veins and Edward hisses at Esme and I pull away, my heart pounding.

I’m sure he was a good man.

“What did he look like?” I demand from Dr Cullen, my voice hard but still shaking. “What did Eli look like?”

Dr Cullen looks startled and Esme is realising her mistake and I am realising that no one here has ever met Eli before. That I was never entrusted to these vampires by him.

Edward is just shaking his head.

“I’m sorry, Alice, but I never met Eli in person,” Dr Cullen says.

I let out a little moan, and wonder what comes next. A runaway girl in a borrowed dress.

Truly, how many times in my life shall I be left with nothing?

Perhaps I should have left the hunter to his meal and his pleasure. If I had known then what I do now, I would have.

My face is wet, and the collar of my sweater is sodden when I look up and spy a pair of shoes under the little console table in the entrance. They are small, small enough for me, and black, with a shiny gold toe. Worn, too, and I wonder whose they are. I wonder if that is why they took me in, to replace the ghost girl who left behind my bedroom and a closet full of clothing.

The family clearly doesn’t realise what I’m doing as I move towards the shoes. I am wearing good quality clothing – thick stockings and a grey dress with a black sweater – and now I have shoes. They cannot stop me leaving.

Well, they can. But I will fight until I am dead. I am tired of being a pawn.

Edward groans as I step into the shoes – a perfect fit, as if they were mine all along – and there is the fuzzy muttering I can never understand, and I wish they hung their coats by the door, but there is nothing for it.

Before I can open the front door, there is an iron-bar of an arm around my middle, and I look down and then up in shock, as Jasper bodily drags me away from my freedom.

“Let me go!” I squeal, trying to wriggle free. I am small enough that I could usually get out of Eli’s grasp; he would laugh and tell me I was like a cat, or a goldfish, too hard to catch. But this man, who has treated me with nothing but disdain, has compensated for my size, and I am trapped in his grasp.

“Stop it!” I shriek, and I try kicking and hitting, but it does nothing except bruise my poor limbs. Miss Rosalie’s husband is truly laughing at me, and I’m sure I look quite a sight, my eyes and face all red and wet, fighting against this ridiculous behemoth of a man. Eli was not so tall as the Cullen men, and it is most unhelpful.

“Please, let me go!” I beg, but my voice is cracking, slightly hysterical, as they discuss me. As if I am a naughty child instead of the girl they have lied to.

“You’re hurting me,” I finally offer, rather pitifully. That one always worked with Eli, and it works quite well now. The man nearly drops me, and stares at me in horror – a look that makes me feel terribly guilty, though my back does ache from being held in such a way.

“Jasper,” Edward is looking at him; he has the saddest, most heartbroken look on his face I have ever seen, and I feel awful. “It’s okay, she’s fine.”

Jasper shakes his head and turns; a second later, the door slams.

“He gets to leave,” I say grumpily, and Dr Cullen and Mrs Cullen just look stunned at what has transpired.

Within seconds, a plan is formed. Dr Cullen, Edward and Miss Rosalie’s husband go after Jasper, whom I have caused great distress to, apparently. Miss Rosalie and Mrs Cullen whisk me back upstairs, where I am brought a cup of tea, and ignore my questions about Eli, a sinking feeling in my stomach until my vision swims and I realise they have played the same terrible trick my mother used on me when the orderlies came to take me away. I tip sideways on the window seat and Mrs Cullen carries me easily to bed, and oh, I hate them all. I cannot cry or co-ordinate my arms to move or speak.

But I have learned a valuable lesson. They will be kind and take care of me, but I have no power nor choice. And if I strike out at them, I will be punished. A tiny, hysterical part of my brain is amused that their weapon of choice is pills crushed in tea when they could break me into tiny pieces, but I will be quite carefully about accepting food and drink now on.

The Cullens are not to be trusted.

//

The tea was brewed strong, because I sleep through the afternoon and night. When I wake, there is light slipping through the windows. Normally, I would attempt to wash and clothe myself before Mrs Cullen comes in, but today, I do not. I attend to my needs in the bathroom, and drink water in my cupped hands rather than risk whatever is mixed in with the glass on my nightstand.

And then I return to bed. It seems that is where they prefer me to be, so that is where I shall stay.

It is quite late, mid-morning, when Mrs Cullen ventures in with a tentative smile and a tray, and then a concerned look when I do no sit up nor greet her, still clad in yesterday’s dress. I do not respond to her greetings, and I feel like a dying animal when she finally leaves to fetch Dr Cullen.

Having the doctor in my bedroom makes me feel quite unclean, brings shadowy horrors from the asylum to the front of my mind that I try to push away as he checks my temperature and talks to me.

“Grief, especially for a beloved friend, can be overwhelming,” he says finally, smoothing my hair in a way that makes me shudder and pull away from him. “You should eat, to keep up your strength, Alice. But rest is a great healer.”

He and Mrs Cullen leave, though a plate of toast and a glass of juice is left on my nightstand, and I wonder how many pills they have crushed into the mix. I wait forty minutes before I deposit the toast and juice down the toilet – they shall never guess that I didn’t consume it myself.

I am right, of course. Mrs Cullen’s smile brightens when she sees the empty dishes. I have been good and obedient and all is well, in the Cullens’ eyes.

They might think that they can control me and win whatever terrible game this is, but I grew up in a hellish place, learnt cruelty and sneakiness from the very best at it. No matter what they think they can do to me, I’ve survived worse. And I will survive them, too.

//

It has been almost a week since the terrible altercation, and they all suspect me. I refuse to leave my room, content to take my meals up there and read. The food is discarded via the bathroom, and I drink only from the tap. My bones are returning to the surface. Hunger is an old bedmate, one I’ve known since I was a girl, and I barely notice it anymore.

//

The brunette girl looks quite rough, in her trousers and shapeless sweater. She looked quite sour, too, as we sat in the dining room.

There is little chatter as she presents the food she brought with her. Apparently, the popular opinion is that I am so grief-stricken that Mrs Cullen’s food no longer tempts me, and that this strange girl can provide something that I will eat.

The sandwich is wrapped up in paper, with stickers to keep it sealed – it gives me slightly more confidence that the food has not been tampered with, though my body is well trained in going without food, and I am full after only picking at it for a little while.

The girl – Isabella, daughter of the Policeman Charlie – doesn’t talk much, and when she does, every second word is Edward’s name. It’s strange; I’m faintly reminded of my cousins fretting over boys, a hazy memory of a conversation I had no interest in, and wondered if they ever read a book.

Since I ate, the meal is declared a success, and Isabella is encouraged to return any time - with more food, and I wonder how many conversations about Edward I shall have to sit through.

//

I rather shocked the family, today. Dr Cullen weighed me in my nightdress, and found out that I had lost another two pounds. All that good work, undone. Mrs Cullen had looked terribly sad, and Miss Rosalie had scowled.

“If you don’t start eating, we’ll take you to the hospital and they’ll force you to eat,” she practically growls at me, and I wish I could laugh in her face.

“They attach a feeding tube to your mouth, and they will tie you down,” Miss Rosalie keeps speaking. I tilt my head to the side and think of the asylum, of everything I have lived through in eight years. Nothing Miss Rosalie can tell me will scare me.

“Please, Alice, is there anything you would like to eat?” Mrs Cullen is nearly begging me. I shake my head.

“Perhaps it is time to involve professionals,” Dr Cullen says in a sad voice, and there is a loud bang from upstairs that makes me jump.

“That would be a no,” Miss Rosalie’s  husband says wryly.

//

I don’t know why, but I walk into the kitchen the next morning, and when Mrs Cullen offers to make me breakfast, I agree.

I agree to eat at least half and then sit in the garden with her.

I even agree to a cup of tea, though my hands shake something terribly when I drink it – why am I drinking it? – and I nearly drop the cup.

Mrs Cullen watches me with a tired look on her face, and smoothes my hair from my face as she takes the empty tea cup. I sit in the garden and wonder if I could vomit it all up - it sits uneasily in my stomach, as if it knew how unwilling I was to consume it. I wait for the effect, to feel sleepy or twitchy or dizzy or something.

Jasper is watching me from the doorway, with a flat look on his face. I haven’t seen him since the argument, and he doesn’t look particularly pleased to lay eyes on me, but when he sees me watching him, he moves towards Mrs Cullen’s empty seat and folds himself into it.

“I,” he begins, looking down, “I understand you’ve suffered a great loss and feel like we’ve betrayed you. And I never, ever would have allowed them to lace your tea with sedatives, had I been in the house. I’m sorry I left. But you are safe here. We want to protect you and help you. And I will explain more when you’re well again, I promise. But you must stop trying to harm yourself, Alice. You must eat. I can only stop them from sending you to hospital for so long, and I…”

I blinked at him curiously. He had stopped them? More than once? He had some sort of authority over them - over me?

“I don’t understand,” I manage.

“I know, and we’ll start explaining things soon, but for now, I need you to trust us. Eat, drink, speak with us. I will watch over all the food that is prepared, if that makes you feel better. But I cannot watch you hurt yourself like this, and I cannot leave you. I just…” He looked so sad as his gaze met mine. And something about that gaze, something about the softness of his words made me trust him. He wouldn’t have drugged the tea, wouldn’t have allowed Mrs Cullen or Miss Rosalie to do so either. He never would have hurt me or lied to me. Whomever Jasper was in this family, and to me, he was neither unkind nor cruel. 

“Okay, I’ll try,” I said in a soft voice. “As long as you tell me the truth.”

//

[voiceofmany]

@heartsunholy​ asked:

Leah considers herself a pretty perceptive person - most artists are, she believes. And because of that, she’s a pretty good gift giver. When she gets Marnie for her Secret Friend for the Feast of the Winter Star, Leah can guess quite easily that Marnie is a person who requests practical gifts. New boots, new tools, gloves to keep her hands warm while tending to the animals in the snowy months. But that’s not what Leah goes with. And as Marnie unwraps the paintings, Leah prays it was the right choice. “Happy Holidays!” she cheers, smile wide and hopeful. “I hope you like it, Marnie. You’re really a fantastic subject. There’s actually two! One’s a landscape style of your ranch. I tried to really capture the essence of comfort I get whenever I walk by your place. But this one’s my favorite!” The second picture is a portrait of Marnie, standing proud and strong in front of her ranch, ready to face another day. She’s wearing her usual outfit, dressed down, because she was beautiful and strong no matter what she was wearing. And Leah could only hope Marnie saw that.

Marnie never expected very much from the Feast of the Winter Star. So many people in town were strapped for cash - anything, as far as Marnie was concerned, was an acceptable gift.

Which was why her eyes swelled wide the moment Leah placed two large, unwieldy wrapped things in front of her. Flat. Not tools, then. Not homemade food either. Nothing she could use for the animals. What on earth could it be?

The moment Marnie stripped the wrapping paper away, her eyes widened. “Oh, Leah...”

Looking at the painting of her ranch filled her with such warmth that she felt as though she was standing in front of a fireplace. It was everything she always wanted her home to be - an absolute paragon of safety to any and all who might come its way. “Leah, it’s...” But there was another one right below it, and this one made Marnie gasp.

She’d never had a painting done of her. Not a painting, not a sketch, not anything at all. It was difficult enough for her to let someone take her photograph without her flushing and laughing and stepping out of frame and making excuses...but here she was, immortalized. And she looked stunning.

“That’s not me,” Marnie murmured with a quiet laugh, reaching to try and muffle it with her hand over her lips. “That’s...oh, Yoba, Leah, I-I don’t know what to say.” Tears filled her eyes. She looked through blurry vision right into Leah’s eyes. “I can’t ever repay you for these, I’m just...I’m really grateful. Happy Holidays, sweetheart.”

[littleliv1]

I Was Born To Love You- Part One

I hope you like it! Fill free to send feedback, ideas, requests, etc.!

Summary- We learn a little bit more about Leah, we met Austin but something is wrong with him.

Warnings- Language, unwanted touching, slight verbal abuse

It was the day that 20th Century Fox announced they were making Bohemian Rhapsody. I was so excited to tell Austin how I'd be meeting the cast, as well as Roger Taylor and Brian May, and how I'd be the assistant to Bryan Singer. I was tapping my thumbs on the wheel listening to '39 by Queen. I had been in a Queen kick since the first official meeting of filming. However, I couldn't tell Austin, or anyone really. I had signed a contract of confidentiality stating that I couldn't share more than what was already for the public to see. As was the whole cast and crew of the movie.

I pulled in the drive way to my small, one story home. I was high on happiness, walking along the long pathway of the front of my house, taking notice to the newly growing buds on the ground. I walked inside, around 6 o'clock, as I always do. Austin wasn't home yet, which I took as kind of weird because he was usually the first home. But, I thought, he does work in management, he manages young new stars and books them tours around the world. He may just be working over time, as he did sometimes.

I went to our kitchen and preheated the oven, as I got out the unthawed and uncooked chicken I bought yesterday, as well as some potatoes and broccoli. This was my life. I got up around 5 am, cooked Austin and I breakfast, went to work, got home at around 6 pm (depending on what I had to do that day, 6 was about the average time) to my loving husband, cooked dinner, sometimes we watched a movie, throw a shower in somewhere, and go to bed. Though it seemed like a basic and very boring life, my job and my husband always made it a new adventure everyday. I picked up our new puppy German Shepherd named Lola, as I washed off the counter to start preparing the meal.

About an hour and a half later, dinner was done, but Austin still wasn't home yet. 'No big deal, may just be working late again,' I thought to myself. It didn't feel right eating without him. I usually waited about an hour or so before enjoying my meal so I could enjoy it with him. It was 8 o'clock pm and I still hadn't heard from him. 'I'll just call him,' I thought. I grabbed my phone off the counter where we both kept our phones during dinner and called him. It rang for a bit, and then it went to voice mail. I dialed his work phone, maybe he's at the desk. "Austin McMann's office, this is Shelly, how can I help?" I heard the familiar voice of his assistant, Shelly.

"Hey girl! It's Leah. Is Austin doing okay? He's about three hours late from coming home, he real busy?" I asked nicely. I could hear her voice as she got up to check, "I actually think he just left, he left at his normal time and then forgot something and came back. He's on his way home, though!" She replied back. I've always liked her, she was always so sweet and caring. "Alright, thanks sweet girl. Sorry to bother, just a concerned wife!" I said lightly. She kind of chuckled to herself. "Yeah, I understand." She replied. I had gotten out the plates and turned off the stove and oven that was keeping the food warm until his arrival. I saw headlights through the living room window. "I think he's here now, why don't you join us for dinner sometime?" I asked. "Sure! Give me a time and place and let Austin know, I'll be sure to clear the day!" She said. I laughed, leaning over the counter. "Alright Shelly, I'll talk to you later, love!" We both exchanged 'good-byes'.

I heard a knock at the front door, not only driving Lola crazy as she ran towards the sudden loud noise, it also startled me. 'Oh my god he's dead,' I thought to myself. I was positive it was the police to come tell me that my beloved husband had died in a tragic car wreck. The knocking grew to banging, as I walked towards the door. Once I opened it, my nerves calmed. It was only Stacy. I let out a sigh of relief, giggling to myself about how frantic I realized I just was. "It's only you, sorry for taking so long. What can I do you for, ma'am?" I asked, gesturing her in. "I'll only be but a minute," She stated, staying put. I nodded, confirming I understood. "It's about this new job I assigned you. How are you liking it?" She asked. I smiled. "Well, it's only been a few days, and all Mr. Singer has really told me to do was take notes and get him lunch. I've memorized it, though, it's-" she cut me off with a silencing hand. "Glad you're enjoying it, darling." Lola came strutting in from the kitchen to greet the intruder by jumping on her leg, begging for pets. "Lola! Stop it!" I said, picking her up. "I'm sorry, ma'am, we just got her a few weeks ago, we've been doing our best to train her and-" she silenced you once more. "Darling, know when to stop talking. It's only but a dog. Just don't ever bring her to the office." She said, looking at the pup. I nodded. "Understood."

I sat there quietly. "Not to rush you out or anything, you're more than welcome to stay if you'd like, but was that all you wanted to talk about?" I asked her. She smiled slightly nodding her head. "Yes, yes. I've got to go now, I'm so very happy for you, my sweets. I know your parents would be so proud and happy for you." She said, kissing my cheek.

My parents.

She left, closing the door behind her as Lola licked my face were she kissed me. I hadn't thought about my parents in a few days. Things had been so hectic. I looked at a wedding picture on the wall next to the coat closet. It was of me and my parents kissing my cheek while Austin held me from behind, we were all laughing. I almost shed a tear, but my mind was taken off by the abrupt wind behind me as the door opened. Austin walked through.

I smiled at him, letting the dog down. I walked over to him and we greeted each other with a kiss. "Hello, darling," I said. "So sorry I'm late, my love. I had totally forgotten a meeting I had planned with a few chaps months ago, had to meet them at a coffee shop across town. They were just wannabe Justin Timberlake's." He said, putting his black leather bag next to his desk that was in the living room. I followed. "It's alright, Shelly said you had forgotten something in the office?" I asked, curiously. He looked puzzled. "That's a bit weird," he thought. He started to thin for a moment, before coming to a realization. "Yes yes, I forgot my phone. I left it there before I went to the meeting with the boys. I saw that you had called but my phone was almost dead, I thought I'd just talk to you when I got home." He explained. Innocent enough, I thought.

"I made dinner, chicken, mashed potatoes and broccoli. It's still warm." I said pointing to the kitchen. He smiled at you with his loving brown eyes. "My little chef." He kissed my cheek.

We were both eating dinner when he looks up at me. "So the meeting was probably the only thing that happened to me today, how was your day?" He asked. I smiled, remembering how excited I was to tell him the news. "Well, you know how I've been assisting Stacy for four years now?" I asked him. He nodded, face full of chicken. "Well, I can tell you now, that 20th Century Fox is making a new movie based off of Freddie Mercury's life as well as the band Queen!" I said. He looked brightly, smiling, sipping some water before telling me how exciting that was. "That's not even the best part!" I said. "Then get to the best part, my love!" He replied back, biting into the potatoes. "Stacy had me switched to assisting Bryan Singer. The director of the movie!" I said. He looked up shocked. "Bryan Singer?" He asked. I nodded, still smiling. "I'll get to meet the crew and meet Brian and Roger and learn about the band." I explained again, excitedly eating my chicken. "You're working for a man?" He said, getting a little upset.

I backed off of my exiting high, still partially smiling to keep the mood lightened. "Well, yeah. Stacy evidently promised him a great assistant, which she thought was me." I explained. "It's just work, my love. Nothing more, nothing less." I explained, further, holding his hand to hopefully calm his nerves. He let out a sigh. "It's just. You're so beautiful. And most men want the same thing when it comes to having beautiful assistants. Sex. I don't want him to use you like that." He explained. I understood his concern, but his argument rose questions. "I understand, darling, but what about your assistant? Shelly? She's absolutely stunning, not to mention only 20." I said. He got angry, yanking his hand away. "What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?" He said standing up. I backed down, as I wasn't used to him raising his voice.

I got quiet. "N-nothing sweetheart, your statement about men with pretty assistance just made me think a little bit, that's all." I said. "Of course it did. Because that's all you ever do now, is think! I don't suppose you've been thinking about Bryan Singer or thinking about the other cast members. No, you're just innocent Maleah. Never had a dirty thought about anyone but me since we got married." His voice got louder, driving Lola to bark at him, which seemed like in defense of me. "Austin, what is your problem? I didn't do anything, I haven't even met the guys yet. All I've been doing was getting coffee and food for Mr. Singer, I probably won't meet them until like a month from now!" I stood up, trying to calm him down. He was obviously upset about something, and I really believe it's much more than just who I'm working for now.

"And what happens when you do met these fellows and the way they bite their lip drives you crazy?" He asked, getting quiet and closer to my face. I was silent. Where is all of this coming from? "Sooner or later, we're both going to be working late nights, you'll be too tired to cook and eat with them, we'll both get home and go straight to bed. We will rarely have sex. And then you see them shirtless, smiling, and seeing the way you know they're going to look at you. It'll make you mad, darling." Austin said, cupping my privates. It made me quiver, but not of pleasure. Of fear. His breath was hot, and quite resembles cake vodka. Maybe this was it, he was drunk. "Please let go of me, Austin." I said quietly. He backs up, and realizes the situation. He kisses me on the cheek and thanked me for dinner before going to our bed room and going to sleep.

A/n: thank you for reading, I know I write long parts, I just want to try to make it as detailed as I can! I have multiple parts written, and I’ll post as I finish making final edits!

[yukinojou]

Hamilton West End: delayed impressions of December 15

*eyedart* It's been 3 weeks, high time to write my impressions of Hamilton in London...

I saw the December 15 show, 1 week before official opening night, from the first row of the upper circle, with the full first cast. I was last at the Victoria Palace Theatre for Billy Elliot in 2012, so the renovation was quite stunning. The Upper Circle is still dizzyingly steep, but there are actual handrails making the descent comfortable enough, and the renovation team actually put in enough ladies' restrooms for once. Props to the staff lady doing traffic control in the loo, making sure people didn't miss an empty cubicle :) The extra hard ticket control was also done very smoothly, though the pre-show mailings scared us a bit too much - we got there 90 minutes before the show and ended up camping in the upper bar for almost an hour.

Anticipation was high, but I admit to a moment of trepidation as well. I've been blasting the cast album for over two years, I've inhaled the Hamiltome and I admit I got my paws on some video visuals of dubious legality, so I was very attached to the original Broadway cast, especially since all of them were so absolutely stunning. I've had this reaction before - after so many viewings of the Warsaw Tanz der Vampire production it's so carved into my brain that I'm immensely critical of other performers tackling the same songs...

That lasted about 5 bars into the opening song, mind you.

Photos and clips don't do the set and choreography justice. There's always something going on everywhere on both levels and every freaking finger-twitch from the most in-the-background person in the shadows means something. There's actually quite a lot of props, and the bare set means that all of them have to be carried on by the cast. And every time it's freaking meaningful who carries the quill / jacket / desk / whatever. I could watch this show 15 times and still notice new things.

The choreography and direction is about both symbolism and shapes. So many times it's a living sculpture onstage. And the same in the soundscape of the songs and the lyrics and the acting. Yeah, it's the one freaking show that's not overhyped.

Cast, in bullet points and mostly random order:

Rachelle Ann Go - I intentionally avoided reading too much info about the cast, and the moment she opened her mouth I went "wait, she's Filipina, isn't she?" She's got that pure nightingale voice and steam-train charisma that must be in the water there. Same stunning mold as Lea Salonga and Leah Delos Santos. And on top of that, she was absolute steel underneath in the second act. This was an Eliza who is very much in charge, someone that Alexander is chasing to keep up with. She didn't steal the show, she owned it from Schuyler Sisters onwards.

Obioma Ugoala - Washington was the role I was most worried about, mostly because Christopher Jackson was so good and commanding and three-dimensional. Um. Yeah. I may actually have a new favourite Washington, both with the fatherly vibe towards Hamilton and with the sheer gravitas. This man yells "attack", you freaking attack. Best. Casting. Ever. Also had me in sniffles during One Last Time.

Jason Pennycooke - Lafayette/Jefferson was second on the worry list, seeing as readers of this tumblr have had to suffer many many pictures of Daveed Diggs. Guess who did his best to steal the show. Tiny adorable floofy-haired dynamo of a man, bouncy as all get out, absolutely different from Daveed and so very very good at playing a totally self-centered but very intelligent man. The moment we left the theatre, we all went "JEFFERSON!"

Rachel John - the saddest, most mature Angelica I've heard yet. Virtuoso, but with an undercurrent of melancholy that made the role her own. After Schuyler Sisters, she seemed slightly apart from the show, always watching, always the observer.

Cleve September - adorable is a good word. He was an absolute sweetheart in his own songs, and when he wasn't singing, he was doing his best to make everyone else shine too, putting telling the story ahead of his own applause. If he was a Takarazuka actress he'd be in Yukigumi, and y'all know I'm a forever-Yuki girl.

Christine Allado - she still seemed to be finding her Peggy (though the shyness worked for the character), but her Maria was an absolute tour de force. Someone get this woman to sing tango. And dance tango. She's got an opera background, and the combination of those deep tones with a deeper version of that pure Filipino sound is killer.

Tarinn Callender - Numero Tres I was worried about needlessly. His Mulligan was powerful and joyful, while his Madison was just hilarious, especially the contrast between his nerd-dom and Jefferson’s look-I’m-so-cool. I just about choked when they couldn’t work out the mic drop :D

Giles Terera - I think he may have had a bit of a cold or something distracted him in Act One, because I wasn't quite feeling it. I thought it was the combination of not entirely clear diction (as a non-native speaker I take a while to get used to unfamiliar accents) and a distant aspect that didn't connect with me. Whatever it was, it cleared up by Act Two. His Room brought the house down, and by the time he was falling apart in The World Was Wide Enough, my heart was breaking.

Michael Jibson - MWAHAHA. Someone give this guy an Olivier for sheer comedic timing. No slouch on the voice and movement, but it's the freaking timing that had me in stitches.

Jamael Westman - giant giraffe of a junior Machiavelli who needs a hug :D He had a great concept for Act Two and Hamilton's entire emotional journey. Great voice, good acting, arms and legs all over the place, and possibly my Hamilton from now on.

Ensemble - so energetic and precise. I loved the Bullet, Leah Hill, especially - she's got a magnetic quality. Not quite sure who was our James Reynolds, but he oozed evil.

In conclusion: very tempted to hunt for cheap flights and cancellation tickets.

[labyrinthofleah]

Prom and Circumstance | Mamoru/Aiko AU fic

[So I saw this post and it stuck with me and then this fic happened in another thrilling episode of “I’ll just write a cute little drabble wait this isn’t little anymore oh no.”

Highschool Outlaws AU, go! @letstalklikefangirls​ @josiesparklelove​ ]

***

>Do I have to buy you a croissant?

>You mean corsage… and it is considered traditional, so…

>k

Aiko sighed as she read the barely-there text from her prom date. Not for the first time, she wondered how they’d been convinced to go the dance together in the first place.

…That’s right, they hadn’t been convinced. It had been more of a coercion.

Leah had been asked first by Roberto, her long-time crush, and accepted with much squealing. Said squealing had continued for a while afterward, accompanied by many pleas for Aiko to find a date, too. Aiko had rebuffed her persistent puppy dog eyes with moderate success, until…

***

Weeks ago, at lunch in the cafeteria:

“I already said I’d go with you and Josie; isn’t that enough?”

“Pleeease Aiko? It’s prom and it’ll be more fun with more people!”

“Finding a date now would just be—“

“Hey, if Josie can do it, anyone can.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t act all superior just because someone looked down long enough to spot you.”

With that one dry retort, Josie and Leah were once again engaged in friendly, ever-enthusiastic bickering. Aiko tuned them out with practiced ease, shoving her nose into her book for English Literature.

“Yo.”

She didn’t look up at first, not registering that the gruff male voice was addressing her.

“Hey. Kid.”

“Aiko!” Leah piped up, momentarily distracted from her bantering. “Mamoru’s here.”

She looked up. “Oh, uh, sorry. I was…”

She lifted the book a little for emphasis, and he shrugged. “Figured. Anyway, that’s kinda what I’m here for. Forgot what chapters we gotta read for next class.”

Aiko raised an eyebrow skeptically.

He shrugged again. “Can’t let my grade fall any more. Don’t want summer school.”

“Maybe you should have thought of that before—“

“She’ll help you if you go to prom with her,” Leah’s wheedling voice broke in.

“Wha--?”

Aiko closed her eyes and reminded herself to take three deep breaths.

Unfortunately, by the time the third breath had been exhaled slowly, Leah had somehow secured a promise of a date from Mamoru and sent him off with homework reminders copied from Aiko’s notes.

“Leah,” Aiko hissed, “I like a clean criminal record as much as the next person, but I am this close to strangling you right now because I feel like it’d still be worth it.”

The shorter girl squeaked and hid behind Josie.

“Don’t look at me,” the blonde girl protested as Aiko directed her glare at her. “You know how she is when she wants something. She won’t let go ‘til she gets it. Like a chihuahua.”

“Chihuahuas are cuter. They don’t talk and they don’t give me these tempting homicidal urges,” Aiko grumbled.

“Roberto thinks I’m adorable, thank you very much,” Leah sniffed from the safe shelter of Josie’s back.

“That’s what got me into this in the first place.”

“You’re just being stubborn,” Leah said placatingly. “Come oooonn, it’ll be fun! You and Mamoru get along great already! Um, sort of?”

“I’d rather go to prom with a chihuahua.”

***

But now, Aiko did have to admit that Mamoru was doing surprisingly well for himself. He actually remembered to ask her what color her dress was going to be, although he showed no signs of doing anything beyond what was standard.

...Unlike Roberto, who’d been dropping extremely unsubtle hints to an increasingly excited Leah. Something about a luxury hot air balloon rental, and maybe a carriage ride. Then he’d started trying to rope Takuto into doing something for Josie, too, and Aiko had once more tuned the conversation out via textbook.

She thought she heard Takuto vehemently stating he’d only consider hiring a dove release service over his “cold, dead, maggot-eaten body.”

Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

>What kinda flower do you want in the Corvette?

Well, at least he was trying.

***

The evening of prom came. Leah was over the moon waiting for Roberto to arrive, unable to sit still even though Josie and Aiko had hidden the coffee maker when they’d gotten together to do hair and makeup. She fidgeted with the straps of her red dress as Josie, hair perfectly coiffed, lounged on the couch with her phone.

“You look fine,” Aiko reassured her.

“Yeah. I mean, thanks. I’m just… nervous?” She laughed a little.

“Too late to back out now,” Josie chirped. “Besides, you have nothing to worry about. You’ve totally got this. Roberto will be eating out of your hand.”

Leah brightened. “Really?”

“Yeah. Even if I’m wrong (when am I ever wrong, though), at least you still have this!” She flashed the phone at her friend.

A handsome game character smiled up from the screen. “You’re a strange girl… but I don’t mind if you’re the one making me feel this way,” the character’s dialogue said.

Leah grabbed her faux-leather clutch, obviously ready to sling it at Josie’s head.

The doorbell rang, and the blonde blithely leapt up to answer it.

It was Roberto. His ever-ready grin grew wider as his eyes fell on Leah. “You look beautiful.”

She giggled. “You don’t look that bad, yourself.”

He really didn’t, Aiko thought. It certainly helped that their dates weren’t exactly hard on the eyes. Well, Leah and Josie’s dates, anyway. Her own, however…

Takuto was right behind Roberto. His jaw dropped a little as he saw Josie standing tall in her sparkling gown.

“Uh…” He swallowed. “You, um…”

“Look amazing? Stunning? Show-stopping? I could go on if none of those are quite right,” she said innocently.

He blushed redder than a fire hydrant, shoving a corsage at her as he mumbled, “You’re okay, I guess.”

“Oh, well thank you. You’re okay, too. I guess,” she parroted, smiling as she put on the corsage and slipped her hand through his arm.

Mamoru was the last to arrive. Aiko had predicted this, and went to pull open the door.

“Hey, here’s the man of the hour…“

She trailed off, staring.

He had not only combed, but styled his hair, and was looking extremely smart in a tux and tie. Also…

She sniffed.

…Was he wearing cologne?

He smirked, holding a corsage out to her.

“Hey to you too. Guess puttin’ that weird crap in my hair was worth it to see ya lookin’ at me like that.”

“L-like what? This is how I always look, you just…” She clamped her mouth shut and practically snatched the corsage, trying to regain her composure as she put it on.

“Heh. Not like ya to be all tongue-tied, ‘specially with me,” he drawled.

Maybe if you’d warned me before you showed up looking like… like…

”Unless this tux don’t actually look good on me.” He frowned, looking a little hurt.

That wasn’t fair.

“…No, you… actually look pretty good,” Aiko mumbled.

“Yeah?” He grinned. “Well, right back atcha, sweetheart. That fancy dress suits ya.”

He actually looked like someone she’d be proud to be seen in public with, and he’d complimented her appearance. Those homework notes must have really saved his grade.

***

At prom:

It didn’t take long for Leah, Roberto, and Josie to drag Aiko and Takuto out onto the dance floor. Mamoru had conveniently gone AWOL when the two found themselves surrounded and outnumbered.  He only reappeared with a plastic cup of punch in both hands when the “Cupid Shuffle” was in full-swing.

“Love Shack” was next, and by the time “Cotton Eye Joe” rolled around Takuto clearly admitted defeat and just went along, much to Josie’s delight. Leah was apparently satisfied by Aiko completing three sacrificial dances and allowed her to beat a retreat to where Mamoru stood by the wall.

“Backin’ out so soon?” He asked, handing her the cup of punch that wasn’t nearly drained.

She shook her head and took a sip. The ice was half-melted, but after all the dancing it was more than adequate. “That was three songs too many for me.”

“Looked like ya were havin’ fun with your friends, though.”

“You could have been having fun with us,” she pointed out, pushing a stray strand of hair out of her eyes.

He smirked. “And risk spillin’ punch on this tux? It wasn’t cheap, ya know.”

Aiko sighed. “About that… Sorry about Leah. I really would have given you the notes without the whole date deal if she hadn’t gotten to you first.”

“Yeah?” Mamoru suddenly became very interested in his drink. “Thing is… Tiny actually did me a favor.”

“A what?”

“I didn’t actually… uh…”

He took a large gulp of punch.

Before she could ask him what he meant, the tempo of the music changed.

Aiko saw Roberto bow regally and hold his hand out to Leah, who took it with a big, dreamy smile. Takuto’s face glowed bright red even in the suddenly-dim lighting as he took Josie into his arms.

Then she looked back at Mamoru, who returned her gaze with an uncharacteristically serious expression.

“Here.” He plucked her almost empty cup from her grasp and tossed it in a nearby trashcan. His own cup immediately followed.

“I wasn’t done—“

He just took her hand and pulled her in the direction of the swaying couples. She found her arms looped around his neck even as his hands rested on her waist.

Nervous laughter escaped her lips. “Are we seriously—“

“Don’t wanna dance with me, sweetheart?”

His voice was low as he leaned towards her. Her laughter died. Slowly, she shook her head, and he grinned. His large, warm hands urged her to step closer. She did.

“The homework…” He murmured next to her ear. “Didn’t really need it.”

“…But what about summer school?”

“Oh, that? I lied. A little.” His smile grew. “Tiny didn’t need to do all her wheelin’ and dealin’, either.”

“Why?”

“Ya tellin’ me Lil’ Miss Straight A’s didn’t figure it out? It’s ‘cause…” He looked down at their feet, then back up at her. “I was gonna ask ya anyway. But I chickened out. Didn’t know if you’d even wanna go with me, and then Tiny said...”

The music swelled with an emotional flourish as her arms tightened around him. “Actually, I think I would have gone with you either way,” she said quietly.

Something about his smile changed; it looked softer, more genuine, and her heart somersaulted when she saw it. They stayed like that until the last gentle strains of the song segued into an up-tempo beat.

Finally, they pulled apart, and Mamoru quirked an eyebrow at her. “More punch?”

She laughed. “Definitely. And… maybe we could dance again after that? Just to the slow songs, though.”

He squeezed her hand, making her realize he’d never let go of it in the first place. “Sounds like a plan.”

BONUS EPILOGUE:

“Seems she doesn’t think Mamoru’s so bad after all,” Leah said, glancing over at her friend from the dance floor with no small amount of gloating.

“I think she should’ve gone with a chihuahua instead,” Josie muttered.

“But look how happy she is! And you didn’t exactly try to stop this from happening, so…”

“I honestly didn’t think she’d put up with him this long.” Takuto yelped, and Josie hastily loosened her sudden death-grip on his shoulders. “Oops! Sorry, Takkun.”

Leah sighed. “Josie, don’t manhandle your date just because—hey, where did Robbie go?”

Raucous laughter broke out nearby, followed by enthusiastic cheers.

“That all you got, Roberto?”

“You wish, Kenshi; I’m just warming up!”

Roberto seemed to be challenging another tall student to a dance-off. Other students had already begun to gather.

Leah let out a whoop and ran to the front of the crowd. “Show him who’s boss, Robbie!”

“You got it!” He winked showily and blew her a kiss.

Takuto mimed sticking a finger down his throat before turning to his date. “Let’s go somewhere… else…?”

Josie wasn’t there. She had somehow teleported to the front of the crowd next to Leah, joining in with the chorus of delighted screams that erupted as Kenshi pulled off his tuxedo jacket.

“Show off,” Roberto scoffed.

Kenshi grinned breezily. “Hey, it gets hot dancing.”

Turning, he scanned the spectators quickly before approaching Josie. “Sorry, would you mind holding onto this for a minute?”

“Not in the slightest.”

The jacket quickly changed hands. Takuto’s eyes narrowed as he elbowed his way to the center of the crowd to face the dance rivals.

“You’re joining in, Takkun? Awesome!” Kenshi clapped him on the back.

“A new challenger appears!” Roberto bellowed.

Josie smiled like a cat who’d just swallowed a particularly delicious canary and clutched the jacket a little closer.

“Oh,” she purred, ignoring the way Leah was side-eyeing her. “This is going to be so good.”

~*LE END*~

[labyrinthofleah]

Always a Black Fox, Never a Bride: Part 2 | Mamoru/Aiko fic

Read Part 1 here! 

@letstalklikefangirls​ @josiesparklelove​

Part 2: Better Off Unwed

“…This is stupid.” He muttered to himself as he grabbed his unironed jacket from the back of his chair. He muttered as he retrieved the invitation from the desk and Aiko’s letter from the drawer. He muttered as he found himself behind the wheel of his car, heading in the direction of the venue stated on the invitation.

“This ain’t my problem. What’m I even gonna do when I get there? Gettin’ this messed up ‘cause of a woman… what’m I thinkin’…”

The streets were fairly familiar, since the venue was close to the route he took to work. He let muscle-memory take over a bit as he drove. As a result of that, and the fact that he had no one to grudgingly rant to but himself, he almost didn’t see the woman in white trying to hail a cab on the side of the road.

By the time he’d realized who she was, he’d already driven right past her. He considered driving back to her, but turning around would take too much time. He finally just pulled over and got out of the car, and began to walk towards her.

“Taxi—You have got to be kidding me!” She bit out as a cab sped right on by. He hadn’t heard her voice in weeks, and until that moment he hadn’t allowed himself to admit just how much he’d missed it.

“Ain’t ya got somewhere to be, sweetheart?” He pushed his hands into his pockets to stop them from reaching out to her.

Aiko whirled around as he drawled at her, eyes flying wide open. “M-Mamoru! How did—“

“I know where you were? You got your nosy sister and friend t’ thank.”

“Josie? And… Leah! They told you? Oh my god, I’m going to kill them.”

He pulled the note out of his pocket and waved it in the air. “Looks like you had somethin’ to tell me, though.”

She flushed. “I… just didn’t want you to come looking for me. It would’ve caused problems.”

He couldn’t stop himself from frowning. “So we’re a problem? You ‘n me?”

“No! I mean, yes, I mean…” She dropped her gaze. “My parents were going to be a lot more critical of the men in my life after…”

“And yet here y’are.” He noticed a TV set in a nearby shop window; it was displaying the news, along with the time. The wedding should have started ten minutes ago. “What about your pals?”

Her lips thinned. “That’s the thing. I overheard my parents talking; they never intended to keep their end of the deal. I have to warn Riki and the others.”

“…Got it. We’ll talk later.” He reached out a hand to her at last.

She looked at it, and he thought he saw equal measures of confusion and hope blossom across her face.

He smirked as he added, “It’ll be faster if we take my car.”

***

They were all there when Aiko burst into Le Renard Noir, Mamoru following on her tail at a more leisurely pace. Boss was scrubbing at a glass like his life depended on it. Riki was frowning at a comedy show on the TV in the corner of the bar. Kenshi stared pensively at a can of beer in his hand; Takuto’s permascowl was darker than ever as he tapped at his smartphone screen. Hiro was the first to notice them walk in.

“Oh my god! Aiko!” He all but screeched. He almost looked like he was ready to leap into her arms, but clearly thought better of it.

As one, the heads of the other Black Foxes snapped up and swiveled in her direction.

“Aiko?!”

“What are you…?”

“Why—“

“There’s no time,” she cut them all off as they surged towards her like some sort of relieved, overprotective wave. “Listen, my parents are going to figure out where I went any minute now, if they haven’t already. They were never going to keep quiet about you. You have to get out of here!”

“What?” Boss looked stunned; then his expression turned grim.

Even Kenshi wore an uncharacteristic glare. “The only reason we were ever going to just sit back and let you marry some random guy was because you were so insistent it was for our safety…”

“Yeah, well, that’s clearly out the window.” Riki was the first to recover, snapping into action. “We need to figure out what to do now.”

“Don’t just stand there, idiots!” Takuto was already shoving his phone, nearby laptop, and numerous color-coded electrical cords into a bag. “Obviously we get out of here like she said—“

A voice rang out from the door. “Not so fast, Noodle Boy.”

He nearly tripped over a cord as Josie Sparkle stalked into the bar like she owned the place.

“…You again.” Mamoru glanced over, totally unimpressed. “That means…“

“Josie! I told you to wait!” Leah wailed as she dashed in moments later.

“There we go.”

Aiko stared at them. “What are you—I thought I asked you to distract my parents!”

“W-we did!” Leah hastened to reassure her, grinning even as she gasped for air. “They happened to overhear me and Josie talking about you, and…”

“Right now they’re chasing you down on the opposite side of town,” Josie finished.

Aiko’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? What did you say?”

Leah finally caught her breath and threw out her arms in a dramatic pose. “’Oh, Josie! It is so sad that Aiko simply couldn’t find it in her heart to go through with this farce of a matrimonial union!’”

“’Indeed, Leah!’” Josie proclaimed theatrically back. “’But never you fret! For she is surely on her way to safety with the dastardly Black Foxes even now, who are eagerly awaiting her at the train station!’”

“’Do you speak true? Would not their get-away car be a more prudent run-away option?’”

“’Only think for a moment, and consider! Their car would be far too obvious, too easy to tail! The train, however, offers far more anonymity amongst the rush of the crowds, forsooth!’”

“’Oh, happy day! In that case, our dear Aiko will surely—‘”

“Okay, thanks, I got it! Enough!” Aiko cut them off.

“Aww, but it was just getting good, Ai-chan,” Hiro pouted.

She rolled her eyes. “Anyway. They might be distracted right now, but that won’t last long…”

“Leave it to me, sweetheart.”

Everyone turned to look at Mamoru, clearly experiencing varying levels of shock. Well, not like he blamed them. He half-couldn’t believe what he was saying, himself.

“What do you intend to do?” Riki asked at last.

“You’ll see.” He shrugged. “But it ain’t gonna work unless you all help out.”

“So you’re proposing a group effort for… whatever you’ve got planned?” Boss mused.

Kenshi folded his arms and nodded. “Okay, sure. Count me in.”

“Hold on, genius,” Takuto spoke up sharply. “We don’t even know what Smokey’s thinking.”

“Does it matter?” Hiro was practically bouncing on his toes. “I’m in, too! Anything for Aiko, right, Takkun?”

“Yeah, Takkun,” Josie cooed cajolingly. She patted Kenshi lightly on the chest. “Just be a good sport like our firefighter friend here.”

Takuto looked like he’d just swallowed something sour. “You don’t even like the smokestack, though!”

She shrugged. “Well, when it comes to my sister, I’m willing to let bygones be bygones. I mean, temporarily.”

“So, it’s settled!” Leah declared before Takuto could open his mouth again. “All in favor of Operation: Maiko, say ‘aye’!”

Hiro’s hand shot into the air. “Aye!”

Kenshi laughed. “Uh, aye?” The other Black Foxes soon followed suit.

“’Maiko’?” Aiko asked.

Leah nodded.

Mamoru pushed his hair back out of his face. “…I don’t really care either way, but what kinda name is that?”

“It’s your ship name,” Leah informed him, as if it should have been obvious from the start.

“Ship wha—“

“ANYWAY,” Aiko said loudly. “Shall we get started?”

Mamoru blinked at her. “Your buddies’re one thing, but… You’re gonna go along just like that?”

“Of course.” There was no doubt in her face or voice. He suddenly felt strongly, maybe for the first time ever, that he couldn’t let her down.

“Okay. Then���” He swept his gaze over everyone gathered in the bar. “Hey, Tiny.”

Leah slowly pointed to herself, raising an eyebrow.

“Who else’d I be talkin’ to? You’re buddies with that prince, ain’tcha.”

It wasn’t a question. She nodded, looking surprised. “You need Roberto’s help, too?”

“Yeah, ‘xactly.”

Her phone was already in her hand by the time he finished speaking. “I’ll text him. What should I say?”

“See if he’s free this afternoon.”

Her fingers flew over the phone. “He says he’ll clear his schedule.”

Josie snorted, and even Aiko laughed a little. “Poor Alberto.”

“Good. We’re gonna need him to meet up with us. Don’t matter where.”

Another flurry of texting ensued. “He says we can just come over to the Villa.”

Mamoru found himself smirking. “Better’n I thought. Tell ‘im we’ll be there… and Aiko’s folks’ll be there too.”

Aiko’s face promptly fell. “What? But—“

He turned to her and gripped her hands in his. Meeting her gaze head-on, he murmured in the gentlest voice he’d heard himself use in a long time: “Trust me, sweetheart.”

She glanced around, but for once the other Black Foxes were silent. They just looked back at her with obvious trepidation… but more than that…

“It’s your call, Aiko,” Riki finally said.

“You know the detective better than us,” Boss added, his expression finally relaxing. “If you trust him, we’ll trust him, too.”

Kenshi gave a firm nod, grinning, and Hiro dug his elbow into Takuto’s ribs.

“Ow! What—“

Then Josie took his hand, her voice trembling just the slightest bit as she pleaded, “She needs our help, Takuto. My sister. Your teammate.”

“…Okay, fine. I… trust you too, Aiko!” The hacker grumbled. “So you and the walking carcinogen better not screw this up!”

He was so intent on keeping his gaze trained on the floor that he didn’t notice a triumphant smirk promptly appear on Josie’s face.

Aiko gave an exasperated shake of her head before finally looking back at Mamoru, nodding as she softly squeezed his hands in return. “Let’s do it.”

***

Part 3 can be read here!