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tomtenadia · 4 years

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Island Dreams - Chapter 19

Good evening, afternoon, morning to everyone and welcome to chapter 19.

I have a few notes before letting you to the chapter. Rowan and Aelin finally attend Heb Celt. Heb Celt is this wonderful festival held in Stornoway each year (non covid years) and it's all about Scottish and Celtic music. It's big and it's amazing. That's where they are. I mentioned some groups. Peat and Diesel have been mentioned before in the fic. The new ones are Skerryvore and Skipinnish. they do some amazing music and I highly recommend it if you want to try some Scottish bands. They also sing in Gaelic. The song from Skerryvore that Aelin sing is called You and I. Awesome stuff.

Half way through you will notice Elide and Lorcan appearing in the fic. I tried to keep Lorcan IC as much as i could. not an easy task. I had to give them modern world jobs so Lorcan in my head is perfect for a rugby player. He is the Captain of the Glasgow warriors. They are a real team in Glasgow. The boys also mention the Six Nations. This is a wonderful competition that if you are in Europe you might have heard of. It happens every year and it has 6 teams competing: Scotland (YAY), Italy (YAY - I am Italian... imagine my pain on a Sco vs Ita game), Wales, Ireland and France. I love this competition and it's going to start this weekend. Rowan and Lorcan joke about England and Scotland. Although England wins most of the times (grrrrr) a few years back Scotland actually won and it almost became a new national day after St Andrews. I am not joking. Rugby is a big thing in Scotland.

Two Gaelic phrases: -Tha Gàidhlig agam cuideachd: I speak Gaelic too -Tha beagan Gàidhlig agam. I speak little Gaelic.

Quick update as well about the fic. Most of the chapters have some big chunks written. But there are two important chapters: 22 - something big happens. I wrote the main important part 5 times already and probably re write another five before i publish it. It involves something I don't usually write and I am really nervous. So finger crossed.

26: this will be the last chapter (there's an epilogue as well) and again I have written the main event. There is so much fluff that it's probably not healthy :)

So, after this massive introduction I can let you go and enjoy (hopefully) the chapter.

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Aelin had woken up before Rowan that morning. It was finally mid July and it was Heb Celt day and she was super excited. The festival would run for three days but they had chosen the one with the most of their favourite artists. Plus Rowan had tickets for Peat and Diesel and they could not miss them. She rolled out of bed and went to the kitchen. That morning it was her turn for once to prepare breakfast. Rowan had taught her enough for her to make breakfast safely without burning the house down. It was a special day and she was going to make eggs and bacon, the only concession Rowan would make in his perfect diet. Once a week they could treat themselves to a non healthy breakfast. She prepared the coffee, sliced some bread for the toaster and started frying the bacon in one pan and getting the eggs ready as well. She felt good, she could make breakfast for Rowan for once. She was almost done when she felt his arms around her waist and a soft kiss behind her ear. “It smells lovely.”

“It’s a special day today so we are having our special breakfast.” She told him while finishing ti prepare the eggs. She was very proud of her job. “I’ll set the table.” He added and moved away and she missed his arms. “So, the main event is tonight at seven.” She said passing him the plates with food “I had a look at some events and it seems there is enough for us to fill up the entire day.” “You have done a good job,” he commented taking a bite of the food she had prepared for him. She tasted it as well and found it edible. Well, at least she was not going to poison them and he seemed satisfied. “Look at you.” He pulled her to him, and Aelin sat on his lap. She grabbed her plate and finished her breakfast with one of his arms around her. She was really loving it living with him. It had taken her a little while to adjust to his way of life but she had realised that living with him was quite easy. They had their little fights but he seemed to hate to hold grudges for too long so every time they had fixed their issues quite quickly. The two of them ate in silence for a moment “This is good, Fireheart.” And he polished off his plate. “I had a good teacher.” She stood and Rowan noticed that she was only wearing a large t-shirt, his t-shirt, and under it he could very barely notice her underwear. He grabbed her and pulled her back on his lap and she straddled him. His hands landed on her butt and she kissed him. “You really love teasing me, don’t you?” “It’s fun.” He looked at her in a weird way “Sure, torturing a poor man like that.” She got up again and took all the plates to the sink and she walked swaying her hips on purpose. Rowan almost howled at the sight. She started washing the dishes and at the same time she began dancing and singing and that’s the way we do it, the way we do it in the Western Isles. Rowan laughed and helped her. She washed and he dried them. She kept singing and bumped her hips into his and the two started dancing together. Once they were done Aelin went to her old room to get changed. She wore a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Then she braided her hair and tied a colourful bandana to her head. She prepared her backpack and she was ready to go. Once out, Rowan was waiting for her. He had blue shorts a grey t-shirt and on top of it a blue shirt with short sleeves and his sunglasses on top of his head. Aelin took a photo of him “so sexy.” He raised an eyebrow at her comment “I am not—“ “Shh…” she said placing a finger on his lips “I am your girlfriend and I am the one to judge.” He bit her finger in reply. “Fine, fine.” He grabbed her hand “Come on, I have a surprise for you.” Her face lit up and he could spend an entire day staring at her smiling at him. It was such a beautiful sight. They left the house and began their walk all the way to the harbour and Aelin was getting curious about their destination. They reached a small house down at the pier and Rowan pulled her toward the small group of people gathered. Aelin noticed another couple and a woman on her own. She was quite intent in studying the couple. The woman was quite petite with black hair and black eyes as well and she had a very bright smile. The man was almost the opposite. He was tall, Aelin suspected even taller than Rowan, something she could not believe it was possible. He had a thick muscular build with long dark hair and same for his eyes. But where she exuded a friendly attitude, he seemed to scowl even at the stones. “Is this part of the festival?” Wondering about his plan. “In a manner.” He explained quite vaguely “It’s just a pre festival fun.” Sure, now it was clear, thought Aelin, none the wiser. Rowan left her side for a moment and she noticed him talking with a man who, from the way he was dressed seemed to be a crew member on a boat. Rowan looked relaxed and Aelin suspected the two were friends. And with sadness she realised she had never met any of Rowan’s friend and he did not seem to mention any of them. “Ready for an adventure?” He told her once he came back, carrying two lifejackets. Aelin stared at him and then he pointed at the small rib boat and he gave her a huge grin. “I know one of crew members, Callum,” and he pointed at the man he was talking to. We used to dive together. I asked him if he could save us two seats for this morning. It’s a gorgeous day and a boat trip seems like the best way to spend the morning.” “You are a very resourceful man, Rowan Whitethorn.” She tiptoed on her feet and kissed his nose. One of the crew member walked around distributing lifejackets and explained the basic health and safety measures. Aelin wore her vest and Rowan double checked it was up to his standards. Once he was happy that the jacket was safely on he helped her to get on the rib. The brunette girl who was part of the couple sat beside her giving her a wide smile full of excitement that probably mirrored Aelin’s. “I am Elide.” The woman introduced herself and Aelin took her hand. “I am Aelin.” She smiled back “Are you here for the festival too?” She had a feeling they were tourists. “Yes,” she replied excited “Lorcan and I come every year. We love it.” Then she turned to the man at her side “This is Lorcan by the way. Don’t worry he does not bite. That is just his regular face” and the man grunted in reply. Aelin laughed. The man seemed to be mad at the world. She turned to introduce Rowan to the couple, but she noticed he was still on the pier chatting away with one of the crew members. “The tall guy on the pier with the blue shirt? My boyfriend, Rowan.” Elide’s gaze took in Rowan and Aelin smiled wickedly at the woman’s stare of understanding. “Did you come here for the festival too?” “Oh, Rowan and I live here. He is the local, I moved her a few months ago.” “Nice,” said the woman. Aelin liked her already, she had a very bubbly personality. “Lorcan and I live in Glasgow.” “I never been there but Rowan did uni there..” “You should come and visit. It’s quite a fantastic city. So alive.” Rowan finally returned and sat down beside Aelin “nice chat?” “Yeah, I haven’t seen him in ages. I knew he had opened a boat tours business but I never had the chance to come and say hi. We were just discussing some ideas for possible diving adventures.” She caressed his head and realised that there was still so much she did not know about him. Some days he still felt like a huge mystery, but still, she was madly in love with him and she was looking to find out more about him day by day. “I made a friend by the way,” and she pointed at the woman at her side “This is Elide. She and her boyfriend Lorcan are here for the festival too.” Rowan extended his hand and then he and Lorcan exchanged a manly nod and both women rolled their eyes. Rowan fussed over her again and double checked one more time that her lifejacket was fitted and tied properly, when the rib boat started to move. His hand reached behind her back and he leaned comfortably against the side of the boat and closed his eyes, letting the sun kiss his face. Aelin and Elide on the other hand, were taking photos and chatting away happily pointing at all the points of interest. The boat glided on the water and Aelin leaned back against Rowan, taking in the scenery in front of her. She had explored all of that during her adventures, but seeing it from the water was a completely different experience. “Thank you for this.” She said to him. “Hopefully we will see some wildlife.” He added “Callum said that yesterday they spotted Orcas.” Aelin’s eyes went wide in surprise “I saw whales at the Butt of Lewis, or what I think it was whales.” “Highly likely.” Then she turned to Elide “So, you guys are staying here for the whole festival?” The woman nodded “Yes, Lorcan and I always rent a cottage for a week and spend the whole weekend at the festival. I am looking forward the main event tonight: Peat and Diesel.” Aelin almost squealed “us too. Rowan introduced me to them very recently and I am dying to see them live.” “We have been to one of their concerts in Glasgow at the Barrowlands.” Said Lorcan almost grumbling. “Oh, he speaks,” joked Elide, patting his leg and giving him a smile. He did not reply and just placed a hand on her back. “What about we spend the day together?” Aelin turned all excited to Rowan who gave her a nod “Yes,” she shouted looking at Elide again. They sailed for a bit longer and reached Tiumpan Head and Rowan told her to keep and eye on the sea. Not a moment later she spotted a couple of fins and she and Elide almost jumped. “Dolphins,” Rowan said in her ear. She made a 360 and sat on her knees facing now the water. She felt Rowan’s arm tight around her waist. “Please, don’t fall in the water.” Her hand was in the water and a dolphin passed very close to her and she almost touched it. Rowan used his free hand to take pictures of her. His phone gallery had nothing but pictures of Aelin. Elide turned as well and Rowan noticed the panic in the other man’s eyes and they exchanged a glance of understanding. Aelin leaned a bit further but Rowan’s arm pulled her back “Please don’t. Lifeguard service is not in my plans for today.” “There’s dolphins around the boat.” Aelin squealed. “I know, Fireheart,” he pulled her back “but you need to calm down.” She sat back down to a safer position and Rowan felt like he could breath again. “Is that Tolsta?” She then asked when they continued north and she recognised the place in front of her. The closer they got to the beach the clearer the water got and Aelin was in awe “This reminds me of when Lys and I swam at Luskentyre.” Oh yeah, Rowan remembered the day and very quickly chased the memories away. They were in public. The boat made a turn and they began to make their way back to the town. Aelin snuggled to Rowan’s chest, with her arms around his waist. “Are you cold?” He demanded “I have your favourite hoodie with me.” “I am fine.” An hour later they were back at the harbour and Aelin was high on excitement. The trip had been amazing. Once off the boat she flung her arms around Rowan’s neck and kissed him “Thank you. I loved my surprise.” “You are most welcome.” He pulled back from her “Let me say bye to Callum.” And she was left alone with Elide and Lorcan. “That was a nice trip.” Said the woman, grabbing her boyfriend’s hand. “Totally. I had never seen dolphins before. It was so awesome.” “Really?” Elide was curious. Aelin nodded “Until a few months ago I lived in London. Born and bred there. Not much chance to see dolphins in the water. I doubt they would enjoy the Thames.” Elide gazed at Lorcan “We were planning a quick weekend in the capital next month.” “Ask me anything. I can tell you the best places to go and how to survive London without breaking the bank.” “That would be lovely,” was Lorcan’s reply “I feel like I need a mortgage for this trip.” He kissed the woman’s head and she noticed the first sign of affection “But it’s a belated birthday present, so…” he shrugged. “Ach, I can help you with that. I survived London on a budget when I was student.” Rowan finally came back and embraced her from behind “Sorry, Callum and I were just planning an excursion for next Sunday.” He kissed her ear. “Can I come too?” “Of course.” Then he lifted his head and looked at their two companions for the day “Aelin and I are going to grab lunch, fancy joining us?” Lorcan almost protested but Elide poked his shoulder “Stop being grumpy.” Then she turned to Aelin and Rowan “Of course we are coming.” Rowan smiled and took Aelin’s hand and started walking to Maeve’s. He laughed when he noticed that Aelin was almost skipping. Gods, the woman had never ending energy. While walking to Maeve’s Rowan and Lorcan ended up side by side and Aelin just noticed that her assumption was right and Lorcan really was taller that Rowan. The man must have been closer to two metres. She felt tiny all of a sudden and Elide seemed even more petite beside the huge man. She could put Aedion with them as well and they could form a sexy, tall wall of muscles. She grinned and was glad that Rowan was busy talk to Elide so he did not notice her savage blush. They reached the cafe and noticed that it was packed and Rowan sighed. He loved the festival but it also meant a savage invasion disrupting his day to day life. He entered first and went to his aunt and Aelin smiled when she noticed that Maeve had managed to find some space for them. “Privileges of being related to the owner,” he smiled, going back to them. “This is a lovely place,” commented Elide “why we never stopped here?” “So, will you be enjoying the entire festival as well?” Asked Elide, passing a menu to Lorcan. “No, Rowan and I will be doing today only. Tomorrow we have to reopen the bookshop.” The woman’s eyes lit up in surprise “do you run the bookshop down the road?” Rowan nodded “It’s my shop.” He took Aelin’s hand in his “she helps.” “Yeah, I fix his displays and I charm customer. Rowan scares them away by being a grump” She grinned back at him and he, in exchange, flicked her nose. “I am a primary school teacher,” continued Elide who was definitely the chattier of the pair “And Lorcan is the coach of the Glasgow Warriors. They are a rugby team.” And Aelin was grateful to the woman for the clarification. “No way.” Said Rowan amazed “That’s why you looked familiar. You were their captain until a few years back. Lorcan Salvaterre.” Lorcan nodded. “I studied at Glasgow university and the Warriors were, and still are, my favourite team. I went to see plenty of their games. You guys are awesome.” “You like rugby?” “Aye,” added Rowan and Aelin studied him for a moment. He was alive all of a sudden, his usual calm disappeared and he was one beautiful sight “Stornoway has a small club and I go and watch some of the games. But I miss the big league guys. I usually get tickets for the Six Nations as well.” Lorcan smiled “I can get you some tickets for one of Scotland’s home games. Perhaps for the one against England. Wonder if it will be finally the year we trash them as they deserve.” “Hey,” Aelin exclaimed almost hurt “English woman here.” And as a joke she pushed her London accent. “No one is perfect, Fireheart.” Rowan kissed her temple. She pinched his side and he barely reacted “Fine, I will support England this year, just to annoy you” She threatened and the two guys glared at her. “Fine.” She raised her hands “but you need to teach me Flower of Scotland.” “It would be my pleasure.” And he pulled her to him and in that instant Maeve came with their order “Sorry for the wait guys, we are quite busy today.” Rowan said something in Gaelic to his aunt and she walked away with a smile. Elide turned to him “Tha Gàidhlig agam cuideachd.” Rowan’s face lit up. “I teach at the Glasgow Gaelic School. I am not a native. I picked it up at uni and I fell in love with it. I spent some time on the islands to learn it and then I got a job as a teacher.” “Yeah if she starts to shout at me in Gaelic I know she is really mad at me.” The man joked taking her hand. “I only know a few sentences. Tha beagan Gàidhlig agam.” Aelin said proudly “Rowan has been teaching me.” They finished their lunch chatting away nicely and getting to know each other. Lorcan did manage to utter a few more sentences but he became quite talkative once he and Rowan started talking about rugby. Aelin ordered a trip to the ice cream parlour. And the boys followed. Aelin took Elide’s arm and let Rowan and Lorcan follow. They were super immersed in their conversation. Aelin wished Lysandra was there too. She had a feeling the three of them would get along greatly. Aelin and Elide got a triple cone and the two men just went for something more sober with just one flavour. “Look at them all perfect and healthy.” Aelin mocked them and Elide giggled at her side. Rowan, in front of her just met her gaze and then licked his ice cream in a very taunting way and took great pleasure in noticing her reaction. Aelin almost chocked and his eyes flashed in amusement. A wall, she just wanted a wall and twenty minutes alone with him to remove that smirk form his face. He knew he had rattled her and hated the way he casually went back talking to Lorcan. She would have her revenge. Eventually her mind started functioning again and went back talking to Elide, hoping the woman had not noticed their exchange. That would have been embarrassing. Slowly they reached the festival grounds. They made it till four and they still had three hours to fill in before the main event. They all collected their tickets and ventured inside the main arena. Aelin squeezed Rowan’s hand and once she turned to him she noticed he had the most amazing smile. “We got a concert coming up.” Said Elide, then grabbed a notebook and scribbled something down “this is my number. Text me later. We can meet again for the main event.” Aelin took the piece of paper and then the notebook and wrote her number for the woman “Looking forward to.” The two said their goodbyes and Rowan finally pulled Aelin to him and kissed her deeply “I had to restrain myself all afternoon.” “You are a wicked man,” a whisper against his lips “You will pay for the ice cream trick.” But in response his kiss deepened and his tongue repeated some of the motions he did early. “Unless you want me to drag you in a hidden corner and have sex at a festival, you’d better stop it.” He laughed “Yes, Fireheart.” And mirth flashed in his pine green eyes. “Come on, let’s go and have a look at the merchandise. See if we can get you a P&D hoodie.” And he dragged her to the area with all the stalls. “Uh, food stalls.” She pulled on one side. “Later. We just had a massive lunch and ice cream.” “You are no fun.” She complained while following him. He walked with her in tow for a little longer and they finally found all the stall with the merchandise for the bands and the festival in general. “Look,” he said to her pointing at the big stall of the band “Good thing we are here early, we can do all these things now. Later on it will be mobbed.” Aelin got closer to the stall and started having a look at the hoodies. She noticed a green one and gave it a try. She had decided that for some reason green reminded her of Rowan, perhaps for his eyes, but the colour now was a reminder of him. She tried on the hoodie and Rowan turned and stared at her in appreciation. “You look lovely.” “I’ll take it.” As Rowan turned again, apparently interested by what was going on on the big screen and she used the moment to buy a t-shirt for him. His birthday was coming up and this was the second part of her present. She paid for her stuff and quickly placed the t-shirt in her backpack before he would turn again. She embraced him from behind and leaned her head against his back, he turned, “I really, really like it.” And kissed her forehead. They wandered a bit longer until they finally reached one of the smaller stages where the first band they were waiting for was going to play soon. They did manage to squeeze to the front and Aelin felt bad for whoever ended up behind Rowan. He pulled her in front of him and his arms went around her neck “Are you ready to sing?” She nodded. The band was called Skipinnish and one was one of Rowan’s favourite and she agreed that they did some wonderful music. The group started with a slow song and Aelin danced on the spot in Rowan’s arms and she felt like the happiest woman alive. In his arms she was finally happy. As if the last year ceased to exist all of a sudden. That had been his magic. He had slowly taken away all the grief she had felt until only a few months ago. He had given her again the desire to dream. She squeezed his hand and tried to convey somehow all those feeling in that simple gesture. The music suddenly picked up in pace and Rowan turned her to him, one of her hand landed on his chest and the other one in his hand that he held high. He started dancing and she swayed with him, then he lifted her and turned on the spot and put her back. A quick kiss and they kept dancing. His eyes alive with happiness. She giggled and he smiled at that sound. All through their dance, Aelin sang, impressing him by her knowledge. She only refrained from singing the songs in Gaelic, that was still too much of a challenge. They danced for another few hours then they moved to the next stage where Skerryvore, the next band they wanted to see was going to play. This time they ended up at the back, but Rowan had Aelin climb on his back, piggyback style, and that allowed her to see the stage a little better. She could not dance but loved her position. Her chin leaned on his head and her arms went around his neck. She took a sniff of his wonderful scent of pine and snow and kissed the back of his head. One of Aelin’s favourite songs began playing and she sang out loud you and I, we held each other tight. Time will take its toll, but I will never let you go. Your love is like a high, you and I. Our love can never die, together as we grow. I’ll always let you know, you’re my reason why Rowan joined in and she hugged him tighter and her head leaned against his head. “I love you,” she whispered while he was busy singing the chorus. It was past six when the concert finished. Aelin looked at her phone and noticed a text from Elide telling her that she and Lorcan were already at the main stage and they had a spot at the very front. “Let’s go.” Aelin grabbed Rowan’s hand “Elide and Lorcan have spot fro us as well at the front of the stage.” Luckily the main stage area was not busy yet, and they found the couple quite quickly. Rowan had a look and noticed they had found a good spot. “This is perfect.” Rowan commented. “Not our first festival.” Lorcan grinned back. Aelin and Elide were huddled together talking and being all excited for the grand event. Aelin paraded her hoodie and Elide showed her the t-shirt and the hoodie she had bought as well. Rowan really thought he had created a monster. With the passing of time the area started to fill and Aelin could feel the excitement around them. Half an hour later the show started with a roar. Aelin climbed on Rowan’s shoulders again and she noticed that Lorcan offered the same to Elide. Aelin roared as well and shouted as soon as she recognised the notes of the first song Stornoway of course. She sang with all of her voice and waved her hands in the air. She and Elide grabbed their hands and sang and waved together. Then they moved to Western Isles and the crowd went wild. Rowan laughed at Aelin’s wild excitement and was impressed by the fact that Aelin really had learned all the lyrics. “And that’s the way we do it, the way we do it in the Western Isles” she was singing with a passion and his mind went to that morning when she was cooking breakfast in nothing but a baggy t-shirt while singing and dancing to that song. Rowan moved a bit dancing as much as possible with Aelin on his shoulder but he sang as well and with his hand he beat the rhythm on Aelin’s legs. The band was playing some of their hits and he was having the time of his life. He had never been able to convince Lyria to go to Heb Celt with him. Her music taste was different and she was never interested in that type of music so he had gone alone for a very long time. But now he had Aelin and she was basically perfect. The guys started playing My islands and Aelin let out a savage cheer and then started to sing. She slowly slid off his back and started dancing and jumping in front of him shaking her head at the rhythm of the music Elide at her side being just as wild. She took his hands and danced on the spot as much as the crowd allowed it. Aelin took some photos of her and Rowan and went back dancing. It was quite late when the concert finished. Aelin and Elide were now walking silently hand in hand with their respective men. “I think they finally ran out of fuel.” Joked Rowan, seeing the two women quiet. “It took them a while, but eventually it happened.” Joked Lorcan who had slowly opened up a bit more. “You are both so mean.” Said Elide leaning against Lorcan. “Yes, and you are going to fall asleep soon.” Lorcan crouched down and offered to carry Elide piggyback “Come on, time to get you to bed.” “Are you coming to the ceilidh at An Lanntair tomorrow?” Aelin and Rowan looked at each other “we might,” she said. “Let us know.” Said Lorcan settling Elide properly on his back “Thanks for the day and evening.” And the two slowly walked away. Rowan turned to Aelin and noticed she had a massive grin on her face. Alas, she seemed to have some energy left. “That was awesome.” She took both of his hands “And we need to go to the ceilidh tomorrow. It’s your birthday. We need to celebrate.” “Fine. We can go. But now we are going home. You have to rest and recharge the batteries for the ceilidh.” She leaned forward and kissed him “Thank you so much for this. It was unbelievable.” He pulled her to him and lifted her and pirouetted while kissing her. Finally they started making their way home and when Rowan noticed that Aelin was on the verge of falling asleep on her feet he offered a piggyback ride and she accepted. By the time they got back home she was fully asleep. At home he deposited her on the bed and he started to ponder how to get her out of her current clothes and into a pyjama. He went to get her Cookie Monster pyjama, removed her hoodie and placed it on the chair at the bottom of the room. Next it was the t-shirt and her shorts and he tried to look away. He was about to put the new clothes away when she groaned and woke up briefly. “I am just changing you into your pj.” He told her gently. Still half asleep she let him guide her body into her night clothes. Then he realised she liked to sleep without a bra and he had no idea how to solve that one. “Bra…” she muttered. “I am… you…” he tried to hide his embarrassment “you do that.” She muttered something unintelligible and removed her bra and threw it in his face. Then collapsed on the bed and went back to sleep. Rowan slowly tucked her in then changed in own night clothes and joined her. His arms went around her waist tucked her head in the crook of his neck. Not longer after he was asleep as well.

#rowan x aelin #rowaelin #rowan whitethorn #aelin galythinius #fanfic #fluff #throne of glass series

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hilarychuff · 4 years

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2020 Creator Wrap: Favorite Works

Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 5 (ish) favourite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. Tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

tagged by @chdarling my marauders era multichap queen!! last year i only did asoiaf content for public consumption and only like two fics (although CH is inspiring me to get back on my marauders bullshit in earnest) but i DID do a decent amount of ~things~ when you factor in graphics so here are my top 5 (also yes i took the opportunity to plug just about everything a week ago but i am taking it AGAIN get over it)

1. i carry it in mine - this is my jonsa soulmate au and i love it but also feel obligated to put it first regardless bc never in my life did i think i would start and then actually stick to a multichap that i updated consistently? so far i have updated every week although that is bound to die soon, very possibly tomorrow since i think i need to rewrite my chapter and i haven’t done it yet and it’s now sunday night oops. but regardless i feel like i am having fun here adapting the book canon to the show and blending them together in a way where i have a roadmap for what happens but also get to fix some of the things i didn’t like/felt were left out but also without getting too deep into the weeds of a lot of it bc it’s written in kind of an overview style

2. howl - this is my sansa-centric scream au that i will never shut up about for the rest of my life possibly!! i love spooky movies and i love sansa and i love coming up with movie-hopping aus (or whatever) and once i hit on the right idea/casting for this one i was like.... ok yes. this slaps. i also have ideas for scream 2 and scream 3 (and maybe even scream 4 but we’ll see) and hopefully will one day actually write those but for now this is a stand alone

3. things we lost in the flames, things we found in the ashes - wait i actually forgot that for one minute i almost full-blown fell back into my agents of shield obsession. i was first and foremost a jemma stan and not exactly a fitzsimmons shipper so i was never going to fully get back into the show but there was a period of time in the early pandemic days when @hurricane and i were talking about/rewatching agents of shield a little bit and i fell alllllll into my jemma feels and while i love mack i felt the show never satisfactorily addressed mack being like “stay away from fitz” to jemma and then later on being her friend and so i was like.... fine i will write these missing scenes myself!!!!!!!!! in which they find common ground and mack develops a grudging respect for her!!!!! mack’s feelings were valid but he didn’t have the full story and i was like with god as my witness i will GIVE IT TO HIM

4. asoiaf jonsa overboard au graphic - i think of all my au graphics this is maybe my favorite so far? not bc the graphics themselves slap that hard although i do really like parts of it but bc i have always been like “how do you make an overboard plot that is not as fucked up as the actual overboard plot” and i really like what i came up with for the characters even though yeah it’s still fucked up lmfao. hoping to one day actually write this but who can say when idk

5. i carry it in mine graphics - cheating here a lil bc i can’t pick just one of the graphics i made for my fic above but i love these three and feel they are all Different and don’t have titles but i will tentatively call them by the first lines which are the old gods let me return to you which i like for purely aesthetic purposes? it is the most abstract i think of the graphics i did and the only one where i felt the color scheme was strong enough to (gasp!) also change the text font. and then this one my sister — what of sansa? i felt like i struck gold when i found that top photo of the redhead in the snow and then i also feel like the bottom one of “jon” is so good too and it is so hard to find people to put in these without them looking too modern but i felt like i pulled it off well on this one. and then if you left me here alone which actually features the actors/shots from the show in a way that i really like and is also a moment that i thought about A Lot while writing towards it and so i was really glad to find a good way to highlight it

i am not sure who did this already and also who doesn’t want to do it but for kicks going to tag mog (above) @renaissance-goth @grrmartin @chispas-and-broken-bindings @offbeatorbit @julvett idk how much some of you have produced this year but you are all wonderful and if you posted anything i want to praise it ok love you bye

#jonsa #jemma simmons #tag memes #my stuff

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wintaejk · 4 years

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Jungkook’s FIC REC | OS 2

I had too many links on the other post. Here is the second part of my Jungkook’s fic rec but with others themes.

Again, all those fictions belong to the amazing authors who wrote them, not me. I want to thank them once more.

(f) = fluff

(a) = angst

(m) = mature

magical au

— Trick or Treat: Howling for You (F) (M) — by @fortunexkookie

The way your Little Red Riding Hood costume lured over a fuckboy in a half-assed werewolf costume was a little cliche, but god damn was he beautiful. He promised he had plenty of big things to show you, and you took him up on the offer, not realizing that you might’ve bitten off more than you could chew.

werewolf au | established relationship | +14k

— rottenfolk (M) — by @junqkook

a look was as hazardous as chemicals, a kiss as perilous as poison; his eyes and lips felt akin to a cure, but he was purely venom.

faerie au | royalty au | +13k

Commentary - If there’s only one one-shot I could recommend you to read of all tumblr, it would probably be this one. For me, it is rare to acheive such a level of mastery in fantasy fictions. Writing is already complicated, but when you have to place the readers in an unknown universe, it is even harder. However, the real brilliance of this story is the end. Because the end is supposed to satiate the reader in a way or another, it is supposed to offer what all the reader craved: a sort of closure. But here we all are, waiting for a sequel, because this story will make you want a next episode. And that is the brilliance, because you will surely never forget a story with that kind of power. So those are some of the reasons why this fiction is for me a mix of art, smartness and excellence ; and also why you would be missing something huge by not reading it.

— overdrive (M) — by @junqkook

you thought meeting jungkook was just a coincidence, but the universe didn’t deal in coincidences.

vampire au | soulmate au | enemies to lovers | +13k

— Crescent Bound - Jungkook (F) (M) — by @parkhabits

A pact bound by the moon. A secret kept only amongst themselves. Each of them experiencing their own cycles of heat.

werewolf au | friends to lovers | +12k

— Room 109 (M) — by @lavishedinjimin

Having Jungkook as your apartment buddy was a lot to get used to. But with one early day, your heat comes up much stronger than usual, and you were desperate for an alpha’s touch.

werewolf au | roommate au | alpha!jungkook | +6k

— after dark (M) — by @seokoloqy

Jungkook has served the royal family for generations, seen them live and die countless times. When it comes to you, he can’t watch you wither away too, but your lust for one another makes it harder and harder to stay apart.

vampire au | royalty au | knight!jungkook | +8k

— Life’s Blood (F) (A) (M) — by @littlenoona

You produce blood cells at an increased rate when blood is lost, effectively, you cannot bleed out. This ability has served you well so far, even gaining you a rare friend, and you’ve made it your source of income, but it also has its downsides, one of which you’ve managed to avoid successfully, until now.

vampire au | +13k

— you come in waves (A) (M) — by @angelguk

if jeongguk had a choice, he would destroy the sun. it’s not like he needed it for warmth due to his werewolf abilities making him a scorching radiator. it would also help his heart. because you look delectable in that stupid bikini.

werewolf au | friends to lovers au | 4k

— tell me your secrets (i’m all ears) (F) — by @jinpire

You’re not afraid of Jeon Jeongguk. Even if he’s probably some kind of bear or giant cat shifter, and just a hint of his irritation had your instincts vibrating beneath your skin like a live wire. Your thumb brushed over the plastic dome of mini-Levi’s head, taking comfort in the cartoon scowl and dead eyes, the tiny grey sticks of his 3DM gear. Small could be pretty fucking powerful too.

shifter au | college au | bunny!kook | +6k

drabbles: nooks and naps - foxie moxie (don’t pull my tail) - look before you leap - fluffles and kerfuffles

— Pomegranate Seeds (M) — by @taetaebaepsae

Jungkook thinks he’s found the perfect new roommate, but little doesn’t he know you’re just aching to corrupt him.

demon au | roommate au | virgin!jungkook | +4k

other themes

— Every Kind of Way (F) (M) — by @taehyungforreal

{Three little vignettes, three completely different experiences, same perfectly wonderful boyfriend JK.}

strangers to lovers | established relationship | +14k

Commentary - I remember when this fiction was posted. I read the teaser a few days before, and I was waiting for it. I remember the exact date of the release of this story, and let me tell you it never happens to me. But this is how much I liked this story. This masterpiece. This fiction is 95% made of smut. This is a warning if you don’t like that. However, what I like about Ashley’s works is that smut is not only smut (okay, sometimes it’s just pure filth but whatever). It’s not the first time I’ve read a piece of work of her and that I’ve been so thankful of reading her. Because the stories she writes are realistic. Sex is not always perfect. Sex is not always like in porn. Sex can be embarrassing. And this is why I love what Ashley writes, because she always have that realistic point of view on life. And sometimes it’s also nice to not turn everything into porn. What is very likeable - I said likeable? I meant loveable, sorry - about that story is also the three different stages of the relation of Jk and reader. This is also something I like about her writings. Life evolves, relationships evolve, and so does sex. So in this story, you will experience three different Jungkook. And it’s three reasons why you should read this fiction, three reasons why you will probably love it. One thing is sure, this chef-d’oeuvre will leave you wondering if your eyes have been burnt by the smuttiness or blessed by all the talent of this writer.

— tattooed two (ft. kth) (F) (M) — by @httpjeon

your boyfriend’s best friend joins you for a night you’ll never forget.

tattoo artist au | established relationship | poly au | +8k

— Inkling (A) (M) — by @gguksgalaxy

Jungkook is your brother’s boyfriend’s co-worker, they own a tattoo and piercing parlour. In other words, he’s tall, gorgeous, has his passion literally etched into his skin, looks incredibly good in a man-bun, and is semi-unattainable for you. Why? Well…you’re not entirely sure but him ditching right after a very heated make-out session sure isn’t a good sign. His extremely poor mood the next week sure isn’t either, but the only way to fix it is to face the beast head-on. Right?

tattoo artist au | +17k

— Freak-quency (M) — by @taehyungforreal

His eyes sparkle and he fights back a smile when he asks you why. “Is it because I didn’t give you something else to swallow like I said I would,” he questions, halfway through a much less subtle adjustment of his growing erection. Yoongi was right, he wants to be in trouble.

rockstar au | established relationship | +8k

— Boots (M) —

3000+ words of Ashley kinking on Jungkook’s boot. That’s it.

rockstar au | established relationship | part of Freak-quency | +3k

— Heartbreaker with a Heart of Gold (A) (M) — by @filmflowersbangtan

It was around this time almost three years ago when Jungkook moved to LA after his band got signed to a famous record label. He told you that he’d keep in contact with you. That he’d visit as much as he could. That he loved you. But about a month after leaving, he stopped texting and calling as much. And then a mere week after the band’s first EP dropped, Burning Rabbit was a sensation.

rocksatr au | ex lovers | +3k

— Brother’s best friend (M) — by @lavishedinjimin

In which Y/n owns a smut blog dedicated to her crush and brother’s best friend, jungkook. it was all fun and games until he finds out about it and acts it out with you.

brother’s best friend!jungkook | +5k

— Sugarplum Elegy (F) (A) (M) — by @bymoonchild

You know no bounds nor depth with Jungkook. While your fuck buddy loves sleeping in your bed and doing laundry for you with his favourite fabric softener, you are in love with a mysterious honeyed, velvety voice on Soundcloud. All’s fine, until you find out that the voice that metaphors your heart to a sweet sugarplum melody actually belongs to the boy who has been taking up a special spot in your bed and in your heart, strumming at your heartstrings all this while.

friends with benefits | college au | idiots to lovers | +17k

— The Kids Aren’t Alright (F) (A) (M) — by @sketchguk

Sneaking around with Jeongguk during your Christian retreat is complicated when you’re both dedicated to your jobs as co-youth group counselors at your father’s ministry.

friends with benefits | pastor’s kid!reader | +10k

— Gym (F) (M) — by @hobiwonder

Jungkook has a crush on you and has been watching you work out at his gym. One day you finally confront his obvious crush.

business woman!reader | fratboy!jungkook | older reader | +8k

— Gravity Check (M) — by @gimmesumsuga

The one where Jungkook is your oh-so-handsome climbing instructor.

climbing instructors!jungkook | strangers to lovers | 14k

— The Monogamy Monologues (F) (M) — by @kpopfanfictrash

The year? Some point after college. The occasion? Namjoon is getting married and the Rich Man’s Crochet Club has convened once again. Somewhere between the drinks and the laughter, everyone has the same realization: Jungkook has never been in a serious relationship. In the name of all that is holy (Overwatch and booze), the club’s mission is revived. Now though, their goal is much more perilous. Now, they aim to find Jeon Jungkook a girlfriend. (Part of The Rich Man’s Crochet Club series)

fuckboy!jungkook | wedding planner!reader | strangers to lovers | +42k

— The Virgin Volume (F) (A) (M) —

This fic exists in the RMCC universe. It takes place before RMCC and is the story of how Jungkook lost his virginity. To quote Seokjin/Namjoon: “What Jungkook doesn’t know won’t hurt him and – let’s be honest – his story is hilarious. One pump,” Seokjin laughs, sounding like a hyena. “One pump and he’s done.” // Ducking his head, Namjoon tries not to smile. “It was a rookie mistake,” he protests, defending their friend. “Jungkook was overexcited and couldn’t control himself. He got better.”

college au | friends to lovers | prequel to TMM | +6k

— everlasting (A — by @kimvvantae

being able to love the same person forever is a blessing given from the heavens. to you, however, eternity has become a curse.

reincarnation au | 18k

— Performances (M) — by @littlenoona

The same handsome guy has been appearing at your performances and you become more and more interested in who he is - now you’re dancing only for him, despite a hall full of people.

strangers to lovers | professional dancer!reader | +6k

— Matching Hearts (F) (A) — by @gukwluv

a drunk call to your ex boyfriend leads to a night of fun adventures that make you wonder why you even split in the first place.

exes au | +3k

— locker room talk (M) — by @minnpd

You end up having a rather heated talk with Jeon Jungkook in the locker room when he announces he has been chosen for the audition you both participated to.

dancer au | enemies to lovers | fuckboy!jungkook | +5k

— not quite lovers (M) — by @junqkook

hiring jeon jungkook as your personal assistant happens to have more than one perk.

workplace au | friends with benefits | ceo!reader | +15k

— By Its Cover (M) — by @gimmesumsuga

The one where Jungkook makes a very bad first impression.

workplace au | enemies to lovers | 21k

— Mind in the Gutter (F) (M) — by @kpopfanfictrash

Starting over is never fun. Especially not when you decide to take the phrase fully to heart; new job, new city, new coworkers and new relationships. When you are dragged to a happy hour by your new co-worker, Taehyung, you end up sitting beside a (very) cute, (very) shy IT worker named Jungkook. Several drinks later, he mentions he is in a professional bowling league with his friends and you rather enthusiastically invite yourself along. As time passes and you begin to grow closer, you still find it impossible to read Jungkook. Working in the same company and seeing each other so often, it is only so long before one of you snaps. But who?

workplace au | bowling au | strangers to friends to lovers | +18k

#fic rec #jungkook fic rec #bts fic rec #jeon jungkook

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artificialqueens · 4 years

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2003 (1/2) (Vanique) - Ortega

a/n: VANIQUE MUST RIIIIIIISE!!!! ayo team, welcome to this. i pulled this ship from virtually nowhere when i was writing n19f and people seemed to like i as much as i did, so i wrote these two together for the fic challenge. i’ve split this fic into two halves, as they’re two very different vibes. this part follows Vanessa and Monique as they go through primary school and then start their first couple years at high school, so it’s definitely more platonic than anything else but it’s cute! also overall this was inspired by two songs, one being 2003 by Todrick and the other being I Choose You by Kiana Ledé which will be the title of the next part, so look out for that. i so so sosososo hope u enjoy, bc i highkey love this pairing a lot. lots of lo-ove, by-ee!

tw: implied child neglect and drug use

summary: Vanessa Mateo and Monique Heart start school in the year 2003. They love girlbands, superheroes and football, and they’re best friends forever. At least, that’s the plan.

***

The room smells of squeaky floors and play-dough. It’s not like anything she’s ever smelt before, but it’s weirdly comforting. She’s sat on a carpet patterned with all kinds of fruit. It doesn’t have pineapple (which is her favourite), but that’s okay. The walls are covered in colourful paper, an arts-and-crafts rainbow explosion. There’s words too, different curly and spiky shapes making letters. She knows one has a “V” in it because that comes at the start of her name and it looks the same, but she can’t read any of the writing yet. Some of the kids in nursery could already read and one of the boys could even write stories. Vanessa couldn’t. She still can’t, but that’s okay. She can write her name and say please and thank you in two different languages and she knows how to count up to 12 (she gets stuck after that, but she’ll learn the rest).

She looks around the carpet. There’s a girl nearby her with two huge black plaits and huge brown eyes to match. Her skin is dark, and Vanessa feels comforted by the fact she’s not alone in sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the Snow Whites and Cinderellas and Auroras and their matching porcelain-skinned Disney princes that are sitting on the carpet with her. She scratches her head, feeling the bow her Mama tied in dark her hair shift. She hopes she’s not made a mess of it. Then Mama would be mad.

Her teacher’s been talking for a while now. It seems like she’s been talking for two hours. Maybe she has been talking for two hours. Vanessa looks up at the clock, even though she doesn’t know how to tell the time yet so the information is less than useless to her. Bored, her eyes drift towards the girl she was looking at before. She’s wearing a white polo shirt and a red pinafore, and her white socks have got red bows on them. Vanessa is jealous. Her new jumper with the school logo is scratchy on the inside and she told her Mama that her leggings have a hole at the knee but they can’t get any new ones until she gets paid.

She bum-shuffles across to sit beside the girl, keeps her eyes trained on the teacher like a sniper as she leans in and whispers. “You look like a princess.”

The girl gives her a big smile. Vanessa knows she should say thank you, but maybe she doesn’t know as much about manners as Vanessa does. The girl whispers to her. “You look like Meg from Hercules.”

Vanessa smiles at her. She’s seen Hercules- it’s not her favourite, but she’s seen it- and Meg was her favourite character. “Thanks.”

“It’s okay,” she whispers. There’s a pause before she hisses to her again. “My name’s Monique, what’s yours?”

“I’m Vanessa,” she replies quietly. Vanessa picks at the hole in her leggings. It’s now about the size of a 1p coin. She knows about coins, at least. “Hey, you wanna play princesses at playtime?”

Monique nods excitedly, then whips her head around, scared. Vanessa looks up at her teacher. Her eyebrows are almost joined-up and there’s little lines on her forehead and her eyes have gone all hard. Vanessa knows this means she’s feeling cross.

“Vanessa, Monique! It’s rude to talk while someone else is talking. We don’t do that in school.”

Vanessa knows she should nod, but her stomach feels all fizzy and she finds herself frowning at her teacher instead. Monique says sorry. Maybe Vanessa should say sorry too. She decides she doesn’t want to.

“She’s been talking for about 5 hours. Maybe even 4 years,” Vanessa whispers to Monique again. Monique covers her mouth with her hands and lets out a tiny giggle. Their teacher gives them a suspicious look again and Monique shuffles away from Vanessa. Vanessa knows this means she doesn’t want to get into trouble. As soon as the teacher starts talking again, Vanessa hisses over to her.

“Monique!”

No answer. “Monique!”

Monique turns around a little bit to face her. “What?”

Vanessa cups her mouth with her hands so the girl can hear her. “Do you want to be best friends?”

Monique gives her another big smile. It makes Vanessa feel happy too. “Okay!”

She’s only been here for five hours, maybe even four years, and she’s already made a best friend. This school thing is easy.

***

It’s the two of them for life. Vanessa just knows it. They’re BFFAEAE (best friends forever and ever and ever). They get in trouble for chatting at school and their long-suffering teacher monitors them like a hawk. They’re banned from sitting near each other on the carpet because even when Vanessa tries to listen (even if it’s P.E., her favourite), she’ll think of something funny she just has to share with Monique, and of course Monique is incapable of laughing quietly so she lets out a screech that completely disrupts the whole lesson and earns them both five minutes off their reward time. Vanessa doesn’t even mind losing reward time. They sit at the same table while everyone else plays and they write out the class rules, but Vanessa doesn’t mind because it’s the only time they’ll ever be allowed to sit together in class.

In the playground and after school it’s a different story. In Reception they play princesses and animal rescue with their threadbare, well-loved stuffed animals they sneak into school in their schoolbags. By Year 1 they’re popstars learning dance routines and designing album covers and falling out because Monique wants to call their double-act The Strawberry Babies and Vanessa knows that obviously The Starlights is a far superior name. In the Summer between Year 1 and Year 2 Vanessa’s Mama takes them to the cinema to see Fantastic Four and so for the whole of Year 2 they’re obsessed with superheroes, rolling around on the tarmac play-fighting with each other and getting bruised knees and scraped elbows and so far removed from the girly girls they were when they started school.

Vanessa knows everything about Monique and Monique knows everything about her, because that’s what it means to be best friends. Vanessa knows that Monique’s brother is eleven and goes to Big School and doesn’t play with her and slams his door and plays rap music that Monique can hear when she’s in her room with the door closed. Monique stays in the high flats with her brother and her gran.

“Do you have a Mama?” Vanessa remembers asking her one day in the playground, drawing in the dirt with sticks.

Monique’s voice had been quiet. She hadn’t looked up from drawing in the dirt. “Uh-huh.”

“Where is she?”

Monique had shrugged, scribbled out the happy face she’d drawn. “Gran says she’s not allowed to see us any more.”

Vanessa could tell talking about her Mama had made Monique sad, so they don’t talk about that any more. Dads are off the table too. Vanessa doesn’t know hers and Monique doesn’t either. Vanessa doesn’t really need a Dad. Her Mama works in the supermarket and keeps their tiny pebbledashed council house in the estate spotlessly clean and is always on time to pick Vanessa up from school. She drags Vanessa kicking and screaming to mass every Sunday (Vanessa doesn’t like it because all the chanting scares her) and threatens her with El Coco until she’s blue in the face. Monique goes to church too but hers sounds more fun- they laugh and clap and sing their hearts out. Monique sings the songs in school. Vanessa thinks she sounds like she could be in the Sugababes, not that she’s allowed to listen to the Sugababes.

Monique comes round to Vanessa’s house every few weeks or so. She lives close, and Monique is allowed to walk round on her own. Vanessa is jealous of that. She wishes her Mama would let her go places on her own. She tells her that one day and Mama howls with laughter, says she’s not allowed out on her own until she’s at least twenty-one. Vanessa thinks she’s joking. Thinks.

Vanessa gets excited when Monique visits because she knows her Mama will make an effort with the dinner. That’s unfair and disrespectful, she knows; Mama works hard to put food on the table, but her stuffed arepas are just better than rice and beans (and microwave meals if it’s near her pay day, which her Mama makes Vanessa promise she’ll never tell her Abuela they eat). They sit and eat with their bowls on their laps on the sofa in front of the TV and watch The Weakest Link. They sometimes get the questions right even though they’re only 7 and the people on the show are fully-grown adults. Monique is smart, though. Smarter than Vanessa. Vanessa thinks she’s smarter than their teacher. She’s the best at writing in the class and the best at maths too, and she can read any word at all.

Vanessa’s not that smart, but she knows Monique is, and she thinks she’s amazing.

It’s a grey-clouded day in July in the Summer of 2007 when Monique pulls up outside Vanessa’s house on a brand new bike. It’s blue and the seat is close to the ground and the spokes are all shiny. Vanessa runs out to see her, sticks her feet in between the bars of the rusty iron gate at the front of their house and swings back and forth as Monique talks.

“My brother got me it. Someone from the skatepark didn’t want it any more and it’s too small for him, so I guess it’s mine now,” Monique shrugs happily. There’s a smudge of dirt on her face that Vanessa knows her Mama will wipe off with a hot cloth if she sees it. “It’s kinda big for me but it works okay. You got a bike, right?”

Vanessa cringes, thinks about the pink bike with streamers at the handles that lives in their back garden and is probably crumbling away with rust. “I got one, but it ain’t as cool as yours.”

Monique smiles, satisfied with the compliment. “Well, go get it an’ we can go for a ride.”

Vanessa blushes and thinks of how many cool points she’s going to lose when she tells Monique that she has to ask her Mama first. Monique laughs at her good-humouredly, sticks her tongue out at her and calls her a baby. Monique turned 9 two months ago and Vanessa has to wait four more to catch up with her, so the comment stings but she pretends it doesn’t.

To her surprise and delight, her Mama lets her go out on her bike with Monique but only if they just go round the estate and they’re back before dinner time. Vanessa has never been able to follow the rules, though, so when Monique tells her she knows a place by the river under the bridge with a scrub of sand like it’s the seaside then Vanessa doesn’t hesitate to follow her. Vanessa wonders how Monique seems to know the city so well: she takes her on a journey through dark underpasses with yellow strip lights and bright scrawls of graffiti, narrow bridges above busy roads that Vanessa tries to pretend don’t scare her, secret little paths through the big park Vanessa goes to with her Mama sometimes. They pedal wildly and everything zooms by so quickly that even though she has no idea where she is, Vanessa feels safe. Any vaguely scary things they see (big dogs) are gone a second later, and Vanessa knows Monique would protect her if anything scary did happen. She would protect her too. That’s just what best friends do.

They arrive at the place Monique had been talking about. The brown stone bridge hangs high above them but Vanessa can still hear the cars on it pass by. They’re drowned out slightly by the babbling of the river, inky and cold and black with jaggy rocks underneath its surface. There’s huge clusters of boulders that they both have to climb over to get to the sand and they have to leave their bikes leaning against the wall on the path. It’s not a pretty place, but it’s still a little bit magical. It has the aura of adventure rather than beauty and they’d be more likely to discover pirates here than fairies, which is just how Vanessa likes it. Together they chuck stones into the water haphazardly, their hands growing more grubby by the minute and the dirt black under their nails.

“What’s that?” Vanessa narrows her eyes, reaches down to pick up the object she’s spotted. It’s embedded in the sand and she can’t really see what it is, but it looks like what she got her injections with at the doctor’s. Monique races over to see what she’s talking about and pushes her hand away quickly. Vanessa snaps. “Hey!”

“You’re not s'posed to touch that, it’s dangerous!” Monique cries, outraged. “What if you got stabbed?”

Vanessa snorts a laugh. “It’s ain’t a knife, M'nique, it’s only a stupid needle."

Then, almost as if Monique’s warning had been a dare, Vanessa picks it out the sand with her thumb and index finger, holds it by the plastic tube. Monique’s face falls. "Stop it, ‘Ness, that’s creepy.”

Vanessa laughs, starts making the needle float about while making spooky noises. Monique takes a step back, her face all panicked. Vanessa gives a giggle. Monique’s acting like a scaredy-cat; she does that sometimes and it’s funny to wind her up. She usually takes it well but she’s growing more distressed than she usually does. Her eyes are all wide and Vanessa stops playing the moment she sees tears start welling up in them. She immediately drops the needle into the river and crosses over to her, her trainers leaving huge Nike ticks in the sand.

“Hey, what’s the matter? I’m sorry,” she mumbles. She regrets joking around now, and Monique is wiping at her eyes and sniffing and smearing dirt across her face.

“They used to be all ‘round my house before we lived with Gran,” she sniffs. Vanessa gets a churning feeling in her tummy. She doesn’t really know what that means, but it makes her feel frightened just hearing about it. She can’t imagine how frightened Monique felt seeing them for real. Slipping the sleeves of her hoodie down over her hands, she gives Monique a hug, pats her back in the hope it’s comforting.

“I threw it in the river. Don’t worry. You don’t need to see it ever again,” Vanessa says. She’s not Monique, she doesn’t know what it’s like to have a sibling, but Monique is the closest thing to a sister she has and she wants to keep her safe. Monique is smiling at her when she steps out of the hug, and Vanessa feels relieved.

“An’ if it does come back we’ll just stab it before it can stab us first!” Monique jokes. It’s a silly joke but Vanessa still bursts out laughing.

“We’ll stab it with a stick!” she joins in, and soon the two girls are laughing and anything vaguely threatening has been forgotten about.

They end up cycling a lot that Summer, Monique showing Vanessa all sorts of hidden places all round the city. Vanessa never feels freer than when she’s racing around on dirt paths behind her best friend, and worries are a distant memory. Vanessa’s life is good and she has a lot of things to be thankful for but she knows she looks different and doesn’t fit in, she knows there’s a lot of things that the other kids have that she doesn’t, she knows that there are times when her Mama sits up at night time with her bills spilling out across the kitchen table and a calculator in her hand. Monique is a bright smile and a sense of adventure and she makes Vanessa feel happy.

They don’t go out on their bikes as much when they go back to school after the holidays. Year 4 flies by almost as quick as they used to cycle, as does Year 5. They don’t pretend as much in the playground anymore, preferring to run riot on the astroturf with the boys in their class and play football and get bruises on their shins from being tackled to within an inch of their life. Not much changes by Year 6; their last year of primary school when they should be responsible and conscientious and yet they’re still getting in trouble for giggling in class and playing pranks on the other kids and whispering swear words in Spanish (that one is Vanessa’s fault).

They’ve only got a month left of primary school and Vanessa’s allowed to walk home with Monique now as long as she keeps her phone on loud and texts her Mama to tell her if they’re stopping by the park or the snack van. Today is one of those days. They’re sat underneath the huge cherry blossom tree at the park; Vanessa wants to climb it but Monique’s saying that’s too babyish. They’re too old for that now, so they’re bluetoothing each other Tinchy Stryder and N-Dubz songs and blaring them at full volume out of their tinny phone speakers instead. Vanessa’s about to show Monique a parody somebody’s made of You’re Beautiful by James Blunt when Monique breaks the not-quite-silence.

“You gotta crush on anyone?”

Vanessa wrinkles her face up, snorts a laugh. “Ew! Nah. All the boys in our class are gross. I ain’t ever had a crush on any of ‘em.”

Monique gives a quiet laugh. “Me neither. They all use that Lynx Africa like it’s gonna cover up their B.O.”

Vanessa lets out a howl of laughter. She wasn’t lying to Monique; she doesn’t have a crush on anyone. If she thinks about it, she’s never really had a crush on any of the boys in her class. It’s just not something she thinks about. She cares more about her best friend than she’d ever care about any boy.

Their laughter dies down, and Vanessa gets a knot in her stomach. It happens every so often when she thinks about high school. Their class went up to see the school last week and it felt like such a terrifying maze of identical-looking corridors and crowds of kids so old they looked to be mini adults. Their teacher had told them to write down three friends they wanted to be in the same form class as, even though she said she couldn’t guarantee they’d get to stay together. Vanessa had written only one name on her form- Monique Heart - in her curly, barely-legible handwriting, the “i”s dotted with hearts. It’s been on her mind ever since, though. They’ve been together since Reception, Monique is all Vanessa knows. She wouldn’t begin to know how to make any other friends. She doesn’t want any other friends.

“M’nique,” Vanessa says, and the other girl looks up. “What happens if we ain’t in the same form class next year?”

Monique gives a small, humoured laugh. “Well then we ain’t in the same form class.”

Vanessa rolls her eyes and shoves her. “Duh, idiot! I mean like…with us. We still gon’ be best friends?”

Monique laughs dismissively, shakes her head at her. “Now who’s being the idiot?”

“I’m serious!” Vanessa objects, annoyed that Monique’s still got her eyebrows raised at her like she’s a little kid. She’s going to be 12 in October; it’s not like she’s a baby. “What if you find other cool girls to hang out with? What if you get a new best friend? What am I gonna do?”

“You’re gonna do nothing, cuz that ain’t gonna happen,” Monique insists. Her face lights up as she gets an idea, jabs a finger against the tree trunk. “Okay. If I carve our initials into this tree, it’ll be like a promise. That we’re always gonna be best friends. I don’t want to hang out with cool girls. It’s fun just me an’ you.”

Vanessa smiles, her heart feeling all warm at the reassurance. Monique rummages around in her bag and produces her keys, starts stabbing at the bark of the tree relentlessly. Vanessa flinches a little, part of the reaction a residual memory from watching Pocahontas too much when she was really little; she used to believe that trees could feel things like humans. She shares the memory with Monique who doesn’t laugh at her, even though she probably has every right to.

“Well humans feel things an’ they get tattoos. So this is like a tattoo for a tree,” she shrugs. She’s chipped a big capital M in the bumpy bark so far and is starting on an H.

“Hey, you think we should get matching tattoos when we’re grown ups?” Vanessa suggests, the idea exciting her. Monique frowns as she drags her key over the wood.

“Don’t they use needles for that?”

Vanessa regrets the idea as soon as Monique says it; she’d forgotten about her friend’s fear. She decides to commit to the idea. “They do, but they’re all clean an’ safe. An’ you wouldn’t have to be scared cuz I’d go with you.”

Monique nods as she starts on Vanessa’s name. “I never feel scared when I’m with you. Except when Mrs Del Rio yells at us.”

“She’s a big baby. She just hates us cuz we would be better teachers than her,” Vanessa shrugs. It’s true.

“Well, what tattoo are we gonna get? We need to decide now so we can start saving up for it,” Monique questions her. Vanessa scoffs.

“How much do you think a tattoo costs? It’s like ten pounds, God!"

It’s Monique’s turn to laugh. "Nah, it’s way more than that! My brother’s got one and his cost a hundred and fifty.”

Vanessa lets out an outraged screech. “That’s a damn lie! You’re gonna go to the bad fire if you keep tellin’ lies like that.”

“An’ you’re gonna go to the bad fire cuz you just cussed.”

“Well, see you down there,” Vanessa shrugs. She considers Monique’s question. “What about we get BFFs in cool writing?”

Monique nods enthusiastically. “Yeah! With a heart maybe.”

“Yeah!” Vanessa agrees, excited about the prospect of their matching tattoos. She Googles “when can i get a tatoo” (spelling’s never been her strong suit) and lets out a groan at what she reads. “Ugh. We have to wait seven whole years.”

“You have to wait seven years, I only have to wait six!” Monique boasts, Vanessa sighing. She hates being one of the youngest in the class. She doesn’t have time to feel down for long though, as Monique shows her her handiwork with a flourish; MH + VM, scratched into the tree forever. “There! Best friends forever.”

Vanessa feels as if her smile is going to break her face. It feels like her body is made of the sun’s rays. When Monique says that, high school doesn’t seem so scary any more.

“Where we gonna get these tattoos anyway?” Monique speaks again. Vanessa’s smile turns wicked and she can barely get her thoughts out without laughing.

“Imagine we get them on our butt!”

Vanessa thinks Monique’s Gran might be able to her them screeching with laughter from the top floor of her tower block.

***

Things change though, despite the promise they make. Monique doesn’t think either of them mean to break it but life gets in the way and God has other plans. It’s what she believes at least.

Though she doesn’t know what his plan was for separating her from her best friend. Monique cries for forty-five solid minutes when she receives the letter telling her what form class she’s in; she knows it’s different to Vanessa’s. Her Gran holds her tight and rocks her against her chest on the sofa while her brother yells at her to shut up and slams his bedroom door. Her Gran is full of comforting words: you’re a strong girl, and you’ve been through worse in your life than this, and this isn’t going to change a single thing, hush now. But it is going to change things. When she’s with Vanessa, Monique feels like she can take on the world. She brings out her confident side when she feels shy, matches every shriek with a screech, takes her mind off the fact that she lives in a shoebox fourteen storeys high in the air where the elevator doesn’t work and the stairwell smells like piss. She can’t imagine starting high school without her. She doesn’t want to imagine it.

Monique batters out of the flat despite her Gran shouting after her, dashes down the stairs like her life depends on it. Her heart feels ready to give out when she reaches the lobby and bursts out into the open air but she still unchains her bike from the rack outside, pedals madly to Vanessa’s house. The bike is too small for her now and it’s uncomfortable to ride but it’s all she has to get her to the person that matters most. She reaches the house and Vanessa’s Mama lets her in, and Monique takes the stairs up to Vanessa’s bedroom two at a time where they hold each other tight and bundle up in Vanessa’s duvet and sob and sob and sob.

But looking back, Monique knows she’d been a little dramatic that day. Not being in the same form class as Vanessa really is not the end of the world. They walk there together on their first day and give each other a tight, nervous hug before they each head to their own form rooms. Monique pushes down on the doorhandle and anxiety fills her body as she walks in, freezes at the doorframe. There’s about twenty other kids already in the room and the whole scene is a bit chaotic. There are two boys chucking a ball to each other across the classroom, some girls with hair in high ponytails screeching and playing Katy Perry out of their phone speakers. Even though Monique has sat through countless interviews with social workers, child psychologists and police officers, this is one of the scariest experiences of her life.

“Hey. You wanna sit with us?”

Monique’s eyes fall on a table of girls with skin just like hers and hair to match. Monique instantly feels 80% more reassured; she’s never seen a classroom with a colour palette like this in her life. She and Vanessa had been the only two girls in their year at primary whose skin colour had deviated from the sea of pink or almost-translucent. There’s one girl who fits that mold at the table with the others, and Monique thinks it’s funny that she’s got pale skin, blonde hair and blue eyes and still happens to be the odd one out.

The girls take her under their wing that first day, and the next, and the next. They’ve all gone to a different primary school from Monique and so are already closer than close, but they never make her feel like an outsider. Asia with the sleek, black hair that tumbles down her back has a sweet smile and explains all the in-jokes that Monique doesn’t understand. Antonia, the girl who invited Monique to sit with them, has an intimidating face and a skinny frame but a kind heart and always shares her snack and pens with her. Roberta- Bob- has a huge untameable afro and personality to match, and her cousin Monét isn’t dissimilar apart from the fact that her hair is wavy and caramel instead of jet black and curly. They bicker with each other and gossip about their teachers and make Monique laugh when she’s down. And Brianna is kind and caring and is always able to put a smile on Monique’s face.

Before long, it seems like Monique has made five new friends without even having to try. She wishes she could say she’s friends with Vanessa like she always used to be, but that would be lying.

Because Vanessa’s made friends too. They’re the girls Monique’s Gran always warned her about- friends with the devil and they’ll lead you on a path straight to him. Akeria and Silky make a reputation for themselves at high school within a week of the year beginning. They mess about in class, text during lessons, Silky starts fights with other girls in the corridors that her victims never have the balls to finish. Akeria flirts with the boys and the rumours say she’s had her first kiss already. They backchat teachers and keep cans of spray paint in their bags and walk along the train tracks to the depot after school to spray their wobbly initials on the side of freight trains.

But despite the fact they don’t hang out as much in person any more, that doesn’t diminish the light that Monique keeps burning in her heart for Vanessa. They bump into each other in corridors and chat excitedly in the five minutes they have between lessons, smile and wave at each other from across the lunch hall, and they still text each other and walk there and back from school together. Well, until just after the start of Year 8. Vanessa starts getting a lift from Akeria’s Mum in the mornings and hanging out at the shopping centre with her and Silky after school. It’s not her fault, and Monique supposes she’s no better- Monét lives on Monique’s route to school so the two of them start walking together instead, and after school the girls often go to the chicken shop in town and shovel down wings to make up for the disgusting school lunches.

By her second year of high school it’s almost like Monique has a new best friend.

But she doesn’t want to think like that, so she’s overjoyed when it gets to the start of Summer, just before the last term of their second year ends, and Vanessa’s texts change from general small-talk chit-chat to an invitation to have a sleepover at her house at the weekend. Monique feels embarrassing levels of excitement as she texts back confirming she’ll be there.

M: Are your other friends gonna be there??

V: nah just me n u

And it is just her and Vanessa. It’s a gorgeously sunny day and Vanessa’s Mama puts up a tent in the garden that they can camp out in. It’s nice to be back with her, talking and giggling and laughing about stupid stuff. Vanessa laughs uproariously as she tells Monique about Silky and Akeria’s latest exploits and Monique listens nervously, anxious just hearing about them.

“Do you join in when they do stuff like that?” Monique asks her, after a story about how Silky signed her name in the same Sharpie she does her eyebrows with on a toilet cubicle door and got detention. Vanessa shakes her head, smiles bashfully.

“Nah. I tell ‘em it’s good to keep someone onside in case we get into trouble. The teachers’ll let us away with more if they like one of us. 'Least that’s my excuse,” she explains. Monique smiles, reassured.

“I didn’t think you were like them,” she says, relieved. She thinks Vanessa narrows her eyes at her, but she blinks and her expression has changed. Vanessa’s started wearing makeup and it suits her, even though her foundation is maybe a little off-colour. The mascara she’s swept onto her lashes opens up her eyes a little more and lets Monique see the twinkle that seems to be permanently shining in them.

She is so pretty, and Monique wishes she could look like her.

They talk as if nothing has changed over dinner, various barbecued meats grilled on a disposable barbecue Vanessa’s Mama got from her work. Monique has never had a barbecue before and she decides that burgers charred to within an inch of their lives are the best thing she’s ever eaten. They make smores from chocolate digestives and marshmallows for dessert and Monique howls with laughter as the chocolate and marshmallow melt down half Vanessa’s hand and she licks it off as her Mama rolls her eyes, goes to find her a hot cloth and mutters in Spanish that Monique doesn’t understand but knows is long-suffering. She has almost forgotten the way Vanessa can make her belly laugh just by acting the fool. Monique has spent two whole years not even knowing how much she’s missed her friend, too distracted by her new ones.

When it’s time to go to sleep they both cosy up under Vanessa’s duvet that’s been dragged outside and a sleeping bag each under that. Every available pillow and cushion in the house has been utilised in lieu of a blow-up mattress but the set-up is still comfortable, even though it’s pitch-black both in the tent and outside. It might be the end of June but it’s still cold once the sun goes down, and Vanessa has shuffled up near to Monique in a bid to try and keep warm. Vanessa being so close makes Monique feel warm on the inside as well as the outside.

“Hey, you know that rumour about Akeria kissing Dean from Year 9?” Monique pipes up, interested. “Is that true?”

Vanessa rolls onto her tummy to face Monique, and her eyes are sparkling with mischief even in the dark. It makes Monique’s stomach do a flip. “Yeah. They did it at the food court after school one day. You wanna know what else?”

Vanessa’s face is so full of glee that Monique can’t help but nod in anticipation. She’s almost in fits of laughter as she tries to get the secret out. “He tried to get her to touch his…you know!”

Monique lets out a screech that is equal parts horrified and amused as Vanessa dissolves into giggles too. “GROSS! Did she do it?”

“Ew! What do you think? Of course she didn’t. That shit’s nasty.”

There’s a pause in which Vanessa lets out a few more giggles. Monique doesn’t. She’s silent. She’s thinking.

“I wonder what it’s like.”

Vanessa’s voice is loud in the silence of the night. “What? Touching a boy’s-”

“No, idiot!” Monique laughs, explaining herself. “Kissing someone. Wonder if it’s as nice as people say it is.”

Vanessa falls quiet as well. Monique wonders what she’s thinking. She decides to break the silence. “You ever kissed a boy?”

Vanessa lets out a snort. “Come on, M’nique, you know I ain’t.”

“No I don’t!” Monique protests, her voice dropping to a murmur as she feels herself pout while she speaks. “I feel like I don’t know anything about you anymore.”

They both fall silent, and there’s a shift in the atmosphere that Monique can’t quite put her finger on. Vanessa lets out a sudden giggle.

“What?” Monique asks awkwardly, unsure if she’s meant to be in on the joke or the butt of it.

Vanessa’s face is scheming. She laughs a little, buries her face in her pillow before she speaks. “You know we could practise?”

Monique is slow on the uptake at first. “Practise? Practise what?”

She realises as Vanessa lifts her head and gives another giggle. Monique lets out a screech, takes the pillow from underneath her head and thumps her friend with it. “Ew, Vanessa! Ew, ew, ew! You’re so weird!”

“Oh, c’mon! I don’t wanna go kiss a boy and then be really bad at it, then he’s tell his friends and they’d tell their friends and then the whole school would think I’m shit!” Vanessa insists. Monique’s heart gives a very loud thud as Vanessa inches her face close to Monique. She’s not taken her makeup off and her mascara is all smudged around her eyes like makeshift eyeliner. She looks really pretty.

Monique shoves her away back onto the pillows. “I ain’t doin’ that shit with you! Ask Akeria since she’s so experienced.”

“But I don’t wanna practise with Kiki! I wanna practise with you!” Vanessa says matter-of-factly. Monique’s stomach gives another churn. Something is different, something has changed. Monique isn’t sure what it is or what to make of it.

“Well, tough shit. We ain’t…practising,” Monique huffs, turning her back to Vanessa and letting her eyes burn holes in the flimsy tent walls.

Vanessa’s voice comes from her side of the tent. “Fine! But if they call you…shit, I don’t know…Washing-Machine Mouth Monique…don’t say I never warned you!”

Monique lets out another huff, squeezes her eyes shut and wills herself to sleep. She feels weird. Her heart is going too fast and her stomach feels fizzy and it takes her a moment to realise her face has gone all hot.

“M’nique?” Vanessa’s voice comes from the darkness. She ignores it. “You mad at me?”

She sighs, rolls her eyes even though she knows Vanessa can’t see. “No.”

“Okay,” Vanessa says. Her voice is soft, and she rolls over onto her side. She rests her head against Monique’s back and puts an arm around her. They hug all the time, but this one feels different. It’s nice, though, and Monique feels warm and safe. “I’m sorry we haven’t hung out much. You know. Like we did in primary.”

“I’m sorry too,” Monique sighs, bringing a hand up to pat Vanessa on the arm. She ends up simply leaving it there.

“Hey, we should hang out more in the Summer! You know you can always come round to mine,” Vanessa continues.

“Yeah, that sounds nice,” Monique murmurs, letting out a heavy sigh. She’s not lying- it would be nice. She knows she could never have friends back to her flat because they don’t have the space and besides, most of them wouldn’t even want to set foot in the high rise anyway. Monét’s parents are doctors and Asia’s Dad is a barrister and her Mum is a lawyer, and Bob’s parents work in something accountant-y, and they all live in big houses with sweeping paved driveways and garages and gardens the size of the Emirates stadium. Granted Antonia’s Mum and Dad both work two jobs to pay the rent and Brianna’s Dad is a dustbin man while her Mum stays at home to look after her baby sister, but at least their families are happy ones. Monique has never known the luxury of a fancy house or a private garden or a car or a perfect, cookie-cutter family. She wonders if she ever will.

She’s pulled out of her thoughts by Vanessa giving her a gentle squeeze, cuddling closer. She didn’t think it would be possible but she somehow manages it, and Monique isn’t complaining. “G'night, M'nique.”

Monique is too tired to think any more. Vanessa’s arms feel comforting around her, and she chooses to settle in them. “Night, 'Ness.”

#rpdr fanfiction #ortega #2003 #vanique #vanessa vanjie mateo #monique heart #best friends to girlfriends #lesbian au #high school au #fic challenge #diversity fic #s10 #black girl magic fic #tw mentions of implied child neglect #tw brief mentions of drug use

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justimajin · 4 years

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Content Creator Year in Review

I saw this floating around and it seems like a lot of fun, so I wanted to do my own take on it. Props to whoever came up with this idea btw, it’s so creative and honestly a great way to start the new year.

I’ll be going through each of the categories with my stories!

► first creation and most recent creation of 2020:

The first thing I was posted in 2020 was the twelfth part to A Lone Wolf’s Howl. My most recent creation is Til Death Do Us Part. It seems like being on the angst train definitely stayed consistent O.O

► a creation you’re really proud of:

Rise of the Nation’s King. It was a very last minute fic and I was unsure if I could pull it off or not, but it exceeded my expectations in many ways.

► a creation that took you forever:

Something Smells Fishy. I spent a lot of energy on it and felt like the end result could have been better.

► a creation from 2020 that received the most notes:

Rise of the Nation’s King - Part 1 has 227 notes while Part 2 has 233.

► a creation you think deserved more notes:

I don’t really have one? I’m just happy with the progress I’ve made with my writing this year.

► a ‘simple’ creation that you really love:

The Spontaneous Adoption! I thought the idea was pretty mediocre when I first came up with it, but the result ended up being pretty cute and surprisingly heartwarming.

► a new fandom you joined and a creation you made for

Doesn’t apply to me.

► a creation you made that breaks your heart:

We haven’t really reached those parts yet but writing Til Death Do Us Part was pretty hella painful haha. It’s such a bittersweet story and I’ve definitely had my fair share of tears shed in the process.

► a creation that was inspired by another one:

Although the story wasn’t inspired from it, I can say that Til Death Do Us Part was partly inspired by Locked & Loaded in terms of character. The main characters are opposites of each other in regards to personality and morals, and I decided to make the Y/N in TDDUP the way she is because of Y/N in Locked & Loaded.

► a favourite creation created by someone else:

I recently read The Habits of a Broken Heart by @softykooky. It’s so heart wrenching and beautifully written.

► some of your favorite content creators from the year:

@kpopfanfictrash @jimlingss @gukyi @yoonia @vanaera - all of these writers posted amazing stories that definitely made this year wayy better

► and for good measure, another couple more creations of yours that you love:

It’s a Reverse Basket - it’s been temporarily taken down but I have a fuzzy spot in my heart for it. Locked & Loaded for good ol’ times sake and the sequel + prequel to Doctor Blues as well.

Tagging: any content creators that would like to do this!

And lastly...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2021 is finally here! Although 2020 is definitely the year no one wants to think about, I hope this new year can bring you all some amount of joy. Whether it’s from good news, being with loved ones, or simply being content on your own, I hope that anything comes your way in this year is fulfilling to you. Here’s to a new year, and the chance for new beginnings.

#looking at this list i have to say i'm quite surprised #i didn't realize i wrote all of these in 2020 but this year was full of surprises for sure #hopefully the trend continues into 2021 #and that all you of have a prosperous new year #happy new year everyone #tag game #content creator year in review

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cilliansaccent · 5 years

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The Peaky Designer - Cillian Fanfic, Chapter 21

Hello, welcome back. Below is the next instalment of my fanfiction!

Leave a like or a comment if you liked it, or if I can do anything better! Please, it would mean the world and to understand if anyone is enjoying my writing. Also, sharing/reblogging would be even better.

PLEASE READ:

I will not be including Cillian’s family as it’s kinda weird since he has children lmao. Just a mention of his parents and a previous lover.

I will indicate in a chapter if there is smut in the beginning and before the actual scene!!

I will add trigger warnings if there is any!!

There is a variety of levels of swearing during a chapter, I will not hold back, everyone swears.

The timestamp for the Fic is now 2016 and onwards!!

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Background: Gabrijela Babic is a Croatian girl from Sydney, Australia. She is born in the year 1991 on the 24th of December. She studies a Fashion degree in a University with a major in Game Design as well. Her teacher in the fashion designer class managed to nail an Internship on the set of Peaky Blinders with the shows very own Costume Designer, Allison McCosh. There, she travels to London for under a year to learn how to be one, working alongside the actors as well the man she admires, Cillian Murphy. But, her platonic feelings for the man begins to grow into something more, and she wonders whether she should pursue them or let him go for fear of her strict parents and her three older brothers…

Characters:

Swantje Paulina as Gabrijela Babic (swalina on Instagram)

Cillian Murphy

Word Count: 9,655

!!Warnings!!: Lots of sexual actions throughout with a major sex scene at the end!

Date: February 2017

Chapter Name: Whose Topping on Valentines?

Brief Chapter Outline: Gabrijela takes Cillian out on a boat to spend Valentines Day, with plenty of teasing done by Cillians side. They go to dinner later that night where more teasing continues before it ends with a very explosive and passionate night...

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Upon waking, Gabrijela found the spot beside her... Empty. She eased into a sitting position, feeling ill a little bit as she rubbed her eyes and pushed her mane of hair back from her face. She went to grab her phone to text Cillian on his whereabouts when the door opened and her love walked in.

"Aw damn, you're awake!" Cillian laughed softly. He had a bouquet of roses in one hand and the other he held what looked like a big love heart-shaped box. And it was clear he was struggling with the weight of it.

"Put it down, you silly man." Gabbie laughed as she crawled to the edge of the bed as he set the box down and handed her the roses.

"For my love," He smiled as she took them, sniffing them.

"Perfection." She giggled and leaned up to kiss him softly, "I love you."

"I love you to, now open the box." He kissed her back.

"So demanding." She laughed as she laid the flowers down with care and tugged the box close. Cillian sat behind her, his hand resting on her hip as he looked over her shoulder. As Gab popped open the chest like box and pushed back the lid she gasped.

The inside of the lid had photos of them together either kissing or hugging each other. She remembered he had asked to send all the photos of them both to him some weeks back. "Cillian..." She whispered as she looked at the rest of the items. Her favourite bottle of red wine, chocolates, a cute bird plushie that held 'I love you' between its wings, there was hand made roses in red silk that took up the space between the items.

And there was a small box.

Her heart raced as she lifted it up, she felt him still behind her. Opening the box a ring sat inside. It was silver and it was a heart with a crown above it with what looked like hands holding the heart as the band. "What is this?"

He kissed the bare skin of her shoulder as she faced him now, "It's called a Claddagh Ring. Symbolises love with the heart, loyalty by the crown and friendship by the hands." He took her right hand and slipped the ring on, "The point of the heart faces to you. Means you are in a relationship."

She looked at the pretty ring, his thumb stroking her knuckles, "And what about the left?" She asked softly, she was over-joyed. God, Cillian always surprised her and she goddamned loved it. She loved him.

"It means we're married and if it's pointed outwards, engaged." He explained his eyes never leaving her face. He could see the utter happiness that seemed to glow from her. "Do you like it?" He asked cautiously.

"Like it?" She looked up, her smile as radiant as ever, "I love it Cillian! It is perfect!" She threw her arms around his neck and they fell back on the bed.

His laugh vibrated through him as his arms wrapped around her, "Really?" His smile was shy.

"Really. Thank you, I truly appreciate it." Her necklace, the sunburst he gave her, swung between them. She never once took it off. "You are so, so, so amazing, Cillian. I can't even describe how I am so unbelievably happy with you."

"You don't need to. I can see it." He cupped her face and pulled her down to kiss her deeply. Then he rolled them around so he was on top and began to kiss down to her neck.

"Mmm..." She moaned softly, her fingers in his hair. She looked at the clock, it was almost nine. "Cillian... Mmm, we need to get ready..."

"This won't take to long." He murmured as her shirt came off and he kissed between her breasts. He continued to go down, taking her panties off once he reached that lovely pink slit of hers.

"Cillian babe." She muttered looking down.

"Yeah?" He met her gaze.

"I love you," She said with a smile.

"I love you too, my beauty." He said softly and kissed the inside of her thigh before his mouth parted her lips with a hungry kiss. Her moan was what he wanted to hear as he hooked her legs over his shoulders.

Gabrijela laid back and let him do what he was good at. His mouth rove over her core in warm, wet kisses and licks with his tongue. It felt amazing as he dragged every little sound from her with just his mouth. Then two fingers were in her and moving in and out at a steady pace. Shivers went down her arms and legs as he sucked on her clit, her back arched and she felt his teeth graze her sensitive skin. He wasn't letting her go soon, he would stay glued to her like that till her climax overcame her.

"Fuck! Ah! Ahhh! Yeah..." She couldn't move too much as he held her hips down, "Shit Cillian!" She was getting all twitchy as she neared her climax, his fingers were curling inside her, trying to find that sweet spot that needed to be pressed on.

Cillian found her g-spot and pushed hard against it, it was like a button and the flood-gate opened up and she was howling his name and released on his fingers. Her body writhed and bucked as he stayed attached to her clit, sucking it through her high and only pulled back when she was done. He sat back with a smug smirk and she sat up, "I love doing that to you." He said.

"I know you do." She laughed and leaned down kissing him. "I'll have to repay you at some point today."

"I know." He pecked her lips and stood, helping her to her feet.

"Now. We really should get ready to go." She said, running her hands down his arms.

"Where are we going?" He asked as she stepped away and grabbed things from her suitcase. She pulled on a two-piece swimmer, it was quite raunchy and looked more like lingerie than anything with that thong like bottom piece and a top piece that was basically a strip to cover her nipples. It was white with gold polka-dots.

His cock only got harder at the sight, "Are we swimming?" He asked as he went through his stuff and pulled out the only swim shorts he owned. He didn't swim much in London, nor back in Cork either.

"I still can't tell you." She giggled as she pulled on some shorts and a floral crop top. She packed her duffel bag with extra clothing. Just in case. "Here use my bag, got plenty of space in it to put your stuff in too."

"It seems we are going swimming today." He said as he took her bag and put in extra pants, shirt and underwear.

"You can continue to speculate." She laughed a little. She cleaned up the bed and place the roses in the sink in the bathroom, they had no vase in the room. So she had to make do.

Once it was all done they headed out of the hotel and towards the harbour. He slipped his hand in hers and laced his fingers as she guided him along. They swung hands.

"Fucking hell it's hot!" Cillian grumbled.

"Thirty-four degrees today. Perfect weather to swim." She mused.

"It never gets this hot back home." He slipped on his Ray Ban's sunnies.

She looked over and giggled, "That's cause I bring all the hot weather with me. Cause I'm hot." She grinned.

"I can agree with that." He slipped his arm around her waist now and held her close.

Up ahead, Cillian could spot a familiar face and squint.

"Karsyn!" Gabbie beamed and went to hug her friend, "Good to see you again. How are you?"

"Fantastic." He smiled back at her and shook hands with Cillian, "G'day, mate. How are you both?"

"Good. Very good." Gabbie blushed a little.

"Feeling wonderful. So what brings us here?" Cillian seemed puzzled as to why Gabbie's friend was here.

"Well, Gabbie organised-" Karsyn began.

"I organised a day out on the boat. Karsyn owns one and I thought why not a better chance to see Sydney on a boat today. Just us two. No one to bother or hassle us." Gabbie smiled.

"A boat?" Cillian raised a brow.

"Yeah. Come on. Let me show you." Karsyn said and waved them to follow them. The pair followed Karsyn towards the line of luxury yacht's then down a boardwalk beside a boat. Karsyn got on it and helped Gabbie on it then Cillian next.

"Here we go," Karsyn said. The yacht was two levelled, the bottom had a small open outside space before it flowed into the main cabin. It had a couch to the right and next to it was two seats and the steering wheel for the boat and on the left a small kitchen like area with a small fridge and microwave. Down the set of stairs lead to the bathroom and a separate bedroom with a double bed and another little room with two single beds. Karsyn took them up to the top level where there were another steering wheel and a couch beside it and explained everything to them.

"I didn't know you could drive something like this," Cillian said as they headed back to the bottom level.

"Yeah. Karsyn showed me, I tend to not drink while I'm on a boat so I'm the responsible one." Gabbie giggled.

"She is. And she drives really good. You're in good hands." Karsyn patted Cillian on the shoulder, "Fridge and pantry are stocked up with food, the boat is fuelled up to a hundred per cent. If anything goes wrong, only a call away and I can easily pop over with the tinny." Karsyn beamed.

"All good. Thanks, Kar." Gabbie hugged him, "We'll be back around four-thirty or if we come back earlier I'll let you know."

"Yeah, all good. You can have it for the night as well." Karsyn winked.

Gab rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah. I'll see you later. Thanks again."

Karsyn laughed, "Just don't make a mess on the carpet or the couch. Don't want to clean out any stains." He said as he jumped on to the boardwalk before Gabrijela could hit him.

"Bye!" Gabbie whined and started the boat up once the ropes were off. Cillian sat beside her when he climbed up to the top once the boat began to move.

"Is this your surprise?" Cillian smiled, a hand on her thigh.

"It is. Do you like it?" She asked. She hoped he would. She loved boats and loved the harbour and knew a good private-ish spot for them to swim without anyone seeing them too often via their own vessels.

"I do. I don't go on boats much, let alone something as... Nice as this." He leaned back now, an arm behind her.

"Phew. I'm glad. I was worried you might not like this. I wasn't sure if you'd be good on boats." She glanced over at him, loving how the wind ruffled his hair a little.

"I like whatever you like. I'm easy Gab." He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

"Good. That's good." She said with a blush.

She came to the private spot, a little cove that had no houses along the cliffside, just bush and the sound of the native birds. Dropped anchor and then came to the main cabin, "Want to swim?" She asked Cillian as he was looking around in awe.

"Swim? Here?" He asked as he looked over. She was stripped now to her swimmers she had on and he bit his bottom lip.

"Yeah. Nothing is gonna eat us." She giggled as she looked over at him and her eyes drifted down to that growing tent. "Unless you have other plans. Plans which I think I know..." She licked her lips slowly, knowing it would make him crazy.

Cillian chuckled and walked in, peeling off his shirt then his pants followed, now just in his cute CK's. His arm wrapped around her waist and she was pulled in for a deep kiss. He backed her to the table and lifted her on to it, his lips not once leaving hers. His hand slid up her back to tug on the string that held her top piece where it should be, then the one around her neck and threw it aside.

"No swimming first, hm?" Gab asks with a sultry tone, his fingers took ahold of her hair and tilted her head back as he kissed down the column of her throat.

"No." He said, voice heavy with lust. He covered her whole chest with kisses, his hands stroking her sides in loving touches as he came to her pink nipple and took it between his lips. Her gasp was soft as he took a little nibble of it then tugged on it before he sucked on it. He felt her gentle fingers tug on the curls of his hair then run down the nape of his neck. He moved to her other one, leaving a few marks on her freckled skin and did the same to the other. He would tease her all day like this, soft kisses and touches. He wanted to make her all tense before he would take her later tonight.

Or well, he hoped she would last till then. Even him.

He then stepped back and chuckled when he saw her shocked expression, "What?"

"Is that it?" She asked. She leaned back on her arms now, her legs splayed for him to just go back in between them with his hips.

"Yep. I want to swim now." He pulled off his underwear and was clearly doing this deliberately. His cock was hard and she knew he wanted her but he wasn't going to fuck her. He pulled on his board shorts, letting her have a good view of his cute white, Irish ass that literally saw no sun whatsoever. "Help me put on sunscreen?"

Gab rolled her eyes and grabbed the bottle, "You tease." She grumbled as she slathered his skin with the cream. He was enjoying this a lot, he could see the sexual frustration in her eyes. He helped her with her back before she wanted to do the rest of her body on her own, "No more touching from you." She huffed.

Cillian laughed and headed to the edge of the boat and turned to climb down the ladder. He shuddered as he met the cold water, "Jesus fuck." He swore face scrunched up as he got further in.

"Cold?" She asked as she pulled back on her bra top and wandered over to the ladder. She watched as he floated around.

"A bit but nothing like back in Ireland." He mused, watching her. She looked like a goddess, her skin glowing from the sun and the cream she had applied on. He hoped the child growing within her would look like her. She was perfect.

Gab climbed in, making sure he got a fantastic view of her ass and hissed softly as she slipped into the cold water. She laughed and then paddled around like a dog coming closer to him. It was quite a relief as the heat got more intense as the sun rose higher.

Cillian slipped his arms around her once she was close enough and bobbed around with her, "I've dreamed of doing this with you."

"Really?" She loosely placed her arms on his shoulders.

"Really. Swimming with you in a beautiful location, holding you, being with you..." He pressed his forehead to hers, his hand sliding up to rest between her shoulder blades.

"You are everything I've wished for, Cillian. I can't ask for anyone better." She rubbed her nose against his, her smile big.

It was one thing he was worried about. He may be what she wanted but how long would that last? How long would she hang around? Would she start to doubt in a few years despite carrying his child within her? He wondered if she would get bored of him when he was too old to make love to her body. Or get frustrated if he started to get health issues.

"Cillian?" Gabrijela's voice shook him out of his own thoughts.

"Sorry, my love. I got carried away with my own thoughts." He said hugging her close.

"What is it? I can see you are worried." She touched his jaw. She was so gentle and caring, his heart squeezed. He didn't want to drag her along and waste her young life. It had always been on his mind since Christmas. But fuck it was late now, huh?

"It's nothing, really. No need to be concerned." He kissed her softly, his hands now on her hips.

"Are you sure?" She frowned against his lips.

"I'm sure," He nodded and kissed her jaw then her neck, "Let's just keep swimming."

Gabrijela didn't seem like he was telling her the truth but she wasn't going to push it in case it ruined the mood they had going. So she went along with it and pulled away, "Hmm."

"What?" He watched her swim around him, following her by turning around slowly.

"Nothin'." She smirked then dived underwater. He suddenly felt his board shorts be yanked off and she came up and whipped the damn thing around.

"Gabbie!" He cried out, feeling totally shocked at the weird feeling. "Give me back my shorts!" He laughed as she tried to catch up with her by swimming after her.

"Never!" She laughed evilly as she came to the ladder and tried to escape.

Cillian reached her and grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back, falling into the water with her as she screamed. He snatched the shorts of her and she was laughing as she splashed him, "Meanie!" She grinned.

"I am not!" He pulled them back on and tried to grab her again but she splashed him. "You are!" He splashed her back before a water fight ensued.

He used this time to get close to her when she was looking away and pulled her flush against his body and claimed her lips in a heated kiss. He would win somehow.

Gab was surprised by the sudden kiss but simply melted into it and wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. She could feel his hard-on pressed against her and she moaned softly into the kiss. His hands slipped down her body and guided her hips to start rolling into his.

Cillian had her back pressed to the metal ladder so he had some foundation for his footing from her movement against him. He groaned softly, pressing harder against her so she had limited movement now.

"Cilly, let me- let- me grind- against you." She said between the kisses, trying to push him back but he held firm, his cock growing harder against her. She desperately wanted him as her hands went from his face and down his body to the band of his shorts. "Damn you." She grunted as she wedged her hand between them and slipped it down his pants-

Cillian pulled away and gripped her wrist and took her hand out as he swam backwards with a smirk, "Not yet." He tsk'ed.

Gab's jaw fell open and her brows rose nice and high, "You little shit! You can't do that!"

"Of course I can. I just did it." He mused, loving that frustration in her eyes.

She was warm all over and not because of the hot sun, she gritted her teeth, "You're gonna pay!" She splashed him, "No more sex for you!" She nodded as if that was the best thing she ever decided on.

"Uh-huh. I'm sure that will go to plan." Cillian knew he was going to win tonight and it was clear she would play as well. "You can't go a day without you moaning my name."

She rolled her eyes, she had climbed out now and stood on the edge, arms cross and her legs spread. He could see that slit defined by the material, "Of course I can. Watch me." With that, she grabbed her towel and dried herself off and headed into the cabin.

Cillian chuckled and came out doing the same as he walked in, "You know I am irresistible." He said as he came up behind her, his hands on her hips as he kissed her bare shoulder and to her neck.

She sucked in a breath and bit her bottom lip, bringing up a hand to grip his hair, "You're only going to deny me from doing anything further." She was pinned to the countertop, shivering from his sweet kisses along the nape of her neck and down her shoulder then back up to her neck.

"Exactly. And I like this, making you so hungry for me." He said hotly against her neck as his hips began to grind against her ass.

Her towel dropped and she laid her hands out before her to keep her upright, "You don't need to Cillian, you know I can just spread my legs for you whenever you want."

He growled as he dragged his nails down her side, biting the skin between her shoulder blades and leaving a kiss over it, "I know you would. But not today. I want to take my time with you. Savour this body you have oh so graced me with."

Whatever overcame him, Gabrijela was so enjoying it. The build-up pension between her legs from his kisses and touching and hot words would make her crave him all day. "Cillian, you damn bastard. What has gotten into you?" She laughed softly, arching her back as his mouth moved down her spine.

"The only thing that has gotten into me is my love for you. Your very essence surrounds me and all I wish is to worship you." He came to the little dimples in her back and kissed each one.

She gasped softly, his hands gripped her ass and squeezed them, "God Cillian, I can cum to you talking to me like that." She turned as she looked down at him, kneeling, his baby blues full of reverence and total devotion to her. "Cillian? I-I've never seen you like this before."

He was so infatuated with her. He could not believe why he would think of the future and the troubles that may come with it. He would, right now, live in the moment with her. Each waking and sleeping moment. He would cherish any time he had with her and make it the best time for her and their soon child. His hands slid to her stomach and he pressed a kiss to her belly, "I love you, Gabrijela Babić, I will till my last breath." He murmured.

Gab was shocked as to how he was first so sexual and now adoring her as if she may not live till the next day, "I love you too, Cillian but... What is going on? What has gotten into you?" She cupped his face and got him to stand.

"I don't want to lose you." He said, holding her wrists. Despite his hopeful thoughts, those other worries seemed to overtake them more strongly.

"You won't Cillian. I belong to you, I love you." She stroked his cheek gently.

"You sure? You don't think..." He trailed off and looked away.

"What is it, baby? Talk to me. You can't hide this from me. I can see you are concerned." She brought his face back to her, "I am here for you, okay? You can trust me with anything."

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, "I feel like I will be wasting your life once I get older. When I won't... Be able to cherish your body as you'd like. I'd be some old... Wrinkled thing that you gotta drag around when you could be out in the world and living your best. Not stuck with me and caring for me." His eyes dropped, those lovely lashes tickling his cheekbones.

"Cillian..." She was saddened he had these thoughts, "Baby. Look at me." She got him to sit down and she stayed close to his side, holding his hands in her lap, "You won't be wasting my life. You won't. Besides, that... That is another conversation to be held later in life, not now." He nodded a little, "We should be living in this moment, today, right now. No use on dwelling something that can be talked about when it does happen. But I want you to know that I will stick with you, and not just because of this child, but because I love you. I love you so, so, so much and like I said, you are everything I wished for. I will not let you go no matter what."

Cillian's heart swelled with love and joy and he pulled her into his lap and kissed her with as much love he could muster into the kiss.

Gabrijela wrapped her arms around his neck and held on to him, trying to convey her love as much as she could. But she knew he already knew how much she loved him, it was the small things she would remember and do for him. She loved Cillian to the point it fucking hurt, the good kind as well. She would cradle it within herself and she would make sure nothing could break them apart. She would fight for him, for them and their relationship. No matter what anyone says. Cillian belonged to her, and she belonged to him. And that was final.

They spent the whole day on the boat, eating food and talking about their child and what would come about it all. She promised him she would tell him the days she would go see the doctor or when she would get scans and all that. And to send any photos she took as the pregnancy developed. It was clear he could not come back as he had to film for the next season of Peaky Blinders but he would make sure he would make time for when it was around her due date. She would find out as soon as possible so he may plan around it and be there for her when she gave birth.

Though they had no idea how they would tell her parents, she wasn't going to terminate it now. And she wasn't anyway. But Cillian was set on supporting her either way, he would send money every week to help her cover any costs for doctors and medicine and toys and clothing.

Gab would work at Bonds till she could no longer and continue her gaming live streams she did weekly. But they would not touch on the subject on who would move yet, Gabrijela knew that was something they had to talk about if there was a possibility. And with Cillian's current career... She highly doubts he would move to Sydney, it would be too much for him to travel well over a day to just go to a country and film.

But that, again, was for a later discussion on how this could work.

It was around five in the afternoon when Gab decided it was time to head home. It seemed Cillian had something else planned for the night and she was excited. Karsyn was there and Gab thanked him again before they took the snacks from the bar instead of him throwing it out.

Once back at the hotel, Gabrijela took a shower. Cillian had said to dress well and she was glad she brought her favourite dress with her, otherwise, everything else was too casual. She walked out of the bathroom and set to drying her hair.

"Can you iron my shirt?" Cillian asked as he laid out his pants on the bed.

"Sure." She smiled and he walked by her, giving her ass a slap and she jumped.

"You're the best." He said with a grin over his shoulder.

"I know!" Gabbie giggled. Once her hair was done she ironed his shirt and placed it on a coat hanger ready for him, then fixed up her dress. It was body fitted, midnight blue and silk with a lace-up back and twin knee-high splits. Definitely no underwear underneath it, she mused.

Gab applied makeup, but it was light, mostly browns and nude lipstick. She fixed her sunburst necklace and paired it with simple silver studs. All she had to do was now wait for Cillian.

He finally finished up and came out, his towel low on his pants. He stopped once he stepped out of the bathroom and stared at Gabrijela who was stationed beside the window. "Wow." He said as he took in what she wore.

She turned and smiled, "What?"

"You look magnificent." He said almost breathlessly as he came over, his hands on her hips as he drew her in.

"Thank you," she blushed. She doubted she would ever stop blushing from his compliments.

"Truly. You do." He leaned in and gave her lips a light peck, remembering how she did not like to be kissed when she had just applied lipstick.

Gab giggled as he pulled away and got dressed, black slacks, white shirt with a few buttons undone and a black jacket on top. She came over when he sat to put on his shoes and knelt down to do the lace-up for him.

"What are you doing?" He watched as he tilted his head.

"Tying your shoelace." She said as she looked up, he had a fairly good view of her cleavage and he grumbled.

"You know I can do it myself." His hands came to grip her arms as she placed her hands on his thighs.

"Yeah, but I wanted to do them." She leaned up and kissed him deeply.

"Mm, Gabbie, your lipstick-" He couldn't say no more as she only kissed him more and he brought up his hands to cup her face gently.

"Doesn't matter, I want you to kiss me like normal from now on." She murmured against his lips as she used her thumb to clean them before she stood, bent over the table with the mirror. She did it deliberately, the dress really brought out her curves.

Cillian had a lovely view of her ass and wondered if she was wearing anything under the thing, probably not since it sat on her so well. "Minx." He bit his bottom lip and got up as she finished reapplying her lipstick.

"Before we run off, I want to take a photo of us." She said, slipping on her cross-body bag over her shoulder.

"A photo?" He smiled as she came over and they stood in front of the mirror.

"Yep. We look so good like this." She slipped an arm around his waist and he did the same to her. "Smile!" She grinned and he smiled as she took a photo. They did a few, some serious and some silly ones.

"Come on you cheeky girl, don't want to be late." He kissed her temple as they headed out. He got a cab and held the door open for her and she slipped in with him following after her.

It wasn't long when they arrived at a very tall building and he got out, holding his hand for her. She took it and looked up, "That's a very tall building." She mused.

"Come on, it's at the very top." He said and they raced across the road quickly. The night was pleasant and warm, just how she liked it. They went up the elevator and came to the top and stepped out to a restaurant and bar and approached the front desk.

"Hi, welcome to O Bar and Dining. Do you have a reservation?" The woman asked with a lovely smile.

"Yes, I do. Table for two under Cillian Murphy." Cillian said and the lady looked at the computer.

"Yep. Right here. Come with me." The woman nodded and guided them to a table right beside the glass window that overlooked the city, you could see the Harbour Bridge from here in all its sparkling glory.

Cillian pulled out the chair for her and she sat down, pulling herself in as he took his spot beside her. The place was full and it was very fancy with carpeted floors, relaxing music playing and low light, with only the table lights at full illumination.

The woman left them with menus and brought over house red wine, and funny enough, it was Cillian's favourite. The wine was poured and the woman left them be to look at the menu.

"Damn... Cillian. How'd you find this? How'd you get all this done for today?" Gab was shocked.

"Well, the box and flowers and the restaurant were booked well before I came here." He said, looking at her with that soft smile of his.

Gab giggled and admired him, the light casting shadows and making his sharp features much clearer, "Well, it's perfect. I love it, even though I've never, ever been to a place like this before." She said as his hand slipped over hers.

"I hope you love it. I wanted to treat you to something special. And I hope that will be your only glass." He nodded to the wine glass.

"It will. Just for tonight." She held it up, "To us and a very bright future."

"To us and our child. Happy Valentines Day, my love," He said, it was still a shock to him she was pregnant and he clinked glasses with her. He leaned over and they kissed softly before they took a sip and then the waitress returned to take their orders.

"I was thinkin'." Gabby started.

"Hm?" He couldn't take his eyes off her.

"We should... Go camping next week. Have you ever done that?" She felt all giddy and shy when he stared at her like she was the most precious thing on earth.

"Camping? God, I haven't been camping since... I was much younger. Like twenty years old or something." He laughed lightly.

"Well, so, you wanna go? I got a place in mind. Could go for like four or three nights if you want." She said.

"I mean sure, we could definitely go. But how about your work?"

"I can organise someone to take care of my shifts for those days. I'm working this whole week except for the weekend since we got that wedding to go to... Fuck I gotta buy a dress too." She made a face. "Might have to do that tomorrow after work..." She trailed off.

"Well, whatever works for you I'm fine with that." He nodded and kissed her knuckles.

She beamed, "We can also get you another suit too."

"Is this not fine?" He teased.

"It is but I want my man to look like a snack." She said, "Though you already look like one I want you to be even more of a snack."

"Snack? What do you mean?" He laughed, totally confused.

"Like, you look so good I could eat you up like a snack. And I love snacks." She grinned.

"Right... Whatever you say, darling." He shook his head, finding her weird but he loved that.

"Also, we will need to leave on Friday arvo when I come back from work. So you gotta be ready to go, the wedding is held at Hunter Valley Gardens and its a three-hour drive. We'll come back on Sunday and head right to Maya's parent's house for a small after-party with family and close friends."

"Oh, sounds intense," Cillian replied blowing out through his nose.

"Wait till you come to the wedding. Croatian weddings are great." She beamed, "Lotsa music, dancing and drinking. But I won't be able to do one of the three." She giggled.

"I'll make sure I am ready by then. How about the camping thing?"

"I'll book it for Wednesday and we can come back on Saturday. Is that okay?" She asked.

Cillian was trying to figure it out in his head how many more days he had after that. He would have five more days after they came back from their camping trip before he would have to fly back to London to prepare for season four. "Sounds good. Let's do it." He nodded.

"Awesome. I'll book it tomorrow and then head home, tell the 'rents and then Monday next week I'll pack the car with the necessary stuff for the holiday." She said.

"Reckon your parents will let you go?" He asked.

"Don't care. I'll go whether they like it or not. Not their life to control." She said. With that said, she had calls and messages from her brother, Leo and her parents on her whereabouts. She only told Tatiana and it was up to her whether she spoke to them or not. The messages had stopped by afternoon.

Cillian huffed, "That bad, huh?"

"Yep. That bad my dad kicked me out." She sighed as she twirled her glass around.

"Let's not talk about that right now. It's just about us tonight." He stopped the twirling of her glass and leaned over to kiss her cheek.

Their entree came, once that was finished their mains came and then lastly dessert. She made sure to take photos which made Cillian roll his eyes but he didn't complain even when they took a cute ass selfie together. He allowed her to post them online but she made sure it was explicitly friends and family, though sometimes some images did get leaked. But she would never ever post the more... naughty ones. She kept that very private and for her own eyes only, especially the videos.

God... The idea of her getting off to one of the many sex tapes they've made, alone, in bed at night... Especially the one he made of himself jacking off. He grunted as he felt something press against his crotch and looked at her. She was smirking like a cat.

"Mm, Cillian. What is turning in that intelligent mind of yours?" She rubbed her foot against him, feeling him hard beneath those pants.

"I'm thinking of how you will get off to me in those videos I sent you." He admitted with a low chuckle deep in his throat. He reached beneath the table and gripped her ankle and pushed it away, "Your little moans as you work yourself to release with me." He leaned into her so they were face to face.

Gabbie giggled, her cheeks warming as heat pooled between her legs, "Yeah. I'd rub myself very fast, one of my favourite toys deep inside me as I imagine you in me." She whispered, letting her fingers dance below his chin. "Moaning your name." She leaned in and gave him a soft peck.

"Yeah? Would you dare scream it out if you came? Like you always do?" He returned that gentle, teasing kiss.

"I would. With no care in the world and the only thought is of you doing that to me." She pushed a lock of his hair behind his ear, she made this interaction seem like they were just whispering cute things.

His hand rested on her thigh, his fingers stroking her lovingly, "I hope you arch your back, telling me how good I feel inside you even if I am not there. I want you to tell it to the night around you." He kissed her softly, smiling, "I can envision it all, Gabrijela."

Her body was flushed with heat and need for him as she gripped his wrist, "Then let's go make it real, Cillian. Why are we waiting here for?"

He chuckled as he sat back his hand folded on his lap, "Because I still want to play this game."

She narrowed her eyes, "Sly bastard." She huffed, shaking her head. All-day she couldn't get him out of her head or the good fuck session he truly needed to give her.

"Indeed." He winked at her before he called over a waiter for the bill.

Gab began to grab her wallet when the bill returned, "How much is it?"

"No. You won't be paying." Cillian peaked into the wallet and moved it away before she could snatch it.

"Cillian! This was definitely too expensive! Fuck, please." She held out some notes as he put in a credit card.

"My love, it's fine. This is my shout." He handed the wallet back to the waiter who quickly fixed it up then handed the card back to him.

"Babe." She frowned as he pushed her hands away.

"Love." He smiled and leaned over, kissing her deeply, "I wanted to do this for you. Really. Keep that for something else."

"But..." She was shut up with another kiss. She sighed when he pulled back, "Fine. Fine." She tucked the money back in and grabbed her bag.

"Good, let's go. The night is still pretty and I want to walk along the water with you." He said and they got up and left the restaurant.

She cuddled him, smiling widely, "I'm still going to get back at you for what you've been doing to me all day."

"I know." He wrapped an arm around her and walked like that out of the elevator.

People were out and about, the sound of music from night clubs echoed and the laughter and yelling of drunk people were the songs for tonight. The pair weaved through the streets till they came to the boardwalk along the water and slowly made their way towards the hotel.

"Today has been perfect, Cillian," Gab said after a bit, their pace slow as she pulled his jacket close around her. She loved the strong cologne he wore.

"You think so?" He squeezed her hand.

"Yeah. Best day ever." She smiled up at him as they stopped and she held his other hand. "You really make me the happiest girl ever, Cilly. And I am pretty sure I want to spend the rest of my life with you." She admitted softly.

"You do?" His voice was soft as he could not believe her words.

"A hundred per cent, Cillian. I am yours entirely. I am loyal only to you." She leaned up and kissed him, his arms wrapped around her waist slowly as he held her close.

Cillian kissed her with so much passion, bending her back a little before he pulled back to catch his breath.

"Come on my love, I know a place we can end this night." She said and beamed as she took his hands and dragged him along.

They arrived at what looked like a merry-go-round. He had seen it earlier this week when he was able to explore on his own.

As he looked at his prized love, he could see how much joy she was emitting. He rushed over and she paid for a ride and they climbed on. They got on a horse each as the ride began to go around, he watched as she laughed and clung to the pole. She looked like a princess like that, her hair halfway down her back, her smile wide, the gown on her accented her body well... He leaned across and got her attention, "I love you." He said and kissed her.

He could see their future as one, even if they had no child, he would make sure she was his forever.

The ride ended and he lifted her off the horse gently, she giggled, "So strong." She squeezed his shoulders as they made their way off it.

"That was fun." He said as he tucked her close to his side, kissing her head.

"I love that thing. Use to always go on it as a child." She said as they made their way back to the hotel.

"It's nice that they have that there. Is there a lot of people that go on it?" He asked as they got into the elevator.

"Not much like then, I do hope it stays there forever." She said as she leaned against the wall.

"It's a nice touch." He turned to her, meeting her gaze. They still had a lot more floors to go up.

He stepped to her and kissed her deeply suddenly and she instantly melted into him. She gripped his shirt as she opened her mouth for his demanding tongue, a moan making its way up in both of them. His roaming hands made their way down to her hips as he nudged her legs apart, his fingers finding their way up the slit and beneath her tight dress. Once he reached between her legs he felt... Nothing. Just her wet slit, "No panties?" He kissed down to her neck.

"No, this dress is to tight." She moaned as his fingers forced their way into her. She could feel them, her walls tight and slick.

"Dirty girl." He kissed her neck harder, biting her skin which caused her to whine and buck her hips as he thrust his fingers into her.

She gripped the handrail and one arm locked around his neck as he fingered her fast. Her eyes moved to the camera that blinked in the corner and cried out softly, "Fuck- Cillian- There's a camera in here." She gasped, she was close to the edge and she moved her hips in sync with his hand.

"They won't pay attention." He grunted when her leg pressed against his hard cock and couldn't help but grind against it in return.

His thumb wiggled against her throbbing and aching clit, "Oh, god! Cillian! You're gonna make me cum!" She was shaking as she was so overwhelmed with the build-up of pleasure.

Though it all came to an end when the doors slid open to their level and he stepped back from her with that cheeky smirk, "Not yet." He said and she ran after him as he ran down the hallway to their room.

She pushed him against the wall and went for his shirt, "I'm gonna have you one way or another." She was so needy for him, she needed him inside her.

"Yeah? What are you gonna do about that?" He shoved her back and chuckled as he quickly unlocked the door and she rushed in.

"I'm gonna fuck you." She had him back against the wall as she worked to undo the buttons of his shirt.

"Uh-huh." He watched her desperately strip him.

"Yeah. I'm gonna cum on you, make sure you finish in me and fill me up." She went for his pants but he wouldn't let her get to that part yet. Or he'd fail his own game he started. He crushed her against his body and lifted her, carrying her to the bed.

Gab whined and squirmed in his arms before she was thrown back on the bed and he topped her, "Please! Cillian! I need you!" She gasped as he claimed her lips in a heated kiss. He had his lower body pin hers to the bed as his hand loosened up the lace of her dress then to the zipper.

She continued to fight against him, wanting to be top tonight. But he wasn't letting her do what she wanted until he finally got off her and stepped away.

Cillian would remember how she looked at this very moment, her hair a mess and her cheeks bright red, lips starting to become swollen from how hard he kissed her.

"Undress." He demanded, taking off his belt slowly.

"And what if I don't?" She bit her bottom lip, watching as he held the belt so casually beside him.

"You'll be punished accordingly." He gripped her chin, "Now undress, Gabrijela." He growled.

She shivered, the sound making her almost cum, "No." She said with as much defiance she had.

He pushed her back and went to grab her arms but she got out of his hold and pulled away then tried to grab for his wrists. There was a battle of who would grab who and he had her arms pinned above her head, "I am in control, love. Not you."

She thrashed her body, locking her legs around his waist and got him imbalanced before she rolled on top of him, "I am, baby. I got you-" She was about to grab his own wrists when he moved and his heavyweight was back on her.

"No!" She argued and they again battled for pinning each other. It ended up on the floor and she got to her feet and backed up, smirking. "You can't pin me. I'm too sly for you."

Cillian laughed as he got to his feet and prowled to her like a wolf stalking a deer, "Yeah? You sure about that?" He grabbed his phone and it seemed to confuse the fuck out of her. Then simply opened an app and pressed a button...

Her eyes widened and she gasped, the vibrations within her were tense and she felt her legs almost give way, "What the fuck-!" She knew exactly what was in her. But how?!

"In the elevator. I pushed the little egg into you." He mused as he came to her as she fell back on the bed, her body twitching, "Did some research and thought, isn't this a wonderful idea for us and the long-distance, hm?"

He leaned over her, one hand braced beside her head, "Tell me, love. How are you feeling?"

She moaned, "Oh... God! It feels... Fantastic..." The vibrations got low. "Son of a bitch!" She felt suddenly in control as she went to grab him but he moved back and turned the device up.

She cried out and collapsed to his knees, moaning in utter delight, "Oh! Damn... Fuck!" She was on her hands and knees, her hips rolling.

"Good girl. Will you behave now?" He sat back on the bed, legs splayed open.

"Damn... You Cillian." She grinned. Oh how the night was going, she was so into this.

"That is not how you will call me tonight." He said as he got her to turn around as he turned the device higher.

She was trembling, her eyes focused on him, "Cill..." She gripped his thighs, her luscious lips parted.

"No. That is not right." He turned the device down, seeing how much she was actually enjoying it.

She whimpered, clambering into his lap as she gripped his shoulder, "Please- Please-"

"What is my name?" He gripped her just under her chin, almost choking her in a way.

Fuck. Such a turn-on, she thought.

"Sir?" She whispered, her hands gingerly taking his forearm.

"Good girl. That's what it is." He smirked and turned the device a little higher but not enough for her to get satisfaction from him. "Lay on the bed. Take the dress off."

She did as told, totally succumbing to him as she pulled the dress off and threw it aside. She watched as he went through his suitcase and pulled out...

"Oh... Fuck." He had handcuffs. And lucky them the bed had a place for them to attach to.

"I remember back in Dublin how much you loved being tied up." He said as he knelt beside her and attached the cuff to her wrist then to the bed and did the same to the other. He left her there and went to pull out what looked like a ball gag.

"I'm going to put this on you, okay? But remember, anything you don't like, form an easy word." He came back to her.

"Okay, sir," she whispered, nodding. She wanted to cum so badly.

He tied the gag up and the safe word was Cork as it was the first thing that came to her. He nodded when he could hear it clear from her and stayed next to her as he ran his hands down between her breasts to her belly button then back up, "You've been a very good girl today." He mused as he let his fingers brush over those hard nipples and tugged on it.

She gave a muffled moan and arched a little.

"You truly want me hm?" He smiled softly as he admired how much her body was tense all over, "Aching all over. Your breasts right down to that lovely little slit that is so wet for me. Only for me." His fingers rove over her heat and she tried to buck her hips to feel them. "No, no. Not yet." He leaned down and kissed her jaw, then her neck and down to her breasts where he sucks on her nipples, teasing them with his teeth and his fingers, alternating between the pair.

Gabrijela was in total ecstasy, the way he was so rough with her, the marks he left on her skin... She did not want this to end. "Mmph..." She felt his mouth move down her body and press kisses down her thigh, then back up and did the same on the other side.

"Oh, love, you are fantastic. I love you, I love this body." He buried his head between her legs and the suddenness caused her to cry out and lock her legs around his head. He pried them off and kept them down as he ate her out like she was some kind of personal feast. And a feast he would not have in a long, long time.

He took her in deep mouthfuls, dragging her folds in and sucking hard before he tended to her clit. She whimpered in pleasure, the vibrations had continued inside her and the build-up in the pit of her stomach was growing fast. All she could was moan and cry wordless things.

Cillian knew she was close and wanted to let her climax, it was only fair after all day of his teasing. He turned the egg up higher and her body arched in response. Then her moans reached peak crescendo as she came hard, her hips pushed into his face as she rode his mouth as a climax ripped through her overstimulated body.

Gab was shaking all over as she collapsed back on the bed, eyes shut as she breathed fast. She slowly opened them to see Cillian rise back to his knees and smiled so lovingly at her.

"You okay, my love?" He asked and she nodded. "Good. I'm going to take the egg out now. Relax for me." He reached back between her legs and she felt his fingers enter her and then pull out the egg from her. "Oh, this will be my favourite thing." He mused as he placed the items aside and began to pull off his pants.

Yes. This was it. This is what she had craved for all day.

"You are so needy for me, love. I'm such a lucky man." He stroked himself over her, groaning. "Oh... Yeah, love. I feel really good. So hard, ready for you." He used his other hand to stroke her thigh again, seeing how she liked that. "I'm going to enter you now." He said as he lowered his body on her, his lips brushing her cheek.

She could feel him nudge her entrance, teasing her. She groaned and wiggled her body.

"Okay, okay. I'm going in." He laughed lightly and then pushed into her with one thrust of his hips.

A fire erupted within her and she let out a strangled cry as he began to pump into her fast. He was not going to go slow, not now as he was also in need for her. He hooked his arms under her back and held her shoulders as her heavenly moans only urged him to keep going. The bed began to rock a little, their moans rose to the ceiling above them.

Cillian struggled to undo the cuffs on her wrists so he could feel her claw his back but he got them undone and she did exactly what he wanted. Her hands gripped his hips in a painful hold but the intense pleasure overtook that pain.

Gabrijela had released again not too long after he entered her, but it was clear Cillian would not stop until they were both entirely empty and seriously exhausted.

Positions were switched and she managed to take the damn gag off so she can let him be blessed with her screams of pleasure from his pounding. "Yes! Cillian! Oh god yes!" She placed her hands on his chest as she rode him fast, sweat coated them both, the sound of skin to skin was loud in the room and she did not care one bit if anyone heard them.

On and on they went, well over three hours and many, many climaxes. He had fucked her up against the glass window before they scrambled back to the bed to finish the last few releases they could squeeze from each other.

Gab was on her back, her body was numb from how much she came and how tired she was. She weakly turned over to stay close to Cillian who was so out of it. But his smile was wide as anything as his arm loosely came up around her.

This was one Valentines they would never forget. Gab had marks on her that could easily last a week or more and she would make sure she cherish them with all her heart. She listened to his fast heartbeat, no words were spoken between them. They already knew what words they would say to each other.

The only thing they needed right now was sleep, a good, nights rest after a real good session.

#cillian murphy #thomas shelby #peaky blinders #cillian murphy fanfic #fanfiction #tommy shelby

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aubrey-plaza · 5 years

Note

I've seen a lot of fic rec lists lately given everything happening. Do you have any recommendations to get us through the lock down? p.s. I love everything you write.

omg thanks anon!!

I know these are scary times so have here a quick and dirty list of my fave fics starting with Staubrey and then just... veering offcourse. They’re all femslash except the one I marked with an asterisk but yeah.

as always, I’m not gonna rec my own fics on my this list bc that’s cheating but if you wanna read them pls click this link and that ends the self promo for today lmao

recs under the cut!

Stacie x Aubrey

Snowbound

by ACamp_toner / @stepintotherevolve (22.171, complete, rated E)

summary: The Bellas go on a ski trip and Staubrey happens

notes: this has amazing smut and features just enough jealousy to spark these two idiots into a meaningful talk. there’s also side bechloe and a healthy dose of humour.

The Howl

by @tiny-maus-boots (30.739, wip/currently being written, AU)

summary: Stacie's pack is forcing her into a corner but Fate has other plans for her - if she doesn't die first.

notes: werewolf!Stacie and vampire!Aubrey who meet on a full moon and fuck. there’s more to it and a great backstory that’s being wonderfully developed (trust me, I’ve been told of the plans and I’m ri-ve-ted). also has some amazing soft moments and a fab spark of heat.

Prelude in Lydian Mode

by knappster / @ss-staubrey (5972, complete)

summary: Remember tonight... for it is the beginning of always.

notes: I will rec this fic til the day I die. It’s such a lovely brand of staubrey and a perfect example of the idiots to lovers trope.

and the songbirds are singing (like they know the score)

by angelranger (2326, complete)

summary: It came as a slight surprise to Stacie that Aubrey, the same Aubrey who had grown up in a strict and dysfunctional household, was just so good with her daughter.

Bella seemed to unearth a side of Aubrey that was just so unbelievably soft, a side Stacie is almost positive even Aubrey didn’t know existed. But there she is, sat on the carpeted floor in front of the coffee table, sat right next to Bella, drawing outlines for the four year old to colour in.

notes: oh god i love a good, soft bella fic and this one hits all the right notes. it’s sweet and lovely and features singing Bella to sleep which is like. my weakness. go leave some more love on this deserved fic!

Sansa x Margaery

The Crackpots and These Women

by Netgirl_y2k (8089, complete, WEST WING AU)

summary: "You're in charge of press relations," Yara told Margaery, gesturing to Sansa. "Relate.”

summary: yeah you read that fuckin right that’s a West Wing AU. My love for this mashup has no bounds. It’s so perfectly coy, the way I imagine adult Sansa and Margaery would be, combined with the hopeful tinge of WW, and the pining of a somewhat open ended yet hopeful finish. If you like either of these universes, read this.

Kind Regards

by MsCFH / @hell-much (9835, complete, explicit, part of a series!)

summary: Margaery Tyrell is determined on setting foot in the Northern market of Westeros by establishing a collaboration between the Tyrell Corporation and Stark Incorporated.

The only problem? The likewise gorgeous and stubborn Deputy Managing Director Sansa Stark.

summary: holy hell this fic is amazing. they hate each other SO MUCH. the author has a vibe setting skill that makes me want to weep. the smut is off the charts hot like there are literally no words. go read it and then read the series bc it’s *that good*. please go get your church lady fan before reading because you WILL need it.

EXTRA NOTE: same author is writing a post-s6 canon compliant fic where Marg is actually still alive and if you’re looking for a full weekend activity, go ahead and binge this one (it’s a wip but is still being updated)

lay all your love on me

by 1once (9498, complete, show-compliant)

summary: It has been eight years since her demise.

But for the world of her, she cannot figure out why. For what? Why was she alive?

notes: i will say just one thing: flower. magic. okay, i’ll say more things. this fic is the redemption show!marg deserved combined with the fun supernatural magicky aspect of flower magic that’s just so in character. reading this fic feels the way a warm cup of tea in your hands on a cold winter’s day does.

til you come back home

by heart_nouveau (7978, complete, AU - modern setting)

summary: “Using one-night stands to distract myself from my crush on my roommate counts, right?”

Margaery Tyrell is an ambitious law student who needs a perfect grade point average if she wants to stay at the top of her class - and she is not going to throw that away by falling for her very attractive, very sweet roommate, one Sansa Stark.

notes: margaery is a moron with feelings aka my favourite type of character.

Birds of Prey’s Dinah x Helena

Siren Call

by ThanksForListening (3300, complete, part 2 of a series)

summary: "It always happened in the quiet moments. The early hours of the morning, when the leftover energy from a mission hadn’t quite disappeared yet. The sleepless nights, when memories clawed their way into her mind and wouldn’t let go until her screams released them. The lazy afternoons, when the radio played softly and melodies she’d almost forgotten danced around her lips. It was only when the world went still that Dinah felt her watching.

She didn’t remember the first time she noticed it. The staring. Maybe it was because Helena was always watching everything and everyone around them that Dinah didn’t realize how frequently that attention fell on her. How it felt different. Helena looked at the world with suspicion and anger and indifference, but not her. She looked at her with something much softer, something she hadn’t found a name for just yet. No word in her arsenal was deep enough or strong enough to describe it.

Whatever it was, she could feel it now.”

notes: gahhhhh this fic. “What do you see,” she finally asked, “when you look at me?” is a line that I’m gonna think about until the day I die. this is the second fic in a series and you can read it as a standalone but the first fic is also fuckin amazing

after the afterparty

by novoaa1 (1181, complete, set right after the movie ends)

summary: The Canary had let loose a delighted snort at that, as if she found the whole thing somehow laughable.

(Which it wasn’t, to be clear—laughable, that is.)

“Are y'all seeing this shit?” she’d turned to ask the rest of them, earning a giddy squeal from Harley and a bemused scoff from Montoya even whilst Helena remained stock still in place, dutifully blinding herself with one hand. “Absolutely adorable.”

“Shut up,” Helena had hissed back more out of instinct than anything else, though her tone was markedly devoid of any real anger.

(And if Helena had felt her cheeks flush ever so slightly beneath her palm at the Canary’s glib assertion, she certainly didn’t let on.)

Or: Sionis falls. The rest of them remain.

notes: just. read it.

knew your love (before i kissed you)

by z0ejake / @zxyjxy (58.263, wip / currently being written, rated E for the last chapter)

summary: Surviving the massacre of your entire family at the age of eight is a pretty impressive feat. Training for fifteen years in Sicily until you can kill a man with one hand and a hairpin is also a pretty impressive feat. Returning to the city where your family was cut down and killing every single person involved in their deaths is maybe the most impressive feat. Somehow, it's never been enough for Helena.

notes: bro this fic is a masterpiece and zoe is a genius. features absolute moron feral dumb jock helena and my favourite version of dinah: patient and endeared and a little teasing.

the war is over (and we are beginning)

by ace_verity (12.573, 5/5, complete)

summary: The thing is, Helena has no idea what comes after.

The past fifteen years, she’s had a singular goal. She's never given any thought to what she’d do once she killed the men who murdered her family in front of her.

Maybe, Helena realizes, she never actually thought she’d make it this far.

—

In which Helena Bertinelli joins a team, buys a cactus, beats up criminals, goes to church, bakes bread, and falls in love.

(Not necessarily in that order.)

notes: this fic is beautiful and perfectly explores a lost Helena. I also love the way Renee is written in this and the whole vibe of the story is just *chefs kiss*

cheap shampoo

by OfElvesAndAliens (1609, complete)

summary: The thing is, Helena is a rigidly focused kind of gal, iron rage forged into skilled precision. Dinah has also noticed it in the little things, like the way she frowns a bit when she's doing something as trivial as writing, her penmanship always neat and firm. That same tiny furrow of her brow is showing up again while she's methodically whisking some eggs in a bowl.

Dinah finds it cute. Fucking sue her.

notes: oh god but i love a bedsharing fic and this one? feeding and post-mission and just winding down together??? ohhhh my god

two extra random goodies just for fun:

Lamplighter

by the_years_between_us (116.915, wip, rated E)

show/ship: The Fall, Stella Gibson/Reed Smith

summary: Stella gets a call from Reed directly following the final episode of The Fall S3.

notes: this is one of only a handful of wips that I’m keeping up with and reading constantly. It’s written like goddamn poetry and I love an older ship with more baggage, because the emotions here run so much higher with their shared history and the tentative steps they’re trying to take. Also, given the source material, this is almost cathartic to read.

Nothing to Lose*

by tielan (8013, complete, rated E)

fandom/ship: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Maria Hill/Steve Rogers

summary: “It’s one of the traditional rituals of manhood,” Natasha observes as they’re sparring. “Kill a man, fuck a woman.”

notes: listen. i know. okay? i know this seems like a crackship. but I love it SO MUCH and this author writes so well that I’ve been fully converted. ~something some of you have told me I do for you~ so go read this fic, and then read the others, and then fall in love and join me in this lonely ship. You won’t regret it.

I’ll be writing while in isolation so if you have any Dinah/Helena or Stacie/Aubrey prompts, shoot ‘em my way!

and also hit me up for anything, as always.

peace and love, and stay safe everybody!

#fic rec #shoutout to anybody I may have missed bc I wrote this in a hurry <3 #anonymous #anon #ask

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mortallycoldmagazine · 5 years

Text

Fic Recs!

So apparently it’s fanfic appreciation day? In celebration, here are some of my favourite fanfics- all MCU. I love them with my entire heart. READ THEM ALL! :D (mostly stucky and stony, fyi)

THIS IS IN COMPLETELY RANDOM ORDER.

1) https://archiveofourown.org/works/13817463/chapters/31774497 - this is the only post-CACW ‘make-up’ fic that seems hella realistic and makes me actually forgive Steve. 114k

2) https://archiveofourown.org/works/14317536/chapters/33037362 - in which Bucky can turn into a white wolf, and how that affects the MCU’s natural pattern. 141k

3) https://archiveofourown.org/works/14910729/chapters/34537617 - In which Steve is Hades and Toni (fem!Tony) is Persephone. I love powerful, dark!Toni. It’s so beautiful. 41k

4) https://archiveofourown.org/series/41492 - If you want to cry like a baby, read this. AU where Tony comes back from Afghanistan and is diagnosed with cancer. SO DAMN POWERFUL. I’ve only read it once because it makes me Feel So Strongly agh. 290k

5) https://archiveofourown.org/works/7123282 - the first crack fic on this list! Teacher!AU in which Bucky and Steve are teachers at school who are infamous for their hatred for each other... and no-one knows they’re secretly married. Shoutout to @lesbiandanbeau for introducing it to me, it’s SO MUCH FUN. 18k

6) https://archiveofourown.org/series/582637 - incomplete series but it’s SO GOOD. In which HYDRA doesn’t give Bucky the serum- instead, they turn him into a sex demon. Contains a LOT of dub-con/non-con but it’s so damn good. 336k

7) https://archiveofourown.org/works/6606808/chapters/15115414 - powerful Fem!Tony (toni) makes me * feel things *. Pants things. Because she’s so badass, goddamn woman. (aka: the MCU...if Tony was actually Toni).

8) https://archiveofourown.org/works/16176539/chapters/37798343 - even more fem!Tony. But this time, Toni has some ancient bloodlines to back her up. (vampire-ish, Addams family inspired Toni). Toni could bash my kneecaps in and I’d say thank you.

9) https://archiveofourown.org/works/13640571/chapters/31325814 - in which Bucky is an (illegal) necromancer and Steve is the SHIELD agent that catches him in the act. But in a sudden change of heart, Steve lets Bucky go... and their relationship evolves from there :D

10) https://archiveofourown.org/works/18347003 -honestly, I’m surprised this is the first Soulmate!AU on here because I’m SUCH. A. SUCKER. For soulmate AUs. Steve/Bucky/Tony, with ‘writing on skin = I can see it on my skin’ soulmate AU. Beautiful. Captures Tony’s character really, really well. Damn. 30k

11) https://archiveofourown.org/works/1614746/chapters/3439820 - OH MY GOD THIS IS SO GOOD. I’ve always wondered what would happen if Bucky came back from CA:TWS and was completely and utterly compliant, and Steve didn’t realize just *how* deep it went. This answers that question. SO GOOD. 102k

12) https://archiveofourown.org/works/12823671/chapters/29276760 - in which Bucky’s mask is nailed to his face... but Steve saves the Winter Soldier anyway. It’s amazing. Goddamn. Read it. 71k

13) https://archiveofourown.org/works/8504761/chapters/19490446 - in which Steve is Death. Yes, Death. But Bucky is still Bucky. AKA: The story of how Bucky and Death somehow fall in love. 16k

14) https://archiveofourown.org/works/7469145/chapters/16973895 - IF YOU LIKE WHUMP, THIS IS 426K OF THE BEST WHUMP I’VE EVER READ. There basically isn’t a single moment when someone isn’t being punched, stabbed, whipped, starved, something. In which Steve and Tony are abducted by aliens and sold into a slave mining camp. I love it with my whole-ass heart. 426k

15) https://archiveofourown.org/works/16295684 - one of the shortest fics on this list, but it makes me cry + feel hella empowered + fall deeper in love with Steve Rogers every time I read in. Aka- six times Steve was aggressively pro-choice. READ IT. 5k

16) https://archiveofourown.org/works/11779137/chapters/26559057 - you know how everyone reads a book in their lifetime that literally changes who they are as a person? This is that book, for me. It is so beautifully written, incredibly powerful, respectful, introspective, philosophical... I could literally rant about it all day. Wow. In which Steve Rogers and his Howling Commandos liberate a concentration camp; their mission? The rescue and rehabilitation of prisoners experimented on by Arnim Zola, among them, a man named Bucky. SO. AMAZING. 47k

17) https://archiveofourown.org/works/16204610 - crack at it’s finest. In which a Very Stoic Winter Soldier has a secret boyfriend. That none of his teammates know about. (spoiler alert: it’s modern!Steve). And his teammates * might * be under the impression that he’s actually a dog. 17k

18) https://archiveofourown.org/works/3476579 - OH FUCK. This fic makes me cry faster, and more, than any other fic I’ve ever read. Literally- 8k, and I cry at *least * three times every single time I read it. I don’t even know why- it’s just so, incredibly, absolutely bittersweet. I love it. Read it. In which post-CATWS Bucky has a lot of brain damage, and is making his way through life despite it. Wow. 8k

19) https://archiveofourown.org/works/11838204/chapters/26720631 - in which Steve jumped after Bucky, and HYDRA acquired two Assets. SEE IT’S SO GOOD EVEN THE SUMMARY IS AMAZING. WOAH. SO GOOD. 55K

20) https://archiveofourown.org/works/7271731/chapters/16511242 - In which HYDRA kidnaps five-year-old Tony Stark, and raises him as ‘The Mechanic’. Of course, that doesn’t stop him from becoming IronMan. Or an Avenger. 54k

21) https://archiveofourown.org/works/16457597/chapters/38540813 - SO GOOD. I’m a sucker for healing/recovering fics, but who cares. Amazing. Steve/Bucky

22) https://archiveofourown.org/works/18787102/chapters/44573662 - 3K OF AMAZINGNESS THAT’S INCOMPLETE AND MAKES ME WANT TO TEAR MY HAIR OUT. SO GOOD. SO GOOD. HOW IS IT SO GOOD. WTF. Irondad.... but not. Aka, Peter Parker travels through the multiverse to try and find Tony Stark. But instead, he finds someone with the same face.... whose name is Robert Downey Junior? AHHHHHHHHHHHHH 3K

23) https://archiveofourown.org/works/14772824/chapters/34165730 - this makes me feel. So Soft. You don’t understand. If you want 93k of Steve fretting about nothing and Bucky being confused yet adorable, this is for you. I love it with my entire heart. 93k.

24) https://archiveofourown.org/works/349478 - WHY DOES NO-ONE TALK ABOUT THIS FIC. In which Tony gets amnesia, and starts forgetting things. And people. and Steve. 43k

25) https://archiveofourown.org/works/12912708/chapters/29501541 - CRACK AT IT’S FINEST. I love this so much. Tony comes out as Ironman, and the entire world goes ‘yeah, right. no.’ It evolves from there... I’ve literally been ON THE FLOOR IN TEARS from laughter from this fic. I love it. Winteriron. 19k.

26) https://archiveofourown.org/works/15878580/chapters/36997887 - another AMAZING crack fic. The metaphors are hilarious. You don’t understand how much I love this fic. It’s more than, like, Bucky loves plums. I LOVE IT. 44k

27) https://archiveofourown.org/series/597010 - modern!bucky + cap!Steve. Bucky is the sassiest person ever and i love him for it. Read this series. You won’t regret it. 33k

28) https://archiveofourown.org/works/15555630 - Why am I such a sucker for crack fics. 4k. steve/bucky. I love it. read it. it’ll take 5 minutes and your day will be So Much Better. 4k

29) https://archiveofourown.org/series/1021446 - lmao. In which a Very Stoic Winter Soldier has a secret boyfriend. (spoiler alert: it’s Steve). “BUT WAIT!” I hear you say. “Didn’t you already rec this fic? Wasn’t that #17?” and I reply “YOU FOOLS! I LOVE THIS TROPE SO MUCH I’M RECCING TWO FICS OF IT BECAUSE IT OWNS MY ENTIRE HEART!” and then you read them both. 2k.

30) https://archiveofourown.org/works/13414524 - in which a Very Drunk modern!Bucky is dared by the modern!Howling Commandoes to ask this guy in a bar for a piggy back ride. Spoiler: the guy is cap!Steve. crack. the best group-chat fic I’ve ever read. 2k

31) https://archiveofourown.org/works/2741975/chapters/6146123 - if you want the longest, most exhaustive breakdown of Stucky ever, this is your fic. 731k ( YES 731K) OF AMAZING METAPHORS, emotions, and so. much. pining. I love it. 731k.

32) https://archiveofourown.org/series/426577 - Post-CATWS. Bucky is addicted to heroine. and has adopted two children. What else is new? 131k

33) https://archiveofourown.org/works/10720710/chapters/23753940 - if you haven’t read Celestial Navigation, can you actually call yourself part of the MCU fandom? It’s. So good. I’m in awe. Always makes me cry lmao. 210k

34) https://archiveofourown.org/series/195689 jesus christ this is good and emotional and heartfelt and sincere and funny and just the best thing ever read IT. Post-CATWS. Bucky’s new mission: protect Steve Rogers. Now, if only Steve was aware of this fact, and would stop looking for him. 264k.

35) https://archiveofourown.org/series/429256 - * claps hands * UNDERAPPRECIATED FIC TIME. In which post-CATWS Bucky is taking down Hydra, recovering, listening to music, and.... has a psychic connection with a spaceship? Okay then.

36) https://archiveofourown.org/series/1120239 - so damn good. In which Peter Stark is abducted at 6 years old by HYDRA, and trained to be the infamous Black Spider assassin. What happens when, ten years later, Ironman captures him? 139k

37) https://archiveofourown.org/series/780747 - the most well-written, in character MJ I’ve ever read. MJ/Peter. I love it with my entire heart. They’re so cute.

If I had to pick a top 5, though, they would be: 35, 33, 32, 23, and 34. (see corresponding list numbers) Perhaps. Choosing that was like choosing a favourite child ohmygod. Really, just read all the fics.

Hope this helped you find some new fics to read! Happy reading, and have a great Fanfic Appreciation Day!

______

Here I’m tagging a bunch of people who I follow and are into the MCU that I think might like this. Sorry if this is annoying.

@petersbenjamin @pepperony3000 @antifastark @sleepyrhodey @sapphirestark @mariahiill @vanddyne @spideyjlaw @magunahstark @iron--spider @proof-tony-stark-has-a-heart @stevebuckyfics @hufflebucky @rescuetony @tropicalcap @fucking-hell-sebastian-stan @fuckyeahblackwidow @sabrecmcstonyficrecs @nacho-bucky @jaamesbbarnes @ironfamjam @underoosstark @yellowdistress @lesbiandanbeau @musings-on-bucky-barnes @the-ss-horniest-book-club @fysebastianstan @siriuslypersea @omg-just-peachy @tonystarkd @cptniron @sad-stark @antifastark @caroldanverts @sleepytony @madasthesea @serumsteve @incorrect-spiderson @kentuckybarnes @evanstar @holostark

________

Feel free to tag anyone else you think might enjoy this! :D

#fanfic appreciation day #fic rec #rec #fanfic #MCU #stucky #stony

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yoursummerfrost · 5 years

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3, 9 (for the douchifer sleep fic), 12, 33, 38 and 39! also im gonna rec @spinner-dolphin's mermaid fic bc even though it's not finished yet it had me absolutely fucking howling (archiveofourown(.)org/works/18968431)

That fic looks amazing!! Def gonna check it out :D

3) Do you prefer writing OC’s or reader inserts? Explain your answer.I’ve actually never tried to write a reader insert before. I think it takes a specific skill set to write a good reader insert, because you want lots of people to be able to imagine themselves in the story! I personally enjoy the process of fleshing out an OC more and tailoring them to the needs of the story.

9) In When You Met Me, what’s your favourite scene that you wrote?Hmm. Actually, I think it’s this tiny little scene right here:

"Daniel?" Lucifer asks, gently swirling his wine around in its glass. "If you're protecting me, who looks after you?"

Dan looks up from twirling spaghetti on his fork, all the certainty itching where his skin meets the bone.

"You will," he says. "Won't you?"

Lucifer's eyes are wide with an emotion Dan can't hope to describe. He says, "Yes, I suppose I will," and steals half a chicken cutlet off Dan's plate.

Because it’s such a soft little moment, and it’s really the crux of the whole fic--these two hurt people looking after each other. My second fave scene to write was probably the ending, which comes right after this.

12) Who is your favourite character to write for? Why?Hmm. I feel like sheer wordcount-wise the answer is clearly Dan (or Bitty from OMGCP, though I’m pretty squarely out of that fandom now). I’m also really interested in writing some stuff from Eve’s POV, because I adore her and I think her journey is fascinating. I enjoy writing Dan because there are a lot of themes in his character to explore that I like to unpack, and so many different directions to take his relationships (especially with Lucifer) based on where you are in the story.

33) What’s the biggest compliment you’ve gotten?Oh man, this is tough because I’m really grateful for so much of the positive feedback I’ve gotten. I think the most meaningful to me has been the people who read my stories about Miley, an autistic OC I co-created with @soundslikepenance and @blithelybonny, and told me that they felt represented by him in a way that they don’t often get to feel. I feel similarly about comments I get on other stories when someone feels seen like that, but Miley is particularly dear to me. (Read about Miley as part of the Suitehearts series!)

38) If you could collab with any other writer on here, who would it be? (Perhaps this question will inspire some collabs!) If you’re shy, don’t tag the blog, just name it.I feel like this is a cop-out answer because we collab all the time, but @soundslikepenance and @blithelybonny are honestly forever my dream team, my #hellsquad, my hivemind

39) Do you prefer first, second or third person?I used to really prefer first person, but fandom has converted me to third person. That being said, I like a really “tight” third person POV, where it’s not only limited but feels like it’s deep within the POV character’s head and narrated in their voice. I think that’s definitely influenced by my roots in first person POV original fiction reading/writing.

#tysm!!#sorry it took me so long to answer haha #venividivictorious

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styleandsin · 7 years

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BEST FICS OF 2017 there have been so many amazing fics posted this year, i couldn’t possibly include them all (or read them all), but these are 25 of my personal favorites that i have read! i’m really looking forward to reading the ones i have yet to get to from this year and all the wonderful fics that will be posted in 2018! :) happy reading everyone!

Go Nowhere Tonight by objectlesson (12k)

As always, the easy nonchalance with which he treats the rumors hurts, stabs Harry in the gut, twists the knife. Because it is hard for Harry; it’s hard to know people think they should be or are together because he wants that. Wants it so fucking badly, and it would be one thing if he could just silently quarantine that part of himself and pine secretly, but instead he’s faced with fictionalized accounts of his and Louis’s nonexistent love life and photoshopped pictures of them being coupley every time he’s on the internet. It is hard, and the fact that it supposedly isn’t for Louis functions as proof that it’s unrequited. “It’s gonna be a rude awakening for them,” he starts, gazing into his empty glass, “when we eventually come out but are dating other people. No one likes being half-right.”

—

Or, the aftermath of a very tense dinner party.

That’s How I Know by allwaswell16 (17k)

Louis Tomlinson has just landed his dream job, coaching soccer at Augustus University. When he moves into a new house near campus, he meets his very fit new neighbor, English professor Harry Styles. Although their first meeting leads to an instant mutual dislike, the more Harry gets to know Louis, the more he likes what he sees.

Or the one where Harry’s African grey parrot spills his dirty secrets to his very hot neighbor.

we’ve got to get away from here by suspendrs (23k)

“It is my understanding that you are the most comprehensive member of this agency in the field of extraterrestrial life, is that right?” the agent asks. He’s trying to sound calm, but Louis can tell he’s shaken as well.

“Um, I guess so,” Louis says, glancing over at the man in the blanket again.

Suddenly, Louis’s blood runs cold. There’s something off about the man, something in his gaze, something Louis can’t put his finger on. It’s terribly unsettling, but excitement bubbles in his gut.

Or, Louis is an FBI agent who likes to think himself a paranormal expert, and Harry is the alien that somehow ended up in his office.

Hearts Don’t Break Around Here by sincewewereeighteen (26k)

“Another car has stopped at the beginning of the carpet. People are going to collapse any time soon, and Louis knows why.

Harry Styles has just arrived. And Louis. Well. Louis is a grown man. He curses himself a hundred times for even letting his heart race in his chest. He knew they were bound to meet tonight. What the hell is wrong with him?”

Or: the one in which Harry’s having his big movie debut and Louis sings on its soundtrack.

rivers ‘til i reach you by embodied (29k)

Louis can’t begin to understand how he’s always this close and still can’t manage to make Harry his. He stands up and gets another beer. AU. Louis studies astronomy; Harry studies Louis. They spend their summers on the water and it shouldn’t be complicated (spoiler: it is).

Swallow My Words by YesIsAWorld (32k)

Senior year is stressful. On top of balancing school work, family, and friends, Harry’s lacrosse team is vying to win the state championship, he’s not sure where he’s going to college yet, and he has a secret boyfriend that no one can know about.

Love is the Right Place by chelseafrew (33k)

They met when they were seven and five. Louis was a new kid in a new town and Harry was a blind kid in need of a friend. They hit it off immediately, each of them exactly what the other needed. Over the years, friendship turns to more. Just as their romance blossoms, however, Louis gets an offer which promises fame and fortune far from home. Will they be pulled apart or will their love survive?

Life Was a Song, You Came Along by rainbowninja167 (37k)

It’s embarrassing how long it takes Louis to recognize his own song. Niall had sung it as a bright, hopeful love song, and that’s honestly how Louis had always assumed it should sound. But this new voice, slow and rough, stripped of any backing instrument, has infused the lyrics with just the tumultuous mix of fear and defiance that Louis can remember so clearly from the night he wrote them. It’s not a comfortable thing, to feel like someone is singing all your secrets back to you.

Louis is a songwriter trapped in a lie that could ruin his best friend’s career. Harry owns a record store, distrusts everyone in the music industry on principle, but loves Niall Horan’s newest album. A modern retelling of Singin’ in the Rain.

Looking Through You by allwaswell16 (41k)

Just as Louis and Liam were starting out in the music industry, writing and producing for up and coming artists, a fateful meeting with new pop singer Harry Styles changes everything. Four years later, just as Harry is set to embark on his next world tour, a drunken confession causes a rift between once inseparable friends. As Harry tries to make sense of his feelings for Louis, he begins writing his next album to express them as it may be the only way to break through the walls that Louis has built between them.

Be with me so happily by BriaMaria (42k)

Harry Styles may have had his doubts at first, but by the time the gates to the elephant sanctuary came into view he was one hundred percent positive. Louis Tomlinson hated his guts. Like hated, hated. Like loathed-him-on-sight hated.

From what Harry could tell, he hadn’t even done anything close to insulting enough to warrant the disdain that was Louis Tomlinson’s default expression whenever he looked at Harry. It really wasn’t fair. Especially since he’d been lusting after the man from the second he’d laid eyes on that pretty, pretty face with those pretty, pretty eyes.

Or … the one where Harry Styles has a bad reputation and a heart of gold, and Louis Tomlinson wishes he wasn’t so enchanted by boys who looked like Disney characters and wore shirts with bumble bees on them.

[aka Louis is the director of the Styles Elephant Sanctuary and really doesn’t want to babysit his funder’s spoiled lay-about son for two months]

tangled up in you by missandrogyny (45k)

Harry blinks once. And blinks again. And says, his voice dangerous: “Niall, did you get me a mail-order bride?”

Because what the actual fuck. It kind of looks like Niall’s just purchased a person. For Harry.

Niall blinks back at him for a few moments, before throwing his head back and howling with laughter. Harry throws a pillow at him. Hard. “No, what the fuck, Harry.”

“A prostitute then?” Harry also doesn’t want a prostitute.

“Of course not!”

“A stripper?”

“No!”

Damn, he’s running out of ideas. He settles for launching another pillow at Niall’s head. Niall bats it away easily, still laughing. “Stop!”

“What did you get me, then?!” Niall must hear the tinge of hysteria in his voice, because he’s pulling himself together, trying to stop himself from laughing.

There’s still a big grin on his face, though, when he says, “I got you a professional cuddler.”

A professional…what. “What?”

The Little Things That Keep Us Going by panda_bear21 (46k)

Harry wakes up in the hospital, unable to remember his children’s first steps, their hugs, their stories. Or the soft way their babysitter always used to smile and laugh with him.He knows he’s not recalling something important, a lot of things that are important. But he wants to know what they are so incredibly badly… wants to know why his heart is set ablaze, warm and fluttering, every time Louis looks at him.

Love’s Truest Language by summerwine (48k)

The first part was meant as a joke. He didn’t really expect Harry to buy anything. It was just Louis’ way of softening the ‘get the fuck out’ blow.

“Where’s your order forms, then?”

“I don’t want your flowers.” Louis chided before directing all of his attention to the arrangement in front of him.

Harry laughed under his breath as he stood to his full height, “Who said anything about them being for you, love?”

We’ll Be Seamless by dinosaursmate (52k)

Green reblogged an old photo of himself. It was from back in October, a Halloween special. A pulse shot all the way through Louis because this photo was his absolute favourite, and it had taken the rest of the year for him to wean himself off of it.

Green was on his knees, arms stretched out in front of him with his fingertips digging into the surface of his bed. He was wearing a pair of cat ears on his head, his curls falling forward. His back was arched, and in the foreground of the picture, Green’s bum was high in the air, a long, black cat tail sitting neatly between his cheeks. — Louis spends all his spare time scrolling arty nude blogs on Tumblr but amongst them all, Green is his favourite.

Here, There, and Everywhere by harioandlouigi (54k)

Louis was in a rut. He was still living in the same small Texas town he’d hated all his life, he was about to graduate with a degree he’d never been interested in, and he was hooking up with a guy he didn’t even like just because it was probably his only chance to be with another man.

And then someone else’s overindulgences triggered a series of events that lead to where Louis is now, touring the world as a roadie for Harry Styles.

I Walk the Line by Awriterwrites (55k)

Professor Louis Tomlinson is the leading researcher in his field. Harry Styles is Louis’ recently hired grad assistant. Sparks fly between them but something doesn’t add up when it comes to Harry, and Louis is determined to find out what.

What happens when everything Louis thought he knew comes crashing down around him? Is he doomed to repeat his past mistakes? Or will he learn to follow his heart and find a way to forge his own path, alongside someone he’s not sure he can trust, but who might just be the best thing to ever happen to him.

Never Let Me Go by loveisalaserquest17 (55k)

“Harry! I’ll tell you what,” Louis exclaims, clapping his hands together. There’s a big grin on his face. “If both of us are still single by your thirtieth birthday, we’ll marry each other.”

Harry’s head snaps up, eyes widening. “What?” Harry and Louis have been friends forever, but they couldn’t be more different. One night, with a little too much alcohol, they make a pact to marry in ten years if they’re both still single. Now, one month before the deadline, Louis is willing to do whatever it takes to avoid ending up with his best friend. But is he, really? | Loosely inspired by The 10 Year Plan

Falling For Me Won’t Be A Mistake by Rearviewdreamer (58k)

Harry is married to his job and so overworked that he doesn’t know how to stop. All it takes is a forced Hawaiian get-a-away, the warm tropical breeze of the island, and the most beautiful, elusive man he’s ever seen to make him remember what living is like outside of work. Well, that, and the little souvenir he accidentally takes home with him.

Don’t Want Shelter by FullOnLarrie (76k)

Louis and Harry have known each other all their lives. Friends as children, they danced around each other as teenagers, and have spent the last twenty-five years either screaming at each other or not speaking at all. Except for that one time ten years ago…When Hurricane Nicole threatens the coast, they end up stuck together in their families’ old vacation home that they begrudgingly co-own.During the storm, and in the months after, they’re both forced to reevaluate their history and what they mean to each other.

Perfect Storm by cherrystreet (80k)

What do you do when your best friend asks you and your (now) ex to be the best men at his destination wedding? You can either tell him the truth, tell him you’re not together anymore, and deal with the consequences, or you can pretend you’re still together and roll with it, just pray you don’t spiral. Fake it ‘til you make it. You know, for the sake of the wedding.

Harry and Louis choose the latter.

through struggles, to the stars by thedeathchamber (80k)

Louis is a Starfleet captain trying to find his place in the universe. Harry is a prince just trying to do what’s right.

A Star Trek-inspired AU.

Pour Your Heart Out by hrrytomlinson (92k)

Louis is his soulmate. Or at least Harry thinks he is. Louis feels the same as Louis. But there are a lot of people named Louis in the world and this Louis might not be the Louis. It’s besides the point though, because Harry knows he can’t allow himself to get close to any boys. He just can’t and he’s told himself this multiple times. He has to simply stay away from Louis Tomlinson. But he can’t. Harry Styles can never stay away from Louis Tomlinson. It’s physically impossible for him to.

Resist Everything Except Temptation by domesticharry (100k)

The lethargic sound of heels clicking against wood resonated across the sea. Footsteps descended the staircase, every assured step creating a menacing aura as it grew closer. Perspiration gathered along Louis’ palms as the rhythmic sound halted in front of him.

“Captain,” Malik greeted.

Louis watched out of his peripheral as Malik’s boots shuffled back a few steps. Sweat matted the hair along the nape of Louis’ neck as he waited for something to happen. He felt as if a sharp blade was twisting his gut as the silence became tangible. There was a metallic slide of a sword being pulled out of its sheath, the sound startling Louis out of his cocoon of sterile shock. His shoulders jumped as the tip of a blade flattened underneath his jaw. Louis’ distorted reflection stared back at him in the polished metal. Engraved rose petals twisted his appearance as they crawled up the length of the sword. The sword lifted and took Louis’ chin with it.

Standing in front of Louis was Captain Styles.

Or the one where Louis is the commodore’s son who is forced to become a part of Harry’s crew when he is captured.

got the sunshine on my shoulders by hattalove (124k)

five years ago, harry styles left his tiny home town to make it big as a recording artist. he didn’t have much regard for what he left behind - a life, a family, and a husband, who woke up one morning to find him gone.

now, harry has everything he could possibly want: he’s rich, famous, and adored by everyone he meets, including his boyfriend. but when said boyfriend proposes to him, he’s forced to face the uncomfortable facts of his past - and louis, who’s spent the last five years returning every set of divorce papers harry sent him.

(or, an au based on the movie sweet home alabama.)

Your Mess Is Mine by amory (176k)

Louis is the father to the most brilliant little boy in the world who is all Louis really needs, or at least that’s what he tells himself. Harry is a gorgeous boybander fresh off a two year break and a massive scandal that’s left him a little broken and more than ready to move on.

They fall in love.

#larry stylinson fic rec #larry stylinson #it's taken me weeks to choose which fics to include #and i didn't plan to post this until closer to new years #but i decided people may want some fic recs for their holiday breaks #so here you are!#fic rec #*

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