#thirteen x jack | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

wineauntie · 2 months

Text

IT ISN’T THE END OF THE WORLD— q.hughes x hughes sister!reader

summary: three times that Quinn comforted you and one of the times you returned the favour.

notes: big brother Quinn is my Roman Empire, I can’t lie! You are five years younger than Quinn.

warnings: literally the fluffiest of fluffs, use of y/n and y/n/n, fem!reader.

word count: 3.5k+

1. being left out – aged six and eleven

You sat on the grass outside of your home, your knees tucked into your chest as tears dripped down your face. Ahead of you, Jack and Luke were skating around in rollerblades with a singular net set up on the tarmac as they played a game of hockey. You'd tried to join them, even going as far as strapping up your purple rollerskates but when you'd asked your two older brothers to join them, they'd outright told you that you weren't allowed.

"Y/n/n, this is boys only game," Jack had explained, half lifting you towards the grass and away from the road. "You can't play!"

"Yeah, you can't play," Luke piped up, fidgeting with his stick, his curls peeking out from beneath his helmet.

"But-" You'd tried to wiggle out of Jack's grasp as you reached the grass.

"Stay on the grass," Jack had urged, patting your head before he skated back towards Luke.

Your bottom lip trembled as you collapsed onto the grass beneath you, being forced to watch rather than partake. You couldn't understand why you couldn't just play with them. And as you cried, neither of the two boys noticed your tears or your splotchy face.

"Mom said dinner will be ready in an hour!"

Quinn's voice called out from the front door, in shock, you turned just in time for him to glance towards you. His face fell at the sight of your miserable eyes and he quickly shut the front door before making his way towards you.

"What's wrong?" His worried voice caused your lower lip to tremble once more. Even at eleven years old, Quinn was your protector. He was the one you ran to with every small problem, the one who'd sit you down and explain things and the one who you secretly favoured the most.

You cast a look over to Luke and Jack who continued their game, before you dropped your head between your knees. Quinn sighed and carefully sat beside you, his legs stretching out far beyond your own.

"What's wrong, y/n/n?"

That was what made you burst into tears again. A very startled Quinn rapidly put his arm around you, hugging you into his side. Your tears began to stain his shirt as he awkwardly patted your head.

"Jack and Luke won't let me play!" You wailed, as a small scowl crossed Quinn's face. "They said I have to stay here...I hate here!"

"C'mon now," Quinn tried to calm you. "We don't need to play with those two stupids." You let out a sniffly laugh as you rested against his shoulder.

"Mom said you can't call them stupid anymore," you croaked out, and now it was Quinn's turn to laugh.

"I know but I'll tell you a secret–they are!"

You smiled and looked towards your two brothers who were now fighting, pushing one another back and forth.

"How about you and me go in and have a tea party?" He suggested, scrunching his nose up as he watched Jack and Luke battle it out. "We can even dress up?" You jumped to your feet excitedly, dragging Quinn up with you.

"Please!" You giggled, pulling Quinn towards the house, your tears long forgotten. "I have a tiara for you!" Quinn painted an excited expression across his face, but very real happiness spread through his body at the sight of your joy.

2. the nightmares – aged eight and thirteen

You shot awake with a startled gasp, your small hands clutching your childhood teddy. You'd been getting nightmares for weeks yet you couldn't pinpoint where they'd begun— in reality, Jack had told you countless ghost stories about a small evil ghost lurking in your room, and you seemed to have taken that story to heart.

Tears welled in your eyes as you glanced around your room in terror, the light of a pink wall flower illuminated the majority of the room...yet the shadows that lingered left your body shaking. The horrors from your nightmares, which couldn't be remembered, haunted you and the thought of going back to sleep was virtually impossible.

Your bottom lip trembled as you clutched your teddy to your chest, and jumped out of the bed towards the hallway, not daring to look behind you. The light from the bathroom down the hall illuminated the darkness, as you stood dead centre with your head tilted slightly.

You didn't know where to go.

You'd already run to your mom and dad multiple times during the night and your little self felt rather guilty. You knew they needed their sleep– everyone did.

You stifled a whimper, your tears dripping down your face as you glanced down the hall, noticing a door slightly open. Without another thought, you rushed down the hall, your bare feet slapping against the wooden flooring as you entered the open door.

You slipped into the dark room, your teddy close to your chest as you approached the lump beneath the covers on the bed by the window. Soft snores echoed through the room as you crept towards the bed as quietly as possible. Your tears were still falling, as you sniffled and carefully tapped the lump's shoulder.

You watched as he stirred, and then a familiar voice broke through the darkness, "What time is it?" The voice was groggy with sleep, but the concern was evident.

"I had a nightmare again, Q," you whispered with bleary eyes, your voice trembling with pure fear and exhaustion. "I can't sleep. I'm sorry..."

Quinn sat up, rubbing his eyes before reaching out to pull you into a comforting embrace. "Shh, it's okay. C'mere," he yawned while reassuring you, his arms enveloping you in warmth and security. He lifted you onto the bed, his half-lidded eyes glancing towards his digital clock that blinked the time 3:45 am.

You buried your face into his chest, clinging to him as if he were your lifeline. His steady heartbeat beneath your ear offered a soothing rhythm, calming your racing thoughts.

"Want me to go tell Mom?" He asked, earning him a rapid shake of the head from you.

"Okay...do you want to stay here?" Quinn hesitantly offered with as soft of a voice as he could muster so early in the morning. He pulled you away from his ever so slightly so that he could look down at you. With a half-nod, you cuddled closer to him, letting him drape half of his blanket over your body.

"Just don't hog the covers," he grumbled, lying back down on the bed, his head burying itself in his pillow. "And don't wake up early."

You smiled and melted into the comfort of Quinn's bed, your head on the edge of the pillow you were being forced to share. The feeling of the weight of exhaustion finally pulled you under and as you drifted off to sleep, the nightmares seemed to fade away, replaced by the comforting presence of your older brother by your side.

The next morning, your mom had woken up, ready to bring you to practice, only to find your bed empty. A flare of panic shot through her body, all those horror stories of child abduction running through her mind as she exited the room with pursed lips.

Ellen peered into Luke's room first, her head sticking around the wooden frame. For a mere second, she allowed herself to stifle a smile at the sight of Luke sprawled across the bed like a starfish, his covers abandoned on the floor as soft breath escaped his mouth. She nodded slowly and closed the door before checking the room beside his.

Jack's room was messy. That was the first thing she noticed. Clothes were strewn across any furniture left in sight, with muddy shoes thrown into the corner. Ellen covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing at the sight of Jack sleeping. Jack, like Luke, was sprawled across his bed, only instead of actually being on the bed– Jack was hanging half off of it. His head was almost touching the rug on his floor — his toes the same. His head was thrown back with snores periodically escaping his mouth.

She shook her head lightly before closing the door quietly and moving towards the last bedroom in the hall. Quinn's door was ajar, allowing Ellen to silently slip in. She paused in her steps at the sight ahead of her. You curled up around Quinn, your teddy snug between you two, as his arm wrapped around your head protectively. The two of you were fast asleep, oblivious to the utter relief Ellen was feeling.

She watched the two of you for a few seconds before taking a quick picture and sending it to Jim with a soft smile. Ellen looked down at you two once more and fixed the cover over the both of you. She backed away slowly and slipped out of the room leaving the two of you to sleep in for the day.

3. sickness – aged 10 and fifteen

"Are you sure you'll be okay looking after her?"

Ellen grabbed a bag from the floor beside the couch Quinn sat on, a bowl of cereal in his hands as he watched a game. You had fallen sick two days prior due to the flu and were currently bed-bound. Your dad was out of state, and your mom had to take Luke and Jack to a hockey match in the next town over.

"Yeah, Mom, don't worry," Quinn answered through muffled words as he swallowed a spoonful of food. "I can take care of her for a few hours, it'll be fine."

Ellen bit her lip in worry glancing towards the stairs before ruffling Quinn's hair. "Don't start a fire or kill either yourself or y/n," she instructed, "she might wake up soon and might want food, only give her toast and water or she'll throw it all up."

"Mom, I got it," Quinn reassured her, standing up and gathering Luke's hockey bag in his arms. "I'll help you bring these out."

Your mom had left ten minutes after with Jack and Luke, leaving Quinn in charge of the house. You had woken up to the sound of Luke yelling and the door slamming behind him. Your throat felt raw from the amount of coughing you were doing combined with the fact you could only breathe from your mouth as your nose was blocked up.

You groaned into your pillow, your clammy hands clutching your uneasy stomach as you buried yourself beneath your covers. Quinn cautiously peeked into your room at the noise of you moving around, his eyes wide and careful as they landed on your paled face and shaking body.

Quinn hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. He had never been in charge of taking care of you while you were sick before. But seeing you there, looking so vulnerable and unwell, he knew he had to step up.

Taking a deep breath, Quinn quietly approached your bed, trying not to startle you. "Hey, it's just me," he said softly, his voice filled with concern. "How are you feeling?"

You managed to croak out a weak response, your voice barely audible. Quinn frowned and his eyebrows furrowed upon seeing how much you were struggling. Without another word, he hurried downstairs to grab a glass of water and a slice of bread for toast, just as your mom had instructed.

Returning to your room, Quinn carefully placed the items on your bedside table, as he helped you sit up, propping pillows behind your back for support. You moaned in discontent at the feeling of sickness that continued to roll through your body as he handed you the glass of water and a piece of toast.

"Drink slowly," he spoke carefully, watching anxiously as you took small sips and nibbled on the food. "You don't feel like getting sick, do you?!"

You shook your head weakly, placing the leftover crusts on your plate. You felt a tickle grow in your throat as another cough wracked through your body. Quinn jumped into action, running your back as he'd seen Mom do countlessly over the past two days. His warm hand lent you comfort as your body contorted.

Once the coughing subsided, you leaned back against the pillows, feeling exhausted but a little better with Quinn by your side. He stayed with you, chatting softly and making sure you were comfortable until you drifted off to sleep again, knowing that you were in good hands.

As you rested, Quinn kept a watchful eye on you, ready to spring into action at any sign of distress. Halfway through your unrestful nap, your body shook violently, yet your forehead was beaded with sweat. Quinn gulped in worry as he covered you with a blanket and wiped your forehead with a cool cloth.

He hated seeing you like this, it made him want to kick whoever had passed the sickness onto you.

Throughout the day, Quinn checked in on you regularly, making sure you were comfortable and had everything you needed. He even brought up some of your favourite books and movies to help pass the time when you woke, staying by your side until you drifted off to sleep again.

When your mom finally returned home with Jack and Luke– both elated from their win, she was relieved to find you resting peacefully, thanks to Quinn's attentive care.

"You did well, Quinn," Your mom smiled, pressing a kiss to his forehead as he scrunched up his nose. "Thank you."

Quinn simply shrugged it off as he looked towards your sleeping figure. Despite his nonchalant expression, deep down, he felt a sense of pride erupt inside of him knowing that he had been there for you when you needed him most.

"Let's hope you don't get sick now," Ellen hummed, brushing a hand through his hair. Quinn pushed a smile onto his face, getting sick would be worth it as long as you were better.

4. moving away – aged 16 and 20

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow into Quinn's room, illuminating the chaos of packing strewn across the floor. Hockey jerseys, equipment, and mementoes from his years of playing for the local team adorned his walls, each item holding memories of victories, defeats, and the camaraderie of teammates. But today, there was a sense of bittersweetness in the air, a mixture of excitement and sadness, as Quinn prepared to completely leave Michigan behind and embark on a new chapter of his life in Vancouver. He had been offered the opportunity to play for the Vancouver Canucks, a dream come true for any aspiring hockey player. But with it came the prospect of leaving behind everything he had ever known – our family, our home, our tight-knit community.

You sat on the edge of his bed, watching him carefully fold his clothes, a furrow of worry etched on his brow. "Are you okay, Quinn?" you asked softly, reaching out to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.

He sighed, setting down the hoodie he was folding and meeting your gaze with a mix of apprehension and sadness in his eyes. "I don't know," he eventually admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He ran a hand through his tousled hair. "I mean, Vancouver is such an incredible opportunity, but... I'm going to miss everyone and don't you dare tell that to the idiots out back."

You let a small smile grace your face at the thought of Jack and Luke catching wind of Quinn's unease. You found yourself nodding understandingly, feeling a pang of sadness yourself at the thought of Quinn leaving. He was not only your older brother but also one of your best friends, someone you had always looked up to and relied on for guidance and support. The idea of him being thousands of miles away was daunting, to say the least.

Even when he was in college he was only one measly phone call away and then another forty-minute drive. He was never thousands of miles away in a different country.

You nodded sympathetically, understanding the weight of his dilemma. Quinn had always been fiercely devoted to our family and friends, and the thought of leaving them behind was undoubtedly terrifying. But deep down, You knew he couldn't let this opportunity slip away – not when it was his chance to shine on the ice and pursue his passion for hockey at the highest level.

"Quinn, listen to me," I said, stepping closer to him and placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "I know it's scary to leave, but this is your dream we're talking about. You've worked so hard for this moment, and you can't let fear hold you back."

"You'll do great, Quinn," you continued to reassure him, with a cracked smile. "And we'll still be here for you, no matter how far away you are. Plus, Vancouver should be nice, and I've only been there twice, maybe I can visit with Mom and Dad?"

Quinn managed a small smile at your words, though you could tell the worry still lingered in his eyes. "I know," he said softly. "But it won't be the same without having you all there with me." He looked at you, his eyes searching yours for reassurance. "I don't want to leave you all behind."

I smiled softly, feeling a swell of pride for my big brother. "We'll be okay, Quinn. Mom and Dad are proud of you, and so are Luke, Jack, and I. Hell, before you know it, Jack might be up there playing with you, who knows!"

A sense of calm washed over Quinn as your words sank in, his tense shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. He knew that no matter where his hockey career took him, your family would always be his anchor, his support system through thick and thin. You scooted closer to him, wrapping your arms around him in a tight hug.

"We'll always be here for you, Quinn," you whispered, feeling the weight of the impending separation settling over you both. "And we'll be cheering you no matter where you are, no matter what happens, every step of the way."

You sat there in silence for a moment, clinging to each other as if afraid to let go. But eventually, Quinn pulled away, a determined look in his eyes as he resumed packing his belongings.

"You're right," he sighed, his voice steady with newfound resolve.

"As always," you beamed with a laugh, as Quinn elbowed you playfully. You bowed your head glancing at Quinn briefly. "I'm gonna miss you, y'know?"

"I know," he hummed, "but like you said, you can come visit whenever you want and you can call or text me whenever you need to." You nodded silently, swallowing the lump in your throat.

You smiled, feeling a surge of pride welling up inside you. Your brother may be leaving Michigan behind, but you knew that he was destined for great things in Vancouver. And no matter where life took you, you would always be there for each other, bound by the unbreakable bond of family.

#wineauntie #quinn hughes x reader #quinn hughes imagine #quinn hughes fluff #hughes brothers x reader #nhl x reader #quinn hughes x y/n #hughes!sister #platonic!quinn hughes #hughes brothers x y/n #quinn hughes x you #quinn hughes fanfic #quinn hughes #jack hughes x reader #luke hughes x reader #i love quinn hughes what a man

567 notes · View notes

corrodedcoffins-blog · 22 days

Text

Moments In Time

masterlist

note: have a good day <3

warnings: implied underage drinking, slight angst 🤏

word count: 1.8 k

♡ summary: Moments in time during Y/n and Luke's relationship

♡ Luke Hughes x fem!reader

request ✗

It wasn’t Luke’s first time out with the team, but with him getting his first NHL goal and it being the game winning one at that, it was a lot less calm for him this time. The focus was on him, even more so since it was their last regular season game. The team was at a bar, even though Luke and a couple others were underaged, nobody cared.

When most people heard this they assumed he had been pining after his childhood best friend since he was three, not that they had actually been dating since then. Well that’s when they first kissed, when she tripped and fell on her face at the park and Luke kissed it better.

“You’ve been pining after a girl that long?” John asked and just when Luke was about to correct him, Jack cut in again, “No- no, they’ve been dating since they were about- five? Six? When did you guys go on the date with mom and mrs. L/n?” -

The two five year olds sat across from each other, their moms a couple tables down, Luke practically had to beg Ellen to let them sit alone. Luke asked her out on a date at school on friday, he brought her a ring pop so she would say yes, he knew she could never say no to candy.

He had asked Ellen to take them to a restaurant while he uncharacteristically helped set the table. “Mom, me and Y/n are going on a date this weekend so can you drive us?” At his words, Ellen gently placed the last plate on the table, trying to process the fact that her baby was the first of her boys to go on a date.

“I’ll have to talk to Y/n’s mom, but I don’t see why not. I can take you two out for dinner.” “Mom, could you not sit with us?” He really was growing up, going on a date and being embarrassed of his mom.

That’s why the children and their moms were now sitting on separate tables, the waitress coming over and Luke let Y/n order first. He even had pulled her chair out for the girl, he did all the things he had heard in movies and TV shows. He also ordered them chocolate cake for dessert, as per Y/n’s request.

All night they talked about their favourite episodes of different TV shows, thanking the waitress that was waiting their table. Laughing and having as much fun as any kids would that were left to their own devices in a restaurant.

When they were thirteen was when they had their first ‘real’ kiss, it was during the summer and the two were having a sleepover in a tent on Y/n’s trampoline in her backyard. They were just talking back and forth as they always did, Luke was looking at Y/n’s jaw moving while she talked, her lips looked so soft he couldn’t help himself but stare.

“-And then I…” She trailed off looking towards the boy, meeting his gaze when he eye line rose from her lips to her eyes, “Luke..” She said while releasing a small huff with her words. Her eyes fell to the boy’s, she knew what was coming, yet it still surprised her when Luke pressed his lips to hers.

Their hands stayed put, suppose they both felt that was going too far. They slimy pressed their lips together, neither moving them in any sort of way, until they pulled apart and Luke broke the silence, “I really like you.” “I really like you too.”

That’s when they started dating ‘for real’. They would spend time together everyday after school, which they did before, but now it was different. They could cuddle and kiss while they hung out now, which they only did when Luke’s brother’s weren’t around, because they have been relentless since they found out.

They had found when Jack had walked into Luke’s room without knocking while Y/n was there, something he did often but not since the two youngsters started dating. Luke had told his mom they were just watching a movie, which wasn’t a lie… Technically. A movie was playing, they just weren’t watching it.

The two were sitting on Luke’s bed, parallel to each other and their backs against the wall, while they kissed. Luke's hand was resting on Y/n’s jaw while his other hand was placed on the bed between them as leverage. Y/n had her hands at the sides of Luke’s neck, moving from gripping his shoulders to lying on the boy’s neck.

The two flew apart as Jack whipped the door open, and started laughing, “Damn, Lukey! Mom! Luke is making out with Y/n!”

They were no longer allowed to be in Luke’s room with the door closed.

They were fifteen when they first said ‘I love you’. It was after Luke won a really important game, he got the winning goal and Y/n couldn’t have been more proud of him. She waited with his family in the foyer of the rink, Ellen and Jim were talking to the other parents. While Quinn and Jack were on their phones.

But Y/n was waiting for the boy, she stared at the door she knew he was coming from, waiting player after player until it was her boy to come through there. Running to get to him, she jumped into his arms, non stop telling him how proud of him she was and how well he played.

Her legs were wrapped around his torso and his arms supporting her weight with his hands under her thighs. The girl didn’t care that he was sweaty; she left kisses in the crock of his neck, and her hands scratching the hair at the nape of his neck.

“I am so proud of you. I love you.”

Letting her slip down, his hands landing on her waist under her (his) sweatshirt, he didn’t think he was taking that long to respond. But with the look on her face of fear that she had just fucked up their relationship, he desided to speak fast.

“I love you too.”

All was well, until college. While Luke went to UMich, Y/n went to NYU, and while they thought they could make it work it turns out the distance was too much. Luke was always busy with Hockey, and when he wasn’t busy with Hockey he was busy with classes, and when he was free, Y/n was busy with classes or work.

It was one of their only times to talk during the week, they were on facetime neither were really listening to the other, both too tired to. Their tiredness only aided a fight that has been in the making, “Luke, I have to get to bed. I have class in the morning.”

“C’mon, Y/n, we never talk anymore. You can’t stay up for a little longer?”

Releasing a sigh from her frustration, Y/n replied audibly annoyed, “Luke. I’ve already stayed up as much as I can, that’s why I’m going to sleep now.” “You don’t care that we never talk anymore?!” “Well whose fault is that?” “Mine? Are you saying it’s mine?!” “No-” “Really, cause it sounds like it.” “-I’m just saying that it isn’t just mine.”

Their words went back and forth, until Y/n said the words that Luke had never wanted to hear, not from her mouth, it broke his heart, “Maybe we just need a break from each other.”

The words came out of his mouth before he could stop them, anger mixed with sadness and regret flowed through his words, “You want to break up?!” “No! I just want a break! We need a break from each other. We’re both stressed from school and I think we’re stressing each other out more.” “I’m stressing you out?” “No. God, Luke just listen to me. We need a couple weeks, just to remind ourselves how much we love each other.” “Fine.”

A couple minutes after their call Luke texted the girl, both couldn’t last more than a couple minutes of being mad at each other.

I’m sorry, baby. I think this break could be good. I was just upset before. I love you

I love you too

That break ended up being a great thing for them, coming back stronger and more in love than ever.

It only lasted three months, and it wasn’t like they never talked, they would text sometimes but they were taking a lot more time to themselves. Because being with the same person since they were about three, meant that you have lived your entire life with someone, gone through every phase of life together, had all your firsts with that person. Which leads to needing a couple months to grow on your own, to know for sure that that person is the person for you.

The time apart did both a lot of good, and when those months passed by they both realised that they were both in fact meant for each other, and that they never wanted anyone else. Luke had asked her earlier that day if they could call tonight, she said that she was free and both were more excited than they would ever admit to anyone other than each other.

They were sitting on their respective beds in their respective states, they had already been talking for an hour, Luke had gotten so caught up in talking to his girl that he forgot to bring up what the call was about, “Y/n, I’ve been thinking and I think our break has been good for me- good for both of us, but I would love if we could get back to normal. ‘Cause if this break has done anything, it’s made me realise that I love you more than anything.”

He couldn’t see it, the more he talked the wider Y/n’s smile got. This is exactly what she wanted from this, for them to be how they used to be before college.

“I love you more than anything too, Lukey. I want us to get back to normal too.”

New York was a lot closer to New Jersey than Michigan, so since Luke has been living there with Jack, they saw a lot more of each other. Something Luke loved, yet Jack hated and often stayed with Nico during those weekends.

#luke hughes #luke hughes x reader #luke hughes x fem!reader #luke hughes x fem reader #luke hughes fluff #luke hughes fic #luke hughes fanfiction #luke hughes blurb #hughes brothers fic #hughes brothers

227 notes · View notes

aletterinthenameofsanity · 3 months

Text

Thirteen/Amy/Rory fic update (pt. 24)

And here we finally have it: Janto wedding! Martha, Jack, and River meeting Thirteen! The Doctor giving Amy and Rory gifts! Tosh/River content! Bill getting to meet Torchwood! The Doctor officiating a wedding! THIRTEEN IN A SUIT AND BOWTIE!!!!

And most importantly of all: these three finally sorting their shit out. Kept y'all waiting long enough ;)

Warning: this is going to get so very, very sappy. Whoops?

@lavenderlace16 @blufox3542 @shehungthemoon @khruschevshoe

#thirteen x amy x rory #thirteenth doctor #amy pond #rory williams #rory pond #bill potts #jack harkness #toshiko sato #river song #ianto jones #martha jones #aletterinthenameofsanity #fanfic #my fics #doctor who #ao3

4 notes · View notes

khruschevshoe · 1 month

Text

You know what? I'm gonna say it. As someone who is asexual and on the aromantic spectrum myself, I'm a bit tired of the Doctor Who fans who all say that Donna is the best companion of Ten's just because they were best friends and nothing more and that automatically makes her the best companion of RTD and for a lot of you, the best companion overall.

Listen, I LOVE Donna. Adore her. And I also think that her friendship with the Doctor is amazing. But it has always rubbed me the wrong way that the companions who have a romantic interest in the Doctor (and let me tell you, there is textual evidence for every one of them that the feelings were reciprocated in some way) are somehow considered lesser BECAUSE of that interest. That just because they fell for the Doctor means that their relationship with the Doctor is cheapened in some way.

I personally think that just as platonic relationships should not be considered lesser than romantic ones, the same goes in reverse. Amy, Clara, Martha, Rose, River, and Yaz's feelings may have some weak writing decisions attached to them, but so does Donna.

Personally, I love Donna's character arc/the tragedy of her ending, but I've always felt a little disappointed by the fact that her becoming the DoctorDonna in Journey's End was not predicated on her strong characterization/choices (Ala Planet of the Ood/Fires of Pompeii) but by "fate" pushing it to happen. It's honestly more Dalek Caan than Donna making all that happen.

This is NOT to say that I don't love Donna, but just to say that the fact that she had no romantic feelings for the Doctor doesn't automatically catapult her above the rest. Romantic feelings can lead to just as interesting, well-developed character arcs/complicated dynamics as platonic ones can, from the creator/created reciprocated question mark wanting but unable to choose each other over everything dynamic of 11amy to the fascinating destroying each other saving each other one taking all of the emotional toll but honestly craving that prophet-god relationship of 10martha to the shaping each other making each other kinder and braver reminding each other there is hope dooming and saving each other of 9rose to the full dooming each other but running straight at it full tilt because we are purposefully ignoring the turn back now signs of 10rose to the batshit insane codependent reflecting each other refracting each other who is Orpheus and who is Eurydice of 12clara to the there was always someone else in the room keeping us apart but you somehow became my whole world and I knew you from birth to death and we will never be anything more than a shut door of 13yaz to the you doomed me and saved me and you hate me but you might have loved me once and i will spend the rest of my life devoted to you dynamics of 10jack 11river and 12river.

Every relationship is interesting and personal preference might steer you in a certain way due the character arcs/ending preferences/etc., but elevating one over the other because the companion wasn't "foolish" enough to fall in love with the mad genderfluid alien in a box who ran away with you and stole you away to the stars doesn't sit well with me. Romance doesn't cheapen a relationship just as it doesn't automatically make it the ultimate relationship, either.

179 notes · View notes

honeypiehotchner · 10 months

Text

Devil’s Backbone -- Unsub!Hotch x BAU!Fem!Reader

Full send. I’m back 😈 How about a darker fic?

Follow @honeypiehotchnerlibrary and turn on post notifications to be updated when each chapter is released! xx.

Huge disclaimer: Hotch is not nice in this. I feel like that goes without saying since he’s the unsub here, but I wanted to say it anyway. He is not nice; he’s toxic and manipulative. Their relationship is fucked up as hell and I’m 100% not condoning this. (That being said, the smut is really hot I loved writing it)

Summary: Foyet murdered Haley and Jack. Hotch took Foyet’s life. He thought that would be enough. But it wasn’t. He needed more.

WC: ~30k total

As always, ** indicates smut ;))

Prologue

One: All along we called it normal

Two: Was it obvious to everyone else?

Three: The lesser of two evils

Four: You’re not who you are to anyone

Five: Don’t pin it all on me

Six: What a wicked thing to do

Seven: I’ve fallen in love with a man on the run

Eight: [REDACTED FROM THE RECORD]**

Nine: How did we get here?

Ten: The skyline falls as I try to make sense of it all

Eleven: All I wanted was you

Twelve: [REDACTED FROM THE RECORD]**

Thirteen: I should’ve known, I’d leave alone

Fourteen: What you have done is terrible, and now what?

Fifteen: Haven’t I given enough?

Sixteen: You’re still the oxygen I breathe

Seventeen: Don’t leave me like this

Epilogue

Completed! [Sept. 29, 2023]

#aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x fem!reader #aaron hotchner x reader #unsub!hotch #unsub!hotch x fem!reader #criminal minds #aaron hotchner x you #hotch x reader #hotch x fem!reader #hotch x you #criminal minds fanfiction #criminal minds smut #aaron hotchner smut #hotch smut

687 notes · View notes

youunravelme · 1 year

Text

head start

author’s note: s/o to @ethancale for making me come out of a writing slump of like two/three years. it should be noted that the reader is one year younger than jack. it should also be noted pt. 2 that i am just now understanding hockey so if the timelines don’t match up or i mess up terminology, oh well, i tried. this is my first thing i’m posting on here so please be nice, or don’t, i can’t tell you what to do.

pairing: jack hughes x reader

summary: you’ve had a crush on the middle hughes brother for as long as you can remember. and really, why wouldn’t you? he’s everything. so why would he ever fall for you?

warnings: a little mention of drinking. cursing? writing in all lowercase? is that a warning?

13/14

summers at the lake house used to be fun, full of wakeboarding, the scent of sunscreen, the feel of fresh water hitting you in the face. but that was before you turned thirteen. before you realized your best friend unintentionally sent a shiver down your spine that couldn’t be blamed on a cold wind.

and it’s not like he noticed, jack hughes still referred to you as his little sister as he tousled your hair. you were just fortunate enough that he was too focused on hockey to really care about other girls so you didn’t have a direct line of comparison.

“are you gonna come swim or not?” jack burst into your kitchen, your parents, who sat at the table with you, didn’t even bat an eye. you had a spoonful of cereal halfway to your mouth that was quickly dropped back in the bowl.

“why? are you bored?” you teased, secretly hoping this would be the moment he confessed his undying love for you, but he just shrugged and moved his wet hair out of his face.

“i need someone to help me drown luke.” your heart sunk a little bit, but what did you expect? a love confession in the artificial lighting of your kitchen?

you sighed and pretended to think about it, like you weren’t two seconds from sprinting upstairs and changing just to spend time with him. “alright,” you started, not missing the way he smiled in triumph. “just let me get dressed.”

while you changed, he made small talk with your parents. your dad was really into hockey, and probably resented not having a son who would play though he would never admit it.

you came back downstairs dressed in a one piece (your parents still insisted you were too young for bikinis) and lathered in sunscreen. “let’s go!” you said as you ran past your parents and out the back door.

“race you to the water!” you screamed over your shoulder as you sprinted barefoot towards the dock. you could hear his feet pounding behind you, knowing you only had a few seconds before he inevitably caught up, you pushed faster.

only for him to beat you at the last second, jumping straight into the water with you following shortly after.

“you had a head start and still couldn’t beat me!” he yelled at you once you breeched the surface.

pretty was the only word you could think of to describe the way he looked at that moment with water falling down his face and the sun lighting up his eyes.

“you okay?” he asked, his voice softer than before.

“i--”

“incoming!” luke launched himself over you and jack, splashing the both of you and ruining whatever moment you thought you were having.

if you were hesitant about helping jack drown his brother, you were sure now.

17/18

“new jersey's a long way from michigan,” was the first thing that came out of your mouth when you saw jack after he was drafted. you both sat on the dock outside his house, feet dangling in the water, shoulders close enough to brush against each other.

he shrugged it off, like he always did. “that’s why we have phones.”

but a phone can’t recreate your hugs or the way your laughter feels inside my chest is what you wanted to say. but you settled for: “you’re right. but you have to promise to always pick up when i call.”

“that’s a hefty promise.”

“this is a hefty friendship.” he still didn’t look convinced. “look, it’s not like i’ll call when you’re at practice or every friday night. i just don’t want you to forget about me when you become rich and famous.”

jack laughed like it was the funniest thing he ever heard. “i could never forget about you.”

your heart soared in your chest much like the birds above the lake. everything about what he said sounded sincere and it lit a flame in your stomach that you’d never experienced before.

“i mean,” he continued. “ at the very least, the buck teeth you had as a kid are seared into my mind. i couldn’t forget those even if i tried.”

and there it was: the reminder that he’d always see you as a child, even if you were only a year younger. it sucked knowing he’d only ever attribute you to your awkward phases and never the growing woman you were slowly becoming. the year age gap never seemed like a problem when you were younger, but the older you got, the more he seemed to reference it.

a flicker of confusion appeared on his face before you realized you hadn’t laughed at his “joke.” so you plastered a smile on your face and playfully rolled your eyes. “funny,” you said because it was easier than confessing that it hurt.

“hey,” he started, bumping his shoulder with yours. “regardless of what happens, you’re still my best friend.”

“and you’re mine.”

and maybe that’s as far as your relationship goes, maybe you never get to experience what his lips would feel like on yours, but you’d settle for sunsets on the dock if it meant he could stay a little longer.

18/19

his rookie year might’ve sucked, but your senior year didn’t. you don’t know what it was, maybe it was your hair, or the fact that you cared a little bit more about your appearance, maybe it was because you stopped giving a fuck what others thought and just lived your life.

or maybe, and the saddest maybe, was that you stopped being jack’s little shadow.

you used to wait around for him to answer the phone, knowing his practice schedules and games like the back of your hand and working around them. you’d watch him play on the tv and wait two hours before attempting to call him. and to his credit, he did pick up the first month of living in new jersey, but then it was every other call, then every other week, then once a month until you stopped calling altogether.

luke noticed the difference, often walking over to your house to find you not at home, only to see you getting out of a car at 2 in the morning, stumbling drunk up to the front door.

he caught you one day in the hallways of school between classes. “are you alright?”

you opened your mouth to answer, but you were cut off by a pair of lips swooping down and planting one on you. your boyfriend, matt, mumbling a quick hello before he headed to class.

“sorry about that,” you said once matt disappeared down the hall. “what were you saying?”

luke didn’t say anything for a moment, just stared at you and the retreating back of your boyfriend. “jack’s in town tonight for a game last one of the season, just wondering if you were going.”

“did he get tickets?” you asked.

luke nodded. “one for mom, dad, you, me, and rachel--”

“rachel?” you said quietly, already feeling the dread rise up in your chest.

luke rolled his eyes, not taking notice of the panic bubbling underneath the surface of your body. “jack’s new girlfriend,” he explained. “she’s nice and all, just not who i saw him being with.”

“oh,” you said. then a beat later, “can i bring matt? i’ll pay for his ticket.”

luke looked hesitant but nodded anyway. “i don’t think it’ll be a problem, let me text jack and i’ll let you know.”

by the end of the school day, you got a text confirming that matt could come, ellen and jim opting to just pay for it instead of bothering jack about it.

the game itself was good if you ignored jack’s mediocre performance, something you never thought you’d ever say out loud. and for the most part, you didn’t pay attention, choosing to focus more on explaining the game to matt. when the game ended, you kept close to matt and luke, ignoring the excitement of rachel (who was not as bad as your jealousy led you to believe), and completely unaware of the looks ellen and jim kept shooting each other.

after what felt like ages, jack finally appeared from the locker room, freshly showered. rachel ran up to him first, hugging him tightly before he could even take in the appearance of anyone else.

“you did great, babe!” she cheered.

you had to keep a snort to yourself because he did not, in fact, do great, and judging by the look on his face, he knew it too.

jack pulled away from the hug and finally looked at who came to support him, but his eyes stopped on the arm around your waist. three things seemed to happen at once and so quickly that you couldn’t really understand their meanings. his eyes darkened, his jaw clenched, and he swallowed like he was being force fed something he could barely tolerate.

but they all disappeared in the moment his parents hugged him, luke following up with a smaller hug until the only people left to greet him were you and matt.

“hey,” you said, unsure of how to greet someone who essentially dropped off the face of the earth.

“who’s this?” he asked, eyes locked on yours.

you furrowed your brows. after months apart, little to no communication, this was how he greeted you? but a quick glance at his family and rachel told you it wasn’t the place to pick a fight.

“this is--”

“matt, i’m her boyfriend,” matt cut in, extending a hand to shake.

jack glanced at the hand and then you before hesitantly reaching out to shake. “jack, her best friend.” was all he said.

but matt didn’t stop there. “the one who stopped answering her phone calls?” he asked right as you felt the blood drain from your face. he tilted his head to the side to appear innocent, but you were familiar with that gleam in his eye.

jack didn’t back down, he just clenched his jaw. “and you’re the boyfriend no one mentioned? must sting, knowing you weren’t important enough to be invited in the first place.” he smiled and shrugged before turning around, kissing rachel, and heading back towards the locker room.

you shot a glare at matt before chasing after your best friend.

“jack wait!” he stopped walking, but didn’t turn around until you tugged on his wrist.

“what?” he asked, sounding tired and burned out, unlike the heat of his words just seconds before.

“i’m sorry he said that, he’s usually not...” you trailed off.

“such a dick?” he deadpanned. “i’d hope not.”

“jack...”

he held his hands up. “sorry. that was out of line.”

“little bit.”

jack sighed and ran a hand down his face. “why didn’t you tell me you were dating someone?”

you looked at him with your brows furrowed once again. “when should i have done that? the fourteenth or fifteenth phone call you didn’t answer?”

“i’m sorry--”

“you broke your promise, jack. and i get it, you’re busy but you said you wouldn’t forget about me and you did.”

“i never did!” he insisted. “listen, i know there aren’t enough excuses in the world to make up for how i’ve treated you the past few months, but i didn’t forget about you, i swear. i just didn’t want you to hear about hard it was playing professionally, i didn’t want you to be disappointed in me. my family’s reactions were hard enough.”

“i never thought less of you, jack. i was just waiting for you to talk to me about it.”

“well now that we’ve established that i’m an idiot for ignoring you, can i take you and everyone to dinner? as a treat for being a shitty best friend?”

for the first time that night, you left a genuine smile grace your face. “of course.”

you broke up with matt two days later.

20/21

when you were younger, you dreamt of going to ivy league schools and living out the dark academic lifestyle, but being at michigan proved to be better than anything you could’ve imagined. the culture, the campus, the sports all had you in a chokehold.

which was why you were grateful that luke continued playing hockey (as if there was any doubt).

“are you coming to my game this week?” he asked one night while you both were hanging out in his dorm. “jack will be there.”

you did a double take and nearly spit out the water you were sipping. “he will?”

“since he’s not an all star this year, he has a bye week. said he’d come see me play.”

your heart pounded in your chest. “oh,’ was all you could say.

“but if you ask me, i think he has ulterior motives,” luke said, wiggling his eyebrows in the process.

“okay stop that,” you threw a bottle cap at his head. “it’s weird and freaking me out because i have no idea what you’re implying.”

“don’t play dumb with me now,’ luke started. “you’ve had a crush on my brother since you were like twelve and you haven’t dated anyone seriously since matt.”

“and?”

“and? jack hasn’t really dated anyone since rachel.”

“he said he was too focused on hockey.”

luke scoffed. “if a guy wants to date someone during hockey season, he will make it happen. the point is, jack isn’t interested in dating just anyone.”

you blinked.

“do i really have to spell it out for you?” he asked. “jack likes you.”

“no,” you immediately replied. “i’m not getting my hopes up on a chance.”

“there is no chance! it’s the truth!”

“did he tell you that?”

“...not in so many words.” you opened your mouth but he butted back in. “but i know my brother, even better than you do, i know what he looks like when he’s in love.”

“jack doesn’t love me like that,” you mumbled.

“why couldn’t he? you’re a catch, and he’s known you forever. hell, i’d date you if there was a chance that you’d go for me and that jack wouldn’t absolutely murder me.”

“you’re out of your mind, luke,” you said before standing up. “and i’ve got to head home. i’ll see you at the game, alright? don’t suck.”

a few days later, you found yourself freezing your ass off sitting front row when a sweatshirt was tossed onto your head as someone plopped down in the seat next to you.

“why can’t you ever remember to bring a jacket to these things?”

jack.

you smiled and shoved him in the arm. “you made it!”

“of course i did, wasn’t gonna miss seeing luke play.” when you took a look at him, you noticed how his hair had gotten longer but was hidden under the baseball cap he wore, probably in a sorry attempt to keep things low-key.

“how have you been? how’s the team been?”

jack clutched at his chest. “you mean you haven’t been keeping up?”

you rolled your eyes but laughed anyway. “it’s better to hear from your mouth than random sportscasters.”

“it’s better, i really love it.” you made eye contact and for a second, the chatter around the room dissipated. the only ones who mattered were the two of you. “how have you been? how’s school?”

but you were lost in the cerulean color of his eyes. all you could muster to say was “fine,” before the buzzer went off, signaling the start of the game and snapping you both out of whatever trance you were in.

when one of luke’s teammates scored, you both jumped up and screamed, but it was jack who leaned down and yelled over all the noise. “you better cheer this loud when you come to my games.”

“i don’t think so!” you yelled back. “luke is my favorite hughes brother, now.”

you barely got the words out before his hands attacked your sides, pulling shrieks and laughs out of your mouth. “take it back!” he said.

you kept laughing until you couldn’t take it anymore. “fine! i take it back.”

“say ‘jack is my favorite hughes brother.’“

you opened your mouth--

“no wait, say ‘jack is my favorite hockey player of all time.’“

you rolled your eyes but did it anyway. “jack hughes is my favorite hockey player of all time. there, you happy?” he nodded and suddenly it didn’t matter that you had to sacrifice some of your pride. how could you care about anything else when jack hughes smiled at you like that?

you both met luke down by the locker rooms, jack swearing to take you both out to dinner to congratulate his brother on a game well played. the three of you went to a small diner in town. luke sat on one side of a booth, jack on the other. you stood contemplating which seat to take before jack tugged you into the booth beside him, throwing his arm over your shoulder like it’s always found a home there. luke smirked but said nothing.

it would be another few weeks before you got to see jack in person again. both of you tiding yourselves over with facetime calls and texts.

he brought up being in town for another game and wanting you to attend. you drove yourself and luke to the arena, dressed in jack’s jersey you bought from a merchandise section.

“i’m sure he would’ve given you one if you’d just asked,” luke said.

“it’s not that big of a deal.”

“jerseys are expensive.”

“thanks luke, i had no idea.”

“i’m just saying, you could’ve gotten it for free. he would’ve done it gladly.”

by the time the both of you made it to your seats, the game was about to start.

jack was having a great game. with multiple assists and goals scored, you found yourself wondering how he was even human. there were seldom times where you and luke were actually seated because the both of you were cheering and jumping so much.

at the end of the game, both you and luke made your way down to the locker room, waiting for jack to finish with the interviews as he got off the ice.

“don’t look so nervous,” luke said. “he’ll be happy to see you.”

and sure, that was true, but there was something about that night that felt different. he kept moving his sweaty hair out of his face and glancing around. it wasn’t until he caught sight of you and luke, that jack quickly wrapped up his interview and all but ran towards them.

“good game jack,” you smiled. but his was brighter.

“you came,” he breathed. you could vaguely register luke walking away, but didn’t think much of it.

“you asked me to, why wouldn’t i come?”

“you’re entirely too good for me.”

“jack what’re you talking about--” but your words were cut off when his hands grabbed your face and pulled your lips to his.

it didn’t feel like fireworks, or butterflies, or anything you imagined it was be. it felt like coming home. like the culmination of all your dreams met in that exact moment. his lips were chapped and he smelled like sweat but you couldn’t have imagined this moment any more perfect than it already was.

you only stopped when the need for air overrode the need to stay close to each other.

“what was that?” you whispered.

“a few years in the making,” he replied. “how long for you?”

“since i was twelve.”

he laughed and kissed you again. “you had a head start and i still beat you.”

fin.

#jack hughes #jack hughes imagine #jack hughes x reader #my writing

1K notes · View notes

imagines--galore · 11 months

Text

||Masterlist||

Please read rules before sending requests.

REQUESTS ARE CLOSED FOR THE MOMENT.

(Always Uploading new Fics)

Avatar The Last Airbender

Pairing: Zuko x Orora

The Thread of Fate - Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen, Part Fourteen, Part Fifteen, Part Sixteen, Part Seventeen,

Pairing: Zuko x Reader

It Was Nothing

Theatrics

I’m Here Beside You

Big Hero 6

Pairing: Tadashi Hamada x Sakura Kamiya

Light 'em Up - Prologue, Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three,

Criminal Minds

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Evelyn Richardson

Mind Over Matter - Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen, Part Fourteen, Part Fifteen, Part Sixteen,

(Companion piece to Mind Over Matter)

A Slight Frustration

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Reader

Hold Me Closer

First Kiss

Don’t Go!

Crossover - Frozen x Rise of the Guardians

Pairing: Jack Frost x Elsa (Jelsa)

One Step Closer - Part One, Part Two (InProgress)

Digimon

Pairing: Taichi Yagami x Hidemi Senshi

The Next Adventure

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

Pairing: Alphonse Elric x Willow Hawkeye(OC)

The Ties That Bind - Prologue, Part One,

Pairing: Edward Elric x Reader

Homecoming

The Language of Flowers

Pairing: Roy Mustang x Reader

I Will Always Choose You

Harry Potter

Pairing: Severus Snape x Reader

Reluctant Friendship

Justice League DC Universe

Pairing: Superman x Lucky Penny aka Clark Kent x Penelope Pennyworth

Lucky Break

Pairing: Superman aka Clark Kent x Reader

Part One - Convince Me, Part Two - I’m Convinced

Wedding Drama

Pairing: (Platonic) Superman aka Clark Kent x 12-year-old reader

A New Life

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Rachel

Kiss It Away

Stolen Kisses, Stolen Moments - Part One, Part Two

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

Confessions

Last Night

Empowering

Distraction

Pairing: Dr. Stephen Strange x Clea

Love, A Kind of Magic - Part One, Part Two

Pairing: Dr. Stephen Strange x Reader

Bleeding Love

Perfection

A Surprising Twist

Sleep Deprived

What the Wife Says Goes

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Nothing But a Burden

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

A Pact Renewed

Because You’re Mine

Not a Waste of Space

Just Hold Me

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Never Leave Me

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pairing: Will Turner x Reader

My Heart Calls Your Name

Tavern Brawls

Rise of the Guardians

Pairing: Jack Frost x Evening Star aka The Blue Fairy

Two Spirits Meet - Wishing on a Snowflake I,

Sherlock (BBC)

Pairing: Sherlock x Reader

Serendipity

The Consulting Detective and the Serial Killer

His Love for Her

Your Hand in Mine

Drunken Comfort

Its All Been Arranged

An Unconventional Love Story (Victorian Era AU)

Star Trek(2009)

Pairing: Spock x Kealoha

The Roommate Experiment - Prologue, Part One

Pairing: Spock x Reader

The Little Green Monster

Chasing Away The Darkness

Here For You (InProgress)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Pairing: Leonardo x Amal

Heaven’s Light

A Comforting Embrace

The Amazing Spiderman

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

A Nonverbal Confession

Falling For Him

Heal Together

Drunk on Pheromones

Take All The Time You Need

Falling for the Enemy

The Chronicles of Narnia

Pairing: Peter Pevensie x Reader

An Unexpected Turn

We Face It Together

Pairing: Edmund Pevensie x Reader

The King and the Commoner

The Hobbit

Creepy Crawlies (No Pairing)

Pairing: Kili x Reader

You Are Safe

The Lord of the Rings

Pairing: Legolas x Annúneth

Love Happens(Coming Soon)

Pairing: Legolas x Reader

We Meet Again A Confession Years In The Making

My Prayer, My Light, My Fëa

A Little Introduction to Rock Music

A Promise

Written In The Stars

Treasure Planet

Pairing: Jim Hawkins x Reader

A Little Competition Goes a Long Way

671 notes · View notes

all-mirth-no-matter · 5 months

Text

Time After Time | Chapter Thirteen

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x Reader, Tommy Shelby x Original Female Character

Summary: A significant death shakes up the Shelby household just as you find your way back inside. That events and those after make you start to wonder if now is the time to finally listen to Madam Despoina.

Warning: character death, language, yelling

ao3 link | catch up on tumblr here

Chapter 13: Ghost

I like the sad eyes, bad guys, mouth full of white lies. Kiss me in the corridor, but quick to tell me goodbye. You say that you're no good for me, ‘cause I'm always tugging at your sleeve. And I swear I hate you when you leave. I like it anyway. — Ghost, Halsey

Coming back to the Shelby household wasn’t exactly what you expected. Best case scenario, you expected to be greeted warmly by Polly or Ada; worst case, you expected to have the door immediately slammed in your face by Tommy himself.

Instead, when you knocked on the door, little Katie greeted you.

John’s oldest daughter’s eyes widened and a smile spread across her face when she recognized you, “You’re back!”

She grabbed your hand and pulled you inside as you used your foot to close the door behind you to keep out the cold. When you got into the kitchen, Finn jumped from his chair and threw something into the fireplace.

“Finn,” you scolded. “That a cigarette?”

“Don’t tell Aunt Polly,” he begged, cowering down more in his chair.

Jack ran into the room, a smile on his face as he got ready to watch the show of his youngest uncle getting into trouble.

You hung your jacket on the hook and sat next to Finn, noticing him flinch slightly as you scooted closer. The instinct made you swallow knowing he probably expected you to hit him — one of the discipline actions of the times that still made you cringe despite your attempt to shield your facial expressions.

“I won’t. But you really shouldn’t smoke, especially while you’re still growing. It stunts your growth, ya’know. You want to be this height your whole life?” You tousled his hair playfully to emphasize your point.

Actually, you weren’t a hundred percent sure if that was true — you remember hearing it when you were younger (that and coffee) but you never actually ever did research on it yourself.

“It’s also bad for your lungs,” you added, closing the unattended box of sticks that were sitting in the middle of the table. “It’s bad enough the air quality here is practically smoke itself, the second hand smoke will probably kill us all—“

“Is that what’s happenin’ to mummy?” Katie asked, her hand resting on your knee as she began petting the material of your skirt.

Brow creased, you looked to Finn and Jack, then around the house and noticed no one was around.

“Where is your mum?”

“She’s sick again,” said Jack, or J.J. as you’d immediately called him when you learned that his real name was John, and that he’d been named after his father (Junior). Another moment of instant regret, seeing as you had no idea if initial names or initial nicknames were a common thing yet. But the seven year old latched onto it immediately and you’d apologized to Martha profusely. After the initial shock of her son insisting everyone call him this, who she’d named after John proudly, she finally admitted to finding the nickname quite cute.

That’d been the first substantial interaction you’d had with Martha after just starting in the house. Even before the boys returned, you’d offered to help watch the kids whenever Polly or Ada were babysitting. You’d built a bit of a rapport with the little ones over the months, which had honestly surprised you seeing as you had zero experience with children, being an only child and not having been around family outside of your parents your whole life. It’d taken a little longer to get friendlier with Martha, but eventually you’d found a mutual ease around each other when you were both in the house. But unlike Ada, you didn’t find yourself spending any time outside the house, or alone even, together. And that was okay.

But when she first started getting sick, you’d tried to put in a little more effort to at least let her know you were there for her, or Polly, or the kids, if they needed you. Last you’d heard, Martha had started feeling better around Christmas.

“It’s not smoke, dummy,” J.J. said harshly to his younger sister when she asked again if it was was because of the cigarettes.

“Hey,” you said instinctively, “no need for name calling.”

“Auntie Polly said she’s cold—“

“She’s got a cold—”

“Where is she now?” You interrupted before they escalated, bringing all three of their attentions back to you.

“Auntie Polly took her to the ha’pital,” Katie answered. “Teddy and Annie are with Auntie Ada, said they needed naps.”

And with that, you launched into babysitter mode for the three downstairs. You kept out of the way of the kitchen, especially when the shop opened. When Ada returned with the youngest two, you all took a trip to the shop for food, per Polly’s instructions. By the time you returned, Polly was back and starting dinner.

That’s when she broke the news silently to you and Ada.

Martha had passed away.

Polly was angry with the hospitals, ranting about how she didn’t trust them and how she never should have taken her there in the first place.

“I’ve sent word to John, but he’s still in Digbeth. I’m afraid I’m going to have to break the news to the children.”

You offered to stay the night to help with the kids and housework. That first night had been filled with tears. You even caught Polly’s eyes damp a handful of times during the quieter moments.

Over the next few days, whenever you didn’t have a shift at the Garrison, you ended up at the Shelby house, even sleeping in one of the unoccupied bedrooms most nights. Polly was spending most of the following days preparing for the funeral, while you and Ada tried to make this new world make sense to the children.

You and Ada both had your own experiences of losing your mothers to draw on in an attempt to console the little ones. But it was still difficult, especially for the youngest two, who were still not completely understanding that their mother wouldn’t be coming back. Finn’s patience and kindness to his little nieces and nephews had been the most endearing part for you. He’d been too young to remember his own mother, but was able to explain this new reality in child terms that surprised you.

Since arriving in this time and place, it was hard not to judge the living conditions and lack of opportunities that surrounded you, especially when comparing them to your own upbringing. You’d always considered yourself middle to lower class, but you still had so much more privilege than whole chunks of the world.

Here, even with some of those privileges, you were beginning to understand just how much faster it seemed these children of the time had to grow and mature than you ever had to. Hardships like losing parents at a young age were just the beginning — poverty, malnourishment, lack of education opportunities — these were things that you couldn’t imagine having grown up through. It make you think about Ada and Tommy, your previous image of them running around as children suddenly shifting to something more heart clenching.

Your respect for Polly and her role as matriarch was already high, but over the next few days it only grew as she handled the household, children, business, and funeral arrangements nearly on her own. There hadn’t been a peep from John or any of the brothers until the night before the funeral.

Not yet asleep, you could hear the banging of doors opening and chairs moving in the kitchen. Instinctively, you rose from the cot and grabbed the fireplace stick. On your way down, you stuck your head in the kids’ room, seeing them fast asleep before shutting the door and heading for the noisy intruders.

“Come on, Tom,” you heard Arthur’s voice coming from the kitchen. “She’s got a sister—“

“S’not tonight.” Tommy replying made you pause, your heart jumping at hearing his voice for the first time in weeks. “We’ve got— got the funeral tomorrow, then back to ‘beth.”

His voice sounded lighter than normal, if not slightly slurred.

“Ah fuck it — we’ve been over there for weeks now. The whores here know exactly what I like, them in Dig—“

You cleared your throat, startling both men, though only one reached for his gun to point in your direction. Despite your curiosity to hear more about their escapades, Arthur’s voice had grown louder and you were fearful he’d wake John’s kids, who’d been nightmarish already to settle down.

Tommy’s throat bobbled as he lowered his gun, setting it down on the table. You noticed the dishevelment of his hair and collar of his shirt under his jacket. That, along with the way Arthur was swaying and both with nearly empty bottles in their hands confirmed what you suspected — the boys were wasted.

“The fuck’re you doin’ here?” Arthur asked, his voice not holding as much disdain as you expected, despite the words coming out.

“I’ve been helping Polly and Ada with the kids,” you answered softly, crossing your arms. “They’re asleep upstairs, if you wouldn’t mind keeping your voice down.”

Arthur’s brow creased, his voice still at the same decimeter despite your request. “You ain’t got kids—”

“John’s kids,” Tommy reminded his brother. He gestured toward the door, “Go on now. Don’t you have someone to meet?”

Arthur perked up, “Right! Suppose you won’t join me now, eh? You’ll know where I’ll be!” He gave a final shout before leaving the room and closing the door loudly behind him, causing you to cringe and listen for the stirrings of awakened little ones.

After a moment of silence, you turned back toward the kitchen where Tommy was beginning to remove his jacket.

A deep red stain on the shoulder of his shirt sleeve caused you to gasp, walking toward him without realizing what you were doing, setting the fireplace poker on the table.

“What happened?” You asked, touching his arm gently as you rotated it to see a slash in the fabric.

Tommy shrugged, unsteady on his feet as he instead reached for the fuller bottle of rum on the counter. “Just a scrap ‘fore we went to the pub, ‘s nothin’—“

“I can help—“

“Just go back to the room—“

“Sit down,” you instructed more sternly. He glared at you, but you didn’t let it stop you. “Take off your shirt, that’s going to infect if we don’t clean it.”

“I can do it m’self,” he mumbled and turned to leave, but began to stumble as he became imbalanced.

You caught and stabilized him before guiding him back to the chair. “You’re drunk as fuck, Tommy. Just sit down and let me help you.”

He huffed, but began to slide down in the chair until it creaked with the extra weight. Satisfied, you finally turned to get a fresh bowl of water and clean towels, then the bandages you’d seen Polly use a few times before. He was unbuttoning his shirt when you pulled up a second chair closer to him, ringing the cloth in the water.

“What were you gonna do with that?” You caught his gesture to the fireplace poker on the table, his voice laced with condescension. “Should learn how to handle a real weapon.”

By the time you sat down, Tommy had his bad arm out of his shirt.

“I know how to handle a gun,” you answered plainly, your voice serious as he watched you examine his wound.

Well, you knew how to handle a gun in the 2000s, that is. With your father being a military man, he wanted to make sure you and your mother went through the proper gun safety and etiquette classes since there’d likely be some weapons in the house. You hadn’t been to a shooting range since your father was alive, but you imagined if you had to handle a gun today you’d at least not make a total idiot of yourself. Now, whether you could actually shoot a live person was another question.

Concentrating back on Tommy’s arm, the blood had begun to crust around the cut, but began to bleed slightly as you started to put pressure on it. He hissed slightly at the contact.

“Sorry,” you mumbled slightly as you continued to work. “Why’d you let this go so long? You know better—“

He scoffed, “Do I?”

“I would have assumed so,” you answered honestly. Someone with the military backing he had, he must have known the dangers of infections and exposed wounds. Though as you worked you began to realize it wasn’t as bad as it’d originally appeared.

He took another swig of the bottle before handing it to you.

“No thanks,” you answered, not in the mood to drink tonight.

“For the cut,” he said as he shook his head, a breath of amusement exhaling from his nose at your reaction.

Sterilizing, you realized, giving yourself a duh as you took the bottle and carefully poured some on his skin. He hissed again as blood started to flow once more before you applied proper pressure. You sat there silently for a moment, just holding the rag to his arm, when you noticed him looking down at the cut sleeve, running his thumb across the red stain.

“So much blood for such a small cut,” he said softly, mostly to himself.

Your brow creased as you lifted the rag to look at his arm. The cut itself wasn’t that deep, but it was pretty substantial, at least in your opinion. Maybe comparatively it wasn’t as bad as some of the other injuries he’d had in his lifetime. The thought made your heart clench as your eyes began to notice other scars along his arm and uncovered chest.

You kept going back to a particularly gnarly scar just above his chest as you lifted his arm to wrap the bandage.

“Did you get this fighting?” you finally asked, turning your attention back to the cut, your curiosity getting the better of you.

He grabbed the bottle and took another drink. “‘Cause that’s all we do, eh? Drink, fight, and fuck—“

“I didn’t say that,” you interrupted, your voice strong in defense.

You wouldn’t mention how his brother was just talking about whores. Or how they were both currently drunk. Or how the last time you’d seen him in this kitchen he’d been bloody and bruised from an altercation.

Probably wouldn’t be helpful at this point.

Instead, you tried to appeal to the logical side of him. “Just with the Digbeth expansion, I’d imagine that can be pretty dangerous.”

You finished the tie of the bandage as you looked back up at him. He was already watching you, his eyes red and glassy, causing the already bright blues to appear more translucent against the candlelight. You noticed how much darker the skin under his eyes were, and couldn’t help but wonder when the last time he slept was.

“You’ve got some on your hands,” he pointed, gently wrapping his hand around your own. He lifted it, revealing the deep red smear on the pad of your hand. He used his good hand to squeeze out the rag and began to clean your palm.

“It’s just blood,” you shrugged, trying not to let on that your heart was racing at the intimacy. “Blood doesn’t scare me, Tommy.”

He looked between your eyes. For a moment you felt like he’d suddenly become sober as he lifted his good hand and gently ran his thumb against your cheek. “It should.”

You swallowed. “Tommy, I—“

“You don’t belong here.”

At his words, you felt your back straighten in defense, not realizing how close you’d been moving in toward him. Your heart began to race even faster as you tried to decipher what exactly he meant.

Part of you knew he must have been talking more in general terms. That you deserved something more than Birmingham in a gambling den with gangsters.

But there was something in the rawness of his words. Something that made you feel like he knew what such a phrase could actually mean to you — that you didn’t belong here, in this time or this place.

“I don’t,” you answered honestly, not helping the sincerity of the words falling from your lips. “But here I am. And here is where I want to be.”

Tommy’s expression remained unreadable as his eyes flicked between both of yours, looking for the lie. His adam’s apple bobbed, then he whispered, “With me?”

The sound of soft whimpering caused you both to jump, turning back toward the kitchen doorway. Katie stopped at the archway, dragging a blanket as she used the end of it to wipe her face.

You rose from your seat to collect the little one — this wasn’t the first time she’d woken up crying since her mother’s passing.

Katie nuzzled her face into your shoulder as you turned back toward the kitchen. Tommy was already standing, putting his arm back in his shirt and grabbing his coat and gun, still slightly uneasy in his footing as he headed for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“Tommy—” you called as the door shut behind him.

—-

The next morning was hectic as everyone prepared for the funeral. You didn’t see the brothers again until that afternoon, John’s eyes red despite the stone expression he kept on his face as everyone offered their condolences.

You felt Tommy’s eyes on you as you both navigated through the house, stealing a few glances at him yourself when he wasn’t looking. Neither of you spoke to the other though, and you were beginning to wonder if he even remembered your conversation the previous night. But each time you found yourself thinking in that direction, you shook your head to remind yourself of the bigger picture of the day.

Polly explained that they would start at Charlie’s Yard and walk the body through the town Martha had grown up in before reaching the graveyard. There, the priest would perform the ceremony. Apparently most of Martha’s family was already gone, so the guests would be mostly John’s family and her friends. After the burial, the Shelbys would return to Charlie’s Yard to burn the caravan filled with Martha’s mementos and pictures. Apparently this was more of a Shelby family tradition, something you were greatly interested in learning more about, at a different time of course.

The preparations reminded you of your recent conversation with Polly over spirits. It got you thinking about the tea Madam Despoina had given you again.

Excusing yourself to get ready for the events of the day, you left the Shelby house to change in your lodgings, doing your best to find something black. The only thing you didn’t have was a hat, but Ada had promised to bring you an extra. Your eyes kept shifting over to your dresser drawer.

It’d been almost a month since you’d received the gift. You’d spent months desperate for an answer as to how or why you were here. And it seemed that just as you were given some sort of clue, some key to unlock something — you were rejecting it. You’d gotten caught up in the found family of the Shelbys and the unshakable pull you felt from Tommy. This new life you’d created for yourself had become a distraction and disassociation of the still very real mystery of your circumstance.

Your eyes moved again to the dresser as you looked over yourself in the mirror. Could the answer be in that cup of tea?

A knock at the door caused you to jump, your heart racing at being caught with your own thoughts. Half expecting Ada with the hat she’d promised, you were surprised when it was Tommy instead who stood on the other side of your door.

He had his hands shoved in his pockets as he stood there uncomfortably. He cleared his throat, “Ada wasn’t sure if you’d know where Charlie’s Yard was, so I offered to come collect you.”

“Oh,” you replied, wondering if it was true. “I just need to get my coat then—“

“Tommy? What are you doin’ here?” You heard another man’s voice down the hall as you turned back around to poke your head through the still open door of your apartment.

Benji approached the doorway in a button-up and small bouquet of flowers in his hands.

Tommy’s brow creased as he appraised the man, then looked between the flowers and you before his face hardened and back straightened.

“What are you doing here, Benji?”

He smirked, “We were going to get dinner, remember?”

You hadn’t. The man hadn’t even been a speck on your mind the past week.

“I’m sorry, Benji,” you began, your voice sincere, “um— Martha passed away this week. We’re on our way to the funeral, I can’t see you tonight.”

“Oh,” he turned to Tommy. “Right I heard about that. I’m sorry for your loss, mate.”

Tommy shook his head. “Save your condolences for my brother, Hancock. We’re going to be late, if you’ll excuse us.”

Without waiting for you, Tommy began to walk down the hallway toward the exit. You rushed to grab your coat and lock your door behind you before apologizing again to Benji and hustling after Tommy.

“Suppose that answers my question,” was the first thing out of Tommy’s mouth when you finally caught up with him, still looking straight ahead as you both walked down the lane.

“What?”

“Last night—“

“You remember last night?” you asked surprised. He had been really drunk

He scoffed, still not slowing in his walk nor giving you a glance. “I remember a lot of things. Including you telling me you weren’t interested in Hancock.”

“I wasn’t,” you answered, trying to catch your breath.

He scoffed again and your eyes narrowed.

“But then nearly a month went by after you ghosted me so I thought what the hell, give the guy a chance.”

“Ghost?—“

“You told me to stay away—“

“And staying away means being courted by a Peaky Blinder, ya?”

“Courted?” Your brow creased at the use of phrase. “It was going to be one date — just a dinner, we weren’t getting married.”

He rounded on you, pulling you abruptly into an alcove off the sidewalk until your back was against the brick. His eyes bore down at you as the fire returned to his eyes. “Do you know what happens to people who cross me?” He started, his voice lower than it had been moments before. “They lose their ears, their tongues, their eyes. You have no fuckin’ idea who you’re talking to.”

“I do,” you said, your voice just as strong despite the threatening tone of Tommy hovering above you. His eyes simmered for a moment. “You think you’re a monster. Maybe you are— maybe you have to be, maybe you don’t. I don’t care. I said I was going to help you. So shove off with the chauvinistic ‘I’m pushing you away to keep you safe’ bullshit — I don’t want it.”

You surprised yourself at your own words, though you tried to keep your face from showing it. Deep down, you’d always believed what you said, but you hadn’t known exactly to what extent. Did you not care if Tommy Shelby was a monster? No. And you couldn’t shake why.

“You’ll regret it,” he said, his eyes icy once again with the same hint of desperation you saw the night before.

“Not as much as you’ll regret going from ‘I need you’ to ‘stay away from me’—“

He shook his head, finally taking a step back from you. “I was being selfish—“

“Well then be selfish!” You took a step back toward him. “Because dammit, Tommy, I need you too!”

He pulled your body into his so quickly you nearly pushed him away. But your body immediately reacted to the feel of his lips against yours as you pulled yourself in closer, wrapping your arms around his neck.

You broke away first, the whistling of pedestrians on the sidewalk making you remember you weren’t as concealed in this alcove as you thought. Though Tommy didn’t seem to care, his eyes still focused on you as you caught your breath.

“Don’t think just kissing me absolves you from giving a proper explanation for your actions,” you tried to say as serious as you could muster between breaths.

You were still mad at him. He’d put you through a roller coaster of unnecessary emotions the last few weeks. For him to get jealous at the prospects of you moving on? There was something more, you could feel it. And there was no way you were letting him get away with not explaining himself fully before you felt you could open back up to him again.

The corner of his mouth rose in amusement, “Come to the races with me when I return.”

“What?” your brow creased, though the corner of your mouth tugged upward at the prospects of what sounded like a date (you really were delusional when it came to this man).

“I want to take you to the races. Join me?”

You shook your head, “Is this the Tommy Shelby version of an olive branch?”

He smirked, “Maybe. We can talk more then.”

“Deal,” you answered, pulling his smirk into a genuine smile as you both turned back to continue down the sidewalk.

—-

The funeral was beautiful. Honestly, you hadn’t any idea what to expect when Polly talked about the arrangements. But the words, the songs, and the beauty of the traditions had you in tears. John held his children during the entire procession, and gave a lovely send off before lighting the fire.

Despite the grief you were feeling for the family, your brain hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the tea in your bedroom. Tommy had informed you that they’d be wrapping up Digbeth soon, returning properly in a few weeks.

That night was the first night you’d been back in your own apartment. The first thing you did was open your dresser drawer and remove the box.

You left it on your counter top as you started the fireplace, then the kettle. As you reached for the tea cup, you wondered if it was smart to be alone while you did this. You were, after all, still about sixty percent sure that the old tea was just going to give you either a stomach ache or seizure. But, you guessed that was better than the ninety-nine percent that you’d been at upon first receiving.

You gently removed the leaves and vial of water, following the instructions from Madam Despoina as you made your cup.

Holding the warm tea in your hands, you made the last minute decision to sit on the floor — reasoning that if you collapsed or something, at least you wouldn’t have as far to go.

You settled on the rug, inhaled deeply, closed your eyes, then brought the edge of the cup to your mouth.

You could feel the hot water run through your throat, then down to your chest before the warmth began to spread through your arms and hands, down to your stomach, then legs, then toes.

With your eyes still closed, you sat for a moment, waiting for something to happen.

When nothing did, you took another sip. Again, nothing happened.

Sighing, you sent a small thank you to whomever was listening that you at least didn’t go into any kind of shock, then opened your eyes.

“Hello, darling.”

>> next chapter <;< chapter masterlist

Tag list: @cillixn @sidefanficaccounttohidemyshame @cillmequick @swordofawriter @sweetmilkshakeluminary @nataliewalker93 @ttae-yong @topstory21 @cole-silas @moral-terpitude @optimisticsandwichgladiator @reallysparklychaos @enrapturedbythemoon @bat-shark-repellant @kpopslur @skxawngs @musicsweetie21 @invisiblexcth @whoisf4yryl0v3r @laylasbunbunny @lordofthunderthr @luvstylesz @roseanimelover @lostgirl219 @berarenado @akemiixx01 @mulletmcghee @jasminxts @oneboygenius @piceous21 @xoprincessmel @the-blueatlas @regatoni1 @goblinjnr @gentyleman @xxbeckybeexx-blog @tanyaherondale @sometimes-i-sing @littlewhiterose @ja-4-leyvam @rubyxx16 @allie131313 @pet1t3 @globetrotter28 @woofgocows @radrouda @wildernessflora @jeysbae @lilianashomaresparza @himikotoga101 @a-asterias @sourholland @samywhale @thecityofspareparts @ponyboys-sunsets @mariaelizabeth21-blog1 @vastseamind @optimisticsandwichgladiator @booktvmoviefangirl @drquinnzel0217qqqqqqqqqqq @zodiyack @ofkilljoysandslytherins @bluevenus19 @ce1iat @mgajdaaa @babyotileeblog @arcanebabe @iamtrashsry @snowtargaryen @mottergirl99 @sinarainbows @belledawnidk @laneyspaulding19 @warrior-of-justice

239 notes · View notes