#what if we kissed at a party in the hamptons...... and we were both boys...... haha just kidding.... unless? 🧐

[jisungsdaydreamer]

[11:10 PM]

«GENERAL M.LIST» · «NAVIGATION» · «TALK TO ME» · «TAGLIST»

SYNOPSIS Your father would end you before allowing you to see him, but you’d spin in your highest heels and risk everything if it meant every night could be like this.

Pairing: Seungmin x fem!reader Genre: forbidden romance, fluff, angst Warnings: implications of arranged marriage, toxic parents Word Count: 1k

P.S. ♡ If you like my work, please consider giving me feedback in the form of reblogs, comments, and asks! ♡

“Want to get out of here?”

Words uttered only a few minutes ago, and yet, it feels like hours have passed since you and Seungmin decided to ditch the cocktail party you were forced to attend. The conversation got tedious quickly, because all these one-percenters can talk about is horseback riding, trips to the Hamptons, and the latest family to get embroiled in a scandal.

Across the dimly lit room, Seungmin had spotted you standing against the wall, downing your third flute of champagne. He’d discreetly made his way over to you, leaning down to whisper those devilish words into your ear. At his signal, you both finally slipped out of the event room, giggling while running through the venue halls like you were children again.

“What do we do now?” You gasp breathlessly once you are outside, surrounded by the thick rose bushes at the entrance of the building. 

Seungmin says nothing, just looking down at where your hand clasps his, from when you grabbed it during your grand escape. In bashful realization, you try to retract your arm, but he maintains a firm grasp, meeting your eyes. Your face heats up as you try not to melt under the gaze of the son of your father’s worst enemy. 

What started as a business rivalry had blossomed into a ferocious enmity, and your father had sworn that he would end anyone who tried to fraternize with the other side, including his only daughter. But how could you stay away from Seungmin, who seemed to invade every part of your life at the top university that you both attended? How could you avoid his witty charm every time he debated with you in front of everyone in class? How could you forget those hushed moments when he cornered you in the rose gardens, eyes sparkling with trouble?

“I’ll do anything, as long as I’m by your side,” Seungmin finally answers, earnesty written all over his expression. He looks vulnerable, like a little boy scared of rejection. You’re scared too, for the time when you’re both inevitably caught, because you can’t keep going like this.

But tonight is what you currently have ahead of you. You bring Seungmin’s hand up to your lips, softly kissing it, before you grab his arm and pull him along with you. You chase each other with no destination in mind, exchanging teasing laughter like you have no worries at all. 

The thin high heel of your sandal inevitably catches onto a cobblestone, nearly making you spin and fall over onto your face, but Seungmin swiftly catches your waist, pulling you back up. As always, he takes care of you without asking for anything in return. Before him, you thought that you had to earn the right to be loved. You never knew that there was a beautiful man who would give his heart to you without even thinking if you would accept it.

So even when the raindrops come pelting down, your smile doesn’t cease. You simply hitch up the heavy material of your dress in your arms, and Seungmin immediately takes off his suit jacket, holding it over your head so you don’t catch a cold. 

“I’ll be fine, you know.” You roll your eyes playfully. “It’s just a light drizzle.”

“Your father will murder me if something happens to you,” Seungmin says without thinking.

You glance at him, the lighthearted mood finally fading away. “He can’t know.”

Seungmin looks over at you. “I know.”

That familiar bout of sadness rises in you for the millionth time, and you have to avert your gaze because if you stare into Seungmin’s eyes a second longer, you fear you may lose it. Whatever is going on between you both, you know it won’t last forever. When your father decides it’s time, he will most likely force you to marry the son of some rich man to secure a partnership. Your life is in the hands of your father, who would rather prioritize his business needs over your happiness. And losing Seungmin would make it unbearable.

“Sometimes, I kind of wish we never even met.” You kick a pebble as the rain begins to slow down. “Then I would never have live in a painful memory when it’s over.”

“You would never be a painful memory for me.” Seungmin shakes his head adamantly. “I know that no matter what, I will never, ever regret meeting you.”

You swallow, your eyes filling with tears. “I don’t want to think of a future without you.”

Seungmin says nothing for a moment, concentrating on the foggy road in front of you. By now, your father and his men are probably looking for you, so it’s fortunate that you both reach a small convenience store, ducking inside of it for a temporary reprieve.

 “So don’t.”

“What are you saying?”

He meets your eyes once more, and you notice something in him that you’ve never seen before. Defiance. “Run away with me.”

You nearly laugh out loud in disbelief. “Yeah. And then we can go to the moon.”

Seungmin grasps your hands. “I’m serious. There’s a cargo bus that leaves the city tonight, and it belongs to Hyunjin. Your father isn’t stupid enough to mess with the mayor’s son.”

“Even so, there’s nowhere we can go where my father can’t find us.”

Seungmin’s excited smile deflates, and he sighs. “We’ll figure out a way, I promise.”

You just gaze at his crestfallen expression, before reaching your palms up to cup his cheeks. “I know we will.”

For the first time, something not unlike hope blossoms in your chest. Even the possibility of getting out of this hellhole and living somewhere alone and undisturbed with the love of your life makes you dream. Maybe you really will get to have what you truly desire more than anything.

“You know I love you, right?” Seungmin loops his arms around your waist and pulls you closer, kissing you right in the middle of the frozen food section.

“I know.”

«GENERAL M.LIST» · «NAVIGATION» · «TALK TO ME» · «TAGLIST»

TAGLIST @hamburgers101 @chansburgah @ajxreads @hash2013 @pixigreen @ana-marais98 @ohish @chizumiyoshi @lilydaisyyy @jetblackbelle @143hyunes

Network: @kflixnet

©jisungsdaydreamer 2023 | All rights reserved. I do not condone translations or transfers of my work onto other platforms such as Wattpad, AO3, etc. Tumblr is my only platform. Acts of plagiarism are strictly prohibited.

[tropicalchiaa]

Him Pt 5

Maurizio Gucci X Reader

The Consequences

You are dealing with the aftermath of Milan and your healing process is interrupted

Enjoy ❤️

Pt 1   Pt 2   Pt 3  Pt 4

It’s been about five months since Milan. Business is even better than ever, and you were happy. Have you called Maurizio? No. Have you responded to any of his letters? No. Have you opened any of his gifts? No again. None of that matter, both of you were better off without him.

Yes, you did just say both. Currently, you are 5 months pregnant with a healthy baby boy. I mean who were you kidding, there was not one condom wrapper in sight that day. The memory is still alive and well in your head. And when you are lonely at night you can still feel how his cock twitched inside your warm cunt. Leaving his cum in there for safekeeping.

This secret had to stay under wraps for a multitude of reasons. But the biggest is that you are potentially carrying his only son and way of keeping the Gucci legacy alive. No one knows the identity of the baby daddy but your close friend. Although she was livid when you broke the news to her, she quickly began to gush about being a Godmother and how both of you guys would raise this baby together.  There was no reason for you not to keep the baby. You were rich, successful, and had a team that would surround him with all the love he could ask for.

Your annual summer party was coming up and you could not cancel it for anything. This party was the highlight of the season for the last 5 years and you would be damned if you let a baby get in the way. Also, you sent out the invitations months ago to the top brands, luckily already excluding House of Gucci. 

So that leaves you here at your family’s Hampton estate putting the final touches on your party that is happening in a few hours. Praying that people can’t tell you are pregnant under your flowy white sundress. And hoping your new hairstyle will be enough to distract them, it usually is.

The party is in full swing and your secret was well kept so far. Sneaking back from another bathroom break you are halted by a deep voice saying, “Hi Princess.” No no no you thought. Not even wanting to engage you keep walking towards the party. Hoping for a slight chance you were imagining the voice or that you could get someone to buffer you from this man.

“Where do you think you are going?” The voice says grabbing your arm and pulling you towards them. “You weren’t invited,” you say plainly, trying to remove yourself from their grip. “Oh, that? I just assumed my invitation got lost in the mail, like all the other things I have sent you. Why do I get the feeling you do not want to see me? Because when I envisioned our reuniting, I always assumed you would pounce on me like a tiger eating his prey. But here you are acting as if we are strangers, why is that Princess?” They ask with emotion dripping from every word.

“I do not want to see you,” you say firmly, still avoiding looking them in the eyes.  “Stop this nonsense and look at me Y/N!” They say pulling your chin up looks them in the eye. And when your eyes hit those blue ones’ reality hits you like a flood. And in some fight or flight attempt, you try to reason your way out of this situation.

“Please unhand me Maurizio,” more reality sitting in as you say his name for the first time. “I need to go host my party.”  “Princess we need to ta--” and like a miracle your second assistant comes towards you mentioning a too drunk design executive. Looking over at him, you silently convey for him to let you go. But before he says, “We will talk later,” while letting go reluctantly. And boy was he waiting on the later, you could feel his intense stare everywhere you floated that afternoon.

 Learning from your mistake you made sure to take your close friend with you on bathroom breaks to make sure you weren’t surprised by him again. Oh, how you wished he was some crasher that you could throw out. Fuck, why couldn't you get impregnated by a nobody?

Finally, as people are filtering out after the sunset dinner you feel some relief. You had seen Maurizio and his wife leave about 30 minutes ago, so you walked around without feeling eyes watching your every move. As you closed the door for the last time hopefully you hear him say, “Finally, I was beginning to think we wouldn’t be able to talk. Especially now that I know why you have been avoiding me.” 

Whipping around you are again facing Maurizio with no escape. “You left, how are you even here?” You whimper out shocked. “Oh, that? I told my wife that we have a meeting for a collaboration of some sort. And because I have been feeding her alcohol all afternoon she left with little thought to my statement.” He says closing the distance between the two of you. 

Your brain is moving a thousand miles per second, he knows you're pregnant! Your friends and assistants won’t be back for a few hours because they are driving people back to the city! “Please I made it very clear we had nothing to talk about, especially when you corner me like this.” You say, trying to keep as much confidence in your stance and voice. 

“Princess, I wouldn’t need to corner you if you just stop ignoring me. Especially over something so small as gaining weight.” He says with a frown on his face. Gaining weight? “You think I am ignoring you because I gained weight?” You say confused. “Yes, I mean that is why you are wearing such a matronly outfit and your face is rounder. Plus, you didn’t take off your dress once and we both know how much you like to show off your body. But don’t worry your secret's safe with me, I am sure a nice diet can get you back in shape in no time.” He says putting a hand on your shoulder. “Plus, I love what the weight has done to your ass and breast, cannot wait to see them in their full glory in a second.” He says as he tries to pull your dress above your head.

 “NOOO,” you say but it is too late, he has already seen your round belly and is frozen with shock. Scared of the reaction you close your eyes and hold your belly as you cower bracing yourself for impact. “You’re pregnant?” he says softly, staring at you with wide eyes. “Yes,” you say quietly, trying to distance yourself from him to gain some composure. “What? Wait did you think I was going to hit you?” He stutters out hurt.

“Umm no, it's just become an instinct to protect my belly no matter the threat.” You ramble out nervously. “But you think I am a threat? Why?” He says with a small pause and without missing a beat, “IS THE BABY MINE???” He screams as the realization hits him. “NO!” You say too quickly. Trying to rectify your response you say, “It’s my ex’s...” That lie wouldn't even convince a toddler. 

“Y/N I am not going to ask you another time is this child mine and cut the bullshit when you answer next.” He says grabbing both your shoulders with a little shake. A small yes falls from your lips, feeling overwhelmed with no options. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He says stumbling backward-looking dazed. 

Feeling anger flair in you, “WHY DIDN’T I TELL YOU?” You screamed “UMMM maybe it's because you have a family? Or maybe it was because I was used as a hooker. Oh no maybe it's because you are an arrogant asshole.” You spit out, each statement hopefully hitting like slaps. “You know what, just leave, I can’t do this right now. If you want to talk like civilized people you can come back tomorrow at 11:00 with some sense.” You say opening the door for him to walk out.

And for the first time ever Maurizio listened to you, walking out the door stunted. But before you could close the door he pulled you into a kiss then said, “I want to be in this baby's life and nothing is going to stop me. Not even you.” And with that, he took off walking towards his car after he subtly threatened you. 

From closing the door to saying goodnight to the housing staff, his words hung over you like a dark cloud. Even as you were falling asleep, the threat replayed in your head. Tomorrow was going to be taxing, you could already feel it.

Ummmm, very cliche but I love ittttt!!!

Hope you enjoyed and as always leave feedback!

Taglist: @maybe-your-left @desiraypark​ @mysticalfairytales​

[hhgossip]

HIDDEN HILLS WEEKLY ISSUE #2

In this issue of Hidden Hills Weekly, we are talking about the outrageous lives of our celebrities in the gated community! We talk about polyamorous lovers to concerts in your every own kitchen!

ISABELLE AMOR’S ADDING ON TO HER POLY LIFESTYLE?

For the past week, Isabelle Amor, 28 has been in New York filming her newest show, “Only Murders In The Building.” She has been seen up and down the busy streets, filming scenes and having fun on set but fans have noticed that the singer/actress is having too much fun with her co-star. The pair have been seen getting quite cozy with one another when the cameras cut. They have been seen with big smiles and sparkles in their eyes. It comes as quite a shock as Isabelle is in an unconfirmed relationship with country music stars Annika Baddie, 25, and Cameron Nelson, 26. You did read that right, Isabelle is dating Both Annika and Cameron. They are living a polyamorous lifestyle where three people are all seeing each other. 

Fans are wondering if Isabelle’s co-star is going to be added to her relationship with the country stars. Fans took it far enough to compare the relationship and pictures of Isabelle with her ex-boyfriends and current lovers to her new beau. Those pictures include her famous love story with James Hemmings, 27, with who they share one child together. Mateo Hemmings, 3. One fan stated on Twitter that - “Jelle is way more hotter than this! What is this?!” Along with the tweet was a shared picture of Belle with her co-star. While other fans tweeted that Belle looked happier with her two other loves. “Belle looks GLOWING with Ani and Cam! LET HER BE HAPPY!” Says another fan.

What do Annika and Cameron think about Isabelle potentially looking for another lover? What do you all think? Let us know!

WALLEN FATHERED A CHILD IN SECRET WITH MACKENZIE?

On February 26, 2021, the multi-talented actress Mackenzie Locklear, 23, told the world via Instagram that she had given birth on February 15th to a baby boy named Phoenix Finn Locklear. The actress went silent on all types of social media after the Sweetheart Dance we held on the 12th of this month until her huge announcement. We haven’t heard much about her birth but everyone is wondering who the father is. Mackenzie never said out in any interviews who the father of her son is but many people are assuming it’s Wallen Ward, 28, country singer. People are only assuming this as Mackenzie has been seen at many of Ward’s concerts in the past. She is either in the sound booth or she is backstage with everyone else. Wallen is currently married to Madeline King, 22, the youngest of the King Siblings. 

We have reached out to all parties but we got nothing but got declined to speak from Locklear’s team, but we heard nothing back from King & Ward’s team just yet. But we will keep you all updated on the matter when we get the word!

ODESSA’S NIGHTMARE!

On the day of February 18th, 2021, we got reports of Daniel Kaylan, 29, had left his household with his daughter, Heather without notifying her mother and his fiancée, Odessa Fitzpatrick, 27. We were told that the police were called on the scene as Odessa had no idea where her daughter had gone to and assumed she had gone missing. It wasn’t clear where Daniel had gone with Heather but one thing that was clear is the fact that Odessa was not having any of it when Daniel revealed that he was the one who took Heather and left. 

The couple just welcomed their third child, a son, into the world on the 14th of this month. Who they have not released the name yet. They also share another son, Wyatt, who is the oldest of the Kaylan Clan. 

Rumors had spread that Odessa had indeed got the police involved once she could not find Heather anywhere and Daniel had to come home to talk them himself to explain what had really gone down. We know for sure, this is something he will never do again and might spend the rest of the year in the dog house for this one! 

LOVE TRIANGLE IS STILL ON THE RISE!

Is 5 Seconds Of Summer’s guitarist still in love with a former groupie? The answer is unclear to many but also very clear to those around them! Spencer Stone, 25, used to sleep around constantly with Lanie Sinclair, 22, back when the band was touring for their album Sounds Good Feels Good. They currently share two children together, Lyric, 4, and Mercury, 2 months. Everything was going well between the two as co-parents before Spencer moved in with his girlfriend, Francesca “Frankie” Hart, 25. The house was already sold but Lanie ended up staying the night with Spencer the weekend before the big move and rumors have it that they have done more than just kiss that night. Sources had said that Sinclair left early in the morning with their daughter and her daughter, Lucina, 9 months, who she shares with her current boyfriend, Theodore “Theo” Dean, 26. Lanie was currently pregnant when she stayed the night.

Rumors only fueled even more as Lanie went off with Theo to Paris for nearly a month after giving birth to her son with Spencer. Theo was fresh out of an engagement with Nicole Hampton, 24, and Lanie was dealing with Spencer’s flip-flopping feelings for her. Sources had said in Aspen that Stone had made Sinclair cry more than once. Reports claim to overhear a fight between Spencer and Frankie as he admitted kissing Lanie. Witnesses say that Hart claimed to feel like she had been cheated on since Spencer agreed to father another baby with Lanie without talking to her about it first. This caused a huge rift between Hart and Stone in Las Vegas where Frankie walked out on him during blackout dinner. 

During the Sweetheart Dance, many eyewitnesses had said that the whole night Spencer couldn’t tear his eyes away from his ex-groupie while she danced with her former turned current boyfriend Theo. What will Frankie think about all of this? What does Theo think about all of this as well?

SCOTTIE’S FREE CONCERT!

The Model/Youtuber Scottie Blake, 27, made headlining news when she went live on Instagram the other night and totally forgotten about it! It went from attempting to make pasta for dinner into a full-on action concert for thousands of people unknowing to her. Many of her fans were delighted to see Scottie enjoying herself as she danced around her kitchen and sang her heart out to her favorite songs. They blasted through her speakers and we do not blame her for forgetting about being live! When you have great music taste like Scottie, it’s common to forget what you were doing and just want to have some fun. 

One fan wrote on Twitter, “LOOK AT HOW CUTE SCOTTIE IS!” With many heart emojis and a screenshot from the live. 

Although trolls were making fun of the model, many of Scottie’s fans were quick to defend her and one started out. “As if you don’t do this when you’re alone lmao bye” 

One thing is for sure, Scottie Blake, we need that album, and secondly, keep on dancing and never stop!

NICOLE HAMPTON IS TURNING TO A WRITER!

The rumors might be true! They might be false! But we do hope it’s true! Nicole Hampton, 24, had said it herself that she planned on writing a book called - “boy mom shit - you’ll be grey before thirty.” She then goes on to explain why she decided to write a book on parenting. It was because of her oldest son, Zeus, 6, who she shares with Derek King, 27. He was attempting to talk to his youngest brother, Asher, 4, who she shares with Brody Roberts, 30, to jump off his bed onto his skateboard so that he could ‘surf’ down the stairs. Luckily, Mama Hampton was quick to put that idea out of their heads and put their safety into their minds. Who knows what could have happened if she didn’t catch them in time!

As we are all parents in Hidden Hills, it would be so nice to hear what other parents have to go through. All children are wild, fun, and beautiful. They may drive us all up the wall but we do love them with all of our hearts! So, Nicole, we would love and buy your book! Give us a call when it’s about to be released! Don’t be shy now!

BRODY IS MOVING ON?!

Yes, you heard it here first! Brody Roberts says that he is ready to move on with his life and find that special someone! Our close sources say that he has come to terms with his ex-girlfriend, Nicole Hampton, 24 is moving on with her life and he is ready to do the same. As we stated in a previous story, the couple shares a son together, Asher, 5. The producer and director have been keeping a low profile recently but want to change that and step out more. We have to say that we’re excited to see Brody out and about again! 

People close to the director stated that he wanted to connect with someone and meet that special someone in an authentic way and is adamantly opposed to dating apps. We get it, we don’t want to be catfished in this household. We were told that he has been asking around for ideas of places to meet people and even may have asked a few people to join him on that adventure. We do not know who at this time but once we get more details, we will share them with you all!

[thefifthsister-notactive]

Still My Always

Happy 5th Anniversary Castle & Beckett

It had been a beautiful weekend.

They’d kissed Lily and Alexis goodbye, their daughters content with a weekend together and Martha and Jim nearby if Alexis needed a hand,  and driven up to the Hamptons 

He’d wanted to give her a Babymoon for their anniversary, this being most likely their last chance for a weekend away before the twins would be born, but she was so tired this time around she hadn’t been looking forward to any long journeys.

He’d been delighted with a weekend at their Hamptons home. After all, it was where they’d been married. Where their lives had changed and a new chapter had begun.

They’d spent the weekend wrapped in each other. Napped. Woken each other up in delicious ways. Napped some more. He’d cooked dinners. They’d cuddled under warm blankets and watched the stars at night. And she’d disappeared off to get ready for their night out, leaving her husband to dress and wander outside to the deck overlooking the ocean.

“Hey babe, I’m ready when you are,” she called to him from the house. They were going to a restaurant down the road for a romantic meal and then driving back to the city in the morning. 

She looked stunning. Dressed in a billowing navy dress that made his heart stop, hugged her in all the places that he loved and didn’t make her self-conscious about the bump. She’d pulled her hair back off her neck and was holding a wrap in her hands. She took his breath away. Walking towards him he felt his world stop and the only thing in it was here. Again.

He’d been waiting on the deck for her. The sun was starting to set. He broke his gaze with her long enough to check his watch as she stepped up to join him but before she could join him he held a hand up to signal her to stop. 

Kate looked at him confused, rolled her eyes when he finished his countdown and laughed when he reached out to take her hand and pull her the remaining distance into his arms and they held each other.

“Five years ago, at this moment, we stood here and you made me the luckiest guy in the world,” he told her. 

Kate smiled, pressing a kiss against his jaw before resting her head against his. “And you made me the happiest I’d ever been.”

“Can you believe we’ve been married for five years?” He asked, his voice filled with awe.

“The best five years of my life,” Kate told him sincerely. “I know it’s not always been smooth but I’m so glad we’re here Rick.”

Castle pulled back, making sure he could see her eyes. “Since the day I met you all I ever wanted was to be with you. However you’d have me. You inspire me and challenge me and make me better. The day we got married is one of the best days of my life.”

“Mine too.” Kate agreed.

“Having Lily. Finding out about the twins. The day you walked into the Dereck Storm party. The night you turned up at the Loft. The day you agreed to marry me. We just get better and become more all the time. I… I’ll never understand what I did to end up with you in my arms.”

“I think you got that backwards,” Kate laughed, though she could feel herself getting choked up at her husbands words.

“You are still the person I want to see when I go to bed tonight and the only person I want to spend the rest of my life with. You, Lily, these babies, Alexis. You are all I will ever need. You’re still my always. Whatever comes next, whatever life throws at us, we’re always gonna be side by side, partners in crime… and in life. We can do anything.” 

Castle cleared a tear she hadn’t even realised was falling down her cheek and she turned to kiss his palm, cradling it against her face as she looked into his eyes. 

“You’re still my always, too. My life is so much better because I’ve got you. Our kids. This is so much more than I ever hoped for. You make everything so much better babe. I know I didn’t always make things easy. Even after we got married. But you never gave up and I will never stop fighting for you, for Lily, for the boys. I love you so much. So much more than I ever thought I could love someone. It scared me for a long time. But I can’t live without you.”

“You never have to.” Castle told her.

“I know. This, us, we’ve got the rest of our lives. Always.” He wiped a tear from her eyes. He waited for her to joke about hormones but he felt it too. Some days he thought about what they’d been through and he was amazed that both of them were still standing. He stroked his hand down to her jaw, cupping her gently and pouring every ounce of emotion for her he had into their kiss. Her hand threaded through his hair, feeling just as desperate to show him how much she loved him. Breaking apart, he smiled, placing a gentle kiss to her head and taking a step back. 

He pulled his phone from his pocket, striking up their song and placing the phone back, wrapping his arms around her again. “Mrs Castle, may I have this dance?”

Kate grinned, swaying gently with him like they had on this day years before. “Rick?” She whispered in his ear.

“Yes?”

‘Did we just renew our vows?”

He looked at her. Had they? “I… I guess we kind of did.”

Kate leant into him again, enjoying their song before whispering in his ear again. “It’s perfect.”  

[bestwishes86]

Wrote a little more of Ch1 "The Last Summer" from "Lose My Way"

I like how its flowing and getting to flesh out the characters as I write it. Here's a look at MB and Luke's mom, Violet Finali. Why she doesn't have the last name "Cunningham"? You'll see later

♡♤♡

""MB you're gonna melt if you just stand there! C'Mere already dude!" Luke shouted as he wiped at his face and looked to the shore.  He was far enough away from MB that he could stair without his friend noticing. MB shook his head at his friend's nonsense and got off his bike. He took the time to take off his shoes and socks and pulled his own red t shirt over his head and placed it in the backpack. Walking along the beach toward the sea, he grabbed each of Luke's large leather flip flops and his shirt.  He placed all the things together with his bag on top.  

Looking out at the ocean he didn't see Luke and he felt a stab or anxiety before his friend appeared a ways off swimming.  MB ran for the water and dived in.  It was warm and cold at the same time, he swam out toward Luke. His long arms and legs pumping through the water.  None of his friends or family knew it had been Luke's mom, Violet who had taught him how to swim.  He had been five years old.  Small for his age, the same height as Luke when she had driven them to the public pool.  

Luke had been so loud, practically bouncing with excitement. But he had been silent out of fear of what happened when they got to the pool.  Violet Finali, with her long brown curls and gun metal gray eyes had been full of energy.  It was the boys birthdays. His parents were out of the country on a business trip, so she had set out to make their birthdays one for the history books.  He hadn't known it but she had been on the phone for weeks calling all the mothers of their classmates.  Getting their friends and bullies to the pool.  But all he had been worried about was his inability to swim.  

They had gotten out and he had stayed in his seat, his eyes burning and his heart beating so fast.  Luke had looked scared and climbed back in the car and held him, which made it better but worse cause he was keeping Luke from having fun.  Violet had lowered her bright red sun glasses at him and leaned into the open back seat of the jeep.

"Whats wrong BabyBoy2," she asked with that southern charm no Northerner had. 

"I can't swim ma'am," he had whispered and the cursing she had done had scared him more than the water.  She had placed her hands on her cut off jean shorts and let loose a few more words while Luke covered MB's ears with his hands and glared at his mom as much as a 5 year old could.

"That's four dollars in the swear jar Momma," Luke had said and Violet had given him a look that made Luke remove his hands from MB's ears and cover his own mouth.

"You're right BabyBoy1, MamaBear is a little PO'ed at a certain Mama who told me her boy would love a pool party. Before jetsetting off to the damn Hamptons," Violet conceded.  That had done it, MB wept large tears and Violet Finali knew what she had to do.  She looked around for the nearest teenage girl her size.  Seeing Jeanie Meeks she waved her down. Holding out five hundred dollar bills, Jeanie could barely believe it and sold her swimsuit to Violet. 

"BabyBoys we are going to teach MB to swim like a dolphin!" She declared and kissed both his cheeks and tickled him until he was laughing. That had been one of the moments he knew who his family was. 

[violetsmoak]

Tabula Rasa [1/?]

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20183281/chapters/47822500

Blanket Disclaimer

Summary: Tim and Jason have known they are soulmates for years, though neither has said anything about it. Tim thinks Jason doesn't know, and is just trying to live with it. Jason thinks Tim knows but doesn't care, which is fine with him, he thinks the soulmate thing is a crock anyway. But one night, a minor mishap forces them to confront the issue head-on, leading to a series of events no one could have predicted.

Rating: PG-13 (rating may change later)

JayTimBingo Prompts This Chapter: #a lie #bright vivid colours #danger #enemies to lovers #soulmate aversion #soulmark tattoo

Canon-Compliance: Follows the New Earth continuity, with elements of New 52 (ie the ones that don’t completely contradict everything that happened pre-Flashpoint). Ignores Rebirth completely. So, up to about 2016 in terms of publication dates? Robins War happened, but Red Hood hasn’t met Artemis or Bizarro, and nothing bad has happened to Roy ffs! 

Beta Reader: I'll get back to you on that.

________________________________________________________________

“Three cheers for the happy couple!”

The south wing ballroom of Wayne Manor erupts with the raucous shouts and applause of a hundred and twenty reception attendees. Tim’s congratulations get lost in the din, but he does catch Dick’s eye and flash him a thumbs up.

Seated at the high table, his older brother leans in and kisses his bride, which causes more cheering and catcalls from the guests, and makes the normally unflappable and newly named Barbara Gordon-Grayson blush.

Tim turns away and pastes a smile on his face as the Davenports, a senior couple and two of Wayne Enterprises' most influential shareholders, approach him.

Time to be ‘on’ again…

A generous mix of family friends (most of whom are vigilantes or heroes), and GCPD officers, fill the ballroom. These are interspersed with a few Haly’s Circus performers, and the requisite number of elite guests required by the Society pages of the Gotham Gazette.

Bride and bridegroom sit at the head table with their respective entourages, engaged in animated chatter. Babs and her maid of honor Alysia dissolve into laughter as Dick says something to Damian, who scowls and turns redder by the minute. The Gordon family is there, the Commissioner conversing in stiff politeness with his ex-wife Barbara, and Bruce is in full “Brucie” mode. In the background, Alfred directs the hired staff with his usual decorum and efficiency.

Across the room, Cassandra drags Stephanie over to the dance floor. At a smaller round table near the bride and groom, Duke just misses being speared with a fork by his girlfriend when he tries to sneak a piece of Izzy’s cake. Helena flirts with both Luke and Kate and Tim’s sure Selina is somewhere in the house stealing something to lure Bruce over to her place later.

It’s rare to have so many members of the family together in one room, and so Tim does his best to ignore the lingering dismay at the glaring absence in their numbers.

Dick and Babs look at each other now and again, like they’re the only ones in the world, and he makes an effort to find it adorable. He bolsters the jovial front he’s been wearing all night, reminding himself that his happiness for his brother and new sister-in-law isn’t something that needs faking. It took so long for them to sort everything out between them; it goes to show that being soulmates doesn’t equal an automatic perfect relationship.

I know that better than anyone.

It’s just getting more difficult with every passing hour to maintain the graceful Timothy Drake-Wayne façade.

“It will be your turn next,” Mrs. Davenport informs him, while her husband nods along. “Since Richard and dear Cassandra have found their matches, you’re the only one left.”

Tim’s smile becomes a little more forced. “Well, there is Damian.”

The demon brat looks as if he swallowed a mouthful of peppercorns as Brucie leans over and ruffles his hair, laughing his raucous fake laugh.

Now I’m glad Dick didn’t ask me to be his best man, or I’d be the chump stuck up there.

Not that he was that upset when he heard the news.

Tim’s distanced himself enough from the loss of Robin to accept Damian needs as much help as they can offer if he is ever to be a ‘real boy’. Little gestures like this from Dick are part of a larger plan. And it was endearing, in a way, to see the kid stomping around in the weeks leading up to the wedding, trying to check off a list of best man duties he’d printed off the internet.

And dissolving into teenaged fury when innocent things went wrong or when the groom teased him by flouting what Damian considered ‘according to convention’.

And then there was that bachelor party he organized…

It would seem extreme trampoline parks were a thing; also, getting banned from said parks within an hour for trampolining while drunk was a thing.

“Yes, but he’s still so…young,” Mrs. Davenport says, bringing him back to the present. Tim perceives how she hesitates on the best word to describe the youngest member of the Wayne family.

“It’s fine, you can call him a prepubescent terror. I always do.”

“Oh, Timothy!” Garish laughter as if he told the most hilarious joke of the season. “You are such a character. Why haven’t you found your someone yet?”

Tim catches sight of Steph once again, dancing with Cass and looking carefree and blissful and in love. And this time it’s a bit harder to experience only joy for his siblings, more of a struggle to fight the pang of hurt and jealousy that rears its head.

“You’re almost eighteen,” her husband remarks, interrupting his thoughts. “Most people find their matches much younger. Eleanor and I met when we were fourteen.”

“Oh, it was a beautiful summer in the Hamptons.”

“And it seems like youth today are finding each other earlier every year.”

“My sister and Stephanie didn’t,” Tim points out, only somewhat strained because that one still stings.

He and Steph had been together for most of their teenage years. She hadn’t possessed a soulmark, and Tim’s…would lead nowhere. He truly loved her, and if things were different, he knows they would have had a happy future. Lots of people whose marks don’t match are.

But then the day Spoiler and Black Bat met, they’d shaken hands, and everything fell into place. He’ll never forget either of their eyes—Steph bemused as her mark appeared for the first time and then exploded into color across her forearms; Cass puzzled until she realized what was happening. Then her face became an open book of joy rivaled only by how she looked when Bruce told her he intended to adopt her.

Faced with their happiness, it was only natural that Tim took a step back, much as it hurt to do.

“Perhaps your soulmate lives in another country,” Mr. Davenport suggests; it is clear he is not picking up on Tim’s reluctance.

“Oh!” his wife cries. “You should go on that television show they have now! You know, the one where they try to help you track down your match? I can’t remember the name, but it’s something like The Amazing Race or the Bachelorette.”

“Perhaps yours is younger than you. That happens sometimes.”

“Yes! May-December relationships aren’t that uncommon with your generation, I hear.”

“Or maybe they’re dead,” Tim suggests, and though his tone is light and friendly, his words shut them up in an instant.

Because if very well could be true.

Tim’s never shown off his mark in public, and he told Steph that exact story when she asked all those years ago. At the time, he wasn’t even lying.

Soulmarks develop around puberty and last the duration of the lifespan of the shorter-lived partner. Some people are born with several, the way Dick was, and some only share platonic or familial bonds, like Alfred and Bruce. Others have none at all. When a soulmate dies, the mark associated with them vanishes.

That’s because most don’t come back from the dead.

Still smiling at the now cringing couple, Tim takes his leave, letting them stew in their faux pas as he wanders toward the bride and groom’s table. He’s reached his limit.

Not wanting to crouch down in the middle of their group, he gestures until his brother sees him and makes an excuse to Babs. She’s following his gaze, offering Tim a worried look, but he smiles and shakes his head, trying to telegraph ‘It’s nothing. Go back to your celebration.’

Dick is red-faced and his eyes brighter than usual when he gets to Tim; people been plying him with generous amounts of alcohol all day. “Hey, Timmy, what’s up?”

“I think I‘ll make my way out,” he replies. “Do a bit of patrolling and then turn in.”

“Tim…”

Dick’s expression becomes concerned, and Tim shifts in discomfort.

“Someone has to be on the streets while you guys are slacking,” he jokes. “You know it took an Act of Alfred to get Bruce to take the night off, right?”

(It was also pointed out that if any of big players had planned anything tonight, probability and precedent suggested they would try it at the Gordon-Grayson reception.)

“You don’t have to do that! I’ve already got one brother missing.”

“Consider this my wedding present. You get to stay and enjoy your party with the rest of the family.”

“You’re just trying to worm your way of giving us a real gift,” Dick accuses, but the words lack malice. With a surreptitious glance around to ensure they aren’t being overheard, he lowers his voice and asks, “Are things getting bad again? Do you need to talk? Because Babs won’t mind if I duck out for a bit.”

And he’s always doing this, checking in with Tim, even years after it’s been an issue.

There’s a distinct possibility Dick has noticed how uncomfortable the atmosphere is making him, despite him doing his utmost to hide it, to keep from casting a dark cloud over the festivities.

And Tim should be okay.

Bruce is back from having lost his memories, Damian’s stopped his determined attempts to sabotage or kill him, his relationship with Dick is almost normal again, he has his team and place with the Titans, and there hasn’t been a major crisis in Gotham for about a month which is a record.

Yet he still feels raw and exposed, ill at ease in his skin.

Bruce has been questioning him a lot more, criticizing the way he handles not only cases but projects at WE. Tim worries there’s less time for him to recover between being Tim Wayne, CEO, and Red Robin. And the Titans are getting to the age where many of them want to strike out on their own or pursue more civilian interests—jobs and schools and a normal life. He respects that, even if he doesn’t understand it.

He has never had a normal life, and never will.

But he does have more and more days now where he looks at himself in the mirror and wonders how he’s supposed to keep doing this forever. Can’t figure out how Bruce has managed it for so long. Tim suspects he’s becoming little more than his daytime public persona and his nighttime alter ego.

Who exactly is Tim Drake?

Instead of voicing any of this, though, he musters up a comforting smile for his brother and assures him, “There’s nothing to talk about. It’s like every day. Just one step at a time, right?”

Dick’s expression clears then, and he nods, relieved. “Okay. If you’re sure.”

“And Dick?”

“Yeah?”

“Congrats.”

“Aw, thanks, Timmy.”

A bone-crushing hug later, and Tim’s car peels out of the estate parking garage, still ignoring the growing pit in his stomach.

He returns to his apartment in the Theater District, shedding his suit and tie in a pile that Alfred would have a coronary over if he were there to see it. Jumping in the shower, he scrubs himself of any traces of his cologne or other identifying scents he might have picked up at the reception and tries to get himself back into a clearer headspace.

He pauses for a moment at the sink, trying to shake off the lingering, bone-deep exhaustion. Several prescription bottles line the mirror—various sleeping aids, most of which don’t help anymore (but the rebound insomnia of stopping them isn’t worth the trouble). These days it’s only the heavy-duty sleep narcotics that work when he needs to turn his brain off for a few hours.

Among the personal pharmacy are several combinations of anti-depressants he tried in the past few months. Most of the time he powers through it, the way he’s done his whole life, but in recent weeks Tim’s noticed things getting hard again. The helpful alerts he sets on his phone don’t always convince him to leave his bed and even video games lack the usual draw. He sometimes gets lost in his head for hours; on bad nights, he hesitates a second longer before shooting a grapple line or dodging a knife. In rare moments, he considers his sleeping pills a little too much consideration, at which point he calls Dick or Connor. Talks to someone so he isn’t so alone.

As he dries off, Tim stares down at his right wrist, examining the complicated knotwork design emblazoned there. Swirls of crimson and gold loop in and out of each other, before cutting off along his forearm.

Everyone has a soulmark, an arrangement of swirling shapes across their skin; each is distinctive to the individuals bonded by them. They first appear when a person is in the general vicinity of their soulmate, manifesting as a colorless pattern of darker and lighter shades of melanin. Those patterns fill with bright, rich colors upon physical touching one’s mate. When pressed together, they interlock in only one way and retreat when contact stops.

Soulmates who have reciprocated bonds sport their marks in full and everlasting display. The sight is both beautiful and frustrating to see, even on his family, as he’ll never experience that himself.

His mark might be a stunning amalgamation of scarlet and gold, twisted into a mandala upon his wrist, but it will never be permanent. While it’s been a while since Jason’s made any energetic attempts to kill him, Tim’s resigned himself to living without a completed bond; tolerance is about the only thing he can hope for from his predecessor.

Finding Steph when they were younger had been a joy and a relief. Her not having a mark meant they both had a chance for a fulfilling connection. Until Cass.

Tim forces himself to stop dwelling on it and shoves the bleak thoughts down behind the wall he puts everything uncomfortable and not cohesive to whatever task he’s given himself. Instead, he busies himself with covering up his mark using the spray-on cover that doesn’t fade with water or perspiration, only coming off when scrubbed with a special soap. One of Bruce’s earliest and more practical inventions, since Brucie Wayne and Batman couldn’t have a soulmark in common.

Bruce covers his pretty much all the time, but Tim’s only been covering his when he suits up. He lives his life in disguise, he doesn’t want to hide such an important part of himself when he’s off the clock.

He heads down to the lower levels of his Nest, gets dressed while having the computer scan for trouble. The program calculates probabilities for where violence will crop up, where he should begin his patrol. He hopes for a busy night, something to distract him from his convoluted thoughts.

As usual, he intends to start his rounds off in Tricorner, and then go through Chinatown—which is when he notices movement on a camera that concerns him.

A familiar gleaming scarlet helmet.

Red Hood.

He debates with himself for several minutes.

On the one hand, it’s his regular patrol territory; on the other, seeing the other vigilante tonight, while his mood is already so low, isn’t something he wishes to contend with.

He clenches his fist.

He knew of Jason Todd for a year before discovering the second Robin was his soulmate. By the time he wanted to do anything about it, the older boy was dead, and Tim consigned to grieving in secret.

Then Jason came back, but it was almost worse than him being gone because he hated him. Without having ever met him.

Even now that he’s mellowed out (sort of), Jason appears to reserve more dislike for his successor than anyone else in the family, not counting Bruce and Dick for obvious reasons. Red Hood and Red Robin have run into each other enough in and out of costume that there have been ample opportunities for Jason’s soulmark to make itself known. That Tim has seen nothing close to resembling it means one of two things: either the other man hasn’t developed his mark yet, which is possible albeit rare, or he has, and like Batman, always keeps it covered.

Which says more than enough about his sentiments on the matter.

Between Jason refusing to acknowledge their connection, or just not being aware of it, Tim prefers to believe the latter, if only to make himself feel better. There’s no point in bringing up the soulmate thing at this juncture. He decided years ago to respect the status quo, for the simple reason it’s less painful than the alternative.

All that being said, he doesn’t enjoy watching Jason get in trouble, even more so when the situation is avoidable and he’s near enough to help. At the moment the big idiot is courting a potential gang war.

Sometimes protecting someone means protecting them from themselves and their bad choices, I guess.

Static crackles through the comm in his ear, and then he hears Batman’s low growl. “What’s going on in Chinatown?”

“Why am I not surprised you’re still listening to the comms at your son’s wedding,” Tim sighs. “Nothing. I’m handling it.”

“Are you sure?”

“B, I’ll help A drug you every day for a week,” he threatens. “And you know we both can and will find new and interesting ways of doing it.”

There’s a huff on the other side of the line. “…Noted. Reach out if you need backup.”

“You’ll be the first.”

“You’re lying.”

“Wow, you must be a detective or something,” he deadpans. “Red Robin out.”

Jason is the last person he wants to run into right now, but Tim’s also been cultivating a few informants there and he can’t have that jeopardized.

Looks like I’m going to Chinatown. Hope Lynx is in a good mood…

He wonders if tonight he’ll end up getting beaten up, or just insulted. He’s not even sure which would hurt more.

⁂

Jason goes flying out of the upper story of the restaurant, followed closely by a very tiny woman wielding a very big sword. She reminds him of Cheshire, with a shade less lethality.

Actually, if it were Jade, he would end up critically injured when she lands on him, using him as a cushion against the pavement. He manages to turn his body to land in a way that won’t break his back—though his right side will be a giant bruise tomorrow—and scrambles to his feet.

This is one of the reasons I avoid Chinatown.

Things never go well for him here, especially not since that thing with the Su family. It’s just better to avoid the place. But before that, he and the Ghost Dragons at least used to get along—professional courtesy and all that, along with an unspoken agreement not to step on each other’s toes. 

That’s over, apparently.

All he’d wanted to do was ask some questions. One of his stool pigeons passed him some information on a human trafficking ring; according to him, it was based on Chinatown. It would seem sex slavers were luring young women over to the United States with the premise of work and accommodations.  Then, upon arrival, the girls were hauled into a life of sexual servitude.

Jason didn’t even go in guns blazing this time or wearing the helmet. Just a domino and a hankering for some barbecue pork bun.

So, either someone tipped them off what I was coming around for, or this kid in the mask has something to prove.

There’s a slow curl of heat moving up the back of his left wrist and up his arm, and his first thought is he’s been cut. Except while the sensation is familiar, it isn’t the liquid warmth of blood.

The woman moves fast, and a beat later her sword is swinging downward. Jason’s hands fly to his holsters, thinking he’s going to have to break out the guns after all when there’s a clang.

Suddenly there’s a bō staff in front of his face, catching the sword inches before it slams into Jason’s nose.

Ah. And there’s the other reason I avoid Chinatown.

Because in the past year or so, it’s been part of the patrol route for a certain Timothy Drake.

A.k.a. his replacement.

A.k.a. Red Robin.

A.k.a. his soulmate.

No wonder that warmth in his hand was familiar; the soulmark must have reacted to the younger man’s approach.

After a brief tussle, there’s the sound of a grapple line firing, and then Tim flies upward, ridiculous cape fluttering, still holding the struggling woman.

Her sword stays on the ground.

“Oh, hell no,” Jason growls, because this is his business, damn it!

When he reaches the roof where Tim’s carried off Jason’s would-be-murderer, he notes they are standing close together, conversing in rapid Cantonese. Jason’s rustier at that than he’d like, but he gets the gist when the woman stalks right up to him and begins yelling and gesturing.

Then she shoves him and pushes away; a smoke bomb goes off, and then she’s gone.

Tim makes no move to go after her.

Which, seriously?

Jason stalks over, looming over the shorter man and touching his hand to the still holstered gun in his belt in an implicit (and mostly baseless) threat. He’s always amused at just how much of a height difference there is between him and his replacement, and tonight he makes a point of lording it over him.

“You guys looked awfully cozy there, Timbers.” Which shouldn’t bother him, but he can’t fight a twinge of irritation. “Care to share with the class what your little tête-à-tête was about?”

The cowl covers Tim’s face, but Jason can imagine the judgemental stare.

“She said your poking around her territory will jeopardize her investigation into the sex traffickers.”

“Her investigation? She’s the damn head of the Ghost Dragons!”

“Yeah, and she’s also an undercover operative sent by Hong Kong PD, which I’m only telling you, so you don’t decide to go and kill her for apparent crimes.”

And that was not what he was expecting.

“How do you know this?”

“She told me. She’s one of my CIs.”

“And you believed her?”

“Cass looked into her for me. She’s legit, even if she’s a little…unorthodox.” Tim’s head tilts to one side, considering; with the cowl it makes him look like his avian namesake. “You’d think you’d appreciate that.”

“On the list of things I don’t appreciate, you showin’ up while I’m chasin’ a lead is one of them,” Jason growls. “Don’t you have a party to be at?”

“I ducked out early.”

“Well, that’s lame.”

“Not as lame as someone who ignores the fifteen invitations he was sent.”

Ah, and now they’re back on familiar ground.

“Pfft, I’ve seen enough Brucie to last me several lifetimes.”

“Yeah, but it was for Dick. All you had to do was show up—” his mouth twitches here; Jason can’t tell if it’s amusement or irritation, “—in jeans, even.”

“I’ve been dead once; I don’t need Alfie murderin’ me for that big a faux pas. And somehow I doubt Barbie would appreciate if her wedding photos included Dickiebird sporting a swollen eye.”

Tim sighs. “What are you fighting about this time?”

“Other than the usual stuff? We’re not. But I’m sure he’d put his foot in it at some point and need a nice bit of cognitive recalibration.”

“And you, the perfectly innocent party in all this, would happily provide that?”

“Call it a civic duty.”

Tim shakes his head, but Jason thinks it’s done in amusement this time, instead of exasperation.

“I don’t know how she can settle for that birdbrain,” he continues. “How does she stand bein’ around him so often without wantin’ to punch him in the face every time he opens his mouth?”

“Maybe not every time.”

“Point still stands.”

“Well, they’re soulmates,” Tim says vaguely, distant like he’s not paying attention to what he’s saying. He fiddles with his wrist computer, giving no indication that he is aware of anything else.

Jason’s pretty sure that’s not the case.

After all, he’s practiced in the art of pretending not to feel how his soulmark warms the closer he stands to Tim. There’s no question Tim’s learned to do the same.

It might be hypocritical of him, but that makes him angry somehow.

“As if that explains it all,” Jason sneers. “Come on, Replacement, I thought out of all of them, your whole logical-scientific-question-everything-Klingon-mind wouldn’t go for that hokey soulmate crap.”

“Vulcan.”

That brings him up short. “What?”

“It’s Vulcan culture that’s more focussed on logicality and empirical data-gathering. Klingons are more combat-oriented and tend toward more aggressive means of…” He trails off when he realizes Jason staring at him. “What?”

“You complete nerd,” Jason tells him. “No wonder you left the wedding early. I bet socializin’ with normal people probably stressed you right the fuck out, didn’t it?”

Tim gives a noncommittal shrug.

“Havin’ a soulmate doesn’t mean people should be together,” Jason goes on, filled with the sudden need to hammer home this point. “Look at all the examples from history—Cleopatra and Antony, Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Bonnie and Clyde—” He ticks the couples off his finger. “They were all soulmates and they all either made each other miserable or got each other killed.”

“You can’t apply a few historical anomalies to every soulmate pair,” Tim counters. “Life circumstances skew the data.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that fate shouldn’t decide if people will magically work out!”

“That’s not…” Tim appears frustrated, at last, putting down his wrist computer and clenching his jaw. “It’s not supposed to work out magically. It’s about finding the person who completes you. You still need to work at it. It’s not all magically going to fall in place, and you’ll be happy forever right away. Even soulmates don’t get to live perfect lives.”

Ain’t that the truth, Jason muses, considering Tim.

“Sounds like you want a soulmate,” he points out, a little stiffly, and what the hell possessed him to say that?

He wonders what the kid is going to say now, or if this is the day their careful pretense, the lie of not knowing gets shattered.

Luckily, though, Tim avoids opening that can of worms.

He takes a step back from Jason, looks away and mutters, “It’s not relevant to the Mission.” Which is a total cop-out, but Jason will take it. “Anyway, if you’re done causing trouble here and riling up the gangs, I’ll take my leave.”

“Wish you would.”

Tim shoots him an unimpressed glare—or at least, that’s what it seems like to Jason. “Don’t make me come back here. And for god’s sake, at least call and congratulate the happy couple.”

He grapples away rather than allow a witty retort; Jason watches him go with a scowl. Once he’s sure the other vigilante is gone, he tugs the glove off his left hand, frowning at the whorls of crimson and yellow retreating down his forearm and back to his wrist.

His soulmark appeared one night a few evenings before the Garzonas incident. Jason vaguely remembers swinging through an alley to escape yet another argument with Bruce and knocking out a bunch of thugs threatening a kid. He’d been so buzzed on adrenaline and fury he hadn’t noticed the warmth in his wrist. He only caught sight of the mark itself when he returned to the Cave.

And then he spent the night wondering if one of the assholes he knocked around was his soulmate. It wasn’t a comforting idea, and he’d decided then and there to cover up the mark and forget about it. The disappointment about his potential soulmate had been a contributing factor in a long line of shit the universe decided to dump on him that sent him to Ethiopia. If he was linked to scum like that, he wanted to be as far as possible from Gotham.

It never even occurred to him to imagine the kid in the alley was his match. Hell, it didn’t even register when he discovered that Tim Drake had been following Batman and Robin around for years.

Only that day at the Tower, when Jason made his first move against Batman and attacked his replacement, did he finally make the connection.

His mark reacted the minute they were in the same room, spreading across his skin and swirling about seeking its partner. Jason had been so far gone with rage that the sight of it had made him angrier, made him hit harder—because if he didn’t meet Tim before, it meant their bond hadn’t been strong enough to keep him from making the biggest mistake of his life.

It meant he was supposed to meet him after being ripped apart and rebuilt as a weapon.

Luckily, or not, Tim was unconscious before the manifested completed, sneaking out from beneath the long green gauntlets of Jason’s fake Robin suit.

And if he did happen to notice before passing out, the kid hasn’t said anything about it.

Probably hates me and doesn’t want to acknowledge the universe’s idea of a shit joke.

Jason doesn’t blame him. Soulmates are a crock of shit anyway, and Tim’s better off without being tethered to him, and vice versa. They should keep pretending.

Because Jason doesn’t get to be happy.

And Tim deserves better than him because Tim—as much as he’s a pain in the ass—is good.

“And on that note,” Jason murmurs to himself, putting his gauntlet back on, “time to play the villain.”

The tip he received put him in the Ghost Dragons’ crosshairs—which means someone on his payroll is making a move, either against him or against someone else.

Time to find out for sure.

And no more moping over this soulmate crap.

Johnny Lino is the head of an investment company that’s just a front for his money laundering. He’s been passing the Red Hood information about his clients for the better part of a year now, ever since Jason put the fear of Hood in him. Quite a feat, considering the man’s a few inches taller and broader.

Jason finds him in a condo off the Diamond District, watching the Knights game and stuffing his face with pretzels.

Ponzi schemes don’t buy manners, I guess.

“Johnny,” he greets in a clear, would-be friendly manner that has the older man choking up his most recent handful. “Long time no see. Got a bone to pick with you.”

He expects there to be some mumbling and groveling, a few bald-faced lies that require the generous application of foot to face and the reassurance that everything in Jason’s sandbox is back to the way it should be.

So, it surprises him when Johnny scrambles for something that Jason notes too late is a panic button. All of a sudden, half a dozen masked men in combat gear and carrying assault rifles are busting through the door.

“That’s a bit of an overreaction to some conversation, don’t ya think?” Jason asks, throwing himself into action to deal with the interlopers. Bullets fly and knives slice toward him, but in five minutes he’s standing in the ruins of the room with six unconscious men.

And one dead one.

Johnny’s got a neat hole in the side of his head, from one of his hired muscle’s guns, Jason presumes.

“And doesn’t that say a lot about the quality of hired muscle in Gotham these days?” he grumbles, kicking at the body. “Can’t even trust your own people not to shoot you by accident.”

He can hear sirens, knows a neighbor or someone has called in the noise and heads for the fire exit before anyone can link him to the scene. That’s all he needs is the big Bat thinking he pulled the trigger in there.

And damn it, the giant bastard was one of my best sources. Now I’ve got to find someone else.

The encounter bothers him.

He’s had people on his payroll get shifty before, but it’s been his experience that there’s more of a prelude before the attempt to stab him in the back. They try to run or talk their way out of it; it seems Johnny went all out, trying to take out the Red Hood, all because of a bit of questionable information.

If he was so desperate to hire a kill squad rather than answer some well-deserved questions…

Maybe it’s not me that spooked him.

He thinks back to the shot that killed Johnny, remembers the angle it hit the head, and where the exit wound was. The opposite direction from where the thugs entered—from the window.

“There was another shooter,” he realizes.

A quick visit to the building opposite confirms his suspicion: the scrape where someone set up a tripod, bullet casing rolled to one side.

It wasn’t Johnny afraid to talk to the Red Hood—someone else feared he would.

Question is, were they worried he’d talk or worried he’d talk to me?

⁂⁂⁂ 

Next Chapter

This blog isn’t my primary, so my reblogs don’t show up very well. As such, please reblog the fic, otherwise not a lot of people are going to see it :)

<3 Violet

[buckbarnesjames]

Chapter Seven

Pairings: Bucky x reader

Warnings: None.

Word Count: 2650

A/N: Spot the parks and recreations reference! The taglist is OPEN and feedback is appreciated!

Masterlist | Series Masterlist | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

After a month of having them follow you around like a lost puppy, it was time to say goodbye to Sam, Vis and Clint. It was a bit of a bittersweet moment. Whilst you were glad to have the whole Brock ordeal behind you and you were glad to have your freedom back, you’d grown to be quite close to the three of them and would miss them. You considered them to be good friends. “You guys better stay in touch!” you had said with your arms crossed, your gaze flitting between the three of them as you’d said goodbye to them a few days after your release from hospital. They had all chuckled at you but agreed. “We might have to start joining you for Saturday night drinks,” Clint had joked, there was a look in his eyes that you couldn’t quite place. “Oh, that would be delightful!” Vis had exclaimed and you’d chuckled at his excitement, knowing full well that it was Wanda he was excited to see more of. “That sounds wonderful, boys” you’d smiled, giving each of them a hug. You’d said your final goodbyes and shown the boys out of the apartment before heading to find Bucky. He was in his office going over the paperwork for Rumlow’s business. His hair - which had now grown out considerably - was tied at the nape of his neck, with a few loose strands hanging across his face and he was muttering to himself. “Hey” you’d greeted him softly, an arm on his shoulder. “Hey, doll” he’d said, placing the paperwork on his desk and pulling you into his lap with extreme caution - ever since you were released from hospital, he’d been taking extra care with you as you healed. “Everything okay?” you asked, as you’d continued to stroke his hair. He’d closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh. “I can’t figure out what to do with Rumlow’s business,” he’d admitted, his head dropping to your shoulder. Now that Brock had been arrested and George’s purchase of the Rumlow’s business was officiated, Bucky had been left to pick up the pieces. “I don’t want you to put the staff out of work. They’re innocent” you had told him as he’d lifted his head to look at you. “There is one option I have that would mean people weren’t out of work” he’d said and you could see the unsureness in his eyes. “Well, let’s hear it then” you grinned at him and he’d chuckled at you, kissing your cheek very softly. “I liquidate the company, move the best performing staff to Barnes Industries and use the funds from the liquidation as a donation to Stark so that he’ll put the under-performing staff and interns through his business program” Bucky had said. You’d liked the idea, and were especially proud of him that he had already been thinking about how to help the innocent people who’d worked at Rumlows’. “Will Stark agree to that?” you’d asked, knowing that it was probably why he was so unsure of the idea. “Well we’ve been in business together these last couple of years...despite our differences. And he’s very good friends with Steve. I’m sure if he won’t accept my donation, he’ll at least do it as a favour to Steve” Bucky had answered you. “Well it’s settled then” you’d said kissing him, before standing from his lap and offering him your hand. “Now let’s ask Elizabeth to whip us up some dinner,” Bucky had taken your hand and you’d pulled him from the chair and dragged him towards the kitchen as you called out for Elizabeth.

It was now a few weeks later, you were fully healed and Bucky had finally stopped trying you like you were made of glass - much to your happiness. You were tying your silk robe, ready to enjoy a quiet night in to celebrate your birthday (that had finally come around when) Bucky had appeared in the doorway of the guest bedroom, where your clothes were stored. “Actually, Y/N” Bucky says standing behind you and pulling you into his chest, one of his hands coming to to rest on your hip “I’ve made dinner plans for us, so you should probably change” he grins at you when you crane your neck to look at him, an eyebrow raised in question. “What, pray tell, are you planning, Mr Barnes?” you ask but he just shrugs and releases his hold on you. “You’ll find out soon, now get ready” he says, slapping your ass. You jump in shock then laugh at him. “Okay, okay!” you say, sticking your tongue out at him and sauntering over to your wardrobe.

A few hours later, you walk into the lounge with your face fully painted and dressed in a Balmain dress and matching heels. “You look ravishing,” Bucky says, handing you a glass of champagne. “So, do I get to know what you’ve got planned yet?” you say playfully, sipping at your champagne. Bucky just shakes his head, smirking at you. You roll your eyes teasingly and he chuckles. “Are you ready to go?” he asks once you’ve both finished your drinks. You nod and he extends his arm out to you. You hook your arm with his, and he leads you out to the car where Johnathan is waiting. “Do you trust me?” Bucky asks as you’re driving towards wherever he’s taking you. “Of course I trust you, Bucky” you say seriously. He pulls a piece of fabric out of his suit pocket, smirking again. Would you be so kind as to put this on for me? Just for a moment?” You playfully pout in response before allowing him to put the blindfold on. You feel the car coming to a stop a few moments later. Bucky helps you out of the car and gently guides you.

You feel warmth hit your skin and you know you’ve stepped inside. “Ready?” he asks, his voice low and sounding right next to your ear, making you jump a little. You nod your head slowly and the blind is removed. “Surprise!” you hear a chorus of people shouting as your eyes open and close to readjust. Once your eyes register your surroundings, you notice all the people close to you are in the room looking at you with big smiles on their faces. You turn around and gape at Bucky, he shrugs at you in response. “Mr Barnes, you sly devil” you say, crossing your arms in mock anger. He throws his head back, laughing at you. “You really think you could get away with hiding your birthday? I’ve seen your personnel file, Y/N, besides Wanda and Nat wouldn’t stop pestering me about birthday plans.” At the mention of their names, Nat and Wanda appear besides you. “Happy birthday!” they squeal and wrap you in a hug. You mouth a silent thank you at Bucky. Whilst he’d surprised you, he’d managed to give you exactly what you wanted - a dinner with close friends and family. You’re talking with your aunt May and Peter when Winnie approaches you. “Y/N, could I speak with you a moment?” you nod and excuse yourself from the conversation, your aunt May asking to speak with you again later - a look of anxiety spread across her face. “Is everything okay, Winnie?” you ask. She gently pulls you into a hug as she whispers a ‘thank you, dear’. When she releases you, you look at her quizzically. What on earth was she thanking you for? “I’m sorry but...what for?” you ask her and she chuckles at you, resting a hand on your shoulder. “For making my James so happy” she gushes. Tears well in your eyes, you haven't felt this treasured or important in years. “Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you cry” she says and you wave her worries off with the shake of your hand and a smile. “It’s okay. It’s happy tears” you beam at her. Winnie leaves you to mingle and you’re able to catch up with some of your old college friends who Bucky had invited - Thor, Gamora, Val and Wanda’s brother Pietro. You suspect your aunt May had a hand in inviting them. At the thought of your aunt May, she appears and asks to speak with you in private. You follow her to a quiet area of the room. “I’m sorry Y/N, I don’t want to dampen the party mood but...have you spoken to your parents recently?” she asks, voice filled with something akin to sadness. “No. Aunt May, I haven’t and whatever they have to say...I’m not interested” you say, making a start to walk away. “Y/N...you should really talk to them, it’s important.” she calls off you. You turn on your heels to face her, “May...I...I just can’t, okay?” She nods in understanding and watches you as you walk off towards the bar.

Later, you’re looking around the room smiling - the interaction with your aunt May forgotten - when you feel Bucky’s hand on your waist. “You okay?” he asks, his eyes following yours as they scan over the room. Sam and Clint are drunkenly attempting to arm wrestle, Wanda and Vis are dancing together and Steve and Nat are making out at the back of the room. “Perfect” you say, turning to kiss him. The kiss is soft and slow and Bucky’s thumb is stroking your cheek. “I love you” you whisper as you pull away from him, smiling up at him with eyes of adoration. “I love you too,” he grins. “I got you a little something,” he says, his eyes shining brightly as he reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out an envelope. He hands it to you and you open it slowly to see a picture of a villa and a handwritten note from Bucky, ‘Join me in the Bahamas?’ it reads. “You could have just given me summer in the Hamptons. You’re so extra” you tease before pulling him for a kiss to thank him. When the party comes to an end, Bucky carries you to the car. You’re more than tipsy, your feet are hurting from the heels and you’re struggling to keep your eyes open. The last thing you remember is Bucky whispering for you to “Get some, rest baby” and kissing your forehead.

You wake the next morning curled against Bucky in bed, you’re dressed in one of your silk slip dresses and your face is make-up free - you quickly deduce that Bucky must have changed you last night. “Morning sleeping beauty” Bucky’s gruff voice sounds as he moves to lay on his side, an arm spreading over your waist. Morning” you breathe out softly, stifling a yawn. “I was thinking…” Bucky says, tracing his arm up and down your arm and you hum softly at the contact. “It’s always a dangerous game when you start thinking” you tease and Bucky playfully growls at you before attacking your neck with kisse and you erupt into a fit of giggles. “Hush you” he continues, “I was thinking, we could head to the Bahamas today? I have a private jet” He grins when you raise your eyebrow at his mentioning of a private jet. “What about work?” you ask. You’d already missed a lot after taking some time off to heal and you were sure the tasks were piling up. “I’m the boss'' Bucky proudly answers and you roll your eyes at his cockiness.

Somehow, Bucky wins the argument that ensues and you find yourself sitting on his private jet - a glass of Bucky’s favourite champagne in your hand. In the end, you can’t be mad at Bucky. The vacation was a great idea and after all the drama of the last couple of weeks,even you could agree that sometime lounging in the sun was needed.

Being in the Bahamas with Bucky was an amazing experience,all you had to do was name an activity, and he’d take you to do it. You wanted to swim with the dolphins? Done. You wanted to try jet skiing? Done. You wanted hot, sweaty vaction sex? Done. Several times. On the final night of the vacation, Bucky treats you to a dinner in a private alcove on the beach. “I don’t wanna go back,” you admit, as you look up at the clear night sky with a smile on your face. “We can come back again any time, but the company needs me back before the quarterly spending reviews on Wednesday'' Bucky says, reaching across the table to take your hands in his. You let out a soft sigh and thread your fingers through his. You had thoroughly enjoyed being away from the rush of work (the non-stop phone calls and business discussions) and you certainly weren’t looking forward to all the paperwork that was probably waiting for you back at the office.

Your final meal with Bucky was, as usual when he was in charge of choosing food, delicious. However, you could sense that Bucky was nervous about something.``Is everything okay, Bucky?” you ask watching as he downs his fourth glass of wine. Instead of answering you, he suddenly stands from his chair and rounds the table so that he’s stood in front of you. “Bucky?” you ask, tilting your head at him in confusion as he offers you his hand and helps you to stand from your chair. That’s when he drops down to one knee in front of you.You gasp out in surprise and Bucky clears his throat before looking straight up into your eyes and speaking. “I know this might be sudden but…” he says, pulling a ring box from his pants pocket “but it’s always been you, Y/N. Since the moment you walked into my office it’s been you on my mind and having nearly lost you, I released you are the only one I want for the rest of my life. So,what do you say...will you marry me?” Tears well in your eyes. You had been figuratively, and sometimes literally, swept off your feet. Two years ago when you walked into Barnes Industries for your first day and saw the handsome man who you would spend so much time working with (and crushing on), you never expected to be here. It had been such a whirlwind few months with Bucky and your mind was reeling. You’re quiet for so long Bucky starts to get worried that he’s messed everything up. “I’m so sorry, if this isn’t what you want I completely understand” he says as he starts to stand up. You put your hands up in dramatic fashion and shout “No!” Bucky looks at you in surprise.”I mean no, don’t move. I just need a minute” Bucky laughs at you but stays where he is. You take everything in - your eyes scanning over him, over the ring box in his hand, over the beach and you let the moment sink in, committing it to memory. “Any thoughts on that answer, Y/N?” Bucky says. He feels as if he’s been on his knee in front of you for half an hour. In reality, it had been about four minutes. “Yes” you breathe out, tears spilling from your eyes. “Yes, you have an answer or yes, you’ll marry me?” Bucky asks, a teasing smile on his face and you laugh through the tears. “Yes, I’ll marry you, you idiot” you say, softly. Bucky’s eyes light up and he immediately stands, rushing towards you to plant a crushing kiss on your lips. Tears stream down your face now, despite the bright smile on your face as he put the pear shaped diamond ring on to your finger.

You were engaged to James Barnes. The man you knew was the love of your life.

[blondecarfucker]

Bed of Roses (Chapter 16)

Roger Taylor x Reader

BoRhap!Roger Taylor x Reader

Fic Summary: It's 1971. You just moved to London to study, and you find a band on a local pub after a bad date. The encounter doesn’t go the way you expect it, and neither does what follows this evening as you try to deal with loving Roger Taylor.

Fic Note: So I’ve had this story in my head for the last three weeks and finally decided to write it down. It’s completely planned. It will have 21 chapters and it’s divided in three acts: Dusk, Night and Dawn. It’s will be a bit angsty in the future, and it will most likely have some smut as well. I hope you guys enjoy it! Tell me what you think about it in the asks/comments/messages. PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER OF THE STORY. If this is your first time stumbling upon Bed of Roses, thank you for stopping by! The rest of the story is in my masterlist, the link is in my bio - can't put the link here or else the post will disappear from the tags.

Chapter's notes: So we're closer to the end! I can't believe there's only five more chapters to go. But yeah, this chapter was nice - I'm not gonna say it's a happy chapter, but it's happier than the last few ones lol. It's a chapter that has a bit more of me in it - but it's still a Reader fic, so don't worry lol. Please tell me what you think about it in the asks/comments/messages!

Words: 2800ish

ACT 3 - DAWN

"It's the moment night time seems weaker and everything seems easier to figure out"

Chapter 16

1977, New York

The bench under your bum made you uncomfortable, but you were still too lazy to care - you always left the beach like this.

You were on the long, one hour way back to your loft in Greene Street, SoHo, through the good old F train, every inch of the train filled with graffiti. But you could still smell the salt in the air coming from the New York Aquarium Station - the best station to access the Coney Island sidewalk and beach.

There was better, cleaner beaches in the Hamptons, but they were full of annoyingly rich people that think they're better than the rest. Also, Coney Island held a special place in your heart - when you were a kid, your grandma would take you there, so you could enjoy the sun and the not-so-safe attractions, and your parents would always freak out when they found out that you took the unsafe subway through the unsafe neighbourhood of Brooklyn to get to a dirty beach.

But it was always fun. The sun would almost certainly burn your shoulders, and you could never wear any jewelry, but the feeling of being involved by the sea, floating in the water, holding your breath, after spending a couple hours on carousels and wooden roller coasters, would always make it worth it - your grandma always taught you to be brave, that things could be scary at first, but usually worked out. "If it doesn't make you happier, it makes you wiser", she'd tell you, and you'd nod, the taste of cheap ice cream on your mouth, the sun warming up your skin.

It was your grandma who figured out that something was wrong with you and made you seek help.

She came by to visit as soon as you called her, right after getting home from Cleopatra's Needle and breaking up with Roger. She came to your parent's apartment, complaining about the traffic - she lived in Paramus, New Jersey, now. She moved there in 1973, saying that it was ludicrous she couldn't grow old with a nice garden on the back of her house, just because Manhattan didn't have houses with gardens anymore.

Now, once you came back from London, in 1975, she looked at you and immediately knew something was wrong. "Sweetpea, what's wrong?" she asked, a frown on her face as she got closer to you.

You were lying on the couch in your pajamas, trying to see if you could find a Doctor Who re-run - probably not a good idea, all things considered, but you didn't just miss Roger, now that he's away. You missed England, you missed their accents, you missed the way you felt when you first got there. "What, grandma?", you asked, and she got you to get up, putting her hand against your forehead.

"You're different", she said, and you shrugged, "Yeah, I'm older", and she laughed. "So am I, Sweetpea. And it hasn't been so long since I last saw you - last year, right? You came here with your hairy boyfriend", she said, and you tensed up, which didn't go unnoticed. "Oh. I see. Something happened between the two of you, right?" she asked, and you nodded.

"That's it. You look sadder. You didn't look like that before. But… Maybe that's not it. No, I don't think that's it at all", she said, and you looked at her, confused. "No, Grandma. That's what happened. I'm sad - I had to breakup with Roger, my boyf - ex-boyfriend", you interrupted yourself, taking a deep breath before continuing, "Roger, my ex-boyfriend, so I could get back here", you said, a cold pain spreading through your chest as the impact of these words hit you.

"But that's just a symptom. There's something else wrong there, Sweetpea. Something deeper within", she said, pointing to your heart. "And that's what made you sad, what made you break up with that boy. I liked him, you know. He made you happy - I could see it. You were always brave, and that always made me proud. But with him, you were happy - when you came into the room with him by your side, everything got brighter. Your love was like the sun", she said, fixing a painting on the wall, not noticing how your eyes were tearing up.

"That's how I last saw you. Brave and happy", she looked at the painting, satisfied with it now that it was not crooked anymore, and turned to you. "Now you're neither. What happened, Sweetpea?", and you choked up. "I don't know", you whispered, and she hugged you as you started to cry - she smelled like plums and apples, the things she grew on her garden in Paramus.

You couldn't stop thinking about the last time she saw you - it was in 1974, and the boys came to America, specifically to New York for a few dates, and you had to come with them - they wanted you to do so. Also, you were dating Roger for two years, and it was time for him to meet your parents.

You came from a small gig in Boston, Roger holding your hand the entire plane ride to New York - he was nervous. You were travelling right after their show, an extra night before the rest of the boys, so you could take Roger to have dinner with your parents.

None of you knew your parents actually organized a dinner party, and invited part of your family - your uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents. Your uncle opened the door to your apartments, surprising both you and Roger. "Hm, hey, uncle Marcus. Where are my parents?", you asked, and you felt Roger's grip on your hand tighten as he noticed there would be many more family members for him to meet.

As you walked inside, you whispered to Roger "Relax, Rog", and he started looking more confident - but you could still feel his tight grip on your hand. He was still nervous.

But everything worked out just fine, actually. Your parents didn't really approve his looks - Roger was wearing a suit that he bought in Japan, with colorful birds and trees in silk shining against the dining room lights - but your cousins loved it. They loved him, actually, since they knew exactly who he was.

He got more comfortable as dinner went by, joking with your family, and you carefully changed topics once you realized one of your parents was about to ask a question about delicate stuff - money, marriage, kids.

You two always thought about marriage and kids as something distant - you felt too young, too irresponsible to take care of a child. So you took your birth control pills religiously, and everything worked out fine - the promise of children and marriage always there, in the distant future.

After the dinner party, Roger followed you to your room - you'd be spending the night there, since the band's hotel was booked for the next day.

"Well, this is an interesting look into a younger Y/N", Roger said, going through your bookshelf. "Frankenstein, Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote, that's all pretty smart… 1984, I remember you talked about this book before our first kiss...", he said, and kneeled down, where your bookshelf was messier. "What's this? Flash Gordon?" he asks, picking up one of the comic books and going through it, and you could see he was trying not to laugh.

"What?", you said, getting the comics out of his hands. "I used to think Flash was hot. And Dale was pretty cool, too", you said, and he laughed, snaking his arms around your waist and pulling you closer.

"It's fine by me", he said, and looked out of your window. "It's just funny for me to imagine you, a teenager, sitting by your window in this preppy, quite soulless neighbourhood, reading Flash Gordon and thinking of a way out", he said, and you laughed.

"Hey, I didn't only do that. I also had sleepovers with girls I never spoke to since we graduated from high school, and went on a bunch of dates with guys I didn't really like", you answered, and it was his turn to laugh.

"Hm, doesn't seem like a very satisfying life to me", he whispered, moving his lips to your neck, and you nodded lightly. "Did you ever bring them here? To your room?", he asked, and you laughed. "No, my parents would die. They were quite liberal, but not like that. When I went on a date as a teenager, I had to go to their place later if I wanted some action, you know", you answered, and he started to move his kisses to your jaw. You knew what he was about to suggest.

"I know, Y/N... So, I'm just wondering, am I the first guy your parents are allowing inside your room?", he said, his breath on your jaw giving you goosebumps. "Yeah", you answered, and he kissed under your earlobe. "The first guy to sleep on your bed?", he asked, and you said "Yes".

"How are your parents allowing this, miss Y/L/N? Such a nice girl from such a nice family, locked inside her room with a british drummer", he said, his voice low and husky, moving you closer to your bed. But you wanted to take it slow - it was a special event, indeed.

"Not that I'm trying to break your roleplay, Roger, but we literally share a flat. It would be silly for them to get the guest bedroom ready for you", you said, and he scoffed, breaking away from your neck and looking at you.

"Yeah, but it would be hotter", he said, going back to kissing your jaw. "Imagine how hot it would be if I had to wait until your parents slept so I could leave the guest bedroom", he said, getting you to sit on the bed, "And then I would've to walk, very carefully, through the hallway, trying not to wake them up", he continued, laying you down on your back and moving on top of you, then going back to kissing your neck and cleavage as he completed, "Just to open your bedroom door and find you touching yourself, moaning my name".

"That would be pretty hot", you agreed. "Maybe I should get them to move you to the guest room", you shrugged, teasing him, and he stopped kissing your cleavage just to look at you and say "Don't you dare", before kissing your lips.

That night was a bad memory to have running over your head again and again as you laid on your bed every night to go to sleep, alone, a year later, after breaking up with Roger, in 1975.

Your grandma convinced you to seek help, and you tried everything: therapy - your parents looking at you weirdly because getting a therapist was still associated with severe mental illness, meditation, mediums, aromatherapy.

You didn't knew exactly what worked, but a year after you arrived, now in 1976, you were already in your new SoHo flat, having moved out of the Upper East Side, the neighbourhood you - and Roger - knew that didn't really have much to do with you, even though it was closer to the Met, where the work was interesting - and where you barely ever saw Will, uncomfortable looks exchanged between the two of you every time you had to see each other.

It was a cold winter day in December 1976 when you got up, your loft nicely illuminated, spacious, the soft light from the snowy day making everything seem more magical. The building was quiet, your artistic neighbours still asleep this early in the morning, and you made yourself some tea - with milk - and opened the window so you could sit on the emergency exit.

The street was also quiet, the only sound being a muffled free jazz, that was probably being played live in a grand piano inside one of the many lofts on Greene Street. It was then, the cold wind making your skin burn under the layers of sweaters, the tea getting rapidly cold, the jazz caressing your ears, when you realized you were not sad anymore.

You didn't feel that weight on your chest now, when you breathed in, filling your lungs with fresh, cold air, and you didn't feel like you had no control over your life. You were present, in the moment, and you felt happy. Happy with your life. Happy with yourself.

And you enjoyed this feeling, without thinking much, for as long as you stayed outside on the emergency exit; until you finished the tea, until the jazz player stopped, wherever he or she was.

Once you got inside, thinking about preparing a nice, warm bath, you walked by the phone, and you wanted to call Roger.

You wanted to call him many times before, but you were always desperate, regretting breaking up with him, or sad, just trying to know how he's doing, how the boys are doing.

But now, you didn't feel anything negative make you want to call him - you just wanted to let him know that you're happy again.

But that doesn't seem like a good enough reason to call him in the middle of the day for him - he probably wasn't even up yet.

So you went inside the bathtub and just felt grateful for meeting him, for having the opportunity to have him in your life. Now, it was peaceful.

Now, back at the F train to your house from Coney Island in 1977, you're taken out of your thoughts when you see a blonde head pass in front of you, but you don't feel nervous anymore - you knew it wasn't Roger.

You always thought you saw him, especially in 1975, your first year back in New York - always nervous, always imagining that he was just trying to see you, to talk to you, maybe to try to take you back to England with him.

You saw him everywhere, in those first weeks, still in your parents apartment, thinking he might be on you M86 bus to work, or maybe in this fancy cocktail party you attended.

But one time, in 1976, you could swear you saw him on the stairs at the Met as you bought a hot dog from the stands in front of the museum - the guy's hair was shorter and bleached, just like you saw in the pictures of Roger that appeared on magazines, and he looked confused. But you didn't really investigate it, though - it was probably just another guy, maybe even inspiring his own look in Roger's.

Your train reached your station and you finally got back to Greene Street, walking slowly to your building, taking in the view of your street. Now that you're far from Queen, you can see their importance, their impact on the world.

You watched as songs you saw get written and sung and produced right in front of you became huge hits - Deacy's song to Veronica reached #1 on the american charts. A song you saw get recorded in a weekend visiting your boyfriend as he worked - that's how you saw it.

You bought their new album in the end of last year, 1976, A Day at the Races. You loved it - it was probably your favourite, and you didn't knew if it was because their music was getting better or if it was because this was their first album you could enjoy as a fan, not being involved in how it was made. You liked to watch their TV specials and interviews, feeling grateful that you ever got to be around them, even though life - and your own, unconscious choices, you now realized - took you away from them. From Roger.

You loved You Take My Breath Away and Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy, but Drowse truly held a special spot in your heart - maybe you only loved it so much because it was Roger's, and it sounded like talking to him about his childhood, something you've done many times before, but maybe you didn't love it just because you were biased by your story with Roger. The song sounded more american, and it even made you feel like you felt when you listened to Fleetwood Mac. You smiled at that thought.

Once you got home, you picked your mail and started going through it.

You weren't really paying attention to it - you were thinking about the Fleetwood Mac show you would attend next week for the Rumours tour, in the Madison Square Garden, when a heavier letter caught your eye.

The paper was soft, creamy beige, and sealed with wax. And then you read what was written over the envelope.

It was a letter sent by the Curator of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic collections from The British Museum.

---

Chapter 17

Masterlist

Taglist:

@taylorroger-s @sarai-ibn-la-ahad @its-nessi @anamcg317 @frenchieswiftie @queen-danielle-dani-dan @minihemo @shutup-sorry @theyrealllegends @killerqueenisthebest @ashagracelove @hardy-s @fuckinghurricanesoul @secretsweetscollectionblog @mrswinterhater @11mb0 @tamtam-go92 @derptatosaur @brianandthemays @phantom-fangirl-stuff @the-hysterical-queen @rogerofmylife @notevenlxvely @discodeakyy @x1975sos

[a7xlizardqueen]

Title: Your Knight in a Sweater Vest

Overall Rating: NC-17

Overall Warnings: Parental bullying, mentions of bulimia, nudity(?), drinking, partying, cursing, very slight mention of war and trauma, smut

Pairing: Reader x Steve Rogers

Summary: When you need help dealing with your rude and overbearing family, your best friend Steve Rogers comes to the rescue. Modern!AU - For @barnesrogersvstheworld  Writing Challenge Shot Through the Heart #shotthroughtheheart3k

Chapter: 4/10

Word Count: 1,917 words

Chapter Warnings: Nudity, does it count as nudity if it’s written? Drinking and partying, cursing

-X-X-X-

The sun shone bright and the day was hot. Perfect for one final pool party before fall officially took over. Sam picked everyone up in his Range Rover. The party was being thrown by your friends Natasha and Clint, who had a beautiful house out in the Hamptons. You couldn't meet Steve's eyes, though. You'd fallen asleep the night before thinking about the kiss, how his lips felt against yours and how it made your body feel as if it were on fire. That night you dreamt of Steve. You dreamt that you were in bed, tangled together, kissing and pressed against one another. In the light of day, you had a hard time remembering the details, but you could still feel the way his skin rubbed against yours and you wondered if it would feel like that in real life.

It was unsettling, because this was Steve. Your best friend.

You tried to forget the dream and the kiss when you arrived. It wasn't hard to push it to the back of your mind. It was a beautiful day, and there was nothing to worry about. Only good food, good drinks, and good friends. Natasha grabbed you right away and took you aside for girl time with her and Wanda. Wanda was kind of like Nat and Clint's adopted daughter. She'd had a rough childhood, and after the death of her parents and her twin brother, she'd been completely lost. Nat and Clint took her in, gave her a family and a home.

"I think you've got some explaining to do, Y/N," Natasha smirks, handing you a mojito.

"Like what?"

"Well, how about explaining what you were doing kissing Steve Rogers on the Kiss Cam at the game yesterday?"

Of course someone had to bring that up as soon as you'd forgotten about it. You groan.

"You saw that?"

"Of course I did! It was the most adorable kiss I've ever seen. When did this start?"

"Last weekend," Nat and Wanda's faces light up, "It's not real."

"What do you mean, it's not real?" Wanda asks.

"I had a family barbecue to go to," they nod in understanding, "And Steve thought it would be a great idea to show up unannounced and pretend to be my boyfriend just so that I wouldn't be alone."

"Aww," Wanda smiles, "That's so romantic!"

"Wanda, I just told you it’s fake."

"Oh, come on," Nat rolls her eyes, "It's a classic story trope. Two best friends pretend to be dating for some reason and then end up either falling madly in love, or realizing they've loved each other all along. You and Steve are an item."

"No, we are not."

"Y/N, you're telling me you're not the least bit interested in that?" Nat asks, spinning you around so that you have a clear view of Steve, now dripping wet, wearing only a pair of swimming trunks as he gets out of the pool.

The sun shines off Steve's muscles and for a moment he looks like a statue of a Greek god sculpted out of pure gold. Water drips down his muscles, the trunks now plastered to his body, showing off the sizable bulge underneath. Clint tosses a beer his way and Steve catches it without hesitation or fumble, causing his muscles to flex and glisten in the light. Your mouth feels suddenly dry. You tip the mojito back and chug.

-X-X-X-

You probably shouldn't have drank so many mojitos. They're making your brain fuzzy and making it harder for you to ignore Steve. In fact, the mojitos are making it much easier for you to fantasize about him. Not difficult when he's running around half naked and dripping wet.

"Y/N, come play Chicken with us!" Bucky whines from the pool.

You roll your eyes and smile, "I think I'll pass."

"Come on, please! You've been ignoring us for Nat and Wanda all day."

"Aw, do you miss me, Barnes?"

"Absolutely not," Bucky scoffs, "I just need your nonstop attention. You know how fragile my ego is."

"Not happening."

"You sure about that, doll?" Bucky asks with a smirk.

Before you can question his change in demeanor a pair of warm, wet arms grab you by the waist and lift you over a gigantic shoulder. You stare at a perfectly taut, round buttocks beneath red, white, and blue trunks. A large hand lands on your ass with a sharp sting.

"Ow! Rogers, put me down, right now!" You pummel his back with your fists.

Steve laughs and jogs over to the side of the pool, his shoulder digging into your stomach. He lifts you from his shoulder and cradles you in his arms. You try to ignore the way his golden chest looks up close, or how his hot body feels pressed up against you, or how comfortable you feel nestled in his arms.

"Put me down, Steven."

"You've been ignoring your boys, Y/N," Steve smirks, "There must be reparations."

"I will fucking kill you, Rogers."

"Looking forward to it."

Steve throws you out and into the pool. When you come back up, soaking wet and hair in your face, Bucky and Sam are dying from laughter. Steve is standing at the edge of the pool, arms crossed and a stupid smirk on his face. With a scowl you swim to the ladder and haul yourself out to chase after him. Steve laughs and runs off into the grass, zig-zagging to make it harder for you to catch him. You don't ever catch him. Steve stops and spins around suddenly, fast enough that you don't have time to react as his arms encircle you, lifting you off the ground and spinning you around. You scream and laugh as you both go tumbling to the ground.

You wrestle for a few seconds before Steve stops amusing you. He barely needs to try in order to throw you onto your back. He's holding your hands down on either side of your head, hovering above you. The sun shines from behind him, creating an otherworldly glow. Your breath hitches in your throat.

"Say uncle," Steve smirks.

"Uncle," You say lightly before clearing your throat to repeat it louder.

He pulls you to your feet and throws his arm over your shoulders as you head back towards the pool. Steve places a kiss on the top of your head and then promptly throws you into the pool again.

-X-X-X-

You wave your arms above the red solo cup, sitting at the end of the table in front of you with a couple ounces of beer in the bottom. Steve stands at the opposite end, a matching red cup in front of him. He's smirking, trying to hide his disbelief. You and Bucky had started out a bit shaky, Steve and Sam had taken out half of your cups before you hit your stride.

"Hey, come on, baby," Sam complains, "No trying to distract the man. It's the last cup."

"All right, fine. I can play fair. Besides, Steve needs all the help he can get."

Steve narrows his eyes and laughs exaggeratedly. Without a word he throws the small white ball. Your eyes follow its arc, watching as it falls towards the cup, hits the very edge of the rim and bounces away. You quickly grab the ball before Steve can get it back and cheer. Bucky claps his hands behind you.

"All right, you got this doll," he encourages.

You hold the ball out to him, "Blow on it for good luck."

"Y/N, that's for dice."

"Just blow on it, Barnes."

Bucky rolls his eyes but blows on the ball anyway. You turn back to the table and roll the ball between your hands, taking your time, staring back at Steve staring at you. He has an easy smile on his face, he thinks you'll miss. You blow him a kiss before you aim and throw the ball. It arcs beautifully, landing directly in the cup, barely a splash. Steve tries to blow the ball out but it's too late.

"Yes!" You and Bucky cheer and he lifts you with his arm and plants a noisy, wet kiss on your lips. You throw your head back and laugh.

"Dude, you got beat by a chick!" Clint smacks Steve on the back.

“And a one-armed asshole!” Sam laughs.

"Hey, that is sexist and ablest," you scold half-heartedly.

"Hey, I get beat by a chick almost nightly," he smirks.

Nat laughs, “Yeah, and sometimes I do that with one arm, too.”

"Who's up for some hot tubbing?" Sam exclaims.

You and Nat shake your heads, instead grabbing a bottle of Honey Jack and cranking up the music. Sam, Steve, Clint, and Wanda all pile into the hot tub. You, Nat, and Bucky pass the bottle around and dance. Notorious B.I.G.'s Hypnotize plays and you and Bucky press against each other and grind to the music. People don't often expect Bucky to be much of a dancer but he's actually very good, and loves to dance. You and he usually partner up if there's no one around that you're interested in.

"So when's it gonna turn serious?" Bucky whispers in a low voice next to your ear.

"What?"

"You and Steve, obviously."

You spin around, utterly bemused, "What are you talking about? There's nothing there."

Bucky rolls his eyes and laughs, pulling you back towards him, "Oh, good, so you're both completely oblivious."

"We're just friends, Buck."

"Yeah, right, and I'm straight."

"You're gay?" You feign surprise.

"Seriously, Y/N. Something's changed."

You sigh and look over at Steve. His upper body is sticking out of the water, arms braced on the edge of the tub. Steam rises around him in a steady stream, making your vision blur more than it already is. He tips a beer bottle back and you watch his lips press against it, watch his throat as he swallows.

"Y/N?"

"We kissed, Buck," you blurt, "And now I don't know what the fuck I'm feeling."

Bucky's smile is so big it's almost blinding. He looks like a little kid on Christmas morning.

"My little Y/N is in love," he coos, pulling you into a tight hug.

You struggle in his arms, "Buck, stop. I am not in love with Steve."

"Maybe not yet," he smirks.

"Guys!" Sam yells from the hot tub, "We gotta go clubbing soon!"

"Yes!" Natasha cheers, running over to climb into the hot tub to snuggle up against Clint.

You shrug your shoulders, "I dunno."

"Come on, Y/N, we haven't been clubbing in so long!" Sam pleads, jutting his lower lip out.

"Fine! Okay, I'm in too."

"Success! Now get that fine ass over in this tub, girl."

-X-X-X-

The night continues on, with far too much drinking happening in the hot tub. You don't realize how drunk you are until you try to get out of the hot tub and nearly trip over your own feet. Steve quickly jumps out and reaches for you. You don't even think about it, just latch on eagerly as Steve easily lifts you. He sits himself down on a lounge chair and you curl up against him, soaking in the heat radiating off of him. Your arm lays across his stomach, your leg hooks over his and you press your face against his chest, listening to the steady beating of his heart.

"Thanks for everything Stevie," You sigh, quickly drifting towards sleep.

"You're welcome," Steve whispers, nuzzling his nose into your hair.

[softytom]

money is the anthem of success - t.h [part 1]

summary: Being rich and having a gorgeous finance isn’t everything. Tom and his future bride-to-be need to discover what they truly mean to each other before their wedding. 

pairing: Tom Holland x female!reader

warnings: nsfw isshh, sexual content, swearing, mentions of drugs and alcohol 

word count: 2.2k

a/n: I had this idea while being sleep deprived if anyone has any suggestion how to get my sleeping in order i would highly appreciate it, and it’s just basically what if the holland’s were like kennedy of england. If you read my preview and been waiting, here it is, and yes, i decided to turn in into series cause just one imagine wouldn’t have been enough. So i hope you enjoy💓

The Hamptons, 11: 45am

The soft wind blew through me once I stepped outside refreshing me from the extremely hot, humid weather the Hamptons provided us this summer. I called out for Tom, letting him know that brunch was being served in ten minutes, but he didn’t hear me. He was occupied playing soccer with his twin brothers and his so-called-assistant but in reality it was just his best friend from childhood, he needed a way to bring him to boring meetings, A-list parties and someone to bring his special party favors. 

I walked to the yard where the four sweaty, shirtless boys were at. Harry was the first one to notice me. He waved at me, giving me a warm smile. According to Sam, Harry’s twin brother, Harry would marry me if I hadn’t chosen Tom. I laughed when he told me. Harry wasn’t the heir to all the fortune. Tom saw that Harry was waving at me, once he saw me, he turned back around, telling the boys to go back inside. The boys left, I notice two, all back suited guards walking behind the three boys. Tom walked to where I was. I would never go near their soccer field. Tom wasn’t a fan of me being around him when he is with his friends, or his own brothers. 'it back to him. I stared at his well-shaped body. I gave a small cheeky smile, I wanted him to notice I was looking. “Mother’s orders?” he said extending his hand to me, I grabbed it without hesitation. 

“Mine, actually. Father flew in from Venice today. He really wants to meet you” I wanted to sound excited. My father was a huge business man in Europe, he owned half of the hotels, and companies in all Europe. And Tom’s family, The Hollands, were basically royalty. Their great-great-grandfather had a huge investment in his company in oil and minerals back in the 50’s. The Holland’s basically own all England. They make you forget the Windsor’s are the official royal family. 

“Your father is a pain the ass” Tom blurred out. I let go of his hand, giving a small punch in the arm. He let out a mocking ‘ouch’. He grabbed my waist, looking behind us. I turned around to see what he was looking at. Two guards. Everywhere he went, he had two incompetent guards following him. We barley had alone time. 

 The Hamptons, 12:30pm

I let out a yawn, letting know I was bored of brunch. Tom managed to hit off with my father. All he had to say was ‘money’ and Tom was invested on whatever my father had to offer. I looked over at Harrison who was not so discretely looking at the waitress ass. I rolled my eyes. Harrison wasn’t my favorite person, he knew it, Tom knew it, they didn’t care. He was the true reason I barley spend time with Tom. If Tom wasn’t in the morning doing business, he was at night getting high by whichever drug Harrison had that night and fucking a whore who he paid a good amount of money. When I would happily do it for free.  

Everyone with two pair of eyes and common sense knew Tom and I were not in love, He wanted my money. I wanted his money. We both acted madly in love around our families, let them think that will spend eternity wrapped around in happiness and love. I smiled at the thought of me being wrapped around in actual diamonds. We were already engaged, our wedding is on July, in a small Italy village, that my father happens to own, near the beach. 

“(Y/N)” I hear my father call my name in a cold way. I swallowed my sarcasms and bitchy attitude for later. I looked over at him, he was handing me an envelope.

“What is that?” I questioned. Tom put hand on my thigh, slowly stroking it. I grabbed the envelope from my father’s hand. I opened it and inside was two plane tickets. I looked at Tom’s who had grin on his face. “Are you going to explain why I have two tickets to…” realizing I didn’t read what they ticket said, I looked at them again. “Panama?” Tom put his hands up in the air like he just won the lottery. 

“It’s for you and me babe” I frowned my face. “It’s not our honeymoon, I have something different in mind for that.” He got up from his chair, grabbing the glass of champagne from the table. He passed his hands through his hair, giving me wink. As much as happy I am that Panama isn’t our honeymoon destination, I wanted to know what was going through his head. He positioned himself behind me, and put a hand on my shoulder. “Panama is our city now” Harrison let out a small ‘yeah’. “Small business owners thinking they could outplay me” He tighten his grip on my shoulder. “So I bought all the business in Panama” My father was staring at Tom like a proud father, I tried my hardest not be jealous of Tom. “To Panama” 

“To Panama” Everybody cheered. I tried my best to look happy for him. That meant more money. But less time with Tom. My father stood up and shook Tom’s hand and walked away. Finally. Tom sat back down, finishing his food. 

“Congrats on buying more money” I said leaning closer to him. He chuckled

“Your welcome” He said in a cocky voice. 

“Still doesn’t explain why I’m going” Spending my last week of as a somewhat-single woman in Panama, with Tom wasn’t my ideal plan. 

“They need to know I have someone. A wife. A beautiful, young wife. A wife that is going to give me the heirs of all their companies and know they are never getting it back” His voice wasn’t cocky anymore. He sounded secure, and intimidating, like he was talking to one his employee’s. 

“I’m not your wife yet” I said. He gave me a small smile, nodding his head

“No and you’re not pregnant either but they don’t have to know that” If I had a glass of whatever I would have spit it out on his face. I looked over at the other people at the table and made sure they were minding their own business.

“You told people in panama I’m pregnant?” I whisper, trying hard not yell and making sure no one knew what really went on between us. “Tom we’ve never-” I felt his lips against mine, and the same empty pit in my stomach started up again.

“Don’t be so loud love” He said. “I never said a word, they speculated, I just never denied it” he tugged a piece of hair behind my ear and Tom grabbed the napkin next to his plate and cleaned his hands before standing up, he got Harrison’s attention, he gave me a small kiss on the cheek before walking inside with him. 

 The Hamptons, 1:30pm 

“He’s so irritating” I slammed a pack of shirts into my suitcase. “He’s lucking he’s charming, and good looking with a lot of money otherwise I would have had his tongue cut out” I walked into my closet, grabbing my phone with me. I was talking to my best friend, Laura. She was in New York for fashion week, once she was done with NYFW, she was supposed to come help me with my bachelorette party and my wedding. 

“You should have gone with the twin” Laura says over the phone. I laughed at her. 

“Well, he isn’t the one who’s getting the majority of the money when their father passes away” I said. I was looking through the dresses I just hanged, I’m sure Saint Laurent would look good on Panama grounds.

“Where is he anyways?” She asked. I gave a small sigh, trying not to picture Tom between some whore’s legs while snoring coke off her tits. 

“Out. With Harrison” I said coldly. “I know he’s not in love with me but some respect would be nice. He bitches at me for spending more time with his brothers but when we finally have time to spend together, he bolts with his stupid friend” At this point I was more sad than angry. Part of me knew I couldn’t spend my entire life in a loveless marriage, just being used as a baby maker. 

A soft on my door made me walk out the closet. I knew it wasn’t Tom, he never knocked. Laura was rumbling about how she got almost got in a fight with one the Hadid sisters. I opened the door and I was surprised to see it was my father standing on the other side. “I’ll call you back Lau” I didn’t give her a chance to say goodbye, I hanged up and threw my phone in my bed. “Pa?” I walked next to my suitcase, making sure my nervousness wasn’t showing. He closed the door behind him and walked next to my dresser. “What are you doing here? I thought you were going back to London.” I could hear a pitch in my voice. Talking to father was never easy.

“Just came to congratulate you, you picked a wonderful man (y/n)” I tried my best not roll my eyes since was standing in front of me and had a smile ear to ear.

“He isn’t he?” I said sarcastically. Tom was probably fucking somebody else. I faked a smile at my father.

My father walked closer to me, grabbing my face his hands. “My little girl. If he makes you unhappy, I’ll make an arraignment with some other young men’s, some of my business partners have handsome, young son’s. Marvin’s son just turned 24, and he would be perfect for you” He calmly said. I tried my hardest not to shed a tear but my father’s words were something I needed. I was my chance not to marry Tom, but we had an arraignment of our own. A promise, and I couldn’t break it.

“I love him” I lied. “He makes me happy, I make him happy. It’s just sometimes...” A took a deep breath, carefully not trying to say the wrong thing. “It’s hard. Being with him is hard” I sat down in the bed, looking down at my feet. Tom never made it easy, being with him was hard, pretending to be in love with him was harder.

My father sat next to me, and put an arm around my shoulder. “Love is hard. It’s the most common thing to say but it’s true. It’s never easy, you have to understand each other, commit to one and other and always be true to each other” He said. I smiled at him. If being with Tom meant more conversation’s like this with my father, I am all in.

 New York City, 2:20am

I smiled once Harrison handed me the mask for the club. “Now remember, you can’t ask for their names. They can’t ask for yours. And just have fun” Harrison explained out the rules of this club he was told about. It was 50 shades themed club or it looked like it. I wasn’t feeling the club at all, but I anything that could get me away from my mother and my cock hard it’s was okay with me.

Once I walked through the big black doors, the only thing I could hear was the loud music playing over us and the moans coming from the upstairs bedroom. They were girls everywhere. They were a pair of redheads on the stairs smiling at me. About five girls laying on a couch waiting to be fucked. Some were wearing black, blue, red and white lingerie. I licked my lips walking through the girls. I grabbed champagne from a table in the middle, Harrison already had disappeared with the first girl who threw herself at him. I looked around trying to find the right girl. Bingo. My eyes were on the girl with white lingerie. She had the same hair color as (Y/N), I took a few sips of my drink before placing it back into the table. I walked over to the girl. She saw me coming, and smirked at me. She signaled with her finger for me to follow her into one of the bedrooms upstairs. 

I bit my lips looking at her ass. (y/n) ass was better. I imaged it was actually her leading me up the stairs. That it was her behind the mask. I thought the short peach dress she was wearing. If I had the power to make everyone disappear from that table and fuck her right there I would. I wanted nothing more than to spread her legs, slide my cock inside her and hear her cry out of my name. 

A side of me wanted to go back to the house, and apologize to her. But our agreement meant no real feelings, no emotional attachment, I wish I could buy a time machine and stop myself from agreeing with her.

I followed the girl into on the bedrooms. I closed the behind her and she was already laying on the bed. “Get up” I commanded her. Even behind her mask I could see her confused look but obeyed me anyways.

“I know names are off limit” I said handing her $400. “I just need to call you one name” She was hesitant but smiled at me and grabbed it

“And what’s the name?” she asked. I grabbed her by the waist, turning her around. 

“(y/n)” I said, and kissed her neck.

tag list: @petersunderroos (if you want to be tagged, just inbox me)

[wren-bishop]

Main Stage - Chanel x Val

@valcrie-richie @chanel-hampton

Wren: Wren was clapping and cheering for Olivia and Jesse, he was so happy for Liv. Then he heard his own name called and he was in shock, then he heard Chanel's name. He got up on stage and accepted his crown and Chanel got hers, he picked her up and gave her a huge hug. He was so excited, this kind of thing never happened in California. 

Chanel: Chanel put on a fake smile and clapped awkwardly when Olivia and Jesse's name were announced. Though she was happy for Olivia, the first person that came to mind was Devyn. That's a big yikes. She promised herself she'd go talk to Devyn afterwards and try to get her mind off of it. Her eyes lit up the moment she heard her name, but what made it even better was that Wren won alongside her. "Oh my god!" This couldn't have gone any better for her. She ran up on stage and accepted the crown. Chanel wrapped her arms around Wren as he picked her up, looking at him with a big smile on her face.

Wren: Wren and Chanel posed for pictures with their crowns and then it was time for their spotlight dance. Slow music was playing and Wren danced with Chanel a little slower than they had in the kitchen, giving her a spin and then the dip. "I'm so glad it's you and me" said Wren, he knew he would have to deal with the fact that Valerie didn't win in a moment, but he was happy to be here and happy to have been thought of by the student body. 

Chanel: Chanel wrapped her arms around Wren's neck, letting her arms rest on his shoulders. She looked at up him with a genuine smile when he said he was glad that they won. She couldn't agree more. "Me too." she said excitedly. Chanel felt like nothing could ruin this moment, but then the thought of Valerie popped into her head. She looked out to the crowd of people watching them dance until her eyes met with Valerie's. Chanel had full control of this moment and she wanted to use this to really piss Valerie off. It was a long time coming. All the attention was on her, and she was ready to put on a show. She looked at Valerie with a smirk before turning her attention back to Wren, her hand slowly moving up to the side of his face, "You and me." she repeated softly before leaning forward and pressing her lips against his deeply.

Wren: Wren was enjoying this moment, and just living in it. She pressed her lips to his and he shut his eyes for a split second, lingering before pushing her off him. "Chanel what the hell?" said Wren realizing he was making a scene. But he had already heard a gasp from the audience, literally everyone was watching. There was a freaking spotlight. Wren felt his heart about to burst, he was on his way to having a panic attack in front of the whole school. He got his bearings together and stared at the girl. 

Val: It hadn't been the fact that she'd loss, or the fact that he had become king. Or even the fact Chanel had gotten the crown. It hadn't been the fact they had that private dance together, but the thing that really had gotten Vals blood boiling...He fucking closed his eyes, in front of everyone, the kiss hadn't been an instant push against her, but he'd kiss her back even if it'd been brief. And it'd been enough for Val to not give any more shits. Luckily for her, the dress didn't need to be hiked up and she moved at them her drink in hand before it splashed on the both of them but mainly Chanel- and the punch came even quicker then the drink. Right at her face, to dance had been one thing but to actually kiss her boyfriend...Fuck this fucking bitch.

Chanel: Chanel was expecting Wren to push her off, but she was a little surprised when he didn't push away immediately. She didn't really think too hard on it though, she was way more focused on how Valerie would react. "Oh my god, what Laurie? Don't ruin this good moment." she told him, holding in her laugh. She turned her attention to Valerie and was instantly met with the drink being thrown at her. Chanel closed her eyes and gasped after, looking down at her dress that was now ruined. "You fucking bi-" she was instantly cut off by the punch she received. Chanel put her hand to her nose, checking to see if she was bleeding. "Give. Now." she grabbed someone's cup from the crowd and threw the drink over Valerie before taking the girl by the shoulders, pulling her in close and punching her back right in the face.

Val: "You boyfriend kissing slut!" she said before reaching for Chanel's hair and started tugging, forcing the crown to be pulled out. And she felt the sting of the punch and didn't give a fuck that her dress had been ruined, she just cared that her fist had reached this bitches face. "Fuck you!" she said before fulling pushing Chanel back her glare locked on the girl. 

Chanel: "It's not like he really cares about you. You should have heard the shit he was telling me." she said, referring back to Wren's party. She never told Valerie what Wren said about her, she wanted to keep that one for a rainy day, and tonight seemed pretty fitting. Chanel tried pulling her head back as Valerie was tugging on her hair. Chanel caught herself before falling back completely as Valerie pushed her. "What was it again? Oh right. How could she be so fucking fake? She's a carbon copy of all my worst traits." she said, repeating what Wren said about Valerie that night. Chanel ran towards Valerie and pushed her back before grabbing her hair with one hand and swinging at the girl with the other. 

Wren: Wren picked up Valerie, getting even more punch on his suit. He put her down farther away from Chanel. "STOP" said Wren, yelling for the first time in forever. "BOTH OF YOU JUST STOP IT" he yelled standing in between them. "I'm done with both of you using me to get at one another. I'm fucking out. Neither of you text me, neither of you show up at my house. I'm done. This is embarrassing and so inappropriate. " said the boy firmly and quietly. He was so over all of this, every time there was an event it ended like this. And this put his whole personal life on display. He looked directly at Chanel, "We are no longer friends" and then he looked at Valerie, "and we are no longer dating". His hands were shaking, he signaled to Rory for her to meet him in the hallway as he left the room.

Val: Even as he yelled at her, her glare met his and she found herself replaying the fact he closed his eyes and kissed Chanel back. And even as he left she took off her shoes and threw them in his direction- "NO KIDDING!" she shouted before storming out of the dance her eyes stinging from the tears.

Chanel: Chanel rolled her eyes as Wren walked off, there was no way he was just going to drop her like that. She always had this idea that she could do absolutely anything to him and it wouldn't piss him off. Why would she think that way? Not sure, maybe because she's a bitch. She looked down at her dress and pouted her lips, storming off into the bathroom afterwards. 

[albanuvo]

Accident

Based on real events that happened on Oct.6th 2017

Like every weekday now, the alarm goes off 6 am. I run to the bathroom to put toothpaste on Ayden’s toothbrush and go into the kitchen to heat up his one waffle. I have an odd feeling but I chuck it to not sleeping well. Ayden spent the night coughing. Fast forward to 7:30 am, the alarm goes off for us to leave the house and I get that weird feeling again. I grab Ayden’s hand tight as we cross the road. I have this feeling of protecting him. I find myself doing it all morning. I didn’t pay it any mind as I usually have days when I’m more emotional and once again chucked up my maternal helicopter parenting on that itself. We fed the Canadian geese and Sea Gulls, the sun was out and it was a beautiful morning. We finished to then head to the Welsh Pantry for our shared ham and cheese toasty.Once again my grip on Ayden as we crossed the intersection quickly. Its time, We enter the gate so that the kids can head to their classrooms, all the children roll around in their scooters and walking in with their parents. The parents tired looking but with the sense of relief to give up their responsibility for just a couple hours. They love them, of that I’m sure but a moment for yourself isn’t selfish.It is much needed. As we continue to walk, in only a few feet in front of me a little boy scoots by so fast and somehow falls nearly facedown off his scooter, the poor little boy cries as his mother leaves her conversation with other mothers to aid her son. He brushes his blond hair off his red tear filled eyes being restricted to his helmet. Thank god he was wearing that helmet. Ayden says oooo that must have hurt and I feel sorry for the child. He was ok. All these kids have scooters, I’d say more than 87%. I walk Ayden in through the gate and the classroom door opens and in he goes. I love you…kiss…hug …It still hurts but easier to let go day by day.

I’ve been running around all day, I get off the bus with that feeling still bugging me but I remember I have to call the clinic to book Ayden an appointment, they tell me I don’t need an appointment as long as he gets there before 5:30. I message Alex to let him know and he says funny enough he had already called, forgetting after a certain time they do walk-ins. Got home took a shower, groceries came at 10:06 am than 11-12 when it was scheduled for, whatever.

1:06 Alex calls me to let me know that he can pick us up from the school and if I could grab him some food from Morleys. I agree and I am relieved I don’t have to run home to get ready for work at 5 pm.  Guess the routine will be changing up. 1:30 pm The alarm is going off time to leave to the bus stop. That feeling is back again. Maybe I’m just tired. Hello again to the same bus driver. The bus taking me calls off every stop and I can’t shake off that feeling but I try to focus on other things like how warm the sun is.  

Then we arrive at my stop, Hampton Court Bridge. I walk off the bus an sit right at the first bench. it was cool and the water moved rapidly but also calmly. I spot a man, perhaps Jamaican with his 2 sons. One in the stroller the other about 3 or 4. I was nervous about seeing them so close to the edge but I figured they fed the geese too and the water wasn’t deep on the edge. Another thought popped into my mind.  If the child fell in who would jump in, I cant swim! does the father know how to? I cant tell you why I think these thoughts so frequently but when I do I promise something ends up happening that day. He finishes admiring the river with his son, he starts to pull the stroller backward back up towards the ramp bumping over a bunch of tiny rocks and plant life on the trail. The older boy runs back up the trail as the father in another language I couldn’t understand calls back to him, saying, Papa, something …Idk but somehow I knew he said papa is leaving, bye son. Its what we do to get our kids to come and go with us, scare them into thinking we are leaving them behind. Seems cruel doesn’t it, not really tho, not many of us would be willing to leave our children alone or behind. Those who truly love would never do that. The man sees me and says good day to me as he continues to pull the stroller out and up the ramp passing me, the youngest is such a cutie too. Another bus stops behind me from another company, a woman calls out to me and I recognize her, she’s the grandma from one of the beautiful lil girls from another class. She says hi to me and tells me that the bus we waited for came after I left a couple days ago. Waited for an hour and 2 busses never showed up. We chatted for a bit and she left while still looking back at me several times. I’m alone again, just the traffic behind me on the road and in front, the waves of the river and I’m starting to feel cold. I don’t want to leave yet and my mind starts to wander as I stand up and stare at the river from the ramp. Why am I here on this earth? What is my purpose?  I kid you not that’s exactly what I was thinking, money, career, marriage. All the things we think about while being alone and inside our own heads. I had that feeling and I couldn’t tell why. Was I depressed, Is my monthly curse to come playing up with my emotions or sensitivity? Idk something isn’t right. 2:20 its time to start walking… I get to the area but continue to walk up avoiding the first entrance and going thru another entrance further down. I sit across the street from the school, something I never do. I like to be the first at the gate but this time I sat.My phone rings, caller Id says, Amy. Hi, are you by the school?  I’m going to be late there’s this big accident and I’m only like 5-10 late could you pick up Miya? no worries and sure, make sure you let them know some fat black woman with short black hair is coming to get her lol we both laugh and she says I will call to let them know. We agree to meet up near hers. See I’ve never picked up his cousin from school before. Something once again I’ve never done. Dare I say out of routine. As it was 2:40 I walked into the hall that leads us to the gate noticed 3 women and a baby in a stroller in the front by the gate and an older man behind them. making me 3rd in line for my baby. It’s 2:50 can someone please open the gate now? finally, she pushes the gate. We all go into line up by the doors to get our kids. I speak to other mothers about their day and their younger ones while I wait for Ayden. Then the doors open. I wish the ladies a good weekend. I tell Ayden lets go get Miya and then we will head to Morleys to get daddy his food. We approach the class and the teacher at the door immediately says are you here for Miya, I smile and say yes and Ayden yells MIYA!!! I say thank you and tell them to hold hands. We start to walk towards Morleys. Once again that weird feeling kicks in so I say “Ok kids, hold hands and let’s go and don’t let go of each other. The long line of kids and parents and children on scooters seemed endless. “Miya, did you bring your scooter?” She says “No we came with the buggy today” “  I say to her “great so let’s go then”.  As we approach the road I then tell them to get on either side of me and hold my hand until we cross. They comply but are excited about being with each other.  We are about to cross another road at this point they both are holding hands again so instead of breaking them up I reach for their connecting hands to cross the road. We walk to Morleys. They sat down as I proceeded to make the order. They played as another woman with her baby and small daughter smile while looking at them and asks me if they are both in reception. I say no Only 1, she looked on as if trying to understand something she is thinking in her mind. I know what she is thinking, not psychic but the obvious, see Ayden and his cousin look like they can be siblings, same height, and very similar characteristics. the only difference is that her hair is blond. I say to the women “They do look like siblings but in actuality They’re cousins” Her expression changed as if her question had been answered and we both smiled. She continued to admire them as they played. How could she not they both look so adorable together when they play. I watch out the glass door as I see her mother approaching with her lil brother in arms, her face in relief in gratitude.  “Thank you for picking her up for me,” she says “No worries” And as I wait for the chicken burger meal We keep talking about the kids, discussing playdate, Halloween parties, and just usual mommy stuff. Finally its done!! it’s time to go and so we walk on thru the supermarket and are talking when an older women appearsbehind me, looked like a gypsy you see in a scary film, She was pushing her little cart into the other trollies. she was wearing a scarf and \i could see a long skirt coming through her long brownish sweater, I guess I was in her way. I apologized and moved forward she smiled. I thought in my head about the movies you see about when they feel done wrong how they curse you.I know silly & SO STEREOTYPICAL but we were talking about Halloween and she spooked me as I didn’t see or hear her walk up behind me. I cut the convo short and said let’s text the plans as I have to go to work so home to get dressed etc. Since that sandwich took ages Ayden and I took to speed walking, all the while he complained of leg pains, I said to him “We are meeting up with daddy, We won’t walk.” he was adamant that he should then run. I said no! if your legs hurt just walk but try to go fast cuz I need to go home to get dressed. As we walked I grabbed a few leaves. I found this huge one I thought was awesome. We got to the car I hand Alex his food and buckle Ayden in. Let’s go! We are driving for a bit and notice a bit of traffic. its school, time of course. Kids and parents everywhere but not as bad as I had been at Morleys for enough time for the majority to disperse. We are driving down the road, it’s warm as the sun beams right into our eyes, down come the visors. Alex then say’s “ OMg there was this huge accident on the way here” I interrupt with “Yeah that must be the same accident as to why Amy was late to get Miya” Not even half a second after Miya rolled off my tongue …On the opposite side of the road a child speeds off the sidewalk into traffic, We hear what sounded like a million voices screaming a bus comes to a hard halt everything stops for a split second like a pause in a movie , in a blink of the eye everything happens simultaneously I watch Alex raise his hands to his heads , I watch as a mother screams hysterically as many ran towards her side, she drops to the floor…her screams echoed thru the cars  as others run towards the bus, people come running out their cars the bus drivers face in terror as he runs out of the bus and towards the back. Alex exclaims I didn’t just see that, god no I didn’t see that boy get hit! Is he under the bus OMG. I was in shock not being able to move or say anything I held my hand to my face, saying no no no what happened. I couldn’t see too much now as the commotion was behind the bus. I wanted to come out the car but Alex stopped me. He said “I know how emotional you are, if he is bad you cant see that. You cant go to work with that image in your head, he is being helped and it won’t help to crowd them. they will need space. “ you cant get out the car.” I wanted to so bad, something kept nagging at me. I listened to my husband disappointed at myself a bit. Traffic was at a standstill until a woman started directing it. cars came past us the car in front of us belonged to a lady and man who ran out, neighbors came running out to see the commotion. the lady took her car and parked it in reverse to the park and slowly we crept up to go by. I needed to see… I had to, I NEEDED TO KNOW IF HE WAS ALIVE. As we drove by, my husband said don’t look but I couldn’t listen again I looked, I saw him laying in the grass wrapped up in what looked like a fleece as the mother cried and others surrounded him. He was moving! Alive! As we kept going my husband was trying to keep calm as he drove. He saw more due to his angle but all I could think was, We just mentioned about the accident before 2 times before it just happened in front of us AN ACCIDENT Ayden was in the back seat so he didn’t see anything but what he did do was hear the poor woman’s screams. Screams that I kept hearing and thinking to myself it was a small child, I’m a mother! I would lose it if something happened to my child. We start to talk about how seconds before it happened a car stopped them from continuing on their journey as it turned into the estate and left them waiting to cross. We recalled seeing the mother looking into her stroller at the baby with another woman before it all happened so quickly. meanwhile, I could feel my body shaking but not visibly, it was from the inside. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that inside vibration before, was that actual shock? Forget how I feel imagine how that mother was feeling, that poor child, the bus driver. he did nothing wrong, wasn’t speeding. The child came out of nowhere onto the road. All I could hear was her screams.

We arrive home and I feel weak, I get inside the house and start to get dressed as Alex locked himself in the bathroom. I continued to feel like I was shaking. How was I going to work like this? keep calm…keep calm …relax…but the screams. Alex didn’t want to drive. but nonetheless, he drove me to work stressing about the fact that he wanted to take Ayden to the clinic to get checked due to his cough and phlegm from being sick since the second day of school. We arrive at my job, I get out Ayden has fallen asleep in the back seat, I open the door to kiss him and I kiss Alex before I go inside.  I don’t feel comfortable being here, I think to myself. I walk through the store giving fake smiles while inside I was shaking and wanted to cry but I kept my composure. My friend at work noticed something wrong. I told him what happened and he did his very best to keep me from thinking about it. I tried to even laugh and make jokes to drown out the screams when he went on break, the screams came back. I couldn’t concentrate. 

It’s 8:30 pm time for my 15 min break and I see I have a missed call. No one really calls me so I immediately assume its, my husband, as it says NO CALLER ID It happens sometimes…It was him an then he tells me what happened…. The Surrey police put out a tweet for witnesses to come forward with information. He felt he wanted and needed to help so he called. he found out that the boy was 4 years old (Damn same age as my son) We saw him go so fast due to him being on a scooter! He was Alive (thank god) but that the damage was to the legs, we didn’t know how extensive the injuries were but a relief came over me knowing he was going to be ok. almost like something left my body. I was sad to hear he was hurt but happy to know he made it. I’m glad my husband did the right thing in providing what information he could. I thought to myself … I hope there is an update soon, via news or something.

After all this, I can’t help but think the many series of events that led to this happening. The times I worried about the kids on scooters, the traffic, then mentioning of the word “accident” 3 times before it happened in front of us. the fact that the very next day on Saturday, Oct 7, 11 people are injured in a “car crash” near the London museum, which they say is not terrorism-related. Why does the word “ACCIDENT” keep popping up?

[thescandalouselites]

THE MCCARTHY MEMORIAL GALA RECAP

The Annual McCarthy Memorial Gala is always one that leaves the city talking, and this time it was no different. 

Many of the most well known members of the Upper East side arrived to the Gala with gorgeous dates on their arms and even better looking jewels on their neck. Of course, not everyone seemed to get the dress code in the invitation. Jake Puckerman arrived slightly underdressed for the occasion, his younger sister and newcomer on the scene, Sarah Puckerman, on his arm. We’re writing his outfit choice off as a way to stir the pot, where as we’re willing to bet Miss Stacy Evans is just clueless when it comes to how these functions work, since she arrived to the gala in a New York taxi cab. How tragic.

While guests and dates are often the talks of our blog, the pairings for this event were rather dull. Frannie Fabray attended the party with a rather yummy male model, but we’ve heard since that night she’s filed at restraining order so we’re willing to bet it wasn’t all heart eyes and rainbows between the two. Her ex, Duke Wilde, brought a date of his own, but seemed to disappear from her arm early in the night. Marley Rose attended the party with her step brothers best friend, Hunter Clarington. At first we hoped a scandal was on the horizon, but many sources heard Clarington state he brought Princess Peach as his date because her new step brother dropped out at the last minute. Not very brotherly, Sebastian. The only other notable dates were the hosts themselves. Mason McCarthy brought long time date, Kitty Wilde with him, not too shocking, but his sister Madison McCarthy brought Ryder Lynn. Quite interesting considering the past between Wannibieber and Kit Kat, especially since Ryder Lynn has been seen out numerous times, before and after the Gala, with Marley Rose.

The dateless includes Stacy Evans and Scout Lynn. Sorry ladies. Maybe next time just go with each other, it’s always less pathetic then going stag.

It seems the Gala itself was boring, many of the guests leaving the main hall when Michael McCarthy began talk about his war days. His daughter Madison was seen fleeing to the garden after being turned down for a drink by the bartender. Of course that clearly didn’t deter the girl, because she was seen trading drinks with the likes of Jake Puckerman, Ryder Lynn and Frannie Fabray. It seems she was quite drunk later in the evening. So drunk in fact, that she kissed ex-whatever, Hunter Clarington. Right after leaving a slap on his cheek. Interesting foreplay, McCarthy. 

Her twin brother was probably one of the only people who spent most of the party at the party. Fluttering around between guests and girls alike. While Kitty was his date, it seemed that she wasn’t the only one on his radar. Boy McCarthy spent most of his night chatting up Stacy Evans, before she eventually ditched the event all together to get burgers with her drunk twin. Oh the parallels. Once Stacy was gone for the evening, Mason moved onto the other dateless girl, Scout.

Who probably deemed the party as a bust, considering she also left early and was spotted partying it up throughout the night. She did however, spend a bit of time with Baby Puckerman while at the Gala. We’re not totally sure what they talked about, but one observer swore the word marriage came up during the conversation. Hey Girl Scout, maybe you can plan your wedding once your birthday party ends? Although we doubt your big bro will be happy with the groom, especially after he hears what Jake was up to later in the night.

If anyone should get the award for most entertaining, it should be Jake Puckerman. Not only was he practically chased throughout the house by a rather clingy ex of his fathers, but he had a bit of lady drama. Of course we know about his talk with Scout, but apparently at one point throughout the night, he stumbled upon Marley Rose and admitted to having feelings for her and then the two shared a dance? Are we hearing this correctly? We thought she had a thing with his best friend? Either way, no one here at gossip girl is exactly shocked, since we all remember the night he spent at her place. Puckerman wasn’t done with Ryder’s leftover though, because one source claims to have seen Baby Puckerman and Kit Kat leave a secluded office together later in the night. Who knows what went on in there? Well... we have a few guesses, especially after the pictures that surfaced earlier this week.

We’re both wondering how Ryder Lynn will feel about all this, especially since it all seemed to happen under his nose. His sister, his ex-girlfriend and his new beau all in one shot? Could this mean the end of a life long bromance? We’re dripping with anticipation. Especially since we know that Lynn left the event with Marley Rose. We doubt he knows about the conversation, since Marley was seen later in the week buying some lingerie with friend Madison McCarthy, and we’re sure the only person she’d be buying that for is for Lynn himself. Will he see it, though, is the question? Especially with this new information.

Not much was seen of Duke Wilde during the party, but that could be because he slipped off into the library rather early in the night. We thought that boy was all about a good old fashion party? But maybe being in the same room as long time ex girlfriend, Frannie Fabray was too much? We’ve been told they did seem to have a rather cordial conversation, but for all we know that was the alcohol. Or maybe they’ve agreed its time to get back together? Fingers crossed it’s the latter, because we’ve placed bets.

What we at Gossip Girl find most interesting is the fact that Quinn Fabray and Sam Evans weren’t even in attendance to the party. We figured as much from Fabray, what with the clear tension between her and Madison earlier in the week, but we expected Trouty Mouth to show up and watch over his younger siblings. Instead they were spotted together, even taking a dip together in the Fabray pool. But we’re a tad confused. We thought Barbie 2.0 and Hunter Clarington were on track to become a thing? Clearly we were wrong, and she’s decided to downgrade.

That’s all the information we have for now, boys and girls. But our favorite Upper East Siders are currently in the Hamptons and we know that will call for plenty of drama, especially after they all read this.

It’s all fun and games until people get exposed.

xoxo, gossip girls.

[angryschnauzer]

Taking In Strays - Epilogue

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11

Taking In Strays – Epilogue

5 Years Later

Sam shifted from one foot to another, nervously watching as Emily fixed her hair for the hundredth time in the last five minutes;

“Are you sure you want me to be the one to do this?”

She turned and smiled, walking to stand in front of him as she adjusted his tie and straightened the flower in his button hole in his Air Force uniform;

“I wouldn’t want anyone else to walk me down the isle”

She smiled and rested her hands on his chest, taking a deep breath as the baby moved inside her, her seven month bump pushing against Sam as he smiled at her words;

“You’ve helped us through so much, you have been there for both Steve and myself, for both the boys. You’re Mickey and Grant’s godfather and when this little miss arrives i hope you’ll agree to be her godfather too. From that moment five years ago when i stood in Steve’s kitchen and you saw my scars you’ve been one of our best friends, and i wouldn’t want anyone else to do the honor of walking me to finally tie the knot with Steve”

Sam choked back the lump in his throat nodding as he smiled at Emily and pressed a kiss to her cheek;

“You look stunning by the way... you almost ready or do i need to get them to push things back another 5 minutes”

“We’re good to go”

He crooked his arm and smiled as she slid her own through it, letting him walk her out of the room and towards the gardens where the ceremony was being held.

As she paused behind the screen of Jasmine bushes she cast her mind back to the two previous times they’d tried to do this, hers and Steve’s nuptials almost doomed after the other times the Avengers being called upon to save the world yet again that left her standing at the altar as her fiancé rushed off.

Taking a deep breath she looked up at Sam giving him the nod that they were ready to go, the music starting up as the turned the corner. Looking up she saw her rag tag family at the altar; both Steve and Bucky wearing full modern-day military uniforms that signalled their Army rank, Mickey and Grant standing very patiently next to them as they watched their mother walk towards them. They had moaned about having to wear suits – Grant insisting he would wear his Iron Man pyjama’s as Iron man’s suit was better until Tony had promised to make them both ‘real’ suits – and were pulling at the cuffs that stuck out of their little jackets. Lillian waited on the other side of the altar, the only person Emily had wanted as her Maid of Honor and forgoing any bridesmaids.

As Emily reached the small crowd waiting for her she thanked Sam before handing her bouquet to Lillian, taking a deep breath when she was finally able to stand with Steve as he took her hand. Before the registrar could start he dropped to one knee and cradled her baby bump in his hands, pressing a kiss to it before standing and giving the nod to continue.

~*~

Tony topped his drink up from the bottles of champagne that the catering staff had left in the kitchen, the party in full swing by mid afternoon. With the sun high in the sky and the music being piped through the in-house entertainment system he nodded along to the beat as he ambled through the room.

As he turned the corner he was almost knocked off his feet by his two littlest but greatest fans running in the opposite direction;

“Hey! Mickey, Grant! Slow down! You know your Mom doesn’t like you running in the house”

Tony had been a regular fixture at the Rogers-Embers house in the Hamptons since they had decided to move out of the hustle and bustle of New York, Emily and Steve wanting to raise the kids in a country environment but still be close enough to civilisation that Steve could commute back to Manhattan and the Compound for work, and well; where else would it not be frowned upon to have your own helipad in the back garden?

Wondering what his two smallest protégé’s were up to he followed the sound of their footsteps on the wooden floor, knowing that although he usually instigated most of the mischief they got up to, their parents wedding day was not the right time for it. Hearing their voices from the lounge Tony quietly peered around the doorpost and watched what the two boys were up to;

“Here, look, i can move it a little bit”

“No, you’re dumb, i can move it a little bit too. I’m as strong as you”

Looking down Tony saw what they were talking about; Thor’s hammer. The Asgardian had left it sitting on the marble hearth of the fireplace, out of the way during the wedding, but near enough to be on hand just in case. Tony watched as Mickey grabbed Mjolnir’s handle, leaning into it and making the mighty hammer rock slightly. His little brother pushed at him, wanting a another try.

Tony couldn’t help but to watch in wonder, a few years back before Ultron had happened they’d all seen Steve nudge the hammer, and it had been speculated that he’d stopped trying rather than to proceed and lift it out of humbleness. Tony knew of Mickey’s true parentage, that Bucky was his biological father so to see it move under his efforts had him wondering something. He stepped into the room silently as the two boys argued;

“What are you two up to?” he asked in a mock stern voice

“Nothing Uncle Tony” Mickey said, quick to stand straight and hide Mjolnir behind him

“We weren’t going to break it” Grant said quickly, backing up his older brother.

“I know kids. I saw you both jiggle it a bit though” a thought occurred to Tony; “We need to make sure Thor doesn’t catch us in here, but how about if you both try and move it, working together?”

The two boys grinned at Tony and turned, holding into the leather wrapped handle as Tony counted to three and gave them the signal. They pulled as hard as they could and the hammer scraped across the marble, leaving behind deep scratches before it thudded down the two inch drop onto the carpet with a house shakingly loud thud. Both of the kids looked up at Tony with shock on their faces, to which he matched their expressions but tried to hide his grin;

“Quick! RUN!”

He watched as the boys peeled out of the room and towards the back terrace, slowly ambling after them and meeting Thor at the doorway;

“I heard Moljnir...”

“The boys...”

The tall blond man looked to the back door the kids can just run out of;

“Together?”

Tony nodded, sipping his champagne as the big man shrugged;

“Those two are certainly worthy when working as a team...” he paused as he clasped Tony’s shoulder; “But perhaps we keep this between ourselves? We all know what happens when brothers try and share Mjolnir...”

“That... is very wise”

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

Manip very kindly made by @slaughterme-barnes

I do have an idea for a sequel to Steve and Emily’s story but will see where that goes. 

[thethinwomn]

The Thin Woman’s Vacation

🏖The Thin Woman’s Vacation🏖

Agent Daniel Sousa was heading to the office of the Chief and P.R. Chief of the new international intelligence division  of S.H.I.E.L.D. The Chief was in charge of investigations, field work, covert ops. The P.R. Chief was in charge of lying to the press and smoothing things over with the bureaucrats. They were the perfect team. The Kickass and the Kissass as Director Phillips calls them.

The door to their office had a pane of glass. Paint on the window said-

Chief Peggy Carter-Thompson & P.R. Chief Jack Thompson

Then under the lettering was a piece of paper attached to the door with tape. Written in different colored crayons it said-

Lil’ Stevie & Phillips 🐾 Club House

As Daniel opened the door hoping to find Peggy, but only found Jack and five year old Lil’ Stevie. Jack was at his desk going over paperwork and Lil’ Stevie was at his own desk coloring a picture. Daniel watched father and son quietly work. Both had the same look of concentration etched on their face. Their brow was furrowed, sleeves rolled up and both raised their left hand to scratch their heads as they worked at the same time. It was like looking at a young reflection of Jack.

Peggy walked up besides Daniel taking in the adorable sight of father and son. Daniel looked to Peggy and said, “Lil’ Stevie’s getting more like his father everyday.”

With a soft sigh Peggy said, “Yeah. It’s just too bad Jack’s the father.”

Without looking up from his work Jack replied, “Love you to Darling.”

🏖TTWV🏖

Husband and wife were laying in bed. The husband had been peacefully sleeping when the wife said, “Jack, Jack.”

“What” He asked, half awake, rousing from his dream.

“Are you asleep?”

“Yes”

“Good.” Peggy sat up, turned on the bedside light, and continued, “I want to talk to you.”

With a sigh Jack sits up and turns his bedside light on too. “What is it?” Jack whined. “I was in the middle of a fantastic dream.”

Interest peaked Peggy asked, “Really? About what?”

Jack turns to her with a soft smile. “I was married to the most amazing woman in the world.” A smile formed upon Peggy’s face. “My second wife who didn’t wake me up to talk.” Jack finished with his trademark smirk.

Then he got out of bed slipped on his robe and went into the living room where their bar is kept. Peggy was putting on her own robe following right behind him. “Second Wife?!? What second wife?”

While looking through the bar Jack shrugged and answered, “I don’t know some Catholic, Irish, redhead.”

Peggy sat herself down on the couch as Jack poured them glasses of bourbon. “Why an Irish Catholic?”

Jack hands her the amber color drink. “Years of going to Catholic school probably.” Jack guessed as he sat down next to his current wife.

Peggy sips her drink and said, “Well I hope you two are very happy together.”

“I don’t know about happy but we’d sure be well rested.” Jack retorted.

Peggy’s retort was to stick her tongue out at him like a child.

Jack chuckles, tugs on one of her brunette curls like a child, and asked, “So first wife what’s troubling you?”

She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s nothing really, just my mind thinking up of every possible thing that could happen at the office while we’re spending a week in the Hamptons.”

Jack releases a breathy laugh. “Marge, does that mind of yours ever stop working.”

“It did once. I ended up getting married.”

 🏖TTWV🏖

When the Thompson family arrived at Howard’s Hampton mansion Jarvis lead them into the ballroom were the party was to take place on Friday. It was big, spacious, and very over the top much like the man who owned the place.

In the ballroom Howard was doing the foxtrot and shaking a cocktail shaker while giving instructions to what they assumed to be the bar staff for this Friday's party. “The important thing is the rhythm.” Howard instructed while dancing. “Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan you shake to fox-trot time, a Bronx to two-step time, and for a dry martini you most always shake to waltz time.”

Howard stopped dancing and poured the drink into a martini glass and placed it on a silver tray. One of the servers picked up the tray and served the drink to Howard.

“Why thank you my good man.” Howard takes a sip of the drink and said, “My compliments to the maker of this fine drink.”

Before the inventor could complement himself any further Jarvis decided to announce their arrival. “Sir, the Thompsons have arrived.”

An excited Lil’ Stevie in his little sailor suit followed by Philips in a matching sailor hat ran over to his favorite uncle. “Uncle Howie!”

The rich inventor lifted the little blonde into his arms. “Hey Stevie. Do I have a fun week planned for you. First I’m going to teach you how to make things blow up in my lab, then at the party I’m gonna teach you how to pick up women, and then I’m gonna teach you how to mix drinks. Your father hasn’t taught you to mix drinks yet has he?”

The parents of the little boy that Howard was planning to corrupt made their way over to the pair. Jack answered Howard's question. “No I was going to wait til Lil’ Stevie was six to teach him how to mix drinks.”

🏖TTWV🏖

On Wednesday Jack walked into the kitchen to find his wife and Ana Jarvis sitting at the breakfast nook reading the paper while Mr. Jarvis was washing dish.

“Mornin’ all.” he said greeting the Jarvis's. Then he sat down next to Peggy, kisses her cheek, and said, “Good Morning Margey. Did ya dream about me.”

Without looking up from her paper Peggy replied, “Only in my nightmares.”

“Ha-ha.” Jack deadpanned then asked, “So Marge what are we doing today?”

Peggy puts down the paper and replied, “I don’t know. Maybe go down to the beach.”

While preparing his coffee Jack smirk and said, “Any excuse to see me without a shirt on a Marge?”

In a deadpan, monotone voice Peggy answered. “Oh yes Jack. Every second of every minute I don’t have you naked on my bed I’m coming up with ways and reasons to rip your clothing off your body.”

Smirking Jack replied. “I knew it.”

🏖TTWV🏖

“You’re going to fast.” Peggy commented as Jack drove them to the local horse racing track where they would be using Howard’s box.

Jack scoffed and replied, “No I’m not.”

As if to prove her point a police siren started blaring and red and blue lights started flashing in the rearview mirror.

Jack pulled over as Peggy sing-song, “You're in trouble. Ha-ha Ha-ha-ha.”

The cop walked up to the driver’s side. “Licences and registration.” Jack handed the requested items to the officer. “Jack Thompson. Why does that name sound familiar?” The officer asked.

With his charming P.R. smile in place Jack answered, “You’ve probably know me as Jack Thompson Chief of  the S.S.R.” Jack showed the officer his badge and used his standard cover story he gives to the papers.

“Oh yah. Now I recognize yay. You’re the guy that covers up for S.H.I.E.L.D.” As the officer continued to fill out the ticket he asked, “Is this Mrs. Thompson?”

Jack smirked at Peggy then turned to the officer and said, “That’s how we sign in at motel rooms.”

🏖TTWV🏖

When the couple pulled up to the horse track their car was instantly surrounded by police cars and other emergency vehicles blocking their car.

With a bewildered look on his face  Jack turned to Peggy and asked, “What did I do now?”

The couple exited the car and Jack grabbed an officer and asked, “Hey bud what’s with the circus?”

The cop answered, “You know that jockey Golez, the one who was caught throwing the fourth race yesterday? He was shot.”

Peggy turned to Jack and said, “My, they're strict at this track.”

🏖TTWV🏖

Unfortunately for Peggy and Jack once they got the police cars out of their way some reporters recognised Jack and swarmed around them.

The first reporter asked “Chief Thompson of the S.S.R., can't you tell us anything about the case?”

“Yes,” Replied Jack with his silly smirk, “it's putting me way behind in my drinking.”

Reporter number two asked, “Chief Thompson, why are you in town?”

“My wife is on a bender. I'm trying to sober her up.”

One reporter looked to Peggy and asked, “Mrs. Thompson, is your husband working on a case?”

“Yes, he is.” Peggy replied.

“What case?”

“A case of bourbon.”

🏖TTWV🏖

Later that night Peggy and Jack were getting ready for bed when Peggy asked, “Oh Jack what do you think of that murdered jockey case?”

Jack snapped, “Please don’t get us involved in another ****ing mystery.”

“Jack!” Peggy admonished.

Jack sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired. We normally with this Thin Man shtick by now.”

🏖TTWV🏖

(end of part 1)

[anerdquemoraaolado]

Through Chrissie’s eyes

Families

After the recordings, the boys went back to the common routine of doing shows in bars and colleges. Whether they wanted to or not, they didn't get an agent right away what made them feel discouraged a little, and seeing Queen sad and disheartened, made me sad too. (And wondering if they weren't hungry.) So Brian and I had the idea of having a dinner party at home for everyone. Since there were many of us, we asked each of us to contribute as best as they could, so each one brought something, which made the dinner table full all night long.

One thing that some of us had in common was that we were teachers. Me and Brian were teaching and Veronica was still in her second year of college. As we told our experiences, Veronica was deciding what methods to use as a teacher.

"You know there are days when it's gratifying to see curious children asking interesting questions," Brian was telling us "but there are days that are unbearable, a real chaos ..."

"My students are younger than Brian's," I said. "The bad side is how much energy they have to spend, they make me exhausted at times."

"Before they give you a nasty nickname," Brian protested, "that goes against the natural order of things, I'm an adult and a teacher, I shouldn't be bullied."

"At least your height scares them, doesn't it?" John shrugged.

"Not always," Bri sighed, "they invented to call me Professor Poodle, and on top of that they threw little balls of paper into my hair."

"Cruel ..." Veronica said, a little astonished.

No matter how much we wanted, no one laughed at his nickname.

"And what wikk you do? Get a haircut?" John asked, but he doubted it.

"No, I'm not going to change my hair because of some uneducated kids, it's the way my hair is, willing or not," my boyfriend said decisively, and I kissed his cheek, showing my pride.

"And he used to hate that hair, didn't he?" laughed Veronica.

We left the subject there and we ended up talking about other things, as the time passed, suddenly the boys were all sitting on the couch. I paused a little to notice the scene, Roger and Freddie laughed at something that the singer said, Brian chattered intellectually and John nodded, commenting here and there. It was incredible to see them onstage, but here, talking as friends and brothers, it was comforting, almost palpable the bond of friendship they had. I ran into the bedroom and picked up Brian's camera, a gift he'd gotten from his father when he was still a teenager. Only I was allowed to use it, and taking advantage of my privileges, I took a picture of Queen on my couch without them noticing. I mean, Brian noticed a second later.

"Did you take a picture of us?" he said, a little astonished.

"You had to let us know beforehand to pose," Freddie pointed out.

"Oh no, I thought I'd be perfect if I caught that moment, you were so natural," I said.

In the end, they didn't think it was bad. The band continued rehearsing as usual and Brian and I were getting them home. There were busier days, and quieter days, when they preferred to go home and rest for a while. I noticed that on one of those days, only Brian and Roger came to our apartment, the drummer wanted to come in, but Brian grabbed his arm and kept him from doing it. I was worried that they were fighting, or something, but they went back to a normal conversation. Rog laughed and looked at Brian with amazement, who looked scared, embarrassed and excited, managing to be all three at the same time. Curiosity made me want to know what they were talking about, so I realized I was already gossiping. I left the window immediately, and sat on the couch waiting for them to finish. Before the boys came in, the phone rang and I got up to answer.

"Hello?" I waited "oh, Mrs. May, to what do I owe the honor? Ah yes, he arrived but ... he can't speak at the moment, of course, really? I mean ... Thank you, it's wonderful! Yes, I tell him. Goodbye."

Brian and Roger finally came in and I tried to hold my curiosity and forget about their conversation.

"Hi Chrissie," Roger said first.

"Hi," I said, then turned to my boyfriend. "Bri, you won't believe who called. Your mother invited us to go to Hampton, she said they're going to pay for the bus tickets."

"Wow ..." Brian mused, "I haven't seen my parents for some time ..."

"Yeah, your mom told me that," I said. "I saw them when they spent Christmas here, remember?"

"Yeah, I know, but ..." my boyfriend sighed rather apprehensively, "I feel bad about having to accept their help."

"Ah Bri, you're an only child, don't worry about your parents spoiling you a little," Roger urged, "ah, since you're going to Hampton ..."

He finished whispering in Brian's ear, it made my suspicion from a little earlier come back.

"What are you two up to?" I ended up letting go.

"Nothing ..." Brian looked innocent, but the blushing cheeks didn't convince me much.

"Best friends' thing" Roger said, smiling in that mischievous way.

I ignored that and figured it was all about the drummer's dating a lot of girls. Anyway, when the weekend came, the band decided to give Brian a little break (and consequently everyone was also free) and he and I went to Hampton. During the trip, I thought of when I had met my in-laws for the first time, Mrs. Ruth was a sweet woman, her love and pride of her son overflowed, Mr. Harold was serious, intelligent and focused (Brian had got this from him), always in a formal way, which made me nicknamed him Sir Harold. When he found out, he liked it and I always called him that.

"What if my father asks about the band?" "Brian was still afraid of it "you know he doesn't like it so much that I play it, almost professionally now."

"Try not to bring the subject up, change the subject, start talking about school and Astrophysics," I suggested, finding one idea worse than the other.

"I'll try," my boyfriend finally agreed.

When we arrived, the Mays welcomed us with every affection that corresponded to their longing for us.

"You have to come to see us more often Brian" his mother said, half-angry.

"You know ... We're still in financial trouble," my poor Bri justified.

"I assure you that he has worked hard" I helped him to get out of that trick situation !and it's because of the work that we aren't having time to come here."

"Are you both working?" Sir Harold has manifested himself "this is excellent! Both teachers."

"Yeah, Dad, both teachers," Bri emphasized the ocupation.

We had a relatively quiet lunch, with no one mentioning any band. Brian didn't wait for this, and he quickly called me out, and it felt like we were running away.

He knew well the beach that marked the edge of the city, I knew the stories of when he was a kid and came with his parents there. We walked hand in hand on the seashore, with the wind flapping our rebellious hair. We sat down a bit to enjoy the view, looking at that vastness, easily forgetting the problems, feeling sure that everything would work out.

Brian looked at me and I noticed, I turned to him.

"What's it?" I asked with a smile, delighted by the way he looked at me.

He didn't answer right away. His gaze was fixed on me, full of tenderness, but worried about something that I didn't know what it was, I almost saw his mind working on a million possibilities ...

"I love you," Brian said at last.

"I love you too," I leaned over to kiss him.

It sounded cheesy and cliché, but I always had to remind myself that all of that was real when moments like this happened. Deep in my heart, I was sure it was real. Whatever it was that Brian was worried about, only he and Roger apparently knew, he had forgotten this secret problem a bit so we could enjoy that moment together. I wouldn't press him to tell, I knew he would tell me eventually.