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venmondiese · 16 hours

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TOM BENNET ANGST FLUFF SECRETLY PINING FOR EACHTOHER YOU'LL ALWAYS BE FAMOUSSSSSS

BESTIE THIS WAS SO AMAZINGGGGGG AUGGHTHHEHDHDHHSHS THE HOLD THAT MAN HAS OVER MEEEEE

All I Could Think About Was You (Tom Bennett x Reader)

A/N: Ahhhh ok this is the first time I’ve ever written a fic, like ever. Could well be shit, yep. But like I spent hours on this and I honestly don’t even care anymore. Not at all a writer so appreciate any and all feedback - tear me apart! If you like it, please leave a like or note - anything is appreciated! Hope everyone is having a great day! ❤️

3191 words (I GOT CARRIED AWAY)

Set late 1939, pre-Dunkirk

Tom and Y/N had grown up together, they had lived on the same street and attended the same school after all. While Tom and Lois were boisterous, excitable children, Y/N was more reserved. Not exactly quiet, just not confident, with an ever-obvious nervous disposition.

Y/N, her mother and sister moved to Manchester the summer after her tenth birthday. She would occasionally see the brother and sister playing in the street, while she sat on the steps bored and fiddling with pebbles. The 2 would play tag, and when Tom would play tricks and give his older sister cheek, Lois would always give it right back. Y/N always admired that about Lois.

Y/N spent her first summer in Manchester mostly in solitude. Her mother worked as a secretary at the local bank, a role she was incredibly proud of, and her sister, Jenny, was 4 years her senior and quickly made a tonnage of friends. Her hot, summer mornings consisted of reading, staring at the ceiling, playing marbles then staring at the ceiling again, but her afternoons were reserved for sitting on her steps – or if she was feeling ambitious, kicking a ball – and observing the fun-loving Bennett siblings. Every day she built up her courage to eventually approach them, and join in. However, it was not until the following autumn that she interacted with either of them.

It was the first day of school and Y/N was standing in the corner of the large courtyard. She had begged her mother not to leave her, her mother simply responded with a good-natured – albeit slightly impatient – smile and a kiss on the cheek before telling her daughter, “All will be well, my darling.”

Y/N’s mother wrenched herself from the tight grip of her daughter and left. Jenny had immediately found her friends, leaving Y/N standing awkwardly alone, fading into the background. Soon after, the Bennett siblings arrived, and a small wave of nervous excitement spread through Y/N. What happened next, she had most definitely not anticipated.

Lois Bennett, with her round freckled face and red curls carefully walked up to her, almost like she was worried about scaring Y/N away.

“Hiya! I’m Lois! This is my brother, Tom. You live down the road from us, don’t ya?” Lois asked. She was smiling at Y/N. Young Tom stood beside his older sister, looking intrigued at the girl in front of him. He had a mischievous smirk playing on his lips, a smirk that Y/N would become incredibly familiar with.

Nervously, Y/N nodded, her brown bob also shaking with the movement.

“Do you wanna play with us?”

Y/N grinned and nodded once again, her shy exterior slowly crumbling.

As the years passed, Y/N grew to be extremely close with the Bennett’s. Lois treated her as a younger sister, and Tom became her best friend. The Bennett’s father, Douglas, was also very fond of the girl, believing the calming effect she had on the troublesome and hyperactive Tom to be a godsend.

The relationship between Y/N and Tom was certainly intriguing. Each of their contrasting personalities complimented the other, Y/N was calculated where Tom was impulsive, and shy where Tom was out-going. He was her protector, and she was always standing by his side. Y/N’s persona around Tom and his family changed also. She was open and fun, always making the others laugh. As they grew into young adults, their relationship only strengthened. They shared an incredibly strong bond, one that confused everyone around them. As they matured it was clear that what was held between them was not only friendship, but out of fear of losing the other neither of them ever ventured to explore their feelings.

Lois and Y/N also remained close, while Y/N loved her sister, she felt that sometimes Lois understood her better.

Tom enjoyed when she read to him, lying tip-to-tail on his bed. she looked so adorable when she focused, only looking up to grab the cigarette out of his outstretched hands and take a puff - terrible habit she had picked up from him. He got to stare shamelessly at her, taking her in. Her beautiful eyes focusing on the page, slightly furrowed eyebrows and her curled hair falling in front of her eyes. All he wanted to do was brush the hair away. He couldn’t stop himself, sitting up and gently moving the silky lock behind her ears. She stopped reading, frozen with shock, looking up. His hand, however, did not move. It stayed hovering beside her face, fingers gently touching her jawline. Their eye contact was intense, seemingly conveying everything they felt for each other, love, longing, lust and passion – red-hot passion. His hand fell to one of hers, gripping it softly. He was acting entirely on impulse, lifting her soft hand to his lips and kissing it gingerly. Not once did they break eye contact. As they were both simultaneously leaning in, the door banged open. They jumped apart as if they had been poked with a red-hot iron. Lois was standing there, completely unaware of the moment she had just interrupted, strolling in and going about her business. Neither of them could look at each other, understanding the weight of what had almost happened.

The sun was setting when Y/N opened the Bennett’s door, she had long since stopped knocking. She walked through the doorway into the kitchen, where Douglas and Tom were sat. Douglas was listening to the radio, something about rising tensions in mainland Europe, while Tom was nursing a cigarette.

“Hiya,” She greeted. Tom’s blue eyes roved over her figure which made her blush and look away. She was clad in a pretty red dress and her best dancing shoes. He rose an eyebrow, lips pursed – he looked gorgeous.

“What are you all dolled up for?” He asked curiously, his Manchester accent lacing his words.

At that Lois came down the stairs, also dressed up. She answered her brothers’ question, “We are going dancing,” giving him a light glare.

Y/N nodded, gazing at Tom’s still questioning stare. His face softened when she smiled at him, and he gave her a small but genuine smile in return.

Lois gripped Y/N’s arm and dragged her up the stairs, Tom staring almost longingly after her. Once sitting comfortably on Tom’s bed while Lois made finishing touches to her look, Y/N sighed, feeling the soft quilt between her fingers.

“You know its really obvious, you and Tom’s feelings for each other,”

Y/N choked on her breath, causing an amused smirk to grace Lois’ features. An angry red blush rose on her face.

Stumbling slightly, she replied, “I- I don’t know what you mean,”

Lois rolled her eyes, “Sure you don’t,”

Y/N would be lying if she said Lois’ words didn’t excite her. She knew she cared for Tom more than a friend should, if she really thought about it, she might say she was in love with him. However, she was entirely convinced the feelings were one sided – of course, she was wrong. Little did she know that Tom felt the exact same way. Even though he was too proud to label it as it was – love – he knew his feelings for Y/N were anything but platonic. Ironically, the one-time Tom did not say what he truly thought, was when it could be considered most important. Eventually forgetting about the slightly distressing conversation with Lois, Y/N focused on shoving her feelings into a mental box and pushing said box to the very back of her conscience.

There were more important things to focus on, war had broken out. When Tom had left for the Navy, Y/N was distraught, but managed to conceal it until when she was alone in her bed at night. She wept at the possibility of never seeing him again, even though she knew that what he was doing was necessary – even if they both hated it. It all happened so swiftly, and they barely had time to say goodbye, words unsaid weighing heavily on both their shoulders. The only person who could see how much it affected the pair was Lois, but her words fell on deaf ears, both too stubborn and scared to do anything about their pain.

It was all made worse when Lois also left, although not to the front lines. Y/N was so happy for Lois, but that did not stop the feelings of loneliness from creeping in. It seemed that Lois anticipated this though, and before she left asked Y/N,

“While I’m gone, will you check in on Dad for me? I just worry about him you know? He’ll be on his own a- “

Y/N hastily nodded and silenced Lois, “Of course, don’t you worry. Just go live your life.”

Y/N fell into a routine, after work she would go to the Bennett’s and sit with Douglas for a while, sharing a pot of tea. Once or twice a week she would cook dinner for him, and often went to fetch his groceries for him. It was one such evening, Y/N was chopping up vegetables while Douglas sat listening to the radio. Y/N was humming to herself, different to her normal listening intently to the radio, in case of news about Tom’s ship. Suddenly, she heard Douglas stand and turn the volume of the small radio up, his breathing accelerating. He was muttering incoherently to himself. Y/N placed down her knife and stepped toward him.

“Douglas are you ok?” she asked with increasing alarm. Douglas turned; he looked as if he had been punched in the gut.

“I- It’s the Exeter,” he whispered back. The colour drained from Y/N’s face as she began to listen to the radio. As she processed the words, she felt her surroundings fade away. The Exeter hit? Tom… Is he alive? Her thoughts were going a mile a minute, inhibiting any movement she might’ve intended. But in that moment, she could not think about herself. Douglas was falling apart. Y/N knew about his past, how the Great War left him a changed man. To see his own son go away to another war? The pain would be unbearable. Y/N began to comfort him, turning off the radio and making him sit down. He began to sob, and Y/N sat with him, just tryingto help him. Later, she had no idea how she managed to help Douglas while being on the brink of breaking down herself, it was like a reflex.

After she left later in the night, after making sure Douglas was completely settled, she finally let it sink in. Y/N began sobbing uncontrollably, reaching out for something – anything – to support herself with. She found no such thing, crumbling to the hardwood floor, Jenny running in to check on her, reaching to comfort her. Jenny held Y/N while she sobbed, understanding the situation through what Y/N had told her, and gently rocking her like a baby. Y/N couldn’t fathom it, what if he was gone and she never told him how she felt? What if she was so scared of losing him but it happened anyway? As she lay on her floor, in Jenny’s arms – numb - all she could think about was Tom, his face, his smell. She couldn’t imagine life without him.

When the sirens went off, Tom raced to his position. He didn’t even have to think about it, just got on with it. But when he heard the deafening boom, when silence enveloped the gun room, he sobered instantly. When the explosion occurred, scattering him and his crewmates across the smoking room, only one thing was on his mind. Y/N. It was like all their shared memories played as a film reel for him. Joking with each other while they walked down the street, hands occasionally tangling together. He thought about that day they had almost kissed, and he felt regret deep in his bones. He should’ve kissed her. As feeling slowly came back to his body, he vowed that if he survived, he would tell her how he felt.

It was just another day for Y/N, not good, not bad. She walked down the street towards the Bennett’s, holding a bag of groceries in her hand, kicking a pebble. Her mind wandered to Tom, they still hadn’t heard anything, and it was eating her alive. Resolute in not bursting into tears on the street, she put it out of her mind. Reaching the door, she reached to unlock it, slightly shocked to find it open – Douglas was not usually home so early - and strolled in cautiously.

“Douglas? The front door was un- “

What she saw stunned her, her feet suddenly blocks of concrete that were unwilling to move. Sitting at the table with Douglas, sipping a cup of tea, looking ethereal as ever, was Tom. He was still wearing his service uniform, rucksack on the floor, he looked incredibly put together. She didn’t know if she was going to laugh or cry. Probably both.

“Tom?” She asked, not sure if what was happening was real or just a dream. Lord knows she’d had similar ones recently.

“Hey Love,” He replied casually, his signature smirk splashed across his face. Y/N could barely get her words out.

“But- you… the Exeter- hit,” If she wasn’t so shocked she would laugh at herself, barely able to string two words together. Somehow, he understood her meaning, sensing her distress, and standing up.

“It was, but it didn’t sink. I’m ok.” He replied, raising his arms to gesture to himself, “See?”

Y/N let out a sob and tackled him into a hug, Tom’s arms instantly wrapping around her. As she took her time to feel his body against her own, he was home, he nuzzled his nose into her hair and inhaled. God, he had missed her. She pulled back, grasping onto his shoulders, his chest, his neck, just to feel him. She was a sobbing mess. He grabbed her hands in his own, kissing them before placing them on his chest. Y/N let out a whimper at his actions. His hands then gripped her cheeks, and he rested his forehead against hers, while tears still ran down her face.

“I’m here, I’m home. Everything’s ok,” He whispered to her while rubbing her cheeks, her tears slowing.

Y/N suddenly remembered they weren’t alone, looking to see Douglas standing there with a smile on his face and slightly glazed eyes. Her face went red as she stared at her feet, head resting against Tom’s chest. Tom smiled slightly at her embarrassment. Douglas suggested the pair go for a walk, while he unpacked the food. Too emotional to protest, Y/N swiftly followed Tom out the door, holding his arm as if she let go, he would disappear. Before she knew it, they were strolling through a nearby park, both waiting for the other to speak. In an ironic reversal of the roles, Y/N stopped and spoke up, still gripping Tom’s hand.

“I was so worried, Tom. I thought- “ she couldn’t even finish her sentence, but he knew what she meant. He looked down, the implications of her words too much for him to handle. He reverted to all he knew, teasing.

“Hey, you would be fine without me. After all, I’m just a bloody nuisance,” he tried to be nonchalant, but she could see through it. He was scared.

“Don’t say that. I missed you, I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She said with a degree of urgency.

“I missed you too,” Tom said, not entirely able to respond her admittance of how much he meant to her. But then he realised, he had to tell her how he felt. It wasn’t fair on either of them.

“When the- “ her head snapped up, eyes meeting his. He took a deep breath, “When the Exeter was hit, when I was lying there not sure what happened, I probably should’ve been thinking about Dad and Lois. Or- or even praying. But all I could think about was- was- “

He was struggling to get the words out, he took a moment to collect himself before returning to her questioning gaze. Now or never.

“All I could think about was you. You, and how I had never told you the truth. How- how I really feel about you,” Y/N’s mouth was wide open and her eyes were the size of saucers, she was gripping his hands and he took that as an invitation to continue.

“I love you, Y/N. More than a friend. I have for ages. I needed to tell you, I don’t want to think about if I had died and hadn’t told you,”

Tom felt vulnerable, more than he ever had, he was hanging on her next words. Y/N was shocked, how could she have never known? She was so happy, she wanted to jump for joy, but she couldn’t move, could barely breathe. Tom looked devastated at her silence.

“Say something, please. Please, Y/N- “

She couldn’t take it, she silenced him by pressing her lips to his – probably a bit too harshly. They both stumbled back before he steadied them, Tom’s eyes widening before they closed, and he settled into the kiss. His hands went around her waist, lifting her up slightly and pressing her body to his. Y/N’s were holding onto his shoulders for dear life. The kiss was magical, somehow able to convey a decade’s worth of feelings in one short moment. Short moment.

She broke away urgently and almost shouted, “I love you too! I love you; I love you,”

They were both smiling like fools, “You love me?” Tom asked, completely unbelieving of his luck.

“Yes! Of course I do!”

He laughed and spun the both of them around as she squealed. He slowly placed her back down, staring into her eyes before kissing her again. This time it was different, less urgent. Their lips moved together slowly, one of Tom’s hands tangled in her hair and his other held her jaw, giving her nowhere to go – not like she wanted to go anywhere else. Y/N’s were wrapped firmly around his neck, and she let out a quiet moan at the intimacy of it all which only spurred Tom on. His tongue swiped her bottom lip, and she eagerly opened her mouth for him, their tongues moving sensually against each other’s.

They begrudgingly pulled away for air and rested their foreheads against each other, inhaling deeply. She pulled back slightly to look at him, his eyes still opening. His blonde hair needed a haircut, but his ocean blue eyes and incredibly sharp jawline made him as gorgeous as ever.

He was looking at her with much the same intensity, telling her, “You’re beautiful,”

Y/N beamed up at him and pecked his lips in thanks before moving away.

“Come on, it’s getting dark,” she stated.

Tom nodded but stayed still for a few moments longer, thinking about how he got so lucky. He kissed her hand intertwined with his before walking with her, feeling utterly content.

#tom bennett #fic rec

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venmondiese · 2 days

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Aemond’s nerve damage

Disclaimer: I’m not a medical student or medical professional.

Okay *cracks knuckles* I’ve done some research and concluded Aemond would definitely have nerve damage from the cut going across his forehead, eye, and cheek.

The thickness of facial skin and superficial fat in the infraorbital region is around 1.97 mm for facial skin and 4.95 mm for fat. It’s 1.85 mm and 4.54 mm for cheeks, and 1.70 mm and 1.99 mm for forehead. (x) Aemond’s injuries suggest they were deep — if they were shallow, the dagger would have missed the eye, going down to his cheekbone, but we see his eyelids are cut. I’d say it’s safe to suggest the dagger could have cut deeply enough to go through fatty tissue to the nerve.

The infraorbital region

Now, the nerve on the photos above is the trigeminal nerve and it branches out into three main branches: ophthalamic (eyes, upper eyelids, forehead), maxillary (cheeks, nose, lower eyelids, upper lip, gums), and mandibular (lower jaw). In Aemond’s case, two branches would have been severed.

Aemond would have a condition called post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain.

The effects of injury to the trigeminal nerve are chronic numbness but also pain.

Let’s look at secondary trigeminal neuralgia (which happens when a cyst, tumor, or facial injury puts pressure on the nerve) and the effects it has on the face. From what I understand, the effects of PTTNP and STN are similar. The difference are as follows: “(…)differs in duration (TN: lasts from a fraction of a second to two minutes; PPTTN: ranges widely from paroxysmal to constant, and may be mixed), associated nerve dysfunction (TN: rare; PPTTN: positive and/or negative changes) and pain quality (TN: electric-shock like, stabbing or shooting; PPTTN: burning, squeezing or “needles and pins”).” (x)

The pain is classified as follows:

Type 1 - “causes sharp, shock-like facial pain that comes and goes. Your face may throb. The pain may last for a few seconds or as long as a couple of minutes. These stabbing pains can occur repeatedly throughout the day and night. Over time, the pain may intensify and last longer. Often, the brief pains are triggered by actions such as chewing, talking or touching the face.” (x)

Type 2 - “causes a constant (chronic) burning or aching feeling. You may also have stabbing pain, but it’s less intense than type 1.” (as above)

Even mild stimulation of the affected area can cause intense pain. The condition can develop from sporadic pains to more frequent bouts of searing pain. It usually causes facial spasms (the disorder is also known as tic douloureux). (x) The pain is “sometimes described as the most excruciating pain known to humanity”. (x)

“Patients often suffer long stretches of frequent attacks, followed by weeks, months or even years of little or no pain. The usual pattern, however, is for the attacks to intensify over time with shorter pain-free periods. Some patients suffer less than one attack a day, while others experience a dozen or more every hour. The pain typically begins with a sensation of electrical shocks that culminates in an excruciating stabbing pain within less than 20 seconds.” (x)

So, as a result of Luke assaulting him, Aemond would suffer either chronic pain or bouts of excruciating pain that intensified over time (if left untreated which, Middle Ages medical knowledge) — and could have attacks as often as every hour. Washing his face? Could trigger an attack. Someone brushing their fingers on his skin? Pain. His eyepatch irritating the area? Pain.

This baby would be living with constant burning pain or with the threat of attacks of electric shock-like, intense pain that could happen at literally any time — and with the added vulnerability of facial spasms which he would despise.

This is for everyone who says “he should have gotten over losing his eye.”

Would you?

Edited to reflect more correct information.

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