#4. my friend writing on the back of an envelope. inside it was our gift for our other friend. she went to the toilet and we realised we | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dirtycccat · 3 years

Text

the demon bros+ undateables showing their love

thought about this for 5 min then had to write it out so enjoy

lucifer

first off you notice he treats you differently

and by differently i mean like you’re his favorite child sibling

you get away with anything??? and he’s softer with you than with the others (which is canon)

then you see that?? he keeps buying you stuff you said you wanted when he was present

and you’re ofc impressed

but you’re more impressed by how open he’s around you

he’ll leave most of his walls down around you

which means you’ll get to experience unfiltered lucifer

he’ll laugh around you more, make dumb dad jokes, nap with his head in your lap, complain drunkenly about his work and bros, give you sloppy cheeks and forehead kisses

you find it rly cute though

if you’re in the human world he’ll 100% take this chance to send you beautifully written letters asking you how you are and leaving some verses that reminded him of you on the back like a 19th century vampire

“dear mc, how is your life? mine is filled with woe and unease since i do not have the light of my life around anymore...anyway here’s a poem about being horny and alone by a 18th century romantic author hope to see you soon, xoxo lucifer”

you try to respond in the same way and send him memes on the back instead of poetry (or real poetry depends on your mood)

mammon

protective of you 100% will throw hands with anyone that even glances weirdly your way

but also wants to show you off? like look at this human!!! this is MY human!!!

gives you random thoughtful gifts that reminded him of you

wants to be around you 24/7 so he invites you to all the events that he thinks you’ll like

you wanna party? perfect. you wanna go on a weird ghost stories tour around the city? cool. you wanna waltz in one of those old people parties? he’s already reserved two tickets. you just wanna lay around and nap? he’s already on your lap.

it doesn’t matter if you’re in a romantic relationship or not this man WILL serenade you outside your window

rapunzel style with an acoustic guitar or with a boombox like a rebel 80s kid

anyway here’s toxic by britney spears babe this is for YOU

levi

considers you his bff ofc

but also at first he’s still really awkward around you and doesn’t really know what to do for you and feels bad thinking only you do things for him

until you reassure him you enjoy just being around him so it’s fine

he blushes and starts inviting you more to his room to game/ watch stuff

at some point he starts buying two tickets to all concerts he goes to and invites you along

but also? he asks you what you’re into and starts marathoning your favorite animes/ movies/ series so he can talk with you abt them

you feel really moved that he’d do that for you??? like??? bruh...

your relationship is basically friends respecting each other and wanting to know each other the best through their passions even if it means getting into some weird shit

it’s rly wholesome tho

if you’re romantically involved he’ll totally do roleplay as your favourite character and you do the same for him and it’s really cute

also imagine: artistic collabs. you make fanart together??? you can program games together???? you do cosplay together??? the possibilities...

satan

he’ll hate to be compared to his dad brother but he does show how much he trusts you by showing his unguarded side too

when he first talked about lucifer without the filter of his nice guy persona you were pretty shocked

like he was really going at it

but then you realize? he’s just like that when he’s comfortable

and it’s not all mean spirited, he just has,,, a strong personality and a lot of opinions about stuff (which you sometimes share with him)

but you also found out it’s really fun to gossip with satan

since he knows all the juicy gossip from his multitude of ties (he’s sharing the title of gossip queen with asmo that’s why they get along so well tbh)

also if you even find a teacher you hate he’ll tell you all their embarrassing moments to make you feel better

he also recommends you books and poems and sends you quotes that made him think about you

so you sure as heck don’t need to buy books while you’re in the devildom bc he’ll buy you an entire library

asmo

compliments you without comparing you to himself which is the highest compliment he can give

like mammon he’s more into the showing everyone his favorite human around while also protecting them

he’ll take you to his parties and gatherings as a guest of honor, he’ll make you meet all kinds of people and open up opportunities for you

he’ll be the one that pampers you

you’d think lucifer is the sugar daddy of the family but nope it’s asmo

he’ll buy you cute clothes, shoes, beauty products everything that he saw and imagined would look bomb on you

if you’re not into clothes he’ll buy you art supplies, books, anything you want but he’ll still probably buy you at least some clothes he thinks are cute

if you’re romantically involved,,,, he’ll buy other toys for you as well which you can try together wink wink

beel

cooks for you

no questions asked when it’s his turn to cook he’ll think about what YOU would like to eat first before making something

which is??? really touching coming from beel

and also means sometimes he’ll make the same dish three weeks in a row and annoy the others while you just get excited bc ??? you get to eat your favourite dish??? again and again????

thank you beel you truly know how to touch someone’s insides

also opens up to you and talks to you about his fears and thoughts

expect to get 4 am msgs from beel if he had a nightmare

which would end up in you coming to cuddle him (and belphie also joins sometimes)

which tbh is that even a thing you can complain about?

belphie

is more baby less murder when you’re around

naps on your lap, naps on your shoulder, naps with you anywhere

but also let’s you nap on HIM

besides being soft around you he actually opens up to you too

and talks to you about his traumas and issues

which he has in common with his twin what can you do

so you have weekly cuddle parties with him and beel where you talk about shit and actually make them resolve their issues instead of just,,, ignoring them

also if you’re into each other you probably tease each other and flirt really shamelessly in public while the others cringe and or blush at your language

are you a cowboy? because i want you to ride me all night

simeon

writes you fancy letters with poetry like lucifer, but his ink is scented and his envelopes contain pressed flowers more often than not

if you’re together you even do letter sexting if you’re into it

creates characters based on you in his stories (which you don’t believe even if levi points out you that the two of you are kinda similar)

asks you to spend more and more time with him and luke

invites you to picnics, reads to you while your head is in his lap, cooks you snacks

if you’re a theatre kid too,,, you do musical love confessions too,,, sometimes by just reciting the lyrics of really popular musical theatre songs in a death panned voice

cough a heart full of love from les mis but read like poetry through the fence of the house of lamentation cough

asks you cryptic shit hannibal style like “tell me mc what does it mean to want to be consumed whole by another? is it a desire to become something bigger than yourself or is it related to our need to become one with our loved one like some cultures pointed out before?”

you’re either really into his cryptid talk or just roll your eyes and smooch him

diavolo

invites you around to his castle all the time

sometimes he even pulls some weird shenanigans just to make you spend more time with him

expect tea parties with him luci and barbatos in no particular combination

gives you compliments 24/7 even in public

remember how he treats lucifer? he’s that for you too but he’s learned from the lucifer experience to focus on complimenting you as a person more than how you look

if you’re into pda he’ll touch you all the time

if you ever wanted a gomez - morticia romance, here’s your goth big titty himbo that’s way too full of love

if you’re lovers expect to be pampered, i feel like? he doesn’t buy a lot of gifts and such because he’s probably tired of material things but he will make time in his busy schedule for you and spend a lot of time with you

which means more to him than gifts

(we will buy you anything you ask though)

barbatos

actually talks with you about stuff outside rad, the demon bros and diavolo

also invites you to alone time tea or wine time

where you drink and gossip

if satan and asmo are the crowned queens of gossip barbatos is the king of gossip but he doesn’t share his knowledge to most people so nobody knows what he knows

but he knows,,,, a lot

and not only that he knows a lot about people nowadays,,, but imagine the things he knows about like historical figures and such,,,

so prepare for story time with barbatos where he talks about how oscar wilde was almost summoned by drunk inccubi during a party once, or how diavolo cried when he was a kid because he sent a letter to caravaggio asking him to paint his portrait and he said no

also if you get drunk together expect really energetic talkative barbatos destroying DESTROYING everyone (except diavolo ofc)

“lucifer please i once saw you crying because you thought diavolo was ignoring you when you actually forgot to press the send button to your messages ”

if you’re romantically involved diavolo will always be first in his hear but that just means you’ll have to invite diavolo along on your dates which just means you’ve got a new lover and a new bff

solomon

he invites you on all kinds of wacky adventures

you visit witches, go to weird magical forest parties or orgies if you want, you go travelling the mountains for rare herbs

it’s like you’re faust and he’s mephisto haha the irony and he’s showing you another side of the world you never knew

ofc the others know about all this but??? they thought it’s normal and didn’t even consider you know nothing about it

but solomon knows what it was like to be just a human

and since he likes you he empathizes with your situation

he also make you meet all kinds of people

since he has 72 contracts and hundreds of years of doing wack stuff he must know some interesting people

and now his friends are your friends

i feel like romantic solomon would be just him?? but less shady with you especially since now you understand him better

but also he’ll probably bring you weird shit from his alone expeditions

did you ever want the tears of a mermaid? a carnivorous plant that feeds on emotions? a crying portrait? no? well too bad because now you have a room full of weird items

...that you love and treasure thank you very much

718 notes · View notes

sushi0989 · 3 years

Text

Pick Me If You Want To (part 1)

Summary: Set in the early 1950s, you are an aspiring photographer that is currently working at a toy store until you make your big break. During a surge of Christmas shopping, you are first met by Wanda Maximoff, a mother of twin boys and married. She leaves her gloves, which gives you the opportunity to meet her again. She takes fond of you, and you of her, but her messy divorce with her husband, Vision, risks the custody of her twins. Does she continue your blossoming relationship or fight for her kids? Based on the movie Carol

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Reader

Warnings: none (i think)

Word Count: 4823

A/N: I actually thought of this idea in the middle of the night while lying in bed and I literally jumped out of bed to write it down haha. I have 2 parts written so far and I plan on having 4 parts in total. I’m also not sure if I want to include smut because in the movie they hook up once, but I’ll think about it. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy :)

Christmas was the most hectic time of the year, for shopkeepers especially. You were struggling to stay afloat during the Christmas present buying palooza. The customers kept flowing in searching for the perfect toy for their child or nephew or grandchild, constantly asking what was the best of the best. Not to mention, the annoying Santa hat perched on your head was a little too big for you, so it kept sliding off and obstructing your view. Your shift ended ten minutes from now, you only had to keep at this for ten more minutes, you assured yourself.

That was when a woman walked in: curled chestnut red hair falling just above her shoulders, red lipstick glistening in the store lights, and wore a tan coat over her light blue dress with matching gloves. She looked at the different products quizzically as you tried not to stare. She began to come to your area at the counter, so you pretended you were writing in the sales slip.

"Hello, sorry to be a bother, but I was wondering if you could help me?" the woman asked you, her voice was warm but also had a richness to it you couldn't quite describe. Perhaps like honey. "Of course, ma'am. How could I be of assistance?" you responded with your customer service voice, perky and obnoxious, two things that you were not.

"I was hoping to get something for my twin boys, but I'm not quite sure what I should get them, you see. I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction," she continued, her eyebrows furrowed while addressing you, her green eyes not leaving yours.

Your thoughts about annoying customers disappeared all for this woman. There was just something about her that made you drawn to her, but what was it? "May I suggest a model train? It would be a great gift to share between the two of them," you suggested. The woman felt that she could trust you with anything, you had this energy that she wanted to relish in, but your interaction only lasted for 2 minutes. You gestured to the model train showcase behind the woman and she nodded in agreement. "Yes, I think I would like to order that, thank you, doll," she said to you, your stomach fluttering at the nickname.

"Could I get your name please?" you asked so you could fill out the sale slip, you tried maintaining your professional composure. "Wanda Maximoff," she answered. You asked her to sign the bottom of the page, and she took her gloves off and placed them on the counter beside her to do so, your eyes glanced at her gold wedding band on her ring finger. You stared away to check on other customers as she signed and you noticed an older woman who appeared to be needing help. "If you would excuse me, I need to help another customer. Darcy over here will help you with the purchase," you told Mrs. Maximoff as you made your way to the old woman by the action figures.

She nodded her head and watched you as you turned away. Darcy came over to Mrs. Maximoff and assisted her with the payment, but as Mrs. Maximoff was leaving, she was so focused on you that she had left her gloves sitting on the counter. When you were about to leave for home, you noticed the light blue gloves still lying on the counter, but Wanda was nowhere to be found.

You went to your boss, "Mr. Stark, it looks like one of our customers has left their gloves," you stated with a ring of fear that he might get angry. He crossed his arms and huffed, "well then go look at the sales slip and contact them." You nodded, "yes sir," and pulled out the sales slip for the day. There was written, 'Wanda Maximoff' along with her address and phone number. You wrote the address down on a separate envelope and placed the gloves inside and mailed it off on your walk home.

You got back to your apartment, and much to your disappointment, your boyfriend was there, too. "Hey, baby," he said as you walked into the living room, engulfing you into a hug that you weren't really in the mood for. "Hey, Steve," you said into his chest trying to pull away, the strong scent of cologne invaded your nostrils. He wasn't a terrible person, but you couldn't stand him most of the time by his 'lovey-doveyness'. Your first year with him was great, your love felt pure, but over time it felt bland and repetitive. He, however, was infatuated by you, always wanted to be with you in every waking moment like a puppy.

"Come to France with me," he whines, but you've already told him dozens of times that you didn't want to. You were in the midst of potentially getting signed on as a photographer for The New York Times thanks to your friend, Bruce, who works there. "I already told you no," you groaned, walking away to put your bag down and ready to shower. "Come on, I have so many things planned for us," he pleaded, but you didn't want to hear it and locked yourself in your room. Little did you know, he wanted to propose to you with a candlelit dinner on the Eiffel Tower.

"Open the door," he knocked aggressively, but you didn't want to deal with him right now, or else you would say things that you wouldn't be able to take back. "I'm tired, I'm going to take a shower and crawl into bed," you groaned through the door. "Why don't I join in," he murmured seductively. "Not today, I'm not feeling it," you replied flatly. Steve sighed and walked off, now relieved, you gathered your showering items and went to the bathroom.

Wanda arrived back at her home late at night, her sons running up to her as she walked through the door of her grand estate in New Jersey. Vision, her husband, gave her an irritated expression as she hugged her children. "Go off to bed, kids, I need to talk to Daddy," she cooed and kissed the tops of their heads and they ran off up the spiral staircase.

"Took you long enough to get home."

"Well I was running errands," Wanda huffed and went over to the cupboard that contained alcohol and poured herself a glass of whiskey. She walked over to a chair in the living room and sat with her legs crossed eyeing her irritated husband.

"Errands," Vision chuckled dryly. "It's my turn to sleep in the bedroom, you can stay in the guest room tonight," he seethed while going up the stairs and slamming the bedroom door shut.

Wanda sighed as she chugged her drink and slumped further into the chair. Once the divorce was finalized she could finally be free from his judgment. She could do whatever. Wanda eventually went upstairs and quietly entered the room of her sleeping boys, giving them each other kisses and tucking them in as they were fast asleep.

In the morning, Wanda received a package with her gloves inside, the return address reading 'Stark's Toy Emporium.'

Wanda picked up the phone and called the store.

"Hello, this is Stark's Toy Emporium, Tony Stark speaking," a man answered, seeming to be in a rush. "Hello, I just received my gloves I misplaced at your store in the mail, I was wondering if I could thank whoever found them," Wanda replied.

Soon you were being called over by Tony, his eyes rolled in annoyance, as per usual. You quickly grabbed the phone hoping it wasn't Steve, "Hello?"

"Hi! This is Wanda, I just wanted to thank you for sending my gloves," she chimed through the speaker. "Oh it was nothing ma'am," you replied, trying to shake off the feeling you were getting from this woman's voice. "Well, I was wondering if I could take you out to lunch as thanks," she invited, her voice was a bit softer, deeper than before. "No, ma'am it's okay, it wasn't that big of a deal," you answered back. "Oh come on now, it's my treat. I'll see you at 2 pm at Barnes' Bistro," she hung up the phone before you could object.

It was already noon, only two more hours before you had to awkwardly make small talk with a woman you very well are intimidated by for some odd reason. You hung the phone back on its receiver and returned to work, the rush of people continued through till the end of your shift. There was not even a moment of rest before your lunch. You masked your exhaustion as you entered the restaurant, the aroma of cigarette smoke mixed with delicious food circulated the air, but you would take this scent over Steve's cologne any day.

A waiter noticed you enter and greeted you, "Good afternoon, ma'am, do you have a reservation?" You quickly scanned the restaurant and noticed the top of the chestnut red hair in the back corner. "Um, I believe the name is Maximoff, I see her back there," you pointed in the direction of the redhead. "Ah yes, Mrs. Maximoff, right this way ma'am," he gestured for you to follow him towards the back of the restaurant. It was rather dimly lit, the booths were occupied either by two men in business suits or a man and a woman, all of whom were smoking a cigar or cigarette.

"And here you are," the young waiter said as you stood at the end of the table, Mrs. Maximoff glancing up meeting your eyes. Her fingers also held a smoking cigarette, but you didn't mind since it was the norm, however, you personally didn't smoke. "You made it!" she exclaimed quickly, getting up and kissing both of your cheeks as a greeting. You awkwardly smiled and sat across from her in the booth seating.

"What drink would you like, ma'am?" the waiter asked. "Oh, uh, water should be fine, thank you," you replied quietly, your nervousness could be detected from miles away, but Mrs. Maximoff seemed to be shocked for some odd reason. "Water? No dear, let me treat you to something nice, could you get her a glass of Chianti?" she requested and the waiter nodded enthusiastically and rushed off. Mrs. Maximoff took one last puff of her cigarette before putting it out in the ashtray.

"So, I don't think I ever got your name, dear," she began. "Y/n Y/l/n" you answered quickly. "That's a pretty name for a pretty girl," she smiled and picked up her glass of red wine and took a swig. Your face blushed at the compliment, you looked down at your hands fiddling with the spoon on the table to avoid her eyes. The waiter came back with the glass of red wine meant for you and placed it next to your hand. "Thank you, Peter," Mrs. Maximoff said to him. He nodded his head before dashing off again.

"How long have you been working at the toy store?" she questioned. "It'll be one year next month, it's just a side thing," you answered embarrassed to mention your true dream. "Well, what is it you want to do?" she raised an eyebrow. "I uh- I'm a photographer," you stammered. "That's very intriguing, y/n" she complimented, you were flustered by the use of your name.

"Have you had any success in finding a job relating to photography?"

"I just met with a photo editor at the New York Times last weekend, I have to put together a portfolio and send it off to them to be considered for a position," you explained, finally looking up at her and putting your spoon down. "That sounds exciting! You must show me your work!" Mrs. Maximoff exclaimed with genuine excitement. Steve would complement your photography, but it felt half-hearted, maybe it's because he didn't want you to overshadow him someday.

After lunch as the two of you headed out, Mrs. Maximoff and you exchanged a farewell. "Thank you again for the lunch, Mrs. Maximoff," you thanked her in a quick hug. "Oh, it was my pleasure. And please call me Wanda, you're making me feel quite old. How about I give you my number and we can meet again?" she offered and you couldn't help but nod. As much as you weren't keen on continuing this friendship or relationship or whatever was happening, you felt like this woman understood you in a way no one else did.

You decided to go visit Bruce to thank him for getting the meeting with the photo editor. The thought of Wanda's phone number written on a slip of paper in your handbag added pep to your step as you strolled into the office building. You walked up to the front desk saying you were going to visit a friend, "Mr. Banner is on floor 11," she said. The elevator let you off on the floor and you saw Bruce in his office typing away on his typewriter.

"Y/n! What a pleasant surprise to see you here!" he beamed and got up from his desk to give you a kiss on the cheek. "I figured I should stop by since you're the reason my dreams have a chance of becoming a reality now," you smiled and took a seat across from his desk. "It was no problem, your talent would add so much to the paper. You're also welcome here whenever," Bruce stated leaning back in his armchair.

"Where are my manners? Let me get something to drink! I've got whiskey, gin-" "I just had a drink actually," you countered declining his offer.

"What's one more drink gonna do? Come on, live a little!" he pressured you and got up to go to the corner of his office to pull out two glasses and a bottle of gin. "Fine, only this once," you caved in. He poured two drinks and handed you one. The gin went smooth, but it still burnt your throat, however, you were able to mask it.

"How are things with you and Steve?" Bruce inquired with skepticism, which you found a little out of character, but the alcohol toiled with your mind and proceeded to spill all of your thoughts. "He wants me to go to France with him even though I've told him not so many times. I can't deal with him anymore, but I've been with him for so long now that I feel bad to end things," you confessed, making Bruce intrigued. He leaned on his desk directly in front of you.

"Is there someone else you think is causing you to lose interest in him?" Bruce asked in a low tone and leaned towards you a little bit, but still your slightly tipsy self didn't see the red flag. "I mean, I haven't really thought about that," you answered pondering, thoughts of Wanda flashing in your mind, but you were quickly brought back to reality when Bruce's lips were on yours.

You shrieked, forcing him to pull away. You angrily got up, "what the hell, Bruce?!" you scolded him. "I'm sorry! You weren't reacting when I was leaning closer to you so I just went in!" he defended his actions. "God! All men are the fucking same!" you complained and downed your drink before rushing out of his office. Bruce rubbed his forehead realizing the mistake he made, but it was too late to take it back now.

You arrived back in your apartment to emptiness, Steve was nowhere to be found. Thank god, you thought. You stumbled onto your pea-green sofa and laid there in anguish. Nothing seemed to appease you, nothing went your way. As soon as these thoughts rang in your head, your telephone rang as well. You groaned as you begrudgingly made your way to the kitchen where the phone was hung.

"Hello?" you groaned in a tired and yet apathetic voice which Wanda was a bit surprised to hear.

"Hi, sweetie, it's Wanda!"

You held your breath realizing you rudely answered the woman. You cleared your throat and corrected your shoulders before speaking again. "Hi- uh I'm- hi!" you stuttered, grumbling to yourself for this embarrassing encounter.

"I was calling to invite you over to my house, I would love to have you over," Wanda said, biting her lip hoping that you would say yes. She twirled the cord connecting to the receiver around her finger patiently waiting for your answer.

"Oh, really? I mean, I can. I don't have a car though-"

"I can pick you up!" Wanda interrupted with excitement. "When are you free this week, dear?"

"I'm free tomorrow," you replied with a smile to contain yourself. "I'll come tomorrow at noon then," Wanda concluded, little did you know just how much she was looking forward to seeing you and your adorable self. She couldn't get enough of you, and neither could you get enough of her.

Steve never came home that night, and you didn't care one bit. He was a nuisance to your life, especially right now since he knew how much this photography opportunity meant to you, but his pestering was going to make you snap and break his heart at any second.

You looked your best self, wearing a navy blue blouse with black trousers. It wasn't that common for women at the time to be wearing such things, it was more progressive, however, all you cared about was comfort. You occasionally would wear dresses, but you preferred pants and a shirt. You could say that it was for Wanda, but it was for yourself. People, particularly women, would examine your modern style as appalling, but not Wanda. You figured why not be comfortable and stylish.

You made a small breakfast before Wanda arrived. You had a bit of a headache from all of the alcohol you had the day before, but that was barely on your mind. All you could think about was making sure you looked presentable as did your apartment before Wanda came. You just finished drying the last dish when you heard a knock on your door. You dried your hands with the dish towel before scurrying to quickly let Wanda in.

There she was, standing in a red coat that hugged her figure in all of the right ways. She wore a beige dress underneath, hidden by the boldness of the coat that you couldn't keep your eyes off of. She was also wearing a matching red hat that looked beautiful with her chestnut hair.

"Ready to go?" she asked, seemingly in a hurry. "Yes, let me get my bag," you turned around and grabbed your bag off of the coffee table, inside holding your wallet and your camera just in case there was an opportunity to shoot.

You walked with Wanda side by side in a comfortable silence until you reached her car. You sat on the passenger side, which was connected with the driver's seat.

"Would you like any music?" Wanda inquired as she pulled out of the parking spot on the curb. "I'll listen to whatever you do," you answered. You didn't listen to music all that much, you didn't have the time to nor did you have a radio.

"I like to drive in silence, the sound of the wind soothes me," Wanda replied. You turned your head and saw how the cool wind tousled Wanda's hair around, but never did it ruin her perfect curls.

"There's a Christmas tree farm on the way that I wanted to check out if that's okay with you," Wanda imparted quickly glancing at you but focused on the road. "That's fine, I don't mind," you said. Wanda's cheeks feathered a light pink, delighted that you agreed. She soon pulled into the small but crowded Christmas tree market. There was Christmas music playing, kids laughing and sprinting around completely oblivious to the disgruntled shouts by their parents, and the occasional newlywed couple admiring what tree was to be their first one.

"You can stay in the car if you'd like, I'm just going to pay for one and bring it back some other time," Wanda was saying to you standing right out of the passenger window. You didn't even notice her get out of the car let alone walk around to get your attention away from the beautiful scene you were watching. "That's fine, you go ahead," you answered, glancing up at her face.

Wanda turned around and made her way towards the clerk, the cool winter breeze ruffling her coat and hair. Your attention was now focused on the woman, how her smile stretched from ear to ear, her mannerisms like how she would play with the ring on her finger while speaking to someone, or how she would partially bite her lip while thinking of a response to a question in conversation.

Your hand automatically reached for your bag and pulled out your camera. You stepped out of the car and shot some candid photos of Wanda, capturing her elegance. As Wanda finished up, you took pictures of the rest of the scene you were so enthralled in before Wanda had caught your attention again. Once you were satisfied, you went back into the car and wrote your name onto the foggy window.

"Dirtying my car I see," Wanda teased, making you tense up. "I'm sorry, I'll wipe it-"

"I'm just kidding, you're so uptight! Let loose! I don't bite," Wanda assured you, but you still held your breath around her. You didn't want her to think badly of you, to set her off in any kind of way even though you barely know this woman. You responded to her with a weak smile to exemplify that you understood her suggestion, you reprimanded your subconscious for looking into her enchanting eyes.

She got into the driver's seat once again, only her left hand gripped the steering wheel while her right hand rested on her lap. After another 20 minutes, you arrived at her home. It was evening by the time you got there, the sunset earlier in the winter, but the area around her room was beautifully lit. It was just as you imagined, a large estate with a grand yard filled with all kinds of bushes and flowers surrounding it.

"Wow," you gawked in amazement. You both entered and your head swiveled to take in all of the details perfectly situated around her home. Your eyes lingered at a family portrait of her, her twin children, and what appeared to be her husband, a tall man who had a strained smile, forced, no true happiness lying beneath it. There was no one in the home, was what you thought at first until you heard the giggles of children emanating from upstairs.

"Billy! Tommy! What are you doing?" Wanda shouted, her hands on her hips facing to look up the spiral staircase in the direction of the laughter. "We're just playing, Momma!" one of them shouted back from the bedroom.

Wanda turned back to face you and sighed. "They can be a handful, but I'm just glad they have one another to keep each other entertained." You nodded in understanding, you had younger siblings who were reckless little misfits that you had to take care of, so you knew exactly what it was like.

You noticed a beautiful grand piano located in a room beside the dining area and your legs automatically took you towards it. You hand caressed the top, you had never seen such a luxurious piano, you've only ever played cheap upright ones. "Can you play?" you asked Wanda, your eyes still admiring the ivory keys.

"Sadly, I cannot. My husband can, but he hasn't touched it in years," Wanda confessed, a twinge of disappointment in her tone. "Can you?"

"I can, but I'm not the greatest," you chuckled dryly. "Oh, you shouldn't have said that, y/n because now I'm going to need to hear you play for me," Wanda smirked and walked over to you and the piano. "Oh gosh, I'd rather not. My hands probably have lost their ability and my voice-"

"You sing, too?! Now I must hear you play and sing!" Wanda was elated, she leaned on the piano as your face heated up. You sighed knowing that you were a guest and you brought nothing to give, not even a bottle of wine. "Since I didn't bring you a gift for inviting me to your home, this can be it," you grinned nervously as you slowly sat on the bench and placed your hands on the keys.

Your fingers automatically played a run, completely captivating Wanda at the effortless ability. You cleared your throat and began to sing.

"Everybody loves somebody sometime. Everybody falls in love somehow. Something in your kiss just told me, that sometime is now." You carried on singing, your voice lulling Wanda as she swayed to the song. She crept over and took a seat next to you on the piano bench as you continued playing, trying not to stutter your words when you felt her leg brush yours.

"Everybody loves somebody sometime. And though my dreams were overdue, your love made it all worth waiting for someone like you," you slowed the song and the piano still hummed the last note. Wanda placed her hand on your thigh and whispered, "that was absolutely beautiful." You shuddered by the touch and curled your toes.

"My dad taught me how to play. He would always sing this song to my mother. He loved her so much, I swore that I one day want to love someone the way my dad loved my mom. When he passed, I would play this song for my mother in his place, but then she started to lose her memory and now she stays with my younger sister in New Haven," you explained solemnly. Wanda furrowed her eyebrows, her heart ached for you. She moved her hand from your thigh to your face, cupping your cheek.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I am certain, however, with that talent and song you can win over anyone's heart in under five seconds," she smiled and kissed your forehead. You blushed and looked deeply into her green eyes. You tried to capture this moment into your subconscious. She was no longer in her coat, just her beige dress, a pearl necklace, no gloves, and the same red lipstick. Her mouth was slightly open, she glanced down at your lips and began to close the gap.

The front door of the house abruptly opened and a man wearing a suit hiding underneath a black coat walked inside with a brown briefcase. Wanda quickly dropped her hand from your face and stood up. You turned away from her as well. He took notice of the tension and scowled.

"Wanda. You brought your antics into our home. My home. Under my roof. Already moved on from Monica and now you've brought someone else!" he fumed and aggressively put his briefcase down. "Don't yell in front of her, Vision! We can discuss this privately," Wanda hissed at him.

"I'm taking the kids to Florida with me for Christmas, right now," he announced as he ran upstairs to their room. "You're what?! You didn't discuss this with me!" Wanda yelled at him running after him. He soon was holding each kid in either arm and pushed Wanda out of his way. "You can't do this!" she began to cry, but he ignored her, anger clouded all around him. There was a car outside with a chauffeur, Vision put them in the backseat. You stood there watching this all unfold, unsure of what to do.

You rushed over to the front door to see Wanda sobbing while on her knees on the porch as the car drove off. You crouched down and embraced her, she put her arms around you and burrowed her face into the crook of your neck and shoulder. Her sobs wracked her entire body, her breathing was uneasy, so you rubbed circles on her back. She eventually calmed down and pulled away.

"I'll drive you to the train station," she said with her broken voice. You nodded your head, she needed time to herself and you were right now a reminder of what she just lost. "I'll call a cab, you should go get some rest," you responded and held her hand in yours. "Are you sure?" Wanda replied. You gave her a smile, which she took as her answer.

The cab arrived within ten minutes, Wanda waved goodbye, no hug or kiss on the cheek. You waved back through the window and the view of her became smaller and smaller as the cab drove off into the night.

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff #fanfic #marvel #avengers #wanda x reader

143 notes · View notes

headinthestaticsky · 3 years

Text

Sanctuary With the Enthralling Moon, Jasper Hale x Fleur Swan. Story 2, Chapter 1

AUTHORS NOTE: None of the character in Twilight belong to me. ALL rights go to Stephenie Meyer.

Summary: Another year has gone by, and that year was quite an eventful one. Bella moving back to Forks shook up Fleur’s life and yet, Fleur has never been happier. Her relationship with her sister might not be the best but... she is surrounded by love. Her friends, her father, and Jasper have all filled her life with happiness. But what happens when a incident occurs on her 18th birthday. Will the Cullens leave? Will Jasper stay in touch with Fleur? Or will she be cut off by them entirely?

LINK TO MASTERLIST

https://headinthestaticsky.tumblr.com/post/658474113276477441/sanctuary-with-the-enthralling-moon-jasper-hale-x

“Wake up in an ice-cold sweat And my skin starts to creep You're hovering above my bed Looking down on me Haunted house sound effects Dracula Teeth.”

Dracula Teeth by, The Last Shadow Puppets

I was getting softly shaken away by someone, I groaned and had turned the other way.

“I graduated... I don’t have to go to school anymore.” I mumbled.

“Wake up Petal, happy birthday.”

My eyes lazily opened, my dad was staring down at me, his eyes crinkled with happiness.

“Oh yeah... it is September 13th, it’s Bella and I’s birthday.”

“You forgot your own birthday?”

“I never know what the date is anymore dad don’t worry...”

“I got presents...” Dad said in a sing-songy voice... I could tell her was trying to persuade me.”

“Okay, okay I’m getting up.”

Dad had handed me two boxes, wrapped terribly but it was the thought that counts. The gifts were a new paint set and canvases and a new writing journal.

“Wow, these are great dad, thanks.”

“You’re welcome Petal.”

“You give Bella her presents yet?”

“Yeah, she freaked out on me for a bit... I joked and told her she had a gray hair. Speaking of gray hair... it looks like you have a speak there.” Dad joked.

“Ehh, gray suites me well.”

“So, what’d you plan on doing today? Were you going to hang out with Jasper?” He asked, he sat down on the edge of my bed

“Not until later on tonight, I thought we could something together...That steak at the diner sounds pretty good... or we could just take a long drive... both sound enjoyable to me”

“Sounds like a plan Petal. I luckily got the day off” He then got up and walked toward the door, leaving me by myself.

Graduating early had it’s perks... I had a lot more free time on my hands and I could do whatever I wanted with it. I got dressed eager to spend some one on one time with dad. Bella was already gone by the time I got up so Dad and I quickly made it to my car. We had been driving through the town for 30 minutes when he started a conversation.

“So, how are things with you and Bella?”

“Uh... it’s okay I guess. We don’t really fight but we don’t really talk at all if I’m honest.”

“Everything that happened last year in Phoenix got to you huh?”

“Yeah, it did. I guess it’s going to take some time for me to let it go.”

“I understand... I love that girl to death but I don’t even know if I’ve fully let it go.”

“I would understand if you hadn’t... she said some messed up stuff dad.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up bad stuff on your birthday.”

“Don’t worry about it you didn’t upset me, I get it, you were just curious.”

The rest of the drive was nice, quiet at some points but nice, we had gotten back into town at 4:30. Just in time to eat at the diner, then after that I would be off to the Cullens for the night.

“Ugh, that was good... but I think if I eat anymore I might explode!” I dramatized.

“Me too Petal, me too. We better go on back to the house, You said you had to be at the Cullens by 5:20.”

“Yeah... blame that on Alice, she’s very excited to throw Bella and I birthday party.”

I had driven back to the house quickly. My timing was immaculate, as soon as I had parked in the driveway, Jasper had pulled in as well.

“Chief Swan, nice to see you again.”

“Good to see you too, Jasper.”

“I hope you don’t mind me stealing Fleur for the rest of the night...”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s fine.”

“Bye dad, love you! I had fun.”

“Love you too.”

Jasper and I drove off as soon as dad was in the house. I was buzzing with excitement Jasper of course, fueled that excitement for me.

“Happy Birthday Darling.”

“Thank you love.” I pecked his cheek.

“I gotta ask... how crazy did Alice go with this whole birthday thing?”

“She reeled it in... like 10% of the crazy back.”

“Well, you tried to calm her down... as long as cake is involved we won’t have a problem.”

“Yes, their is cake... glad it could persuade you into coming down for the night.”

“I’m glad we both reached an agreement... you have cake, I show up.”

Jasper chuckled and held my hand. I felt happy, turning 18 marked another year of my life. When we arrived at the Cullens house, Alice had jumped out of the house and ran to greet me at the car.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

“Thank you, I really appreciate what you did for me.”

“No need to thank me, come, come.” I was then dragged inside by Alice. I could feel the excitement radiating through her body.

“Hey short-stack, happy birthday!”

“Happy birthday, Fleur.”

“Thanks Emmett, Thanks Dean.”

“Fleur, happy birthday.” Esme said her warm smile bring me even me joy.

“Thank you.”

“Happy Birthday Fleur! Rosalie said, she then pulled me in for a hug.

“Thank you, Rose.” I looked around after we broke apart.

“Where’s Bella at?”

“She’s late... as usual.” Alice said.

“Speak of the devil.” Rosalie said.

I turned around, I saw Edward and Bella standing in the living room. Neither of them looked very happy. I hadn’t seen Edward since everything that had happened with James. I couldn’t trust him much either, I felt uncomfortable to be around him now.

“Okay, Fleur, you open our gifts first.”

Esme and Carlisle had gotten a new phone, Emmett had gotten me seat covers and a new wheel cover for my car, Rosalie had gotten my a ring with my birthstone in it, and Alice had gotten me a new pair of black ankle boots.

“You’ve had your others ones long enough.” Alice stated.

“As nice as these are... you know I’m going to keep my other boots.”

“Of course, you’ve always been stubborn. Okay Bella, your next! ” Alice exclaimed.

Rosalie begrudgingly walked up to Bella and handed her a box.

“It’s a necklace... Alice picked it out.”

“Thanks.”

“Here’s Emmett’s.” Alice said

Bella shook the box, it was empty.

“Already installed it in your truck. Finally a good sound system for that piece of.”

“Hey, don’t hate on the truck.”

“Sorry...”

“Okay open up Esme and Carlisle next!”

The gift was in an envelope, before Bella could open it however... she got a paper cut.

“Ouch, paper cut.” She said and stuck her index finger up showing everyone.

“Wow Bella, how smart... show off a open wound in front of vampires... some of those vampires haven’t had blood...” I couldn’t even finish my own thought, growling was coming out from behind me. I turned around, Deans eyes were pitch black, and he had dark circles around them. He lunged toward Bella, Jasper had pulled me back and held me against his chest. Turning me around so I couldn’t see what was happening. I heard a huge crash followed by the sound of glass. I then heard another loud bang, followed by the sound of what seemed to be someone stepping on the Piano keys. Jasper led me out of the room after that. Taking me back outside.

“I-I didn’t think that was going to happen. I’m so sorry.” Jasper said, guilt laced in his words.

“It’s okay, I’m fine... It’s wasn’t your fault.” I said, pulling him close to me.

He rested his forehead against mine and sighed.

“Nothing good can come out of this you know... Edwards going to try and do something heroic.” Jasper said.

“Yeah, I know, love.”

“I don’t care what it is, as long as I can stay with you.”

“Always such a smooth talker Hale.”

“I do try my best.”

“It’s an amazing effort.”

“I better take you home, I don’t think Dean can be around any humans right now.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Timeskip: Back to Fleur’s house.

“I’ll see you tomorrow love.”

“Okay, love you Jazz.”

“Love you too.”

I pecked him on the lips before leaving his car. I ran inside, eager to get warm. It was always cold in September in Forks. I went to bed, I had a unsettled feeling in my stomach. I knew something was going to happen, and I didn’t know if I could stop it. The next day was strange, Jasper hadn’t called or texted me all day. I was starting to get worried. Dad was at work and Bella was at school so I didn’t have anything else to do. So, I decided to pace, I walked back and forth, back and forth through my room all day it seemed. It wasn’t until later that I had finally seen Jasper. The look on his face proved my gut feeling to be correct.

“Jasper? Whats wrong.?”

“We.. we’re leaving Forks.”

I stood there, my eyes widened, this was the last thing I wanted to happened.

#jasper hale x oc #jasper hale x reader #jasper hale #rosalie hale #edward cullen #alice cullen #esme cullen #emmett cullen #carlisle cullen #bella swan #twilight #twilight saga

44 notes · View notes

loving-daisy · 3 years

Text

Cry For Me | George Weasley x Reader

Masterlist | Cry For Me Masterlist

Chapter 6 - Bad Boy, You Make Me A Mad Girl

Words: 8.9k

Warnings: angst

Instead of good bye, I wear an innocent smile

“Fred...hey” Y/N reluctantly greeted, slightly feeling uncomfortable under his gaze.

As another school year has come to an end, the Hogwarts express stood at platform 9 and ¾. Students of Hogwarts came out rushing to their families, but not until expressing their farewells to the family they had in the wizarding school.

On the way to the platform between 9 and 10, Y/N sat with Daphne and her sister, along with her cat and fairy, at one of the end compartments. The one where groups of Slytherins always occupy to avoid the storm of energetic Gryffindors with their side-kicks from the house of Helga.

The Slytherin-Gryffindor couple already said their farewells in advance the night prior, not really expecting to bump into one another at the station as it was always packed with people. However, a certain redhead female (and the only Weasley girl currently studying in Hogwarts) pulled the girl apart from her Slytherins, bringing her to face the rest of the Weasley family.

Right now, she found herself under the gaze of one of the twins, however, not the one she has given her heart to.

“My friend, Icestone!” The older Weasley twin greeted with joy. “You haven’t spoken to me since what? Since…”

“That one Quidditch match where you twins yelled at me.” Y/N completed his sentence in a teasing manner, an attempt to release the tension and awkwardness building inside her, an attempt to push whatever thought was advancing forward in her mind.

“Hey! We apologized!” Fred argued, waving his hands in disbelief. Y/N crossed her arms, raising a brow towards him. “No, George, apologized!” She argued back.

The boy gave a grunt, his shoulders slumping. “Truce?” He suggested, laying his hands in front of the girl. For a short moment, the Slytherin stared at it, contemplating whether or not to accept it, Fred’s personal image in her mind fueling her to decline.

The Master mind of him and George’s pranks, the game planner, the director, the instructor, the mischief maker, and the twin who suggested to continue playing with Y/N Icestone’s heart.

Somehow, the girl couldn’t find it in her heart to reject Fred’s offering hand, even after recalling the news that had been delivered to her a few weeks prior today. Shutting the thought with force, she gave a nod, grabbing the ginger’s hand to shake. “Truce.”

“Keep your hands off my girl, Fred!” George demanded, slapping the back of his twin’s hand as it held Y/N’s. In which the older twin gave another grunt.

“Okay, okay! I’ll let you two have your moment. Impatient git.” Fred obliged, moving away as he muttered the last sentence under his breath, shaking his head from side to side.

The couple now stood face to face, small and shy smiles plastered around them as they stared at each other's eyes. Before George was able to break the short silence, he was interrupted by his sister.

“Y/N!” Ginny called, grabbing one of Y/N’s hands as she looked up to her before looking down at the bracelet she was gifted, that gives her the ability to talk to the Slytherin’s cat. “I’m going to miss you. And Lixie too.” Ginny confessed, sudden melancholy in her whole being.

Y/N felt her stature soften, her usual confidence and overflowing charm of authority breaking down for the young girl. She slightly bent her knees to reach the young Gryffindor, wrapping her arms around her. “I’m going to miss you too.” She muttered behind the redhead, softly brushing her locks with her fingers.

While Ginny was pressed against her figure, Y/N caught the sight of green orbs under black round glasses, burning holes at the girl in front of her. She then moved her eyes to the youngest ginger boy who gave her a shy smile, in which she returned with a small one.

After the hug broke apart, Y/N kept her level to whisper to Ginny. “Now, if you need someone to tell your secrets to, you know...girl stuff, you know who to owl. I’ll send photographs of Lixie too.”

Before the Slytherin was claimed by George, who desperately wanted to have their one-on-one moment, the mother of the family came in sight, querying. “Who is this?” Molly asked.

After noticing how each passerby had their eyes glued on the girl, whispering Merlin-knows-what to whoever they were with at the moment, curiosity enveloped the woman’s mind, not really familiar with the feeling of attention.

Y/N regained her composure, giving a small bow to Molly as she offered a small smile and her hand. “Hello, Mrs. Weasley. I’m Y/N. Y/N Icestone.” She introduced, Molly introducing herself after she shook the Slytherin’s hand.

“Y/N Icestone? The daughter of John?” Arthur asked, sudden interest all over his eyes. Y/N nodded in response. “Yes, Mr. Weasley. I assume you know who my father is?”

“Oh yes, dear. Very great man, he is. Greatly respected at the Ministry. Do send him my regards, will you?”

Y/N gave the head of the Weasley family another nod. “Yes, sir.”

“Oh, please. You can call me, Arthur.”

“So…” Molly began, an intimidating tone in her voice that made the girl in question have shivers crawling at the back of her neck. Regardless, she projected a calm and collected self.

“You’re not actually in love with one of my boys are you? Definitely not Ron since he’s too young for you but is it one of the twins?” Molly questioned, her hands on her waist as she shot narrowed eyes at the girl, however, a teasing smirk on the woman’s face.

“Mum!” George groaned in embarrassment, pulling Y/N away from the rest of the Weasleys. In order for Y/N to not feel rude, she grinned at Molly, shrugging before waving her hand in goodbye.

“Sorry about them. They’re really all over the place, gosh this is so embarrassing.” George quietly said, his eyes locked at the marble floor, hoping to hide his red face.

“Don’t worry about it, George. It just felt so foreign but I really love their warmth.” Y/N comforted, placing her hand on top of George’s fidgeting one.

For the nth time, before George was able to say another word, he was interrupted. This time, by Mira who came flying down in the girls face. “Y/N, your driver has arrived and is currently loading your items.” The Slytherin nodded in response, telling her to wait in the car before turning her attention back to the ginger who sighed in disappointment.

“I guess that’s your cue.” George muttered, sadness in the tone of his voice. Y/N gave the ginger’s hand a squeeze causing him to look up at her, to which she greeted with a grin. “See you after the summer?”

“Promise to write to me?” George asked in hesitance. The girl nodded, wrapping her arms around the boy’s neck to press their lips together, which made him feel better.

“Promise.” Y/N reassured, bidding her last farewells before heading to her family car, to which the Greengrass sisters we’re waiting inside.

“Explain yourself.” Daphne demanded, hands in her waist as she gave her best friend a disapproving look.

Y/N raised a brow, crossing her arms against her chest. “What is there to explain?”

“I’m not stupid, Icestone. I know you know about the twins’ stupid plan against you. They’re playing with you, remember? George is just playing with you! Wake up!” Daphne scolded, causing Y/N to sigh in frustration. She pressed two fingers in her right temple, massaging them as she contained her building anger.

Silence enveloped the atmosphere of the black leather seat car, the sound of its engine being its only noise. Tension, however, was highly present in between the two Slytherins.

After a few moments, Y/N noticed how the raven-haired girl was still giving her the same displeased look, which in turn, highly annoyed her.

“What?” She asked coldly, trying to prevent herself from saying foul words as it was Daphne she was talking to. It was her best friend she was talking to. She has so much respect for the dark haired girl as she was one of her genuine friends. She can’t just let unfiltered words go flee in her mouth like she does with strangers who judge her. She just can’t. And so she contained herself together with her building nerves.

“You know what.” answered Daphne in the same tone.

Y/N, who had her eyes locked forward, gave the girl a side glare, rolling her eyes as clenched her fists. “This, Daphne, is in no way or form, your business.” She muttered, her voice full of venom.

None of the girls inside the Icestone family service car knew that this day would be the last time they would speak to each other over the course of a few weeks.

____________________

Summer break for Y/N was still the way it was before. She would be woken up every morning by her fairy, who hands in her breakfast, then would be forced into the morning tub for a nice but short bath. From Monday to Friday, she’d be force to have at least 1 advance study lesson with her tutor, Mr. Princeton, and 1 activity such as painting, playing a variety of instruments, or a physical activity. Her favorite was riding a horse. By 4 PM, she’d be free to do whatever she pleases. In Y/N Icestone’s case, it was reading.

Everything was just the way it is except for one tiny thing. Letters. She still received letters, but not from the usual raven-haired girl, to which if Y/N was completely honest, disappointing. However, she was the reason for their petty fight anyways but being someone who is prideful, she dared not to send the first one. But to make up for it, fortunately for her, there was a certain ginger, who owled her almost everyday. It was bitter but sweet. At least she had George.

Dear Y/N,

How have you been? I didn’t want to admit this but I really miss you.

Mum has been nagging me and Fred lately. Scolding us for not taking a lot of O.W.L.S and for working on our products for Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes. Recently, she confiscated our order forms with our toffees. I feel really bummed out. You know me and Fred have been working on those for a long time, right? I just wished she supported us a little more…

On the bright side, dad has scored us some tickets for the upcoming Quidditch World Cup. Are you perhaps going to be in attendance? It would be really great to receive one of your warm hugs right now. You know...the ones where you nuzzle your face in my neck or vice versa. I really wish you were here with me.

I can’t wait to see you.

Love,

The most good-looking bloke, who has an identical twin (reckon this wizard who sends you this letter is more good-looking though), and the tall awesome wicked Gryffindor ginger who loves Y/N Icestone with all his heart, George.

The receiving end of the letter, which was messily written in an old looking piece of parchment, was currently seated in her study, a room inside her personal quarters, that had a huge desk in the middle. This letter she received was her favorite yet. It was sent a week ago and yet she read it over and over again, the same fluttering feeling in her heart every time, as she grinned from ear to ear.

Her moment, unfortunately, was ruined when her pet Siamese cat entered the room quietly, jumping on her desk to block the girl’s sight of the letter.

“Are you honestly still with that pathetic boy?” Lixie asked, a scolding tone in his voice.

Y/N huffed in annoyance. “He’s not pathetic! Whatever you heard that day, none of it was true! He would never do that to me.” She defended, keeping the letter in one of the drawers under her desk.

“How do you know what's fake and true then? Listen, Y/N. We’re only trying to protect you. Me and Mira heard it with our own ears! We saw them with our own eyes! They’re playing with you, Y/N. He’s gonna break your heart!” the cat reasoned, concerned yet angry at the girl.

“Oh, c’mon, Felix. Do you really think that the Weasley twins would go to such an extent just to satisfy their pranking needs?” Y/N argued, blinded of her cat’s reality, all because of her fondness for ginger.

Felix. Y/N called her cat with his full name, something that she doesn’t do often unless she’s crossed. She must be enraged. Furious, even.

“Yes.” answered Lixie, earning a loud groan from the girl.

Y/N leaned back at her big black leather chair, eyes planted on the ceiling as she breathed in and out. “You must be out of your mind.” She muttered in disbelief, shaking her head from left to right..

“No, you are out of your mind!” Lixie exclaimed. “I can not believe that you agreed to be actually one of those git’s girlfriend. For Merlin’s sake, Y/N, you are an Icestone! A Slytherin! And he’s just...George.”

Y/N’s heart felt like it was being pricked by a thousand needles. It was as if one of her heart strings broke. She knew about how her social status compared to George was way, way, different and she didn’t give no care about it. She just hated the way others would judge the Gryffindor based on his status when they all should look past those and actually appreciate who he is. George Weasley, who has a bright personality and a big kind heart.

“He might be ‘just George’ for you but to me, he’s more than that. He’s actually a great person if you get to know him more.” Y/N defended once again.

“What makes you think that you know him?”

“Because I really do!” She scowled. Right now, she was really feeling the stress and anger build up. After the cat delivered the news at the hallway, Y/N didn’t know what to believe in. She was confused like a lost puppy. At first, she was skeptical, thinking that Lixie and Mira might have misheard the twins but when it became the night, Y/N couldn’t help but think about it. She trusted George, yes, but right now she was having doubts. It was like she was in a carousel, spinning round and round.

“No. You. Don’t.” Lixie stated. Highlighting each word with stern as he spoke.

“You didn’t even know them when they played their stupid prank on you. You didn’t even know them before you met them even if they were already so popular all around school. You don’t know what they’re capable of, Y/N.” He reasoned.

The girl closed her eyes, her icy eyes melting but shielded from falling away. She remained silent. Unable to utter another word to defend herself and her relationship with the boy. “Save yourself from the heartbreak, Y/N. You must end this.”

Save yourself from the heartbreak. The girl scoffed at the thought. One way or another, whatever path she chooses with the ginger boy, her heart would still break. Somehow that’s always her end game. She always loses. She always gets her heart broken.

Suddenly, a woman, who was wearing an emerald dress that was long enough to cover her ankles, opened the door to Y/N’s study. Which was peculiar, because Y/N Icestone’s mother tended to ask Mira to call her instead.

“Y/N dear, come down. We have visitors.” Her mother ordered, immediately closing her door once she finished her words. Clearly not bothering to spare a glance at her daughter’s defeated state who still had her eyes closed.

The Icestone heir made her way outside her main room and to the body mirror displayed outside her closet. She straightened the black dress she was wearing before heading out her quarters to greet the unknown guests.

“They’re here? It’s today?” Lixie asked Mira, keeping his voice low in case that the girl was still an earshot away. Mira, who had an apologetic look on her face, only gave the cat a small nod.

In one of the Icestone manor’s living rooms for highly appreciated guests, stood John Icestone, Aurelia Icestone, and Y/N Icestone. Side by side they waited for whoever was visiting to be escorted inside. The feigned the kind and innocent smile that she usually gives. The one she was educated and practiced to do ever since she was a little witch, due to her father’s role in the Ministry of Magic.

Her smile, however, faded into a thin line when the guests entered but she quickly regained her composure as she welcomed the powerful pureblood family who was represented by the words Sanctimonia Vincet Semper. Purity will always conquer.

“Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy, and Draco.” Y/N greeted one by one, shaking the hands of the Malfoy family.

____________________

Y/N slumped at the chair behind her desk, tired and completely drained from today’s events. For a few moments she stared at her white ceiling, her thoughts running 9.8 meters per second squared as she was free falling into the depths of despair. Right now, all she wanted to do was cry in George Weasley’s warm embrace but she can’t. She can’t even cry. She can’t because she had none left. She was empty.

In hopes to distract herself from her own misery, she looked over her wide mahogany desk that was disheveled. Books were piling up at a corner, empty rolls of parchment scattered all over, and just some random knick knacks. The headline of yesterday’s Evening Prophet caught her attention, her eyes widening as shock creeped all over her body.

SCENES OF TERROR AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP

Almost immediately, she grabbed a piece of parchment, scribbling a note of concern, before asking her fairy to have it delivered by the Icestone family owl.

I heard about what happened last night. Please tell me you’re not hurt. Deliver me news that not a single one of you is hurt. Just tell me, if you came home safe and in one piece. Please. As soon as you read this letter. I’m really worried about you.

Y/N

The morning after, Y/N laid on her bed, eyes wide open as she stared at the ceiling, even after minutes since her fairy delivered her breakfast on the bedside table. She didn’t have the courage nor the energy to face whatever challenge is going to be handed down upon her today. Yesterday’s battle was ruthless. She was defeated. And she still hasn’t recovered.

She sighed, turning to her side as she stared at the bowl of strawberries Mira left. Immediately sitting up after eyeing a small roll of old parchment she was familiar with.

Y/N,

It’s George. I’m fine. Everyone is fine, just a bit shaken up. Good thing no one got hurt.

Please don’t worry about me, love. Hopefully this weekend turns out nicer, yeah?

We’ll see each other this Monday. Can’t wait to see you.

George

Y/N felt a relief envelope all over her body, sighing in contentment.

____________________

Fortunately for the Icestone, Monday came quickly. Ever since the Malfoy’s visited the Icestone manor, her mind has become a blur. Her summer has become a blur. She can’t even remember the good times she spent.

Somehow, no matter how hard she tries to push the happy thoughts in front of her head, the memory of the events and words spoken towards her remain superior. And so, she was just glad that she was back. She was grateful that she was away. At least for now.

Y/N Icestone was seated somewhere around the Slytherin table, her chin rested on a palm as she waited. As usual, she was alone. I mean, she was surrounded by other people but she was lonely. She was quiet, only talking to herself for once in a while but only to come back staring into the space.

The students of Hogwarts were seated at their assigned house tables, waiting for the feast to be served. All were happy, excited, and just grateful to have another year in the wizarding school. Groups of friends were chit chatting with one another, talking about how their summer was spent and how much they were looking forward to this year. The hall was greatly filled with noise from all over the place.

It was not until the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, ordered the hall some silence. Announcing how an important event is to be hosted by Hogwarts this year. The Triwizard Tournament. Where one champion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Durmstrang Institute, and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, will compete in three different tasks to win the cup.

“Great. And here I thought that I’ll have a quiet year.” Y/N muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes.

“I know right.” muttered a voice, making her turn towards where it came from.

“Daph- Daphne.” Y/N stuttered. “You’re here.” She said.

The raven-haired girl gave her a small shrug, a small smile displayed on her face. “Oh yeah, I am. It’s not like I can skip a grade or anything. They’d disown me!” She sarcastically said, obviously joking, to diffuse the tension. However, Y/N slightly felt uncomfortable, suddenly recalling the events at the Icestone service car during the 1st day of summer break. But Y/N held her head high, gaining the courage and confidence to speak further.

“Look...about that day…” She began. Daphne blinked at her twice, slightly tilting her head to the side as confusion flooded her mind. “What about that day?” Daphne asked.

“I’m...sorry for snapping at you. I was frustrated, lost, and just...heartbroken. I didn’t know what to believe, who to believe, and I just felt so lonely again. I knew you were always there to look out for me but I was happy that besides you, there was another, who didn’t have other intentions with me. I guess that’s what I thought.”

“The summer...it was awful. I didn’t have anyone to tell my deepest secrets to, I didn’t have anyone to hangout with in the pool, I didn’t have you. And I miss you. I really do. My actions...were not thought properly and now I’m faced with its consequences. But then again, I was taught to never get stuck in the past and move forward. Being Y/N Icestone, you know I don’t finish what I have started so right now, I’m going to swallow my pride and make amends. So sincerely, I apologize to you, Daphne. For doing you wrong. If you could ever find it in your heart to forgive me, I would be really grateful. If not...then...I’ll work harder for it.” Y/N said, her voice being an outlet of what's in her heart and on her mind, never faltering as she apologized to her best friend.

Daphne rolled her eyes in disbelief. “Icestone, honestly?” She began.

“I thought you know how I don’t even hold grudges too long. If you would have sent me an owl during the summers, I would have replied before you could even say ‘quidditch’. Besides, I can’t lose someone like you. You’re my best friend. So yes, you’re forgiven. Now...you better not have plans tonight because you and I are going to hang in your quarters and tell each other how our summer has been.”

Y/N agreed. “Of course, I’d love that!”

And so, the two Slytherin best friends pulled each other into a tight hug, wide smiles in their faces as they finally made up. Y/N felt as if a weight had been lifted in her shoulders, her heart being filled with warmth at the missed presence of the raven-haired girl.

Abruptly, most of the crowd situated in the hall belted out disagreeing statements and a series of “boos”, making the two pull away and turn their attention around their surroundings.

“That’s rubbish! That’s rubbish, I tell ya!” Y/N particularly heard a familiar voice from the house of Gryffindor.

“What did they say?” Daphne asked the boy beside her.

“Underage wizards can’t participate in the Triwizard tournament. You must be seventeen and above to enter.” He briefly stated, turning his attention back to the headmaster.

Y/N’s eye caught George’s from the Gryffindor table who gave her a wink, pointing to himself and Fred then to the front where Dumbledore stood. A smirk plastered around Y/N’s face, a thought crossing her mind. Of course. With George being George and Fred being Fred and the both of them being twins, it’s obvious that they’d do something as stupid like joining the tournament.

The Slytherin scoffed at the thought. Wouldn’t be surprised if they actually cook up a potion tomorrow morning.

____________________

Later that evening, through owl, Y/N and George agreed to not meet each other at their usual hideout for the reason that the Slytherin just made up with her best friend and would like to spend the night doing hot girl shit, and for the reason that the Gryffindor will try to manage a mischief him and his twin are planning that involves joining the announced school event.

As much as the two wanted to spend time together, they thought that a day wouldn’t hurt as they had the rest of the year and maybe the next 2 years or so together. At least that’s what they thought. But both parties agreed to make up for it the next day anyways.

“What’s with the face, Icestone?” Daphne asked as she brushed her hair, eyeing her best friend from the mirror, who was simply seated at her bed and staring into space. Again.

Y/N parted with her thoughts as the raven-haired girl spoke. “What? What’s wrong with being pretty?” She conceitedly asked, huffing, to which Daphne paid no attention to.

Daphne had a reluctant look on her face, debating within her head whether or not to bring up the subject and the cause of their misunderstanding at the start of summer break. She decided to go for it. “You..looked so troubled. Erm...did you…”

“No, I haven’t.” Y/N answered immediately, knowing exactly what her best friend was about to ask. She sighed in frustration, a couple of thoughts re-entering her mind.

“Oh.”

Y/N sat up straight, shaking her head. “But that’s not what I was thinking about. In fact, over the course of the summer, my problems have been piling up and I can’t seem to solve at least one!” She exclaimed, her hands waving in the air.

Daphne dropped the brush on top of the dresser, moving to sit next to the Icestone heir. “What? Your Arithmancy problems? I thought you had a tutor…”

“No, not my arithmancy problems! My life problems!” Y/N left out a frustrated sigh, getting overwhelmed by her ocean of feelings.

“What happened?” Daphne asked, concerned.

“The Malfoys…” Y/N began, which made Daphne’s eyes go narrow, a feeling that her best friend was having conflict within herself because of the mentioned family. “Well...they visited the manor one day.” She said, her voice quiet, her voice shaking.

“And?” Urged Daphne, clutching the girl’s hand and squeezing it.

Y/N Icestone looked as if she was about to burst into tears.

____________________

“What’s with the hair, Weasleys? Too poor to get a haircut?” Fred and George heard from behind, immediately recognizing the sour and annoying voice that belonged to a certain blonde Slytherin boy.

The twins turned their attention to Draco and his goons, both crossing their arms and feigning disgust. “Do you smell that, Fred?” George mocked, covering his nose.

“Oh that’s bad, mate.” Fred mirrored his actions before turning towards the Slytherin. “Do us a favor, Malfoy and don’t open your mouth again. It stinks!”

George grinned in his mind. Proud to have applied what he learned from his girlfriend.

The scowling look on Draco’s face deepened, as well as Crabbe and Goyle who had their arms crossed.

“How dare you! Is that the best threat you got? Should I be scared now?”

Fred and George both shrugged.

“You better be.” George stated, followed by Fred. “Because there is no way we’re going to hesitate in making your life more miserable than it already is.”

“Actually, Weasel bee, it’s YOU who have to be scared.” Draco suggested, an evil smirk on his face and a finger pointing at George’s face. “You don’t actually think that you and your identically git-like twin are the only ones who know about your secret, huh?”

“What-”

The blonde Slytherin let out an airy laugh, his thumb playing with the ring around his index finger. “Planning to make Y/N Icestone fall in love with you and break her heart in the end? Dangerous game that you started, Weatherby.”

George felt a million strings of guilt and worry creep around his body. His heart felt like it was dropped on a 40 feet cliff. He stood frozen as if a bucket of ice-cold water was splashed towards him. His mouth felt dry, unable to speak as if a snake had wrapped around his neck. Maybe there was a snake. Figuratively.

Fortunately for the slightly taller ginger, the older twin was quick to defend his brother by threatening the young Slytherin. “If you ever open that filthy mouth of yours, you’ll- Where do you think you’re going?! We’re not done here!”

Draco’s retreating figure looks over his shoulders, shrugging before giving the twins a malicious wink.

____________________

“Is everything alright, Icestone?” A young female bushy-haired Gryffindor asked as she sat next to the 6th year Slytherin, who was looking so exhausted and unlively.

The next morning, Y/N Icestone found herself seated at the Great hall. The house tables were put aside, leaving a big space in the center in which the Goblet of Fire was located. To those who wanted to try their luck and enter the tournament, they were to place their name and which school they were from in a piece of parchment then drop it at the goblet. The goblet chooses the three champions who will participate.

The Slytherin gave the girl a blank loo, shrugging as she waited for her fairy to fetch her food. “Yeah...all will be fine eventually. Why’d you ask, Granger?”

Over the course of the last few months of last school year, whenever Ginny would ask Y/N for her support in studies, social life, or whatever it is, Hermione would tag along, making the three develop a small friendship. Y/N was one of Hermione’s girl friends as she either spends her time at the library or hanging with Harry and Ron.

“Nothing. It’s just that...you looked so deep in thought.” pointed Hermione as she opened the thick book she was holding after slightly getting uncomfortable under Y/N stare.

“Just...tired.” The Slytherin reasoned, shrugging.

A few moments after Mira came back with Daphne, students situated in the hall bursted into loud cheers as the notorious Weasley twins entered with a vial in hand.

“Cooked it up just this morning.” The Slytherin heard Fred announce, making her to mentally slap her forehead and huff, visibly crossing her arms in disapproval. I knew it.

“What do you think they’re doing?” Daphne asked, stuffing a muffin in her mouth. “Dumb stuff.” Y/N answered.

“It’s not going to work~” Hermione sang as she clutched her book shut, an unamused look plastered all around her face as she raised a brow towards the twins.

The twins moved towards the girl’s side with a teasing smile plastered around their faces, “Oh yeah? And why is that Granger?” George asked.

“You see this? This is an age line. Dumbledore drew it himself. I don’t think anyone under seventeen will stand a chance.” Hermione confidently said, crossing her arms.

“Dear, dear, Granger. You see this?” stated Fred as he lifted his hand to show the small vial of liquid.

“Obviously.”

“This is an Aging potion.” George informed.

“Do you really think that potion of yours is able to fool a genius such as Dumbledore himself?”

“Yes.” The twins synchronously answered, blinking at the same time.

The girl let out an annoyed groan. “If you’re so confident, let's see then.”

Fred put an arm around Hermione’s shoulder, squeezing her. “Have some faith in us, Granger. After all, one of us will be winning the cup by then.”

The twins made their way towards a bench, both shaking their vials before popping it open.

“Ready, Fred?” “Ready, George.”

“Bottoms up.”

The tall gingers jumped in Dumbledore’s age line, pumping their firsts up high when they saw no visible consequences. The crowd cheered with them, chanting “Fred and George! Fred and George!”

Together, they dropped their piece of parchment in the Goblet of Fire, a contented and proud grin on their faces before the goblet roared and sent them flying across the hall. The crowd gasped then immediately bursted into laughter after seeing how the twins were ginger no more and had white beards spurted on their faces.

Daphne tried to contain her laughter, nudging Y/N at the side. “THAT is your boyfriend? You really didn’t lie when you said they were doing dumb stuff.” She uttered, shaking her head. Y/N only gave her a knowing smirk, shrugging before grabbing her cup of morning tea.

The hall suddenly muted itself as Viktor Krum from Durmstrang Institute entered, dropping his name at the goblet. He caught the eye of Hermione, who suddenly turned red, then landed his eyes towards Y/N Icestone and Daphne Greengrass, who both gave him a small wave.

“You know who Viktor Krum is?” recovered from her flustered self, Hermione came back to her curious ways. Y/N gave her a nod. “Yeah...everyone knows who he is. He’s the seeker of the Bulgarian Quidditch team, isn’t he?” She answered.

“Yeah...but like...do you know him personally?”

“Oh she knows him, alright.” Daphne remarked, smirking.

The Gryffindor continued to give Y/N a confused look, waiting for her to expound further. Y/N raised a brow, sighing in defeat before elbowing Daphne’s chuckling self.

“It’s not what you think it is, Hermione. You see, my family has a lot of connections. Viktor is an acquaintance.” Y/N clarified. “Why are you asking anyways? Are you perhaps interested in him?”

“No!” Hermione defended, her cheeks back to a shade of pink. She moved closer to Y/N’s ears, whispering quietly. “I was hoping you could pull some strings and ask for his autograph? Ron is a big fan.”

The Slytherin let out a small laugh. “Now I know who you’re actually interested in.” She teased.

Suddenly, Y/N felt a small tap at her shoulder. She gave a glance, only to see George and Fred, who looked way, way, older. She gave a raised brow, crossing her arms against her chest. Daphne was trying not to laugh, again.

George had a sheepish look as he faced Y/N, who was trying to suppress the upward curving of her lips. “Hi” He quietly greeted, slightly feeling embarrassed.

Y/N shook her head, standing up to head towards the entrance of the Great hall. “Come on, you two. Let’s get you back into your normal forms.”

____________________

“This won’t turn us into cats, right Icestone?” Fred questioned, examining the goblet in his hands.

“I don’t need potions to turn you dimwits into cats.” Y/N declared, handing George his own goblet full of antidote that reverses the anti-aging potion the twins took.

“Thanks, love. I don’t know what I would do without you.” The younger twin commented, pressing his lips on the girl’s forehead as he grabbed the goblet. Y/N only gave a small hum, a thousand thoughts coming back to flood her mind.

As the twins’ face turned into unpleasant looks due to the foul taste of the antidote, Y/N stood by the door, arms crossed as both complained at the taste. “You wouldn’t have that foul liquid sliding down your throats if you didn’t drink that stupid aging potion.” she remarked, getting a “it’s not stupid! It was marvelous!” from Fred.

After the two turned back to their normal looks, Fred immediately pulled the Slytherin into a short hug, muttering “thanks” before making a beeline towards the exit of the Room of Requirement, leaving the couple alone.

George put his hands in his jeans pocket, leaning at a table. “What’d you say we hang out by the lake later? You know...catch up a little. I miss you. Let’s skip supper? Unless you’re hungry, love. We could sneak into the kitchens and ask for the house elves to -“

Y/N put an index finger above George’s lips, shushing him. “I’m sorry, George.” She apologized, giving him a sympathetic look. “I love the thought of spending time with you, but I’m afraid I have to decline the offer.”

The ginger’s face fell, placing his hands at the sides of Y/N’s face. “But -“

“I have plans with Daphne.” She reasoned, completely lying in front of George, who was pouting. She leaned in one of George’s hands before leaning in to give him a quick peck, much to George’s dismay.

“Fine.” George muttered before groaning. “See you in potions tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

____________________

“First week of school and that Snape already gave homework.” George complained, resting his forehead on the desk library he and Y/N occupied.

“That’s professor Snape to you, George.” Y/N scolded, turning her potions book.

George gave a loud grunt. “Whatever. You only favor him because you’re a Slytherin yourself and that he favors your house too much.” He mumbled, turning his head to the side to examine the girl.

Y/N raised a brow towards him, her chin resting on her palm. “Well, that’s because he’s head of the house. And you know how I love potions. If you actually read your textbook and listen to his classes, you’d actually learn something.” She said, earning a snort from George.

“Like what? Bewitch the mind, ensnare the senses?” He asked, mocking the tone of the potions master’s voice.

Y/N nodded. “Yes, to bottle fame, brew glory,”

“and even put a stopper to death!” They simultaneously said, bursting into fits of laughter after making fun of Snape’s yearly speech to the new students of Hogwarts. It was when Madam Pince let out a loud cough that made them shush themselves.

“So you do listen…” The Slytherin commented, amusement in her voice.

George displayed a wide grin on his face. “In the first half of my first classes with him in first year, yeah. The rest...well...I just slide. I Slyther in.”

“HAHA very funny.” Y/N monotonously said.

Their atmosphere was enveloped in silence as the couple stared at each other’s eyes. Y/N examined the ginger, counting the freckles on his face that looked like stars in the night sky, admiring his honey skin illuminated by the lamp placed on their desk, and getting lost at his bright eyes.

She was grateful for having someone like George. Someone that looked past her name and treated her like a normal girl.

Unpleasant thoughts came back rushing in her mind. Worries, doubts, and distress majorly creeping into her feelings.

She was worried. Worried of her future, with George, with other Slytherin families, and simply just being Y/N Icestone

She had her doubts. She was doubting herself, doubting if she was the main cause and reason why the twins decided to play a heart-breaking prank against her, doubting if she was truly loved by George, and doubting if she was worthy of receiving love from anyone.

She was distressed. Distressed from her worries and doubts, all caused by George Weasley, her boyfriend, the boy she gave her love to.

Shaking the thoughts away, she gently reached for the ginger’s hair, caressing it softly which made George flustered. “Your hair...has gotten very long.” She pointed out.

“Oh...yeah.” George mumbled, nodding. He suddenly felt conscious under the girl’s observant stare. “It did get very long during the summers so I had it trimmed.”

“But your hair still looks like what you had last year, which was long too.”

“I like it being long. It looks cool, like my brother, Bill. You have to meet him. He’s actually a Gringotts charm breaker.” said George. “Why? Does it not suit me?”

The Slytherin gave him a small smile. “I never said anything about not liking it nor you not suiting it. I was just wondering why...doesn’t it get hot?” She questioned.

“I like it being long because I love it when you brush your fingers against my hair. Like what you’re doing right now.”

Y/N’s hand retreated much to George’s dismay. She sat up, crossing her arms against her chest. “Well, you’ve been struggling in focusing on your essay without your hair covering your eyes.”

George sat up as well, shrugging as he did so. “Oh but that’s alright. Because having long hair covers my face. I get to look at my seatmate’s paper without the teacher notici- ow! What was that for?” He complained, rubbing his hand in his stinging arm after getting hit by the girl beside him.

“I’m your seatmate in potions.” Y/N replied, unamused by the ginger’s antics.

The Gryffindor only blinked, completely not getting what Y/N was trying to point out. “Okay, and?”

“I will NOT let you copy my work!” She vocalized causing George to slump his shoulders and let out a grunt. “Why not? I thought you liked me?”

Y/N nodded, grabbing her black hair tie from her robes pocket. “I do. And because I do…” The girl reached George’s ginger locks, gathering them together in one hand to tie it into a ponytail. George felt the pace of his heartbeat quickened. She combed his hair with her fingers, putting them in place, before wrapping the tie once, twice, and thrice, to keep it together.

“...I’m going to help you study for it, with the first step of keeping your hair away from yours eyes.” She continued, a proud look on her face after seeing her boyfriend’s hair in place. He looked more neat and more handsome, his jawline being showcased.

The boy was slightly embarrassed, not used to having his hair tied up. “But I hate potions…” George murmured.

“Oh think about it, George. Knowledge in potions will help you make more Weasley products!” The Slytherin urged, finally turning her attention back to the laid out work in front of her.

“You’re right! You’re so smart, love. That’s one of the reasons why I love you.” George claimed, finally facing his own series of potions work as well.

I love you. Y/N didn’t know if she was going to believe what just came out of her boyfriend’s mouth. Nevertheless, her heart skipped a beat.

____________________

“Please tell me you have a plan. You can’t just let him play you like you’re some kind of toy!” Daphne advised as she softly caressed Lixie’s sleeping figure.

“That’s the thing, Daphne. I don’t even know if he’s still playing. I mean, he told me he loved me for a couple of times now. I don’t know if I should believe him but he really does seem so sincere with it.” Y/N pointed out, placing her hands on her waist as she stopped from her pacing.

“Maybe you should confront him about it.” Daphne suggested.

“No!”

“Why not?”

“Because I know that he’ll lie in front of my face. He does it like a pro, believe me. You know how I hate being lied to.” Y/N muttered, sighing in defeat. “I hate this. I’m giving him until tomorrow to tell me. I’m going to give him hints to make him have an idea how I know. If he doesn’t confess to me by then, I’m going to have to resort to my plan.”

____________________

After Y/N’s conversation with the raven-haired girl, she sneaked her way out the dungeons to meet George at the Astronomy tower. “Y/N You’re here.” He greeted with open arms, Y/N complying to wrap herself in his warm embrace.

“Yeah...can’t sleep.” She mumbled.

The couple pulled away, making their way towards their usual spot to sit down. “Why is that?” George questioned, concern laced in his voice.

“Something has been bothering me lately.” Y/N informed. “A lot happened during the summers. Family gatherings, my father’s important events, and my mom’s own set of tea parties. Which meant me meeting blokes who tried to earn my favor.” She ranted, half lying, half telling the truth.

“People with their bad intentions... Make me sick.” Y/N added before slipping her glass of chocolate milk. She met George’s staring eyes, giving him a small smile. “I’m glad that you’re not one of them.” She remarked.

The familiar pang of guilt flooded in the boy’s mind, his chest hurting as if a million of needles were pricking it. George remained quiet as a series of thoughts flooded his mind.

First, did Y/N Icestone finally find out about how him and Fred were initially planning to break her heart?

Second, if she did know, who told her? Was it Mira? Was it Lixie? Or was it Draco Malfoy?

Third, if she knew, why isn’t she confronting me about it? Didn’t she usually get straight to the point with other people?

Fourth, is she waiting for me to say something to her? Does she want me to be the one who confesses it?

Fifth, but if I do confess it, what would her reaction be? Would she break up with me? Or would she let it go and forgive me?

Sixth, if I confess to her, she would never forgive me. That is certain. I know how her head works.

Seventh, if she wouldn’t forgive me, I could make it up to her...but how?

Eighth, what if she breaks up with me? What will happen to me? I know for sure that she’ll pull strings from her Icestone name to seek revenge. I don’t want my family to be involved.

Ninth, this is stupid. Y/N would never use her Icestone power to hurt me. She’s kinder than you think.

Tenth, now this really is getting stupid. George Weasley, you’re overthinking. She probably doesn’t know and will never know so that’s that. Besides, she fancies you. Nothing could go wrong. Right?

Y/N took a notice of George’s behavior, feigning a look of concern. “Are you...okay?” She questioned, placing a hand in the boy’s cheeks.

“I’m fine.” He said, leaning in Y/N’s touch. “Just thinking of ways on how I could kick whoever bothered you.” He added.

Y/N gave him a smirk. “Even if that someone is you?” She phrased out, catching George off guard.

“Did I do something?” George questioned, getting a shrug from the Slytherin as a response.

“Huh?” Y/N feigned confusion. “Is there something I should know?”

Relief spread through George’s mind. “Besides that I fancy you like crazy? None.”

____________________

“I have a feeling that somebody gave her hints about our previous plan.” Fred suggested, thinking deeply of different possibilities.

“Do you think it was Malfoy?” George asked, concerned and a nervous look plastered around his face.

Fred briefly nodded. “Possibly. But I think that you should be the one to tell her. You have to tell her today otherwise you can say bye-bye to your precious relationship”

____________________

“So?” Daphne asked, curious of last night's events.

Y/N let out a groan. “Nothing. But I have a feeling that he caught the message. He only has today. He should really let it out or else I won’t hesitate.” She threatened, anger boiling inside of her.

____________________

“You got everything you need? You didn’t forget anything?” George asked as he handed Y/N her bag after walking her to Professor Trelawney’s Divination class, which was located at a very high tower.

The Slytherin gave him a smile, pulling him for a hug. “None. Thanks for walking me here.” She muttered against the ginger’s chest, making the boy grin.

While the Gryffindor had the girl wrapped in his hug, he started to overthink about everything again. The beat of his heart quickened due to nervousness and uncertainty.

As they pulled away, Y/N gave the boy a quick peck on the lips before making her way towards the entrance to Trelawney’s classroom, her pace slow in hopes of George calling her back. To which he did.

“Yes?” Y/N asked, glancing over her shoulder.

George looked like he wanted to say something.

“Something troubling you? Do you want to talk about it?” The girl suggested, moving back to stand in front and under the tall ginger’s worried gaze. When the boy remained silent, Y/N narrowed her eyes towards him as she crossed her arms against her chest. “George? Are you feeling alright? I’m...starting to get worried.”

George gave Y/N a grin. “See you later? The usual?” He asked, insisting rather to himself to just tell her later at the Astronomy tower.

Y/N didn’t bulge, the look on her face not faltering. “Are you sure you don’t have anything else to say to me, George?” She crossed-examine. George felt cold sweat dripping at the back of his neck, his heart beat faster than before.

“You’re pretty?” George quietly muttered, the uncertain look coming back on his face.

The Slytherin decided to give up, planning to try again later at the Astronomy tower. She feigned a smile, nodding in agreement to what her boyfriend just mumbled out. “Damn right I am.” She responded, a knowing smirk on her face, making George groan.

“I said petty.” He vocalized before giving the girl a kiss on the forehead and walking away.

“Are you happy?” Y/N suddenly asked, making the boy stop in his tracks. “Does this make you happy, George?”

He looked at her, giving her a wink. “Anywhere with you makes me happy, Y/N.”

When the ginger was finally out of sight, the Slytherin groaned in frustration, entering the classroom to hastily sit beside Daphne, who was giving her a sympathetic look.

____________________

15 minutes past four hours after midnight with Y/N Icestone laying on her bed beside a snoring Siamese cat, wide awake as she stares at the ceiling with her head full of thoughts. Even after countless times of being put in an identical situation, somehow, she never got used to it. As the night shuts down and the sky becomes dark, that time is her greatest fight. Her head, her thoughts, herself, her own enemy.

Usually, she would heave out a frustrated sigh and sneak to see the stars in the Astronomy tower and after her midnight escapades, she’d feel tired from the swellness of her eyes and fall into a slumber. However, she already did this method earlier but coming back from the tower tonight did not let her rest. In fact, she was even more bothered. He knows I know but didn’t even say something about it. Not even a word. Not even an apology.

Y/N turned to her side, caressing Lixie’s small head before giving it a small kiss and sitting up. Turning her eyes to her bedside table, she grabbed a vacant parchment and her wand to illuminate the dark room. With her quill, she started to doodle the interior of the astronomy tower with herself and a certain Gryffindor ginger seated on the floor beside each other. Above them were the beautiful night sky enveloped with billions of shining stars as well as the moon. She smiled to herself.

“I’m gonna make you miss me.” She muttered, drawing horns on the side of the boy’s head.

“I’m gonna make you so mad.” She continued, this time drawing a devil’s tail on the boy.

“I’m gonna make sure that I’m the best you ever had.”

For a few moments, the girl stared at the parchment, admiring her work of art as she tried to silence herself. She breathed in, and breathed out before crumpling the drawing and furiously wiping her fallen tears. She commanded her wand to turn the light off before draping her thick blanket above her head.

Y/N Icestone always had a heart. A heart that treasures four-legged furry animals that purrs when they’re delighted and hisses when they have been wronged. A heart that aches to see innocent first years getting bullied by the students from her house. A heart that beats rapidly for the younger individual of the prominent Gryffindor ginger twins, who goes by the name George Weasley.

Y/N Icestone. Always being labeled for having a stone cold ice as a heart when what she had was warm, pure, and strong. Y/N Icestone, who most people thought had no heart, just got her heart taken, thrown away, and smashed broken.

End of Chapter 6

____________________

Tag list: @abrunettefangirlnerd @gloryekaterina @lilypad-55449 @memekingofwwiii

Author’s note: Enjoy ;)

46 notes · View notes

chilling-seavey · 3 years

Text

Qui Totum Vult Totum Perdit (d.s.) - 4

A/N Oops early post. I couldn’t contain myself

Warnings: This story is centered around a murder so there will be graphic descriptions of blood, death/manslaughter, dealing with corpses, possible domestic abuse (physical/verbal), crime/covering up a crime, shock/grief, and other possibly heavy or triggering topics. Please read at your own discretion.

The muffle of heavy footsteps outside the front door had Jonah and I halting our breaths in our chests in anticipation. We were expectedly on edge. Thankfully, it was just the mail delivery and the security sensor at the front step set off a little notification noise from the main monitor that was set up on the kitchen counter. When the metal mailbox closed and the footsteps faded back towards the street, I moved over to the main monitor and typed in the code and scrolled through the notification menu. The film footage from the studio was still gone but it was listed as having been deleted around 8pm the night before.

“Anything of interest?” Jonah asked.

“Not really.” I mumbled and turned back to face him. “I’m going to look around a little more.”

“Alright. I’ll look around here.” he looked me up and down, “Maybe change your clothes while you’re at it.”

I glanced down at my white hoodie and white jeans, both pieces of clothing stained dark red all up the back from where I had been laying all night and my bloody handprint was smeared over the chest of my hoodie. Good idea.

I returned to the master bedroom and set my laptop bag on the bed and let my computer turn on while I headed into the walk-in closet to find clean clothes. The two garment bags hanging on the far wall in front of the mirror had me stopping in place with my hand on the light switch. I hesitated as if not having expected them to be there; even if I had known they would be returned home by Jonah and my brother along with the wedding gifts two weeks ago. I shuffled over to unzip the first black garment bag, dragging my hand down the smooth white dress that had been hidden underneath. A few smudges of red were left behind from my touch and I pulled my hand back quickly and wiped my blood-stained fingers on my pants.

I forced myself to swallow back any feelings as I zipped the bag back up and focused my attention on pulling black jeans from the shelf and a black t-shirt from a hanger. I took them into the ensuite bathroom and closed the door behind me as if I were trying to shut out something or suddenly needed some privacy. Funny that the only invasive things in the damn house was the weird feeling of guilt and realization and utter confusion that was eating me alive.

My hands were holding myself up on the edge of the counter and I was breathing hard, staring myself in the eye through the spotless mirror. Avalon always liked things clean.

Although I had been passed out on my studio floor for God knows how long that night, I still looked like I hadn’t slept in weeks. I seemed to have a layer of drying blood all over me and it matted my dyed blonde hair down in unattractive dark clumps and stained my white clothes evilly. The dark circles under my eyes didn’t seem like they were just from the flight home and the pale complexion that stared back at me didn’t even feel like my own. I ran my hand over my face, staring at how my slightly sticky fingers tugged at my skin, drawing more attention to my eyes and dry lips…honestly, who was I? My wife was dead – her throat slit and she was left to bleed out – and I was more worried about my face in the mirror.

I could see her eyes in my mind. Those lifeless brown eyes staring at me with all the unrevealable answers to the world. And yet, only days before, she was looking up at me with those same honey brown eyes, full of love and lust, on a king size bed in Costa Rica and whispering how much she loved me.

You have to understand, dear reader, that I had no clue what I was doing or what I was feeling. So you cannot truly blame me when the only reaction to my current situation was my body sending me to my knees in front of the toilet to throw up the limited plane food in my stomach as the metallic smell of blood flooded my senses. It was all too much.

I didn’t know what we had to do next, but I knew that whatever the plan was going to be, we had to move quickly. So I stripped out of my blood-stained clothes and into the clean ones, only stopping long enough to wipe any blood from my skin with a damp cloth until I looked reasonably tame in my reflection. I wet my hair under the tap to get the worst of the blood out of it and ruffled it with a towel before saying ‘good enough’ and headed back to the bedroom.

If I was in fact a murderer, no amount of water was going to cleanse this conscious.

I sat on the edge of the bed and typed in my password to my laptop. The screen loaded and brought up the last tab that was open; the flight information home. The site had updated and stated that the plane had landed on time at LAX yesterday evening and my credit card receipt showed the taxi payment for thirty minutes later. We were home around 7:00. Other than confirming the times at which we returned home, the laptop didn’t offer much assistance.

What did I expect? The screen to read out exactly how my wife was murdered?

Jonah came into the room, “Hey. Find anything?”

I glanced up at him before looking back down at the screen, biting anxiously at my fingernail, “No. Don’t remember anything more either.”

Jonah didn’t answer, letting me have a moment to collect my thoughts. I didn’t blame him; what do you say to your best friend who possibly just murdered their wife and doesn’t remember it. I swiped my finger over the trackpad on my laptop to bring up the other window that was open; iMessage. The last conversation thread that was up was between Avalon and me. I remembered it well.

I was down at the resort bar the night before we left. Jonah had sent me a recording that he wanted my opinions on and I had a few changes I wanted to make so I took myself downstairs with my headphones and my laptop and got some work in. Cocktail in one hand and mouse in the other, I worked until the notification popped up on the bottom menu of my screen.

It would be nice if you spent our last night up here with me.

I had ignored it, huffing and rolling my eyes at her constant pestering and minimized the window again.

God…stupid me. That would have been our last night together. And she didn’t even face towards me when I finally came to bed.

“You weren’t around me!” she yelled, tapping her hand against the cup in her hand so the sound of her ring against the glass punctuated each of her words. “What person wants to spend their honeymoon alone? Of course, I wanted to go home! I was basically there by myself and I was miserable!”

“I had to get some shit done! Jonah needed me to double check a few things while we were away. It’s not the end of the world and I’m sorry if you feel that way!”

I could see her visibly tense and she turned her head so she didn’t have to look at me, jabbing under her breath, “That’s always your excuse, isn’t it? ‘Always gotta get some shit done’. Well, I’m sick and tired of coming second to your work all the time.”

I made her miserable.

“Jonah.” I breathed, turning to look at him over the top of my laptop, “What if she killed herself?”

“She didn’t seem suicidal.” Jonah said.

“Yeah.” I sighed, turning back to the screen. I let out a heavy breath and closed my laptop and tucked it back in the case. “We have to decide what to do.”

“Alright. What are you thinking?” Jonah asked.

I thought for a moment as I set my laptop bag back on top of the untouched suitcase by the wall, “I don’t know. I need time to figure out what the hell happened.”

“Do you want to head to the lodge in Utah? It will buy you a few days and maybe we can figure out what happened by then.”

I nodded, letting out a deep breath, “Yeah, okay. That probably makes the most sense.”

I walked past Jonah and out of the master bedroom, stopping shuffle through the mail that had been collected by Jonah and Christian throughout the last three weeks and placed in a decorative bowl on the front console table. I ruffled through a few bills and random mailer coupons, just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything that I might want to take with me out of state. My search stopped dry at one crisp white envelope, addressed to our house and labelled with simply Avalon with no surname. I frowned and slid my finger under the sealed flap to tear it open.

“Bro, opening other people’s mail is a federal offence.” Jonah stated as he joined me by the table.

“She’s dead, Jonah. I don’t think it really matters anymore.” I answered flatly and pulled out the folded piece of lined stationary from the envelope.

Avalon,

Things are hard right now and I get that but shutting me out isn’t going to help anyone. You can’t give up on me. I really want to see you when you get home. Please let me know when you get this. I need to make things right.

-J

My heart felt like someone was pushing it through a juicer and I frowned down at the paper as I read it a second time. The second time didn’t make it hurt any less. I rubbed my hand over my chest and then ruffled it through my damp hair.

“What the fuck is this?” I breathed. I looked at Jonah, “Who’s J? Is it you?”

“Me? Why would I write her suspicious letters when I can just text her?” Jonah replied.

“Yeah.” I sighed and looked back down at the letter. I clenched my jaw and swallowed back the hurt and strange glimmer of jealousy that was bubbling up inside my empty stomach. “Maybe there’s something on her phone.”

Detective Team: @jonahlovescoffee @randomlimelightxxx @stuffofseaveyy @hopinglimelight @tempus-ut-luceant @br4nd1s @xkelsev @hiya-its-amber @sexyseavey15

#🔪#daniel seavey #jonah marais #why dont we #jack avery #zach herron #corbyn besson #why dont we fanfic #daniel seavey fanfic

30 notes · View notes

dorevenge · 3 years

Text

where ignorance is bliss - chapter 2: where grass was green

SUMMARY: Obadiah is off to Washington to assist with the war in Vietnam, and Peggy and Maria grow closer, as Maria learns something she wishes she didn't. [AO3 LINK]

CHAPTERS: 1 [2] 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ☆

November 15, 1959 – Bronx, New York, Obadiah’s Apartment

Struggling to find ways to pass the time after the war, Peggy frequented my apartment. The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division (or, S.H.I.E.L.D., as everyone says to save precious time) has been involved in the fight with Vietnam for a few years now. Obadiah left for Washington right after the Stark Expo to give weapons consult in the war, and I haven’t seen him in almost three months. We would write letters sometimes, and phone even less. I moved into Obie’s apartment to take care of the place while he was away for an indeterminate amount of time, and Peggy crashed in the living more times than she would care to admit.

“Did you love him?” I ask, fixing the two of us another round of Old Fashions. The empty Chinese carryout containers are scattered across the coffee table before us. There’s a good restaurant between the S.H.I.E.LD. Headquarters and the apartment, and Peggy will frequently grab something on the way here.

“I only knew him for a couple months,” Peggy replies, taking the glass. I curl up next to her on the couch, our heads leaning in towards each other. “So it’s hard to say. It could have been. We were both young, thrown together during some of humanity’s darkest days. We were all looking for something to believe in.”

She swirls the glass in her hand, lazily watching the whiskey fall back down the side before continuing.

“What about you and Obadiah? Is this love?”

“I don’t want to talk about him.” The corners of my mouth curl downwards on their own. Peggy notices. Peggy always notices.

“Trouble in paradise?”

“It’s more like paradise when he’s gone rather than when he’s here.”

“Why is he your boyfriend if you don’t even like him?”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I take a large gulp of my Old Fashion, the whiskey burning the back of my throat. “He’s my fiancé.”

Peggy sits up, and my head slides off her shoulder to the cushion of the couch.

“Your what?” She takes my left hand into hers and finds my ring finger bare.

“I keep it in my sock drawer. Whether out of safekeeping or embarrassment, I’m not sure.” I sit up.

“When did this happen? And why did you say yes?” She looks at me with a tight expression, concern and worry on her face. Her red lipstick is all but gone, a faint imprint of it left on the rim of her class, and her usually tight curls hang loose around her neck and chin. If she weren’t so upset, I’d reach out to tuck one of them behind her ear.

“The last day of the Expo. He… He’s comfortable. We have our routine. We play chess together, I straighten his ties, I smile at the men he wants to invest in his company. I get some of the profits for my charities, and we make each other look good.” I frown at the empty glass in my hand and contemplate fixing another.

Peggy sets down her unfinished drink and looks at me. She has a way of effortlessly shifting her gaze from disapproving to comforting in a second. I never know if I’m going to be talking to the “unrelenting founder of S.H.I.E.LD.” Peggy or the “let’s go shopping and day-drinking” Peggy.

“I’m sure there’s a man out there that complements you and makes you feel good. You just-”

“-haven’t found him yet,” I finish her sentence. I’ve heard it from everyone – my parents, coworkers, strangers who learn I’m 23 and still unwed. 24, I remind myself; my birthday was on the fifth, less than two weeks ago. I feel the effects of the whiskey settling in, my eyes growing heavy and my weight shifting to my stomach. “You’re lucky to have experienced two great loves.”

“Daniel is far from a true love, hence why I stay with you the majority of the week. I’m also fourteen years older than you and have had more time to find them. I was 24 when I met Steve; there’s still plenty of time.”

“There doesn’t seem to be many men like Steve left.”

Peggy was gone without a word the next morning, and I am left alone with a pounding headache. By the time I wake, its well past noon on Saturday, and the mail’s already been delivered under the door.

I rifle through the envelopes once my toast is done, the coffee pot almost full, and the majority of the mail is addressed to Obadiah. Bills and letters of interest from inventors that I’m supposed to forward to him in DC. There’s a letter addressed to me in his precise, meticulous handwriting, but the one that interests me most is from Roxxon Oil Company, a large, thick packet with “CONFIDENTIAL” stamped across it. Naturally, I open it.

Maybe it’s the lingering hangover or the knowledge that Obie would forgive me for anything under the sun, but I rip open the envelope as I sip on my morning coffee, pouring all its contents out on to the table.

Most of the information doesn’t interest me, talking about drill efficiency and rigs and pipelines, until I find the balance sheet and investing information. I did get my master’s in accounting, as Obie tends to forget as he relegates me to a trophy wife. As I drift back into sobriety, the pieces start falling into place. Roxxon isn’t investing in Stane International; Stane is investing in Roxxon, and they were already profiting, working together, inventing together. The copies of the blueprints are of Obie’s design, seeking to create clean energy to replace gasoline down the road. In the last two years, Obadiah has made hundreds of thousands of dollars, with deposits and withdrawals from countless accounts, and reinvesting it, the paper trail deliberately as confusing as possible. I’d call it embezzlement if it weren’t his own company.

I get a scratch piece of paper and start doing the math. It isn’t adding up. Nothing is adding up, the dates and locations, let alone the cash, with several documents addressed from Russia. I sit up, my heart in my throat, pulsing so hard it feels like the world around me was shaking.

Obadiah is not a sneaky man by nature. I knew that he was interested in me before he realized it; I knew when he was going to ask me to go steady with him; I know when he is on the brink of a great new idea. He tries his best to hide things, but every move of his body betrays him. I’ve caught him sticking things in the back of his closet and under his bed more times than I could count, and I’ve never had the opportunity to check with him there. But seeing as he’s away…

Kneeling, I fumble underneath the bed frame until my fingers find purchase on a briefcase, and I slide it out. I wrestle with the knobs until I realize there’s a four-digit code keeping it locked. Before I mess with the dials, I notice the number. 0213.

“Oh, Obie. Do you have to be so predictable?” February 13th was our first date; he chose the day before Valentine’s Day because he believed the holiday of romance should be reserved for people already together, and he made a spectacle on 14th because we were together at that point, by his logic.

The top of the briefcase pops open at my touch, and inside I find numerous telegram slips, copies of both those sent and received. I sift through them quickly, none of them really catching my eye, filled with code words that I didn’t have the motivation to try to decipher. One of them caught my eye, and this is one of the only times Obie’s over-organization paid off because the telegrams were in chronological order.

RECEIVED

September 21, 1957

To: Stane, O.

O., I am glad to hear you secured the trust-fund. Let me know what day you’ll tie the knot, and I’ll tell you where to wire the funds. I might just send you a gift to celebrate.

NEFARIA, G.

SENT

September 28, 1957

To: Nefaria, G.

I’ll be traveling for work extensively the next four months. Please send files to Location 2. She can’t know anything.

STANE, O.

RECEIVED

September 30, 1957

To: Stane, O.

O., safe travels. Remember the end goal – the reactor that threatens our future. It cannot be manufactured by anyone but us, for our sake.

NEFARIA, G.

Prior, my heart had felt like it was running a mile a minute; now, it feels still in my chest. Dead in the water, like a stunned minnow tossed in to attract larger fish. “The trust fund.”

I had been courted before for my parents’ wealth. In college, a boy had pursued me relentlessly. He made me feel beautiful, special, and like the only star in his sky. He had convinced me that love was this roller-coaster rush of emotions, one collision after the other, until his dormmate clued me in on his intentions. That’s why I try to keep Obie in the dark about what I’ll inherit, how big my trust-fund really is. Growing up, I was unaware of how good we had it; all my friends in boarding school were from the same social and financial class, we all vacationed at the same spots and shopped at the same boutiques. It took a lot of eye-opening experiences at university for me to realize life was different for others, and it honed my ability to detect insincere motives. Too little, too late, but I won’t let it happen again.

With shaking hands, I put the papers back in their order, and I snap the briefcase closed, pushing it back under the bed with a force. I return to the kitchen table where I had spread the other documents out, collect them, and place them back as they were. I’m not sure if I need to try to seal it to make it look unopened, or if I should destroy the whole thing. He hadn’t asked me about forwarding this one specifically, so he might not be expecting it. Under the documents, I find the letter addressed to me again. Obie’s handwriting hits me differently now. How well do I actually know the sender?

Mar- (God, I hate it when he calls me Mar.)

I am writing to you with success here in Washington DC. We have made valiant efforts with the war. We expect Vietnam to concede soon. Our troops are vigilant and the best America has to offer, and their farmers pose no threat to us or the hope of victory. I expect to return home to you Friday the 15th of November. I’m sorry, darling, that I missed your birthday, but perhaps I can make it up to you.

See you soon at home,

Your Obie

Friday. Today was Friday.

The living room was a mess. Peggy’s and my drinks and dinner dishes scatter the room, the mail on the table, and I look equally disheveled. I know Obie would be disappointed, as the apartment is always speckless when he’s here.

I am a flurry around the house, collecting garbage in the bin and dishes in the sink. I tie the heaping garbage bag and leave it by the door, and rush to check my appearance in the bathroom. A scarf around my hairline will make the windswept, frenzied style look intention, and I change into a simple blue sundress. Obie didn’t have a dishwasher, so I put an apron on to protect my dress from the dishwater.

As I was setting the last glass out to dry, a knock resounded from the front door. I could feel it reverberate in my chest, and my heartbeat pulsed in every finger in my hand. Shaking, I set the glass down, wiped the water off my hands, preparing myself to smile and wine-and-dine the man I’ve already committed myself to.

#where ignorance is bliss #wiib reading #what if #marvel #iron man #fanfiction #canary writes a text post

2 notes · View notes

royalcordelia · 4 years

Text

The Secret of Distance (2/?)

Summary: Anne and Gilbert embark on their journeys, but stay close to each other at heart. Courting across 1000 miles isn’t easy, but they’re more than willing to step up to the task. (A post s3 story).

Notes: If you want to be tagged when the next chapter is posted, I can do that! I’ve seen others do that, and wanted to throw it out there.

~~*~~

Gilbert had grown so accustomed to the rattling of the window on the side of his face, that as the train slowed to a stop, he roused from his sleep. Around him, passengers shuffled on tired feet down the aisle of the train, but Gilbert squinted tiredly, adjusting to his surroundings. Where was he again?

Outside the train, a sign was lit up by electric lights: “Welcome to Toronto, Ontario.”

Oh, that’s right, he thought to himself, I’m going to medical school. At 4:30 in the morning it seemed. As he grabbed his trunk, his brain felt like it was trudging through mud. He’d left PEI on a ship to the mainland, then situated himself on the train for a fifteen hour trip. And he had kissed Anne.

That woke Gilbert up. He had kissed Anne at exactly noon yesterday, and she had kissed him back. He kissed Anne. She tasted the way he expected sunshine would taste if you could jar it like honey. She fit perfectly against him when he pulled her close, drawn to him as strongly as he was to her. Soft hair framed her face, feathery tufts that grazed his fingers when he held her cheek. He’d never forget the sight of her, so beautifully grown, yet so breathtakingly Anne . The thought was distracting enough that he didn’t realize his footsteps had slowed to a halt in the middle of the path.

He might’ve stood there forever, burning the memory of Anne’s kiss into his mind, but a drunkard rambled past him, colliding with his shoulder. Gilbert stumbled on his feet, righting his coat on his shoulders with a bristled frown. He needed to find his new apartment before he was swept away into whatever unsavory things happened at four in the morning.

From one of his hidden inside pockets, he pulled out a note in Miss Stacy’s familiar script.

Gilbert,

Emily couldn’t get you into a boarding house because of your late admission. She does, however, know a young man who has an extra room in his apartment. He’s agreed to let you board with him, and will leave the door unlocked so you may let yourself in. You’ll find Ronald Stuart at 293 North Sunset St - the right hand apartment.

Good luck on all your endeavors! I know you’ll exceed beyond our expectations.

Your Exceedingly-Proud Educator,

Miss Muriel Stacy

Gilbert didn’t know much about this Ronald Stuart, but had sent the young man a letter telling him when to expect him. Part of him was glad he wouldn’t be living under the supervision of an owner of a boarding house, like Anne certainly would be. If he found this Ronald Stuart agreeable, they could become close friends and enact their own rules, answering only to themselves and to each other.

The house on 293 North Sunset St. was a sizeable place built of bricks the same color as the PEI roads back home. Gilbert snuck as quietly as he could up the creaky stairs leading to the door of his new apartment, before twisting the door knob. Stubbornly, it refused to budge.

Gilbert peaked at the house number, then his note, then tried the door again, this time with more strength. Maybe Ronald hadn’t gotten his letter in time? Maybe he’d forgotten to leave the door unlocked.

There was nothing to do about it. He rapped his knuckles hard enough on the door that the noise likely could be heard by the next door neighbors. Even so, the door remained closed. The chilly August air was beginning to sink into his bones. Gilbert knocked again, more aggressively this time.

“I hear ya, I hear ya!” came a voice from inside the house. Gilbert took a step back from the door, steeling himself for whatever would come once the door opened. A shadowy figure appeared behind the curtains before the door swung open.

Gilbert cleared his throat. “Mr. Stuart?”

The fellow before him was a tall one, lanky with hard angles. His dark hair was a mop upon his head where long, straight hair stuck out in all directions. Long eyebrows quirked back at Gilbert, who clenched his jaw.

“Gil?” the man answered back. Gilbert cocked his head. No one called him Gil. Not even Bash or Anne.

“Yes, that’s me. Gilbert Blythe. The door was locked, otherwise I’d have let myself in.”

Ronald ran a hand through his hair, tousling it into an even greater mess. He stepped aside and let Gilbert enter the space.

“I was real glad was Dr. Oak reached out to me about you coming to stay,” Ronald explained with a yawn. “The last fellow who stayed here graduated last spring, and I’ve been having trouble paying for the whole apartment myself. It’s not much, but it’s plenty for two men to share.”

Gilbert pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to his new roommate. Inside was the first of four years’ worth of rent payments. Bash had promised to send Gilbert his share of the farm’s earnings in plenty of time each month for him to pay his debts.

“That reminds me, this is for you,” Gilbert said. Ronald only tossed the envelope on a nearby table and leaned against it, tired eyes examining his new roommate.

“You drink?” he asked. Gilbert couldn’t tell if the man was offering or judging.

“No,” he replied, shaking his head.

“You snore?”

Gilbert frowned. “...Not...that I know of?”

Ronald shrugged and headed up the stairs.

“We can talk in afternoon. I’m going back to sleep. Your room is up the stairs on the right. Mine’s on the left. There’s one more empty room, for guests I guess, if you ever have any.”

Gilbert bit the inside of his cheek. Would the people from home ever come all the way to Toronto just to see him? Adjusting his cases in his hands, Gilbert took a deep breath.

“Alright, thank you.” But Ronald had already gone.

Outside, the street echoed silence around, giving it an eerie stillness. If he hadn’t been so tired, he might’ve felt the weight of being so far away from home and his family. But exhaustion prevailed in numbing his thoughts, and he found his bed without any welcoming ceremony. Laying fully dressed on top of his blankets, Gilbert fell deep into sleep.

~~*~~

“You a novelist or something?”

Gilbert looked up from the kitchen table and found Ronald in the doorway. He must’ve looked like some sort of writer, with pages upon pages of inked words spread across the table in front of him. A mug of coffee steamed at both places and at the table, and Gilbert nodded down to it. Ronald accepted it appreciatively, sipping it with a satisfied smile. In the daylight, and perhaps after bathing, the man seemed to have a sophisticated air about him that came solely from his looks and not his attitude.

“No, I’m just writing some letters home. There are a few people who’d want to know I made it here in one piece,” Gilbert replied, somewhat nostalgic for home. His gaze found the opening line of the paper in front of him: My Anne...

“Where is home, anyway?”

“Avonlea, PEI.”

“That far away, eh? No wonder you wandered up to the house so early this morning. Can’t say I’ve ever heard of Avonlea, though.” Gilbert nodded politely, not sure how much Ronald Stuart wanted to share about himself or how much he wanted to share in return. “I’m Ron, by the way. I apologize that I’m not terribly friendly before seven in the morning.”

Gilbert chuckled and shook his head.

“I guess I didn’t realize the trip would be over sixteen hours. Sorry for waking you up.”

Ron got up from the table, grabbing some bread from the breadbox and shoving a piece into his mouth.

“What made you want to come here, anyway?”

“Ah, my teacher from home knows Dr. Oak. I was initially intending on attending the, uh...well, the Sorbonne in France, but I changed my mind.”

The expression on Ron’s face told Gilbert he was not convinced.

“Yeah right, you just weren’t accepted. That or you can’t speak french.”

“No, I was accepted - or as good as, anyway. I just chose not to go.” Gilbert paused. “But you’re right, I don’t speak french very well.”

Ron’s jaw dropped.

“I didn’t take you for an idiot, Gilbert.”

Gilbert straightened his shoulders, crossing his arms defensively.

“It’s a long story, one that I’m sure would make perfect sense if you were to hear it.” He paused. Would this Ronald Stuart be convinced that genuine love was more valuable than an educational opportunity? “But to tell the truth, I’d like to just write these letters and get them sent out before the post is collected in a few hours.” Ron held up his hands in surrender and trekked back up to his room.

Returned to silence, Gilbert tilted his face to the sun pouring in from the kitchen window. He wondered if Anne was enjoying the same warmth on her first day of school. Picking his pen back up, he continued to write.

My Anne,

I cannot think of a more wonderful way to start a letter. It does my heart such good knowing that wherever you are, you might be anticipating this specific correspondence. I’d like to begin this particular letter by informing you that I have made it to Toronto safe and sound - albeit at four in the morning! I haven’t been a train for such a long period of time since I traveled with my father. Should you still desire to be my penpal (though I hope you’ll want to be a much more than penpals) you’ll find my complete address on the envelope. North Sunset street is just as beautiful as it sounds.

Have I beat around the bush with enough formality? I may as well jump right in.

Anne, what a fool I’ve been. I’ve had sixteen hours to compose the perfect way to reveal to you in extensive detail all the ways I’ve been a fool, but I fear I don’t have your gift with language, so you will just have to tolerate my inadequate explanations. As Diana might have informed you, I never received your letter, and for the sake of clarity and fairness, I’m going to assume that you never received mine.

I want to eradicate every doubt in your mind. Anne, I never had any real, genuine feelings for Winifred. I have learned the hard way that there is a vast difference between enjoying someone’s company and genuine love. When you love someone, you don’t just enjoy their company. You ache until the next moment you see that person, yet they’re always with you - in your mind, in your heart. The extent to which I adore you and take pride in your existence is so overwhelming that I wonder why I thought I could ever settle for anything else. Is it bold for me to hope you feel the same way? I truly do love you, Anne.

With all that disclosed, I’m certain there are times when I made you feel like I didn’t care for you at all. For that, I hope you know how very ashamed and sorry I am. You won’t ever feel like that again, I promise. If, in our separation, you grow doubtful or lonely, I’ll be on the first train bound for Charlottetown.

As for follow up questions:

Anne Shirley-Cuthbert, when in heaven’s name did you start to have feelings for me? Most days I was certain I’d never win your heart, but then I’d catch you looking across the classroom and think maybe it wasn’t so hopeless after all.

Did you receive the letter I left you in your room? You never said anything, so I wondered. Oh! And what did your letter say? I’m so bitter that it disappeared.

Are you well? How are you adjusting to being away from home? I know Green Gables was so precious to you. How is Queens? Do your new classmates adore you, yet? I’m certain they do.

I’m sure I will have more questions the more I fondly remember each encounter I’ve had with you, but for now, I won’t bombard you.

As for me, I’m better now that I��ve arrived to Toronto and have unpacked all my things. My roommate, Ron, is a peculiar brand, and it’s still unclear as to whether or not he is - as you’d say - a kindred spirit. So far, I have my doubts. We’ve known each other all of eight hours and he’s already called me an idiot. But we have our own bedrooms, and there’s more than enough space for the two of us, so I can’t complain. Class begins tomorrow, but I’ve some final paperwork to complete. I hope to explore the campus and learn all the hidden nooks where a medical student might read and daydream about his love back home.

I still have to write to Bash, and I want to send this as soon as possible, so I’ll conclude here. I miss you terribly already. Yet, how thankful I am that we got the time we did.

Know that I remain always

Yours,

Gilbert

(PS: My roommate called me Gil at our first meeting. I’ve not decided if I like it yet, but maybe if you call me by that name, I’ll warm up to it.)

(PSS: Is it too much trouble if I ask you to enclose a picture of yourself, or something that I can keep on my bedside table that will remind me of you?)

Gilbert had just folded the letter up and sealed it, when Ron came back into the room. In his hand was a picture frame that Gilbert recognized immediately.

“Who’s this?” Ron asked.

Gilbert snatched the frame, eyes icy.

“Were you going through my things?”

“I was just leaving some clean linens, and I saw it on your table. Not trying to pry, but I’m...curious.”

Gilbert peered down at the frame, and felt a wave of homesickness sweep over him. It was a photograph he’d had taken shortly before Hazel had come to live in the house. It had been difficult to find a photographer who wouldn’t fall prey to their prejudices.

“It’s my brother and my niece,” he explained. Ron seemed to sense the thin ice he stood on, so he nodded.

“She’s sweet,” he commented, nodding down at Delphine’s bright eyes.

“The sweetest,” Gilbert agreed, pushing away the photograph when he felt his throat close up. They were silent for a few moments when Ron fixed his eyes on Gilbert.

“Why didn’t you go to the Sorbonne?” he asked evenly. Gilbert matched the serious gaze, unashamed of his choices.

“I would’ve had to marry a girl I didn’t love, and leave behind the one I do.”

Ron’s face didn’t change, but the lack of judgement was slightly promising.

“Family and love, huh? Wish I could relate.” Then he spun on his heels and headed toward the front door. “Well, I’m off.”

“Oh, uh, bye?”

The tense, awkward air in the room evaporated when the door slammed behind Ron. A long exhale left Gilbert’s lips and he grabbed a clean sheet of paper. This letter to Bash continued much like his letter to Anne’s had, full of apprehension about Ronald Stuart and anxiousness about the impending start of school. He’d exhausted all of his mildly uninteresting topics before he added:

I do have some news that might interest you. Anne and I are...well, I don’t know for certain what we are. Courting? Yes likely. More than friends? Absolutely. Together? In every way a man can be together with his love across 1000 of distance. I ended things with Winifred and ran like a madman through Charlottetown to see if Anne would give me one last shot. She did. Thank god, she did.

My courtship with Winifred actually ended two weeks ago, as poorly as you can imagine. But I did right by her in every way I could, and respected her enough to be honest that I could not be with her if it’s Anne that I so greatly adore. Not that I said Anne by name, but Winifred knew. She made me promise not to tell anyone until she could safely leave Charlottetown, which is why you are just hearing about this now. Though I regret having humiliated her to the point of returning back to France, I feel so much...lighter, happier. Knowing that Anne cares for me the way I care for her leaves me feeling confident I made the right choice. I think Winifred will see that one day, too.

I miss you, Bash. Delly too. The more I’m here, the harder it is to imagine that I’ll be living without you. I can barely remember what it was like when it was just me - without my brother, without the laughter of the baby. There’s a room here for guests if you ever want to visit, but I’ll come home when I can. Something tells me if I stray from Avonlea too long, something vital in me will starve.

I love you all. I hope the harvest is going well.

Your brother,

Gilbert.

With both letters sealed and addressed, Gilbert stepped out onto the new streets, drinking in the Toronto sun as he made his way toward town.

#anne of green gables #anne with an e #shirbert #shirbert fic #shirbert ff #tessa writes #catch this on ao3 too!#this chapter called for a lil bit of exposition because gilbert is in an ENTIRELY new place #but i love ron so far he's so annoying #you may recognize ronald stuart as the brother of one christine stuart #muhaha

459 notes · View notes

morkmywords · 4 years

Text

Masterlist | Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 8.5 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 [FINAL]

Royalty!AU

Length: 6.9k

Note: This was a really hard part for me to write since it’s the final part of this fic which iv’e been working on for almost two years now and it’s grown with me, not only in my writing style but as a person. I hope you enjoy it :) I’ve been thinking make making this au into a series with some other members... let me know if you’re interested!

Warnings: some swearing

Pairing: Sehun x Reader

Genre: Fluff/angst

Summary: When a strange string of not so great events somehow and you with a job at the palace punching the wrong people can be not so great.

The music from the orchestra floated in the background as pairs spun and twirled in elaborate patterns. The beginning of your night was flooded with people of royal status bombarding you with well wishes, invitations, and promises of gifts. It was overwhelming but you managed to handle it and it distracted you from the new couple across the dance floor; now, things had finally calmed down a bit and Minseok returned to your side with a glass of amber liquid in hand which you gratefully took.

“It won’t be long now,” he said with a smirk.

“Won’t be long till what?”

“Well now that everyone has seen how young, gorgeous, and extremely single the new lady of the most powerful territory on the continent is…. Proposals are bound to come flooding in!”

You grimaced and punched him on the shoulder, “Don’t even joke about that!” He just winked and chuckled from beside you when suddenly you were being lifted up and twirled in the air. You let out a gasp of surprise when you were finally back on the ground and standing in front of Chanyeol who enveloped you in a bear hug. Yixing, Jongdae, and Baekhyun took up places beside MInseok as you squirmed from Chanyeol’s embrace.

“It’s nice to see you too Chanyeol but please let me go,” you wheezed as you finally broke from his grasp.

“Our little Y/n is so grown up and powerful now!” he exclaimed with a pout.

Beakhyun chimed in with a smirk, “We haven’t seen you in ages and now you come back in charge of Iyle? Shouldn’t you have mentioned it to us at least once?”

“I’m sorry, so much has happened over the past while and I didn’t even know myself until a few weeks ago.”

“You have to tell us everything Y/n!” Jongdae whined, joining in with Baekhyun and Chanyeol’s fake pouts.

“Watch what you say boy,” Yixing butted in with a smile and an arm over your shoulder, “It’s Lady Y/n now.”

Rolling your eyes you brushed him off with a smile, “It’s fine…”

“In all honesty Y/n, you look like a different person and not in a bad way,” he said with a comforting smile that only Yixing could create, “You seem so much more confident and it’s good to see.”

The other princes nodded along with him and you thanked them, you did feel different than the last time you saw them but you were glad they were back with you now, even if it was only for a few days. You continued to listen to them chatter away amongst themselves, making jokes just the same as they used too when a flash of pink tackled you in a hug.

“OH Y/N I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!” Jiyoon wailed, eyes watering as she clung onto you. “JIYOON!” You exclaimed wrapping your arms back around her as you both sobbed into the other’s shoulder. It had been so long since you’d seen her and immediately you started crying crocodile tears, staining both your dress and her. After a few seconds the latched onto your wrist and stood up again.

“We need to talk,” was all she said before dragging you away and towards one of the patio doors that was open and letting the warm night air flow through the great hall. All you could do was follow as you waved to the group of princes who stood there looking stunned. You followed her as she weaved around the patio until she found a secluded bench overlooking the spring garden where she sat you down.

“Y/n,” she sobbed again, “I missed you so much! You leave with Sehun and now you come back as the Lady of Iyle and you’re avoiding each other like the plague? I wrote you letters but Sehun just sent them back unopened, I thought you were dead!”

“I’m sorry,” you said lamely.

“What happened? You need to tell me everything.”

“He asked me to marry him… and I said no.”

“Oh Y/n,” she sighed taking your hand in hers, “I thought something like that might have happened, he’s always been so spontaneous, even since we were kids. But Y/n,” she paused, “Why did you say no?”

“Because I was afraid,” you whispered with tears in your eyes. You had never been able to tell anyone before but with Jiyoon it all just seemed to spill out of you like a waterfall.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, petting your hair calmly, “No wonder he was with that bitch Haerin. I hate to tell you this but even though we didn’t know, everyone started taking sides.”

“What?”

“You notice how only a few of the princes came to greet you right? Unconsciously, we’ve already started taking sides, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Yixing, Jongdae, Minseok, and I are all on your side. Junmyeon, Jongin, and Kyungsoo are all siding with Sehun as well as most of their siblings.”

“I didn’t mean to create a rift between everyone.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she assured you, “Now tell me about this whole Lady of Iyle thing that happened.”

So you did, you explained everything about your father and mother, and how Lord Cha was the one that found you, and everything to do with the dead queen. She looked at you like you were insane but you knew she believed you.

“Oh Y/n…” she sighed, “I never thought…”

“It's okay,” you managed to say with a smile, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze this time.

“If it makes you feel any better, everyone on the continent knows your name, even though you’ve been ruling for such a short time your people love you!” You gave her a weak smile and the both of you sat in silence for a while.

“WIll you do me a favour and explain it to the others? I don’t think I have enough energy to explain it to everyone individually…”

“No problem! I’ll even tell Junmyeon and he’ll spread it to the rest of the boys.”

“Thank you so much,” You told her sincerely as you wiped a few stray tears from your eyes, “It feels really good to tell my best friend about all of this.”

“Anytime,” she told you with a smile, “now lets head back inside before people start to miss us, I swear when Chanyeol’s sister Princess Sejung gets bored all hell breaks loose!”

You laughed along with her as you wandered back through the wide patio doors and into the sea of people. Jiyoon was immediately swept away by the crowd leaving you alone in your search for the Princes, out of the corner of your eye you spotted Baekhyun chatting with some blushing ladies but before you could reach him you were spun around to face a smirking man with dark eyes and hair the colour of clouds.

“Nice to meet you Lady Y/n,” he purred, “I’ve heard a lot about you. My name is Taek, I’m the Governor’s son.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” You croaked out as he kissed your hand with a smirk.

“The pleasure is all mine, care for a dance?”

Before you had a chance to answer his hand was around your waist and you were one of the twirling couples on the dance floor. Though he didn’t look it, he was almost as graceful of a dancer as Jongin, he navigated through the swarm of bodies like he had been doing it all his life. And he probably had been, seeing as he was the son of the Governor.

“It’s not everyday you get to dance with the most beautiful and eligible lady at the ball,” he said with a shiny smile.

“I’m flattered,” you said skeptically. He wasn’t bad looking but his motives didn’t exactly seem chivalrous.

“When it was announced that the heir of Iyle had returned everybody thought it’d be some shrivelled old man, but when you entered, boy was everyone surprised.”

“I’m afraid I don't know if that was supposed to be a compliment or an insult,” you said with a frown as he twirled you around again.

“I meant surprised in the best way a man could, Lady Y/n. I assure you it was meant to be nothing other than a compliment,” he told you with a friendly chuckle, eyes glinting.

“I apologize, I am not quite used to the ways of court life yet.”

“I could hardly tell, you’re easily one of the most poised ladies here this evening and I see you are already close with the young royals?” He asked before lifting you up and shouting along with the others.

“You could say that…”

“As long as I’ve known them they’ve always been a tight knit group but now they’re taking over their parents rule and getting married like our King of Oclaria. Not much time for childish things when you’re the ruler of the country.”

With a small smile you nodded in agreement, “You’re quite right.”

“On the topic of marriage, I’d like to propose a deal,”

You looked at him quizzically, you had no interest in marrying this man you had just met but you were curious enough to gesture for him to continue.

“You see the girl the King is spending all his time with was my fiance but our engagement was cancelled once the King started taking interest in her,” he explained, “Now I am left without a wife and my father won’t let me take over the family business until I get married. Now seeing as we’re easily the two most powerful single people in this room aside from the King I think we should get married.”

You frowned, “I’m sorry but I fail to see how getting married to you would benefit me.”

Flashing you a smile that would make most girls swoon he swept you up again, “Well if we get married there really would be no downside. With both of our assets combined we would be filthy rich and have enough power to take over the country if we wanted. Aside from having a few sons you would have to do nothing but live a life of luxury after our marriage.”

“I’m sorry but I’ll have to turn down your proposal at this current point in time,” you told him with as straight a face as possible, “I’m really not interested in marrying right now.”

“Just think about it Lady Y/n,” he lamented, “together we could be the most powerful people on the continent!”

You huffed as the music came to a close and you stopped moving, he held you hand keeping you on the dance floor as those who wanted to leave cleared the floor and the orchestra began playing again. Just as you were about to answer him your hand was taken by somebody else, smoothly knocking his grasp from yours.

“Mind if I cut in?” Sehun asked, holding his arm tightly around you. It wasn’t exactly a question since he was the king but he still carried you off into the crowd of dancers before Lord Taek could answer.

“It’s quite a coincidence that you’ve managed to find yourself back in court isn’t it Lady Y/n?” he hissed in your ear, “When you left I thought I’d never see you again but now you return the most powerful Lady in the country. Aside from my future wife of course.”

“It is quite a coincidence isn't it,” You agreed with him keeping your voice as steady and emotionless as possible, “I’m not sure if I believe it myself yet either, it’s a lot of responsibility.”

He scoffed, “Well, we both know there were a lot of responsibilities you couldn’t handle either.”

You grimaced as he prepared to lift you over his head with a flourish. The lift and jumps were never your favourite part of dancing as you didn’t have the advantage of being much smaller than your partner like many of the other girls. It always felt awkward and this time was no different as you weren’t sure whether he would drop you or not.

“Now, it doesn’t seem like you have much choice about marriage,” he pointed out, “And it seems the governors son is already foaming at the mouth with the idea of marrying you?”

“You saw that?”

“Everyone did, he wasn’t exactly subtle with his proposal a few minutes ago.”

“Oh….” you sighed cheeks going warmer. The music slowed and people began to clap as the dance was finished. Partners were breaking apart and drifting back into the crowd but his hands only tightened around your waist as you tried to draw away from him. His rough fingertips dug into the bottom of your exposed back and you felt his breath against your neck as he leaned in to whisper in your ear.

“Lord Taek is a greedy bastard, maybe he deserves someone like you.” he spat at you before disappearing back into the crowd.

You stood there stunned for a few minutes until someone came up and grabbed your hand pulling you back into a swarm of people where you were quickly surrounded by the princes demanding for you to tell them what was going on. Quickly, you brushed them off and headed back to your room saying you felt ill and needed to rest.

-----

The clatter of people returning from the gala to their rooms had died down a long time ago but you were still wide awake. The clock on the wall chimed telling you it was three in the morning, the curtain danced in the warm summer air drifting in through the open balcony windows. Feeling restless you slipped a loose dress on over your nightgown and made your way through the silent palace corridors and into the gardens. Slowly and silently you made your way through the first five gardens, the sound of your slippers brushing against the plush grass, the hush of the wind dancing through the night, the soft trickle of the fountains, the chirping of crickets were the sounds that filled your ears in the silence. And cautiously you made your way from the garden of day into the garden of night.

It took your breath away, unlike the other gardens which glowed during the daylight hours but were otherwise dimmed by the absence of sunlight. The night garden glowed on it’s own. Purple wisteria spilled from every crack and crevice, hundreds of lights twinkling softly like stars hung from the domed glass roof giving off an otherworldly glow. You followed the twisting path in the tunnel of little purple flowers until finally it gave way to a large pond filled with little silver fish that seemed to glow in the moonlight. Continuing to follow the path around the side of the lake you came to a small structure sheltering an intricately carved marble bench. Sitting on the cool surface you took notice of the round white flowers that began to blossom in the moonlight; tentatively, you reached out a fingertip to brush against the soft petals.

“We call them moonflowers,” Sehun said, emerging from behind one of the pillars. Gone were his royal robes which he was wearing for the gala and now he was wearing something more similar to what he used to wear back in Arye. There was a certain charm that came with his messy hair and half buttoned shirt which had butterflies swarming in your stomach. It seemed so long ago that you were back in the palace of Arye, innocent and in love. Unaware of everything the world had in store for you.

“They’re beautiful,” you told him, returning your hand to rest in your lap.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, you nodded, “Too busy worrying about who to invite to your wedding with Lord Taek?”

“I declined his proposal.”

“He doesn’t take no for an answer.”

“Well it’s the only answer he’s going to get!” You exclaimed jumping up.

You both stopped and stood in silence for a moment.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me,” you told him before dipping back into a lull of silence, “This place is really beautiful.”

“It’s always been for you, this garden. When you had nightmares I meant for you to come out here and have it be like your safe haven. Nobody except for the gardener is allowed in here still, and you of course.” He explained.

Smiling, you told him softly, “Thank you.”

“Don’t spend too much time out here,” he warned you, “There’s an early start tomorrow.”

“Goodnight,” you called after him as he disappeared down the path, leaving you alone with your thoughts again.

-----

With careful steps you climbed into the carriage, footmen closing the door tightly behind you. The line of carriages stretched through the whole driveway of the palace as the various guests loaded in. Jiyoon had offered to come with you so you wouldn’t be alone but you declined, the ride up the mountainside would give you time to relax from the night before. The second day of festivities would be a picnic on the mountaintop behind the palace, it was clear as the sun was shining down upon the palace that it would be a beautiful day full of fun. Peeking out the window of your carriage as you waited to set off you noticed you were dressed quite differently than many of the other ladies climbing into their own carriages. Many of them wore high necked, floor length dresses with varying sleeve lengths. They were made of lightly patterned cotton and lace in many layers to help the wearer remain cool in the warm sunlight. On the other hand you had opted for something a little more reminiscent of what people in Iyle wore in the south where it was much, much warmer. Your sleeves were short and puffed, ending about halfway down your upper arm, like your dress from last night the neckline was wide and trimmed with lace while the back was low. With only one cotton layer dyed a soft periwinkle and spotted with many small blossoms the skirt ended midway down your calves giving you an ease of movement something longer wouldn’t allow. Opting to leave the parasol behind you donned a wide brimmed straw sun hat decorated with a ribbon matching the colour of the blossoms leaving your hair loose.

After a few minutes it seemed everybody was ready in their carriages and you set off with a lurch, rolling down the pebble drive and out the gates, up the mountain road. The view of the seaside cliffs from out your window caused you to reminisce about your trip down the coast for the first time you visited Iyle with the diving gulls and crashing waves, bordered by the swaying grasses and wildflowers. Drifting through daydreams it felt like hardly a moment had passed before you were climbing out and onto the plush grass. Blankets were already strewn about the meadow, each with a wicker basket placed in the center waiting for people to join them for lunch. One step at a time you made your way towards the open meadow until a flying ball of pink attached herself to your side with a giggle.

“Isn’t this amazing Y/n?” Jiyoon exclaimed as who you were guessing the two other princesses made their way over to your side, “This is Princess Sejung of Meadazia and Princess Hyejin of Qeca, I’m sure you haven’t forgotten them.”

“How could I?” you said with a smile, offering them both a small curtsy which only Hyejin returned. Jiyoon was the same as always, full of energy as she dragged the lot of you away in order to find the best picnic spot. After a morning of playing about in the meadows the four of you settled down for lunch, weaving flowers into each other’s hats and hair. Other guests came by to chat time after time but none stayed long, moving onto the next blanket to continue their greetings.

After lunch was finished you and Jiyoon left the two sun fatigued princesses chatting with a group of young lords and ladies as you headed off to find the croquet set Sehun had mentioned to Jiyoon last night. Once the two of you found it you played round after round until finally you were released by a tap on the shoulder.

“Would you mind going for a stroll with me Lady Y/n?” Lord Taek asked with a sparkling smile.

You glanced over at Jiyoon who had quickly stopped paying attention to the game and started paying attention to the two of you. You turned back to him uncertain of what to say, “Well…”

“She’d love to go! It’s such a lovely afternoon isn’t it?” Jiyoon cut you off, grabbing the croquet mallet from your hands and shoving you towards him.

You stumbled and he caught your hand with a grin, “Thank you Princess, I’ll make sure to return her in one piece,” he told her.

“Don’t worry, you two go have fun!”

You shot her one last pleading look before you were dragged off behind Taek and down the hillside. Surprisingly he didn’t bring up the proposal again, the two of you spent most of the time talking and getting to know each other, the two of you were nowhere near close friends by the time dinner was called but you could say he would be a decent young man if he wasn’t so set on marriage.

Unlike lunch earlier dinner was a celebration meant to give thanks for the previous year’s good fortune with food, friends, family, and as you quickly found out, lots and lots of drinking. You were only a few glasses of champagne in, when like the devil she was, Jiyoon made you drop your glass and join her in dancing around the bonfire.

“Hurry up Y/n!” she squealed as she kicked off her shoes, grabbed a handful of her long skirt and began spinning in circles to the hypnotizing beat of the drums. Feeling light from the bubbling beverage you followed suit, knocking off your hat and shoes, throwing your hands into the air with a shout of delight. The drum beats matched the pounding of your heart as you leaped around the growing fire, others equally as tipsy, if not more, quickly joined in with your pounding feet. The air filled with laughter, shouts, and music as you travelled around the circle linking arms and spinning with whoever wished to dance with you. You were in a trance, the sparkling champagne infecting you, the drum beats carrying your feet for hours as the moon rose higher into the sky. Before you realized a cool breeze hit your cheeks and you felt yourself being pulled away from the large bonfire and towards a farther side of the meadow. The fresh evening breeze sobered you and you made out Lord Taek’s glinting smile from in front of you.

“I never would have expected you to be one for dancing,” he said stopping and spinning you in front of him. He leaned close and laughed, “or drinking.”

“And I never expected you to be the one waiting on the sidelines,” you hiccuped, you could feel the heat rising to your cheeks, were you really so drunk he could tell just from looking at you? You certainly didn’t feel drunk but maybe your vision was blurring at the corners just a little.

He scoffed, “Believe me, nobody loves to drink more than me. Unfortunately my mother has prohibited me from touching any and all alcohol today after what happened last year.”

“What happened last year?”

“It’s too late in the evening to get into it now,” he told you with a laugh, “Let’s just say I ended up with a few scars, but not nearly as many as you Lady Y/n,” he said grasping your arm and bringing it closer to his face so he could inspect it. You could feel the ill intention in his grasp as the silver stars twinkled in the moonlight. “Tell me dearest,” he whistled, “Where did you get these scars?”

The world snapped back into focus, suddenly it felt like and were crawling along every inch of your body, tiny pinpricks against every limb. You tore your arms from his grasp, hiding in protectively behind your back, “That’s none of your concern,” you sputtered out before stumbling back to the bonfire as fast as your jelly legs could carry you. The pounding of the drums once again drowned out your thoughts as you grabbed another glass of wine, and another, and then another before being pulled into the circle of dancing once again.

Slowly but surely the crowd trickled away, climbing into their carriages in a drunken stupor and being carted back to the palace. Eventually there were only only a few people left, Jiyoon and the other princesses have disappeared already along with the other princes whom you hadn’t seen much of during the day. Vision spinning you climbed into your carriage collapsing onto the plush seat as the driver shut the door behind you. The carriage dipped as you felt the driver climbing to his seat, you closed your eyes and rested your head against the side of the carriage but the telltale poll of the carriage didn’t come.

“Take us to the back entrance and if you tell anyone about this I’ll have you exiled!” The man outside the carriage ordered.

“Yes sir,” the driver replied as Sehun climbed into the carriage beside you and the horses began trotting away.

“Sehun…” you said breathlessly, “What are you doing here?” his face was flushed from drinking and his hair had escaped from its previous slicked back style and now was hanging in front of his dark eyes. You fingers twitched at the thought of running your hands through his hair as he loomed over you, gaze weighing heavily on your own.

“I want to be with you tonight,” was all he said before he attacked your lips. You gave in easily, mind clouded by drinks you were putty in his arms as he held you close to him. He was warm against the chill of the night and you gladly moved closer to him grabbing handfuls of his half unbuttoned shirt. You broke apart and you could feel his hot breath on your neck as he whispered in your ear.

“I'm still in love with you,” he breathed out, soul pouring through his eyes and into your own before you pulled his lips to yours. A few moments later he pulled away panting before gently moving away from your face and taking your hand in his placing a kiss on the scar closest to your wrist.

“You are beautiful,” he whispered against your skin before moving onto the next. He repeated this process kissing each and every scar on both of your arms and telling you how much he loved you before moving onto your back. The feeling of his rough lips against your back sent shivers down your spine and once he was finished your lips locked once more.

Once you reached the palace he pulled you behind him through the servants corridors stopping every few seconds to make sure you were still behind him as if he was afraid you were a dream and would disappear as soon as he looked away. The grand clock chimed for three in the morning when he pulled you into his chambers shutting the door and pressing you against it, kissing you passionately. Slowly as you moved closer to the bed his kisses grew softer and when he finally pulled himself away you met his eyes.

“Is this what you really want?” he asked between heavy breaths.

The air hung heavy as you slowly reached up to pull him into a kiss as your answer, when you broke away again you reached behind your back and slowly began undoing the buttons of your dress.

----

You woke as the clock chimed six with a start. The sun was just beginning to rise through the window and everything from the previous night came rushing back to you as your pounding headache cleared just enough to see who’s room you were in and your lack of any clothing. Thankfully Sehun was nowhere to be seen as you quickly threw your dress back on, collecting your shredded undergarments with an embarrassed blush before saying a quick prayer that you wouldn’t run into anyone in the hallway as you scurried back to your rooms. Thanking the gods that you weren’t caught you quickly ran yourself a hot bath, eager to wash last night not only from your body but your mind as well. The steam enveloped you, the scent of the bath oils filling the air as you let the heat of the water seep into your muscles. When you were finished you pulled on the soft robe and headed back into your room only to be met with Yixing sitting on an armchair next to the fireplace.

Quickly you pulled your robe even tighter and fastened the belt at the waist with multiple knots, “What are you doing here?” you exclaimed.

“Good Morning to you too Lady Y/n,” he said calmly, not moving from where he sat, “I’ll give you a few moments to get dressed then please come back here, I brought you breakfast and hangover medication. We have a lot to talk about.”

You gulped and nodded silently. Rarely was that amount of seriousness ever heard in Yixings voice so you scurried into your closet and pulled on a comfortable gown and plush sweater, quickly braiding your hair away from your face before returning back to the chair next to Yixing where breakfast awaited you. With a smile he urged you to take the medicine which quickly did a good job of clearing up most of your headache leaving only a dull throbbing.

He cleared his throat and placed his cup of tea back down on the table, folding his hand in his lap in a very royal manner, “I saw you last night,” he said.

You gaped at him, you thought that everyone would have already passed out cold by the time you and the King reached the palace, “How?” was all you asked.

“I came back earlier with Baekhyun who was far beyond drunk, I was heading to the kitchen to get a cup of tea and some things for him in the morning after I finally got him settled when I saw the two of you dashing through the servants corridors. I followed you just to make sure you were alright and I saw the two of you disappear into Sehun’s room,” he cleared his throat, “I pretty much assumed what happened after you didn’t come out for a while.”

Your cheeks were the brightest pink you had ever been before, you were so sure nobody had seen you and yet, one of your closest friends had caught the two of you in the act.

“Nobody else saw you two, just me,” he assured you, “But Y/n you know what this means for your future marriage. You must be careful from now on, I won’t tell anyone but you have to make sure nobody finds out,” he warned, “If they do, the chances of you finding a husband are slim to none.”

“I know,” you said, head hanging.

“The one way around that would be to marry Sehun,” he told you softly, “I don’t want to worry you Y/n, but what if you’re pregnant? It’s almost impossible to get the herb that will stop your pregnancy anywhere on the continent after it was outlawed and the fields were burned by our predecessors. What will you tell people then?”

“I don’t know.”

He squeezed your hand in a comforting manner, “I don’t mean to burden you but I just want you to make sure you’re being careful. I’ll help you in any way I can, I promise.”

“Thank you,” you told him with a weak smile.

“The ball is tonight,” He said standing and moving towards the door, “I don’t want to tell you something you already know but if things don’t go the way you want, my door is always open.”

He shut the door behind him as he left leaving you to finish eating alone. After spending your morning alone in your room as the clock struck twelve noon you headed down to the Library to eat lunch with Jiyoon and the other princesses. As they chattered away like the small birds outside your window in the morning you kept to yourself, focusing more on the food in front of you than the conversation around you. Yesterday you had agreed to spend the afternoon with the girls as they got ready for the Solstice ball that evening, it was the grandest party of the summer and they assured you that they would need all the time they could manage. As soon as the four of you had finished your plates were cleared and you headed up to Jiyoon’s chambers. Being the ever so attentive friend she was, Jiyoon noticed something was up and pulled you aside.

“Is something going on Y/n? You don’t seem like yourself…” she asked, taking your hand in hers.

You smiled softly and gave her hand a squeeze, “I’m sorry, I’m just so exhausted after last night. I had too much to drink and not enough sleep but I’ll be okay by this evening,” you assured her, “I left my things in my rooms, I’ll come straight here after I go and get it.”

She nodded and dropped your hand. You gave her a small wave before she disappeared into her chambers and you down the hall. When you had almost reached your rooms you paused when angry voices came drifting from one of the conference rooms.

“You must make a decision, your highness! The solstice ball is tonight!”

“Things in the Southern Continent are getting restless,” a second male voice shouted, “There will be a war soon and you must marry to secure your throne!”

“Forget Lady Haerin,” A third one said, “Marry Lady Y/n, she is the most powerful of any lord or lady in our country!”

“Things are no different in your brother’s country,” the second one said again, “His advisors are pressuring him to marry more than we are you! You are not a child anymore.”

You backed away mind spinning from the information you had gotten from only a few sentences. There would be a war with the southern continent? Lord Cha had mentioned trade had been slow but you had no idea. You quickly shook it off and moved on to your rooms before anyone could catch you listening in or Jiyoon would get worried.

----

Your mind was elsewhere as you let Jiyoon do what she would with your appearance, hours seemed to fly by so quickly until you were standing in front of the grand ballroom as the Speaker announced your arrival. You went in before Jiyoon since she was at a higher position than you were, the grand staircase seemed shorter than last time with everybody milling about and almost no eyes on you. As an attempt to avoid attention you had decided forgo the original dress you had planned to wear and wear something more plain. It was white with vines of little red flowers strewn around your shoulders, waist, and wrists. You definitely blended into the background compared to the dresses some of the other girls were wearing, Jiyoon sparkled next to you as you walked up to the dias to greet the king.The entire time you kept a blank expression, eyes trained on the floor, as you dropped into a low curtsy mumbling out a “Your Majesty,” before breaking apart from Jiyoon who joined her family sitting atop thrones and headed back into the crowd. Once everybody had been checked off the guest list one of the royal advisors climbed atop a pedestal and rang a small but piercing bell, drawing the attention to himself.

“The purpose of this evening’s ball is for His Royal Highness, The King, to have a final chance to spend time with the eligible ladies of the continent before choosing his bride. At midnight I ask you please to gather back here for the King to announce his bride and without any further, please let the festivities commence.”

The band struck up a tune and the dancefloor quickly filled with people, you wandered off to the agreed upon meeting place for you and Jiyoon once she was released from her royal duties.For most of the night you stayed huddled behind a large sculpture of flowers reading the small book about the continent’s greatest composers you had stashed in the many layers of your skirts. Jiyoon stayed to chat and keep you company for a while but left quickly to flit around the crowds dancing and chatting like the social butterfly she was. People came and went, most who saw you turned away at the first glimpse of you looming behind a book but the Princes periodically stopped to chat without you, hiding from their parents or the hordes of girls always swarming around them. Finally the all ganged up on you, Baekhyun stole your book and Minseok pulled you onto the dance floor, despite the constant panic at the back of your mind you found yourself having a good time with them as they traded off with you for dances. When they were finally done with you, your book was returned and you headed back to your spot with a dazed smile.

It was almost Midnight and Sehun hadn’t paid any attention to you all night, every now and again you would see him with Haerin hanging off his arm but nothing more. As you emerged from the edge of the crowd into the shaded wings of the ballroom you were met with the man himself.

“Follow me,” he muttered before turning and disappearing through one of the doors that led to the garden. You turned back to the crowd and quickly spotted a fuming Haerin before a hand grabbed your wrist and Sehun pulled you into the garden behind him.

“You should listen to the king when he gives you an order,” he said as you trailed behind him. You stayed silent until he finally stopped you in the middle of a patch of rose bushes.

You looked up to meet his eyes and tightened your fists around your skirts, trying not to let the small bit of hope you had left peek through if he was just going to torture you, “It’s almost midnight,” you told him, “You need to be inside to announce who you’re going to marry, why are you out here… with me?”

“I need to know,” he told you, reaching out to grab your hands softly in complete contrast to before, “I know I said I wouldn’t ask again but you have to tell me the truth now, after everything that’s happened. I love you more than anything in the world and no matter how many times I try to convince myself otherwise my heart always ends up going back to you and I think you feel the same way. This isn’t just for political power it’s because I want you and I have wanted you long before you became the Lady of Iyle. I need to know now, Y/n, if I asked you to marry me what would you say.”

You looked deep into his eyes and saw a reflection of yourself inside and whispered with all your heart, no moment of doubt, “Yes.”

He kissed you softly before heading back indoors right as the clock chimed for midnight hand intertwined with yours. Your heart pounded in your ears as he slipped his hand from yours and weaved around the crowd to stand with his advisors on the dias. Jiyoon quickly found your side as the same advisor from earlier began speaking, she squeezed your hand.

“Now, as the clock strikes midnight, his Royal Highness, King Sehun, will announce who will become his bride and the next queen of Oclaria.”

Everyone was silent as the trumpets wailed and Sehun stepped forward slowly, you felt eerily calm as your eyes moved across the crowd, seeing Haerin looking smug at the front of the crowd, and finally landing on Sehun where his gaze met yours.

“I am pleased to announce,” he said calmly, eyes never leaving yours, “That my bride and the next queen of Oclaria will be… Lady Y/n of Iyle!”

The crowd erupted around you as you took in all the shocked faces of officials throughout the room. You felt Jiyoon hug you tightly screaming into your ear before four guards surrounded you and brought you through the crowd and to the dias. Sehun outstretched his hand with a smile and without hesitation you placed your hand in his and stepped in front of the throne beside him and looked out across the crowd of cheering people with your hand still firmly wrapped in his.

#exowritersnet #exo #exo k #exo m #exo sehun #exo sehun fanfic #exo sehun fanfic au #sehun #oh sehun #exo fanfic #exo fanfic rec #exo fanfic au #exo fanfic recs #exo fanfiction #exo fanfiction au #exo royal #exo royal au #exo royalty au

48 notes · View notes

poeticandors · 4 years

Text

So Many Words Part 4

Poe Dameron x Female!Reader

Summary: Poe and Y/N became pen pals after their first meeting when they were younger, and since then, they continued to write letters to each other. Following the letters throughout their lives, we will see just how far these letters go, as well as their relationship.

Warnings: None

A/N: I hope everyone enjoys this chapter! Almost to the end!

I do not own GIF!

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

22 Years Old

Dear Poe,

I hope everything is treating you well. I miss you so much, I can’t wait to see you when you get to visit again. Our last visit wasn’t long enough ;). Tell Commander Andor I begged you to give you more another leave (tell him I am giving puppy dog eyes right now).

Finals week is here, I’m dreading it so much. I’ve literally studied nonstop and I don’t feel like I’m retaining ANY information at all. I wish you were here to help me study ;).

I can’t believe I’ll be walking in just a few more days. I have NO idea what I’m going to be doing after this. It’s going to be weird not studying and having to get an actual job.

I miss you every single day you’re not here. But I am so proud of all you’ve accomplished. Never thought I would still be writing letters to you as often as I do. But I wouldn’t change a thing.

Stay safe.

I love you,

Y/N

~~~~~~

Smiling down at the letter, you fold it up and push it into the envelope before sealing it off. You would be sure to send it as soon as you had a chance to. A small bark is heard, and you glance down to see BeeBee wagging his little nub.

“Time to eat?” The pup’s ears shot up and he quirks his head to the side before jumping up.

“Alright, alright,” you chuckle as you stand up, grabbing the envelope with BeeBee following behind.

You had gifted Poe with BeeBee a while ago, when he first started his training. The two were thick as thieves— always cuddling together on the couch while you studied. BeeBee would always get upset when Poe left, but the moment he came back it was like he never even left.

As you poured the food into the bowl, you glanced at a few pictures that were hanging up on your wall. There were a few from when you were really young, like when you, Ben, and Poe went to the zoo. And then there was one of you and Poe at your high school graduation

Then, there were some more recent. There was one of you, Poe, and BeeBee when he was just a puppy, and another of the two of you in front of the Disneyland Castle with your churros.

So many memories from your childhood, and they only kept growing as you both get older. Never would you have thought that you would end up still writing letters to him, having a shared apartment and dog.

You smiled.

You were so in love with Poe Dameron.

+++++++

“Dameron! You’ve got some mail.”

Poe glances up as Cassian hands him a few letters, nodding in thanks as his Commander continues to pass out mail. He reads the first one from his father, seeing that he is well and how he hopes that he is staying safe and not getting into any trouble.

He smiles, setting the letter aside before recognizing your handwriting. He opens it up and begins to read as Cassian sits next to him, opening a letter that’s most likely from Jyn.

“Your sweetheart write you?”

“Yeah, she said to tell you she’s begging you to give me another leave. Says she is giving you puppy dog eyes right now.”

Cassian chuckles. “So, she doesn’t know you’re dropping by for her graduation, then?”

“Nope. Her parents do, I’ve already talked with them. And my father will be flying out to see her walk, as well.”

“That’ll be nice. Give her my congratulations, will you?”

“Sure,” he nods as Cassian pats his shoulder before walking off.

Poe smiles, grabbing the letter and placing it in a box with all the others you’ve written, along with picture you’ve sent of you and BeeBee.

He would never get tired of seeing your smile.

He knew joining the Air Force meant not being with each other as often, but it didn’t stop your love from growing. Each visit made him realize just how thankful he is to have you in his life.

It would only be a few more days until you walked, and Poe would be there to witness it— although you didn’t know that. He glances down at the small box he kept with your letters, gently picking it up as he stares at the beautiful ring hanging on a chain inside.

He knew from the moment he met you that he wanted you in his life for a long time. As your relationship blossomed, he wanted you to be in his life not only as his best friend, but his wife.

His mother gave him the ring when he was younger, saying that she wanted him to give it to the one person he loved with all his heart. He kept that ring with him every day after she passed, determined to find that one person.

And that person was you.

Poe smiles— his heart warm and full at the thought of you wearing his mother’s ring. He sets the box away, grabbing a paper and pen as he sits down to write.

~~~~~~

Sweetheart,

You’re right, our last visit wasn’t long enough. I have a feeling we have PLENTY of time to catch up ;). Commander Andor gives his congratulations on graduating, I think you MIGHT have gotten him to consider letting me take another leave.

I’ve told you before, sweetheart. You’re going to kick those finals asses. You have nothing to worry about. You are going to be amazing at whatever you . And I am already so proud of you. No matter what, I will be by your side.

I love you more than anything, sweetheart. And I promise, I’ll see you sooner than you think.

I love you,

Poe

~~~~~~

”Alright, smile!”

Holding up your diploma and a bouquet of flowers you received, you smile widely as your parents and Kes take photos of you.

You finally did it.

The moment you heard your name being called almost didn’t seem real to you. All your hard work, all the late nights… they finally paid off. You were a graduate.

You were so thankful to be joined with your family and Kes— your loved ones. They cheered so loud for you as you waved to them while grabbing your diploma. You could only imagine how loud Poe would’ve cheered for you. This thought made your heart feel heavy. While you wished that Poe were there, you knew he needed to be where he was at.

“Okay, how about—“

“Just one more!” Your mother calls out, a sly smile on her face.

Shaking your head with a smile, you pose for another picture, when you feel an arm wrap around your shoulders. Quickly looking up, you were frozen in place for a mere moment as you stared into the familiar eyes of Poe.

“Hey, Sweetheart.”

Your Poe was here.

All of the emotions hit you at once like a wave— relief, exhilaration… they were all there. A choked sob escapes you, and you carefully hand the flowers and your diploma to whoever held their hands to grab them before embracing Poe.

“Poe!” You cry out, tears falling down your cheeks as he spins you around. “I-I can’t believe you’re here!”

“You really think I would miss seeing my girl’s big day?” He chuckles, setting you down.

Your hands are on his cheeks, and you quickly press your lips to his— kissing him fervently. As he pulls you close, you feel him smile against your lips.

Pulling away, you can’t help the smile that forms on your face. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

“Well… your graduation isn’t the only reason I’m here.”

Your brows knit together, and before you can ask what he means, Poe reaches into his pocket and pulls out a box.

Your hands are quick to cover your mouth, and you already feel more tears forming as Poe smiles up at you.

“Y/N… from the moment we first met, I knew I wanted you in my life.” He starts. “From that first summer to us becoming pen pals, to us becoming best friends… then on to more than friends. I can’t imagine my life without you. I don’t want to.”

He opens up the box, and you try to hold back a sob.

It was the ring his mother gave him.

You remember him first showing it to you when you were younger. The ring then was hooked on a small chain, ensuring that he took it everywhere with him, and it was then that you realized that he always had it with him.

Poe told you about that day his mother died, and your heart ached for him. Though full of sorrow, he continued to tell you many happy memories— all the stories of her time in the Air Force, how she always took him to the park close by the airport so they could watch the planes take off.

Then, he told you about the moment she gave him her ring, telling him to give it to the one person he truly loved— the one he wanted to marry.

He was giving it to you.

Poe glances up at you— his gaze nervous and pupils so blown.You had never seen Poe this nervous before, not since your prom night. He’s trying to come up with the words, you can see him trying to rack his brain around just what to say.

“...Sweetheart, I’ve loved you from that moment by the lake. My love for you continues to grow every single day, and I want to continue showing just how much you mean to me,” he exhales shakily, holding the ring out for you. “Will you allow me to spend every waking day as your husband? To be able to call you my wife and build a happy life together? Y/N… will you marry me?”

There was no hesitation. You quickly nod, tears falling down your cheeks as you pull your hands down.

“Yes, Poe. Yes! I’ll marry you.”

#poe dameron x reader #poe x reader #poe dameron imagine #poe dameron #star wars #modern au

91 notes · View notes

ariannjs · 4 years

Text

KARIN | A SasuSaku FanFic (10/10)

(Karin - Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 / Part 9)

——–

Hey guys! It's been a whiiiiile! I'm so sorry that I'm just uploading this now. To be honest, this epilogue has been finished since last August but idk I felt quite afraid to post it that I totally forgot all about it@.@ Nonetheless, here it isss! Accck I'm shy! HAHA. But here's a late New Year and Valentine's Gift to you all, SS fam!

Thank you for journeying with me as I wrote my very first multi-chaptered SasuSaku fic! I am extremely grateful for all of your encouraging comments on this and all my other works. 2019 has been really difficult but I praise God because this writing journey became highly therapeutic for me that it led me to meeting more SS fans as well! So yeah, Arigatou Gozaimashita!

Alright, I won't hold you back for long, here's the Epilogue of "Karin"! Enjoy!xx

——–

The only time that Sasuke Uchiha had felt incredibly nervous was back when his father was mentoring him on how to use Katon. Though many years had passed, he could still vividly remember that heart-pounding, stomach-twisting sensation of not knowing if he’d be able to produce an impressive result as his father’s eyes were fixated on him.

And now, he could feel the same thing with what he was planning to do.

Although they didn’t really have the best father-son relationship, he knew that if Fugaku Uchiha was still alive, he’s the best person who could give him the most logical advice that he needed at the moment, considering that they were, in many ways, similar in terms of their personality.

That’s why absurdly, he wished his father was here to tell him how to execute his plan in a step-by-step manner like how he passed on to him the Great Fireball Technique.

Sasuke wasn't the kind of person who finds asking questions necessary, a manifestation of the superiority that tended to be his facade even in his most vulnerable state. But if only he could, there were lots of questions that he would like to ask his Otou-san.

How exactly did father ask mother to marry him?

Did he feel as insanely apprehensive as I am right now?

Did mother actually say yes on father’s first attempt to ask?

How many chances does a man have anyway, just in case...just in case the woman says no?

These, and probably a lot more.

With thoughts all over the place, Sasuke fidgeted on the couch as he watched Sakura make funny faces at the giggling Suika on the floor of the Hozuki’s living room.

She’s still so annoying, he couldn’t help but think. Doesn’t she have the slightest idea about how much he was falling in love with her all the more each day?

Observing Sakura with Suika has been one of his favorite past times ever since the redhead baby was born. It just showed him much of the pureness of her heart towards people, children in particular. And it only solidified his resolve that he has made the right decision – probably the best in his life so far – about spending the rest of his life with his female teammate in his genin squad.

He planned to ask her that special question today, when the opportunity arises. His brain has been trying its best to figure out how to do so ever since he came out of the hospital weeks ago. But being Sasuke Uchiha, there was no grand preparation and sappy romantic gestures despite the ridiculous suggestions of his best friend and the disgusting persuasion of his sensei for him to read his favorite book. All he knew was it was completely fixed in his mind that this woman was the one he wanted to marry.

And today was the day that he’s gonna make Sakura Haruno say yes to being an Uchiha.

So while they were waiting for the Hozuki couple to finish packing their belongings, he was on the alert for any open chance to bring up his question in the same way he has his guard up whenever a possible enemy is lingering around.

“Is something bothering you, Sasuke-kun?”

Tch. Why does she have to know him so well?

He tersely shook his head, eyes on Suika who was curiously staring at him with her tiny hand in her mouth.

“You know I’m always here to listen when you’re ready.” Sakura showed that breathtaking smile of hers that seemed to be reserved just for him. TCH!

“Oh, you want to go to Uncle Sasuke? Okay! Okay! Stop bouncing!” She then giggled to the kid, leaned to carry her, and then placed her on Sasuke’s lap.

Suika stretched an arm out to reach for his face, and for a moment, it was effective in drawing his gaze away from Sakura. But the head medic moved closer to wipe the side of Suika's mouth with a bib as the baby babbled incoherent words.

For a second, Sasuke's mind went blank, bringing him to a different timeline wherein quite the same scene was happening as if he was in a genjutsu. It was breathtaking. His heart constricted with longing for the surreal image to become a reality, despite it being far-fetched.

Years ago, he never imagined that he would have the chance of having a family of his own. And yes, even up to now, the idea was still something that his mind wrestled to accept as something that he deserved.

But then, his eyes met Sakura’s once more. And just like all the other times that he has met her gaze, something inside him changed and made him feel like it's just so easy to drop all his hesitations because of her – for her.

“Sakura...I–”

“Wow! I can’t believe it’s our last day.”

Their heads suddenly whipped towards the bedroom door as their redhead friend exited, followed by her husband who had just finished sealing their baggage in a scroll.

Half irked yet half relieved with the interruption, Sasuke sighed as he handed the baby to her frowning mother. It was a good thing that Sakura didn't realize he was about to tell her something important.

Maybe later, then.

Suigetsu shrugged. "Some things really come to an end, Karin."

“That’s sadly true,” Sakura joined in the conversation, approaching the Hozuki matriarch to pass on the baby's bib. “But the good thing is that every time a season ends, a new one is about to begin.” She smiled at the woman who has become one of her closest friends.

It was saddening to see their family leave, but she’s just so excited for them to finally reside in a place they could truly call their home. Besides, they deserved it after everything they've been through individually and as a family.

“It’s time to go.” Everyone turned to the Uchiha who was already standing by the door.

So with a toothy grin, Suigetsu placed an arm around his wife’s shoulders before saying, “Let’s go, Karin. I’m excited for you and Suika to see Hidden Mist.”

The walk towards the gates of Konoha seemed like a trip down memory lane. So when they finally reached that familiar arc that welcomes and sends off Konoha's villagers and visitors, Karin wasn't able to stop herself from handing over Suika to her husband and then throwing her arms as tight as she could around Sasuke.

"Karin. How many times should I tell you to get off me, especially because you're a married woman?"

The redhead chuckled at that, amused with how detached he still was – well, except for a certain pink-haired maiden. "My husband wouldn't mind though!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes but found himself glancing at the other woman with them, wondering if she would mind about the situation. However, he only caught her laughing cutely at the ordeal. He couldn't bring himself to scoff.

Pulling away for the Uchiha to be comfortable, Karin sheepishly said, "Thank you so much for everything, Sasuke. I'm so glad that you've found redemption for yourself. No doubt, you'll be able to help more people inside and outside this village. Like us. I will never forget this."

Karin realized that staying in Konoha was the happiest moment of her life so far. And she knew that despite her initial doubts about the idea, everything wouldn’t happen if her husband didn’t force her to join Sasuke in going to this place for her and their baby's safety. Yet she never expected that the decision would be life-changing for all of them.

Suigetsu agreed with a nod. “Sasuke, you've done so much for us. I owe my family’s life to you. I honestly can't thank you enough."

The former leader of Team Taka was stunned at the way his teammates expressed their gratitude to him. He never even thought that there's anything anyone should thank him for. If anything, it was them that he should've thanked for they've shown him a glimpse of what a transformed life and an assured future look like. But as usual, he was not exactly good with words.

Remembering how they've witnessed the majority of his worst years yet they're still here to stand by him, Sasuke's eyes softened as he gave the couple a simple yet meaningful nod in response.

The pink-haired maiden beside him was smiling the entire time. Sakura didn't know all the details of Sasuke's journey with Taka, but to see him developing such strong bonds even outside of Team 7 was something that she considered a breakthrough. It gave her joy knowing that this scenario was an assurance to Sasuke that he won't ever be alone anymore.

"Before I forget, please bring these pills that would help in keeping you from the cold during your travels," Sakura then handed a small pouch to Karin. "This is helpful especially for Suika since this would be her first exposure to such cold weather."

If Karin was able to stop her tears from falling while talking to Sasuke, she wasn't able to contain it anymore while staring at the pouch given by Sakura. This woman has done so much in bringing out the best in her without her knowing. And so, she also enveloped her in an embrace that's so rare for Karin to give, well, except when it's for her husband and Sasuke.

“Sakura, you’ve saved my life not just once. And then you've shown me the kind of life I never imagined I could still have. Thank you for trusting me and for believing in my potential.” Karin sniffed while Sakura gave her a pat on the back, unable to stop a tear from falling as well. And then the redhead pulled away, instantly wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand with a big smile at her senpai. "I'm not usually like this but—ugh! It's because of the two of you!"

At her loud remark, Sasuke raised an eyebrow while Sakura ended up cackling with a hand on her stomach.

"Whew. At least it's not me this time." Suigetsu snickered too, rocking the baby in his arms that was awakened by the voice of her mother.

Karin almost landed a punch to her husband's liquefiable head, but thanks to Suika's sleepy murmur, she opted to avoid violence to carry the baby again. "Ssh. I'm sorry, kid. Mama's a little different today because of your godmother and godfather." She stuck a tongue out at the two and Sasuke could only snort as Sakura continued to laugh.

"Ha. Sorry, Karin could be crazy at times, or…" The Hozuki patriarch paused and pretended to contemplate. "...actually, most of the time."

"Hey! You're lucky I'm holding your daughter!"

"Kidding, guys. I love that woman nonetheless."

Sakura and Sasuke didn't fail to see the tinge of maroon on the redhead's cheeks before she turned around to hide it. Uncomfortable with such things, the Uchiha scoffed at the sight of his old teammates. But then, he slightly jerked as something hit his side almost close to his ribs.

When he shot a sharp glance at the woman beside him, Sakura was just smiling innocently at the Hozuki's. Yet this doctor might need to heal something later, courtesy of her pointed elbow.

Suigetsu noticed the interchange and smirked a little, having high hopes that one day, these two would finally end up like him and his wife. He then grinned. "But really, the two of you have made a difference in our lives. We'll surely remember this and even tell Suika one day. Sasuke, you better visit us in one of Orochimaru's hideouts. And then bring Sakura-san with you."

"As if I'd want to go back there."

Scrunching her nose, Sakura shivered at the prospect of being in the aforementioned place.

Karin wasn't able to stifle her guffaw as she faced her friends again. "But we don't know, Sasuke, what if you'd eventually need to visit? And that would be nice! I want Suika to meet you both one day!"

"Tch. You'd really want your daughter to grow up in that dumpsite?"

"Oi! You kind of grew up there too!" Suigetsu teased.

Staring blankly, Sasuke fought the urge to burn the couple with his powerful eyes for the sake of their daughter. And then he said, "You better leave now. It's almost dusk."

"Fine then, yes, sir!"

"Take care of your family, Suigetsu."

"Always. And you, take care of Sakura-san!" There was a smirk on Suigetsu's lips as Sasuke remained silent at that. But he knew full well, Sasuke would cross time and dimensions and even give his life just to protect Sakura. This time, his strength would be used not for his own selfish agenda, but for the sake of the people he cared for. Just like what he did for Suigetsu and his family.

"Oh. This is real now, isn't it?"

Sakura reached out and gave Karin's hand a squeeze, looking down on Suika who was now awake after all the commotion with her parents and godparents. A giggle escaped her tiny lips upon seeing Sakura, making Sakura frown a bit as her green eyes met the baby's purple ones. "Yes, it's real now, Karin. But this ain't goodbye. See you soon." She smiled one last time before moving aside, waving a small goodbye as the Hozuki's finally exited the village hidden in the leaves.

Sasuke and Sakura silently remained on their posts as the two figures became smaller from afar.

Until Sakura murmured, "They're such a beautiful family, aren’t they?" Slowly, Sasuke tilted his head to gaze at her. And at that very moment, everything felt right. He took in her beauty as the setting sun made her face glow and the breathing wind made her cherry blossom hair sway in slow motion. It reminded him of those times in his redemption journey that he marvelled at the sight of Cherry Blossom trees because it made him feel like she was beside him, albeit far away.

Now that it became real, he thought of how wonderful it would be to have more peaceful moments like this with her. So as they stood in the place where he first broke her heart, he finally chose to drop all hesitations so he could do what he wanted to accomplish before the day ends, with high hopes that he could also give Sakura a new memory with him in this place.

"Sakura. Do you...want to have something like that?" The Hozuki's were already out of sight but his first female teammate continued to stare at a distance. "A future family?" She smiled, clutching her hands to her chest as she thought of the only man she'd want to spend the rest of her life with. And then she said in a soft voice, “I've...I've always wanted to." "I want to have that too...with you."

With wide eyes, Sakura turned to Sasuke who was now looking at the path his friends walked on. There was no trace of humor on his face, only an expression that showed solace and expectancy. “S-sas—”

"But Sakura...it is clear as day that you deserve the best. And that’s...that’s not me." Sasuke’s gaze fell to the ground. "I'm not even exactly a good man, so I'm far from being the best for you. There were so many things that I've done that destroyed and hurt so many people, including you and the ones that you care for. So even though I'd...I'd really want a future with you, I don't think you deserve someone whose past is as wicked as mine."

"Sasuke-kun, all those is exactly what you've said – a part of the past. My love for you is not based on what you've done or what you would do. It's simply based on you, Sasuke-kun. Just you. Anything else doesn't matter, as long as...as long as I know that you deeply love me." She paused. "Do you love me?" There was a momentary pause as he looked up at her dazzling eyes. But it wasn’t because he was doubting his answer, for Sasuke has always been sure.

For a second, he wanted to chuckle at the irony that Sakura Haruno could read words and situations, analyze lab tests and battle strategies, but she couldn’t read and analyze the feelings that Sasuke Uchiha has for her.

It was not her fault that he hadn’t made himself crystal clear yet though.

So he thought of the best way to vividly convey his answer to her question and firmly address her uncertainties about her standing in his life all this time.

He then settled in responding through the best and significant way he knows. Smiling a little, he gently tapped her forehead right below the diamond-shaped mark of her strength before saying, "You should know that by now.”

Just like the first time Sasuke did this, Sakura's eyes widened and her lips parted a little as her cheeks became painted with pink. The only difference now was that she stared back at him with recognition, eyes brimming with tears of none other than joy. To know that her love was reciprocated for such a long time already made her feel elated more than ever.

For so many times, she has almost given up in waiting. But it was true all along, being loved back by the man she has always loved was worth the long wait. She regrets nothing for even after everything, it all came down to this. Sasuke looked away as he remembered something. "That time you've been avoiding me because of Karin...it made me realize that I couldn’t stand a life without you." He muttered something like "Never again" and then faced her with his mismatched eyes focusing intently – lovingly – on her green ones. "If you’re willing to make things work together with me...Sakura, marry me." Sakura's tears finally fell upon hearing those last words that she thought she would never hear from this man. She didn't even have to contemplate on what she would answer for she immediately said, "I could never imagine loving and marrying anyone else, Sasuke-kun."

And then she tapped his forehead in the same way he did with her, making Sasuke's eyes widen and his heart flutter in a way that he never felt before. His lips curved into a smile as he pulled her into a long embrace that surprised even him. But as Sakura melted in his arms as if she had always belonged there, he felt completely relieved that he got the answer he had prayed to receive from her. Maybe this was what Suigetsu had felt when Karin agreed to spend the rest of her life with him as well, he thought.

The satisfied smile on Sakura’s lips after they pulled away made Sasuke’s heart skip a beat. It still felt like he was dreaming, the fact that he was staring at his wife-to-be. “Let’s go home.”

“Yours or mine?”

Sasuke slowly grabbed her hand, after all, he has every right to do so now. “Ours. From now on, you have to be comfortable around the Uchiha compound. I’ll just walk you back to your place tonight.”

As the two of them walked hand in hand back to the village, two pairs of eyes continued to watch them from the nearby trees.

“Heh, Kakashi-sensei, this is a lot better than the last time the three of us were here with Karin, ‘ttebayo!”

——–

August 2019 | AriannJS

——–

8 chapters. 8 characters. 8 months. It's a wrap! *cries in G#m* This fic is now saying sayonara! But hmm...who knows, I might actually get to finish a one-shot sequel for this. Well, we'll see. ;) Arigatou Gozaimashita, mina-san! I appreciate you all!

- A

#SASUSAKU #sasusaku fanfics #ss fics #sakura haruno #sasuke uchiha #sakura uchiha #karin #ss fanfics #ss fanfiction #ariannjfics

40 notes · View notes

evieswritingjournal · 4 years

Text

Writer’s Month prompt fill #4

Prompt: long distance relationship

Fandom: Own Characters (Mage Verse)

Warnings: Does (mentioned) F/F/M polyamorous marriage need a warning?

Author’s note: These characters are my own creation from a universe that is very similar to ours, but with magic (but not Harry Potter type magic, this magic comes with a cost). I’ve not got everything set in stone so I don’t have a page for this verse set up yet but I hope things are fairly understandable. Also as it is a universe of my creation polyamorous marriages are a thing. If you need anything explaining in this or any of my Mage Verse stories (everything should be tagged) feel free to pop a question in my ask box.

----------------

Alison blew the dust off the shoebox she had brought down from the loft. Across the lid, scrawled in black marker pen, were the words ‘Alison - Médecins Sans Frontières 2009’. She rubbed her fingers across the words as she sank onto her bed, remembering the year after graduating medical school volunteering with ‘Doctors Without Borders’, before carefully lifting the lid.

Inside were letters, written on a riot of colourful papers, and photographs, their film negatives wrapped in plastic sleeves and shoved down the side of the box. A knotted friendship bracelet, still stained with dirt rested atop it all, a gift from one of her child patients that she had worn for weeks afterwards.

She picked out one photo. It was a polaroid of Grace and David, their faces pressed together as they grinned at the camera filling most of the frame. Grace’s red hair shone like fire in the evening light. Underneath, in Grace’s handwriting, was written ‘Love you. Miss you.’ accompanied by David’s attempt at a heart in red biro. She smiled at the photo. She remembered receiving it, in a parcel of letters and chocolate bars that was very welcome after a long and draining day.

She carefully replaced the photo and flipped through the letters. Green paper, yellow paper, blue paper, paper with flowers running down the side, even tartan bordered; apparently they had asked around their friends to help them amass the widest array of papers that they could use to write to her. And it really helped, receiving a new letter with a new design or colour of paper was always an exciting surprise, no matter how bad a day she had had. And bad days she had had - working medicine in a poor and deprived area at the edge of a war zone had not been easy. But she tried desperately to remember the good days over the bad.

Underneath the letters a torn off scrap of cardboard revealed itself, the lid of a box of Yorkshire Tea bags she had been sent, a welcome taste of home. A small pile of origami hearts were scattered around the bottom of the shoebox, some made from prescription forms, evidence of Grace’s worry and boredom at work. The old film camera she had taken with her sat among them. She had taken it instead of the new digital one she had been given for Christmas as where she had been posted had little-to-no electricity. David and Grace had promised to send her new film reels with their letters and parcels and they had delivered as promised. As there was even less internet access than electricity in the middle of nowhere she had called home for a year (but thankfully, and rather surprisingly, a mostly reliable postal service through the nearest town) that was part of the excitement for David and Grace - she posted her used films back and they got to look at all the photos she had taken after they had gotten them developed.

She flicked through some of the photos: the straw thatched, mud and brick hut the clinic was based in; the half finished breeze block shell of the larger, modern clinic being built nearby; the beaming faces of the doctors and nurses of many, many nationalities she had worked with; her playing football with a group of kids, the dust from the pitch swirling up into the air as they all laughed and cheered. She had tried to capture the happy moments, the moments she wanted to share with Grace and David, even though they weren’t there.

She documented the bad moments too, and those photos she didn’t touch and left them in their envelope as she still clearly remembered what they showed: the graveyard in the village closest to the conflict zone, 6 new mounds of freshly turned soil, 6 lives she had failed to save; the bright streak of a missile against the dark sky that terrifying night the rocket attack turned in their direction; the jeep full of government troops heavily armed with rifles and rocket propelled grades that regularly patrolled the area; and others she had debated not taking, wanting to truthfully document her experiences but not wanting to worry her girl- and boy- friends safe at home. That was one of the most difficult things she had found being away from them: she could not reassure them in person that she really was alright or give them hugs. Instead she poured her love onto the pages she wrote, wanting them to feel her warmth as they read her words. She knew that somewhere in the loft were the companions to the letters in her box, the letters written in the middle of nowhere that had travelled all the way back to England and to the other parts to her whole.

She closed the lid on the box and rested a hand on the top for a moment, needing a second to remember that she didn’t need to stumble over words any more, she was back at home with her now husband and wife and could give them all the hugs she had missed over that year. She was proud to have given a year to such hard but worthwhile work but it was so good to be back home.

#My writing #creative writing #spilled ink #writersmonth2020 #Writers Month #writeblr #writers on tumblr #mage verse

3 notes · View notes

avalindin · 4 years

Text

It was a bounty hunter, I swear...

Tom Hiddleston fic

Ch. 9: Scream my lungs out

________

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

________

Kali couldn’t cry. Her eyes already stung from the hospital the day and a half before. She’d made a promise. Soon she would be at it again but when she would close her eyes, she would have the memories of being friends with Mina to keep her moving forward.

“Obi?”

Kali tried not to force a smile as her mother set her hand on her shoulder.

“Sorry, mom. Just tired.”

“I know, baby. Gonna get a nap while we set up our things?”

“I’m not sure how deep a sleep I may be in.”

“I’ll send in Demi instead. Manny just got home from Ibiza. She could sneak in if you want.”

A small huff of laughter was heard for a second, but Peggy saw the fast blur of her baby girl rush from the car and around the side of the house. She brushed the gray hair over her ear and tried not to look in the rearview mirror. Instead, she looked over her shoulder with a heavy and hurting heart to the crinkled mailing envelope that Mina was too weak to close just days before. Kali wouldn’t be ready for it, but she also made a promise.

Kali made sure the door was closed as she kicked off her flats and tumbled to her old mattress. Her fatigue guided her eyes to shut on their own. She reached under her bed for the small worn Yoda doll that had been hers for so many years. Her nose pressed into the top of the fake green wrinkles. She remembered before her, the doll wasn’t just Donovan’s, it was also Mina’s, gifted to him as a result of a puppy love crush.

“Hey!”

Kali dreamt of the first time that she saw Mina.

She had been so mesmerized at the boys’ VHS collection on the large screen in front of her, that she didn’t see the loud child dressed in bold colors. The silence of the new girl’s sandals had stopped once she quit chasing Donovan around the house and focused her attention on Kali. She wasn’t ready for the new child to rush to Kali’s side and size her up and down.

She got back up to her feet and held out her hand to Kali.

“I’m Mina.”

She slowly took Mina’s hand and her help to get to her feet.

“Kali,” she mumbled into the doll.

“You don’t talk much,” she exclaimed, almost scaring Kali, “Just stick with me and we can fix that.”

“Glad you did,” sighed Kali.

Sleep slowly took her before she could feel her held back tears roll to the pillows.

He bit the edge of his nail as the wheels rolled on. He hadn’t been in Texas since the last time he’d ran from Kali. There was a bit of him that wanted to see her again but with how he left things with her, the only thing he wanted to do was pay his respects and leave. There was some struggle to whether they were his respects to pay or not. He’d meet Mina only twice. Once in San Diego during their stay at the Con and once when Tom made a surprise pit stop in Austin to whisk Kali away for a romantic weekend, right before everything went to shit.

“Oh...”

Tom smiled and had hurried to press his finger to his lips. He even leaned against the doorway.

“Your fine ass can be my delivery boy anytime you want.”

“Mina! Don’t fuck this one either! We can’t keep finding...”

Kali had stopped in front of Tom, waiting just for her.

“Welp,” shrugged Nina as she stepped back from the door, “You know the drill.”

She gave Kali a mighty shove into the hallway and slammed the door behind them. He smiled to her boldness and wished he could have known her better.

His long fingers wrapped around the flowers as his car pulled up to the steps of the church. It wasn’t until he got out of the car when he saw a few people descend the church steps to their cars. Some looked his way, but none gave him any bother.

“Excuse me,” he softly butted to the closest people, “Is it still going on?”

“No. We decided to cut it early. Her ashes are going to the after-wake and then home with us. Hope you brought food.”

His heart broke as he looked into the ordinary eyes of Mina’s parents. He lifted his hand with the flowers towards them.

“I am so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine what you are going through.”

“You knew Mina?”

“Only through Kali.”

Both looked at Tom and turned to leave void the flowers.

“Thank you but we know who you are.”

He was left on the steps with no cab in sight and not a clue of what to do next.

“Shit.”

His hand shook as he prayed for the strength to not lose his mind. He straightened his BDUs and slowly made his way up the cracked pathway. If the door hadn’t already been propped open, he wouldn’t have been able to go inside. Once his boots passed the threshold, he pulled the cover from his shaved head and set out to find his mother. Peggy pulled a tray of food from the oven and set them to cool on the counter. Her smile shown on the younger woman with warm olive skin and newly platinum blonde hair pulled up over her aid.

“Girls, just give these ten minutes to settle then dig in. Manny, fish, don’t hurt yourself.”

“Yes, Mama Tigger!”

“What about the guys?”

Peggy turned with enough force to twirl her dress in excitement.

“My Baby!”

She opened her arms to Donovan. He’d still grown a bit since the last time he’d been home.

“Hi, momma. Where’s everyone else?”

“Demi had to work but he’s on his way home. Kali is sleeping the funeral off.”

“In her room? Is she holding up?”

“Yeah, go out the back and use the side door.”

He kissed her brow and left with a few snacks in his hand to devour. He was careful to not step on his mother’s flowers as he stopped at the door of his nana’s old room. He still wasn’t used to it all. The knob turned with ease and his large hand pushed the door in. He saw his sister stir, making his hurry to stop the blaring sunlight from disturbing her room.

Kali could hear the door behind her. The quiet sounds of the grieving party outside her first door made her want to shove earbuds in her ears.

“Fuck,” she sighed as she clutched her Yoda closer.

“Terrible language, Ma’am. Now where the fuck did you learn that?”

She quickly turned and smiled as she rushed form her bed and into her brother’s arms. Donovan tried everything in his power to not cry but she was faster to wipe them away.

“I don’t… When did you get back?!”

“Today but I have to go back day after tomorrow. So, you got Nana’s old room, huh?”

“Uh, yeah,” she shrugged as she returned to the side of her bed, “It’s not much but...”

“I know.”

What was in the past was in the past and she liked it that way.

“So, did you get my package?”

“What package?”

“I mailed it to mom after last week. I thought she would have given it to you before I got here. There.”

He pulled something from the floor. He handed her a thick mailing envelope from the pile of mail that she never opened. She could feel the enamel in her back teeth clench when she saw Mina’s writing on the front.

“Fucking ass had me mail this without looking. Of course, she would make me work for her last words.”

Donovan took a seat next to his baby sister. Kali forced herself to exhale and reach for the seal. She ripped it open and pulled out a golden box along with a weak piece of paper.

“This was for the first one but yours will always be one with the Force, just like you.”

Donovan took the paper from Kali and gave a soft chuckle.

“You’d think her last words would be a little more wise-ass.”

“She always writes on the back.”

“How… Kal, I can’t read this out loud.”

“Got milk? Stupid cow.”

Donovan could feel his heart break as he saw Kali smile at the paper.

“What is it?”

Kali went back to the small golden box. Her fingers went for the small screw in the back. It turned until she couldn’t anymore. She wasn’t ready for the gentle lullaby notes of the Imperial March, so soft and mesmerizing as the turning dented wheel plucked against the small metal forks hidden inside. They were both quiet until Donavon cleared his throat.

“You need to take it back.”

“I know.”

Kali reached under her pillow for the small black box and slid it into her brother’s large palm. He flipped the ring box in his fingers and sighed.

“I really was going to marry her.”

“I know.”

“I would have been okay with an open marriage.”

“I don’t think you would have.”

“I would have done anything to make her happy.”

“You always did but she knew that ring was never for her.”

“Thanks, Nicholas Sparks.”

“You’re welcome, Muggle. We should get out there.”

Kali didn’t realize how hard she was staring at the until the flood of sunlight made her wince.

“Need a hand?”

“I’ll be fine. Can I get a minute?”

“Sure. See ya ‘round.”

Kali waited until the shuffle of his combat boots were around the bend. Her thumb pushed open the music box, but it wasn’t Mina’s gift. She gently pulled open the top of the inside for the piece of paper she guessed was waiting for her.

Her hands were shaking badly as she tried not to rip the last bit of confidence Mina always gave her.

Hey, bitch.

Sorry for the change in calligraphy but I need to do this quick before the other bitch comes back. First, I fucking love you. I was meant to be a part of your family no matter what. Kiss everyone for me, expect Donny. I’ll have something special for him when I see him again.

Fuck my parents. If they have too, they’ll hurt you one more time. You were always so strong, little mouse but shit’s going south, and I may as well give you bad advice while I’m still here.

This is about you know who. Wink, wink.

It will hurt but forgive him. We’re all scared. I was too. We do fuck up things when we’re scared, even if you never see that fine ass again.

I’ll be waiting for you. Bring alcohol.

There was no reason to read it a second time. She folded it back to perfection and hid it back in the music box. When she got a moment, she would make sure she framed it in her memory. Kali got to her feet and straightened herself the best way she knew how. It was on her now to keep herself going with Mina still in her heart. She pushed her feet into her flats and out the side door.

“Might as well get this done with,” she shrugged.

Everything was quiet but heightened. The shuffle of feet, mainly towards the chairs where Mina’s parents were seated. They hadn’t always seen things eye to eye with the way she was brought up. While Kali was raised by a loving Peggy, Mina’s upbringing was a bit on the conservative side. They weren’t bad people, but they could have morally been better in supporting their only child’s decisions. Mostly, they blamed Kali or rather Peggy for their daughter’s downward spiral to Hell. Kali always laughed when those words came out of Mina’s mouth. She did what she could to move about the party and serve the guests without making absolute contact until Manny snatched the tray from her hands.

“Cock up, woman,” she signed, “Go on.”

It hurt her to move herself forward and stop in front of them. Really, she hadn’t thought of what would happen at this point. A slap across the face, a righteous rant about the unholiness that had become their daughter, or any number of things that had always gone through her head. The only thing she regretted was having a stomach full of delicious food as her nerves tried to poke her in the side.

“Things are starting to quiet down if you want to leave.”

Something simple where everyone would win. All would grieve in their own ways and Kali would make sure nothing smartass slipped out until they were gone for good. Mina’s mother was the first to react, just not in the way she expected. First, there was a smile. Then, she slowly got to her feet, smoothed out her skirt, and wrapped her arms around Kali. She was frozen in that moment, cautious in case of anything unexpected. Manny was within distance and ready for a fight. She gave a small enough hug back for it to count but her feelings for Mina’s mother made her feel worse.

Peggy stepped away from the kitchen for a moment. The pain in her chest for Mina grew worse. She sat on the back porch steps. Her aging fingers pulled the cigarette from her apron. It had been a long while since she’d given them up and now, she just wanted to get through the day. She put the nasty thing between her lips.

“What am I going to do Momma?”

Her mother had died the month before in her sleep. Kali miscarried early the month before that. She lit the end and inhaled the bitter smoke, feeling something else amiss. Each pull calmed her a little bit until she could hear raising voices from the house. She dropped the butt on the start of the driveway and hurried herself around the side of the house. She reached for Kali’s side bedroom door until a tall bit of movement got her attention. She craned her neck to the person she hoped to Hell she would never see.

“Son of a bitch.”

She locked eyes with Tom.

“Shit,” he whispered under his breath.

Kali ignored the voices from the kitchen.

“Our girl meant the world to us and her journey, God’s plan for her needed you in her path.”

Still cautious. She wasn’t sure if Mina’s parents would make a scene.

“I… don’t know how to answer that.”

Most everyone was preparing to go home with a few drunk stragglers waiting on Ubers and what family was left eating in the kitchen. Her skin felt like it was shrinking as her mother pulled away. Something was coming since Mina’s father was silent as he always was in her presence.

“We have something for you. One last bit of Mina.”

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a silver chained necklace with a small black heart hanging down.

“Thank you.”

“I know it’s a bit much, but we put some of her ashes in there for you to have. You were a sister to her.”

“What?”

She kept as much surprise in as she could bear. Past that, she was more than happy to put aside her slight distain for them, for Mina’s sake.

“Now you’ll always a bit of her to taint.”

“Motherfucker.”

As soon as she closed her mouth, the bits of the house that were in an ear shot went silent as Mina’s father got to his feet, sporting the bible Mina would detest.

“God took her away because of you.”

It was good while it lasted.

“Get out. Just go. You have a right to grieve but just go pray rude behind my back like a normal person.”

Her hand clutched the chain tighter. It began to hurt. Voices quickly rose, including her own. Soon the words blended together, and faces grew red. Kali tucked the neckline into her dress so that it wouldn’t fly around the room at the rate her hand angrily tried to permanently show them the way out of her mother’s house.

When Mina’s mother refused to take another step, Kali tried to turn her to the exit. This caused her father to pull her hand away. Donovan and Manny took notice. Manny was out of the kitchen at once and set her sights on Mina’s father, wanting very badly to break his wrist on the way out the door. Donovan was able to pull her back a fraction and heavily insistent that they leave.

“Of course, we would expect this from you,” cried the mother.

“Would you like me to let my sister on her feet to you, because, believe me, I will.”

Demi stepped through the door with his scrubs still on, looking into what he had missed. Manny was tucked under Donovan’s arm, ready to fuck anyone up in a moment’s notice. Kali had tears streaming down her face.

“Just get out or I will fucking kill you myself!”

They turned on their heel without another breath. Their backs were to the car, slowly testing Kali’s building rage. Her hand grabbed Manny’s old field hockey stick.

“What the Hell are you waiting for?! For Mina to come back?”

She was out the door with Demi trying to hold her rage back without getting clocked with the wood.

“Please just go,” he begged.

“Mina was my fucking family! You couldn’t just love her as she was!”

There was a moment where Demi didn’t step with Kali and she paced towards them. Mina’s parents ran for the safety of their car. Peggy turned from Tom’s stare to the pure grieving hell the had become her daughter. The engine roared and the tires furiously sent the car back out of the driveway. Tom saw as Kali ran past him.

Her eyes filled with tears and she wasn’t sure what she saw. She sure as hell heard the Prius that ran over her mother’s mailbox as it fled from the neighborhood. Kali tried to control her breath. She turned back to Tom as he stood completely still. He knew he would be in a world of hurt but he knew it was where he wanted to be. Kali wasn’t sure of what to say but was pulled back from her speechlessness when Manny tackled Tom ruthlessly from his feet.

Tom saw how beautiful Kali still was. He could feel the breath leave him. Then, he could feel all the breath knocked out of him as a woman small than Kali nearly knock him out.

“Manny! No!”

“Jesus Christ,” screamed Tom as he tried to shield his face form her raining fists.

“Donovan! Get her off him now!”

“Fuck that! She fucking bit me!”

Kali grabbed what she could and jerked her sister away until she set her sights on Don.

“What the hell was that for?!”

Peggy was out of breath trying to separate her children. She saw a few people on their street peeking through their curtains and she didn’t need the cops called again on a small disturbance. She did raise fighters. What she didn’t expect was Tom helping to stop the fighting. That and Demi making a dive for Tom.

“Manwhore!”

“Good dammit!”

Peggy stepped back and tried to catch her breath.

“Knock it off,” she gasped.

Something was wrong and it wasn’t from the cigarette. It was too soon.

More guests from the kitchen either watched from the front porch or failed at helping stop the fighting in the front yard. When she got a breath, Kali held up her hand to her sister.

“I said I got this,” she turned her head to Tom, “You need to leave. Now.”

“Mom?”

Manny’s voice had changed quickly to the point on concern. All eyes turned to Peggy on the ground and clutching her chest.

Kali was terrified at the silence.

She remembered how Kali looked when she was in the hospital. She was so pale. She could feel herself asleep. Her chest was going to cave in. She knew the feeling.

“I’m so sorry, Midge.”

She could feel the tears streaming down her face. The doctor and the nurses couldn’t know what she had been through. Third birth, third baby to join her husband. She tried to hold herself, but she felt she deserved a few tears. Her fingers wanted to hold more than his tiny hand.

“Can I at least hold him? Please?”

With the nod of his head, the doctor stepped aside and unhooked her baby as quickly and carefully as they could. Once all the medicine and the plastic was free, the last bit of the baby was given to her. She steadied her breath. She had gotten skilled in being able to silently grieve.

“You are just so beautiful,” she whispered.

Her face was a mess, but she didn’t wish to waste a moment. Nothing could be missed in the last breaths her little boy had.

“You would have had so much fun, Jonah. I’m sure of it.”

She wanted to sing, to kiss him, but everything was too much. Her eyes burned into her love. She asked the staff not to tell her how much time went by; she couldn’t accept it. She held him a little while longer, even after he stopped breathing.

“Ms. Dawson.”

“You have to take him from me. Now.”

She understood the importance of her choice. Another baby would have the chance Jonah never would. She fought her voice. Her arms trembled as a nurse stepped forward and lifted the baby from Peggy’s arms. Through her tears, she watched her baby carried away to the next life and out of hers. All she wanted to do was die.

She wanted to stop breathing and let it all go.

“You can see her now.”

Kali and Manny were the first on their feet. Kali stopped for a second and looked back to Tom’s bruised face.

“Go,” he softly smiled, “I’ll watch your things.”

She didn’t wait for him to finish. He stayed where he was and looked to Donovan and Demi. He knew to keep his mouth shut. Donovan had a small, single scratch on his cheek. Demi wasn’t so lucky. His wrist was wrapped in a bandage and brace from trying to pummel Tom.

“Why are you here?”

“Dem. Not now.”

“No. Fuck your moral code of conduct, Army Bitch. I have a right to know.”

“Because I fucked up twice and when Peggy told me that Mina was gone, I thought Kali might want someone in the wake of losing her soulmate. If you want to beat me into the ground, guess what? Get in line, but for right now, can we set this aside until we know that another person in her life is okay?!”

He stopped and made sure he didn’t draw unwanted attention to themselves.

They were silent.

“I can do that,” sighed Demi, “Fucking Dummy.”

“Girls, chill out.”

She hated seeing her kids worried.

“You had a heart attack!”

“And you have school in the morning. I’m fine now.”

She always chose her words carefully. Manny tried not to meet her mother’s eyes.

“Hey!”

Peggy snapped her fingers. Kali knew why. Manny tucked her hair over her ear; the aid was somewhere dropped and hopefully together on the front lawn. She caught Peggy’s hands.

“Go home. Take some food with you and go back to school. If you don’t maintain that GPA, you’ll have to reapply.”

Peggy made sure Manny saw her hands as she signed. Manny shook her head. She stepped forward and hugged her around the tubes in her arms. Peggy held on for as long as she could.

“Hey,” she snapped her fingers again, “What do we do? Tell me. Both of you.”

“Calm your tits. Tits out. Out the door.”

Manny tried not to laugh.

“That’s my girl. Go on. I’m taken care of.”

Peggy let her hand go and watched her most adventurous child stop in front of Kali.

I’m sorry about your ass’s face, she signed.

“Don’t worry,” she signed back, “It’s an improvement.”

Manny vanished around the corner, leaving Kali with their mother.

“So. I’m sorry?”

“Why? What did you do?”

“It’s my fault he’s here.”

“Mom!”

“Wine was involved, and I forgot with all the commotion.”

“Unlike the scene on the front lawn? God damn it all, Margret!”

Kali huffed her breath and moved into the bed with her. Peggy giggled as she tried her best to comfort her little girl.

“I thought you might want a happy face.”

“Fuck you,” she pouted.

Tom’s eyes wandered. He wasn’t really sure what to do with himself. Manny snatched her purse from the seat next him, ignoring he was even there.

Hey, I’m going back to get my stuff. I’ll be back in a week for break. Dibs on the chicken salad.

“Fine. How’s mama?”

She wants to see everyone, her eyes finally burned into Tom, including you, stale tea.

“Fine,” he signed, “I deserved that.”

She stuck up her middle finger and left them behind. Donovan grabbed the cover on the seat next to him.

“Let’s go, Green Bean,” he nodded to Tom, “Mama’s orders.”

Peggy smiled at the small group entering her room.

“My boys,” she smiled.

Kali moved from the bed and into the nearest chair before it was taken. Tom stayed on the other side of the room.

“Where do you fucking think you’re going?”

Demi and Donovan stepped back as Peggy held her arm open to Tom.

“Well, I…”

“Now, young man.”

He wasn’t sure why, but he felt he was the reason she was in the hospital bed to begin with. He balanced himself over the bed and gave Peggy the hug she wanted.

“I’m sorry about this.”

She let go and let Tom slink back to the couch on the farthest wall. Time passed and Peggy hated to let her children go. She tried hard to put on a brave face, even with pain in her chest. Demi left to get his wrist checked out and Donovan left to go clean the house. Only Kali and Tom stayed behind. At one point Tom woke with Kali under his arm. The room was completely dark with the exception of the nurse’s station.

1:30am

He turned off his phone, glad that his story of a sick family member gave him the privacy of finding Kali again. It all felt like a dream. Soon it would all end again.

“You act like she’s going to bite.”

Tom looked to Peggy trying to sit up in the bed. He slipped away from Kali and pressed the right buttons at the start of the bed to make her more comfortable.

“Thank you,” she sighed.

“I’m sorry.”

Peggy pushed on her tortoise shell glasses to see the fade of shame in his face. She patted the side of her bed for him to sit. He obeyed. Peggy could feel the strength in her hand weaken. No matter what happened, she knew she would fine. If only she really meant it.

“If you are sorry, then you need to meant it, Thomas. I’m still furious but life is short Tom. Stop being a pussy and talk with Kali. Get closure. Understand?”

“I understand.”

“Oh, honey,” she wheezed, “Just look after her.”

“I promise.”

Kali woke, seeing Peggy reach up and embrace Tom. It was strange to see her mother so forgiving after all she’d been through. She quietly slipped out of the room. She took a few steps down the hall, letting her mind wander. She had held on to her anger for so long after Tom had left but she thought that maybe if it was for the best. She did love Tom, but the pregnancy had been such a surprise, even with the fight, it was all too soon for them. Kali wanted what she had in the beginning with

Tom, a beautiful raw downward spiral. Things were different now.

Tom looked over to the couch, seeing Kali gone.

“Go,” Peggy whispered, “Don’t leave her alone.”

“Please try and get some rest.”

She only gave a soft smile as she had for years. The second Tom was gone, there was a loud beep on the screen above her head. She quickly removed the monitor from her finger before any nurses took notice. She would be fine. The pain returned and all she had to do was close her eyes and breathe. It wasn’t the best way, but everyone would be fine in time. They’d have to be. Nurses were busy with a rowdy patient across the way and they wouldn’t be back for her vitals in another hour or so.

She closed her eyes and tried to sleep.

She was so tired, and she didn’t want to sleep anymore. Her feet shuffled as she tried to keep her head up. Her mind was unsettled but she knew she was helping. She stopped at the door of the small room. The cries from the crib broke her heart.

“Ms. Dawson?”

“Where’s the family?”

“They left without him.”

“What?”

“They were considering adoption until I came back with the paperwork. That was half an hour ago.”

“My God.”

Peggy rushed into the room as quick as her muscles could allow her. She reached into the crib and held the little baby. It calmed in no time, leaving a smile to Peggy and the nurses face. The baby responded wonderfully to her touch.

“That’s much better now, isn’t it?”

The baby fell asleep quickly, easing her as she was led back to her room with her new guest.

“Will anyone be back for him?”

“Child services is on the way now.”

“If I need to talk to the doctor, I understand but I’d like to take him.”

“Are you sure?”

Peggy sat on her bed. Her heart was filled with sorrow of her loss but slowly filling as the beautiful little boy slept soundly in her arms.

“Maybe all this happens for a reason.”

The nurse eased her hand on Peggy’s shoulder.

“He will be so happy.”

The nurse left them alone and Peggy did what she could to ready herself before the proper people found her. Her heart exploded when she was granted custody.

“Name?”

She signed the last of the papers and meet the deep brown eyes that found her.

“Donovan. After my late husband.”

“Kali?”

Kali rubbed her arms, cold from the hospital air. Tom removed his dress coat and placed it around her arms.

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

“I-I didn’t want to shout at 1 in the morning.”

“That’s probably wise. There’s some chairs around the corner.”

“You’ve been here before?”

“I work here janitorially.”

They sat by themselves, next to each other. Kali leaned against Tom as his arm drifted around her. It wouldn’t have been a great idea with eye contact. He fought himself to pull closer, pull her to his lap, to just hold her again. He would have to be fine with just that. She laced her fingers with his. His nose turned into her hair and smelled her. His heart was sore. The silence was needed.

“How did she go?”

He wasn’t given any details.

“She had a lot of headaches the past year. She’d been laid-off from her last job and she didn’t have the proper health insurance. Then there was a major nosebleed two weeks ago. It still seems so far away now. Mom took her to the ER, and she had a big clot in her brain.”

“Aneurysm?”

“It all happened so quickly. Even if she did have the means for having surgery, it wouldn’t have been enough. She was so full of life one day and then she was seizing and coding the next. Then, after two days, she made herself DNR. I couldn’t leave her.”

She sighed. She was so tired from all the tears. Tom kissed her hair. Kali knew what she wanted to say.

“I still love you, Tom. I was mad the after the fight and even worse when you left without saying goodbye, but I think it all was supposed to happen.”

“I know.”

He hated to agree.

“Mina did trust your character even if it did have shit moments. I’m willing to start over if you are but I need more time away from you.”

“I can live with that.”

Kali’s face slowly grew into a smile. Her eyelids slowly closed as she turned her face into Tom’s chest. He slowly reclined back in the uncomfortable chair ready for sleep to take him.

“Code Blue. Unit IMC.”

Tom and Kali both jumped at the sound of the intercom above their heads.

“The fuck?”

Kali rolled from the seat and watched the nurses rush down her mother’s side of the hall.

“No.”

Tom followed and was close behind once her eyes widened around the corner. They set off in a sprint to the rush filing into her mother’s room. Kali was frozen. Her mother disappeared in a sea of nurses racing to revive Peggy. Tom pulled her to the side from wheeling equipment. All she could do was hold Tom’s dress coat in her hands and ring the life from them as she watched her loving mother leave.

“Call it.”

“Time of death. 2:36am.”

“You got the list?”

Manny shook her head.

“I’m going to Japan next year. I’ll take a little more.”

Donovan rubbed at his arms through the Under Armor. Strange that he ran the whole way there, but he had a routine he liked to keep as well as the distraction. Kali was strangely relieved that they got a med student that was understanding of their situation.

“Demi.”

He just shook his head.

“I know why we have to do this now, but I just want to take my meds.”

It was a very long week for them.

“It’s okay. We’ll take Manny’s car if you want to go home.”

There was a small chuckle with a smile to follow.

“Maybe I’ll be the big spoon with your boyfriend.”

“There you are.”

Demi left his sister to do what he couldn’t handle anymore. Donovan grabbed the stiff cardboard box with the separated bits of his mother. Peggy had always wanted to travel but she was terrified to fly. Now, as agreed, she would see the world. With the box placed in the truck, everyone made a break for the backseat. Donovan turned for the road, but Kali was quicker.

“Hey, if you are taking the scenic route, can you pick up a few things at the market?”

“Sure thing. List?”

“Yeah. Be sure to get me the receipts when you get home.”

“Got it.”

Kali was able to settle herself in the driver’s seat. Manny was in the back without a word or sign. Silence was understandable. Everything blended so easily. The car stopped in the driveway. With the motor off, Kali could only sit there. Her eyes drifted over the two story home that her mother worked hard to pay off. The lawyer was a family friend and would make the last day of Shiva but thankfully Tom would be gone by then. Soon they would have to talk but there were things that she was and wasn’t feeling. Her eyes wondered to the mailbox that was back in the ground while they were gone earlier that morning. Tom must have been busy since then. She reached behind her.

“Hey,” she swatted at Manny’s bare leg, “We got work to do.”

Manny groaned but she knew. Kali was first in the house and taken completely by surprise. Demi was already on his feet and helping rearrange the family and friends that were already there. His pain meds always made him helpful and uppity. Peggy did have plans put in place. Kali had hoped it would be a few decades before they would happen but here it was.

Music came from the den, mostly 80’s rock and trash. Everyone agreed that was where the booze stayed. The kitchen would be put to use. There was food and a system for dirty dishes. That’s where she found Tom. She didn’t stay long as Manny stomped upstairs with half a bottle of Jack. She snapped to Donovan as he arrived home.

“I got her.”

Kali pushed her brown hair back and was carried with the system of the house. Most of the house had a flow. Only a few people upstairs at a time. Bathrooms stocked at all times. No empty plates in the house. No one had to leave for the week but there had to be breaks. Kali checked her phone the moment she felt some fatigue.

“Go have a lie down.”

Manny signed her.

“Where have you been for the last five hours? I thought you’d be out.”

“I almost got into a fight with Don, but we went for a run. I had a panic attack.”

“What?!”

“I’m a little better now and I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, kid. We just grieve differently.”

“It’s almost midnight. Go to bed, man.”

She didn’t realize how the house had gotten quiet.

“Everyone else down?”

“Demi crashed in Mom’s bed. We got ourselves. Go.”

It wasn’t just her bed she was pushing Kali to. She stopped in the bathroom that was finally silent. She washed up as quick as she could before she cried. It didn’t stop her hands from shaking. Her hand could barely grab the doorknob.

“Kali?”

She sighed in relief as she heard Tom on the other side of the door. She used what strength she had to pull the door open. Tom was ready for anything as Kali stood in the quiet little bathroom.

“Hi.”

_____

Tagged: @808-anon @angelus80 @angryschnauzer @antyc67 @atinyfangirl @audasia25 @damageditem @dangertoozmanykids101 @inkededucatednnerdy @itsjustelen @jennphoenix @justahopeless-dreamer @kimanne723 @lokilockedcougar @lovehiddles4everme @mazda098 @missdibley @mrshiddelston @mypreciousmind1 @nicole-stewart-loves-cookies @osb1anon @ourladybinxthings @peskipixi @prplprincez @quoting-shakespeare-to-ducks @ririsutty @roamingbadger @sarabeth72 @sevanya @shamvictoria11 @starrynight35 @siyoteodiara @startingtoenjoylife @texmexdarling @the-lady-mischief @tinaferraldo @tomkurbikston @vdcster @wolfsmom1

#tom hiddleston #angst #fanfic #feels

9 notes · View notes

theawkwardterrier · 5 years

Text

Beneath the Flap

Steggy Week 2k19, day 4 Prompt: AUs and crossovers

Summary: The serum doesn’t work out as planned. Steve gets a new role in the SSR.

AO3 link here.

With Dr. Erskine dead, no one can entirely explain why the serum worked, or why Steve woke up the next morning to find that it had entirely stopped working and left him just as he had been before. The vein in Colonel Phillips’ neck gets a worryingly energetic workout as he moves between yelling at Steve (again) for getting himself on the front page, and yelling at Howard for having created a single super soldier for about twelve hours and now not even that.

“What’s done,” Agent Carter says firmly from her place against the wall behind the desk, “is done. And I think, sir, that we all just need to move forward. We’re still meant to fly to London, I presume?” She doesn’t give Steve more than a casual glance, but he still appreciates her speaking up on his behalf.

“The three of us are,” Phillips says, moving on to a more businesslike crabbiness. “But now I don’t have many options for what to do with this one.”

Steve stands as straight as he can now that his scoliosis is back. “Sir, I’d like to reiterate my request to come to London with you.”

Phillips gives a snorting little laugh. “‘Reiterate your request.’ Son, I’d like to remind you that I turned you down yesterday during your fifteen minutes of being Charles Atlas. Now you’re back to being a shrimpy little thing who barely survived basic? I’m sorry, but the senator doesn’t want you on his plate, and neither do I. We’ll just have to see if the lab boys will still take you.”

Stark steps forward. “Actually, I’d like to keep looking at him. At this point, I’m the most familiar with the process. Maybe by figuring out what went wrong here, I can figure out how to get it working again.” Phillips still looks dubious, so he adds, “Might be able to make it more broadly applicable, get the whole program working like we had wanted.”

There’s a split second where Steve thinks the answer will be no, but then Phillips says gruffly, “Alright, pack your bags. But Stark, this had absolutely better not interfere with your other work.”

“It’ll be a side project,” Stark swears, raising a hand.

“And perhaps when Private Rogers is not being a test subject, we could find him some other duties,” adds Agent Carter, and while it’s phrased as a suggestion, it borders on an order. Phillips looks amused so briefly Steve isn’t entirely sure he saw right, but then points a finger at Agent Carter.

“You’re right, Agent. I suppose I can find him something else to take care of.”

“Like I said, most people are pretty good by now about keeping it clean,” says Private Allen, “but if you catch something…” She snips her scissors through the air over the shared square desk in their back office in demonstration.

Steve eyes his pair warily. Sure, he’s had his own mail censored, he knows that. But being the censor is different. Time of war, he reminds himself, and winces at what a slippery slope that is.

Once he gets started, though, he finds that it is pretty easy, just as Private Allen had said. Most of the folks detailed to the SSR know how to keep a secret, and the stuff they write to siblings or sweethearts or fellow soldiers is pedestrian - about the food, or how they're feeling, or the guy in the next bunk who talks in his sleep. Steve snorts reading through the half dozen letters Corporal Daniels has copied out exactly to different girls at different addresses, and rolls his eyes at the way Private Ellerby describes his duties to his mother with a sort of loftiness that is entirely unearned by the guy in charge of divvying out new boots.

He hasn't even touched his scissors, and hasn't entirely realized the morning has passed when Allen says, "One more each and then we'll go have some lunch?" and he agrees.

Dear Kitty, says the letter that he opens next

The weather isn't exactly welcoming, but it is nice to see familiar scenery again. I know things might wear for you a bit, seeing the inside of the same four walls most of the time, but it wears on me sometimes not to always know where I'm going to hang my hat from one night to the next.

(Not that I wear my uniform hat very often - it gives me a bit too much of a jaunty recruitment poster look - but you'll forgive a turn of phrase, I hope?)

Steve laughs a little, and Allen, not looking up from her own letter, asks, "Is that one of Patterson's? If he's trying to hint again about what he’s packing down below, I'll tell you that he's certainly exaggerating." Steve waves her off and continues.

Things haven't been going quite as smoothly as I'd wished - we lost an excellent man recently, and in some senses more - but we go on. I'll be travelling a bit and I'm not sure where, but I'm sure the service will do its best to make sure that your letters find me. I know that you enjoy a good chat more than sitting down to compose a letter, but I'll ask your favor in continuing to write. Since Michael— the writer censors herself, a thick black line drawn through whatever she had written next. Steve refrains from holding it up to the light to try to identify the words.

Hearing news from old friends always brings a smile to my face, and reminds me that we aren't fighting alone. And, of course, your care packages are always appreciated. The one you sent last time was a treat. The Body in the Library and a pair of your hoarded Dairy Milks were just what I needed - bless you, and twice again!

As for the issue we spoke about last time we were together, I'd ask that you remember to speak up. I know you think that you were brought on only because you are excellent at adding numbers together in your head, but I'll remind you that the skill is more than that and I wasn't the only one who noticed. Mr. G can certainly build a head of steam, but steam is simply the venting of heat and we’ll all be better off if you hold your ground, wait for it to dissipate, and make sure that he understands what you're saying. I appreciate knowing that people like you are helping us work through our problems, and I'll sleep even better at night if you would push through the stubbornness of others and allow your solutions to truly shine. You are brilliant, you've been right more often than nearly anyone, and if they aren't going to listen, you must make them.

I'll leave off my scolding here (I am still holding out for something sweet next time, after all) but remember that I'm thinking of you even through everything else. Speak out, Kit!

Much love,

Peggy

When he comes to the signature, something in him isn't surprised. It isn't that he and Agent Carter are best friends - little could be further from the truth - but the letter shows the tenacity and intelligence and subversive bits of humor that he has already noticed in her. The handwriting is clear and readable, although there's a bit of a patchwork quality to its composition, a smudging to the ink in some places, that makes him think that it was dashed off in odd moments, pieced together as she found the time, and that touches him too: the thought of her remembering to jot down advice and comfort to a friend even with everything he’s seen her taking care of. He notices the places where she'd done her job for him too - "the issue we spoke about last time," “Mr. G” - and his eyes move again to the thick black slash in the center of the page. There's still a place or two where he should probably do a bit of a snip (the reference to Erskine's death is on the borderline), but he decides to let it slide. Steve was chosen for this job, as much as Phillips had chosen him for anything, because he had knowledge of some of the SSR's most top secret work and would be able to pick up references to it. Someone without that knowledge, though, wouldn't understand what was truly being said.

Or at least that's what Steve tells himself as he slips the letter, whole and untouched, back into its envelope, marks it with his censor’s label, and places it in the box set aside for mailing.

"Time for lunch?" Allen asks, getting to her feet, and Steve, considering whether he’ll have time to eat and still run out to find a bookshop with Agatha Christie, agrees.

Kitty -

Just a brief note to wish you a happy birthday. Imagine me singing if you’d like, though I think we both know that it isn’t truly a strong point of mine.

Considering geography, weather, battle lines, the whims of fate, etc., I’m not entirely certain that this will reach you before your next birthday, but hopefully my gift will arrive in a timelier manner (it needs some more particular handling than a letter; you’ll understand my meaning when you receive it).

I hope everyone there is planning to celebrate you properly. And if they’re still reluctant to have a real party there after the one they threw for me and Fred, please pass on from me that I don’t actually consider what happened between us a tragedy and that things in fact are looking even better for me now than they were then - in more ways than one, actually.

I know it seems a bit defensive, but speaking honestly, Kit, I look back on the person I was then and it’s as if I only dreamed being her.

Anyway, you can pass on my official lifting of the curse, along with my greetings to everyone (except Noreen - we both know why). But many happy returns mostly to you, Kitty. I hope things look even better at this time next year for all of us.

Best, Peg

“So why did they pick you for this detail?” Steve asks as they sit at their traditional table in the mess.

“I’m usually in the secretarial pool,” says Rainy. Maybe it’s not professional and he should still be calling her Private Allen, but she’d told him her nickname and he figures they’re friends now. “It was in my file that I speak French, and after the last girl who did got married, they asked me to step in. You know that we can’t just pass through letters because there’s no one to understand them.” Steve is meant to be taking a similar role for the SSR’s secret and science-related assignments - last week he’d finally been given some heightened clearance, and several encyclopedias worth of classified files to read - but sometimes he wonders if assigning him the letters not actually written in English would be more effective.

Rainy pushes away her plate, the little leftover lump of stew, with its approximate meat and perhaps once potatoes, jiggling slightly. She examines her bread, crinkling her mouth, but butters it anyway. Steve doesn’t take any such issue. Meals here are served on time and in what he considers plentiful quantities. Plus the doctor who’d done his physical when he’d arrived had put him on some sort of extra milk ration in an attempt to “get some heft on these bones of yours” (and given him the glasses he’d known for years he’d needed and also known he couldn’t afford). Steve can still sometimes grasp the feeling of those hours of having been taller, broader, of not struggling to breathe, of having a straight spine and eyes that just worked. But even without all that magical science he had hoped would change things, being a little guy in the army he’s in some ways better off than he’s ever been.

“Everyone from secretarial who has the night off is going to the pictures after supper, if you want to come,” offers Rainy. “They want to see Mrs. Miniver, but I have the feeling I’ll end up crying. I’d much rather see Yankee Doodle Dandy, but I’ve been outvoted again.” She puts on a little pout, which makes Steve laugh.

“Getting your performance ready?” he asks, and Rainy sticks her tongue out at him.

“The girls are much harder to convince than boys ever were,” she reflects, sighing as she tosses hair that Steve can now see clearly is a bouncy and beautiful blonde wave. With the glasses to help him actually pick up on details, he itches for his sketchbook and pencils more than ever. Rainy really does have a fascinating face, beautiful if not classically so, brimming with confidence and a bit of mystery. He wonders if he could get her to sit for him.

“Steve, are you going to answer the question, or are you just going to stare?”

“Sorry.” He decides to ask her later, maybe after the film and the inevitable follow-up visit to a pub. “I’d love to come. Thanks for asking me.”

She stands to clear her dishes. “Well, everyone’s been wondering about you, so coming out tonight and meeting them might settle the questions.”

He knew that he stuck out among the staff here. The only surprise is that no one’s confronted him yet about how he’d gotten in. “So what’s everyone been saying?” He gulps down the last of his prescription milk and stands too.

“Top theory is that you’re the secret son of some higher up,” she tells him seriously, and he almost drops his tray.

“Which one?”

“Most people are split between Marshall and Nimitz, and there are some who are sure it’s actually Phillips, but I think Hap Arnold’s the best looking, so that’s where my money is.” She elbows him as they finish scraping and sorting their plates. “Want to give a pal the real story so I can get a jump on things?”

He shrugs, a little uncomfortable even as he’s amused by her matter-of-fact tone. “Someone took pity on me, I guess. Not a general though, and certainly not Phillips.”

There’s that theatrical nature again: Rainy looks disappointed only for a beat before she perks back up again, says, “We’ve got to come up with something better than that by tonight,” and starts proposing stories as they walk back to the censorship office.

Agent Carter is seated at a table by the back wall. For a second, Steve thinks he sees her eyes following him, and actually considers waving to her although they haven’t spoken since he’s been here. But then he blinks and she is just eating absently while paging through a file on the table in front of her.

Maybe the glasses just don’t work as well as he thought they did. He goes back to work, trying to forget the moment that he had apparently just imagined.

Steve starts saving her letters until the end of the day. He knows that it isn’t exactly professional of him, but he can't help but want to savor them. He tells himself it's alright - he doesn't give special treatment to all her letters, only those to Kit. The dutiful missives to her parents, those that go to the other relatives and acquaintances with whom she occasionally corresponds - they are all read and processed in the order he comes across them, just as he does with all the rest of his load. But when he comes across one addressed in her now-familiar handwriting to Katherine Moore, he tucks it aside, uses it as an incentive to get through another day of the work that wears and weighs on him more and more.

He is angry at himself, that all he wanted to do was make a real contribution to the war effort and here he is in the heart of it all and still it isn't enough for him. He is angrier that he has given up asking Phillips for more that it seems he will never receive. And he lies guiltily in his bunk at night thinking about how much he loves reading over Peggy's writing, hating that he thinks of her as Peggy now only because he's listened in on her talking to a friend. Sure, it's his job, and sure, she must know that someone would be doing it, but it doesn't give him the right to take so much joy in it. No one else would give them more than a cursory glance - they're perfectly ordinary letters on the face of it; whoever reads Kit's letters on the other end probably doesn't remember them by the time they're through - but Steve can't help it. When he forgets himself, he wonders what she is going to say the next time, what little turn of phrase will make him laugh, what observation will make him think, what detail she will reveal about her life that will only make him fall for her further.

Dear Kitty,

When I said that you should speak out, I had no idea that I would be encouraging you to do so against me. I am proud of you, however. Excellent preparation for the next time someone tries to speak over one of your ideas (and we both know there will come a next time).

You say that you're ashamed that I'm happier now during wartime than I would have been otherwise. Sometimes I'm ashamed at it myself. But then I remember that it is not my choice to make it better for many women in Britain now than it was when we were at peace. Yes, the franchise has been extended by a lordly and reluctant hand, but I'll remind you that it was through strenuous efforts on the parts of our mothers (well, not mine, perhaps) both in civil protest and in another time of war. Do you truly think you would have been allowed to learn higher maths, the advanced calculus over which I despair and in which you so revel, to truly exercise your brilliant mind, had the opportunity at B— (she's blacked out the name, although Steve has read enough of his classified files to insert "Bletchley Park"; he snips carefully to take out the redaction completely) not been opened to you? Do you think that I would have been allowed to show what I was truly made of in a world where women were meant to aspire only to a man, home, and family - and where a nice man, a fitting man, was neither required, nor encouraged in developing?

This war has devastated me, Kit. I've seen its ravages more closely than you can imagine and they terrify and sicken me, and make me even more determined. I am doing absolutely everything in my power to make sure it comes to as clean, fast, and righteous an end as can be hoped for at this point. But I would make myself a liar to my own mind and to you if I ignored the ways that it has given me things that I never would have had, showed me things I might not have discovered until too late otherwise.

I would trade my life for the war to be over. I would trade my life for it to never have started. But it has, it is here, and it has opened doors that would have remained firmly shut - and I know not only for me.

Peggy

P.S. Had a report from Hew that you're in high spirits, and that you were very thankful for the birthday gift - I will politely refrain from imagining how you might have showed your appreciation. Don't worry, it wasn't hard to have him reassigned to courier duty in line with your special day, and I’m sure I’ll have another urgent message to send along with him. Perhaps just around New Year’s?

“What are you sighing about?” Rainy asks, eyes almost crossing as she focuses on cutting out some single incriminating word inconsiderately placed in the exact center of the page.

Steve hadn’t even realized he had been sighing. “It’s nothing,” he says, thinking about how Peggy had so perfectly, so precisely and vehemently, expressed something he had felt himself and felt terrible for feeling, something he had never been quite sure how to say.

It made him feel a little less lonely. He wonders what she would say if he went up to her and said, “That strange and awful kind of lucky feeling? I understand it too.” Probably she wouldn’t say anything, just wonder who in the hell he was and get him shipped back home.

It might be worth it, though, just to see her in real life again, instead of the vague paper outline he has to conjure up every time he reads her words.

“Now I’m not calling this a solution,” Stark says as Steve buttons up his shirt and smiles at the nurse slipping out of the exam room. “But I’ll comfortably consider it a breakthrough.”

“A breakthrough that came totally by accident,” Steve points out.

“So did X-rays and the Toll House cookie.” Howard grins unconcernedly and claps his hands together. Steve’s been coming to see him every week or two for the last three months and he’s never looked this delighted with the progress. And it wasn’t even Howard who did anything: apparently a lab tech had brought one of the portable sun lamps which are so popular at headquarters over to his work station where he had a couple of vials of Steve’s blood.

“And you’re sure the ultraviolet in there caused some sort of reaction?” Steve asks.

“That’s the theory as of now. We’ll keep running isolation tests but,” Howard smacks a file gleefully against his palm, “the samples that were exposed to the UV look almost identical to the ones we had taken right after the procedure.”

“And you think you’ll really be able to get things back to how they were?”

For a minute, Howard looks more cautious. “I don’t want to get your hopes too far up, pal. It’s looking good, real good, but this really was Erskine’s baby and I’m just the understudy here. I don’t want to make any promises.”

“How much longer are you looking at for testing?”

“If it goes well, maybe another month and we’d be ready to try again. You still willing?”

Steve tries to give a simple nod, nothing overeager, nothing to jinx it. Last time had turned out to be too good to be true, but maybe this time… “Come find me when you’re ready.”

“Good enough.” The door opens, and Howard’s secretary enters. “Good to see you, sweetheart,” Howard tells her in that smarmy tone of his as she hands him a stack of papers to sign with a smile. He nods to Steve, who says, “Hi, Millie,” and sees himself out.

He’d told Rainy a couple of weeks back that he didn’t understand why girls like Millie put up with that kind of stuff from people like Howard or worse, and she’d just laughed and said, “Of course you don’t. The thing of it is, Steve, when this war finally gets done, most of us are going to have to go back to the way things were, which means that this is a perfect time to find a half decent husband. You have to keep smiling to keep the options open, even with the beasts around base.”

“Why would you want to settle for half decent?”

Her smile turned slightly brittle at the corners. “It’s not really about want, more about what’s going to have to happen. There aren’t as many nice men as you might think. I have standards - I keep my ear to the ground, so never anyone with a wife or a fiancee or a steady, and no one who’s given another girl a problem - but I have to jump on it, or I’ll be back home with a dud or everyone whispering about what I might have gotten up to with all these men here.”

Steve didn’t even feel overly affronted by the remark - he’d spent his whole life firmly in the dud category when it came to women, and at least Rainy was his friend - but something must have shown in his face because she’d pointed a finger and said, “You’re lucky I haven’t jumped you, honestly, but it’s pretty obvious that you’re taken, considering all the sighing and mooning you do when her letters come through here.”

“What do you—I’m not—I don’t moon.” But she was already grabbing a letter off her desk and staring at it with big dopey blinks, heaving her shoulders about and taking in huge, dramatic breaths, occasionally letting out a little ha-ha-ha chuckle. He guessed that it was probably a pretty decent impression of him reading one of Peggy’s letters, but he wished he wasn’t so obvious about it.

He’s not exactly being subtle now, but he never is on the way back from his appointments with Howard. He doesn’t get many other opportunities to wander around with his eyes casually peeled - usually he’s meant to either be working, at chow, or in his bunk, not moving through the more essential and top-secret SSR areas where people like Howard and Phillips and Agent Carter do their work.

He’s distracted from thoughts of getting a glimpse of her when he comes across the huge map that dominates the tactical room. He tries to just peep from the corners of his eyes as he strolls through, but even with his new glasses he can’t see quite that well. Then again, no one’s around at the moment, the last of the SSR personnel striding out with a stack of folders and not even a glance at Steve. He takes advantage, placing his hands at the edge of the massive model as his gaze sweeps over the little markers that represent troops and bases. He frowns, and not only because those little wooden figures are too insignificant for what they’re meant to stand in for: Bucky and his friends, people who Steve grew up with, millions of exhausted and foolish and jubilant soldiers, each with their own past and future. How can a war ever end when all the people fighting it are reduced to game pieces? How can a war ever end when the people in charge are overlooking something so major?

“That’s not right,” he mutters to himself.

“What isn’t right, Private?”

He spins, not quite believing that she is here, that he didn’t sense her behind him or at least hear her heels approaching.

“Your map’s wrong,” he blurts, thinking of the way Bucky would cover his face in embarrassment because even after all that tutelage Steve still couldn’t get a simple sentence out to impress a lady.

Her mouth twitches upward, just the left side, and she lifts a meaningful brow at him. “I did well at geography and I’m fairly certain that we’ve labeled everything correctly.”

“It’s not that.” He gestures to the Alps between Italy and Austria. “Why isn’t there a fortress marked there?”

“Why should there be?”

She is studying him intently now and he stumbles a bit with his words before getting back on track. “You’ve got a half dozen units which have encountered Hydra troops in a pretty small area and a short time span. They have to be coming from somewhere, and I’d say the likeliest place given the information is about here.”

“I’ve been informed by experts in six different disciplines that it’s absolutely impossible for someone to build anything there because of the bloody great mountains on either side. And until we can get further aerial surveillance of the site, it’s known around here as Agent Carter’s magical base theory,” she says with a wry bit of challenge in her eye. He just shrugs.

“I don’t know about magic, but I do know that logic dictates an enemy base around that location. And besides, isn’t this a rogue Nazi science operation we’re talking about? Maybe they could come up with a way around the problem of...what was that? ‘Bloody great mountains?’”

"Cheeky," she says quietly, but she's smiling as she does, and the affection in her tone startles him and turns something sour in his belly. Because she's here talking to him as an equal without knowing that he's been peering into her private thoughts, mulling over and coveting them in a way he doesn't with anyone else's feelings. If she knew that, she would probably never look at him with politeness much less friendliness.

"I should get back," he says abruptly, and he shoves his hands into his uniform pockets and finds the first exit he can.

Kit!

The news came through the grapevine before Hew arrived back - I should have known that soldiers would be such massive gossips, but honestly - which is how I've gotten this letter out in the early post.

Congratulations to the both of you. I know you have that lovely rose-covered church back home that will make the perfect spot for the ceremony - even if you decide on a winter wedding, everything will look absolutely picturesque all draped in snow. And while Hew might argue for Edinburgh, I do encourage you - as always - to put your foot down. Although goodness knows you would merely have to think about a trinket you saw on holiday as a child and the man would already be crawling on his knees over the ocean to fetch it for you. He really is a darling where you're concerned, and I say you couldn't be luckier.

I certainly have no wish to intrude on your happiness, but you did ask about my own romantic prospects, and I'm afraid to report that they're a bit stalled at the moment. (I don't wish to ruin things further, but "grim" might be putting it better, if I'm to be frank.) I wasn't actively seeking a single thing in that area, and I think you’re well aware how thin on the ground suitable prospects are, especially someone who would find me suitable in return. (If Fred was frightened off by a bit of light introductory work, he would barely give me the time of day in my current position.)

But then the man I’ve been writing about came across my path and I could suddenly think of little else. Do you recall the letter your sister sent years back describing the Ideal Man, the one we all laughed over that night until we couldn't breathe? I know it’s a silly old thing, but I keep thinking to myself that he ticks each box: kindness and compassion, intelligence, respect for who I am and what I stand for, looks (it must be mentioned), and that special something that works its magic on you in particular...Things are a bit sticky, given our relative positions, and he seems rather dense about the whole thing, but those factors could be overcome. We had a conversation recently that made me think he thought of me in the same way. However, it ended with a definite rejection, and I have seen him many times in close company with a woman, so I wonder if he is perhaps very privately spoken for. I'm nearly ready to give up, if you'd like the truth.

I know. You're the romantic of the two of us, Kitty, and I can practically hear you telling me to seize the day and not rest until I've properly done the job.

I suppose that attitude is why you are the once announcing an engagement and I'm the one moping over people who don't seem to notice a thing.

I'll take the advice, if I can. After all, I would never want to upset the bride before her nuptials.

All my love and best wishes,

Peggy

Well, Steve thinks, swallowing hard as he sets the letter down. That's that. She's had her eye on someone else this entire time and he was a fool to think he ever had a chance. This man is a fool, too, for not seeing the chance he has.

He still finds a smile for Kit: he's never met her, never even read one of her letters, but Peggy's warmth for her has sparked the same within himself. He hopes that she and Hew are happy, that they both make it through and have a chance at a life together.

"Take a walk, Rogers," Rainy tells him kindly. "You're going to fog up the windows with all your sighing, and it's still first thing in the morning."

"No," Steve says, biting down on the wave of sadness inside of himself. Even the letters, illicit as they were, aren't safe anymore. "I can work." He’ll have to get used to it sooner or later.

He starts looking out for the man who has Peggy’s heart. He doesn’t even notice he’s doing it until he catches himself staring with furrowed brow at a letter from Corporal Lewis, who he thinks he’s seen talking to her a couple of times. He tries to recall whether he’d noticed between them that particular magic she’d mentioned. He imagines he’d know what it looks like: it’s what he’s felt looking at her, all the way back to Camp Lehigh. With a precision that surprises him, he can recall the quiet amusement, the perfect red upturn of her mouth as she’d smiled at him when he’d climbed into the back of her jeep. The memory of it still makes him smile now, even as he knows that it’s the sort of thing that will have to keep him going from now on.

“Private Rogers.”

He snaps to attention, dropping the letter and saluting from the crisp, commanding tone even before he quite registers who’s addressing him.

“Agent Carter.” He flounders for a minute. “This is Rainy. Private Lorraine. Private Allen, I mean.”

“Private.” Peggy nods at her, but Rainy is too busy letting her eyebrows climb into her hair and mouthing “Is that her?!” at Steve as he tries to subtly wave her off. Unbelievable that he once thought her sophisticated and composed.

“Perhaps we might speak in the corridor? I wouldn’t want to distract Private Allen from her work.”

Steve can practically feel Rainy’s wide eyes on his back as he holds the door for Agent Carter and follows her out into the hallway. He expects that his friend will have her thumbscrews waiting when he comes back.

“Rainy would have let you distract her all day,” he says, trying for a laugh as they find a quiet place around the corner, but Peggy only presses her lips together and says, “Indeed.”

After a space of silence, still waiting for her to speak, he suddenly has an inkling of why he’s been called out here. She’s smart, Agent Carter, and she’s somehow figured out that reading her letters is the best part of any given day, that he sometimes reads them through two or three times before sending them on. She’s probably letting him stew in it, waiting for him to confess. “Was there something you wanted to speak with me about?” he asks through the clenching of his lungs and throat. He stands very straight even as a thread of sweat slides slowly between his uniformed shoulder blades.

“I did.” She gathers something within herself and starts, “Steve—” before he cuts her off.

“Yes, I’ve been reading your letters,” he blurts, barely registering the use of his first name. “It’s my job, but just doing your job is no excuse, and it certainly doesn’t let me off the hook for the way I read them. So I understand if you won’t ever trust me, but I just wanted us to both know.” He lets the last of his breath go as he trails off and faces her like a firing squad.

“Of course you’ve been reading my letters,” she says with what he thinks is a little smile on her face. “All of the higher level SSR correspondence is distributed to you.”

“You knew?” It feels as if he’s six steps behind and he doesn’t quite know how to make his brain catch up.

“Yes. Just as I know that you aren’t particularly good at the job. Agnes who empties your wastepaper basket says that the others in the department are full while you barely ever seem to have anything thrown away.”

“People don’t speak out of turn too often,” he says uncomfortably, but then adds with a bit more fire, “And there’s also the little matter of free speech, unless we just decided to hell with the whole Constitution around the same time we locked up all the Japanese folks.”

“Not quite,” and she’s certainly smiling now, eyes softened at the corners. “It sounds, however, as if you aren’t entirely satisfied in your current position. I was wondering whether we might put your skills to better use elsewhere.” She holds up a file folder he hadn’t even noticed before and flips it open to show far off shots of snow and dirt and trees and an incongruous steel fortress. “The surveillance flights came back. The Hydra base in the Alps is no longer simply my pet theory.”

He can’t help the way his voice picks up, turns serious and strangely professional, as if he’s really part of it all. “So you’re formulating an attack plan?”

“We have something in the works,” she says briefly. “And I actually— Well, I was here to offer you a chance to be involved.”

“In strategy? With you?”

“It would be nice,” she says slowly, “to work with someone with a mind of his own. Someone who can listen.”

Steve’s instinct is to glance around to make sure there’s no one else there she could be referring to. He smothers it, but ends up pointing stupidly to his own chest, which isn’t much better. “Are you sure—Do you really mean me?”

“Who would I be speaking of otherwise?” She tilts her head at him, a bit of hesitance to the motion. That’s not like Peggy, he thinks, and it’s so strange that he knows that she is cautious only in a tactical way when this is one of a bare handful of conversations between them. “Steve, you have been reading my letters, haven’t you? Even the most recent ones?”

A disbelieving little snort escapes him. “You can go back and ask Rainy that question and she’ll laugh herself sick.”

“Is she—Are you...in a relationship?”

“No,” he says in careful confusion, and then adds recklessly, “She says she wouldn’t even take a chance on a guy as hung up as I am on...someone else.”

He remembers the way that remade body of his had reacted, careening around corners, rushing too fast for control. That’s how he feels now, on an edge too rapidly, recklessly, approached. He’d always accepted that he wasn’t exactly a catch for any girl, no matter what Bucky had insisted, and he’d made himself stop caring about it all, given up reaching. Except for now, apparently. Except for her.

She says, “If you’ve read the letters, why would you assume I meant anyone else? Unless—” and something is dawning on him, terrifying and bright and impossible: the idea that she is reaching back.

“Why wouldn’t you just say something?” It’s bewildering to even ask the question, to even be entertaining the possibility that this is what she meant, but she acts as if it isn’t.

“I thought I was, after a fashion,” and he thinks he sees a bit of a blush rising in her cheeks. “Apparently I hadn’t taken into account your obtuseness.”

“And you still want someone that obtuse on your team?” The words contain too much yearning hope for them to simply be about a new army assignment.

“A little obtuseness can be charming, under the correct circumstances,” she says, and he hadn’t noticed that they were so close until a door slams down the hall and they shift apart as if they’re being chaperoned.

“Why don’t we say you report to me at 0800 tomorrow?” She folds the file against her chest with one arm. He has a sudden, delightful image of Peggy as she would have been at school. “I’ll have you officially reassigned by then.”

He nods. “Rainy’s going to be furious. She says it took long enough to break me in, she’s not going to be pleased to have to do it to someone else.”

“Yes, well, I think it’s someone else’s turn to break you in.” Even with her bland, businesslike tone, he feels the tips of his ears glowing from the insinuation.

“Just so I’m aware, how does—” He clears his throat. “How does Colonel Phillips feel about his people becoming...friendly under his watch?”

“Oh, he takes it about as well as you’d expect,” she says casually. “If he finds out about it.”

“Then I guess I’m lucky to have a crack SSR agent on my side.”

Her eyes meet his, and he sees his foolish grin echoed in hers for the moment she allows it. Watching her tuck it away and become professional again only makes him smile wider.

“I’ll see you in a timely manner tomorrow, Private, or I’ll be sending you a strongly worded letter.”

“That doesn’t give me much incentive,” he tells her honestly. “I’d love any kind of letter of my own from you.”

A week later he gets back to his bunk and finds an envelope tucked beneath the blanket addressed in familiar handwriting. He doesn’t even know how she got it there - he’d just left her after a strategy session and her announcement that they would be traveling to visit troops on the continent - but he sits and tears it open before he can think of anything else.

Dear Steve...

#steggyweek2k19 #Steggy #Steggy fic #Steve Rogers #Peggy Carter #Attachments by Rainbow Rowell ft. Steggy

54 notes · View notes