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menuandprice · 2 years

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Claim Jumper Menu Prices

Claim Jumper Menu Prices are very curious. For this reason, we have prepared the updated Claim Jumper Menu Price list for you. By following our site, you can reach up-to-date menu prices such as Claim Jumper Menu Prices. The menu prices of the Claim Jumper brand, which has many branches, are frequently searched. You can follow our website menuandprice.net for menu prices research. We offer you the most up-to-date Claim Jumper menu prices. You can find the menu prices of the brand you want to research on our website. You can also access the menu of the restaurant, cafe or fastfood store you want from the search field above. Here are the new Claim Jumper Menu prices.

claim jumper menu

Claim Jumper Menu Prices

Claim Jumper Restaurant and Saloon is an American restaurant that was established in Houston, Texas. Claim Jumper’s opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and their happy hour also starts at 10 a.m. The restaurant is run and operated by Landry’s. The menu includes Angus beef, fish, salads, chicken, rotisserie chicken, baby back pork ribs, and so much more. Claim Jumper Restaurant and Saloon also provides a take out service. Customers need to call the restaurant and place their order; then their orders should be ready within an hour. There are approximately 35 Claim Jumper Restaurants in the United States. The restaurant chain has plans on opening more restaurants and seeks to be the best at what they do. Claim Jumper Restaurant and Saloon is also a proud participator in the community partnership program. Customers can use the Claim Jumper gift card instead of a usual cash method of payment and can earn money for their various organizations. New Claim Jumper Menu Prices; Starters Lemon Pepper ZucchiniSnack Size$6.99Lemon Pepper ZucchiniShare Size$11.49Spicy Cowboy BaconSnack Size$5.99Spicy Cowboy BaconShare Size$7.99Mozzarella SticksSnack Size$6.49Mozzarella SticksShare Size$10.99Loaded Potato SkinsSnack Size$6.99Loaded Potato SkinsShare Size$10.99Pork Belly Brussels Sprouts$10.99Bonanza Platter$21.99Spinach Artichoke DipSnack Size$6.99Spinach Artichoke DipShare Size$13.49Pub PretzelSnack Size$4.49Pub PretzelShare Size$6.99CalamariSnack Size$8.49CalamariShare Size$14.99SlidersThree Sliders$12.49SlidersFour Sliders$13.99Parmesan Garlic Onion RingsSnack Size$5.99Parmesan Garlic Onion RingsShare Size$9.99Buffalo Chicken WingsSnack Size$8.99Buffalo Chicken WingsShare Size$14.99Claim Jumper Menu Prices Salads Bbq Chicken Salad$15.99Asian Grilled Chicken Salad$15.99Chopped Cobb Salad$15.99Wedge Salad$11.99Side Salad$5.99Cali Chicken Citrus Salad$15.99Without Chicken$10.99Claim Jumper House Salad$8.99Caesar Salad$8.99Add Grilled Chicken$13.99Add Grilled Shrimp$15.99Add Tri-Tip$17.99Claim Jumper Menu Prices House-Made Soups New England Clam ChowderCup$6.99New England Clam ChowderBowl$8.99Potato Cheddar SoupCup$6.99Potato Cheddar SoupBowl$8.99Creamy Chicken TortillaCup$6.99Creamy Chicken TortillaBowl$8.99Claim Jumper Menu Prices Handhelds Original Tri-Tip Dip$15.99Clubhouse Sandwich$14.99Add Avacado$1.99Buffalo Chicken Wrap$13.49Fish Tacos$13.99Western Bbq Chicken Sandwich$14.99Cali Tri-Tip Sandwich$15.99Meatloaf Sandwich$14.99American Grilled Cheese$9.99Add Tomato Or Bacon$0.99Add Ham$3.99Claim Jumper Menu Prices Craft Burgers Classic Cheeseburger$13.49Impossible Burger$16.99Bacon Mac Burger$14.49Farmhouse Burger$14.49Widow Maker Burger$15.49Pork Belly Bbq Burger$15.49Claim Jumper Menu Prices Classics Chicken Pot Pie$16.99Fish & Chips$18.99Country Fried Steak$18.99Southern Fried Chicken$17.99Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes$17.99Chicken Tender Dinner$14.99After The Gold Rush$20.99Trail Boss Chicken$17.49Blackened Chicken Stuffed Baked Potato$13.99Claim Jumper Menu Prices

claim jumper restaurant menu Pasta Plates Black Tie$17.99Spaghetti & Meatballs$14.99Shrimp Fresca$20.99Twisted Jambalaya$20.99Claim Jumper Menu Prices Wood-Fired Pizzas Calzone$14.99Tri-Tip Pizza$9.99Classic$16.99Bbq Chicken$9.99Classic$15.99Veggie Works$8.99Classic$15.99Sausage & Pepperoni$9.99Classic$15.99Pepperoni$8.99Classic$14.99Cheese Pizza$7.99Classic$12.99Claim Jumper Menu Prices Land & Sea Entrees Roasted Tri-Tip$20.99Ribeye Steak$28.99Center-Cut Filet$29.99Rotisserie Chicken$18.49Top Sirloin$21.99The Sheriff Bone-In Ribeye$39.99Bbq Baby Back Ribs(Full Rack)$26.99Bbq Baby Back Ribs(Half Rack)$20.99New York Strip$28.99Porterhouse Steak$33.99Claim Jumper Menu Prices Combo Plates Surf & Surf$29.99The Tri-Tip Prospector$28.99Bacon-Bacon Ribeye12 Oz$32.99Pick Two - Miner’s Combo$26.99Pick Three - Ore Cart$30.99Claim Jumper Menu Prices Desserts Chocolate Motherlode Cake$12.99Caramel Pecan Butter Cake$8.99Carrot Cake$8.99Berry Butter Cake$8.99Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie$8.99Raspberry White Chocolate$8.99Original Cream Cheese Pie$7.99Brownie Finale$8.99A La Carte Brownie$5.49Cookie Finale$8.99A La Carte Cookie$3.99Shakes & Floats$5.99Claim Jumper Menu Prices Cocktails Mai Tai$10.99Gold Fashion$11.99Blackberry Basil Sour$9.99The Botanist Strawberry Collins$9.99Girls Night Out$10.99Morgan’s Punch$9.99Sol Sangria$9.99Island Meister$9.99Jack’s Berry Cobbler$9.99Long Island Iced Tea$9.99Peachy Colada$9.99Pomegranate Mojito$9.99Coco Mojito$8.99Don Julio Blackberry Paloma$10.99Bacon Ancho Mary$10.99Fool’s Gold$10.49Tito’s Mule Kick$10.49Deep Eddy Grapefruit Honey Mule$10.99Grey Goose Cucumber Mule$10.99Jameson Irish Whiskey Mule$9.99Jack’s Mango Mule$10.99Raspberry Martini$9.99Strawberry Spa Water Martini$10.99Absolut Citron Lemon Drop$10.49Almond Enjoy$9.99Perfect Patrón Margarita$11.99Jumper’s Gold Margarita$9.99Vanilla Tangerine Margarita$8.99Azuñia Blood O Margarita$9.99Grilled Piña Margarita$11.99Pineapple Coconut Lava Flow$5.99Barracuda$5.99Cj Punch$5.99Strawnana Blend$5.99Cramolade$5.99Claim Jumper Menu Prices Claim Jumper Restaurant and Saloon is an American restaurant chain with more than 30 locations. The company is based in Houston, Texas. Church’s Chicken Menu Prices Restaurateur Craig Nickoloff opened the first Claim Jumper in Los Alamitos, California, on September 27, 1977. The original restaurant had a large menu and an atmosphere inspired by California's Gold Rush of 1849. Wingstop Menu Prices https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsBNSKUleYg In September 2010, the chain filed for bankruptcy and was slated to be auctioned off. In October 2010, Landry's, Inc. acquired Claim Jumper, with a bid of $76.6 million. Landry's President/CEO Tilman J. Fertitta relocated the company's headquarters from Irvine, California, to Landry's corporate headquarters in the Uptown area of Houston. Claim Jumper Website. Cicis Pizza Menu Prices Does Claim Jumper serve bread?We both ordered soups. I loved my soup, but he felt his was mediocre. The host and server were attentive, friendly, and accommodating. Restaurant was in good condition.Why is Claim Jumper called that?I find myself obsessing about the restaurant's name: "Claim jumpers" were thieves who plundered defenseless miners who accrued their wealth through hand-blistering labor.How many locations does Claim Jumper have?Claim Jumper Restaurant and Saloon is an American restaurant chain with more than 30 locations. The company is based in Houston, Texas. Read the full article

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let-it-raines · 3 years

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I Hope We Never See October (11/12)

When his personal life and football career go up in flames, Killian Jones escapes England for America, finding seclusion in Martha’s Vineyard in order to hide from his demons. It’s a fresh start, or at the very least a paused moment in his life, and all he needs is a few months alone to allow his heart to heal. He doesn’t count on meeting Emma Swan.

Emma’s life depends on tourists who come to the island every summer. It’s how she makes her money working in restaurants and clubs across the vineyard, but every year, she cannot wait until autumn comes and her life returns to normal. She especially cannot wait for Killian Jones to leave.

Rating: Mature

Found on AO3: beginning | current

Found on Tumblr 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

-/-

Emma has had one beer tonight. Killian hasn’t been counting, hasn’t been paying that much attention. He simply knows she’s had one beer all night because it’s been coming from the same bottle. He knows because the bottle is sitting on the edge of the pool, right next to Emma’s phone. It’s not her best idea, keeping her phone that close to the water, but she keeps it nearby in case Henry calls.

Henry never calls when he’s at a friend’s house. The lad is independent. He’d only call if something dramatic was happening, like the house being on fire.

The house isn’t on fire.

But Emma won’t miss a call. Won’t get drunk in case Henry does call and she has to drive to get him. She’s a good mum like that. Even when she’s having her own time, when she’s getting to be a normal woman in her twenties, her actions are always revolving around her son.

Mostly. Sometimes she does indulge in her own pleasures.

Like right now, as Emma has her legs wrapped around his waist and is floating on her back in the pool, inhibitions completely gone, he’d have to think she was drunk and not thinking clearly. Or at least tipsy. He’s known Emma for months, and rarely is she this free.

Rarely is she this affectionate.

She’s been more like this since after he found out about Henry and they had a discussion clearing things up between them. Or, well, not clearing anything up, but at least attempting to. Killian, if anything, is more confused than before because it doesn’t feel fun and casual, not on nights like this.

On nights like this, Killian is idiotic enough to imagine a future where summer nights are like this. Music playing in the background, food filling his belly, conversation flowing among friends, and Emma staying close to him, laughing at his poor attempts for jokes.

It’s stupid.

He shouldn’t be doing this, shouldn’t be imagining any kind of future, because that’s a dangerous game to play when he knows he can’t have one.

When he knows…

“Hey,” Emma says, tightening her legs around his waist until she pulls herself up. “Do you know what sounds really good right now?”

He helps her adjust her position until her arms are wrapped around his neck, and his legs are steady on the ground of the pool. He pushes a loose strand of hair off her face. “What, love?”

“The Burger Shack.”

“Didn’t we eat here?”

“Like, four hours ago, and I only had one slice of pizza. I’m starving now.”

“How is that possible?”

“Don’t question my stomach’s capacity, Jones.” Emma shifts a little more on him, hitting him in the exact spot she shouldn’t when in public, and Killian bites his tongue. “I am starving, and all I really want is a heart-attack-inducing cheeseburger and fries.”

He raises a brow at that. “Fries?”

“Oh, right. You call them chips.”

“No, love, that’s not what I meant. I simply meant you prefer onion rings.”

“Sometimes a girl likes to switch it up.”

Killian goes back and forth with Emma for the next few minutes, and he believes at one point there is a very pointed insult toward his age, but before he knows it, he’s changing into dry shorts and a t-shirt, a jumper pulled on top of it because of the cool night weather, and Emma’s changed out of her sinful bikini to a t-shirt and jean shorts that are falling apart at the thighs. Artfully, quickly really, she says goodbye to her friends, but Killian lingers, chatting with David and Mary Margaret while he fields off Ruby’s playful insults.

It’s nice. It’s always nice here, and Killian doesn’t want to leave tonight. He could stay in the pool until all his skin is wrinkled, just relaxing underneath the moonlight.

But Emma is insistent, saying they have to leave before the Burger Shack closes – “It closes at midnight, Swan.” “It’s eleven thirty right now.” – so Killian says his goodbyes and gets behind the wheel of his Jeep until he’s on his way across the island to the Burger Shack, which is quite literally a shack on the beach that certainly can’t meet health standards.

It’s packed with people sitting on mismatched chairs and tables, some sitting on blankets on the sand, others on the hoods of their vehicles, and after Killian drops Emma off, he pulls onto the sand and parks, turning off the engine and letting the ocean waves and the music from other cars fill his ears. He doesn’t know how he hasn’t been here yet this summer. It’s obviously a local hangout, a popular one at that, but it’s one Emma has hidden until tonight.

It feels special, and Killian only gives one modicum of a fuck as to how ridiculous that sounds, even in his own head.

“Okay, so, I basically got everything on the menu, but you have to try this stuff.”

Emma’s not kidding, and she dumps two bags of greasy food on the console between them. She digs right into her burger, but Killian takes more time to decide what to go with first.

“The fries before they’re cold,” Emma says in the middle of a bite. “Everything else stays good when cold. Those don’t. Burger Shack rule 101.”

“Noted.” Killian grabs a chip, and the salt immediately hits his tongue. It’s good, really good, and he could curse Emma for not telling him about this place sooner. “How the hell did you know about this place?” He grabs another chip...fry. He calls them by both names now. He’s been Americanized. “And not tell me about it?”

Emma shrugs and puts her burger down to grab some of the chips. “It’s a special place. Wasn’t sure if you deserved it or not.”

Killian laughs and flicks his finger against Emma’s thigh. “What made me deserve it?”

“You really know what you’re doing with your dick.”

Killian tilts his head back in laughter and flicks his finger against her thigh again before resting his hand there and squeezing. “I do what I can.”

“And you do it well.” Emma takes another bite of her burger, and Killian grabs more fries. “But also, I guess you’re okay in other aspects of life too. I mean, you don’t have the worst personality I’ve ever come across.”

“What a glowing review.” Killian leans across the console and presses his lips to Emma’s cheek. “Thanks, sweetheart. I’m honored to be able to enjoy this greasy food with you even if I’ve already had dinner tonight.”

“As you should be.”

They eat and talk and laugh, and at some point, the Burger Shack stops serving food but none of the patrons leave. Instead, they play their music louder and shine their headlights toward the tables and chairs so those who are still eating can see. Killian wishes Emma had shown him this place earlier, but he can’t change the past. He can enjoy it for now.

Enjoy it until his stomach is full (even more so) and his eyes are drowsy. When Emma starts yawning more than talking, Killian slowly backs off the sound and drives them back to her place. It’s closer, and he knows she’d rather stay at home than at his place. It’s nice. They both know it, but it’s stale. It’s not hers, not his, and one day the owner will return to it.

Emma falls asleep on the way home, and once they’re there, she only wakes to stumble upstairs, strip out of her clothes, and crawl under the covers. Killian grabs a t-shirt from her dresser and puts it on her nightstand. She’ll wake up in an hour and be cold, and that way she won’t stumble out of bed and stub her toe on the dresser like she always does.

Killian manages to strip down into his briefs and brush his teeth, even washing his face, before slipping into bed beside Emma. He leans over and rests a hand on her belly, feeling the warmth of her skin against his, and then presses his lips into her shoulder, breathing her in. She smells like salt and chlorine.

She smells like summer.

This summer.

Summer, even as it fades away into the autum like the daylight slipped into the night, slow then all at once before anyone could really notice.

Similarly, Killian thinks he’s fallen halfway in love with Emma Swan before he could notice enough to stop it. That’s a thought he can’t afford to have right now, or ever, so Killian pushes it down, pushes it far, far away, and he focuses on what’s sure and in front of him.

Emma.

Emma and her warm skin and her steady breathing as she falls asleep next to him.

Or, tries to.

“Killian?” she mumbles into her pillow.

“Yes, love?” he mumbles into her shoulder, tracing his finger over her skin.

“You’re really fucking hot right now.”

“Why, Swan, I knew you felt that way, but – ”

“No,” she whines, pushing him back, “it’s too hot in here for you to be pressed against me. I need space.”

Killian groans and gently bites her shoulder before pulling back and putting space between them.

“As you wish.”

-/-

October

Morning comes before he wants it to.

And he tracks every damn minute.

Killian is a master of pushing things back, of not thinking about what he should be thinking about. It’s why it took him so long to deal with his grief over Liam and retiring from the game that shaped his life. It’s why, well, it’s why he had to escape to Martha’s Vineyard in the first place. He runs and runs and runs until he can do that no longer.

This morning, October 1st, he can no longer run.

He can’t run, can’t hide, not when the sign of the times is flashing on his phone’s screen.

Flight 3978 to Heathrow, 4:12 PM.

It’s half past nine now, and he needs to be at the airport in just a few hours because he’s got to get to Boston first.

Time is running out. For a lot of things, actually.

He has no fucking clue how to say goodbye.

Goodbye is too final, too definite, too much. And he and Emma have always been defined by their proximity. England and Massachusetts aren’t exactly close, and Killian has the feeling Emma won’t care to keep in contact when they’re an ocean apart.

That’s why he didn’t tell her his exact departure date. He didn’t know how, but he also didn’t want to ruin anything by speaking to the finality of it all. The moment he did that was the moment he disrupted the delicate balance they’d struck ever since Henry’s arrival.

God, he thinks he’ll miss Henry a bit too. Henry, the Nolans, Ruby, Ashley and her soon to be born child. He’ll miss all of it.

Killian inhales and rolls firmly onto his back in order to pinch his nose and keep his eyes shut, hoping the darkness will stay, but the sunlight has never been one to back away no matter how much he wishes it would.

A part of him is tempted to leave without saying anything, to rip the band-aid off to get this over with, but he knows he can’t be that asshole. He can’t leave Emma without saying goodbye. She deserves so much more than that.

She deserves more than a coward who couldn’t even give her a heads up to him leaving. He wanted to say it so many times, but he couldn’t.

“I can hear you thinking,” Emma groans, “and it’s annoying. Some of us are trying to sleep.”

“How could you possibly hear me thinking?”

“Because you fidget when you’re stressed.”

“I beg your bloody pardon.”

The bed shifts next to him, shifts a lot actually, and Killian opens his eyes to see Emma sitting up, the comforter falling to her waist. At some point in the night she put on the t-shirt. Emma’s eyes narrow, taking him in, and he doesn’t like the way she raises her brow and lines cross her forehead.

“What’s wrong with you?”

He flashes his biggest, most insincere smile. “Nothing.”

“You know not to lie to me. Superpower.”

“Who says I’m lying?”

“I do.” Emma reaches over and shoves his shoulder. “What the hell is wrong with you? It’s too early to look like you just ate a lemon.”

“I can assure you I didn’t eat a lemon. It’s horrible for your teeth.”

“Killian, come on. I’m serious.”

“So am I.” His phone buzzes again, the screen lighting up, and he knows Emma’s seen the screen before he can darken it. Shit. That’s one way to start off a goodbye. Emma grabs it, her green eyes wide as she stares down at it, and then she tosses it back onto the bed. “Emma,” Killian starts.

“I’m going to take a shower. I smell like sweat.”

And just like that, she’s up and heading toward the bathroom, not acknowledging anything about what just happened.

Killian knows he can’t be mad, can’t be as pissed off as he is. He’s the one who didn’t tell her he had an official departure date, is the one who never brought it up, but Emma just brushed off his leaving like it was nothing.

That’s exactly what his worst fear was.

This is why he hoped to somehow never see October. He never wanted any of this to be over.

The water in the shower turns on, and it takes enough time until Killian knows the water is running hot for him to get out of the bed and walk into the bathroom, catching Emma as she sits on the vanity, still wearing the t-shirt.

“What the hell are you doing?” she asks.

“What the hell are you doing?” he repeats. “We both know you saw my flight information on my phone, and you what? Decided that wasn’t a big deal so you ran to the bathroom?”

Emma tugs at the hem of her t-shirt and shrugs. “I’ve known you were leaving since the beginning. It’s not shocking news.”

“You didn’t know when the end date was.”

“Didn’t need to. Everything always ends.”

And now Killian gets it. Or at least he hopes he does. She’s protecting herself. She’s putting that armor back on, the one that’s slowly fallen away this summer, and Emma is putting it back on piece by piece.

He’s frustrated as hell, but he understands. He does.

He understands Emma, and that’s a blessing and curse all at once.

She strips off her shirt and opens the shower door before getting inside. Steam collects around her, fogging up the door, and Killian knows she wants to be done with this conversation. He’s far too stubborn to let her.

God, they should have talked.

“Emma, I – ”

“Killian, I’m a little busy. Don’t you have a flight to catch?”

“I have time.” “Not really. You have to get to Boston, and you have to get there early. You know what they say about international flights. You need to be there early, and you need to go.”

“Emma, please.” He steps closer to the shower, but he doesn’t dare open the door. He also notices that Emma is keeping away from the spray of water, only dipping her toes in while keeping the rest of herself dry. “I know we should have talked about this earlier, but we’re both too stubborn for that. I get it. This whole thing scared you. It scared me too. I’m actually fucking terrified of you and whatever this is between us, and just because I have to go back home doesn’t mean we have to end.”

Emma grabs the towel that was resting atop the door, wraps it around herself, and opens the shower door. The steam continues to fill the room, and Killian can feel sweat beading at the nape of his neck. “You hear how you just said home? Yeah, that’s the issue. You live an ocean away. Even if I wanted you to stay or keep in contact or do whatever you think will make this work out, there is no solving our issue. You’re not from here. I’m not from there. There is no solution. This was all temporary, Killian. There’s no other option.”

Emma twists the knob on the shower and turns the water off. He doubts she actually planned on showering in the first place, and she’s making no attempts to hide that it was mostly an excuse. Emma brushes past him, warm skin hitting his bare shoulder, and moves into her bedroom. Quietly, she gets dressed, ignoring him, and all the while, a question bubbles in Killian’s mind as his heart beats so fast he can barely hear his own thoughts.

He’s too terrified to ask the thought that does push through all the other madness.

But he thinks he could really love her one day, so he asks anyway.

“Emma,” Killian whispers, and she looks up as she finishes pulling on her shorts, “I have my question of the day. Do you want me to stay?”

-/-

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#I hope we never see october #cs fic #cs ff #cs fanfic #captain swan fic #captain swan ff #captain swan

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kiirokero · 3 years

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Brother’s Best Friend

Pairing: Kim Taehyung x Reader

Genre: College AU, F2L, Fluff, Light Angst

Word Count: 1,956

Summary: You and your brother Jimin are 2 peas in a pod. You’ve been with each other through thick and thin, but what do you do when you fall for one of his best friends, Kim Taehyung?

Warnings: Mentions of abusive parents but it’s like... one alluding sentence.

Note: Look Ma, I’m trying

The scent of the stew you were cooking on the stove for breakfast wafted through the air, calming in an odd, homely way. Your brother, Jimin, walked out of his room, the remnants of sleep still evident as he bumped into furniture and rubbing his eyes. "Careful, don't hurt yourself." You chuckled, turning your attention back to breakfast.

Jimin grumbled, stumbling over to the kitchen. "You're making breakfast?" He asked, peeking over your shoulder. "Yeah, you stayed up all night studying, figured you would need the energy." I shrugged, turning off the burner, allowing the stew to cool. "Speaking of," You continued, "Have you decided what you wanted to do for your graduation celebration?" Jimin was quiet for a minute before he sighed, "I'll probably have Tae and Kook over for a mini party. I mean, it's just college."

You gasped, whipping around to glare at your older brother. "It's not 'Just college'." You countered, "You've been working so hard to get this music degree, you deserve something special." You poked his chest and started making bowls of stew for the both of you. "Y/n, we're both broke college students," He chuckled, following close behind you as you went to sit at the coffee table, the usual breakfast place.

You and Jimin shared a small apartment about 20 minutes from the college the two of you went to. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, and an open kitchen-living room plan. You could have a conversation with one another from anywhere in the house. But both of you were extremely proud of it. Living with your parents wasn't the healthiest, it took a toll on your mental health, Jimin's too, but you always had each other.

So when you two got scholarships for the same college, Jimin for music, you for foreign languages, it was like a dream. That didn't mean the two of you were breezing by, but together, you managed. Jimin was a performer at a local restaurant and you had odd jobs. You would make money being a tutor, working at the local cafe, and, now and then, being a teacher assistant for foreign exchange students. Together, you saved enough money to rent your shared apartment and just live. You guys weren't sailing by, but you always had enough.

"Just hush and eat," You dug into your own bowl, humming when the savory taste hit your mouth. "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, Tae and Kook are coming over today." Jimin casually informed you, like he hadn't just dropped the biggest bomb. You choked on your stew and Jimin frantically handed you his glass of water. After almost dying, you took a deep breath and laid your head on the table. "You couldn't have told me sooner?" You grumbled.

"Why? The apartment's clean." He shrugged, continuing to eat. It wasn't that, far from it. The apartment was always clean. It was the fact that the man you were crushing on was suddenly coming over. Tae. Taehyung. Kim Taehyung was coming over and your idiot brother didn't tell you until now. "When will they be here?" And as if that were a cue for the universe, there was a knock at the door. "Now!" Jimin cheered, smiling as he answered the door.

The familiar voices of Taehyung and Jungkook filled your tiny apartment. Quickly, you tried to sneak down the hall to your bedroom, "Hey Y/n!" but that plan was halted when Taehyung's deep voice calls out to you. Taking a deep breath, you turned around to face him. The wind was knocked out of you when you laid your eyes on him.

He was dressed casually, black beanie, white jumper, and jeans. You felt your knees grown weak, but you held yourself up for the sake of your dignity. "Hey guys, how are you?" You smiled, trying not to give away your obvious nervousness. "We're good!" Jungkook chimed in, walking over to give you a quick hug, Taehyung not far behind. You got a whiff of his cologne, it was earthy, it reminded you of a forest after rainfall.

"Y/n! You wanna join us? We're just going to play video games." Jimin gave you a hopeful smile. He always wanted you to tag along, you being his best friend since forever. The other boys didn't mind either, always getting sad whenever you were too busy studying to hang out with them. You chuckled softly, "Sorry Chim, I uh... Have a video call with Namjoon." You lied, knowing that if you spent another second next to Taehyung, you would probably pass out.

Jimin pouted, his blonde hair was thrown back as he whined, "Do you have to?" Taehyung said, sporting a pout as well. He was testing your willpower, but you stayed the same. "Y-yeah, maybe next time." You scrambled away to your bedroom, shutting the door and flopping on your bed with a groan. Why were you so awkward?

It felt like minutes passed as you sat on your bed, but in reality, it was a couple hours, lunchtime. You only knew this because Jimin came barging into your room asking if you wanted a burger from the local diner. Of course you agreed. "Alright, we'll be back soon." He gave you a salute and you laughed, waving him goodbye. You heard the ruckus of the boys putting their shoes on and the front door closing, indicating that you were alone. Or so you thought.

That notion was quickly proven false when a certain Taehyung peaked his head through your door. He gave you that adorable boxy smile of his and you couldn't help but smile back. "Can I come in?" He asked, you nodded your head and he sat on the edge of your bed.

"I thought you went to the diner?"

"I didn't feel like going." Taehyung shrugged.

"Are you tired?" You asked.

"Not really, I just... wanted to hang out with you for a bit."

You felt butterflies in your stomach bloom when he said that; you wanted to turn and hide your face but you resisted the urge. "W-why me? Jimin and Kook are your best friends." You stuttered, looking at his sculpted side profile. He turned to you, catching you off guard when he looked right into your eyes. His earthy ones bore into your soul, and you didn't have the willpower to look away.

"You mean more to me than you think." He turned away, flopping down on the bed right next to you. "So, how was your chat with Namjoon?" He asked as if you weren't internally having a meltdown. "What?" You realized your mistake as soon as the words left your mouth, "I-I mean it was fine. It was good." You coughed, embarrassed. Taehyung broke out in giggles as he rolled on his side to look at you.

"I know you didn't have a call with Namjoon," He said in a low voice, he started moving closer while you moved back, eventually hitting the headboard. He kept getting closer until he was right in front of you, at level with your stomach with both his arms on either side of your legs. "Why are you avoiding me?" He whispered to you. "I don't know what you're talking about." You whispered back, Taehyung chuckled. "I see the way you look at me, you know."

"What do you mean?" You looked away, pretending that whatever was happening outside was more exciting than your crush who was practically in your lap. Suddenly you felt a hand grab your chin and you were slowly turning back to Taehyung. "You look at me like I'm the only man on Earth." His eyes looked longing, a hint of admiration in them. "Am I right?" He continued.

You didn't know what to say, so you just avoided the question. "You're my brother's best friend." You grabbed his wrist and pulled it away from his face. "So?" He countered, taking your hand in his. "W-what will he think?" You mumbled, turning away from his amber hues. "Are you saying that you do feel this?" He squeezed your hand, moving his head to be in your line of sight but you kept looking away.

"I-I don't know." You whispered. "I think you do." Taehyung sat up, resting on his knees as he grabbed your face to make you look at him. "I think you know but you're scared of what Jimin will think." And you were. How were you supposed to tell him you have the fattest crush on one of his best friends? What if Jimin drops him? What will happen then? What happens if this doesn't work out and you get your heart broken?

Taehyung brought your face closer to his, bringing you out of your thoughts, "Aren't you?" He whispered, so quietly that if the deafening silence wasn't engulfing the both of you, you wouldn't be able to hear him. Defeated, you nodded your head, confirming his suspicions. "Don't be, it could be our secret for the time being." He continued. If your brain made a noise, it would be the Windows error sound. Your nerves were shot and your mind was going haywire. You felt your palms get clammy and your breathing pick up. Taehyung was still staring into your soul, his look intense but holding a fondness in them.

"T-Tae, you know Jimin means a lot to me..." You sighed, the thought of keeping secrets from him was saddening, the possibility that he wouldn't approve of Tae and you saddened you even more. "Then we'll tell him. Just... kiss me." He begged, using his thumb to caress your cheekbone. One kiss couldn't hurt. So you nodded, ignoring the web of emotions that was currently restraining you from what you really wanted, Taehyung.

Slowly, Taehyung leaned in, stopping right before your lips touched. His earthy cologne filled your nose and your heart fluttered when his warm breath hit your face. His lips met yours softly as if you were prized china, precious and fragile. Your mind calmed from all the doubts that were swirling through it, all you could think about was Taehyung plump lips, a little chapped, but soft.

You were inexperienced, but Taehyung was more than happy to take the lead. His hands releasing your face and moving their ways down your arms, grabbing your hand with one and pulling you closer by the waist with the other. Fire seemed to burn in your stomach as you wrapped your arms around his neck, waiting to feel more of the warmth that radiated off of his body. His brunette curls brushed against your face. In any other situation it would've made you giggle, but now it only made your heart skip a beat.

He gripped your waist tighter and he kissed you harder, more desperate, but he was holding back, not wanting to go too far. His other hand squeezed yours, his thumb caressing over your knuckles. The two of you only pulled apart when your lungs screamed for oxygen. He rested his forehead on yours, his curls like a curtain pulled back to see his sculpted face. His lips were swollen and glistening, and yours were too.

He didn't say anything as he wrapped his arms around you, pulling you into his chest, head resting on top of yours. The rhythmic sound of his breathing calmed your pounding heart. You couldn't stop your wandering hands from resting on his waist. "Can we... try?" Taehyung spoke, still breathless, "We can tell Jimin if that's what you want, I just want you..." You couldn't help the smile that crept up on you, the happiness you felt quickly drowning out the doubts that whispered in your ears. "Yeah, I'd like to try."

#bts #bts fic #bts taehyung #bts fluff #bts fanfic #bts college au #kim taehyung #taehyung #bts one shot #bangtan #taehyung x reader #one shot #f2l #friends to lovers #bts imagines #bts scenarios #kpop imagines

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sly-merlin · 3 years

Text

KILLING ME -11 |N.Y

pairing : law student!reader + yuta

genre : angst , mafia au/ arranged marriage au.

warnings of this chapter : cursing, explanatory mention of a pistol!

words :: ~5k

summary : “life’s never fair y/n. realise it as soon as you can . it is the only secret for living a regretless life.”

“ curiousity got the cat hitched”

taglist :: @kpop-choco @moon-yuta @kawaiiayasan @btm-taeyong @exfolitae @lanadreamie @cheersskznct @hyuckiesgf @theworld-accordingtocasey @yiyi4657 @sorrywonwoo @sillywinnergladiator @suhweo @minejungwoo @leesalts @mal-nakamoto23 @ro2424 @itlittlefangirl @nctzens-world @bl--ankhaeji @simplybree

networks :: @kafenetwork @neowritingsnet @nct-writers

K.M masterlist

K.M 10 next

a/n :: header was made with detailed instructions from lovely @cirrus-lily (thank you so much for your patience).

Previous night , taeyong’s office.

The thick, heavy unnatural silence was breached by the phone call. Taeil’s muffled words didn’t reach anyone’s ears but taeyong’s reaction was enough for an estimate!

“what did taeil say?”

Taeyong glanced at yuta’s hopeful yet helpless face. Taeil's order was far from what yuta's eyes sought. The past ten minutes were spent listening to the unsynchronized ticking of the clocks and some random whispering of the younger ones from the living room. And now, several pairs of eyes were asking for the answers.

“you will be stationed in nice, f-for two months.”

Yuta’s face hardened at his words. He gulped and opened his mouth to say something but stopped. The words stuck on his tongue would not be able to convey what he wanted to, he thought.

“with johnny?" Jaehyun uttered.

“no yuta is replacing him" taeyong mumbled, hiding his face in his hands.

Yuta snickered , “ as expected.” as much as he didnt want to sound bitter, his senses were not cooperating with him too much.

“this is not about you or johnny. It’s better if you both stay away fr-

“did taeil tell her the truth?” yuta coldly cut him off.

“i don't know about that!"

“then I'll have to do it myself." Yuta stood up, alerting everyone.

“do not stretch this yuta. This can end right here. Your absence woul-

“you got it wrong taeyong!” yuta cackled , “I'm dying to leave this place but don't you think she deserves to know that she's wrong here.”

“please yuta. For last time. trust taeil. this is the last thing I’m asking from you. You’d get the chance to explain. Ju-just not yet.” Yuta scowled at taeyong’s hollow pleading.

He inched forward slamming his palms on the table , “ since when did you start playing with wrong players taeyong? you are supposed to be the smarter one here. Who are you fooling here? you think I don’t know why she’s here or jaemin, jeno, jungwoo, chenle, jisung, mark, they don’t have a hint?” taeyong eyes danced around the room avoiding any contact as yuta continued, “Don't stretch this taeyong. this can end right here. without hurting another one and right before they can get attached. I hope when i come back , you would have sorted this mess out or you won’t have time to regret this time”

Scoffing at taeyong’s hunched figure, he smacked the table once before leaving the room.

Doyoung followed soon , leaving Jaehyun and Taeyong alone.

Panic engulfed jaehyun’s entire being as he pondered over yuta’s words.

“he’s right. You saw her today. She’s getting worked up over a stupid misunderstanding and you saw the way taeil is acting! This was never the plan. She’s not timid. You cannot possibly make her agree to anything at all. Taeil would never let that happen. Heck! Yuta’s getting weirder these days. Let her go. We can wait unt-

“We. Can’t .wait. I know my limits, Jaehyun and two months are enough..” Taeyong whisper yelled “ I care about her more than you’d ever do so get the fuck out of here. You don't get to tell me what I should be doing.”

Jaehyun leered at the older man, muscles in his jaw twitching at his words “you have lost it taeyong. if we fail this time, you’d be the one to blame.”

Perfectly ironed shirts were wrinkled as yuta threw them into the case. doyoung was ready to accompany but he refused all the assistance proposed to him. He left nothing. from t-shirts and pants to jumpers, he packed as if he was going for a one way trip to france.

He groaned , jumping on the suitcase, trying to bury the clothes deeper into the case so he could zip it. Once finished,he pushed the cases out of the room and into the hall. locking the door, his running and hurried eyes fell on the opposite room. It was bare of any presence. This was his first time peeking into your room. He was merely looking from afar but the very next second he found himself going through the album resting on the bed covers. a perfect normal photo album was calming enough to subside his inner turmoil.

yuta scrunched his nose at the small girl who was either frowning or crying in most of the pictures. the family of three looked quite happy. But the girl didn't seem to resemble any of the adults. He almost let out a laugh at your wailing form in every other photo. Just looking at the pictures, anyone with two eyes could tell that you were a spoiled kid. No wonder you were full of attitude and ego, he thought.

closing it, he glanced at the room, simple and plain. Not that his own wasn’t but he couldn’t find anything that had prompted you to lock your door for the whole day. He left the room to lock his own but when he pocketed his keys, they met with something at the end of his pants pocket.

A grunt left his throat at the sight of the screws. He had placed them in his pocket to follow your fuming body, the reason of which he didn’t know back then. He was about to throw them on the bed when the album caught his eyes again. He cursed at himself for being so indecisive. Pacing back and forth , he noticed how composed he had suddenly become. He wasn’t feeling anger, just some traces of irritation for the whole drama that had unfolded.

Before he could convince himself otherwise, he took a paper from your desk, scribbled with a trembling hand and left it on the counter.

All while hoping taeil was actually being reasonable , just this once.

12:30 p.m

Looking through the power window, you stared at taeil’s arriving form, hands full with brown food bags. He hit the car door with his one knee prompting you to open the door from inside.

“when I say you are no better than others ,I really mean you are NO better than them!” taeil chortled as he shoved a bag into your lap.

“what did I do this time?” you rolled your eyes as you anticipated another moral lecture from him.

“nothing. you are making an old man to get food for you!”

“and I had suggested the said old man to enter the drive thru!”

“and drive thru is no fun, duh! The vintage the better!”

“just like someone I know! you exclaimed chewing the burger.

“very funny. You know highway stops are all about breathing in fresh air while stretching your arms, yawning so widely that you have to hide your face in your stretched arm to save yourself from the embarrassment. The first step out of the car after hours of driving feels like restoration of something that was denied to you for such a long time. and the second phase of happiness comes at the engine purring, the feeling is like no other, I’m telling you. but someone lost their chance to experience it .”

“you sound poetic taeil but you lack facts. The fresh air you just inhaled is what we consider a polluted one.I’ll prefer to sit inside and miss all that instead of going out and dying. So let go of the fancy peace thoughts and develop your perceptions according to the changing world. The sound of this vintage engine is a source of headache and not happiness.Now lemme eat. IN PEACE”

“we’ll see whose perception changes” taeil mumbled munching on the fries.

You both ate in silence for 20 minutes. As the drive continued ,the stilled milieu took you back to the uncertainties you were trying so hard to suppress. When taeil had knocked at the door in the morning, which was beyond expectation at first, he gave you the liberty to question his actions but you had passed that opportunity, precisely to show that you weren’t that greedy. But you were! The endless queries were now making you anxious. Why did taeil come with you? what was the reason behind his pleasant behaviour, how could yuta agree to go like that? sure he liked your presence not more than you did but was he the kind to bow down so easily! Or was he designing something under the colour of acceptance. taken together ,you ended up being the ruthless one here. But the leading one was why did yesterday happen! Multiple stolen glances at Taeil were fairly noticeable; you were waiting for him to just start something. And he perhaps was waiting for you to initiate. Dilemma remained unsolved and you arrived in seoul just like you had left it, but visiting your parents had lessened the encumbrances weighing you down.

You were about to retreat after thanking him when he finally spoke up,

“b.n at 6! No exemption. And instead of racking your brain, just ask. it’s simpler than you make it to be y/n.”

Slamming the door shut , you dragged your feet for the apartment, shaking your head at the man.

Of course he knows everything! And maybe could ask him someday to get your own answers.

10 days later

The gun went off with a bang which if it hadn’t been for the ear protectors and the noiseless sheets, would have deafen your ears. Fingers pointed at the target, eyes coloured with impatience, jungwoo didn’t move. After he was done with his dramatic action, the glass shield slid and he entered inside.

“this is target A. this one is B” he asked for a confirmation with his wide eyes which you nodded at.

“right. so!” he walked circling the dry grass to stand between two targets, “so when I say hit at A, you should be firing at A, precisely aiming anywhere in this space.” he explained again, hand moving in front of the said space.

“I hit at the center jungwoo! The fucking center! For the first time in two weeks.”

“yes. You did hit the core but of the wrong target.”

“how does it matter? It's a perfect shoot”

Jungwoo blinked multiple times focusing on your puzzled face. He wasn’t sure if you were purposely trying to annoy him or you seriously lacked a few braincells to understand where you were wrong!

“at the wrong target.” he pressed.

“but I still hit-

“Ok. listen to me carefully now. Lets assume A is taeil hyung and B is a killer. If i shout to you that kill B and you mistakenly shoot A instead then you’d end up killing taeil hyung instead of the killer and then you’d be a killer yourself and even if the shot was perfect it was targeted wrongly thats why when i say hit A, hit A and when i say B, hit B. understood now?” dumbfounded, you stared at him bobbing your head a few times to indicate you understood. But you really hadn’t.

“You are not lying right?”

“Dont accuse me of lying!”

“Oh! So you still don-

“hey beautiful!”

Your heads jerked towards the owner of the voice who had just interrupted the bickering.

“johnny” you whispered.

“I meant jungwoo y/n.” jungwoo sticked his tongue out at you as he jumped forward to hug johnny.

“When did you come back?”

“just now. I flew directly to Japan from nice. didn’t he inform you all? And why is nobody at home?”

a small smile graced your face while jungwoo started explaining to him about some business event. You felt like jungwoo won’t shut up anytime soon so you turned around from the scene and made yourself busy with the magazine. As you were counting the rubber bullets to fill the magazine, a pair of arms touched your both shoulders.

“wh-

“how are you y/n.”

“you done talking to your prince.”

Jungwoo groaned approaching you with a stern look.

“you’ll have plenty of time to chatter. Focus on your job instead!”

“ugh. You are so annoying. I’m done for the day.” You announced handing the pistol to him.

“wait! what am I missing here.” Johnny's eyes shifted , not knowing what was going on in his absence.

“yuta hyu-

“I know all that. I’m asking about the bullets!”

“Taeil told me to learn some basics to defend myself and jungwoo is my assigned teacher who don’t seem to appreciate my skills at all”

“liar!” Jungwoo screeched and continued, “she’s poor at shooting, hits anywhere but the point I’m indicating at an-and she never listens to me.”

Snorting dramatically at the end, he glares at you. you welcomed his complaining speech with a toothy grin which seemed to annoy him more. One thing you had learnt in the past two weeks had been that jungwoo was frustrating when he was hungry and during the time he was supposed to teach you, no food was allowed in the basement, making him a hunger monster.. Johnny watched the exchange with an amused smile, just like you were doing a few minutes ago.

“alright. You both need to chill. Jungwoo, she's not a professional so go easy on her and you! you should listen to him. or if you want I can be your tutor instead!”

“don’t hijack here. she's my student and I was chosen because I am the softest and the sweeter one her-

“who is a second away from having a breakdown!”

“no go out. You are not invited anymore. nobody is allowed here from 6 to 7:30 .” Jungwoo announced as he started pushing Johnny out the door.

‘”yaa! Jungwoo. I’m go- don’t push me you rascal. I am going. Bye y/n. I’ll be waiting upstairs.” He shouted and waved in the air which you, for no reason, found yourself returning even if he wasn't going to see it.

As johnny was gone, jungwoo pressed the switch again to close the partition. Coming behind you, his arms embraced you and he placed the gun in your hand as he ducked himself to reach your height with another try to improve the hand-eye coordination. Occupied with each other, you both missed the pair of eyes watching you both in a very unpleasant manner.

“how’s your research going?” johnny asked with a mouthful of meatballs.

“it’s meh! The library is under construction so I can't properly look through books and besides minjun is too whiny to let me do anything. I can’t leave that kid alone so we're always hanging out after 1. I’ve some resources saved so I’m fine for now” you replied.

“seems like that minjun guy makes you very happy. Is he the one?” jaehyun took your attention as he pinched his neck. You narrowed your eyes at his unnecessary remark.

“my happy pill is not minjun but you jaehyun dear. I haven’t seen you in like 5 days i guess? So that eliminated all the reasons for my unhappiness. Your absence is my elixir jae. ” You grinned. Jaheyun pointed his chopstick at you but before he could utter anything, taeyong spoke up.

“woah. Don’t you two start now.” he cried.

“he’s the one that starts everything! I just continue his shit for it-

“well I won't initiate if its not for that stinky tongue o-

“Shut up before I lock both of you in a room.”

Hearing several snickers, it seemed like taeyong was the only one getting annoyed, everyone else seemed to be enjoying it.

Just when you were about to pour more juice, everything else finished and left the table. it seemed strange as how fast they were done with their dinner.

“how can you all eat so quickly?” doyoung seemed to be more perplexed as he asked taeyong.

“don’t you both know?” you settled your chopsticks on the plate as taeyong proceeded, “the last two to finish cleans the dishes.”

You instantly scanned the whole dining table and the instant regret of eating like a sloth washed over your face. There were only three left and next second there were only two. Jungwoo shot up from seat with his stuffed mouth, waved and left. Taeyong didn’t waste any time before he also scurried away.

“this was a conspiracy y/n.” doyoung murmured.

“I know right. they knew it. w-we have to wash for 14 people.”

“look at the brighter side, we don’t have to hurry now.”

You shrugged at his words, filling your glass with juice again.

“you should not be drinking juice at nighttime.” He lectured

“then why is it on the table?”

“aish! You are impossible.”

“so are you.”

You continued bickering with doyoung until both of you were finished. Like everyone else, you too had started to find joy while annoying doyoung. The responses from him were always a treat. He was also awfully similar to you. the nit-picking in almost everything, forever sceptical body language and lastly the identical frown you both wore all the time. but you were not the one that detected the similarities, it was doyoung himself.

It was not just doyoung! With exception of jaehyun, it seemed like everyone was trying to make you a part of their daily lives. The day after the incident, you had hesitated to knock the door, scared of their reactions towards you but the dark cloud of worry had floated away with the warmest hug jungwoo had welcomed you with. You detected no rejection, no unpleasant remarks, instead you were strictly instructed to not to leave the premises without having dinner. And that one day became two and two a routine. You were confused as you were the reason someone dear to them was somewhere he wasn't meant to be at the moment and yet they treated you like you were their own! For first few days you were at edge, the affection not digestible. Feeding your suspicions , you tried to choke something out of mark who was also your designated driver but all he unveiled was his endless jokes and contagious giggles weaved with the various stories. Each day he recited a new one, sowing the seeds of intimacy with his family which, you couldn’t deny, were sprouting into something unprecedented. However vague it was, you liked it. You liked this unsought acceptance, being included like a family, taking you back in the time. But you never had the luxury of an easy life. Was this worth trusting? Were you ready to return their affection by placing them on the pedestal as same as jungkook and yugyeom. But this house wasn no more reeking of any resentment and you were more than fine with that for now.

"Stack the glasses, I'll pick up the plates"

"This is so tiring" you complained while scraping the sauce on the plates.

"You'll get used to it." Doyoung deadpanned.

"Tell me why i agreed to this!"

"You know the rules. And don’t you remember because of you, I washed for 20 people that day! You deserve the suffering woman!”

You chuckled at the memory. A few days ago, You, doyoung and hyuck were the last ones remaining. And you had won the rock paper scissors. Though the last two were the supposed cleaners, hyuck had ditched the poor boy, leaving him with extra load.

"You carry some heavy dark clouds on your head man. I don't know how you manage to end up with dirty utensils!every fucking single time" Doyoung glared at your remark and you both continued washing and wiping the dishes side by side.

"Where are the spoons?"

"On the table. Wait , I'll be back in 2 minutes!"

Carrying the cutlery you made your way back to the kitchen but chanting of a familiar name froze you in your steps.

"He's acting like a child johnny! Had he called you after you left?" It was taeyong speaking in a hushed manner, but he was not doing a very good job in whispering.

"Nope. He just took names and contacts of all the whistleblowers and that's it. But i can’t understand the need for that taeyong! I had everything in control. What do you wanna achieve with your stupidity!”

"Jaemin, hyuck and jisung are in constant contact with him but only to receive the codes he's sending. He's just unreachable and I'm not just talking about his cell network johnny. I'm losing him. He- taeil thought it’s for the best. They won’t see each others face for sometime an-

“And everything would be fine? Right? Sounds very legit. Goodluck with daydreaming princess.”

Hearing some shuffling, you trudged for the kitchen, not wanting them to be aware of your eavesdropping.

Stretching the hem of your knee length skirt with your hands, you kicked your feet in the air to get the non existing elasticity to work. chances were not less but anybody could see you so while cursing at chelin for the tight skirt you made your way inside the office. Your bag made contact with your right hip as you walked into the office corridors. You entered the security doors through the pass that was generated online for first day entry.You never wanted to enter this side of the famous company but with minimum options available you had no choice but to associate yourself with this branch, infamous for saving culprits of money laundering, false accusations and what not.

“ms. y/n?” a receptionist shifted your attention to her tall frame. You affirmed with a nod and she extended her hand asking for the documents.

“I’ll place your original documents in our custody room. No need to worry, this is a mere formality as we don’t make interns sign confidentiality papers. As you already know , you can end your internship with a three weeks prior notice and when we receive that application, your document would be handed back. And in case, you become an associate, and that would depend on your performance, you’ll get them at the promotion.”

You followed her steps as she stopped at a desk and gave you the papers back.

“change the folder to a chois file. And sign this receipt. I’ll give you a copy and don’t lose it if you want your degree back.” You blinked drinking each and every word she said. You again nodded like a lost child and completed the formalities. After a few minutes you were shown to your small desk that was decorated with a pyramid of legal files.

“do I have to work on these” you voiced your fear. Even if it was a stipend based internship, nobody would take up that work load.

“oh no! actually I forgot that you were joining but I’ll get it cleaned in the evening so you can adjust for today right?” before you could respond the sound of her heels faded away in the distance.

“Welcome to the great chois y/n” you mumbled to yourself, picking up a random file to pass the time until further orders.

A week later

To keep your mind off the distasteful look painted all over mr. kwang’s face, you chose to look at his new assistant. The clicking or rather banging of the keys of the computer combined with the occasional scratch of her nails was highly uncomfortable but not more than the man sitting beside her. Your professor didn’t find it amusing that his favourite free fund student was asking for her permitted leave.

“how much have you progressed with the thesis?” he scoffed, respectfully dumping the application on the table.

“I’ll be working half day. I’m not supposed to accompany them to the hearings so I’ll be back in the university in the late afternoon to research on that.”

He sighed, clearly not satisfied by the answer, “you want to skip lectures for an assistant job!”

“I would be promoted shortly so it’s acceptable sir.” A lie slipped out before you could stop yourself.

“what about getting distinction in thesis?”

“I’ll be surrounded with experts so it’s not a big deal sir. I’m getting late. I’ll see you in Friday’s lecture.” In sync with his eyeballs, he rolled his chair to face the other way. Picking up the paper you bowed to his back and left the staffroom , a grin of content bedazzling your face.

"He did what?" Johnny tried hard to control his laughter but the scenario you were narrating was too humorous for him to keep his hands stable on the wheel.

"I'm not kidding John. Yugyeom seriously forgot kook at Busan. But he did go back to get him though but I won't blame gyeom for this error!"

"Oh yeah! Just because jungkook slept in the gym doesn't justify his mistake girl. The driver should count the passengers before taking the wheel. Look at me, i never forget anyone no matter what!"

"Stop blowing your own trumpet. Don't forget you are driving a stolen car!"

Johnny rolled his eyes at the comment , "no, borrowed from mark so I can spend more time with you. stop lawyering and tell me what you did in the break. Apart from flirting with jungwoo of course."

You shook your head at him as he repeated the same you-flirt-with-jungwoo mantra again but this time decided to follow the lead , "so what if we flirt! He's teaching me to save myself from predators , abductors and he’s very gentle with me. Have you seen his eyes! I want to drown myself in the depth of those brown sea-

"Oh my god I'm so sorry! I'm never mentioning that again but please stop. You are awful with words." His laughed again, you joining him soon. " Now seriously tell me how were your holidays"

"Umm nothing new except that everyone was on university funded trips leaving me with minjun , his camera and the plants. We explored botanies and flower shops an-

He had lied. You were not sounding awful but he just hated how quickly his heart beat at someone else's mention from your lips. He consumed each and every word like he could be tested on the said information later on. His eyes were glued to the road and his ears to your voice. He wanted nothing more than to be the only one you’d see. He wanted nothing more than to be subject of your talking but the voice in the back of his mind said fuck it johnny, you are already asking for too much. He hated how he lost control over his senses whenever you were near him but he was slowly getting used to the dilemma. But the trance he was trapped in quickly broke down when you mentioned something. Abruptly stopping the car by the trees, he faced you to confirm.

"You are doing what?"

"I'm interning. Don't look at me like I stole your candy John. I need money." You innocently replied not aware of the reason behind his sudden dumbfounded expression.

"Shouldn't you be focusing on masters!n yuta is supposed to pay for you so why do y-

" I can work for my money johnny." Frustration made its way to your face as you continued,"drop me home johnny!" You weren't sure whether it was for his mention or him questioning your ability to feed yourself but you were offended.

"Yeah I'm sorry. I won't mention that again" a hollow apology and the car sailed again.

Hiding himself in his car seat, Johnny's fingers hovered over various contacts. Taeyong, taeil, Yuta, jaehyun! He wasn't sure what he wanted to do or whose side he wanted to take. He just wanted to be with you and no one else! but he couldnt do that !

Kicking harshly at the brakes, he screamed. The voice reaching no one’s ears but his own.

Was he asking for too much?

i wanted to add more to this chapter but i dont find enough time to write due to some commitments! but i’ll update one more chapter before this beautiful year ends. and all the smut chapters would be uploaded again sans the adult stuff for the minor readers! and there are few more chapters left. masterlist says 12 chapters bcs i’m lazy（￣︶￣）↗　

HAPPY DECEMBER EVERYONE. HAPPY HANUKKAH AND MARRY CHRISTMAS. BE THE SANTA OF YOUR LIFE AND SPREAD HAPPINESS!!

#nct #nct scenarios #nct imagines #nct fluff #nct angst #nct mafia #nct yuta #yuta mafia #yuta arrange marriage au #nct arrange marriage #nct series #yuta series #killing me yuta

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scapegrace74-blog · 4 years

Text

Gratitude

A/N When we last saw Jamie and Claire, they’d crashed, burned (somewhat literally) and declared their mutual interest in each other in their individual ways. Whither now, our pair?

All other parts of the Metric Universe are available on my AO3 page.

The song by Big Red Machine (another guest artist!) that inspired the title is here.

June 1, 2018, Costa Coffee, Whitechapel, London, England

“It feels like ye might be avoiding me, Sassenach.”

It occurred to her that Jamie knew her schedule and habits to an uncomfortable degree for him to be at her favourite coffee shop at exactly the point in her shift when she could no longer resist the siren call of caffeine.

Since the fire in their building and Jamie’s subsequent profession of love, they’d been living under separate roofs. Claire was sleeping on the couch at the home of one of her fellow medical students, and Jamie was bunking down with his uncle. Their flat had escaped the flames, suffering only smoke damage, but it would be at least eight weeks before the building was declared structurally sound and they could move back in.

Heading to the counter, Claire purchased her usual extra-large oat milk cortado with a fruited teacake, then added a flat black with raw sugar for Jamie. Settling across from him, she slid his coffee across the tiny table before splitting her teacake and balancing half on his saucer. He nodded his thanks, but was otherwise silent, waiting her out.

“I don’t know how to do this,” she began, surprising them both with the frankness of her opening salvo. It helped, she found, to be paying undue attention to stirring her coffee as she spoke.

“That doesna sound like ye, mo nighean donn. Why don’t ye tell me what part is vexin’ ye, an’ we can see if we canna bash our brains t’gether til we come up wi’ a plan, aye?”

She knew what he was doing. Cleverly depersonalizing their situation so that she could approach it like any other problem. Part of her resented his easy manipulation, grounded as it was in how well he knew her. But there was a secret part of her that thrilled at the emotional intimacy. To be seen, truly seen, in all her messy complexity, was a novel experience. Jamie knew the architecture of her heart, all its dark corners and blind hallways. He must have recognized something worthy, to be willing to so patiently coax her away from her solitude.

Plus, she’d spent the last year training him to leave the toilet seat down. That wasn’t the sort of work you just walked away from.

“It’s... god, where do I start? It’s having no idea what it means to be in a healthy adult relationship. And the crippling fear that if I fuck this up, it’ll ruin our friendship, which is so important to me, Jamie. I don’t think you have any idea... Plus our living situation...”

“We arenna livin’ t’gether for the moment, Sassenach,” Jamie interrupted. He had leaned forward across the table as she stammered through her recitation, and his curls had flopped across his brow in that boyish way they had. Her chest tightened, torn between affection and blind terror.

“No. That’s true.”

“With yer permission, I’d like tae make a suggestion.” At her cautious nod, Jamie continued. “For the next two months, we willna be roommates. I’d like tae... court ye...”

“Court me?!” Claire blurted out. “What, like in a Jane Austen novel?” She couldn’t help but smile at Jamie as he blushed, but he continued undeterred.

“Aye, like that. Ye’re used tae havin’ all the answers, Sassenach, but this isna one of yer wee tests tha’ ye can study for. We’re gonna have tae wing it, and see where it takes us. But I promise ye, I willna play ye false and I willna walk away. Will ye at least give this thing between us a chance? If it doesna work, we can go back tae livin’ t’gether as friends, no questions asked.”

At some point during his speech, their hands had met across the table. She could feel Jamie’s trembling through his fingertips. He was scared too, but he was being brave because he felt it was worth the risk. How could she dare to do otherwise?

“Alright,” she conceded, and his smile warmed her face like sunshine. “What do you propose, then? Shall I don my best parlour gown and set out the petit fours, Master Fraser?”

“Och, I dinna mean tae be makin’ me call me master quite yet, Sassenach,” he teased, delighting in her blush. “I’ll be at yer door t’morrow. Three sharp. Wear somethin’ comfortable an’ bring a jumper for after dark.”

Finishing his teacake in three large bites, Jamie hopped up from his seat and brushed the crumbs from his jeans. With a mischievous grin and a cock-eyed wink, he raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.

“Until tomorrow then, milady.”

Jesus Christ, what had she just done?

***

To her relief, Jamie showed up at Joe’s front door in his usual jeans and Henley, not a frock coat and jodhpurs He wasn’t even carrying flowers. Joe tried to buttonhole him with talk of the previous night’s football match, but after a few minutes of polite chitchat Jamie ushered Claire out the door, joking that he’d have her home before curfew.

She wasn’t quite sure what to make of his behaviour. The Jamie she knew had always been charming, when he wasn’t busy putting his foot in his mouth. Now she marveled at his apparent ease as they descended the steps into the Tube.

Heading west on the District Line, thoughts continued to assail her. Was he always this self-confident on a date? How often did he go out with other women, anyway? She’d assumed she knew everything there was to know about Jamie, but maybe she was wrong. Before Frank, her last date had been back in nursing school, and a VHS player and copious cheap beer had been involved. Despite the over-zealous air conditioning in their train, her palms began to sweat.

“Ye needn’t be afraid of me, Claire,” Jamie’s soft burr interrupted her quiet panic attack. “I’m no’ going tae suddenly turn into some man ye dinna recognize, just because I’m tryin’ tae romance ye a wee bit.”

Once again, with only a few words Jamie had peeled away her layers of confusion and doubt to strike at the core of what was bothering her. She forced herself to take a deep breath and immediately recognized Jamie’s scent; a blend of laundry detergent, his vetiver bar soap, and a touch of chlorine left over from the morning’s swim. It set her at ease. He hadn’t worn cologne. His left boot had a frayed lace that had needed changing since March. His cuticles were as inexplicably perfectly formed as always. He was her Jamie, and she could trust him to behave in accordance with what she already knew of him, even in this uncharted territory.

“So, where exactly are we going?” she asked after the crackling announcement for St. James Park had died away.

“Would it ease yer mind a wee bit, tae ken?”

“Maybe a wee bit,” she confessed.

“Well, then, how can I refuse? Have ye e’er been tae the Chelsea Physic Garden, Sassenach?”

***

As it turned out, by some grievous oversight she hadn’t. Wedged between a high brick wall and the Thames was a three hundred and fifty year old urban oasis, filled with plants that could either treat your ailments or kill you. Naturally, she was enchanted. Jamie followed her between the beds and down the shaded lanes of pea gravel, a soft smile held between his lips.

When the garden closed, they walked along the Embankment and over the Thames at Chelsea Bridge, stopping to watch the sun set over the murky water. A food truck beckoned with its aroma of chips and burgers, which they ate on a nearby bench, going back for extra napkins when their choice in toppings proved especially messy.

It was the least romantic meal she’d ever eaten, and she was soothed and smitten in equal measure.

Washing grease from his hands in a drinking fountain, Jamie turned to her in the half-light.

“Now, I have a verra important question of ye, Sassenach, and how ye answer will determine the future course of our evening t’gether.”

Here it was, she balked. The hook at the end of the line. The sour amongst so much sweetness. She shouldn’t have expected...

“Are ye,” Jamie continued, unaware of her inner monologue, “afraid of heights?”

... no different than any other man, with his...

“Am I what?” she blurted, once her brain caught up with her ears.

“Afraid of heights? An’ a bit of a scamper up some scaffolding?”

Jamie was pointing over her shoulder. She peered into the night, but all she could make out was the hulking shadow of the derelict Battersea Power Station.

***

It was a convoluted story, but the outline went something like this: the massive coal-fired station, with its four spire-like chimneys, was slated for redevelopment. Jamie had taken part in an onsite review of the location by the London Fire Service, and had befriended a representative of the developer. Somehow, this friend had granted Jamie access to the site, which is how Claire now found herself over fifty metres above the ground, climbing a seemingly endless series of metal steps, with her curls trying to escape the confines of a workman’s hard hat.

“You really know how to show a girl a good time, Jamie Fraser,” she grumbled as they came to a landing made out of scaffolding. Above them, a white chimney ascended into the dome of the sky.

“Ye canna say I dinna take yer breath away, Sassenach,” he teased.

She was about to retort when they stepped around the base of the chimney tower, and all words failed her.

Rolled out far below their feet, the Thames was a black carpet reflecting millions of pinpoint gems skyward, broken by belts of light where it was traversed by a bridge. Beyond the eastern bend in the river, the City glowed with its eternal hum. The colossal space taken up by the station was a palpable presence behind their backs.

“It reminds me of yer Uncle Lamb’s saying, about makin’ our present out of the bones of our past. Twasn’t the original plan, but here she stands, still vital and strong, being remade anew. An’ a beautiful vision fer all tha’.”

She wasn’t convinced that Jamie was talking about the power station.

A cool breeze blew off the river, and she shivered. A jacket still warm with body heat immediately covered her shoulders. They stood side by side in silence, just taking in the view.

When their hands bumped, it seemed the most natural thing in the world to thread her fingers with his own.

“You’ve set the bar impossibly high for any future dates, you know,” she commented eventually.

“Ye’re only sayin’ that because ye dinna ken what I have planned next.” His grin was impossibly smug, and she fought the urge to kiss it right off his beautiful mouth. He must have read the impulse in her eyes, because his face was slowly approaching her own, eyes a volatile mix of hope and trepidation.

Her own eyes fluttered closed in anticipation. Just as their lips should have been meeting, their was a ductile crunch, and their heads bounced apart with comedic timing. Their hard helmets had collided. Jamie swore softly beneath his breath, but Claire couldn’t stop giggling.

“Oh, thank god. It is you. I was beginning to wonder.”

***

It was late when they finally exited the Tube, but Jamie insisted on accompanying Claire all the way to the Abernathy’s front door. She handed him back his leather jacket, feeling suddenly awkward in the brightly lit hall. The date had been magical, far beyond her wildest expectations, and it felt strange to return to the prosaic reality of their lives.

“Thank you for a wonderful time, Jamie.”

“Twas my pleasure, Sassenach. I’ve missed ye, these past few weeks. And I really hope... well, you’ll tell me if you want to do somethin’ like this again, aye?” His hand went to the back of his neck in a gesture she knew well. Bless the man, he had no idea the effect he had on her. It was well past time to let him know.

“I’d love that. Truly. I’ve got final exams to study for, but maybe sometime next week?”

"Well then,” he replied, clearly delighted with her response. “I should let ye get some sleep. Good luck on yer exams, Sassenach. And thank ye, fer bein’ willing tae give this a chance. Twas a day I’ll ne’er forget.”

He began to walk away.

“Jamie!” He turned around.

“Aye?”

Walking forward to the beat of her pounding heart, she halted when their bellies were practically touching. Lifting up on tiptoe, she pressed into his mouth. Time slowed to a syrupy drip as their lips met for the first time. His rough exhale was the only sound in the cocoon of sensation that enveloped them. It felt like she was falling through an endless cloud. Too soon, she had to pull away to capture her breath, and the spell was broken. Judging by his moonstruck expression, Jamie had been equally affected. She smiled when she realized his arms were still held aloft, like he was trying to hold on to the memory of their kiss.

“Goodnight, James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser,” she purred before she disappeared from his sight.

#my writing #outlander

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sillyfudgemonkeys · 3 years

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@pankechifuckedup

*blinks trying to remember this post from over a year ago* *things start to come back to me after a second* Can do buckaroo!

So “bomb” was a bombing iirc. I think I just shortened it for the cutesy aesthetic (if y’all couldn’t tell by his lovely face! :D).

Also I think I said murder not manslaughter (tho in the tags I mentioned you could argue manslaughter for some of these). But now I’mma put my foot down most are murder since he knows he’s killing them or what he’s doing could lead to their death and he’s doing it intentionally. (the bystander casualties may be argued to a degree I guess but I don’t care, he still does his stuff knowing other’s may get hurt).

As for......when this happened..... *looks at my incomplete rap sheet for Goro* It looks like it was on Sae’s report at the beginning of the game (I think I left it off with Okumura in Royal, so this is Royal related stuff)

Some of this was gathered by unmissable story events, some was gathered by walking around talking to every NPC every day (I tried documenting the date I saw non-unmissable story stuff but I know I need to go through it again).

I’m just gonna copy and past it below this cut for you! (I’ll post the complete one on a separate post whenever I get around to finishing it)

Confirmed Deaths:

Wakaba (Mental Shutdown aka M)

Kobayakawa (M)

Okumura (M)

4 highway deaths including driver (7/11) (driver probably had a breakdown (B) due to it being titled a “rampage”)

Possible Deaths:

Two instances of NPCs talking about possible deaths on subway in April

Train Jumper around 7/12 might be related

Vice President of Goodness Food (related to Haneruya, the arson case), 7/19

Other injuries/casualties:

April subway accident (80-100?) (some were critical due to NPC convo revealing parent’s on train)

Wild Duck incident (possibly no injuries just exposed himself)

Food poisoning incident

Fire incident

Mental Shutdowns (not deaths):

Ichiko’s friend (about over a year ago from when you have her CoOp)

Various Psychotic breakdowns (not deaths):

Trolley incident (*?)

Wild Duck Burger incident

Unknown if it was a mental shutdown or breakdown:

April subway accident (contradicting info)

Bus Rampage * (Sae news report scene at beginning of game, same as Trolley incident?)

Bombing in Convenience Store (Sae news report scene at beginning of game)

Arson in Tunnel (Sae news report scene at beginning of game)

Fuel Leak in Yacht Harbor (Sae news report scene at beginning of game)

Airport Bus Charging in (Sae news report scene at beginning of game)

Traffic Accident (Sae news report scene at beginning of game)

Cyber Attack on Diet (Sae news report scene at beginning of game)

Poison/Drug (Sae news report scene at beginning of game)

He may not have directly done some of this, but he made other’s do it by using his power. He’s been a very naughty boi.

It’s not outright stated to be Goro, but the wording of these scenes point towards Goro (there’s no other alternative present and it fits Goro’s MO).

#pankechifuckedup #silly replies #silly responds #hope this helps!#goro is a naughty boi

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nightingiall · 4 years

Text

things i love about you: you make lovin’ fun

a post-little do you know drabble series // story page

Niall was, in a word, exhausted.

For some reason, despite the many cups of coffee he’d consumed, he still felt himself nodding away at his desk, unable to keep his eyes open. The words on his screen were so blurry that he kept rubbing at his eyelids, as though attempting to scrub the drowsiness away would help.

He felt like he’d been behind at everything lately. He was always writing an article down to the last minute, barely making a deadline before he was assigned a new story. Eventually, he’d had no choice but to take his job home, often working on a story well into midnight, only making it to bed after his girlfriend basically had to drag him there. Even then, he couldn’t sleep, mind constantly buzzing with words and synonyms and phrases he could use to replace something in an article. It was like he was buried under a pile of work all the time.

“Here,” someone was saying to him, and he pulled his hands away from his eyes—apparently, he’d been rubbing at them again—to find his co-worker Duncan sliding a cuppa onto his desk. “You look like you need this. And if you have more coffee I’m afraid your heart’ll give out.” After tossing some sugar packets and a wooden stirrer onto the desk, he smiled, flashing that famous gap-toothed grin that Niall had seen woo many ladies at various evenings spent in multiple Manhattan bars. “And how will I explain that to your girlfriend.”

Niall rolled his eyes, laughing along nonetheless as he ripped open a sugar packet and dumped it into the hot beverage. “Thanks, mate.” Working with Duncan, a fellow Irishman, was something Niall didn’t expect to enjoy as much as he did. Always laughing and joking, he could be counted on to lighten the mood. He was also whip smart and was basically like Niall’s human thesaurus, something Niall never forgot to thank him for. Besides, the rest of his friends loved him, which he took as a good sign for keeping him around.

Duncan settled into his chair at the neighboring cubicle. “Need help with anything?”

A scoff pushed through Niall’s lips as he mindlessly stirred at his cuppa. “A fuckin’ break would be nice.”

This made Duncan laugh. “Tell me about it.” They had been absolutely swamped for the past few weeks, and if the darkness beneath their eyes were any indication, work had clearly taken a toll on them. “Why don’t you take a vacation, mate? You didn’t go anywhere this summer.” Duncan stretched back into his chair, his spine giving a rather satisfying crack. “Take the missus out to a beach somewhere or something. Might do you some good.”

Niall smiled softly at this, reclining back in his chair as well. It was not lost on him that this topic had come up several times over the past few weeks. “Yeah, we were talking about going somewhere but never finalized any plans.” The tea slinked down his throat as he took a sip, filling him with warmth and a newfound focus. Perhaps they should just take off and go somewhere for a week. He needed some sun and some quality time with his Mona. Preferably soon too. He felt himself slowly starting to go crazy, just sitting there at his desk. “Any suggestions?”

Duncan hummed, pressing the tip of his eraser to the corner of his lip. “Anywhere in the Caribbean is always nice. My mam’s from Barbados and it’s always quiet down there around this time.” He took a sip of his own drink before lighting up with another idea. “Oh, Hawaii in the off-season is great too. No big crowds, good prices, fantastic food.”

Pristine beaches, warm saltwater air, and a room that overlooked it all sounded like a phenomenal idea to Niall. Most of all, he wouldn’t have to share his time with anyone else except for Mona. Not with work, not with clients, not with friends or colleagues, even though he very much enjoyed every one of them. For now, though, he just wanted uninterrupted relaxation time with the person he loved most.

He and Duncan talked about Hawaii for the rest of their shift. While sorting through emails and drafting up an article, he quizzed Duncan on the most ideal resorts and sights for a quiet and peaceful but still fun trip. By the time the day was over, he had a rough draft, which he sent over to his editor, and some semblance of a vacation idea he can talk to Mona about when he got home.

It was all he thought about on his commute. New York may have been teeming with gorgeous fall colors, but somewhere warm sounded so nice. And he’d like to not have to worry about waking up early to take the subway or meeting deadlines at work. He needed a break from it all. They both did.

He was just twisting his key into the lock when he remembered that it was Thursday. Mona’s Mimi day, as she liked to say. Her therapy sessions often left her in unpredictable moods. Lately, she’d been having more rough sessions than good ones, and he often came home to find her curled up either on the couch or in bed—whichever she could drag herself to first—her head buried into a pillow and eyes clenched shut.

He usually tried to pick up some flowers or her favorite sweets from the Indian grocery store on her Mimi days, just to cheer her up, but he’d totally forgotten today. A frustrated huff worked out of him as the realization dawned, and he scrubbed a hand over his eyes at how terrible a boyfriend he’d been lately.

After all, the only reason they hadn’t actually gone on a trip yet was because he was too busy at work. Most days, he’d get home late, and even then he’d work until late into the night, unable to find it in himself to unwind and leave his job where it belonged, at the office. By the time he was ready to crawl into bed, it would be midnight and Mona would be fast asleep. He was honestly just lucky that she’d still indulge him with a cuddle, despite being deep into her dreamland.

To his surprise, and relief, when he swung the front door open, he was met with the soft twinkle of Mona’s laughter, his most favorite sound in the universe. She was perched on the couch, cross-legged with a bowl of pistachios on a pillow on her lap, the shells tossed into a smaller bowl beside her. Something on the telly was making her laugh so hard that she reached up to swipe a stray tear from her lashline with her sleeve. The mere sight of her, dressed in his jumper, her hair freshly washed and draping over her shoulders in soft, slightly damp waves, filled him with such a surge of affection that all he wanted was to curl right into her, on the couch, and not have to move for the rest of the night.

“What’re you laughing so hard about?” he asked as he kicked his shoes off and rounded the corner of the couch, stopping behind her to press his lips to the top of her head. She looked up at him, mid-giggle, and he pressed another kiss to her nose too because he couldn’t help it. He loved her like this, big, fluffy hair and flushed cheeks and a huge, wonderful smile that never failed to have his knees go impossibly weak.

“Worst Cooks.” She gestured to the TV, which Niall noticed was, of course, turned to the Food Network. “How have we never watched this show before? I never thought anyone except for Harlow could burn water but there’s a whole world of terrible cooks out there!” Sure enough, just as he looked up, a woman had somehow managed to flip her burger while simultaneously getting it to catch on fire. Mona cackled gleefully at the sight. He couldn’t help but laugh along with her, completely enamored.

After putting away his bag, hopping in the shower, and changing into clean clothes—he didn’t like staying in his dirty work clothes, especially after his subway commute—he felt much more relaxed and ready to curl into the warmth of his wonderful girl, who was still lounging about on the couch, laughing at the kitchen mishaps on the TV.

Taking the bowls of pistachios and shells from her lap and placing it on the coffee table, he stretched out on the couch beside her, head resting comfortably on the pillow on her lap. Her hair was fully dried now, and as she brushed the strands behind her ear, he caught a whiff of peppermint. It was only the beginning of October but she’d whipped out her favorite holiday shampoo anyway. It was his favorite too.

She smiled so sweetly down at him that he had to close his eyes, otherwise he was sure his heart might burst. “How do you feel about pizza for dinner?” she asked, trailing a finger down the bridge of his nose. She was so soft and so warm, her arms wrapped around him, consuming him with that peppermint scent, and Niall wanted her to just hold him like this forever.

“Whatever you want.” He breathed out a laugh when she let out a soft cheer, reaching for her phone to order. It was the second time this week that she’d asked but he didn’t care. She could ask for the stars and he’d find a way to give it to her.

When she was done, she tossed her phone to the other end of the couch, returning her attention to him. The TV was a quiet soundtrack to their evening but Niall felt like he couldn’t even hear it. He was too lost in the way she smiled at him, the way those big brown eyes glittered. It didn’t matter that he was dead tired and worn out; whenever he was all wrapped up in her, everything always fell into place.

Mona skimmed her knuckles over his cheeks, her fingers cool on his warm skin. “Everything okay?” she asked, voice a hushed whisper. When he opened his eyes, her smile was softer now, more subdued. He hummed in answer, nuzzling into the hand caressing his jawline. She simply sighed at him, fingers now gently trailing against the skin below his eyes. “You work too much. You look so tired.”

Her lips pressed kisses to his closed eyelids, the tip of his nose, the hinge of his jaw. Soft and feather light. It filled him with immeasurable joy. “’M fine,” he murmured, even though he knew she could see right through him. It was as though he could feel her eye roll when she scoffed, and he couldn’t help but huff out a laugh. She pressed her cheek to his forehead when she was done with her little butterfly kisses and he sighed contentedly, so comfortable that he could just fall asleep right there. “How was your Mimi day?”

Her fingers were twirling into the hairs at the nape of his neck now. “Fine. We talked about love languages, which I hadn’t heard of before.” She started to shift away from him but he stopped her with a quick tug on her wrists. It was too comfortable; he didn’t want her to move. “I was trying to figure out what yours might be but I couldn’t. Do you know what it is?”

Niall smiled because he did know. He had always known. It was her, spending time with her, lounging around like this or going out on dates or cooking a meal or curling into one another in bed. Anything with her. Everything with her. They could be doing absolutely nothing, just sitting there listening to each other breathe, and it was just enough for him. Simply being by her side made him happy. Nothing else could compare. “I think if would satisfy you more if you figured it out yourself.”

Mona sighed, pursing her lips against his forehead. “I think you’re right.”

They sat in silence for a few moments. He relished in the warmth of her as she continued to run her fingers through his hair. He could have fallen asleep like that, just lying in her lap, taking her in. Then he remembered. “Hey, Mo?”

“Hmm?”

“Let’s go to Hawaii.”

She sat up then, brows raised at him. “Hawaii?”

He grinned up at her. Just talking about it made him excited. Beaches and beers and tropical sights and Mona. It sounded like a damn great time to him. “We need a vacation. We keep talking about it but never actually go anywhere. What are we waiting for?”

She was grinning too, a laugh bubbling out of her. “Well, when do you want to go?”

He shrugged. “Soon, please.”

And so, the rest of the night was spent with pizza, some wine, and their laptops, sending in their vacation requests to their jobs as well as booking everything they needed, like flights and a hotel.

All Niall could think of was one thing: Hawaii, here we come.

~ “I told you to wear sunscreen.”

Niall huffed at this. He was currently slumped against the pillows of the biggest bed he’d ever seen in his life, watching as Mona got ready for their dinner plans tonight. She was fussing with her hair while simultaneously scolding him about his bad skincare habits. It wasn’t his fault, really. After all, he wasn’t used to applying sunscreen when it wasn’t the summer months, and how was he to know that their afternoon hike would cause a bad sunburn on his nose? “You’re being mean.”

It took a great deal of effort to hold back a laugh at the way she glared at him. “It’s not my fault you don’t listen.”

This time, a chuckle inadvertently escaped him. She wasn’t wrong after all. “Darlin’.” He crawled off the bed, hands finding her hips and smiling at her reflection in the vanity mirror. She was still trying to decide whether to leave her hair down or pin it up. “You look stunning as always and your hair looks fine. Now can we go get dinner? I’m starving.” This earned him one of her signature eye rolls and a flick to his sunburnt nose. “Ow!”

Mona simply grinned at him, turning around to pull him close and press a light peck to the stinging area. “You’re so annoying.”

“I can’t help it,” he breathed into her skin, all thoughts of dinner suddenly evaporating from his mind as he skimmed his hands down her spine. “You’re so cute.”

“Ugh,” she huffed out, but laughed nonetheless, lightly shoving him away. “Let’s go.”

Niall laced their fingers together as they walked over to the restaurant. He didn’t know why they had never done this before, splurged on an actual vacation, because this was quite possibly the best idea ever. Their flight into the Big Island had been long so they hadn’t done anything on the first night, but yesterday they had gotten a couple’s massage before lazing about in the hot tub, and today they rented a car to drive around before taking an impromptu hike to indulge in picturesque views of the island.

Now, with Mona’s hand in his, the night air warm and inviting around them, palm trees and flower bushes lining the walkway, he felt a bit like he’d fallen in love with her all over again. It was like he was twenty-one again, holed up in a winter cabin with his friends, completely entranced by this girl with dark hair and soulful eyes and a killer sense of humor. Except this time, she actually loved him back.

There was a moment today, when they had hiked up the mountain and were greeted with the mesmerizing views of the entire coastline, she had turned around and laughed, big brown eyes glittering in the sunlight, skin shining with the slight sweat she’d worked up on the climb, and he almost did it. He almost dropped to one knee right there, fingers already reaching for the ring in his pocket. Somehow, the words got a bit lost in his throat though, and it never happened. It was a perfect moment; she pulled him in and pressed the most reverent kiss to his lips, murmured that she loved him before smiling that sweet smile at him.

It was a perfect moment, yes, but something told him it wasn’t the right one.

“It’s so warm here,” Mona mused as they settled at their reserved table. They’d chosen a spot outdoors so they could eat with a view of the ocean. The sky was swirling with the colors of dusk, the sun already nestled beneath the horizon. Mona was smiling at him, pinks and oranges painting the sky behind her, waves crashing into the sand in the distance, and all he wanted was the ability to freeze this moment so he could hold onto it forever. “What if we just packed up and moved to an island? Left everything behind and lived the rest of our lives in…” It took her a moment to find the word she wanted, eyes glazed over as she mulled it over. Niall simply admired her, cheek resting in his hand as he leaned against the table. Her eyes absolutely lit up when it came to her. “Paradise,” she proclaimed dreamily.

Niall grinned, imagining them as island dwellers with their own little home in a tropical oasis. “What about all our friends?”

She shrugged, reaching for some chips on the platter between them. He hadn’t even realized when the waiter had placed it there. “We could write them letters.”

At this, he laughed, leaning back into his chair again. “You’d really just leave everyone behind?”

She tutted like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Yeah, why not. I’d have you.” She was popping another chip into her mouth when her eyes were lighting up again. “Ooh, you know what we can do? We can get a puppy.”

“A puppy?”

“Yeah!” At this point, the chips were halfway finished. She seemed to notice this and offered him some, and he opened his mouth so she’d feed it to him. “We’re not having kids any time soon so in the meantime we can at least get a puppy.”

Niall was about to respond when the waiter arrived, asking if they were ready to order. Once they’d decided on what they wanted, the waiter left and Mona excused herself to the bathroom. As he watched her go, his fingers trailed absentmindedly against his pocket, tracing the outline of the ring inside.

He reached in for it, rolling it in his hands for a moment. For months, he’d been carrying it everywhere. At first, he figured he’d plan something nice; a date night, perhaps, and he’d surprise her with the ring. But the longer he thought about it, the more he realized he had no idea where to pop the question. The ideas were endless: at a picnic in Central Park, at the top of Empire State, at the botanical gardens, or maybe even in their damn living room. So he figured that if he just carried the ring with him everywhere, once the perfect moment arose, he’d be ready.

But every time he thought it was the right time, something happened. They were either being interrupted or there were too many tourists around or the words simply got trapped in his throat. It felt a bit like he was trying to tell her he loved her for the first time all over again.

The ring glinted in the candlelight. Mona’s mom, Raina, had given it to him last year when they visited her in San Francisco. She had waited until Mona had left the room before she pressed the box into his hands. “I was going to give this to Nick,” she had said, “but it feels more right giving it to you. It’s the same one their dad gave to me.” Niall had simply looked down at the box in utter shock. Raina closed his fingers around it and smiled. “Think of it as my blessing to you both. And I know Mona will really love having something of her dad’s.”

Niall thought of that moment every day. He sometimes just sat back with this ring, rolling it between his fingers, and wondered how Raina even considered him worthy enough for this. Perhaps it was why he was having a hard time figuring out the perfect moment. It was too important. This ring meant so much.

He was just sliding it back into his pocket when Mona returned. She smiled, asking how he wanted to spend the day tomorrow, but all Niall could think about now was whether Hawaii was the place to finally ask her to be his wife.

As their food arrived, she mentioned something about snorkeling or deep-sea diving. Niall wasn’t sure. He was too engrossed in how she glowed. The sun had splashed a bit more color onto her skin, and she shined as bright as the moon that was now visible in the darkened sky. She threw out another idea of swimming with dolphins and Niall told her they could do whatever she wanted. He’d follow her anywhere, no questions asked.

She settled on the dolphin idea, happily chattering away about making reservations in the morning and that they could even go to the luau on the beach on their last night. They’d have to do some shopping for their loved ones, of course, but they’d find time to do that somewhere in between.

When they were sufficiently stuffed with great food and even greater desserts, they took the long way back to their villa, hands interlaced as they strolled down the beach, the waves splashing up against their ankles. The ocean was surprisingly warm. With the salt and humidity swirling in the air, Mona’s hair had gone even bigger and fluffier than usual. She was laughing at something he’d said, head tossed back, strands of hair fluttering in the slight breeze, and his fingers instinctively found the outline of the ring in his pocket again.

Her eyes twinkled at him and he stopped himself. Not here, something in him said. It was dark and he had a sudden vision of accidentally dropping the ring into the water. The thought wedged a quick twist of anxiety in his chest and he inadvertently squeezed Mona’s hand.

“You okay?” she asked, brows quirked in amusement. She stopped walking to pull him into her, arms wrapped loosely around his waist. The stars seemingly reflected in her eyes as she smiled softly up at him. He briefly wondered if it was ever possible for this to get old, because they were nearing four years together and every time she looked at him like that he still melted inside. “You’re kinda quiet tonight.”

He dropped his shoes to drape his arms over her shoulders, holding her close. Sand in his toes, salt in his hair, and a whole lot of love in his heart. He was on cloud nine. “Just taking it all in, I suppose.”

She huffed out a laugh that gusted over his skin and he pressed his forehead to hers. They stayed like that for a few moments, taking each other in, swaying gently to the sound of the waves lightly lapping up against the shore. When she spoke again, her voice was a delicate murmur against his lips. “Thank you.”

Niall’s arms tightened around her as he pulled her closer, nose nuzzling against hers. “For what?”

He felt her smile against his skin. It sent a surge of warmth rushing down his spine. “You choose me every day. Even when you don’t have to. Even when you probably shouldn’t.” She held him so tightly it was as though she was attempting to keep him from floating away with the waves. “So, thank you.”

To any other person, this would have sounded nonsensical. But he immediately thought back to their conversation on the couch all those days ago, when she talked about Mimi telling her about love languages. He smiled. “You figured it out, didn’t you?”

A breathy giggle fell from her lips. “Yeah.”

He pulled back to press his hands to her face, the curve of her jaw nestling perfectly into his palms. The tiniest bit of moisture had collected over her lashes and he swiped it away with his thumbs. “Of course I choose you.” Sometimes he held her like this and she looked at him like she couldn’t believe it, like this was all just a dream, and he had to gently remind her that he did indeed love her. More than anything in the world. “You’re the other half of me.”

This seemed to work for now. She smiled softly at him, pressing her lips to his in a tender kiss before grabbing their shoes in the sand and tugging him back to their villa. They’d barely gotten there and he could hardly keep his hands off her, trailing fingers against her sunkissed skin, lips finding her sweet spots, the pulse on her neck, the space between her collarbones.

She’d only just gotten the door closed behind them when his lips finally met hers, kissing her slowly, languidly. They had all night and the rest of the week for themselves. “’M gonna take my time with you tonight,” he murmured into her mouth. She hummed, breath hitching when his fingers gripped her thighs beneath her dress, hoisting her onto the bed.

“Yes, please,” she breathed, blindly undoing the buttons of his shirt as he peppered kisses over the soft skin of her shoulders, making quick work of the zipper at the back of her dress and pushing her straps away.

After all, he didn’t need to be told twice.

Mona missed a few strands when she’d pulled her hair up into a messy bun. Niall busied himself with brushing them away to make room for his lips, grinning to himself as her skin rippled with goosebumps at the feather light touch of his fingers, shoulders giving a slight shudder. She sighed quietly as he pressed slow, lazy rows of kisses from the nape of her neck to the edge of her shoulders, his arms wrapped loosely around her middle, holding her close.

She was reclining back against him as they relaxed in the lounger on their private lanai, both of them dressed in nothing but the soft sheets from the bed. The lanai overlooked the ocean and was a perfect spot to watch the sunrise, which Mona had dragged him out of bed for, insistent upon watching the sky transition from dark blue to swashes of reds and yellows. He didn’t mind, really. Not when he could snuggle her close like this.

She gasped softly, gripping his wrist as she jutted her chin towards the horizon. “It’s happening,” she breathed, eyes lighting up brighter than any sunrise. Still, he followed her gaze, the sun just barely peeking over the sea in an arc of deep orange. Mona shifted so she could rest her head on his chest, wrapping both her arms around him, and they silently enjoyed the sight of the sun slowly slinking up the sky, bathing them in a warm golden glow.

When it had gotten too bright to look at anymore, Niall shifted his gaze to his wonderful Mona darling only to find a serene expression on her face, lips quirked up into a soft smile. He ran his fingers down her spine just to feel that sharp intake of breath again. “You thinkin’ about moving to a remote island again?” he teased.

A giggle bubbled through her lips. “No.” She looked up, head resting on his shoulder, and he held her close. “I was thinking about that time we went to Vegas. After Deepa’s wedding. And,” she started to laugh, “Harlow schemed her way into getting us that honeymoon suite.”

Niall laughed at this too, remembering. It seemed like yesterday, even though it was a few years ago. “That was a fun weekend. Even if we weren’t really together yet.”

She hummed, fingers tracing abstract shapes into his side. “I already knew how I felt about you though.”

This surprised him. “Really?”

Her smile grew. “Mhmm.”

“Huh.” He quirked a brow, looking off into the horizon for a moment, processing this. He had always thought she didn’t see herself with him romantically back then. “So, when did you actually realize?”

She shrugged, a hand finding his, pressing them together. They both had long, nimble fingers, but her hands were smaller. Niall liked how they slotted together with ease. “The cabin. You kissed me under the mistletoe and then you dragged me up that stupid hill in the cold.” They shared a laugh. Mona’s eyes had glazed over in memory, voice soft and reverent. “You made hot chocolate with whiskey in it. It was a full moon and the stars were out and you said we don’t get that kind of view in the city. And you smiled. And it hit me that I’d been in love with you that whole time and I never even realized it until then.”

Niall laughed in a bit of disbelief, mostly because he remembered the moment well. She was laughing at something he said until a sort of struck expression came over her and she swore under her breath. If he had known then what it all meant then he’d have told her how he felt right there. It didn’t matter much now considering she was currently in his arms, but perhaps they could have been together sooner.

“When did you know?” she asked.

Niall smiled wryly at her. “The cabin.” She tutted and he realized she didn’t know what he meant. “The first time at the cabin.”

She stilled for a moment, seemingly turning his words over in her head. It was as though he could feel the gears working. Then, she sat up abruptly, looking at him in shock. “Shut up. There’s no way.”

He grinned, highly amused by this. He loved her the whole time and she never even knew. “It’s true, darlin’.”

This earned him a scoff and a frown. “Nuh uh. You’re lying.”

“I’m not!” he got out through a laugh.

A deep breath worked through her as she thought this over, deflating slightly. “I never knew,” she mused, clearly still in shock.

“Yeah,” he said, shaking his head, “you were always kind of oblivious.” Then he thought of the fact that he’d been carrying around a damn engagement ring for a whole year and she was none the wiser. “You still are, to be honest.”

She swatted a hand against his chest, a stunned sort of giggle escaping her. “Shut up.” Still, it wasn’t long until she was curling into him again, pressing her cheek to his shoulder with a sigh. “All that time…you never said anything.”

The breeze was beginning to pick up. It swirled around them, their little sanctuary of love, and flicked her stray hairs into her face. He brushed the strands back into the knot on her head, pressing a gentle touch of his lips to her nose. “Darlin’. You would have freaked out if I told you before you were ready.”

She pursed her lips, rolling her eyes at this assessment of her. “I hate that you’re right.” Their laughter trickled into the air, echoing slightly around them. Mona shifted until she was straddling his lap, her arms draped over his shoulders as her lips turned up into that beautiful smile. Niall leaned back to catch the full view of it. “Doesn’t matter,” she murmured, tracing a finger over his eyebrows before delicately smoothing back his hair. “I think we turned out alright.”

He felt a surge in his chest then. This was it, a perfect moment. She was all wrapped up in him, soft and warm, messy hair and no makeup. Her cheeks were flushed slightly, from the sun and the fact that she couldn’t stop laughing. He was so enraptured by his love for her, laying back and taking her in. He could ask her right now.

But, for once, he didn’t have the ring on him. It was still in the pocket of his jeans, folded over the top of his suitcase, and to go get it he’d have to let go of her; he’d have to break the moment.

So he didn’t ask. Not now. Not yet. He wanted to hold onto her for the rest of the morning, wanted to savor that smile and the soft kisses she was currently pressing to every inch of skin she could find.

It didn’t matter. They had all the time in the world. And besides, she’d given him an idea. Another perfect moment. He’d just have to wait for it to come around.

For now, he pulled her face towards his and kissed her with his whole heart. She was here. She was his. The beach beyond was calling their names.

He was happy and nothing else mattered.

thanks for reading! here’s some bonus instagram content:

#the way i have probably updated this story more in a year than i ever updated ldyk in a year is hilarious to me #i can't help it i just can't get them out of my head :/#anyway #here's another slightly long drabble #enjoy!!#things i love about you #1dff #writings #niall horan fanfiction

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rabbitcruiser · 8 months

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National Knife Day

Grab or pull out your knives! Today we celebrate them, no matter their size, style, or brand! It is unknown who started National Knife Day or when they started it, but it was being celebrated by at least 2011. It is also unknown why the observance takes place on August 24, but one explanation appears to be that the date is connected to the Bowie knife. It was on this date in 1838 that Rezin Bowie, the brother of the knife’s namesake, wrote a letter to the Planters’ Advocate claiming he was the person who had created the knife.

One of the earliest tools known to humankind, the knife was present at the beginnings of the development of human civilization and came out of the need for survival. Early on, knives were used as primitive tools for digging and construction, as weapons, and to hunt, fish, and gather food. In contrast to today, almost everyone carried a knife. The first knives were made of stones which were cracked to make a sharp edge like a blade. Sharpened stone tools became more advanced during the late Lithic periods, and then even more so during the Copper and Bronze Ages. Metal blades appeared, which weren’t as sharp and didn’t stay sharp as long as the stone blades that preceded them. This led to the introduction of sharpening stones.

During the Iron age, tools became stronger and more durable. Iron knives came on the scene and stayed sharper longer. Steel blades followed iron ones, and not much has changed since then. Steel blades, which are made of an alloy of iron that has carbon, are the most common today and are known for being durable and efficient. Cobalt alloys and titanium are also used in knife making today.

Early knives didn’t have a separate handle and blade—they were all one piece. Eventually, handles began being made out of carved bone, wood, and metal, and then, rare materials like mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell began being used. Today, wood is one of the most popular materials used for knife handles, and metals like stainless steel are also common. One other change besides that advent of a separate handle was the invention of the folding knife.

Knives have many different purposes in the present day, some of which are the same as they have been for thousands of years. Some ways they are used are to prepare food, as a utensil when eating food, by surgeons and medical professionals, to dress an animal, to fillet a fish, and for carving. There are various types of kitchen knives such as the chef’s, utility, paring, and bread knives. Most knives are affordable to just about anyone, but there are high-end custom knives such as Randall Made Knives, most of which sell for $400 of more. In many locations, there are laws that pertain to knives: ownership laws exist for certain types of knives, open and concealed carry laws apply to certain types of knives, and other types of laws exist, such as those that say a robbery is an “aggravated crime” with more severe punishment if a knife is involved. There also are certain areas where some types of knives are not permitted, such as at schools or on planes.

How to Observe

Knives should be used more today than on any other day of the year. Here are a few ideas on how to spend the day:

Do some knife throwing.

Do some whittling.

Prepare some food using a knife or multiple knives. It might be beneficial to first learn what type of knife is appropriate for different types of food.

Get a pocket knife, which has many uses.

Check for knife promotions such as giveaways and sales happening today. This is often a large part of the day.

Give someone a knife as a gift.

Clean, oil, and sharpen your knives.

Carry your knives around in a holster.

Cut a lot of things with your knives, such as food, paper, and rope.

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pussay · 4 years

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midnight snacks - peter p

paring : peter parker x reader

word count : 1k +

warnings : literally nothing except my shitty writing >:))

sleepovers with peter were the best. between joking around and watching movies, the two of you never failed to fill the room with your laughter. it used to annoy his aunt may but she's grown to be able to tolarate it.

so, here you were now, snuggled up on the top bunk of peters bed while he took the bottom bunk. his soft snores filled the room while you tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. finally, with a groan, you pushed the soft blanket off your legs and quietly climbed down.

peter mustn't have heard the quiet thump of you hitting the floor because he simply sniffled quietly in his sleep and kicked one foot out of the blanket. you heart melted at the sight of him sleeping peacefully. it was adorable and anyone who told you otherwise would get a face full of fists.

"psst... hey, pete."

"whaaaaaat?" he groaned and turned so his back was facing you. you huffed and slowly started tracking backwards.

"umph!" peter shot up in his bed while you giggled even though your ribs were sore from the landing. "jeez, y/n! did you really have to do that!?"

you simply continued to giggle at his confused face and messy bed hair, "m'hungry and i can't sleep." you whined and peter sent you a dopey smile before snuggling further into the pillows.

"awe sorry to hear that." and with that, the little shit wrapped an arm around your waist and pulled you down onto the bed with him.

"this is serious!" you whisper-yelled, "im really hungry! cant you just spider-man us to the nearest macdonalds so i can get a burger?"

"oh yeah, i definitely could--"

"yay thank you--"

"but i don't wanna." he finished stubbornly and shut his eyes.

"but-- peter" you whined and he lifted his head to look at your pouting face.

"oh come on. please don't do the face" he practically begged but you didn't let up. you heard him mumble something before pulling himself out of bed, heading to his closet. you let out a small, almost inaudible, cheer and jumped out of the bed to get your shoes, not bothering to change out of your pyjamas (you just wanted your food).

in under five minutes, peter was impatiently waiting at the window in his suit. you quickly tied the laces on your sneakers before leaping over to him, "okay, im ready."

"then let's go. may usually wakes up to get a drink at two so we have, uh--" he took two steps forward to check the time on his alarm clock, "forty-six minutes."

without a second of hesitation, peter silently opened the window, nodding his head in its direction. you skipped towards the window, a smug grin on your face.

once the two of you were out on the fire escape, peter wrapped his arms around the bottom of your thighs and you jumped, wrapping your legs around his waist. within a second, you were flying through the streets with your head buried in peter's neck. you felt his chest vibrate with a chuckle,

"you scared?" he asked and you practically feel the smirk he wore.

"uh, y-yeah." and by that you meant no, you just smell really fucking good and your a human heater but he didn't need to know that.

before you knew it, your feet were on the ground and you were on the roof of an older-looking macdonalds. peter pulled a pair of loose-fitting sweats and simple, light blue jumper out of his backpack. within fifteen seconds you coumd barely tell he was wearing the spidey-suit in the first place. he webbed his backpack to a dirty, brick chimney as you jumped on his back, preparing for him to crawl down the wall.

once the two of you got inside, you noticed it was a literal ghost town and the teenager at the register gave the two of you a weird look. you realised she was staring down at peters hand.

fuck.

the bright red of peters gloved hand stuck out like a sore thumb and you nudged his shoulder.

"hmm?"

"your hand." you murmured simply before pushing him to a table at the back corner of the restaurant. you watched him burry his hand in the pockets of his pants with a panicked expression.

after ordering your food (and it taking a whole eleven minutes to be made even though it was dead empty ) you skipped to your table, peter waiting like an eager child waiting to get a lollipop.

"here ya' go." you said as you placed his order in front of him. peter was quick to dig into his food and you giggled, watching him get ketchup on the corner of his mouth.

"what?"

"you, uh, just-- *cough* let me--" you stretched your hand across the table, using your thumb to wipe the sause of his mouth. you didn't miss the faint, cherry red blush that took its place on peters cheeks.

"oh, uh, thank you." you nodded and started to eat your food.

you had finished your food when you noticed peter staring at you with a dreamy smile.

"what?"

"nothing. i just really love you." peter said softly with a nervous smile on his face.

"wha-what?" you felt like the air was punched out of your lungs.

"i love you."

your heart was racing a mile a minute and you titled your head curiously, "like love love or 'you're my best friend who's like my sister' love?"

"how about 'ive loved you since we were twelve and i could see myself spending the rest of my life with you and i think you do too' love." the small smile on his face disappeared when he saw your expression, "unless ive been reading this wrong and--"

"no! no, not at all. its just that, well, we're us, aren't we?"

"well, yeah but i just thought that--"

"but you're right. i think i love you too." you whispered and the brightest smile took its place on his face.

"i-- r-really?"

"yeah." peter leaped out of his seat and gave you the biggest hug ever. you buried your head into his neck and you didn't notice that you had both started crying.

"oh my god. i can't believe this is happening. may's gonna be over the moon." you let out a watery laugh and hugged peter tighter. he rubbed his hands up and down your back soothingly and, eventually, pulled away from the hug.

"you wanna get out of here and, ya know, sleep." peter asked before brushing a stand of hair out of your face and behind your ear. you nodded and he grabbed your hand, guiding you next to the shop and you climbed onto his back.

before you knew it your legs were wrapped around his waist and peter pulled his mask out of his pocket and started to swing back to his apartment. peter landed on the fire escape with a quiet thud and he opened the window so you could enter his room. you kicked off your shoes and flopped onto the bed, watching as he stripped down to his boxes, slipping on the loose sweatpants again.

he quietly slid in next to you and wrapped his arm around your waist. you nuzzled your head into his chest while he played with the loose strand of your hair.

you were slowly drifting off to sleep when you heard him let out a quiet curse.

"mmph...what?" you practically whined and peter sighed out deeply through his nose.

"i left my backpack on the roof."

"damn it, parker!"

#peter parker x reader #peter parker #peter parker imagine #peter parker oneshot #peter parker blurb #tom holland x reader #tom holland #tom holland imagine #peter parker smut #tom holland smut #midnight snack

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benedictsvestcollection · 4 years

Photo

Chapter Two: Are we written in the stars, baby, or are we written in the sand?

AO3

Warnings: Light angst, Soft Din (b/c he needs a warning for being SOFT) and bed sharing.

Chapter 1

Aurora had been on the road with Din and the child for about two weeks now. She had learned a bit more about Din in that time. That he was Chilean and spoke Spanish, (she did not know what he was saying most of the time) that he wasn’t very chatty but he was very kind when he did talk with her and that he was a badass bounty hunter and almost always got the job done. Sometimes coming back a little worse for the wear but usually nothing terribly serious.

Din had a job that was taking a few days for him to complete in Northern California. Gone during the day and in the evenings he was on his laptop or tablet doing research on the guy he was hunting to turn into the local cops. So he’d gotten them a campsite in a campground that had a lake nearby for swimming and they could cook on the grill. But Din always insisted on cooking on the grill for them.

It was mid afternoon on the third day and Aurora had taken the boy to the lake for a swim. It was a hot day and they had been cooped up in the van most of the day so far. Her new and clean phone Din had gotten her was on and nearby, in case he called and she had also left a note in case he came back early for the day. She was helping the boy chase fish in the shallow end of the lake when she looked up to hear steps. She assumed it was a hiker, but Din had told her to be careful for both her and the child’s sake, so she was always alert.

She smiled when she saw him. He smiled back from behind his baseball cap and aviator sunglasses but she could tell he was tired. “Hey.” He greeted her, unable to take his eyes off her in her short shorts and blue bikini top she wore while the boy was wearing his dinosaur swim trunks Aurora had bought for him at a Walmart one day.

“Hi. Guess you got my note.” She told him as she helped the boy onto the rocks as he scrambled to get to Din to greet him. He squealed when he was close enough and wrapped his arms around his legs in a hug.

“I did.” He nodded and winced as he bent a bit to hug him back.

“Are you okay?” She asked him as she picked up a towel and dried her top half off before slipping her loose tank top over her. “You look…” She scanned him for a moment and her eyes widened. “Jesus Din, you’re bleeding.” She mentioned to his side where she saw red seeping through his dark grey t-shirt.

“Just a surface wound.” He grunted as he took the towel from Aurora and wrapped the boy up in it before picking him up.

She shook her head at him. “You should let me take care of that.” She insisted as she slipped on her sandals and followed him back to the van. “And you shouldn’t be carrying him either.” She chided him as the boy patted Din’s face affectionately and took his sunglasses off his face and put them on his own, with a giggle.

“I’m fine Aurora.” He reassured her as he opened the side of the van and set him on the steps while he helped him change. All the while letting his wound bleed.

“Like hell you are. Get on the damn bed Din.” She ordered him softly. “I can take care of this.” She insisted as she gently took charge of the boy and changed him quickly. “Take off your shirt.” She told him while she retrieved the well stocked first aid kit she knew they had for incidents like this.

“Stubborn woman.” He muttered but did as she asked, all the while watching as she settled the boy on the ground with his drawing book.

“Yeah well, I’m the stubborn woman who’s gonna stitch you up now.” She tsked at him and carefully threaded the needle before cleaning his wound. “You gonna tell me how this happened?”

He shrugged as she cleaned the wound. “Just an asshole bail jumper. Thought he’d try and slice me open. He got one swipe in before I got him in a chokehold and cuffed him.”

“Is that all?” She asked him wryly, a smirk on her lips as she slowly began to stitch up his wound with the precision of a professional.

“Yup.” He looked down and watched her work. “How do you know how to do this?” He asked her after several moments.

“What? Get a stubborn as hell, bounty hunter to listen to me?” She teased him.

“Mujer perfecta.” He muttered, partly to himself and partly to her. “I mean this.” He nodded to her, stitching him up.

She wondered what the first sentence meant, perfect… Something but she didn’t have time to consider it with his second comment. “Oh… I was in nursing school for a while.” She told him softly. “Was about a year from graduating when my parents died and I had to quit to be able to afford to put my brother in the group home he needed to go into.” She explained, her eyes going up to his for a split second before going back to focus on closing him up. “We uh… My parents couldn’t afford both and I knew I had to give up nursing school to put him somewhere he’d be well taken care of.”

“I’m sorry.” He told her softly. “That you had to give that up.” He wondered how someone as sweet and selfless and kind as her… Ended up being constantly given the short end of life it seemed. Having to give up nursing, losing her parents and then her brother in a way… And having that asshole ex of hers.

“It’s fine. It was a while ago now. Guess I’m able to put my knowledge to some use now, taking care of you.” She teased him again.

He smirked at her. “Me and my stubborn ass?” He teased back.

She finally finished and knotted up the stitch before rooting around the kit for the gauze and tape. “Yup.” She told him and smirked back as the boy stood up and held his drawing book to his chest.

“Hey kid.” He told him fondly as he watched as he noticed he started to cry. “It’s okay.” He assured him and ruffled his hair gently. “I’m fine.” He promised the boy.

Aurora looked up from where she was working and her heart broke a bit at the sight.

Din looked to Aurora and then back to the boy. “See? Aurora helped make me better.” He showed the boy who’s brows furrowed in confusion before he peeked to see.

“Yes.” She turned to meet the boy’s gaze and smiled at him. “He’s fine.” She promised him and then stood to grab the bottle of Advil they kept in the cabinet and gave him a few. “Take these.” She instructed as she watched him for a few moments as the boy crawled into Aurora’s now vacant spot and showed him the fish drawings he did.

“Did he have fun swimming?” Din asked her after a longer silence.

“Yeah. He can’t really swim yet, but he had fun chasing the fish and splashing around. And we laid out on the rock.” She smiled at them.

“Maybe we’ll teach him to swim sometime.” He suggested casually.

“We could, yeah.” She agreed with a small smile.

“I uh… The campsite is paid up till tomorrow so we can stay here tonight.” Din told her. “I’ll take the-”

“I swear to god, if you say you’re going to sleep in the front seat I will rip out your stitches.” She warned him. “Just sleep on the damn bed Din. It won’t kill you.” She insisted.

“Can’t. That’s where you sleep.” He shook his head.

“You’re an idiot. It’s your bed.” She sighed at him. “Just sleep in the damn bed tonight. Please?”

“Where are you gonna sleep mi querida ?” He asked her, the endearment slipping out but he didn’t want to take it back either. Because he had become fond of her, not that he wanted to admit that outloud to her.

She paused, she knew he just called her some kind of a nickname but she didn’t want to ask him either. He would just deny it or change the subject. “We’ll figure it out later. Let’s make dinner for now.” She told him softly.

“Okay.” He nodded at her. “We can do burgers. Grill by the pit.” He nodded outside where there was enough firewood.

She was going to tell him she could do it but she knew she was pushing her luck with bossing him around for the day and had already won the bed argument so she simply nodded. “Sounds great. We have chips and apples. And I may have told him we’d do s’mores one day.” She admitted with a grin.

The boy looked up at the mention of s’mores and squealed in excitement with a grin before going to the cabinet he knew the marshmallows were stored and took them out and shoved them in Din’s lap.

“Okay kid. I promise we’ll make s’mores tonight.” He smiled softly back at him with a chuckle and grunted as he leaned down to pull out a clean shirt and pulled it over his head. “Come on, we’ll give Aurora a break and let her change. You can help me with the firewood.” He told the boy and picked him up on his good side.

“You really shouldn’t be-” She called after him.

“I’m fine!” He called back to her, exasperated huff in his voice.

“Stubborn man.” She muttered to herself as she closed the van door so she could change into dry clothes. She pulled out a pair of yoga leggings, a tank top and her favorite cardigan before slipping on some shoes. She pulled her hair up in a messy bun and stepped out of the van with an armful of groceries for dinner.

By the time she emerged with everything, Din had the fire going and the boy was watching the flames in fascination and delight.

“You uh… Got the burger meat?” Din’s voice pulled her attention away from the boy. She turned to look at him and he was gesturing at her arms full of the food.

“Oh um… Yeah.” She nodded and smiled softly at him as he pulled out the meat and went to work on making patties.

“I’ll just cook all of it and we can reheat them on the road, if one of us is hungry for them.” He suggested.

She kept an eye on the boy as she set everything else out on the picnic table. “Good idea, there’s foil in the van so we can wrap the extras after dinner.”

“Sounds good.” Din nodded and let the boy hold the plate so he could place the cooked patties on them while Aurora put everything on the picnic table so they could eat.

After the burgers were done, Aurora helped the boy fix his up and put all his food on a plate while Din opened up a couple of beers for himself and her. “Thanks.” She told him with a smile as he handed her one and she fixed her own meal. Now that the boy was happily eating his dinner.

“You’re welcome.” He told her simply as they sat and ate dinner in a comfortable silence.

After dinner, Aurora cleaned up and put everything away while Din showed the boy how to toast marshmallows and make S’mores. By nine, he was exhausted and falling asleep in his lap in his chair. So Aurora set up his little bed that was able to sit above the front seats and he could see the stars through the moonroof.

By the time Din got him in his bed, he came back out to see Aurora curled up in a chair staring at the fire. Lost in thought it seemed, almost sad.

“You… Okay?” He asked her softly, not wanting to startle her. She still seemed to be jumpy.

“Hmm?” She looked up to him and nodded. “Yeah just… Thinking.” She finished.

Din could tell something was on her mind, but he decided not to press it. Not right now anyhow. “Okay.” He nodded at her and looked up when he heard a faint rumble of thunder. “Storms coming in. You want to get ready for bed first?” He offered her.

She looked up at the sky and then back at him. “Sure. Thanks.” She told him. “You’re still sleeping on the bed though.” She insisted with a look to him as he started putting the camper chairs away.

He considered her words while she disappeared quietly into the van to change. They were both adults, he wondered how she would take it if he told her they should share. He would never hurt her or do anything to her without her consent. Hell, they were practically co-raising a kid together.

Once she was done changing he slipped inside while she waited outside to change as well. When he was done, she slipped back inside while he did a final check of the campsite before the rain came. “All good.” He told her as he shut the van door.

“Great.” She nodded at him as she took a pillow off the bed and her blanket. Prepared to go to the front seat and curl up. “Goodnight Din.” She told him softly.

“Hey…” He called to her gently, fingers grasping onto her wrist to keep her from going up front. “I don’t feel right, you sleeping up there.” He motioned to the front of the van. “If you’re comfortable with it… We’re both adults and the bed’s big enough for two.” He offered.

Aurora halted when he grasped her wrist, he didn’t touch her often. Usually when he did, it was casually. But this, this was something different. “Oh…” She breathed out, blue eyes wide and staring at him. “Are you sure?” She asked him hesitantly.

“I am. But only if you’re comfortable with it. Just… Thought I’d offer.” He stated bluntly. A long silence filled the van, only interrupted by the steady fall of rain outside and the child’s steady breathing behind them.

“Okay… Yes… Thank you.” She told him as she slowly walked to the bed, where he sat.

“You um… Sleep to the back of the van. In case… Anyone shows up.” He explained. Din was notoriously paranoid. She knew he had at least one hand gun hidden under the mattress and she had a feeling he was worried her ex would show up and hurt her.

She tensed when he mentioned the possibility of danger and he shook his head. “Hey… Look at me, I got you.. Alright? I just want to make sure you’re safe. So I’ll take the side closest to the door.” He promised her.

“Yeah… Okay.” She whispered at him and crawled into the bed. Getting under the covers and laying her blanket over her as well.

Din watched her get in and he followed suit. It had been a long time since he’d shared a bed with anyone, let alone a woman. And he wasn’t sure what to do as he laid on his back.

“Do you really think he’s looking for me?” Her cracked voice breaking the silence.

Din debated on lying to her but he wanted her to be careful and safe if he was on a job. And realistically, he probably was looking for her still. He turned on his side to face her. “Yes. I think he probably is.”

“Is this how it’s going to be from now on? Always looking over my shoulder and afraid of him?” She asked him.

“No.” Din growled in the darkness. “I told you I’ve got you. And if he comes for you, I’ll take care of him myself. You don’t deserve to be scared your whole life.” He could sense she was upset and he was fiercely protective over this woman he’d come to know over the past couple of weeks.

“Thank you.” She whispered out. Tears falling down her cheeks now and she was grateful Din couldn’t see her. “I’m just so tired of being afraid of him.”

“You don’t have to be afraid anymore.” His large hand came to her face and gently wiped her tears. “I’ll take care of you. I promise.” He murmured.

Instinctively, she leaned into his touch. Purely because having a man touch her so tenderly was so rare for her. “Okay.”

“Get some sleep, mi querida .” He told her gently as he stroked her cheek until she fell asleep.

#My writing #Din Djarin x OC #Be With Me #Pedro Pascal #*shows up so fucking late with Starbucks*#Din Djarin #The Mandalorian

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etraytin · 3 years

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Quarantine, Day 253-255

November 19-22 So I haven't updated the journal for another couple of days and I have little excuse except for busyness, but I will make up for it now by really half-assing the job so I can go to bed. That's the sort of quality I know you've all come to expect from 255 days of this Quarantine Journal, and I aim to deliver! We are currently on our deeply unrecommended Thanksgiving trip, the one we've been mostly locked down for for the past two weeks in order to prepare for. I am a generally deeply rule-following eldest child personality, so doing something I know I'm being told not to causes me a lot of anxiety, even when I'm doing it in the best way possible. I have skipped basically everything I could get out of for the past two weeks just to minimize our chances of getting COVID and bringing it to my folks. Now we'll spend the next couple of weeks basically locked down with them in order to minimize our chances of taking COVID home with us. We will then spend a couple weeks at home as sort of an airlock quarantine period so when we go see MIL for the Christmas Season, we will no longer have germs from any of our previous travels on us. Swear to god, this vaccine can't go into circulation fast enough. I feel like we're measuring out our lives with coffee spoons. Okay, so Friday was mostly preparing for the trip. Desert Bus for Hope wrapped up in the morning (9am EST, after a walloping 164 hours of driving and $987k raised for charity) so I didn't get a lot of sleep. This affected my productivity in the daytime, but I still managed to get the kitchen cleaned up and supervise packing activities. I packed up a dozen wrap sandwiches and large bags of chips, snacks, fruit and drinks so that we could minimize our contact with the world during our trip. The plan immediately hit a snag Saturday morning when the truck would not start. This normally would not be a big problem because we were taking the minivan, but our truck was full of bags of garbage that our neighbors would be most displeased to see festering for two weeks. Our jumper box was not powerful enough to jolt it back to life, so we had to call roadside assistance. Towing guy not only did not wear a mask, he smoked nearly the entire time he was around so we had to stay way back from him, but he did get the truck going. Husband took the truck around the complex to let it run and deliver all the bags to the big dumpster while kiddo and I finished packing and locking up. We were on the road by 11, which was not great but could've been worse. We drove to Dayton on the first day, our usual stopover point at about 9.5 hours into the drive. We stopped twice on the way, both at Loves stations because they always do a good job cleaning. We didn't buy anything, just in and out in the time it takes to use a bathroom. Most people were wearing masks. I was able to get us quite a nice deal on a one room suite with a sofabed in Dayton, and the room was nice and very clean. We still took a bottle of bleach cleaner and hit up all the high-touch surfaces, just in case. The hot water was copious and I enjoyed a nice bath before going to bed. We did not get any food that day, just ate what we brought with us. I was woken up at just before 5am by the Red Cross, which means we all woke up because one-room suite. There was a fire in the nearby town to where we lived, and they needed a runner because the guy didn't have a phone. I told them that yes I'm on duty, but I'm only doing virtual intake. I arranged it with my partner A that he would run and I would do the computer stuff while I was gone. (It took two phone calls just for me to clarify that I could not run to Nearby Town because I was in fact in Dayton.) A was not picking up his phone this morning so that was not great, but there wasn't much I could do. I clarified all this, hung up, went back to sleep, and was woken twenty minutes later to have the same conversation with another DAT supervisor. She was irritated that I hadn't told her about the arrangement A and I made, even when I told her that I cleared it with the DAT coordinator because apparently he has faffed off to California for the week. All I could do was shrug, because I'd asked for Thanksgiving week off ages ago and didn't get it, so I was doing my best. Anyway, by the time I finished the call we were all awake, but we did manage to catch a little more sleep before it was time to get up for real. We cleaned up, dressed, and packed up the hotel room in very good time because we do it a lot and are experts. We were just about to leave when the Red Cross called again. I was about to be seriously irked until I realized this was legit a totally different event and apparently today is just a "things catch on fire" day. The unusual thing was that the building that caught fire was actually incredibly close to where we live, so close that I could've walked to the response if I weren't in, you know, Dayton. As it was though, we finally got hold of A to do the runs, so I wound up hotspotting my laptop to my phone, which I hadn't known I could do in a moving car until today, then did intake calls for this apartment building fire while Husband navigated us through an extremely rainy morning drive and my stomach severely rejected the Burger King breakfast we'd grabbed because the hotel had suspended its breakfast service. It was not the least stressful car ride I've ever had, but stuff got done. We had to stop three times for the six hour drive today because my stomach was Extremely Sad About French Toast Sandwich, but each one was very short and careful. Once I stopped eating or drinking anything, my stomach and I were able to reach detente and we arrived at our destination around 3:30. By then we were super hungry, but that was okay because my folks were totally ready to feed us delicious hamburgers on the grill, fried parsnips, and cauliflower tots from the air fryer. It was all very delicious. Tomorrow is going to be an early day because kiddo's school starts at 9est, which is 8 in Illinois, and I have to make sure he's ready and that his internet is working. Knock on wood, because he'll be doing school like this for the next little while!

#quarantine #car trip #red cross

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