#choices trystan
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thorne siblings alignment chart
#this was hard cuz all of them are insane#playchoices#pixelberry#choices#choices stories you play#choices crimes of passion#choices cop#crimes of passion#trystan x mc#mc x trystan#trystan thorne#choices trystan#cop 2
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Vancross
Vancross - Real As A Dream (Chapter 14)
Most of the characters belong to Pixelberry.
Summary: A group of friends embark on their final year at Vancross Institute with the hopes of making it their best year yet. When a new face with a complicated family plagued by secrets and rumors arrives on campus, new friendships are formed, a new relationship blossoms, and threatening challenges arise.
Title inspiration: Infinitely Falling - Fly By Midnight
Main Pairing: Liam x F!OC
A/N: Multiple crossover series. There will be random sprinkles of canon throughout this story, but for the most part, it’s pretty much out the window. Thank you to @burnsoslow for prereading! Please excuse any errors.
Rating: M • Warnings: This series will contain nsfw material, language, some alcohol and drug use, and is not suitable for minors. If you read, you acknowledge you are 18+
Catch up here
After arriving back to their suite and quickly packing their bags for their impromptu weekend trip, Croía and Alia walked out of their building, flanked by their guards who were carrying their bags. Liam had told them not to worry about finding something to bring for the ball because the palace had a boutique with an array of gowns for them to choose from.
“Ready?”
Croía heard his voice and looked up, seeing Liam, grinning as he walked toward her. “Yeah,” she smiled.
They walked to the waiting SUV that was parked at the back entrance of campus and loaded their bags before slipping inside. Anthony, Liam’s guard, promised updates to the others before driving off and heading for the airport.
Liam leaned over to Croía. “I’m really glad you’re coming,” he said before kissing the top of her head.
“Me too,” Croía smiled as she looked at him.
Blaine’s head suddenly poked between them from the back seat. “What about me?” he asked, tapping his cheek to Liam.
Laughing, Liam palmed his face and shoved him back. “I think you have enough to worry about once Lena gets wind you’re there.”
“Why does he need to worry about that?” Croía asked.
Blaine, Alia, and Liam all chuckled. “My sister is absolutely smitten with Blaine, and she makes no attempts to hide it, either.”
Croía stared at him; she found herself a little nervous about meeting the rest of his family. “What are your brother and sister like?”
“Lena is your average, obnoxious little sister,” Liam chuckled. “But she’s a good kid. Leo … Leo is …”
“Awesome,” Blaine laughed.
Liam chuckled. “He’s very carefree and laid back, a bit of a jokester, says what he means and means what he says. And I’m sure he’ll try to embarrass the fuck out of me in front of you.”
“Yeah, he will,” Alia laughed as she and Blaine nodded in agreement.
“So, what are the plans, anyway?” Blaine asked.
“Nothing until the ball tomorrow evening,” Liam subtly rolled his eyes, shaking his head with a small smile. “And then coming back sometime Sunday. So tonight and most of the day tomorrow we can do whatever.”
After a short drive, the SUV pulled up to the tarmac alongside the waiting jet. When Liam exited the vehicle, he was approached by Jackson. “Hello, sir,” Liam chuckled.
Jackson shook his head with a good-natured grin as he shook his hand, then looked at the others that gathered around him. “Rashad and Olivia are already on board with your parents, I just need to add these guys to the manifest. I already know you two,” he nodded with a smile toward Blaine and gave a bow of his head to Alia before gesturing to the jet; they grinned before heading for the stairs.
Liam slid his arm around Croía’s waist. “Croía, this is Jackson Walker, my parent’s head guard. Jackson, this is my girlfriend Croía.”
Jackson bowed his head, already having been made aware of Croía’s title. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You as well,” Croía smiled.
“Jackson here is like my second father,” Liam chuckled as he looked at her. “You remember my best friend Drake that I told you about, the one that lives in New York with our other friend?” She nodded in reply; he had talked about them on several occasions since she’d first met him. “This is his dad.”
Croía smiled with a nod of understanding as she glanced back at the guard. She already knew her upbringing was different, but hearing that truly solidified it. Liam’s childhood best friend — a man he spoke so highly of, a man he made sound more like a brother than a friend — was a commoner, the son of a guard. Her parents would never. She was barely allowed to associate with their court of nobles let alone anyone her parents deemed beneath them.
“Yes, yes. I can tell you loads of stories about this one growing up,” Jackson tilted his chin toward the Prince.
“Whatever do you mean? I was a saint,” Liam grinned. “Still am.”
Jackson arched a brow and looked at Croía. “You’re not really buying this illusion of perfection, are you?” She laughed as he glanced back at Liam and dropped his voice. “I could write a book.”
Liam smirked. “But you won’t.”
“Can’t,” Jackson corrected him. “It’s in my contract,” he winked as he clapped him on the shoulder before gesturing to the aircraft.
Liam laughed as he and Croía walked toward the jet and climbed the stairs. When they turned the corner into the cabin, he smiled at his parents in the front; Blaine, Alia, Rashad, and Olivia were all in the back.
“Hello, again,” Eleanor smiled. Liam kissed her cheek before shaking his father’s hand. “I’m glad you could make it, Croía.”
“Me too,” Croía smiled. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“We’re glad to have you,” Constantine nodded. “The flight is a couple of hours. Why don’t you two go get settled?”
Liam nodded before he and Croía headed toward the back of the cabin, and after greeting Olivia and Rashad, they settled in their seats. Several minutes later, the aircraft was turning onto the runway. Croía looked out the window as they started to lift into the air; she felt Liam’s hand slip into hers, and she looked at him. “Are you excited?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Croía grinned. “I’ve only ever been to two places outside of Drakovia — New York once, and then school.”
Liam leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “We won’t have time to really explore and show you the sights, but I promise to make it worth your while,” he smiled.
****
A couple of hours later, Liam glanced up at the cabin light above upon hearing the soft chime, signaling the passengers to fasten their seatbelts for landing. He smiled as he looked beside him and gestured to the window. “Welcome to Cordonia.”
Croía looked out the window as Liam leaned forward to peer over her shoulder; the jet dropped from the clouds and the island below came into view. A wide grin spread across her face as she took it in.
Sandy beaches and a bustling city boarded the seaside below, and far off in the distance toward the other side of the island, Croía could just make out the silhouettes of mountain peaks against the dusky sky. As they circled toward the airport, Liam pointed out the palace, perched atop a massive hill above the rest of the city.
“It’s beautiful,” Croía smiled. It truly was. It looked like something out of a dream and not a place she would have expected to visit just a mere few months ago. At that moment, she only wished she had more time to be able to explore it.
When the jet landed, everyone was escorted off to the waiting vehicles. Rashad and Olivia said their goodbyes; they were heading back to their duchies just for the night. The others climbed into the three-row SUV and took off for the palace.
After a short drive, they pulled through the gilded gates at the bottom of the hill; Croía looked out the window, taking in the pristine grounds as they drove up the long drive. When the palace came into view, her eyes slightly widened. No, it wasn’t the first palace she’d seen — she grew up in one — but the welcoming bright colors and Baroque architecture of the Cordonian palace were vastly different in contrast to the dreariness and isolation of the one she grew up in.
The SUV came to a stop outside of the doors and everyone climbed out; they were greeted by staff as they came to retrieve their bags from the motorcade. Croía stared up at the structure in awe.
“Welcome to our home,” Eleanor said as she came beside her.
Croía looked at her. “It’s beautiful,” she smiled.
“Wait until you see the inside,” Blaine chuckled from behind her.
“Come on,” Liam grinned, taking her hand and leading her inside.
Croía didn’t think the place could surprise her anymore, but when they stepped into the foyer, it blew her away. A panoply of historical paintings lined the walls, and two massive staircases curved around from either side of the foyer, leading up to the second level. To her left was a great room and what appeared to be a few small offices. To her right, two opulent white and gold doors were opened, leading into an enormous ballroom.
“Li!”
At the sound of the voice, Croía glanced over to see a man walking down one side of the staircase; he had the same height and build as Liam as well as the same blonde hair and blue eyes, and he wore a smile as he approached. There was no doubt who he was, but she waited for the introduction. She looked up at Liam who was grinning as he took a step forward; the two shook hands before pulling one another into a hug, but a moment later, their feet shifted, and in that hug, they began to playfully grapple.
“I can still kick your ass,” the man grumbled through a laugh.
“Bet,” Liam chuckled before swinging his arm up and wrapping it around him in a headlock.
“Whenever you two are done acting like children, there are introductions to be made,” Constantine said.
Liam and the man stood upright with smiles, both combing their hands through their now-disheveled hair. “Missed you, little brother,” the man laughed.
“Missed you, too,” Liam snorted. He glanced over, gesturing with his hand. “You know Blaine and Alia.”
“Alia, you look lovely as always,” Leo crooned, kissing her on the cheek. He then looked at Blaine. “You’re still ugly.”
“Still better looking than you,” Blaine quipped.
“That’s not what your mom—” The man paused, sliding his eyes to Eleanor who was arching a warning brow as Blaine coughed to cover up his laugh. “Heh.”
Liam silently laughed, shaking his head as the man turned back to him; his eyes fell on Croía with a broad grin. “Croía, this is my brother, Leo. Leo, this is Croía.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Leo said as he stepped up and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
“You as well,” Croia smiled.
“Liam here hasn’t shut up about you since the start of the school year when you two got paired up on that project together,” Leo smirked.
Liam’s brows shot up. “That’s not—”
“It’s true,” Leo interrupted. “He talked about you non-stop like a schoolgirl with a crush.”
Blaine and Alia laughed as Liam furrowed his brows; he shook his head, looking at Croía. “I-I didn’t—”
“And he went on and on and on about how beautiful you were,” Leo interrupted again, “but his words didn’t do you justice.” Croía’s cheeks flushed, and beside her, Liam shook his head with a smile, not bothering to try to correct his brother’s exaggeration that time. “So, Trystan Thorne’s baby sister …” He grinned, crossing his arms over his chest. “How is your brother?”
“He’s doing ok,” Croía smiled. “I heard you two were suitemates the year he attended Vancross.”
“We were,” Leo nodded with a grin. “We certainly had our fair share of fun. I’ll have to get his number from you so I can call him and catch up … and to badmouth Liam, of course,” he smirked before dodging a punch from Liam.
“You’re here!” another voice sounded from the top of the stairs. Croía glanced up to see a girl with blonde hair coming down the stairs. When her eyes fell on Blaine, they widened along with her smile as she picked up her pace. She went to Liam and wrapped her arms around him. “Hi.”
“Hey, yourself,” Liam replied as he hugged her back. When she stepped back, she looked at Croía and tilted her head to the side. “Lena, you know Blaine and his girlfriend Alia.” She gave him a sideways glance at his extra emphasis on Alia’s label before smiling at the pair. “And this is Croía. Croía, this is my sister, Lena.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Croía smiled.
“You too,” Lena grinned. “I’m glad to see you’re still with us after Liam cooked you dinner.”
Constantine, Leo, Blaine, and Alia barked out a laugh as Eleanor shook her head with a faint smile. Liam narrowed his eyes. “Don’t you have a tea party or something to go to?”
Lena’s eyes slid to Blaine with a smile. “Nope.”
“Alright,” Eleanor said. “It’s been quite a long day and we have yet to eat. Liam, why don’t you take everyone to your wing to get settled, and you can call down to the kitchens to have something brought up for all of you.” Liam nodded before kissing Eleanor’s cheek. “Lena, have you eaten, sweetheart?”
“No,” Lena replied. “I’ll just go with Liam.”
“No, you won’t,” Liam shook his head.
“Come on! Let me come hang out with you!”
“No, because you’re not coming to hang out with me. Go with Mom and Dad and eat with them.” Liam looked at Leo as they started toward the stairs. “You wanna eat with us?”
“Liam!” Lena bemoaned.
“Don’t worry, little sis,” Leo smirked. “I’ll flirt with Blaine for you,” he laughed. Lena’s cheeks burned as she narrowed her eyes while the others started up the stairs.
When they reached the landing, Leo said he needed to stop in his wing but would meet them at Liam’s before disappearing down a corridor. Blaine and Alia turned one way while Liam, who was holding Croía’s hand, turned another. “Where are you going?” Blaine asked when he realized.
Liam glanced over his shoulder. “I’m not in the east wing anymore,” he replied, gesturing his head for them to follow. As they walked and turned down a few corridors, Croía took in her surroundings; the entire place was luxurious.
“Why did they move you?” Alia asked.
They finally neared the backside of the palace and Liam pushed open a door that led into an antechamber and a set of double doors. “After the abdication, they said I should have a bigger space, so they put me in the south wing.”
Liam pushed open the doors and they stepped inside the sprawling wing. Blaine grinned as he looked around. “Hell yeah, they did!” It was much grander than Liam’s old space.
The first level housed the kitchen, living, and dining areas spread out through an open-concept floor plan; it was painted a deep black, and the floor was a combination of marble and black wood. Near the massive chandelier that hung by the entryway was a staircase leading up to the second floor.
“Ok, Crown Prince,” Blaine rocked his head before feigning a hair flip.
Liam laughed, shaking his head. “They had it remodeled. It didn’t always look like this.” They grabbed their bags that sat at the bottom of the stairs before heading up. He turned to Blaine and Alia once they reached the top. “Guest rooms are down there. Pick whatever one you want.”
“Where’s yours?” Blaine asked, and Liam pointed to a lone door that stood at the end of a small hall at the opposite end of the other longer one in response. “A master suite. Noooice,” he shook his fist.
Liam chuckled. “What did you guys want to do for dinner? I’ll call down to the kitchens while you get situated.”
“I’m good with whatever,” Alia answered.
“Pizza and wings?” Blaine suggested. “Something easy and greasy.”
Liam looked at Croía, who nodded in agreement. “I’ll make the call and meet you guys back down in the living area.”
Blaine and Alia turned to find a room while Liam, still holding Croía’s hand, led her down the other hall. He pushed open the door, and she looked around as they stepped inside the massive bedroom. Like downstairs, it was painted in a deep, rich color. A door leading to a master bath and another leading into a walk-in closet was on one side. A king-sized bed was against the back wall, covered in stone-gray bedding. And along the other side was a set of double doors that led onto a balcony.
“This whole wing is yours?” Croía asked as she moved to look out the balcony door window.
Liam smiled sheepishly as he came up behind her. “When Leo and I turned 18, we got our own wings. Lena will get her own next year. It’s just to give us our own space within the palace. No one comes unannounced … except my mom, only on birthdays, though,” he chuckled. “She lets herself in every year to make a birthday breakfast, and the rest of the family comes to eat. So Sunday, she and the others will let themselves in. But other than that …” He wrapped his arms around her. “It’s my place.”
“It’s amazing. This whole place … I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Your room at your palace isn’t like this?” Liam quipped with a chuckle.
“No,” Croía shook her head. “I have a room. Not a wing. And it looks nothing like this …” She turned in his arms and peered around his broad shoulder. “And I don’t have a king-sized bed.” Liam bit his lip through a smile as he pulled her back until they collapsed on the mattress. “And mine isn’t this soft.”
Liam propped himself up at her side, looking down at her as he smiled. “I know I already said it, but I really am glad that you came.” She smiled up at him as he leaned down, capturing her lips in his. His hand settled on her bare waist where the hem of her shirt had risen as the kiss deepened.
Croía slightly arched into him when his thumb brushed against her stomach. “You have to call down for dinner,” she whispered against his lips before kissing him again.
“Mmm,” Liam hummed with a smile before pulling back. “We can pick this back up later.”
****
A short while later, Liam, Croía, Blaine, Alia, and Leo sat around the living room with various pizzas and flavors of wings set out on the large coffee table. The others caught Leo up on life at Vancross, and Leo asked Croía more about Trystan and his life in New York; he kept his questions as casual as possible, careful not to ask about his banishment from their country or the rumors that went along with it as for the reason why.
A knock on Liam’s door caused them to fall silent for a moment. “It’s probably Lena,” Liam chuckled. “Wanting to hang out.”
“I’ll run her off,” Leo smirked as he stood from his seat. As he rounded the corner to answer the door, the other four continued talking. A moment later, he came back. “Hey, Li …”
Liam looked over his shoulder, and a broad grin spread across his lips. “No fucking way.” He stood, and Croía looked behind her to see two men standing on either side of Leo, both with grins of their own as Liam approached them.
“Hey, brother,” the one man said as Liam shook his hand and pulled him into a tight embrace.
“What the hell are you guys doing here?” Liam asked as he stepped back and moved to the other man, greeting him the same.
“Like we’d miss your birthday weekend,” the second man chuckled.
“You didn’t have to come all the way home for this,” Liam shook his head as he stepped back. Despite his words, Croía could hear a happiness in his tone that said he was glad they were there. “You guys hungry?” He asked, gesturing to the pizza and wings.
“Starving!” the second man said as he walked by Liam, rubbing his hands together. “Hey, Blaine. Alia,” he smiled as he greeted them. He then looked at Croía. “I don’t think I know you …”
Liam chuckled as he, Leo, and the other man approached. “You know Blaine and Alia,” Liam said, gesturing to the pair on the loveseat; the first man tipped his chin toward them in silent greeting. “And this,” he said, taking Croía’s hand, helping her to stand to bring her beside him; he slipped an arm around her waist. “Is Croía. Croía, that’s Maxwell,” he pointed to the one now shoving a slice of pizza into his mouth; she chuckled with a wave before looking at the other man. “And this is Drake.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Drake said, tilting his chin toward Liam with a grin. “Nice to meet ya.”
“You as well,” Croía smiled. “And Liam’s talked a lot about you, too.”
“I told her how Liam hasn’t shut up about her,” Leo chimed in. “Isn’t that right, Drake?”
“Oh, yeah.” Drake knitted his brows, nodding as he sucked in a breath; he knew what Leo was doing, and what kind of guy would he be if he didn’t give his best friend a hard time every once in a while? “He’s had it real bad for you from day one.”
“Really?” Liam scoffed, cutting his eyes to Drake. “You too?”
Drake shrugged, clapping Liam’s shoulder. “Honestly, Croía, this poor little prince has been a walking hard-on for you,” he snorted as he dodged out of the way of Liam’s fist. Blaine choked, spraying beer from his nose from the sip he’d just taken as Leo threw his head back with a bark of laughter.
Liam looked at Croía, shaking his head as he stifled a laugh. “Please ignore these assholes that I call my friends and family.”
****
After visiting with Drake and Maxwell for a few hours, the two-headed home for the night; they made plans to meet up with the others at the private beach the next morning to relax and hang out before Liam’s birthday ball. Leo went back to his wing and the other four called it a night.
Once changed, Liam sprawled out on the bed and closed his eyes; it was much larger and more comfortable than the one in his suite back at Vancross.
Croía stepped out of the bathroom after changing and brushing her teeth, walking around to the other side of the bed. She clicked off the light on the nightstand and slipped beneath the comforter, letting out a content sigh a moment later. “I think this bed is the softest thing I’ve ever laid on.”
Liam looked over at her and began scooting closer. “I’m glad, but you’re too far away.” She giggled when he draped his arm over her waist, pulling her back flush against his bare chest and molding her body to his. “That’s better,” he whispered into the crook of her neck. Croía tilted her head back; a stream of moonlight coming through the balcony door illuminated his face, allowing her to make out his smile. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a slow kiss. When he drew back, he brushed the tip of his nose against hers. “Where were we earlier?”
Croía quietly chuckled as his lips found her neck and his fingers grazed her thigh beneath the hem of the shorts she was wearing.
*******
Croía felt the bed shift and her eyes fluttered open to see Liam sitting on the edge beside her. “Good morning, beautiful,” he smiled, leaning down to smother a kiss against her cheek.
“Morning,” Croía smiled. When he drew back, she saw a sparkle in his eye as he grinned. “What?”
“I like waking up with you in my bed,” Liam chuckled before kissing her lips.
Croía smiled. “You’ve woken up with me in your bed before.”
“Yeah, but not here … in my home … in Cordonia. It feels different,” Liam grinned.
“You’re so cute,” Croía giggled.
Liam smiled, leaning down to trail his lips up her neck before finding hers again. When he drew back, he brushed his hand across her cheek. “We’re going to eat breakfast then head down to the private beach to meet the others. Leo and Lena are both tagging along.”
“Ok,” Croía nodded as she sat up in bed.
****
At the beach, Croía lounged beside Alia in a chair; on her other side was Olivia, and next to her was Lena. On the sand, the guys were playing a three-on-three game of volleyball — Liam, Blaine, and Drake against Rashad, Leo, and Maxwell.
When they first arrived, Croía sat and talked with Drake and Maxwell, getting to know Liam’s two oldest friends a little more. They told her about school and life in New York, and Drake talked about Riley, who had been unable to make the trip due to work she couldn’t get out of. They told her stories about them growing up while playfully poking fun at Liam a bit more, but also telling her about what a great person he was.
Croía smiled to herself as she watched Liam laughing and joking with his friends and brother. She’d never met anyone so well-liked by so many people. He was the golden boy at Vancross but here in Cordonia as well; the people’s Prince and future King, a bright spot in the lives of his friends and family. It wasn’t like she couldn’t see why, though. From the moment she had met him, he treated her with nothing but respect and kindness, two things she hadn’t exactly been used to. And he continued to treat her in ways she wasn’t used to … to make her feel things she wasn’t used to.
The way Croía felt about Liam was something she had never felt before; not too long ago, it wasn’t something she’d even thought possible for herself with the way she had been isolated in Drakovia. And her feelings seemed to grow stronger every day, but as someone treading in very unfamiliar territory, she wasn’t sure exactly what to call it. Sure, she’d heard about love, she’d read about it in stories and watched it play out on television screens, but she’d never experienced it. Maybe it wasn’t yet something that she could call love, but it was, at the least, heady infatuation.
“Hey,” Liam’s voice pulled Croía from her musings and she glanced up as he approached her, shading her eyes from the sun. He leaned down, kissing her cheek. “Want to go for a walk with me? There’s something I want to show you.”
“Sure,” Croía smiled.
“We’ll be back,” Liam called out to the others as he helped her to stand from the lounge chair.
As the pair walked down the beach hand-in-hand, Drake watched as he stood next to Blaine. “If he’s going where I think he’s going … that’s a pretty big deal.”
Blaine furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?”
“Let’s just say he’s never taken anyone else there before … ever.”
“Not even Kennedy?” Blaine questioned, not sure of the ‘where’ he was even referring to. “All those times she came to visit?”
Drake shook his head. “Not even her.”
“Well shit,” Blaine chuckled, looking back as Liam and Croía disappeared into a pathway between the trees. “Our boy’s in lurve.”
****
Liam silently led Croía along the path deep into the trees that bordered the beach. “Where are we going?” she finally asked.
“It’s just up here,” Liam replied.
A few moments later, Croía could make out a burble of water; it continued to grow louder the deeper they walked into the path until the sound surrounded them. She glanced around but saw nothing of its source until he veered off the pathway.
Liam led her to a clearing, and glanced down, watching her face light up at the sight. “This is the Forgotten Falls.”
Croía grinned as they walked toward the edge of the plunge pool, looking up at the massive waterfall. “Liam, this is amazing!”
“There’s a folklore behind it,” Liam said. “The story goes that hundreds of years ago there were two lovers from warring clans. They were forbidden from being together, but they would meet here, at this hidden cove, and make their plans to run away together. When the day came for them to leave, they vowed to meet here at dawn. When dawn came, the woman waited and waited, but her lover never appeared. It’s said that he was caught by her people and killed. But she never had the heart to leave this spot. So she knelt on the cliffs and wept, and her tears became the waterfall … until that’s all that was left of her.”
“That’s beautiful. Heartbreaking … but beautiful,” Croía smiled sadly.
“Well, there’s a little silver lining,” Liam smiled. Croía could hear a hint of mischief in his tone and looked over at him. “It’s said that if two lovers climb to the top of the waterfall—” he pointed up to it “—and jump in together, they’ll get the blessing of the lady of the waterfall.”
Croía chuckled as she looked back at the falls; her gaze abruptly snapped back to him once she realized what he was saying. “You want to jump?”
Liam nodded with a grin. “If you’re up for it, that is.”
Croía looked back at the falls again, glancing up at the high cliff above. “And we have to climb? There’s no other way up?”
“We have to climb,” Liam nodded, taking her hand and leading her toward the wall of rocks and vines; she glanced at him, mirroring his smile as she gave a nod. “You go first, and I’ll be right behind you.”
Liam helped Croía get situated on the first few notches on the wall, pointing out a clear path for her to go up; she scaled, and he followed right behind, watching her carefully to make sure she didn’t slip. After several long minutes, she disappeared over the ledge; Liam’s head popped up, and he smiled at her as he hoisted himself onto the edge of the cliff.
“How was that?”
“Not bad,” Croía chuckled. They both stood and she peered over the edge. “I didn’t realize how high up we were.”
“If you can do the skycoaster at the amusement park, this will be a piece of cake,” Liam smiled, reaching out his hand.
Croía took it, and he laced their fingers together as they took several steps back. “Are you sure the water is deep enough down there? How many times have you jumped off this?”
“It’s deep enough, I promise,” Liam chuckled. “And by myself, I’ve jumped loads of times.”
“And with someone else?”
Liam glanced at her, his blue eyes sparkling against the sun. “Never,” he smiled. No, she might not pick up on the significance of that, but he knew. “Ready?” She nodded and they looked straight ahead. “Three … two … one!”
They took off in a run and flung themselves over the edge; Croía let out a scream as they fell, and Liam laughed beside her before they hit the plunge pool with a splash.
When they surfaced above the water, Liam wiped the water from his face and looked at her with a grin. “Verdict?”
“Amazing,” Croía chuckled.
****
After several more jumps off the cliff, Liam and Croía stood in the plunge pool; his feet were anchored in the sand with her legs and arms wrapped around him as he held her tightly. She glanced up at the falls above them. “Do you believe it?” she asked as she glanced back at him. “The folklore behind it?”
“I’m sure along the way any truth became stretched and fabricated to sell the tale.” Liam chuckled when she gave him a look. “I believe in the message about love behind it.” He smiled sheepishly.
Croía held his gaze as that question she’d been asking herself floated in her mind. “Have … have you ever been …”
“In love?” Liam questioned, and she nodded. He smiled, scanning over the details of her face before meeting her gaze again. “I thought I had been … but I’m not sure that’s exactly what it was.”
Liam wasn’t sure because what he felt before didn’t feel like this. It didn’t make him feel the way he felt when he was with Croía. His feelings for her had grown into something he never saw coming, and it happened rather quickly. If what he felt before was love, this was a vastly different kind of it, so different that there wasn’t even a comparison to make between his past and present.
Leaning in, Liam captured her lips in his; when he drew back, she rested her forehead against his. “We should probably head back. We’ll be leaving soon to go get ready for the ball.” Croía nodded, kissing him once more as he lowered her to stand in the water, feeling him smile against her lips.
****
That evening, Liam and Blaine stood in the living area of the wing, waiting for Alia and Croía. When they returned from the beach, the two had gone into the palace boutique with Lena to pick out their gowns.
“They’re probably doing each other’s hair,” Blaine chuckled.
Liam laughed, glancing down at his watch. “We have plenty of time. It’s not a typical ball anyway; there’s no receiving line or announcing anyone in. I asked them to keep it as casual as possible.”
“A casual ball,” Blaine snorted. “Sounds like a bit of an oxymoron to me.”
“Look at you using your big words,” Liam teased, laughing when Blaine flipped him off.
Just then, Alia rounded the corner from the stairwell; Blaine grinned as he took in the sight of her wearing a champagne-colored fitted twist front halter top gown. “Baby,” he crooned as he approached her. “You look damn good.” Liam nodded his agreement as he offered her a smile.
“Thanks,” Alia giggled before kissing him.
A moment later, Croía came into view and Liam’s heart stuttered. She wore a one-shoulder A-line gown with a thigh-high slit in a dusty shade of mauve. Her hair was loosely swept back in an effortless low-twisted bun with a few curled tendrils falling to frame her face. It was the first time he’d seen her this way, the simple yet elegant dolled-up version of the Princess of Drakovia. “You look …” Liam trailed off, his smile growing with each sweep of his eyes. “Wow.”
Blaine laughed. “I think the word he’s looking for is—”
“Incredible,” Liam interrupted with a sheepish smile. “You look incredible.” He approached her, leaning down to place a tender kiss on her lips.
Croía’s cheeks blushed. “Thank you.”
“Shall we?” Liam smiled, holding out his arm. Croía chuckled as she switched her clutch into her other hand and linked her arm through his.
****
More than halfway through the ball, Croía headed to the bar to get a refill. Despite it being a ball, the evening was as Liam promised: casual and laid back. It wasn’t something she was used to seeing. When balls were held in Drakovia, which wasn’t very often, the atmosphere was entirely different.
For starters, everything had to be perfect and grandeur beyond reason. The timing for every moment of the ball was planned down to the wire; nothing was to go a second more or less. Her parents would sit predatorily in their thrones on the dais the entire evening, eyeing the guests as if they were prey. They greeted no one until they came to them, and even then their conversations were no more than a mere nod of acknowledgment to their subjects, perhaps a hummed hello if they liked them enough. The few dances they allowed were all traditional choreographed numbers. And Croía was expected to be barely seen and never heard; it’s what had made sneaking out so easy … until it wasn’t. After the incident where her sister caught her and the son of her mother’s guard, she was not allowed to leave the dais beside her mother unless she was asked to dance in one of those choreographed numbers, which was a rare occurrence.
This ball, however, was unlike one she’d ever seen. The King and Queen of Cordonia wandered around the room, greeting every guest with smiles, taking time to speak with each of them as if they were all old friends. There had been only one choreographed number — The Cordonian Waltz — at the beginning of the evening to officially commemorate the start of the ball. After that, Liam stayed with Croía and his friends, laughing, drinking, and dancing, but spoke with the guests in attendance, introducing her to each of them, and thanking them for coming to celebrate his birthday.
As she waited for her drink, Croía’s eyes fell on the table that housed the multi-tiered birthday cake that was now cut into; the crowd had gathered around it not too long ago to sing happy birthday to Liam. It was beside another table that was piled with gifts, despite Liam’s request that in lieu of gifts, a donation be made to one of his charities instead. It was another reminder of how much his court adored him.
Just as Croía grabbed her drink, she felt a pair of hands curl around her waist, and she smiled when Liam nuzzled into her neck. “Enjoying yourself?” he asked.
“I am,” Croía chuckled.
“Want to go get some fresh air with me before the fireworks?”
“Sure,” Croía nodded. She followed Liam toward a set of doors, setting her clutch and drink down on one of the tables before taking his offered hand. He led her out onto the balcony, nodding to a few others who were out there as he headed toward the stairs. “Where are we going?”
“I want to show you one of my favorite places,” Liam smiled. He guided her away from the palace toward an entrance between a row of hedges that arched to create a canopy above a pathway. “My mother designed this maze,” he said as they started down the path; it was lined with lights, as was the canopy above them. “I used to come in here and stay for hours … and Drake and I would play maze-tag,” he chuckled.
“Maze-tag?” Croía giggled.
Liam looked at her with a lopsided grin. “Yeah,” he nodded. “We’d run through to the large tree at the center of the maze.” His grin grew. “Wanna play?”
“I don’t know where I’m going,” Croía chuckled as she looked up at him. “You would already have an advantage.”
“I’ll give you a head start,” Liam smiled. “I’ll even turn around so I don’t see which way you go.”
The playful spark in his eyes caused Croía to laugh; she turned to face him, walking backward as he bit his lip through a grin. “Turn around then.”
A low rumble of mischievous laughter escaped Liam as he rubbed his hands together and turned his back to her. Croía slipped off her heels to quiet her steps before turning and sprinting down the pathway to the first split. She veered left and kept running, to where she didn’t know. The center. A large tree. That’s all she knew.
Croía took a right, another right, and then a left, glancing over her shoulder; she could hear his footsteps, but couldn’t tell which direction they were coming from.
“Oh, Croía,” Liam loudly singsonged, causing a giggle to erupt from her as she continued to run. When she took another right, she halted to a stop when Liam came around the opposite bend. “Fancy running into you here,” he smirked. She eyed the entrance to the next path and she knew it had to be the one to the center just by the way he was also eyeing it. She took off toward it as he did the same, both laughing. “No, you don’t!” He lunged for her but she dodged his grasp with a melodious laugh, and he swore he could listen to that sound all night … for the rest of his life … and never tire of it.
With Liam hot on her heels, Croía raced toward a large tree she could see beyond the pathway. She turned as she exited the hedges into the clearing and he swept her into his arms as she laughed again; he swung her around before placing her back on her feet.
Croía turned and a soft breath fell from her lips; the center of the maze was covered in dim twinkling lights and flowers. A large-flowered rope swing hung from the tree, which was also wrapped in lights. “This is beautiful.”
“Do you have mazes at your palace?” Liam asked.
“Yeah,” Croía nodded. “But they look nothing like this … they have more of a horror film vibe.” Liam laughed as he slipped an arm around her waist. Just then, a whistling sound pulled their attention to the sky; the first of the midnight fireworks went off, exploding in the air and sending streams of gold down. She turned in his arms as they wrapped around her and she looped hers around his neck. “Happy birthday, Liam.”
Liam smiled. “Thank you.”
Leaning down, Liam captured her lips in his. Sure, he had been surrounded by family and friends celebrating him that night, but that particular moment with Croía was what made his heart feel so full he thought it might burst. And that feeling further solidified what he knew was happening.
Drawing back, Liam met her gaze when her eyes fluttered open; he smiled as he brushed his lips against hers. “Come on,” he said, taking her hand in his. “We don’t want to miss the whole show.”
****
That evening, after the ball had ended, Croía and Liam headed back to his wing with the others; Drake and Maxwell were staying the night to have breakfast with everyone in the morning before they headed back to New York.
After changing out of her gown, Croía had realized she’d left her clutch down in the ballroom; Liam had offered to go get it for her, but she told him she’d run down.
Once she had retrieved her clutch from the table she’d left it on, Croía headed up the grand staircase, back toward Liam’s wing. “Croía?” She glanced up upon hearing her name to see Eleanor standing at the end of the main corridor, holding two full bags in her hands. “Is everything alright?”
“Oh … yes,” Croía nodded. “I just left my clutch in the ballroom.”
Eleanor nodded as Croía fell into step beside her. “Did you enjoy yourself this evening?”
“I did,” Croía smiled before she glanced down curiously at the heavy bags in her hands.
“I had to raid the big kitchen for some ingredients,” Eleanor chuckled.
“For breakfast?” Croía asked, and Eleanor nodded. “Liam told me you make him breakfast every year,” she smiled.
“Well these—” Eleanor struggled to raise the bags “—are for one dish in particular. Liam has quite an affinity for baklava, so while it’s a dessert, I’ve always made some for him for his breakfast every year,” she chuckled.
“Let me help you with those,” Croía offered to take one of the bags. “They look heavy.”
“Thank you,” Eleanor smiled appreciatively, handing one to her. “I know it’s late … but if you’re up for it, would you like to help me with the baklava? I can show you how to make it for him should you feel like spoiling him one day,” she chuckled.
Croía met her gaze and smiled. “I’d like that.”
Eleanor led her to the west wing of the palace and into the King and Queen’s quarters, and Croía looked around as she followed behind her. She was surprised to find it a little smaller than Liam’s; it had a similar layout and was just as grand but in a simpler, more homey way. She glanced over to the open living area as they walked to the kitchen; the first things she noticed were the walls and fireplace mantle decorated with family photographs. Again, her parents would never; they didn’t have a single photograph of any of their children on display.
Croía set the bag on the counter next to the one Eleanor had set down and placed her clutch on an empty stool. “We’re not going to wake His Majesty, are we?”
Eleanor laughed as she began to empty the bags. “No. That man can sleep through a bomb.” Croía laughed before looking over at the edge of another counter where a trio of framed photographs sat; they were all of Eleanor, each photo with one of her children when they were younger, helping her in the kitchen. She giggled when she saw Liam’s; he was covered in a deep red substance. “I was teaching him how to make jam,” she chuckled. “He made quite the mess as you can see.”
Croía glanced back at her. “You’re very close with all of them,” she smiled. Even Leo, who Croía knew wasn’t biologically hers, seemed to have such a strong bond with her. She wondered what that felt like … to have that close of a relationship with a parent.
“They drive me up the wall sometimes,” Eleanor chuckled. “But I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
“Liam’s always spoken very fondly of you and about how close you two are.”
Eleanor smiled at her. “And he speaks just as fondly about you.” She noticed the blush that crept up Croía’s cheeks as she smiled sheepishly … and she also noticed the look in her eyes. She knew that look and what it meant, and she felt her heart swell a bit for her son. “Alright,” she smiled, stepping away to grab two aprons from a hook; she handed one to Croía. “First thing … the phyllo dough …”
*******
The following morning, Liam awoke to Croía nestled in the crook of his arm, sound asleep. Not remembering her coming to bed, he winced, realizing he had fallen asleep before she’d gotten back from grabbing her clutch; he hoped she hadn’t gotten lost. He softly kissed her forehead before slowly slipping from the bed, careful not to wake her. After throwing on a shirt, he crept out of his room, quietly shutting the door behind him.
Liam quietly padded down the hall from his bedroom and down the stairs, smelling the aroma that wafted in the air; he knew exactly what to expect once he rounded the corner. As he suspected, he chuckled when he saw Eleanor in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. “Good morning.”
Eleanor turned with a grin. “Good morning,” she replied as he greeted her with a kiss on her cheek. “Happy birthday.”
“Thank you,” Liam smiled as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He inhaled the scent of the French toast she was making as he turned back to the counter; his eyes scanned the food already prepared for what he knew was there. When he spotted it, he grinned and grabbed a small plate, layering two slices of baklava onto it before taking a seat on the stool.
“You can’t even wait for the others?” Eleanor chuckled when she turned, watching him take his first bite.
Liam covered his mouth as he chewed, hiding his grin behind a fist. “It’s my birthday,” he laughed.
Eleanor shook her head with a good-natured grin. “And how is it?”
“Amazing, as always,” Liam chuckled. “Thank you.”
“Well, you’ll have to thank Croía, too,” Eleanor smiled, and Liam gave her a curious look. She turned back, checking the food on the stove. “I saw her last night on her way back from the ballroom after she retrieved her clutch. I asked her if she’d like to help me. We talked a little while we made it.”
Liam looked down at the plate as a warm smile curled on his lips. “Thank you … for being so welcoming to her.” When Eleanor turned back, she gave him a look, and he chuckled. “I know it’s how you treat everyone, but to her … I can almost guarantee it means so much more than you just simply being nice.”
Eleanor studied him thoughtfully as the thoughts she had the night before crept back into her mind. “You really care about her … more than I’ve seen before. Not that you didn’t care about others in the past, but this … seems different for you.”
Liam let out a breathy laugh as he glanced back down at his plate; he stayed quiet for a moment before the words came tumbling out. “I think … I think I’m in love with her …” When he looked back at his mother, she was smiling. “I know it might sound crazy—”
“Why would it sound crazy?” Eleanor questioned.
“Because I know it probably seems soon … we’ve only been seeing each other for a few months, but …” Liam shook his head. “I don’t know. I thought I’d been in love before … but it wasn’t … it didn’t feel like this.”
“Perhaps you should talk to her …”
“I don’t want to say anything yet,” Liam shook his head. “I don’t know how she feels. And I know this is all new for her, so I don’t want to … spook her or make her feel like I’m trying to rush things to a place she might not be ready for.”
Eleanor was fairly certain she knew how Croía felt for him, but she didn’t want to insert her opinion. This was something Liam needed to figure out on his own. “Well … just be patient with her then,” she smiled.
Just then, the door to Liam’s wing burst open; Constantine, Leo, and Lena trailed inside. “There he is!” Leo grinned. He came behind Liam and wrapped his arm around him in a chokehold. “Happy birthday.”
Liam chuckled, receiving more birthday wishes from his father and sister. “Thank you.”
“I smell bacon,” a voice came from the archway. Liam glanced over to see Blaine with a sleepy grin standing next to Alia.
“I smell it too,” Drake mumbled as he strode into the room. He, Blaine, and Alia greeted the royal family and wished their friend a happy birthday before moving to the coffee pot.
“Happy birthday!” Maxwell grinned as he rounded the corner.
“Thank you,” Liam chuckled. A moment later, Croía walked around the corner, and he grinned when her eyes fell on him. She greeted everyone else as she made her way towards where he sat on the stool at the counter; his arm curled around her waist as hers went around his shoulders, and he pulled her to him. “Good morning.”
“Morning,” Croía smiled. “Happy birthday.”
Liam placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Thank you.” He turned toward the counter a moment later, watching as the others began to load their plates. “And I hear I also have you to thank for this,” he said as he grabbed another slice of baklava.
Croía glanced at Eleanor, sharing a smile with her before looking back at Liam. “You’re welcome, but your mom did most of the work. But she did show me how to make it.”
Liam grinned as he kissed her cheek. “Do you want coffee?”
“I can get it.”
“I’ll get it for you.”
“It’s your birthday. Get your breakfast,” Croía chuckled. She moved to the coffee pot while Liam filled a plate; she made herself a plate a moment later and joined him and the others.
Eleanor smiled as she looked at the crowded table, her heart feeling full.
****
The staff loaded bags into a waiting SUV as Blaine, Alia, Croía, Rashad, and Olivia said their goodbyes to Liam’s family; Drake and Maxwell had left an hour beforehand, catching their flight back to New York.
Liam made his rounds to his father, Leo, and Lena before stopping in front of his mother. “Thank you,” he said as he hugged her.
“You’re welcome,” Eleanor smiled. “I’m glad you had a decent birthday.”
“It was perfect,” Liam grinned as he stepped back. “I’ll see you guys soon.”
“Break, right?” Eleanor said.
Liam nodded. “We have the ski trip in a few weeks followed by a long weekend the week after, those last four days for exams, then break.”
Eleanor smiled. “Well, I’m sure I’ll talk to you beforehand, but just in case, be careful on your ski trip.”
“It’s just a weekend ski trip,” Liam chuckled. “What could go wrong?”
#choices crossover series#the royal romance#trr#choices trr#choices the royal romance#liam rys#prince liam rys#trr liam#choices liam#choices liam rys#liam x oc#trr liam x oc#choices liam x oc#choices foreign affairs#choices blaine#blaine hayes#choices crimes of passion#choices trystan#trystan thorne#trr fanfic#trr fan fic#choices trr fanfic#trr fanfiction#trr au#choices trr au#choices au fanfic#trr au fanfic#cfwc fics of the week
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take me anywhere but home
summary: trystan always wants to take care of you, even if it's 3.12 a.m. in the morning.
pairing: m!trystan thorne x f!mc (written as ‘you’, no name usage)
warnings: mature/smut (minors DNI!), major spoilers from book 2!
a/n: in honour of the end of book 2 because the authors spared my heart (tq <3) and honestly? this is one of my favourite pieces I've ever written, and not just because it's Trystan. it's just a little reminder that we all need a break every once in a while, yknow? gave my all in this, especially for Smutember, so don’t forget to leave some sugar! ᐠ( ᐛ )ᐟ
» fancy reading another choices fic? check out my m.list!
» smut includes; gentle (+ occasionally mean) dom!trystan, ‘beautiful’ as a pet name, nipple play, fingering, mild spitting, fingering, missionary, unprotected sex (p in v sex), praise kink, loads of kisses (a lot)—Trys is extra kinky but y’all already knew that. (prompts used at the end of fic!)
'But Trystan was stubborn as he was gorgeous, which is the same sentiment he has for you, to no one’s surprise.' ;
He groaned awake the moment he felt the side next to him unoccupied. It didn't take long for him to realize he had been hugging your pillow instead of you—you must've slid it into his reach when you got out of bed. Though he could’ve assumed you went for a quick run to the bathroom, he couldn’t help but glance at the door to the living room opened ajar, noticing the light slightly coming in.
And like a moth to a flame, the amber light was practically calling him to look for you.
He checked the clock on the nightstand, his brows shooting up in surprise to see the time; 3.12 a.m. You were normally back in his arms around 2.30 a.m.
Sighing, he stretched, joints popping and cracking as he did. It didn't take long for him to sit up, pushing the blanket off with his feet and trudging his way to the bathroom to splash his face.
In the midst of his awakening, he couldn't help but wonder what was different today. You couldn't be doing work at this hour, you (jokingly) promised not to touch a single file for the first few days of your well-needed break, and even if you broke your promise of straying away from work at least for a little while, it just didn’t feel right.
Big issue or not, something was obviously wrong.
He exited the bathroom, wiping his hands with a hand towel, only to freeze up as he heard rustling in the corner of the room, just next to the floor lamp. He looked over at the dog bed, breaking into a smile as Alice let out a whine. Her eyes darted to the door before focusing on the man before her, as if silently telling him that she, too, noticed. Seeing her endearing head tilt, wondering what either of them should do, drew a soft sound of amusement out of him.
Still, Trystan couldn’t help but let out a shaky sigh soon after. He had his suspicions, he just didn’t want to panic. Somewhere in the back of his mind, just the tiniest part of his brain, he feared the absolute worst. He even wondered why he didn’t scramble out of bed as soon as he noticed your lack of presence.
One may call him clingy from afar but he had a damn good reason for his concerns.
The very thought of you ending up like Juliana.
However, his more rational side was quick to dispel his doubts and nightmares. If anything did happen to you, which he hoped to God nothing did, one; he would’ve jolted awake at the sound of you fending off, for you were a force to be reckoned with, after all, and two; Alice could’ve easily smelt the first sign of danger and done her best to alert him.
“We won’t take long.” He reassured her, scratching the spot just behind her ears. It immediately soothed her worries as one of her back legs began kicking in delight.
He stood up, exiting the bedroom before closing the door, figuring this might just be between you and him for the time being. Thankfully, he was grateful for remaining level-headed for it took little to no effort to find you.
There you were, one of your arms spread wide on the couch with nothing but your panties and Trsytan’s dress shirt buttoned only at the collar. You were swirling your drink idly, barely acknowledging the soft clinks of the ice as they slowly melted in the glass. Though seeing you just two articles of clothing away from being naked, he was more focused on how preoccupied you were with your thoughts. Your face, though subtle, held a myriad of emotions.
But if he had to describe in just a few words, you just seemed emotionally exhausted, hidden behind a veil of indifference.
It didn’t take long for you to look up, feeling someone’s eyes on you from your shared bedroom’s direction. You knew it wasn’t Alice, you would’ve heard her nails clicking against the floor and rushed over to lay by your side. You blinked a couple of times, refocusing on the present as you were greeted with Trsytan’s presence.
"Hey," You broke into a tired but warm smile, “You okay?”
Even in distress, you were still looking out for others. You weren't as subtle as you were hoping to be, or maybe he has lived with you long enough to pick up your habits. The itty-bitty details that even your own uncle wouldn't be able to notice, and no doubt you wanted to keep it that way.
But Trystan was stubborn as he was gorgeous, which is the same sentiment he has for you, to no one’s surprise.
“I should be the one interrogating you, detective,” He cocked his head, “It’s way past your bedtime.”
You were tired, that much was certain, but you weren’t keen on the idea of going to bed at the moment. Not with the thoughts going through your head, maybe even reality settling in. The close calls, the sleepless nights, the ‘bathroom breaks’ you had to take during a brutal investigation, only to bite your finger to stop yourself from crying as soon as you leave the office.
You hid them well, but you should’ve known better than to think it could work on Trystan, too.
Not that you were able to fool the rest of the crew either. You learnt that after the third attempt, about two years into your job, coming back to your desk from an episode to find an array of small but meaningful gifts on your desk, including essential oils, a couple of your favourite snacks and a tacky ‘hang in there’ card with a cat on it.
Though it obviously didn’t magically wash your worries away, you did remember ending the day on a much lighter note than you expected.
"Sorry, I couldn't sleep. You'd think after being given a week off, I'd be able to sleep like a baby." You let out a soft, hollow laugh before taking a sip of your drink, “‘Drooling away’, as you’d tell me oh so affectionately.”
You were forced to crane your neck as he approached you. You would’ve made a witty remark about him standing before you in just his briefs if not for the slight frown on his face,
"I do miss seeing you drool first thing in the morning,” He dodged the playful swat of your hand, “C'mon, back to bed, you."
"I can't sleep though."
"We don't have to. I feel like you and I would be more at ease if we stayed together. I know what the mind can do to someone if they’re left alone with their own thoughts for too long." He clarified with a wry smile. When you lacked any response or even a sign to move, he knelt in front of you, grabbing your free hand to hold in between his, "What can I do to help you?"
You pursed your lips, knowing you couldn't talk him out of this one. Not with his insistence.
Instead, you sighed, patting the empty spot beside you.
“Sit with me?” He didn’t give you the time to finish your question, occupying the spot as soon as you pat the seat. You chuckled, more genuine than the last as Trystan snuck his arms around you.
You took another sip, but before you could allow the sharp liquid to flow down your throat, you felt Trystan’s fingers caressing the outline of your jaw. Holding your chin in between his fingers, he turned your head so he could stare directly into your eyes. As he leaned in for a kiss, his tongue slipped into your mouth, sliding against your own and absolutely hooked on the taste. Your taste.
Sweet, slightly smoky, with a smooth finish, especially the lascivious display he had you in—an ardent lover his absolute most to clear his beloved’s head, even for just a split second.
He swiftly took the glass out of your hand, placing it on the coffee table before drawing you into a deeper kiss as he effortlessly lifted you onto his lap. Your body could only droop in his arms in the same way your eyes did.
Warmth slowly spread through his chest, the chilliness he felt prior to waking up gradually disappeared as his body temperature rose.
You were no better, face growing hot as you reciprocated almost bashfully. You weren't shy, not by a long shot, but it did catch you off guard.
You were the first to pull away, feeling something similar to a whiplash. That didn’t mean you wanted it all to stop, and as if Trsytan knew you best, he continued, pressing his lips to your jaw down to your neck as he decorated you with kisses. You could only give into his ministrations, lolling your head back a little.
Looping one arm around his neck, you shivered as his breath tickled the crook of your neck. Trystan could've easily been lulled by the gentle brushing of his hair.
"We can always go somewhere tomorrow." He murmured, prompting you to look down at the top of his head.
"I think I'd prefer to stay home. Just a day or two. With you. And Alice, of course," You smiled, patting his other arm with your free hand, "Why? Did you have somewhere in mind?"
"No, no, you know me and my impulsivity. I just thought you'd prefer a little rendezvous, just the three of us. Take your mind off things," Trystan trailed off, hoping to lighten up the mood, “I heard the zoo here is pretty nice.”
You snorted, shooting him a teasing glare even if he couldn't see it, “And risk you pulling me into a pool like you did in Drakovia? You’re not fooling me, Thorne. I can hear it in your voice.”
“Well, I tried.” He shrugged, sharing a soft laugh with you, though his died down way before yours did as he pulled away from you just a little. You wondered if it was just you, looking over and furrowing your brows when you saw him suddenly staring into space, deep in his thoughts.
“Trystan?”
He heard you loud and clear, and yet, couldn’t help but mull over the mention of his old home. Particularly, a memory he could never forget.
"I... I'm really sorry. In the library, back in Drakovia. I didn't mean to snap." No matter how hard he tried, hoping his mind could finally acknowledge that you had forgiven him, and despite everything that happened, from murders to betrayals in less than two months, the flash of disappointment in your eyes still haunts him to this day.
"Hey, come on. If my own family started pointing fingers at me after finding a dead body in my room, I'd get pretty testy, too."
"Don't do that, please," You would’ve thought he was scolding you if not for the desperation in his tone, "It was not okay. You've been there for me through and through, and that was the thanks I gave you?"
It was clearly eating him up inside.
"Trys, I admit. It… surprised me a little. But you know I would've told you if it bothered me," Work or not, you never liked beating around the bush. You pursed your lips, trying to figure out a way to bring out his old, infuriatingly passionate self, "Plus, you apologized even before I could figure out how to… punish you for it."
You were beyond relieved to see him crack a smile, wiggling his eyebrows at you.
"Oh? And how were you planning on punishing me, then?"
"Giving you the silent treatment." You replied without missing a beat, your smirk widening as his face contorted into disbelief and horror, though you knew he was partially playing into it.
"That's just cruel," He frowned. You wordlessly shrugged, biting down the cheeky smile that threatened to slip off as you turned your head to the side with your arms crossed, "And childish."
You continued to 'ignore’ him, looking around the unit as though he wasn't present.
"You know it's not going to work on me."
As if on cue, a loud honk resonated from the road below, grabbing your interest as you looked over at the window to see what the fuss was about. You could play the game all day and he clearly couldn’t.
“Still not working.” He added, almost as if trying to convince himself.
Nothing.
You knew you had broken his resolve when he let out a disgruntled huff.
"That's it."
He surged forward, wrapping his arms around you before pulling you in for a bear hug. He kissed and gnawed on your neck, the ticklish sensation only caused him to tighten his grip as you futilely tried to escape his grasp.
“Trystan!” You yelped and squirmed, unable to control the giggle that bubbled in your throat as he pulled the button-up you wore down, exposing more of your skin for him to attack, “C’mon, you’re not playing fair!”
“No? I thought the rule was simply not to speak up. So,” He cast you a shit-eating grin, “I win.”
You groaned dramatically, letting your head fall back to his shoulder as you succumbed to his cuddling tendency. You weren't fooling anyone with your supposed exasperation, though, and you couldn't resist either. So, you took everything he had to offer.
Nothing could deter you from the warmth he exuded, both inside and out. Not even as it began to drizzle in the night, raindrops pitter-pattering against the window.
Alice, too, probably understood that the two of you were fine, and was now sleeping soundly.
To him, this was peace; waking up not even at the ass-crack of dawn and rambling about the prizes you’ve won as a kid or making plans to drop off Alice at his sister’s while the two of you try out the dining in the dark experience restaurant that just opened the other day.
“Hey,” You said, looking over your shoulder. He hummed in response, wanting nothing more than to feel you. Talk to you. Listen to you. Anything to have you with him, despite the weighing guilt of momentarily making this about him instead of you, “I’m sorry for what happened.”
He finally opened his eyes, half-lidded and almost as tired as you were. No longer because of the lack of sleep but at the mere thought of his old home, the sheer whiplash of it all. Everything that happened in Drakovia felt like a fever dream; the good, the bad, and the utmost ugly.
“I’m sorry, too.” It may have been your line of work but he couldn't imagine being subjected to the chaos you two had endured, had he decided to fly home to solve the case and then come back to the States with anyone but you. Plus, the childhood reminiscing, cultural tours and sexual escapades he was able to share with you were what made the whole trip more than just bearable.
He didn't need anyone to tell him that his family was in fact not normal, and he most certainly wouldn't have vocalized his distaste in their ways if not for the agency.
That was not to say he was a coward, and he still loved his family. Every day, he thanked the universe for the outcome. Had he held onto a sliver of hope for some sense of belonging with the line instead of fighting for what he truly believed, who knows how it could’ve ended?
But it all hardly mattered now. His life wasn’t about Drakovia anymore, not to that extent It was no longer about the short-lived commodity and ‘hoping for the best’ as he did before and after his exile. Whether it was anything as mundane as being stuck in traffic with the crew or as ridiculous yet domestic as falling in the bathtub with you while giving Alice a much-needed bath. His life was nothing short of an adventure with the people that he, as cliché as it sounded, has seen as his own family.
Your eyes fluttered open as he planted a kiss on the nape of your neck, a delicate touch. One after another, his lips ascended to the sweet spot where your neck and shoulder just met.
Your breath hitched as his cold hands took hold of yours, swiping his thumbs over your knuckles. His hands then slowly travelled up your arms, imagining the goosebumps rising under the sleeves. With his shirt buttoned in a similar fashion to an off-shoulder top, he pulled the collar down your arms, just until your cleavage became more visible.
You could feel him smile into your back at the sight of your hardened nipples peeking through the material.
"Trystan..?" He hadn't spoken a word since his hands began to wander all over your body, and it remained that way for a couple more seconds as he trailed his lips across your newly exposed skin.
"Hmm?" He hummed, coming up at your eye level as he hooked his chin on your shoulder. Following his gaze, you watched your reflections in the window. It was unclear from the raindrops trickling down the glass, but enough to make out just how naked the two of you really were.
"I just…" He piped up, but not before moving to your other shoulder to peck and nose at, "I just want you to let it all go. Lose yourself to me."
You were like a fish out of water; it shouldn't have surprised you as it did, but something about his tone, the yearning, the sheer need to lift off the weight that you've been carrying for a while. You didn’t know whether to laugh or cry now that you’d grown soft, letting your vulnerability seep through. You weren’t stupid enough to show your sensitive side out and about, but with Trystan, it felt wonderful to have someone ready as he was to take the reins.
"Can you do that for me?"
Then again, maybe you do know what to do.
You nodded deliberately.
"Can you say it for me? Please?"
“Yes,” You muttered under your breath, “Yes. Please, Trystan. Whatever you want.”
“No,” He raised your hand, kissing the back of it before looking into your eyes, “I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”
He patiently waited for your reply, lips quirking in amusement as his eyes flitted to the way you ground your hips instinctively.
“Whatever I want…” You dragged his hands upwards, and instantaneously understanding your desperation for his touch, he squeezed your breasts before haphazardly doing it again upon sliding them under your shirt. His cold palms only caused you to jolt as he rolled your pebbled buds in between his fingers.
Grunting as he cupped your breasts, he pecked your forehead for your attention. You peered up at him, your eyes lost in the moment of lust before widening as Trystan leaned in. Your state of surprise allowed him entrance through your lips, licking the inside of your mouth as his only form of sustenance.
You could feel the patch forming in between your legs, though Trystan's sharp eyes were quick to notice how your thighs were rubbing together.
He broke the kiss, your breaths ghosting over each other's lips, "Feels nice, doesn't it? Letting someone else take control?"
One of his hands left feathery touches as he reached down to your panties; black, cheeky underwear with a lace trim that he's known and loved. He slipped past the waistband, though not touching the spot you needed him most just yet. Instead, he took a handful of the material via your other leg opening before pulling it upwards, cupping your sopping pussy.
Had you not reacted in such a lewd way, suddenly digging your nails into his thigh and arching your back, you would've noticed the lazy smirk forming on his face.
He then lifted the hem of your shirt, catching a glimpse of the tightened fabric rubbing in between your folds.
"I'd love to know what my darling wants." He reminded with a purr, shamelessly gazing upon the erotic display.
"I–!" You cut yourself off with a whine when he pulled the front from side to side, "Trystan, please! Please…" You placed your hand over his, the one playing with the bands of your underwear. He immediately let you take control, releasing his hold in favour of feeling your slick by brushing his fingers along your lower lips.
"You're dripping." He sighed in absolute bliss, imagining the slickness already coating his fingers before pulling his hand out of your panties without a warning.
Your protests died on your tongue when he let out a deep growl.
He turned you around, chest to chest before pressing his lips to yours with urgency. In the midst of your passionate embrace, Trystan began to sit up on his knees, manoeuvring you by the waist so you laid on your back. His knees were on either side of you, his right arm holding himself up on the seat just over your head.
He took a moment to appreciate you, his chest heaving as the lights of the bustling city surrounded you from behind like a golden halo crown.
He reached up to your face, gently caressing your cheek before leaning in for a smooch. Soon, he trailed soft kisses down your body.
You squirmed, hands resting on his shoulders as he descended. His lips lingered in the valley of your breasts, locking his eyes with yours as his tongue flicked and swirled around your nipples. He did the same to the other before proceeding to your tummy, but not before playfully pulling the bud with his lips.
Your hips continued to buck, seeking relief as his firm chest hovered just over the one place you yearned for the most.
“Easy,” Judging by his tone, he was enjoying this a whole lot, hiding the smug as he held your legs down. Figuring that he has left you enough kisses for the time being, he finally reached the flimsy material between him and your, well, his pretty pussy. His words, not yours, “How shall I go about this, hm?”
He dragged his fingers up and down your clothed sex, biting his bottom lip as you ground yourself against his teasing, “Is it just my hands that you want? Slowly stretch you open with three fingers? Or does my beautiful detective wish for my tongue as well?”
He licked a long stripe up the damp fabric, daring you to break eye contact. Your hand shot to his hair as you jumped.
“Or,” He held onto your thighs with a smack, “Both? Will you let me taste you a bit, too?"
“Yes! Both! B-Both, please, Trys!” You begged with a gasp, resisting the urge to just claw at his pesky hands. He offered you some mercy, but not before removing your panties painstakingly slowly. Carelessly tossing the little cloth behind him, he whistled at your glistening pussy, waiting for his attention.
“Both it is.” He wasted no time, dropping his head and licked into you as his tongue could reach. The sight of Trystan’s sturdy physique holding onto your legs like you were a lifeline as he buried his face in between your legs seared into your mind. Just as you bucked again, he pulled away but was just as quick to slip his middle finger into you.
You clenched around him just as the obscene squelch reached his ears, his finger bottoming out at his knuckles. He pulled his head back, only to surge forward once again to suck on your clit. He shook his head, soaking his lips and chin with your juices.
Satisfied with the way his fingers shined and glistened, he sucked on the juices before spitting it into your pussy. As if he wasn't a menace enough, he stuffed the same fingers back into you, with some of the spit mix leaking out.
This time, the pistoning of his fingers quickened, his lips parting as you did out of pure bliss. You could feel yourself trickling down, smearing your tight hole before the couch itself. Not that you cared, and neither did he.
Your legs trembled, and before just as you felt the rush of heat across your body, you forced him to stop by the wrist.
Trystan's brows shot up in surprise, and understandably so. Any signs of his tiredness seemed to have disappeared with a snap of a finger as he crawled over closer to check up on you. However, you didn't spare him a second and captured his lips with yours for a desperate kiss.
“N-No, no. I need you,” You muttered, his forehead resting against yours as he tried syncing his heartbeat with yours from the instantaneous high. His fingers remained stuffed inside you, now moving languidly. You choked out a sob, eyes rolling to the back of your head, “Fuck, please Trystan! Fuck me.”
Seeing you fall apart just by his hands and voice, begging him to take control was enough to result in the raging hard-on he was sporting. Each time he rutted against the seat felt almost painful just as it was more addicting than the last.
Like a man possessed, he did as he was told, removing his boxers with his free hand while kissing away the tears of pleasure that threatened to spill.
Slowly sliding his digits out of you, he unabashedly appraised how soaked three of his fingers were, especially glistening in the light. As much as he wanted to just suck it all off in one go, he, instead, licked your juices off his index finger.
"How could I say no?" He cooed, finally ridding the briefs as his cock sprung out. Beads of precum dribbled down the sides, visibly aching to be inside you. Trystan threw his head back as he stroked his cock, electricity coursing through his body as he sought even an ounce of relief from your juices alone.
You whimpered, clenching around nothing and absolutely yearning for him. Naturally spurred by your neediness, he towered over you as he trailed butterfly kisses up your frame, his unfairly large stature easily eclipsing yours.
Staring into your eyes with his half-lidded ones, he rested his forehead against yours, whispering in a tone that nearly moved you into tears for a totally different reason.
“There's no greater length I wouldn't go to to make you happy.”
Your throat tightened at his words, levelling his vulnerability just as you were to show you there was no shame in you being human.
You sniffled, nodding thoughtfully as you hooked your arms around his neck. He nuzzled the side of your face, whispering sweet reassurances before lining himself up against your tight slit.
He slowly pushed forward with a heady groan, gritting his teeth as he slowly breached your already clenching walls. He hung his head for a moment, feeling lighthearted from your intoxicating warmth despite not even halfway in.
“Fuck," He drawled, the very girth of him throbbed as he eased himself in inch by inch and ignoring his need to go to town with you. It took a lot in him, especially the way you huffed and moaned so deliciously in his ear. He knew you loved it, but you didn't need that right now.
“Trys–tan…!” You pleaded, pushing your hips back into him as he pulled out until the very tip, only to gasp sharply as he drove into you once more. He battered your cunt immensely, fueled by the way your nails dug into his back as if he may float away if you let go. He was so sweet, going slow yet deep if the way his muscles flexed was anything to go by.
A wanton moan slipped past your lips. You felt full, you were full, finding yourself in a drunken haze as he railed into you, coaxing you, or better yet, demanding you not to hold.
“Fuck, oh fuck,” His breaths grew ragged, fading into a disbelief chuckle, “That’s it, beautiful. Squeeze my cock, just like that.”
“M—Mn–gah–!” The second you felt him reach that one sensitive spot inside you, the pitch of your voice grew higher, "Right there..!"
His pupils were dilated, determined even at the very sound of your ass slapping against his thighs. You felt dishevelled, but Trystan thought were a sight for sore eyes, ready to be admired and worshipped.
"Gonna cum already?" You were too fucked out to think of a remark about the hint of condescension in his voice, though he made it up to you when he pounded into you a little faster, making your toes curl. It was all too addicting, despite the burn in your thighs from rolling your hips in hopes of chasing your high faster than you already were.
"Do it. Cum on me, make a mess. Bite me, scratch me, do whatever you want. I got you." He left open-mouth kisses up your jaw as his blown out pupils gazed upon yours.
With a final trust, you spasmed around his cock with an almost silent moan, holding onto him with a violent shiver. The way you clenched around him so tightly, almost constructing had one of his knuckles turning a tone lighter, clenching the seat hard as he spurted inside as you came as well.
His chest heaved, holding onto the little strength he had left to suffocating you if he were to ever fall in your arms. He didn't though, as breathless as he was, he still catered to you, leaving lazy kisses wherever he was able to reach.
It took the two of you a minute, probably even more, but he found the will to move, slowly easing himself out and cooing at you as you whined. Feeling your cum and his dripping out slowly when he hoisted you into his arms, now leaning into him this time.
The two of you remained still, minus the exchange of kisses and worn out smiles with one another. There was no need to rush, even when the occasional tremors of your thighs or Trystan's heavy breathing have stopped after some time.
"Trys?" You whispered, throat a little raspy from your whines and screams. He held his hand up with a ‘hang on’, standing up with a slight shakiness in his knees, not bothering with the briefs he had tossed to the floor as he casually walked to the kitchen. You remained on your back, hearing the fridge door open before it closed. He then whirled around to the bedroom door, initially planning to get a towel and a blanket, only to stop dead in his tracks.
He didn’t know how to feel about going commando while Alice could potentially wake up, especially after the noises you made.
He felt stupid but he'd prefer it as such rather than traumatize your sweet girl.
Instead, he decided to check the guest bathroom.
He returned with two towels and a cold water bottle in hand, twisting the cap open before offering it to your lips. You gulped a good amount, just until Trystan was confident to pull it away and have a sip on his own.
He even made drinking look good, your eyes darting between his bobbing Adam’s apple and the sheen of perspiration glazing his body. Half bottle gone, he placed it next to the now watered-down beverage, covered and trickling with condensation. He then grabbed the blanket conveniently draped over the headrest, for movie nights where you would likely fall asleep in front of the TV.
He took a good couple of minutes cleaning you up, wiping off the beads of sweat then the oozes of cum between you thighs with the second towel. He did the same for himself but not before passing you the bottle once more, silently telling you to drink a little more.
He fell back on the couch with a contented sigh, opening up his arms for you to join him.
“Come here,” You did as he told, snuggling in his chest and letting out a squeak as he smooched the crown of your head a couple of times, “You were saying?”
"Let's do something later." You turned your head upwards, watching his eyes gleam at your suggestion.
"Anything you'd like." You didn’t think this through, but you did know that you wanted to do something. Just then, you remembered the food market being held in Williamsburg for the next couple of months.
“There’s this Japanese food place that I’ve been meaning to try at Smorgasburg…” You began, but you didn’t have to explain any further for him to be on board.
“Consider it done,” He then squinted his eyes, focusing on the arms of the clock hanging above the TV, “It doesn’t start until 11, right? Might as well get some shut-eye in the meantime.”
He was right, the vendors wouldn't be open until another five hours or so, and as if on cue, you were hit with a wave of tiredness. Your eyes began to feel droopy, prompting you to make yourself comfortable in his arms.
“Is that a yes?” He asked with a chuckle. You nodded with an ‘mhm’, “Thank you.”
“For the nap?” You quirked a brow, his expression settling into a warmer one as you smiled at each other. He closed the distance between your faces, pressing a kiss on the apple of your cheek.
“For everything.” He could go on and on about how much his life changed when the two of you met and vice versa, but he’d rather not give you a blackmail-worthy material if he were to ever talk nonsense in his sleep, although he had no doubts that you’d prefer otherwise. He was starting to doze off just as you did, pulling the covers higher before flicking the lamp light switch off and letting you snuggle against him. Your only source of light being the twinkles and glimmers of the city itself.
That brought a bright smile to your face, touched to see just how far you were. You really have fallen hard, but what was new?
It’ll be another day once the sun shines, but for now, he could rest easy, and so could you. And even if you did wake up past what was initially planned, or if the day remained too rainy for you to head out, that was fine, too.
With Trystan around, there wasn't anything for you to worry about.
˚ · . f i n . · ˚
» tagging @choicesficwriterscreations & @choicesprompts for smutember! ;; & the gorgeous red rose divider by @firefly-graphics ♡
» prompts used ;; 3. let me taste you ; 8. sweet & slow ; 24. worship
#choicespromtps#smutember2023#smutember 2023#trystan thorne#trystan thorne x mc#trystan thorne x f!mc#trystan thorne x reader#trystan x mc#trystan thorne x you#crimes of passion trystan#choices trystan#pixelberry#pixelberry choices#choices fanfic#choices stories you play#choices crimes of passion#choices cop#playchoices#crimes of passion mc#f!mc#crimes of passion 2#crimes of passion#— reve's reverie 🌹
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frankly, i think trystan should become king and throw some of his siblings into a dungeon simply for being stupid heartless dicks
#trystan thorne#choices crimes of passion#crimes of passion#crimes of passion 2#choices cop#choices trystan
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Just a thought,Trystan’s constant worry for MC’s safety is giving “Something is going to happen to our MC eventually”.Just saying.
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August Rose - CoP
I fell super behind on Crimes of Passion 2 so I decided to just binge it once it was fully released. The time has come, so, meet detective August Rose, they/them
#choices#playchoices#pixelberry#crimes of passion#choices cop#choices crimes of passion#choices trystan#trystan thorne#trystan x mc
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I really need Trystan and MC to outright address the parallels between Trystan navigating the emotions of finding out Juliana was in love with another Thorne and MC navigating the emotions of watching Trystan grieve, reminisce on, and relive his relationship with Juliana. If not for the good of the story, then for me because realistically I’m too insecure to handle having a S.O. with a dead lover 😭
#choices CoP#choices crimes of passion#choices trystan#choices stories you play#playchoices#idk how MC does it#I just want her and Trystan to talk already#everybody else is concerned with whether MC will ultimately end up staying in Drakovia or leaving Trystan behind to go back to work#meanwhile I just need to know that my baby girl is okay#cuz lbr we all know things will work out in the end and Trystan and MC will end up staying together somehow#but in the meantime I need how painful it is to 1) watch your SO have to deal with grief in this way#and 2) maybe feel like you’ll never live up to their previous relationship or that you’re living in their shadow —#to be addressed#reassure me Trystan that’s all I ask 😭#choices#choices app
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let em know Ruby🤣🤣!! no but why Trystan just throw shade like that?!??😭
#playchoices#pixelberry choices#choices spoilers#choices vip#choices crimes of passion#crimes of passion 2#choices cop#crimes of passion#crimes of passion spoilers#choices trystan#trystan thorne#crimes of passion trystan
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Just started Crimes of Passion…between this and Blades I'm going to be ✨broke✨
#choices#choices stories you play#playchoices#pixelberry#crimes of passion#choices crimes of passion#choices cop#man#yeah 🥲#damn 😔#play choices#choices trystan
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guess who finally started reading COP??
that's right, me. i was missing out big time.
#romance club#romance club game#pixelberry choices#choices app#choices cop#crimes of passion#choices trystan
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Who was your first Choices crush?
Uhh.. 😅 This is actually a difficult question. I've read a lot of Choices books with some really good LI's but the only ones that ever made me take up writing were Beckett (TE) and Ethan (OH). Although I'm pretty sure I read these books much much later.
I deleted choices during the pre pandemic days and redownloaded it earlier this year. The first book I played was CoP and Trystan has my absolute heart. (I also played the nanny affair and it was so horny it was actually funny.. I miss the old choices books )
So since my return, it has been Trystan Thorne and I hope I start writing for him someday as well.(I have an entire outline for my MC)
He's so cute and hot and just amazing. 💕
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me pretending to be shocked at the killer reveal as if i hadn’t already guessed it weeks ago
#at least it was a thorne and not some random old woman like last time#but we move#playchoices#pixelberry#choices#choices stories you play#choices crimes of passion#choices cop#crimes of passion#choices trystan#trystan thorne
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Vancross
Vancross - They Never Showed You Love (Chapter 12)
Most of the characters belong to Pixelberry.
Summary: A group of friends embark on their final year at Vancross Institute with the hopes of making it their best year yet. When a new face with a complicated family plagued by secrets and rumors arrives on campus, new friendships are formed, a new relationship blossoms, and threatening challenges arise.
Title inspiration: Matilda - Harry Styles
Main Pairing: Liam x F!OC
A/N: Multiple crossover series. There will be random sprinkles of canon throughout this story, but for the most part, it’s pretty much out the window.Not beta’d. Please excuse any errors.
Rating: M • Warnings: This series will contain nsfw material, language, some alcohol and drug use, and is not suitable for minors. If you read, you acknowledge you are 18+
Catch up here
“Mom …”
Inside her room, Liam’s eyes snapped open when he heard Croía’s voice. He slowly lifted his head from the pillow. Did I just hear her right? Surely not, he thought. Croía’s mother couldn’t even bother returning a phone call to her daughter. Why the hell would she just show up on campus?
“Stop being rude and invite your mother in. I know I raised you better than that.”
Holy fuck. Liam scrambled up in the bed, looking around for his shirt; he got up and grabbed it from the floor, quickly pulling it on over his head before creeping towards the doorway. He discreetly peered around the door just as Croía stepped aside to allow someone in.
Standing as straight as a statue with her nose in the air — literally and figuratively — Viktoria Thorne came striding into Liam’s line of vision. She was tall and slightly aged with long brown hair and was dressed impeccably in an all-black ensemble. She looked … frigid. Her heels clicked on the wooden floor as she slowly walked further inside, glancing around the room with what seemed to be a very critical eye.
Liam’s gaze shifted to Croía when she shut the door; when she turned to face her mother, the look on her face could only be described as panic-stricken. She stood slightly slouched yet she was tense at the same time. He then noticed her hands; she gripped her thumb with one hand, pressing her other thumb over the knuckle, brushing it back and forth, back and forth, over and over. It was a telltale sign of her anxiety.
“Wh-What … what are you doing here?” Croía asked.
“Pit stop,” Viktoria replied coldly.
Croía’s brows furrowed. “For what?”
Viktoria turned to look at her; the uneasiness and trepidation were rolling off Croía in waves. It brought her some gratification knowing she still had that effect on her; that was the entire purpose of this godforsaken visit after all. “I was on my way back from a trip and decided to drop in.”
“Oh …” Croía slowly nodded. She felt sick to her stomach with nerves. Her mother didn’t make pit stops, especially not on her behalf. “Where … where were you coming from?” she asked.
“Nowhere that concerns you,” Viktoria spat. “Where is your suitemate?”
“She’s, uh … Alia isn’t here. She went home for the weekend for her sister’s—”
“Birthday, yes,” Viktoria hummed as she looked her over; Croía was dressed in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and her long hair was tousled. “Were you just getting out of bed?”
“Uh, I … yes,” Croia answered. Liam watched her run her fingers through her hair, swaying self-consciously. “Classes this week were … they were kind of busy, and I had papers and … I just … I slept in …”
“Hm.” Viktoria eyed her coolly. “And you expect me to believe that you didn’t have some late night with this apparent boyfriend of yours and that’s why you slept in?”
Croía stiffened at her words, and Liam noticed from his spot behind the door. They didn’t have a late night … at least not for the exact reason Viktoria was assuming. And it wasn’t that late in the morning anyway. It’s barely 9 am, he scoffed to himself. He took a step back, thinking for a moment, wondering if he should just go out there. What was the worst that could happen? They were both adults and it wasn’t as though they were doing anything wrong; anything they were doing was none of her business anyway. And he hated the thought of leaving Croía out there while he skulked in her room; she had only told him bits and pieces about her family, but one thing he knew for certain was that her relationship with her mother was rocky at best.
Taking in a breath, Liam slowly let it out before pulling open the door and stepping out of Croía’s room; both women glanced over at the same time. Croía’s eyes were a mixture of surprise, worry, and relief. Viktoria’s expression was inscrutable as she stared at him.
Croía’s eyes darted between Liam and her mother, feeling her heart start to race faster than it already was; when he came to stand beside her, she swallowed thickly as she looked up at her mother. “Uh, this … Mom, this is Liam. Liam, this is my mother … Queen Viktoria …”
Without hesitation, Liam bowed before meeting her gaze with a polite smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty.” No, he technically didn’t have to bow or use her title there on neutral stomping ground, but his parents always told him to respect other monarchs no matter where he was.
“Charmed, I’m sure …” Viktoria eyed him up and down with a steely glare.
“Liam was, uh, he was just — he was — he was here — I mean, he stayed here last night, but he … he’s getting ready to leave,” Croía said, and her voice slightly cracked.
Viktoria snapped her eyes back to Croía. “Stop stuttering,” she admonished. “How many times have I told you how utterly obnoxious and unbecoming that is?”
Liam fought the urge not to react to her insult as he slid his eyes from her to Croía, watching her cast her gaze downward as her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. “Sorry,” she said just above a whisper. He then watched her hand grip her thumb again, doing the same pattern as before, just slightly harder this time.
Viktoria looked back at Liam at the same moment he looked at her and the two locked eyes. The fact that there was a Rys standing in front of her was irritating. The fact that one of her children was having a dalliance with one made her blood boil. She needed to keep her cool, however, remembering the task at hand. “So you’re the one who’s been splashed across the tabloids with my daughter for the last couple of months?”
“I don’t usually have stunt doubles, so I guess so,” Liam joked with a quiet chuckle. When Viktoria didn’t so much as crack a smile, his expression fell; he puffed out his lips with a small breath. Tough crowd. “Uh … yes, ma’am,” he nodded. “That’s me.”
Viktoria continued to stare at him as her lip slightly curled; she was unimpressed. “Don’t let me keep you from running along on your way.”
Croía let out a quiet breath at her mother’s words; why she felt the need to be so rude was beyond her, but at the same time, she wasn’t surprised. Not at all. When Liam nodded and turned, walking back toward Croía’s room to grab his bag, she glanced up at her. “I … I’m going to shower once he leaves …”
“I’ll wait.” Viktoria walked to the living area of the suite and lowered herself down on the edge of the sofa, scrunching her nose as she looked around.
Croía turned and hurried toward her room; when she stepped inside, Liam looked up from his bag, raising his brows as she met his gaze. “I take it you didn’t know she was coming …” he whispered. She shook her head in silent response. He stood upright, studying her for a moment; she was gripping her thumb again as her eyes darted around, clearly on edge. He walked up to her and reached out, gently grabbing her hands to stop them from fidgeting. “Hey …” She looked up at him and he could see the consternation in her eyes. “Are you ok?”
Croía shook her head. “I don’t know why she’s here,” she whispered, but he could still hear a hint of worry in her voice. Liam pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her; she closed her eyes, relishing in the comfort his embrace gave her, even if it was fleeting.
“Do you want me to stay?” Liam asked.
“No.” Croía stepped back.
Liam nodded. “If you’re sure …” He turned back to the bed, zipped up his bag, and slung it over his shoulder before turning back to her, cupping her face in his hands. “It’s gonna be ok …” He leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a lingering kiss before drawing back. “If you need me, just shoot me a text.”
At his words, a thought came to her. “Wait …” Croía rushed over to her purse, digging through it for a moment before pulling out her phone that was for Trystan. “Can you take this? She can’t see it …”
“Yeah,” Liam nodded, taking it from her and slipping it into his bag. He looked at her once more. “You sure you don’t want me to stay?”
Croia nodded, “I’m sure.” She wasn’t going to subject him to her mother.
Liam kissed her once more before slipping out of her room. When he stepped back into the living area, Viktoria was eyeing him from her place on the sofa. “It was nice meeting you,” he nodded. When she didn’t respond, Liam pursed his lips with a small wave before heading for the door.
****
After taking a shower, Croía stepped out of her room, dressed in a pair of jeans and a cream-colored sweater; her mother was still seated on the sofa when she entered the living area. “Took you long enough.”
“Sorry …” Croía finished the braid in her hair, securing it with a small elastic as she stared at her. “How, uh … how long are you staying?”
“In a hurry to get rid of me?” Viktoria asked derisively.
Yes. “No,” Croía shook her head. “I was only curious. Dad didn’t go on this trip with you?”
“No,” Viktoria scoffed. “He and Lydea stayed behind … handling some things for me.” An uncomfortable silence settled between them — uncomfortable for Croía, anyway. Knowing her mother, she was probably relishing in it. Viktoria stood from the sofa. “I hope you have something to drink in this place …”
“Uh, yeah …” Croía turned and hurried to the kitchen as her mother followed; she opened the refrigerator, pulling out two bottles of water. When she turned and handed her one, she noticed her mother eyeing the sink and the dishes from last night. “I … didn’t get a chance to clean up from dinner last night.”
“You cooked?” Viktoria asked before taking a sip of her water.
“No … Liam … he cooked me dinner …”
Viktoria slowly lowered the bottle from her lips. “What you could possibly see in him is beyond me.”
Croía looked at her. “He’s kind and sweet. And he makes me laugh. And he … he cares about me …”
“Please, Croía,” Viktoria scoffed with a dry laugh. “You sound like a puppy, clinging to the first person that shows you any sort of attention. It’s rather pathetic.” Croía dropped her gaze, chewing the inside of her cheek. “And the attention this is drawing from the press is not something I wanted to deal with.”
Croía sighed. “I called … to ask you how to handle the press because I-I’m not … I wasn’t sure … but you never answered or returned those calls.”
“I’ve got more important things to do than to tell you which side of your face looks better for the cameras,” Viktoria snapped. “And the last thing you should be focused on right now is finding someone to hold your damn hand. You should be focused on your lessons.”
“I am focused,” Croía said. “I have high remarks in all my classes.”
“Well, hopefully, they’ll be of some kind of use to you when you leave this place.”
The tone of her voice caused Croía’s brows to furrow. “What do you mean?”
Viktoria shook her head, clearly vexed over what she was about to say. “Out of your siblings, you’re the only one left who hasn’t destroyed their own reputation. At least not yet.”
“Lydea didn’t …”
“Lydea is weak,” Viktoria spat. “She gave up her entitlement to the throne to play dress-up as a guard, which was only agreed to so she didn’t turn out to be a complete embarrassment. Had I known all of what was to come, I never would have allowed it. Your other siblings are nothing but sorry excuses, especially your older brother.” Croía imperceptibly tensed her jaw at her dig at Trystan. “And then there’s you.” She looked at Croía disapprovingly. “While still a sorry excuse and bordering on being a complete lost cause … there’s room for potential … very little room, but it’s there.”
Croía dropped her gaze, not wanting her to see the flash of hurt in her eyes that would be sure to bring her joy. The words were nothing new, but it didn’t make them sting any less. It felt like reopening a wound that had only just begun to heal. She’d gone the last few months without having to hear her mother disparage her daily, and then she showed up out of the blue and had done nothing but degrade her since she opened the door.
“Who would have thought that out of all of you, the mistake would end up being one of my last hopes for keeping my bloodline on the throne? But you have a long way to go and much to prove to me first …”
Croía lifted her gaze to her again, unable to hide both the surprise and uneasiness in her eyes at what she was hinting.
****
After a hot shower, Liam stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. His mind was still on Croía; it had only been an hour since he left her suite, but he wondered how she was faring with her mother.
As he made his way to his dresser, the phone Croía had given him started to ring on his desk. There was only one person who would be calling. Liam glanced at it, hesitating, unsure if he should answer; from what he knew, if it went unanswered, he would just call again.
Not knowing how long he’d have the phone in his possession, Liam turned, grabbing it from his desk to answer it. “Uh … hey, Trystan.”
“Liam?” Trystan questioned on the other end.
“Yeah …”
“Why are you answering Croía’s phone?”
Liam cleared his throat. “She, um … asked me to hold onto it.”
“Why?”
“Your mom showed up at her suite this morning …”
“Wait, what?”
“Yeah,” Liam sighed, running his hand through his damp hair. “She was banging on the door bright and early.”
“Shit,” Trystan grumbled, trying to ignore the fact that he was pretty certain Liam had just inadvertently admitted to sleeping at Croía’s place considering he was with her ‘bright and early.’ There were more pressing matters at hand and he really didn’t want to think about that at the moment. “Did she say why she was there?”
“No,” Liam answered. “And she didn’t look … pleasant.”
“She never does,” Trystan scoffed.
“Croía gave me the phone before I left and asked me to keep it so your mom didn’t see it.”
He definitely stayed the night. Trystan shook his head, forcing himself to focus. “That was a smart move on her end.” He sighed. “How did Croía seem when you left?”
“Honestly? She looked … terrified.” Liam rubbed his hand over his mouth. “I don’t mean any disrespect, but is, uh … is your mom as mean as she looks?”
“No disrespect taken. And no, she’s not as mean as she looks,” Trystan answered, falling quiet for a moment. “She’s worse.”
Liam’s brows knitted at his answer. “What?”
“You think I’m kidding …”
“No,” Liam said. “Not based on Croía’s reaction to seeing her. She looked like she wanted to be anywhere else.”
“Look …” Trystan sighed. “I can tell since being there at Vancross that probably for the first time in her life, Croía is genuinely happy. But if our mom senses that, she’s going to do anything she can to strip it away from her.”
“Why? Why would she do that?”
“Because she takes joy in making others just as miserable as she is,” Trystan scoffed. “Myself and my other siblings, while we certainly took our fair share from her, knew how to stand our ground. Croía doesn’t. And because of that, our mom has the ability to very easily get inside her head.”
“Inside her head, how?”
“By making her feel as unworthy and useless as possible.”
Liam sighed as he thought back to when he first met Croía; she was extremely shy and quiet, she didn’t speak unless spoken to, and she was unsure of herself even when it came to making the most basic of decisions. And while she was still a little shy and quiet, she had started to come out of that shell she hid inside when she first arrived. She smiled and laughed more, she was a little more outgoing, and every day Liam felt like he was seeing more and more of the person she really was. He didn’t want to see that disappear.
“What … what can I do?”
“Unfortunately … nothing.”
“What do you mean?” Liam scoffed.
“I mean that it would probably be best for both your sakes if you just kept your distance until she leaves,” Trystan answered. “Trust me when I tell you that my mother’s bad side is not one you want to get on, Liam. You have no idea what she’s capable of …”
****
In the living area of her suite, Croía stared in a daze as she sat across from her mother on the sofa. This is how it had been all day; bouts of uncomfortable silence in between harsh and critical words.
Pulled from her thoughts by a ring, Croía’s eyes subtly shifted up to watch her mother glance at her phone. “I need to take this,” she said before standing; she walked to the door, stepping out of the suite into the hallway for privacy.
Croía took the welcomed moment alone to head to her room; she shut the door and leaned against it, looking up at the ceiling as her eyes began to blur with tears. Her anxiety had spiked. She attempted to take in a deep breath, but it hitched in her throat instead; she squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head as the tears began to fall.
Having a break from the barrage of criticism and insults, while good at the time, had somehow made this time feel even worse for Croía than it ever had before. She was still unsure why her mother was even there but was informed that she planned to stay the remainder of the weekend. If the sole purpose of her visit was to drag Croía down, she’d already succeeded, and there was no need for the extra two-day stay. She didn’t know if she would be able to take two more days of it.
Croía lifted her trembling hand to her cheek, wiping the tears only for them to be replaced by more. She knew she needed to calm down, however. Her mother took joy in seeing her that way and she didn’t want to give her that satisfaction. She took in a few shuddered breaths, letting each one out slowly as she attempted to compose herself.
Pushing herself off the door, Croía walked into her bathroom; she splashed some cool water on her face and patted it dry before covering up the redness with some powder. She glanced at her watch; it was almost 4 pm, and she supposed she should find out exactly what her mother wanted to do for dinner so they had time to make arrangements.
When Croía opened her bedroom door, she paused in the doorway when she saw her mother standing in the living area. “Who was on the phone?” she asked.
“None of your business,” Viktoria chided.
Croía let out a quiet breath. “It seemed urgent,” she said, earning a look from her. “Sorry, I … I was just making sure everything was ok. I thought perhaps you were needed back at home.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Viktoria smirked.
You have no idea. “No, I … I was just …” Croía trailed off with a sigh. “Actually, I was wondering what you wanted to do for dinner …”
“If lunch was any indication, I doubt they have anything halfway decent around here, but I should eat …”
“Whatever you’re in the mood for is fine with me,” Croía said. “If you want fine dining … there’s a place I’ve heard others say great things about, but I haven’t personally been there myself.”
“Oh? I guess that means Liam doesn’t think he can take you anywhere nice,” Viktoria scoffed. “Not that I can say that I blame him.”
Croía bit down on the inside of her cheek hard to keep her expression neutral and not show the sting her words caused as she gripped her thumb with her hand. “I’ll call … and make a reservation.” She turned and walked toward the kitchen to grab her phone from the counter.
“Speaking of Liam,” Viktoria smiled sinisterly as Croía looked back at her. “Why don’t you give him a call and invite him to join us …”
****
Sitting in the back of the SUV, Liam drummed his fingers against his thigh as his guard drove him to Blue Chandelier, a swanky restaurant just off campus where he was meeting Croía and her mother for dinner.
When Croía called him a couple of hours ago, Liam was surprised by the invitation to join them, but he wasn’t going to turn it down. Despite Trystan’s earlier warning to keep his distance, when he spoke to her, Croía didn’t seem like herself; he both needed and wanted to see her to make sure she was ok.
The SUV pulled up along the curb outside of the restaurant; Liam shot Croía a quick text to see if they were there yet, and she responded, saying they were about to pull up. He slipped out of the vehicle onto the sidewalk, standing away from the doors, waiting.
When another SUV pulled up behind his, Liam watched Croía’s guard get out of the driver’s side and open the back door. Viktoria slipped out first; she traded her earlier black ensemble for a black knee-length dress. Croía followed behind her, and he smiled when she looked up and met his gaze, but that smile slightly fell when he realized hers wasn’t as genuine as she was trying to make it appear.
When they approached, Liam nodded in acknowledgment to Viktoria. “Ma’am …”
“Hm,” Viktoria hummed before brushing by him and walking inside.
Liam watched her for a moment; her response made him question why she even invited him along. He then looked at Croía, who still had her gaze down. “Hey,” he said before leaning down to kiss her cheek.
“Hi …”
“Are you alright?” Liam asked.
Croía finally looked at him; her eyes were heavy, and he didn’t need to guess why. “Yeah …”
“You don’t have to save face for me,” Liam said quietly, reaching out and taking her hand in his.
“Croía!” Viktoria barked from the entrance.
Liam watched her stiffen. “I’m ok,” Croía nodded. “Let’s go …” She went to walk by him, but Liam’s hand remained wrapped around hers; she glanced over her shoulder at him, feeling him give it a squeeze before they walked inside together.
****
Liam’s jaw imperceptibly ticked as he stared across the table at Viktoria, watching as she casually sipped her glass of wine while waiting for her dessert. His exasperation was at an all-time high, simmering just below the surface as he struggled to keep himself from saying something he might regret … though he doubted he would truly regret it.
The entire dinner Liam had listened to Viktoria do nothing but condemn Croía, making one snide remark after the next. When Viktoria wasn’t nitpicking everything Croía did from the way she was sitting to how she was holding her fork, she made personal attacks about how inept she thought she was. Everything Croía had told him about her mother and their relationship was clearly dumbed down; she was far worse than he could have imagined.
What shocked Liam even more is how Croía just sat there and took it. She didn’t speak up about any of what Viktoria was saying to her. In fact, she hadn’t spoken at all unless asked a question.
“So, Liam … how are your parents?” Viktoria questioned.
Liam stared at her, keeping his expression inscrutable. “They’re fine … why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” Viktoria shrugged. “It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen them.”
“I didn’t realize you knew them …”
Viktoria offered a smile, one that made him feel wary. “We have a bit of history. Nothing you need to concern yourself with, however.” She took another sip of her wine, holding his gaze over the rim of the glass. “And what do they think of … whatever this is between you and her?” she asked, gesturing between him and Croía.
“Of our relationship?” Liam asked, emphasizing the last word with a small bite in his tone before his eyes shifted to Croía next to him. He noticed her hands fidgeting in her lap as she gripped her thumb, rubbing her knuckle like she had been earlier. He reached out, resting his hand on top of hers to get her to stop, offering reassurance and a genuine smile when she met his gaze. “They think she’s wonderful.”
“They clearly don’t know her very well then,” Viktoria scoffed. “But then again, they did always strike me as a bit charitable.” Liam snapped his gaze back to her, biting his tongue as he narrowed his eyes. “You know, I’d have thought someone like you, especially considering you’re now the future King, would have gone for someone a little more … polished,” Viktoria added. Liam furrowed his brows at her words before his gaze shifted to Croía; she remained silent, staring down at her plate with a dejected look in her eyes. “Someone a little more poised, smarter, perhaps more experienced in life and capable of standing on their own. None of those things describe Croía.”
“Enough is enough,” Liam said calmly yet with a thundering command in his tone as he looked back at Viktoria. He couldn’t take it anymore, unable to bite his tongue any longer. Croía’s eyes widened when she looked at him, and his expression was full of indignation. “I listened to you belittle her this morning, and now, the entire dinner you’ve done the same. You’ve done nothing since you’ve been here but tear her down and go out of your way to purposely demoralize her. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Croía’s heart was racing as she stared at him, stunned. “Liam, please—”
“Let’s not interrupt his little rant, Croía,” Viktoria admonished. Now she’d be able to truly see exactly how far gone from under her control Croía was, so she wanted him to keep going. She needed to ensure Croía was in thrall to her still, knowing that any future plans she had depended on it.
“It’s not a rant,” Liam spit back. “It’s the truth. You’ve treated her like garbage, and I’m sick of listening to it.”
“I allowed you out to dinner with us only as a courtesy—”
“A courtesy for who, exactly?” Liam bit back.
“You will not sit here and tell me how to speak to my daughter. If you don’t like it, then leave,” Victoria chided. “And may I remind you of our difference in rank—”
“Someone needs to tell you how to speak to her,” Liam interrupted, “because everything that has come out of your mouth has been one malicious comment after the next, each one solely intended to cut her down and humiliate her! And as far as your rank versus mine, we’re not in Drakovia, Viktoria. We’re here on neutral ground. And me treating you with respect to your title earlier? That was a courtesy.”
“Liam,” Croía ground out, finally pulling his attention to her. “Stop, please.” Her words earned an unseen smirk from her mother.
“No, I’m not going to sit here and listen to her lambasting you anymore, Croía. And you shouldn’t either.” She let out a breath as she stared at him, her expression pleading, and his brows knitted in confusion. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” He watched her glance in her mother’s direction, almost as if she were seeking permission.
Croía looked back at him when she heard the sound of his chair against the floor as he pushed himself away from the table. He stood, looking down as he waited, and she could feel her mother’s eyes boring into her from her other side; they were both staring at her expectantly. She turned to her mother, but wouldn’t meet her stone-cold gaze. “I-I’ll be … I’ll be right back.”
Liam walked away from the table, and Croía followed him. They stepped outside and he moved away from the door before he turned to look at her.
“What was that?” Croía asked.
Liam shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know how you can sit there and listen to that!”
“Liam, you—”
“And then you tell me to stop when I’m trying to defend you?”
“Because you’re only making it worse!” Croía retorted.
“I’m making it worse? Me? Not her and the constant barrage of insults she’s been slinging at you all damn evening? You don’t deserve to be treated that way, Croía! By anyone! Least of all, your own mother!”
“Liam, please … just let me handle my mom.”
“But you’re not handling her! You’re just sitting there taking it when you don’t need to!” When he saw her wince at the raise in his voice, Liam stepped forward, cupping her face in his hands. “I’m sorry, but you’re a human being, Croía. No one deserves to be treated the way she has treated you.”
Liam didn’t get it; he never would, but Croía understood that. He didn’t grow up the way she did, so he couldn’t possibly understand why she would just sit there and take it. She bore the brunt of her mother’s vitriol for as long as she could remember. Unfortunately, this was nothing new, and she was very much used to it. And simply taking it is what Croía did; she sat quietly and let her mother say whatever it was she needed or wanted while trying — and usually failing — to not let her words get to her. It was easier that way; if she rebuked anything, the onslaught would only worsen until Croía was reduced to tears in front of her because that was the only thing that brought her mother enough gratification to stop. There was no sense in trying to reason with the woman about anything.
“I know you were trying to help me, but it … it’s not helping. I just … need to get through the rest of her visit, and then she’ll be gone.”
Liam’s brows furrowed as his hands fell away from her face. “You’re really just going to take more of her … abuse?”
“Liam, you don’t get it. And that’s ok. I just … please, let me handle this on my own … by myself …”
“Croía—”
“I have to go back in.”
“No, you don’t!” Liam threw his hands up in frustration. “Why are you so afraid of standing up to her?”
Croía took a step back, casting her gaze downward, and Liam’s brows raised in surprise. He couldn’t help but notice that her mother’s arrival had done nothing but pull her back into that shell she’d spent the last few months breaking out of. She was despondent, her confidence shaken, standing before him like some scolded child.
“I’ll talk to you later,” Croía said just above a whisper, not looking at him. Without another word, she turned and headed back inside.
****
Liam was still seething as he stepped through the gates and back on campus; he opted to walk back, needing to clear his head. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around the way Viktoria spoke to Croía. No, perhaps he should have just kept his mouth shut, but he couldn’t sit there and listen to Viktoria anymore, and it was clear Croía wasn’t going to say anything.
Thinking back on his talk with Croía caused a flood of even more irritation to course through Liam as he walked down the pathway back toward his building; he never expected them to end up in a tiff over him speaking up, on her behalf nonetheless.
As his temper flared, Liam let out a loud growl and flung his leg out, kicking a metal garbage can that sat underneath the lamppost before continuing down the path. When he glanced over his shoulder upon hearing the clunk it made when it hit the ground, he watched wads of garbage roll out of it onto the grass. He looked straight ahead again, but slowed his pace with a heavy sigh; he looked up at the night sky when he came to a stop and shook his head, mumbling obscenities under his breath before turning back.
Liam bent down, picking up the garbage and tossing it into the can before pulling it upright and shifting it back into its position under the lamppost. As he started back down the path, his phone rang; he quickly pulled it from his pocket, hoping to see Croía’s name on the screen … but it wasn’t her. He wasn’t in the mood to talk at the moment, but he hadn’t spoken to them all week and knew they’d just try again. He slid his thumb across the screen before lifting it to his ear.
“Yeah,” Liam answered, not pleasantly.
“Hello to you too,” Eleanor replied, glancing at Constantine beside her, who furrowed his brows at his son’s more than unusual greeting.
Liam let out a breath. “Hi, Mom …”
“That’s better,” Eleanor quipped. “What are you up to?”
“Walking.”
“To?”
“Back to my building.”
“From?”
“Dinner.”
Eleanor took note of the way Liam not only sounded upset but how short he was being with her as well; that wasn’t like him. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“Liam …”
With a sigh, Liam closed his eyes; his mother always knew when something was bothering him, no matter how big or small or how hard he tried to hide it, not that he was trying to hide it now. “I just … had a little disagreement with Croía … it’s nothing.”
Eleanor hesitated for a moment, not wanting him to feel like she was trying to pry, but her curiosity got the better of her. “What about?”
“Her mom is here …”
Eleanor stiffened, meeting Constanine’s gaze as he sat forward with a tense look in his eyes. “Oh?”
“Yeah …”
“And … why would her mother being there cause you and Croía to have a disagreement?” Eleanor asked, trying to keep her voice as casual as possible.
“I know I shouldn’t be speaking ill of anyone, but, Mom, she is … she’s awful,” Liam said. “I have never met someone so cold-hearted in my entire damn life.”
“What happened?”
“She showed up at Croía’s suite this morning, completely out of the blue, and as soon as she arrived, she started in on Croía, making these snide comments,” Liam explained. “She didn’t seem to like me at all, though I was nothing but polite to her. I asked Croía if she wanted me to stay because she seemed really on edge by her being there, but she said no, so I left. She called later on, though, and said her mom invited me to join them for dinner …” Eleanor and Constantine shared a look. “So I met up with them at the restaurant. And the whole damn time, she did nothing but berate and belittle Croía, saying the most awful things to her … and I just … Mom, I snapped …”
Eleanor let out a quiet breath. “What do you mean? What did you do?”
Liam sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “She made a comment, basically saying that she figured someone like me would want someone better than Croía, and she says it like Croía isn’t sitting right there!” He started to get worked up again just thinking about it. “And I just said enough was enough, that I was sick of listening to her humiliate Croía. She said that I didn’t get to tell her how to talk to her daughter and that if I didn’t like it then I could leave, and then reminded me of our difference in rank, to which I politely reminded her that her rank didn’t matter here. Croía finally jumped in, but she told me to stop … so I asked if I could talk to her. We went outside and she said that I wasn’t helping by sticking up for her, but that I was making it worse. Which makes no sense! How is my trying to defend her against her mom’s barrage of damn insults making it worse?” He tensed his jaw, shaking his head. “She told me that I didn’t ‘get it’ and I just needed to let her handle her mom … by herself … and then she walked away and went back inside …”
“Liam …” Eleanor sighed, sharing another look with Constantine. “You need to be careful. You can’t just lose your temper with people … especially people like Viktoria Thorne …”
“She doesn’t scare me,” Liam scoffed. “She’s a piss poor excuse for a human being. The things she said were completely out of line and—”
“Liam,” Eleanor admonished. “I’m just saying that …” She trailed off, trying to make sure she worded what she wanted to say properly without saying too much. “I’m saying that you will someday be sitting upon the throne, and if you let your emotions get the better of you the way you did tonight, that’s something others are going to remember. You’re the future King and you need to act as such. And as far as Croía … I understand, as I’m sure she does, that your heart was in the right place … but she’s right. You don’t get it. You were lucky enough to not grow up being treated the way she obviously has, so you don’t know what it’s like. You don’t know how to handle something like that because you’ve never been through it.”
“But she’s not handling it, Mom! And that’s exactly what I told her! She just sits there and lets her talk to her that way, and I can see how much it was hurting her, but she didn’t say anything to stop it!”
“You don’t get to judge how she chooses to handle it, Liam,” Eleanor chided. She let out a breath, softening her tone. “That is not your place. And you certainly don’t get to tell her how she should handle it or that she’s doing it wrong because it’s not the way you would do it because, again, you don’t know what it’s like. The last thing she needs is you criticizing her on top of what she’s already getting from her mother. What she needs from you is for you to just be understanding … and to be there when she needs that shoulder to lean on.”
Liam’s irritation slowly ebbed away as his mother’s words sunk in. She was right, of course, like always. He let his emotions get the better of him and didn’t think about how he could be adding to what Croía was already feeling and going through. “Well, great,” he dropped his head back. “Now I just feel like an asshole …”
“I doubt she thinks that way about you,” Eleanor replied. “As I said, I’m sure she knows you meant well and she’s not going to hold it against you. Maybe you can reach out to her in a little bit …”
“She said she would talk to me later before she went back inside the restaurant …”
“And when she does, you need to apologize,” Eleanor said.
Liam sighed. “I know … I just … I hated seeing her sitting there looking so dejected. She just … she’s come so far out of her shell only to be sucked right back into it by Viktoria.”
“Again, I’m sure she knows your heart was in the right place. And just … remember what I said about being careful, Liam. We don’t know much about Drakovia or the Thornes … only that they’re not exactly the friendliest bunch …”
Liam’s brows furrowed, remembering what Croía’s mom had mentioned at dinner. “Well, Viktoria made it sound like you guys have some kind of history …”
Eleanor and Constantine looked at one another. “Not so much history, just … correlating affairs, so to speak …” Liam found the answer odd, but he didn’t question it further. “So … are you calmer now?”
“For the most part … I guess,” Liam replied. “I still think her mom is a fuc—”
“Liam,” Constantine warned before he could finish.
Liam’s eyes slightly widened. “Oh, uh … hey, Dad …”
Eleanor tittered as Constantine shook his head. “Well … tell us how your week went …”
****
That night, after her mother had gone to her hotel, Croía lay in bed inside her suite, staring out the window. Her breath hitched as a tear rolled from the corner of her eye, down over the bridge of her nose.
Just last night, Croía had been on cloud nine, but one day with her mother had made that cloud dissipate.
When she had gone back inside after speaking to Liam, her mother had laid into her about what she called his “disrespect” to her. Croía didn’t see it that way, but she couldn’t tell her that; she wouldn’t take lightly to disagreement.
Croía knew Liam’s intentions were good, and despite asking him to stop so she could avoid any further revilement from her mother, she did appreciate what he was trying to do, more than he knew. Standing up for her was something no one had ever done before.
After their conversation, however, and seeing how worked up and angry with her Liam had gotten over her inability to defend not only herself but him as well, Croía wasn’t sure he’d even want to talk to her. It’s why she didn’t reach out when she returned to her suite. She wouldn’t blame him. Seeing how her mother was, she fully expected Liam to run in the other direction, as far away from her as possible.
*******
Late the following morning, Liam’s feet thudded against the pavement as he ran along the pathways across campus grounds, still trying to clear his head. He had waited up the night before to see if Croía was going to call or send a message, but he hadn’t heard from her. He figured she was still upset with him and decided not to reach out himself in order to give her some space.
As he rounded the corner on the pathway that bordered the entrance gates of the university, Liam spotted Croía; she was coming up the path from the opposite direction.
“Croía!” Liam called out.
Glancing over when she heard her name, Croía slowed to a stop in front of the gates as Liam jogged towards her. He stopped in front of her, catching his breath as the two stared at one another. “Hi,” she finally said.
“Hi …” As they continued to stare, Liam couldn’t help but notice how downhearted she appeared. He glanced down at her hands, seeing them start to fidget the same way they were yesterday as she gripped her thumb with her hand. His brows furrowed when he noticed the red mark on the knuckle of her one thumb; she had been so anxious, she had rubbed the spot raw. He sighed, glancing up to meet her gaze again as he reached out and took her hands in his. “Croía, I’m sorry about last night.”
“You don’t have—”
“I do have to apologize,” Liam interrupted, knowing what she was going to say. “You were right … I don’t get it. I never meant to pile on to what you were already going through and I didn’t mean to make things worse.” He watched her eyes begin to glisten as she stared up at him. “I just … I hated seeing you hurt …” Her lip began to tremble and her breath hitched before she dropped his gaze. “Hey …” Liam sighed, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her as she cried.
“I’m sorry,” Croía choked out.
Liam drew back enough to cup her face in his hands; he tilted her head so her eyes met his, brushing his thumbs gently across her cheeks to wipe her tears away. “You don’t have to be sorry … and you also don’t have to allow someone to make you feel this way. I’m not trying to tell you how to handle it,” he shook his head. “All I’m saying is that you’re here now. You’ve been away from that … and you’ve been better for it. Everything she is saying to you and filling your head with is wrong. And I just want you to see how amazing you are, Croía. Because you are.”
Croía’s brows furrowed as more tears began to fall, and he pulled her back to him as she allowed his words to sink in. And then, Trystan’s words started to mingle with his. “You got away, Croía. And you can stay away … if you choose.” And Liam was right … she had been better since being there, away from her mother and her constant degradation. She’d been more relaxed and carefree. She’d made friends. She’d been happier than she had ever been before.
“Croía!” At the sound of her mother’s voice, Croía stiffened; she was supposed to be heading to breakfast with her. “Let’s go!” she barked.
Croía slowly drew back away from Liam’s embrace and looked up at him; he looked at her with understanding and encouragement in his eyes. And suddenly, both his and Trystan’s words became louder in her mind.
They were right.
Perhaps it was being away from it and surrounded by people who treated her with kindness and empathy for the first time in her life. Maybe it was the strength that Liam gave her and the solace she found with him. Whatever the reason, something finally clicked inside. Croía realized at that moment that the way she had been treated wasn’t something she deserved or had to put up with, regardless of who it was coming from.
Turning to see her mother standing near the SUV on the other side of the gates with her usual scowl, Croía shook her head. “No …”
Viktoria’s brow arched as she approached the gates. “Excuse me?”
“Why did you even come here?” Croía’s voice trembled as she wiped her cheeks. “Because it wasn’t for me …”
“Croía, get out here and in the car.” Viktoria’s gaze flickered up to Liam behind her. “We can talk about whatever this is alone.”
“No,” Croía said, standing her ground. “I-I’m not … I’m not going with you. I don’t want to be your verbal punching bag anymore. I won’t be,” her breath hitched. “I just want you to leave.”
Viktoria’s jaw visibly tensed as her eyes narrowed. “Croía—”
“Go home, Mom.”
Croía stared at her mother for a tense moment before, for the first time, she turned her back to her. Without hesitation, Liam slipped his hand into hers, and the two walked down the pathway, away from the gates. He couldn’t help but throw one last glance over his shoulder, seeing Viktoria rooted in place with her arms crossed, clearly seething as she watched them. He turned back, shifting his eyes to Croía; a small smile played on his lips as a swell of pride filled his chest.
When they rounded a bend in the pathway, finally out of view from the gates, what just happened hit Croía. “Oh my god …” She slowed her steps as her hands palmed her temples. “What did I just do?”
Liam looked at her, seeing the panic in her eyes. “Hey,” he said, gently pulling her hands away from her head. “You did what you needed to do for yourself. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“She’s going to be furious, Liam. And she-she’s—”
“Croía,” Liam said, and she looked up at him. “It’s going to be ok. She’s going to go home and you’re going to be here, and you’re not going to have to deal with it.”
Croía dropped his gaze as she took in a few breaths, slowly nodding. He was right. “Ok …”
“And, hey …” Liam said, and she looked back up at him. “I’m proud of you,” he smiled. “I know that wasn’t easy for you … but you did it.” His words earned a small smile from her, and he leaned down pressing his lips to hers in a lingering kiss. “Come on,” he said as he drew back and slung his arm over her shoulders. “I’ll make you breakfast, and then we can spend the rest of the day doing whatever you want.”
****
Viktoria slammed the door of the SUV shut when she slipped out, stepping onto the tarmac of the airport where her jet was waiting. She pulled up a name in the contact list of her phone and tapped her finger to the screen before lifting it to her ear as she made her way toward the aircraft.
“How’s the visit?” a voice answered a moment later.
“I’m getting on the jet. Does that tell you anything?”
“I take it that it didn’t produce the results you were hoping …”
“No,” Viktoria spat. “I told you her being around him was going to be a problem, but you didn’t listen.”
“Around him, yes, perhaps, but how was she when she was alone with you?”
“The same piddling girl she’s always been,” Viktoria grumbled. “But we’re never going to be able to use her for our bidding. Any hope that you had that the two of them being together would be a way in for us, you can forget it.”
“Well,” the person scoffed. “I guess we don’t have a choice but to go the other route then …”
Viktoria smirked triumphantly. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
***************************************
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#choices crossover series#trr#choices trr#the royal romance#choices the royal romance#liam rys#king liam rys#trr liam#liam x oc#trr liam x oc#choices liam x oc#choices foreign affairs#blaine hayes#blaine hayes x oc#tatum mendoza#tatum x mc#choices crimes of passion#choices trystan#trystan thorne#trr fan fic#trr fanfic#trr fanfiction#choices trr fanfic#trr au#trr au fanfic#choices trr au#choices fan fic#choices fanfiction#cfwc fics of the week
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Trystan beloved....come get your sister. Because what wtf is this?
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I was SOBBING at the coronation. And then he did what he did and I sobbed more…
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I just heard a rumor that CoP2 is the last book, is this true?? Please tell me it isn’t, we still have to solve the mcs dads murder.
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