#fun departure from my usual styles n all | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

yourneighborhoodporg · 2 months

Note

Hello! Could I request an obi wan x reader x anakin fic where the reader is a force sensitive Jedi? They have to go undercover for a mission and ani and obi are awestruck/distracted by reader in flattering clothes (that aren’t Jedi robes) and it makes them both realize their feelings :) feel free to make it a lemon if you want

Little Red Dress

Obi-Wan Kenobi x Reader x Anakin Skywalker

Warnings: Jealousy, Reader in Alluring Clothing, Brothel Setting, Some Life-Threatening Danger, Light Violence, Creepy(ish) Fella, Soft Smut (Minors DNI), all characters are over 18, Anakin Threatening Murder TM (why am I even surprised 😂), light banter, fluff, alcohol is around, boys being worried, HEAVY FLIRTING.

Song Inspo: Red Dress — MAGIC!

A/n: This took me way too long to get to lol 💀 Absolutely love this request idea which made it so fun to write. Wasn’t sure which gender you wanted for the reader so I made them female-identifying. This is my first request and short (lol) fic so please let me know your thoughts! Hope you enjoy :)

Words: 8.1k

She was built like a dream — Joseph Heller

Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker were… uncomfortable.

Not because Master Yoda himself had tasked the three of you with this urgent mission to the Outer Rim. Nor was it due to the cloudy, dark, and incessantly rainy atmosphere that was Morlana One’s Leisure Zone— its backstreets dotted by the occasional lifeless streetlight that just barely reflected off the puddles below, paving the two Jedi a glimmering path toward the local brothel.

No. It wasn’t any of that at all.

Instead, they felt a foreign existence within their own bodies, with each nearing step toward the club’s shadowy entrance, on account of the perplexing, and frankly alien, wears that sheened their limbs.

Of course, they never had any styling choice in the matter. Not for an assignment like this, where the elimination of Jedi symbols was expected.

Because this was a mission that required a gentler, more covert hand.

Because this was a mission that had you all undercover.

Nearly 72 hours ago, unknown assailants had broken into one of the Jedi Temple’s artifact rooms. From the emergency cache, they’d stolen seven Kyber crystals, which were always held at the ready in case a Jedi needed a temporary saber after damaging or misplacing their own.

A facility Anakin took advantage of too many times to count.

But, on this occasion, the Order could only count themselves lucky that The Chosen One had again somehow lost his lightsaber during a short mission to the Coruscant Underworld, requiring him to report to that very same artifacts chamber for a replacement before he could continue his search down into the planet’s murky depths. By chance, the chestnut-haired Jedi had arrived just in time to witness that the usually locked, ornate wooden door was notably ajar. And, with further investigation, that the krystals’ storage chest had been ransacked.

With Council Member Master Kenobi assigned to the inquiry, he quickly learned from a few trustworthy sources, including his old friend Dex, that the crystals were flown off-world to be sold at auction. To a seedy establishment in the Morlani System, no less. All with an undetectability and swiftness that duped not only the inter-District and planetary departure security systems, but the Jedi Temple’s once-thought-impregnable apparatus as well.

Evidently, Master Yoda had found that this operation met a sophistication not often seen among the ranks of disparate pirates or common thieves. It was why, after Kenobi came to him with this information, the Grand Master decided that the bearded man and Jedi Knight who discovered the robbery would be assigned to retrieve these precious artifacts. Placing an emphasis on the need to arrive undercover, lest this sordid enterprise catch wind of a group of creeping, saber-wielding Jedi.

They just couldn’t risk it.

Any action like that would certainly force this gang to race underground once again, crystals in tow, before the Jedi had a chance to recover them.

So, the Council supplied Obi-Wan and Anakin with clothes of the region’s elite, aiming to disguise them both as potential buyers.

Kenobi, a black dress uniform with gold, reflective embellishments suffocating his suit jacket while fueling his growing desire to remain hidden within the shadows as it converted his torso into a glinting beacon under the passing lights. And Skywalker, a simpler, but equally sophisticated gray suit atop a pearly white button-down that screamed conformity louder than Anakin could voice his displeasure.

Still, leaving the crystals’ fate up to whether this gang would accept Republic Credits was a game of pure chance. That, and the notion of buying back stolen, sacred property was never the Jedi way.

That’s where you came in.

A Jedi whose Force-sensitivity was so saturated, that you had the ability to viscerally sense Kyber crystals from parsecs away. And a talent that, in Master Yoda’s opinion, made you the perfect addition to the team.

Well, that and the open secret that the three of you had long ago become an unofficial squadron already. Considering the countless missions you’ve traipsed through together for most of your Jedi, and even Padawan, years, it was a wonder that Master Yoda felt the need to specifically mention your name either way. Even on missions in which the rag-tag trio were slingshotted to opposite poles of the galaxy, you’d always found a way back to each other.

That, or the Force itself had a dire motivation to keep those momentary separations brief.

Perhaps that’s why the two men, in addition to their clothing-related distractions, had sparking nerves heightened by another, salient factor.

That you weren’t by their side.

Given your skill set, it was clear from the beginning your cover needed to be quite different from theirs. So, twenty hours before the auction was set to start, while Obi-Wan and Anakin prepared their disguises, you slipped out. Leaving for the brothel on your own since you all agreed that the only way to secure your cover as an establishment employee was by actually applying to become one.

It was the only surefire way to explore the back rooms without tipping the sellers off. The only option the three of you had to find the crystals’ exact location. And to ensure that when chaos did reign, the artifacts wouldn’t be caught in the crossfire.

Still, neither man particularly enjoyed this arrangement.

“You remembered to bring it, correct?” Obi-Wan voiced, glancing at Anakin’s pensively taught brows beside him as the brothel’s neon purple sign gently flickered into view, encouraging him to once again tug at his neckline’s taught clasp around his throat.

“Of course!” The younger Jedi acknowledged. “I was the one telling her that she should’ve had it in the first place.”

In spite of the underlying weariness still thrumming at his chest, Kenobi couldn’t help but raise an amused brow at his former Padawan.

“You? Lecturing Y/n about leaving her lightsaber behind? I seem to recall that it was your inability to keep track of your own that landed us in this predicament in the first place.”

Anakin scoffed, a subtle smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “And I seem to remember Master Nu saying that the raid on the artifacts room wouldn’t have been discovered for weeks if it weren’t for me.”

Still, the chestnut-haired Jedi sighed, yanking down the tails of his gray suit jacket that just barely fit his longer form while he continued.

“Besides, it was no mistake. She didn’t take her lightsaber intentionally.”

Kenobi shook his head knowingly. Partly due to his former Padawan’s somewhat warped perspective of the situation, but mostly because he too was not completely on board with the notion of you being undercover and completely unarmed. Though, no matter how much he desired to do so, Obi-Wan had trouble denying that, like always, your reasoning stood sound.

A reminder that subconsciously made his heart flutter.

“You know, Anakin, that she couldn’t have feasibly hidden it away. It’s safer for her that we hold onto it for now. She will have it when she needs it.”

And that’s why, no matter his outward assurances, Kenobi seemed to have an inability to take his own advice. Perhaps too it was Anakin’s own anxieties that were infecting the Force.

But no leakage from his signature could truly reflect the hate Skywalker felt for this plan. He had shot down its premise the whole journey here, but in the end, it was no use. Anakin understood that once you put your mind to something, especially in the name of protecting the community you held so dear, there was nothing anyone in the Galaxy could do to stand in your way.

And he really did treasure you for that.

“I know,” Skywalker grumbled, pivoting to avoid a stumbling Bith with a curved bottle in hand, brown liquid sloshing out to land just beside his black dress shoe as he walked by. “But I still don’t like it.”

Evidently, no matter their confidence in your ability to take care of yourself, the two men remained deeply troubled by the fact that you were still far enough away as to be immune from their protection.

But that would soon change.

“Alright,” Kenobi slowed just beside the establishment’s greasy, revolving door to address the younger man as they neared their arrival.

“We will need to remain in one place so that Y/n can find us. She needs to know where we are at all times to deliver the signal. The zone’s blueprints suggest that the center bar will have the best vantage point. So that’s where we’ll go. Oh—“

Obi-Wan lifted a warning brow at the younger man.

“And don’t stray.”

Anakin rolled his eyes, lips pursing in an attempt to keep his face neutral.

“I don’t stray, Master.”

—

If you had your portable chronometer on your person, you would’ve checked it by now.

About fifteen minutes, you’d been waiting a handful of meters from the brothel’s storage room, disguised by the far corner tables nestled within the establishment’s shadowy edges. Marking it the perfect locale for distant observers of the night’s entertainment— or idly spying Jedi. Fifteen minutes since Krissa, a now fellow employee, shuffled into that very same room to collect a few crates of Fizzbrew for the opening bar. Nearly twenty hours after you’d secured employment as what the owner lovingly called a “Friendly Dancer.”

Luckily, it was during that same interview that you’d caught the colorful, Force-illuminated trail, leading your attuned senses to this secured back room, like a bloodhound to its prey.

Or a Jedi to her Kyber crystals.

Yet, despite your carefully chosen cover, both assumed identity and dark corner camouflage, you still had a nagging feeling that your specially selected ‘employee uniform’ wasn’t doing you any furtive favors.

Besides the strikingly crimson, skin-gripping short dress that clad your hips, the black, shimmering fishnet stockings and translucent platform heels were sure to draw some unwanted attention during a time in which invisibility was your best friend.

But you had no choice. If you had any hope of maintaining your cover and completing your mission, you had to work with what you were given.

So, for now, one of these rusted-over, ash stools would need to serve their purpose— concealing you from the trickling in throng’s broad perspectives as you kept a peripheral lock on that steel door’s sturdy frame. One by one, hungry bidders with puffy, expensive coats and sparkling wears thickened the atmosphere, all while you hoped Krissa would quicken her exit via the locked door so that you could slip in.

It was moments like these that you’d wished you had your lightsaber. At least then, you could’ve cut through the heavy, metal barrier all on your own.

But, alas, this was a mission of stealth. And you’d be damned to put either Obi-Wan or Anakin in danger because of your impatience.

Causing you to, once more, question their absence.

“Boys, boys. Where are you boys…” you hummed lowly to yourself.

Glancing toward the billowing crowd, you grew remiss at their absence. It was easy to recall how both Jedi were particularly against your decision to immerse yourself into this environment, alone and unarmed. So much so, that you assumed they would’ve arrived by now. An observation that forced you to consider how this mission was sure to sour quick were you required to act without backup.

You shook that thought out of your mind almost as immediately as it arrived.

Obi-Wan and Anakin would always appear when you needed them most.

And you adored them for that.

That, among the litany of elements that drew you into their lives in the first place.

Your first mission together was but a sapling in the times you were to share. Memories, little moments, and fleeting glances recently coalesced into the singular realization that you’d fallen in love with two of the most powerful Jedi the Galaxy has to offer.

But they were just that. Jedi.

And so were you.

So no matter your unquestionable feelings for the men, there was nothing you could do. Putting aside that you doubted any emotional reciprocation, you were sure too that they’d never break the Jedi code for you.

And that left you to again drag yourself back from those innermost thoughts to focus on the situation at hand. Specifically, your conclusion that any dearth left in Obi-Wan and Anakin’s wake would mean nothing of consequence if you couldn’t get into that storage room.

Luckily, there was no need to wait much longer.

Krissa shoved open the door, using her back to thrust it the rest of the way with a crate of clinking, dark green bottles swirling in her arms. Fluttering lilac dress flowing by her legs as her eyes landed on your surveilling form.

Kriff.

“Hey!” She scream whispered, brows stitched in reprimand while she leaned toward you. “You’re gonna get fired before you’ve even had a chance to work if you keep hiding from paying customers.”

You smiled sheepishly, playing into her assumption as you ‘stumbled’ to your feet.

“I’m so sorry,” you mouthed, ambling toward the older woman while lifting a hand to ripple through the force floating by her eyes.

You spoke lowly.

“You want me to help you bring out those crates.”

“I want you to help me bring out these crates,” she parroted in a glazed-over daze, arm catching the steel door just before it shut to allow you entry.

You nodded to her thankfully, even though she had no choice in the matter, before pushing your way past the chilly aperture, entering the stuffy storage room while the door slammed shut behind you.

Speedily, you surveyed the cramped compartment, stacked and spread to the ceiling with a strange concoction of alcohol-filled crates, charcoal cargo containers, and draped artifacts that evinced the basement of a museum far more than a brothel’s back room.

But you didn’t really give it a second thought. If you didn’t want to get caught, then there was no time to ponder aesthetics.

Quickly, as your eyes fluttered closed, you allowed the Force to thicken your blood, treating your body and mind like a living, breathing compass in its guide to connect you with your True North—

The seven missing Kyber crystals.

With vision consumed by blackness, you dodged each precariously placed box and every outstretched figurine that threatened to obstruct your path as your senses drew you a detailed map toward the back wall. Almost like a pulsing beacon, you felt the heat of your connection to the sacred artifacts deepen, warming your more-than-usually exposed skin. Intensifying with each, deliberate step. Until it reached a fiery blaze so extravagant that one stride further would’ve certainly lit you alight.

You opened your eyes.

“Hey!” A deep voice called from behind you, triggering your heels to spin around toward the sudden sound, and away from the loosely sealed cargo container whose subtle, yet familiar, blue shine confirmed your senses.

Swiftly, you absorbed the older man’s ruffly peppered beard and chilled brown eyes as his head poked past the slightly ajar steel door, barely masked snarl contorting his lips.

“I don’t pay you to ogle the merchandise! Get out there and mingle,” he continued, jutting a thumb to the club’s main room to his rear.

You leapt to your feet, making a mental note of the crystals’ location while scurrying toward the owner who seemed to have somehow grown at least one more gray hair since your interview with him.

“Sorry, sir,” you mumbled, twisting to get by his form against the door and entering onto the main floor before turning back toward him. “Won’t happen again.”

“It better not,” he huffed, swiveling to catch the shutting door with his foot before leaning down to retrieve something from behind it.

Still, his muffled voice echoed beyond the subsequent shuffling.

“You’re assisting tonight, and I want high bids. So get out there and make them like you.”

You nodded complacently, already prepared to whip around and follow his orders until the older gentleman reemerged with another case of green bottles cradled under his arm.

“And here,” he shoved the crate, obliging you to catch it somewhat unexpectedly with opened palms.

“Take this to the bar.”

—

“I don’t like this…” Anakin droned during his casual stroll toward Obi-Wan’s side, a glass of orange fizzy liquid held inconspicuously before his lips.

Kenobi was leaning against the bar, his cup of whatever was on tap cradled between his fingers yet clearly untouched. Instead, the subtly troubled Jedi’s attentive eyes continued their periodic scan of the barely lit brothel. Flitting past the pockets of gold-illuminated tabled alcoves and dark blue paneling, his eyes weaved through the voluminous throng. One that featured intimately quiet mumblings among extravagantly suited clientele and gorgeously draped employees.

It wasn’t hard for him to surmise the highest paying customers from the number of brothel workers who’d hang from their arms, clearly on the job.

Smiling at each of their glances. Laughing at every joke…

Kenobi wasn’t daft.

He clearly understood the expectations a club like this had for its staff. At the least, for those who mingled with the bidders before the show. He’d only hoped that with whatever position you’d acquired for your cover at this establishment, it wasn’t pressing you to do much of the same.

And no matter how illogical it sounded in his mind, he still didn’t want to see that.

Moreover, it seemed to be a thought that equally disturbed Anakin, as his gentle thrums of anxious musing stained the Force, gradually amplifying since both Jedi had yet to locate you.

The younger Jedi had always been protective of you, Obi-Wan excused, unbeknownst that Skywalker was making much of the same defense. Though for the chestnut-haired Jedi, it was more the self-justification that he was a protective person in general. And that this was nothing more than only that.

Just Anakin being Anakin.

“I’m confident she’ll turn up soon, Anakin.”

The younger man expressly sighed, permitting a brief beat to pass as a spring of laughter ricocheted by his ears from a nearby dancer. Waiting for it to die down with bated breath before angling to respond.

“What if she didn’t get the job? She might be trying to find a different way in right now.”

Obi-Wan had no need for reaching out to the Force in order to confidently answer that inquiry.

“She succeeded. Trust me, I’d know otherwise.” He hummed, raising his glass to just barely grace his lips, but never daring to take a sip and weaken his awareness. “However, should they not show soon, I am considering they may have been apprehended.”

Similarly, Anakin vehemently shook his head. He even permitted a wry chuckle to escape past those formerly parched lips before confidently responding to the Jedi Master’s statement.

“No way. If Y/n got caught, she’d send us a signal the second she felt us near.”

Skywalker’s confident air faltered.

“Well,” he shrugged nervously. “Assuming she’s not injured.”

Obi-Wan shot his former Padawan a disapproving glare.

Until his attention was suddenly grasped by a warm, comforting hand sliding across his shoulder.

“Is this what you boys do when I’m not around? Theorize about my potential failings?”

The two men spun toward you, catching the playful smirk consuming your features before their eyes were tugged down like an anchor to trail your stunningly sheathed body, almost as if it was the first time they’d ever laid eyes upon you.

It would be an understatement to state that absorbing this captivating sight had coerced their jaws into forgetting their primary function.

The low-cut style of your short, curving red dress. The fishnet stockings that stretched down your thighs and softly clasped your high-heeled feet. The sparkling, green gemmed earrings that perfectly brought out your plump, red lipstick and long lashes. And, most noticeably, your loose, flowing hair that they’d only ever seen tied back for battle, now resting lushly across your bare shoulders like a still-life statue.

It wasn’t a side of you either men had the pleasure of observing before. And, if given the chance, they’d challenge whichever entity had so long sealed this wonderful sight from their burning eyes to a duel.

One that such an unjust creature was sure to regret.

It was a kind of fairy tale notion that both men pondered instantly once they felt a bubbling heat swarm their countenance when faced by your visual power.

So much so, that Anakin couldn’t help but break the brief lull as his suddenly dried mouth reached down his throat for an audible, and undoubtedly embarrassing, cough as he scratched his nose to try to hide himself.

Obi-Wan wasn’t coping much better. The Master Negotiator had lost all concept of Basic, its vocabulary, grammar, and everything in between as his mind was only filled with your enticing image, your pleasantly exposed skin, and the touch of your fingers to his body.

Until it was too soon gone.

Your hand fell thoughtlessly to your side, head cocking with lifted brows before speaking.

“You can close your mouths. It was just a joke.”

But it was Kenobi who first gathered the confidence to respond.

“Um, you look—“

“Lemme guess. Ravishing? The night’s main treat?” You relayed sarcastically while heaving down a large crate of clinking bottles atop the bar, one that both men only just now noticed before you whipped back toward the still stunned Jedi, drawing their gaze center.

“I’ll have it known that the distance between the storage room and the bar is a mere fifteen-second walk and I’ve already heard it all—“

“…like an angel,” Anakin muttered, not even himself realizing that he’d said that aloud.

Your eyes widened ever so slightly as you felt your heart skip a beat, sending an unexpected tingle to the root of your gut before sheepishly smiling at the deepening flush of the chestnut-haired man.

Obi-Wan, on the other hand, tensely eyed his former Padawan.

“Okay, that one’s new,” you admitted, gaze trailing away to conceal your unpreparedness for such an unexpectedly sweet comment.

Ironically, it was at that moment that your wandering stare settling beyond Anakin’s shoulder abruptly caught a familiar, peppered beard. Accompanied by terse, beady eyes that scowled at you from a far wall with the intensity of a lodestar.

You had a decision to make.

But, really, was there a choice at all?

Obi-Wan would catch on, you thought.

Though, no matter how well Kenobi did understand the requirements of your cover, he still certainly wasn’t expecting you to, in a millisecond, swiftly stride toward his bewildered form to wrap your warm arms around his neck.

Immediately, despite the quickening of his thrumming heart latching onto his Adam’s apple, Obi-Wan raised his usually firm hands to gently clasp at your forearms, being sure to send you a questioning glance as he smoothly played along.

But under all that, and although he was still unsure why, deep down Kenobi secretly hoped that such a quizzical gesture hadn’t encouraged you to subsequently pull away. For some reason, he despised the thought of influencing you to forgo remaining this close to him.

So close, that he could feel the tickle of your breath across his chin.

Thankfully, though, his innermost prayer seemed to have been answered.

“Sorry,” you whispered, conveying an outwardly flirting expression of perked lips and a tilted head.

There were very few people in the Galaxy capable of reading the subtle apologetic shine of your eyes that deeply stared into his. An invisible utterance that remained firm while you briefly freed one hand to beckon over a confounded, and secretly peeved, Anakin who stood just behind his former Master, before you grasped his loose hand and tugged him forward with a terribly fake laugh.

Soon, you rested the younger Jedi’s arm on your lower back, securing its nervously flaccid form around your waist while Skywalker’s face transformed into a brand new shade of crimson once he discovered the dress’s open back.

A clearly readable reaction that deepened Kenobi’s hesitation with his former Padawan’s proximity to you. And while his mind struggled to connect the dots on why he continued to experience these strange bouts of discomfort, too distracted to truly pin down these sensations, Kenobi still felt fueled by Anakin’s expression to nudge you a little closer into his own chest.

If that was even possible.

Paying no mind to the sudden action, you addressed both men, giving a particular glance to Anakin who seemed to be the most caught off-guard of the two of them.

“The brothel’s owner made it very clear that if I don’t ’mingle’ with the customers, trouble will come my way.”

And that made the former slave’s blood boil.

“I’ll kill him.”

“No, you won’t,” you punctuated, temporarily removing your other arm from Obi-Wan to privately rest on Anakin’s balmy cheeks, caressing them down to draw his eyes to your level as he too struggled to fight off the festering heart attack that threatened to crack his rib, and deepened the sudden feeling of emptiness in Kenobi’s chest. “Because we have one mission here, and it’s to retrieve those stolen crystals. And I’m not losing my chance to snatch them away due to your needless protectiveness. I’m quite capable on my own.”

“What do you mean?” Kenobi inquired, taking this opportunity to regain some realm of confidence before snaking his arms around your waist and tugging you toward him with a roughness that would easily read as greedy to anyone who happened to be looking that way.

Still, the unexpected suddenness of his movement set the nerves in your face on fire. No matter, you played into the act, falling into his chest with fingers gripping onto the lapels of his oddly sparkly jacket.

“Um,” you swallowed, regathering your thoughts with a blink. “I’m assisting tonight. Meaning that I’ll be showcasing each item while they’re bid upon.”

You hummed to yourself while considering this new stroke of luck. A sudden vibration against Obi-Wan’s chest that you hadn’t realized sent a fresh, nervous chill down his arms as he held your mystifying figure, encouraging subtly wandering eyes to drink in the sight once more while his unsteady heart began to churn his innermost thoughts.

It was in that same moment that Anakin first caught onto his former Master’s charade, having finally glimpsed an equal measure of voraciousness within his distracted, blue orbs. Something that stoked Anakin’s frustration that began anew with each moment Kenobi drew you closer to himself.

“I say we don’t waste the credits,” you commented, refocusing both Jedi’s attention. “The minute I have the crystals in hand, I’ll send you a signal, and we’ll dash out of here.”

Obi-Wan leaned into you, forehead mere centimeters from yours as a spoke lowly. And for some reason, you thought, with noticeably erratic breath.

“That’s extremely risky.”

“Well, you have my lightsaber. Don’t you?” You challenged with a lift of your lips.

Suddenly, a trail of warm fingers raked up into your hair, sending quite an unexpected chill down your back once they clutched around a bunch and somewhat needily rotated your head toward Anakin’s expectant face. Yanking your body more forcefully before soon feeling his strong arm catch your side.

“I have it,” he spoke lowly.

And in spite of how desperately he tried to keep his eyes connected with yours, he couldn’t help that split second in which they sparsely flitted toward your perfectly tinted lips.

An action you apparently missed for your focus on the mission at hand.

But a gesture that contorted Obi-Wan’s lips into a perpetual frown as his mind caught up with his frothing feelings.

“Good,” you expressed. “Then I’ll have it when it’s needed.”

While your eyes remained focused and thoughtful, half a mind on playing up your cover with the other half on those crystals, Anakin had trouble keeping his eyes from once more wandering downwards.

The feel of your red-draped body against his, the closeness of your bared upper chest and noticeable cleavage, the sparkle of your eyes that comparably made your bright earrings look like clumps of coal.

Though not fully, Anakin was beginning to understand what was going on in his chest to draw his signature into such a volatile temper. Mostly because he couldn’t help himself when one hand released from your soft hair to trail down your exposed back, the other palm brushing upwards from your flank to meet the other side as he briefly traced the outline of your shoulder blades.

All of which sent a lightning bolt of cold heat right up to your head and down toward your sensitively tingling toes before he inched you toward him with the press of his fingertips while he whispered.

“Obi-Wan is right. I don’t think we should take the risk. But just in case you need it…”

Slowly, he retrieved a hand, raking it over your shoulder and feeling every inch of your arm while his mind cleared. The chestnut-haired man’s swelling eyes traced the enticing experience until he reached your hand. And with feigned gravitas clouding his features, he carefully guided your hand beneath his suit jacket, dragging it just along his warm back until you felt a cold metal resting beside his tailbone.

“…you know where it is.”

What was happening?

That was the main question you were asking yourself.

Were both Obi-Wan and Anakin just really amazing actors when the moment required it? You’d certainly never seen such a talent from either of them before. Yet the sudden naturalness, the near familiarity with which each Jedi pulled and held you close? The intimate touches and long glances while this secret meeting proceeded?

You weren’t sure what changed between twenty hours ago and now. Yet, in your core, you knew a part of your brain didn’t want it to stop.

No.

You were a Jedi. You were all Jedi. Committed to a code.

You must’ve been reading this wrong. Feelings that you knew you’d long held for the men had once again clouded your judgment.

Meanwhile, the growing tension between the two Jedi had heightened to a noticeable degree. But with your mind focused seemingly on other matters, it was only just to each other.

“You? Not wanting to be reckless?” You stated, attempting to suffocate your rushing nerves with a confident smirk. “Are you sure I’m speaking with Anakin Skywalker or do we have an imposter in our midsts?” You chuckled. “Oh, and agreeing with Obi-Wan?” You added, raising a brow.

This time, it was Master Kenobi who felt a fire erupt through his veins while his thoughts solidified.

It was you.

You who were making him feel such a way.

Ever and always.

On every mission and in each universal moment, it was you who made the Jedi Master take pause as his heart skipped a beat in your presence.

Master Kenobi was even more firm in this belief: that he was quite finished with watching Anakin cradle you in his arms for any longer. That, and the growing desire fueled by this new angle permitting Obi-Wan to graze over your open back’s supple skin with his eyes, drained him of all his decades-long self-control in an instant.

He needed to do something about that

Reaching a warm hand to the closest corner of your waistline, and with a little nudge from the Force on the other side, Obi-Wan tugged you right into his arms.

You felt the imperceptible, tiny scratches of his sequined suit jacket and the heat barely underneath sprawl across your back while his palms meandered up your sides and down each arm, soon folding them across you as he enveloped you against himself.

This time, you truly couldn’t help the light, crimson blush that bloomed across your cheeks. Especially when Kenobi chose this opportune time to gradually lean into your shoulder, chin dipping so that his lips hung mere centimeters from your attentive ear before whispering a warning with a tone warmer than you were used to hearing from the Master Negotiator.

Especially in the middle of a mission.

“You should listen to him.”

Still, despite feeling the ravenous desire to take a calming breath and smooth your hammering heartbeat, you held firm, responding to his inquiry with an overpowering confidence that usually settled any score when the three of you were having a disagreement.

At the same time, having just noticed the brothel owner’s decision to push off his far wall perch to approach, you decided to also strike a grin, raising a flirtatious brow over your shoulder at Obi-Wan’s unreadably dark eyes while you spoke, maintaining your cover.

“No. The plan stands. Trust me, there’s no need to worry.”

But, unexpectedly for you, witnessing your visually claimed figure in Obi-Wan’s arms barking out orders all while clad in that tiny red dress ignited a fierce burning passion in Anakin to challenge you back as he too decided to make his thoughts known.

Through his words and with his hands.

Taking one powerful stride to stand directly before your toes, the younger man just barely graced your bottom lip to seize your chin, lifting it upwards and twisting you to meet his wanting, blue gaze. Compelling your bright, widening eyes to wonder once more whether the lines between fiction and reality were beginning to blur.

Your breath hitched.

“Gentlemen!” The owner exclaimed, sliding next to Obi-Wan and Anakin to place a performative pat on both their shoulders. “I’m glad you’re enjoying one of our new hires, but I’m afraid that I’ll need to borrow her for the rest of the auction. We are about to begin.”

Wordlessly, both Jedi released their respective grips on you, sharing between themselves an unamused glance above your head while you ambled toward the owner. Never breaking your own, painfully forged smile.

But that seemed to be enough to convince the quite older owner that all was set to begin, as he swiftly turned on his heel toward the brothel’s far podium, motioning for you to follow his trail.

You promptly obliged, yet not before sending one quick, yet quiet, last word with a twist of your head toward the Jedi who begrudgingly stayed behind with crossed arms or a clenched beard.

“Wait for my signal.”

—

“I’m not stupid, you know,” Anakin commented idling by Kenobi’s side.

The two men continued their observations of the auction since it began half an hour ago, their eyes rarely drifting away from the rather cramped, rickety stage while you traveled from side to side, displaying each item with deliciously attractive poise. Presently, you were exhibiting an old, handheld marble statue modeled after a female Twi’lek. And although other patrons regarded the item with interest, the two Jedi meant to be watching your back for any danger had their minds on other matters.

Anakin couldn’t keep his eyes off your sensually pacing legs, while Obi-Wan could barely remain still with your elegant, tightly wrapped hips moving to and fro.

“I hear 2,000 credits! 2,000 credits. Do I hear 2,100?”

Master Kenobi readjusted his shoulders somewhat uncomfortably. “I know. I don’t believe I’ve said otherwise.”

“Don’t play dumb. I know you want Y/n.”

The bearded Jedi whipped his head from the stage as he addressed the seemingly jealous, younger man. And for the first time in a very long time, Obi-Wan began to feel those same, envious emotions with equal strength, like he’d caught some psychic disease from the blue-eyed Jedi’s glance alone.

“2,100! Do I hear 2,200? 2,200 folks, for this ancient artifact of an unknown Ryloth civilization!”

“And?” He acknowledged nonchalantly, taking an assertive stance while he found comfort in the memory of you in his arms. “And what if I do?”

Anakin’s lips formed a thin line, the image of your parted, shocked lips when he caught your dressed figure perfuming his thoughts. “Then you wouldn’t be alone.”

“I’ve noticed,” Kenobi stated sarcastically before raising a rather annoyed brow.

“Going once! Going twice!”

“What are you gonna do?” Anakin mumbled.

Skywalker had to ask the question. Even though he’d already confirmed in his mind that no matter what, no matter if Master Kenobi felt the same, that he’d give you the chance of knowing that there was more than one.

Obi-Wan answered simply. “I’m planning on telling her.”

“Sold! To the fellow in the orange top hat on the right!”

Because through the older Jedi’s musings, Kenobi was arriving at a similar conclusion. That if you in any way felt the same, he’d at least give you a choice.

“I assume you’ll be doing the same?” He continued.

“Yes.” Anakin sighed, eyes returning to the stage just as you remerged with an old, raggedy yet sealed box held tightly in your hands. “And what if she can’t decide?”

Obi-Wan followed the young Jedi’s line of sight, subconsciously licking his lips as the fabric of your tight, red dress pulsed his blood and slackened his jaw.

“Then we do what we must…”

The bearded Jedi swallowed.

Hard.

“…we help her.”

A rallying spark flung through the Force, filling both Jedi’s senses as they were wrenched from the momentary, visual distraction that was your ravishingly dressed person.

There was no way to deny it. Your pointed expression? Your readied stance?

The signal had just been fired.

Reaching for their respective lightsabers hung inconspicuously at the belt, both Jedi swiftly whipped their weapons out into the open, igniting a collective blue glow that provided enough of a shockingly, eye-catching distraction for you to leap from the stage, box in hand, without much recourse.

Then came the blasters.

As if emerging like shadows from the establishment’s dark corners, a sporadic group of armed men dressed like well-to-do pirates began their determined assault. Coloring the air with orange beams while the crowd scattered, hurried screams and the groans of abruptly shuffling furniture echoing off the walls.

You bolted for the Jedi, triggering both to somersault toward you while they attempted to block any bolt that you nearly failed to dodge before landing at either flank. Thankfully, that provided the chance to fling a searching arm beneath Anakin’s suit jacket, grasping your saber from its warm habitat before yanking it out into the open to launch its green luminescence.

“Go!” Obi-Wan cried, deflecting another round of bolts from your rear while the two men encircled you like a living, breathing barrier.

“We’ll hold them off!” Anakin agreed, flinging a badly aimed bolt toward a now broken and sparking light fixture above before facing you. “Get back to the ship!”

You glanced at both men, making clear your uncertainty and reluctance through the Force as, even with your aid, the gentle perspires of their efforts became noticeable.

But it was their turn to stay firm.

“Now! We’ll be right behind you!” Obi-Wan strictly assured.

So, with the box of crystals secured tightly beneath one arm and your saber effectively defending against the coming onslaught with the other, you decided to, for once, follow the boys’ instructions as you bolted for the exit, and out the brothel’s door.

And, with their hearts already racing, both Jedi had to do their best not to focus on your distracting wears as they paved a path to race after you.

—

Leaping through the red and white Nu-class shuttle’s rear hatch the instant it opened wide enough to do so was enough to coerce out an instant sigh of relief as your feet landed on the metal floor, drawing you deeper into the bird’s belly. Naturally, after regaining some bearings in the familiarity of the ship, you felt secure enough to set the relatively sturdy box of Kyber crystals atop a nearby ledge before turning to assess the situation behind you.

You already sensed that Anakin and Obi-Wan had stuck close to your heels during the entire escape, sabers twirling with elegant control against any threatening phaser until you strayed far enough beyond the brothel’s preview to lose any potential tails. So you weren’t surprised to find both men maintaining a similarly brisk pace while speeding up the ramp seconds after your arrival. Sabers long ago clipped back at their sides with Obi-Wan leading the way, leaving Skywalker in charge of closing the now slowly rising hatch.

What you weren’t expecting, however, was that the overpowering determination emanating from the bearded Jedi’s face had not in the least bit lessened since he entered the craft. Quickly, yet smoothly, he shed his gaudy suit jacket, tossing it unceremoniously to the side as he subsisted his approach.

In fact, the slight narrowing of those blue eyes, an expression you’d only seen in the occasional sparring session, remained forwardly focused. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was charging right for you, an action itself that compelled you to perplexedly speak while his brown boots closed that ever-shrinking distance.

“What are you—“

Warm lips smashed against yours, moving hungrily yet delicately while Obi-Wan’s sturdy arms snaked around your waist to gently tug you into himself.

Your heart nearly stopped, and from the tingling, tiny explosions erupting at each and every nerve ending alone, you felt yourself fall into the momentum, arms raising with the certainty of a choreographed dance to cradle Obi-Wan’s head and run your fingers through his soft, auburn locks.

Whether consciously or not, his grip on you tightened, straining your breath before you had the unavoidable need to be even closer to him. You intensified the kiss, drawing his plump, reddened lips into slow and steady locks, only for them to release with the duration of a clap before you both deeply met each other again with needy swiftness.

It felt like hours, but it had been mere seconds since the instant his body met yours. Still, the two of you reluctantly pulled away from each other. Mostly to catch much-needed breaths from the pure, unadulterated shock of it all.

Master Kenobi held you still as your gaze graced over his flushed features, including that slightly tussled hair and darkened eyes that diverted from their usual bright sparkle. Especially when they flitted from your surprised orbs, to your plump lips, and back again.

But no matter this pleasing diversion, still, out of the corner of your eye, you were forced to notice Anakin— standing in the far corner in quiet observation, and chillingly reminding you of where you were and what important rules both you and his former Master had certainly just broken in his presence.

What made it all worse, though, was that for the life of you, you could not read the younger man’s expression. Apparently, he had just stood there, arms crossed once the shuttle door was secured and simply… watched? Impassively?

No, that couldn’t be right.

Then, he pushed off the wall.

Anakin’s arms fell to the side as he gradually approached you both, brows tightening into what looked like a slightly angrier cross that ran your brain into overdrive. You were still having trouble discerning his emotions through the Force, but could only make an educated guess that he was beyond frustrated that the two beings closest to him had just broken the Jedi Code.

And, also because, he didn’t seem to have any particular reaction to what Obi-Wan did, making you sadly doubt that he’d ever feel the same way you’d always felt for the chestnut-haired man and his former Master.

So, no matter how right it felt, how much you wanted it, you knew that it was time for some damage control.

“Obi-Wan…” you took a deep, shaky breath, nerves still firing at every end while your stare stood firmly on Obi-Wan’s wanting expression, Anakin nearing your side.

You loosely exhaled.

“Where did that—“

Hot moisture met your neck, Anakin’s wet lips attacking its side and extracting a startled gasp from your lungs as your eyes fluttered closed. Greedily, he cupped your throat to softy tug you toward him, draining your arms into a state of perpetual pliability from the pleasant heat filling your chest.

They slid, soon falling from Obi-Wan’s body entirely before you angled toward the younger Jedi and shakily twisted them around his shoulders for support. Another weak sigh escaped past your lips once you felt Anakin’s teeth graze across a sensitive spot as the weakening kisses continued, an action which only seemed to encourage the younger Jedi considering he returned to that spot with more fervor, sucking it dry until your jaw slackened.

Still, no matter how dazed your mind had become in this last minute of chaos, you just couldn’t believe this was happening.

It had to be a mistake, right? Was something else wrong?

Something must have happened.

Regathering your senses, you quickly pulled away from Anakin, feeling the resistance of your initial jerk snap Anakin from his equally influenced status as he quickly tried to give you space.

“Are you ok??” He asked rapidly, eyes seeping wide-eyed worry and flickers of guilt while Obi-Wan, who was initially calmly analyzing the show, too shifted to share a similarly concerned expression.

“Yes, of course,” you aired, still slightly out of breath as you stared confoundedly at the two men. “I’m fine Anakin, but what is going on? This is coming out of nowhere.” You shook your head. “Were the two of you drugged or something?”

“In a sense, I suppose we were,” Obi-Wan answered nonchalantly.

You raised a brow.

“Y/n,” Anakin uttered, drawing your eyes toward his. “Obi-Wan and I realized something back there during the mission. Something it looks like we both kinda knew for a while but didn’t really understand until now.”

Master Kenobi’s eyes raked across your figure once more while he spoke. “I saw you there, we saw you, truly, for the first time. And I lost my breath.”

You melted at his words.

“All I saw was pure beauty and you, and I couldn’t tell the difference,” Anakin spoke disjointedly, nearly making you giggle. “And I knew that seeing you like this, in this way, I couldn’t wait any longer. We couldn’t wait. We needed to tell you.”

“Tell me?” You asked breathily, preparing yourself for whatever was to come next.

“That we desire you,” Obi-Wan barely whispered, fluttering your stomach. “That you are more important to us than ancient statutes. And we determined that you must know so that you may decide if you wish it.”

You shuttered, worries of the Code fading into nothingness while the two men before you consumed your senses. “Decide?”

Anakin stared at you, a pleading glint in his eyes as he spoke gently.

“Which one of us you want back.”

Your still heavy breaths punctuated the otherwise quiet air. Characteristic of the thoughts rattling against your buzzed skull before a throaty mutter made its way past your teeth.

“I can’t…”

You watched while their faces deflated at your words.

“We understand, Y/n,” Obi-Wan spoke, a subtle sadness drooping his tone. “It’s quite alright—“

“No,” you corrected quickly. “No, I can’t decide.”

Anakin’s brows quirked at this, head tilting as curiosity subdued his brief listlessness.

“What do you mean?” He asked.

You sighed heavily, eyes drifting to the floor with an unaccustomed quiver. “I mean, I can’t decide because… because…”

You bit your lip.

“I want you both.”

Raising your head, you carefully observed the two men, bodies as still as statues while their swollen eyes held firmly on your figure. Anakin nurturing a steadily expanding, devious grin while he quietly flexed a fist, and Obi-Wan, faintly flicking his tongue across his top lip in an effort to carefully drink in your figure.

A pleasant chill ran down your spine.

“Is that alright?” You whispered.

Anakin chuckled incredulously, cueing Obi-Wan to respond to that inquiry.

“Darling,” he murmured, insatiable eyes sucking you barren as the nickname sent a new round of tingles down your legs. “That stretches far beyond ‘alright.’”

“How do you want us?” Anakin posed, tone nearing a growl.

Unfiltered, you spoke your mind.

“As close as possible.”

And the Jedi obliged.

________________________________________________________________

Should I do a part 2 at some point? Let me know :)

134 notes · View notes

ace-of-zaun · 2 years

Text

The Wrong Place at the Wrong Time: pt. 3

Silco x f!reader - SFW

CW: threat/injury detail, swears, rude customers, ANGST, trust issues, self-doubt/ruminating, fluff, soft things and feelings?? in my ‘just for fun’ fic??

6.1k words

Summary: After your reluctant departure from The Last Drop, you’re delighted to gain a new regular at your market stall. But you might have bitten off more than you can chew when you find yourself getting inexplicably closer to the Eye of Zaun.

A/N: oh no. I’m back again. And this fic is getting dafter by the minute. Also, I am sorry to this man for making him such a reader simp. But, it’s true, he would be absolutely crazy about you. Okay, much love to you all, -elsie x

The second time you met the King of the Undercity, you were working your job at the market stall. Well, working may have been an overstatement. You were actually seeing how many blueberries you could successfully chuck into your boss’ open mouth, as he snored loudly from the other end of the table.

It had been a slow work day to say the least, and your boss had been asleep for the majority of it, so you didn’t feel bad about terrorising him for your own entertainment. Although, you should feel bad, considering he’d been kind enough to give you your job back after going AWOL for three days straight.

Of course, you didn’t tell him what had really happened to you. No-one was going to believe that you’d been wrongly kidnapped and bound to a chair by two idiotic gang members. I mean, come on, we’ve all used that excuse before, it’s the oldest trick in the book. And only a fool would believe you’d then been carried to safety by none other than the King of Zaun, and been allowed to take shelter in his home whilst he dealt with the threat.

Instead, you’d told your boss that you were sick and miraculously, he’d believed you. Just like that. No questions asked. …You felt like a god.

Whatever medicine Silco’s doctor had given you after you’d passed out in the warehouse had worked a treat because you’d barely felt any pain from it since (except of course from your initial headache after waking up). You wondered if you could get a hold of some of it to keep in your cupboard at home, for when you inevitably stub your toe on the doorframe for the umpteenth time this month.

You’d just thrown another blueberry, that had missed your boss’ mouth but had rather amusingly fallen down into his shirt, no doubt creating a sticky mess against his skin, when you heard someone clear their throat from behind you. As you turn, it takes mere seconds for you to put on your ‘customer service face’ which consisted of the most sickly-sweet smile you could conjure up, paired with a gaze that could only be described as ‘dead-behind-the-eyes’.

“Hello, how can I help you today?” you begin, the phrase you’ve said so many times at this point, you’re certain it’ll be etched onto your gravestone, alongside a drawing of you wearing your work apron and a clown wig.

You almost do a full-on comedy sitcom double take when you see him.

Silco. The Silco. At your market stall. …The heck?

He’s stood on the other side of the table wearing his signature ensemble (that fits him so damn well), his hair is slicked back in its usual style, and his arms are folded behind him. And those sharp, bewitching eyes, that you were much too enticed by to ever be truly afraid of, are looking directly at you. Honestly, the nerve of this man. How dare he look this good on a Wednesday afternoon??

You fight the urge to say: ‘well, if it isn’t Old Silky himself’ and instead gape at him wide-eyed, as if you were one of the fish on the market stall opposite yours.

“Good afternoon, my dear. I’m wondering if you could assist me with a purchase today,” he informs you smoothly, a playful smirk dancing on his scarred lips.

Ah. So this is the game you were playing. Truth be told, you’d missed this. It had been less than a week since you’d left him at The Last Drop, and you’d be lying if you said you hadn’t spent most of that time trying to figure out a reasonable way back to him. Seems like he’d solved your problem for you.

Your face morphs into a wide grin and you put on the most exaggerated voice you can muster in your new character of ‘employee of the month’.

“Of course, are you looking for anything in particular today, sir?”

You make a point to coyly emphasise the last word of that sentence, as you recall the time he’d specifically told you not to call it him, when you’d awoken at The Last Drop.

His amused eyes scan across the items and a part of you wonders whether he’s ever set foot in a kitchen before, let alone used one of the utensils laid out neatly in front of him. For the life of you, you can’t picture the man cooking, although you do note with a tiny amount of shame that you would very much like to see him in an apron.

Silco picks up a pizza wheel and meets your gaze, his eyes shining as he awaits your reaction.

“You might struggle to kill someone with that,” you tell him coquettishly, and his smirk widens even more.

“I’ll find a way,” he replies in that low, low drawl that has you taking in a shallow breath.

You bite your tongue once more, as the self-destructive part of you itches to respond with: ‘ooh, now sir, don’t threaten me with a good time’, but you hold it in. Just.

“If it’s a weapon you’re after, might I suggest these measuring spoons?”

“And how, pray tell, could I use those to incapacitate my enemies?”

“Well, they are the perfect size to gouge somebody’s eye out,” you inform him demurely, your lips pouting and head tilting as you hold his gaze.

His chuckle is dark, and quite frankly, delicious. You want him to do it again.

“I’ll take them both.”

“Of course, sir.”

You can’t help but grin as he hands you the money and you carefully place the measuring spoons in his hand, alongside the pizza wheel already in his palm.

“Thank you, have a good day!”

“Oh, I will.”

His lips are still twisted in that sinful smirk, which only makes you certain he can hear the goosebumps beginning to dot the skin on the back of your neck.

With one last sweeping gaze over you, he leaves, and you watch him walk down the street, the pizza wheel and measuring spoons disappearing into his coat pocket as he heads back towards The Last Drop. Everyone else in the market is focusing on how he parts the crowd, like his aura is forcibly pushing away anyone who comes close to him. Of course, ever the odd one out, you’re focusing on the way his hips move as he saunters. That’s right, swish those hips, skinny boy.

Once he’s too far away to see anymore, you feel a strange urge to begin loudly singing about how you’re decidedly not in love, while some marble statues come to life and join in as your backing vocalists.

You think it’s going to be a while before you see him again, but you’re overjoyed to be proved wrong when Silco shows up a few days later. Only this time, it’s an extremely busy day at the stall and you’re battling to serve as many customers as possible, all while trying to avoid losing your mind and smacking the nearest person with a frying pan. There must be a kitchen utensil festival happening soon, you reason. It’s the only plausible explanation for it to be this busy.

It's clear that he’s arrived when the bustling crowd suddenly begins to funnel away, until you’re left with just one smug-looking customer stood across the table from you. You cross your arms and sigh deeply, a grin spreading across your face as you do.

“Do you have to be so intimidating? You’re scaring off all my customers.”

“Unfortunately, yes. It’s my whole business model.”

“Hmm, I bet,” you mumble, “What can I do for you today?”

“I’m looking for a present for Jinx,” he tells you, lifting his chin in the air to look down his nose at you.

“I didn’t realise she liked kitchen utensils.”

“She loves them.”

He doesn’t miss a beat in responding to your facetious comment. You snort.

“Does she really?”

“Yes, she uses them to work on her projects.”

“Ah, I see, that makes sense,” you nod amusedly, his own entertained expression trained carefully on yours.

You chat with him for much longer this time, and you can feel your boss’ eyes burning into you in horror, as the conversation turns from the stall’s new merchandise to how Jinx is doing, to how he is, and finally, to how you are. It’s almost scary how easily you can settle into conversation with the crime lord. What’s scarier is, you know you’re going to have to somehow appease your boss when Silco’s gone, since you’re sure no-one else has ever gotten away with being so openly casual and flirtatious with the Eye of Zaun.

You can picture your denial now. The what of Zaun? Never heard of her.

And to your absolute delight, he’s back again the very next day, this time holding two food containers in his long, lithe hands. Fuck, this obsession with his hands is not healthy.

He peers down at you as you perch on the stool behind the counter, and you wonder if this is what ice-cream feels like when its being ogled at under the glass counter of the ice-cream parlour. This time, your boss has left you in charge of the stall as he picks up a new shipment of stock, a task that shouldn’t take all day, but curiously enough always does. So, you’re left to fend for yourself against the man you’re falling for at a concerningly swift rate.

You can’t help but smile at Silco, whose eyes are indescribably soft as they inspect you.

“Is that lunch?”, you gesture to the containers he’s holding.

“It is.”

“What a co-inky-dink, I was just about to have my lunch break! You wanna join?”

“I’d be delighted,” Silco drawls, immediately making his way around the counter.

It’s bizarre to see him move so quickly, (almost as if he’s eager, you muse), but it’s even more bizarre to see him on this side of the stall. You feel heat begin to creep through your body as he gets closer to you and you’re so distracted, you almost miss him holding out one of the food containers towards you.

You stare at it dumbly and he raises a questioning eyebrow.

“Oh. You bought that for me?”

“No, I stole it for you.”

You finally meet his gaze and his smile mirrors your own. You feel like screaming. He bought you lunch?? Is he trying to seduce you? Because, if so, it’s working.

“Thank you,” you tell him sincerely (maybe a little too sincerely), and you’re pretty sure you’ve thrown him for one too, if the slight widening of his pupils is anything to go by.

It takes Silco a moment to recover from your villainous stunt of being grateful, before he begins to look around for somewhere to sit. Unfortunately for him, the only other place available behind the counter is the tiny little stool that is usually reserved for you.

Right now, you feel extremely privileged to be sitting on the big stool. Granted, you’re still cautious around the abhorrent little things, but you’re less offended by these ones, because it’s much more difficult to be unwillingly tied to them compared to a regular ch**r.

Silco is looking very fixedly at you now as he realises the situation you’re both in. You stare back innocently.

You’re not moving. It’s a matter of principle. You never get to sit on the big stool and you’re not about to give it up just because he’s the leader of the Undercity or whatever.

Your little staring contest comes to an end when he huffs a deep exhale and slowly sinks down onto the tiny stool, his face painfully neutral.

You feel like you’re in a fever dream. You begin to think you couldn’t possibly see anything more hilarious than the sight before you, until he carefully lifts and places both feet onto the little bars joining the legs of the stool together.

Then, he hunches forward and begins to eat from the container.

…He literally looks like a fucking rat.

An adorable one, mind you, but a rat nonetheless.

And by all means, it would be blatantly criminal not to take this golden opportunity to poke fun, so you do just that.

“How’s the weather down there?”

“Alright that’s enough, get up.”

“Awww,” you whine, as he stands up abruptly and closes the gap between you, until he’s stood inches away from you. The movement is so decisive, and his expression is so commanding, you feel your body automatically obeying his words.

Before you know what’s really happened, you’re suddenly down on the tiny stool and he’s towering above you on the big stool, looking like the cat who just ate the canary. You glare at him menacingly. You really ought to learn how to be unaffected by that trick of his before it’s too late.

It’s not long until you’re back into your rhythm of pleasant chit chat, mixed in with some good old-fashioned joshing. It’s nice. And is beginning to feel entirely too natural. The box in your mind where you’re keeping all your troublesome thoughts about him is starting to overflow, and you worry that once it does, you’ll never get the lid back on it. So, you just add that particular worry to the pile and resolve to deal with it later. …Or never.

Now that Silco has hijacked the superior seat, he’s mostly hidden from the customers’ view, meaning he can eat his lunch in peace while you have to continue to deal with the occasional market-goer. He watches with great interest as you serve the odd customer who appears at the stall during your lunch break.

Silco appears to be awfully impressed when you convince one man to buy an egg slicer, pestle and mortar, a ladle, a garlic press, and a whole set of new chopping boards, when he only came to get a wooden spoon. And the best bit was, he’d openly admitted to not needing a cheese grater since he was lactose intolerant, but still toddled away with it under his arm, alongside the rest of the items you’d lured him into buying.

You were just starting to feel cherished under Silco’s fascinated approval when another customer makes his presence known by repeatedly clicking his fingers at you.

“Oi, do you actually work here or are you just paid to sit there looking ugly?”

Oh. So, he’s that kind of customer. (A prick)

You stand up and turn on the ‘customer service smile’, but your eyes are filled with pure fire, straight from the pits of hell. Luckily, your cheerful tone hides the hatred you feel radiating inside you.

“How can I help you, sir?”

“I need some aftershave.”

He does.

“I’m sorry, sir, we don’t sell aftershave,” you tell him politely, looking down at the items on the table that anyone with a single brain cell could identify as kitchen utensils and not aftershave.

“Why not?”

“We only sell kitchen utensils.”

“That’s stupid.”

You kind of agree. It was a bit stupid. But you weren’t about to tell him that. In your humble view, the customer was never right. It didn’t matter anyway, because he continued his little rant, as if you actually cared about what he thought.

“What a waste of a market stall. Who’s idea was that? Yours? You look stupid enough to think a stall with nothing but kitchen utensils would make any money,” the man insults you and you’re disappointed by his lack of creativity in trying to offend you. I mean, come on, if he was really trying to upset you, he was doing a miserable job.

You’re about to point him in the opposite direction to the one stall you know sells aftershave, when you feel Silco standing up and taking his place directly next to you. His arm brushes against yours and you feel like every neuron in that arm has been fired at once. Looking up at him in surprise, you see his thunderous expression, as he all but snarls at the man.

“Unless you wish to know what it feels like to have every bone in your body broken at once, I suggest you vacate this market immediately.”

It’s with great delight that you observe the rude customer begin to shake as he recognises it’s the Eye of Zaun who is threatening him, and you almost cheer when he runs away from you, stumbling into other shoppers as he makes his hasty escape.

You think you might be in shock. No-one has ever stood up for you like that before. Much less physically threatened them in such a gorgeous display of dominance. Oh no. You’re a goner now.

You must be in a daze as you stare after the man because Silco places a hand on your shoulder, causing the rapidly weakening self-control, that’s keeping you from JUST KISSING HIS GODAMN MOUTH ALREADY, to become a thousand times weaker.

“Are you alright?” he asks, clearly concerned.

No. You’re not alright. You’re far from alright. But telling him that would only ruin all the delicious banter you’ve been enjoying with him over the past week. So, as you finally meet his gaze, you raise a hand over your brow and dramatically pretend to swoon.

“My hero.”

He rolls his eyes and moves to sit back down, an action you follow.

“Seriously though, thank you for sticking up for me,” you tell him genuinely, “Although, I have had customers much worse than him. One time someone threw a sieve at my head because I told them we didn’t offer gift cards for the stall. I mean, come on, who wants a gift card for kitchen utensils?”

“Hmm,” was his response, clearly thinking deeply about something.

After some time, he breaks the comfortable silence with a remark that squeezes your heart in a way that really shouldn’t, considering how unromantic it actually was.

“You’re not ugly. Or stupid.”

“…What?”

“That imbecile called you ugly. You are not.”

“Cheers, you’re not too bad on the eyes either,” you smirk at him, favouring a cheeky response as opposed to a serious one that might have put you in dangerous waters.

He ignores the back-handed compliment.

“Jinx has been asking about you; she misses you.”

“I miss her too,” you tell him honestly. You’d missed him as well, but considering you’d only seen him the day before, that admission was just a bit too embarrassing to be voiced.

“You’re always welcome to visit us at The Drop. When you’re not working, of course.”

“Mondays are my day off.”

“I’ll look forward to your visit this Monday, then,” Silco informs you, a demand, not request, but a light-hearted one all the same.

You nod with a knowing smile. And you’d be damned if the lanky boy didn’t look almost excited at the prospect of you being back in his home once more. What in Janna’s name had you gotten yourself into?

Returning to The Last Drop feels, well… right. Jinx is over the moon when you walk through the front doors and rushes to throw her arms around your waist. She wastes no time in pulling you over to the bar, where she has set up her new projects in a row across the counter top, all ready to be shown to you. Only a few minutes pass before Silco appears at the top of the staircase, clipboard and pen in hand as he makes his way down towards you. Your body is radiating with nervous energy at the mere sight of him, so you resort to your tried and true 5 G’s method, reserved for when you feel yourself going off the rails at something ridiculous. Good gods girl, get a grip.

For the next few weeks, your Monday visits becomes a permanent fixture in your schedule, to your unabashed delight. You alternate between playing games and talking with Jinx whilst Silco works, and chatting to Silco when Jinx is sat on his lap, quietly doodling all over the back of his paperwork. The peaceful domesticity is something you never thought you’d be so enthralled by, but you absolutely adore it. It begins to feel like home.

On one particularly memorable visit, Jinx seems to be overflowing with energy, so the only reasonable option is to hold 8 spoons between the gaps of your fingers, and chase her around the bar in a game you’ve now dubbed as ‘Edward Spoonhands’. Silco tries to keep his face neutral, but the slight upward tick of his lips gives him away. It’s not there for long because Jinx soon squeals in delight and recklessly throws herself onto his lap, trying to hide from you as you charge at her full speed across the floor of the bar. She’s so overexcited, it takes Silco a ridiculous amount of time to finally calm her down. Admittedly, you would feel bad about making his day that much more difficult, but you barely have time to, given how out of breath you are from running about for so long.

Another time, you’re just on your way into the bar, pushing the front door open only to immediately trip and fall face-first onto the ground. You’re not physically hurt, but you’re pretty sure your pride is irreparably damaged from the humiliating stunt. Instead of getting up straight away like a normal person would, you roll onto your back and stare crossly at the ceiling, your hand placed atop the other on your stomach. You hope that by acting like an unmoving chameleon, the ground will swallow you up and transport you to a place where nobody can recognise your brainless mug.

As you’re lying there, a recognisable face comes into view above you, a conceited smirk adorning his scarred lips as he peers down at you. Silco keeps his arms behind his back and you note with some offense that he doesn’t offer to help you up and doesn’t even ask if you’re alright. What a bastard.

“Who put that there?” you ask defiantly.

“The doorstep?”

“Yes, I’d like to make a complaint with the owner,” you grumble.

“I’m afraid he’s rather busy at the moment. But do feel free to leave your comment in the suggestion box,” Silco replies smoothly, his arm lifting to point at something across the room.

He has a suggestion box?? Leaning on your hands as you sit up and follow the line of his outstretched arm and finger, you spot exactly what he’s gesturing to. It’s the bin.

You roll your eyes. This bitch.

“You need some more training in customer service skills,” you tell him emphatically.

“You should consider yourself lucky; I’m usually inclined to kill those who complain about my business.”

You have to agree with him. You do consider yourself to be pretty damn lucky.

A few weeks later, you find yourself inexplicably excited for your next Monday visit because you’d spent a ridiculous amount of your Sunday evening painstakingly gathering ingredients, baking, and decorating some cupcakes for Jinx and Silco. Despite how tired you were after adding on the extra hours to your already long work day, you resolved that it was worth it, just to see the looks on their faces when you presented your gift.

Entering The Last Drop around lunchtime, you make sure to avoid tripping on the doorstep, since the last thing you wanted was to unceremoniously send the cupcakes sprawling across the floor. You find Silco and Jinx sat at the bar working on their respective projects and you can’t help but greet them cheerfully from across the room.

“Asuh my dudes!” earns you a blank look from them both, which only serves to pull your grin even wider.

Making your way over to the bar, you decide to stand behind it so you’re facing them both. You want to be able to see their reactions when they try the sugary goodness you’ve lovingly crafted for them. The old man might even smile, if you’d done your job right.

“I made you some cupcakes because you both work far too hard and I decided you deserve a treat.”

You hold out the open tin towards them both, offering them first choice like the polite young lady you are. Jinx leans forward and looks nothing short of ecstatic as she reaches to pick one up, but she’s interrupted by Silco, who barks out his command in a way that if you didn’t know any better, you’d think was laced with panic.

“Wait!”

You all freeze. Slowly, your eyes meet his and you see the unmistakeable look of apprehension painting his face. Oh. You understand now. He’s worried the cupcakes might be poisoned.

He doesn’t trust you.

You can’t help the way your stomach feels like its falling through your body, like a rollercoaster that has just dropped from its highest point. Does he really think you’re capable of poisoning them? Or that you’d even dream of hurting them in the first place? After everything you’ve been through?

Keeping your gaze locked onto his, you slowly reach for one of the cupcakes and bring it to your mouth, taking a bite and swallowing purposefully. Silco visibly relaxes at the gesture. But you don’t. Despite the growing nausea swirling through your belly, you finish off the cupcake and shove the wrapper in your pocket.

You want to hurl the tin at the wall, but instead you shakily fumble to put the lid back on, drawing it close to your chest.

“You don’t have to eat them if you don’t want to, I just thought-” you begin, your voice trembling as you scrabble to fill the heavy silence.

Silco stands, leans over the counter, and gently prises the tin from your hands. Watching him dumbfoundedly, you observe him taking the lid off once more, lifting out one of the cupcakes, and nibbling the tiniest bit out of it.

“Lovely; do try one, Jinx.”

But it doesn’t make you feel better. How could it? He’d basically just implied that there was a chance you might have been trying to kill them.

Jinx wolfs her cupcake down at an alarming rate and wastes no time in climbing onto the bar and throwing herself at you in a hug, until you’re awkwardly carrying her as she’s wrapped around you from your front. She jumps down and pulls you over to one of the booths across the room, loudly babbling about a new idea she has that she wants your opinion on.

You don’t look at Silco again. You can’t. Not when he’d shown such an open display of distrust like that. You’re glad that Jinx has pulled you away from the situation and you’re even more relieved when it turns out you’re able to sit with your back facing him. It takes all your strength, but you put on a careful mask, making sure Jinx doesn’t realise just how upset you are. Truthfully, you’re glad for the distraction she provides, if only to distance yourself from the confusing mixture of shock and heartache and anger you’re feeling.

Some time later, you inform Jinx that you need the bathroom, and find yourself spending much longer than is really necessary to wash your hands. You want to feel okay again, to act like it never happened, but you just can’t. Honestly, it hurt. How could he think of you like that?

When you exit the bathroom, you’re surprised to find Silco hovering in the corridor, evidently waiting for you, since there was nothing else of note in this particular hallway. His gaze snaps up to your crushed expression, which you quickly replace with one of impassivity, taking a page from the kingpin’s book.

The closed off look isn’t the only guard you put up, your sarcastic tone matching it nicely, as you reach into a place that you feel much more comfortable with.

“Do you make a habit of hanging around outside the ladies’ bathroom?”

He scoffs, and opens his mouth as if he is about to retort with an equally sarcastic response, when he snaps it shut again and takes a deep breath in and out.

“It was not my intention to offend you,” he says softly.

You stare at him, trying to read his thoughts.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it,” you finally mumble, not yet feeling emotionally ready for such a serious conversation.

Silco begins to speak again when you hear a crash from the bar. The uncomfortable discussion is forgotten as you both dash towards the noise and find Jinx sat on the floor next to a broken chair.

“I was only trying to build a den!” she protests, as Silco marches over to her to check for any injuries.

Luckily, she isn’t hurt, but that doesn’t stop you from giving the stupid fucking chair a kick like it deserves. Bloody things are more trouble than they’re worth. …Okay, maybe you’re projecting.

Once everyone has calmed down from Jinx’s little mishap, you only stick around for another half hour before the tension becomes entirely too suffocating. You make a pathetic attempt at excusing yourself, muttering something about needing to clean all the kitchen utensils for tomorrow’s work day, before gathering your belongings to leave.

You can’t help but stare at the abandoned tin of cupcakes left on the counter. Part of you wants to snatch them up and take back your gift, if only out of spite for the way he’d made you feel horrible after trying to do something nice for him. But that line of thought is deserted the moment you glance at Silco’s face.

If you were one for dramatics (which you most definitely are), you’d almost say he looks heartbroken, as he gazes at you wistfully. It’s enough to have you mumbling out a short goodbye to them both, before exiting the bar with a heavy feeling sweeping through your chest.

That night, as you’re lying in bed staring blankly at the ceiling, you can’t help but run through the events of the day over and over again, until it makes you want to scream. Part of you doesn’t blame him. In the grand scheme of things, he hadn’t known you for long at all, and in the Undercity, it wasn’t wise to place your full trust in anybody, let alone someone you’d only just met.

And the fact that he was the King of Zaun wouldn’t have helped matters either. I mean, he was probably inundated with rivals and wannabe-kingpins trying to hurt him and Jinx. And not to mention the rumours you’d heard of his troubled past. It made sense that he’d struggle to trust people with all those factors working against him.

But it didn’t stop it from hurting. You thought it had been different between the two of you. That there was something special going on. Perhaps you’d been wrong.

Using your work as a distraction, you focused on keeping yourself busy. And when you were lying to yourself as readily as you’d lied to your boss about when you’d been kidnapped, you could almost believe that you didn’t feel as disappointed as you truly did.

But, the watery illusion you’d found yourself drowning in is pulled down the plug, leaving you mentally gasping for air, when Silco arrives at your stall a few days later. In all honesty, you weren’t expecting to see him so soon after your little misunderstanding, so you feel positively bewildered and entirely unprepared for the encounter.

You’re sat on the tiny little stool, even though the big stool is empty, as your boss has deserted you to fetch some lunch from another stall. Rather awkwardly, there’s a good few moments where Silco just stares down at you and you stare back up at him, trying to figure out just what he’s thinking.

He looks, dare you say… nervous? It’s fairly similar to the way he’d looked when you had left him in his office all that time ago, but there’s something different about it. More hesitant. You bite the bullet and speak first (yet again).

“Hello.”

It’s a quiet sound, one that has him pursing his lips and nodding at you, which you assume is his greeting, as he places down a thin box on the counter in front of you. A quick, confused glance is all you afford him, before you slowly lift off the top to reveal an intricately designed knife. It’s beautiful.

“What’s this?” you ask breathlessly.

You half expect him to say ‘a knife’, like the sarcastic twat he is, but his sincere response tugs at your heart strings.

“An apology.”

The knife itself is sharp, clearly forged by hand, and immaculately polished, if the sharp glint in the neon lights of the market is anything to go by. The hilt is sleek black, detailed with thin, burgundy stripes. His colours.

You feel tears begin to pool in the corners of your eyes at the weight of this expensive gift and the sincerity of his words. You thought that him defending you from rude customers was too good to be true, but this was on a whole new level. It made you want to wrap your arms around him and show him just how much you appreciate the grand gesture, to kiss him until he can’t mistake your forgiveness.

But you knew it’d be too much, especially in front of the whole market. So you tease him instead, if only to stop the tears from spilling down your cheeks.

“Thank you, I needed a new bread knife.”

He rolls his eyes and sighs deeply as you manage to meet his gaze once again.

“Your lack of familiarity with knives is concerning, given how many you sell on a daily basis.”

You’re about to tell him that the average shopper doesn’t visit your stall looking for weapons, unlike him in his endearingly crime lord-y manner, when he reaches across the table and gently takes one of your hands into his own.

You think you might have stopped breathing. Is he trying to kill you?

A tender squeeze of your hand brings your focus back to his eyes, creating a moment that is eerily reminiscent of the way he’d squeezed your arms, just before you’d collapsed onto him in the warehouse. You almost feel just as dizzy this time, even without the head trauma.

“I’d like to make it up to you. Let me take you out,” Silco tells you, his soft tone matching the unbearably soft look on his face.

There’s nothing to make up for. Nothing to forgive. You want to tell him he’s already proved just how sorry he is. But that doesn’t stop you from blurting out your ridiculous question instead.

“What, like a date? Or take me out as in murder?” you ask, not knowing which one you’d prefer. Probably the date. …Probably.

Silco rolls his eyes again and you worry that if he keeps doing it so dramatically like that, they might just fall out one day. That’d be a shame. What would they call him then? The Long-Nose of Zaun?

“No.”

“Okay then, I’ll just wear my dusty, old work apron if it’s not a date or an execution,” you respond demurely, shrugging one shoulder.

“You’d look lovely in anything, my dear,” he murmurs, as he strokes his thumb across your hand.

Fuck. WHAT IS HE DOING THAT FOR, NOW??

He must be able to feel the way your pulse begins to raise because his demeanour melts from one of worry to its usual cheeky manner, that appeared to be reserved solely for you.

“So?” he prompts, an eyebrow raising at your obvious sensitivity to his touch.

It takes a few moments of really staring at him before you can give your answer. You had to make sure there was nothing hidden in those captivating eyes of his. Nothing that might suggest he had any ulterior motives that might convince you this was a bad idea. But to your relief, all you saw was longing. Longing to spend more time with you.

“…alright, go on then. I’ll go on a date with you.”

His smile makes you feel like you’re going to burst with joy.

When you’d first realised that it was Silco tied to the chair behind yours, you thought your life was over. Never in a million years would you have expected it to lead to you feeling like your life was just beginning.

But here you were. Holding hands with the King of Zaun as he leant across the market stall, his sleeve getting caught slightly on a whisk that you were in the process of cleaning before he’d shown up. And if that wasn’t the most romantic thing you could think of, you didn’t know what was.

PART 4

A/N: this is now a fast burn bc apparently I believe in love at first sight??? who’d have thunk?? Not me, that’s for sure

Also, I hope this is better than part 2 which I worried wasn’t as good. I hope I didn’t disappoint anybody :( I’m still getting used to writing prose, I’m normally a screenwriter (not professionally tho… I wish)

Tag list: @htmlbitxh

#silco #silco x reader #silco x f!reader #silco fic #silco arcane #silco x you #part 3

156 notes · View notes

folklorelise · 3 years

Text

How did you become Levi’s girlfriend.

Levi Ackerman - how did you, from the MPs, become Levi’s girlfriend

When you joined the training corps, you did not have any friends. Then you met Hange and you became friends rather quickly. It was fun, lots of hard work and then even more fun. After three years of training, you ended up first at the end. You thought about joining the Military Police, but Hange and you promised to join the Survey Corps together.

“Congrats on finishing first!” Hange cheered during dinner.

“Thank you!”

“Soo... are you still planning on joining the Survey Corps?”

“Of course, I promised remember.”

“Yeah, but it’s just back then, we didn’t know if we could join the MP.”

Once in the Survey Corps, it was a lot of trainings. You ended up in Squad Leader Erwin’s squad. And very soon, Hange made Squad Leader too.

After one expedition where you almost died, you asked for a transfer for the MPs. They agreed to it because you were ranked first at the end. The night of the departure, you went to see Hange.

“I’m sorry Hange.” you sobbed.

She hugged you and repeated it was ok and that she understood. You promised her that you would visit her as soon as possible.

“We could write each other letters every day and it would be like I never left.” you proposed with a small smile.

Life in the MPs was boring. People were mean, they criticised the survey corps every chance they had. It was upsetting, that is why you never made any friends there. With your experience in the SC, the commander of the MP made you in charge of the communications between them and the SC, as well as every other business between them.

Every trip you made, you made sure to bring lots of food for Hange, Erwin and everyone else because you knew the Survey Corps did not have treats. Apple pies, lemon pies, some meat, and fruits.

You took your basket and went in the cart. You usually stayed a week before going back to Wall Sina. Sometimes more, sometimes less. It all depended on the business between the MP and the SC.

“Y/N!” Hange screamed once she saw you.

“Hange!” you screamed back dramatically.

Once alone, she told you everything Erwin did the last few days.

“So now we have three new recruits. Levi, Isabel and Furlan. They are really good, especially since they did not have any trainings for it. Levi is the most talented of them all even better than some of us.” Hange explained while eating an apple. “You should meet them! I saw them at the library and there’s never anyone there.”

She took your arm and ran to the library. You were pretty slow since you were still carrying your basket full of food.

“Slow down Hange, please.”

She opened the door and there they were. The three new recruits. Your eyes were fixed on the straight black hair styled in an undercut curtain one. ‘Didn’t know guys from the underground were so pretty.’

“This is Y/N.” Hange introduced you to them and sat beside Levi.

You sat beside Isabel and put the basket in front of you.

“What are these?” Isabel asked taking a strawberry and a pomegranate.

“Isabel! You cannot just take things from people like this. Not here at least.” Furlan warned her.

“Oh no, it’s fine.” you smiled. “These are just fruits; you can have them if you want.” You took out some more and gave them to Furlan and Levi. Furlan thanked you and eat them as well as Isabel. Levi just looked at you but did not take the food. You smiled shyly and put the fruits in front of him. “Mh, you can eat them later but not too late, otherwise they will rot.” you explained.

“It’s what we ate in the underground anyway.” Levi sighed in a stoic voice.

“O-oh mmh...”

“He’s kidding.” Furlan laughed and glared at Levi saying, ‘be nice’.

No one talked after that. It was rather uncomfortable. You looked at Hange and tried to tell her with your eyes ‘Let’s leave! We are disturbing them!’. But she did nothing. Hange tried to make conversation, Isabel and Furlan talked easily with you, but Levi did not. He just glared at you and Hange. It was late in the evening, so you proposed to eat the meat you had.

“This is amazing!” Isabel praised.

“If you guys like this, I could bring more next time. What do you like?” you asked.

“I’ve never had sweets. And the meat is really good too. Oh also, the fruits were amazing.” Isabel shouted excited.

“Isabel.” Levi reprimanded.

“No, it’s fine, what would you like to have?” you asked but he said nothing and just looked away.

“Big bro here loves tea and Furlan likes everything, so anything is fine.”

“Tea, great. I can do that!”

The door opened and Erwin came in. You hugged him tightly and sat back next to Isabel.

“I see you already ate.” Erwin stated.

“I have some left in my bedroom for you. I know you’re busy and I knew Hange would eat everything.” you said.

“Hey not true!” Hange gasped.

“I just wanted to make sure the new recruits ate well for their first expedition tomorrow.”

“Oh, you guys are already leaving tomorrow?” you frowned. “Hange, we barely spent any time together.”

“It’ll be fine, and we’ll be back quick. You’re staying a week, right?”

“Commander Shadis just told me that Y/N is leaving tomorrow evening.” Erwin announced.

Levi, Isabel and Furlan went back to their bedroom and you stayed with Hange and Erwin in his office. He ate the food you had, and you guys talked about what happened these last few weeks. Erwin and Hange had some last-minute squad leader related work to do so you left. You left for the kitchen to brew some tea.

“What tea are you preparing?” someone asked beside you.

“Oh my! Don’t do this to me!” you screamed, startled. He stared at you, waiting for an answer. “It’s chamomile tea. I can never sleep around here... do you want some?”

He nodded. You took another cup of tea and pour some in his cup. You two sat in the mess hall, in front of each other in silence.

“Hm, so... do you like it here?” you hesitated. He stared at you and gave a nod. You quickly noticed how he holds his cup and chuckled.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing!”

“You laughed, so what’s so funny?”

“It’s just... I never saw someone hold their cup like you do.” He, once again, just started at you. “I’m sorry if that seemed mean! It is not. It’s just - it’s a very unique way of holding a cup and so it’s more of a compliment you know. It means you are unique.” you blurted out nervously. He did not respond anything, he just started at you with a softer look. He brought his cup close to his lips and smirked slightly.

The next day, the survey corps left in the morning. You did not have the chance to say goodbye before leaving but ‘it’s fine, next time then’ you thought. Next time happened quicker than you expected. Only two weeks later you had to come back because your commander wanted the reports about the last expedition. You prepared your basket, remembering what Isabel said. You took every tea flavours you could find and put them in a pretty bag. Then, you took some sweets for Isabel and lots of apple for Furlan. You then took another basket and filled it with the usual food for your other friends.

Once in the SC headquarters, you went to see Hange first.

“Why the long face? Someone died?” you joked. She looked at you without laughing and you understood. “Who?” you whispered.

You run to Levi’s bedroom as quick as possible and knocked on his door. No one answered and you opened it slowly, but no one was inside. You put the basket on a bed. You stayed a minute, hoping for Levi to come back but nothing happened. You stood up but at the same time, the door opened on Levi. You started at each other for a minute before he moved inside of his bedroom.

“I’m sorry I broke in.”

He just sat on the bed next to the basket full of food. You turned around, ready to leave but Levi grabbed your wrist and forced you to sit beside him. You could feel his tense body and his harsh grip, but you did not say anything.

“You can bring the food back.” he breathed loudly, “They’re not here to eat it anymore.”

“I’m sorry this had to happen to you. They were really nice, this isn’t fair.” you sobbed.

He let go of your wrist slowly and sighed. He stood up and you hugged him. His body immediately tensed up, but he did not leave. Your arms were wrapped around his neck tightly and slowly, you felt his hands circling around your waist. You did not let go and waited for him to let go first. After ten or more minutes, he slowly backed away. You looked at him and smiled softly. You had to do something, so you took the bag full of tea and left for the kitchen. Levi just looked at you leave without saying anything.

You brew some black tea and went back to Levi. You gave him his tea and you drunk in silence. You took some food and handed it to him. He just looked away.

“You should eat. Please.”

He took the bread and the meat and ate it without protesting. You stayed with him the whole night. No one talked but you did not want to leave him alone. His back was against the wall, with his legs over the bed.

“You should sleep, you look like you haven’t slept in days.”

“I didn’t. I can’t sleep.”

“Here.” you tap the place between your legs. “I can give you a massage and it could help.”

He refused at first but gave in and settled in front of you, between your legs. You started your massage and he relaxed straight away. After thirty minutes, he fell asleep and his head fell back on your shoulder. You wrapped your arms around his chest and fell asleep with him in your arms.

The next morning, you woke up alone with the blanket over your body. Levi was already awake, eating the leftovers of the food you brought.

“Morning.” you greeted him.

“Thank you for yesterday. I really needed that.”

“Anytime.”

You spend the day with Hange, talking about what happened last night.

“You dog! You saw him twice and you’re already sleeping with him.”

“Hange!”

“I’m kidding. So, what’s going between you two?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you like him?”

“I don’t know, I barely know him. I mean, he doesn’t share much but he’s nice, and I feel great when he’s around.”

During the week, you spent a lot of time with Hange because she is your best friend and you also spent every night with Levi. He did not talk much but he enjoyed your company. He was scared that you might not come back because you would be bored, but you always came. You, on the other hand talked a lot, and he listened. He liked listening to you. You would tell him about your life before joining the training corps, about your training days and how you were part of the survey corps once.

“I’m glad you’re not here anymore.” he started.

“What?” you stuttered.

“Because with you safe in the inner wall, I do not have to be worried about you, about losing you outside the walls. Knowing that you are safe inside makes me... feel great.” he admitted avoiding looking at you. You were so surprised that you did not know what to say but to Levi, it looked like you just rejected him by your lack of answer.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have...”

But you did not let him finish and kissed him. His hands holding you close to him and yours on his face.

“I think... no I know,” you took a deep breath, “I love you, and you’re amazing.”

“I love you too.” he whispered close to your ear.

From that moment, you two were inseparable. When you visited, you were always with Levi. If Hange wanted to spend time with you, she had to spend time with Levi too. Only Hange and Erwin knew about this.

When Levi made Squad Leader, you celebrated by buying him a new cravat with his initial on it. You helped him clean his new office and his new bedroom.

“Clean better Y/N.” – “Tch it’s still filthy.” – “You missed a spot.” – “Do it again.”

At the same time, Erwin made Commander and after dinner, he dropped by to give Levi some paperwork.

You sat on the couch reading a book while Levi started to work. After an hour of reading, you looked at Levi and noticed how he was still working on his first piece of paper.

“How’s work?” you asked.

“Fine.” Levi answered firmly.

You did not know if you had to insist or just let it go — you did not want to upset him.

“Do you need help?”

“No.”

“Levi...”

“It’s fine I said.”

You waited a minute and thought about it a second. Did the underground have schools?

“Are you having trouble writing?” you hesitated. “Or... reading?” Levi just looked away and put his head in his hands. “Levi it’s fine. You should have told me; I could have helped. I still can.”

After that, you started to teach him the alphabet first. But then you had to leave again. “You should tell Erwin; he wouldn’t judge you. I’m sure he would help, and he would give you less paperwork.” you told him before leaving.

The next time you came, you had many books about teaching and learning. And you gave these to Levi and worked on it with him. He improved a lot since last time, and he told you that he asked Erwin for help. The commander was really understanding and made sure to help him the best he can.

Everything was perfect.

Until the 104th cadets graduated. After the 57th expedition, Levi lost his whole squad. Hange made a trip to wall Sina just to bring you to Levi, knowing that he did not want to bother you. When you arrived, Levi was nowhere to be found. You waited in his office and when he came back, he froze when he saw you standing in the middle of the room. He closed the door and run to you. A hug is what he needed.

“Thank you for being here. I needed you.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be here with you, to help. And I’ve been thinking... maybe I should come back here so I could be with you.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

“But I want to be with you. I always want to be with you, and I hate leaving you here alone. I want to come back.”

He nodded and kissed you tenderly and slowly brought you to his couch so he could fuck you nicely.

MASTERLIST

#attack on titan x reader #levi ackerman x reader #snk #levi ackerman #is this a one shot/imagine?#i wanted to put - in front of each paragraph #but it doesn't look like a hc so i decided not to #i hope it was ok #always scared to write people ooc but levi is extra hard *wink wink*

627 notes · View notes

anonymousfiction211 · 3 years

Text

Caught

Summary: You lived in the palace and were good friends with Loki. You were fired and hadn’t seen Loki in years. When are back at the palace you encounter him. Words: 2.937 words Warning: Smut, a little bit of physical violence A/N: Thank you for reading the story! Still trying to figure out a writing style. If you have any tips or tricks feel free to contact me :)

You grew up in the palace and was training to become a cook. You became good friends with Loki, always getting into trouble together. When you were teenagers, you invented a game. To his annoyance you had bested him every time. You would take turns ‘stealing’ an item from the other person. The trick was not to get caught, because if you got caught you would have to pay a prize. Sometimes it was cleaning the other person’s room, serving the other or go down to the market to buy something. Loki was sometimes successful in stealing from you, but he had never caught you. Since Loki was extremely smart, you were proud that he never had. Something you loved to rub in his face, every opportunity you got. You were close and the game was all in good fun. You had to admit that through the game, you had developed a crush on Loki. His brother had once told you that he liked you, but since he was quite intoxicated at the time, you didn’t dare to believe it.

The rules of the game were simple. One chose the item that needed to be stolen and the other would try and steal it. Both of you had to be in the palace and Loki couldn’t use his magic. The last time you played you had caught him red handed, trying to steal your favourite book. He thought he was being smart, he had got your room key from one of your servants and planned his heist while you were busy in the kitchen. But when your servant came clean that she had given the key away, you rushed to your room. Immediately you tackled him, which left you two tangled on the ground. When he admitted defeat, he asked what he had to do. You couldn’t help it. The feeling of his body against yours, your lips almost touching, so you kissed him. He had kissed you back and when you broke the kiss, you swore you saw him blush. You felt yourself blushing hard and didn’t dare to look him in the eye. He couldn’t look you in the eye either. You scrambled to get up. When you two stood across each other he whispered ‘my ring’ and left. The day after you were summoned before Odin telling you that your services were no longer needed. A guard walked you to your room, you gathered some possessions and had to leave without delay. You always wondered if Loki or the kiss had anything to do with your sudden departure. You never got the chance to ask him that or steal his ring.

After living a few years away from the palace you were, surprisingly, hired again. You were nervous to be back there. You had heard tails of Loki trying to conquer Midgard and failing. He was serving a sentence, but due to him helping his brother he was given more room and was now restricted to the palace grounds. The first time you saw him again was when you were walking in the opposite direction of the hallway. He looked you up and down as you approached. You froze, afraid of how he might react after all these years. You also couldn’t help but notice he had grown to be a very attractive man. He didn’t show any reaction, he treated you like you were a mere stranger. He walked past you without saying a word. No reaction was even worse. You had to supress the tears that were forming in your eyes. When you couldn’t hear his footsteps anymore, you got angry. You didn’t know if it was the best plan, but you spend the rest of the morning coming up with a plan to steal his ring. You stole the key from a guard, while he was distracted with a sudden fire (which you may or may not have started). After that you asked around and heard that Loki had a meeting with his father. So, when he was 15 minutes into the meeting you snuck into his room and started to look for the ring.

His room hadn’t changed much. He still left the doors of his balcony open, the bed was still way too large and there were papers and books everywhere. You startled when the front door and balcony doors slammed shut. You turned around but didn’t see anyone. You figured it was the wind, but felt uneasy. You started to think that this was indeed a bad idea, maybe he simply had forgotten you and truly didn’t recognize you. It had been many years after all. So, you walked towards the front door to open it. The door didn’t budge. You were starting to panic as you walked towards the balcony doors. They didn’t open either, you realized you were trapped. You heard the front door open and close. You turned around to see Loki, he looked angry. He holds up his hand with his ring on his index finger ‘looking for this?’ he growled. For a moment you were scared, but then realized that he had recognized you. ‘So, you do remember me!’ you said angrily.

‘Remember you? OF COURSE I REMEMBER YOU!’ he shouted back at you. The anger in his voice took you aback. ‘Then why do you act like you don’t know me?’ you asked him. With a few large paces he was right in front of you. He grabbed your throat and pushed you hard against the balcony doors. You were gasping for air and he tightened his grip. He didn’t break eye contact with you. Right before you would pass out he loosened his grip, to let you breathe. When you took a few deep breaths, he tightened his grip again, it made breathing hard but not impossible. ‘YOU LEFT!’ he spit out. The venom in his voice when he said ‘you’ felt like a slap in the face. He hates me, you thought. ‘If you didn’t want me to leave you should have stopped your father from firing me’ you said back. Tears were starting to stream down your cheeks. Your voice was hoarse from his grip and the volume had dropped below that off a whisper. He let go of your throat and stared at you. His eyes narrowed ‘you quit’ he said. You furrowed your brows ‘I didn’t quit, why do you think that?’. You felt his eyes pierce through your soul. Loki was never one to show emotion, but if you paid attention his eyes always gave him away. You saw his emotion change quickly from disbelief, to hurt, realization and then his eyes filled with anger.

‘Loki, why did you think I quit?’ you asked again. ‘That was what I have been told’ he suddenly turned around and walked towards the front door. He stood still right before he turned the door handle ‘since I won, you will stay here’. You hesitated, you were shocked how much he had changed over the years. ‘For how long?’ you asked. ‘As long as I want’ he growled back. He then went through the door and you heard it lock behind him. Not knowing what to do in his room you decided to lay down on his bed. You grabbed a book and started to read, but couldn’t concentrate. You had no idea what was going on. After a long time of waiting, you finally fell asleep.

After a few hours you woke when you felt the bed dip. You opened your eyes to see it had become night, though you had no idea what the time was. You felt a hand on your hip traveling up your upper back, pulling you close. ‘Loki what is going on?’ you heard yourself ask with a trembling voice. ‘Oh, the usual, finding out that Odin lied. You were fired, because someone saw us kiss and he was arranging a marriage at the time, which fell through of course.’ You noticed he tried to sound sarcastic, but his voice sounded wounded and hoarse. You knew he had been yelling for a long time. ‘I thought you had me fired, because you regretted kissing me back’ you whispered to him. You felt him pull you closer ‘I have many regrets, but kissing you is not one of them. Why did you think I would ask you to steal my ring?’ he said. ‘Because that was the game?’ you asked. ‘I was going to ask you if I could court you and if you would wear it, when you would try to steal it’. There was a long silence. You felt yourself relax, as this was the Loki you had known so well. ‘Would you have said yes if I had asked you?’ he whispered. Still trying to process the turn of events you knew one thing for sure, you had missed him terribly all these years.

You turned around to face him and gave him a short kiss on his lips. When you pulled back you felt his hand from your back traveling to your neck. He held you in place as he kissed you. The kiss was gentle and soft. His lips moved slow and felt amazing against yours. He turned you so he was laying on top of you, resting most of his weight on one of his arms. He moved his hand from your neck to you throat to move down to your chest. You couldn’t help but flinch when his hand stroked you throat. He stopped kissing you and looked at you ‘I’m so sorry’ he whispered. ‘I promise to make it up to you and never hurt you again’. Before you could say anything his lips were kissing your throat. It tickled which made you giggle, you felt him smile against your skin. His lips travelled back upwards towards you lips. He kissed you again, you felt his tongue against your lips, asking to be let in. You opened your mouth as his tongue slowly slid in. While his tongue started to explore your mouth, his hand moved downwards to your breast. He began to stroke your breast, softly squeezing your nipple as it became hard. You started to moan in his mouth. He began to kiss you more eagerly and put more of his weight on you. Your hands started to move up and down slowly on his back. You let one hand slip under his shirt to feel his soft skin against your hand. You stroked his back, feeling his muscles move under your touch. He stopped kissing you and moved off you. He sat on his knees next to you and pulled off his shirt. You popped up on your elbows, laying slightly more upwards. When his shirt was off he didn’t move ‘Are you sure you want this?’ he asked you. ‘yes’ you said softly.

He smiled as he bends down to start kissing you again. He became more eager and roamed the back of your dress trying to find the clasp. When he couldn’t find it, you heard him growl frustrated. He then put his hands on the end of your V-neck and ripped it right through the middle. You gasped feeling the cool air on you skin. ‘I’ll buy you a new one’ he whispered as he started to kiss your throat softly traveling downwards. ‘If I knew you didn’t wear anything underneath your dresses, I would have done this much sooner’ he panted. You laughed at that and put your hands in his hair. He was kissing your breasts, circling your hard nipples with his tongue. His hand started to caress your side and you felt your hips buckle towards him. You grew hot in your centre from his tongue and touch. He opened your legs with his knee, putting pressure on your clit. You had to restrain yourself from riding his leg, since he was still wearing his pants. He noticed and shimmered his pants away, so he too was naked. ‘Don’t hold back, I want to feel how wet I’m making you’ he said huskily. You started to ride his thigh, he would alternate the pressure on your clit, driving you crazy. You grabbed his hair and pulled him towards you, needing his lips on yours. His tongue slipped immediately in your mouth slowly circling around your tongue. You felt his legs straddling yours and his hand traveling towards your clit. He started to rub slow circles on your clit making you gasp and moan in his mouth.

You put one of your hands on his ass, stroking and squeezing it. Your put your other hand on his cock. It was bigger than you had expected and was already extremely hard. You started to slowly caress the side. When you grabbed his cock in your hand Loki began to ride your hand. He started to grunt and moan. He stopped rubbing your clit and put his arm next to your head. He broke the kiss and opened your legs with his other hand. He aligned himself with your entrance. You pumped his cock a few more times before guiding it inside you. You both moaned at the feeling of him entering you. When he was inside you, your hands went to his shoulders on his back. He put his other arm next to your head and started to slowly move. He pumped in and out of you. The feeling of his cock filling you up was amazing. You hooked your legs around his waist, urging him to go faster. Loki began to ride you faster, kissing and biting your neck. You began moaning his name which made him smirk ‘I will never grow tired of you moaning my name’ he said to you. You felt your orgasm build up and tightened your grip around his waist. He laid his head against your forehead and you heard him grunt. You could feel his breath on your face as he was pumping in and out of you relentless. You felt your walls clench and your legs began to shake. ‘That’s it, come for me’ he said. You screamed his name loudly when you came. He worked you through your orgasm and started to pump slower.

Suddenly his arms were behind your back and he flipped the two of you over. He was laying on his back and you were on top of him. This position made his cock deepen inside you, touching your still sensitive spot within. ‘Ride me’ he said. He put his hands on your hips and you followed their motion. You began to ride him as deep and as fast as you could. Loki moaned and you leaned down to kiss his chest. You travelled upwards and kissed his lips. You broke the kiss to sit upwards and slowed your movement. You rode him slowly while he was moaning beneath you. He put a hand on your thigh and the other one on your clit. ‘I want to feel you come, one more time’ he moaned. He put pressure with his finger on your clit, but didn’t move. Wanting more friction, you began to ride him faster, which made your clit move against his finger, chasing your own high. You felt Loki tense and knew he was close. You slid a hand behind you, starting to stroke his balls. He put more pressure and your clit, and you came hard on his cock. That send him over the edge as you felt his cock twitch inside you. You felt his cum fill you up. He had made a fist with his other hand and bit on it hard to keep him from screaming.

When both of you had caught your breath, you slipped of him. He grabbed your hips, so you still startled his lap. His sat upwards and kissed you. His lips moved slow against yours. After a minute he broke the kiss. He let you go to clean yourself up in his bathroom. When you got back to his bed he handed you one of his shirts and a boxer. ‘Will you stay?’ he asked. You nodded and put the clothes on. He took your hand and guided you towards his bed. He laid on his back and laid you down so your head was on his chest. Your hand was on his waist and his hand was playing with your hair. Unsure if you should ask ‘What will happen now?’. Loki chuckled ‘Well, it took a few hours to convince Odin, but I would very much like to honour of courting you. If you want me to, of course’ he said. ‘I would like that very much, what made him change his mind?’ you asked him. He then told you about his long intense conversation. ‘Basically, he thinks I will behave myself if you are by my side. Like, not setting things on fire, though he would not believe that I had nothing to do with that’ he chuckled. You gave him an innocent look, which made him laugh. You started to stroke his chest, moving downwards to tease him a bit. You felt him harden when you were stroking the tip of his cock. He began to shift in his position, not being able to hold still and breath faster. ‘Darling…’ he said warningly. You then kissed him and whispered in his ear ‘the shirt I’m wearing’. He moved fast and was on top of you in the blink of an eye. His hands were under your shirt, fondling your breast ‘excellent choice’ he smirked.

#loki #loki laufeyson #loki odinson #loki x reader #loki x you #loki fanfic #loki smut #smut #loki x ofc #sweet loki

331 notes · View notes

danineverwenttoazkaban · 3 years

Text

SE Appreciation Week - Fic 1 (Karol route)

@sweeteliteweek Very late but I just barely ended this not so short fic.

This is Karol’s route imagining some moments like the airport goodbye and days later while they’re at home so Papa Scholar is also featuring. I couldn’t help but add a bit of Tegan too and I tried to put several ideas I had together on the same story. Hopefully the back and forth between present and past is not too confusing. I didn’t know how to name it so I just took a song I was listening to by Wilco that is really sweet if anyone wants to listen to it.

Jesus, Etc.

The familiar vibrant and noisy city was something Scholar hadn’t think she would miss during those months at Arlington’s. Especially not the noises from the neighbor from the floor above as she rowed with her husband for the third time tonight, the people pacing up and down the stairs, the kids playing, the pizza delivery guys and Misses Jones with her 5 dogs. She smirked thinking what Karolina would say if she heard all this noise and reminisced to when they met, smiling at the thought. She would be rich by now if she was given a dollar for each time she thought of Karolina since she got on the plane home.

--------------------------------------------------------------

“That’s my plane, people! Enjoy the journey home!”, announced Tyler as he picked up his heavy luggage. He hadn’t explained what the heck he was carrying on his bags but Scholar assumed it was something artistic.

“Hey Tyler, don’t forget about tomorrow’s match! There will be a 30% buff bonus”, said Tegan.

“Oh man, I told you I have that thing with my parents. I’ll make it up to you later, promise”, replied Tyler.

“… ok”, said Tegan as he gave him a weak smile, clearly disappointed.

“Cheers!”, shouted Tyler as he ran towards gate A27.

Only Scholar, Tegan and Karolina remained in the departure lounge. Neither Tegan or Karolina seemed particularly happy of going home, in fact Tegan was staring at the floor as if he had just been told Christmas had been cancelled this year.

“Hey, maybe I could join? I am not very good at videogames to be honest but you can teach me”, said Scholar putting a hand on Tegan’s shoulder.

Tegan looked up and smiled blushing.

“S-sure, I think you’d make a great cleric”, Scholar had no idea what that meant but she hated the sad aspect Tegan had.

She noticed Karolina was staring at her direction, a curious look on her face. In that moment, she heard her flight being called.

“Well, I guess I have to go now”, she said to both of them.

Tegan nodded.

“I’ll call you tomorrow to set your PC ready for the match”.

“Sounds like a plan!”, she answered before giving him a quick hug.

As she let go of Tegan, she looked at Karolina, unsure on how to approach her. Scholar took a step in her direction, asking for permission, they had barely talked since the night of the basement

“… I-I… goodbye, Karolina. Enjoy the holidays”, she said with slight nervousness, waiting for an answer.

Karolina was biting her lip and seemed uneasy, as if she was making up her mind about something. She leaped forward and put her arms around Scholar. The girl let go of the breath she had unknowingly kept as she felt Karolina’s warm embrace.

“Let me know when you arrive home”, Scholar heard Karolina whisper close to her ear, her breath sending shivers down her spine. She then felt something touching her cheek, she froze when she realized it was Karolina’s lips. The touch was so soft, so slight that it could had just been Scholar’s imagination. They let go of the embrace and Scholar felt her heart sink at the idea of being apart from her so many days.

“I will, you too, please”, she answered. Both Karolina and Tegan nodded and Scholar took her luggage before parting…

The following day, Scholar had to excuse to her father early because Tegan had opened an account for her in the game they were supposed to play, in fact he had even customized her character based on a number of questions he had asked, many of which Scholar wasn’t sure how to answer. As she started her PC and positioned on her seat, she could not help but feel excited, seeing Tegan through the webcam meant also, perhaps, seeing her as well. Tegan’s face as he logged in had a mixture of sadness, exhaustion and defeat, he didn’t have Karolina’s ability of putting on a straight face, Scholar didn’t want to push an answer out so she didn’t ask. They spent a couple of hours playing, Scholar died way too many times in pure noob style but Tegan didn’t mind, in fact he laughed each time as she panicked when the other players surrounded her with attacks.

“Thank you, Scholar. You made my day”, Tegan told her after the match was over.

“I’m glad, I had a great time even though I clearly suck for this…”, she answered giggling. Tegan laughed as well, he covered his mouth whenever he laughed and Scholar thought it was cute but sad at the same time how insecure he could be at times, even among his friends.

“… She’s busy talking to mom and dad, by the way”, Tegan added after a while, “in case you were wondering.”

“Oh… it’s ok. Is everything alright?”, Scholar asked concerned, to be honest their parents didn’t exactly sound like the kind that understood and supported their children.

“They didn’t take well all that happened in FAXION, I almost didn’t login for the game but she wanted me to let her handle it on her own”, answered Tegan, “she didn’t want me blowing up and them… “, he paused, “… doesn’t matter, I will take care of her now.”

“She’s a tough girl, she worries about you too”, said Scholar, “let me know if you need anything”

“Of course, thanks again. I will tell her you say ‘hi’ ”, said Tegan before closing the session.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scholar sighed as she wondered how things had gone back at the twins’ house, hoping they were ok. The days that had followed to gaming night not much had happened. Tyler spammed them with funny selfies from the Red Carpet of God knows which movie his parents had taken him to, Tadashi and Alistair sent photos with the Drews, especially the dogs at Axel’s request, and Claire and Neha exchanged recipes for Christmas season. But barely anything from Karolina, still the fact Tegan kept sending memes mocking how bad she was at gaming was oddly comforting.

“Honey, I’m home, can you give me a hand with the bags?”, called Papa Scholar’s voice.

“Sure, dad, coming!”, answered Scholar and she walked towards the kitchen.

The bags were full of materials for her father’s famous pasta recipe but this time with a twist: he had agreed on incorporating one of Claire's many recipes. Both of them prepared everything for their movie night. Afterwards, they settled in the living room as they picked a title. They decided on one of the old movies that Scholar’s father loved “Pride and Prejudice”. Scholar had tried to get his father to watch the newer adaptation of the story but it had been pointless, the 1995 version was the one her mother loved and in a way for him watching the movie again meant reliving the joyful moments they passed together. Scholar had seen it too a handful of times yet this time it felt different, she felt connected not only because it had been her mom’s favorite movie but because the situation was now all too familiar. The pride and prejudice dance.

“You keep looking at your cell phone, expecting someone’s message?”, Papa Scholar asked as he arched an eyebrow.

“N-no, just checking the hour”, Scholar tried to reply, unconvincingly.

“Hmm, don’t forget I was your age once and fell in love at your age too”, the kind man answered giving her a warm smile.

But before Scholar could reply, they heard the alert of a new message coming in. Scholar jumped at the sound and widened her eyes at the name that appeared on the screen: “Karolina”. She quickly unlocked the cell phone, almost dropping it due to the urgency. Not paying attention to her father’s laugh at her clumsy movements, she opened the message:

Karolina: Are you awake?

Scholar: Yes, hi…

Karolina: Can I call you?

Scholar’s heart drop at her message. Almost three days without a message from her and now here she was asking for a call. She really did take that “best way to win someone is to surprise them” to the bone.

“Sorry, dad. Could we drop it here? A friend from Arlington wants to talk to me”

“Don’t worry, girl. Go call your friend”, she really did have the best dad.

Scholar practically ran towards her room and texted her back.

Scholar: Sure.

Immediately her phone was vibrating and ringing. She answered almost as a reflex.

“Karolina?”, started Scholar, trying not to sound too excited.

“… Did I interrupt you?”, asked Karolina. Her voice on the phone was something Scholar couldn’t had foreseen would make her feel weak on the knees.

“No, uhm, I was just finishing watching a movie with my dad”

“Was it one of those cheesy old movies your dad likes?”, Karolina asked on a mocking tone. Wow, she had really paid attention…

“Ha, yeah. Pride and Prejudice… because you know how much I’m into the hate to love trope”, she blurted out surprising herself. Was it too bold to hint at ‘them’ like that? What was it about Karolina that it made her go rogue often.

Silence.

“… yes, I know”, Karolina answered. Scholar wondered, hoped, if Karolina was blushing.

“And what are you doing?”

“Our parents threw a party”

“Wow, sounds like fun.”

“It’s just the usual winter party they throw every year ”

“I’ve never been into a party like that”

“Of course not”, Karolina blurted out, “… I didn’t mean it to sound like that, I-I don’t think you’re missing anything”

“Karolina, not that I mind but why are you talking to me instead of enjoying yourself out there?”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Karolina was standing in front of the wall mirror of her bedroom. Her new pine green dress matched perfectly the emerald earrings her father had bought her last year as well as the red lipstick. Everything fit together

“Miss, they are waiting for you downstairs”, the maid called after softly knocking the door.

Karolina took her purse and proceeded towards the lobby, across the dining room and into the garden. The surrounding people dressed in etiquette, the tables and the exquisite centerpieces seemed all surreal. She felt disconnected to this usual display of frivolity and superfluous social interactions, greeting people with a fake smile and pretending to care about the chit-chat. These people who if given the chance would rather see them in ruins.

At dinner, she sat with a couple of acquaintances, girls she had known since her childhood, the type her parents considered ‘appropriate’ but could never truly be friends. Her mind drifted elsewhere, back to the chalet, the sensation of safety, of being seen for the first time through the façade of her strong petty attitude, the possibility of being just ‘Karol’. She excused herself as the girls looked at her questioningly, stood up and walked behind a couple of bushes seeking some privacy.

“I heard she is going down her mother’s route”, she heard a voice say from behind the bushes.

“Her scandal at FAXION was disastrous, everyone has been talking about it”, followed another voice.

“Honestly, does it surprise anyone? It was a wonder she got this far”, said a third voice.

Karolina felt the anger and hurt built inside her, she was about to turn around and face whoever felt they had the right to talk behind her back in her own house when her cellphone vibrated. She took out her cellphone and noticed Scholar had sent a message to the group thanking Claire for the last recipe attaching also a photo of Scholar and her father cooking. She smiled at how happy they seemed and got lost in the sparkle of her eyes. She bit her lip debating on whether or not to message her… Screw it.

------------------------------------------------------------------

“… Hmm, Karolina, is everything ok? Can you still hear me”, Scholar asked.

“Yes, I-I just … “, Karolina answered.

“You know you can tell me anything”, Scholar said, “how is everything with your parents?”

She heard Karolina sighed.

“Not good but I’d rather not talk about it”

“I’m sorry about that but it’s fine, what do you want to talk about then?”

“Nothing really, I was just bored, this party is obnoxious”, Scholar’s heart skipped a beat at her words, does she just miss me?

“I see…”, Scholar said. With her heart palpitating like crazy and the excitement of talking to Karolina she couldn’t hold back her emotions and she added, “… I miss you too.”

“I never said… you’re right, I do”, Scholar smirked. Karolina admitting her feelings was so refreshing; Scholar would need one of Neha’s teas to calm down the butterflies in her stomach.

“So dull party, huh? Should I be thankful I didn’t get invited?”, followed Scholar.

“I don’t find this type of parties endearing anymore”

“What? Hanging out with me is harming your social standards”

“Haha, you wished. I’ve never liked these parties but it was a good opportunity to meet important people”

“Oh, did you meet anyone interesting this time?”

“No, I found out that people are still talking about my FAXION fiasco”, Scholar felt her blood boil at that.

“They did? I wished I could beat some sense into that people”,

Karolina chuckled.

“Hey, I don’t mind. It’s better if they talk about me, free publicity. Besides we technically won.”

“That you did, you two were amazing, seriously no one could rival Neha’s designs. Also, you looked so beautiful and classy… even though you weren’t feeling well, you pulled that off despite everything. I can only imagine the big things you’ll do in the near future”

“You’re sweet. But remember I could steal your third place in the Gold Tier if you’re not careful”

“Oh Miss Novakova, we’ll see about that, we could bet to me beating you up in the finals”, were they flirting for real this time?, Scholar thought.

“You’re not taking me to the cafeteria again, are you?”, oh they definitely were.

“Hmm how about taking you to the gardens? Like a picnic?”, oh god, was she asking her on a date?!

“Hmmm… ok, deal”, Scholar heard Karolina answer. She did just ask Karolina on a date and she said yes!

“Deal”, wow. But this time she wouldn’t let Karolina say it wasn’t a date.

She heard Karolina laugh on the other end and it made her grin like an idiot, she wondered if Karolina was blushing furiously like she was.

“Thank you, by the way”, Karolina said after a brief silence.

“For what?”

“Helping my brother stay calm. You didn’t have to do that”

“I’m glad to help, he’s a dear friend and it killed me to see him so sad”

“He has been happier considering…”, Scholar assumed she meant with whatever was going on in their house. She wished she could do more.

“And you? Feeling better?”, Scholar asked.

“Much better”,

“I’m glad. I’m here for you, always”

“I know, I’m here for you too”, her voice sounded soft, to think about how much had happened for them to get to this point.

“I have to hang up now, we’ll talk soon”, Karolina added.

“Oh ok, of course, go back to the party”, she didn’t know what to say, she could had kept talking to her all holidays if she could.

“Good night… Oh, and watch out your door tomorrow”, Karolina said with a curious tone in her voice, almost nervous.

“Tomorrow? What happens tomorrow?”, Scholar asked confused.

“J-just pay attention, ugh. I have to go now.”

“Ok, ok, I will do. Good night, Karolina”, and with that she was left with the usual cellphone tone.

The following day was Christmas’ Eve. To say she had spent the morning ecstatic was an understatement. She kept circling around the call she had with Karolina, the fact she had asked her out on a date and whatever she meant by watching out for her door. Her dad was surprised that out of all the friends she had made at Arlington it was actually Karolina whom she had a crush on (she had to tell him since she couldn’t hide her joy).

“My first guess was that girl Claire who kindly gave us the recipes for Christmas dinner”, Papa Scholar said as he found out about the source of her daughter’s disturbance.

“Funny you guessed Claire, dad”, sighed Scholar remembering the fatal mistletoe incident.

“Why funny?”

“Oh dad, it’s just… a long story”, Scholar said.

“Well, I have to say that Karolina girl is drop dead gorgeous and if you say she is nicer to you, I believe you. When can you invite her here?”

“Dad! We’re not even… I mean, we almost … kissed b-but …”

They were interrupted by a knock on the door.

“I’ll get it”, said Papa Scholar.

“Actually dad, can you let me check who it is?”, jumped Scholar as she headed to the door.

She peaked from the door peephole. On the other side there was a guy looking like a delivery man.

“H-hello? Who is it?”, Scholar asked.

“Good afternoon, I have a delivery for a person named Scholar”, the guy answered from the other side.

Scholar opened the door, the man was carrying a golden plastic bag with a red bow on the outside.

“Hi, I’m Scholar”

“Oh great, I’m supposed to deliver this”, he handed her the bag, “please sign here… and here”

Scholar did as he requested and looked at the bag, it looked very elegant for a plastic bag.

“Thank you, merry Christmas, ma’am”

“Thank you too, merry Christmas!”

Scholar walked towards the living room holding the odd bag on her right hand. She took a seat on the couch and placed the bag on top of the table, slowly opening it. There was a card and a small black box on the inside. She took out the small box and opened it being startled by its content. It was an astonishing silver necklace with a sapphire pendant on the center, tiny diamonds seemed to surround the almost heart-shaped figure of the pendant. Papa Scholar couldn’t believe his eyes either, he got the card out and gasped.

“Honey, you need to read the card, look”, Papa Scholar said as he handed it out for her.

Scholar took the card in her shaky hands and opened it carefully:

“Hopefully this starts your way into the better fashion sense you desperately need… Merry Christmas, Karolina”

Scholar lost no time and rushed to get her cellphone. Please answer, please answer, she thought as she heard the dialing tone.

“Hi”, she heard Karolina’s voice answer.

“I-I-… Oh god, I-I can’t even… It’s so beautiful!”, Scholar tried to say forgetting how to speak.

“I am glad you like it.”

“I just… wow… thank you! How did you know where I live?”

“Uh-oh, guess who, Scholar”, she heard Tegan’s voice say.

“Y-you! From the time we played together… should had figured. “, Scholar said laughing.

“You got me, hehe. I’ll give Karol back her cell phone. Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas, Tegan!”

“I am sorry I had to ask him”

“Don’t be sorry, I love it”, Scholar said, almost as much as I love you, she thought, “I didn’t get you anything for Christmas, I feel awful, you went through all this and I-“

“I don’t need you to get me anything, just everything you’ve done for me and … how much I … I can’t tell you on the phone, ok?”, Karolina said.

“… s-sure. Thank you so much, Karol”, was it the first time she called her Karol out loud?

“Besides I already feel like I have my Christmas gift… Anyway, our father is calling us. Merry Christmas, Scholar”

“Merry Christmas, Karol”, Scholar replied and added, “I… you know I do too, for a while now if I’m honest.”

“I kind of knew but didn’t want to see it… Enjoy your night”

“Y-you too. Bye”.

This was definitely the best Christmas she could had ever imagined, she only wished she could had thanked her in person but soon, very soon they will be able to figure it out.

END

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope you guys like it! The ending was rushed because it’s super late here so sorry for that.

#sweet elite #karolina novakova #sweet elite week 2021 #tegan novak #scholar #sweet elite fanfiction #karolina x scholar

20 notes · View notes

padfootagain · 3 years

Text

A Very Rose Mistake (VI)

Part 6: How You Almost Did

Here I come with a new chapter for this series!!! I'm sorry the posting schedule is a little bit more hectic than usual, but depression is kicking my arse pretty badly, and it's harder to write then. BUT here is a new chapter!! Things are… evolving. A lot of this chapter is the flashback, because it's an important scene.

I hope you like this chapter, and don't forget to leave a little comment if you read, cause that really helps motivating me into writing, and I need that extra piece of motivation now more than ever, sadly.

No warnings here, it's pretty fluffy :)

Pairing: Harry Styles x Reader

Word Count : 4283

Holmes Chapel, 2010

"So… do you have everything?"

"Yeah, it's all ready."

"Did you take your inhaler? I won't be here to save your distracted arse this time."

"I do have it. Thanks, Lambkin."

"Fuck you, Chuckaboo."

"Oi!"

You laughed as you helped Harry carry his suitcase down the stairs. He was leaving to take a chance at X-factor. It was already crazy that he got through the first round of auditions, but now he had to travel across the country to start the first steps of the show.

Whenever the two of you talked about it though, he insisted that he would be back in the blink of an eye. He hadn't even expected to successfully get two 'yes' from the jury during the auditions, and now his purpose was to learn as much as he could from the experience, and enjoy it while it would last. It was a crazy adventure, but one he was certain would simply end in a flicker. He had asked you to get all the lessons for him that he would miss, so he wouldn't struggle too much when he would come back in a couple of weeks.

And to be honest, you thought the same about the whole thing as he did. It wasn't that you didn't believe in him enough, because you did. If there was one person that you trusted and believed in on this Earth, it was Harry. And you had heard him sing before, you knew he had talent, even if it was a little raw for now. You did not doubt though that he was full of potential, and with some hard work, could definitely stand a chance. But he was also a sixteen-year-old boy, from this little English town you called home where nothing happened, and he was your best friend. You had known each other since you were five. It was almost impossible for you to imagine him as anything else but the goofy teenager he was when around you. So, a professional singer? It was improbable up to a hilarious degree.

Still, you were nervous and sad at the sight of Harry checking the content of his backpack one last time, checking if he had everything. He would be leaving early the next morning. It was the last evening you would share before he was off for an unknown period of time, and even if you both assumed it would be but a short one, it was still scary to think about how you didn't know when you would next see him. Maybe it was simply because it had never happened before, you guessed so, at the very least. Anything unknown was scary, after all.

Harry was trying to keep a calm façade, but you were far from a fool, and knew perfectly well that he was, in reality, terrified about the whole endeavour. After all, he was going to be leaving his home for some time. Any sixteen-year-old would find the mere thought terrifying.

After you brought all of his bags to the hallway by the front door, ready for his journey the next day, you settled for a while in the kitchen, where you prepared some toasts and sandwiches for your dinner. Anne was working late, and would not be coming home for another hour or so, which meant that Harry and you could enjoy some quality time together for a little longer.

You both laughed as you almost burned down the kitchen preparing the toasts, both of you pretending for that time that everything was normal. It was almost as if you had both silently came to the agreement that for that evening, while the two of you were alone cooking in the kitchen, his journey of the next day was but a reverie, and instead, the next morning would simply be the beginning of a normal day.

You talked about video games, and TV shows you found funny but stupid, and school. You couldn't really describe why talking with Harry was so different to talking to anyone else. It was just so easy. Fluent. It came without an effort, and it seemed that the two of you could have been left there for hours on your own and would still have found some things to say to each other, some new topic to discuss. You had always attributed that trait of his to the fact that he was your best friend, and had been so for such a long time. Knowing him so well meant that there wasn't much you didn't dare to do in front of him. You weren't afraid to be yourself when he was around, never had been.

And for a long time, you reckoned that it was simply explained by you seeing a brother in him. A twin of sort that you had never had. But as puberty started its work, and your mind embraced new possible explanations and understood new kinds of relationships, you wondered if a brotherly bond was really what united so closely the two of you.

Because you weren't sure that it was all there was to it, really. Maybe, it wasn't the reason why you didn't like his girlfriends. Maybe it wasn't why you were so sad to say goodbye tonight. Maybe it wasn't why you trusted him so blindly all the time. Why you always forgave him.

But you were young, and you weren't quite sure yet of what you felt meant. Maybe you were just trying to figure yourself out, and were making a fuss of nothing.

Or maybe, Harry meant something else to you than a brother.

All you knew was that when the conversation finally quietened, slowing down to reach a full stop that filled the room with silence, his departure on the tip of both your tongues once more, you were sad and afraid like you had never been before.

"We should wash the dishes," Harry threw one last attempt at avoiding the floating threat hovering in the comfortable silence. One last ammunition used to keep his fear at bay for a little longer, and instead, bathe in your presence for a little longer.

He couldn't really explain how he felt about you. It wasn't something he had felt with the few girls he had been with before, and it wasn't either a level of intimacy that he had ever reached with any other of his friends. You were in that special box in his heart, that had only your name on it, and no one else's. More than a friend, but not a girlfriend either. Somehow, you were more than that to him. You were family to him. But he didn't see you like a sister either. Maybe he had for a while, but it slowly yet irremediably changed along the past few years. He wasn't sure to understand what that box your name lived in inside his heart was, but he was okay with that, for now. Sixteen was young after all, to understand matters of the heart.

For now, he simply wanted to be with you whenever he could, and that was enough.

He started to wash the plates in the sink, while you grabbed a clothe and started to dry the cutlery.

You didn't notice the glances he threw towards your direction, and he didn't notice the way your eyes lingered on his features as if to carve them into memory either. It was an unspoken, halfway type of zone you had settled in. It was hard to escape it now.

"Are you worried about tomorrow?" you asked, breaking the long silence that had settled in the kitchen, broken only by the distant murmur of cars passing by the street, and the water running from the faucet.

Had it been anyone else, Harry would have probably lied and pretended that he was perfectly fine.

But then, it was you, standing in that special little box of yours, and despite how fragile it made him feel, he answered you anyway.

"Yeah… I'm a bit nervous."

"I mean, I reckon it's normal to be so."

"Yeah… I mean, it's all new and I don't really know what will happen. And… huh… I think… It's gonna be hard to be away, I guess. I think I'll miss my mum a lot. And… and you too."

You stared at him for a moment, yellow photons from the lamp above your heads getting caught in the wild curls of his hair. He seemed a little lost. He was just a boy, after all.

You nudged him, trying to make him feel better.

"Hey, don't worry. I'm sure you'll be alright. Besides, you'll have fun, and make new friends over there, I'm sure. You will barely notice I'm not here."

He frowned, looking hurt at your statement, and you wondered why.

"You really think I would forget about you?" he asked, his voice a little too low, a little too deep, a little too fragile.

You shook your head, but he could see in the way you fidgeted with the cloth that you were not completely earnest with him.

"Of course not. I know you won't."

He turned off the water, the silence becoming deafening while he took his time to turn fully towards you, drying his hands on his worn-out jeans. Meanwhile, you were drying a plate, or at least, faking to do so, for there was no more water to sweep away across the porcelain. But it was easier to rub the white plate than to look at your friend at that moment.

"Hey, look at me."

When you stubbornly kept your eyes on this plate you kept on drying, Harry gently rested his hands upon yours, successfully interrupting your movements.

"Y/N. Please."

You let him take the plate away from you, putting it away before taking your chin in between his fingers to force you to turn to him. He wasn't surprised to find withheld tears glimmering in your eyes, yet the sight broke his heart all the same.

He couldn't see you cry. Never had been able to. He would have done anything to make you smile, and it had been so since the two of you were five.

He gave you a tender, reassuring smile.

"You're stupid sometimes, you know that?"

You frowned at that, taken aback. If anything, you weren't expecting that kind of response from him. But it wasn't all that he had to say.

"I could never forget you, you dummy. You're my best friend. You're… You're special to me. And whatever happens, I will never ever forget about you. Okay?"

You looked down at your feet, fleeing his green eyes that seemed to pierce right through all the pieces of armoury you had built around your soul. You nodded, slowly, your throat too tight to speak. But you weren't so worried anymore.

"You're not gonna forget about me either, are you?" he asked, his voice fragile again too.

You smiled one more time, looking up to find yourself trapped in the green hues of his irises.

"Now, you're being the silly one. Of course not. Besides, you'll be back in two weeks, tops. You're not half as charming as you think you are."

"Aren't I?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows in a ridiculous way, making you laugh.

"No, you're not."

As you both fell quiet again, you suddenly seemed hype-aware of Harry's hold on your chin, that hadn't wavered throughout your exchange. He brushed his thumb across the soft skin, making you gasp.

And all of a sudden, there was a shift between the two of you. The air across the room seemed to be filled with electricity, growing denser, and maybe it was why both of you found it harder to breathe. Or maybe it was the way you both lost yourselves in each other's eyes in a way you never had before.

You caught him as he glimpsed down at your lips. You noticed the way his eyes travelled across your mouth, as if he was hesitating, weighing his options. You saw his Adam's apple jumping as he struggled to swallow the lump that was growing in his throat. When his gaze flickered back to meet yours though, both of you could barely breathe at all, your two hearts stomping under your ribcages.

His hold on your chin had become more of a caress than a hold: gentle, brushing of fingertips against your skin, giving you back complete freedom of your movements. Yet, you didn't want to move away at all.

And when Harry leaned closer to you, it was your turn to glance at his lips, watching the two lines barely parted fall towards yours. And when you realized what he was doing, you stopped breathing altogether.

Because Harry was about to kiss you.

But then he stopped, merely an inch or so away, his breath fanning and brushing your lips, warm and staggering, uncertain through uneven pants. And he was absolutely sure that he had never felt anything as intense as this moment in his entire short life.

But he stopped, because it was you he was about to kiss. His best friend. And even if you lived in that special box in his heart, even if, to him, maybe it meant that you were more than just a friend to him, you were way too important for him to take any uncalculated risk. So instead of closing the gap between your mouths, he stood still, in his kitchen under the yellowish light of the lamp, fingers still a little wet from washing the dishes, or maybe it was more because of how nervous he was. He needed to give you a chance to step back and stop him.

So, he blinked a few times, staring at your eyes with a silent question in his green irises. To which you answered by leaning closer to him too.

So… you didn't want him to stop?

He moved his hand up your jaw, cupping your cheek instead, closing his eyes and focusing on how warm the air leaving your lungs was against his face, breaths mingling together halfway between your parted lips.

And you were about to meet when the front door of Harry's house loudly opened.

"Harry! Y/N! I'm home!"

Both you and Harry jumped away from each other as Anne was ruffling in the hallway, probably taking off her shoes and coat.

In the kitchen, you both shied away. The moment had passed, broken, and you both knew that there wasn't going to be any other moment for you to be alone before Harry would leave.

Harry looked over his shoulder, and before his mother would appear, he hurried to take your hand in his.

He seemed frightened, and a little frantic. A little desperate too, still struggling to catch his breath.

"We'll talk about it when I come back."

You stared at him intensely, and he took your other hand in his as well.

"It's a promise. We'll talk about what just happened when I come back, okay? Cause… that… that was a thing. Right?"

"Yeah… yeah I think it… was a thing."

He struggled to swallow, stuttering a little as he let down his armour before you completely, and with a shaky voice asked one more question.

"Will you… would you wait for me?"

You gave him a reassuring smile, and to his hands you gifted a tender squeeze.

"I will. I'll wait for you."

II.

Loch Lomond, 2020

Harry was pretty when he slept.

Not that he was ever not pretty, you reckoned that Harry was a very handsome man in general. But there was something soft in the way he looked when he slept, peaceful, that you really loved.

Maybe it was his parted lips, or the soft sound of air leaving his lungs in a perfectly regular rhythm. The occasional little crease between his brow that appeared and vanished at the rhythm of his dreams. Or the way his eyelids trembled a little sometimes before growing still again, eyelashes perfectly bent in the most graceful curve barely disturbed by the movement at all. Or perhaps it was how messy his hair became as they rubbed against the pillow.

But you could hardly deny that the main reason was that Harry always grabbed whatever he could during the night and held onto it for dear life throughout the rest of the night. To ensure that he would not disturb your sleep – and knowing Harry, probably also because he was worried it would make you uncomfortable – he had hold onto a pillow for the first evening, making sure that he would not end up curled around you instead. And it had worked, the two of you waking up peacefully on each side of the bed.

But not today.

This morning, you opened your eyes to find that the reason why you felt so warm and snuggled up was because you were safely tucked in Harry's side, his arms wrapped around you and his nose almost brushing yours, face resting at the edge of his own pillow, legs tangled in a mess of limbs. A quick glance across the bed revealed that the pillow he was hugging when you went to bed the previous night was nowhere to be seen. You guessed that Harry had dropped it to the floor during the night, turned around, probably wearing across his features a grumpy little pout as he tossed and turned while still mostly asleep, until he found your form sleeping soundly on the other side of the mattress. And then, well, the rest was easy to guess given your current position.

There was a little voice in your head that kept on telling you to pull away. That you should have felt uneasy with your current position. And had it been anyone but Harry, yes, you guessed that you would have been uncomfortable right now and would have freed yourself with little regard for the other person's sleep. But the thing was, it was Harry.

It was Harry all cuddled up around you, holding you close, and you didn't feel uncomfortable at all. You felt safe and warm and taken care of. Because it was Harry holding you. Harry who had always been here for you, since your early childhood. You felt so safe with him all the time after all, this morning waking up in his arms wasn't different. It was safe, the same way you always felt whenever he was around.

It was barely dawn and the orange light of the rising sun bathed the room a colourful hue. It was still quite dark, despite the deep orange shades of the beams licking at the walls. Particles of light were caught in his wild curls, brown tainted with orange, and you spent long minutes studying the changes in the colours, the way the light made his cheeks look a little pinker, the way it seemed to hug his jawline, and was left stranded across his eyelashes and the stubble that coloured his skin. It took all of your strengths to refrain yourself from running your fingers across the swallows tattooed on his upper chest, but you were too scared of waking him if you did so. You couldn't help but stare at them though, the black ink rising and falling with his regular breathing. He was still wearing his cross necklace around his neck, the gold reflecting the morning light. It wasn't the first time that you saw him with a bare chest, and it wasn't the first either that he hugged you without a shirt on. But it didn't stop you from shivering in the best way when he moved his arm around you ever so slightly, his bare skin sliding across your own bare arms. Because you were trapped in his arms, your arms folded between your two bodies, your hands were pressed against your chest. But now that your eyes were settling on his skin again, a little tanned and looking so invitingly smooth, you really couldn't summon enough willpower to not reach across the inches-long gap between your hand and his chest, and you gently rested your palm against his heart. You could feel the organ beating under his skin and muscles, little rhythm pulsing through your skin. Regular, soothing, safe. Just like Harry.

After a long while staring at him, with a smile across your lips you hadn't even noticed, your gaze moved across the room to settle upon the window instead, and you watched the quiet waters of the loch as it reflected the bright gold and orange of the sky. With the trees alongside the shores also covered with autumnal hues, it looked as if someone had painted the entire scene in shades of ochre. It was peaceful, a landscape still barely awake, that only the wind carrying freshly fallen skeleton leaves seemed able to disturb.

You didn't know for how long you had remained like this, staring at the landscape outside, safely tugged in Harry's warmth, when he finally started to stir and wake up. You turned to him again just in time to catch his eyes fluttering open, green irises appearing in the early morning light that fell upon your face instantly, as if they had been looking for you as a reflex. A bright smile appeared on his lips at the sight of your dishevelled and freshly awaken form in his arms.

"Morning," he mumbled, sleep making his voice deeper than usual, raw and warm.

"Good morning," you answered with a smile of your own.

He snuggled closer to you, until you were tugged under his chin, so he could bury his face in your hair, inhaling the addicting fragrance of your shampoo.

You were so warm against him. He could feel your hand pressed to his chest, and the mere touch was enough to set his whole body on fire. Your smell was reassuring, so reassuring, like the scent of something familiar, the scent of an old memory. And he felt so safe like this, with you in his arms. Invincible. Yes, that was the word. He felt invincible, like nothing bad could ever happen while he held you as close as he did now.

Why hadn't he done that sooner? It felt amazing.

His eyes snapped open when the thought finished to form in his mind.

Why hadn't he done that sooner? Because you were just a friend.

He quickly unwrapped his arms from around you, pushing himself away and in his haste to put distance between your two bodies, falling from the bed and onto the wooden floor and the pillow that had grown cold after he had lost it during the night. He let out a loud 'ouch', and when you peered beyond the bed, Harry was rubbing his arse cheek through his sweatpants. And you couldn't stop yourself from laughing at him.

"You alright down there?"

"Oh shut up!" he fought back, looking all pouty and grumpy, and you found the sight so ridiculously adorable that you had to laugh to stop yourself from melting instead.

"Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?" you asked a little more seriously.

"My butt and my ego will be equally bruised by the incident for a few days," he replied, but he couldn't refrain a smile of his own as the situation was rather hilarious.

You laughed at that, but grew silent again when he finally looked up at you. He seemed uncomfortable, running a hand in his hair. Embarrassed, even. And for some reason, it hurt to see him react like this.

"I… I'm sorry."

"About?"

"About… how we woke up," he apologized, stumbling on his words and stuttering a little. "I… I must have lost my pillow during the night."

"I had figured that much."

"I… I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

"You didn't. It's okay."

He gave you a hopeful stare.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really," you nodded. "I mean, you were just hugging me, not much to say about it."

Nothing much to say about it? Then why was your heart still beating this fast just thinking about it then?

"I… you sure you're okay?"

You rolled your eyes at him.

"Yes, I'm sure. It's fine."

"Oh. Okay."

Harry had to admit that he was surprised that you were taking this so… well. As if it didn't have any meaning at all. When he had woken up cuddling you, holding you as close as he could.

As he finally stumbled back to his feet, he had to admit that he was not just surprised, he was also a little disappointed. Because he didn't take the situation as lightly as you did, and that was because…

He pushed the thought away before it could finish forming in his mind. He didn't need to think about this at all. It was all something from the past. He was over it. Had been for a while. No need to think of it again.

"Right. Well, still, I'm sorry."

"You were asleep, it's alright."

"You should have woken me up."

"I… I was barely awake myself, hadn't really processed what was going on yet."

It was a lie, but he seemed to buy it.

"Oh… okay."

"Besides, I've noticed by now how clingy you can be!" you joked, making him chuckle.

"Right… uhm… I'm gonna go take a shower, and then we can go grab a bite for breakfast, yeah?"

"Sure, you can take the shower first."

"Thanks."

And indeed, Harry was grateful that you granted him access to the bathroom first. Because he could hide how much he was blushing in there.

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

Taglist : @emcchi @fishstick-knows @eldahae @just-damn-bored @retrouvailessx @marvelstudies2020 @boxofteenageideas@ponycake27 @horsesreign @xinyourdreamsx @jbluevelvet@notkeppeki @daynigt-dreamer-stuff @fudgeflyss @stuckupstucky@snek-shit @suchatinyinfinity@i-padfootblack-things @buckybsarmy @heyohheyitsgabi@jigsawlover10 @emyyjemyy @addictedtofictionalcharacters @staringmoony@madamrogers @cronias13 @stylesfics-xx @mellamolayla @mariaenchanted

@swtxel

#harry styles #harry styles x reader #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fanfic #harry styles imagine #fanfiction #fanfic #writing #event #4700 followers #prompts #imagine #series #harry styles series

43 notes · View notes

steveusesfaberge · 5 years

Text

3AM Talks

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Hargrove!Reader

Request: Hi!! Could you possibly do a Hargrove!Reader, where she’s Billy’s twin and Neil, hurts her one night and billy comes home after being out to find the scene and he loses it and he takes reader out to steve(whom she’s secretly dating) and tells Steve that she’s staying there whilst his parents are out and they’re both like “how the fuck do you know?” AND just super fluffy and angsty and ahhh

Summary: Y/N finds herself in charge of watching Max...except, Max is missing... By the time Billy gets home...the damage is already done. His father had never been an understanding person. Hargrove takes his sister to (begrudgingly) the one person he knows for sure will take them in. Her not-so-secret boyfriend...Steve Harrington. Billy and Steve end up have a..nice, long chat...

Type/Style: Requested, Imagine, female pronouns

Warning(s): Abusive father, violent-beginning, cursing, angst, a protective Billy-goat...

Word Count: 8,800+

a/n: Here it is! Finally!!! :D Thank you all for sticking with me! <3 Coming up are Steve Requests (I did not forget them, do not worry! :) )

It’s a bit longer than I thought...but I figure a topic like this deserves more time to be explained.

I live for Steve & Billy interactions! -- Sorry if this wasn’t what you all expected...I tried to make it as realistic as possible...without making it too long...<3

Next is a Billy fic - one that someone requested, and I’ll be doing it happily!

Sunsets Back Home & Some Steve requests as well! Hopefully getting them all out tomorrow or in the next few days! :D

I hope you like my take on the request! <3

━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━

Y/N hummed to herself, the faint sound of Crazy For You by Madonna filled the hollows of her room. The walls were simple - the same tan coloring that Max’s and Billy’s rooms were. Unlike her brother’s innuendo posters of half-naked women, cars, and motorcycles (all of which, these bare women, were probably riding) - Y/N had band posters and a few (dressed) models scattering her four walls of space.

Her vanity mirror was placed in the corner of her room, across from her small desk. She remembered helping Max with simple things such as straightening her hair or even doing playful-one-time makeovers...(Billy had been dragged into it once...but Y/N had to promise no one would know about it and Max wasn’t allowed to see her big brother look like a complete softcock).

Y/N was sprawled out on her bed; Vogue magazine advertised before her on the sheets as she pondered if she could pull the looks these beauts did. She’d one time asked her brother if she’d be able to make Vogue - to which he responded with a snicker (the ass he was) hell no, Y/N/N. She’d roll her eyes, the running joke being well we’re twins, so looks like you ain’t makin’ it big either, B.

Normally, she and Billy would be hanging out...it was a Thursday night and she and her brother always did something fun on Thursdays (usually that involved just sitting around, swapping music and talking - but sometimes they went for late-night drives or paired up to find a party to crash...and Hargroves knew how to party...that was for sure). Time spent with Billy was time well spent, in her opinion.

But not tonight, he mentioned something about a date (which was code for one-night stand). I’ll be back, kid. Is what he’d told her, stopping by her room on his way out, leaning on her doorframe (like the ‘cool kid he was’, or as she said ‘like the fingerprint leaving asshole he was’). She’d frowned. Where are you going? Billy rolled his eyes, scratching his neck as he lazily watched her from across the way. I got a date. Sighing, she waved him off with a scrunched up nose. That’s fucking disgusting - ew, no! Billy don’t wiggle your eyebrows...get out - get out! Goodbye, Billy! He only laughed, saluting her before he continued down the hall. The thud of the front door and the piercing rev of his engine marking his departure.

She wanted to catch a movie - Back To The Future had come out and she was itching to see it...Y/N supposed she could wait another time. For now, she judged the too-skinny, too-perfect figures and welcomed her radio as a white-noise. Maybe she’d give Steve a call...was he babysitting tonight?

Her door was abruptly slammed open, giving her a heart attack on the spot - her hands fumbling with the booklet. Her y/c/e eyes snapped up, her body shocked rigid as she spotted Neil. Letting out a slow breath, she sat up, Vogue in hand as she fidgeted with the pages.

“You need something, sir?” She asked, remembering Billy who constantly told her to always stay calm, be relaxed, and act as civil as possible (even if he didn’t listen to his own advice...always being arrogant, sarcastic, and short with the man their father was...Do as I say, kid, not as I do).

Neil scanned her room as if searching for an imperfection to bring to light. Y/N only waited in a choked buzz of Bowie’s Let’s Dance, thankful that there was something else sounding off other than her own heartbeat. The tension in the room was suffocating...absolutely terrifying. When he found none, he spoke (she could almost taste his disappointment).

“Me and Susan are going out. You and your brother are going to watch Max,” He was fixing his coat’s collar and Y/N bit her lip for a moment, tapping her pointer on the magazine’s cover.

Clearing her throat, Y/N grabbed his attention,” Billy’s not home.” It felt like playing a game of chicken in the streets...which car was going to pull away first? Or...would there be a brutal accident to deal with? Would one car be worse off than the other? Y/N wasn’t sure who was winning and who was losing, all she knew, was that this game was not fun.

“You’ll be watching Maxine then, got that?” Y/N nodded. Her father raised his eyebrows - waiting for a proper response. Her mouth felt dry. “Yes, sir.”

They were gone after Susan gave a soft wave passing by, her father not giving a second thought of her as he left. The door banging shut behind him. She could breathe again...how did Billy do this? He spoke more to Neil than she did, always taking the initiative into his own hands...time and time again.

Standing up, Y/N forced her legs to work with her after that soul shaker of an interaction. Walking down the hall to Max’s room, she knocked on the door with her right hand; four raps. When there was a heartbeat of silence she wondered if Max heard her. She tried again.

Silence.

“Hey, Riding Hood? You in there?” She asked, bouncing on the balls of her heels as she waited - wanting to finish the section of Tips & Tricks For Flawless Skin - maybe she and Steve could have a spa-day...He happened to like facemasks, believe it or not (but had an odd tendency of eating the cucumbers for your eyes...). The white door was never opened, so she sighed, turning the doorknob herself.

“Hey - Maxie, did you hear me?” Y/N’s words trailed off, crashing to the floor along with her heart. The room was empty. The only sign of recent inhabitance was the open window and the absence of a familiar skateboard...

Running a hand through her hair, Y/N exited the room - calling her little sister’s name as she briskly walked to the kitchen...to the living room...and back to Max’s.

Y/N could feel a creeping terror in her throat and she wondered where Max could’ve gone. Mike’s? El’s? The Byers’? She was back in her own bedroom - pacing the carpet swiftly. The radio had been turned off so she could think and she was listening to the rhythm of blood coursing through her veins like her favorite song.

She didn’t have a car...couldn’t afford it - besides, Billy always took her wherever she needed...Y/N hadn’t needed a car up until this point. Not even when she needed to sneak out...Steve had his own car...a simple park down the block and no one would know who she was with, and where. Saying that...this was bad.

It hadn’t been the first time Max left without as much as a trace... Most times, she was back before anyone knew she was gone...other times...Billy paid for it (He tried his best to keep Y/N’s skin as flawless as Vogue’s stupid lures...he’d joke even with a busted lip that she needed to keep her skin healthy...so she can show their asses up one day!).

But that was when it was the both of them watching her...Billy wasn’t here now, it was eight o’clock...he wouldn’t be back till later...her father would be back in two hours tops - leaving her only one-hundred-twenty minutes to find Mayfield.

She quickly crossed the bedroom - exiting, and walking to the living room. She picked up the house phone and dialed the Wheelers’ number. Y/N was nervously curling the cord around her thumb and index finger, biting her lip as her eyes subconsciously kept flickering to the front door. The other line was dead for some time...she wondered if anyone was home...maybe the kids were caught up playing DnD - but then wouldn’t Karen or Ted answer for them?

There was a slight pause, a seeming hiccup - and then a voice.

“Hello? Who’s calling?” Y/N sighed, thanking her stars.

“Hey, Mrs. Wheeler - I was wondering if Max was over, it’s Y/N.” she explained while listening intently (pretending Billy and her didn’t make fun of Karen for flirting with him at the pool...That’s gross, B! -- Yeah, but it’s so funny how easy it is, Y/N!).

“Max? - Oh, the little redhead! No - haven’t seen her-- have you seen my son, by chance?” Y/N sighed, realizing Karen was in a similar situation.

She quickly mumbled a no, I’m sorry, before hanging up and biting at the skin of her cheek. “No need to worry,” she told herself softly,” Call Hopper!”

Long story short, no one picked up. She assumed El was out - probably with the party, God knows where, and Jim was probably down at the station working... The last-ditch effort she had was the Byers’. As she began punching in their house number - she stopped - remembering their phone hadn’t been working for some time...something with the kids accidentally knocking it off the wall - all Y/N knew, was that Steve had warned them not to do it (That’s all you said to stop them, Steve? -- Welll...no...I said a few other things...-- You’re useless, Harrington!) - whatever it was - but they’d done it anyway and...now the Byers’ receiver didn’t work.

Glancing at the clock mounted on the wall entering the kitchen, she saw that she had roughly an hour and thirty-six minutes...that was enough time to walk to the Byers’ and back...right? Riding a bike was out of the question, she didn’t have one and she didn’t have time to just...go buy a brand new bike either...so walking it was.

Billy had always been a good brother. In his own way, he cared (even for Max, who claimed that Hargrove couldn’t give two shits about the air I breathe as long as it's not his). Billy would always look out for both his sisters - in ways they’d never notice. He was subtle like that.

Like the times he’d scare twerps off from bothering the party...it seemed that Hargrove could be rather intimidating - especially if you were a fourteen-year-old who liked to bully his step-sister and her nerdy buds.

Or when Billy would purposefully stay up late - knowing that Y/N was upset, or maybe something was wrong; waiting for her to come knocking on his door at eleven o’clock...asking if he was still awake...

Y/N had learned, through eighteen-years of knowing Billy, he’d always be there for them...no matter what. Support them through hardships, celebrate with them through victories, and holding their hands when they were scared. He may not...always show it...but...he was doing his best - and that’s all anyone ever asked for; could ever ask for.

Y/N had halfway ran, halfway walked to the Byers - tired beyond all hell when she got there, her calfs burning. Knocking on the door obnoxiously, she waited impatiently; how much time had passed? Twenty-five minutes? Thirty-five? She wasn’t sure. It couldn’t have taken long...right?

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang--

The door was yanked open. There stood Joyce, eyes wide and a clear confusion and worry crossing her features as she took in the girl in her doorway. It was just coming nine and she hadn’t been expecting anyone...certainly not Y/N Hargrove.

“Are you okay, sweetie? Do you need something?” The mother asked quickly.

Y/N shook her head, y/c/e eyes desperate as she tugged at her y/c/h locks. “M-Max, I’m looking for Max -- is she here?”

Joyce crossed her arms, shaking her head,” No, sweetie. She left a little while ago - said she was going home.” Thank, God...

“Why did so--,” “Oh, no, ma’am! Don’t worry! I-I was just...I was...I thought she was here...turns out - she’s not...and...and she’s at home.”

Y/N’s happiness slowly melted away as she realized Max was home...alone. Max was home alone.

“I’m s-sorry for bothering you, Joyce! But I can’t stay t-to talk! I-I need to go!”

Running home was not fun. It was not easy. It was not what Y/N wanted to be doing at nine o’clock on a Thursday night. She was sweaty, exhausted, and scared. Y/N was panted hard, her legs screaming, as her street now came into view - date night was always two hours...two hours...she could be home, and act like nothing ever happened...everything would be fine...until it wasn’t.

Her father’s car was parked out front. Slowing beside it, she felt tears well up in her eyes. How long had it been there? When did they get back? Was Max home? Did they realize Max was gone? Did he realize she was gone? Which she Y/N was referring to...Y/N didn’t even know herself...either way; she was still in trouble.

She’d never been so hesitant to open the front door - the porch light wasn’t on - so maybe they weren’t expecting anyone home...but...that was just Y/N trying to comfort her raging nerves. They knew Billy was out; even then, the light was off. Neil never turned it on - claiming it was a waste of money to have it burning all night.

Y/N opened the door. It was unlocked. Had she left it unlocked? She couldn’t remember. Her house keys were in her pockets, but that didn’t mean she necessarily used them in her haste to find Max...

The lights in the house were all off...a good sign...a very good sign (she’d shut them off when she left). That’s how she took the sign anyway. The door clicked shut with a soft sound, and she inched her way down the hall. She checked Max’s room...not having to open the door as she could make out the faint glow (of what she thought to be) Max’s desk lamp casting orange underneath the doorway. Then, Y/N walked past her closed room - to Billy’s...his door was wide open and was empty. It was only nine-forty-three (which she checked while walking back to her room - stopping in the kitchen) and the house was completely still.

She didn’t like how quiet it was...but...maybe that was a good thing.

But didn’t they say; good things never last long?

She turned her doorknob and pushed the opening to reveal her room. The lights were off, save for the tickle of silver moonlight from her window. Stretching a handout, she flicked her light switch on. Her hand shot up to her mouth as she muffled a scream of surprise.

Her father was seated on her bed. He didn’t look happy.

“I-I can e---,” “Max was home alone, Y/N.” his words dug into her, slow and menacing.

“I-I didn’t--,” “I thought I told you to watch her, Y/N?” She felt small...so, so small.

“I-I know, sir - and I-I w--,” “Then tell me, why did I come home, to find your little sister, home alone...” He was standing, and at this moment, Y/N wondered over and over (like every time this happened) how Billy did it.

She couldn’t sell Max out now...if she told him Max had snuck out - Neil might get angry at her...yet, Y/N knew he always blamed the sitter...even if this was the one exception - she wasn’t going to risk it. She’d cover for Max...because...that’s what Billy would do.

“I’m s-sorry, sir.” She whispered, the fear stopping her from crying out like she wanted to do. The fear tore at her, leaving Y/N helpless and stunned like a deer in headlights. Very harsh, powerful headlights.

Neil shook his head, wiping his hand over his face, dragging it along his chin as he watched the girl still frozen in the doorway. “Come here, Y/N.” Her body didn’t move, every sense in her telling her to run...run...run...

“Y/N. Come. Here.” Like a game of Simon Says, not wanting to lose - and the commanding word being Y/N...her feet drug her forward. She stood with an arm’s length between them...but that was all he needed.

Crack.

He’d struck her across the face, her head snapping to the side at the impact. She’d expected it...but...she never could prepare herself for it. She wished Billy was here, he’d know what to do...God, she wished Billy was here...

Her chin was seized roughly, Neil forcing her to look him in the eyes, his free hand clutching her wrist tightly. She bit her lip, trying not to look weak...not to give in.

“I thought we talked about this, Y/N...what did we talk about? What do I tell you and Billy all the time?” He hissed, his fingers digging bruises into her jaw and forearm.

Her eyes welled with tears and she was thankful for the dim lighting, saving her from looking the man in the eyes and seeing the monster that lived under her bed, that ran to her closet whenever she had Billy check for her as he’d done growing up...The monster always showed up when it was most unwanted...

She was thankful Neil couldn’t see her eyes. Y/N’s y/c/e eyes were filled with fear. Filled with anxiety and a stormy glaze that could only describe this; I knew this was coming...she left...but I won’t sell her secret to you...not the devil...no... If she’d learned one thing from her brother - it was that hell was never a pretty place to be...and sometimes, it was closer than you’d think...but despite that - you never made a deal with Lucifer.

“What did we talk about? Answer. Me.” Her arm was splintering in pain, his grasp so firm she wasn’t sure blood could find her fingertips anymore. She’d turn away from him, but he held her jaw so tensely she was scared to breathe.

The number of times their father will drill into them...Respect and responsibility. Until they learned that - until he was satisfied by it - then they could rest easy. But Y/N knew...she knew the devil never played fair. No matter what she did, or what she said - she’d never hold an ace hidden up her sleeve. Not like him.

“R-Respect. A-And responsibility,” she gritted out, her lips barely moving to produce the words. Panic, frustration, and hatred keeping her mouth locked in place.

Another strike to her face, her cheek stung and she could feel the making of a bruise find her nerve ends, but she refused to cry.

“Respect a-and responsibility, sir.” Y/N repeated while trying to pull away from her father.

“Don’t.” His hand holding hers whipped up and then down, throwing her to the floor with an immense thrust. Y/N moved to stand, but a sharp pain to her side had other plans.

It rained down like a hurricane and she could only wish for it to stop. Biting back her pain, she tried protecting her head and neck - Billy taught her that.

“We went over this, Y/N!” He yelled - fists, boots, and words flying as he gave into his anger. She wondered how much her body could take before she gave up. Billy would be strong...Good God...where was Billy?

From the moment she walked in, she could tell Neil had been drinking a little - his breath smelt of dead dreams and alcohol. She assumed it came with dinner...or, for his own enjoyment...it was hard to think while her body rippled with agony.

She tried zoning it out...all of it. The beating, her father, his words...she focused on her brother, Max being safe, the party, Steve...yeah...Harrington had taken her on a lovely date the other night - he’d taken her out to the cinema, and then they’d picked all the kids up for dinner...Y/N had ended up with milkshake on her shirt (thanks to Lucas and Dustin) and Steve had offered her his jacket...it was still a fond memory - the party was like a family to her...a better family she knew than her own kin to be...

She didn’t know when it stopped, or if it would never stop...all she could see were swimming images of whom she loved until she couldn’t feel anything anymore. Everything went numb...but...maybe it was better this way.

Billy had just gotten home. It was well past one and he knew for a fact, that Susan and Neil were asleep. They were never up this late - so he’d never have to worry about getting laid in on for being out at an hour like this.

His car parked outside, he entered the house as noiselessly as silence itself. He walked down the hallway hesitantly, but the faint sound of his father’s snoring was enough to ease him to walk normally.

“Y/N? You up?” He was standing at her door. It was cracked open, the lights off. That didn’t mean she was asleep - there had been plenty of times he’d find her awake, just sitting in the dark; listening to a soft hum of her stereo...except the radio had been turned off and the only noise was the lull of night muffled by the house.

He pushed the door open, the dim touch of moonlight having him squint to see her laying on the floor. Billy rolled his eyes. Dumbass probably fell asleep - had she been reading or something again? Nonetheless, he walked over, gently leaning down to pick her up.

She didn’t even react to his arms lifting her; Y/N felt like deadweight - but it didn’t bother him. She seemed tired. He was carefully walking her to the bed, making sure she wouldn’t stir - and she didn’t...and it was now that he questioned if she were a heavy sleeper or not...Billy couldn’t remember.

He settled her down, and when he moved to cover her with the comforter - he noticed something by her nose. It was like a dark line - a streak almost. Billy used the palm of his hand to rub it away. He leaned to the lamp on her nightstand, and when it clicked on, he couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t feel his heart in his chest anymore...

Black and blues littered her arms, her face was swollen and an ugly handprint was nestled on her right side, her nose was bleeding, her bottom lip was busted...he was sure if he lifted her shirt - he’d only be met with a terribly splotchy rendition of the night sky.

“Fuck, fuck, fucking hell,” he cursed, touching her shoulder gently - attempting to shake her awake. “Y/N? -- Kid? Wake up, c’mon -- it’s okay now...you’ll be okay now...it’s me...it’s Billy.”

She only groaned, a whimper escaping her at his touch - his hand jerking away like he’d encountered something hot. It seemed everything hurt...

“Y/N - please wake up, I...I need to know...what happened,” Billy knew what happened...but he needed to know how bad it was...she only moaned, a painful noise, swelled eyes not opening. He needed to know if he’d be sending a demon back to the gates of hell right now...he could live with murder...

Damnit. He slammed his hand to the headboard. His anger tickling his neck red as he thought horrible thoughts...he’d kill the bastard, he’d fucking kill him. Billy wanted to yell, he wanted to scream, but he also wanted to cry. Why’d he go out? For some stupid fuck? Why had he left her alone? Why had he left her alone? Why? Why? Why?

He’d left her...it was Thursday, for fuck's sake...it was supposed to be their night...and he’d ditched that for an easy hit and run... Billy felt like a fool. This was all his damn fault. If he’d been here, he could’ve helped her....he...he could’ve done something for her...anything...he’d have been taken the--

The low murmur of his name drew his attention, and he fell down to his knees - grabbing her hand softly in his own. He was shaking. “Y-Y/N -- it’s okay...it’s me...It’s Billy,” the blond repeated, pulling her hand up to touch his cheek, letting her know it was him; the warmth of his skin. His presence heavy as he watched her frail figure.

“H-How was your...d-date?” When she asked him that, Billy almost didn’t know what she was talking about. He shook his head and moved to pick her up - scared by the sounds of someone walking around the house.

“It was shitty,” he grumbled, easily carrying her out the door, out the house, and into his car. Her breathing was troubled - like it hurt to do so...and God, did it hurt BIlly to watch her in so much pain...

“Wh-What’s happening, B?” She asked softly, throat dry, head splitting with pain.

Billy didn’t answer her. Only held her hand as he drove...drove fast down the road.

Steve had been asleep. Why wouldn’t he be? It was one-thirty-one in the morning and it had been a Thursday night. He liked to have stayed up late, talking to his girlfriend on the phone - but Harrington knew Thursdays were reserved for Billy (even if Steve pouted...Y/N never traded those nights for anything). So, instead he figured he’d catch up on well-deserved rest - the kids had been dragging him around recently like a doll and he wasn’t sure how well his body was doing. He didn’t get paid enough - well, he didn’t get paid at all.

To be woken up by a brash hammering, he thought maybe it was just a dream...but then the sound of his name being called - along with Harrington! Get your fucking ass out here or I’ll break this goddamn door down, shithead! - was not a dream.

The brunette was groggy as he trucked down the steps, a pair of plaid boxers covering his lower body with a loose hanging T-shirt adorning his chest. His parents were out of town for work and he had the house all to himself (another reason he wanted to spent the night with Y/N - but it was Billy and her Thursday night...and she religiously scheduled it every week).

“What the hell...?” he groaned, swinging the door open to reveal a blurred figure.

Rubbing his eyes - Steve realized who it was, and suddenly his unstyled hair didn’t seem so important (because yes, he’d thought about fixing it before answering the door...he hadn’t had his priorities figured out yet, okay?! How was he supposed to know the importance?).

“H-Hargrove--,” “Move.” Billy shoved his way into the nice home - heading straight for the living room...carrying Y/N with him like a fragile piece of art. Steve raced to turn the lights on, still not understanding why the Hargroves were here - until he saw the state his girlfriend was in. (He didn’t even have time to think about how Hargrove knew exactly, where he lived...)

“W-What the fuck happened to her?” He asked, crouching down to Y/N’s level, a hand coming up to brush some y/c/h strands from her bruised face.

Billy was quiet for a moment, wiping his forehead with his shirt. “Our father.” That was all he had to say for Steve to understand...he’d been together with Y/N for...well...coming five months? He’d met her in school - fresh out of Cali...the three siblings had been the talk of the small town (especially the supposed party animal and his drop-dead-gorgeous sister).

It was love at first sight - for Harrington at least. He had tried acting cool...but that backfired as soon as he realized just how perfect Y/N was. A pretty smile, sweet laugh, delicious-smelling hair, smooth, sun-kissed skin, and to tie it all together - she came with an overbearing little bow of Billy Hargrove...

He remembered when Billy had shown up at the Byers’ house just last year - asking for his sisters...claiming a little bird told him they were with him; Steve had been trying to persuade the children to calm down and just let the starting team do their job (it hadn’t worked out).

Billy had seen Max’s head peek out and he’d already had Steve on the ground before he could justify himself. I thought I told you to stay away from my sister, Harrington? He’d given Lucas the same treatment...it had only gone downhill from there... Ending with Y/N offering to stay there with Billy for a little while, coming to help them later. She said I can’t leave him here like this...he’s my brother, Harrington... (Steve liked that idea better anyway, kept her away from the trouble).

So, when Steve had finally gotten the courage to ask Y/N out...he hadn’t been surprised when she turned him down. It only had him fight harder to prove his worth and after a torturously slow convincing...she’d finally broken...five months later and counting...and she was still by his side.

Steve had always been a bit of a worry-wart, he couldn’t help it - he watched six headass kids twenty-four-seven...it was in his blood now. “I-I’ll get the first-aid kit,” he quickly mumbled, leaving Billy to stand by his sister - a savage glint in his eyes that Harrington didn’t feel comfortable being around (they weren’t best friends after all, and Steve was sure if Billy had the chance - he’d skin him like a jack-rabbit...).

Returning within seconds, he gently lifted Y/N’s head, her slight hum all he needed to feel more relieved. “H-Hey...how you doing?” He offered weakly, placing her head back down in his lap as he balanced the kit on the armrest.

“B-Billy?” Steve shook his head, pulling a clean cloth to her face, dabbing the blood from her nose. “It’s Steve, hun.”

Y/N’s eyes were barely open, she frowned with a wince. “I’m here, kid...I’m here.” Billy’s gruff tone was enough to have her relax into Harrington’s touch without having to worry for her brother. Steve’s eyebrows furrowing, it made him sick to think she even had to worry about Billy like that.

“Hargrove - you wanna grab something in the freezer for me, like ice or whatever?” Steve asked, eyes focused on the bruises along Y/N’s cheeks. His heart was twisting, all he wanted was to cuddle her and take away all her pain...instead, he resolved on playing nurse for now.

Billy gave a curt nod, his boots fading into the kitchen. Steve took the small moment of isolation to press a gentle kiss to Y/N’s forehead. The y/c/h haired girl only looked puzzled after a half-smile tossed in his direction.

Steve was mumbling an apology as he applied disinfectant to her cut forehead, when she spoke,” W-Why am I here?” He was about to ask what she meant - Harrington figured she was here because Billy didn’t like the idea of keeping her in an unsafe environment in the state she was in...when he halted. Hand hovering over her brows.

Why did Billy bring Y/N here? There were so many other places to take her - Steve’s house couldn’t have been his first thought...and yet, as Billy walked back in, ice pack in hand...it felt like it had been.

Hargrove took a seat in the armchair nearest the couch Y/N was laid across, his elbows resting on his knees as he hid his mouth in his hands. Steve was staring at the curly-blond and Billy’s blue eyes dodged up to meet his brown ones.

“What?” Was all Billy charged while leaning back, his hands falling to his lap as he squirmed with the rings on his fingers.

Steve shook his head, breathing nothing, before looking down to his girlfriend. Billy...didn’t know...did he? No...they’d been cautious about it - meticulous and secretive - it’d been the most planning he’d ever done in his entire life...and he’d fought demodogs before...

Sure, Hargrove had the knowledge of mutual friendship between his sister and The Hair - they spent time with the party and so that was expected, being the only teens each other’s age. But, as far as Steve knew; they promised not to tell him...not yet anyway. He’d specifically told Y/N he didn’t care who she dated (it was her life after all) but God forbid it, kid - you better not end up fawning over that shithead, Harrington. No sister of mine is gonna sling it with the ex-King of Hawkins.

The distaste from one another stemmed thick and deep; Hargrove didn’t like Harrington, Harrington didn’t like Hargrove... Hiding their relationship was something that came with dating Hargrove’s beloved sister - Steve didn’t mind (much). He figured Billy would rip him a new one if he ever found out. Probably feed him to the Upside Down...or worse (What’s worse than that, Harrington? -- Being feed to Billy).

There had to be another reason Billy had taken Y/N here...and unless it was brought up in the short conversations of rival men - Steve wasn’t going to give Billy the ammunition to do shoot Steve in his own foot.

“More bruises...?” Y/N grumbled, hands skimming the ghosts of what he assumed were blooming blemishes along her stomach, back, chest...and well... her entire torso...

Steve nodded, licking his lips, his mouth dry as he ran a hand through her hair. It didn’t make him feel so hot to see the love of his life so...broken. He felt useless.

“Take your shirt off, Y/N/N so I can see what we’re dealing with,” Harrington decided, helping her sit up.

“Let it hang around your neck, kid,” Billy’s stern tone cut in, and Steve choked on his spit - Billy had been so quiet he forgot Hargrove was there.

Steve only nodded. He figured it’d be easier than taking it fully off anyway. Billy’s burning gaze didn’t help though - did he think Steve would try something? Wow...makes you feel great...Steve had some decency.

Y/N had difficulties getting her arms through their proper holes; so Steve gingerly helped her - trying not to do it for her, while also trying not to touch her for too long, on top of trying to well....help her. Billy was not making this easy.

Once the T-shirt was around her neck, hanging loosely (a pleased Billy following as it hung covering her chest, presumably what he wanted - only causing Steve to roll his eyes. He wanted to say - You know how many times I’ve seen her naked? Screw that - you know how many times I’ve undressed her? But he didn’t think he’d be safe to do so...).

“Oh, Y/N....” Steve muttered softly, biting his lip as his eyes filled with guilt. Her back was to him, and the litter of blue, black, purple, and yellow was like a child’s poorly done finger-painting. Streaks here and there, uneven and messy. Lifting his left hand, he warily brushed the skin; it was hot...feverish hot.

“I-I know...” she answered with a choked sob, her hands flying to cover her mouth. Billy was looking away from her, his eyes blinking away anger (he wasn’t about to let Harrington’s ass see him cry). “I’ll get more ice.”

Billy stood up swiftly and left the room - a slow string of curses finding him - Steve swore Hargrove thumped a fist to his kitchen counter...was Billy aware how much granite cost?

“Come here, my love,” he whispered, tugging her back into his chest. He swung his leg up to rest on the sofa, bordering where she sat as if his limb were a railing to keep her from falling.

Y/N leaned back, crying softly into his chest (it didn’t help that doing so was causing her abdomen hell). “Shhhh, it’s okay now...I’ve got you, babygirl...I’ve got you.” Y/N found solace in Steve’s words, gripping the thin material of his shirt she listened to the fast beating of his heart...

Bu-dum, bu-dum, bu-dum, bu-dum...

“I-I’m sorry...y-you have to s-see me like this,” she apologized, which only had Steve sink lower, drawing her as close as humanly possible.

He shook his head against hers as he rested his chin atop her. “No, no, no! Don’t you dare say you’re sorry, darling...this...is not your fault. It never is.” He kissed her hair tenderly and felt his own eyes well up (he refused to cry...he didn’t need Hargrove seeing him as a total softie - and Steve needed to be strong for his girl right now...).

“I-It’s so late-e though...y-you must’ve b-been asl--,” He tilted her head back, hating the way he could almost fit his hand in the same spots as the growing bruises on her jaw. He hated how the print of Neil was still glowing.

He gently shared a kiss with Y/N - forgetting Billy was in the kitchen...he could always deal with that later. She needed to know he was there...really there. Always.

“You, are the most beautiful creature...ever, and I don’t ever want you to say you’re sorry...for-r --,” he paused licking his lips and rubbing his nose to hers,”- for that bastard’s mistakes. You’re too good for that, you don’t deserve that, babygirl.” Steve would never blame her, not for anything. Certainly not this...She was like a flower - a flower that Harrington kept and cherished in his garden of gold.

He took care of it; watering it with hugs and kisses (sometimes drowning her in them...but he found that her particular type thrived on excessive gestures like so). He made sure she was healthy - always getting enough sunlight - making sure she shone that brilliant smile of hers...outdoing any star he’d ever seen...Steve made sure she could always call his garden home...that even if she had nowhere to go - he’d receive her with open, consoling arms.

Steve only hummed softly, Y/N entangled in his arms, their legs entwined as he threaded his fingers through her hair, holding her head close to his heart. He whispered sweet nothings and means of okay to her...and eventually, she gave in...Y/N fell asleep there in his arms and he’d never have it any other way.

“God, you’re such a fucking sap, Harrington,” Steve’s neck hairs stood on end - Billy was standing in the archway that connected the kitchen to the living room. Steve told himself that maybe he hadn’t heard Billy right - or hoped that Billy hadn’t heard him right...

The muscular boy walked over, handing Steve frozen peas, mumbling something about how it’d do better than the lousy packs in Harrington’s freezer.

Steve nodded, moving slowly to take it from the brother - not wanting to disturb Y/N’s sleeping form. He pressed the cold bag to her exposed back, he felt her tense up, before easing back into him.

“She um...she kinda just fell asleep on me,” he explained while avoiding eye contact with the blond. Billy took his original seat - the armchair, but this time, he wasn’t fidgeting or staring at the floor. His blue eyes were fixed on the girl.

Clearing his throat awkwardly - Steve readjusted the bag, he was sure to help sooth these marks it would end up taking more than one bag of frozen veggies to make an impact.

“How long?” Brown eyes flickered up, meeting blue.

“For?” Steve asked confused, though tried to sound as casual as possible. There weren’t very many times he and Hargrove were in one another’s company...this was the first they’d not been at each other’s throats...

Billy rolled his eyes, scratching at his neck. “How long have you been in love with her?” No beating around the bush, it seemed.

“I-I, uh, well,” Steve’s face flushed pink. The soft lighting of the numerous lamps already bathed him in orange...hopefully hiding the blush well enough. His eyes glanced to the clock by the fireplace...two-twenty-seven. God, it’s too fucking early for this bullshit....he’s really gonna do this to me? -- His sister’s half-naked on top of me...passed out -- and he’s really gonna do this to me?

Billy chuckled, though Steve didn’t see amusement reach his eyes...it was almost a forced laugh (like he was mocking Harrington). “You do love her? Don’t you, Harrington?” Steve could only nod, unsure if the answer should be yes or no...he could see both ending terribly as it was.

“God, and here I thought you were more of a man than this, Pretty Boy,” Billy scoffed, shaking his head as he reclined into the cushion of the seat.

“Since I met her,” Steve suddenly mumbled, his eyes set on the slow rise and fall of breath from Y/N. The hand not holding the frozen packet, circling her waist to keep her in place.

Billy observed his movements as if examining an opponent on the court....looking for a bluff, a flaw, a weak advantage. Hargrove thought he found it without having to try...and it was sitting in Steve’s lap - cuddled close to his chest. “Speak up, Harrington.” He grunted.

“The first day I met her,” Steve repeated, his voice steadier than before...louder than before...the sudden wave of confidence was found when he realized...it didn't matter what Billy thought...Steve loved Y/N...and she loved him. That’s all the reassurance he needed, and he remembered it with each breath she took.

“I fell in love when I saw her,” Steve confessed, his voice softening at the memory. “I-I think she was walking to find you, actually - it was after school one day...she’d asked me where the boy’s locker room was,” he chuckled to himself, hand running through her y/c/h locks. “I had been dying to meet these Hargrove twins for weeks now...but...I guess...I’d never had the pleasure of being formally introduced.”

“It...it was like watching a movie. She was walking down the hall, in my direction...and she said hi to me...nothing much. Enough to keep me coming back, y’know?... To want more.” Billy was quiet as Steve spoke, letting him ramble for as long as he wanted - Hargrove was trying to prove a point that he wasn’t sure blockhead could see just yet (that he knew about their relationship but getting Harrington to spill his guts out was even better).

“Then, I remember walking with her - I had to grab my gym bag anyway, and she had the prettiest laugh. I don’t remember what I said, but I remember the feeling of pride...-- Like, I’d done something really good...”

“She said I was nice - she said she liked my hair and - you know, that sent me over the moon,” Steve was laughing softly, trying not to move too much with Y/N’s head rested on his chest.

“I love her, Billy,” he told while glancing the brother’s way - his silence had been a bit mortifying...but Steve didn’t want Hargrove to think he’d actually been terrified to hear what he had to say. “I love her and I know you don’t like it - but...I can’t change how I feel.”

A few minutes passed by, and neither spoke again. Billy had gotten up, exchanging the now thawed peas for a fresh pack of them (mumbling something about the Harringtons’ having too many frozen vegetables). Roughly fifteen minutes of eerie stillness was carried between them - Billy had an arm bent at the elbow, holding his face up. His other hand tapping his jean covered thigh.

Steve was keeping himself occupied with moving the makeshift ice pack around, looking out for missed cuts (which there were a few) and treating them accordingly. Y/N was still propped between his legs, using him as a pillow - her hands rested around his waist peacefully locking him down.

“She loves you a lot, you know.” The suddenness of Billy’s low tone startled the brunette. He had thought that because it’d been quiet for so long...their conversation had long been shut down.

Steve gave a short closed-mouth smile. “You think so?” Harrington asked while shifting the pack to rest on Y/N’s shoulder.

“We have thin walls at home, Harrington. I hear her talking to you for hours on the phone,” Billy noted while shaking his head at the thought. “Did you know our houselines are all connected?” Hargrove was clearly messing with Steve - as if indicating he’d snuck on calls with them...it was a joke...but...coming from Billy - Steve was slow to react.

Steve sighed. “So you know then?” Billy shrugged. “Give or take, I know enough to realize she’s been seeing you for more than a month.”

The curly-blond chuckled. “I know my sister, Harrington. There’s no reason for her to be going on walks a seven o’clock. It’s not like we have a dog.”

“Maybe you’re not as dense as I thought,” Steve jabbed. Billy only grunted in response, not laughing, but not taking too much offense to his words.

Hargrove rolled his lower lip between his thumb and forefinger before saying,” You know - telling me wouldn’t have done anything.”

“You’re saying my head wouldn’t have been on your wall? Like a trophy?” Steve snorted while rolling his eyes,” Yeah - okay.”

“Don’t get pissy with me, Harrington. You’re the one who went behind my back, screwing my sister, amigo.” Billy had him there.

Steve swallowed a sarcastic bite and answered honestly instead,” We were scared you’d not approve--” “Because just doing it anyway helps your case” “--so we just decided to wait till the right moment...” Steve pretended not to hear Billy’s sardonic interruption.

“Was this the moment you were looking for, Harrington?” Billy’s voice didn’t hold its usual arrogant demeanor. He sounded as if he were genuinely trying to talk to Steve. At least there was that much going for Harrington.

“What, you mean at three-am, sitting in my living room - your sister not even conscious for the talk?” he concluded,” No...it wasn’t exactly the ideal moment.” Billy chuckled at that, and Steve joined him. They surely weren’t friends...no...but...they could understand one another and that made all the difference.

“Take care of her, Harrington.”

Billy understood that Steve loved Y/N as much as he did. He cared for her like he did, and only wanted the best for her. Hargrove could see the way Steve looked at her, and it was like she were the only person in the room. The only smile that mattered, the only mind that counted.

Sure, Billy didn’t exactly like Harrington...but he could get over that (for now) because the dipshit somehow made her happy. Steve could make Y/N smile when Billy wasn’t there to do it himself...so he thanked the brunette for that. He thought his sister deserved the world - more than the world really, but if Steve was the only thing the universe had to offer...and that only thing that Y/N wanted from the universe... Billy could understand.

“I will.”

It wasn’t much different for Harrington. He knew that Billy loved Y/N - may be more than he did...they’d always have a bond that Steve would envy. Y/N never stopped talking about her ‘big brother Billy - the coolest guy she knows, the strongest guy she knows, etc’. Steve felt like he knew Billy better than Billy knew...and yet, here they were - sitting roughly half a room apart - the only thing tying them to civility being a girl whom they both loved.

Sure, Steve didn’t exactly like Hargrove...but he could get over that (for now) because he knew no matter what he did or said; Billy would always be her big brother who made her happy. Billy would protect her when Steve couldn’t, and maybe that’s why it was so hard for Billy right now...because he hadn’t been there at all for his sister when she needed him most...and Harrington wondered if it was eating away at Billy’s conscious.

He’d always been so hard to read - whether cross or content - it all looked generally the same (Steve had told Y/N that once and she’d laughed, saying you just had to know the tells...for example when Billy’s nervous - he usually gets antsy and fidgety). Either way, the pain would always be the same... Steve could understand.

“Just because you’re dating my sister - doesn’t make us buddy-buddy, Harrington,” Billy clarified, a wicked half-smirk finding his lips.

Steve rolled his eyes, brushing the hair from Y/N’s face. “I know - it’s not like I’d want to be friends with you anyway...I can only stand one Hargrove at a time.” Before Billy could say anything (he was going to warn Steve that a certain y/c/h haired girl was not asleep...and had been up for quite some time...), Harrington sputtered a sound of shock as he was jabbed in the side.

“Dumbass,” Y/N grumbled, scooting closer to his side.

Steve’s eyes widened and he stumbled to find his words,” Oh - You’re up...how long have you been up...?” His tone was light, and yet - why was his heart racing so fast? She pushed away his hand holding the pack of frosted peas and sat up with a stifled groan. “Long enough, Harrington,” she looked to her brother sheepishly - he returned the simper, Billy was glad the swelling went down - her face almost looked normal again (and Steve was gaping at the fact that Billy was smiling...like genuinely).

Billy began chuckling shaking his head - the waves of relief and security finding him as Y/N seemed..if not okay...she was at least holding up. He was sure shed be in pain for a few days more, the bruises needing some time to heal. Y/N only giggled, wincing at the ache caused by laughter - whoever said it was the best medicine...was a liar.

The little shit she was...she’d been awake for the last ten minutes or so - sleeping with bruises wasn’t easy...he’d know. She was also a terrible actress - while Steve had been talking, busy with cleaning nicks and cuts, Billy had watched how his sister’s face would momentarily contort at the contact of hydrogen peroxide. Billy was very observant, especially when it came to his little sister...he’d have been lying if he said he had never followed Steve’s BMW back to his house before...he was Billy supposed to know where he was taking his baby sister? (Little? -- Billy, we’re the same age! --But you’re way fucking shorter than me, pipsqueak).

Steve was blushing, very confused, but also glad to see Y/N was feeling a bit better. “I was up long enough to hear that...um...Billy....you know...,” she paused eyes drifting to the floor. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you earlier...I think Steve would’ve been in the position I am if we’d told you.” Y/N made a grime gesture to her battered body.

Billy clicked his tongue, standing up to stretch his back and neck. “Nah, he wouldn’t look like that,” his low voice droned out as he began walking towards the door (not before placing a kiss to Y/N’s forehead and gently ruffling her hair). “He’d look much worse if I got to him, kid.”

Steve rolled his eyes, his girlfriend laughing as she pressed a hand, hissing, to her side. That’s what you get for making fun of me, she swore he said that under his breath - the intimation of a smirk creeping on Steve’s sweet lips.

“Where’re you going, B?” Y/N asked while watching her brother reach for the doorknob.

“Home. I’m tired and I have work i--,” “Stay.” Both sets of Hargrove eyes turned to watch Steve with a bewildered manner. Billy gave a huff of amusement, be licked his lips, hand running down the side of his face as he raised an eyebrow at Harrington.

“Come again?” He demanded.

Steve ran a hand through his hair, a small uplift of the corner of his lips sealing his attempt at kindness. “You can stay here - guest bedroom’s upstairs. It’s almost three, man. Just spend the night.”

Billy looked conflicted. Pride and logic always had a hard time understanding one another...a constant battle of the mind. He was so used to doing things on his own...taking Harrington’s charity wasn’t exactly an ego boost.

It bordered his whole issue with having Y/N and Harrington be together in the first place... He’d spent his whole life taking care of himself. Of her. Making sure she was always safe, making sure Y/N never got the worst of it. His father was not a good example of a man, and Billy certainly had his rough edges.

He knew that if anyone were to be with his sister, they’d have to be a man worth her time. First meeting Steve, Billy took him as the same old, same old...playboy wanna-be, who drank too much, partied too often, and flirted too quickly...Steve reminded Billy of himself (not the kind of man he wanted Y/N with).

Over time though...it seemed Steve Harrington was hiding behind a mask. Billy had been skeptical, seeing as good things always came with a sharp end...but...he saw how happy Steve made Y/N...the sincere consideration he put into everything...Harrington had become the only exception.

And still...that battle of pride and logic waged on and Billy wasn’t sure of the generous offer of sleeping at the Harrington estate.

“I can take care of m--,” “I know, I know. You’re a big boy - but...it’s more convenient for you to stay here, Billy.” Y/N cut in, squeezing Steve’s hand in hers as a silent signal of her appreciation. She didn’t want Billy going home...not (without her), anyway. She didn’t care what happened to her - as long as Billy was okay...she knew she couldn’t do much, but if this was what she could grant him - then she’d do everything in her power to keep it that way.

“Harrington.” The soft reply was barely heard, following a thank you in the form of a head-nod, but Steve waved in response. “Y-Yeah, any time man.”

Billy’s footsteps were fleeting and soon enough, they were alone. Steve puffed his cheeks out, eyes wide as he looked down to her. “You’re trouble, you know that?” Y/N scoffed, moving to stand up - she was thirsty and water sounded good (or alcohol...).

“Woah, woah - slow down there, tiger -- let me help you,” he shot up, arm around her waist protectively, hand holding hers as he walked her in the direction she pointed. He easily lifted her to sit on the countertop (even though Y/N complained he was being dramatic).

A cold glass of water was handed to her, their fingers touching through the pass. Steve stood between her legs and hesitantly placed his hands on her hips, unsure of what pain may lie there.

“You scared me, babes,” he admitted while resting his head on her shoulder, one of Y/N’s hands combing through his hair, the other holding her cup. “I did?”

“Mhmmm,” Steve hummed, turning his head to look at her, his brown eyes outlining the purple on her jawline. His muscles tensing at the thought of Neil’s hands on her. “I was scared - why wouldn’t I be?”

Y/N shook her head, not wanting to cry again. She placed her drink down, and cupped Steve’s face, lifting his head up, their foreheads pressed together. She closed her eyes, soaking in the scent of a faint shampoo and gentle body wash.

“I’m here, I’m breathing...I’m okay, Steve.” Her thumb rubbed a small circle on his skin and Steve melted into her touch. His arms holding him up, on either side of her as she sat there.

Steve couldn't hold himself back any longer; he tilted his head up, lips meeting hers. The faint taste of copper lingering between their kiss - but he didn’t mind. His body shifting to have Y/N’s front weighted to his, he kissed her, a hand coming to delicately - hold her tender face in his palm.

“I love you, so much, Y/N,” only pulling from the kiss to speak, Steve laughed wistfully. “Don’t cry, darling...you’re way too pretty to cry.”

Y/N shook her head, her hands falling down to hug his neck, he closed his eyes, rubbing her back instinctively. His face in the crook of her neck.

“You think Billy’s okay with this?” she whispered.

Steve tsked, glancing at the clock on the kitchen wall, he clicked his tongue,” I’ll give it till eight before he comes searching for my ass.”

a/n footer: I know this may not be what you expected...but...it turned out sweet..no? I personally love Steve & Billy interactions, like...they’re not friends - but...they’ve both got something worth being civil for... I hope you all enjoy! <3

Sunsets Back Home pt. 2 will be out very soon! <3 Along with some Steve requests~

Tagged: @the-first-breath-of-autumn-air @dazedimagines @danielathedoll @allisjustok @wallflxvver @naomiiiiiiiiiii04 @frnchpy @kimmydespell @editsbyjenny @dazedimagines @novaddictx @mairalynn416 @wefracturedmotivation @truthdaze @xxcxrolinexx @savingprivatecass @emmalbg @timeladygallifrey @the-first-breath-of-autumn-air @billyhargrovescigarette @krystalane @truthdaze @neverlandsoundsgood @friendlyneighbourhoodmercenary @imarockstar145 @foryoubarnes @winchestergirl907 @anniethepanda

Tag list is always open!~

#steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x hargrove reader #stranger things #stranger things imagine #billy hargrove x reader sibling #billy hargrove #steve harrington x reader angst #max mayfield

3K notes · View notes

bxcksdoll · 5 years

Text

You’re mine, forever and always

Pairings: Steve Rogers x reader, Thor x reader

Summary: Y/N breaks up with Steve around the time of Age of Ultron because he’s constantly neglecting her. She becomes much closer with Thor while Steve watches from afar, regretful of losing the love of his life. When he goes back in time to deliver the infinity stones to where they belong, he decides to give past! Y/N a visit...

Warnings: starts off noncon, dark!steve, abusive, harassment, blood

A/N: i had this fic idea and decided to collab with @xmarveled bc she’s my main girl❤️ and then @darkficsyouneveraskedfor announced they were doing a writing challenge so we decided to input this!!

To say you were feeling lonely was an understatement - you preferred to think of it as utterly and miserably neglected by the man who held your wholesome, lovesick heart in his hands. For the past couple of weeks, you had felt increasingly distant from your boyfriend, Steve Rogers. Tonight wasn’t any different. However, tonight was even worse.

Tony was hosting one of his prominent parties which consisted of other celebrities, journalists, government personnel and, of course, Avengers. As you glanced around the room, Steve could be seen chatting with overly glamorous women, at almost every minute of the night; this made you sick to your stomach, ashamed and disappointed that he was the man you called your boyfriend.

The night had started off well - or so you had thought. Before everyone began to arrive, a sense of hope soared through you that you and Steve would resolve whatever had affected your relationship, lately. You had no idea, yourself, why Steve had been distant but you were too scared to ask incase it would start an argument and he would leave you.

However, now seeing him throw himself at these women made you question your previous restrain on the topic. After this party, you knew you had to confront him, he couldn’t expect you to stay with him after obviously neglecting you and going for other women.

A pang if sadness hit your chest and made your stomach fall to the floor. You recalled how you felt a couple of hours ago: you spent hours choosing your dress, styling your hair and doing your makeup. You made sure to pick more of a 40s-style dress in the high hopes that Steve would notice and praise you for it. However, it was clear to you now that he didn’t care how much effort you had put in.

After you dressed yourself up, you strutted down to the party. To your luck, you had received many numbers of compliments and stares from people around the room. However, none from Steve. He spotted you as you walked in from across the room, gave a tight smile but then carried on with his convocation with Bucky and some women (who were clearly all models).

This neglectful greeting sank your heart to the ground floor, your breath left your body in disbelief. Quickly, you regained yourself and made sure no one noticed the glossy way that your eyes sparkled more than usual. For most of the night, you had stayed by Natasha and Wanda, unable to bring yourself to face your boyfriend. You had nothing to say to him and he, clearly, felt the same.

As the end of the party neared, Natasha had been whisked away by some government worker who she was trying to get information from whilst Wanda left with Vision to have some privacy on the balcony.

You sat alone and distraught, at the bar, sipping on a drink which you didn’t even remember ordering - you were too focused on Steve to remember even asking. The way his eyes crinkled with laughter when one of the many women would say something funny - the same way he used to laugh at your jokes - or the way he would subtly lay a hand on one of the women’s arm in the same way he did with you.

The only thing stopping you from marching straight over there and picking a fight right there was your knowledge of how many journalists there were at the party. You couldn’t cause a scene without it being big news headlines the next day. So, instead, you sat alone at the side of the bar, staring ahead at Steve and the cluster of women around him.

Slowly, a figure began to sit down next to you but you didn’t notice. The voice of a man could be heard but your brain couldn’t fully process it. Finally, a hand rested on your arm and you turned to your right to look away from Steve and at the god beside you.

“Good evening, Lady Y/N,” Thor’s soft voice calmed your nerves slightly. “Is everything alright?” he asked, concern laced in his voice as he raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah-yeah I’m fine,” you lied, twirling your drink between your fingers.

“Hmm, are you positive, my lady? I think you’re lying.”

“I’m fine, Thor. Why are you so concerned anyway?” you snapped, taking your anger out on him.

Thor put his hands up in defence, “I’m sorry. I was just concerned about you sitting here all alone.” His words warmed your heart and you felt a pang of guilt at losing your temper with him.

“Thank you, Thor, but I want to be alone,” you turned your face from his, back over to wear Steve stood.

“I think you’re lying again, Lady Y/N. It seems to me you’d rather be over yonder with Steve,” he chuckled. “Why don’t you join him?”

You turned to him, eyes filled with pain staring into his. “Is that some sort of joke?!” you demanded. “You must have seen him hitting on other girls all night - I can’t face him!”

Realisation hit Thor as his eyebrows grew heavy, staring harshly over at your boyfriend. “Oh, I never noticed. I guess I’ve been too focused on you and thinking of ways to cheer you up,” he gave a sad smile.

He carried on talking but you couldn’t hear him, you were too busy with your eyes on Steve. This time, the super soldier was whispering something in a woman’s ear, teasing her as she giggled in response.

Your fingernails dug harshly into your palms as the muscles in your arms clenched. A feeling of disgust washed over you, everything but Steve disappearing around you.

How could he act like this? He was the sweetest man you knew - this wasn’t like him at all. What had happened between the two of you?

You felt, what was left of, your heart beat faster in your chest. Your hands began to shake - out of fury or sorrow you couldn’t tell. Thor noticed your distress and, once again, placed his hand on your arm to stop you from shaking so much.

Light entered back in the room at his touch, you turned towards him and tried to muster a smile, with all the strength in your trembling lips. Thor rubbed up and down your arm, in a comforting fashion, and you leaned closer to him.

“Is there anything I can do to cheer you up, my lady?” Thor asked, hopefully.

You sniffed a little, wiping your eyes. “I’m not sure anything will cheer me up, Thor,” you replied, melancholy eyes staring into his which were full of pity.

“How about a dance?” he suggested and you perked up a bit.

Laughing quietly, you accepted his offer and his face lit up with enthusiasm. Thor always knew how to make you feel better at the worst of times.

He stood up, without a second thought, holding out his hand for you. You took it it, willingly, and he escorted you to the dance floor where a few other couples were dancing - including Tony and Pepper.

As the two of you reached the dance floor, Thor cautiously placed his hands on your waist and you slung your own around the back of his neck. You both began to sway, slowly to the music echoing through the party.

For ages, you danced together. Thor was extremely fun to talk to and he was especially good at keeping you distracted from Steve. Since he had asked you to dance, you hadn’t even glanced at your boyfriend; you figured that he hadn’t looked your way either. However, you didn’t know how wrong you were. Ever since you stepped onto the dance floor, Steve’s attention was caught. He watched, attentively, as Thor placed his arms firmly on your waist and couldn’t stifle a jealous, burning feeling.

Steve had purposely ignored you all night. His reasoning behind his actions was that he didn’t feel much of a connection anymore - you barely spent any time with each other.

Most nights, you would be up working late on some assignment Fury had set you. Therefore, the two of you hadn’t had any alone time. Steve longed for you to spend more time with him but, when he confronted you, you had said that you were too busy and that all this time you had spent away would ‘only be temporary’.

However, this had gone on for almost a month now and he was sick of it. He wanted some kind of reaction out of you - even for a jealous, angry one. And so, he spent the night around other women mostly so that you would confront him but also because he craved attention which these women so gratefully gave him.

You were unaware off all of this, still thinking you hadn’t done anything wrong. And, in all honestly, you had only been doing your job - nothing as bad as what Steve was doing now.

Steve now felt that his plan had backfired; instead of causing a reaction out of you, he thought he had driven you away to the arms of another man. Thor.

His piercing blue eyes stared through you and Thor, his senses surrounded by envy. A dark sensation absorbed into his mind and heart, watching how you laughed with fondness at Thor’s words. Dark thoughts ceaselessly ran through his mind as to how he would approach you after the party. He waited with impatience for the rest of the night, continuing to watch you and Thor.

You carried on swaying to the beat, accompanied by Thor, utterly oblivious to Steve’s eyes on you. The night, surprisingly, grew better with Thor beside you. For a short few minutes, Steve was lost through your mind - your problems and worries lost with him.

At last, however, the night had to end. People began to leave, steadily. At this sudden departure, you and Thor returned to the bar to have another drink as you waited for everyone to leave.

Moments later, heavy footsteps could be heard from behind you. You didn’t bother turning around, too invested in your pleasant heart to heart with Thor.

The sound of someone clearing their throat caused Thor to look up to the man behind you. His eyes hardened as the previous smile on his lips disappeared.

Turning around in confusion, you were faced with the harsh features of the one and only Steven Rogers. Mentally, you cursed him and sent a cold glare towards him.

“It’s late, we should head back to our room,” he stated, sending a quick scowl at Thor.

Surprise was visual on your features since he actually came over to talk to you. It made your glare soften a bit and, as much as you wished to stay with Thor, you had to admit that it was pretty late; you already had an even longer night ahead of you if you were going to confront Steve.

“Fine,” you returned, turning to give Thor a small smile. “Thank you for keeping me company tonight, Thor.”

“You’re very welcome, my lady,” he returned the smile.

You leaned towards him, giving him a quick embrace. It was much quicker than you had intended because of the fact that Steve grabbed ahold of the back of your dress and tugged you back, placing an arm around your waist possessively. You felt uncomfortable at his action, trying to create some distance between the two of you but he wouldn’t release you, only gripping harder.

“Goodnight, Thor,” he sneered, pulling you away from Thor and towards the elevator.

As you left, you turned slightly to wave goodbye to Thor. He returned the gesture, a sympathetic smile on his face.

Entering the elevator, Steve forcefully pressed the button to your floor and was about to turn to you but was interrupted by some guests entering behind. Instead, he took a step back to pretend he was making more space but purposely moved behind you as an act of intimidation; he pressed his chest firmly against your back and placed a gripping hand on your hip.

You swallowed, hard, anxious as to how this confrontation was going to go. You were beginning to like Steve better when he didn’t acknowledge you at all.

After reaching your floor, Steve swiftly pulled you out of the lift. Your high-heeled feet could barely keep up with him as he strode down the corridor to your shared space.

He stopped abruptly when he reached the front door, letting go of you as he fumbled with the keys. Once he unlocked the door, he swung it open with so much force that you flinched and proceeded to press you into the room, slamming the door behind himself.

You turned around, slowly, to face him. Your nerves were all over the pace - not sure whether you should bring up the issue or wait for him to say something.

Reluctantly, your conscious got the best of you, “Steve, I think we need to talk.”

“You’re damn right we need to talk!” he snapped, stalking towards you. You stepped back, in reflex. “Do you think that you can get all cozy with Thor and that I’ll just sit around and watch? Well, you’ve got that wrong, doll face,” he continued, sinisterly.

Shock hit you, you couldn’t believe what he was accusing you of.

“‘Getting cozy?!’” you demanded, stepping toward. “You can talk, Steven! The entire party could see you doing the same thing with basically EVERY woman there!”

“I’m surprised you noticed that - I thought you were too busy gazing into Thor’s eyes,” he scoffed, narrowing his eyes at you.

“No, Steve, you do not get to attack me for spending time with Thor when you were flirting with about 10 women every minute!” you yelled.

“At least those other women actually gave me some attention! Unlike my own girlfriend who I barely even see anymore,” he came back.

“Oh god, Steve, are you seriously going to bring up my work again? Look, I’m sorry that I’ve been busy lately but that doesn’t give you the right to hit on other women,” you put your face in your hands, rubbing your temples.

“If you were really sorry then you’d make an effort to be with me, Y/N,” he lectured, a solemn expression plastered on his features.

“You want to talk about making an effort?!” you demanded, edging closer to him so that you were almost chest to chest. “I spent hours perfecting my hair and makeup for the party - all for you. I even bought a 40s-style dress which is very uncomfortable to wear - all for you, Steve. But I guess it was all for nothing because you barely looked at me the whole night and only spoke to me a couple of minutes ago. So please, tell me again that I haven’t made an effort!”

Steve was silent, staring straight through your soul, causing your mind to go blank. The silence was an uncomfortable, heart-stopping feeling.

Finally, he broke the silence, “trying to get on my good side for one night doesn’t excuse the fact that you’ve been abandoning me for the past month.”

“Wha-abandoning you? You’re not an child, Steve, you’re a grown-ass man! Anyway, I still come home every night after work and try to spend as much time with you as I can,” you argued.

“Ha, as much as you can,” he repeated, “is that why you spent all night with Thor?”

Your chest now heaved with anger, as Steve extended the distance between you and began pacing back and forth.

“For half the night I was with Nat and Wanda but you wouldn’t know that since you were too busy making your way around every woman in sight! Then, I spent the remainder of the night with Thor because he was a gentleman and noticed I was feeling upset since my boyfriend was neglecting me!” you yelled.

Steve reached one side of the room and slammed his fist into a mirror; glass shattered across the room, Steve’s hand dripping with blood. You flinched but Steve didn’t seem to react.

“Me neglecting you?!” he continued, dropping his arm to his side. “Oh no, doll face, don’t you try to be the victim here!” he returned, teeth gritted. “You’ve become such a self-centred bitch, never thinking about anyone but yourself!”

Your heart sunk at his words but you couldn’t let him see that they hurt you. Your hot-headedness got the best of you as you fought back, “How can you say that, Steve? I prioritised my time and workload just to come to this party for you and I dressed like this for you, too! I am anything but self-centred!”

“Enough about your outfit! I don’t care that you tried to impress me, alright? You don’t look half as good as Peggy did back in the 40s, anyway,” he seethed.

You felt a punch to the gut. Did he really just say that? You stood there, mouth agape, staring into his stern eyes.

“Excuse me?” you uttered, desperately hoping your voice wouldn’t falter.

“You heard what I said. You should stop trying, if that’s what you’re hoping to achieve. After all, you’ll never succeed what she meant to me,” his words stung like a knife through your heart.

Turning away, you left the room and went straight towards your wardrobe - beginning to pack your things.

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

“Leaving.”

“Really?” he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

“Of course I fucking am! You have humiliated me in front of all of our friends, Steve, and now your telling me I’ll never be as good as your past girlfriend! I’d rather be a-anywhere but here now,” your voice finally broke.

“Fine,” he grumbled, “good riddens.”

You stuffed all you could find in a bag and threw it over your shoulder.

“Who are you and what the hell have you done to the man I love? What happened to the Steve I knew? The Steve I loved? You have humiliated me, countless times over the past months. In front of my friends, in front of the people I love. We’re done Steve,” you stated, glaring at him as you began to walk towards the exit.

“Fine by me!” he shouted, pacing back and forth.

You didn’t utter another word before swinging the door wildly and slamming it shut behind you, truly abandoning Steve this time.

As soon as the door closed behind her, it all fell apart. Every wall that Steve had been desperately trying to build the last few months came crashing down, burying him in their rubble. Steve sank to the ground with his head in his hands. What the fuck did he just do?

All the anger, the fury, the rage that had been in his heart for the last few months had disappeared, leaving him alone to face the real demons. The sadness, the pain, the loneliness hit him in the gut like a brick. He could physically feel what Y/N left of his heart break in his chest.

Y/N’s voice still echoed across the empty room. “Who are you and what the hell have you done to the man I love? What happened to the Steve I knew? The Steve I loved? You have humiliated me, countless times over the past months. In front of my friends, in front of the people I love. We’re done Steve.” Loved. Past tense. She was right. God she was right. What kind of sorry excuse of a man has he become?

All of Steve’s renowned strength left him, and he slumped backwards until his head hit the ground. He couldn’t stop thinking about all the times he had shared with Y/N.

Their first kiss, their first date, their first time, their first heartbreak.

And as Steve Rogers lay there surrounded by the broken shards of glass that mirrored his heart, he realized something. The love of his life was gone. And he was never getting her back.

Time had moved on. Four months, to be exact. Time had passed but Steve’s feelings for you hadn’t. Every single day he regretted losing you but his loss turned him bitter, cold-hearted. His behaviour towards you was resentful and loathsome; he barely spoke a word to you but, when he did, he was utterly obnoxious.

He blamed you more than himself and turned some of your friends against you too. Sam was your best friend - the one you could turn to for everything no matter what. However, after seeing you dance with Thor that night and then discovering the next day that you and Steve had broken up, he put two and two together and spread a rumour that you had been cheating on Steve.

Steve never denied these claims and so many people believed them. He is greatly respected and well-known for being an heroic, honourable man therefore people began to turn against you. It never crossed their minds that he could have been the one to cause your relationship to end.

Over the past couple of months, you had grown much closer with Thor and became a couple. From this, the two of you received severe backlash from the team - they harassed you exponentially ever since.

No matter how much you pleaded with Sam to believe that you hadn’t cheated on Steve, he wouldn’t give in - he was completely convinced you had cheated on Steve. You weren’t surprised since you had grown so close with Thor after your break up. The only people who did believe you were Tony, Natasha and, of course, Thor. The others would harass you constantly while Steve would watch from aside, his deep blue eyes drilling into yours. But you never said a word to him.

The truth was, you still had feelings for him. Perhaps you even loved him. But you couldn’t tell anyone - you had no one to turn to. No one was close enough with you to either trust or feel comfortable with expressing these unwanted feelings to.

One night, when the team wouldn’t stop pestering you, Thor lost it and challenged anyone who would insult you or accuse you of anything again to a fight. Luckily, that shut everyone up and, for the remainder of the night, they left the issue unspoken any further.

When you and Thor returned to your room, that night, he started questioning you, interrogating you.

“Why don’t you talk to him? Yell at him? Do something?” he asked, his back facing you.

“Steve?” you asked, longing to avoid this conversation.

“Of course Steve!” Thor growled, turning to face you. His eyes were visibly glossy and your heart clenched. You didn’t want to hurt him. “Why do you sit there and let him feed the others with lies?”

“I-“ you faltered, not sure what to say.

Thor began to chuckle, lowly. “You’re not fooling anyone, Y/N. The fact that your not saying it makes me know it’s true,” he uttered.

“I don’t understand what you mean, Thor,” you lied.

“Don’t act innocent, Y/N, you know very well what I’m talking about,” he replied, another deep growl coming from his throat.

The two of you stood in silence, treasuring this unspoken moment. Holding it tightly.

Finally, Thor ripped it from your grasp: “You still love him, don’t you?”

At first you didn’t answer, opening your mouth and then closing it. Thor noticed this and chuckled again, this time his voice breaking.

“How-“ he started but paused to wipe his nose with a sniff, “how can you love a man that is so hateful towards you - so cruel - when you have me? Someone who loves you and who isn’t cruel, like he is.”

His words tugged at your heart strings. You stepped towards him and lay your hands on his shoulder.

“I love you Thor, I do. I just-it’s complicated with Steve. We have a long history together, y’know,” you smiled, sadly. “But I chose you. I love you.”

Thor reached up to hold your hands, pushing them off his shoulders. “But you love Steve more,” he muttered, pain apparent in his eyes.

“Thor, that’s not true-“ you stretched your hand up to cut his face but he brushed you off, walking past you.

“I don’t want to hear it, Y/N.”

“Where are you going?” Tears threatened to fall from your eyes now.

“I’m leaving. I don’t know where to but I have to have some time to myself. Just for a while,” he replied. A tear finally fell down your cheek. You couldn’t cope with losing him too.

“Please don’t go, Thor,” you pleaded.

After uttering those words, he said no more. Grabbing Mjölnir, he turned from you, opened the door and left without another glance.

But that was a month ago. You had, surprisingly, coped since then. You stuck by Tony and Natasha since they were the only people you had left.

Unsurprising, Thor’s departure caused you to undergo some more harassment from the team. But you were used to it by now, you weren’t fazed by it as much as before. After Thor left a part of you died - you realised just how lonely you were.

You didn’t know whether you and Thor weren’t together anymore or whether he just wanted some time temporarily apart but you didn’t want to take the risk and find someone else just to be called a cheater again.

One morning, while preparing yourself for the dreaded day ahead, a voice could be hear, making you jump slightly: “Miss Y/L/N, Mr Stark is requesting you join the meeting in the conference room, immediately,” came the voice of F.R.I.D.A.Y echoing through your empty room.

Leaving your room grudgingly, you decided to take the elevator down to the conference room. After pressing the button, you waited impatiently as you stared at the screen showing the elevator dropping further to your floor. 7, 6, 5...finally it stopped on your floor.

The metal doors slowly slid opened to reveal, to your dismay, Sam Wilson. Your ex-best friend. As his eyes met yours, he rolled them, over-dramatically, and exhaled a deep frustrated sigh.

You hesitantly advanced into the elevator, turning to press the button for floor 2, however it already lit up.

“Oh,” you mumbled, moving back next to him. “Tony called you too, huh?” you wondered.

“Yep.”

You nodded in response, sadness hitting you at his curtness. Sam would either harass you consistently or barely say a word to you - there was no in between. Being alone with him made you feel extremely uncomfortable; you never knew what to expect with him, he might turn on you at any moment.

The meeting hadn’t even begun and you yearned for it to be finished already; you expected the whole team would be there and you weren’t in the mood for harassment this morning.

The elevator dinged and the doors proceeded to open. Stepping out, you felt relief at not being in an enclosed space next to Sam. However, after walking down the corridor and into the conference room an even more uncomfortable feeling hung on you. Steve and Wanda stared straight through you, as soon as you entered, while Rhodey glanced between them and you, rubbing his temples. Vision sat next to Wanda, nodding at you and Sam.

“Where’s Tony?” you asked, uncomfortable, and moved next to the chair next to Rhodey.

Silence hung in the room as Steve and Wanda wouldn’t answer you. Sam walked on the opposite side of you, sitting beside Steve. At this, Rhodey spoke instead. “You know him, he likes to make an entrance. I’m sure he’ll be here soon, kid.”

You nodded, placing yourself next to him and spinning in the chair impatiently. You felt Steve, Wanda and Sam’s eyes on you which made your heart race and head spin; sickness filled your stomach at the anxiety of what would happen next. Rhodey noticed their glares and groaned.

“Guys, could you quit it for once with the torment you give her?! I understand you’re still angry but we’re a team so get your shit together and stop it from interfering from everyday life! God dammit,” he cursed, exhaling deeply.

Their expressions softened and took their eyes off you. You turned to Rhodey and gave him a thankful smile. Ever since Sam spread the rumour, Rhodey was undecided on whether it was true or not but he knew it wasn’t right for you to be pestered by half the team every day.

Seconds later, Tony and Natasha walked in, accompanied by a tall, older man. It took you a few seconds to recognise him as the Secretary of State.

“Good morning, team, we have a visit from a certain someone,” Tony raised his eyebrows, mockingly. “He’s here t-” he continued but the man cut him off.

“Thank you, Stark, but I’ll take it from here,” he interrupted, motioning for Tony and Natasha to take a seat. They did, reluctantly.

For the next half-hour the secretary explained that the United Nations, along with many other countries, wanted the Avengers to sign some accords that stated they couldn’t travel into foreign countries without their permission. You thought this was fair, after all it wasn’t your place to barge onto other people’s property but at the same time you were annoyed that they blamed you all for destruction when you actually prevented it. Would they rather their countries have some damage to repair or the whole world to be wiped from existence?

Despite that, you knew it wasn’t right to argue with dozens of countries. After the secretary finished explaining, Tony agreed to signing it, expecting everyone else to. However, Steve spoke against him and argued that it was a bad idea. Secretary Ross attempted to convince Steve that he was making the wrong decision but Steve wouldn’t give in and it appeared Wanda and Sam wouldn’t either.

Later that day, after the Ross left, the team sat around the main room and discussed the accords.

“How can you sign that thing, Tony? You know it’s a bad idea. We saved all those people from more destruction!” Steve argued.

“As true as that is, Cap, we can’t go against the wishes of all those countries. I understand where you’re coming from bu-”

“If you understand us then you won’t sign those accords,” Sam inputted, crossing his arms against his chest.

“Do you hear yourselves? You’re so egotistical that you don’t listen to what all those governments have to say?” Rhodey sighed, shaking his head.

“I prefer to not stand around and watch those countries become overrun with operations like Hydra,” Sam eyed him up, judgingly.

“If you had signed the accords before Ultron, I wouldn’t have been saved. The world wouldn’t have been saved,” Wanda agreed.

“It’s not that we can’t go into those countries anymore and save them - just that we need permission first,” you spoke up, cautiously. “It seems fair to me.”

“Oh, you think something’s fair?” Sam chuckled but suddenly turned serious. “You think we give a shit what you think is fair?”

Steve laughed at his words, sending you a satisfied smirk. You shot a hard glare his way.

“We’re going a little off topic here, Wilson,” Tony warned.

“So what? It’s about time we brought it up again - don’t you think, Steve?” Sam glanced over at him.

Steve shrugged, “doesn’t look like she can handle much more of it,” he smirked. “She could snap at any moment, is that right, doll?” His mocking behaviour towards you made your stomach churn. You prayed that your mix of anger and embarrassment wasn’t evident. Sadly, the trio easily noticed the flushed colour of your cheeks.

“Oh, is someone embarrassed?” Steve sneered, causing you to blush harder.

“Where’s Thor to save you now, huh?” Sam chuckled. His words sent a knife to your heart.

“Should have thought about the consequences before you became a slut,” Wanda giggled.

“That’s enough!” Natasha spoke up. “I’m sick to death of you three harassing Y/N. This needs to stop if we’re gonna work together to figure this out as a team.”

“It doesn’t seem like we can be a team anymore,” Steve furrowed his eyebrows. “Unless you refuse to sign.”

“Sorry, Rogers, but we are signing. You are too, you have to,” Tony interjected.

“Please, Steve,” Natasha softened her voice. “Like Y/N said, we’re not getting banned from entering those countries - we’re only asking for permission before entering. It’s only one more step.”

“It’s one more step which could determine life or death!” he argued. “I can’t sign it, you know I can’t.”

Silence filled the room. No one could agree and so no one wished to say another word on the subject.

Tony exhaled, deeply. “Fine. We’ll talk about this tomorrow. It’s getting late and I don’t want to discuss this anymore.” With that, the matter was left unspoken for the remainder of the night. Unfortunately, the team never did never did agree to sign the accords and the Avengers split, breaking off into, what the world saw as, war criminals while the other half were left supervised by the United Nations at all times.

It’s been two years since the civil war. Two years since Steve left. Two years since you had seen him. For the past two years, you had stayed with Tony and Nat, wishing for Steve, wishing for Thor. Wishing for things you can’t have. And now, as you stood on the bloody fields of Wakanda, death approaching at any moment, they were all you could think about.

You had been fighting for hours now. You didn’t know where her teammates were. You didn’t know who was winning this bloody, brutal battle. You didn’t know anything other than the power in your veins and the fierce flame in your heart that refused to be put out. Enemy after enemy went down by your hand, yet it was still not enough.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning flashed down from the heavens, illuminating the sky. Thor. He came back. You could barely hold back your sobs of joy as you raced to where the flash had appeared. However, there were too many enemies blocking your way, and before you had the chance to look for blonde hair and a red cape, blood and death swallowed you again.

Along with the other Avengers, you rushed into the forest. Your heart broke when you saw Steve, the man you loved, on the ground. Deadly bits of purple energy surrounded you as you launched yourself at the Mad Titan. You were strong. One of the most powerful Avengers, however, you were drained from the long battle, and it wasn’t long before you got tired. You missed a step, than another, and you felt your powers begin to flicker as Thanos advanced on you. You saw his sword coming, but you were still too late as it caught you in the gut, making you double over. Thanos grabbed your shoulder and tossed you like a rag doll into a pile of rocks. You could feel the vibration in your bones as you landed, struggling not to black out.

You watched in desperation as Thanos retrieved the glittering Mind Stone from Vision’s body, pushing Wanda aside as he completed his gauntlet.

Through your ringing ears, you heard a roar. Wait a minute, you knew that voice. Thor’s voice. “What have you done to her!?” He demanded, eyes sparkling when he saw your sprawled figure. “Nothing she didn’t deserve.” Replied Thanos. A bolt of lightning hit him and he stumbled backwards as Thor advanced on him. With a yell of rage, Thor embedded the axe in Thanos’ chest.

Thor slowly drove the blade in, wanting Thanos to feel every single bit of the same pain he had cause so many nations. “How does it feel now?” Snarled out Thor. His blood dripping onto the handle of the axe, Thanos raised his gauntlet covered hand.

“You should have gone for the head.” And than he snapped.

Bucky was the first to go, fading away as he turned to dust and you couldn’t watch as Steve rushed to where he was, clutching at the ashes that had already begun to scatter. Rhodey yelled Sam’s name, and you saw him fall to the ground as he too faded away. You heard Rocket cry out “no Groot no!” And turned to see Groot disappear as Rocket reached for him. Next to you, Okyoe watched in muted horror as T’Challa reached for her before turning to ash. Wanda was the only one who smiled when she left, knowing that she’ll join the love of her life, Vision, in the afterlife.

The numbness began in your chest and you could feel it slowly starting to spread throughout your body. You held up your hands, and you could see the edges of your fingertips become blurry. Thor let a choked sob, rushing to your side. “N-no! Not you, NOT YOU!”

You look at his handsome, bloodied face. “Shh... Thor, it’s alright.”

Thor’s tears dripped onto your face, mixing with your own tears as they dripped down your tears. “I love you.” He whispered.

You look beyond his shoulder and met Steve’s beautiful blue eyes, which were filled with tears and pure agony. “I love you too.” You say.

As you fade away, you swear you saw him mouth it back.

5 years later...

You woke up in the grassy fields of Wakanda, straining your eyes against the bright sun. Slowly, you sat up, groaning at the dull ache that was everywhere in your body. What the hell happened?

Across the clearing, you see Bucky attempting to stand, almost falling over onto Sam, who was still sprawled facedown in the dirt. “Watch where you’re going, you moron.” Groaned out Sam. Behind you, you hear a squawk of outrage. “I am Groot!” You turn and see Groot, untangling himself from a pile of branches. Next to you, T’Challa and Wanda slowly sat up, surveying their surroundings.

Slowly, your eyes met each others.

“What the fu-“ began Bucky.

Suddenly, a portal appeared in the middle of the clearing and Dr. Strange emerged. “What are you-“ “No time to explain. Come with me. NOW.” Interrupted Steven. He grabbed all of you and dragged you into the portal, and we emerged in the ruins of what used to be the Avengers Compound.

You were torn out of your devastated thoughts by a voice calling your name. “Y/N! Y/N!”

You turn and see Peter coming out of another portal, stumbling towards you on unsteady legs. “Peter!” You ran to him, meeting him halfway as he enveloped you in a hug. “T-thank god you’re here Y/N. I don’t know these other people very well.” You smiled, ruffling his hair before turning back to he compound. Before you was a sight that made both pride and terror swell in your chest. Steve Rogers was standing in the middle of the field, facing down the entirety of Thanos’ army.

Around you, more and more portals opened, revealing humans and aliens alike. All here to destroy Thanos. With the other Avengers, you formed a line besides Steve. The line between good and evil. The line between life and death.

“Avengers.” This was your life, your family, and you’ll fight for it. “Assemble!”

You fought for what feels like hours, only stopping to embrace a friend. Tony cried when he saw you, holding you in his arms. You saw in his eyes that there was something he wanted to tell you, but there was no time.

You were almost overpowered by one of Thanos’ monsters when all of the sudden, your opponent just vanished. You looked around in confusion as Thanos’ soldiers all faded to ash.

Your joy faded when you saw Tony’s slumped figure leaning against what used to be the compound walls. You rushed to him, everyone else moving aside for you. They know how much you meant to him. “Oh Tony...” you whispered, trying to hold in the sob in your chest. A red eyed Peter moved away from Tony. “Hey pretty girl.” He whispered, repeating the words he had said when he first met you. “Hey yourself mister.” You responded, letting out a sound that was something between a laugh and a sob. “Guess what?” He asked. “What?” With a pained grin, he said “I have a daughter.” Your red rimmed eyes went wide and you turned to look at Pepper. “A-a daughter?” “Her name is Morgan. And she’s gonna be so happy to finally meet her big sister.” Said Tony, the smile fading from his face.

“I’m sorry. For not protecting you better. For letting them say all that shit about you.” Tears were flowing freely down your face now. “None of it is your fault.” You whisper, voice as brittle as a newborn’s bones. “Thank you... for being like a father to me.” Tony gave you a soft smile that you had never seen before. He looked at Rhodey and grabbed his pal’s hand. “Take care of my girls.”

You moved aside for Pepper, who moved forward to grab her husband’s hands. You take a step back and Peter reaches for your hand. You turn around, unable to watch as Tony and Pepper whispered between themselves. A few seconds of silence followed and Pepper let out the whimper she had been holding in. He was gone. Unable to watch as they moved his body, you ran and collided with a pair of warm arms. You looked up and were greeted with a pair of lightning blue eyes.

“Y-Y/N?” He asked, voice hoarse. You didn’t have time to answer as he gathered you into his chest. He felt comfortable, familiar. He smelled like blood and sweat and the lilac soap you had gotten him because his mother had loved it. He felt softer than you had remembered. He felt like home.

As Thor lifted you up and carried you off the battlefield, you didn’t see the other pair of tear-filled blue eyes staring at your back. Or the other heart that you had just crushed in your hands.

Steve watched as Thor carried you away. He had wanted to run to you, to swallow you in his arms, to kiss you until your lips were swollen. He had missed you so, so much and during the last 5 years, he had finally realized how much he loved you. How much he needed you. But now, looking at your peaceful face, he realized that you didn’t feel the same anymore. He lost you, and there was only one way to get you back.

Steve stood on the raised platform, suited up and carrying a briefcase with the 6 stones inside. “Where to first?” Asked Bruce. “Stark Tower, 2015.” Responded Steve before being sucked into the void.

Steve landed near the building he had once lived in, walking inside the familiar lobby and getting into the elevator. He punched in the 8th floor. His favorite floor in the tower. His and Y/N’s floor.

As he got off the elevator, he could hear yelling coming from their room. He was about to go punch the daylights out of the guy who dared to yell at his girl when he froze. It was his voice. “You will never be like Peggy!” He heard himself say. It was true, Y/N isn’t like Peggy. She’s better. Fierce but gentle at the same time. Beautiful, so so beautiful, and she doesn’t even know it.

Steve’s thought were interrupted by a figure rushing by him to get to the elevator. Y/N. The elevator closed before Steve had time to gather his thoughts, but he knew where she was going. Her old room.

Steve took the stairs down to the 6th floor, where your old room was. The second that he stepped foot in the brightly lit hallway, he was overcome with memories. This was the place where he had realized that he loved you. Slowly, he walked up to your door and gave a simple knock. You flung the door open and anger flared again in your eyes as you saw him. You opened your mouth to yell but it was already too late.

Steve’s lips collide with yours, full of the want and the lust that had brewed in him over the last 7 years. You tried to struggle feebly, but he could feel you melting in his hands. It had been so long. So long since he last touched you, held you. So long since you had been his.

He pushed you back until your back was against the wall. You were trapped. You stared into his dark eyes, so different from the Steve you knew. “Y-you’re not the Steve I know, are you?”

Steve let out a dark chuckle. “Does it matter, babygirl?” You shivered as you heard the nickname fall from his lips. It had been so long since he called you that.

Steve planted his hand on your throat, squeezing until you were breathing heavily. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this.” He growled, and latched himself to your neck. He hovered over the spot where your neck connects with your shoulder, biting down until you felt something wet drip down on your neck.

Steve lifted his head, the look in his eyes making your knees weak. He swallowed you in another kiss and you could taste your blood, slick and irony, on his lips.

“Strip.”

“Steve-“ you began. “That wasn’t a question. Now, strip.”

You decided to make him pay for making you wait.

“No.” You say with a cheeky smile.

With one movement, your wrists were secured above your head. “What did you say?” Steve whispered, eyes darkening to the color of storm clouds.

“N-no.” You tried to keep the flush off your cheeks, but you could already feel the heat between your thighs.

As if he could read your mind, Steve lifted your skirt and rested a hand between your thighs, stroking your clit through your panties. You bit back a moan, but Steve knew.

“Do you want this?” He asked.

You shook your head, unable to speak.

“Then why.” Without warning, his hand dipped under your already ruined panties to stroke your folds. “Are you so fucking wet?”

You couldn’t hold back your moans this time, and a whimper left your throat as Steve stroke slowly. So, so slowly.

Steve felt a smug grin spread across his face at the sound of your small noise. He slipped his hand out and slammed you against the wall. “Now strip.”

“Y-yes sir.” You say. Slowly, you unbuttoned the dress you wore for him, revealing his favorite red bra. Slowly, you lifted your eyes to meet his, and the desire you saw made shivers run down your spine.

“Come here.” He gestured for you to crawl to where he sat on the bed and slowly, you got down on your knees and moved towards the bed. You kneeled at his feet, awaiting further instructions. Steve cupped your cheek and you couldn’t help but nestle into him. He yanked you up by your hair and you gasped, savoring the pain. He unbuckled your bra, tossing it aside as he reached to tear of your panties.

“Get on the bed and spread your legs.” He demanded, and you immediately complied. Laying on the bed, naked and spread wide open for his eyes to explore, you realized how vulnerable, how totally at his mercy you were.

Steve moved to your dresser, pulling out one of his old ties and your eyes widened as you started trembling. He climbed back on the bed, grabbing your wrists and tying them to the headboard. “Tonight, you do what I say, when I say it. Understood kitten?”

Still trying to fight his dominance, you remained silent until you felt a slap land on your pussy. “Do. You. Understand?” Growled Steve.

“Y-yes sir!” You answer, letting out a yelp as another slap landed. Steve let out a dark chuckle. “Good girl.”

His fingers start tracing your lips. “I’ve missed them.” He whispers. “And these.” Running his hands down your chest to pinch your peaked nipples. Moans were coming out of you freely now, and they increased in volume as his hands massaged your sensitive breasts.

Finally, Steve moved down to sit between your legs. He blew hot hair across your glistening cunt, and you bucked your hips, trying to get him to touch you. “Not so fast babygirl.” He says. “You have to ask nicely.”

You let out a whimper as he ran a finger across your folds before putting the finger into his mouth. “P-please Steve.” You beg, not caring anymore at this point.

“Please Steve what?” He smirks. Knowing that he’s got you where he wants you. “Fuck me. Claim me. Destroy me.” You almost scream out. Steve unbuckled his pants, his hand stroking his length as he positioned himself at your entrance. “See? Good things happen when you obey me kitten.”

You didn’t have time to respond before his length was sinking into you. You had forgot how big he was, how good he felt inside you. By the time he was fully sated in you, you were already seeing stars. Moans and grunts filled the air, as he slammed into you again and again.

“Look at me.” Growled out Steve. “I want to see everything you have when I’m inside you. Don’t ever shut me out.” Your eyes flew open, finding his liquid blue ones immediately.

Your hands went flat against the mattress as he withdrew and thrust forward again and again. This is what you’ve wanted for so long, Steve on top of you, inside you, having absolute power over you. The steady rhythm he set sending waves of pleasure through your body. Your body was taut, so close to the edge.

“Please Steve, may I cum?” You moaned out. “You don’t cum till I tell you to.“ he said with a slap to your ass. He spread you even wider and pounded into you again and you let out a pathetic whimper. “Steve, p-please!”

“Say my name kitten. Who do you belong to?” Steve demanded. He spread you even wider and pounded into you again and you let out a pathetic whimper. “Steve, p-please!”

“Say my name kitten. Who do you belong to?” Steve demanded. “You.” You scream out. “You, Steve. Only you.”

Satisfaction blazed in Steve’s eyes. “That’s right baby. Mine.” He slipped his hand between you thighs, stroking your clit as he continued to thrust into you.

“Come.” He growled out. “Give it to me Y/N.”

You let out a sharp cry as your orgasm flashed, explosive and so, so intense. Steve’s eyes glittered as you writhed underneath him and he went taut against you. You went wild around him as he spilled into you and both of you let out a groan as you rode out your orgasms.

Lowering himself to lie besides you, he pressed a kiss to your neck and whispered. “You’re mine. Now and forever.”

#inthedark #dark!fic #dark!steve rogers #steve rogers x reader

357 notes · View notes

kpoptimeout · 4 years

Text

Top 10 Most Underrated K-pop Songs of 2019 (Idol Edition)

2019 has come and gone before we knew it.

Continuing with the K-Pop Timeout Tradition (see 2018 Ver) of listing the Top 10 Most Underrated K-Pop Songs because all the other sites are just bothered with the Top 10 that pretty much everyone will have heard of/have fan wars over, below are our top 10 picks of songs that did not rank high but deserves your attention!

Like last year we have a separate post for Top 10 underrated non-idol tracks. Unlike usual years where there is a separate post made for Top 10 underrated K-Drama OSTs, this year there is instead posts for the Top 20 most underrated K-Pop songs of the decade.

Some of the artists have escaped the list in recent years to stardom (like NU’EST, N.FLYING, and OH MY GIRL), so hopefully, it happens again!

This is in alphabetic order NOT in the order of awesomeness because all of them are awesome. Also, all MVs are linked in the song titles because Tumblr won’t let me share that many videos in one post.

1TEAM “Vibe”

After braving through the shitshows of Mnet’s BOYS24 and YG’s MIXNINE, these talented boys finally debut as 1TEAM under Liveworks Entertainment (the label for the solo promotions of SHINHWA’s Hyesung and Minwoo). This debut song of 1TEAM highlights some of the key strengths of the group - their extremely laid-back retro sound and also addictive hooks. With K-Pop boy bands going for increasingly dramatic and over the top complex sounds due to the popularity of hype bops among overseas fans, it is a breath of fresh air to see 1TEAM deliver such a chill and amazing song and it is unfortunate they have yet to receive more attention both in South Korea and overseas. They continue this sound in their comeback “ROLLING ROLLING” and went more mature and sexy while still simple and retro in “MAKE THIS”, showing that they will continue to develop this unique sound. If you like the relaxing summer sound of WINNER, you would also love 1TEAM’s “Vibe”!

3YE “OOMM (Out Of My Mind)”

After not getting much attention as Apple.B under GH Entertainment, 3 of the original Apple.B members Yuji, Yurim, and Haeun re-debuted as 3YE. And this was the right re-debut to make as the girls went from generic cutesy to edgy and hard in the most unexpected way. “OOM (Out of My Mind)”, their first comeback track, is definitely a powerful bop but what makes it stand out from other hyped-up party tracks is the structure of the song. The first verses were typical powerful girl group song sounding (a mixture of RnB vocals and rap), but things change up quickly at the bridge. The song suddenly becomes very melodic and sounding like something you would expect from a quirky girl group track. Then the song changes again, creating a dark and breathy build-up reminiscent to Billie Eilish’s “bad guy” and “all the good girls go to hell”. Only then do we get the beat drop you would expect from a lit girl group track and the adventurous path to get there makes the drop all the more enjoyable. Also, all three girls’ have amazing stage presence to carry the powerful choreo. If you love powerful girl groups like BLACKPINK and EVERGLOW, you should really check out 3YE’s latest song!

A.C.E “UNDER COVER”

After stints on KBS’ “The Unit” and YG’s “MIXNINE”, the boys of A.C.E have definitely increased significantly in their international fan base and have the makings of a small but dedicated Korean fan base. However, these boys really deserve a lot more attention, especially with “UNDER COVER” being one of the best and also most underrated tracks of 2019 K-Pop. After attempts with artsy edm music in their debut era and later a cuter sound in “Take Me Higher”, the boys and the label seem to have finally found their sound. It is dramatic, it is powerful, it has a strong rock influence combined with hip-hop and RnB. Honestly, this is what I would expect TVXQ to sound like if they debuted in the late 2010s (cries thinking about OT5 early days and their rock influence tracks). This song also clearly highlights the strength of every member - Byeongkwan’s playful rap and diva-like stage presence, Wow’s more relaxed rap and sexy charms, Chan’s boyish appeal and perfect complementation of other members’ sounds, Jun’s attractive vocal colour and Donghun’s emotive voice and wide vocal range. If you love the dramatic and powerful boy band tracks like the bops of B.A.P, it is time to stream “UNDER COVER”!

fromis_9 “FUN!”

After the amazing comeback with “Love Bomb” last year, I really did not know how fromis_9 can top that but they really did with “FUN!” They continue to go for the really quirky, really weird and playful cute girl group sound they perfected in “Love Bomb” to bring an amazing and refreshing summer track. “FUN!” has a ridiculously catchy hook and like other fromis_9 songs have beautiful bridge parts to also showcase the members’ amazing vocal abilities and harmonies often hidden under their hype and wild choruses. Also, the music video is a delight, with the girls’ parodying various CFs. The album for this song peaked at #2 on Gaon Charts but somehow this amazing title track did not rank at all on Gaon and only peaked at #94 on the K-Pop Hot 100 of Billboard. If you love the addictive, fun and weird side of girl groups like Red Velvet and Oh My Girl, you would really enjoy fromis_9′s “FUN!”

GWSN “Pinky Star (RUN)”

After a unique debut and a string of consistent bops, it is unclear why most K-Pop fans are still sleeping on GWSN. “Pinky Star (RUN)” is an amazing song, showcasing GWSN’s indie video game-like sound which is heavily electronic and 8-bit like yet has all the K-Pop high notes and dance breaks you would also expect. This perfect blend of the girls’ unique sound and a seasoned K-Pop style production makes the song all the more amazing and it all the more infuriating they are still quite a nugu group in South Korea. The MV is also beautifully shot, with amazing sets and smart use of the aspect ratios. If you love to see the artsy pop vibes of BOL4 and IU married with the quirky girl group sounds of Oh My Girl, you would love GWSN’s “Pinky Star (RUN)”!

JBJ95 “Awake”

After PRODUCE 101 Season 2 and the success of JBJ, JBJ members Sanggyun and Kenta continue as duo JBJ95 and continue delivering quality music. One of their best songs and one of the best of K-Pop this year is arguably “Awake”. The song excels in having this bright and dreamy texture to it, which blends perfectly with the concept of the song and the Bauhaus-styled MV set pieces. Those listening to the song which literally feel woken up by the upbeat chorus which incorporates some dancehall beats into this electro-pop song. While JBJ95 are without a doubt doing quite well out of the post-PRODUCE 101 groups with variety show appearances and web drama roles, this song did not win any awards albeit its superb quality. If you are a fan of SHINee’s more fun and dream-like tracks like “Why So Serious?” and “View”, you would love this song!

KNK “Sunset”

Last year was extremely annoying when IN2IT’s “Snapshot” and SF9’s “Now or Never” flew under the radar of most K-Pop fans and the Korean public in general for their sexy supermodel runway sounds. Apparently, people have still not learned their lesson this year with the spectacular release by KNK in the form of “Sunset”. These talented men are back again with one of the best concepts ever - the song is just a 90s house bop that serves expensive runway model realness. The chorus of simply just Seoham saying “Sunset, for-for y'all” again and again in his deep voice is definitely one of the highlights of the song along with the classy and mature choreography. The MV of this absolute bop is also an example of how low-budget MVs can look expensive if there’s good camera work, creative lighting and smart editing choices. So if you liked IN2IT’s “Snapshot” and SF9’s “Now or Never” last year, and love yourself some good mature and sensual choreo like Taemin’s, “Sunset” is the song for you!

ONF “Why”

At this point, ONF is just one of the best-kept secrets in K-Pop. All the members already showcased their immense talent on YG’s “MIXNINE” but somehow South Korea still does not seem to know they exist. And it is infuriating that after a masterpiece like “Why”, they are still swimming in absolute nugu-dom. This song sounds ridiculously dramatic, with beautiful high notes and sentimental harmonica/synth instrumentals in the chorus. One of the highlights of the song is Wyatt’s deep-voiced speed rapping which was layered with multiple effects so that it sounded like it was being received through a device from afar and also serves to make it so much more grungier. Basically, the song sounds like it could be the OST for a high-budget Netflix dystopian sci-fi series and the MV shot in Moscow actually gave us some very expensive looking CGI and effects. It is difficult for me to find a song to compare “Why” to but if you love yourself a dramatic boyband track, you should really check it out!

SAAY “ZGZG”

This song just hits hard in a very unique way. Following her departure from EvoL (a highly underrated girl group), Kwon Sohee/SAAY has mainly worked as a producer and songwriter, penning bops for SM Entertainment and often working with Super Junior M’s Henry Lau. As a solo artist, she shows that she has a lot to show in “ZGZG”, which honestly would not be such a great song if not carried by her off-the-charts amount of charisma. The chorus is just her swag-filled mumbling of the word(s?) “ZGZG” and it works because of her attitude. She also belts high notes and delivers smoking hot bars when she raps in the song too. If you are a fan of confident female solos like Hyuna, Sunmi, and Chungha, I now urge you to check out this amazing song by SAAY!

UP10TION “Your Gravity”

UP10TION is an extremely talented group but have failed to make a mark in the K-Pop industry due to years of TOP Media’s mismanagement. One of the biggest mismanagement moves, in my opinion, was giving UP10TION good but extremely generic K-Pop title tracks. There was never a song that screamed: “this is an UP10TION-only track.” I can go on forever about TOP Media’s poor management of all its groups but now is the time to focus on what a brilliant song “Your Gravity” is - UP10TION has finally found a unique sound and they really owned this song, making it arguably one of the best and most underrated songs of the year. The song plays on an addictive synth hook and good use of diverse beats. The whole song just sounded super fresh yet not cutesy but high energy at the same time - a rare example of balancing freshness and coolness. The MV is also filmed very well, with shots from very interesting angles and great use of a few set pieces in a variety of ways. The closest comparisons I can make would probably be WANNA ONE’s “Energetic” era. If you love a powerful and feel-good track, UP10TION’s “Your Gravity” is the song for you!

Special Mentions of Underrated Debuts:

There were many strong debuts this year and I would like to mention 2 underrated rookie groups to look out for in 2020!

Male - 1TEAM “Make This”

I have already discussed 1TEAM’s greatness and music style above, but the reason I also chose them as the most underrated male group debut is because out of all the underrated male idol debuts this year, 1TEAM is the only one that have already showed us their consistency and duality. “MAKE THIS” continues 1TEAM’s retro sound and aesthetic - the song sounds like how people in the 80s think future sexy music would be like and also how people right now thought 80s sexy music remade might sound like. So even though 1TEAM went from soft and cute in their first two title tracks to mature in this latest comeback, they still stayed true to their retro sound. The MV is also delight due to the very “2001: A Space Odyssey” inspired looking set pieces.

Female - BVNDIT “Dumb”

MND Entertainment’s newest girl group and basically Chungha’s younger sisters, BVNDIT may have been overlooked as they debuted in the same year as JYP’s ITZY, HINAPIA which features PRISTIN members, and a string of post-PRODUCE 48 girl groups like EVERGLOW, CHERRY BULLET and ROCKET PUNCH. However, BVNDIT has a lot to offer and has likely one of the most standout sounds and looks. The girls all have confidence and stage presence unlike any rookie girl group and this really shined in their songs following the safer pop song debut with “Hocus Pocus.” The south-east Asian and Latin American influences in the drums used in their songs like “Dramatic” and “Dumb” also gives them an opportunity to attempt more powerful and mature choreography than some of the rookies, giving them an additional edge. With the company now starting to use a “Chungha-like budget” in their production as seen in the “Dumb” MV, I believe we can expect a lot from BVNDIT in 2019.

Which idol songs do you think were underrated this year? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below and let the song sharing begin!!!

20 notes · View notes