#one of them had promised i'd be a bridesmaid at her wedding
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i'd sigh in bliss, even while drowning, if only it was your hand holding me under; your kiss is the most violent death i've ever known.
qh43 x reader: let's take this bitter tension on the water, shall we?
(warnings: blasphemous filth, unprotected penetrative sex (m on f), fingering, hair pulling (have you guys seen his hair, recently?), choking (it's really been too long. too many nice guys), talking (he brings out the best in me), tears (or the worst idk), lots and lots and lots of miscommunication and tension and being kinda mean, obviously i'm forgetting things but all my usual stuff. please be warned, don’t read if you’re not 100% sure.)
(a/n: thank you for waiting, my favorites. i give you qh43 x doll (on deck). this idea has taken me a long time to flesh out, with lots of work and outlining and such, so i really hope you enjoy. i told myself it was going to be short and it ended up being 16.5k, because i have no self control. i guess i was just in the mood to write angst-filled argument after angst-filled argument, given all the sweet boy content i've been putting out recently (don't worry, that will be back soon enough). and qh43 is my go-to for the sad stuff, for the fights and kisses in the rain (literally, this time). can you tell i was listening to taylor's is it really over? way too much and thought... what if it wasn't? over, that is? obviously, none of this makes any logistical sense, you guys know this. thank you for reading anyways. let's see, what else? loving the nico slut headcanon i'm committing to. also love a good mt19 gap-tooth takeover (is he not the perfect cruise ship fling?). and luke is here, too, for all the people telling me to write for him. i'm sorry, i know the miscommunication trope is frustrating and the one-bed trope is cliche. please, for the love of god, take this as a sign to be clear with people about how you feel. life is too short. i have like one billion baby stories started right now, so we will see for which inspiration proves most fruitful. will it be golf pro cc22 x bevcart girl? geology ta js1 x classics ta? the tj17 one i've been trying to finish forever? none of the above? we'll see. pretty, pretty please, tell me what you think. go canucks (dare i say cup-bound), tell your snakes i love them. until next time. love, always).
as much as you wanted to be completely and purely excited for this little excursion, as much as you wanted this to be a truly undiluted celebration of your best friend's wedding next weekend, something was standing in your way.
"c'mon," the bride-to-be, savannah, said, standing on the pier next to you as you gazed out at the obscenely massive cruise ship, its numerous windows like the eyes of a spider, much too many and much too close together, "you've worked so hard, babe." she gave you a tight side-hug, which you returned. "you've made this whole process so easy, hm? let loose for a weekend, and then, i promise, you can go right back to being the militant maid of honor you are."
you let out a short laugh, let your shoulders settle back into place. "thanks for this weekend, sav," you said. "it's gonna be great." she was right, of course, in some ways, and wrong in others.
you had worked hard, very, very hard, because you cared about savannah, loved her like a sister, and you wanted her wedding to be one of dreams. you liked jack, her fiance, a lot, too, and you liked them together, saw how they brought out the best in each other.
it had been months of making sure everything during the planning process went over smoothly, of being there for savannah when the world felt like it was ending, when the pressure of a wedding felt like it was insurmountable.
when bridesmaids had a little too much to say about their dresses, or when family members had a little too much to say about their hotel arrangements, or when savannah herself had a little too much to say about how it just had to be perfect, you were there, mitigating the worries and stressors and potential problems.
it had been a rewarding but draining couple of months.
savannah had seen that, had appreciated you even more because of it, so her and jack had planned this mini-vacation as a thank you for both of their wedding parties. the big day was next week, so this was supposed to be a final relaxing deep breath before the inevitable whirlwind of white lace and dress shoes and pink flowers.
and it would be relaxing, you were sure of it, you wouldn't let it not be, if only because your best friend wanted it to be so adamantly. it would be a perfect weekend vacation, the perfect cruise getaway, the perfect source of pre-wedding bliss.
it would be, it would be all of these things, as long as you stayed as far away from quinn hughes as was humanly possible.
the brother of the groom, the best man, your counterpart in the wedding, whom you had been fairly successful in avoiding whenever possible, all things considered. you'd been in the same friend group for years, after all, since the end of college. years of averted glances, charged comments that you pretended to ignore, of memories that left your cheeks hot and anger hotter.
you hadn't had a major blowout with him yet, and you were confident enough in your self-control to believe you wouldn't start now. you'd never been confined on a boat with him before, though, hadn't been stuck in a room with him without an escape plan, so that would present a new challenge.
what was every day in the periphery of quinn, though, if not a new challenge? a challenge more devastatingly taxing with each passing moment?
as you and your best friend boarded the ship together, you hoped that you could postpone seeing him for as long as possible. maybe if you stayed in your room the whole weekend, you wouldn't have to see him at all. wouldn't that be fun?
savannah dropped her stuff and told you she was going to find jack, leaving you to unpack your things and enjoy some moments of silence before what would surely be a tornado of a weekend.
unfortunately, as you folded your clothes and organized them in drawers, your mind wandered, with nothing to focus on but your anxieties. your anxiety, personified, in a broad, shaggy-haired, soft-featured best man.
you sighed, as you often did when you thought of quinn, because no, it hadn't always been this way. there had been a single, lovely, dreamy night during which the two of you hadn't hated each other. quite the opposite, actually.
it felt sort of unfair that, even now, years later, he could still evoke such a visceral feeling in you, a kind of hatred you felt in your stomach, a kind of shame that rattled through your skull, a regret that set your chest ablaze. and as much as it pained you to think it, it felt sort of unfair that savannah was getting married to jack, because you had known quinn first. it had been you and quinn, first.
it had been you and quinn, both of you at the just-off-campus bar alone, waiting for your respective friends to show up. you had spotted him across the room, his pretty face made so angelic by the hazy neon light. he had spotted you too, had been so unapologetic about letting his gaze settle in the pockets of your exposed collarbones, then flickering up to meet your careful eyes slowly, heatedly.
it had been you and quinn, in a back booth, once he'd bought you a beer and motioned for you to join him, a precise but easy tilt of his head in invitation. on that waxy bench seat, as time passed, you grew much closer together than you could have made a real excuse for, until the outside of your thigh was pressed up against his, until he angled his shoulder back so you could lean your side on his chest, until there was really no question as to where the night was going to go. where it was going to end.
until he rewrote the script you'd assumed into place, too, because when you talked with him for that hour or so, drinks practically forgotten on the table, friends absolutely forgotten, he wasn't like the one-night-onlys you'd had in the past.
he was pretty, sure, almost embarrassingly so, but he spoke to you so gently, with such care, it stunned you.
when he asked you about your day, you were shocked to find completely genuineness in his gaze.
when you asked about his friends, when they were showing up, you couldn't help but feel a little endeared by his short laugh. "athletes," he told you, then, "most unreliable people on the planet, doll, swear it."
it had been you and quinn, basically melting into each other, in that booth, and it had been you and quinn, at his place, after. when you'd discovered that he tasted like something citrusy, maybe grapefruit, from whatever he'd been drinking, when you'd felt his rough hands on your face, your hips, when his voice had grown low and husky and brutal, barely pausing for even a moment when he pushed into you for the first time, so overwhelmingly deep and hard.
he'd been so gentle, yet undeniable, so tender, but he'd said things that now made you blush.
he'd been the best fuck of your life, somehow also the kind of person you'd truly, genuinely, been able to see yourself developing a relationship with. you'd thought he was a once in a lifetime kind of person.
you'd left his place early that morning to get to class, kissed his shoulder softly in goodbye while he slept soundly.
little did you know that, that next night, savannah would meet jack, who was out with quinn. as such, savannah would introduce you to jack.
"this is my brother, quinn," jack would say to you, eventually, and your eyes would soften at the sight of him as you turned.
you would open your mouth to say something along the lines of oh, we've already met, but then quinn would extend a hand to you.
"nice to meet you," he'd say, stony, cold, and you'd narrow your eyes, search his gaze for anything humorous, come up empty. surely he remembered you, right? it was almost worse to imagine that he did remember, that he just didn't want his brother to know about you. it was almost worse to imagine that he thought you were something to be hidden.
so you'd swallow a breath that felt like a forbidden pill, stare at his outstretched hand with something like disgust.
"yeah, you too," you'd bite out, your hands remaining at your sides, hoping his empty hand felt awkward enough to hurt. "really nice."
so, as much as it had been you and quinn, starry-eyed in a back booth, as much as it had been you and quinn, tangled up in each other as your eyelids grew heavy with sleep, as much as it had been you and quinn, first -
it had also been you, embarrassed and ashamed, and quinn, expressionless and indifferent.
so, what did that night really matter, however life-altering you had thought it to be? he obviously didn't feel the same way. you obviously meant nothing to him.
you had thought that to be a very disappointing end to a chapter. you were ready to move on, but, of course, savannah and jack only grew closer. of course, your friend groups merged. of course, it seemed like you couldn't go more than a few days without an especially painful reminder of exactly how much you weren't wanted, exactly how mistaken you had been.
it had been several years now, and you'd gotten a little better at hiding your feelings, sure, but you wouldn't describe your relationship with quinn as civil. certainly not amicable.
you were both known to have an especially short temper when it came to the other, to become inexplicable hot-headed in their presence. still, no one, not even savannah, you assumed not even jack, knew exactly why. they just assumed you didn't get along. that you were just completely incompatible as people, probably.
now, you took a deep breath, putting the last of your clothes away, zipping up your suitcase and stowing it under your bed. you wouldn't let him ruin this trip for you, you decided in a moment. you would be kind, and lovely, and you'd enjoy the time with your best friends. everything was going to be fine. everything was going to be perfect.
this was the mindset you were carrying with you when you finally made to join everyone else on the deck for a welcome happy hour.
you quickly spotted your group, immediately locking eyes with your other best friend, lexi, who must have just arrived.
she squealed and pulled you in for a hug. "it's been too long," she whined, and you laughed.
"i missed you," you said, and you meant it. for the longest time, it had been you, savannah, and lexi, a trio for the majority of your time at university. guys came and went (for the most part), your circle expanded into friends from classes and clubs and sororities and such, but the three of you were inseparable.
it still felt weird that you didn't get to see them every day, with all of you at different places, some working, some in school. it felt weird that the real world still spun even if you three weren't cackling on the way into a lecture, whispering about lacrosse boy when he walked into a party, whining about midterms in the dining hall. it felt weird to grow up.
"i want to hear about school," you said as you pulled away from her embrace. "tell me everything."
"what, no hug for me, eh?"
you rolled your eyes, immediately recognizing that overconfident voice as jack's best friend.
"hello, nico," you said, sugary-sweet, mustering up a smile. "how's daddy's money treating you?" you didn't like nico, not really, found that he hadn't changed at all since school.
nico wasn't like quinn, though, he never took what you said in a heavy way. he just laughed, and his eyes shone with it. "business is thriving, thanks for asking," he said.
"so humble," came quinn's grumbly voice, somewhere on the line between light-hearted fun and genuine disapproval. you wondered briefly if nico had any more luck reading quinn than you did.
"oh, that's what they say," nico responded, running a hand through his longer dark hair. "the humblest around."
you caught up with lexi about medical school, learned it was somehow even more draining than she expected.
"i wouldn't be able to tell for a second," you assured her, gesturing to your face. "you look insanely well-rested. glowing, practically."
lexi waved you off, but she looked pleased. "don't lie," she chastised, "i wake up everyday and look like i got run over by a truck."
she told you about her classes, and her classmates, and her professors, and you listened intently, always interested to hear about situations you had no experience in.
"sounds hectic," you said, finally, blowing out a breath.
"eh, you know how it is," she responded with a shrug. just then, luke, jack's younger brother, arrived, looking especially disheveled, but you knew him well enough by now to understand that was just how he looked.
he was greeted with hugs and handshakes by everyone.
"you're so big, now," you said, almost teasingly, as you pulled him in for a hug.
he swatted at you, good-naturedly. "lay off, would you?" he said, but when he smiled it was genuine. "not a baby."
you knocked your hip against his, anyways. "happy you're here," you told him.
out of all of jack's groomsmen, you supposed luke was the clear frontrunner for your favorite. nico, the narcissistic playboy, was out of the running, and so was quinn, for obvious reasons.
even without those two, though, you'd developed a soft spot for the youngest of the hugheses. he was a couple of years your junior, but surprisingly mature and well-spoken. he was into football, like you were, too, and had invited you to join his fantasy league before he even knew you that well. now, years later, he came to you for girl advice and you thought of him as the younger brother you never had.
"me, too," luke responded, his eyes alight. when you looked away from him, however, you felt another gaze on your side like a blistering burn, were barely surprised to find quinn's rocky eyes on your side, somewhere between your hip and waist.
his attention sparked something dangerously flammable inside of you, an anger that felt like being coated in lighter fluid.
if quinn had been beautiful the day you'd met him, he was devastating, now, having aged in a subtle way that only enhanced his features, made his jaw sharper, cheekbones more prominent. his hair was a soft shag of brown, curling onto his forehead, at the nape of his neck, the tops of his ears. he'd filled out a bit, too, wider in the chest, softer in the middle. if you had to describe to someone your type, you figured you'd get maybe ten seconds in before realizing you were just describing quinn.
now, his eyes met yours in a clash of flame and ancient rock, immovable and disastrous.
coward, you seemed to say without words, mean, rude, coward.
and, as always, he seemed to say absolutely nothing.
you were being kind, though, you were being lovely, so you just rolled your eyes and made to join savannah and lexi as they chatted by the bar.
the sun set over the distant sky line, making the sea ripple purple and orange as music played from the deck, as more and more people seemed to gather, as drinks flowed easier and voices grew louder.
you caught up with luke about his last year of school, listened to nico talk about his last girlfriend (who he insisted was really, truly crazy, as he had claimed about the last girl, and the one before that), asked jack about how work was going and savannah how her cats were doing. you were including everyone, you were being a wonderful maid of honor, you were being kind and lovely, all while quinn remained oddly quiet, talking only when directly addressed, every now and then looking at you with an intensity that made you dizzy.
what are you doing? you wanted to scream at him, you're not allowed to look at me!
he didn't seem to particularly care about your unspoken wishes, anyways, though you supposed he never had. he just took small sips from his fruity cocktail, and you pretended not to notice how it made his pouty lips more pink, like he was wearing a shimmery gloss. you hated yourself for the way your stomach flipped at the sight.
"so, how's your week been, q?" luke asked him, eventually, taunting him with a smile. "awfully quiet over there. what're you hiding?"
and you shouldn't have done it, it was not very lovely and kind of you, but you gave a light scoff at this. because you knew just how good quinn was a hiding things. people, even.
of course, he noticed. he seemed to notice just about everything, when it came to you, ever the perceptive observer. it was something you'd adored about him, for a night.
"what?" quinn bit out, and he wasn't looking at luke, instead looking directly at you. "got something to say, doll?"
you felt your eye twitch, only just barely, because out of all of his mannerisms and actions that drove you absolutely crazy, this one might be your least favorite. how, after all this time, he still rarely called you anything but doll.
how, now, it was said with such condescending distaste, when it had once been 'm dyin' to kiss you, doll, murmured in a bedroom doorframe. when it had once been give me one more, doll, hm? be good for me, hot against your temple.
"nothing, quinn," you said, with a smile that felt more similar to baring teeth, his name some malicious hex. "don't worry about it."
there was a brief pause charged with meaning, his slate-like eyes boring into yours.
you were the first to look away, to look down at your hand before he finally answered luke's question, went into some noncommittal explanation about work.
eventually, somehow, the conversation veered towards wedding dates.
"wait," savannah said, pausing as if having trouble understanding. "you're telling me that out of all of you, both wedding parties, the only one with a plus-one is luke? and it's not even a date?"
"mackie still counts," luke said, shrugging. "no one said we weren't allowed to bring friends."
"regardless," savannah said, exasperated. "how did this happen?"
nico grinned. "not all of us can be so easily tied down, sav," he said with a wink, to which you and lexi groaned.
"oh, what?" nico retorted, looking at the two of you, "if it really matters, i'll bring a date. hell, i'll bring four dates."
you shook your head vigorously. "do not bring four dates. please do not bring four dates."
"do not make our wedding an episode of the bachelor, nico," savannah warned. "but you guys should bring someone!" her eyes grew wide with excitement. "you could even find someone on the boat!"
lexi whistled.
"do we really want a bunch of strangers at our wedding?" jack mused, joking.
"oh, hush," savannah said, laying a hand on his forearm.
he smiled. "you're right," he conceded, "not like this lot could find dates anyways."
the only people who seemed especially opposed to jack's judgement were nico and lexi.
you just shrugged. you didn't really want to bring a date to the wedding, because you didn't have a serious boyfriend, right now, and you didn't want to invite someone you weren't serious about. you could find a date, sure, it wouldn't be too hard, but that would just be another person to entertain for a night during which you were already going to be pulled in a million different directions.
"okay, so lex and nico are going to find dates," savannah said, then turned to you, "what about you?"
"i'm good, sav," you said, plainly, cordially, with a smile that she returned. you knew that she just wanted you to be happy, and that it probably hurt her to imagine you lonely.
"or you, quinn?" savannah continued.
you fixed your eyes on him, too, as did the rest of the table. as much as you maybe shouldn't have been, you were straining to hear his answer.
"yeah, didn't you say you were thinking of bringing someone? what was her name, again?" jack asked, snapping his fingers as if trying to summon his memory.
terrible envy bubbled through your veins, thick and green, at the mention of quinn wanting someone who wasn't you. at the reminder that he was fully capable of wanting someone, he just hadn't wanted you.
quinn's eyes flashed with something dangerous. "i never told you i was thinking of bringing someone," he told his brother, sounding almost annoyed, his tone sharp.
jack's half-smile told you he knew something you didn't. "my bad," he said, "must've forgotten."
quinn's full mouth twitched to the side, almost undetectable, but of course you noticed. he looked almost angry that jack had suggested that he bring a date. there was the faintest pink across his nose, too, as if he was almost embarrassed.
something heavy settled in your chest, made your throat tight, because you knew what it was like to be embarrassed in a group. to want something so adamantly and have it go the other way in front of your eyes.
as if pulled by some magnetic force, some power fueled by history and shed tears, quinn's eyes briefly met yours, like you were the calm in some hurricane, like you tethered him to the world. for a second, you remembered just what it felt like to be his. just how consuming it was.
but you weren't his, you reminded yourself. so, of course, the anger followed, along with a bloodthirsty self-loathing at your momentary protection of him, your fleeting feelings of sympathy.
you weren't his, and yet he was looking at you now like he was begging you to do something.
"you know what, sav?" you said, although you were looking right at quinn, "changed my mind. think i'll bring a date, actually."
it was quinn's turn to scoff, which had rage rolling in your head like high tide. "yeah, right," he said. "you haven't been with someone in years, doll."
you furrowed your brow, because that just wasn't true, flat out. did quinn actually think you hadn't been with guys since you'd had him?
lexi was the one to laugh. "what're you on about, quinn?" she said. "what planet have you been living on?"
"you think i call you up as soon as i scratch another notch in my bedpost?" you asked, incredulous. "course i've been with guys."
a million emotions rumbled through his eyes like a slow-building earthquake, which made realization spark in your head.
"unless," you started, "unless you haven't been with-"
"i'll bet that you don't end the weekend with a date, then," quinn said, cutting you off as you'd gotten dangerously close to saying something incriminating, something he didn't want others to know.
it took no convincing from you to agree to his bet, even if nico and luke were nudging you on. "you're on," you said, your voice lower than you anticipated.
he hummed, ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek, cocked his head in a way that made your nerves spring to life. "and what do i get when i win?"
he said the words like he knew exactly how you'd take them. in a way that made everything else fade away, for a moment, made you forget your audience of friends, made the music lull to a halt in your ears, made the massive deck of this boat feel altogether too small.
"what do you want?" you asked, almost blushed at how rough your voice sounded, promptly cleared your throat again.
his heavy gaze dropped to your mouth, making warning sirens blare in your head. making you so, so angry.
"decide the terms later," jack said, obviously done with this topic, which really only concerned you and quinn, "deal or no deal?"
quinn extended a hand to you in answer, which you stared at for a second, suddenly delirious with deja vu. remembering when he had last went looking for a handshake.
this time, though, you took it, squeezed it so tight you hoped it hurt, although he didn't even wince, held eye contact with you the entire time.
"eager to lose, eh, doll?" he asked, his eyes shining.
"you know me," you said, then, "just so eager." knowing exactly how he would take it. in a way that had his eyes glazing over, just a bit, perhaps had phantom breaths of please, quinn, give me all of it echoing in his mind.
and so your weekend getaway began with a wager.
still, you didn't want your heightening anger towards quinn to take over your vacation, so, the following day, you went about your way as you had been planning on.
you ate breakfast with lexi, explored the boat with sav and luke, finally settled down to read by the pool in the late afternoon.
the sun was bright and big in the sky, so you untied the straps of your swimsuit, so as to avoid tan lines. time passed as you flipped pages, engrossed in your book, until you felt the heat on your body like a scratchy sweater.
at some point, you felt a figure next to you, a big body with a face you couldn't see until you brought a hand up to shield your eyes.
the man blocking the sun from you was a little jarring in his beauty, you realized. handsome in a very different way than what you were usually attracted to. he had curly, curly hair, almost red in the light, a symmetrical face, a prominent gap in his two front teeth that you had the sneaking suspicion he used to his advantage.
he had you smiling up at him, nonetheless. "can i help you, handsome?" you asked.
his mouth quirked at your words as his features settled into a theatrical expression. "you're sweet, princess, but i was actually hoping to help you."
you hummed, bent one knee up until the sole of your foot rested flat on your lounge chair. "were you, now?" maybe this whole finding a wedding date business was going to be even easier than you initially thought.
the handsome stranger squatted down until his hips rested back on his heels, until he was eye level with you. like he didn't want to look down at you. like you were even lovelier head on. he raised a wide hand to one side of his mouth, as if telling you some great secret at a cafeteria lunch table. "just wanted to warn you that your straps are untied," he whispered, gesturing with his other hand to his own shoulders. his smirk told you that he knew it was intentional.
you made no move to retie them, let out a small laugh. "my knight in shining armor, hm?"
his shoulders rose and fell in a telling chuckle. "either that or i just wanted an excuse to come over here," he said. "'m matthew."
"'m flattered, matthew," you said, then gave him your own name. "you don't seem like a guy who needs an excuse, though."
his smirk grew wide. "what do i seem like, then, princess?"
you tilted your head to the side, thought for a moment. "don't know," you admitted, "got the smile of a charmer, though, give you that."
matthew appeared about to respond, but was cut off by the approach of a figure to the other side of your chair, standing at full height, looking down at you and your new acquaintance.
a figure you'd know in the dark, a presence you'd sense while unconscious. quinn drew both of your attention, but said nothing. you pursed your lips.
"what's up, man?" said matthew, maybe a little unsure, in a tone that sort of felt like he was making fun of quinn. "all good?" he didn't push back up to his full height, which you found hilarious and endearing. how he didn't seem even the tiniest bit threatened by quinn, when it was so painfully obvious that he was trying so hard to appear threatening.
you peered up at him, found his blatant discomfort and indecision especially unsettling. "what do you want, quinn?" you asked, annoyance creeping into your voice like moss on a damp rock.
"you know this guy?" matthew said, his grin that of a class clown.
"do you know this guy, doll?" quinn retorted, crossing his arms over his chest, and you rolled your eyes, set your book down beside you.
"quinn, this is matthew," you said, gesturing between the two of them. "matthew, quinn."
quinn didn't move, but matthew's smile grew taunting as he extended his hand out for a handshake.
a handshake that quinn just stared at, briefly, did not make a move to reciprocate, his gaze so solid, relentlessly cold. you could have slapped him, if you didn't have an audience.
matthew just laughed, retracted his hand, finally stood up. "well, i guess i'll be seeing you around, princess," he said, looking right at you.
"until then, matthew," you responded, an easy smile on your face.
he gave you one last charismatic smile before looking to quinn again. "you've been a treat, quinn," he said, little more than a chuckle, raising a hand in goodbye before turning and walking away.
when he was out of ear shot, you looked up at quinn, ignoring the way the sun lit up the high points of his face. "so," you began, dangling one leg off of your chair, pulling the other up to your chest. "when did you officially lose your goddamn mind?"
he scrunched his mouth to the side as if tasting something sour. "haven't gone crazy," he said, basically a grumble, "thought he was bothering you."
you laughed, genuinely, from your stomach.
"what?" he said, and it was sharp, heavy.
"babe, is this guy bothering you?" you said, imitating a comically deep masculine voice before returning to your usual tone. you retied the straps of your swimsuit, not looking at him. "get real. since when do you give a fuck about me?"
he didn't answer, just shifted on his feet slightly, which made the muscles of his thighs tense. you could feel his anger building, looming like some poisonous cloud around the two of you. he was flushed, and you had a feeling it was some lethal combination of embarrassment and fury. it made his eyes almost glow, made his shoulders clench with strain.
"jesus, don't hurt yourself," you said, eyeing the tension that radiated from his body. "not a good look on you."
this made him intimidating, somehow, made the difference in height between the two of you feel substantial, significant. "really, doll?" he said, with a bite that you could taste. history made its stinging presence known between the two of you, made the air sizzle. "don't like me like this?"
you wanted to punch him the stomach, made him hunch over, bring him to your level so he didn't feel so high and mighty. who was he, now, to hint at your history? when he had denied it so grossly before?
you were not the one in the wrong here, you remembered, he was the one who had approached you.
"no," you said, through clenched teeth, "no, quinn, i don't like you jealous."
this seemed to set his anger loose, as you had expected it to, his fists now tight at his sides. "i am not jealous," he said, slowly, almost scarily. "maybe if you weren't showing yourself off like a-"
you stood up, then, your pulse in your ears, your heart in your throat. you laid a warning hand on his chest, the closest you'd been in a long time. "oh, you aren't really about to call me a slut, are you, quinn?" you warned, like a storm siren.
his gaze shot down to your hand before returning to your unwavering eyes again.
"are you?" you pressed, with the strength of practiced patience. he still said nothing, which made you want to pound your fists on his chest, get him to say something, anything. how tired and frustrated you were of his silence. "where do you get off playing tough-guy savior, anyways?" you continued. "you've got no say in who i talk to, just because you've been celibate, apparently, which is absolutely insane-"
"'m not playing anything," was his short response, which had you fuming.
"you're no tough guy, quinn," you said, "you're a coward."
your eyes widened when his smoldered, as he brought a hand up to your face, swiped his warm thumb across your jawline. you would have smacked his hand away, you swore it, but you were lost for a moment, drowning in the touch you'd craved for longer than you cared to admit. "and you're desperate, doll," he breathed, like some terrible caress, "where does that leave us?"
his words barreled through you like a battering ram, cruel and sadistic. because what were you most ashamed of, if not seeming desperate to his indifferent? what were you questioning most, if not where that left you?
it had been you and quinn, first. could you truly say it had ever been over?
he dropped his hand from your face, leaving you cold, lacking, all over again. leaving your breath coming out a little bit short, your lips slightly parted. because as much as his words cut through you like a dagger to the chest, he said them with such softness, such warmth.
making it so painfully clear in your mind just how much you still wanted him, even if he drove you mad. even if he was exactly the reason behind so many of your fears.
"i hate you," you said, but of course you didn't mean it.
"i hate you," he said, but of course he was lying.
your body and mind were still buzzing, practically alight, that night, when sav and jack decided your whole group should go out, try the ship's nightclub on for a few hours.
and you probably would have politely declined, in any other scenario. you didn't go out that much now, not like you did in school, at least. in recent history, you'd found yourself much more attracted to a night in on the couch than a bass-boosted speaker in your ear. however, you supposed, you wouldn't be able to really relax tonight, anyways, not when your blood felt hot in your body, when your fingertips felt as if they were laced with electrical currents.
you felt almost ill with energy, crazed with some awful mixture of shame and desire and annoyance and disgust.
and you sort of hated yourself for how practically demented quinn's touch made you feel, how deranged his undivided attention made you.
it was so, so unfair, and you wished it wouldn't be true. but it was, so you figured you might as well use this energy while you had it, might as well lean heavily into this version of yourself. this version of yourself, whose emotions were blown up, heightened to a magnificent level.
this you, who felt embarrassment like rosy handcuffs around her wrists, who felt want like a leaden crown, satisfaction like a bubbly drink, displeasure like a hand around your neck. who felt danger and challenge like some intoxicating drug.
it was this you who pulled on a tight, short dress, who spent a few more minutes than usual lining and glossing your lips. maybe it wasn't the most level-headed you'd ever been, sure, but you couldn't remember the last time you'd felt so utterly alive.
"holy shit," lexi said when she opened her door, found you waiting to walk down with her, "you look insane."
you smiled. "good insane or insane insane?"
lexi grabbed her small bag and shut the door behind her. "oh, please," she said, waving you off. "almost forgot that you're workin' with all that," she added, which made you laugh.
once the two of you made your way inside, you looked around for your friends, quickly spotted luke sitting at a table with sav and jack.
sav whistled at the two of you as you approached. "holy smokes," she said.
"oh, stop it," lexi teased, making to sit down next to her.
you just leaned on the side of luke's stool, knocked your shoulder into his. "past your bedtime, eh?" you joked.
he rolled his eyes, smiled. "what brings you out of your cave?" he mused. he knew how much it took for you to venture from your room.
you just shrugged. "what if i just wanted to see you?"
he gave a disbelieving shake of his head before tilting it up to look at you head on. "heard you and q had quite the blowout at the pool."
you narrowed your eyes. "wouldn't call it a blowout," you said, and you meant it, because you could have done so much worse. "who told you that, anyways?"
he scoffed. "who do you think?"
you scrunched up your face. you knew how close quinn and luke were, but, somehow, it still surprised you that he had told anyone about what had happened at the pool. it felt weird that, after refusing to acknowledge what had happened between you, he'd tell luke anything about you.
it made you wonder just how much he had disclosed, if luke knew much more than he was letting on.
"what did he tell you?" you asked, curiosity overtaking any of your discipline.
the youngest hughes just gave you a big grin, though, like he'd caught you in something. "i forget," he said, and you hit him lightly on the arm.
you turned your attention back to the table. "where's nico?" you asked, as he was the only one from the group you hadn't really seen that day. you didn't ask where quinn was, even though you really, really wanted to know. was he even here? did he stay in his room, like you had wanted to?
jack gestured vaguely. "haven't seen him since we got here."
"'s probably pretty busy," sav added, "i think the last time i saw him he was up to three wedding dates."
lexi groaned while you hid your face in luke's shoulder for a second.
you sighed, then pushed yourself out of your lean.
"where're you going?" luke asked you.
"to save the feminine population of this cruise ship from hurricane nico," you answered, before patting the top of his head and making for the bar.
the music was louder, away from the tables and closer to the dance floor, crowded with people in bold colors and daring cuts.
you leaned forward on the counter, raised a hand to catch the bartender's attention. the man with the platinum buzzcut nodded to you to signal that he'd be right there.
"how'd you escape your keeper?" a goofy voice said from beside you, and you recognized the confident tone before you even turned.
"good to see you again, matthew," you said, peering up at him with an easy smile. "and i have my ways."
"i don't doubt that, princess, i don't doubt that," he conceded, his grin revealing that gap between his front teeth.
"thanks for waiting," the bartender said, now in front of you two, adjusting his black bowtie. "to drink?"
"two of whatever she's having," matthew said.
"vodka soda, please," you clarified, opening your mouth to protest when matthew wouldn't let you pay.
"let me get this one, hm?" he asked, and he was so steady you knew he wouldn't budge.
you blew out a breath like you were annoyed, but the thought was sweet. "fine," you said, "just this once. thank you."
"anytime," was his immediately reply as the bartender dropped the two glasses in front of each of you.
"thank you," you said to the blonde, eyes searching for his name tag, "elias."
he gave a curt nod in response before being summoned by another patron.
you turned, now leaned your back against the bar counter, crossed an ankle over the other as you again looked at matthew.
"did i mention how beautiful you look?" he said, a lazy smirk on his face, telling you he'd used this line before. it brought a delighted flush to your cheeks, nonetheless.
"that one's a heater," you said, "bet it works on all the girls." you took a sip from your cold glass, found it strong and sharp.
"not all of 'em, apparently," he said, and you let out a laugh.
you chatted pleasantly with matthew for a while, your mission to find nico long forgotten.
fortunately, at some point, you were surprised to see nico himself approach the two of you where you stood, his gait as overconfident as his expression.
"who's this guy?" matthew whispered, his breath hot by your ear as he leaned down. you shivered, could feel his sly smile.
"a clown," you whispered back.
matthew hummed. "you seem to know a lot of those, eh, princess?"
and it shocked you, sort of, how part of you jumped to defend quinn. how part of you wanted to explain to matthew, however stupidly, that quinn wasn't a clown, he wasn't dumb, he wasn't like nico.
what did it matter if this almost stranger thought quinn was an idiot? hadn't he made a fool of himself just today?
"hey, nico," you said, when he was close enough. "meant to look for you." your side glance had you locking eyes with matthew again, warm and inviting. "got distracted."
"no worries at all, no worries at all," nico responded, "i've just been sent over by a certain quinn hughes to see what was going on here, but, as he should have known, i am no errand boy." he gave matthew a knowing look. "and you seem like a great guy." nico's mouth gave an impressed sort of scrunch. "good face, too."
"i like this guy much more," matthew said, elbowing you gently, although you were having a bit of a hard time focusing.
because you'd warned quinn about leaving you be, warned him that he had absolutely and completely forfeited any opinion to be had about your life. and yet, just hours later, apparently, he hadn't learned his lesson.
"where is he?" you bit out, and you had a feeling your smile looked menacing. at least menacing enough to make nico do a double take. "eh, over there," he said, motioning over to the dance floor.
sure enough, your eyes caught on quinn's broad figure, practically indistinguishable from the one close to him, the girl he was dancing with. you rolled your eyes, turned to matthew with sympathy.
he seemed to be anticipating your words, if his slightly disappointed sigh was anything to go by. "well, the keeper calls," he joked, and his easy-going smile made you feel almost sick.
because here was this lovely person, right in front of you, so obvious about his attraction to you. and yet, you were walking away from him. the very thought made anger thrum within you.
"i'm sorry," you said, and it was genuine.
matthew gave a one-shouldered shrug. "don't be," he said, "i'm lucky i even got to see you in that dress." he winked at you before turning to walk away.
you were silent for a moment, blinking.
nico, who'd you'd forgotten had even been there, blew out a breath. "hell," he said, shaking his head, "that guy was a smoke."
"how many dates are you at?" you said, your eyeline still firmly on quinn, on the beautiful blonde girl he was dancing with. you stirred your halfway empty drink.
nico shrugged. "lost track," he said, "why? wanna borrow one?"
"maybe later," you said, then pushed yourself from the counter and began to make your way across the room.
the walk felt much longer than it was, as if a chasm had opened up between you and quinn, jagged rocks lining the walls, some treacherous river running through your legs, drenching your heels.
the walk felt longer than it was, but then you were in front of quinn, and the beautiful girl.
you tapped her on the shoulder, first. "could you move to the side for a second, babe?" you asked, completely apologetic. "don't wanna ruin your dress."
her features scrunched in confusion, but she stepped to the side, as you'd asked. you shot her a grateful look before turning to face quinn, meeting his eye.
you were almost shocked to find warmth, there, so unlike the stony coldness you'd expected from him.
still, you just gave him a facetious smile, short, snarky, before tossing the remnants of your drink at him.
it hit him square in the face, better aimed than you could have hoped. liquid dripped from the strong slope of his nose, down his jaw, soaking his white button down near the collar.
the blonde gasped, brought a hand to her mouth in shock.
you turned briefly to her. "'m sorry for the interruption," you said, genuinely. "you look gorgeous."
as quinn ran a slow hand down his face, wiping alcohol from his forehead, cheeks, you hummed and began to walk away, your stride satisfied as you made for the exit.
you dropped your glass on a table, walked through the doorway, onto the deck of the ship, the darkness of the night, sudden quiet a welcomed change of pace.
you had only just taken a breath when you felt a grip on your wrist, firm but not painful.
"just fuck off, won't you, quinn?" you said, just about done for the night. he just pulled you aside, boxed you against the railing on the deck, the noise of the sea in harmony with the faded beat of the club's mix.
you were so, so, done. you hadn't really wanted to come out, anyways, and then, when you were finally having a good time, he had to go and ruin it, send nico over to check in on you, like you needed some kind of babysitter.
he scoffed, a sound that felt beautiful in your ears, somehow. "think you can just walk away, after a stunt like that?" he said the words like they meant something deeper than just their surface meaning, but you couldn't, for the life of you, figure it out.
you blew out a breath, met his gaze directly.
you probably should have known by now that if there was one word to describe quinn, it was unfair.
unfair, how, drenched in a drink you tossed at him, he still looked this pretty. his hair damp, evident that he had run his hands through it. his features almost enhanced by the liquid that shone on them, his shirt practically sheer, now, drawing attention to his broad chest, corded shoulders. unfair.
maybe you had been wrong. maybe you couldn't handle this weekend. you'd been able to escape him before, for years, always had an easy out during gatherings with friends, always had something else to focus on.
he was everywhere here. he was unavoidable. he was inside your head, whispering in your ear. he was a phantom grapefruit taste on your tongue.
here, you were basically back in his bed, two years ago, back in that bar booth. here, you were surrounded by him.
"you sent nico to spy on me," you said, each word pronounced perfectly clear. you clenched your fists tight as if to restrain them. "how many times do i need to tell you, quinn? who i fuck is none of your business!"
he let out a noise that was half-growl. "you wanted him?" he asked, low and loaded, so painfully so it made your stomach drop.
"what does it matter?" you said. "i can't even speak to someone on this boat, apparently, without you breathing down my neck!"
"it matters," was his reply, spoken so softly, with a cutting bite. "it matters, doll."
you narrowed your eyes, searched his face for some clue. droplets of liquid still clung to his lashes, making his gaze impossibly beautiful.
"it shouldn't," you said, careful. "i'm desperate, remember?" your eyes widened in false despair. "don't you remember, quinn?"
his gaze dropped momentarily to your mouth, hung there just long enough for you to notice. "i remember," he said, so gently it shocked you. like he wasn't just talking about today.
the sea air suddenly felt hot, despite the windy chill. you were acutely aware of how close he was to you, his arms on either side of your waist, boxing you against the railing, his bent knee just barely grazing yours. the warmth of him like a radiator, the smell of him overwhelming.
"enough with the overprotective act," you demanded, willing any shake from your voice. "it has to stop, quinn, i can't do it."
"you can't do it?" he asked, calculated, incredulous. "you can't do it?"
you let out an exasperated huff. "what are you saying?" you pleaded. "jesus, fuck, quinn, all you do is stare and stare and stare and say nothing!"
"what am i supposed to say?" he said, gesturing vaguely around. "what could i ever say to you?"
"maybe try something true!" you said. "give that a shot!" your volume was much too loud, and there were probably people around, but you didn't really care, couldn't even register their presence. as always, with him, no one else seemed to matter, to even exist.
you could feel his chest rise and fall against yours for a moment, a pause so thick it almost felt suffocating. "it hurts to look at you," he said, finally.
and it would have been mean, would have been some cheap shot at calling you ugly, if his voice hadn't broken halfway through. if it hadn't seemed to be the hurt that was really the point.
his arms at your sides felt like something scandalous.
"and yet all you do is stare," you said, almost drowsily. "must be doin' a whole lot of hurting, over there."
something that felt like truth rose and fell between the two of you, light as the salty breeze, dark as the deep water below.
"does it hurt, now?" you breathed, your face so close to his as you peered up at him through your lashes.
his exhale felt like a million words, all jumbled up, offered up to you on a silver platter. he looked almost haggard. "so much, doll," he practically whined, and you wanted to taste his confession on your tongue, wanted to know what his honesty felt like on your lips. if it would feel the same as it did those years ago, if it would feel better.
you raised a careful, delicate hand to his damp face, brushed your fingertips along his hairline, slowly, almost mesmerized. he looked so beautiful, then, the faint light of the deck in contrast with the night making his face angelic in a terrible sort of way. "tell me you hate me," you said, little more than a whisper.
he gave an almost undetectable shake of his head, a rogue lock of hair curling into his face. "i can't," he said, soft, pulled into a trance by your ghost of a touch.
his full lips were so close to yours, and you angled your head slightly to made room for him, wanted all of him just so badly-
"no!" came a loud protesting voice that you immediately recognized as savannah. "do not throw her overboard!"
the two of you bolted apart from each other, a few feet between you, now. your pulse was still a pounding thud in your head, though, your body a sack of candy conversation hearts in all of its deliriousness.
you supposed it would look fairly suspicious, quinn so close to you, his hands so close to you, against the railing of the ship. maybe it did look like he was going to toss you over the edge. you could have laughed at how ridiculous the reality was.
savannah now stood in front of the two of you. you couldn't look at quinn, deathly afraid of what you would find if you did.
"what the hell was that, in there?" savannah demanded, gesturing wildly to where she had come from. she fixed her eyes on you. "since when are you a drink-thrower?"
you mumbled something like since a few minutes ago, i guess.
she huffed, turned to quinn. "and i hear you're sending nico on errands to do your dirty work for you?"
quinn looked at his feet, shifted his weight slightly. "wouldn't call it dirty work," he grumbled.
your best friend took a deep breath. "i understand that you guys don't really get along," she said, evenly.
quinn's gaze shot to you for a second, but you didn't return his attentive stare. you have no idea, you wanted to tell savannah.
"and i guess i should have known better than to trap you guys on a boat for a weekend, but you're adults! and the wedding is in less than a week," she continued, not angry but obviously frustrated. "i'm the one who's supposed to have a meltdown on wedding day, okay? not you two."
"sorry, sav," you said, and you felt bad, really.
she waved her hand. "it's my fault, too," she said, "just, i don't know, sleep this off and tomorrow you'll be able to get off this boat. think we're docking for a few hours, or something."
you sighed, snuck one last look at quinn like a last bite of a shared dessert. evidence of emotion just barely hid under his casual mask, evidence of being affected by you.
"i'll do better, okay?" you said, just to savannah, as you passed her, pulled her in for a quick hug in apology. "i promise."
she hugged you back. "i know it's not just you," she whispered into you ear. "and i trust you."
you nodded, squeezed her a last time before making the trek back up to your room. you passed jack, waiting just off to the side, keeping an eye on savannah, presumably.
"goodnight," you said to him, giving him a feeble wave.
he offered you a smile. "don't tell him i said this," he whispered, "that was one of the best things i've seen in my life."
you rolled your eyes at him as he bid you a returning goodnight.
you spotted lexi, sitting at a table just outside of the club entrance, your eyes widening when you recognized the blonde in her lap as the girl quinn had been dancing with. you smiled, slightly. they looked lost in conversation. they looked good together.
as you turned the corner to the stairwell, you almost jumped, then brought a hand to your heart, let out an alarmed exhale before recognizing nico, making out with a girl against the stair railing in an almost violent way.
you tried to squeeze past the two of them, eventually giving him a light shove. "move, nico," you whisper-yelled at him.
when you finally got past him and up the stairs, you were only a few steps from your door, finally closing yourself back into your room, exhaling a heavy breath, slipping off your heels.
you didn't quite make it to your bed, instead opting to fold a leg underneath you on the floor, lean back against the side of the mattress.
you weren't really sure why you suddenly felt that undeniable pressure on your waterline, that heat at the edges of your face that signaled coming tears.
the breeze through your window was a calming chill as you ran your palms up and down your thighs, trying to bring your breathing back to normal.
it felt like your heart was ten times its normal size, like it was so heavy it was sinking down into your stomach, like an anchor into the ocean waves.
your mind was a flurried rainstorm of quinn's hand on your wrist, his arms by your sides, his chest through his button down. his parted lips, so close to yours, his eyes, so unlike the fixed iciness you'd grown used to from him.
tell me you hate me, you'd asked him, practically begged him, your tone a sinful sort of plea.
i can't, he'd answered, like your request for the truth was some binding promise, like your pure want was some altar-laid sacrifice.
you went to sleep that night jittery, dreamed of slate eyes and stolen touches, glances that meant something stark.
of course, the next day, the last full day of the cruise, your energy had not dissipated. it left you just as uncertain and edgy as ever, because now, you wondered what quinn would do when he saw you.
more probable than not, you knew, he would do nothing. he would probably pretend like, just last night, he hadn't been about to kiss you, like he hadn't confessed to something monumental.
he would probably revert right back to staring, staring, staring, and nothing more. he might even revert back to hating you, for all you knew.
and then there was the part of you, a scary, maybe delusional part of you, that believed that maybe last night had changed something. that maybe he would do more than just look, that maybe you'd do more than just fight, that maybe this time would be different.
oh, how you wanted it to be different.
it had been you and quinn, first. how you wanted it to be you and quinn, now.
at the very least, you thought, as you got ready to leave, you'd have a way out, this time. you were finally getting off the boat, going to the beach for a few hours.
if he got to be too much, you could just walk away, this time, like you had grown used to in the past.
it was this positive outlook that you clung to as you made your way off of the boat, meeting up with luke on the stairs.
"and where were you last night?" you asked, after greeting him, raising a questioning brow.
he gave a playful eye roll. "no where as exciting as you," he said, teasing. "almost getting tossed overboard, and all."
you smacked him lightly on the back of the head. "i did not almost get thrown overboard," you clarified, "i was having a civilized discussion with your brother."
luke hummed. "were you?" he asked, "not quite what i heard."
"when did you become such a gossip, hm?" you pestered, stepping off onto the dock, exhaling with slight relief at the feeling of solid ground underneath your feet.
he shrugged. "people tell me stuff," he said, simply. he didn't have to clarify who people were.
you narrowed your eyes. "how much stuff?"
luke met your gaze, and there was an understanding there that scared you. "enough," he said.
you looked at your feet as you stepped onto the sand, found it warm, calming. "oh, great," you mumbled. you could only imagine what quinn must have said about you. how desperate and deluded you were, how you had gotten so attached to him after a single night, how you'd suddenly grown so malicious towards him as soon as he didn't return your feelings. your head hung, just a bit, because you hated to think that luke, someone you trusted and cared about so much, would think this of you, just from hearing it from quinn. "shocked that you even hang out with me, then, honestly."
you could feel luke's gaze on you like the sun. he cleared his throat, making you look up at him. "think, uh," he began, scratching the back of his neck in a nervous sort of habit. "think maybe you should just talk to him."
you laughed, spotting savannah and jack setting up an umbrella further down the beach. "because that's worked so well for us," you joked, but your heart jumped in your throat. because, oh, how easy it felt to refer to yourself and quinn as an us.
luke just shrugged. "it's worked better than the alternative," he said, putting his towel down before making to help jack with beach chairs.
his words stuck with you, suspended in your mind, for a moment, because he was right. you realized, however painfully, that you would prefer a screaming match with quinn by the pool to silent staring across the room at a gathering with your friends.
you'd take an excruciating argument with him over feigned, false civility any day of the week.
there you stood, your feet in the sand, looking out at the water, and you finally understood that you'd take all of the ugly, all of the hurt, all of the cold, if only it'd give you all of him.
"uh, you good?" sav said, giving you a confused look as she registered your quiet stillness.
you shook yourself from your mind, smiled at her. "all good," you said, and it was true.
lexi joined with the blonde from the night before in tow, whom she announced as erin.
you gave erin a guilty smile when you introduced yourself. "sorry again about last night," you said.
erin waved you off. "don't worry about it," she said, "that was the most dramatic night out i've had in forever."
she set up her towel next to you and lexi, and you quickly found how easy she was to talk to.
nico ambled his way down, at some point, eyes hidden behind massive sunglasses, a baseball cap on his head, a giant hoodie on despite the heat.
jack laughed when he got close enough. "the feds onto you, or something?" he said, referring to nico's ridiculous getup.
nico's pretty face contorted into a scowl. "i'm never drinking again," was his rough reply as he sat down on a towel, practically hissing at the bright light of the sun.
"yeah, right," you laughed. "you said that last time."
"fuck off," nico grumbled, hanging his head between his bent legs.
"oh, don't be mean, nico," savannah said, "it's not our fault you can't hold your tequila."
luke's face scrunched up is distaste. "you were drinking tequila last night?" he asked, "when did you join delta gamma?"
nico made to protest, but you didn't hear it, not really, because you were distracted.
your attention had strayed to where quinn now stood, right beside luke's chair. his approach had been silent, practically stealthy, but he was here, and he was looking at you.
the conversation around you seemed to fade away, to dip down deep below the gentle waves that lapped at the shoreline.
it was still a shock to your system every time you saw him, even though you'd known each other for so long. maybe it was an even greater shock, now, because you weren't quite used to seeing so much of him, of getting so much of him, on back to back to back days.
after being practically starved of him, or at least of his true emotions, this weekend had felt like being drowned in him, held under the water by your throat until your vision swam and your chest was on the edge of exploding.
it didn't help that the way he looked, now, in broad daylight, was so brutally stunning that it stole your breath.
he looked almost weary, the shadows of his face defined and sharp, his jaw rough with stubble. maybe he'd tossed and turned all night, as you had? maybe he'd dreamed of you, too?
your languished gaze caught slowly on his bare arms, returned reluctantly back to his face. he appeared to be just barely on the cusp of, well, something, spurred on by your obvious attention, something alight in his eyes that made your stomach flip.
you felt your cheeks grow hot, bit your lip, slightly. when he was looking at you, like this, you could all but hear his firm rasp in your ear, feel his callused hand tug at your hair.
you looked away, down at your hands, afraid that your eyes were giving too much away, afraid that he could somehow tell exactly what you were thinking, exactly what memories his presence was bringing to mind.
everything felt overheated, and not just because of the sun.
time passed at an agonizing pace. hours during which you could sense when he was looking at you, could feel his stare like a bullet to the heart. during which you would occasionally look back, meet his heated, cryptic eyes, silently beg him to do something, to do anything.
but, for hours, he didn't, and you grew angrier, more fiery with every passing second.
of course he would do nothing, you tried to rationalize, this was quinn you were talking about. this was quinn, in front of all of his friends, so of course he would pretend like you were barely there.
the hurt of it all made you feel almost seasick, woozy and disbelieving, mentally grasping wildly for something to grab on to.
the hurt of him made you seasick, the whole of him made you lovesick, but what did it matter, you thought. at what point were you not just dizzy over him?
"i'm going for a walk," you said, abruptly, getting up and mumbling some affirmation when sav reminded you the boat was leaving soon, so you should hurry back.
the sand shifting under your feet, the pleasant chill of the water at your ankles, you wanted it to calm you down, you wanted your escape plan to calm you down, like it had so many times in the past.
that's what you'd said all weekend, wasn't it? that it had been so hard to be around quinn without a clear way out?
you wanted to scream, felt heat prick behind your eyes, because here you were, walking away, and it didn't feel any easier. you didn't feel any relief, any satisfaction.
he was back there, and you were here, and it didn't look like last night had changed anything, for him. it didn't look like you were as life-altering a person as he was, for you.
the thought made slow, hot tears finally, finally break through. you blinked hard as you continued to walk, the pressure in your head painful, scorching droplets hanging onto your throat before falling to the sand below.
you had no idea how long you had been walking, how long you'd been crying, but eventually, you looked up, and realized it was actually getting darker. the sun was much lower in the sky, the wind a bit quicker. clouds had began to creep in, making it grey and ominous.
great, you thought, rain on your impossibly long walk back was exactly what you needed.
you stilled, looked down at your feet, let out a deep, heavy breath, watched the water twist and pool around your ankles. maybe you could just stay like this forever. maybe your body would eventually decompose into the damp sand and smooth pebbles, turn into something beautiful.
"jesus, doll, there you are."
your head whipped back as you turned around, found a slightly out of breath quinn now in front of you. you blinked at him, your lips shut. was this some trick of the storm? what was he doing here? how dare he follow you?
your eyes didn't leave his, as you watched his gaze visibly soften so beautifully when he took in your face.
it must have been bad, you thought, evidence of crying for however long all over you. your cheeks must have been splotchy, your lashes clumped together, your lips puffy, eyes red.
this vision of you seemed to sober him, to make his heightened breathing cool down to something more composed.
he exhaled, braved a step closer to you, now only a foot apart. his gaze dripped down you in a way that had you wanting to just sink into the earth. "doll," he began, almost a warning, "you been crying?"
you didn't say anything, for a second, didn't indulge his obvious question with a response.
"what are you doing here?" you said, eventually, but it came out like a statement, a whisper, as you messily wiped your face with the back of your hand.
he had the gall to blink back at you, as if confused, that sorry softness still drenching his face, his posture. "you'd been gone for a while," he began, "the boat was leaving, and i just-"
"do you just want to fight, again?" you asked, your blood growing hotter with each second he was here, so close to you. you hated how wobbly your voice sounded, how resigned you already seemed to be. you peered up at him, felt your heart crack in two. "do you know your lines, yet, quinn?"
"i don't want to fight," he said, and conflict burned bright across his gaze, indecision.
"should i start or you?" you pressed, ignoring his admission, "how many times do i have to make a fool of myself before i finally stop expecting you to act like i matter?"
his breath was sharp in silence. the wind whipped your hair around your face, sticking to your tear-stained cheeks.
"of course you matter," he said, almost incredulous, like the whole idea of thinking otherwise was ridiculous.
your laugh was bitter, mean. "oh, of course," you bit out. "of course, right? how could i not be able to tell? you say you don't hate me, but you won't even talk to me in front of our friends," you swung you arms about in gesture. "jesus fuck, quinn, you almost kissed me, last night, and today it's right back to whatever bullshit we've been pulling for the last two years." you looked away from him, so overwhelmed with emotion. "it wasn't me who ruined this whole thing."
"you think i ruined it?" something equally terrifying and lovely melted across his eyes.
you scoffed. "it wasn't me who pretended like we'd never met," you snarked. you could almost sense a well of feeling rumbling through him like a cresting wave.
"you left!" he finally rasped, the most emotion you'd seen from him, maybe ever, his voice echoing in your head as the wind continued its assault, as small raindrops began to fall. "you left, doll, okay? i thought that night was special, but i woke up alone," he said, and it was so gravelly, sad, you felt it in your teeth.
you blinked, watched his chest rise and fall in heaving breaths. how could that be true? it dawned on you that you barely remembered much of what you did that morning, having focused so intently, for so long, on him. was it possible this whole thing was a misunderstanding?
"so you pretend not to know me?" you pressed, rain cold on your legs, your face, an icy contrast to the hot tears that had stopped flowing.
he gave a resigned gesture, blew out a breath. "i was embarrassed!" he said, "i am embarrassed, okay, doll? it's fucking embarrassing to be so into someone and then have them leave without saying goodbye, alright?"
your split heart thumped despite its brittle ache. there was a pause as you both registered just what the other had just admitted to.
both of you were soaked, now, rain dripping down your faces, but you didn't feel cold. you felt as if every inch of your skin was on fire, like your heart was trying to claw its way out of your chest.
you didn't know what to say. he had laid all his cards on the table, right in front of you, given you the honesty you'd been begging him for.
"and, you know, you wanted to kiss me, too, last night," quinn said, finally, defensive, hot, a thermometer approaching the highest temperature. as if the fact made it easier on him, somehow, as if it was a thread tying him to the earth, keeping him from floating away. "it wasn't just me."
you groaned through clenched teeth, a guttural sound. "of course i did! of course i want to kiss you!" you almost yelled, laying a tight fist on his solid chest, just barely holding back from slamming it into him.
his eyes were a forest fire, then, as your choice of words registered, a pause heavier than rock between you.
"wanted or want, doll?" he asked, and it was a breath, a whine, a plea as he allowed himself to wrap a heavy arm around your waist, pull you closer to him, until you could feel the warmth of his breath on your face. the closest he'd been, dizzyingly close, like a dream.
you realized your mistake even in your dazed state, how he'd said you'd wanted to kiss him the night before. how you said you want to.
you could have easily laughed him off, said it was a tenses slip-up. you unfurled your fist, instead, laid your palm flat against his chest, perhaps imagined his heart beating in your grip.
he had been so honest with you, after all, had finally told you the truth. the least you could do was return the favor.
"want," you all but whispered, gazing up at him through raindrops and vulnerability.
what was and what could be melted away in a single moment.
he was a blur of relief and desperate motion. "thank fuck," was his murmured groan as he took the side of your face in a rough hand and guided your lips to his in a kiss that felt like a feat of nature one million times more impressive than the storm that blew around you.
it had been years of countless petty fights and cruel misunderstandings, of bitter jealousy and longing gazes, of deifying the last time you'd had quinn, like this. and yet, still, it was so much better than you remembered. he was.
the way he clutched at your hip like he couldn't bear to let you go, not anymore, not this time. the way his hand on your face was so firm, but so gentle. that undeniable faint grapefruit taste, so completely him.
how you melted into his chest, wrapped your arms around his neck, just wanting him closer, closer, just wanting him so close that you'd never be apart again.
you whimpered against his mouth when his teeth pulled lightly at your bottom lip, like some punishment for all you'd put him though. you just rooted your hand in his hair, now soaking wet, tugged at the curls near his neck, in your own kind of retaliation, until he gave a choked moan of his own.
that's for what you did to me, the soft sensation of pain screamed at both of you.
but his chapped lips moved with such intention against yours, like he wanted to swallow down all of the tears you'd cried over him. your body against his felt so right, so warm and comfortable even in the wet and cold weather.
but this is for what you are to me, was the ultimate response, communicated wordlessly through your kiss, through his.
at some point, you both pulled away, only just slightly, your forehead leaning against his as you both caught your breath, so elevated. his stony eyes were so molten, so clear and telling, as he traced his thumb down your jaw, finally wrapped both arms around your back and clasped his hands.
the silence was so beautiful, for a while.
"did the boat really leave?" you asked, dazed, finally, your voice low, husky.
quinn just nodded. "jack said they'll reimburse us for the night if we stay at the inn downtown," he explained, looking around to locate the road, the civilization that existed outside of your perfect bubble. his eyes found you again, something like mirth hidden in there, somewhere. "probably should get out of the rain."
your swollen mouth quirked up in a half-smile as you nodded your agreement, let him hold your hand in his as you made the short walk to the inn jack had been referring to.
you checked in together, ignoring a slightly confused look from the person at the desk, probably at the fault of your rain-drenched appearances. quinn made to grab some overnight necessities at the supermarket next door, kindly letting you take a warm shower while he did so.
when you opened the door to your room, you quickly realized that there was only one bed to share between the two of you. your stomach rolled at the thought, at the pressure that would exist, or not exist, when he returned. at the question of how far you were going to take this. your heart hurt at just how far you'd take it, take him, if he'd let you.
the thought vibrated through you as you let the warm water wash away the day's wear from your skin, eventually wrapping yourself up in a towel.
you hadn't realized how late it was, the quick storm messing with your conception of passing time. it was almost nine by the time quinn got back.
he closed the door behind himself, and the clicking noise that followed felt like something serious as he turned to face you, set the bag of things he had gotten on the dresser.
he cleared his throat as his gaze caught haphazardly on your bare shoulders, the slope of your neck, then finally registering the bed that you were sitting on, the singularity of it. he flushed down to his collar, making butterflies flutter to life in your chest.
he eventually averted his gaze enough to maintain a glimpse of dignity, opening the bathroom door. "got some stuff for you in there, doll," he called, gently, over his shoulder before he shut the door behind him, seemingly to take a shower himself.
you tried not to blush, because you were too old for that, too mature. you exhaled, tried to convince yourself that you would be fine no matter what happened, tonight. you'd kissed, sure, and there seemed to be an air of lightness, of understanding between you, but that didn't necessarily mean you were entirely past all of your issues. that didn't mean quinn wanted to move as fast as you did.
you distracted yourself by going through the bag on the dresser, trying to put together some semblance of your nighttime routine. the clothing options, understandably, must not have been plentiful. you smiled, laughed lightly as you pulled out the tshirt he'd gotten for you to change into, which was one of those touristy ones that read the person who bought me this shirt loves me very much!
and it was obviously because there had been no other options, but a piece of you clung to the sentiment, dug your nails into the flesh of it so hard it began to bleed.
regardless, you got ready to go to sleep, pretended to ignore when you heard the shower head turn off, the bathroom door eventually open, averted your gaze and forced away your blush upon quinn's reappearance.
the air of the room felt almost metallic, tangible, like it was rattling around the space instead of flowing.
you knew it was partially due to the way he looked, now, damp and flushed from the warm water, his chest bare and broad, a towel slung low on his hips. you swallowed, looked up at the ceiling, as if there was something very interesting up there. as if there was anything more captivating to you than him.
he pulled on the cheap clothes he'd gotten for himself, went through the motions of his own little routine, all while you pretended to be on your phone, scrolling through apps but not retaining even a bit of information.
"good if i turn the light out?" he eventually asked, soft, to which you nodded, consenting to the darkness that followed, the rustling of comforters and sheets as he joined you on the bed.
you set your phone down, tried to close your eyes, but you couldn't relax, not with him just so, so close, not with so much that you still wanted to do. not with years of complete lack weighing on you, not with the memory of his lips on yours so beautifully fresh in your mind.
you were turned away from him, a bit of space between you, but you could somehow feel that he was awake, too, that he was just as aware of the energy and expectation that coated the two of you like a watery film.
the texture of the inn's cheap sheets felt grating and terrible against your hot skin, made you restless, rubbing your legs together against the other slowly, fussing with your pillow, tediously careful to not make contact with him.
"doll," was quinn's inevitable comment, more of a warning, a statement, spoken low and rough, rumbling through you.
you didn't turn to face him, but stilled. "sorry," you mumbled, your cheeks warm.
"what's wrong?" you could basically feel the words on your back, the heat from his breath, his body.
you exhaled, still refusing to face him head-on, knew you'd be done for if you did. "nothing's wrong," you whispered.
he hummed, almost like this was amusing to him. "can feel you thinkin' from here," he said, soft. "tell me."
the pause before you spoke was solid, weighted. "just don't want to go back what we were before," you said, and it was the tone of a beggar, so honest in want. "just want this time to be different."
then he reached his arms out, wrapped them around your middle, pulled you back against his soft frame. you swore you must have exhaled a thousand anxieties as you melted into him, shifted your hips back against him.
"i want that, too," he admitted, and you could barely stop your smile as you finally turned to face him, undeniably beautiful even in the darkness.
"really?" you asked, not caring for a second how pathetic it sounded, how glutted with hope, almost childlike.
you felt his nod more than saw it as his grip around you tightened, his hands firmly grasping the flesh of your hips as you reached up, traced your fingers along the edge of his jaw.
"i'm sorry i left," you breathed, and you could feel his chest contract at your apology. "i never wanted to hurt you."
"i'm sorry, too," he said, "'m sorry i acted like you didn't matter to me, doll." his tone dripped with meaning. "'m sorry i lied."
your mouth quirked. "done a lot of lying, haven't we?" you mused. it was honestly impressive, how long you'd both kept up the charade.
he mumbled some affirmation that you felt against your forehead, the heat of it making you rub your calves together, again. "still nervous?" he asked.
you peered up at him. "not nervous," you clarified, "i just-"
you exhaled, lowered your gaze, almost stumbled over your words, because how could you tell him exactly what you thought?
how could you say all i've wanted for years is for you to touch me like you did that night?
somehow, maybe because he was feeling something similar, he seemed to know exactly where your head was, exactly the dilemma that existed in your mind.
"ask me," he said, hard, firm, "ask me, doll. know i like you desperate."
you whimpered, because his words could have been a taunt, had been a taunt before, but not this time.
because you were desperate, only for him. and he wanted you anyways.
"i need you, quinn," you whined, gathering his shirt in a clenched fist, "fuck, i need you so bad."
that was enough, though you supposed the truth had always been enough, for the two of you.
it was enough for his lips to crash against yours for the second time, that night, this time so soft, no longer fueled by anger or revenge but by something lovelier, slow burning, something you felt in your feet.
your lips parted almost immediately in a soft moan, making space for him as his hand braced the back of your neck, holding you tight as he shifted you so that he was on top of you, the weight and solidity of him almost oppressive, if not exactly what you'd been craving for so long.
he kissed you hard, adoring, like he wanted the outline of your mouth imprinted on his forever, as his other hand traced down the side of your body, eventually stilling to push your searching hips into the mattress.
"be good, doll," he murmured against your jaw, leaving messy kisses down your neck that had your throat feeling tight.
"can't," you whined, grasping for the curls at the nape of his neck, lifting your hips again to try to get some kind of friction against his lap. "can't, baby, been waiting so long." you tugged at his hair as his hand rested heavily on your inner thigh. "been wantin' you forever."
he let out a groan, finally moved his broad hand to tug your clothes aside, run his fingers through your folds. "yeah?" you could feel him smile against your neck as your breathing picked up, as he just barely grazed your clit, making you squirm. "been thinkin' 'bout me?" he asked. "'bout the last time i fucked you?"
you whimpered, nodded feverishly, because you had been thinking about it. a day rarely went by that you didn't think about it. it felt like something mythical that it didn't have to be just a memory anymore, that he didn't have to be your haunted house. that he could be here, with you, like this.
he pushed a thick finger into you, urging a strained sound from your throat. "'s okay," he cooed, watching you adjust to the pressure, the sensation.
he began a steady pace, adding another finger, making the slick sound of you seem to echo off the thin walls of the inn, making you wonder briefly if there was someone staying in the room next door. such a concern was quickly overwhelmed, though, as you got used to the stretch of his fingers, began to hunger for something else.
"know 've been dreamin' 'bout you, don't you?" he asked, moving his fingers faster, "fuck, got me all worked up, all those times, doll." his smirk grew arrogant. "so mean of you."
you clutched at his tense forearm. "''m sorry, quinn," you begged, rough and wild, "please, baby, please fuck me."
he slowed his pace, let you paw at his clothes before helping move them out of the way. "ask so pretty for me," he praised, spitting into his hand, pumping himself up and down, so hard and hot against you as he lined himself up, his voice dipping down even lower, somehow, like he was speaking only to himself, as if in a dream. "been dyin' to fuck you."
you whined when he began to push into you, the stretch dizzying, making your vision swim, your chest tighten. you grabbed a fistful of a sheet with one hand, the other arm grasping for him, eventually looping around his neck, your nails digging into the tense muscles of his shoulders.
his exhale was a shudder, one you felt so deeply, so intimately, one that told you that he was feeling a similar way to you - like you were being pulled between memory and reality, what was and what would be.
the pressure felt impossible as he bottomed out, let you adjust to him. "you're, fuck," you bit out, squeezing your eyes shut, "'re bigger than i remember."
someone else probably would have smirked, said something self-satisfying, but he didn't, seemingly too lost in the feeling of you around him, of having you, like this. "open your eyes, doll," he said, strained.
you gave a slight shake of your head in protest, knowing exactly what your refusal would do to him, knowing exactly the roughness it would bring out as he began to fuck into you, slow and deep, so overwhelming and perfect you could have cried.
"don't be a brat," he ordered.
a greedy smile fell across your lips when you felt his warm palm on your throat, his hand squeezing just barely, just enough feel him, everywhere. you opened your eyes, met his dark gaze, felt yourself clench down so tightly around him.
his rhythm grew brutal. "still like that, do you, doll?" he groaned, to which you whined at the insinuation that he remembered every detail of that night the way you did. that he had remembered what you liked and didn't like so vividly, even now.
"more, baby," you pleaded, feeling your head grow fuzzy with pleasure, that pressure inside of you so extreme, heat bursting through your waterline like you were about to cry. "fuck, quinn, need you harder."
"yeah?" he rasped, releasing your neck and bringing his hands down to tease your clit, making your back arch up off of the mattress, your hips jolting. "'f you needed a good fuck, doll, should've just asked."
you whimpered at his words, so cruel, but they pushed you impossibly closer, regardless, as he placed a wide palm on your lower stomach, intensifying the sensation. "i needed it," you babbled, feeling the wet feeling of hot tears on your cheeks but not really registering anything besides him, "needed your cock, baby."
he groaned, looked up for a second as if praying. maybe he was. maybe this was something worth praying for. "can feel you close, doll," he said, his thrusts growing wild, his face flushed with exertion, "give me it, hm?"
"'m gonna cum," you breathed, not recognizing your husk of a voice as you rooted your hand in his hair.
"cum on my cock," he said, a plea, "fuck, doll, been so perfect for me, waited so good."
you came apart at his words, your vision growing dimmer even in darkness, your thighs tensing as you felt your high trigger his own orgasm, warm and wet, his rough groan louder than even the storm-heightening waves outside, somehow more powerful.
his heavy body collapsed atop yours, both of you damp with sweat, your hair sticking to your tear-stained face, his soft curls to the back of his neck. you could feel every exhale against your chest, every twitch of his muscles in your bones.
at some point, he rolled off of you, pulled you against him, so, so tight, like letting you go would be something unforgivable. his arms around you felt like a million apologies, like something solid underneath you, finally, after being seasick and dizzy for so, so long.
he traced a drowsy thumb under your eyes, collecting the remnants of tears you'd barely noticed you'd shed.
"that good, eh?" he rasped, and you could hear his smile.
you rolled your eyes, couldn't stop your own grin as you playfully slapped him on the chest, relished in his low laugh against your hand, into your hair. "hey, can i ask you something?" you said, propping yourself up on your elbow.
"'course," he said, and that alone felt like something too lovely to be true.
"will you be my date to the wedding?" you asked, and your smile grew wider at his obvious conflict of interest. "even though it means you'll lose our bet?"
he groaned, rubbed a hand over his face. "fine," he said, his eyes flashing in the dark, "but only 'cause you look so pretty like this."
you gave a light noise of excitement in celebration, leaned forward to press a kiss to his cheek. "and for my prize i choose," you said, trailing off, thinking, tapping a finger to your mouth in contemplation before pointing it at quinn. "you."
his gentle smile was something surreal as he pulled you even closer to him, your cheek against his chest. "done," he breathed, and when he pressed his lips to the top of your head, it was something right.
when you finally reconvened with your friends the next day at the port, savannah approached you first, pulling you in for a hug.
"i'm so sorry," she said, "i wanted to stay and wait for you, but quinn said he was going to go by himself, and then luke said i shouldn't-"
"it's okay," you said, "it all worked out. we're here now, safe and sound."
savannah's brow quirked. "you seem awfully chipper," she observed, taking a step back as if to get the full picture.
you smiled at her, and you could feel quinn smile too, next to you, your stomach flipping when he looped a hand around your waist and pulled you to him, his grip strong and sure.
sav's eyes went wide, lexi laughed. nico whispered something to jack, luke gave an exaggerated fist pump.
"well," savannah said, "took you long enough, jesus."
"wait," you said, slowly, "you knew?"
she waved you off. "of course i knew, i'm your best friend."
you gestured around to the group. "who else knew?"
lexi raised her hand as if in a classroom. you nodded, invited her to speak up. "like knew that you guys fucked a couple years ago?" she clarified, "or knew that you guys secretly were super obsessed with each other?"
"because the answer to both of those questions is yes," nico piped up from the back.
quinn was silent, his low laugh against your neck as he clasped his arms around your front, pulled you back against him.
you turned your neck to look up at him. "did you tell them?" you asked.
"i told someone who probably told them," he mused.
you fixed your gaze on luke. "you absolute drama queen," you scolded, though you were smiling.
luke put his hands up in the air in surrender. "not my fault," he said, "we would have figured it out, anyways. not like you two were doing a good job of hiding anything."
"he's got a point," quinn whispered just behind your ear.
you sighed. "fine," you conceded. "i forgive you. and i forgive all of you for abandoning me in some random seaside town."
nico huffed. "yeah, really slummin' it, eh?" he asked, "you were at a bed and breakfast for a night with your pretty-much boyfriend. relax."
quinn pinched your hip, which made you smile. "so, where are we dropping nico off?" you asked, "might i suggest a deserted island?"
"finally gets the guy she wants and suddenly she's got jokes," nico muttered.
you felt quinn smile against your neck, and you smiled, too.
the wedding, the next weekend, was exactly the beautiful occasion you knew it would be, with only the most predictable of issues and the most simple of solutions.
you walked down the aisle with quinn, whose touch on your waist lingered right before you split apart to stand on opposite sides of the altar. when you both stilled, you shared a soft smile that felt like home.
lexi walked next, arm and arm with nico. erin was somewhere in the pews, as her and lex had really hit it off, and you were pretty sure about four girls here were under the impression that they were nico's one and only date.
luke walked by himself, a ring-bearer and flower-girl, of sorts, his tie a little too loose, his suit jacket too wide in the shoulders. his friend-date, mackie, you remembered, gave an emphatic cheer when luke tripped over the carpeted aisle, stumbling on his feet.
finally, sav walked down, looking just so beautiful, alight and glowing with the sort of beauty that comes with being a kind person surrounded by those you love.
it was a beautiful ceremony.
the reception was distinct in its energy, heightened by an open bar and big dance floor.
you danced with your best friends, smiled as you watched jack and sav enjoy dances together, laughed as nico tried to juggle his several dates.
"might not have been the best idea, eh?" you asked him, once, when he passed you and luke on the dance floor.
he made a pft sound, waved you off. "i can handle it," he said, his eyes suddenly filling with alarm, "but if you see the redhead, warn me."
you danced goofily with luke for a bit, giggling at his awkward moves, mimicking them in an exaggerated way.
when the songs grew slower, lazily, you felt a hand on the small of your back that you'd know anywhere, that you'd known even in absence.
"mind if i cut in, lukey?" he asked, and you rolled your eyes at his funny wording, but luke complied with a smile, and then it was the two of you, quinn's hands around your waist, yours looped around his neck, your fingers playing softly with his hair.
"you look really pretty, tonight," you said to him, unable to hide your smile, and it was true. his unruly hair, sharp features, full lips, it was distracting. that, combined with his pressed pants and the fact that a few buttons had come undone from his shirt over the course of the night. "everyone's jealous of me, i bet."
you'd tell him a thousand times to see the way his gaze softened, the way a faint pink blush bloomed across the bridge of his nose. "thank you, doll," he said, genuineness evident in his voice, soft. "'re too good to me, yeah?"
you laughed, at this, felt it light up your face. "makin' up for lost time," you teased.
he pulled you so close to him, then, until his embrace was basically a swaying hug, a tired excuse for a dance. "got all the time in the world," he said, low, only for you, against your temple, and it felt like rebuilding a world from devastation. it felt like beginning, like living. it felt like him.
it had been you and quinn, first. it had been you and quinn, the coward and the fool, in the middle, however violently.
and, finally, it was you and quinn, now. now, and forever.
fin.
#hockey#hockey smut#nhl#smut#jack hughes#jack hughes smut#nhl smut#quinn hughes#trevor zegras smut#jack hughes x reader#quinn hughes x y/n#quinn hughes x reader#quinn hughes smut#quinn hughes imagine#luke hughes#nico hischier#matthew tkachuk imagine#matthew tkachuk smut#matthew tkachuk#mackie samoskevich
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The rings.
This is actually part 2 for the ring but honestly, you won't miss anything without reading this first part (besides super cool plot ofc). Also, Charles won the championship and Sebastian Vettel is here too because this man own my heart. Hope you enjoy it!!
Word count: ~2.3k
Warnings: suggestion of smut but nothing too graphic, my English and rainbow throwing-up sweetness.
Charles felt like he had been standing there for years. His hands were a little sweaty and his tie cutting out all of the air that was supposed to go to his lungs.
His brother noticed that but as the good brother that he was, he just send him a cheeky smile and shook his head. Beside him, his best friend Pierre and his other friend Carlos looked at each other, both of them with the same thought behind their eyes: How did that girl manage to still make this guy that nervous?
Finally, piano music stole everyone's attention but not for long because a few seconds into a romantic song, everyone's eyes landed on Kika wearing an amazing, long dress and holding the hand of a little girl dressed in the same color. Sebastian looked proudly at his daughter as she was throwing flowers at his old teammate's wedding.
And that might get Charles's attention for a second, sending a grateful smile towards the older, retired driver but that was until he noticed the one and only he was waiting for that day.
He had to blink away the tears in his eyes to actually be able to look at his almost-wife. More than once, hell, probably more than a hundred times in his life had he imagined her in a long, white dress but non of his visions were even close to the sign before him. He was glad that the aisle she had to go through was so long because he had enough time to take a little tissue from Lorenzo's hand and wipe away the tears that still managed to fall from his eyes and still had a second to admire her.
"Hi" she said in a whisper, not trying to break the silence that was there when she reached him. She had her veil behind her and her friend made it lay prettily on the few steps behind the couple, she herself adjusted the front part, that was covering her face and part of her shoulders. She looked at her soon-to-be husband though see-though material with tears in her eyes.
"Hay", he answered with a deep breath as he grabbed her hands. It was happening, he really needed to calm down before he forgot his whole speech. "You look... Amazing." He complimented her.
"You too, but you need to stop before I cry. Literally took too long to do this make-up." She said quietly, making him, her bridesmaids, and his groomsmen letting out a little chuckle and leaving the rest of the guests clueless.
(no idea what weddings look like in different cultures so you just gotta imagine that, but the vows are always cute af)
Soon enough, the ceremony started. "And now, it is time for vows." The older man next to the couple said.
Y/n took a very, very deep breath, knowing that she is going first. "Charles, I met you all those years ago, back when non of us were even thinking about marriage, we were too young to think about settling down but now, there's nothing I want more than settle down with you. You came into my life unexpectedly and turned it upside down, but actually, you turned it back the right way. You brought calmness and love into my life, two things I'd been crewing badly. Standing there today, I want to promise you, to always be your proud wife and be there through every up and down. Hold your hand during storms and tsunamis. Wipe away your sad tears and keep the happiest smile on your face. Hand you a glass of water in sickness and take care of you. Always be your number one fan. Stand like a wall behind you, be your shoulder to cry and best friend. Because as long as I got you, I will be alright because I love you more than I love life itself." Charles squeezed lightly y/n hands and send her a grateful smile as she let out the next deep breath she had been holding.
"Y/n, we both know that my speech had no chance to beat yours, so I'm glad it's not a competition. You always been smarter with your words than me, actually, I believe that you are just smarter than me, but that's okay, that's on my list of reasons why I love you. I would read it to you but I'm afraid that we won't have that much time in our whole lifetime. I would rather spend it finding out the next things to add to this list because I know you will never stop surprising me. You are the best thing I have in my life and I am incredibly grateful to my best friend and his wife for finding you because you are my person. I might have won a few things in my life but winning over your heart was definitely the best and the most important of them all. I, also, want to promise you my whole lifetime, my love, and every little piece of my heart. I promise to guide you through everything we will be facing together, be proud of you, and keep you by my side 'till the day my heart stops beating."
If y/n didn't make all of their guests cry, now adding Charles's vow, they for sure were. Even Arthur put his pride aside and lost the bet with his friend that he wouldn't shed a tear.
"Now, you can exchange your rings." The little girl appeared again and handed y/n and Charles two, beautiful rings.
"Thank you." Charles said quietly to her as he take a smaller one and grabbed y/n's hand. With both of their hands a bit shaky he somehow managed to put it on her ring finger and after he admired it for a second, he let go of her hand so she can grab the other one too.
"Thank you, sweetheart" She said to the girl again and with a big smile on her face little girl ran to her father, mom and siblings. This time y/n put the ring on Charles's hand and lifted her eyes to look at him through the material on her face.
"I now pronounce you wife and husband! You might kiss the bride!" Was heard across the building the clapping begin but it wasn't matter, not when Charles carefully lifted material on y/n head and sneaked under it too, putting it over both of their faces now. There was something magical with the way their eyes met and the way Charles put his hands on y/n checks. She put one of hers over his and the other on his neck as he pulled him closer for the kiss. Slow, and oh so loving. Kiss, that turned into a wide smile even before they pulled away from each other.
"I can't believe you are actually my wife, Mrs. Leclerc." Charles whispered close to her face. Oh, how sweet that sounded.
"And I can't believe you are my husband" She answered him.
He grabbed her veil and helped her put it back so her face was fully seen now. Then he grabbed her hand and made their way to the door as their friends and family clapped for them.
The wedding was magical. And oh, the party was magical too.
"Sorry, may I have everyone's attention?" Y/n heard Pierre's voice through the spikers and she looked at her husband in terror but he only laughed knowing that his very drunk best friend is about to make a fool out of himself "Thank you." He stared again and then cleaned his voice. "We are here today to celebrate the love of my lovely friend Charles and his wife, Y/n. When I and my wife set them up a few years ago, I never thought we would end up here. Like yeah, he was cool for a few dates but I never thought he would pull her that much."
"Wow, thank you, mate." Charles yelled at his friend as he squeezed y/n waist a little bit more as he made a few guests laugh with his comment.
"Don't lie to yourself. You may have a pretty face but you still can't form a proper sentence in front of her. Lucky matherfucker. Anyway, setting you two together was probably one of the best things I ever did. And I expect y'all to be grateful for the rest of our lives. Thank you." Pierre put the mic aside which caused this awful noise that lasted few seconds before someone grabbed it again.
"Yeah, Pierre speaks true. Y/n now that you are truly a Leclerc, I can finally say that you are my favorite Leclerc ever. Peace out." Arthur said quickly and put the mic down, this time in a good enough place, blessing everyone's ears.
"Want to go outside for a second?" Charles practically yelled to y/n ear as the music started playing again after his friend and brother's speech.
Instead of answering him, she just grabbed his hand and pulled him towards large doors.
Outside, he started guiding her towards one of the cars, not really caring whose it was. He sat her on the hood and started caressing her thighs.
"Don't mind me, I'm really enjoying the party but I can't wait to take you home and celebrate just with my wife." He said, his lips close to hers but still not enough to kiss her.
"Few more hours and you have me all to yourself" She answered and pulled him for a very craved kiss with her hands on his cheeks.
"Hey! That's my car" They heard which made them pull away. "Oh, that's you. Sorry, I didn't know." Carlos explained himself, his drunk state probably made him not notice the only white outfit there. "But now that you not kissing anymore, can you please, move to your car. Preferably inside."
"Sorry, mate. What are you doing here?" Charles asked, trying not to act like he just got caught. They both acted like two kids that were doing something they weren't supposed to.
"Isa asked me to bring her the other shoes. The ones she's wearing are too uncomfortable." He explained while opening the door and grabbing nude shoes. "Please, don't have sex on my car" He said as he made his way back inside.
Y/n blushed so Charles assumed her that it was okay by squeezing her hand a little. "Don't worry, he won't remember that in the morning. Let's go back inside." He said and with their fingers together, Charles was able to feel her wedding ring which made a proud smirk appear on his lips as they went towards the party full of their closest ones.
---
It was a rough hour of 4 in the morning and Y/n and Charles finally got home from their wedding reception. Of course, they were incredibly happy to have all of their friends and family there and that for sure was the wedding of the decade but that didn't change the fact that all they wanted was just each outer.
Y/n dropped her body on the couch as Charles unbuttoned his shirt and got on his knees to help her take off her shoes. His feet hurt like crazy after all that dancing so he couldn't imagine how she felt in those heels. After her feet were free he got closer to her face and kept himself steady with his hand on her waist. He kissed her lips.
"Should I help you with his?" He asked referring to her dress.
Before she answered she gave him another kiss "Please."
So, he pulled her up to stand on her feet and started undoing the corset of her dream wedding dress, he was really slow with it. His fingers were brushing her back from time to time and his lips were doing the same on bare skin of her shoulder.
She turned around in his arms as he finally completely undid it and put his hands on her waist. Her own went straight to the back of his neck as she pulled her closed and placed her lips on his in a loving kiss.
Charles was quick to put his hands on y/n thighs and without breaking the kiss he carried her to their shared bedroom. He put her on the bed and hovered over her supporting all his weight on his palms beside her head. Her hands wandered down to fully take off his fancy shirt and then even lower, to undo his belt.
She stopped when his sweet kisses hit the soft spot on her neck, making her moan, one of his hands went lower almost where she needed him the most.
"Charles, please" She whispered, as her hand run through his hair.
"Let me enjoy my wife for a bit." He answered.
And with that, she knew they were in for a long ride and she was right because the rest of the night or more like, the early morning they spend tangled in sheets together, for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. Leclerc.
a/n. Hope you enjoyed it!! I'm planning to write more for Charles but honestly, every time I try writing a series I just lost interest in it so as much as I want them to have babies, it won't be part of this. Also, I really want to write sth for Lando, so feel free to request:) Kisses xx
#charles leclerc#charles leclerc fluff#charles leclerc imagine#charles leclerc imagines#charles leclerc x reader#f1 imagine#charles leclerc x fem!reader#f1 x reader#cl16 x reader#charles leclerc one shot#charles leclerc fic#charles leclerc fanfic#lando norris imagine
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Speak Now
pairing: Steve Harrington x FemReader
warnings: fluff, language, mentions of heart ache, mentions of past trauma, angst.
summary: based off the song Speak Now by Taylor Swift, in honor of Taylor’s version dropping today. Listening to it today I thought of this and I just couldn’t help myself. I rushed and the writing is sloppy, but it’s still cute 💜 I just had to do it to celebrate. For a very basic description the reader crashes Steve’s wedding, enjoy xx
word count: 2,080
Masterlist
7/7/89
It had been three years since you had received a letter from him. Three years almost exactly. Three years since he gave up writing because you never wrote back. Yet this time the letter was in a purple envelope, sealed with a gold wax stamp, and cursive writing in dainty loops across the corner. Not the normal chicken scratch you were used too. Yet there it was, your name scribbled in a rush, center of the envelope. Heart hammering in your chest you opened to see what you absolutely dreaded.
Save The Date!
Tears burned at the back of your eyes but you knew you couldn’t let them fall. Crying would be useless now. You did it to yourself and now you had to deal with the consequences. Running away from Hawkins all those years ago meant running away from him too, but now maybe it was for the best. You could go back, attend the wedding, and show him you had moved on, prove to yourself you had moved on. Yet you were lying to yourself, you knew that wasn't your motive when you taped the invite to your fridge and called work to ask off.
So here you were, driving back to a town you promised yourself you'd never go back to on this extremely hot and sunny day. The purple dress wrapped in plastic laying across the passenger seat. Robin shocked she had recieved a call from you saying you'd needed somewhere to stay for the wedding, mainly because she didn't even know they invited you. She didn't hesitate to say yes though, she had missed you, and even if it was for a day she would take it. So she planned to get ready and let you do her makeup just because it had been so long. She knew not to mention the wedding as you applied eyeshadow to her eyes, curlers wrapped in your hair.
"I'm glad you're here" she tould you fondly, fingers playing with a stray makeup brush. "It's been a really long time"
"Yeah, three years" you muttered, focused on blending the pinks across her eyes.
"I'm glad you came" she told you again, trying to reinforce how much it meant to her and everyone that you were here.
"I'm surprised you’re wearing makeup for this" you told her, trying to stray from the obvious conversation you didn't want to have.
"Not really my choice, Steve wanted me up there in a tux on his side but she told me it was too tacky, that if he needed me in the wedding so bad I could stand up there in a bridesmaid dress" you couldn’t help the roll of your eyes as Robin told you this, clearly not comfortable with the fancy hair, makeup, dress, any of it.
"You can wear a tux at my wedding Rob, and I'd happily wear one to yours" you told her and she smiled brightly, missing you in a way she couldn't even explain. You should be the one marrying Steve and even she knew it. So she caught you up on her life, not leaving out a single detail because maybe if you knew everything you wouldn't leave this time.
Walking up to the church was when you finally addmitted to yourself why you were here. You’re not the kind of girl who should be rudely barging in on a white veil occasion, but he was not the kind of boy who should be marrying the wrong girl. So despite how everything ended all those years ago you knew you had to do something whether you were stopping the wedding for yourself or him, you weren't quite sure yet.
"You go ahead, I'm gonna get some fresh air" You told Robin, her bridesmaid dress a gorgeous pastel color. You were jealous she was in the wedding, standing on the side of his future wife but you knew she was up there for him, not her.
"I'll see you after" Robin set a comforting hand on your shoulder and you nodded, half tempted to light a cigarette despite not smoking one since high school. Yet before you could ask to bum one you found yourself sneaking through the back door, the bustling of the busy wedding party surrounding you. The boys stood in matching tuxes, now so much more grown in the last three years, and girls you had never seen before in matching pastels to Robin whispered in a corner. Unrecognizable family wearing pastels to match rushed around as well, quickly you walked by as if to go unnoticed. That's when you heard the shrill voice, your head peering into a room to see blonde hair curled perfectly laying a top a dress shaped like a pastry as she yelled at a briesmaid. This was not what you had thought it'd be, not what you both had imagined for your own wedding. Knowing Steve never planned something like this.
"Only a few people, none of my family if I can help it, and screw the stuffy church we should get married in a big field with a ton of wildflowers. Hell we should even ask Hopper to marry us, just our friends and the kids. There is no need to make such a big show of your love unless you're trying to prove something, and what do we have to prove?"
"Absolutely nothing, we're as real as it gets"
Those words burned in the back of your mind. The terrible truth that this wedding was him trying to prove something, maybe that's why you had recieved an invite with your name written in such a rush. Maybe it was a cry for help, or maybe you were delusional. No matter what the fantasy of standing and saying 'Don't say yes, run away now, I'll meet you when you're out of the church at the back door. Don't wait, or say a single vow. You need to hear me out' stamped permanently in your brain. Realizing the wedding was about to start you snuck back out, at least before you caught sight of him. Spotting Nancy and Johnathon in a pew, shocked faces painted on as you approached them, you slipped into the seat beside them.
"Y/N what're you doing here?" Nancy asked, moving her purse to make more room for you.
"I was invited" you told her, knowing she wasn't upset just confused.
"No you weren't, I helped send the invites" your heart tripled in speed as she informed you of this, the confirmation that Steve had invited you last minute without saying a word to anyone. A cry for help. You watched people speak fondly to eachother as the organ began to play, the song way to similar to a death march. Seeing the faces around you, the clear shock proved you were not invited by the bride to be, that you were out of place in your bright purple dress, the color of the wildflowers you imagined him marrying you in. Thats when you saw him standing at the alter, big fluffly hair, sleek black tux, and bright eyes. His eyes scanning the crowd.
Then right before they landed on you the bride appeared in the aisle, everyone standing because the wedding had now officially started, her looking like a pageant queen. But you knew he wished it was you, you looked back at him trying to read his thoughts. He would only send an invite if it truly meant he wished it was you and he wanted you to save him. The daydream came to mind again, the hope of meeting at the back door and rushing to find a field of wildflowers fit for you to remember your great love. As the wedding progressed Nancy noticed you bouncing your leg and she shot a worried glance to Johnathon. It may have been three years but she still knew you, knew that you were about to do something so crazy you had to bounce your leg to ease the nerves.
"Speak now or forever hold your peace" The preacher fianlly said and there's the silence, there's you last chance. So you stand up with shaky hands, all eyes on you, horrified looks from everyone in the room, but you're only looking at him. Steve.
Eyes scanned the room, waiting to see what happened next as the bride wore an offended look. Nancy hid her face against Johnathon, unsure what to do as Robin wore a grin bigger than the entire wedding itself. People in the pews whispered, the kids standing beside Steve hitting each other, not realizing you were here until now. Yet you never removed your eyes from his as you waited to see if what you had just did is what he had wanted. That he invited you because he wanted to not say yes, run away now, meet you when you're out of the church at the back door. To not wait, or say a single vow because your time is running out.
Your not the kind of girl who should be rudely barging in on a white veil occasion, but you are not the kind of boy who should be marrying the wrong girl, so here you were standing now when the preacher says speak now.
"What do you have to prove Steve?" you watched as his jaw clenched slightly and then he was dropping her hands, a gasp eliciting from the action yet you couldn't help the smile that appeard on your face.
"Absolutley nothing" and then looking like a dream in that tux he floated down the alter, meeting you in the aisle and rushing out the door. The hum of whispers and shocked gaps filled the church as you disappeared into the entryway, your hands locked together, grins etched across your faces as you let out heavy breaths of air.
"Let's run away now, I'll meet you when I'm out of my tux at the back door. Baby, I didn't say my vows, so glad you were around when they said, speak now" you nodded quickly, adrenaline, excitment, and love flowing through your veins. Steve grinned, hands gripping your face as he pressed a hard and quick kiss to your lips before rushing to the back room of the church where he had left his clothes.
You wasted no time getting to the backdoor, your foot bouncing as you spotted his BMW in the parking spot. The door pushed open and there was the Steve you were used to, the one that wore tight jeans and soft sweaters. He flashed you a smile as he locked hands with you again and you were sprinting to his car, laughs falling from your lips. He shut you in as fast as he could before rushing around the side of the vehicle and turning the engine to life. He peeled out so fast dirt flew up in the air but you both knew that you had already started and there was no point in stopping now.
"You came?" he smiled, hand locking with your own again.
"I did, turns out I wasn't supposed to be invited" you smiled at him and he chuckled.
"I thought I could do it, forget all about you, and do the big white wedding. Then I kept thinking about the field of wild flowers, free of my family and full of the people who actually do love me, and when I thought of that I thought of you" pulling his hand up you pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles, unbelieving that you were in Steve Harrington’s front seat again.
"I wasn't going to come but then I thought of how lonely the last three years have been and some part of me knew it was a cry for help, so I came to try one last time" you honestly told him and he smiled from his seat, continuing to drive towards where he hoped to be by the end of the day.
Looking up you saw he approached a field, just outside of Hawkins, and purple wild flowers waved in the wind, bathed by the sunlight. You realized it was exactly like the wedding you both had imagined. “I planted them a few months ago, I was going to suggest it but I realized I couldn’t share them with anyone but you”
“I love it Steve”
“Just don’t leave again”
“How could I? I just crashed your wedding!”
#steve harrington x fem!reader#steve harrington fluff#steve harrington#steve harrington imagines#steve harrington smut#steve harrington x you#steve harrington x fem#steve harrington x reader#steve harrington imagine#steve harrington plus size#steve harrington fic#steve harrington wedding#speak now#taylor swift#purple#joe keery x you#joe keery#joe keery x y/n#joe keery x reader#joe keery fanfiction#joe keery fic#joe keery imagines#stranger things imagine#stranger things#steve stranger things#80s aesthetic#speak now imagine#steve harrington taylor swift#steve harrington thoughts#steve harrington prompt
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Antonio- Hen Party
Neither Antonio or I wanted a hen party or stag do, but our friends insisted that we at least do something, so 8 months after we got engaged we all head to Mollys for a few drinks.
"What will it be?" Herrmann asks me and Antonio behind the bar
"I'll have a beer. YN?" Antonio looks at me
"I'll have the same" I tell Chris while balancing Lucas on my hip. Herrmann hands Antonio and I our drinks, Toni takes them and we find a table to sit at. I place Lucas on my lap and give him a place mat to play with
"So how does it feel? Next week your going to be a Dawson" Gabby says sitting across from us with Matt, both cradling a beers
"Any wedding jitters?" Matt asks earning an nudge of Gabby
"Not on my end" Antonio looks at me
"I'd be less worried if we were just going to the courthouse. I just have a feeling something is going to go wrong"
"Well it will with that attitude"
"What could go wrong? I've made sure everything's perfect" Gabby smiles at me
"I know I know"
"Everything will go to plan, don't worry" Antonio places a kiss on my temple before going back to his beer. Lucas starts to get fussy throwing the drinks mat on the floor
"Let me have my nephew" I hear Jay say coming up from behind me. As soon as Lucas sees Jay and Will he stretches his arms out wanting to be picked up. I hand him over to Jay "hey buddy, it's passed your bedtime"
"Ha I wish. He hasn't been going to sleep until 12 at night the last two weeks. Don't get me wrong once he's asleep he sleeps until 7 in the morning" I tell Jay.
An hour later Laura shows up with Eva and Diego
"YN, dad!" Eva shouts running over to us
"Hey sweetheart" Antonio ruffles her hair and gives Diego a hug "Laura" he acknowledges
"I'll pick them up tomorrow evening. Just don' be out to late"
"We won't" I try to reassure her
"Yes well considering you have the baby here I would expect you both to be leaving at a sensible time"
"Mum the baby is called Lucas" Diego corrects his mother
"Right well I'll see you both tomorrow. Be good" she gives them a kiss on the cheek before looking back to me and Antonio "I'll takes Eva's bridesmaids dress and Diageo’s suit tomorrow"
"But final fitting isn't until next Wednesday" I frown
"2 days before the wedding is cutting it a bit fine. They aren't going to grow in the next 5 days. I don't even know why your having this wedding, Antonios track record isn't really..."
"Laura that's enough" Will warns
"I'm just saying that he's not had the best of luck when it comes to marriages"
"You were the one who filed for divorce not Toni, you couldn't handle being a detectives wife"
"Because my son was taken!" Laura yells at Gabby
"I think you need to leave"Voight says walking over to us
"Fine. I'll have their things tomorrow" with that she turns and leaves Mollys
"I'm sorry" Antonio turns to face me
"I knew what I was getting into when I started dating you. Crazy job hours, crazy..."
"Ex" Jay mutters under his breath earning a nudge off me
"She's worried that we are rushing all of this. She's scared that I'm going to walk out of the kids lives"
"She should know by now that your not, your in this for life.....aren't you?"
"Of course I am" I place my hands on Antonio's face "I'm not going anywhere"
"Good because neither am I" Toni leans down and kisses my lips.
Like we promised Laura, we don't stay out for too long, plus Lucas has started to get crabby, so we all head off home.
I change Lucas's diaper and clothes to get him ready for bed before I can start getting myself ready for bed
"Goodnight my little man" I place a kiss on his head and sooth him to sleep before placing him in his crib. I then go to the bathroom to wash my face, brush my teeth and put on one of Toni's shirts. Climbing into bed, Antonio is already there waiting for me
"I'm sorry YN, this isn't probably what you had envisioned when you thought about a husband"
"What do you mean?" I frown looking at Toni
"I mean you probably didn't want a divorced man with two kids and an ex wife who doesn't know when to stop sticking her nose into my business"
"Maybe not, but do you know what I did want? I wanted a man who would love me no matter what, a man who loves his kids, a man who trust me, a man who I can trust and I have that and so much more with you. No life is perfect, but with you I have close to perfect as possible. I love you Antonio and I can't wait to be your wife"
"I love you to YN" I cuddle up to my fiancè and fall asleep in his arms.
#antonio dawson#antonio dawson x reader#antonio dawson imagine#Antonio Dawson x yn#Antonio Dawson x oc#one chicago imagine#one chicago#chicago pd
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ROGUE-DURIN-16'S BAND OF BROTHERS MASTERLIST
Key: f=fluff || a=angst || f-a=fluff+angst || ≈f=mostly fluff || ≈a=mostly angst || os=oneshot || hc=headcanons ||mp=multipart || ?=request || db=drabble/blurb
Back to the front line (≈a|os|?)
Mutuals as BoB characters (x)
• DONALD MALARKEY
Request could request a malarkey x reader where the reader got shot in Bastogne and they meet again in Haguenau? w/ a happy ending and teasin from the boys?
Smile for me [Part I] [Part II] [Part III] (f-a|mp)
Summary: a young promising war photographer is sent to document the Airborne's first missions on french soil, where she inevitably meets Easy Company, and Don Malarkey becomes immediately smitten by her. Lucky him, France wouldn't be the only place in which their paths would cross.
• GEORGE LUZ
'Bout damn time (f|os|?)
Request: Could you write some George Luz fluff where he and the company's female medic have had crushes on each other since Toccoa and their feelings come out while watching Trigger for Talbert while in Holland (set around the Crossroads episode)?
It's just me (f|os)
Summary: Y/n Y/I/n has been playing the matchmaker role for the Easy Company boys since Camp Mackall. Curious about how she is so good at it, George Luz questions his friend about a few things, which leads to one dangerous question; who does the matchmaker fancy?
Stranded (f-alos|?)
Request: may I request a stuck together overnight fic with Luz??
See you around (a|os)
Summary: for most of Easy Company, war took away more than it gave. Pieces of them stayed buried six feet under in foreign land while they were forced to carry on with their lives. George Luz and Y/n Y/I/n, who took time for granted, were no strangers to this tragic fate.
Secrets of an Austrian night (f|os|?)
Summary: Turns out all Y/n needed to pour their heart out was a sleepless night by the fire in a lovely Austrian hotel.
• JOSEPH LIEBGOTT
You got me, I got you (a|os)
Summary; the European conflict seems to be coming to an end when Easy Company stumbles upon the true horrors of it. This terrible discovery shakes Liebgott to his core, forcing him to be pulled back by Y/n. Having some time alone with each other, their friendship appears to be reaching its culmination.
Handle the situation (a|os|?)
Request: Can I request an angsty lieb x reader fic in which the reader pushes alley away from the potato masher at crossroads and it hits her instead and like joe is literally dying inside cuz they had been fighting prior to that?
Poison in your coffee (f|os|?)
Request: got a request for you, Liebgott x reader with the prompt "+If I were your wife, I'd put poison in your tea/-If I were your husband, I'd drink it"?? Not too angsty.
The bridesmaid problem (≈f|os)
Summary: Y/n and Joe's friendship, much like the war, came to an abrupt end in Berchtesgaden. Years later, in their close friend's wedding, fate provides them a second chance to mend what they broke off.
• WILLIAM GUARNERE
Deserve better (f-a|os|?)
Request: Can request angst to fluff fic with bill guarnere x reader, where maybe they see each other after the war, when she comes to Philadelphia to see him but he's like, 'you should find someone better than me' y'know?
• MULTI PAIRINGS
Sniper s/o (f|hc|?)
The boys reacting to their significant other being a great shot and having a high kill count. (Luz, Liebgott, Malarkey, Shifty)
Artsy!reader & Easy Co. (f|hc|?)
The boys reacting to the reader sketching them. (Toye, Luz, Bull, Shifty)
Women in suits (f|hc|?)
The boys admiring women wearing suits. (Malarkey, Hoobler, Luz, Shifty, Bull)
#band of brothers masterlist#don malarkey x reader#george luz x reader#bill guarnere x reader#shifty powers x reader#joe toye x reader#bull randleman x reader#joe liebgott x reader
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who: atta & @hoppingseason
when: atta's turn down the aisle; then, after the bombing
where: the altar; then, thumper's yard
As she approached the bottom of the aisle, there were two distinct thoughts that stood out, glaringly: one, that Annette and her brother hadn't gone down before her, and two, that it was better this way. By the time she reached the end, she was certain she didn't want Hopper's new daughter seeing him as angry as she was about to make him. What would've felt like a walk of shame just yesterday was now one of triumph and pride: Kit on her arm, and a manila envelope of files in the other that would save her. Wordlessly, she gave her friend the signal, a nod that sent them on what felt like a mile by the time she reached the end of it.
After giving Kit a tight hug and her sister a wink, Atta didn't approach her fiance, but instead, her brother behind him. As she handed over the folder of paperwork, she gave Myles' hand a small squeeze, the assurance that she'd gotten them out of this for good. They could live their lives together, but separate, in a way that she knew would be worth it one day. When they were old and grey and with people who loved them more than they could ever love each other, she'd think back to this day, and how much it'd taken her to get here.
"I tried to give you these earlier, but I had no choice," she said simply, pressing the envelope into his hands. "You can call it off now." As Hopper flipped open the front to the page that would tell him she was already married, the boy she couldn't find before was now racing towards them, approaching the altar. In a flash, the chaos she'd created spread like wildfire in a different direction, and Hopper took Lilah out the door just as fast as Scamp had come to them, in search of the missing bridesmaid.
~timeskip, to thumper's yard, a few hours later~
Out of her wedding dress now, Atta had been waiting around Thumper's for word on Annette and the state of the hotel. As far as she'd heard, Myles had become good friends with its owner, and it sounded like his time would be much better enjoyed helping Mavis recover from the aftermath. It lightened her heart a bit, to know that he'd found someone who cared about him, who he could care for now. Someone else out there deserved all the love he had to give that Atta couldn't return.
Hopper's car arrived back without his daughter, who she'd overheard on an eavesdropped phone call was on her way to spend the night with her other side of the family. Atta made her way to his office, feeling much more defeated than the victory lap she'd wanted to take. Her trucks had been destroyed, people could've been killed, and as much as she couldn't quite blame all of it on herself, she was sure Hopper would have no problem doing just that.
He entered with a hint of fury she hadn't seen in a while, not since she'd fought with him months ago over this very day. Atta stood instinctively, giving him a nod of her head without a glance of her gaze. "I'm sorry to hear about the hotel, but I'm glad Annette is safe," she said slowly, cautious. "I hope you don't think I had anything to do with it. I would never lay a finger on her--I'd never do that to you, or to Lilah." She'd promised that to him a while ago, when he'd last threatened her sister. "If you didn't have a chance to read everything I gave you, I understand. It's what I'm here to discuss, along with what happened to my trucks, that seemed to have been burnt."
#🍃 the ants pick the food; the ants keep the food; and the grasshoppers leave! ; threads#chat:hopper#the longest thing i've ever written#and that i'll ever write#if you match this i'll kill u
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16 - Mikaelson's Queen
Princess more than a Nickname
@the-big-bad-klaus @alanaangie24 @lxna-mikaelsxn
"I love you, Nik...I'll love you sire bond or not...so marry me." His body stiffened at your words making his heart beat as if he was still human. "What are you saying, princess?" He mumbled out until I pulled his lips down to mine whispering happily. "I'm saying marry me, Klaus Mikaelson. You're my one and only."
Twirling around in my wedding dress I don't think I'll ever stop smiling. My hair is curled and loose because Rebekah insisted that it would look much better than anything else. The door opened for me to spin around seeing Elijah enter the room softly closing the door. "Ms. L/n, I have something for you if you'll accept it." He revealed a necklace from inside his suit pocket holding it in between his fingers. It's a heart that appears to be red, sniffling around I smelt blood making me question. "Who's blood is that, Lijah?" He stepped around me clipping it around my neck allowing me to look at in the long mirror. There were tears visible in his eyes as he whispered fixing his tie. "It's Brooke's blood....after we buried her body I took some as a way to..." Turning around I walk up hugging him and crying a little. He wrapped his arms around me crying too. "Thank you....I know why to keep her close."
"She's with us Elijah. Both of us." I said looping my through Elijah's and we exited the door walking down the allie. He decided to step in for my father since my parents are gone. Caroline chose to preform the ceremony and Rebekah is obviously my head bridesmaid. We chose to have the wedding in Nik's favorite place in the world New Orleans. My eyes trailed the walkway finally landing on Nik. He's wearing a black tux with a white tie, a genuine smile on his face. Elijah hands me over to Nik intertwining my hands with his I don't think I could smile any bigger today but it's going to happen. "Here we go everyone, I am grateful to be preforming the ceremony for these two. They have decided to preform their own vows so Y/n.." Caroline turned her head my direction wearing a pink bridesmaid dress.
Squeezing his hands in mine I started my vows picturing Brooke standing behind me bawling her eyes out happily. "Klaus Mikaelson, I love you. When we met I was a young princess who hadn't expected love. I never thought I would until you came along. You were the prince I was searching for. You brought excitement and love into my life. So there's no one else I'd rather have by my side." Klaus tilts his head down chuckling through tears, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. "Y/n L/n, when I became a vampire I lost my regard for human life. I didn't care what I did to any of them, until I met you my princess. You found a way into my heart which is all I've ever wanted. You saw underneath the monster that I wanted everyone to see. So I promise to show you the world and call you my queen with this ring." Caroline handed him the ring he slipped it onto my left hand grinning brightly.
She hands me another ring where I slipped it on his finger declaring. "With this ring I promise to love you forever." Klaus cups my face gently crashing his lips down onto mine. Wrapping my arms around his neck I deepened the kiss where it gets heated until we heard fireworks going off causing us to break it. "Bonnie did you do those?" Caroline turned to her witch friend who just shrugged her shoulders pointing at me. "I didn't do anything Care. She did. She's a siphoning witch. Drawing power from herself since she's a vampire." Rebekah throws her hands up cheering. "My sister in law is awesome!" The reception was really fun and thankfully nothing too supernaturally crazy occurred where we would have had to compel the human population. Nik bursts into our room in the compound twirling me around the room hearing me giggle until he pressed his lips to mine again.
"I must say, love. I don't think I'll ever get tired of calling you mine, always and forever." He mumbled in between our kisses removing the annoying tie. Tracing my hands up his chest I break it smiling up at him feeling him starting to untying my dress. "Nik, I-" He rests his forehead against mine stopping his previous actions. My parents hadn't really ever talked about what would take place on tonight, except that I would be told to produce an heir. "I won't lie to you Y/n. It will hurt at first but we can stop at anytime. After all we have an eternity to experience everything you want." Wrapping my arms around his neck I nodded leaning up on my toes kissing him. He kisses back and I can feel him holding back so I break it mumbling. "Make me your Queen, Nik." That was all he needed to hear before he picked me up making me squeal getting tossed on the bed. He removes his shirt kissing me yet again and my hands end up tangling in his curly hair. He removes the dress breaking our kiss eyeing me lovingly. "I love you, my Queen...and princess is always more than a nickname for you." I grinned wrapping my arms around his neck pulling him back in. "Now a Siphon Witch and a Original Hybrid will never be apart again."
Comments really appreciated ❤️
Well readers, this is the end. I will admit I have a crush on Klaus Mikaelson as anyone reading this story does. Anyway thank you to everyone who's read this story and or left comments. Please check out my other stories
#princess more than a nickname#klaus mikaelson x reader#klaus mikaelson#klaus mikaelson x reader fanfiction#klaus mikaelson x princess reader#caroline forbes#damon salvatore#elijah mikaelson#rebekah mikaelson#original hybrid#hybrid x heretic#hybrid#tvd heretic#heretic#joseph morgan#siphoner#siphoning#princess#royalty#monarchy#tvd#tvd x reader#tvd fanfiction#tvdu#tvd fandom#wattpad fanfiction#comments really appreciated
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Oct. 21: Unlikely Caretaker
From @oh-no-my-hand-slipped’s list of prompts.
Hindsight ‘verse (AO3). Madeline & Izzy/Jamie, at a wedding.
Read it on AO3 or below. List of all of my October prompt fills.
It's the flowers.
Which Izzy could've told Ryann if it had come up, but it hadn't, because Ryann's mom was the one with opinions about flowers and Ryann and Will had gladly handed that part of wedding planning over to her, and now they're two hours from the wedding. And Madeline has been sneezing ever since someone handed her her bouquet.
She'd handed it back as soon as the first round of pictures were done, but there's another round coming soon, and honestly the whole venue is draped in flowers so it's kind of a moot point. Thank god these bridesmaids' dresses have pockets; Madeline's are nearly overflowing with the tissues she's been able to find so far.
Lia has her hand on Izzy's arm, trying to get her to help solve the latest problem that's come up. Izzy thinks it might be why doesn't table nine have enough chairs, which seems like it should be the caterer's problem, but Lia's main job as maid of honor is to keep Ryann from finding out that there was ever an issue at all, so. Yes. She can help. "I'll be right there," she says, and Lia bites the inside of her cheek, and Izzy puts both hands on her shoulders and looks her in the eyes. "Promise." Lia nods and disappears in the direction of table nine.
"Mads." Hands on both of her shoulders, this time. It feels foreign and far away and the most natural thing in the world all at once. Madeline looks up at her, a few allergic tears trembling on the ends of her eyelashes. Fuck. This is when you would've kissed her, some part of her says, forehead-nose-lips, and brushed the tears out of her eyes. And it's not— it's not that she wants to kiss her, that part of things is long past, but there's this ache for what used to be, and what could have been.
Madeline steps back with a shivery t'SCHIEW!, just barely caught in a well-used tissue, and Izzy takes a breath and forces herself to come back to the here and now.
"Go find Jamie," she says, and she does brush the tears away before Madeline's makeup can run. "He's got the 'everything' bag. There's definitely tissues in there, and I think allergy meds too."
"Okay," Madeline says, a little shaky, just as Lia calls for Izzy from across the room.
"Okay," Izzy repeats, to both of them, and to herself, and sets off for table nine.
It turns out that by the time she gets there the problem is solved (the whole wedding weekend has been a series of easily-solved dire emergencies, which frankly makes Izzy want to swear off weddings forever). She turns back around in time to see Madeline sneezing into a fresh handful of tissues from the "everything" bag (other contents include safety pins and tampons and stain-removing pens and yes, a whole box's worth of tissues) while Jamie digs through it for the smaller bag with ten kinds of over-the-counter meds. He holds up the allergy pills, triumphant, and a bottle of water, which Madeline takes with relief. When she starts looking around for a trash can so she can throw away the used tissues and refill her pockets with new ones, Jamie just takes the used ones out of her hands (over her protests, which Izzy can see clear across the room) and disappears to throw them away.
Izzy makes her way over to where Madeline is blowing her nose over and over again. "Better?" she asks.
"So much better." She coughs a little bit, and takes another sip of water. "You're a lifesaver, thank you. And Jamie is so sweet." She squeezes Izzy's hand. "I'm really happy for you."
Izzy blinks back sudden tears. "Thanks. I'm really happy, too."
"Good." Madeline's nose is already running again. "I'd better go get some fresh air while I wait for the allergy medicine to kick in. With any luck I'll be looking halfway human again by the time the photographers reappear." She glances around theatrically like they might be lurking behind the potted plants.
Izzy laughs. "You look great. But yes, fresh air sounds like a good plan."
She watches Madeline go, and jumps a little when she feels Jamie's hand on the small of her back. "Okay?" he asks.
She turns into his touch and drops her forehead against his chest, careful not to rub off her makeup onto his fancy vest. "Yeah. It's just…"
"Weird?" He rubs her back.
"So weird." She shakes her head. "I mean, it's not like I haven't seen her since…" She trails off. Since we broke up doesn't quite seem to fit. There was no dramatic end. There was just graduation, and the pull of opposite coasts, and the melancholy agreement that neither of them were made for long-distance love. And then there was life, and jobs and family and other partners, and now this, the first wedding in their friend group, and all the messy everything that entails. "It's just different, you know?"
He kisses her hair. "Because of me?"
"God, I don't know." She sighs. "Yes." Tightening her arms around his waist. "Because of you. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry." He pulls back enough to get her to look up at him. "She seems great. And she has excellent taste in girlfriends." He kisses her, and then looks over her shoulder. "Lia's looking frantic again."
"Okay." A deep breath. "I'd better go see what's going on."
"It's going to be a beautiful wedding." He shoulders the "everything" bag again. "I love you. Come find me."
She gives him one more kiss. "I love you, too."
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thinking about objects for nostalgic adornment.
i was getting caught. i grew excited about the knife, the seedpod and the fossil, their connections in my mind and visually, their place in the world, then realising they had little technical relation to my idea. i was feeling stuck in my original idea that these objects must be those found at a beach, collected and pocketed on a rainy day. but, the whole point of design is that it evolves, and if i'm excited about this avenue it ought to be explored.
the above objects were gathered from around my home, where they've sat since they were given, made or came home, in pocket or hand. each one has importance to me, though it is only i who could see that. i thought i might write a little description for them, one by one.
the knife brooch - one of my mums keepsakes from her and my dads time abroad. when they were in their mid twenties, after saving for years, they sold nearly everything they had and took off traveling for as long as they could. as long as they could, turned out to be about two and a half years, living off a frugal ten pound a day with any excess going towards a box of wine at the end of the week, or trinkets, like this one.
bridesmaid necklace - my parents married after 14 years together when i was 10 months old. as freshly emigrated englishman they got married at a local beach, of course, on new years eve (dad says this is so he could always remember the date, to keep him out of trouble on anniversaries). the blooming pohutukawa trees matched the red of mums wedding dress, handmade by grandma, and my dads button up, bought from farmers, most likely. i remember nothing of the day, having been only 10 months old, but the photos live on as memories, as well as the carved shell necklace i wore as a bridesmaid, along my two older cousins. a talisman of a special day.
purple shell - this is one of the first shells i can remember being fascinated by as a child. anytime we visited bethels growing up, my pockets came home with a good few of these and ramshorn shells. (really they're the vertèbre of a type of squid, so not shells at all, but lovely all the same) they have decorated my room for many a year.
hagstone - this one's story has already been told.
citrine crystal - i believe i got this from a sandbag at crystal mountain. i was attached to it from the get go, and carried it around with me for the rest of the day. family was over from the uk, so we were out seeing the sights. after a visiting par homestead, we were pulling out from the carpark when i realized i didn't have it. dad begrudgingly allowed me to run back inside and look for it, luckily it was waiting were i left it. i've not lost it since.
fossil - i have always collected rocks, stones and shells, as you can likely tell by now, but i went through a short faze of fossil love too. this was bought from a side of the road market, sold by a couple of rock hounds making their way around australia. they were a fascinating pair, and gained a good chunk of my pocket money that day.
geode - one christmas, dad bought me a few geode rocks. together we smashed them open with a hammer, to find what sort of crystal made have been hiding within. i still love them.
baby's breath - mum bought this for me to wear in my hair at my first school ball. there ended up being a power cut part way through the evening when i and near everyone else from our school was getting ready, to everybody’s horror and amusement. believe it or not getting ready in the dark was a lot harder, and I forgot a few things, this being one of them. so i didn't end up wearing it that year, but it has sat dried in a jar as a memento either way. it would have matched the flowers in the corsage bought by ethan, who i went to ball with a year or so before we got together. he had asked, and i'd said yes, under the promise that it was only as friends. he obviously didn't pay any attention. i'm glad of that now.
ring - this is the first ring i ever made for my partner, given on our first anniversary. i had been in uni for maybe a month, which is very much reflected in its craftsmanship. alas, he loved it all the same, at the time it was one of my most advanced pieces. it marks a beginning in many senses.
a lucky life, really.
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I don't have enough thoughts at the moment to make a proper post so this is probably more of a "things I'll forget otherwise" list
-The very specific way I fix my necklace now. It's deliberate. I fully pause before fixing it, as if acknowledging 1, how often it gets messed up, & 2 how you kept insisting on fixing it
-I have my own Monster can collection now. It consists of 1 can. Bc I refuse to drink the angry peach ring drink & just have the one I bought for your sleepover
-Legitimately never going to rearrange that shelf. I have no idea how you were color coding it. There're two red books in the middle. But I love you so it's just gonna stay that way
-I moved Heartstopper over by the yellow books. I think its new placement will probably annoy you more than before
-I started tying my curtains back with some of the ribbons I've acquired from you. It's pretty
-Jenga has now been permanently associated with you in my head. That's your legacy. Really good at Jenga. I'm gonna write a poem & rhyme something with Jenga /hj
-Help what rhymes with Jenga
-Google suggested "magenta". This is promising for future poem writing. Even if those words absolutely do not rhyme
-I mentioned wedding shopping in the tags of a post from a few days ago & I'm genuinely quite fixated on how much fun it was for tiny me
-Not tiny tiny me, at my parents' wedding. That was 2005. I don't remember any of it. But my aunt's wedding was in 2010ish & I remember trying on high heels
-It was so cool. Watching the adults try on boring bridesmaid dresses was boring but the shoes were awesome. Quite sad you weren't there. We could've found the best ones
-On the note of "things you absolutely could not have been present for, but I'm sad you weren't anyway", we went on a trip to Leavenworth in 2018 & it snowed so so much
-It was a family reunion so the Airbnb was huge & quite pretty. And the town was so lovely, we would've had a blast exploring it
-We could've had a snowball fight. It would've been great. Why weren't you invited to the family reunion that took place 3 years before we met, this is a tragedy
-I finished rwrb & it was very good
-Oh and also the other book by that author, about the girls on the subway. It's not really a spoiler, plot wise, but there's a part I remember
-At some point one of the girls goes to a party & gets very drunk. Drunk party girl calls the other girl & is sad that she isn't at the party & is like. "I should just carry you around in my pocket on speaker"
-And then she does??? She walks around the party with the other girl talking through her phone, responding to conversations & stuff??
-And I decided that was absolutely something I would do, inevitably sleep deprived
-No way in hell I'd get drunk at a party you weren't attending
-I wouldn't even get drunk at *that* party, bc I'd be worried about you & would assign myself as the designated driver
-Can't believe you're gonna refuse to play Candy Land with my tiny cousins some day
-Next you're gonna tell me you're not gonna play Monopoly Jr, which my aunt bought last time I was there /t
-My dad also banned my brother's friend from sleeping in his room, but they weren't nearly as invested in finding loopholes. Just slept in separate rooms. Quite boring of them
#writing#list#I'll add more to this later#edit: I have a lot more thoughts than previously anticipated#but I don't have the energy to make a post#so it's just gonna be a list#a list of things I kept meaning to tell you#tada
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The one where you get together (1)
Abstract: Y/N and Sirius have been friends since they first met on the Hogwarts Express, so when they do get together, they decide not to tell their friends straight away. (Friends AU)
Pairing: Sirius Black x Lupin sister!Reader
Warnings: Swearing, talking about sexual content
Word Count: 3.5K
A/N: To celebrate reaching 500 followers, I'm dropping another mini series as a thank you to everyone who has shared and supported my work! Add yourself to my taglist here
Series Masterlist | Main Masterlist
You could still vividly remember the first time you met Sirius Black.
Boarding the train to Hogwarts the first time, you managed to find a compartment with your brother, Remus, before it was descended upon by two rowdy boys with large grins.
James Potter and Sirius Black had, with no hesitation, introduced themselves to you and you quickly became friends, especially when you pulled your money together and bought a various selection of chocolates from the trolley. When the sorting hat placed all of you in Gryffindor, it only reaffirmed your friendship.
It wasn't just the four of you in your little group though, the boys were placed in a dormitory with another boy, Peter, and you shared a dorm with two other girls who also became fierce friends of yours; Lily Evans and Marlene McKinnon.
Of course, growing up together through Hogwarts had it's arguments and fall outs, though somehow you always seemed to remain friends.
It wasn't until your seventh, and final year of Hogwarts did the surprising pair of Lily and James get together which solidified your friendship group even further. Between Sirius and you, the bet you had made in your fourth year regarding when the pair would get together, finally came to an end where you had happily took your winnings with a smile and paid for a bottle of Firewhiskey to celebrate.
After graduating, you ended up moving in with Marlene, finding a perfect two bedroom flat for you to share, close to Diagon Alley. The boys had taken a page from your book with Sirius using some of his inheritance from his great uncle and buying a flat directly across the Leaky Cauldron.
Whilst he had invited Peter to also live with him and Remus, the boy politely refused with the intention to stay with his parents for a while.
James however, had asked Lily to move in with him almost the second they graduated and the pair had moved to a little cottage in Godric’s Hollow. It wasn’t long afterwards that James had proposed to Lily which led to the current series of events.
About an hour before, you and Marlene had walked down the aisle in the gardens of Potter Manor in your bridesmaids dresses, while Lily had donned a white dress and followed you. Standing opposite your brother and Sirius, the latter caught your eye when your friends said their wedding vows.
With a wink, Sirius had your attention and you weren't exactly sure what it was that felt different, but something definitely did.
As the reception started, you watched Lily and James take some of their wedding photos together. The smile on your face was something you couldn't help as Remus appeared at your side, a similar expression on his own face.
"Remember when Lily hexed James so hard he vomited out of his nose because he proposed to her?"
"I'm pretty sure it made him like her even more to be honest, James is weird like that." You snickered, accepting the drink from your brother. "Who would've thought we'd be here not even four years later?"
"Tell me about it. If you plan on getting married anytime soon though, please give me some warning." Remus joked, nudging his shoulder against yours.
"I think I need to actually date someone before I marry them, but thanks for being so optimistic about my dating life." You grinned at him before seeing Sirius making his way over to the two of you.
"Well well, if it isn't the Lupin twins." Sirius laid an arm over both your shoulders. "How long do you reckon it'll be before Lily's creepy uncle makes a move on Marlene?"
"At least after two more drinks." Remus chuckled. "Which reminds me, I promised I'd save her from any men tonight who wanted to dance with her that, and I quote, looked like they had to use a stamina charm in bed."
"Good luck with that." You snickered, waving your brother off as he disappeared in the direction of the blonde.
Sirius didn't say anything else as he took a seat at one of the tables and pulled you down into his lap. It wasn't uncommon for the two of you to hug or cuddle, having done so numerous times in the Gryffindor common room, much to Remus' annoyance. This only really resulted in Sirius being more affectionate.
Being twins, the two of you were naturally closer than normal siblings which resulted in Remus being protective over you since the only blood family you both had left was each other. Your parents, especially your father, had grown fearsome and disgusted at what Remus was, despite it not being his fault when Greyback bit him all those years ago. Your father began to resent you after you constantly took Remus' side and played his constant advocate.
"Hey, what're you thinking about?" Sirius nudged you, grabbing your attention. His expression was unreadable as he watched you watch Lily and James interact with each other.
"I don't know, it's nothing." Sirius nudged you again, looking for a proper answer. "I look at them and I just wonder if I'll ever have that, you know? Someone who looks at you like you're their whole world."
Sirius didn't say anything at first, but pulled you closer. He wouldn't admit it but he often had the same thought cross his mind.
"You'll find them."
"Are they fucking hiding from me?!"
"If they've already met you, then probably."
Smacking his chest, you couldn't help the contagious laughter that bubbled from you, echoing that from the wizard.
"Being serious though," Sirius grinned at the pun he just made, "who wouldn't want you?"
You smiled at him warmly, not knowing what to say. It wasn't often that Sirius was, well serious. The boy loved a joke, but he also loved his friends and knew exactly what to say to them to cheer them up, especially you.
"Thanks, Siri."
"Hey, James and Lily are about to head off for their honeymoon." Remus said, knocking on Sirius' bedroom door at Potter Manor, stepping inside to see Sirius rush back out from the ensuite bathroom only in his shirt and boxers. "What happened to you? You disappeared from the reception."
"Uh, dropped cake down myself, had to come and change." Sirius told him quickly.
"You do realise you're a wizard right? You could've just vanished the mess?"
"Ah yeah, of course, how stupid, sure could've. Anyway, I just need to put on some clean trousers and I'll be right down."
Remus frowned. Something was off but he couldn't work out what it was. Putting it down to Sirius drinking too much, he waved the man off, exiting the room.
"Alright well, hurry down, James was asking for you."
Remus exited the room and Sirius quickly closed the door behind him. Turning back to the bathroom, he watched as you opened the door with a tentative expression, trying to zip your dress back up but failing.
"Do you think he knew I was here?"
"Don't think so, here, turn around, I'll do it." Sirius turned you around, quickly zipping up your dress before resting his hands on your waist. "So, we haven't done that before."
"That is correct."
It was slightly awkward between the two of you, why was it awkward? Oh, maybe because you were both fucking like rabbits not even moments before your brother knocked on the door. It had never been awkward between you before though and you didn't like it.
"Why is it so awkward?" Sirius chuckled as you spun around before him.
"Right! It's like I don't know what to say!"
"We're just two friends who've had sex one time, there doesn't have to be anything awkward about that!"
"Exactly, it doesn't have to be a big deal, it was a one time thing, we can just go back to the party and no one will know!"
"Yes, good plan, lets go!" Turning towards the door, Sirius started towards it with a new determination, completely forgetting one issue.
"Sirius?" He paused, looking back at you, "maybe you should put on some trousers before we go down though."
"Good idea."
Waving James and Lily off, you stood alongside the rest of your friends as Marlene appeared, pulling you towards her by your waist.
"Ugh, please tell me we're going to get some good booze and continue to get fucked up at ours?"
"Is that an open invite?" Remus asked with a grin, "Think I spied an extra bottle of Firewhiskey knocking about near the top table."
"100%," Marlene grinned at him, "after all, it's the least I could do after you saved me from so many creeps tonight. I will thank you in the form of hosting a small afterparty with the inner circle. Right, Y/N?"
"I'm up for it, I'll go see if I can grab that extra bottle you mentioned."
Taking off towards the top table, your eyes scanned the tables one by one until you felt a presence behind you. Already knowing who it was, you didn't bother looking back at them.
"I've got a fresh bottle stashed under my bed upstairs if we wanna grab that one?" Sirius said lowly in your ear.
"That sounds like a plan," you said slowly, "though I thought we said it was only a one time thing?"
"Weddings don't count, right? I swear that's a rule somewhere."
"...How long do you think we can be before the others get suspicious?"
"10 minutes?"
"Sounds good, lets go."
The pair of you said nothing more the entire night on the matter and ended up just having a good time with your friends. The boys ended up sleeping on your sofas, not trusting themselves to apparate safely considering the amount they each had to drink.
It wasn't until mid morning when everyone started to rouse, that you offered to make everyone a cup of tea to help with the hangovers that had started to form.
"Hey, make mine extra strong, will you?"
You laughed, turning to face Sirius.
"You need the caffeine that much?"
"That answer is a strong yes."
Pouring the boiling water into the mugs, you passed Sirius' over to him as he smiled at you in thanks.
"So, yesterday was something." You smiled, taking a sip of your own drink.
"Yeah... something stupid, right?"
"Yeah, totally stupid." There was a brief silence between you as you weren't exactly sure what to say next. "Look as much as I enjoyed it, I don't want us to become awkward or ruin our friendship or anything because of it."
"Good, because I was going to say the same thing." Sirius nodded, leaning against the kitchen counter top. "As good as the sex was, and trust me it was good, it's not worth making our friendship awkward or anything not knowing where we stand with the other."
"Right, yes, that makes a lot of sense." You both took another sip of tea as you listened to Marlene and Remus in the living room laugh about something. "Unless... wait no, it's nothing."
"No, what it is?" Sirius asked.
"Unless... I don't know, we keep fucking in secret and just don't tell the others?"
You stared at the tea in your cup before raising your eyes to meet Sirius' grey ones which were wide, a grin on his face.
"I guess that would work too?"
"Yeah... anyway on a totally unrelated note, Marlene's visiting her family tomorrow night at like 7."
"Noted."
"Where's my bloody tea, Y/N!" The blonde in question strode into the kitchen sluggishly. "I swear you've been in here for 4 hours making it."
"If you were a little more patient, Mar, I was just about to bring it out for you." You rolled your eyes but handed the mug over to her anyway.
"Thanks, how're you two feeling this morning?"
"Rough." Sirius grunted out as the three of you headed back into the living room. "But what's new there, really?!"
"You should really try cut back on your drinking, Pads." Remus mentioned, taking the cup of tea from you with a smile.
"You should cut back on your chocolate."
"Chocolate doesn't give you hangovers." Remus countered with a smirk causing Sirius to just roll his eyes as he sunk down into an armchair.
"Either way, I hope Lils and James are having fun." Marlene stretched out on the other sofa, placing her legs over your own. "I know James will be with the things Y/N and I packed as a surprise in Lily's bags."
You snorted into your cup as you remembered the countless lacy items you'd snuck into Lily's normally conservative wardrobe.
"Well, James might be happy about what you packed, but he certainly won't be happy with what we packed." Sirius snickered as Remus held back a laugh.
"What did you do?!"
"We might've exchanged his entire bag of clothes for an entire bag of Cornish Pixies." Sirius grinned. "I'm already expecting a howler from Lily at some point in the near future."
Sirius didn’t have to wait long for Lily’s reaction as only moments later he heard an angry shout through his two way mirror he shared with James.
As planned, Marlene visited her family the next day and no later after she flooed away, Sirius appeared at the front door of your flat. The same happened after Marlene was picked by Dumbledore for an order mission and Sirius happily flooed into your flat only moments later. You were convinced he’d bugged your flat somehow.
James and Lily returned from their honeymoon a week later, effectively surprising you as they flooed into your flat with no warning, causing you to stuff a naked Sirius into your closet. It was safe to say he wasn’t impressed after Lily insisted she make a pot of tea to ‘catch up’, and ended up staying round for several hours.
You barely managed to hide the snicker which escaped your lips when James asked if you knew where Sirius was.
With the newly married pair being back, the two of you decided to come up with a plan as how to sneak around without the others knowing.
Somehow, it didn’t really go to plan.
Sirius insisted that you should come over and take a bath with him one night, especially as Remus was due to be out. You couldn’t help but agree to the idea, mostly because you got to spend time with your very sexy male friend who looked very good in bubbles... and also the fact his bathtub was a lot better than your own.
The bathtub in question was a massive claw-foot tub which could fit the two of you and your two roommates if you so desired. Compared against the shitty little tub Marlene and you had in your flat, it was a no brainer.
Which is why as you sat in between Sirius’ legs, your back against his chest, you couldn’t help but feel more relaxed than you had done all week.
Sirius was leant back against the tub, his arm around your waist with a glass of Firewhiskey in his other hand. The two of you had nicked this particular bottle from James’ ‘secret stash’ which everyone knew he hid under his cloak, under the stairs. It was all too easy for the two of you to sneak in and borrow it for the time being.
“You know, Prongs must be real blind if he can’t see how many people actually know about his hiding spots.” You snickered as you took the glass from Sirius and took a sip.
“I think it might be all the brain damage after getting hit in the head so many times.” He grinned.
“How long do you think it’ll be until he notices the actual bottle being gone? A few days?”
“Give him some credit, it’ll be at least a week.”
The two of you chuckled before you heard the fireplace roar with flames. Footsteps quickly made their way towards Sirius’ room before heading towards the bathroom.
A panicked look between the two of you was exchanged as a knock was heard on the door.
“Pads? It’s me, I’m coming in.”
Sirius quickly took the glass of Firewhiskey back from you as you dived underwater, praying the bubbles would cover up the fact you were there.
The door opened and James stepped in about to say something, before he stopped and observed the scene before him. Sirius was sat covered in bubbles with candles lit around him. Despite the calm expression on his face, the fact you were lying between his legs in the water had his heart racing.
“Did you need something, Prongs?”
“Uh, yeah, have you seen the bottle of Firewhiskey which I was given as a gift for my wedding?” James asked, very obviously looking at the opened bottle on the side of the bath.
“Didn’t even know you got given one, mate. This was from Y/N.”
“And if I ask her, will she give me the same story?”
“Positively. Anything else?”
“Yeah, you want to order some Chinese?”
“I mean I- NO!”
His outburst was a surprise to both James and himself after you had pinched him underwater signalling you were running out of air.
“Really? Lily’s got me on this diet and-”
“James! Get out!”
“Fine! Okay! No need to shout at me, I’ve seen you in weirder scenarios.”
James left and shut the door behind him just as soon as you jolted up, gasping for breath.
“I’m sorry, he wouldn’t leave! He wanted to ask me if I fancied some Chinese.”
“Chinese?” You asked, turning to look at him over your shoulder with a contemplative look on your face. “I could go for some chow mein.”
“Prongs!” Taking a deep breath, you disappeared underwater again just before James appeared once more. “I’ll have a large chow mein, sweet and sour chicken, some of those prawn cracker things and the spring rolls.”
“Spring rolls? I swear only Y/N likes them.”
“Thought I’d try them out since as she’s always yapping on about them.”
“Alright, back in a bit.”
James left and shut the door again. You emerged from the water, leaning back on Sirius again as he relayed off what he’d ordered.
“You ordered me spring rolls?!”
“Yeah, I remembered you liked them.” Sirius shrugged, wrapping his arm around your waist again. “Even if they taste like arse.”
The group had gathered at Marlene and Y/N’s for an evening where despite Lily’s constant health kicks, she relented into ordering pizza for the group.
“Hey, you guys will never guess what I found out today.” Marlene grinned.
“You’re secretly a guy?” Sirius snickered from the armchair, only to receive a cushion being thrown at his face by the blonde.
“No,” Marlene scowled at him, “Alice and Frank got engaged!”
“What?! How’d you find out?” Lily asked as she cuddled up to James in the other armchair.
“I ran into Alice at Headquarters earlier and she showed me her ring.” Marlene leant back into the sofa as she brought her legs up to lay them over Remus’ lap. “We best be getting ready for another wedding soon.”
“I’m sure we’ll hear more at the meeting tomorrow.” James said grinning. “Who knew Longbottom had it in him?!”
“Alice certainly did.” You snickered, leaning onto Remus’ other shoulder. The comment got another round of chuckles from everyone present as Lily shot you a less than impressed look.
“Alright, I say let’s call it a night if we have to be at the meeting early tomorrow morning.” The redhead rolled her eyes at you all before standing up and brushing her dress down.
Everyone else seemed to follow her lead as Marlene and you stood to show everyone out.
“Yeah, I need to sleep as much as I can with Moony’s snoring keeping me up all night.” Sirius grinned, stepping up beside you and Remus.
What no one expected to happen was for Sirius to dip and find your lips in a kiss, his hand wrapping around the back of your neck to pull you closer, just as he had done for the last few weeks.
The rest of the group stood with slack jaws as they took in the scene before them as they watched Sirius kiss you. Pulling away, you caught each other’s eyes as realisation set in and your own eyes went wide.
“Marls,” Sirius shook off his slight hesitation before heading straight over to Marlene and pulling her in for a kiss of her own. “Lily.”
Stepping forward to give Lily a kiss goodbye, Sirius couldn’t help but notice the wide eyed look from both James at kissing his wife and Remus at kissing his sister.
“Pleasure to spend time with you all.” Sirius grinned at everyone’s expressions before entering the fireplace to floo back to his own flat.
“What the hell was that?!” Remus asked with wide eyes, securely on you.
“Probably some leftover greeting from Lily and James’ wedding. Lils did have some french cousins, perhaps he picked it up from them?” You chuckled, trying to play down the laugh you so wanted to let out.
“Yeah, it did feel french.” Marlene snickered. “I’m not sure if I feel happy about saying that I’ve kissed Sirius Black though.”
“Well, he can keep his lips to himself and not on my wife.” James scowled at the fireplace where Sirius had disappeared moments before.
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#sirius black x reader#sirius black imagine#sirius black headcanon#friends au#sirius black x you#sirius black#harry potter#remus lupin x reader#marlene mckinnon x reader#lily evans x reader#james potter x reader#sirius black series#harry potter imagine#harry potter series#remus lupin imagine#harry potter headcanon#james potter imagine
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What is Love
Drew Starkey x Reader (angst)
Summary: You and Drew used to have something. Although you thought you had moved on from it, you can't help reminiscing about the past. (recommend listening to say you won't let go by James Arthur and too good at goodbyes by sam smith while reading to add to the mood)
warning: sad alert, one cuss word, kinda long
Today was a special day for Madelyn and Chase, it was their wedding day. You couldn't express how excited you were for them. When Madelyn asked you to be one of her bridesmaids, you didn't hesitate to say yes. They decided to get married by the beach, in a nearby chapel. The chapel was surrounded by glass so you could see the ocean view. It was perfect. You wouldn't have missed this moment for the world. Her walking down the aisle and the amazed tears in Chase's eyes made this moment the most beautiful sight to see. You found yourself thinking about how you couldn't wait to be in this position. Newlywed, happy with the person you love- the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Your eyes teared up at the thought. Spotting Drew looking at you from your peripheral vision, you chose to ignore him. Turning your attention back to the couple as they begin to state their vows.
Chase clears his throat and begins, "Before I met you I didn't think I'd find someone who matched me so well. Someone who understood every aspect of me, the good and the ugly." He let out a breathy chuckle before continuing as everyone let out soft laughs, "Even the parts of me that I don't even fully understand myself. I knew when I first saw you that you had to be the one. You truly are the other half that I never knew I needed and for that I promise, for you, I will aim for the stars and beyond to make you happy. Through thick and through thin, I'll be there. When things get tough, just look right beside you and I'll be right there."
You smiled faintly through your tears, taking in every word Chase said. You finally made eye contact with the one person you had been avoiding this whole time. You thought about how you first met, at a party Madelyn had invited you to come to. You two clicked and the rest of the party was spent getting shit-faced together. That night you ended up staying at his place and mostly throw up while he held your hair back. The next morning, he teased you about how you couldn't hold your alcohol as he made you breakfast. You couldn't help, but to smile as you knew you gained a bond that day you had never had with anyone else. As the days went by, you began to fall in love with him. Everything he did made you love him even more. Even the things he didn't like about himself, you loved.
Your smile fades away as you shake your head, shaking away the thoughts. You wipe your tears and take a deep breath as it's Madelyn's turn to give her vow. "Well, I don't know if I can beat that but I'll try," everyone laughs before going quiet again.
"I love you so much, I can say that every hour and it still won't add up to how much I really do. I love you with all my heart. I was afraid that I wouldn't find the person that would love me the same way I'd love them until I met you. The way you make my heart race, the way you give me butterflies, the way you make me smile is like no other. I am grateful to have you in my life. I will, from this day on, be your forever as you are my always. I'll hold your hand and walk with you through any obstacle that comes your way, and I promise I won't let go."
"I won't let go"- the same words he said to you on your first date. You went hiking in the forest, something you weren't to fond of doing at first because you didn't like the thought of insects and possible wild animals. However, being with him made you comfortable. He wanted to show you what he called "a beautiful sight", but you had to climb a bit to get there. While climbing over the ledge you slipped and scrapped your knee. He made sure you were okay and grabbed your hand. You were a little reluctant to continue after that until he reassured you. "It's okay. I won't let you fall again, I promise. I won't let go." He softly squeezed your hand as you nodded in agreement.
You started going on multiple dates after that and you assumed that meant the feelings you had were being reciprocated. The truth was far from it. You sadly didn't realize that 'til you saw her. His arm wrapped around her, the same way he wrapped it around you. His eyes looking at her, the same way he looked at you. In that moment, you questioned everything. Had it been one sided this whole time? He'd say no. He'd say he loved you, but you knew the truth. He may have loved you, just not the same way you loved him. You had accepted every gift and every loving word from him with devotion. His love to you was everything, but your love to him was replaceable.
Your thoughts are interrupted once more by the cheers of the crowd. You look up to see Madelyn and Chase kissing. Smiling, you start cheering along as Chase picks up Maddie up and begins walking down the aisle. Everyone follows them out of the chapel and Madelyn decides to throw her flowers towards you and the other bridesmaids as they get into their car. The flowers fall in your direction and you instinctively catch them. People around you cheer as you glance at him. He looks at you with a look of slight sadness and regret.
Sometimes you love people and they don't realize how amazing that is until they don't have you anymore. You have to learn to appreciate those people for the experience, but not to dwell on them. If they didn't appreciate you when you were around, they don't get to try after they hurt you. It's sad, but its true- they aren't worth it.
You turn to Maddison and hand her the flowers, "I think you deserve these more than me." She exchanges smiles with you and accepts them. You look at Drew one last time, your smile remaining as you turn to walk away.
Authors Note: thank you for reading.
#drew starkey x reader#drew starkey#outer banks#obx#rafe cameron#rafe cameron x you#rafe cameron x reader#drew starkey x you#drew x reader#drew starkey x y/n#outerbanks rafe
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Me and the lovely @collageoffandoms were brainstorming fic ideas and we ended up with these emotional headcanons about Julieta and Bruno’s brother sister relationship.
So here, we gift them to you.
(Also, I wanna say that after writing a posting this, I came across others who had some of the same head canons, just wanted to say that I did not mean steal them at all, annddd great minds think alike!)
-=-=-=-
I feel like Bruno was protective of his sisters when they started dating. Who knows wether the guys actually loved his sisters or they just wanted their powers and magical children.
Like think about it, Agustin is accident prone. Bruno 100% would’ve seen that and got worried/angry because it probably seemed like Agustin was using her.
He knew Pepa could take care of herself, and Felix is obviously perfect for her so he was less worried.
Julieta and Bruno were probably close, (Juletia totally babied and looked after him since he was smaller and his gift cost him mental/physical pain and a bad reputation) so he was concerned and wanted to make sure she was safe and okay and ward off any potential selfish guys.
Even if scaring off a guy made the town more uneasy about him, he’d take the hit for their safety. He would use that bad reputation if it meant keeping his sisters safe.
But once Bruno and Agustin connected and got along, Bruno realized that wasn’t the case. I’m sure there was a moment he found them cuddling after something happened to Julieta, (her food couldn’t heal someone in time or something) and Agustin is drying her tears and and calming her down. And in his head Bruno just thinks, “I must make sure they get married. They have to.”
ALSO ALSO ALSO
So we all know how on Pepa’s wedding day Bruno said, "it looks like rain" but meant it as, "You're worried, it's okay." (Awkward dork can't speak his mind well.)
I'd imagine he'd be even more focused on Julieta's emotions on her wedding day. Opting out of groomsman duties to awkwardly knock on the bridesmaid room to see if he could check on Julieta.
If she was nervous he'd take her away from all the prying eyes for a moment to sit her down somewhere quiet and remind her that, "You're my sister. If you need an out, give me a sign. If you need someone to hide behind, I'm here. I'd do anything to make sure you are happy because you do the same for me."
He'd just hug her for a few minutes as she gathered her emotions. Even though they could hear Alma calling for her because “they must be on time because they are the Madrigals.”
He'd just whisper into her hair that she didn't have to listen. It was her day, she was allowed to take all the time she needed. If she needed to cry her nerves out, he'd wipe her tears. If she needed a promise of someone to be there if the marriage went sour, he'd get her out. Didn't matter what she needed, he'd do it.
I mean, the sister that was most emotional to see him was Julieta. Especially how she's leaning against him when Mirabel's gonna unlock the new casita. Those two were best friends growing up and no one can tell me otherwise. They were each other’s safe place growing up. (Hence why she never insults him, only mourns that he’s gone.)
I'm sure when they were kids she patched up his scratches even before she had a healing power. And being the sensitive guy he is (probably a lot more so as a little boy) he'd come to her when he was upset about something.
And she would do the same. She'd get hurt and try to clean the cut, apply the ointment and bandage it herself so not to annoy anyone. But Bruno could hear his sisters’ sniffles from a mile away and run to help her.
He’d gently scold her and tell her to ask for help next time as he carefully inspects the cut and takes care of it.
Julieta probably did go to Pepa crying about a lot of different things, but some stuff she only trusted Bruno with. If someone spoke badly of her and she heard about it, she would go to him because Pepa would kill whoever talked trash about her sister. But Bruno would listen and tell her that their words weren't true and that she was a wonderful person and he loved her very much.
WE STAN THE BROTHER SISTER BOND OF JULIETA AND BRUNO.
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Lover - cth
part of love songs for calum, a love series.
summary: a dazzling haze, a mysterious place about you dear.
author’s notes: i hope you enjoy this one. as always you can find the playlist to this series here (and you can add your own favorite love songs here!)
warnings: mentions of smut.
masterlist || request
January brought cold weather and dark mornings. The Christmas lights were still twinkling in the morning fog and Calum watched them, wrapped up in a blanket and beanie as he waited for Duke to finish up his morning potty break. He'd been awake for most of the morning, his brain too busy to even try and get some rest.
He'd been up long after you had gone to bed, your back pressed against his chest as you let soft huffs out during your dreams.
Normally, Calum had no problems sleeping when you were at his side. He'd fall asleep before you and he'd snore the whole night long. But this time, he was caught in a haze where nothing made sense and the goosebumps from the cold air felt like they'd been there all night. He'd been running over the words you'd whispered into his ear last night before your eyes closed and you left him alone in the darkness.
"I think I would marry you if you asked me. I'd say yes."
At that moment, Calum felt like his entire world was in the palm of your hands. If you had told him to run out and jump into the icy water of the pool in the backyard, he would've done so. But as the night went on and the gloomy clouds let in a soft light into the bedroom you'd both been sharing for years now, Calum's heartbeat raced at the thought of being with you for the rest of his life. What if you got bored, what if he wasn't what you thought he was and he was suddenly left with a broken heart and broken vows?
And that's how Calum found himself on the foggy and rainy morning, watching his old dog sniff around the plants you'd insisted on planting for him while he had a crisis on whether or not the ring in his drawer would be enough for you. He knew the ring was good, it was his mother's ring, and she'd basically thrown it at Calum to give to you when he'd mentioned settling down with you a few months back when he went to Sydney. He'd hid it in that drawer the second he'd flown home and had pushed it to the back of his mind because he'd never even talked about marriage with you and the thought made his hands sweat.
He'd been in love with you for three years now. He'd known you for longer but he was always busy touring, writing, or recording and it wasn't until life with the band had slowed down a bit that he'd had the chance to really sit down and think about his feelings for you. It wasn't until his own life was stable enough that he could see you more in a week than he had in the past few months that he realized how deeply in love he was with you. At first, he hadn't even noticed that it was love, he was just pissed off and it wasn't until you turned back to smile at him that he felt the warmth in him spread all over.
Calum had the day he realized he loved you ingrained in his mind. You had both been at the grocery store, running errands with one another and catching up from the times Calum had been traveling around the world. Calum had been browsing the snack aisle, a giant pack of double stuffed Oreos calling his name when he heard your laugh. Usually hearing your laugh would bring butterflies to his stomach, but that day he looked over and saw you covering your mouth with your hand as you laughed at something a stranger said to you, he wanted to punch the man. He wasn't even that good looking, in Calum's mind, I mean who even wears khakis out to the grocery store on a Tuesday afternoon? It didn't make sense and the guy was definitely not your type at all. Calum scoffed and rolled his eyes as he had walked back over to you, eyeing the guy up before he wrapped his arm around her waist.
"You ready to go, hun?" Calum mumbled, his fist clenching by his side as he watched you and the man in the khakis both look over at him.
Whenever Calum's mind became overwhelmed with thoughts of you, he'd turn to music. He'd always turned to music when life became too much and his brain felt flooded. He'd spend hours locked in the music room where scattered notebooks held unspoken words and where bass lines floated throughout the air. That night had been no different, you'd been off in a hotel with your bridesmaids, in a city full of temptation and lights, and Calum was at home reeling over what he'd say about you and the love he had for you in a few short weeks.
The wedding vows had been on his mind the second he'd gotten down on one knee in front of you almost a year ago. He'd tried writing them time and time again, the piles of crumpled paper mixing with unheard lyrics and thoughts Calum wasn't sure who to tell. He'd tried writing them while you were sat next to him, while you watched tv and talked to him about whatever had happened this week at work. He tried writing them when you were asleep next to him when your soft breaths hit his shoulder with every rise and fall of your chest. He even tried writing them once in his head while your hands were pressed to his chest and the sound of your hips meeting was covered by the moans you were both letting out, but that was a bust; one of many that night. Every time Calum tried to write his vows, all he realized was that words he ever wrote for you would ever be good enough.
How could Calum tell you in front of everyone you both loved and cherished how you were a magnetic force of a woman and he was in awe of the way you'd gone from a broken shell of a human, sobbing on the floor of Luke's living room to the person he knew now. To the one who wouldn't hesitate to tell Calum when he'd fucked up and that you loved him all in the same sentence. Calum's heart had been bruised before, he'd be in the same boat where he didn't think his heart would ever heal. Calum swore he'd never hurt you like you'd been hurt before even when both of you clashed and the dramatics were a bit too much. He swore that he was going to be there whenever you needed him, cheering you up with another joke he'd kept in his pockets for days when your mood was down and nothing could put a smile on your face. How would Calum ever put into words that he'd always save you a seat at whatever table you were sat at, no matter the occasion? No amount of words could ever amount to the love Calum had for you.
"Take me home?" you whispered in his ear that night, your hands sliding under the white button upon shirt he was wearing that night. The suit jacket he'd been wearing for most of the day had disappeared, lost in between the dancing and the few too many drinks you'd shared with family members.
"Mmm, yeah?" Calum chuckled, his lips against your earlobe sent shivers down your spine, "And where shall I take my charming bride, to our home so we can make sure the neighborhood know who you married tonight, sweet girl?"
"You are a man of many words, Hood." you whispered, "Let's see if those hold up just like those beautiful vows you gave today," you smirked, your warm hands traveling over the expanse of his chest.
Calum, who was always a man of his word, made sure that your wedding night was one to remember. The candles and rose petals leading up to your room trailed behind the dress you'd been wearing for way too many hours. Calum's hand was in yours and as you both laid in bed, chests heaving as you both took a break from the wedding festivities. The sweat covering you both proof of the words he'd promised you earlier that night.
"I panicked that night when you told me you would marry me if I asked. I must've stayed out with Duke for at least an hour, running over the thought that you wanted to marry me." Calum whispered, his fingers threading through your hair as he closed his eyes.
"And then you still asked me?" you teased, pressing a kiss over his heart, "Finally realized you couldn't live without me?"
"Realized I wanted to love you every summer and winter and spring and fall." Calum chuckled, and smiled, "That you were the one I wanted to dramatic with and that the haze I felt with you was love. Want you and only you, lover."
"I wouldn't want anyone else but you, lover."
taglist: @hoodhoran @finelliine @moonlightcriess @dinosaursandsocks @mxgyver @calpops @karajaynetoday @notlukehemmo @calumrose @devilatmydoor @lyss-xo @lowkeyflop @hemmo1996-5sosvevo @stollls @myloverboyash
#calum hood blurbs#calum hood imagines#calum hood one shots#calum hood five#5sos blurbs#5sos imagines#5sos fics#5sos oneshots#calum hood x reader#5sos x reader#5sos#calum hood#5 seconds of summer#gemma writes#love songs for calum
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The bridesmaids were flitting around, making sure that the bride's shoes were hidden and their clothes were perfect. Anjali was surrounded by two women fixing her hair and makeup so that she glimmered under the lights. She winced and groaned as the women pulled at her hair and poked at her face, and she looked to Nova and Natalia for help.
Nova quickly got the hint and shooed the women away. "I think you've done enough, ladies. Thanks for your hard work, but I think our bride needs a minute to relax." Natalia grabbed a fan and placed it in front of Anjali, calming any sweat and nerves she had. "How are you feeling, Anju?" The bride in question was currently fanning her face, the heat of so many people getting to her. "I could be doing better. It feels like there's a pound of makeup on my face, and I'm getting thirsty."
Empress rushed towards Anjali and handed her a water bottle. "Make sure you stay hydrated! We can't have the bride fainting on her big day!" The words finally clicked with Anjali, who started to hyperventilate. She fanned her face as she paced around. "Oh my god, oh my god I'm getting married-"
At this point, all of the bridesmaids had flocked over to Anjali and were fanning her face, saying encouraging things that were overlapping over each other. Just as Anjali was about to lose it, a knock sounded at the door. Angie (who was supposed to be from the groom's party) opened the door and immediately started screeching. "YA CAN'T BE HERE, IT'S BAD LUCK TA SEE HER BEFORE THE WEDDING-"
"Is that 'Tsumu?" Anjali's face had perked up and she rushed to the door, hiding behind Angie. "Hello, darling!"
Whatever Atsumu had seen of her was quickly covered by Helia's hands. "You can't see her! It's bad luck, so shoo off to the icky groom's side so you can hide your shoes or whatever."
"hEY, WE'RE NOT ICKY-" Atsumu was quickly cut off by Osamu as he yanked his twin's ear. "Come on, ya scrub. Ya can't be seein' Anju before the weddin'." Suna took Atsumu's place as the poor groom was dragged away and smirked. "So, you think you're gonna be able to steal piss-hair's shoes? Good luck, I guess. We hid them well."
El cut in, sticking her tongue out at the fox-like man. "Sure we will. Men are terrible at hiding things! Now go help the groom get ready!"
Another smirk. "Nah, 'Samu's got it covered." Faint screaming could be heard from the groom's lounge, making Anjali wince. "Uh, Suna, maybe just go check? I'd like to get married to someone who's alive, please." The man rolled his eyes and groaned before stalking away, muttering, "Only because it's your wedding, Anjali."
Meanwhile, all the men were scrambling to hide the shoes. Bokuto was in charge of guarding the shoes with Hinata while Kuroo, Sakusa, and Daishou were in charge of hiding them. Osamu only had one job: making sure that Atsumu didn't run away to sneak a peek of Anjali.
"Come onnnn, 'Samu, just one more peek! I promise I won't take more than one more!" Poor Atsumu's head was reacquainted with 'Samu's hand. "Shut up, ya scrub! Ya can't look at Anjali, 's bad luck! She's the one who told us ta keep ya here!"
Kuroo scoffed playfully as he searched for a place to leave the shoes. "Like piss-hair's gonna listen to his future wife. Look at him, does he look like someone with self-control?"
Just as Atsumu was about to reply, Noya burst into the room with a grin on his face. "It's starting!" Faint sounds of loud music could be heard from outside, and Atsumu gulped as he got up and looked out the window. Of course Anjali would plan for him to ride on an elephant from the hotel to the venue.
"Do you think he noticed?" Anjali turned to Angie, the latter focused on perfecting her eyeliner. Both of the ladies wore a perfect smirk on their faces, knowing perfectly that Atsumu would freak out once he found out their surprise.
Angie met Anjali's playful eyes and giggled. "Oh yeah, he totally did. 'Tsumu's probably freakin' out, wonderin' how he's gonna get up on the elephant." Helia burst out into peals of laughter, causing a chain reaction in the hotel room as they all pictured a scared and slightly-in-awe Atsumu. "Thank goodness we're going by limo," Empress huffed. "We wouldn't wanna ruin your outfit, Anjali."
"Even if we did, Atsumu would still drool when he saw you," Nova teased. Anjali's cheeks heated at that, her mouth forming an 'o'. The room burst into more giggles as the bridesmaids went back to their preparations.
Atsumu clung to his seat for dear life as he moved and swayed on top of the elephant. The procession was filled with many of his relatives and friends dancing to the loud music, but he could only smile weakly as the swaying and nerves made him slightly nauseous. A part of his brain smacked the other and told him to chin up and have fun, and he weakly protested before he realized that it was his wedding day. Oh ma god, I'm gettin' married-
Samu, who had a feeling that 'Tsumu would be getting nervous, whistled and threw a water bottle at him. The groom caught it with ease, turning it over to see a picture of him and Anjali taped to the bottle. He smiled, tracing his fingers over Anjali's face as his nerves calmed down. He set the water bottle down and cupped his hands around his mouth before yelling, "Who's ready ta get this party started?!"
Anjali walked down the aisle to where Atsumu sat, waiting for his bride. Her face was covered with her veil, and Atsumu itched to pull it back to reveal her beautiful features. She gave him a smile and a tiny wave, her eyes pooling with happy tears. As she sat down next to him, she whispered an 'I love you', to which he responded by kissing her knuckles. The audience cooed at the couple before the priest began to chant, starting the first step of the wedding ceremony.
The priest gestured for Atsumu to light the holy fire, which made Anjali's smile grow. She'd have never expected her fiancé to agree to a Hindu wedding, but surprisingly, he had agreed enthusiastically. To add to her surprise, when the priest asked him to repeat the prayers, he had perfect pronunciation, even better than hers. She gave him an incredulous look as he chanted.
"The next stage of the ceremony is called the Saptapadi, where the couple makes seven rounds around the agni to legalize their marriage. Anjali will lead the first three rounds, followed by Atsumu leading the last four rounds," the priest informed the audience. Anjali held her hand out for Atsumu to take, feeling his warmth seeping into her hand as they made the rounds.
After that, Atsumu's parents came up to the mandap at the indication of the priest, offering her advice and well-wishes. She nodded with a smile, catching Atsumu's gaze and tilting her head at his lovestruck smile.
The priest nodded at the groom's parents to sit down before addressing the couple. "You may now remove Anjali's veil, young one, then we will pray to remove her defects." Atsumu frowned and looked ready to fight the priest, but Anjali's hand on top of his and her serene smile calmed him. He only huffed and muttered, "she's perfect," as he continued with the ceremony.
They then exchanged their rings, Anjali marveling at hers, tilting the ring this way and that to see how it caught the light, and Atsumu tracing the thin band of malachite in awe. He brushed his lips against her cheek as a gesture of thanks, bringing forward one of Anjali's million-dollar smiles.
The rest of the wedding passed similarly, with smiles and coos from the audience. Not surprisingly, a few people were missing from the audience, presumably to look for the bride and groom's shoes. They had an hour to look for them, but would they find them?
oh my gosh i'm so sorry for spamming your dashboard, but if you're a part of the shoe-stealing crew, please comment on this post with '#shoethieves' so that i know you're planning on stealing the shoes! you have until 6:13 pm EST to find them as they are scattered all over my blog!!
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(A 3AM Update) A True Gentleman, Chapter 20 - A case of jealousy
A/N: Hi guys! Chapter 20 is up! Enjoy reading and tell me what you think in the comments below.
TWENTY
A case of jealousy
Diana stared at the large tall ceiling of the concert hall. Right now, she's lying down on the stage, with a book on top of her rib cage, whilst doing vocal exercises and singing. Without a doubt, any member of the orchestra knew it was Aedan's doing.
As Diana struggled to recover every time she needs to prolong a part, Aedan required her to practice her breathing and take her voice completely from her diaphragm.
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" You take the high road and I take the low, and I'll be in Scotland before ye, for me and my true love will never meet again, in the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond..."
The instruments and Diana's voice closes the song, whilst the music fade, her cold voice prolongs the last verse, and echoes throughout the music hall, giving chills to people around. The hall was quiet for a while, but then applause followed coming from the orchestra musicians, appreciating the improvement in Diana's voice.
"OH MY GOSH! Aedan! your method work!!" she declares! seeing the improvement in her voice.
"It did, but you can't sing lying down during performances, Diana!" Aedan says playfully. "Which is why it is important to practice standing!"
Diana sighs and gets up from the floor. Singing had drained her a bit of vocal power and physical energy, therefore she needed a short break. She sits beside Aedan and takes the unopened bottle of Snapple beside him.
"That was mine!" he reprimands.
"I owe you one..." was her quick response.
"You owe me a lot, speaking of which... what was your Dr Skovgaards reaction?"
She narrows her eyes at him, remembering the incident that had recently taken place. "Are trying to get me into trouble, Aedan?! you bloody sent my dress for the wedding gig, with a box of flowers and a 'dirty' letter-"
"Which you wrote by yourself by the way!" Aedan quickly rebuffs her.
" It was your idea! I told you to discard it!! You made it look like some scene in some cheesy r-rated novel!" she says reprimanding him, but all he did was laugh at her.
" So? Did it work? did it work? what was his reaction?! tell me! tell me! you're killing me with the suspense!."
**********
FLASHBACK
It was Saturday quarter to noon when the doorbell rang. Isaac, since he was having his day off, was the one who answered the door, instead of Diana. Heck, that girl almost never showed her presence recently, and only placed mail for him at the dining table.
Isaac opens the door and was surprised to find a delivery man carrying a large black box of 'Net-A-Porter' and on his other hand, was a huge round box of bright pink roses.
"I did not order such thing!" was the first thing he said to the delivery man.
But the delivery man just laughed at him " Well, no one ordered them, these are all for 'Diana Rutherford' unless you happen to be her. Anyways, could you help me receive them? It's really heavy..."
Isaac's mouth hung agape, he didn't know how to react at the moment, and just took the boxes that the delivery man was carrying.
" Alright, please help me sign here to receive and we're good!" the delivery man hands him the 'received slip' after signing before leaving.
Isaac carries the boxes to the living room, and as much as he didn't want to, began snooping in. On top of the net-a-porter box was a card. He opened it and read its contents.
" To my sweetest Diana,
I hope you love the dress and the flowers I gave you. They represent my feelings towards you. I will fill you with love the next time I see you, I want to fill you with all the joys of the flesh, you lovely, lovely woman... I'd fill you until -"
Isaac clenched his fist and unknowingly crumpled the side of the letter. He read throughout it and it became steamy to explicitly dirty. His face felt warm, imagining what Diana had done with the man who sent these things, he just couldn't accept it and that was what broke the camels back.
He read the name at the end of the letter 'Sam'.
He chuckled and finally decided. "Alright, Sam... off you go..." he mumbles to himself. He didn't exactly know what came over him, but he wanted to throw the things this 'Sam' guy has sent.
"Dr. Skovgaard!" a familiar voice from up the stairs called him. He looked up to find Diana, looking at him expectantly. "Are those for me?!" she said excitedly, and came jogging downstairs."
"Uhhmmm... yes, some 'Sam' guy sent it to you..."
Diana forced a smile. 'Sam' was the pseudonym that she and Aedan agreed upon when they wrote the letter. Heck, she told him to abort the plan, but it seems it wasn't the case.
She quickly takes the boxes from Isaac and took a look at their contents, the dress she rented for one of her performances was already there. Aedan had packed it using a net-a-porter box to make it look like it was 'bought' instead of being rented.
The flowers were something she had bought for herself to place in her room, but it was Aedan's idea to make it look romantic.
She looks at the letter, and cringe upon reading it. It was actually a group of explicit letters formed into one. On the side, she couldn't help but notice the large crumple on the perfectly smooth surface of the card.
"Did you read the letter, Dr Skovgaard?" she felt blood rush to her cheeks.
"Uhhhmmm... no..." was his quick denial, however, Diana's gaze made him admit to it unknowingly. " Yes... by accident, sorry I was curious... " was his immediate defence.
"Oh..." she felt embarrassed and screamed internally.
There was a moment of awkward silence between the two before he spoke again.
"Whose, Sam? Are you two dating?" he tried to sound casual, but there was a strain in his voice that didn't escape Diana.
"Oh... uh, ahehehehe," she laughs awkwardly, avoiding his gaze. She noticed his expression darken and definitely didn't want to look him straight in the eyes. "It's a secret Dr Skovgaard!" she declares and winks at him, catching him off-guard.
She quickly takes the boxes from Isaac, and the card, and ran back upstairs to her room, singing a sensual tune, called 'Pillowtalk'. "I love to hold you close, tonight and always, I love to wake up next to you..." she dreamily sings.
Isaac clenched his teeth, the dreamy and shy expression, and singing silly to a dirty tune. This woman was smitten to whoever this 'Sam' guy is.
He did not like it one bit.
END OF FLASHBACK
**********
Diana shakes her head, and covers her face in embarrassment, just by remembering the letter she wrote to herself, and the fact that Isaac has read the letter.
On the side was Aedan laughing his head off upon hearing everything that had happened.
"Stop it, Aedan!" she chastises him, slapping his shoulder, but he just laughed louder. "I'm about to die in embarrassment!"
"You should thank me! you got the reaction out of him, he's jealous!" he exclaimed.
"I don't think that's the case Aedan, I think he's more concerned and angry at the thought of me probably dating a hypersexual man."
"Oh, Diana, based on what you told me, he's definitely jealous! trust me! I'm a man!" he assures, but she still doesn't believe.
"Oh well... I guess I'd revel in his reactions while it lasts... " She sighs.
**********
The next weekend, her first assignment is to sing at a society wedding. Aedan saw that Diana lacked confidence, and he didn't want her to stand and sing awkwardly on the day of the main performance. So what other way can she build confidence? by doing a performance! Or throwing her to the sharks full of water, courtesy of Aedan.
Today, she was going to sing with a piano quintet, and the church choir and she couldn't help but feel nervous, knowing she is the soloist for today and felt regret despite the promise of payment.
"Well... I can finally buy a 3D printer..." she assures herself as she walks towards the church's opulent doors wearing the dress that she had 'sent' herself.
She knew this wee bit of money will help her buy the tools she needed in order to set up a small workshop studio she wanted and with renewed spirit, enters the halls of the church. Voices echoed as she entered halls, some of the guests were already seated whilst a number of children were still running around. The quintet was already there, setting up their strings and reading the music sheets, whilst the small choir were still chatting amongst themselves.
She heads towards the pulpit where all the musician was, but before she could even reach the place, familiar voices called her from behind. Turning around, she found her cousin Henry, beside her father, Francis and they were wearing kilts, and then she realized most of the men in the halls were indeed wearing kilts. Without a doubt, this was a Scottish wedding.
"Diana! It's nice to see you!" Henry greets, as he gets out of the pew to embrace his cousin.
"Ahehe... Henry? Da? What are you doing here?" was her first question.
"I should be the one asking you that!" was Francis reply. "What are you doing here? Do you happen to know the bride or groom?"
"Oh... uhhmmm... you know... to sing!" she declares.
"What?!" Francis was stunned. Sing?! Why does she need to sing? Unless she was actually the wedding singer. "Wait! Are you-"
"I'll talk to you later Da!" she says, half running to the pulpit, not wanting any more of the interrogation. It was better if he finds out himself that the wedding singer is his daughter. She'd face his wrath later on.
Half an hour later, the wedding has begun. She clears her throat and opens with the song called ' The One by Kodaline, as the entrance wedding march.
The piano began, and the choir began to sing the back vocals. Her cold voice followed, singing the first verse.
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"Tell me. Tell me that you want me. And I'll be yours completely
For better or for worse." she sings, as the processional march began with the wedding officiant entering first, followed by the groom and his best men. Afterwards, the bridesmaids, groomsmen and the ring bearer and flower girls entered the halls, scattering flowers down the floor.
And when the brides, turn came, the guess had stood up to welcome her.
" You make my heart feel like it's summer
When the rain is pouring down
You make my whole world feel so right when it's wrong
That's how I know you are the one " she closes, the song when the bride had reached the altar. Turning to the side, she watched the groom shed some tears, as he took his bride's hands. It was no mistake that it was tears of joy.
She turned and found a number of guests, also crying. Including her father, and cousin, Henry. Heck, she'd never thought she'd see the day these tough men cry.
A pang of jealousy hits her as she watched the wedding ceremony. It takes her back to the time when she was seventeen, dreaming of her own wedding, whilst looking at Vera Wang wedding catalogues on the internet. She too dreamt of getting married to a man who loves her, a man who'd help her escape from her once uncaring father. A man who'd take away all the pain that she had suffered. But no, the man whom she almost married gave nothing but pain. If they did end up on the altar, she wondered if she would've become mental by now, or currently doing divorce proceedings. It took many twists and turns for her to realize that only she can make herself happy.
When the vows ended, Diana took it as a cue to sing the next song 'Fix You' by Coldplay. The strings open the song followed by the piano and then the hum of the choir.
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"Tears stream down your face
I promise you, I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face and I...
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you" The choir and quintet fade in the background as she prolongs the last word, and her voice echoed like cold wind throughout the church's halls.
The bride and the groom cry with tears of joy as the song ended, touched at the way Diana sang the song. The couple looks at each other fondly, before turning back to the altar.
"I now pronounce you Husband and Wife! You may now kiss the bride!" the wedding officiant declares.
Without any hesitation, the groom lifts the bride's veil and kisses her. Loud applause and cheers followed, and the recessional music plays.
Diana watched the bride and the groom march out of the church, followed by their cheering guest. It was moments like this that made her question her own life. However, she puts it aside, knowing where her priorities now lie.
A/N: I might have made some grammatical errors, so I'd do some soft editing along the way.
I hope you enjoyed that one! What do you think of Isaac being jealous? tell me in the comments section below.
#A True Gentleman#Mads Mikkelsen#Mads Mikkelsen Fan Fic#Mads Mikkelsen FanFic#Mads Mikkelsen Fan Fiction#Mads Mikkelsen FanFiction#Mads Mikkelsen x OFC#ooc#Original Female Character#Doctor! Mads#MissIronLady#MSILWRITES#MISSIRONLADYIW
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