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dopescotlandwarrior · 5 years

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Superstar

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For one quote/ one shot to be posted Oct 21st, my quote below; “Listen,” he said at last, softly. “Do you hear?” At first I heard nothing but the rushing of the wind, and the trickle of rain, dripping through the holes of the roof. Then I heard it, the steady, slow thump of his heartbeat, pulsing against me, and mine against his, each matching each, in the rhythm of life.” My thanks to @notevenjoking and @balfehueghlywed for organizing this one shot, I hope you like it.

Jamie walked through the house in silence. His sneakers touching the marble floor like a caress as he approached the front door with great anticipation. When the knob turned the massive front door opened with a quiet whoosh and closed with a respectful silence he promised to abide when he arrived from Scotland five months ago. The woman who owned the house and agreed to sponsor his junior year had one unbreakable rule, do not wake her in the morning. When the door was closed, Jamie’s smile could be seen in the next county. His forward flip off the top step was fueled by his exceptional muscle density, tender age of seventeen, buckets of testosterone, and pure joy. It was time to go bask to school.

Miss Abby was many things, a best selling author, sixty years a single woman, kind and interested in Jamie’s life and an exceptional cook. She provided a list of chores each week with a monetary value next to each. If Jamie needed money he could finish any or all of the chores and make enough to sustain his teenage life. Jamie would put a checkmark next to two or three of the chores and do the rest of the list without a mention. Miss Abby showed her gratitude with huge sumptuous meals that her athletic border consumed with gusto. At ten o’clock every night Miss Abby locked her study doors and worked all night.

Jamie jumped into his VW bug and shot toward school, his friends, his girlfriend, and the legendary coach John DiBiaso. It was the reason he was here playing for Catholic Memorial. Scouted as a sophomore in Scotland, he was doing his junior and senior year in Boston. He would be offered a full scholarship from any number of schools and then go pro. No one doubted it. He was that good.

Jamie was passing out smiles to all that wanted one today as he made his way into the building to drop his load of books. His friends gathered around him, joking and lying about getting laid over the holiday and telling stories about how drunk they got at this party or that. Jamie joked right back until his attention was pulled away by wild black curls, crazy gorgeous eyes, and a caboose that made his knees feel weak.

“Hey, who’s that girl?”

“Ye mean miss world-class ass or the other one?”

“Yer an idiot Sean, see you guys at practice.”

The day took control of his brain and the curly lass was forgotten. When a slim body dropped into a seat next to him at lunch he felt his body respond like a starving man.

“Where ye been lass? Been lookin for ye all morning. If ye don’t give me yer hot kisses soon I may die right here in this chair.”

Jamie leaned toward Geneva tickling her ear with his breath, making her squirm and run a hand down her hair to smooth anything he disrupted. She looked straight ahead as if he wasn’t there. Come lass, now.” Jamie dragged Geneva to the bleachers where they could kiss unobserved and he could grind into something she would never give. He walked into fifth period holding his jacket in front of him.

Claire was an even mixture of stark terror and excitement over going to a real school. She never anticipated so many students her age crammed into one building. No matter which hall she took it felt like she was fighting a wall of people who didn’t seem to notice her. By third period, she was exhausted. “Damn uncle Lamb, I told you Everest was a better school, certainly less crowded for Christ's sake.”

The only redeeming feature of this school was that giant boy in the hall this morning. He smiled at her and she shot down the hall feeling a bit dizzy. Five minutes later she met the second redeeming feature.

“Hey, luscious!” The boy leaned into Claire like he wanted to eat her, causing her to flinch and try to get away. Out of the crowd came a head of strawberry blond hair and a fist to the young man’s chest that stunned him long enough to get away. The girl grabbed Claire’s sleeve and pulled her out a side door.

Once outside, Claire turned her face to the sun, filled her lungs with fresh air, and opened her eyes to sparkling emeralds and a smiling face.

“I’m Geillis and you are a strange one aren’t ye.”

“What?”

When the bell rang Claire lurched forward apologizing to her new friend that she was late for testing. Claire launched herself back into the throng of students only to crash into an unexpected wall, hitting her head and bouncing backward. Warm hands caught her mid-flight.

“What the bloody hell…!” Her hand flew to her head as she looked up at a face that sucked the air out of her lungs and completely rebuilt her life goals in under a second.

“This collision is entirely yer fault lass, but yer British, so yer forgiven… Sassenach. Tell me yer name and I will pretend it never happened.” He smiled down at her and she saw the humor in his Hollywood handsome face. Claire struggled to regain her composure and remember what launched her into the hall in the first place. Still rubbing her head she looked up at his face again looking confused.

“I need to find the office sir can you point the right direction?”

“Sir? For that slip of the pretty tongue, ye get my company all the way there. Come, I will show ye.”

He grabbed her hand in the crowd of people and let it go when the hallway became passable. “Here is the office lass. Now, when ye see me next I expect a hi Jamie for my troubles.” He turned on his heel and jogged down the hall until he disappeared.

“Miss Beauchamp! We are delighted to have you here this semester. I know Lamb from college and promised to test you into the right school and grade. Shall we begin?” The guidance counselor looked down at the girl hoping this would not drag on all day. He was anxious to pawn her off on a lesser school where academic achievement was not expected or encouraged. He placed a test booklet in front of her with an answer sheet and a number two pencil. He wished her luck and quietly backed out the door. His first few strides felt like a temporary stay of execution by boredom. Too many parents and guardians had exaggerated the superior intellect of their children, and charges, over the years when the truth was an unremarkable, mediocre student who would never aspire to anything above the median. This girl spent the last five years in a remote location in Egypt, without running water or plumbing, and no schooling. That alone made her remarkable, as an oddity, but certainly not an academic superstar, which is the only interest he had in humans under thirty years old.

The heavy door to his office clicked shut and he exhaled his relief at being alone. He sat down and put his feet up wondering what he would order in for dinner tonight. Sometime later a sharp knock brought the counselor jerking awake from his nap. He pulled the door open to receive an answer sheet from his secretary. He looked at the clock and thought, impossible. When he looked down at the scores his face fell off, the jowls went slack, the mouth opened with a hanging lower lip, and he balled the sheet up and threw it in the trash.

“She obviously cheated, although I can’t imagine how. Oh, who cares, assign her to Park West and call them to expect a student tomorrow. What the devil is wrong with you?”

His secretary was anticipating a three-alarm academic emergency grab for this gifted student, instead, he dispatched her to a remedial high school where her brilliant mind would be stomped to death by a staff of teenage baby sitters who wouldn’t know gifted intellect if it slapped them across the face.

“No problem boss. I’ll take care of it.”

The door slammed behind her as the counselor went back to his nap.

June Dawe sat at her desk ruminating over the options of doing what’s right and risking her job or turning off her life force so she can do what she is told and be safe. Fortunately for Claire, June still had a passion for education and every student within these walls. She dialed each of the gifted teachers finding four who could meet with Claire right now.

“Claire, dear, come with me. We have a meeting on the second floor with your new teachers. Don’t be nervous child, the hard part is over. I believe your teachers will be very interested in helping you.

Jamie was on the field stunning his teammates with the deadly accuracy of his arm. He gave it all in practice just like his father taught him and the coach was blown away. Christian Memorial won the state championship this year and coach DiBiaso would bet a year’s salary it was in the bag for next year as well, as long as Jamie Fraser was playing. A whistle toot sent everyone running for the warmth of the locker room.

Jamie’s curls were still wet from the shower when he dropped into his car and zoomed toward home. It was getting dark but he saw an unmistakable silhouette ahead. A crazy mass of curls and an ass the angels only dreamed of. He jerked the VW to the side of the road and called out to the girl waiting in the bus line.

Claire smiled and waved, making Jamie feel weird suddenly. What was this then? He was completely baffled by her response, or lack thereof. That half-hearted wave was meant for a cousin or a neighbor. Jaime got out and gently pulled her from the line.

“Come Sassenach, I’m drivin ye home.”

“I like the bus, but thank you.”

He listened to her voice and heard sincerely. This was no female trick like Geneva was famous for. That little snip of a person was responding with honesty and complete lack of interest in him. Hold up, his mind was screaming. Never happened before, ever! He watched her shivering in the cold of the Boston night. He was intrigued and approached her again.

“May I speak with ye for a moment Sassenach?”

She looked at him like he lost his mind but she stepped out of line and walked over to him. “What?”

“Could I impose on ye lass, for yer company? I like the way ye talk and I’m missin my family tonight. Would ye talk to me while I drive ye home, please?”

Claire watched his eyes sparkle under the street light and felt a tractor beam pulling her toward him. He opened the car door for her and she breathed in his masculine scent and watched him fall into his seat. There was an awkward silence between them as each questioned what they were doing in this car together on this frigid night.

Jamie pulled over and looked down the block of historic brownstones. “Which is yer house Sassenach?”

“I will point to it if you tell me what Sassenach means.”

“It means outsider lass. Because of yer accent. And yer house?”

“Why is it so important to know which is my house?”

“So I know where to pick ye up in the morning for school.”

“Right here is fine, thank you. I really hate that bus.” Claire jumped out of the car and walked swiftly down the block, cutting across someone’s front lawn like she owned it. Hearing the car pull away she returned to the sidewalk and continued to her front door.

Miss Abby sat across from Jamie, enjoying his pleasure over her meal. She noticed a small flare in his eyes indicating conscious thought every few minutes. A bad test grade maybe, a fight at school, bad practice, the possibilities were endless. She had faith that Jamie would figure it out…what ever it was.

Claire could not remember ever being this exhausted. She had tested all afternoon and the questions got more bizarre and complex until she was finally released. Her bloodshot eyes watched the four teachers as they huddled over her answer sheet stealing glances at each other and then her. They seemed very happy when they let her leave asking her to join them again tomorrow morning. Claire ran in the crisp late afternoon air, just needing space and solitude. She fell in line at the bus stop and was lost in her memory of the afternoon. Until she heard the burr of the cutest boy she had ever seen.

The teachers encouraged her to choose a topic she found interesting and design a unique study that could be presented at the international science of the future competition. They promised it would be a boost to her studies, ivy league invitations, scholarships, and notoriety to make friends at school. She laid on her bed with a scrubbed face letting her mind wander. She saw an arm and a torso in movement as a ball was lifted and thrown. She saw the angles rush in and equations for mass and energy and distance. Her heartbeat jumped 30 beats per minute and she smiled in the dark. She had her hypothesis, experiment, measurement, testing and eventual modification of her hypothesis. She needed a test subject that was good enough to study.

Claire sat up and turned her desk light on so she could write her ideas down before she forgot them. She needed to study something other people wanted to know, whatever that was. She was still working on her study outline the next day when Geillis invaded her space and mind during lunch. Claire was fascinated by the backstories on all the popular kids, mostly from rich families or athletes.

“The transplants do pretty well too.” She noticed Claire’s eyebrows go up. “Transplants are kids in the exchange program that come from other countries. Catholic Memorial recruits gifted students from all over the world. Guess there’s a shortage of home-grown jocks and scholars. Like them,” Geillis nodded to the side where Jamie and Geneva were flirting with each other. “Those two are transplants from Scotland and on the top of the food chain at this school. Geneva is academics and Jamie is, well you know.”

“No! I don’t know. What is he?”

Geillis smiled indulgently at Claire, “Jamie Fraser is our star quarterback. I thought you knew him the way you face-planted his chest yesterday in the hall and then walked away with him.”

Claire was staring at the couple with their heads close together, giggling and kissing. “No, I don’t know anything about him. But he did drive me home and pick me up for school today.”

“Well, I’m anxious to hear all about it,” Geillis’s eyes twinkled wickedly and she scooted closer to Claire.

Claire was given her schedule of classes and struggled to find the new rooms hidden by the throngs of bodies crushed into the halls between classes. She was happy they were a grade higher than her original schedule. At least she wouldn’t be bored.

She found her homeroom, full of long desks with clumps students scattered around. She sat alone and pulled out her study outline. She didn’t like this room and felt like people were watching her. She tried to ignore it and get some work done. When the bell rang Claire’s head jerked up at the clock. Throwing books into her backpack she ran around the corner to the door and there he was. Jamie was talking with a group of guys and he opened the door so she could zoom past.

A fly on the wall could tell the world that Jamie was being raked over the coals and severely punished by his girlfriend Geneva who wanted the rides to school with “the little twit” to stop, permanently. The show of affection in the lunchroom was Geneva’s perfectionism, not showing weakness to the world. Jamie was just happy the fighting was over and realized his mistake when he pulled her outside for serious kissing.

“Get your filthy hands off of me, ye whore.”

“So it’s a whore I am now.”

“Stop giving that idiot rides to school where ye park and people can see ye both get out. If you insist on being a bleeding heart ye can give her a ride home if she gets picked up at least three blocks from the school.”

“Will there be anythin else, Geneva?”

She narrowed her eyes at him, “no, that’s all.” Geneva turned around and left Jamie standing outside. He watched her smile and wave at someone and realized she was hellbent on looking perfect 24/7 no matter the cost.

Jamie sat in the bleachers and the cool afternoon made him feel more like himself. He thought about Geneva, the prettiest girl in the world he decided when he first got to this school. The fact she came from Scotland and would return home for the summer was a bonus. He decided she was perfect but she wouldn’t give him the time of day at first. After his first game, she was all flirty smiles and agreed to a date, they hit it off. She was here because of her academic achievement and Jamie had a snapshot in his head of the two of them, he in a Greenbay uniform next to Geneva in a white lab coat. He knew she was fading in the picture and he forced himself to look at it. He didn’t like the girl she was today but decided to cool it a bit before breaking it off with her. Maybe she’ll come around.

Claire pushed the door open and saw Jamie’s VW waiting against the curb. He leaned over and popped the door for her.

“Here.”

“What’s that for?”

“I am paying my share of gas and happy to do it because I hate that bus.” He said no three times and finally pointed at the glove box. Claire was happy he let her do her part and her effervescence came bubbling up as she talked about her study outline.

“My friend said you play football, is that true?”

Jamie’s head looked sideways at an innocent face asking a serious question.

“Yea.”

“I got approval for my study outline so it’s time to find my subject. I know it’s a lot to ask but I hoped you could introduce me to some of the top players. I only need one person but I anticipate a lot of no’s. So, could you, please?”

Jamie stared at her through the red traffic light and left turn arrows waiting for the joke that didn’t come.

“What sport does this test subject have to play?”

“Football.”

Jamie’s head was starting to hurt, “I’ll see what I can do.”

His little friend Claire was a walking contradiction, at least to his limited exposure to girls. Did she even realize who he was, what he meant to the team and school? He was out of sorts from the weird day with Geneva, and no football until next year. He needed some aspirin and a list of chores.

Claire was doing homework in the kitchen and ran for her ringing phone.

“Hello, a…Claire. My name is Geneva Dunsany. I am calling about my boyfriend Jamie Fraser and the fight you caused between us today. It isn’t right to accept a ride to school with someone else’s boyfriend. Ye may look like a twelve-year-old boy but it doesn’t look good coming to school with my boyfriend. Hello! That bitch hung up on me…click.”

Claire stared at the phone and wondered if her crush on Jamie was noticeable. Her face turned bright red with embarrassment and she threw her phone in her purse. The next morning she taped a piece of cardboard to the streetlight with a note to Jamie.

I can’t ride with you anymore so I’m on the hateful bus. You are very nice, Geneva is a bitch. See ya superstar.

Jamie was livid at Geneva’s audacity. This was not going to fly. Thanks for making this easy for me, Geneva. Wait…did the Sassenach call me superstar? He swung a U-turn and went back to grab the sign before heading to school.

Geillis was bent at the waist, laughing uncontrollably at what Claire had done. “I knew there was a reason I liked you so much. Shit, that’s the bell, we’re going to be late.” The two of them ran to their classes where Claire could grieve the second-biggest loss of her life. At least that is what it felt like today.

The rumor that Jamie broke up with Geneva went around the school like wildfire. Jamie tried to talk to Claire several times but she would smile politely and move along.

The life seemed to go out of Claire. She requested a postponement of her project until next year and applied to test out of junior year so she could get this stupid school behind her. Uncle Lam had prepared her academically but did squat about teaching her to guard her heart.

She had gained a position in a social group at school and many of her friends were leaving for the summer. Somewhere during the hug-fest she looked up at the bluest eyes on the planet and felt her heart slip into her throat. They stared at each other and Claire waved and smiled at him. Jamie held his phone up and snapped her picture. Looking back at her he saw the tear roll down her cheek.

“My God lass, what’s happened to ye,” he said quietly. “Claire!” Jamie sprinted toward her but her bestie Geillis saw her pain and pulled her out a side door and straight to her car.

Jamie had one last stop to make before parking his car in storage for the summer and flying home. He pulled Claire’s cardboard note out of the trunk and penned a note, taping it to the streetlight.

“See ye in three months Sassenach. I told the bus driver yer a terrorist so it looks like ye will be comin with me next year.”

Geillis handed Claire the note and watched the emotion play out in her eyes. It was time to find the beautiful swan in her friend and let the doting boys at the clubs and beach do the rest.

Miss Abby’s new book was published over the summer and number one on the bestseller list. She was scheduled for book signings and interviews for the next six months but that did not stop her from waving to Jamie when she spotted him at the airport.

Jesus Christ Jamie, you got better looking over the summer, didn’t think that was possible.

“How was football camp?”

“It was great.”

“Have you still got your arm?”

“Yes.”

“Did you hear there’s a new man in my life?”

“Really?”

“No.”

When Jamie got up the next morning Miss Abby was off on an eight-week signing tour and he still walked down the marble floor silently.

He was so excited to see Claire and hear about her summer. He pulled the VW to the side of the road and gorged on a pretty girl with long silky black hair talking with a robed man holding a newspaper. Jamie admired her hair and curves while watching for Claire. A breeze slipped under her hair letting it dance around her face as she turned around with familiar golden eyes. His mouth dropped open, eyes big as saucers, then she smiled at him. Jamie jumped out of the car and hugged her. All he could do is stare at her and shake his head.

“Ye grew up over the summer, did ye nae.” He could not help himself so he blatantly studied her from head to toe making her giggle. She was stunning, centered, and comfortable in her gorgeous skin. Before he could stop himself he touched her cheek. Yer skin is like a pearl Sassenach, it glows. She smiled at him with warmth in her eyes.

“I’m glad my friend is back. I really hate that bus.”

They walked toward the school and Jamie stole glances whenever her head was turned. “Sassenach, can we go to dinner or coffee tonight. I really want to catch up and hear about yer summer.”

“I would love to! Soon. I have a prelaunch meeting tonight.”

“It’s the only night I don’t have practice,” he sounded disappointed.

“Maybe we can do it next Monday.” Her smile dazzled him, her curves made him weak and he was astounded by the size of her breasts. He wanted to run his finger…

“See ya superstar”

Jamie wanted her to stay so he could finish his examination of her body changes. When she walked away he got an eyeful of her round ass. That works too, he thought.

Football made Jamie’s world circular. His star was on the rise, pretty girls were always around him hoping to be noticed, handshakes from teachers, and reporters flocked to him after every game. Claire watched him from a distance, cut out every article about him, and felt every heartbeat was for him alone. He was her kryptonite and the only time of day that mattered was the fifteen-minute ride to school.

Claire was putting the finishing touches on the equipment she would use in the kinesiology lab. The video guys that signed on to work with her were testing their camera angles and making changes she requested.

Claire opened the door to let the first subject in and saw Jamie leaning against the wall. She smiled,“what are you doing here?”

Ye asked me for an introduction to the best football players that might be test subjects. I searched high and low but there’s no one better than me. I have proof…see?” He held a torn out article from the paper “Best High School Quarterback In The Country.” The other blokes willna be comin. Just me. I changed my homeroom to work with ye. Are ye ready lass.”

Claire was smiling for several reasons. He was hands-down, the best possible test subject, he would honor his commitment to the study, and she gained an hour each day with him. She was thrilled.

A month later Geillis leaned her back against the lockers and read the article about Claire winning entrance to the science competition. There was a picture of Jamie mock throwing the football and about one hundred wires attached to his arm, the video guys behind two cameras and Claire recording data on her clipboard.

“Wow, you guys are really crammed in there and it looks uncomfortable. How did you get Jamie to agree to this?”

“He volunteered after he told the other guys not to come.”

Geillis didn’t pay attention to much unless it hit her on the head. She had a minute and a half to think about it before the next cute boy pinched her, or pulled on her hair. Claire ran a comb through her hair and slammed her locker.

“Why don’t I get attention like that?”

Geillis folded the paper back on the picture and watched Claire’s face look confused. She continued folding until only Jamie’s face was seen. Claire’s gaze went from the picture to Geillis’s eyes. “Why are you always so cryptic Geillis?”

Claire shook her head and walked to her next class. Geillis stood staring after her wondering what could make the big-man-on-campus volunteer so much time?

Jamie’s tension was mounting as playoffs grew near. He was aware of the scouts and recruiters in the stands for every game, multiple videos capturing every single move, good or bad. He wanted more than anything to win the championship again for the coach, his father, Miss Abby, and every single person who had cleared the way for him.

Jamie looked for Claire who was never hard to find due to all her equipment and team buzzing around her. She was behind a camera with a huge protruding lens. He looked directly into it and for a full minute, he let his face tell her how much he needed her now.

Claire saw Jamie’s eyes like he was right in front of her. She felt him reach across the field and touch her cheek. Hot tears pressed into her eyes and she blinked hard to clear them. Then he moved out of frame and she stood up as he ran back to the line. She wiped her face quickly and took some deep breaths before getting back to her work.

After spending so much time together this past semester he had become her dearest friend as well as her secret love interest. On warm days, she would meet him on the field after practice and they would talk about their families. Claire could picture Scotland so clearly in her mind when Jamie talked about his home. Most times he made her laugh but sometimes she felt his deep yearning for his family, his isolation from the seat of his heart. When she told him about her parent's death and being raised by Lam in Egypt, he was silent until she finished. He pulled her to her feet and gave her a hug that shot fireworks off in her brain and she clung to him.

It was a slow, steady climb to a trusting friendship, unencumbered by passion that often precludes a deep understanding of the other. They were the oddball couple/not a couple at school, protected from teasing and gossip by the unwavering respect that Jamie commanded. It was Claire’s pink bubble.

The game was close to a mercy-rule point difference where the coaches would end the torture. Coach DiBiaso called Jamie in to run a play that was complicated, and so far, only done in practice. If it worked, it would be a miracle. Jamie called the play in the huddle and then altered the position of two players knowing he would catch hell from the coach but seeing no alternative. Many worried eyes flicked at Jamie’s as they ran to formation. The play went perfectly and the game was called for their 48 point lead.

Jamie found Claire in the lab looking at the new video. “Are ye ready soon lass, should I wait?”

“Two things, I am done for the night. Second, I have one more test to run and then we’re finished with testing.” She smiled at him sincerely. I would be grateful for a lift home tonight. She packed up and shut the computers down, and flicked the lights off.

Jamie picked up her camera case and led the way to his car. “How do you manage to carry this heavy case to yer house Sassenach? Why won’t you let me know where ye live? I know every other detail about ye and it’s makin me feel hurt, right here.” He was joking but the truth was thinly veiled.

“Don’t be ridiculous Jamie, there are two feet of muscle in front of your heart so it can’t be hurt.”

He put his hand on the back of her neck, one of his favorite friendly touches that made Claire feel warm inside.

“This last test I have is an hour and a half so we have to do it after school. Just let me know the best day with your busy schedule.” She looked up at him, “it will be weird not seeing you every day after that. It has been fun and the data is better than I could ever have imagined. Thank you, Jamie.”

“Yer welcome lass. I know it will help football in some way, and you, so it was an honor. Which driveway might I pull in?”

Claire looked up nonchalantly like this was an everyday occurrence, “three houses on the left.”

Claire said her usual see ya tomorrow and piled out of the car, lugging her case up the steps of her brownstone. He felt so close to her sometimes but…he didn’t know what he was feeling lately. If she would just give him a sign she wanted more it would be so easy, he thought. But she never did.

Jamie had hundreds of colored wires stuck to his shoulder and arm as he completed the last test.

“I only need ten more minutes of your time superstar. Shirt off please.” Claire was clinical and no-nonsense as she grabbed a container of white goo. When she turned around her face was just six inches from his naked chest. She gasped and her eyes roamed his muscled chest, nipples, then up to his thick shoulders and finally his face and those beautiful eyes.

Jaime agreed to help Claire and possibly the sport of football but he rarely felt like anything more than a test subject to her. He was very confused about the Sassenach but in his honest moments, he realized she wasn’t into him as a boyfriend and while every other girl in school wanted to drop their panties for him, Claire seemed impervious to his stardom.

Claire looked at his face and worried he was feeling exploited. She touched his hand and felt a jolt of lightning not expected. After clearing her throat she asked quietly if he was alright to continue. Jamie was forming the word no in his mouth as his eyes swept across Claire’s face. In that second he saw it. The blush, dilated pupils, open lips, pleading eyes. He couldn’t identify each of the signs but he was a keen observer of what happens to a girl when she wants to kiss.

“I’m fine to go on Sassenach.”

“First position please,” said just above a whisper. Jamie drew his arm back in a mock throwing position. Claire dipped the tip of her finger into the white goo and placed a dot of the liquid every three inches. She weaved in and out of Jamie’s space with her goo and ruler and then stood between his raised arms and bent legs to add drops up his torso, neck, and chin. Jaime stared straight ahead struggling to gain control over his desire to drop his arms and finally touch her. He felt cold goo drip onto his cheek.

“Goddammit,” she whispered. “It’s almost over, I promise, please don’t move.”

One of the graphic techs ran over with a stool and wet cloth and helped Claire stand on it to remove the drip. Jamie watched her intently. Her mouth barely inches from his, arms raised to his face, she moved around him so carefully and so close he could feel her breath on his face.

“Lights gentlemen.” Jamie heard the whir of the cameras coming to life, he saw the light pulse that Claire directed at his throwing side. “Go ahead Jamie, give me all you got.” He was ready to lose it when she said that but he attempted to complete his throwing motion while she encouraged him.

Jamie was breathing hard from the proximity to Claire when one of the techs called out to stop.

“Claire, his sweat is distorting the picture.”

Claire climbed back on the stool and held his face as she dried his sweat. Her eyes lowered to his and he saw the jolt go through her. I’m sorry lass, he thought, but I’m comin for ye and I canna stop. He lowered his arms which encircled Claire and he watched her eyes close as if she wanted nothing to interrupt the feeling. He pulled her closer to him, lips an inch from each other.

“Release your team Sassenach so I can kiss ye.”

“Um, um, that’s a wrap for tonight. Thank you, gentlemen, out, everybody out!”

When the door closed behind them Claire was ready to get down from the stool.

“Stay,” he whispered as he closed the distance between them and then pressed his lips to hers, quickly losing his battle for a slow chaste kiss and forcing her lips open to allow his tongue. He knew she had experience with kissing by the way she angled her head and breathed. Whoever he was, Jamie thought, I’m gonna kiss away every memory of him.

Claire pressed her lips to Jamie’s and got lost in the sensation she had dreamed about for the past year. She knew she should be worried but could not think of a single reason why.

Jamie watched her face. The arousal was obvious making him want to dance a jig around the lab. Her slight smile and sparkling eyes were magnetic and he wanted to lose himself in them. Claire reached for the wet towel and started to wipe the dots off his arms and torso. They said nothing and Jamie watched her hands and the towel touch his skin. She held him to her with one hand while she wiped the dots from his torso and neck. She pulled his face down to wipe the dots on his face and he crushed her to him. He broke the kiss but kept his face an inch from hers and when she looked at him he whispered, “Surrender Claire.”

Claire’s heart took off like a rocket and she had not seen it yet after an hour of kissing. She vaguely considered saying something but that would prevent more kissing so she just smiled and lifted her face to his.

“We should go Sassenach.” She fell against him and whimpered. He put his arm around her and walked her to the door. Looking down at her, “Ye dinna turn anythin off yet.”

“Hmmm?”

He chuckled at her expression, “come, lass, ye need to turn all this off before we go.”

When they were walking to the car, Claire leaned into Jamie and felt his arm around her. He walked her to the door of her house and kissed the breath out of her. He decided she may have kissed before but that was all. He pulled her hands to the back of his neck and felt the length of her press into him. That was too much for Claire who backed up and said goodnight rather quickly.

Jamie’s joyous exuberance was not to be denied and he launched his body into a front flip off the fifth step, landing and laughing at the honking and hooting motorists.

Claire had a permanent smile as she got ready for bed. She wondered if Jamie was thinking about her and if he wanted to kiss again. She shot a text off to Geillis C: U up? G: Bed, cramps, no C: get better, Jamie kissed me like a million times tonight The phone rang.

********************************* I filled my lungs with a deep breath of fresh mountain air and exhaled smiling. I was lost in my daydream, memories actually, of my first year at Catholic Memorial. I have not thought about those people in years. I felt a chilling wind blow across me and climbed out of my hammock picking up my books. It smelled like rain. I watched the trail for my wonderful husband to return. When the cloud above ripped open I took refuge in the tent.

I fell back on the foam rolls and sleeping bags carefully laid out for a reunion of souls and giggled to myself. I offered him two choices, an extravagant weekend at a resort, or camping high in the mountains. Knowing his choice already, I had the camping gear stacked in the corner of the utility room, ready to go.

“Where might the love shack be?” He ran his hand up my back making me shiver.

I tried to whisper my answer because his face was millimeters from mine but he couldn’t wait and kissed me dizzy. He ran his hands all over my body making me shake for him. My reflective state of mind brought back every gasp and gaze on the way to paradise before we left.

I smiled and stretched in the warmth of the tent until the first drop of water hit my forehead. The eyes flew open and I saw a line of water drops lined up on the roof of the tent waiting for their turn to fall. “Shit.” I put my biggest bowl under the drips and considered driving back down the mountain to purchase a new love shack. It would have to wait for this rain to stop and the return of my heart with his stringer full of fish no doubt.

I heard banging outside and unzipped the tent flap barely seeing his outline in the downpour. A cooler flipped open, a clunk from a stringer of fish, and footsteps in the mud. My God, I thought, this impromptu camping trip was supposed to be beautiful weather, a calm lake, and two days to forget the world.

I called out to leave his sopping clothes outside and scrambled out of my halter top and shorts. Jamie poked his head in smiling with pure joy and took the towel I offered. “Ye ordered the weather from Scotland did ye? Ah, I know ye did, it’s why yer my favorite wife Sassenach.” His eyes raked over me from end to end as he prowled closer and whispered, “it’s one of the reasons.”

He had been away at football camp for six weeks and we were hungry for each other.

“Do I smell like fish Sassenach?”

“I don’t care. Come here, love.”

Sometime later I laid in Jamie’s arms with my head on his chest.

“Listen,” he said at last, softly. “Do you hear?” At first I heard nothing but the rushing of the wind, and the trickle of rain, dripping through the holes of the roof. Then I heard it, the steady, slow thump of his heartbeat, pulsing against me, and mine against his, each matching each, in the rhythm of life.

The palm of his hand slid down my body from my shoulder to my knee. I was drifting in my euphoria, eyes closed, remembering how Jamie claimed my body in the last hour, rather roughly I might add. It’s about possession, and dominance, I think, and it calls to a place deep in my soul making me submissive, a slave to his pleasure and my arousal climbs to the stroke range. When that part of Jamie comes out it is he who wakes up with bloody scratches and bruises. It’s like date night for the neanderthal in each of us. I giggled at that thought and forced my eyes open.

The look in Jamie’s eyes made me want to weep for him. “What’s wrong love?”

“Yer comin with me to camp next year Sassenach, I insist. Some of the guys brought their wives, and some had a kid with them! I felt jealousy for what they had and then I got…grumpy.”

“What? You are the best quarterback in the entire country,” I kissed his cheeks, eyes, and throat as I talked, “you do not get grumpy.”

“Well, accordin to the team, if ye dinna come with me next year, they arna comin.”

He rolled me on top of him, “tell me yer comin next year, Sassenach.”

“I’m coming next year to spring training, and every year after that, so help me God. You are the only star in my sky James Fraser.” I let the tears fall because I was overwhelmed at the moment.

“There should be ample room for one tiny star then? When you are ready?”

“Of course Jamie, but two tiny stars or even three might be better. Do you agree my love?”

Jamie blinded me with his smile and wrapped me in his warmth.

“That will be just fine Sassenach.”

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maerose-late-at-night · 4 years

Text

Everything (comes back to you)

THIS FIC ON AO3

He’d been sitting there for about an hour, very intently not watching Callum on his date. Instead he sat at the bar with shoulders hunched and folding in on himself. Watching as the line indicating how much beer he had left sunk lower and lower toward the bottom of the bottle. Mick sent him a worried glance every now and then, before sending an equally worried look over Callum’s way. At least, that’s what Ben told himself.

He’d passed tipsy-but-alright miles ago. His head was now filled with smoke and fog and no way out, occasional wisps of Callum’s voice cutting through it like a piercing blade (or maybe like a ray of sunshine). Heard him huff a quiet laugh at something the other bloke said – and it hurt, it hurt – but he couldn’t help but feel a little vindicated. See, Ben knew every possible nuance to the vast repertoire of Callum’s laughs and this… this was just being polite. Because Callum would never leave someone hanging, too afraid to offend their feelings.

Ben… well, Ben could ease a proper full-body laugh out of him, head thrown back and eyes watering, nearly cracking his skull against the headboard after a particularly intense round of hanky-panky. Callum loose-limbed and sated, Ben the happiest he’d ever been, drawing lazy circles on his boyfriend’s chest. He knew that if anyone had taken a close enough look at him, they’d have found actual stars dancing in his eyes.

His fingers travelled to the bottle once more, tracing the path of a droplet of condensation falling down. He swiped at it, pressed it into the paper label that had become a little bit soggy from time passed. He started picking at it, annoyed when it didn’t come clean off, leaving sticky residue against the green and on the tips of his own fingers.

He should let this happen.

Give Callum a fresh start and a clean break – a break he’d forced himself, mind you. Pushed at Callum, pushed at him some more. Try to blink away the tears in his eyes and the knife in his heart and the look on Callum’s face. The feeling of safety and belonging that had engulfed him just a few days ago, pressed close together in the portacabin. He’d wanted to disappear forever, leave everything behind. He’d vaporize, and just stay nestled in the crook of Callum’s elbow or the ticklish spot behind his left ear. In the dip between his thumb and index finger, stroking Ben’s cheek tenderly.

He ventured a glance to where they were sitting. Callum’s date was leaning closer to him than he’d been before, but he – of course – remained completely oblivious. Even after all this time, Callum still didn’t understand the effect he could have on people. It was one of the softest things about him. Ben loved it so much, he needed to protect it, and every other little inch of him. Even if it meant killing himself in the process.

So he couldn’t really explain why he suddenly found himself at their table. “Right, we need to talk.”

Callum looked at him, a little confused and a lot fed up. “Now’s not really a good time, Ben.”

“Oh, no, now’s the best time.” He threw a dirty look in the direction of Callum’s plus-one. “Terribly sorry, needs must and all that. Callum?”

“Hang on,” the stranger said. “Who d’you think you are?”

Not able to bear being labeled ‘the ex’, he bit out “I’m his mate, alright?”.

Callum huffed at that, bit his lip and looked the other way. Shook his head almost imperceptibly, then pushed from his seat and stormed out, Ben following at a leisurely pace. A lot of eyes watched their actions unfold, no doubt wondering as to how Ben would mess it up even further. Though some, he hoped, might be rooting for him, just a little, too.

Callum’s features made a stark contrast to the night air and what little light shone down from a half-waxed moon. He was pacing excitedly, right in the middle of the street. It made Ben worried for him, but mostly it was making him dizzy, the alcohol in his system catching up to him in a swift rush.

He closed his eyes briefly. “Sorry, would you mind stopping for a second?”

Thankfully, Callum did, though the action seemed to shifted his mood as well. He went from anxious to angry in the blip of a heartbeat.

“So you’re my ‘mate’ now, that it?”

Ben chuckled at the way Callum had used those gorgeous long fingers to add pressure to his words. “Those are some pretty intense air quotes, babe.”

Callum deflated at the endearment, all the air and all the fight going out of him in the second it had taken for Ben to unthinkingly use it. He blinked slowly, averted his eyes. “You can’t keep doing this, Ben.” He looked at him, trying to make him see – some sort of sense, he supposed. Futile. “You can’t keep pushing me away then making some claim on me when...”

“I know,” Ben said, taking a step forwards, holding his hands up in a sign of surrender. “It’s just… I know I’m not good enough for ya, but that idiot in there ain’t come close either.”

“Right.” Callum nodded, his eyebrows pulling together. “And you can tell just by lookin’ at him, can ya?”

Ben gave him a look that said it was perfectly obvious. “He don’t know ya.”

“Maybe if you hadn’t -”

His head was still spinning. Surely the alcohol should’ve dissolved by now? “No he couldn’t.”

“Right.” Callum said again. He was so close to Ben now; both of them were shouting. When had that happened? Ben couldn’t remember. “So you’re not good enough, he’s not good enough. Anyone ever going to be?”

“No, they ain’t.” Ben said, placing his hands to either side of Callum’s face, cradling it softly. It was the best prize in the world, and he couldn’t have it.

“No they ain’t, Callum. Because you’re beautiful and kind and amazing in just about every way. And I’m completely in love with ya. And there’s never gonna be anyone in the world that actually deserves all the stuff you give out.”

Callum stilled. “Hang on, say that again?”

“Orright, calm down big ego.” Ben rolled his eyes. “You’re beautiful an’ kind and amazing. And I know for some reason that still comes as bloody news to ya..”

“No…no, not that.” He smiled. “The part you said you’re in love with me.”

Panic rose in his chest. His hands dropped immediately. Damn beers. “Errr… don’t think I said anything of the kind, mate.”

“Yes you did.” Callum was beaming, a grin so wide it would no doubt split his face apart if he kept it on for too long.

So Ben told him just that.

“You know if the clock strikes your face’ll freeze that way.”

He felt defeated. “Look, even if I did, it don’t change anything, do it?” He balled his hands into fists by his side to keep from shaking. “You’re still too good, Callum, I’m not gonna ruin ya.”

“You’re wrong,” Callum said. “ it changes everything. It proves I was right, you’re just scared. But I’m not letting you go.” His hands closed over Ben’s, Callum’s fingers caressing them until they unfurled from their clenched position. “I’m not letting you go, Ben.” He repeated. “Whatever it is you’ve done.. I’m not sayin’ I don’t care, but we’ll get through it. You can’t deal with this on your own, it’ll break ya.”

Ben bit his tongue, turned away. “Well, whatever you’re thinking, it’s worse.”

“Your dad punched out Jack ‘cause he though he was the baby’s dad, yeah? I don’t imagine he’d let Keanu breathe when he realized.”

Ben raised his eyebrow at the matter-of-fact way the words’d been spoken. Like it was no more than a fact. With no consequences or blame or possible jail time.

“Copper like you can hardly have a boyfriend with that on his record, can he?”

Callum gave him a small and private smile. “See, the thing is…I’m not gonna be a copper no more.”

That was even worse. “Giving up your dream to be with…”

“Nah, see..” Callum interrupted him. “I’ve been thinking these past few weeks, being away from ya. ‘Bout why I wanted to be a copper in the first place. And I just… I want to help people, Ben. Be ‘of service’, like. I’m not doing that at the parlour where I just apply balm after the wounds, I wanna stop the hurt from happening in the first place.” He squeezed Ben’s hand. “I don’t wanna save people from criminals, Ben. I wanna save ‘em from themselves.”

His eyes were wide and trusting. “Like when I talked Bobby down. Or who I was before I met you. Or who you’d be if it wasn’t for ya dad. I’ve been there, I know. I think I might be good at pulling people out.”

“And I’m not perfect like you think, Ben. I’m broken same as you…”

When Ben started to protest this, he shushed him. “No I’m not. D’you wanna know how many times I still wake up from nightmares ‘bout what I did in the army?”

What? “You never…”

“Never when I’m with you.” Callum acknowledged. “Wanna know why that is, Ben? It’s ‘cause you make me feel safe. I’m not scared when I’m around you.” He smiled at him. “You do that for me.”

“Callum…”

“I’m gonna kiss you now.” Callum said, without even the slightest tremor in his voice. Only confidence and – Jesus Christ, so much love shining through. “We’re going to forget these past weeks ever happened.” He gave Ben a cheeky smile. “And you’re coming home with me tonight.”

Ben grinned. “Bit confident, are ya?”

“Got every reason to be,” Callum told him, taking the smaller man into his arms. Ben suppressed a shiver as Callum kissed the top of his nose, nuzzled the tender spot between his eyes, before pulling back. “This guy I like just told me he loves me back. Don’t need to know anything else, really.”

He paused.

“Now come ‘ere you big grizzly bear.”

The statement was followed by small laugh.

This, Ben knew, this was one of the good ones. He’d treasure the sound forever.

(Later, there’d be a discussion about how Ben in NO WAY could qualify as a ‘big grizzly bear’. Callum would tease him, attempting every pet name within the realm of possibility. He was thinking something along the lines of a fuzzy, cute koala bear. But they didn’t need to settle on anything just now, he said. They had years and years and years.)

#ballum #ballum fic #fix it fic #13.01.2020 #okay so this is how I imagine the whole date-scenario thing #my boys #ee #eastenders #ben mitchell #callum highway #benxcallum

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yeet-or-be-hawed · 5 years

Text

“Jealousy looks cute on you” High Honor! Arthur Morgan x Reader Fluff

High honor! Arthur x reader

Fluff

Arthur has noticed you receiving attention from other men and you can’t figure out what his problem is.

“I hope someone has told you how gorgeous that smile is today, because you deserve to here it every day.” The man at the bar was sitting way too close to you for comfort and you could smell the liquor on his breath. You waved the bar tender over, hoping you could just ignore the drunk stranger.

Arthur told you to meet him at the saloon to plan a home robbery over a couple of drinks. You’ve only been in the gang for a few months, but you’ve already gotten close with everyone at camp, even Micah to your distaste, has been openly friendly with you and if you didn’t know any better you would say he was flirting. You usually laugh it off and respond with something witty but something about him just makes you wary, so you avoid being alone with him at all times. But of all the friends you made in camp, Arthur is your closest friend. Hosea likes to joke about how good for each other you are, but you dismiss it every time saying how you’re just good friends.

You would be a liar if you said you hadn’t thought about it. Arthur is very handsome after all, and under all that hard exterior he’s just a softie. Once while on a trip to town when it was just the two of you he stopped mid conversation. Off to the side of the road, a white tail doe was struggling and crying on the ground. You watched Arthur approach the deer, expecting him to put it out of its misery. He kneeled beside the doe and gently ran a hand down its abdomin and his eyes softened, “she’s about to give birth. Looks like the poor thing is having a hard time, we need to help her.” He said absolutely, you realized you’ve never heard his voice so soft and focused.

He turned to you and asked if you could set up camp. You nodded and immediately started on the fire. “When you get the fire started, run down to that river and grab some water. Get it boilin’ if ya don’t mind, darlin’.”

You turned towards the river immediately, hiding your blushing cheeks. You had heard him call his horse darlin’ but not anyone else at the camp. ‘Maybe...just maybe’ you think to yourself. As you bring the water back to the fire to boil, you look at Arthur. His eyes fixed on the doe like it’s the only thing in the world. ‘There’s no way’ you think to yourself. ‘He’s too handsome for the likes of me.’ And push every romantic thought out of your head.

You weren’t much help other than being an extra set of hands, Arthur had definitely done this multiple times before, his hands were experienced and he spoke softly to the doe, giving her support that she couldn’t understand but you were certain she knew.

He pulled the fawn as the mother pushed and you heard a small whimpering. Arthur turns to you holding the new born fawn, and the love in his eyes was enough to melt your heart. He gently place the fawn with the mother, and just as quickly as Arthur shifted to a side you had never seen, he was back to his regular self. After wiping his hands, he crossed you to get on his horse. “You ready?” He said.

You were breathless. The man you knew to be a ruthless killer who is willing to rob and steal from any man just stopped to help an animal that may not have even needed his help. You nodded.

You were pulled out of your thoughts by another stranger. “Did ya hear me ma’am? I’m talking to you.” A different man, at least twice your age and twice as ugly had taken the spot of your last admirer. You roll your eyes and give him a smile and turn back to bar tender. As you lift your hand to wave the bartender, the drunk ugly man grabbed your arm with enough force to make you wince as he grabbed you. “Now you best be payin’ attention to me girl, I asked you how much you cost.”

You tried to pull back your wrist but he tightens his grip, you know it’s going to bruise but that’s the last thing on your mind. “Excuse you sir, but you couldn’t give me enough money to even look at you twice.” You spit back defiantly.

That was a mistake. He raised his other hand to strike you. Right as it’s about to hit its target another hand comes from the corner of your eye. You turn and as instantly relieved.

“The lady isn’t interested. Now I suggest you get yer goddamn hand off her before I break both of your wrists.” Arthur must’ve slipped in while short, drunk, and ugly was distracting you.

“Both w-“ he howled in pain as Arthur swiftly twisted the man’s wrist and you heard a solid crack. You couldn’t help but smile as the man looked between you and Arthur. As soon as Arthur released him, he ran straight out of the saloon tail tucked between his legs.

Arthur slid in beside you and waved the bartender over. He ordered his usual, two shots of whiskey. He pushed the second one to you which you gladly accepted. After you both take your shots, he turns to you. “So, you had a lead for a home robbery?”

“Yeah, an old man living out on the plains. A mean bastard, no family or friends so no one will be with him or looking for him. Apparently he’s got a good bit of money stashed somewhere on the property.”

Arthur nods. “Sounds good, have you scoped it out yet?”

“Rode by there just yesterday. No neighbors near by and pretty far from any main roads. I highly doubt we’ll have any trouble.”

Arthur smiled and you hoped he assumed your pink cheeks were from the liquor. “Look at you, big bad robber! You’re one of us, that’s for sure.”

After getting two more shots for the both of you, he looked at your wrist and frowned. When you looked down you noticed it was already starting to bruise. “I oughta kill that bastard.” He said with that deadly tone that you weren’t sure if it scared you or stirred something more primal in you.

You gave a nervous laugh, “awww you know better than to worry about me, you know I’m tough as nails!” You let out a loud belch and Arthur’s face softened as he let out a deep bellied laugh.

“Well, I just-“

“Ma’am, is this guy bothering you?” What was with the men in the bar today? This fellow looked barely old enough to be in a saloon, dressed much nicer than anyone else in the bar. You look at Arthur and his jaw was clenched tight, a hard look on his face you found hard to read. “If he is bothering you, you’re more than welcome to enjoy your drinks with a gentlemen.” He said smugly. “I’m sure a handsome gentlemen is better company than some dirty bumpkin.”

You turn to the stranger. He has no idea who he’s talking to and you feel sorry for him. You waited for Arthur to jump down his throat, punch him, and continue like normal but there was a strange look in his eye, almost a look of defeat.

You put a hand on the stranger’s chest and give him your sweetest smile. You couldn’t help notice Arthur’s eyes widen and stare at your hand. You leaned in close to the stranger, he was wearing a strong fragrance that made you want to gag. You could feel him straighten up in victory as he wrapped an arm around your waist. “Ya know,” you say softly in his ear “I would rather eat shit off a platter than give you the time of day. And as for this” you grabbed his hand from your waist gently “if this isn’t removed in the next five seconds, it will be removed from your body and that’s a promise.”

The stranger was dumbfounded, he stumbled on his words. “I er...I just-“

“You just nothing. Now git.” Your voice much lower and more serious.

He turned so quickly to leave he tripped over his own feet and crawled to his table. You turn to Arthur who is equally dumbfounded. You give him a smile and turn to the door, “come on Arthur, let’s go grab some supplies from camp then we can head out.”

When you returned to camp, Kieran was already at your tent. He looked nervous but that wasn’t anything new for him, he always seemed nervous here, especially around Arthur, Dutch, and Bill. You always had a soft spot for him, you were the first to trust him and give him friendship. You understood what it was like to be in a bad situation with bad people and saw how genuine he was when he spoke. Come to think of it, you’ve never heard him tell a single lie. “Lookin’ for me Kieran?”

He stands and faces you quickly, he was surprised to see Arthur standing behind you and immediately started fumming with his hands. He looked at you, at the ground, at Arthur, then back to the ground. “I er...I wanted you to have this.” He pulled a candy bar out of his pocket and handed it to you.

“Oh Kieran that’s my favorite chocolate bar! How did you know?” You beamed at him, before you joined the gang you spent most of your life alone, and now you have a whole family of people who do nice things for you!

Kieran’s face turned bright red and he rubbed the back of his neck, “ahh it’s no big deal, just saw it last time I was in town and thought of you.” He looked at you and gave you a sheepish smile. “Anyways...that’s it I uh, I should go.”

Kieran hung his head and quickly walked away. You turned to Arthur, pleased with your gift from your friend, and again he had that strange look in his eyes, fist balled tight. “What’s wrong?”

His face changed quickly, “Not a thing, dar- Y/N. I need some things from my tent, want to meet back at the horses?”

“Sounds good!” You couldn’t help but think about how Arthur’s face looked earlier when at the bar and when Kieran gave you the chocolate. Was it anger? ‘Why would he be mad at Kieran giving me chocolate?’ You thought. ‘Maybe he doesn’t trust Kieran yet, I’ll have to talk to him and let him know he can trust him.’ You packed a couple days worth of provisions and supplies for your trip and walked to your horse, Clementine. She’s been with you for years and has been your only company in many situations. As you pat her neck she slowly moves her head towards your satchel. You give her a laugh, “you silly horse I know what you want.” You reach into your saddle and pull out a carrot. Clementine whinnies happily and you feed it to her. You feel a heavy hand on your shoulder and turn to see Arthur. “Ready?”

You nod and mount your horse. “Any of the guys coming with? I thought we could ask Lenny or Kieran to join us.”

Arthur made that face again, “We can handle this ourselves.” He whipped the reins causing his horse to push ahead, and you rolled your eyes and followed.

__________________________________________

The robbery went exactly as planned and you were back at camp after a day and a half. Arthur was quiet most of the time and you could tell something was bothering him. When you asked, he would dismiss it or change the subject. As you walked into camp, you were greeted by a very bouncy Kieran. “Y/N! I’m glad to see you, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you, do you have a moment?” You looked to Arthur who had already turned away and was headed towards his tent, his shoulders looked more slumped than usual.

You followed Kieran to a remote spot of the camp, you could tell he was nervous as he was fiddling his thumbs and every time you looked him in the eyes he looked away. “I um.. I wanted to ask you the other day, when I bought the chocolate but Mr. Morgan-“

You gave him a smile and put your hand on his, “You don’t have to worry about Arthur! He’s just a big sweetie, he’s not as tough as you think. Don’t let him scare you, he’ll come around eventually.”

Kieran looked at your hand and took it in his. “That’s not what I meant, anyways I, I wanted to ask you if you were interested in courting. I mean, courting with me.” He looked at you with a sweet smile and everything clicked when you felt your stomach drop. Kieran was a sweet guy and a great friend but you didn’t expect this. Suddenly his hands on yours made you feel uncomfortable. “Kieran I... I don’t know what to say.”

He perked up and squeezed your hand, “you could say yes?”

You frowned and pulled your hands from his, “I could, but it wouldn’t be fair to you. I just...I thought we were friends.”

Kieran’s face dropped, “Oh I see.”

Your stomach was in knots. You’ve turned down drunks and gentlemen alike but you’ve never turned down a friend and it felt awkward yet sad at the same time. You knew your friendship wouldn’t be the same and it bothered you. Why did he have to do that? Why couldn’t he be okay with just being friend? The next question on your mind jarred you, why aren’t you satisfied with being just friends with Arthur? You stood and put a hand on Kieran’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, I need to think for awhile. I hope we can still be friends.”

Kieran gave a weak nod but you knew by the look on his face things would not be the same. When you got back to your tent, you flopped down on your cot, confused and frustrated with the men in your camp.

__________________________________________

The next morning was odd to say the least. Usually you’re awoken by Arthur with two cups of coffee, weirdly spry and energetic for the morning time. You figured he may have slept in but when you opened your tent, you saw him sitting alone with a single cup of coffee. Did you say something on the trip to upset him?

You looked around and Kieran was no where to be seen, which left you feeling a bit of relief. You stretch and walk to join Arthur. “Keeping the coffee for yourself this morning, I see.” You day in a joking tone. He nods and grunts, but doesn’t turn to face you.

You put your hand on his shoulder, “everything okay?”

He shrugged off your hand and you felt a pang in your chest. Why was he being so cold to you all of a sudden? You grab his shoulder and pull him to face you. “What is your problem? Did I do something to upset you?”

He stares into his coffee and doesn’t respond. He’s never been this cold toward you and the sadness and annoyance turn to tears. “If you don’t want to be my friend anymore just say it!” Your voice breaks at the end and he finally looks at you. You turn away quickly trying to hide your childish tears and walk back to your tent. Why did everything change so quickly? In a matter of days you feel as if you’ve lost all of your friends and don’t even know why.

You hear a soft tapping on your tent flap, you already know who it is, and wipe the tears from your eyes. “Come in.” You try to hide your emotions but fail terribly.

Arthur ducks into your tent and sits next to you on your cot. He’s always seemed so big to you but you couldn’t help but feel he looked so small in that moment. “I-it’s not that I don’t want to be your friend, that’s not the problem.”

You were confused and frustrated at this point and finally snapped. “What is it then, Arthur? What do you want? I don’t even know what I did but I feel like I’ve lost you.”

He finally looks at you and the look in his eyes broke your heart. He looked so sad, like he had been beaten down and couldn’t get back up. “I just...you and Kieran I-“

You knew it. He couldn’t trust Kieran and was taking it out on you. “Kieran is a good guy! When will you get that? He’s not trying to hurt us!”

“It’s not that!” Arthur snapped back, he looked tired like he hadn’t slept the night before. It was obvious getting an attitude wouldn’t get you anywhere. You sighed and put your hand on his back. “What is it Arthur? I hate seeing you like this, I hate us acting like this towards each other. Please talk to me.”

Arthur took your hand and your heart fluttered. In that moment his stormy eyes looked more vulnerable than the fawn he helped deliver. “I’m not stupid, Y/N. I know how close you are, I always knew he wanted you, hell who doesn’t?” He swallowed and even though he wasn’t facing you you could see the pink tint to his cheeeks. “I saw last night, I saw you holding hands I knew he would ask soon I just wasn’t expecting this soon. I uh” he let out a shaky breath. “I wasn’t expecting to be this out of sorts over it. I can’t stand seeing the way he falls over himself over you, or the way Micah stares, or the way Lenny smiles at you. I just...” He trailed off.

You couldn’t believe what you were hearing, he couldn’t be saying what you thought he was, was he?

“I just...I’ll be okay, as long as your happy even if that damn Kieran is what makes you happy.” He gave you the saddest smile you had ever seen, but you were also confused. “Kieran? Yeah Kieran asked to court me last night, but I told him no.”

Arthur’s eyes sparkled and the sadness seemed to evaporate. “You said no? Why would you do that?”

You put your hand on his cheek and he leaned into your hand, “There’s someone else I would rather have.” You lean in and kiss him softly. You feel all the tension leave his body as he wraps his arms around you. His soft lips move with yours and you can feel your heart pounding.

He pulls away slowly, “I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited to do that.”

You smile and put your forehead against his, “well atleast you don’t have to wait anymore.”

He took your hands in yours, “Thank God, if I had to see you galavanting around on the arm of that moron I don’t know what I would do. Probably strangle him.”

You laugh, “probably. Ya know Arthur, jealousy is cute on you.”

#arthur x reader #arthur morgan x reader #high honor arthur x reader #kieran #lenny #van der linde gang #red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 #fan fic #fluff

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