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lilacsnid · 3 months

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𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 | 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘹 𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

𝙎𝙐𝙈𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙔: Y/N is leaving work from Slough House rather late one evening and passes River's office to find him still sitting at his desk. She persuades him to not be so uptight & to come have a drink with her at the pub. She learns a bit more about him that night - including the fact that River Cartwright is a massive lightweight.

𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨: she/her pronouns used, some dialogue in this fic is from slow horses season one, mentions of sexualization/slut shaming, fluff, river being a precious baby. in a world of boys, river cartwright is a gentleman.

𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨: this is a work of fiction; any names, characters from slow horses, places & incidents will either be a product of my imagination or used fictionally (5.8k words)

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

Y/N sighed heavily as she finally managed to shut her computer down for the day, feeling the strain in her shoulders. She rubbed her temples, squinting tiredly as she began gathering all of her belongings together. She had opted in staying back a couple of hours to complete some paperwork, wanting to ensure that Catherine wouldn't be burdened with it in the morning. She switched off the lamp on her desk before making her way out of the office she shared with Louisa.

On her way out of the building, a faint glow caught her attention, causing her to stop in her tracks. Intrigued, she followed the light down the hallway that led to River and Sid's shared office.

She had initially assumed that she was the last one in the building, yet she was proven wrong when she peeked through the glass window and spotted River sat at his desk, bathed in the soft glow of his computer screen.

He leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed and a discernible frown etched on his face as he remained absorbed in whatever was on his computer. The black earphones that were placed in his ears suggested to her that he was engrossed in watching something.

His tousled blonde hair fell over his forehead, and in the faint lighting, his normally bright blue eyes appeared darker and wearier than usual. Y/N couldn't help but notice the fatigue evident in his slow blinks as his attention remained fixed on the glowing screen in front of him.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she moved towards the door. Leaning against the frame, she took a moment to watch him, wondering if he would notice her presence eventually. Unsurprisingly, he remained completely oblivious, engrossed in whatever he was watching.

Biting her lip, Y/N’s eyes quickly scanned around the room before grabbing a book from a nearby shelf. With another quick glance at him and a mischievous smile, she slammed the book down on the table near the door, creating a harsh noise that cut through the silence.

The abrupt sound drew River's attention like a magnet, his eyes snapping up from the computer screen. Despite the initial harshness, his gaze softened slightly once he spotted her in standing in the doorway.

“Fuck,” He sighed, reaching up to take his earphones out.

Y/N tried to suppress a giggle as she held her hands up in defence.

"Sorry," She apologised, taking in his slightly dishevelled state. "What are you still doing here?"

He met her gaze, taking in a deep breath in. "Just... sorting through some stuff."

“Such as?” She questioned, crossing her arms and giving him a skeptical look.

"None of your business," He shot back, a hint of sarcasm underlying in his voice.

She rolled her eyes at him before pushing herself off the door frame, sauntering over to where he sat at his desk. River rubbed his hands over his face, attempting to massage away the aches as he sensed her starting to make her way over to him.

“Seriously though, it’s 8:00pm,” She remarked, scrunching her eyebrows as she stood next to him. She leant back against his desk as she faced him. “I thought Lamb was the only one who practically lives here. Don’t you have a home to go to?”

He let out a small, sarcastic and dry laugh, leaning back in his chair to face her. “Says the one who is literally sitting on my desk. You should ask yourself the same thing.”

“God, you’re hard work,” She sighed, throwing her head back in annoyance.

“All right,” He sighed, shooting her a look that she couldn't quite place. “What’s your excuse for being here after hours, then?”

She crossed her arms as she spoke, “I finished up some extra paperwork from today so Catherine wouldn’t be swamped with it in the morning.”

“Wow,” River drawled out, fiddling with his earphones, “What do you want? A medal? Pat on the back?”

She groaned at his teasing. “You know what? I would settle for anything other than that contemptuous look you always have on your face.”

His face scrunched up as he squinted at her. “That’s a big word, Y/N. You sure you know what that means?”

She shook her head at him, sighing in defeat after attempting to lighten his mood.

“God, lighten up, Cartwright,” She quipped, reaching out to playfully tap her hand against his leg, “This whole 'I hate the world' attitude you’ve got going on is really starting to piss me off.”

“Well, any time you wanna leave, feel very free,” He joked, gesturing towards the door while still holding a straight face. “You know the way out.”

She shot him a pointed look, shaking her head as he raised his eyebrows at her.

“What? You planning on staying here all night?” He asked, challenging her.

“Nope, I give up,” She scoffed while standing up properly and began making her way towards the door. “I might go for a drink somewhere.”

River swivelled on his office chair, raising his eyebrows slightly as he nodded.

“Thanks for the invite,” He muttered, a hint of disappointed in his tone.

She rolled her eyes at him as she turned back on her heels to glance at him, “This is me inviting you, idiot.”

His eyes shot up at her words, making him tilt his head in surprise. He tried to act like he wasn’t flattered by the request and maintained a carefree expression in hopes she wouldn’t notice.

“You know what? I think I would rather sit here in the dark all night, thanks all the same,” He countered, pulling himself closer to the desk and picking up his earphones.

“River Cartwright, ladies and gentlemen,” Y/N mumbled, loud enough for him to hear. “Hard working MI5 agent but always the prude.”

He crossed his arms at her and raised his eyebrows, “A prude? I am not.”

“Oh, you’re not?” She questioned, walking back up to his desk and leaning over it from the front, maintaining eye contact with him. Her eyes took him in as she tapped her fingers on the desk. “Then prove it.”

He held eye contact with her as he inhaled deeply, trying to refrain from letting his gaze wander up her body.

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

The two of them left Slough House, making their way a few minutes down the road to her favourite pub. She crossed her arms over her chest as River walked alongside her with his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his corduroy jacket.

As she walked beside him, she glanced up at River as he managed to catch her eye.

"What?" He inquired, his face deadpan.

She shook her head as a small smile slowly creeped onto her lips. "Didn't think you would actually come."

"Yeah, well," He was quick to respond, "Maybe that’s because I'm not actually a prude."

She shrugged playfully, "Could have fooled me."

"You're unbelievable," He groaned, looking down at the cobblestone path beneath their feet as he shook his head.

“You love it when I’m hard on you,” A chuckle escaped her as she bumped her arm against his. She briskly rubbed her hands together, a futile attempt to ward off the chill that lingered the air around them.

After strolling for a few more minutes, they finally reached the pub, the welcoming glow drawing them in. River stepped in front of her, gracefully swinging the door open and gesturing for her to step inside before him.

"Thank you," She breathed out, revelling in the comforting warmth that enveloped her as they entered, the gentle sound of conversation buzzing around them.

River took in the ambiance of the place to where she had brought him and sidled up beside her as they approached the bar. She watched as he glanced over her shoulder and leaned down slightly so she could hear him over the chatter, “What would you like?"

She was caught off guard and opened her mouth in surprise. "Oh, you're buying me a drink?"

He nonchalantly nodded, pulling his wallet from his back pocket. "Yeah. What, would you rather I didn't?"

She chuckled, "Hey, no complaints here. I'll have a beer, please."

River shot her a playful glance, eyebrows raised as he tapped his fingers on the marble counter. "Wow, you're cheap."

Feigning offense, she gasped and playfully slapped his arm while shooting him a pointed look. He scoffed, rubbing his bicep for a moment as he glanced around. "Want to find a table? I'll bring the drinks over."

"Alright," She nodded, gracefully moving away as her eyes scanned the pub.

She soon spotted a snug corner table nestled towards the back of the pub and made her way over there. Taking a seat, she placed her bag beside her on the floor. As she settled into the chair, she let out a content sigh, not being able to resist stealing a glance over at River, who still lingered at the bar.

A subtle smile played on her lips as she watched him. His tall figure leaned casually against the bar, and she couldn't deny the particular kind of allure about his presence. Unbeknownst to River, his attractive good looks were well-known among those in the service. Despite his inclination to act as if the world were perpetually against him, she couldn't help but acknowledge the undeniable charm he possessed.

She reached for the hair tie around her wrist, skilfully securing her hair into a casual half-up, half-down style just as River approached the table with their drinks. Glancing up at him, she found him holding a beer in one hand and a whiskey in the other.

"Of course, you’re a whiskey drinker, how original," Y/N teased, her eyes bright with amusement as he set the glasses down on the table.

River let out a sigh, "You’ve always got something to say, don't you? Give me a break."

She chuckled and thanked him as he placed down her drink. However, as he set it on the table, she couldn't help but notice his hand – red and showing signs of a recent burn. Her eyes widened, a tinge of concern in her voice as she looked up at him, "What happened to your hand?"

He closed his eyes momentarily, a slight groan escaping his lips. He had attempted to keep his injured hand discreetly tucked away in his pocket, but it seemed he was now unable to let it escape her notice.

"Nothing, just," He began, then stalled for a second as he settled into the chair across from her, scrambling for a quick excuse, "Burned it on a grill."

Her head tilted inquisitively, and she shot him a pointed look, "Yeah right. So, are you going to tell me what actually happened?"

He let out a heavy sigh, his long fingers wrapped around his glass, deliberately avoiding eye contact. He could feel her gaze burning through him, making him shift uncomfortably in his seat.

After a brief moment of silence, he noticed her extend her hand, a silent request for him to reveal his injured hand that he was still trying to hide. He met her expectant gaze with a sigh and a sense of defeat as he reluctantly extended his hand towards her. With a gentle motion, she cradled his hand in both of hers, taking notice of the subtle tremor that seemed to steady in her grasp. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself softly at the size difference between her delicate hands and his own.

As she studied his hand with a caution, he found himself completely captivated by her focused attention. Strands of her hair fell over her face, framing a look of concentration. His eyes remained fixed on her while she examined his hand.

"Did it hurt?" She asked, her tone careful.

He felt her fingers tracing patterns on the skin of his palm, causing him to lose his train of thought for a second.

"No. Well, yeah, a bit," He admitted, with a sheepish glance.

She nodded, letting go of his hand to reach for her drink. "Yeah, I guess opening a flash box without the code will do that."

A quizzical look crossed his face as he glanced at her. "I never told you that."

"You didn't have to," She responded, taking a sip of her beer.

River scoffed softly, shaking his head. It seemed as though she had him all figured out.

"Why would you even do that? You are many things, but I didn't think you were stupid," She teased, arching her eyebrows as he met her gaze again.

"It's nothing to worry about," He dismissed, waving her off as he took another sip of his whiskey.

Y/N observed him for a moment, her gaze following the amber liquid as it passed his lips.

"What was in the box?" She couldn't resist asking.

River sighed, briefly glancing behind her before answering, "A laptop. With files taken from Robert Hobden."

She nodded knowingly, "Do The Park know that you opened a flash box?"

"No," He briskly shook his head, "And they aren't going to find out, are they?"

She shook her head in response, a silent confirmation of her discretion. He appreciated the unspoken trust they seemed to share between them.

"Was it worth opening a flash box over?" She teased, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

"Stop interrogating me, okay? Can we just not talk about it right now?" River redirected, tapping his glass with his pointer finger. "I thought you dragged me here to get away from work."

"I didn't drag you here," She chuckled. "And if you feel trapped here, you know the way out," a hint of jest in her voice as she playfully repeated his words from Slough House earlier.

He huffed at her, "Touché."

"I'll drop it," Y/N promised, lifting her glass again. "But you know I'll grill you about it later."

He nodded, letting out a scoff at the pun she managed to slip in. "Oh, I know you will."

They settled into a comfortable silence for a minute, during which River studied her again. Sensing his gaze, she looked across at him quizzically before asking, "What?"

Biting his lip, he contemplated the question that nagged at him in the back of his mind. Deciding to bite the bullet, he took a short breath in, leaning against the table on his elbows as he crossed his arms. "Why are you here, Y/N?"

She shot him a confused look, "Uhm-"

"Not at the pub," He corrected himself in a teasing manner, "At Slough House."

She sighed, "I thought Slough House was like prison. You're not supposed to ask what you're in for."

He sensed her attempt to sidestep the question, but it didn't seem to stop him. His curiosity got the better of him and he couldn’t deny the subtle soft spot he harboured for her, something in which he often struggled to hide.

"Well, you know why I'm there," River stated.

"Yeah, but everyone knows why you're there," Y/N countered with a smile.

She laughed as he rolled his eyes, "I was gonna give you a compliment, but you can shove it now," He said, looking unamused.

"Suit yourself," She smiled, finding amusement in how easily she could tease him, "I get enough flattery from everyone else."

"But that's what I mean," River said softly, "Everyone can see that you're different. Because you are."

She glanced up at him, a gentle smile gracing her lips before she looked down again, avoiding his intense gaze.

"I mean," He continued, breaking the intensity of his gaze, "Min, Struan, Roddy—maybe not Louisa, but definitely Moody. They were always headed for the skids. They're useless. But you're…"

She looked up at him again as his words trailed off, and they shared a momentary glance, one with an unspoken meaning as River continued to speak.

"You know," He breathed, shaking his head slightly, "It just doesn't make sense. But whatever the reason for being put in Slough House, it must have come out of nowhere, right?"

She chuckled softly, taking a swig of her drink, "Always the MI5 agent, hey?"

"Sorry," He apologized, backtracking, "I'm just letting my thoughts do the talking. You don't have to tell me. It's your business."

"No, it's okay," Y/N smiled, but he watched it quickly fade as her mind ticked over. "Yeah, it did come out of nowhere."

She took a deep breath before continuing, "I was put in Slough House because of a rumour about me, that wasn't even true, got spread around at The Park."

"What kind of rumour?" River asked, dumbfounded.

"Wow," She expressed surprise, "I'm surprised you haven't heard about it already."

He gestured for her to continue, giving her his full attention.

"Someone came onto me, rather forcefully, one day at the office. And because I turned him down, it hurt his feelings. He couldn't accept it, so the next day, he went around to all of his mates at the office, telling them that I was a slut and that I basically begged him for it. His mates then proceeded to tell everyone at Regents Park, which marked me down massively. No one would even look at me after that. And because everyone took his word as gospel, I was shipped out to Slough House," Y/N explained, her emotions surfacing as she spoke the truth she had tried to bottle up for so long.

River was shocked to his core. The revelation left him not only astonished but also infuriated at how someone could do that to someone as honest and kind-hearted as her.

"I’m so sorry," He consoled.

She shrugged nonchalantly, attempting to downplay the impact, but he could sense that it bothered her deeply. Understandably so.

"I heard you worked at The Park," He said, before pressing further, "Was it anyone I know?"

Y/N stayed silent for a moment before nodding, releasing a sigh, "It was Webb."

River raised his eyebrows before scrunching them together in a frown, "Spider?!"

"Yep," She replied curtly, downing the rest of her drink.

He scoffed in disbelief, finding yet another reason to dislike James Webb. "What a dickhead. How is it that he is able to get away with something like that? It's bullshit."

She nodded, "Yeah, it was shitty. But I got my revenge on him."

He shot her a pointed look, "What do you mean?"

"I'm not usually the petty type..." Her voice trailed off as she glanced down at the table.

"Oh, come on," River encouraged her, "What did you do?"

Biting her lip, she tried to hide her smile, "On my last day at The Park, I broke into his office while he was at a meeting and went through his computer. I wasn't even looking for anything in particular. But then I found some rather revealing pictures he had of himself. So, being as pissed off as I was at the time, I sent them as an email to everyone in the building. I did it in a way that no one could trace it back to me."

River couldn't stop himself from bursting into laughter, hastily covering his mouth as he began to worry he was making too much noise.

"That is priceless," He chuckled, "Who is dumb enough to even have photos like that when working in the service? Let alone on your work computer."

"Clearly Spider," She grinned, propping her chin onto her palm.

River's laughter eventually subsided, but his smile remained, "So he never found out?"

She shook her head, "Nope. But I'm sure he won't forget it anytime soon."

"I saw him today while dropping something off at The Park," He said, thinking out loud, "I should have knocked his lights out."

"Can't change anything now," She said, "Just gotta keep moving forward."

He glanced at her, shooting her a sympathetic but genuine smile.

His chair scraped across the wooden floor as he stood up to go and get another drink, "You're one of the good ones, Y/N L/N," River smiled, tapping her shoulder as he walked past her and made his way over to the bar.

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

A couple of hours had drifted by since Y/N and River had first stepped into the pub. Conversation flowed between them quite effortlessly as they both enjoyed the opportunity to unwind outside the confines of Slough House. Y/N decided to grab another drink after her first initial one, opting to nurse the second glass River had kindly bought for her. She observed him from across the table as he indulged in several glasses of whiskey.

She furrowed her brows, finding it quite amusing to witness his demeanour shift from serious to carefree within the span of just a couple of hours.

"You gonna finish that?" River mumbled, eyeing her half-empty glass. Without waiting for her response, he quickly snatched her glass from the table and downed the remaining liquid in one gulp.

She watched him with wide eyes, shaking her head at his audacity. Leaning forward on her elbows, she tapped her finger against the silver watch on his wrist that caught the light, quickly managing to glance at the time herself. "It's late!"

"What? Tired, are you?" River asked, tilting his head at her.

"You should be," She retorted, "It's a school night."

He groaned at her words, screwing his eyes shut at the thought of having to get up for work tomorrow morning while nursing a potential hangover.

She leaned over the table, concern etched on her face. "I think you've had enough, River."

His head suddenly shot up at the use of his name. He narrowed his gaze towards her cheekily before also leaning over the table, mirroring her actions. His eyes very obviously trailed over every inch of her face as he studied her features.

"You never call me River," He whispered, his voice low, unaware of the subtle hitch in her breath caused by the close proximity of their faces.

She shook her head, her reply soft, "I never call anyone River."

"Yeah well," He cleared his throat, "You can thank my mother; it was her hippie phase."

Y/N couldn't help but chuckle as an unfamiliar feeling of warmth washed over her. It felt strange to her to witness River in such a drunken state, considering his usual serious demeanour that he held. She took in the blue of his eyes, the scruff of his beard, the way his hair fell over his forehead—absorbing every detail possible.

He glanced around, taking notice of the nearly empty bar they still sat in before mumbling, "I reckon we should go."

"Good call," She agreed, standing up and pulling her coat back on.

As she grabbed her bag, she watched River skeptically as he slowly rose to his feet. He tapped his jacket a few times, feeling to make sure he still had his keys and his wallet.

The two quietly made their way out of the pub, the cool night air hitting them instantly as they stepped out onto the quiet streets of London. Y/N stood beside River, casting a sidelong glance at him, unable to shake the amusement present from her expression.

"So, reckon you’ll be fine to get home?" She teased him.

He glanced down at her from his tall height as he towered over her, nodding as he swayed on his feet slightly. "Yeah."

"Okay," She smiled up at him, "Thanks for tonight, I'll see you tom-"

But he was quick to cut her off, "Walk with me?"

"Huh?" She questioned him, pulling on her coat tighter around her frame as she craned her neck to look up at him.

River chuckled slightly as he casually shrugged his shoulders. "I wanna keep talking to you, so will you walk home with me?"

Y/N narrowed her gaze at him, reminding herself of the fact that he had managed to drink a whole lot more than her tonight. Without stopping to give it much thought, she found herself nodding and shot him a smile. "Alright, fine."

While they started walking together, side by side, down the street, River stumbled a bit, causing Y/N to reach out and grab his arm in order to steady him. "Easy there, Cartwright. Don't want you face-planting on the pavement."

"I've got it under control," River assured her, though the grin on his face betrayed a different story.

As they continued walking, she could feel him subtly starting to lean against her small frame slightly. His head was spinning, and to him it felt like he was floating due to the amount of alcohol he had consumed. She stole another glance at him, observing the longer strides he took compared to what he usually would. There was a peculiar bounce in his step, and the usual frown that often adorned his face was long gone which amused her with every passing minute.

"How is it that I'm smaller than you but can hold my alcohol better than you can?" Y/N teased him, leaning against him slightly as the wind crept past them.

"Shut up," He breathed, while shaking his head and licking his lips.

Before long, they arrived at a set of apartments. She stopped in her tracks, watching as River walked ahead of her, towards a flight of stairs. It was only a couple of seconds before he noticed she was no longer following him. He turned around slowly, gesturing towards her with a confused look on his face.

"You coming?" River asked, tucking his hands further into the pockets of his jacket.

She curled her lips into her teeth, contemplating for a moment before she gave in, starting to follow him up the stairs which led to his apartment. He had slowed his pace down on the steps in front of her as he waited for her to catch up with him.

Once he had felt her place her hands onto his back, he sensed the warmth through the material of his jacket. She carefully guided him up the stairs, her presence a reassuring anchor until he stopped in front of his apartment door. He reached for his keys and fumbled with them, struggling to keep his eyes focused.

Y/N eyed him warily, observing the effects the alcohol had on his coordination. "Hey," She stepped closer to him, and spoke softly, "Give me those."

He chuckled, giving up almost instantly and passed her his keys. They stood close together, their fingers brushing against each other as she grabbed the keys from his hand.

"Which one is it?" She asked, glancing up at him with expectant eyes.

River leaned his head against the brick wall in front of him, turning slightly to look down at his keys before pointing to the right one. "That one."

She chuckled at him, biting her lip in concentration as she unlocked his front door. She could feel his eyes burning a hole into the side of her head, yet she tried to ignore it. As the door creaked open, she held it open for him, maintaining a watchful eye as he stumbled through his entryway.

His studio apartment was dimly lit, the soft glow revealing the lived-in but tidy space he occupied.

"Alright, Cartwright," She teased, handing him back his keys. "Get some rest and maybe lay off the whiskey next time."

River chuckled, giving her a nod of agreement. "Thanks, Y/N. And thanks for walking with me."

Y/N smiled with a genuine warmth in her eyes. "Well, you did buy me a drink. Consider it payback."

He stared down at her intently as he came to stand in front of her. He drew in a few deep breaths, the sound filling the silence that enveloped his apartment. River narrowed his eyes gently at her as a sheepish grin tugged it way onto his lips.

“What are you looking at?” She asked him, feeling a warmth beginning to appear across her cheeks.

With a nonchalant shrug, he maintained his silence as he simply shrugged his shoulders in response.

Y/N knew she should take her leave, but there was something about him that made her want to stay. He didn’t seem to mind as he tripped over the mat, and he kicked his shoes off. He managed to shrug off his jacket as he made his way over to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

Deciding to stay, she placed her bag beside the lounge as she let her eyes wander around curiously, absorbing the surprisingly cozy charm of his apartment. The warmth enveloped her, leaving her torn between the sensible impulse to leave and the pull she was feeling that made her want to stay a little while longer.

River emerged from the bathroom, keeping quiet as he sauntered his way to his bed. As he settled down onto the edge of the mattress, he couldn’t help but let out a heavy sigh, a release of tension he seemed unaware of carrying. Y/N approached him slowly, as she tucked her hands into the pockets of her coat, her gaze fixed on him.

“You alright?” She asked him, taking notice of the slump of his shoulders and the frown on his face that had managed to return.

There was a brief silence that lingered before she pressed on, concern evident in her voice, “What’s up? Hmm?”

She swore she could hear him sniffle slightly and watched as River reached up to run his hands over his face. He soon lifted his head to meet her gaze, shaking his head, a look of weariness etched across his features.

“I just…” He sighed, deliberately trying to hold back, leaving an unspoken weight lingering in the air.

Y/N found herself witnessing a side of him she never would have anticipated – vulnerable, burdened by the weight of emotions he desperately tried to hide. . Without hesitation, she extended a comforting hand, placing it gently on his shoulder. "You can talk to me, you know?" She reassured, offering him with a supportive presence.

River sighed, his gaze remaining heavy and fixed on the floor. "I just want to be actually useful, Y/N. Do something, I mean – I could not be more bored if I tried, and I have actually tried. It feels like I’m drowning there in Slough House."

She listened attentively, allowing him the space to voice the thoughts he'd been holding back. It was clear to Y/N in that moment that opening up like this wasn't something he was accustomed to. He had a perpetual need to prove himself, a persistent desperation that echoed in his words. The weight of expectations seemed to be wearing him down, and the vulnerability he displayed was both unfamiliar and exhausting for someone who typically guarded his thoughts so closely.

“I just feel like a failure, and it’s all my fault,” River murmured, completely defeated, his frustration evident as he began to rub at his eyes with his knuckles.

A brief silence hung in the air before Y/N gently placed both of her hands on his shoulders. "River," She whispered into the quiet, watching as he glanced up at her from where he sat in front of her.

She offered a soft smile once their eyes met. "When was the last time you had a hug?"

He looked away for a moment, genuinely trying to recall the last time he embraced someone. What shocked him was the realization that he genuinely couldn't remember the last time he had been hugged.

“I don’t know,” He mumbled, shaking his head.

Y/N frowned, taking a tentative step closer, as if testing the waters. “Can I hug you?” She whispered.

River nodded, with the word "Please" escaping his lips, quiet and hushed.

Without any hesitation, Y/N stepped forward, closing the gap between them and positioning herself between his legs. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she pulled him into a comforting embrace. At first River was initially unsure, but gradually surrendered to the solace of the moment, reciprocating by enveloping her in his arms. His head found a resting place against her stomach, and a contented exhale escaped him as he felt her nails tracing patterns on his back through the fabric of his shirt.

Her perfume acted as a subtle anchor, which grounded him, preventing him from falling apart completely. They lingered in their embrace, the gentle swaying of their bodies providing a soothing rhythm.

“Hey,” She whispered, her hands tracing up the sides of his face, forcing him to look at her, “You’re not a failure, I promise.”

River, too tired and fatigued to muster any words, flashed her a lazy smile as his eyes started to grow heavy. Resting his chin against her stomach, he glanced up at her. The effort to stay awake was a struggle for him, and her thumbs, rubbing soothing circles into his cheeks, only added to the struggle he faced.

“I think I need to sleep,” He mumbled, burying his face against the fabric of her shirt again, savouring the warmth of the hug for a few more precious seconds.

Reluctantly, he pulled away and settled back against the mattress. Y/N observed him, grateful that he was home safely.

"You need anything before I leave?" Y/N offered, lingering near the end of the bed, her gaze briefly caught by the city lights beyond his window.

One of his eyes opened, heavy with drowsiness, as he glanced at her from where he laid. It didn’t take long before he spoke up.

“Stay for a bit?” He asked, his voice sounding small and muffled against the pillows.

Without hesitation, she nodded towards him, slipping off her shoes and coat. Her body dipped against the mattress as she crawled up to the top, leaning against the headboard of his bed. To her surprise, she felt River shift closer, lifting his head to glance at her for a moment.

“Is this okay?” He asked, a vulnerable note in his voice that made her heart surge.

She nodded, motioning for him to come closer. River slumped down beside her, allowing her to hold him. Grabbing a blanket from the end of his bed, she draped it over the top of them. With an arm wrapped gently around his shoulders, she began playing with his soft, blonde hair.

“That feels good,” He hummed in content, draping an arm across her torso. The sensation of being held felt overwhelming to him, but in all the right ways.

As River slowly drifted into a peaceful slumber, Y/N felt his body starting to become heavier against her. In the quiet of his room, the city lights outside casting a gentle glow across his apartment, she continued to hold him, providing the comfort he needed in that vulnerable moment.

©𝙇𝙄𝙇𝘼𝘾𝙎𝙉𝙄𝘿

5801 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨

#jack lowden #jack lowden x reader #river cartwright #river cartwright x reader #river x reader #slow horses fanfiction #river cartwright imagine #apple tv #slow horses #jack lowden imagine #jack lowden imagines

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k-illdarlings · 4 months

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where is river cartwright fanfics y’all…

#river cartwright #slow horses #river cartwright fic #river cartwright x reader #slow horses fanfiction #river x reader #jack lowden

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noforkingclue · 1 month

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Patching Up (River Cartwright x reader)

Summary: the last thing you were expecting was a beaten up Cartwright to turn up on your doorstep in the middle of the night. But here he was and you had no other choice but to patch him up and to talk

Everything tag list: @greenrevolutionary, @byebyebreezywrites spngingerbread21, @layazul, @lov3vivian, @simonsbluee

You groaned softly and turned over in bed, pulling the covers over your head. When you heard your buzzer ring again you knew it wasn’t just some cruel dream. Glancing at your phone you were temporarily blinded by its screen and cursed when you saw it was two in the morning.

Whoever was at your door was going to pay.

Unless it was Lamb in which case you would have to wake up pretty quickly.

“Yes?” you said sleepily as you answered your intercom, silently hoping that it was a prank

“L/n?”

“Cartwright?” you could feel the exhaustion being replaced by anger, “what the fuck do you want?”

“Can I come up?”

“No. Now piss off.”

“Wait! Please, L/n. I… just please.”

You bit your lip as you contemplated what to do next. In your six months at Slough House you didn’t have too much to do with the infamous River Cartwright. Maybe it was because nothing had ever really happened when you had joined. You had heard about their previous ‘adventures’. Roddy in particular was keen to big up his role in them. Lamb had commented that now you had joined everything would go back to the way things should be. His joes back luck charm, if things were to continue how they should.

“Fine,” you said eventually, “but you fucking owe me one.”

You pressed the buzzer to let him in and waited for Cartwright by your open door. You pulled your dressing gown tightly around you and hoped that your angry expression would mask any sort of curiosity. That didn’t last long when you saw Cartwright slowly come up the stairs.

“Fucking hell River,” you said as you ushered him into your flat, “what the fuck happened to you?”

“Guess.”

“Either The Dogs or Lamb.”

“The first one.”

“Fuck.”

Any form of potential violence against him had disappeared at the sight of his bruised and bloodied face. He gave you a small smile and quickly winced as you, gently, pushed him into your kitchen. Once you were sure that your flat was safely locked up (how safe it would be if The Dogs came to get you, you didn’t know) you turned your attention back to your patient.

“I have questions.” you said

“Not surprised.”

“Firstly, what did you do to piss off Duffy this time? Or was it just your general existence that annoyed him.”

River grunted in response so you assumed the latter. You grabbed an ice pack from your freezer and wrapped it in a towel.

“For your black eye,” you said, “hold this against it for about ten or twenty minutes. Should reduce the swelling.”

“I know how to deal with a black eye.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me? Now, my other questions.”

“Do we have to do this now?”

“Yes,” you grabbed a bowl of warm water and some paper towels, “out of everyone in Slough House, why me? Like I understand not Lamb or Roddy. But you’ve known Lousia and Catherine for longer than me. Marcus, well, I’m sure he’d patch you up but I doubt his wife and kids would appreciate a bloodied spook turning up on their doorstep. As for Shirley…”

You trailed off and shrugged.

“I’d say 50-50 on whether she’d help or just laugh.”

“Thanks.” River said dryly

“You’re welcome.”

River hissed slightly when you wiped at his nose a little harsher than necessary. You gave him a pointed look as you leant against your kitchen table. You tilted his head back and said,

“I don’t think your nose is broken.”

“It’s not.”

“And you should know.”

“Repeating a ‘joke’ from earlier. Running out of material?”

“Not when you’re right in front of me. You provide me with an endless source.”

You frowned when you saw him holding his ribs.

“And your ribs? Are they broken?”

“Don’t think so.”

“You should probably get that checked out.”

River let out a grunt of acknowledgement and you rolled your eyes. That was River for ‘I know you’re right but I’m not going to do that’.

“You still haven’t answered my question.” you said as you continued to clear him up

“Which was?”

“Why did you come to me?”

River bit his lip and looked away. You grimaced when you saw that expression and you knew that getting River to answer that question was going to be a struggle. You tossed a bloodied tissue into the bowl of now pinkish water and sighed.

“Well it’s late,” you said, “so you can crash here tonight. Your shirt is going to need to be chucked in the wash to get the blood out. Sooner rather than later so the blood doesn’t set in but I guess you knew that already.”

You were expecting some quip about you wanting to see him shirtless but none came. You pursed your lips and started to move away when River’s hand shot out and grabbed your wrist. He wasn’t looking at you and he absentmindedly rubbed circles against it.

“I came to you,” he said slowly, “because I trust you.”

Trust.

Trust in your line of work was a dangerous word. You couldn’t help but be surprised at this admission. Trust was something that could be exploited by the wrong people. You weren’t expecting this admission of weakness from River.

“You trust me.”

River glanced up at you and gave you a small smile.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Well, it’s a good thing that I… trust you too. I’ll grab a spare pillow and blanket and you can have the sofa.”

You had almost left the room when River called,

“Oh, and y/n-”

You could practically hear the smirk in his voice and you called back,

“Say what I think you’re going to say and I’ll kick you out!”

#fanfiction #slow horses #reader insert #river cartwright #river cartwright x reader

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daydreamgoddess14 · 9 months

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Full Masterlist

My Masterlist is sorted by fandom and then by main character.

AO3 and Tumblr links are included for each fic once you click through.

My inbox is open 📫 please feel free to message me, request pieces, send prompts etc. I'd love to hear from you 😘

Finally, thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the likes, reblogs, comments - everything. I think when we're all so busy, and we consume so much stuff every single day, it's a wonderful thing to show that we've engaged with something, and send that little hit of serotonin to the author which might seem insignificant but makes their day 💜

Current ships:

Sydcarmy

TedBecca

Roy Kent x Reader

Josh x Donna (West Wing) - no list yet

Garvez (Criminal Minds)

Jonah x Amy (Superstore) - no list yet

Happy to give any others a go if there's any in particular you think I should try?

Ted Lasso Works

This show has my heart, always will 💜

Despite the ending - sshhh!

Ted Lasso / Rebecca Welton List

Tedbecca nation unite! I have loads of Tedbecca works which I'm always adding to.

Ted Lasso / Reader List

Just the one story in here for now, but will always consider adding more.

Roy Kent / Reader List

My latest obsession, ngl. Roy Kent is everything right now.

Criminal Minds

Luke Alvez / Penelope Garcia List

New list! Will be added to because these two are so cute!

The Bear

Carmy Berzatto / Sydney Adamu List

Yeah sure, just suck me in to another platonic besties relationship why don't you?! As if I'm not still grieving Tedbecca! 😫

RPF Works

Currently containing Jason Sudeikis works, one of which is in progress and being worked on.

Jason Sudeikis / Reader List

Whatta man 🥵

Slow Horses Works

Currently on pause - a little out of place in the Slow Horses fic community so unsure on whether this will continue...

River Cartwright / OFC List

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r0ckstardr3amgal · 4 months

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When will editors make River Cartwright thirst traps???? Where are the River Cartwright x Reader fics????

we live in a society

#slow horses #river cartwright #jack lowden #where are they #like #do they even exist #should i do it meself #i mean i probably cant #but #like cmon #need and want #please

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lilacsnid · 4 months

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𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐈𝐧 𝐔𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐭 | 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘹 𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 (𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦)

➪ 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐓𝐖𝐎

𝙎𝙐𝙈𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙔: They despised one another & barely tolerated each other while working at Slough House. Tensions rise as they are sent out into the field together, working undercover to search for a sleeper agent in the cozy village of Upshott. To avoid being caught, they are forced to pretend that they are "together". Being so close in each others company causes certain feelings rise to the surface that they have both tried to bury for far too long.

𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨: she/her pronouns used. this story is based on the episode - from upshott with love, but I have changed the storyline line slightly, so it might not be the exact same as the show.

𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨: this is a work of fiction; any names, characters from slow horses, places & incidents will either be a product of my imagination or used fictionally.

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

Music blared through her earphones as Y/N sat outside Gloucester train station, perched on an uncomfortable bench. One leg crossed over the other with her bag resting underneath her feet. She kept peering over the bridge of her sunglasses, surveying the station's surroundings. With a quick glance at her watch, a flicker of annoyance crossed her face. She had received very particular instructions from Lamb earlier that day to be at Gloucester station by 2:00 pm, and now it was already 4:45 pm. She was starting to grow impatient. The prospect of a mission outside Slough House had completely and utterly exhilarated her. She felt as if she had been withering away there and craved an opportunity to prove herself. The anticipation of action was a welcoming change.

Her fingers picked mindlessly at the chipping paint on the seat beneath her, trying to stop herself from going crazy. Out the corner of her eye, she spotted a black car pull up in front of her. No cars had entered the car park since she got off the train, so she jumped up, fairly confident that it was Lamb.

She stood to her feet with a heavy sigh, slinging her bag over her shoulder. Her gaze remained fixed on Lamb, who briskly got out the car, meeting her eye before closing the door.

“Oh, you are here. Didn’t expect you to show,” Lamb quipped sarcastically, retrieving a cigarette out from his pocket.

Through her sunglasses, she rolled her eyes, retorting, "You're hilarious, really. What the fuck took you so long? I've been off the train for at least two hours."

He let out an exasperated sigh. "Had a few loose ends to tie up. Surprisingly, you weren't at the top of my to-do list."

"Sure," Y/N scoffed, pushing her sunglasses up to rest atop her head, shooting him a glare.

A sudden realization hit her as she drew in a deep breath - Lamb hadn't been the one driving the hire car. Before she had the chance to voice her confusion, the other car door opened, and River emerged from the driver's seat.

Her narrowed gaze locked onto River, looking at him from head to toe before shifting her attention back to Lamb.

"Why is he here?" She asked sharply.

Lamb took a long drag of his cigarette, replying rather nonchalantly, "He's going with you."

Y/N raised her eyebrows in disbelief, her expression twisting in bewilderment. "You've got to be kidding."

"When do I ever joke?" Lamb retorted rhetorically. "Didn't have enough assignments to go around, and frankly, I could do with a break from the constant bickering between you two."

His words caused Y/N to shake her head, her gaze shifting over to River, who raised his hands in a gesture of surrender from where they rested on the roof of the car.

"Trust me," He said, his eyes briefly glancing off into the distance, "I'm not exactly thrilled about it either."

Approaching her with a file in hand, Lamb handed over the contents. "New ID, brief, funding package and dossier. Try not to fucking lose any of it," He remarked, met by another glare from Y/N as she snatched the file from his outstretched hand.

"Enjoy yourselves," Lamb said, already heading towards the train station's entrance. "Oh, and one more thing I forgot to mention. Your cover story: you two are engaged."

"WHAT?!" River and Y/N both yelled in unison as they stared him down, their voices echoing through the station.

Turning back to face them, Lamb explained, "The point is to stay undercover, right? You need a believable story. No one will suspect two lovebirds exploring the cozy villages of Cotswolds."

"Seriously?" River objected, disbelief etched in his voice.

Lamb let out an exasperated sigh at the two of them. "Listen, I really couldn't give less of a fuck about the specifics, but for your own sake, make it look fucking convincing. Real lives are at stake here, and I don't need to remind you how that weighs on the line. I know 'acting' might be a stretch, especially for you two."

"Such a prick," Y/N muttered under her breath as they watched Lamb stride away.

River couldn’t help but steal a quick glance at her, watching as Y/N strode toward the boot of the car in frustration. With a forceful heave, she tossed her bag inside beside his, the resounding sound of her slamming the car boot shut making him cringe. Reclaiming the driver's seat, he waited for her to slip into the passenger seat beside him before reversing out of the carpark and back onto the gravel road.

An uncomfortable silence lingered within in the car, thick with tension, as they kept driving. Y/N couldn't believe just how unlucky she had gotten — being paired with the one person who drove her absolutely crazy. Their snide comments and constant bickering would undoubtedly always drive their colleagues mad.

She opened the folder Lamb had handed over, skimming through the documents detailing the individuals they were tasked to surveil. She made sure to read over the brief, absorbing all of the pertinent details.

"Just when things seemed to be looking up," Y/N murmured, her gaze now fixed on the passing scenery as they drove.

The audible sound of River sucking his teeth showcased his patience that was wearing thin. "You're not the only one feeling like that,” He grumbled, sinking back into the driver's seat. One hand gripped the steering wheel, while the other casually rested on his thigh.

A few moments passed in silence, the air growing even more thick with an unspoken tension between them. River drew in a deep breath, the air of annoyance dissolving momentarily before he spoke up again.

"Look, I get it. You're not my biggest fan, and I've never quite figured out why," He began, stealing a quick glance in her direction. "But I really want to nail this. Chances are, you do too."

She responded with a nonchalant shrug, though her eyes held an expectant look, urging him to continue.

"Regardless of our history, let's set it aside while we're out here," He proposed, gesturing towards the road ahead. "As Lamb pointed out, people's lives could be on the line."

Y/N sighed, knowing deep down that there was some truth in his words. Their clashes had been a staple at Slough House, a constant battle for dominance. Ultimately, she knew the mission took precedence, regardless of who she was partnered with.

"Fine," She relented, nodding in agreement.

"Great," River replied, raising his hand from his thigh, offering it for a shake. "So, are we good?"

Glancing at his offered hand, she hesitated briefly before accepting it in her own, giving it a firm shake. "We're good."

She felt the unexpected warmth of his hand leave as she released his hand. She offered a soft smile as she watched him maintain his focus on the road ahead. There was a palpable shift in the air, a mutual understanding settling between them.

“This doesn’t make us friends though, Cartwright,” She pointed her finger at him, “This purely for the sake of the mission.”

“Agreed,” He grumbled, a flicker of agreement laced in his tone.

As River continued to drive, they dove into the dossier. She continued firing off questions about the individuals that were listed while River shared what he had found from earlier on in the day. They planned their trip, discussed accommodations and went over their cover story multiple times to ensure it held up under scrutiny just in case anyone came asking questions.

“Harriet Madden,” She spoke, reading the name off her fake driver’s license, “And what is the name of my so-called fiancé?”

River chuckled softly, leaning across her to reach into the glove box, retrieving his own counterfeit driver's license.

"Jonathan Walker," He stated, extending the card for her to inspect.

With a playful eye roll, she accepted the card, examining it with a smirk, “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

The sun was starting to set, casting a warm amber glow across the car park as Y/N lounged in the passenger seat of the hire car with her feet resting on the dashboard, engrossed in her phone. She had quickly changed into high-waisted jeans paired with an oversized sweatshirt, finding comfort in the casual attire as night would soon be approaching.

A while later, she heard the car door creak open causing her to glance up. She instantly did a double take at River's transformed appearance. He now wore black jeans complemented by a black button up shirt and topped with a forest green jacket. What really grabbed her attention was the reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, altering his usual look entirely. It was a change Y/N wasn’t entirely opposed to. She couldn’t help but stare at him with an evident furrow in her brow.

He caught her stare, returning it with a curious gaze of his own. He couldn't help but admire the relaxed vibe about her in the casual outfit—a side of her he had never witnessed before. The contrast between her usual demeanour and this relaxed appearance intrigued him, causing a subtle shift in his perception he had of her.

"What?" River queried, arching an eyebrow in response to the smile she wore.

Her grin widened, her gaze lingering on him. "You actually pull off the specs, you know."

"Was that a compliment I just heard?" He chuckled, fastening his seatbelt.

"Don't get used to it," She shot back, crossing her legs with a playful glint in her eyes.

Shaking his head in mock disbelief, River took a quick glance at his watch, releasing a short sigh. "Right, we better get going," He announced, turning the key in the ignition.

Y/N nodded in agreement, securing her seatbelt as they prepared for the last fifteen minutes of their drive.

"Oh, I almost forgot," River interjected suddenly, grabbing her attention as she watched him reach into the pocket of his jacket. "Here." With a deft toss, a small box landed in her lap.

Her curiosity piqued and she picked up the box, examining it with a quizzical expression. "What's… this?" She inquired.

He hesitated momentarily before responding. "Well, considering our 'engagement'," he emphasised the word with air quotes, "It might help if you had something to wear, you know?"

With a mix of surprise and intrigue, she slowly opened the box, revealing a ring that sparkled in the light that filtered through the car window. She gazed at the ring nestled inside, caught off guard by the gesture.

"It wasn’t expensive or anything, so don't get carried away," River remarked, his cheeks flushing slightly as he averted his gaze.

Her laughter was soft and genuine as she carefully examined the simple gold band with its oval-shaped rhinestone. It’s cheap appearance, most likely bought from the convenience store's jewellery section at the service station they were at, didn't change the thoughtfulness of it.

River tried to ignore the sudden tightening in his chest caused by the unfamiliar but pleasing sound of her laughter.

“Oh, so that’s what it sounds like when you laugh!” He teased, glancing down at her with a funny look.

Shaking her head, a lingering smile tugged at her lips. She purposefully avoided his expectant gaze, a playful edge in her voice. "Shut the fuck up."

It was quiet for a moment as Y/N bit her lip, a teasing glint in her eye as she remarked, "Who knew River Cartwright had a romantic streak?"

"Shut up, Harriet," He retorted, playfully jabbing at her with the fake name.

Y/N scoffed before sliding the ring onto her finger, finding it a tad loose but still manageable. She lifted her hand to display the ring, wiggling her fingers and drawing his attention to the now deadpan expression on her face. His eyes caught the sight, and he scoffed while rolling his eyes.

"Set your expectations low," He quipped, beginning to reverse out of the carpark with a hint of amusement laced in his voice.

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

It was dark by the time they had made it into Upshott. Y/N peered through the car window at the pub they had just arrived at, her brow furrowing at the peculiar name. Despite the late hour and it being midweek, "The Downside Man" appeared rather inviting, glowing with dim lights and a bustling atmosphere.

"The Downside Man," Y/N recited the name aloud, pondering about the way it rolled off her tongue. "Why is it that all these small villages have such peculiar names for their pubs?"

River casually unbuckled his seatbelt, shrugging slightly. "You tell me and we’ll both know."

They jumped out of the car, the cold air greeting them almost instantly. They both hopped out, heading towards the boot of the car to grab their bags. River took a moment to survey the surroundings, locking the car before turning his attention to Y/N.

He waited for her to glance up at him before asking, “You ready?”

"Absolutely," She replied with a sigh, gesturing for him to take the lead as they moved towards the welcoming glow of the pub.

Opening the door to the pub, he held it open courteously for Y/N to step in first. As she entered, the warm embrace of the cozy atmosphere and the lively hum of conversation instantly enveloped her. River walked ahead of her as she followed him through the animated crowd until they reached the bustling bar area, filled with patrons enjoying their evening. River spotted the barmaid, and Y/N took a quick moment to observe her as well. As they shuffled through the small crowd of people, he quickly glanced back at her over his shoulder, ensuring she was still in tow.

She came to stand at his side, glancing around at their surroundings while as River approached the bar. The distinctive sound of him placing his bag on the floor caught the attention of the barmaid, causing her to look up.

"Hi," She greeted with a hand on her hip. "What can I get you?"

River cleared his throat slightly before speaking, "Actually, we're just checking in for the night."

Y/N suppressed a scoff as she watched the barmaid blatantly check him up and down. The barmaid then quipped, "Johnnie Walker?"

Her lips curled under her teeth, and she glanced up from where she stood beside him as he hesitated. It only took a brief moment for him to regain his composure, shaking his head slightly.

"Yes. Yes, I am," He replied with a smile, recovering smoothly. "Sorry, you threw me. It's- It's Jonathon or Jon. It's not Johnnie, sorry."

The barmaid laughed, her eyes twinkling. "Do you get that a lot?"

River chuckled in agreement, "Yeah, mainly in pubs."

Y/N's gaze narrowed as she observed the scene unfolding between River and the barmaid. A subtle cough from her drew his attention, as she discreetly fixed a pointed stare at him. She couldn’t help but suspect that he might have been appreciating the barmaid's charms a bit too much.

Breaking the moment, River suddenly introduced her. "This is my fiancé, Harriet," He announced, resting his hand on Y/N's shoulder. She offered a polite smile towards the barmaid, "Hi."

However, the barmaid, simply turned around, completely blanking her as she grabbed the key to their room. "I’m Kelly, follow me," The bar maid instructed, leaving Y/N feeling like she was somewhat invisible.

She trailed behind River as they followed Kelly through the lively pub, a flicker of unease beginning to settle within her.

“What brings you to Upshott?” Kelly questioned, twirling the key in her finger as they began to climb the stairs.

River discreetly glanced back at Y/N, a silent exchange passing between them, before responding, "I'm a journalist, and Harriet is a photographer. I've been working on a piece about village life, and well, Upshott just seemed like the perfect place to start, really."

As he smoothly recited their rehearsed story, Y/N listened intently, realising that every detail matched their car conversation word for word. Kelly finally looked at Y/N for the first time, offering only a slight nod before unlocking the door to their room. Y/N couldn't help but narrow her eyes at Kelly as she turned her back, surprised by the lack of a proper greeting.

Despite “Jonathon” mentioning his fiancée, Kelly still refused to even acknowledge her presence.

"Who do you write for? Insomniacs Weekly?" Kelly joked with a playful smirk as she stepped into the room.

River chuckled slightly, "No, uh, The Times."

"Oh!" Kelly exclaimed, her gaze unwaveringly fixed on him.

Unable to stay silent any longer, Y/N stepped around River, walking further into the room. "This is lovely!" She exclaimed, raising her voice and briefly glancing at Kelly as she walked past.

Once again, Kelly ignored her and turned her attention back to River. "Well, I can give you the headlines. Apart from the village pub downstairs and the village shop, there really is fuck all going on."

Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes at her behaviour, Y/N had to bite her tongue. It was evident that Kelly was captivated by Jonathon Walker, and River Cartwright's undeniable charm and good looks played a significant role. Despite their personal differences, Y/N couldn't deny his ability to make a woman feel weak in the knees. He was an incredibly attractive man.

The barmaid's blatant disregard for Y/N's presence surprised her, and she couldn't help but notice the tension in the air. River could also sense her discomfort and walked across the room to stand next to her rather than alongside Kelly. Y/N felt the subtle brush of his arm against her shoulder, and she kept her gaze fixed on Kelly who was standing at the door.

"Well," He continued, maintaining the facade, "Where there's people, there are stories."

"Boring stories," Kelly retorted.

"No," He countered, "You ask the right questions, and you can usually find something interesting. You know, everyone has a secret."

The barmaid smiled, her sharp gaze fixed on him. "Well, don't be asking too many questions. We tend to sacrifice troublemaking strangers to the Green Man."

Observing their conversation, Y/N discreetly narrowed her gaze towards her as she spoke, feeling an unexplained unease. There was something about the way she watched them talk that unsettled her, though she couldn't quite pinpoint it. River maintained a polite smile but glanced down at her, his eyes searching hers as if to say - you okay?

Y/N maintained her smile, playing her part as she leaned against the bedpost.

"Oh," Kelly said, turning around. "I need to get you some towels. I need to get back downstairs, but I will leave them outside your door later."

"That's alright," River replied, glancing down at Y/N. "Think we're both pretty keen for bed, aren't we, darling?"

She looked up at him, her breath catching at the unexpected pet name that momentarily threw her off character. Nonetheless, she smiled and nodded in agreement. Sensing Kelly’s stare, Y/N felt his hand slide along her waist before resting on the bedpost where she leaned. In a spontaneous move, perhaps to irk the barmaid further, she wrapped her arms around his torso, leaning into him to present the image of a normal, happy couple.

"Alright," Kelly spoke shortly, glancing quickly at Y/N before offering the key to River.

Stepping forward, Y/N interjected, taking the key from her hand instead. "Ta," She said as she nodded, her face completely deadpan.

"Anything else?" Kelly asked, the question clearly directed at River.

"Uh, no," He answered, pulling Y/N back into his side. "All good, thank you."

"Right, see you later," Kelly said as she approached the door, pausing momentarily before adding, "Johnnie Walker."

River laughed, calling out, "Just Jon."

Y/N couldn't help but let out a dry, sarcastic laugh at the nickname. As the door closed, River glanced back at her with an oblivious look.

"What?" He asked, throwing his arms up in question.

She couldn't resist rolling her eyes at him.

"I'll see you later, Johnnie Walker," She said mockingly, tossing the room key onto a nearby table.

He scoffed, starting to take off his jacket. "Fuck off."

"She's clearly into you," Y/N observed, "And making it rather obvious that she doesn't give a fuck about me being here."

River scoffed again, this time playfully. "Not like you to care that much about something like that."

"I don't care," Y/N insisted, attempting to dismiss the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach at the mere thought of River with someone else.

A brief silence lingered between them, both their gazes settling on the solitary double bed in the middle of the room. Y/N had just about forgotten the obvious fact that there would be only one bed.

"Oh, great," She muttered, gesturing towards the bed.

River sighed, "I'll sleep on the floor."

A wave of guilt washed over her almost instantly, prompting her to abandon the bratty demeanour and take his comfort into consideration. The night was exceptionally cold, and the thought of him trying to sleep on the hard wooden floor seemed rather harsh.

"No, I'm sorry. Don't do that," She said, crossing her arms. "It's freezing, and I doubt you'd get a wink of sleep on this floor."

He looked at her, trying to figure out what she was implying.

"We can share the bed; it'll be fine," She suggested.

He half-smiled, "What if I would rather sleep on the floor?"

"Well, then knock yourself out," Y/N retorted. "Just trying to look out for you."

"That's unlike you." River remarked, furrowing his brow.

"River..." She sighed, growing a bit annoyed with his teasing.

"Alright, alright," He relented. "Thanks."

He watched her as she sat down on the bed, falling back against the mattress with a content sigh.

"Take what you can get, Cartwright," She remarked, "It's actually really comfortable."

River nodded, his gaze fixed on her as he stepped closer. Standing in front of her, he glanced down at her. Her eyes were closed, and her hair sprawled out across the mattress. Despite everything, he found her beautiful, though he thought admitting it to her face was a step too far.

She heard his footsteps across the floor, and when they stopped, she opened her eyes to find him standing in front of her, towering over her as he looked down.

"What?" She asked, watching him chew on his lip.

"If I'm sleeping in the bed, you're going to have to move," He stated.

She shot him a perplexed look. "Excuse me?"

"I always sleep on the left side," He explained with his hands in his pockets, his silver watch on his wrist catching the light.

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, is that right?"

"Yep," He confirmed, shifting his weight on his feet. "So, shove over."

She scoffed. "Not a chance. You're lucky I'm even letting you sleep in the bed at all."

"C'mon, move," He urged, tapping her on the leg.

"No," She shook her head, staying put.

River sighed. "Move."

She laughed, "Fuck off!"

He groaned in annoyance as she sat up, starting to playfully poke and prod at him with her hands.

"You're annoying me, stop," He said, holding his hands up while trying to avoid her playful gestures.

She found it incredibly amusing, knowing all too well that she was the only one that could get under his skin the way she always managed to. Her teasing continued as she started to sense his patience wearing thin. River groaned, gripping her arms forcefully, yet still being careful not to hurt her. With a mischievous squeal, she tried to resist, but he leant over her small frame while skilfully trapping her arms at her sides.

In this unexpected proximity, their faces were mere inches apart, a closeness they hadn't experienced before. A wave of familiarity swept over Y/N, a sensation she hadn't associated with River until this very moment. He felt it too, yet he tried his hardest to dismiss what he was feeling.

"I said, stop," He breathed out, shooting her a stern look.

Their eyes held each other's gaze for a few moments as they found themselves both getting lost in the silence. A quick idea sparked in her head, and she purposefully alternated her gaze between his eyes and his lips, enticing him to lean closer. She could feel his grip on her arms starting to loosen and she seized the opportunity. Without warning, she expertly wrapped her legs around his waist, flipping him over so that he was now laying on the bed, with her on top. Placing her forearm against his neck, she made sure not to press down too hard.

He grunted, attempting to stay as still as possible, but the feeling of her pressed against him became overwhelming, causing him to throw his head back.

"Great," He huffed, not being able to move as she had him pinned down. "Bet you’ve pulled this move on many people before."

"Only a few times," She chuckled. "Just be glad you had the bed to land on, unlike that poor policeman who you dropped onto the concrete at Stansted."

River sighed, shaking his head. "It was a training exercise."

"Don’t think he’ll be forgetting that in a hurry," She teased.

She soon released her hold from him and rose, briefly sitting back on his thighs. River followed suit, propping himself up on his elbows to gaze at her. Eventually, she stood up and headed over to her suitcase.

Grabbing some pyjamas, she made her way to the bathroom. "I’m having a shower."

As soon as the bathroom door closed, he fell back onto his back and stared up at the ceiling.

What the fuck just happened?

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

As the hot water cascaded over her weary body, Y/N found her thoughts drifting. Despite her efforts to focus on the mission, River kept intruding into her mind. Each time, she attempted to shake off the distraction, but it proved to be quite a challenge, especially given their close proximity.

She didn't want to get side-tracked, but she couldn't seem to help herself. Unfamiliar feelings were beginning to surface, starting to complicate things.

Stepping out of the shower, she went through her night-time skincare routine before changing into a pair of light grey pants and a matching singlet top. Towel in hand, she left the bathroom and entered the dimly lit room. Her eyes fell onto River, who was sorting through his clothes near the end of the bed. She scrunched her hair with the towel as she sat down at the desk in the corner, observing him pick out clothes he wouldn't have chosen for himself.

Just as she opened her mouth to speak, she noticed him glancing over his shoulder and out the window, a shift in his demeanour quickly catching her attention.

"What is it?" Y/N asked softly.

He held a finger up to his lips, quickly switching the bed side lamp off to avoid being seen as he shushed her, gesturing for her to join him by the window. She hung the towel over a chair before approaching him. Standing together, they gazed down onto the street where a figure stood.

"Hey, Dad," They heard a voice say as Kelly emerged from the pub.

Y/N squinted, trying to discern the figure on the street below, and continued to eavesdrop.

"Just out for a stroll," The man spoke. "Thought I’d walk you home."

He then glanced up at their room. "Who's staying in the guest room?"

"He's a journalist, here with his fiancé, writing an article on village life," Kelly explained.

Y/N quickly glanced up at River, noting his focused expression in the moonlight, his eyes trained on the street below. They were so close, he tried to ignore the fact that he could smell the sweet scent of her perfume.

"Is he a proper journalist or a pretend one?" The man inquired as they began to walk away from the pub.

Kelly sighed, "Says he works for The Times."

They both watched sneakily through the window, peeking behind the curtains as the pair walked off down the street.

Y/N sighed, turning to face him. "Well, at least our story checks out."

River hummed. "For now."

She eventually finished her night-time routine, quickly brushing her teeth and running a brush through her damp hair. She then made her way over to the bed, pulling back the covers and slipping beneath them in an attempt to avoid the night chill. River took his turn in the bathroom, closing the door behind him causing the darkness to envelop her. She closed her eyes, trying her best to seek relaxation for the night.

After a few minutes, the bathroom door opened, and River emerged, clad in sweatpants and a loose shirt. She heard him approach the bed, sensing the movement as he pulled back the covers and the mattress dipped when he settled in beside her. Even in the confines of the small double bed, they still managed to maintain some space between them.

Y/N lay on her side, facing away from him as she could feel his gaze on her. He drew in a deep breath before speaking, "I reckon we take a look around the village tomorrow, try and see what we can dig up."

"Okay," She hummed.

They fell into a breif moment of silence before he mumbled, "Night, then."

"Night," She replied.

Despite a couple of hours passing by, sleep became impossible for Y/N. The room was cloaked in darkness, with only the moonlight filtering through the curtains. Frustrated, she tossed and turned, unable to still her mind that was racing at a relentless pace. She turned onto her side again, facing the wall, and shook her head, unable to silence her thoughts. Suddenly, she heard a voice breaking through the silence.

"What's wrong?" River asked groggily, his voice laced with sleep. "You've been tossing and turning for ages."

She sighed, feeling guilty for waking him. "I just... can't sleep."

He sighed gently, turning onto his side to face her back. "You're the worst person to share a bed with."

"Yeah, thanks," She grumbled, tossing the sheets off her shoulder.

River breathed out, opening his eyes to peer at her back. The moonlight casted a gentle glow, revealing the cascade of her hair down her shoulders and back. A yawn escaped him, and after a moment of contemplation, his hand instinctively reached out.

Y/N felt her hair being pushed aside, initially thinking it was her imagination. Yet she soon felt a warm hand resting on her back, between her shoulder blades. Her breath hitched as she turned her head slightly to look at him.

"What are you doing?" She whispered.

"Just shut up and close your eyes," He teased. She gave in, turning back to face the wall. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck with every exhale he took through his nose.

His hand traced soothing patterns on the soft, exposed skin of her back. Despite the space between them, she could feel the warmth radiating from him as he inched closer just slightly. She surrendered to the sensation of his fingers tracing her back, gently lulling her into a deep, peaceful slumber.

©𝙇𝙄𝙇𝘼𝘾𝙎𝙉𝙄𝘿

5296 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨

#river cartwright #river cartwright x reader #jack lowden x reader #slow horses #slow horses fanfiction #river x reader #jack lowden #apple tv

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lilacsnid · 4 months

Text

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐦 | 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘹 𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

𝙎𝙐𝙈𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙔: Y/N has been assigned on a solo undercover mission. Infiltrate the warehouse, secure the flash drive, and evade detection; seems simple enough. But what happens if she gets caught by a dangerous criminal & her life hangs in the balance?

𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨: she/her pronouns used, mentions of violence, blood & gore, near death experience, guns & shooting.

𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨: this is a work of fiction; any names, characters from slow horses, places & incidents will either be a product of my imagination or used fictionally.

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

“You’re not going,” River's voice cut through the space, making Y/N flinch in surprise as she stood at her locker in the team room.

She glanced over her shoulder, finding River standing in the doorway, his expression stern and his arms crossed.

All she could do was scoff in response, turning back around to face the wall as she rolled her eyes at him. “And since when have you been the boss of me, hey Cartwright?”

“You do realize how dangerous it is going after this guy by yourself? He could be armed, you don’t know what he might have waiting for you,” His concern was evident and his gaze remained locked on her, even as she turned away.

“I’m a big girl,” Y/N retorted, trying to maintain her composure, “Besides, it’s an undercover mission. All I need is that hard drive, I’ll be in and out before he even knows I’m there.”

River sighed, the weight of worry apparent in his features. “And what if he’s there waiting for you?”

“He won’t be, I’ll make sure of it,” She stated, closing her locker shut, the sound echoing throughout the room. There was a sense of finality in her actions.

He watched her prepare, tightening her holster and checking her gun. But his concern remained, and he refused to back down.

“No, look-“ He stepped away from the door, closing the distance between them. “You can’t go, it’s too risky. Let me go, alright? I’ll cover for you with Lamb.”

Y/N’s eyebrows furrowed at his words, her frustration starting to get the better of her. “Fuck off! This mission was assigned to me, okay? And I don’t need you to make my choices for me.”

“This guy is dangerous, do you understand?!” River raised his voice, the intensity in his words mirrored the concern that etched across his face.

She shrugged, attempting to mask the nerves that she was beginning have. “And so what if he is? It’s nothing any of us haven’t handled before.”

“What if you get hurt?” His voice softened, the tension in the air was thick and heavy as they stood face to face, only mere inches away from one another.

Y/N's eyes turned glassy, her emotions slowly coming to the surface. “Why do you care?”

His shock was evident as it seemed his words failed him for a brief moment. Because despite the nonchalant exterior he always perceived, the truth was that he did care. Very deeply. He cared about her safety more than he could express. He wanted to protect her, to be the one in harm's way instead.

“I-well,” He struggled to find the right words, their proximity heightening the intensity between them.

Y/N closed her eyes briefly, checking her watch as she let out a sigh, “I have to go.”

River held her gaze as she walked past him, “I’ll be on OBS the entire time with Ho, just in case. Good luck.”

She nodded silently, the weight of their unspoken feelings lingering in the air as she turned and walked away, leaving River with his worry and concern that had been gnawing at him, hoping against hope that she would return safely.

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

Y/N pulled up in her car, parking a few buildings away from the location. The mission instructions were simple: infiltrate the warehouse, secure the flash drive, and evade detection. The night enveloped her, and the lack of streetlights provided cover as she hugged the shadows, using the darkness to her advantage.

As she approached the warehouse, she did her routine check in with Ho who was on observation with Louisa and River back at Slough House.

“Alpha One to Base,” Y/N pressed against her radio that was strapped to the inside of her stab proof vest, waiting for a response from control.

She inhaled deeply, scanning her surroundings before a response crackled through her earpiece. “Copy, go ahead Alpha One,” Louisa's voice sounded in her ear.

“I have visual on the target building,” Y/N reported, eyes fixed forward, “On foot and approaching.”

“Alpha One, received,” Louisa acknowledged.

As Y/N drew closer to the building, she couldn't shake the unnerving atmosphere surrounding the warehouse. It was concealed from the bustling streets of London, a secluded spot that was perfect for an escaped criminal trying to lay low whilst still carrying out operations.

“Alpha One to Base, I’m outside the warehouse on Carrington Street,” Y/N whispered into her radio, glancing cautiously at her surroundings, “So far so good.”

“Understood, Alpha One,” Louisa advised, her voice a reminder of the potential danger, “Avoid trouble if possible and stay alert. This bloke’s a right nasty twat, best to keep out of sight.”

Before Y/N could respond, she heard River’s reassuring voice filtering through her earpiece, a sense of comfort settling over her at the thought of his watchful presence.

“Remember, Alpha One, Ho’s hacked into the CCTV. No one inside will have access to the surveillance, but we'll have eyes on you,” His voice conveyed a calm authority as Y/N glanced up at the cameras scanning the warehouse's exterior.

“Roger that, out,” She affirmed with a nod.

Despite being briefed on the warehouse's layout, Y/N began to feel overwhelmed. It was far larger than anticipated, with more rooms than she remembered from the briefing. Despite the team back at Slough House watching via the camera system, there was an eerie stillness that lingered, and she couldn't shake the feeling of another presence.

As she opened the door to the expansive warehouse, the power abruptly cut. Darkness enveloped her, forcing her to rely on her adjusting vision.

"Alpha One, do you copy?" River's voice crackled through her radio.

"Yeah—" Her response was cut short as a strong arm seized her, a hand clamping over her mouth.

River jolted forward, his eyes fixed on the screen that had now been dark for the last few minutes, silently waiting for Y/N to respond. His fingers pressed against his lips as he whispered urgently, "Come on, Y/N, answer your bloody radio."

The insufferable silence dragged on, his anxiety growing by the minute. With no visual on her, the tension lingered throughout the small room, the only sound being the audible breaths through their headsets. River's gaze remained glued to the screens, leaning closer to catch any faint sound.

He could feel his heart beating hard against his chest as her whimpers suddenly pierced through the radio. "Alpha One, do you copy?" He asked once again, attempting to mask his worry as he stared intently at the monitors, awaiting a response. A surge of relief hit him as he heard the sound of her voice.

But then he then froze at her words. "H-He’s…he’s going to kill me," Y/N's voice crackled before the line abruptly went dead.

It was then as if time was moving in slow motion. River threw off his headset and snatched his gun from the desk in front of him. “Louisa, call it in!”

His hands shook as the adrenaline shot through him, running as fast as he could out of Slough House and into his car. Louisa followed suit, jumping into the passenger seat as she called for reinforcements. His foot slammed down on the accelerator, weaving through traffic with urgency. Y/N's words echoed in his mind, relentless and haunting as they played on a loop in his mind. As he got lost in his thoughts, he barely registered Louisa's attempts to reassure him.

"She’ll be alright," Louisa offered solace.

He shook his head, completely consumed by determination. "No, she shouldn’t have even been there in the first place!"

He honked at obstructing cars, muttering under his breath, "She can’t die, she can’t die. She can’t."

As they pulled up outside the location of the warehouse, a number of police units were already on scene. River ran up to one of the commanding officers, showing his I.D as he spoke. "Agent Cartwright. What’s going on? Has anyone been sent in?"

The officer hesitated, “We’re still awaiting authorization and are assessing the situation.”

River's frustration erupted as he squared up at the officer. "Assessing what?! She’s service, she might die. What the fuck are you waiting for?!"

"River, stop!" Louisa's grip tightened on his shoulder, but he was already turning away.

Y/N's voice echoed relentlessly through his head as he turned to look at the building she was being held in. Frustration boiled over, and before anyone could stop him, he muttered fuck this and ran into the warehouse with his weapon drawn.

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

“I’ve had enough of you fucking stupid agents trying to take what’s mine,” the man hissed into Y/N's ear, his grip tightening around her neck. She tried to respond but was instead violently thrown to the ground, a groan escaping her lips upon impact with the unforgiving concrete. Her head throbbed painfully from the impact, sending jolts of pain through her.

Despite her distress, the man continued his assault, his glare unrelenting as he completely unleashed.

He began to kick her in the stomach with the brute force of his foot, yelling in-between kicks, “Always getting in the fucking way!”

A part of her wished she was dead already. She felt like she was in the depths of hell and the pain that was running through her body was beyond excruciating, she was terrified.

He lurched forward and picked her body up like it was a rag doll, throwing her against the wall with his hands gripped around her throat, beginning to choke her. She mustered up whatever strength she had left and clawed desperately at his hands, trying anything to get him to stop.

He threw her to the ground again, causing her to cry out in pain. He then grabbed her by her vest, forcing her to stand to her feet. His grip supported her weakened form, preventing her from crumbling to the ground.

“And now,” He seethed with gritted teeth as he snatched her gun from her waist and pointed it into her side, “You’re going to die.”

A voice boomed through the empty warehouse, one that Y/N recognised.

“MI5! Drop your weapon!”

"River," she managed, her voice only a fragile whisper.

The sound of a gunshot then shattered through the air, and she felt like her body was on fire. The pain was intense and was coursing through her veins, leaving her gasping for breath. She let out a scream, knowing in that moment that she had just been shot.

River heard her cries and didn’t hesitate. He pulled the trigger of his gun, another bullet ringing throughout the warehouse, striking her attacker and making him drop to the floor, completely motionless.

“Y/N!” He yelled, rushing over to where her body was sprawled on the floor. He fumbled for his phone with trembling hands before dialling 999.

“Cartwright, agent number 5263. I need immediate medical assistance. Warehouse on Carrington Street. I have an officer down, gunshot wound to the torso. She’s in a really bad way.” He relayed to the operator, his breaths ragged.

Dropping to his knees beside her, River’s hands shook as he checked for a pulse. His voice quivered as he called her name once again. He sat down behind her with tears blurring his vision as he pulled her close to him, cradling her as his heart wrenched with regret.

“Y/N, can you hear me?” He implored, brushing the stray strands of hair away from her face, “Open your eyes for me, come on!”

He heard her let out a slight gasp, her eyelids fluttering open slowly as she glanced up at him. "River," she choked, her voice strained as she was struggling to breathe. "You're here."

“It’s okay, you’re okay. Help’s coming, I just need you to stay with me, okay?” He pleaded, ripping off her stab-proof vest, and pressing his hand firmly to her side to apply pressure to her gunshot wound.

She cried out in pain, tears starting to pool in her eyes as she fought to focus on him. “I’m… I’m,” she struggled, each word a heavy wheeze as she could feel her strength starting to leave her.

River shushed her gently, wrapping his free arm around her, “Hey, just try not to talk.”

She could hear the distinct quiver in his voice, a vulnerability she had never witnessed in him before. As he held her, she could feel him shaking. She weakly reached for his hand, a fragile connection in that harrowing moment. Meeting her gaze, he gently squeezed her hand back.

“I’m sorry,” He whispered, his voice breaking, “I should never of left you go alone.”

"It’s okay," she murmured, her voice barely audible, "You're here now."

River held her close, tears streaming down his face, whispering words of reassurance, pleading for her to hold on as they waited for the ambulance to arrive. He applied more pressure to her side with his hand, taking notice of the blood that had stained his hands and his gaze fixated on her closed eyes.

“No, hey,” He pleaded as he shook her gently, desperately trying to get her to open her eyes, “You need to stay awake, come on.”

“I….can’t,” She uttered slowly, her breath beginning to leave her as she struggled to speak.

“No, you have to!” River’s voice rose in urgency, pulling her up against him, “Please, Y/N.”

Gasping for air, she spoke softly, her breaths growing shallow. "I'm scared."

“It’s okay,” He assured her, his voice soft as he whispered in her ear, “I’m here, I’ve got you.”

"Y/N?" His voice trembled, panic clawing at his chest as he felt her growing limp in his arms, unresponsive.

"No!" His cry echoed, holding her tightly. "Come on, Y/N! Please!"

Tears flowed down his face as he fought to keep her awake, searching desperately for any sign of life. "Stay with me, Y/N. Please, stay with me."

Through the windows, blue lights and sirens pierced through the darkness, signalling the arrival of help. River heard his name being called as the doors were opened. His heart raced, but his gaze remained solely on the girl in his arms.

"We're here!" he called out, desperation lacing his voice. "Help!"

River stood by, feeling utterly helpless as he watched the paramedics swiftly take charge, assessing Y/N and lifting her up onto the stretcher. His eyes stayed fixed on her, a mixture of dread and determination etched across his features.

“Is she going to be okay?” He asked as he walked alongside the stretcher, his steps matching the hurried pace of the paramedics as they loaded her into the ambulance. His hand reached out, wanting to hold hers, but he restrained himself.

“We’re doing everything we can,” One of the paramedics spoke, “But she needs to get to hospital now.”

“You go with her,” Louisa spoke gently from where she stood beside him, patting his back reassuringly, “I’ll meet you there.”

Inside the ambulance, River sat beside Y/N, his gaze never leaving her. The urgency in the paramedics' actions sent a chill down his spine. They worked quickly, trying to stabilize her condition.

The abrupt sound of the heart monitor flat lining made his heart drop, and he watched in horror as the paramedic rushed around the ambulance, saying words that he didn’t understand. The tears fell silently as he watched the paramedic begin to perform chest compressions on her as they neared the hospital. There was no longer any doubt that she was now fighting for her life. River just prayed to a god he didn’t believe in that she would live to survive another day.

He felt a knot tighten in his chest, a sense of powerlessness starting to overwhelm him. His hands trembled, fingers tightly clenched into fists, a silent plea echoing in his mind, willing her to hold on.

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

Louisa called the office number to Slough House, informing everyone of Y/N’s condition before making her way to the hospital to meet River. After asking for directions from the front desk, she navigated her way through the corridors until she eventually found him in a waiting room, hunched over in a chair with his head in his hands.

"Hey," she spoke softly, causing River to lift his head. His eyes were bloodshot eyes and his appearance dishevelled.

"How is she? What's going on?" Louisa's asked, concern evident in her voice.

He shook his head, inhaling deeply, trying to gather his thoughts. "I don't know. She's in surgery. They've asked me to wait here. It might take hours... I just... I don't know."

"Why?" Louisa inquired.

He shook his head again as his breathing hitched, “The nurse said they are having to remove her spleen and something about a haemorrhage, the bullet didn’t leave an exit wound.”

Louisa, taken aback by the severity of the situation, murmured softly to herself. She stole a glance at River, taking notice of the silent tears tracing down his face as he stared down at the floor.

“What is it?” She pressed, sensing there was something else he needed to say.

River drew a shaky breath in, his gaze distant and eyes glassy, “Her heart stopped beating, they had to resuscitate her twice in the ambulance. So, I don’t know.”

Louisa pulled him into a brief hug, offering him a small moment of comfort before he pulled away, collecting himself with a sharp breath.

"Would you like a break? I can stay here if you need some time," Louisa offered, concern etched in her words. But he shook his head, his mind already being made up.

"No," he replied, settling back down into his seat. "I'm not going anywhere. I don’t care how long it takes, I need to know if she’s going to make it.”

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

As the night wore on, the whole of Slough House slowly started pouring into the waiting room. Six long hours had passed with an almost agonising sense of anticipation and uncertainty as Y/N remained in theatre, doctors desperately trying to save her life.

River remained seated in the same spot he'd occupied throughout the night, his leg nervously bouncing up and down in an agitated rhythm as he stared into the void. Raising his hands slightly, he glanced at the lingering traces of blood staining his palms, a harsh reminder of the whole ordeal. Thoughts of her consumed him, and the fear of losing someone he cared about gnawed at his core like never before, he had never felt so scared of losing someone.

It had felt like an eternity before the surgeon had finally entered the waiting room, full of Y/N’s colleges and friends. An anxious anticipation filled the room as he took off his surgical scrub cap, everyone standing to their feet and looking at him expectantly.

"She's pulled through the surgery," The surgeon announced, a collective exhale of relief echoing through the space. River, overwhelmed with emotion, closed his eyes briefly and sighed in relief. She had survived; she was alive.

“But she has been under anaesthetic for a long time, so it might be a while before she wakes up. You’re all welcome to wait here.” He said before nodding and exiting the room, leaving everyone to their own devices.

Gradually, one by one, the others departed for the night, leaving only River and Louisa behind. A nurse eventually approached them with the long-awaited news that Y/N had woken up and that they were finally allowed to see her.

As the pair neared her room in the ICU, River stopped in his tracks as he caught sight of her small and fragile figure resting on the hospital bed, a wave of different emotions crashing over him.

"You go ahead," He murmured to Louisa, his voice strained. "I just need a minute."

Leaning against the corridor wall, he desperately tried to gather his thoughts, taking a few minutes to compose himself. Just mere moments later, Louisa emerged from the room, wearing a gentle smile.

"I'm heading out," She informed, slipping on her coat and gesturing towards the room. "She's asking for you."

He managed to shoot her a faint smile, watching and thanking Louisa as she left, leaving him alone to gather his thoughts again before stepping into the room.

He stepped inside, taking note of how quiet the room was, the only noise to be heard was the beeping of machines. Y/N's eyes fluttered open as she sensed his presence, a faint smile touching her lips as she glanced over at him.

“Hey,” she whispered softly into the silence.

River took a deep breath as he lingered in the doorway, “Hey yourself.”

He approached her bedside, his voice faltering for a moment, “You know, you scared the shit out of us all today, you nearly died.”

"You know me, always the dramatic," She joked, wincing from a shooting pain in her broken ribs as she attempted to laugh.

River chuckled softly, shifting his weight uneasily as his gaze drifted over the array of tubes and the IV connected to her. A number of bruises scattered on her skin, with cuts littering on her face and neck.

She watched as he shook his head and followed his gaze downward. When his eyes met hers again, she noticed the stray tear that fell down his cheek. The memories from the incident flooded back to her almost instantly. She remembered him crying, the fear in his voice and his desperate attempts to keep her alive from the moment he had found her.

“I thought,” River sighed, “I thought I had lost you.”

She smiled softly, shaking her head gently, “You’re stuck with me.”

He watched as she lifted her hand, reaching out and beckoning for him to come closer. He sniffled as he closed the gap between them, gently clasping his hand in hers.

“How are you feeling?” He asked, intertwining their fingers as he stared down at them, a small smile tugging on his lips.

She shrugged lightly, “As good as one can be after nearly dying.”

“You almost did, Y/N,” River murmured, letting out a sigh.

"But I didn't," She countered, gently stroking the back of his hand with her thumb, "You made sure of that."

"I don't think I'll ever want to let you out of my sight again." Another smile formed as he spoke, but his voice held a somewhat serious tone.

Upon returning the smile, she took careful notice of his appearance and glanced at the traces of her blood that still stained his hands.

“Have you been here all night?” She asked, her brows furrowed in confusion as she waited for him to respond.

He nodded, clearing his throat, “Yeah.”

She shot him a perplexed look, “It’s been hours, you must be exhausted!”

River shook his head, his eyes filled with an intensity, “I’m fine, okay? I had to. I needed to see you.”

A silence settled between them, a fragile moment full of uncertainty. He kept her hand in his, his touch gentle and filled with unspoken emotions.

“Look, I uh- need to tell you something,” River's voice trembled slightly, as he held her gaze, “I should've said it sooner, but I couldn't... I care about you, Y/N. More than I've ever admitted. You mean everything to me. And watching you get shot... I’ve never felt so helpless.”

Y/N's eyes glossed over with tears, her hand squeezing his in response, a silent acknowledgement of their shared emotions.

“I know,” She whispered, a faint smile tugging at her lips, “I've always known. I feel the same way.”

River sat down beside her on the bed, pulling her into his arms protectively, assured of her safety this time. As they gently pulled away from their hug, a fleeting moment passed before River found himself inching closer. His gaze met hers, silently seeking permission before he leaned in to kiss her. Their lips met in a tender, tentative kiss – both of their emotions pouring out. It was soft, as if he was scared he was going to break her. As they parted, their eyes met and their foreheads rested against one another, an unspoken understanding passing between them.

Y/N smiled, pulling his hand to rest against her chest, “Did it really take for me to almost die for you to admit that?”

River chuckled, shaking his head as he kept his forehead pressed against hers, “Yeah, probably not the best way to go about it.”

©𝙇𝙄𝙇𝘼𝘾𝙎𝙉𝙄𝘿

4080 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨

#river cartwright #slow horses #apple tv #jack lowden #jack lowden x reader #river cartwright x reader #river x reader #slow horses fanfiction

66 notes · View notes

lilacsnid · 3 months

Text

𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐈𝐧 𝐔𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐭 | 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘹 𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 (𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘰)

➪ 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐍𝐄

𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨: this is a work of fiction; any names, characters from slow horses, places & incidents will either be a product of my imagination or used fictionally. got a bit carried away so this will now be a three part series.

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

Y/N woke up the next morning to the warm, gentle feeling of the sun casting across her face. She let herself bask in the comfortable sensation, relishing the peaceful moment before allowing her eyes to flutter open. As she squinted, she suddenly became aware of her new position as her eyes tried to adjust to the light.

She figured that sometime during the night, she must have turned over because she was now on her side, facing River. Without realising, they both must have unconsciously drawn closer, as their foreheads were now almost touching. She simply couldn’t stop herself as her gaze traced along his face, taking in all of his features. River was also on his side, his eyes closed and his long lashes brushing against the apples of his cheeks.

His floppy blonde hair caught the light as it rested over his forehead, creating a golden glow.

Y/N’s fingers itched to reach out and brush the hair out of his face, but she managed to suppress the sudden impulse. Her attention shifted to his broad shoulders, which were rising and falling with each slow and deep breath he took. As she glanced down, she noticed his hand, still outstretched from the night before, now resting against the mattress in between them, a sign that he had been tracing patterns on the skin of her back until he fell back to sleep.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment, trying her hardest to imprint the memory and the feeling of his fingers tracing gentle patterns onto her skin. The sensation felt unfamiliar, and the realization that she hadn't thought of River in this way before lingered in her mind. Something was undeniably beginning to shift between the two of them.

Her gaze continued to explore every detail of his face as she felt a sudden unease settling in her stomach. Perhaps it was vulnerability, yet she brushed the feeling aside, not being able to confront it just yet.

Only a few minutes passed before River began to stir. With soft eyes, she allowed herself to watch him wake up. He blinked a couple of times, adjusting to the sunlight that filled the room. His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he lifted his head, momentarily surveying the unfamiliar surroundings. However, that expression quickly faded as he soon remembered where he was.

He sighed, letting his head to sink back against the pillow. His eyes closed briefly before reopening them to find the girl across from him already watching him. Something in her expression caught him off guard, a nuance about her that he couldn’t quite place. It was a pleasant change from the usual array of looks she would normally give him — a gentleness and softness that felt new.

Amongst the comfortable silence, they held each other’s gaze for a minute. She watched a small smile tug at the corner of his mouth before he cleared his throat.

“Morning,” River murmured, folding his arms to rest under his pillow.

Y/N chose to ignore the flutter in her chest stirred by the sound of his raspy morning voice, returning his smile and pulling the covers tighter around herself.

“Hey,” She replied, her voice hushed.

He ran his fingers through his hair and rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands, trying to get rid of any lingering traces of sleep, “How are you feeling?”

She shrugged, taking a moment to actually assess her state. Despite the usual lingering fatigue, she couldn’t deny that she felt a bit more rested than usual.

“Good, yeah,” She replied, starting to feel more awake with each passing moment. “Actually got a pretty decent sleep.”

River chuckled lightly, exhaling through his nose. “Yeah, you’re welcome.”

“I wasn’t actually thanking you for anything,” She chuckled, extending her hand from under the covers to playfully shove his arm.

He scoffed in response, his gaze drifting down to her hand. The ring she was wearing caught the light of the sun that shone into the room from behind the curtains. He took notice of the ring and the fact that she had kept it on. Following his gaze, she noticed it too. Trying to ignore the blush starting to creep up her cheeks, she quickly retracted her hand and pulled it back underneath the covers.

River suddenly became acutely aware of their close proximity as he felt his heart starting to pound against the inside of his chest. Squinting for a moment, he studied her, and a silence enveloped them once again.

He tried to keep his gaze from wandering, yet he found his eyes tracing down her face. Up into her eyes before momentarily lingering on her plump lips, the air around them thickened. Just as he could sense the slight tension, he rolled over onto his back, breaking eye contact and creating a bit of space between them.

Feeling a sudden wave of self-awareness, Y/N shook off the moment and reminded herself of their purpose here. She sat up, stretching her arms out in front of her. Instead of reaching for her phone, she stole a glance at River from over her shoulder.

“What time is it?” She asked, covering her mouth with her hand as she tried to stifle a yawn.

Holding his wrist up in front of his face, he furrowed his eyebrows as he glanced at his watch. “Just gone half-seven.”

Y/N sighed. “We'd better get a move on.”

He nodded in agreement, observing her closely as she threw the covers off her body and stood up from the bed, her fingers nimbly pulling on the hair tie from around her wrist. As she raised her arms to tie her hair back, he found his eyes involuntarily tracing over every part of her body—from her legs to her hips, her waist, and all the way up to her neck. She bent over her bag, picking out suitable clothes for the day, and he absorbed every inch of her, suddenly aware of all the perfect curves that had eluded his notice before. Taking a deep breath, he suddenly felt his own clothes starting to feel unexpectedly restrictive.

“I’m taking the first shower, is that cool?” Y/N asked, rising to her feet and gesturing toward the bathroom.

River quickly shifted his gaze to her face, concerned that she might have caught him staring. However, she seemed oblivious, looking at him expectantly and waiting for his response.

He nodded hastily, stumbling over his words. “Uhm—yeah, yeah. Yep, all good.”

Her gaze narrowed for a split second as she glanced at him before shrugging it off and heading toward the bathroom. As soon as he heard the bathroom door close and the water start to flow for the shower, he threw his head back against the pillow and released a deep breath.

Thoughts of her lingered in his mind, and he let out a frustrated groan, running his hands through his dishevelled hair and tugging slightly at the roots.

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

Once they had both readied themselves for the day ahead, the two of them exited their shared room and descended the stairs into the quiet, empty pub below. Y/N slung her camera around her torso on the way downstairs, maintaining the facade of being a photographer.

She followed River towards the front door, he confidently grabbed the handle to try and open the door, only to realize that it was locked.

An almost taunting voice echoed from the bar, breaking the silence.

“There’s no escape!” Kelly called out with a playful grin.

Y/N and River exchanged a knowing glance before deciding to go and investigate. As they approached the bar, just before turning the corner of the wall, River paused to look down at her from his towering height. Raising his eyebrows, he extended his hand out towards her and offered it to her.

She simply blinked, confusion flickered across her face for a moment until realization set in.

Oh, right. She thought, best to keep up appearances.

Y/N reached her hand out, letting him take her hand in his own. There was something about the way his long fingers intertwined with hers that made her stomach flip, a sensation she tried to dismiss. River gave a gentle tug, leading her around the corner to where Kelly stood at the bar.

"Oh, hello," Y/N greeted with a small, friendly smile.

"Hi," Kelly replied, briefly glancing at their entwined hands before directing her attention mainly towards Jonathon.

“So,” River began, closing the distance to the bar as they got closer, “Have you been here all night?”

Kelly chuckled, "No, I come in early to set the bar."

"Ah," He nodded as he settled onto a stool in front of the bar.

Kelly beamed at him, "Make a bit of extra cash. I lock the door to keep the village alcoholics—or should I say, the villagers—from barging in and demanding a breakfast lock-in."

River let out a breathy laugh. "Right. And there you were, telling me that life here is boring."

After sharing a tender look with Y/N, he reached out to pull her in, placing her between his legs. She grinned, playing the part of the adoring fiancée, wrapping her arms loosely around his shoulders.

“Well, that just does not sound boring,” He continued, his hand tracing a soft path across her waist, gently gripping her hip and rubbing soothing circles.

Y/N chuckled softly, finding it surprisingly effortless to play this role with River, even as she reminded herself that it was all part of an act.

Suppressing a sigh, she noticed Kelly's gaze lingering on him, a bright smile playing on her lips as she asked, “What are you up to today?”

The question was clearly directed at him, but he didn’t seem to take much notice as he stole a glance at Y/N as if he was searching her eyes.

“Uh, I don’t know,” He replied, tightening his arm around her waist. “We thought we might just explore the village, you know, get a feel for the place.”

“Yeah,” Y/N added with a smile, nodding in agreement. “It’s a lovely day; what better way than to spend it together?”

Kelly watched as Jonathon and Harriet exchanged a loving glance, completely oblivious to the fact that it was all an elaborate act.

“Why don’t I come with you? I can show you around,” Kelly suggested, her offer hanging in the air.

River shot a brief look at Y/N, silently seeking her approval. Knowing her reservations about Kelly, especially given her standoffish behaviour, he felt a slight falter in her arms that were still around his shoulders. Rubbing his hand over her hip, he prompted her to respond, and after a momentary pause, she regained her composure.

“Yeah, that would be great, why not?” Y/N replied, her smile seemingly forced.

Kelly reached for her jacket. "I’ve got a spare ten minutes.”

As Kelly turned her back for a moment, he shifted himself to fully face Y/N, trying to gauge her reaction. He noticed that she was keeping her emotions well hidden, offering him a smile as she ran her hands over his back. Despite their faces being in close proximity, they both chose to ignore it as Kelly turned back around.

“And then,” Kelly said, biting her lip in a manner that made Y/N cringe slightly, “Would your expenses stretch to a private aircraft?”

Her unexpected question caught both Y/N and River off guard, prompting River to recall his previous experience at The Flying Club yesterday.

He chuckled, collecting himself, “Uh, yeah, who’s flying?”

“Me,” Kelly declared, starting to walk out of the bar.

Out of sight, Y/N and River exchanged a questioning look. Y/N allowed her arms to fall slightly, both of them lost in thought. Could she have been the one to fly Dickie Bow’s killer to Estonia for a swift getaway? It was a question that needed answers.

Exiting the pub, the two of them followed Kelly, braving the cold air that nipped at their skin as they crossed the road.

“So, Kelly,” Y/N spoke up, attempting to steer the conversation, “How long have you lived here?”

Surprisingly, Kelly responded as she glanced over at Y/N, “All my life. Well, apart from three years at Uni. Then I came back here to consider my next move, which I'm still considering.”

Y/N maintained a practiced smile, effortlessly slipping into character. “And your parents? Did they grow up here too?”

“No,” Kelly replied, sneaking a glance at River before continuing, “They were newcomers. Moved here from London just before I was born.”

Unaware of the not-so-discreet looks directed his way from Kelly, River paid more attention to the passing surroundings, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, absorbing the atmosphere of the village.

She nodded, maintaining the facade. “And why was that then?”

Y/N had a particular tone to her voice that conveyed genuine interest, aiming to sound engaged rather than nosy as she listened attentively to Kelly's story. Meanwhile, she could feel River subtly brush his arm against hers as they walked side by side. At first, Y/N didn't think much of it, remaining focused on what Kelly was saying. However, she soon felt River's fingers gently tapping against the side of her hand. His fingertips then traced small circles on the inside of her palm, a silent request for permission to hold her hand.

Without hesitation, she opened her hand, allowing him to intertwine his fingers with hers. Despite the size difference of their hands, it didn't matter. He swung their linked hands gently as they strolled through the charming village, their connection adding a subtle layer of authenticity to the act they were putting on.

“…..and my Dad got into flying, so his hobby became his job!” Kelly finished, which caught River’s attention.

“Right, so he’s a pilot then?” River questioned.

Kelly chuckled, shaking her head. “No, he owns the flying club.”

Y/N felt River's hand tighten slightly in response to this revelation, she sensed his mind ticking over as he processed the information.

“Oh, right, right,” He nodded, deciding to drop the topic for the meantime.

Over the next 15 minutes or so, Kelly continued to guide them through the quaint little village of Upshott. Y/N started to look around in awe, absorbing the simple yet captivating sights it had to offer. The village may not have had much to boast about, but its charm laid in the beautiful scenery – a combination of greenery and old houses creating a cosy atmosphere.

The day was stunning which only enhanced the village's allure. Y/N paused along the way to capture a few photos with her camera. She couldn’t help but appreciate how handsome River looked as he let go of her hand to peer over the side of the stone bridge they were crossing. The gentle sound of running water echoed from the stream below, and the sunlight caught his hair from where it was trying to break through the green canopy of trees above. Stepping back, Y/N seized the opportunity to take a couple of photos, capturing the picturesque moment unfolding in front of her.

River caught the clicking sound of Y/N's camera and swiftly turned on his heels to glance at her. A frown formed on his face, but a small smile played on his lips as he watched her laugh at his reaction.

Taking a moment to appreciate her, he found her bathed in a gentle glow from the sun, her laughter echoing as she threw her head back, hair flowing freely over her shoulders. In that moment, he couldn't help but smile at her—she was undeniably beautiful.

As they neared the end of the road, Kelly came to a stop in front of them.

"Well, that’s it," She sighed, nodding slightly.

River glanced around, "Oh."

“Fancy an aerial view?” Kelly then asked, directing her gaze at him rather than Y/N.

Despite the subtle pang in Y/N's chest at the way Kelly looked at him, she maintained a smile, watching him expectantly.

“Um, yeah, sounds good,” River drawled out, pushing his hands into his pockets as he looked down at Y/N who stood beside him, feeling a bit caught off guard. "What do you reckon, babe?"

Y/N was taken aback by the sudden pet name but managed to push it down. Fortunately, she wasn't a fan of heights, and honestly, the prospect of watching Kelly attempt to flirt with Jonathon didn't appeal to her either.

Shaking her head, she briefly glanced at Kelly, who returned her gaze with almost a glare. "Oh, I don’t know. I’m not really a fan of heights,” She explained.

“But you should go,” Y/N continued, looking up at River, who was already gazing down at her.

She could almost see the fleeting disappointment on his face. Deep down, he had hoped she would join him. Despite Kelly's advances, both of them understood that it would be best if Jonathon went with her. After overhearing the suspicious conversation between Kelly and what appeared to be her father the night before, River needed to gather as much information as possible, especially considering his chance to visit The Flying Club again.

“You sure?” He questioned, raising his eyebrows slightly.

She nodded and hummed in response, “Yeah, I’m sure. Anyway, it’ll give me the chance to explore the village a bit more.”

If only Kelly wasn't standing right across from them, they could have exchanged a quick debrief. Instead, River simply smiled down at her.

“Okay,” He nodded, holding her gaze for a couple of seconds as he placed a hand on her hip, wrapping it around her waist. “I’ll see you in an hour or so then.”

“Alright,” She smiled, reaching forward to grasp the ends of his jacket.

Though it felt like an eternity, they only locked eyes for a few seconds before River dipped his head down, planting a chaste kiss on her cheek.

“See you soon,” He said, slowly taking his hand away from her hip.

She could sense Kelly’s stare burning into the side of her head. In a moment of impulse, before she could fully comprehend her actions, Y/N reached up and pressed her lips to his, standing on her tiptoes to reach him.

The unexpected kiss caught River completely off guard, but he skillfully played it off as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Closing his eyes, he reached his hand out, gently resting it back on her waist. He couldn’t deny the unfamiliar enjoyment of her soft lips against his own.

They held the kiss for a few seconds. River almost found himself not wanting to pull away, but he managed to do so, opening his eyes to search hers. Her expectant doe eyes staring back up at him made him feel weak in the knees.

“Have fun,” She smiled, her fingers still tugging on the ends of his jacket.

“Will do,” He breathed out. Unable to resist, he dipped his head down and placed another small, short kiss on her lips. Though he wouldn't admit it to himself, he told himself it was for the sake of appearance.

Stepping back, he began to follow Kelly towards her parked car.

Y/N stood to the side, her fingers toying with the strap of her camera. She watched as River glanced over his shoulder at her, flashing a genuine smile. Tilting her head up, she waved, ignoring the blush that crept its way onto her cheeks.

Watching him get into the car, she turned on her heel and made her way back into the heart of the village.

✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

Y/N refused to admit that jealousy was the source of her agitation every time the thought of River being alone with another woman, particularly someone as overtly obsessed with him as Kelly, crossed her mind. The mere image of Kelly shamelessly flirting with him on the bustling main street of Upshott made her blood boil. Even the idea that they were alone together made it feel worse.

Intellectually, she knew that River prioritized the mission over succumbing to Kelly's relentless advances. However, despite this knowledge, an unsettling feeling still continued to linger. Despite this, she was determined to regain control over her emotions. Y/N decided it was time to refocus on the task at hand. She reminded herself that she was a highly skilled MI5 agent and needed to channel her energy into the task rather than letting thoughts of River invade her mind.

During the afternoon, she managed to discreetly navigate the quiet streets of Upshott, her eyes keenly observing every detail. She took care while strategically snapping photos to document the surroundings. To any passer by, she just looked like an ordinary tourist who travelled down from London. The picturesque facade of the village hid potential secrets, and the mission River and herself had been given was to unveil any Russian sleeper agents hiding in plain sight, cicadas.

As she moved from one shop to another, she felt her thumb unconsciously tracing against the ring River had bought for her to wear on her finger, fighting to shake the unease caused by thoughts of him and Kelly. Determined to put those distractions aside, she moved her focus onto her task once again.

Y/N came to a sudden halt, captivated by the sight of a small pond off to her right. There were a few stone steps that were peaking out from the surface, adding a touch of serenity to the scene. Moved by the picturesque view and the way the light reflected off the water, she instinctively raised her camera, feigning the capture of a shot while also using it to subtly survey her surroundings.

In the midst of her observation, her keen eye caught sight of a petite woman with tousled blonde hair and glasses engaged in a heated exchange with a tall, bald man with a strong and muscular build. She could almost feel the tension as she watched on. Through the lens of her camera, she suddenly felt a jolt of recognition. The man held an uncanny resemblance to Andrei Chernitsky, the individual they had been tracking via CCTV from Oxford Parkway station back at Slough House. The familiarity of his features only intensified her curiosity.

Intrigued by the unfolding drama, Y/N swiftly zoomed in, discreetly trying to capture every detail of the argument that had seemingly spilled over into the peaceful ambiance of the pond.

However, her covert operation took an unexpected turn when the lady abruptly glanced in her direction, making eye contact through the lens. Panic surged through Y/N as she quickly pulled the camera away from her face for a moment. Acting quickly, she subtly adjusted and lifted her camera, pretending to capture different shots, all the while discreetly observing the heated argument between the frazzled blonde and the imposing bald man.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the man beginning to approach her with a determined stride.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit," Y/N whispered under her breath, pretending to be oblivious of his presence as he approached.

"What do you think you're doing, huh? Filming us?" The man barked, his voice rising.

Maintaining composure, Y/N calmly replied, "No, no. I'm just taking photos of the village. I'm a photojournalist."

"Bullshit! I saw you pointing that thing right at us," He retorted, his tone escalating. Y/N was startled at the sudden intensity, relieved they were alone in this secluded spot so no one else could witness the interaction and arouse suspicion.

Amid his yelling, she couldn't help but notice his pronounced Russian accent, almost confirming her suspicious further that this man was the one they were sent to find. Inhaling deeply, she worked to stay composed, making a mental note to report this back to Lamb as soon as she was given the chance.

"Show me what you've got on that camera!" He pointed a finger in her direction.

Y/N hesitated for a moment, weighing her options. She couldn't blow her cover, but giving away the SD card wasn't ideal either. With a subtle sigh, she handed the camera over to the man, knowing she didn’t have anything to hide on there.

“Look, I'm not trying to cause any trouble. It's just pictures of the village, I promise," She said, trying to reason with him.

She heard him sneer as he began to go through her camera, “We’ll see about that.”

Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes and deck the guy right there and then, she maintained her composure and let out a sigh.

"Look, I'm a photographer. I'm here with my fiancé, who's working on a piece about village life. He's a journalist, we both work for The Times," She explained, ensuring her words flowed naturally and didn't sound rehearsed.

He quickly scanned through the photos, his stern expression gradually transforming into one of confusion as he found nothing that would raise any suspicion. All the photos were of the village, just as she had said. She maintained her innocent in the moment, concealing the anxiety that threatened to surface.

The man grumbled, “Yeah well, you better watch where you point that thing next time.”

"Apologies," Y/N murmured, retrieving her camera from his outstretched hand before he pushed past her, stalking away.

She took a moment to regain herself after he had walked away. The unexpected confrontation had rattled her nerves slightly, but her determination remained steadfast. Casually peering over her shoulder, she noticed the man rejoining the lady from earlier, who shot her a pointed look, sparking Y/N's suspicion further. Without hesitation, she turned on her heels and headed back to the pub. Once she felt like she was at a safe distance, she pulled out her phone and dialled Jonathan's number.

Holding the phone to her ear, she sighed as it went straight to voicemail.

"Hey, you've reached Jonathon Walker. I can't make it to the phone right now, but leave your name and number, and I'll get back to you."

BEEP

"It's me. Call me when you get this; something's happened," She said before hanging up, glancing around once more before resuming her walk back to the pub.

©𝙇𝙄𝙇𝘼𝘾𝙎𝙉𝙄𝘿

4528 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨

#jack lowden x reader #river cartwright x reader #apple tv #jack lowden #river x reader #slow horses fanfiction #river cartwright

59 notes · View notes

lilacsnid · 3 months

Text

𝙇𝙄𝙇𝘼𝘾 𝙒𝙍𝙄𝙏𝙀𝙎 𝙈𝘼𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙇𝙄𝙎𝙏

𝙎𝙇𝙊𝙒 𝙃𝙊𝙍𝙎𝙀𝙎 → 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐦 | 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘹 𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 (4.1k words)

𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 | 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘹 𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 (5.8k words)

𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐈𝐧 𝐔𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐭 | 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘹 𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 (10k+ words)

✗ 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙊𝙣𝙚 ✗ 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙏𝙬𝙤

𝘿𝙐𝙉𝙆𝙄𝙍𝙆 → 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐫 | 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘹 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳

𝙎𝙐𝙈𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙔: Amongst the chaos of World War II breaking out, 23 year old Charlotte Brooks was desperate to be of use to her country. Fresh out of training, she is sent to the coast of France to work in a British base field hospital. It soon becomes clear that no amount of training could have prepared her for the traumatic sights she would see. One night, the hospital receives a convoy of trauma patients, soldiers who have been brutally injured while fighting on the front line. That night, an RAF pilot is taken into her care and it seems that she ends up finding love where she didn't go searching for it.

COMING SOON ✔︎

#jack lowden #river cartwright x reader #river cartwright #jack lowden x reader #slow horses #river x reader #jack lowden imagine #collins dunkirk #collins x reader #slow horses fanfiction #masterlist #river cartwright imagine #apple tv

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noforkingclue · 2 months

Text

I’m slightly tipsy so have some possible future River Cartwright fic ideas!

1. You’re stuck sorting through rubbish after failing the wrong person. You had gone off of intel that River had given you but Lamb still blamed you. River, feeling guilty, offered to hell you sort through it. The two of you go through the rubbish late into the night and still have to tidy up so you put in the radio to entertain you and the two of you have some drinks. It ends with the both of you drunkenly singing and hoping that Roddy hadn’t installed cameras in the office.

And now for some angst!

2. It’s late at night and you hear a knocking on your door. At first you thought it’s your imagination but when you hear it again you slowly approach the door. After peaking through the eyehole you see a beaten up (and pathetic looking) River at your door and immediately open it. You spend the rest of the evening patching him up. You ask him why he came to you and he doesn’t answer. When you move to get clean water River grabs your hand. Eventually he says “because I know I can trust you.”

Sorry, I just love this pathetic spook so much

#slow horses #river cartwright #river cartwright x reader

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noforkingclue · 18 days

Note

Bestieeeee! I want to answer your call for nsfw requests and you just told me some of the prompts on the lists you shared had given you River Cartwright Thots 🤭

So, I’m not here to request a prompt of my choice, I want you to pick your favourite and just give yourself permission to go nuts with it. I cannot wait to read what you create for our boy!

My only request would be that you lean into that car scene dom energy cos daaaamn 🥵

Have fun! xx

Mate, giving me free reign was a very bad idea and I had to limit myself to a max of two prompts even though more were calling to me!

I had way too much fun with this and I hope you like it :D

Title: Beg

Slow Horses tag list: @cillmequick

Your eyes are already saying yes, now I just need your mouth to tell me the same.

I told you, you would eventually start begging.

Warnings: NSFW

Prompt list: link

You drummed your fingers against the bar and looked down at your empty glass. You tried to get the bartender's attention but he was occupied elsewhere. You gritted your teeth in annoyance and you took a deep breath to try and calm down. It had been a rough week and all you wanted was some strong drinks and to relax.

“Long time no see.”

You stiffened at the familiar voice. Your hand clenched around your glass and you looked around for a way to escape but the bar was too crowded. River pressed his body against yours, trapping you against the bar. With how busy it was it could easily be seen as a harmless action. Too many people in too small of a space, people were bound to end up squeezed together. However, you knew River better than that.

“What do you want?” You asked

“You’ve been avoiding me,” River said quietly, leaning down to brush his lips against your ear

“Can you blame me?”

“You left in the middle of the night.”

“You’ve done that before. Besides, I had an early start.”

“You also left The Service.”

“How did you find that out?”

“I have my ways. I just want you to confirm it.”

“That’s… correct.”

“Where are you working now?”

“You don’t have clearance for that.”

“Ah,” you could hear the smile in River’s voice, “Six.”

Fuck.

Luckily you were distracted by the bartender finally coming over to you and taking your order. You took a large swig of your drink, hoping that it would distract you from River. You had no such luck.

“And here I thought you’d be buying me a drink.” Said River

“Would it get rid of you?”

“No.”

“Then what’s the point?”

“You weren’t always so… hostile to my attention.”

“Things change.”

“Not that much. You going home with anyone?”

“Is that any of your business?”

Rivers lips trailed against your neck. You swallowed thickly at the sensation, resisting the urge to lean back against him. You could feel River smirk against your neck.

Bastard.

“I’ll be outside,” he said, “ten minutes. Don’t make me come in and find you.”

You didn’t know you had been holding your breath until River had left. You glared at the door before turning your attention back to your drink. You aren’t going to let him win. Not this time. No. You are going to savour this drink and then the next and then the next one after that.

Fuck River Cartwright.

But not literally.

You didn’t know what time it was when you finally left the bar. You were pleasantly buzzed but not as drunk as you would’ve liked to have been. You still wanted to keep your wits about you after running into River. You glanced around but could see River or his car. Then again things aren’t always what they seemed. River, the bastard, had genuinely been good at tracking people.

You took a deep breath to calm your nerves and you finally began your walk home. You kept mainly to the shadows, glancing over your shoulder every so often. Your keys were held firmly between your fingers. It wasn’t a long walk back to your flat but you were still expecting River to pop out at any moment. You let out a sigh of relief when you finally saw your building. When you were finally in the safety of your flat you rested your head against the door.

Finally.

Now you could get some well deserved sleep and forget about your run in with Cartwright.

A creak behind you had your eyes fly open. You tried to turn around but your intruder was quicker. You were pressed, chest first, against your door. Strong hands gripped your wrists and pushed them beside your head.

“I thought I told you ten minutes.” Said River

“And I thought I made it perfectly clear that wasn’t going to happen.”

You let out a yelp as you were suddenly turned around. River pinned your body against the door with his, his grip still firmly around your wrists. You glared up at him, determined not to let him win this battle. River’s expression was giving nothing away but you could tell from his body that he was just as turned on as you.

“Been awhile then, Cartwright?” You asked teasingly

River didn’t take the bait. His lips grazed against your and you tried to pull away. However, you weren’t able to get anywhere with the door blocking your escape. You let out a whine of frustration and River let out a breathy laugh at the sound. He moved both of your wrists to one hand and the other trailing up your thigh. You cursed yourself for wearing a short dress as his fingers skimmed against your underwear.

“Very fucking funny,” he said, “but from what it feels like it seems that you’re the one desperate for me.”

You let out a choked gasp as two fingers roughly entered you. Your head fell against his chest and River let go out your wrists. Your arms fell limply over his shoulders and you said weakly,

“We shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Why not.”

“Because,” you bit your lip to stifle a loan, “if Lamb found out-“

“Y/n,” River interrupted, “right now Lamb is the last person I want to think about.”

Your hips bucked against his hand as his thumb swirled against your clit. River's other hand grasped your chin and forced you to look up at him.

“You want this.” He said

“River…”

“Your eyes are already saying yes, now I just need your mouth to tell me the same.”

“We shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Why? Because I’m a slow horse and you’re now Six?”

“Because-“

Another moan cut you off. Your hands curled against River’s shirt and you tried to glare up at him. You hated how vulnerable he made you feel. River just raised his eyebrows.

“Tell me you need this,” he said, “tell me.”

His fingers stopped moving and you let out a frustrated moan. You tried to move your hips but any movement you made just made River pull out his fingers.

“No,” he said, “I need to hear you say it y/n. Tell me to continue. Tell me you need me.”

“River,” you bucked your hips once more, “continue.”

“Then beg.”

“Wh… what?”

“Beg,” River nipped at your neck, “I want to hear you beg.”

“Never.”

“Never?”

“Going deaf, Cartwright.”

“Hmm,” River looked you up and down, “that’ll change.”

“Unlikely.”

You let out a yelp as River lifted you into his arms. You flung your arms around his neck, uncertain about if he’d drop you or not (he had done so in the past and you hadn’t let him forget about it). River just looked down at you before pressing his lips against yours. You tangled your fingers in his hair as you kicked off your heels. You heard them clatter away but you didn’t care. When River finally broke the kiss the two of you were panting for air.

“Just like old times.” Said river

“Yeah.”

“I’ve missed you.”

“I can tell.”

River carried you to your bedroom, depositing you in your bed. You had just propped yourself up in your elbows when River pinned you down. He looked down at you and said,

“One last chance.”

“I’m not going to beg.”

“I won’t go easy on you. Beg and I will.”

“Never.”

River gave you one last almost pitying look (that you had the sudden urge to smack off his face) before pressing his lips roughly against yours. Your moans were swallowed by his lips and tried to pull your wrists free. However, River gave them a warning squeeze.

“I warned you,” he said against your lips, “unless you want to give in.”

“Not fucking likely.”

“Good.”

Finally River let go of your wrists. You wrapped them around his shoulders and tried to pull him down for another kiss but he just gave you a warning look. He trailed feather light touches up your thighs before he finally reached your underwear. He sat back and pulled them off, tossing them over his shoulder.

“Still so beautiful,” he said kneeling down and pressing his cheek against your thigh, “so fucking beautiful and all for me.”

He blew on you and you gasped, tangling your fingers in his hair.

“River…”

“Hmm?”

He bit the inside of your thigh and inserted his index and middle finger. He looked and winked at you as he slowly pumped his fingers in and out. Achingly slow and not enough friction to give you the release you so desperately needed.

“Love,” that damned name that turned your insides to fucking jelly, “you know what you need to do.”

“River…” your voice had a pleading edge that you hated and River was the only one able to pull from you

“Say it,” River’s fingers stopped moving, “I need to hear you say it.”

“Please.”

“Please?”

“Please fuck me. I…”

“Yes.” River’s voice was quiet, barely above a whisper

“I need it. I need you.”

River let out a groan and he removed his fingers. You cried out at the loss of feeling full and narrowed your eyes and River who just licked his fingers. Fuck, that shouldn’t have been so hot. He sat back and hurriedly pulled off his shirt. You sat up and practically yanked off your dress, tossing it to the side, not caring where it landed. You laid back down, wishing that River would hurry the fuck up. There was a rustling of clothes and you groaned as you felt him press against you.

“Everything still ok?” he muttered against your lips

“Yes.”

“You still want this?”

“Fuck yes.”

“Good,” he pressed his forehead against yours, “good.”

You gasped when River finally entered you. You wrapped your arms around him, digging your nails into his back. River moaned at the sensation, his thrusts briefly stopping for a moment.

“Fuck,” he gasped, “y/n…”

“River.”

You buried your face against his shoulder.

“I lo-”

You quickly bite his shoulder, stopping yourself from finishing that most dangerous sentence. You didn’t notice River’s expression at the sentence that almost was. He felt himself getting close and reached down between your thighs about rubbed circles against your clit. You gasped and River felt you clench around him.

“I’m close.” he muttered softly

“I…”

“Come for me.”

You let out a final groan, wrapped your legs around him and you came. River didn’t last much longer, spilling inside of you. The two of you stayed entwined for a moment before you unwrapped your legs and River rolled off of you. He wrapped an arm around you and pulled you against his chest. A heavy silence settled around you and you pressed your face in his chest.

“So,” he said at last, “what you were going to say earlier-”

“No,” you interrupted, “don’t ruin the moment.”

“I didn’t know we were having one.”

“This,” you raised your head slightly,, “was just another fuck.. Nothing’s changed from before.”

“Besides the fact that you now work at Six.”

“Service is Service. Doesn’t matter if it’s Five or Six.”

“Right.”

You lowered your head back down and closed your eyes. River rubbed circles against your shoulder and you felt your slowly drifting off to sleep. It had been too long since you had slept with anyone. You hadn’t shared your bed with anyone since you had left Five. It didn’t seem right. It wasn’t as though you and River were anything official. It was just a casual thing. A quick fuck to relieve tension. You weren’t meant to develop feelings, especially since River clearly didn’t feel the same.

“Hey y/n?”

You grunted as River’s voice dragged you out of your blissful slumber.

“What now Cartwright?”

River leant down, his lips grazing against your cheek.

“I told you,” he said teasing, “you would eventually start begging.”

Your eyes shot open and you sat up glaring at him. River looked down at you, rubbing circles against your shoulder, and you jabbed him on the chest.

“Fuck you.” you said

“I think I just did that.”

#fanfiction #slow horses #reader insert #request #river cartwright #river cartwright x reader

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