#Lucas North x OC

[fizzyxcustard]

Covert Eyes (23)

Prologue| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6| Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22

Masterlist of fan fiction

Fandom: Spooks

Pairings: Lucas North x OC (Amy Holland)

Warnings: Stalking behaviour, anxiety, language, sexual references, angst, smut, heartbreak, gunshot wounds and recovery, abduction, hostage situation.

Summary: Lucas takes notice of a young woman, Amy, but his obsession and want to get to know her begin to spiral out of control. Amy is now working for MI-5, after being recruited by Ros. But will her involvement with Lucas cause even more problems and heartbreak?

When Amy's parents get involved, how will things pan out for Amy and Lucas?

Official soundtrack list:  here

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People who don't interact with my fics over a few months will be removed from tag lists.

Bright light burst into the room and the familiar voices of Ros and Jo broke through the shroud of silence that had formed in the room. Halos around their heads. Amy winced against the light…. 

As Amy lay in bed, waking, she saw Lucas’ outline, his form haloed by a bright light. He was in the doorway. Every time he stood in the doorway, the room dark, with only light from the hallway behind him, it took her back. It felt as if she were time travelling back to her time locked away with nothing by Simon Caulfield’s slimy words for company. 

Lucas limped into the room. She could hear his shouts in her mind as Simon Caulfield had put a bullet in his thigh merely seconds before Ros and Jo saved them. Then once they had both been released, Amy and Lucas had been in hospital overnight. They had been given their own private room due to the nature of their reasoning for being in hospital. 

Harry had given them both time off to recuperate, and offered counselling. Lucas, as he had done many times, politely rejected Harry’s offer. However, Amy knew that she would probably find herself fighting against the memories for some time. 

Lucas got into bed beside Amy, and studied her for a moment. There were dark circles beneath her eyes, but gradually they had begun to fade and the light in her eyes was starting to reappear. 

Amy curled her arm around his head, her fingers sifting through his short hair. He was literally her everything. 

***

Richard Holland held a small package in his hand, thinking back on the postman’s words that it had been sent first class but accidentally got lost at the depot, so was a week late. He ripped open the thick envelope finding a small stack of papers inside. On the top was a note, written in capital letters. 

RICHARD AND SHARON HOLLAND, 

THE ENCLOSED PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PROOF THAT LUCAS NORTH IS NOT WHO HE APPEARS TO BE. YOUR DAUGHTER IS IN DANGER. 

Richard felt his whole body grow cold at the sight of photos of Amy bound to a chair and blindfolded. Then further photographs showed Amy lying on the pavement in a pool of her own blood, next to another woman also shot. With Lucas standing over both of them, a gun in his hand. 

***

Amy and Lucas were still off work when the phone call came. Lucas was sat on the sofa with a mug of coffee, flicking through the channels, rolling his eyes at how shit day time TV was. Amy had been cleaning the kitchen; mundane tasks were enough to take her mind away from the thoughts of Simon Caulfield. The pain in her neck and back was fading day by day, but still enough to cause her grief and keep up a steady dose of painkillers. 

“Dad?” Amy asked. “Everything okay?” Amy sat down at the kitchen table and sighed, wincing at sharp stab of pain which shot through her neck. 

“I’m coming to fetch you, Amy. You’re not to stay with that bastard any longer!” Richard Holland demanded. “Your mum knew there was something behind the shooter; I know she was involved with Lucas. And I know you were took hostage last week.”

A rod of ice shot down Amy’s back and her heart raced in her chest. “D…Dad….what’s happened?” 

“I’m coming to London to get you. He better not be there when I come because I’ll kill the bastard!” Richard seethed. 

“Dad, please, stop it.” 

“No, I won’t stop it, Amy. I am not prepared to let him do this to you. It’s a good job your mum is at work and hasn’t seen the photos. I won’t let her see them.” 

“Who sent you the photos?” 

“It doesn’t matter who sent them. I’m coming to get you. Pack some things.” 

“Dad…please….”

Lucas could hear Amy’s pleas and hobbled into the kitchen. “Aim, what’s going on?” 

Richard growled down the phone line. “Trying to play the protector now, is he? He can fuck himself. He’d better not be there when I come and get you because I really will kill him…” 

Amy was weeping as her father disconnected the call. She held the phone in her shaking hand, until it finally fell from her grasp and hit the floor. “Dad knows!” she sobbed. “He’s got photos of me from last week and when I was shot. He’s coming to take me back to Coventry. I can’t leave.” 

Lucas’ breath caught in his throat. Everything he loved was slipping away, and for a few seconds he tried to grapple with some kind of rational thought. He knew he couldn’t fight this one; Amy’s father was right. Despite having not heard Richard’s side of the conversation, Lucas knew he was doing the right thing. Amy had to be safe. 

Amy dashed at Lucas, grabbing his shirt. She could see in his face that he was admitting defeat. 

“You need to go with him, Aim. They can keep you safe: I can’t,” Lucas said, his voice breaking. “I love you too much to let you keep being hurt. He’s doing this because he loves you, Amy. He fucking loves you…and so do I.” His voice finally broke. Tears fell down Lucas’ cheeks and he took Amy into his arms, holding her tight. “Go with him, angel. I can’t keep you safe anymore.” 

“You can,” Amy wept, looking up at him. “I want to be with you, Lucas. More than anything. Don’t push me away.” 

“I’m not pushing you away because I want to. Fuck. Can’t you see that? It’s because I love you more than anything that I’m doing this.” 

“If I do go, I’ll come back,” Amy argued. “They can’t make me stay.” 

Lucas smiled through the tears. “You are the bravest person I’ve ever met.” 

The next two hours were crippling as Amy packed two suitcases full of clothing. Lucas watched her from the doorway, knowing that letting her go was the only way to keep her safe. Amy belonged with her family who could be the stability she needed. “I am coming back,” Amy said defiantly, stopping for a second with a pile of underclothes in her hands. “I don’t intend on staying there for long.” 

“You’ll stay as long as you need to.” 

“I’m only doing this to please you and Dad for now, but I’ll be coming back,” Amy countered. She approached Lucas and lifted her hand, cupping his cheek. He kissed her palm, turning into her touch. Then suddenly he kissed her hard, catching her off guard. Heat mounted so high between them and within seconds, Lucas’ lips were trailing down Amy’s throat. 

They made love on the bed. It was like the very first time they had made love: intense, passionate, full of want. As Lucas came and then rested his head on her chest, he whispered, “I need to let you go.” 

“Lucas, no!” Amy whimpered. “Don’t you dare!”

Lucas got up from the bed, untangling himself from her and re-buttoned his shirt, and then pulled his jeans up, re-buckling his belt. 

“When we got back together, I should have known I wouldn’t be worth it,” Amy growled. “I’m never worth it, am I?” 

“You are worth everything!” Lucas shot back. His eyes were wide and his whole face was contorted in anger and frustration. “How the fuck can you say you’re not worth it? I’m doing this because I love you. I should have known better than ever bring you into any of this. I should have stayed away when I first saw you.” 

Amy choked as she heard those words and dropped to the bed. “You regret me….” 

“I would never regret you. I only regret that I caused you so much pain. Your dad won’t be too much longer, I don’t think.” He looked at the clock; Coventry was about a three hour drive away from London. It was now just after one in the afternoon and Richard had called at eleven. “Go with your dad. You are loved so much more than you could ever imagine. By all of us.” 

Lucas walked out of the room and picked up his keys in the hallway. 

Amy followed on behind, calling after him. 

Before Lucas left the flat, he kissed Amy hard one last time. “I adore you so much,” he choked. “Be happy, angel, but more important, be safe.” 

Amy sobbed on the doorstep as Lucas left. She watched his form walk down the hallway and out the main door into the street. Pain was ripping her so raw inside and in her own mind she knew that she could never give up on Lucas North completely. No matter what happened and what evil things were thrown at them. Their love would be stronger than any of it. 

***

Amy sat in her dad’s car as they drove back to Coventry. There was only silence and the gentle sway of the car as it swept along the motorway. Until Richard broke open the silence. “Fancy a coffee?” 

“Okay,” Amy whispered, her voice so hoarse after sobbing. Her cheeks were still vivid red and her eyes full of unshed tears. They threatened to fall at any moment. Just her dad’s kindness and soft voice made her want to cry all over again. Of course he was only protecting her; that had never been in dispute. That was all he and Lucas were doing. 

Richard slipped out of the car and headed into a Costa at a motorway service station. Rain was beginning to spit as dark clouds began to move in. Amy stared out of the window, her focus glued to the spot in front of her where a family were getting into their car. A dark haired man, accompanied by a blonde woman. A toddler and an older child, who looked to be around ten. They looked happy. 

The sound of the driver door opening snapped Amy back to reality and made her jump. Richard noticed his daughter’s shock and smiled sadly at her. “Here you go, love,” he said, offering her a large latte. “Extra shot of caramel.” Then he winked. 

As Richard started the engine, he sighed. “I’m sorry, Amy,” he said. “I’m only doing this for your good; you know that, don’t you? I know you love Lucas. But being with him is going to put you at risk.” 

“I know, Dad,” Amy said, her voice quiet. “I know you’re doing this to help me and because you love me.” 

“You might be a grown woman, but your mum and I would do anything for you, you know that. We want you safe. No matter how old your children get, your responsibility for them never stops.” 

The car was still stationary as Richard glanced across at Amy’s hands in her lap, and he noticed something dark around her wrist as her jumper sleeve had ridden up her arm. “Fucking hell,” he whispered. “Your wrists.” 

***

Lucas slammed the flat door as he walked back inside, knowing Amy would be gone by now. The silence was deafening, and a gasp came from the very back of his throat. She’d gone. Her room was tidy, but her diary from her bedside table was gone, along with her slippers and most of the toiletries from the bathroom. He opened her wardrobe, just to feel the pain of her departure even more. There were barely any clothes left. 

In the kitchen and Lucas slumped down on the floor, feeling the cold of tiles against his backside and thighs. Pain from the bullet wound shot down his leg, but he didn’t care. The pain couldn’t compare to that of letting Amy go. He pulled his phone from his jeans pocket and looked at the photo of them on his lock screen. She was his everything. Though the pain was excruciating, her very presence in his life had helped him to feel once more. All of the emotional and mental numbness he had felt since coming home from Russia, had been burned away by Amy Holland. She made him feel happiness, contentment, love, pleasure. But also pain. Pain seemed to be a constant in his life now, a permanent friend. 

***

Amy stepped into her parents’ house, feeling the wave of familiarity rush through her. The smell of a home she had left many years ago – it was still exactly the same. It hadn’t been that long since she and Lucas had been visiting for new year, but this was different. Today marked the day she would be staying for longer. Maybe until all of this blew over, and then she could be with Lucas again. So she hoped. 

“Your mum isn’t home yet, but I’ve burned the photos. I can’t let her see those. What happened, Amy? The truth, please,” Richard asked, his voice was low but firm. He had never been a demanding man, instead always being gentle with his daughters. But today had shown Amy just how fierce he really could be. “You know who sent those images, don’t you?” 

“It’s all secret information…”

“No, Amy! I won’t have that shit,” Richard growled. “Tell me. I don’t care if it’s top secret and a risk to national security, or whatever, you’re my daughter and I deserve to know what happened to you.” 

Amy stood in the kitchen and looked up at her dad who was waiting for an answer. He had his arms folded and his face was set in a straight expression. 

“The woman who shot me was Lucas’ ex and a CIA agent. She faked her death because she killed her boss and went on the run. Then she must have found out about me and Lucas, and tried to make me think he wasn’t really in love with me. And she collared us outside the café that morning and went to shoot Lucas, but I stopped her. And Lucas killed her.” 

Richard sighed and held his hand to his mouth. “Fucking hell, Amy.” 

“It was Sarah’s brother who took me hostage, wanting to get revenge on him. Apparently, the accomplice of Simon Caulfield was Sarah’s ex-husband; I was told that in the hospital. They went rogue together to get revenge on Lucas.” 

“And you were still prepared to stay with him after all this?” Richard asked, his eyes wide. 

“I love him,” Amy replied softly. Tears were falling down her cheeks again. “I’ve never loved anyone else like this, and he actually loves me back. For so long I never felt I’d ever find a man who could love me...”

“Oh, love,” Richard sighed. He took Amy into his arms and held her tight as she wept on him. Through tears, Richard looked up at the ceiling, asking in prayer for the strength to be what his daughter needed. 

Once Sharon was home from work, Richard explained the whole story to his wife. 

“Where are the photos, Rich?” Sharon asked. Her dark eyes were wide with shock and her hands were shaking. 

Amy was sat at the other end of the table, feeling as though her whole body was closed off. She hung her head, feeling ashamed of everything that had occurred. 

“It doesn’t matter about the photos. I got rid of them. I wasn’t letting you see them,” Richard replied. 

Sharon walked towards her daughter. She was slow and deliberate, and her gaze was locked on her daughter’s arms. Her skin was concealed by a thick jumper. Sharon leaned down and gently pushed the sleeve up on Amy’s left arm. “Oh, God,” she gasped, seeing black and purple bruising around Amy’s wrist. 

***

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#Lucas North #Richard Armitage #Spooks #MI5 #Lucas North x OC #Original Female Character #Fanfiction

[linasofia]

The Assignment

Armitage Summer Splash #1

Trope: Enemies to lovers

Quote: “Did we make a mistake?”

Relationship: Lucas North x OC Lovisa

Warnings: 18+

Words: 3K

A/N: My first contribution to Armitage Summer Splash. Thanks @lathalea & @fizzyxcustard for creating this event! 💙☀️💦

…

Lucas sighed deeply and checked his watch again. A frown spread on his face. He hated waiting and maybe his impatient nature was a hindrance in his career, considering his profession. As he took a sip of water from the bottle in his hand, he rested his head against the headrest of the rented and much too luxurious car he was seated in. How people could spend so much money on a car was both indecent and beyond his understanding of the world, but then he reminded himself that for tonight, he was supposed to act like that part of the world was his as well.

When Harry had suggested the undercover attendance at one of the most spectacular parties of the year, Lucas had just laughed. It sounded like something coming from a movie but when he was briefed about the details, especially the guest list, he realized this could be a great chance to have a closer look at one of the more interesting, both financially and character-wise, members in a loosely connected group of businessmen all claiming they had no interests in arms dealing but all secretly supported one of the largests trader in the country, one who never mixed business with emotions, never asked for the purpose behind the devastating weapons he sold to the highest bidder. The only shadow resting over this operation was that Lucas could not pick his own partner. Harry had been very persistent about who it had to be, despite Lucas’ attempts to dodge the issue and go alone. Apparently, he needed a date, someone who would gracefully follow him, glued to his arm, speak little but smile a lot and as the night would go on, discreetly excuse herself and then secretly report every detail back to Harry. She was the reason he was now dressed in a tuxedo and seated outside a small townhouse. Its walls were painted white a low iron fence surrounded the building. And he was waiting… for her.

Lovisa was the newest addition to their tight little team. She was far from a newcomer but their roads had not crossed before she joined almost four months ago. Except for the usual background information and standard protocol briefing, Lucas got the impression that Lovisa did not want to share too much of her personal information and he eventually gave up trying. When she joined, it quickly became clear that she was a smart, hard working, and devoted woman. She seemed to always know exactly what to say and do, to the point of Lucas wondering sometimes if she was human. During meetings she would watch him so intensively with her big brown eyes as he spoke, that something stirred inside him as if he was a mere teenager again and not a grown man, capable of facing any danger to defend his country. He did not like it. She was so professional that it disturbed him, but what really bothered Lucas was the rumor that she was after the job ofs the Section Chief. So was he. And Harry liked her, possibly too much. As the weeks went by, and no new Section Chief was announced after the tragic incident leading to Ros’ death, Lucas started to doubt his own chances. He secretly blamed Lovisa, convinced that if she had not been in the picture, the job would have already been offered to him. But his inner conflict confused him. A part of him didn’t want her gone either.

A silent knock on the window made him almost jump in his seat. He growled but forced a smile on his face as she opened the door to the car and slid down into the exclusive leather seat. The faint scent of her perfume filled the car and he found it strangely arousing. It was a sensual fragrance, rich but not heavy and it matched perfectly with the outfit. Her red dress hugged her body shamelessly and it had a deep cut that only could be described as very generous. Lucas tried not to look too much at the bare skin as the high slits exposed much more of her thighs than was acceptable during working hours. Lovisa was a very attractive woman, but she never tried to use it to her advantage and it caused him to feel more respect for her as a person. She turned to him and caught him staring. He quickly averted his gaze, looked at the rear mirror and rolled out on the street, completely missing the satisfied smile she tried to hide.

The party was extravagant. Champagne flooded along with stronger drinks, the food was exquisite and somehow Lucas and Lovisa managed to deliver their well-rehearsed story over and over again as they shook hands, toasted and mingled. Not that Lovisa needed to open her mouth much. The party was filled to the brim with self-absorbed men with huge egos. The deeper the sun rested in the horizon, the less discrete some looks became and the tighter her grip on Lucas’ arm grew. He could tell she was uncomfortable and in an attempt to lighten the mood for both of them, he made a bold suggestion.

”Would you like to dance?”

She smiled back at him.

”Dance on duty? Of course!” Her eyes sparkled as she placed one hand on his shoulder and when he closed his long fingers around her other hand, he became aware of how delicate it was. He pulled her closer to him and let the music take them on an unexpected path. Lucas knew he could lead a woman in dance but it had been so long since he last had the opportunity. The job rarely gave room for that kind of activity and his private time was limited. To his surprise, Lovisa seemed to enjoy dancing equally as much as he and she followed his every move with effortless grace.

”You are a good dancer and a good partner,” she whispered as the music silenced for a few seconds as the small orchestra took a collective deep breath before continuing playing its seductive tones. ”I never would have guessed.”

A sweet smile danced over her lips and Lucas found himself looking at them.

”I think we are being watched,” she then said.

”By whom?”

”I don’t know who he is. I have never seen him before. He could be nobody or someone very important.”

”It’s your dress,” Lucas replied but as he slowly spun her around he searched for the description she whispered in his ear. Her breath fanned against his skin and he instinctively tightened his grip on her. She gave a soft laugh.

”I doubt that. But thank you for the very well covered compliment.” He did not miss the teasing tone in her voice as she added, ”Do you trust me enough to give me a kiss? Pretend that you’re very attracted to me. We need to blend in more since you have spent the evening claiming that I am yours.”

Lucas swallowed hard but gave her a discrete nod. He did not expect it to go so far. But he had no problems with faking the attraction. No matter how much he tried to deny it, he was drawn to her, against better judgement. Suddenly, he was glad they had skipped the usual communication equipment. Kissing her as a professional colleague would be difficult enough, he did not need the voice of their boss in his ear as he did so. Lovisa moved her hand from his shoulder to his neck as a signal of their agreement and he pulled their joined hands to his chest. Her lips were soft when they met his and the kiss quickly grew deeper than they both had thought. It seemed like none of them was ready to break the seal of passion that suddenly bursted between them. When Lovisa finally broke the kiss, she had a look in her eyes he had never seen before.

”What was that?” Her voice sounded not really as it used to and he stroked away the lock of hair which fell down on her cheek.

”I clearly remember you suggested a kiss and I think we were convincing in our performance.”

She nodded slowly and moved her hand back to rest on his shoulder. Lucas did not loosen his grip on her waist. Somehow it felt right, holding her like this and his mind quickly agreed with his body that it was good to proceed on this path. They continued dancing, then left the dancefloor as the tempo of the music changed again. Lucas was not in the mood for a seductive tango, he needed to keep his head clear if he was going to register any movements in the room except for the teasing moves of Lovisa’s hips. He walked by her side to the bar, holding a hand on the small of her back, just as he would if they were a real couple. Lovisa ordered champagne and Lucas accepted only because he needed something to hold on to. Something that was not the soft skin of her hands, nor the silky dress that he knew he would fantasize about later that night. He could not help himself. He knew he was unprofessional but when she looked at him over the edge of her glass, a wave of need washed over him.

The evening became night before Lucas and Lovisa finally decided that the man they hoped to see most likely was never going to show up. It was late and time had come to abort their operation. When they sat down in the car, Lucas in the driver’s seat and Lovisa next to him, barefoot as she kicked off her high heels as soon as she could, Lucas muttered something about missed opportunities and waste of valuable time on the field. Lovisa said nothing, but rested and looked absent as he glanced over to her. She seemed deep in her thoughts and he knew better than to disturb her. They drove in peaceful silence to her house and when he parked outside she seemed to hesitate.

”I know this was work, but I had a great time tonight, Lucas. Thank you. You made it easy for me.”

”It was different… but fun.” Lucas could feel the tension in the air as he responded.

She slowly bent over to his side and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. Then lingered like she wanted to say something more. The same hand which carefully caressed his neck earlier that evening now rested on the car’s handle. At that moment Lucas realized that he would never have the same opportunity again. He had to know if she felt the same loaded feelings as he did. He slowly raised his hand, caught her chin between his thumb and index finger, and when she did not push him away, he gently pulled her closer and bent over to kiss her. She kissed him back, but broke the kiss way too soon to his liking.

”Look,” she said, met his gaze and a dark shadow of insecurity fell over her beautiful face, ”I probably should not be asking this. But do you want to come inside?”

Lucas kissed her again, giving a silent answer to her question and when he stepped out of the car and took a deep breath of the still warm late night air, he could feel his pulse increasing.

The hall was rather narrow but it mattered nothing to Lucas as he pulled Lovisa into his arms as soon as she locked the door behind them. Their kiss grew impatient, heated and without any of them really understanding how they got there, they both laid in her bed, naked and entangled in her sheets. Lovisa moaned longingly when Lucas trapped her under the weight of his body and kissed the soft skin on her neck. His rough stubble seemed to titillate her and she tightened her grip around his neck as he kissed his way over her shoulder and down her arm. She smelled so feminine with her sensual perfume and the unique scent that was only hers. The combination went straight to his head and his arousal soon raged in his body like a firestorm, leaving the throbbing hardness of his shaft almost painful. He needed her and, to his surprise, his usually self-composed colleague was just as eager as he was. Lovisa whimpered as he teasingly rubbed himself against her folds and he could feel how ready she was for him. She really was a remarkable woman in all the ways he could think of. With a tender gesture, Lucas ran his fingers over the soft brown locks framing her face and then kissed her again, catching her moans in his mouth as he pushed himself deep into her welcoming wetness. He could feel her body’s desperate attempts to adjust to his sudden penetration but the greatest reward was the look in her eyes. They exposed exactly what it did for her and in that moment she was the most stunning he had ever seen her. Her mouth tried to speak but he silenced her with his tongue as he kissed her deeply. With controlled movements of his hips he started to move inside her and her breaths changed with every thrust. Lucas felt almost high as he found the right rhythm, that very special dance that spoke her body’s language and its unique way made her tremble under him. They were both chasing the same thing, not holding back for a second and no room was left for teasing or playing. Completely lost in the passion between them, they embraced their orgasms as they came. Lovisa reached her blissful moment first and with a strangled sound falling from her lips, she pulled Lucas along with her. He collapsed beside her, then wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to him.

He caressed her back and let his hand rest on her soft and heated skin. None of them said a word, letting the feeling of their mutual climax sink in and Lovisa rested her head against Lucas’ heaving chest. It felt right holding her like this, basking in the warm afterglow of their lovemaking. He felt relaxed and happy.

Lovisa’s voice sounded sleepy as she asked the question he expected her to raise sooner or later, but did not want to answer himself. He wanted to savor this moment and not think about duties and work.

”Do you want to stay the night?”

He gave a deep sigh. ”I can’t. The car needs to stay in the garage, guarded by the uniforms tonight. It’s worth a small fortune and Harry would kill me if something happened to it tonight. Especially if it happened outside your house.”

Lovisa gave a low displeased groan. ”Ok, you’re probably right. It’s for the best. I don’t want to kick you out but I might fall asleep any second now.”

”I should go then,” he said and kissed her forehead. ”It was a long day. Rest. We’ll meet tomorrow and write the report together, ok?” She nodded.

Lucas dressed quickly while Lovisa watched him and when he was ready she rose from the bed and walked gloriously naked over to the hanger holding her robe and she pulled it around her slim body, to warm herself more than cover her body, as she walked with him to the door. Without finding the right words to say, he just gave her a quick kiss and stepped out into the dark night. She closed the door with a silent ”Good night.”

Thirty minutes later Lucas parked the car in the large, well secured and monitored garage. This monster of a car would be safe here. He could not deny that he liked the car, but again, it was very much above his pay grade.

His own car felt mediocre on the way home to his apartment. Its usual powerful engine seemed like nothing compared to what he just left behind. He patted the steering wheel as he turned off the engine and a chuckle escaped him. ”Don’t worry, I’ll keep you.”

When walking the short distance between the parking lot and the house he checked his phone. Nothing. He felt a sting of disappointment. Then he pushed that thought away. Lovisa said she was very tired and she had probably gone to sleep right after he left. But still. It did not take long for him to admit that he missed her company. And her body. That night he would go to sleep thinking not only of her dress, but also on what she hid under it. He smiled at the memory of her naked skin against his and the look on her face as he entered her. Before he turned off the little reading lamp by his bed he checked his phone again. Still nothing of interest. He growled at his own feelings and his brain tried to reason with him. Rest now, you’ll see her tomorrow.

Lucas woke with the unpleasant feeling that he fell asleep just minutes ago. He felt exhausted and hit the snooze button as the alarm filled his bedroom with its sharp tones. The second time the alarm rang, he sat up with a groan. He ran his hands through his hair and tried to get his brain and body to work together. He took his phone and a smile spread on his face as he saw Lovisa’s name on the display. He rubbed his eyes and opened the text. Suddenly Lucas was wide-awake. She sent it just minutes ago and the message made his stomach twist: Lucas, Don’t get me wrong, yesterday was great. You were great. But was this a wise move for us to make? I know, that you know, I’m interested in the same position as yourself. Harry will soon make a decision and on that day one of us will most likely be Section Chief and that will complicate this even further. Did we make a mistake?

***

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#armitage summer splash #lucas north #fanfiction #spooks #fanfic #lucas north fanfic #richard armitage #lucas north x oc

[middleearthpixie]

Inked

Armitage Summer Splash #19 ~ Still rolling along, thanks to @lathalea & @fizzyxcustard

Trope: Matching tattoos

Quote: “I can’t do this”

RA Character: Lucas North

Relationship: Lucas x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Thar be fluff ahead!

Rating: G

Word Count: 1,514

***

“I can’t do this.”

Lucas gave your hand a squeeze. “You don’t have to if you really don’t want to. I won’t hold it against you.”

You looked over at him. It seemed like such a good idea at the time. A little corny maybe, but matching tattoos seemed harmless enough when you and Lucas discussed it over a bottle of wine. It had even seemed like a good idea when you discussed it stone sober the next morning. But now? Now, you weren’t so sure. 

Your stomach knotted when you first set foot inside the studio. It was brightly lit, with teal colored walls adorned with all sorts of flash and pictures of clients with their new ink and heavy metal music played over the shop sound system. It wasn’t too loud, but loud enough to let you know you were totally out of your element. 

But Lou was friendly and put you at ease and as you waited for Lucas to go first, you thought I can do this. 

Well, Lucas was done now, the labyrinth on his inner left biceps now covered with an antibiotic film that looked like plastic wrap pressed tight over it. Some of the ink had already bled out, giving the image a distorted quality that belied the delicate linework of the piece.

It was your turn now and your ease evaporated and bit of apprehension sank it. The tattoo studio was clean enough, with a heavy sterile tang of Lysol hanging in the air, and all around you, tattoo guns whizzed and artists and clients chatted away, laughing over this and that, and loud enough that the artists all chimed in with whatever was being discussed without hesitation. Slipknot was playing on the studio’s sound system and Lou was waiting patiently for you to settle into his chair.

“I’m really sorry,” you said to him with a wince.

He winked, his blue eyes friendly as he shook his head and said, “Take all the time you need. It’s your first one and everyone’s a little scared with the first one. Hell, I get guys coming in here for their fiftieth who are nervous as fuck before they sit down. You’ll be fine.”

You stared at the black leather chair, and slowly sank into it. “Why did I agree to this?”

Lucas leaned over and brushed your ear with his lips. “You might have been drunk at the time.”

“And you’re holding me to it?”

“Didn’t I already tell you that you didn't have to go through with it if you really didn’t want to?”

You sighed. Tattoos were no big deal for Lucas. He had at least fifteen, so what was one more to him? But for you? This was your first and as you eased off your blue chambray work shirt to hold out your right arm, you said, “Let’d just do this, okay?”

Lou smiled. “If you’re sure.”

You nodded. “I am.”

Lucas sank onto the stool on your left hand side and slipped his hand beneath yours. His blue eyes softened as he met your gaze and said, “You’ve got this.”

“I hope so.”

Lou set the stencil on your arm, peeled the backing off, and said, “That look right?”

You peered down at the intricate maze of lines and nodded. “It’s fine, yeah.”

“Okay. Here we go.” He picked up the gun, dipped the needle into the small cup of black ink, and then went to work. You tensed as the needle touched you, but it didn’t hurt nearly as much as you thought it would. It felt like a scratch, really. 

At least, it did at first. Then the sting set in. You gritted your teeth, your hand tensing about Lucas’. You bit the inside of your cheek, let your eyes close, as Lou did the outline, then the subtle shading. Little by little, the sting worsened, your arm trembled, the muscle twitching of its own. You fought to ignore it even as you wished Lou would just finish already. 

“How are you holding up, love?” Lucas asked, his voice soft. 

“I am never doing this again,” you told him.

“You’re doing great,” Lou told you, pulling the gun away to carefully wipe away the excess ink. “You need a break? I’m about halfway done.”

Only halfway? You inwardly sighed even as you shook your head. “I’m good. Let’s just keep going.”

Lou smiled. “You got it. If you change your mind, just let me know.”

You nodded and looked over at Lucas, “We are definitely going out for a drink when I’m done.”

“Anywhere you want.” He winked. “You’ve earned it.”

Somehow, you managed to sit perfectly still as Lou finished up, but when the gun when quiet and he said, “Finis,” you exhaled with a nightly rush and went limp in the chair.

“Thank God!” you breathed, much to the amusement of both men. Then, you looked over at the design and for a moment, were rendered absolutely speechless. It was amazing, the line work perfect, and you didn’t expect your throat to tighten the way it did. He’d done a truly beautiful job.

You and Lucas had chosen the labyrinth because it symbolized the journey you’d taken to find one another. You’d been together years earlier, had broken up, and were only reunited on an assignment in New York a few months ago, and since then, everything had been going wonderful. But in the time it took you to find your way back to one another, you’d both gotten so very lost and in finding each other again, you each found exactly what was missing from your lives.

Lou rinsed the tattoo off, and then wrapped it in the same antibiotic plastic and Lucas smiled as he leaned over and pressed a kiss into the top of your head. “You ready to go? I’ve got a surprise for you.”

You eased from the chair, drew the work shirt back over your dark blue tank top, thanked Lou and went up front to pay. As you and Lucas stepped out onto Division Street and into the sticky warmth of a July evening, you said, “I’m not so sure I can handle any surprises right now. I kind of just want that drink.”

“We’ll go get that drink in just a few minutes, promise. Trust me, love. You’ll like this. It’s good surprise.”

“If you say so.” You weren’t a big fan of surprises over all, as they had seldom been good for you, but still, you linked your fingers with his and let him steer you toward the fountain at the far end of the road. Foot traffic was the only kind permitted on Division Street, and the area was still crowded with people from old couples to little kids, from skateboarders to street musicians. Despite the humidity that crept higher as the day went on, it was still pleasant and as you reached the fountain, Lucas stepped up in front of you and caught you around the waist to draw you in for a teasing kiss. 

“You hungry? I thought we could grab dinner at Ricky’s.”

“That’s your big surprise?” you asked with a smile.

“No. This is.”

You could only stare as he sank to one knee, right there, in front of the old couples and little kids, the skateboarders and the street musicians, and smiled up at you. “It’s taken us a lifetime to get here,” he said, tugging a small black box from his jeans pocket. He opened it, held it up, and his voice grew soft as he said, “and now that we are here, this is where I want to stay. With you. Will you marry me?”

You stared down at the ring on its bed of white velvet. It was simple and gorgeous—a solitaire diamond in a platinum setting. He knew you, knew your tastes, and it was absolutely the most perfect ring you’d ever seen.

“Lucas,” you couldn’t get your voice above a whisper, “are you serious?”

He offered up a devilish grin. “Do you think I do this on a whim, love?” He stood, lifting the ring from the velvet. “Try it on.”

He eased it onto your finger. It fit. Of course it did. He paid attention to the smallest of details so it didn't surprise you how he guessed your ring size. The stone sparkled in the late afternoon sunlight and you realized the people closest to you all stared at you and Lucas now, awaiting your answer.

“No pressure,” Lucas said softly, holding your hand by the fingertips.

“Say it again?”

His eyes danced and his smile was unlike any you’d ever seen before as he winked and said, “Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” you said, smiling as you closed the gap between you and him. You slid your arms about his neck, let your fingers slip up into his spiky black hair, and tugged him down to meet your lips as everyone around you let out a singular breath and burst into applause for you. 

***

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#armitage summer splash #richard armitage #Lucas North #Lucas North x reader #Lucas North x OC #Lucas North x you #Spooks #Spooks fanfic

[sorisooyaa]

Break Up - June 22nd

Pairing: Lucas North x Fem!OC

Series: Spooks

Taglist: @fizzyxcustard @lathalea​ @eunoiaastralwings​

#armitage summer splash #richard armitage #lucas north #spooks #lucas north x oc #from shalinizhara's temp acc #soriyaa graphics #shalinizhara graphics

[badwritinghabit]

Chef's Kiss | Carmy x fem!OC x Luca | Chapter 1

Next Chapter | Masterlist | Ao3 Warnings: language, grief, disordered eating, brief mentions of death/suicide, smoking. This is not canon compliant. Word count: 2,656 Summary: Sophie sees Carmy for the first time in years. It's a little awkward.

A woman ducked under a faded red and white striped awning as the rain poured hard over head. She pulled her denim jacket tighter to her chest before reaching up and tying her dark curly hair back, missing a few strands already plastered to her face from the rain. She had followed a sudden urge to grab lunch after leaving her sister’s house and had taken a train to get to the River North neighborhood in Chicago. The sudden downpour made her wonder if she had made the wrong decision. She had already been in Chicago a few weeks and had yet to make her way to The Beef, a restaurant owned by the family of a friend she had made a few years prior when she was working in New York City.

Carmy had been the one true friend she had made in those days. The rest of the cohort of chefs she worked with were ladder climbing, ass-kissing, idiots who had actively made her life harder. She had been used to the fight and the struggle from her time in culinary school. Being a woman in the kitchen had been difficult. The men would make crass jokes and undermine her at every step. But Carmy was different, had seen her somehow. The two bonded quickly. She was putting in just as much effort and he respected her.

The late nights and early mornings working together led to a close friendship. The first few weeks were spent silently working next to each other. She had just appreciated a quiet, consistent presence. Eventually they began sharing their workload and helping each other survive the grueling life in the restaurant. That turned into smoke breaks, where she’d bum one of his cigarettes on especially hard days, or just sit next to him. Eventually they shared more and more, their lives unfolding in little snippets, shared memories that one or the other would tell in the dark alley behind their work.

She often wondered how such a strong friendship could grow from two people taking turns dumping their trauma on each other night after night. But a kind of understanding had formed. She had understood his childhood, the quiet loneliness he felt being the awkward one in a loud, overwhelming family. Her story was similar. And when she shared something from her past, he’d share as well. And they came to understand each other. He was the only one in the restaurant who she ever told about her father being a chef. How after he died she trained to follow in his footsteps.

She had to dodge out of the way as someone stepped out of the building she was hiding near. She was only a few blocks from The Beef. Carmy didn’t work there, but she knew his brother owned the restaurant. And some part of her was curious. Wanted to see this restaurant that her friend had spoken at once with such reverence and disdain. She knew he loved it and wanted desperately to help run it. She never got the full story but knew it was a source of pain and pride for him in equal measure.

The rain slowed to a drizzle after another minute and she took the opportunity to run for it. She hopped across puddles and ran through the rain, head ducked, purse clung tightly to her chest in hopes her phone and wallet inside wouldn’t get too soaked. She made it to the restaurant and pulled the door open, rushing inside quickly. She sighed, relieved, looking down at the floor. She hadn’t gotten too wet; thankfully she wasn’t dripping on their floor. She looked up and was greeted by a man with short cropped hair and a beard. He grinned at her and asked if she got stuck in the rain.

She chuckled in response. “What gave it away?” she asked, smiling at him. She pushed at the stray strands of hair, trying and failing to get the curls away from her face as she walked towards the counter. She asked for his recommendation and ended up getting a beef sandwich, hot, with a pop. She had asked for a soda but he had teased her about her regional word choice.

“It’s called pop,” he said, pointing to the sign emphatically. His grin made it clear his teasing was in good humor. She laughed. “Not from around here?”

She grimaced, knowing his response before she even said where she was from. “You caught me. From Wisconsin. Just moved from California though.”

“Wisconsin girl?” He shook his head, mock angry. “Who said you could come into this restaurant?”

She laughed. “Oh my kind isn’t welcome here?” She liked him instantly. Brash and loud, but clearly friendly and obviously joking. It was a breath of fresh air. “I was told by a friend that the next time I was in Chicago I had to try your sandwiches.”

“We need to tell our customers not to go talking about this place to just anyone,” he grumbled with a smirk. She laughed.

“Restroom this way?” she asked, looking to the side. He pointed down the hall and she thanked him.

She looked herself over in the slightly dirty restroom mirror. She was briefly tempted to stick her head under the air powered dryer but decided against it. It was very much something she would have done in New York, those days of not caring how she looked, running on nothing but red bulls and Carmy’s cigarettes. And occasionally Carmy’s granola bars, when he would force her to eat on smoke breaks.

On the off chance Carmy heard all of the restaurant gossip, she didn’t want to end up being the weird lady who dried her hair in their restroom. Instead she simply washed her hands and grabbed a few paper towels and dried off her hands, then her face and neck. She slid her jacket off her shoulders and found at least her sundress had remained mostly dry. She ought to have paid more attention to the weather this morning when she dressed, she thought regretfully.

She undid and re-did her hair, more successfully pulling most of her curls into a messy bun on the back of her neck. She stepped back out into the restaurant to see a larger man with a backwards cap and a grin peeking through the window. She smiled at him and headed to a table by the window.

“Sophie.” The man who took her order called out, before thinking better of it. “No wait, let me serve you. I know how youse guys in Wisconsin like your service.” His voice adapted an over the top Wisconsin accent. She laughed as he placed the tray in front of her with a dramatic bow.

“Ope. Thank you!” she said with a grin, her own exaggerated northern Wisconsin accent sounding terribly silly to her ears. He shook his head with a grin and walked back to the counter.

“Soph?” a familiar voice called out before she could bite into her sandwich. She snapped around to stare in shock. It was Carmy. Dressed in a dark blue t-shirt and white apron, curls falling forward over his face, her heart skipped a beat. He looked almost exactly as he had the last time she’d seen him about a few years prior. He took a step toward her and she stood and walked over, wrapping him in a hug.

“Carm,” she said, cheek pressed into his shoulder. He had gripped her tightly around the back, hugging her to him. “What are you doing here?” she asked, her head tilted up to look at him as she stepped back.

He gave her a look. “Me? This is my restaurant,” he said, like it was obvious. “You didn’t know?”

“Yours?” she asked, wide eyed. She very nearly asked more but hesitated. She knew something big must have happened. He had wanted to work in the restaurant for ages. She quickly changed the subject when she saw the hurt in his eyes. There was a story there but she would not pry. “Well I remembered you talking about this place and I’m in Chicago now so I had to stop by,” she said with a shrug.

“You know each other?” The man who had taken her order asked, leaning on the counter and looking their way.

“We worked together in New York,” Sophie said after a beat when Carmy didn’t offer anything more, just continued looking her over.

“I have to get back there.” Carmy gestured to the kitchen. “Eat. I’ll be back out in a minute.”

Sophie nodded and gave a small wave, feeling a bit silly as she did it. The man she had joked with earlier was still eyeing her over. He seemed to give in to his curiosity as he walked back and sat down at the chair across from her, making her smile.

“I’m Richie,” he introduced himself. “And you’re Sophie,” saying her name in a way that made it clear he knew something about her.

“That’s me,” she agreed. Waiting for more. He didn’t say anything. She looked at Richie then down at her food. He gestured for her to eat and she did.

She took a bite of the sandwich and held back a groan. It was amazing. Of course it was, it was Carmy’s work. She missed his cooking almost as much as his companionship. They had taken to cooking for each other the last few months he was in NYC. She had never eaten anything as good as the dinner he had made for them the night before he left for Copenhagen. The memory flooded her mind as she took another bite of the sandwich before setting it down. She hummed happily and closed her eyes.

Sometimes she missed cooking. There was something magic in a good bite of food. But the stress of the kitchen had gotten to her. And besides, she had chased another dream. She wouldn’t let herself dwell on the what if’s for too long.

“That is a fucking amazing sandwich,” she said, looking to Richie. His mouth twitched in a smile but he was clearly still thinking. “Did you have a question?” she asked, looking him over after taking a drink from her pop.

“You and Carmy?” he asked with a quirked eyebrow.

She took a moment before understanding his meaning and got annoyed at herself when she felt her cheeks warm. “Friends,” she said, definitively. “We worked together for a few months before he went to Noma,” she added.

He hummed, considering the statement but the smirk was still on his face. The door opened with a chime and Richie stood. “Welcome to Chicago, Sophie,” he said to her before turning to welcome the new customers.

She had finished her sandwich by the time Carmy returned. He walked over and clapped both hands over the chair next to hers, leaning against it to look down at her. “What’s the word?” he asked.

“Compliments to the chef. Best sandwich I’ve had in a long time. Only topped by a peanut butter and jelly I had in the summer of 2020,” she said. She would be embarrassed to admit how frequently she thought about that peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It was the height of Covid and she had gotten sick and had to take off work. She was locked up in her crappy apartment with her very unhelpful roommates. Carmy had checked in on her every day over text and at one point she complained about having nothing to eat and how desperately she craved a pb&j. He had dropped off what, at the time, tasted like the most amazing sandwich she had ever had. Raspberry jam, simple salted peanut butter, amazing fluffy bread. She smiled every time she thought of it.

He huffed a laugh and pulled the chair out to sit beside her. “What are you doing here?” he asked as he sat. “You cooking in Chicago now?”

“Not full time. I did a guest spot a few weeks ago at Ever. But I’m just here for my sister,” she said, not wanting to get into too many details. She glanced over to the counter. The big guy with the beard and the cap seemed to be giggling and looking over at her. She turned back to Carmy and nervously tapped her fingers on the table.

He was still looking at her, his eyes seemed to see right through her. He could always read her too well. He glanced over towards the counter and shook his head with a sigh. “That’s Fak. He works here. Sort of.”

She nodded, not understanding at all. She felt terribly awkward. And she hated that. But she didn’t know what to say. Too much had happened and it didn’t feel like the time or place to say any of it.

“Ever. I worked there for a while. Chef Terry is fantastic,” Carmy said.

“She really is. It’s the only reason I agreed. I had just gone to eat and she offered me a spot when she was going to be cooking elsewhere. Got to make a small menu and everything. It was good,” she said, blurting out more than she planned. It always happened with Carmy. “I saw your picture there.” She smiled.

Carmy’s mouth twitched, the nearest he would get to a smile, and then looked away. “You look good,” he said, then clearly felt awkward as he leaned back in his seat. “I just mean– you know how things were when I left.”

“Yeah, I’m doing better." She had gotten better. She was having trouble eating back in those days. She wasn’t sleeping much either. The stress of working at Eleven Madison Park had gotten to her. She was fairly certain that is why Carmy would bring in snacks for her. And why he had started their ‘dinners’-- really midnight meals. What had started with Carmy dragging her along when he would get takeout after work, turned into him cooking for her. Eventually they got into a rhythm where they would take turns cooking for each other. She was fairly certain she would have burned out far sooner without his routine.

She wanted to ask him more. Tell him about what was going on in her life. It had always seemed so simple. But now there was no reason. They didn’t work together. He had ignored her messages after he left, though she did not really blame him for that. It was a friendship of convenience. Forced cohabitation. She may have wanted it to be more but she had grown since then.

Still, she felt she owed him. She had thanked him, over text. But she wanted to say something. He had kept her going all those months.

“New York was shit without you, by the way.” It was the truth and a joke and the best she could come up with.

He let out an amused huff, his eyes jumping back to her own. She knew she was blushing but hoped enough foundation remained on her face for it to not be terribly noticeable. His eyes were too expressive. She was pretty sure she had fallen for him, a little, the first time he looked at her like he was right then.

He tapped his fingers on the table. “This is short notice. But I have a chef working on adding desserts to the menu. So far he has been figuring out a recipe for a chocolate cake. If you have time, I’d appreciate another set of eyes.”

“I’d love to,” she responded with a cautious smile.

The front door opened and four more customers walked in. Richie called out to them right away, clearly they were regulars.

“Back to work?” she asked him, when she caught him looking at the newcomers.

“Back to the kitchen. See you later chef?”

“Yes, chef.”

[librosamarillos]

passed down like folk songs

chapter 3: you're alive, so alive

Maegor Targaryen x OC

Also on Ao3

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Tags: hurt/comfort, friends to lovers, angst, mature themes, targaryen incest, violence, Maegor is a red flag himself, characters are ooc probably, MINORS DNI

Awkward teen crushes ammirite? Shoutout to pampers.com for providing me with so many names for Rowan's family!

The manor of house Evergreen was located up in the forest covered mountains in Starfall. Rowan recalled her fond memories, playing with her cousins amongst the trees, always cautious to not disturb the animals that inhabited the forest, of course. There were rumours that the forest was haunted, that one could go crazy if they walked alone at night, but she never believed them, even as a child. At night, it was pitch black, the only light coming from the moon and stars, so of course it was scary to navigate a forest, with wild animals living in it, no wonder people ‘heard voices’. Rowan knew, it was most unwise to walk alone at night within those trees, as mesmerising as they looked in daylight.

Lucas Evergreen, her beloved uncle, was a calm and kind man. He was married to Lady Maura and they had five children together, her cousins Finn, Erin, Max, Lewis and little Archie They had lived in the same manor as long as Rowan could recall. Her father’s job required him to travel from Starfall, to Oldtown, to King’s Landing, to Dragonstone, even up north, so it made sense for him to want his wife and daughter to not be alone. 

The thought of her mother made her sad. She was only seven when she died, but it was not a quick death. Her illness took her away slowly, day by day, for six moons. No matter how many maesters came, their skills could only prolong the inevitable. No one had to tell her, or explain, Rowan could see that her mother was dying right in front of her eyes. Her father was in such grief, before her mother was even taken by the stranger. But her mother seemed at peace. She did not appear scared, or worried, just serene. She’d just smile at her when she’d climb into bed with her, refusing to sleep in her own chambers, for fear the stranger would take her away during the night. 

And yet, in the sept when she prayed, that’s exactly what she’d ask the stranger to do. She knew her mother was in such pain and could barely eat, was it not cruel to keep her suffering when nothing could be done? So she’d pray to the stranger to take her mother away gently, while she was asleep, the way her mother would carry her back to her room when she’d fall asleep in the drawing room, with the faint sound of laughter in her ears. That dying would be easy, painless, that the stranger would take her into his arms like a warm embrace and lead her to the heavens in peace. But she could not help herself but pray for a miracle, for her health to take a turn for the better, and all could be as it was. She knew it was silly, impossible even. Some things cannot be helped, can they?

She looked up to her mother so much. Lady Edith was the smartest person she’d met, her father agreed. They had met at the citadel, her parents, at a young age, and according to her father, had fallen in love at first sight. Although, her mother did clarify, the love they had was one they built slowly over the years, not an instantaneous thing, even if that made a better story. She had plans to become a septa, but her father, Duncan Evergreen, had swept her off her feet, and those plans were ruined. She would always tell Rowan that her education was the most important tool they could give her as parents, that her intelligence would be her greatest weapon, but to never let that make her forget to be kind. It was their duty to use what we’ve been blessed with to build something that helps those in need, her father would say often. She hoped she’d one day be able to do just that.

Rowan recalled their weekly visits to the sept, how she treasured them with all her heart. Her favourite visits were when her father would be home as well, and they’d all go, along with her uncle, her aunt and cousins. She could recall the layout of the Starfall sept better than her own home. She remembered how she and Erin would leave the boys behind and run around, hiding behind the statues. She missed them all dearly.

The day she woke up and found her mother was taken by the stranger in the night, just as she had prayed he’d do, was the day when it all became blurry. She remembered screaming at her father to wake up, that mother was gone, how she wept and wept, clinging onto her, how wrong it felt for someone so warm could feel so cold to the touch. She remembered her father weeping with her, holding onto them both. At some point, her aunt and uncle came in, taking her in their arms, to console her, to take her away from her mother’s body. The week was a blur. She could barely recall anything from the funeral, she didn’t fully comprehend who was coming up to her to hug her and offer condolences, nothing felt real. 

Everyone in the manor felt the sorrow. Lucas and Maura had grown so close to Edith, her absence was like a hole in all of them. All the adults seemed to worry about Rowan, she remembered their looks full of concern, and she didn’t blame them. She could barely get out of bed, her appetite was all but gone, she didn’t recall when she had last smiled, all good reasons to worry. Slowly, she pulled herself together, her cousins cheering her up, getting her through her grief. Her mother had two brothers that came to visit them, Liam and Sean, both septons in Oldtown. She remembered them when her parents took her to Oldtown once, and they were comforting presences that helped her greatly. 

Before she knew it, a year had passed, and her father was called to Dragonstone to continue his duties. What surprised Rowan, was when he sat her down to tell her that the Queen wished for her to join as well. He thought some travelling and a change of scenery would do her some good. She didn’t see why not, although the idea of dragons terrified her to no end. Up until then, she had found the company of the maesters and the books to be her favourite, with all she was learning only igniting her to look for more. She grew to love Dragonstone. Not only did she enjoy the company of the Queen, she was pretty sure she had found her best friend in Maegor. And even though she would see him again, six moons seemed awfully long. She didn’t want to leave. But they found a way around that, writing letters as much as they could. Despite being surrounded by her family, she felt loneliness hit her when she’d read his letters.

“You’re not listening to me again, hey!” Erin’s voice rang.

“Sorry, sorry, my mind was away.” she admitted.

“Thinking about the fancy capital again?” her cousin teased.

“No, not at all, Dragonstone actually.”

“I still cannot get over that the Queen herself offered for you to fly on her dragon and you refused! If I were you I’d beg her to even let me touch it!” Erin huffed.

“I told you, dragons frighten me. Vhagar is huge!”

“Gods! You’re such a baby!”

“I already have Maegor teasing me about this, I don’t need a reminder from you!” she laughed.

The next time they had seen each other, Rowan could not believe just how much taller he grew. Almost three and ten, yet he was just as tall as his own father. And by the feeling of him hugging her as a greeting, he seemed just as strong. He laughed at her surprised face, teasing her for staying almost as short as she was before. She smiled, looking at his face, he still had a boyish look about him. She liked it.

After what had happened between him and his father, Maegor had thrown himself into training like his life depended on it. He wanted to prove himself, not just worthy, but better than his father, stronger, bigger. Rowan could tell he was doing this to distract himself from the pain his father caused, or perhaps as a way to let it out. She could see he was becoming ruthless, angrier, she could not blame him, but it did worry her. She’d be the only one pestering him to remember about his studies, that he cannot rely solely on his fighting skills.

“So, you think I’m skilled with the sword?” he asked, teasingly.

“I think you’re very gifted, yes. Now please focus, did you even read this?” she asked in annoyance, raising an eyebrow at her friend.

“But it sounds so much better when you read it to me. And you explain things so well.” he smiled, before getting hit with parchment.

“Please be serious!” she laughed. 

“I’m being absolutely serious! And you respond with such treason? That’s not very kind of you, Lady Evergreen.” he laughed. 

“Let’s just finish this chapter- Maegor, come on.” she sighed at her friend, who had just laid his head on top of his arms, his eyes on her.

“I’m listening, go on.” he smiled, but Rowan didn’t return it.

“Do you ever realise how lucky you are?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Did you know a lot of lords do not know how to read? They rely on their maesters for everything. Do you think that’s wise?” she frowned.

“No, it sounds stupid, to not know your own house’s affairs.” he huffed.

“Exactly. Now, is it wise for a Prince to not study his land’s history? To not understand the culture of the people he’s meant to be in charge of?” she asked.

Maegor only frowned, unwilling to admit defeat.

“You cannot rely only on the sword Maegor, you cannot separate strength and intelligence. Then you’ll have the fighting done by idiots and the thinking done by cowards.” she said.

“Does that make you a coward then?” he asked, brow raised.

“Yes, were you not the one calling me one before?” she gave a small smile.

“I didn't mean it like that, you know that right?” for a second he seemed worried.

“I’m not upset, it’s true. I’m afraid of a lot of things that I’m sure you wouldn’t even flinch at the idea of. But I’ll try to get over my fears, just as you’ll focus on your studies, right?” she urged, gently patting his shoulder.

“Fine, fine, you’re right.” he admitted, his face lighting up, a devious smirk on his lips. “So you’ll approach Vhagar then.” he stated.

“I see that wasn’t a question.” she pouted. “Fine, but don’t just throw me in there, I need time. Dragons are scary.” she frowned at Maegor’s chuckle. “Hey, if they weren’t scary, I don’t think they’d help your family conquer Westeros.” 

“Alright, I’m only teasing you. But tomorrow I’ll ask mother to take us close to her, alright?”

“Well then, since that’s settled, can we go back to the last chapter please?”

Maegor could not contain his laughter at Rowan’s expression. She looked so tiny and scared in front of Vhagar, despite his mother urging her to go closer. Vhagar eyed her curiously, slowly moving her head toward her direction, making Rowan grab him by the arm, holding onto him for dear life. He wanted to laugh again, but he enjoyed the feeling more than he’d like to admit. Maybe he didn’t mind her being scared of dragons if it meant she’d hold his hand. Still, he led her closer to where his mother stood, whispering that it would all be okay.

“I couldn’t even walk when mother took me to fly with Vhagar, she won’t hurt you.” he tried to soothe her.

“Come, give me your hand.” his mother’s voice seemed to convince Rowan more.

The feeling was foreign to her, he could see her trying to steady her breaths, not wanting to make sudden movements. He smiled. He knew which dragon he would claim one day, perhaps she’d join him in the skies and cling onto him there too. His mother shot him an amused smile, and only then did he realise he was blushing. 

He didn’t tease Rowan, preferring to ask her how she felt, more importantly, if she’d one day like to fly. She seemed hesitant, but perhaps out of kindness, she gave him a maybe. He’d take it, and one day hold her to her words. His mother seemed beyond amused at him. Maegor wanted to hide his face, but doing so would give his mother the satisfaction that she was right. Not that she needed it, she knew. She’d often tease him about how eager he was to read any letter she would send, she knew her son. She never said anything about it, not directly, which meant she didn’t mind, right?

Visenya came to dread returning to King’s Landing. After the loss of their sister, things between her and Aegon were even more distant than ever. But her Maegor had his nameday soon, and she’d be damned if the people didn’t celebrate him like they had Aenys. She organised a tourney in his name, something he grew to love. She was so proud of him. Visenya knew he’d be participating the second she told him, so she had prepared special gifts for him. She could see how he also dreaded coming back here, the calmness Rowan seemed to bring him washing off as soon as he saw his father and half-brother. Aenys, to everyone’s surprise, greeted Maegor with an embrace, telling him he was happy to see him again. Her son only nodded, clearly wishing to get everything over with. 

He surely wished to rant about it to Rowan. Visenya let it happen, they were still children, people wouldn’t whisper about them just yet. She thought it was sweet, her son’s crush, she rarely got to see him blush like a little boy, since he was now taller than a lot of men she knew, she found it adorable. Besides being his friend, Rowan seemed to bring him joy, as she often passed them and heard them laugh so freely, so genuinely, in the way only children could. She grew to love the girl like her own, so she was glad her son’s first crush was with someone she knew she could trust with his heart.

A knock on her door startled her. Who in the world could it be at this late hour? Rowan wrapped herself in her robe and carefully opened the door, a relieved smile gracing her face when Maegor slipped inside quickly. 

“You know you can’t be here, what happened?”

“Nothing happened, I just wanted to see you, that’s all.” he grinned.

“Can’t sleep because of the tourney?” she asked.

“Yes, but because I did have something to ask you.” he confessed.

“Oh? What is it?” she wondered.

“Will you make a favour?”

“A favour? I wasn’t planning on it, why?”

“What if I asked you for it?”

“You’d ask for my favour? For the tourney?”

“I would. If you’d be so kind as to make one.” he stated, with a slight blush.

“It’s not like you’d even need it, but if you wish, I’ll make you one in the morning, the prettiest one.” she smiled, a blush forming on her cheeks as well.

“Thank you.” he smiled. “But don’t give it to anyone else!” 

“I wouldn’t dream of it, my Prince!” she laughed.

Maegor smiled once more, seeming to enjoy how much taller he was from her. She caught his eyes scanning the room before stopping on her desk, on the little box that was carefully wrapped, a devious grin on his lips.

“Is that for me?” he teased eagerly.

“Okay, goodnight Maegor, I’ll see you tomorrow!” she laughed, pushing him out of her chambers.

He laughed as well, letting her push him out, while they both knew he could stop her at any moment. But he let her. And she was left alone in her chambers with her face red and her heart racing. She’d have to run to the florist first thing. Would her father be upset if she gave Maegor her favour? She knew her father was getting a bit uncomfortable with them being close, now that they were getting older, and King’s Landing wasn’t the secluded and quiet Dragonstone, but surely it would be fine. As far as anyone was concerned, she’s one of many ladies he’d potentially ask the favour of, no? A huge smile spread on her face when she thought that she was the one he wanted the favour of.

“I have something for you.” his mother announced, first thing in the morning.

With that, three servants rushed inside, holding brand new armour, smooth, black, the Targaryen sigil on the chest, the helmet resembling a dragon. Maegor was stunned, looking from the armour to his mother, who smiled gently at him. Words failed him, but he gave her a hug, something he found they didn’t do much. She rubbed his shoulder and pulled back to look at him proudly.

“You’re almost a man grown, it is only fitting that you have proper armour. Happy nameday Maegor.” she said, placing a small kiss on his forehead. “Now get dressed, there’s something else I want to give you before the tourney.” with that she left, leaving the servants to dress him up.

He looked in the mirror and couldn’t help a smile. He felt like a proper man in armour, like the warrior he was born to be. He’d definitely be showing it off to Rowan after he wins the tourney later. He’d also show everyone watching who the worthy heir truly was.

His mother was waiting for him in her drawing room, a look of pride on her face.

“Look at you.” she said, cupping his face, giving his forehead another kiss. “How do you feel?” she asked.

“Ready.” he said, earning a small laugh.

“I wouldn’t expect anything but.” she turned to grab something, making Maegor’s eyes grow wide with surprise.

“Mother? Is that-”

“It is.” she said, holding Dark Sister in her hands. “This sword was with me during the entirety of the conquest, it’s the sword that brought me to victory and glory, and now, it belongs to you, my son.” she said, placing the sword in his hands. 

“Mother, I do not know what to say, I- Thank you! I will make you proud.” he said.

“You’ve always made me proud Maegor, I do not doubt it for a second you’ll achieve even more victories than I have with it. It’s in your blood, after all.” she smiled.

He took one final look at himself in the mirror in his mother’s rooms, he truly looked like a warrior now. His mother laughed.

“She’ll think you’re very handsome, now come on. You cannot be late to your own tourney!”

The tourney was huge, so many people were here. Rowan and her father were seated next to the Queen, who smiled at her knowingly. She froze. Did Maegor tell her? Did she know? Visenya looked at her and at the favour on the cushion next to her, giving her a small nod. Rowan felt her face heat up. Her father gave her a questioning look, before meeting the Queen’s gaze. He smiled as well, wrapping an arm around his daughter, who wanted to completely disappear.

“We’re not laughing at you, my sweet, it’s just endearing.” he laughed, kissing her temple.

“I- it’s not like that, it’s just…” she trailed. 

Was it like that?

She didn’t have much time to dwell in her thoughts, as the King stood up to make an announcement, making the crowd go silent. He and Aenys were regally dressed, covered in gold and rubies, and Visenya seemed to follow that as well.

“We are here today to celebrate the third and tenth nameday of my son, the Prince Maegor of House Targaryen.” his voice boomed, pausing for the loud cheer to die down. “I am also proud to announce that he will be participating in his first tourney.” another loud cheer from the crowds. “Let us begin!” he announced, happy at the response.

Rowan watched nervously, averting her eyes from the fighting. She was truly not one to enjoy such events, but she didn’t want to miss it either. Her father held her hand, knowing how she was, reassuring her that it was alright to look away, which she did occasionally. Until Maegor’s name was announced. Her eyes shot up, looking at him approaching on his horse, looking like a masterfully sculpted statue. 

As he came closer, both she and Aenys got up, to offer their encouragement. Maegor seemed annoyed that his brother was there, but kept his eyes on her.

“Looking sharp brother! You’ve got this!” Aenys’ voice was pleasant, filled with joy.

Maegor gave him a small thank you, not used to this kind of affection from him.

“I was hoping to ask for your favour, Lady Evergreen.” he gave her a smile she could barely see beneath his helmet.

Rowan blushed, turning around to get the wreath she had so carefully constructed in the morning, seeing the amused smile on Visenya’s face and the look of confusion on Aegon’s. Still she made it back, placing the favour on the lance Maegor raised close to her.

“Good luck, my Prince.” she said shyly, earning another smile from him.

She went to sit back down, only to realise that Prince Aenys had been looking at her with an amused smile from next to Aegon. She tried not to die from embarrassment, but again, she did not have time to dwell on it, nor did anyone else.

Maegor fought with such rigour, such fire, that he was putting seasoned warriors to shame in minutes, making the crowd cheer so loud it made Rowan’s ears hurt. He fought like a wild beast, like he was born with the sword in his hand. She couldn’t take his eyes off of him. Before the end of the day, he was the undisputed victor. A boy of three and ten. Once the King announced him the winner, there was a smile on his face, one of pride, one that Rowan never saw addressed to Maegor, not until now. 

The great feast that followed found Rowan socialising with other young girls her age. She recognised some familiar faces from the feasts she had attended around the Reach, including Lana Tyrell, who was a bit older than her, but proved to be pleasant company. Maegor was lost in a sea of newfound admirers, including his own brother, which seemed to both amuse and annoy him greatly. But Rowan could not save him from that, she wasn’t seated at the royal table, but she did cast him many amused smiles when their eyes met.

She let out a long sigh of relief when she finally reached her chambers, wanting nothing more than to jump in her bed. She was debating if she was too tired to request a bath, for fear she’d fall asleep in the tub, when a knock startled her.

“Come in.” she smiled, knowing immediately who it was.

Maegor made sure to close the door quietly, a small smile on his face. 

“I thought you’d still be out celebrating.” she said.

“Aenys was beginning to get insufferable.” he answered.

“Oh come on, he’s trying to be close to you! He looked so proud today.” she protested.

“And you?” he asked. “Were you proud?”

“Very. You fought greatly Maegor, I couldn’t take my eyes off of you!” she smiled, before realising what she said, much to Maegor’s amusement. “I meant, because you were so good and- you know what I mean.” 

“I see, I see.” he laughed. “You know, I still didn’t receive my gift. I’ve been waiting since yesterday, you know I’m not patient.” he grinned.

“Oh, I just didn’t get the chance to find you, I would give it to you tomorrow, but since you’re here,” she turned to give him the gift. “It’s not… I’m sure you could have something much fancier, but it made me think of you.” she blurted.

Maegor looked down at her with a soft smile, before unwrapping and opening the box, pausing to marvel at the ring inside. It was simple, gold, with an intricate design etched in and a small ruby in the center. He always scoffed at the intricate and bulky rings the men around court wore, insisting they would get in the way of his training, but this… this would work just fine. He met her nervous gaze again, his smile wider.

“I know you hate the big rings, so I thought you’d prefer this- But, but if you don’t it’s alright-”

“I love it.”

“In truth?”

“I shall wear it everyday.” he said, a little too softly.

He tried to put it on his ring finger, before noticing it was a little loose. Rowan let out a small chuckle, before reaching to take it off.

“It’s meant for your index finger, here.” she explained.

She gently held onto his hand, placing the ring on the correct finger, but not letting go right away. She felt the cuts and calluses on his hands, marvelling at how much bigger they were compared to hers. For a few silent moments, Maegor seemed to do the same, marvelling at her soft and gentle hands, wondering how they could be so delicate. Rowan was the first to step back, much to both of their dismay.

“I’m really happy you liked it.”

“I’m very grateful to you for giving it to me. I must also thank you, for your favour has helped me win today.” he grinned.

“Come on, as if you weren’t training since you could walk. You barely needed it.” she blushed.

“But I did.” he said plainly, walking closer to her.

“It was an honour, you know.”

“Hardly.” he laughed. “I should probably head back.” he said regrettably, to which Rowan nodded.

He was almost at the door when he felt her hand on his shoulder. He turned to see her contemplating face, to which he raised a brow. Praying to the gods for courage, Rowan stood on her tip toes and placed a small kiss on his cheek, leaving them both stunned and blushing. Neither dared to move, nor say a thing.

“I… I wish you a happy nameday, Maegor.” she managed to stutter out.

taglist:@heartstalked@stupidocupido@discowizard88

#maegor targaryen x oc #maegor targaryen #maegor the cruel #yes the chapter titles are all taylor swift propaganda go listen to her #no i dont know how tourneys work

[star0mania]

MLB OCs

Name: Izzy Lynn Dupain-Cheng

How to say it: Iz-zy Ly-nn Du-Pain-Cheng

Nicknames: Izz

Age: 13 14 15

Gender/Pronouns: Female (she/her)

Place of Birth: Paris, France

Current Resident: Paris, France

Sexuality: Asexual, Biromantic

Relationship Status: Single

Voice claim: K Howard from Six the Musical

Friends: Marinette Alya Adrien Nino Kagami Rose Felix E.t.c

Enemies: Bad guys

Crush: None (open)

Family: Mother: Sabine Dupain Cheng Father: Tom Dupain Cheng Sister: Marinette Dupain Cheng (15 years old)

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

Likes: -Cooking -Her twin -Singing

Dislikes: Insects Jerks Bullies Dishonesty Certain people

Personality: -Kind -Protective -Loving -Feisty -Aggressive -Smart -Creative -Stubborn -Determinant

Miraculous: Lynx miraculous

Weapon: a whip

Hero name: Hero Lynx

Kwami name: Stella

Suit: -TBA-

Looks: (Credit to  the artist))

Theme songs:

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

"Its called a punch, bitch!"

Name: Keith Felipe Noceda

How to say it: Ke-ith Fel-ip-e No-ced-a

Nicknames: Keithie (siblings) Mr. Noceda (a few teachers)

Age: 14-15

Gender/Pronouns: Male (he/him)

Place of Birth: Mexico, North America

Current Resident: Paris, France

Sexuality: Pansexual

Relationship Status: Single but soon dating

Voice claim: Ethan Landry/Spider (Jack Champion)

Friends: Marinette Alya Adrien Nino Kagami Rose Felix E.t.c

Enemies: Bad guys

Past love interest: Adrien Agreste (ex boyfriends and best friends)

Present Love interest:

Marc and Nathaniel K: Oh for fucks sake- M/N: Oi!! No swearing!

Ship names: KeithMarcThaniel Natheitharc ArtAct

Relationship trope: He fell first, they fell harder Sun x Dusk x Moon

Relationship status: Soon-to-be dating

Relationship songs: The Middle- dodie I kissed a Boy- Jupither  3- Britney Spears Jenny (I wanna ruin our friendship)- Studio Killers

Relationship variant/s: Karlnapity 

Family: Mother: 37 year old named Camila Father: 38 year old named Jon Sisters: 13 year old named Luz, 13 year old named Vee and a 6 year old named Julia  Brother: 16 year old named Hunter

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

Likes: -Stories -Acting -TV -Watching Marc and Nathaniel make comics -Hanging out with friends -watching romcoms and horror -Playing with his dog, Rio -Dinosaurs -Dia de los muertos

Dislikes: -Arguments -Bullies -Homophobes -Transphobes -Math

Personality: -Kind -Honest -Easily Angered  -Creative -Introvert and Extrovert. In the middle -Loyal -Lovable -Tough -Soft with friends -Mature -Caring -Confident  -Dedicated -Helpful

Miraculous: The red panda kwami

Weapon: Bamboo flute. It sends enemies to sleep for a few minutes

Hero name: Fire Panda

Kwami name: Mei Li

Suit: Smth like this but male

Looks:

Theme songs: The Hills- The Weeknd

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

Name: Aristotle "Ari" Madine

How to say it: A-ri-sto-tle A-ri Ma-dine

Nicknames: Ari (various people) Ari-star (Keith)

Age: 14-15

Gender/Pronouns: Male (he/him/they)

Place of Birth: Paris, France

Current Resident: Paris, France

Sexuality: Gay

Relationship Status: Single

Voice claim: Alberto (Luca)

Friends: Marinette Alya Adrien Nino Kagami Rose Felix E.t.c

Enemies: Bad guys

Crush: Luka Coffaine

A: lets go! The band is playin'! L: alright, calm down Ari xD

Ship name: Lukari

Relationship trope: Lalalalala x okokokok He fell first, he fell harder

Relationship theme song: Teenage Dream- Katy Perry Lover- Taylor Swift If I can't have you- Shawn Mendes

Relationship variants: Solangelo Tododeku

Family: Mother: a 45 year old named Juliet Father: a 45 year old named Humphery  Brother: a 7 year old named Bear

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

Likes: -Pirates -Friends -Music -Animals -Listening to Luka play his guitar -Listening to One Direction

Dislikes: -People being mean to his friends -Homework -History -Losing the ones he love

Personality: -Happy -Carefree -Honest -Kind -Kind off innocent -Stubborn -Helpful -Youthful -Bright -Trusting -Secretive -Imaginative -Idealistic 

Miraculous: The Coyote Miraculous

Weapon: Bone nunchucks

Hero name: Song Dog

Kwami name: Mikira

Suit: -TBA-

Looks:

Theme songs: Can't stop the feeling- Justin Timberlake

#MLB rp #MLB roleplay #miraculous ladybug #Luka x OC #Marc x Nathaniel x OC

[loverichardarmitage]

Mistakes

Lucas North x Reader

Warnings: Angst, beatings, heartbreak and fluff

It was now the third time this week that Lucas had stood me up. He promised me that he would be here this time, that he would not stand me up again. His daily excuse was that his job held him captive, but I did not believe it. The first time okay, but the second night after the other not and I knew right that something was wrong.

I knew that Lucas worked for MI5 and I never had said anything, when his work took him away from me, most of the time. We had been together for a year now. We actually met through a dumb incident. I ran into him and two of his fellow colleagues. I saw that he had wound and so I followed them, because I was nurse and it was duty to help those who are wounded.

I had big hard since I was a little girl and I always wanted to help everyone and that wish only got stronger since I came out of that russian prison I was imprisont in. After that incident in the tunnels Lucas and I got to know each other just fine and from friendship it grew to love. We began dating and I was the happiest woman. But that all changed one week ago.

I believe he forgot that I even existed. Everytime he got home late the last week I was already asleep and when I woke up he was already gone. It was like he never was home and I felt like I did not was a part of his life anymore, that I didn't belong there. But today I took a few days off, saying that I was sick and tonight I was going to wait for Lucas and was going to stand up to him and gave a bit of opinion of his latest behaviour.

So I waited and waited. I waited two hours, I waited three hours and I waited four hours. It was almost two in the morning when the door to Lucas' apartment opened and in he came with a woman wrapped around his waist and their lips on each other, like they were eating each other wholly.

A gasp escaped my lips and the bowl I was holding in my hands, from trying to distract myself from unwanted thoughs somehow fell to the floor and shattered into thousand little pieces, just like my heart did. Tears began to fill my eyes and Lucas' glance shot to me. It seemed like he didn't want to believe that I was Standing there.

He set the woman down, back on her feet while the both of them stared at me. She had just a smirk on her lips and Lucas looked like disowned dog. A frown found it's way onto his face and he made a few steps towards me, but I took as much steps away from him. When he wanted to speak, I held up my hand and said. " No, Lucas. You don't Need to say any more. I will leave you two to it. Goodbye Lucas." 

Then I grabbed my bag, put on my Sneakers and jacket and made my to the front door, but before I could leave I felt a hand wrapped around my wrist. I didn't want to look up, for I knew it was Lucas. I knew that grip and that scent good and if I would look up now I was going to break down. So I just shook my head and tried to free myself from his grip, but he didn't let loose from his grip.

I raised my voice to sound confident and not like I was going to break down any second and said in an almost strong manner. " Lucas North, let me go now!" I heard a sigh behind me and felt his grip loosen around my wrist, before he fully let me go, knowing he wasn't going to win this. Still not looking up I took my chance before he could change his mind and ran out of our once shared flat.

I ran out into the night and as far as my legs could carry me and when I grew tired as did my legs I stopped running, tears began streaming down my cheeks and I felt my heart ache at the feeling of having lost the man I loved with all of my heart, the man that kept the darkness at bay, the man who kept the nightmares away from me like wall. I sank to the floor and buried my face in my hands, the sobs that now raked through my wole body, consuming me.

When my tears finally stopped flowing I tried to stand up. When I managed that I picked out my phone and dialed the only number I knew the person was going to help me. When the person picked up I answered. " Ros, here is Jenna, I need your help." My voice still sounded raw and the woman quickly picked up on what happened, for she spoke calmly " It's alright Jenna, I will come pick you up. Tell me where you are."

I told her where I was and she said that she would come get me now. I said goodbye and hung up. I couldn't stop the tears that wanted to get free, so I just let them flow. Not far away from me was a bench, so I walked over and sat down on the bench and waited for Ros to come and get me. Ever since Lucas and I got together, Ros and I grew very close. Sometimes Lucas took me to work with him and I would spend my time either with Ros or Ruth, when they had nothing to do.

The thought of Lucas made my heart ache again and just remembering him made me want to throw up at the Moment.' Why did he have to betray me in such a way? Have I done something wrong, was I a bad Person? So tell me why I deserved to be treated in such a way from the man I thought loved me and that after all that had happened. The imprisonment, the absent of trust and anything else. He knew all of that and still decided to rip my heart out like that.' All those thoughts were in my mind.

I looked up when I heard a car pull up in front of me, thinking it was Ros, but it wasn't and when I saw who that person was, I quickly grabbed my bag, stood up and made for a run, but Lucas was faster and he grabbed me around the waist, pulling me flush against him, while I thrashed around in his arms, not wanting to see him right now, while he whispered into my ear. " Jenna, wait before you go and jugde me."

Hearing those words just made me angrier and I began to scream. " Don't you dare touching me, North. I don't want to see you ever again. You broke my heart and here I were thinking you loved me. Well seems like I was wrong again." He looked at me like a like I just slapped him, which I would gladly do right now, to be honest. " Jenna please believe me when I say, that it was never my intention to hurt you and that I love you."

" No, Lucas. I can't believe you. If you would love me, you never would have betrayed me the way you did and don't tell me f#cking that woman belongs to your job, for it doesn't." I said through gritted teeth. He ran a hand through his hair like he normally did when he was either nervous or frustrated, before he made another stept towards while I stepped back from him again.

" Love, please believe me, I never wanted to hurt you or betray you like that and you are right to hate me now, but know that I will always love you and that Sarah was just an accident." " Lucas I don't hate you but I don't like you much either at the Moment and I need time. Please respect that I don't want to see you now." I spoke calmly, tears threatining to spill once more.

Another car pulled up next to us and Ros got out of it, anger written on her face before she spoke through gritted teeth. " Jenna get into that car, I may have to have a little talk with mister 'I bed every suspect'." I nodded, grabbed my bag and got in on the passenger seat. As soon as I sat in the car I heard a slap, shocked I turned to see that Ros had slapped Lucas across the cheek while his head hung in shame.

Ros turned around and got into the drivers seat, driving away and towards her place, where she helped me get out of the car. She opened the door to her flat and closed and locked it right behind me again. She then said. " Here have a seat, I will make the guest room ready for you and then we will have a little talk." I gave her a small smile, or rather something that should look like a smile.

I mumbled a quick thanks and sat down on the sofa, grabbing one of the blankets laying around and put it over myself. I leaned back into of the pillows and closed my eyes. From all the stress and hurt I first didn't notice how exhausted I really had been, because after I closed my eyes I had fallen asleep. I didn't even noticed that Ros had come back into the room.

The next time I woke up it was still pretty early. It must've been around six in the morning. I only slept for two hours and my head hurted like I feted all night long. With a groan I stood uponly to see a note on the living room table. There stood. " Good morning Jenna. If you read this I'm already at work. On the kitchen counter is a glass with water and an Aspirin. I wish you a good day, do whatever to wish to do. See you tonight. Ros."

I smiled when I saw what she wrote. Ros never got soft on anybody, anybody but me. I must've triggered something inside her, for she treated me like a mother would a daughter. Well let's say I wasn't that old anyway. Somewhere in my mid twenties. Lucas was maybe ten years older but I really loved him and I still did, but I need space and I must be able to trust him and that trust is not there anymore.

The next few weeks I got a lot of messages and calls from Lucas, but I answered none of them, for the hurt still sat too deep inside me as did the trust issues. But now I had enough of only sitting in Ros' apartment and being afraid of meeting Lucas on the street and I needed to get back to work or they would grow suspiscious, if they weren't already. So I put on an blue jeans and a black crop top and over that my favourite black leather jacket. It was a gift from Lucas.

But I wouldn't let that thought destroy my good mood now and to sum up my Outfit I put on my favourite black boots. When I was ready I took my coat and back and made my way out of the apartment, closing and locking the door behind me. I left the building and made my way towards my working place when a hand grabbed me from behind and covered my mouth with their hand.

The person stunk. They stunk like they had many bottles of alcohol and all I wanted was to get myself free and continue on my to work. But before I could scream or anything like that the person's hand covered my mouth in an attempt to Keep me quiet. The grip of the person's Hand on my arm was firm and it hurt when his grip grew stronger. I wanted to throw up when the person leaned down and whispered in my ear. " Why don't you come with me you beautiful little thing, and we have a bit of fun?"

Wait a Moment. I knew that voice. A shudder went up my spine and I closed my eyes not wanting to believe that this was true. The person turned me around to them and forced me to open my eyes, which I did, yet reluctantly and when I did, I felt the anxiety inside me grow. He was my captor when I was held captive in russian prison. My insides rebelled and I almost threw up when I saw that wicked expression on the man's face. He almost looked insane.

His grip on my arm grew firmer and I think there were bruises forming already from how firm he held my arm. A sob raked through my body and his grin grew even wider before he said again in his sickenly voice. " Ah you remember me, little one. That's good then. Let's have some fun like in the old good times yeah? Before I got fired because of you." I swallowed thickly and shook my head.

No I didn't want this chapter to repeat itself again and my bones grew limp. I was back in that cell, all the pain was back also and my throat was dry and my eyes began to water. I shook my head again and again. First Lucas betrayed me and now the man who was the reason for my nightmares, was back again. And he wanted revenge for what I did to him. This couldn't be true. Then before I knew what happened I felt a dull pain in the back of head and I fell unconscious.

The next time I woke up I was chained to something cold and it smelled like metal, probably a pipe. My throat hurt and my whole body felt like it was on fire, everything hurt, like I had been slapped and beaten up for hours. When my eyes had become accustomed to the dark I could see more clearly. In front of me stood a camera and it was directed at me. I rew anxious for I knew what he was going to do to me. Suddenly a door nearby slammed open and in came he.

I gulped and immeadiately looked to the floor, not wanting to meet his gaze. When I heard no footsteps anymore I looked up confusedly only to be met with my captors face. Before I could look back down he had grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. His grip was firm and bruising. Then I heard his sickenly voice again, " I see you're awake again. So we can continue our little chat hm?" I shook my head again as tears streamed down my cheeks.

" No? Well that's a problem, for I'm quite excited for the continuiation of our chat and I'm sure your little boyfriend is going to like the little gift I will leave for him." He said, grinning like a mad man. I could manage to to gain a little courage before I gritted my teeth and said. " Let Lucas out of it. This is a thing between you and I. Even when Lucas isn't my boyfriend anymore I still care for him and if you do just the slightest of things to him, I will find you and you will see what I'm capable of doing."

Then I spat right in his face and the smirk that was just moments ago on his face was now away and instead he wore a very angry expression, making me swallow hard and then I felt a harsh slap and my head fell to the side when his fist collided with my chin. I could taste blood in my mouth, but this time I wasn't going to give up. I mean he wanted to pull Lucas into our fight if it mean protecting him with my life so he could live his happily, with Sarah.

Even though that thought hurt, I still wished him all the best, for he was the man I loved and I wasn't going to take his happiness away from him, after everything he went through. Ilya watched me carefully then he took a step back and directed the camera on me again. Then he took a step towards me again and when he was about to rip off my top which I hadn't noticed was the only Thing I was wearing beside my underwear, voices could be heard outside of that room.

Hopefully it weren't any other FSB members. Then when he was about to punch me the door was pushed open and inside came three men and one woman. The woman I recongnised as Ros and a sigh of relieve shut through my whole body, when one of the two men shouted. " Get away from the woman, hands in the air and on your knees now!" I would recognise that voice anywhere. It was Lucas and my heart clenched when I heard his voice.

Tears began to well in my eyes again. Tears of joy or sadness I didn't know. Probably both though. Ilya just grinned wickedly and out of nowhere he pulled out a knife and went to stab me with it. I closed my eyes and waited for the pain to consume me, but nothing of that happedned. I heard a gun go off and somebody sank to the floor with a dull sound. I opened my eyes again to see Ilya on the floor with a bullet deep in his chest.

Ros made to come towards me but Lucas stopped her and placed a hand on her arm carefully, fearing she might slap him again, which made me grin. How much I adored that woman. Ros just sighed and nodded. Then Lucas went towards me, made my hands loose again and my arms fell to my side. They hurted from being tied up for so long and now the Exhaustion from the past few hours took over me and I slightly stumbled forwards, but before I could kiss the Floor two strong arms wrapped themselves around my waist.

I was pulled flush into his chest and I could make out Lucas famous scent which, which was kind of torture and kind of familiar. To be honest I had missed him dearly but he broke my heart, but I wasn't able to argue right now, so I just let him pick me up and I buried my face into the crook of his neck so he couldn't see that IÂ  was crying again. I had been crying so much the past few weeks and I was so exhausted the last thing I noticed were a pair of lips that were pressed against my forehead, making me sigh contently and drift of into a dreamless sleep.

When I next woke up tears were streaming down my face and I shot up screaming. I had had a nightmare again. This time it was a new one. A nightmare where Lucas stood in front of me holding a gun towards me, while Sarah stood next to him grinning wickedly at me, yet before Lucas pulled the trigger, Sarah pulled out a gun herself and shot me, while Lucas looked at her shocked. Then the dream had changed and I was in that cellar again, in front of me Ilya and he was holding a taser in his hand which he used on me without hesitation.

I felt a hand gently touch my shoulder and I opened my exes, trying to get away from that hand, out of fear it might me Ilya again. But when I saw who it was, relief filled my whole body and I closed my eyes again before I began rubbing through them, still breathing heavily. Lucas leaned down and pressed a short kiss to my temple and I visibly relaxed. Then he whispered into my ear. " Hey hey, love. Calm down, it is just me. I promise nothing is ever going to happen to you again."

All I could do was stare up at him, tears forming in my eyes again before I let them run down my cheeks freely. Lucas just sat there watching me with a said Expression before he made to say something again but I shook my head, my throat in knots. " No Lucas please don't I don't wanna hear any excuses from you." " Jenna, love. Please look at me and just listen to me. Please." Lucas' whispered. He sounded so vurnable, just like when he told me about his imprisonment.

All I could do was nod and when Lucas gently cupped my face in his hands and turned my face so I must look at him, only then he began to speak. " Jenna, my love. I know I don't deserve your love." At that I let out a huff and Lucas sighed, before he continued. " But I love you and I beg your forgiveness, for you are the only thing that means something to me. For you I would give up my place at the grid." At that my eyes turned wide. Never in a million years would I have thought to hear that sentence coming from him. He was so dedicated to his Job.

Lucas nodded his head and smiled gently at me while his thumbs stroked my cheeks gently. Then he continued. " Right when you left I kicked Sarah out and ever since that, I never saw her again. Please my love, believe me. I need you. without you I'm nothing and all I want is your forgiveness. I beg you. Please take me back. I love you with everything I have."

I looked at him shocked. He never said ' I love you' before. This was the first time and that made my heart burst with love for that man. He was all that I needed. With him by my side I could do everything. He may have hurt me, but he would also do everything to pierce back every piece of me that had shattered even if it meant fighting for me for the rest of his life and that was what I saw right now. And didn't everyone derserve a second chance at least?

So I gave him a small smile and said quietly. " Alright Lucas. I will give you a second chance, but don't you dare throwing that away, or I'll be gone forever and you will have to gain my trust again, before I fully give myself to you again." Lucas smiled widely and a loud happy laugh left his mouth, which made me giggle. Then he pressed his lips to mine in a gentle but passionate kiss. We layed in his bed, kissing for hours without end, when I finally grew tired again.

Lucas pulled me close and I rested my head on his bare, broad, muscled chest, with my hand resting on his strong stomach, making me sigh in relief that this man was now really mine and hopefully forever. The last Thing I felt were his lips pressed to my forehead and himm whispering in my ear softly. " I love you, my love." Making me fall asleep without crying myself to sleep and a smile on my lips, for the first time in three weeks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maybe to be continued. It's your choice. If you want a second part, just leave a comment (;

#lucas north #lucas x oc #drabble #oneshotseries #richard armitage

[imaginesbymk]

PINK + WHITE.

—chapter eight ; the flapper girl.

summary: teresa’s permanent resignation from the peaky blinders leads her to a whole new chapter of working in an art museum. but little did she know her best life would be butchered some time later when her former lover tommy shelby gives her no choice but to return to the peaky blinders after they make new enemies, with the leader, of all people, being the man teresa fell in love with one night after a wedding reception back in post world war; luca changretta.

pairing: luca changretta x OC x tommy shelby

tags in this chapter: swearing, drinking

[ chapter index / meet my oc / wattpad link ]

“TERESA, would it kill ya to quit staring at me? I'm tryna do my work here." He fumbles for the ballpoint pen that fell out of his shaky hand. Even when his eyes were down, he still felt hers following his every move when he picked up certain sheets, watching his lips curl when he read a sentence on a report from his father, or just overthinking if Teresa was judging his appearance. There's nothing on my chin, is there? Food in my teeth?

"Am I making the Italian mafioso Luca Changretta nervous?" Teresa leaned over the desk to trail her finger down Luca's chest where she could tease him by gripping the line of his blazer and rip the buttons off. "The same Italian mafioso that got some amateur in Los Angeles to beg on his knees?"

Luca didn't look up from his work. "He was trying to be sneaky and spent nearly a hundred dollars worth of gin for his mistress."

"Is that something you would do? Spend every dime to make his mistress happy?"

"I spend money on myself, to make myself look and feel good, some for business and for special occasions. But I also save," Luca glanced at her, mostly at her cleavage. "And you're not my mistress. I'm not even married. My mother wonders when I'm ever gonna tie the knot with a woman back home." Luca sighs and takes a break, resting his head for a moment. He grunts, rubbing his temple.

"Want me to take over?"

"No," Luca pulls her closer, using his other hand to set his folders to the side so carelessly. "Come here."

She obeys, allowing him to lift her up and carry her on top of his desk.

Luca kisses her. "Ciao, bella," he whispers to her. He kept going, making his way into the sensitive spot of Teresa's neck, his lips pressing against it so gently.

Teresa chuckles, feeling his hand run up her dress. "Who are you? Dracula?"

"Hm?"

"I mean you sort of look like him. You're about to drain the blood out of my neck, so you need me to be in the right position."

"Dracula draining the blood from a flapper girl, eh?"

The sounds of knocking on the heavy wooden doors made Teresa hop off the desk, thinking it was one of his men, or even his mother. She wouldn't contain the embarrassment of being affectionate and intimate with someone's son. It could possibly be the maids, but not the same ones from the hotel Luca stayed at. He fancied staying at a manor his father bought somewhere up north, his family members occupying the other rooms just a few ways down, but just spacious enough for everyone, even for a Welsh named Teresa.

Luca clears his throat and turns the knob. The servers come in with the trolley cart of a decanter and two glasses. "You ordered whiskey, Sir?"

The Italian watched the servers roll in the bar cart and nodded at him before shutting the door on their way out. "You like whiskey, amore?"

"Love all kinds of poison." Teresa walked over to the cart, picking up the vessel. She lifts the glass lid and brings it to her nose to let in a good smell. "Rich, like you."

Luca scoffs. "Yeah, if you drink out of that decanter, you'll become a part of us."

Teresa scoffs back.

"What? Teresa, becoming a soldier was like striking gold."

"I'd rather stay here and sit in the gardens, or walk around this palace wearing only my stockings."

Luca shrugged, imagining the erotic sight. It's happened before and he experienced it first-hand. "I bought you those stockings," he comments, staring down at her legs.

"I'll become a part of your family when the cows come home."

"Oh, come on! Don't gimme that. My family likes you."

"Seriously?" Teresa makes a face at him, and he responds by rolling his eyes.

"Okay, maybe it'll take some time."

"Your mother called me a brazen hussy the other day. Like what you said, she wants you to marry a woman in New York. She's mentioned a name, the woman is close with your family and she often visits at dinner parties? She came to the wedding." Teresa smirks. "She's Italian."

Luca grunts, knowing exactly who she was talking about. "Viviana."

"Signora Viviana must be the whole package."

"We consider her family, but I can't imagine marrying her," Luca shook his head, pouring himself a glass of the whiskey. "Matteo would be crushed."

Teresa was already ahead of him, nearly downing the whiskey, ready for a refill. She brings the glass to her lips, about to take in the last sip. "Do you want to get married?"

"Someday."

Teresa nodded.

"When we were at my cousin's wedding, as best man, I watched two people who were so in love exchange vows. I really felt the love my cousin had for his wife that day. And I know one day that'll happen to me. I'll marry the most beautiful bride who is my whole world. I'll be able to wake up next to her and remember how she likes her coffee in the morning."

"She'll be the luckiest wife."

"I'll treat her like a diamond."

"She'll come around. I'm sure she's somewhere out there, searching for you. Hell, she could be right on your bloody nose," Teresa jokes.

Well to be fair, the woman named Viviana was right on Luca's nose for quite some time. She shared her beautiful smile with the family, and Luca did admire her, respected her when she paid her contribution to the family. She could be waiting for him to return home as of right now, and throw her arms around the Italian so they could spend a night drinking champagne on a balcony.

Yet, Luca didn't set his lust and attention on Viviana. Not even at his cousin's wedding. Luca was picky when it came to his preferences with people, that's part of being a Changretta. But there was someone he wished his mother showed at least some respect to, a woman whose eyes light up like stars whenever Luca says her name...

Yeah, he answered to himself, watching Teresa refill her glass from the whiskey decanter. Maybe I already found her.

TERESA ran her fingers through her head, thinking about what she told Finn the other day that made the young boy rush back to Small Heath before she could settle down for her lunch break, taking her words with him. The blinds that gaped in between to let in the last bit of afternoon sun into the dark room of her office gave out the blonde locks she styled for yet another casual day. Simply walking down each corridor and back to the departments was a way to wastefully tear down the strands to her cheeks as she kept her head down so carelessly.

See what happens when you open your mouth, 'Resa? She sighs, knowing that revealing her past love to be the man that's after the Peaky Blinders would either cause high tides between her and them, or maybe even her and Luca himself, or maybe more pestering phone calls from Tommy.

Luca. He's a malicious man, she couldn't deny that. He would get his way without an issue, and if someone had to object about that, if someone were to challenge a man with such high power, would they live to tell about it? She would hate having the idea of handing the one thing she has all to herself to a man who would gladly have paintings hung in his gigantic home. The Changretta family distributes gin in and out of America with the exception of handling Alfie Solomons' rum, anyways, so why would he want to claim an art gallery all the way in Wales?

The thought of Luca threatening to put a bullet through hers or any one of her loved ones' heads sent a chill in her body. Would Luca ever do that to her? Would the Italian ever have the thought of harming someone he had a past relationship with? Would he regret it?

What was even left of Teresa's loved ones, anyhow? She wasn't as close to her team to consider them family. Perhaps one time she scolded the manager for not realizing one of their employees smoked a cigar when the gallery has a strict no smoking indoors rule, but she couldn't live with the thought of having them indirectly killed by the New York mafia. Come to think of it, she didn't have anyone, which is just as disheartening as having someone to protect. Maybe if she never got her brother killed that day—

She walks out after setting her teacup in the tiny space left open on her desk. Normally she would hear distant chatters from the tour guides speaking to the guests, or just guests speaking among each other, talking about whatever piece they lay their gaze on. But she frowned when she noticed how empty the gallery was, except for maybe five guests. Given that it's still hours in the early afternoon. Why wasn't it busy?

Teresa approaches two guides, asking the question that swirled her head. "Where is everyone?"

"I believe the gallery is in need of an upgrade." One of the tour guides spoke out, a bit of nervousness in their voice to speak up on feedback to the owner.

"Was deco not enough?"

"Most of it has already been seen, Miss."

The Welsh shook her head. "What does that even mean? The people wanted to see deco, we gave them deco. I provided rum to the guests on the grand re-opening, I made sure this place is clean and shiny from every inch of every corner. How could this place already be dead? At this hour?"

The tour guides slightly shook their heads, shrugging.

Teresa sighs. "Fine. Have any of you seen Mason?"

Mason Miller was hired on the spot when his well pressed suit and love for Rococo struck admiration for Teresa. She saw her younger self in him, almost like she was looking in the mirror of the past. Someone at a young age so passionate, she needed him as extra help.

"With all due respect, Miss Griffith, there hasn't been enough—I would say razzle-dazzle, to the place. We have a lot to catch up on, or guests will yawn and find themselves out the exit."

"Mason, this is a gallery, not a circus." Teresa scratches her neck. "It's been days since the opening. Our blood, sweat and tears shouldn't be a one time thing and dropped down to rubbish."

Her assistant shrugs. "Well, these days people don't wake up and think about visiting a gallery, y'know? You can find art deco everywhere you go; fancy dinner parties, manors. It inspires what we wear on occasions."

Teresa stares at her desk. "If Luca Changretta were to ever own this gallery, would he fix this problem? Make the place go fucking bankrupt?"

"I'm sorry, w-who? Luca Ch..." Mason asks, skimming through his clipboard of names he might have missed pinpointing and scheduling a meeting with.

Teresa looked at her assistant, realizing she spoke out her thoughts. "It's nothing. You're dismissed."

"Thank you." He smiles to himself as he bid an exit out of her office for Teresa to be back with her thoughts. Her jaw clenched. I will not let my team down, and I will not give my gallery to a mafioso.

"Actually, Mason?" the young lad stepped foot inside again, peering in with his full attention on one odd request. "Luca Changretta, that's his name. I'd like for you to find where he is at the moment and set up an invitation via letter. Let me know when he responds at your earliest convenience."

"Miss...?"

She didn't stop rationalizing it. She even settled for it faster than deciding not to ally with the Peaky Blinders. Mason Miller stared awkwardly at his boss as she set her focus back on her notepad laid on her desk. "I'd like to meet up with Luca Changretta."

+ enjoy my scene edit above! my peaky blinders editing account is @/fcknshelbys via ig.

#pink+white #tommy shelby #luca changretta #luca changretta x oc #luca changretta fanfiction #luca changretta fanfic #peaky blinders fanfictio #peaky blinders #tommy shelby x oc

[jaehyun-eclipsed]

Before I Met You | Twenty

Next Update: ~December 29, 2020

Pairing: NCT (Jaehyun, Lucas, Mark, Jaemin, Johnny) X Reader/OC

Genre: Romance, Angst, Coming of Age

Summary: Four. There were four people before I fell in love with you… Here are their stories.

Author’s Note: Hello! Sorry I’m a few days late -- was doing some finishing touches. Also, instead of having a regular update schedule, I think I’ll be sticking with letting you know when you can expect the next update!

Before I Met You Masterlist

Prev | Next

“Where are you going?” Jia asks as soon as she sees me putting on my boots.

I glance up at her as I zip up my right boot. “Grocery store.”

“Oh… by yourself?”

I’m not sure why Jia suddenly decided to ask today who I’m going to the grocery store with. Perhaps because I went last Saturday morning, never go in consecutive weeks, and certainly never go at two o’clock in the afternoon. Or she senses that I’m sneaking around her and avoiding questions like I was with Jaemin.

“No, Johnny asked me to go with him.”

“Johnny?!” she exclaims. “Why does Johnny want to go to the grocery store with you?! He seems to want to hang out with you a lot, huh?”

“I don’t know. I mean, we just played card games and talked yesterday.”

Jia’s eyes widen. “What if he likes you?!”

I shrug.

That is a good question though. What if he does like me? Then what am I supposed to do? I would go out with him, but—

“Doesn’t he have a girlfriend?” she asks. “I saw a girl here like a month ago with him. I didn’t recognize her.���

“I don’t know. He’s never mentioned any—

Shit. No. That’s what Jaemin did. Please do not let this be a repeat of Jaemin. I don’t have time for that kind of shit again.

Jia quirks her eyebrow, wondering why I suddenly stopped midsentence. “Any… what? What are you thinking?”

“Uh, he’s never mentioned anything about it. Have you ever seen her around here after that?”

“No, I don’t think so…”

I press my lips together. “Maybe they broke up.”

“What if he does like you?!” she asks excitedly. “Would you go out with him?” I blink a few times and shrug. “I guess so.”

“So you’re from Medford? That’s cool. My family drove through there once on our way to Portland. It’s nice.”

“Yeah, I like it there. You grew up in San Jose, right?”

Johnny and I walk up the hill towards a local grocery store a few blocks north from where we live. My face feels cold from the end of fall chill, but I feel strangely happy. I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that I sort of have a crush on Johnny because I think he’s cute and we’re hanging out.

I’ve been asking him questions. Trying to figure out what he’s like. Trying to figure out whether he has a girlfriend... I know I could just be direct about it and ask, but it seems kind of random to suddenly say, “So, do you have a girlfriend?” when I barely know him.

We obviously know that we can’t just default to, “Oh, if he has a girlfriend, he wouldn’t be trying to hit on someone else” and immediately assume he has morals because apparently that’s not always true.

But aside from that issue, Johnny is nice and in the “getting to know you” stage, he’s decently interesting.

“Yeah. My parents and my sister moved to California a few months after I was born. So I lived with my grandparents in Korea until my parents came back to pick me up after settling down to bring me here,” he says.  

“Do you speak Korean?”

“Yeah, but it’s not very good. I can get around though.”

“I’ve been trying to learn Korean,” I say. “I can read the alphabet and say a few phrases!”

“Oh really? I could help you out sometime.”

Johnny is a year younger than me and he has a sister that’s a year older than me that goes to school in San Francisco. His dad is often traveling for work, so Johnny doesn’t see him as often when he goes home to visit his mom every few weeks. Since she’s home by herself often, she spends a lot of her time volunteering at her church, though sometimes she’ll buy a plane ticket and meet Johnny’s dad wherever he traveled for work.

It seems… lonely.

We arrive at the grocery store and I follow him around, watching him pick out his groceries and making casual small talk about our classes, our interests, and what food to buy.

I can’t help but feel flirtatious. And that’s a weird feeling to me because I never feel flirtatious. Friendly and shy, sure. But flirtatious has only ever really occurred once and I’ll never forget that feeling. I clearly like Johnny, but I’m not trying to give it away. But he asked me to go grocery shopping so that has to count for something.

“Do you want some tea?” Johnny asks, pointing to a colorful display of canned teas.

I blink several times. “Uh, sure? I can Venmo you.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it,” he says. “Which one do you want?”

I spot my favorite flavor near the top and without saying a word, walk over to the display and get on my tippy toes in an attempt to reach the peach tea. My fingers are just a few inches shy of reaching it. Johnny chuckles and I keep my back to him to hide my frown. He walks up behind me and easily reaches over my hand to grab the can and place it in his cart.

“You could’ve just told me which one you wanted. That’s the benefit of being short with tall friends,” he teases.

“Hey! I’m not short!”

“You’re shorter than me.”

“Everyone is shorter than you!” I retort.

He chuckles again. “Yeah, that’s true. Is there anything you need? I’m done.”

I shake my head and turn to head towards the checkout line. An Oreo display case catches my eye and my expression morphs into one of disgust.

“Cherry cola Oreos?” I say in disbelief. “That sounds gross.”

“Hey, they’re probably good,” he responds, pulling out his phone.

I shrug. “I guess they had to pass the taste test before production.”

He doesn’t respond, engrossed in whatever is on his phone. My curiosity gets to the best of me and I begin peering over. He’s looking at an ad for Muji and in the top left corner are the Facebook chat bubbles. Mine is the only one on the screen and he doesn’t appear to have any other notifications. I don’t know what this would tell me. I figure if he had a girlfriend, she would message him while he was on his excursion. Actually, wouldn’t he ask her to accompany him? Unless…?

“Hey,” I greet, placing a glass of water and a plate of sliced fruit on the table. “How’s the studying going?”

Jaehyun lets out a heavy sigh. “It’s all right. A lot of terms to remember. Strategic risk, credit risk, call-options, price insurance… hard to keep them straight sometimes.”

“Do you have any flash cards? I can help test you if you want.”

He shakes his head. “That’s okay. Maybe a little later. I’m doing some practice questions now.” He looks at the plate, grabs an apple slice, and takes a bite. “Thanks.”

“You’ve taken and passed a couple exams already. I know you’ll do great on this one,” I say, taking a seat in the chair across from him.  

“Yeah, but I had to take one of those exams multiple times.”

“So? You still passed. That’s all that matters. And now you’re on your way to becoming a certified financial planner! You’re doing great!”

Jaehyun smiles a bit. “I’d really like to pass this one the first time…”

“I’m sure with all the studying you’re doing, you’ll be fine. You still have a few weeks to get it down.”

“Yeah, but I have to work too…”

I chuckle lightly. “I don’t know how you do it. But you amaze me every day. Work, study, and pass these exams.”

“Honestly, I don’t really know either.” Jaehyun leans back in his chair and crosses his arms. “We should take a vacation after this.”  

I clap my hands together. “Let’s go somewhere warm after I finish finals! Last vacation during law school because next semester it’s finals and then the bar exam.” I press my lips together and frown. “Tests. Always another test!”

“Are you coming in here to study?”

“Hm? Oh, I need to make a call to Siwon first. Why? Do you need something?”

Jaehyun smiles and shakes his head. “No.”

“Oh, okay,” I say as I get up from my seat. “Then I’ll—

“I just like it when you’re with me.”

I started spending more time downstairs with Chaeyoung and Shotaro. We’d sit in a comfortable silence to study and then chat over dinner. Occasionally Johnny would come down to join us. Though recently, he had been cooped up in his room trying to finish the last CS projects of the semester with Hendery. So we didn’t see each other as much, but he did message me frequently to see how I was doing and ate dinner downstairs with the rest of us.

Within a matter of weeks, classes ended and dead week was upon us. Now it was a week of intense cramming and poor diet followed by finals and then a few weeks to relax before doing it all over again. It’s like a hamster wheel… constantly running, only to find out you receive a piece of paper for your endeavors.

After finishing lunch in the dining room, I pack up my laptop and notebooks to set out for a psych review session and a few hours of library study for genetics. Johnny walks in and sits down at the neighboring table, thoughtfully watching me as I place my belongings into my bag.

“Where you going?” he finally asks.

“I have a review session for my psych class at two and then I’m going to study in the library until five or so.”

“Oh, where is it?

“In the life sciences building.”

“Oh.” He shifts around in his chair a bit and begins biting the inside of his lip. “Are you staying in the life science building after that?”

“Yeah, that’s the library I like.”

“Oh, okay. Maybe I should check it out.”

“It’s nice. It’s smaller and they usually have space.”

I glance at him, expecting him to ask to join me in the library, but when he doesn’t, I mentally shrug and throw my backpack over my shoulder.

“See you later,” I say, heading towards the door.

“Bye.”

At the review session, I scan the room and sit down next to an old dorm floormate. She doesn’t notice when I sit down, furiously texting someone with a furrowed brow.

“Ugh!” she groans.

“Everything okay?” I ask out of obligation.

“My boyfriend is being stupid.” She puts her phone back in her pocket. “I kinda think he’s cheating on me.”  

I bite my lip and nod in acknowledgement. “Boys suck.”

“Tell me about it.”

I pull out my own phone to avoid any further divulgence and see a message notification.

Johnny: you said youre gonna study at the library after your review session right?

Heh. It sounds like someone’s too afraid to ask in person.

Me: Yeah

J: when does it end? can I join you? I wanna go study at the library but I don’t wanna get lost lol

My forehead creases in confusion upon reading Johnny’s reasoning. Get lost? How would you get lost?

Me: It’s over at 3 and yeah

Me: Just meet me in front of the library at 3

I’m holding back a smile. I wanted to go to the library with Johnny, but I also didn’t want to be the one to ask. To some extent, this was a test for him. To test his attraction? I like being chased just as much as the next person and if the opportunity presents itself to spend time with Johnny, then all the better.

J: ok! See u then! 

An hour later, I exit the lecture hall and start walking to the other side of the building towards the library. Johnny’s tall figure is leaning against the railing in front of the entrance. He’s wearing a gray baseball cap and holding a textbook against his left thigh while using his other hand to scroll through something on his phone. I walk up to him and looks up from his phone.

“Hey!” he greets. “How was the review session?”

I shrug. “It was all right.” I gesture my head towards the library. “Ready to go in?”

He nods and I start walking into the library with him following slightly behind.

“Whoa,” he whispers, lightly grabbing onto the dangling strap of my backpack. “I’d definitely get lost in here. Make sure I don’t get lost.”

I turn my head slightly to look at him over my shoulder. Gawking at him, he smiles widely back at me. I blink at him a few times and turn back around, continuing on towards the tables in the back and pretending like I’m not leading a child with one of those backpack leashes.

Okay… maybe he’s just really, really weird.

God, this looks so stupid.

I stop in front of an empty table with two high chairs. Johnny lets go of the strap when he sees me move to take off my backpack and then follows suit. I place my belongings on the table and immediately immerse myself in reviewing for my genetics exam. I occasionally take glances over at Johnny who is diligently reading the textbook he was holding and taking notes. Normally, I’d pay a little more attention, but that’s not really my priority right now. However, I won’t deny that there’s this annoying voice in my head that’s asking, “What in the world is Johnny doing? He must like you, right? But what if he has a girlfriend that you don’t know about? Those pictures of him with that girl are still on his Instagram page, but some people leave all of those photos up even after they break up. I don’t have a gauge on what he’s like and whether he’d do that.”

Later that evening, while trying to finish a bioethics paper in bed, I receive a message from Johnny.

J: what are you doing?

Me: I’m trying to write this damn paper and it’s pissing me off

J: you want some cookies?

J: maybe it’ll help you write your paper

Me: Mm okay. I’ll be downstairs in a few

“Are you going downstairs?” Jia asks as I begin shuffling around and grabbing my backpack and a small blanket.

“Yeah.”

“Did you go to the library with Johnny earlier?”

I freeze in place and slowly turn around. How did she know about that?

“I saw you guys walking back together when I was coming back from my review session,” she continues, answering my question without her knowledge. 

“Oh, yeah. He asked to meet me there.”

“Oooh!” She cracks into a wide, shit-eating grin. “He likes you! Are you meeting him downstairs too?!”

“Yeah, he said he had cookies. I want some.”

“Oh my gosh… do you like him?!”

I feel the heat rise up into my cheeks. “I mean, I think he’s cute and he’s fun to hang around with, but I don’t think I like him like that.”

“Oh yeah… if he has a girlfriend, you probably shouldn’t.” She ponders for a few seconds and her eyes shoot open. “Do you think his girlfriend knows he’s hanging out with you?!”

I mentally scoff. If Johnny is actually interested in me like that, I bet he’s conveniently left it out of any conversations with his girlfriend that he’s hanging around another girl and grabbing onto her backpack strap so that he doesn’t get “lost” in the library.

“My guess is probably not.”

I quickly leave and consider the conversation I had had with my dad earlier. I called to tell him about Johnny asking to meet at the library, grabbing onto my backpack, his various offers of cookies and what not. Basically, dad thinks that Johnny probably likes me. His opinion on the girlfriend thing? He’s not sure since we don’t know whether or not Johnny actually has one. It’s strange that she showed up once and then never again and that he’s never mentioned her. This is starting to sound eerily familiar. It’s a problem for later. I need to focus on finals for now.

There is one thing that I hadn’t realized until now though.

Jaemin hasn’t come to mind as frequently.

Perhaps I was finally getting over him.

“What’s the paper for?” Johnny asks as I set my things down at the table on his left.

“It’s for some bioethics class. I’m doing research on pesticides and lymphoma. Not exactly a happy topic.”

He pushes the cookies over to me, gesturing with his left hand for me to take some. My brow raises in curiosity when a piece of jewelry on his wrist catches my eye. It’s a thin, black band with a circular charm hanging off it. It looks like there’s something engraved on it, but I can’t tell because the backside is facing up.

“What’s the bracelet for?”

“Hm?” Johnny raises his left arm and runs his hand through his hair. “Which one?”

I raise my brow at him. “The only black one around your wrist…”

“Oh.” He lowers his hand and looks at his wrist. “Um, it’s a bracelet from my girlfriend.”

I deadpan for a few seconds before quickly remarking, “Oh. Nice!” and following with forced smile.

I turn back to my laptop, trying to pretend to read through my essay. Though, if my facial expression clearly conveys annoyance, I wouldn’t be surprised.

See! This is exactly what I meant about not being able to assume anyone has morals. Interested in Johnny, Y/N? Not anymore. Never mind.

Oh well. It’s not like I got that far with this anyway.

There’s a quick motion coming from my right and suddenly the room becomes dimmer as a baseball cap is placed on my head. I slowly turn to look at Johnny, still slightly miffed at the revelation from seconds earlier. He smiles warmly at me.

“Do you want to go to the library tomorrow?” he asks.

“Why did you do that?” I ask without answering his question.

“What?” He shrugs. “So do you want to go? We should wake up really early in the morning to go so that we can get a head start on studying!”

I nod my head. “Okay.”

What are you doing? There should be some blaring siren going off in your head, but there isn’t. Oh, that’s right. It’s because you’re still attracted to him.

I grab the hat on my head and place it back on his.

“You don’t like it?”

“It’s too big for me.”

“It’s a thinking cap. It’ll help you with your essay.”

“If only it were that easy.”

Johnny chuckles and then opens Facebook on his laptop. He has two messages: one from Hendery and another from someone with the nickname “Boo boo.” It’s times like these where I’m glad I have good control over my facial expressions and can easily type out an essay while reading over someone’s shoulder.

Boo boo’s profile picture is clearly of a girl and when Johnny opens her chat box, I see that boo boo sent a bunch of heart stickers. He follows by responding with a few hearts and a “hiii boo boo!! i love youuuuuu soooo much!!!” It goes back and forth like that a few more times.

I have to try not to gag. Is this what people are like with their boyfriends and girlfriends? Am I going to be like that? Oh gross.

Maybe I just don’t understand what love is. Who am I to question their love? However, if Johnny is “soooo in looooove” with his girlfriend, why is he acting like this with me?

If this is a repeat of Jaemin, I’m walking right into a trap. 

The rest of dead week played out the same way. Wake up in the morning, go to the library with Johnny, watch Johnny send “I looovvee youuu” messages to boo boo, study in the evening with Johnny, grab a study snack with Johnny, spend time with Chaeyoung and Hendery while with Johnny.

My whole study life started revolving around Johnny. And really, it was simply having someone to spend time with. Johnny and I could sit in a comfortable silence and study for our own classes, occasionally taking breaks to eat or show each other videos. It was a good arrangement and I liked my new friend.

But the sad truth was, I liked my new friend a little too much and I had a feeling that nothing good was going to come of it.

Johnny had a girlfriend and he knew that I knew he had a girlfriend. I’ve never been interested in home wrecking and I certainly wasn’t saying anything or doing anything other than spending time with him, to indicate that I had a crush on him. But here we are a year later with the same problem: is it morally wrong for me to be spending time with this guy when I have a crush on him while fairly certain that his behavior was indicative that he liked me? Isn’t he technically emotionally cheating on his girlfriend?

I think the way I tried to justify this was by telling myself that I wasn’t the one initiating the hang outs or study sessions. Johnny would ask and I had the option of agreeing or declining. And sincerely, since I was just trying to study, I didn’t see anything wrong with it.

On the last day of finals, I joined Johnny, Chaeyoung, Jia, Shotaro, Hendery, Sungchan, and a few others in the dining room, celebrating over a box of donuts and cups of hot chocolate. We were exchanging social media accounts to keep up with each other over the break.

“Hey,” Johnny greets as he grabs the empty seat next to me. “Are you going home tomorrow?”

I shake my head. “No, the day after.”

“Do you wanna grab lunch together tomorrow? Hendery is leaving and I’m also not leaving until Sunday.”

“Oh, sure! That would be fun!”

“Cool!”

He throws his baseball cap on top of my head and suddenly the room is quiet. I can tell that everyone is looking at me. I keep my gaze down on the table and take a few seconds to respond with a laugh.

“I don’t want your hat!” I exclaim playfully, pulling it off and trying to put it back on him.

He lightly shoves my arm away. “It looks better on you.”

I ignore him and put the hat down on the table and move to grab another donut from the box, silently praying everyone will stop watching and pretend like nothing happened.

Prev | Next

Before I Met You Masterlist Masterlist

#nct #nct 127 #jung jaehyun #lucas wong #na jaemin #mark lee #johnny suh #wong yukhei #jaehyun #nct dream #nct u #wayv #superm #before I met you

[fizzyxcustard]

Just My Imagination.

Masterlist of fan fiction

Fandom: Spooks

Pairings: Lucas North x Original Female Character (Amy Holland)

Warnings: Undercover agents, angst, insecurity, anxiety.

Word count: 5725

Summary: From the imagine: "Imagine that you are on an operation with Lucas North, where you have to use a cover story that you’re in a relationship. Only Lucas plays the part a little too well."

Comments/Notes: Requested by anon. Requested as Lucas x Amy. THANK YOU. You know how much I love writing about Lucas and Amy. This piece was requested to be a romantic comedy, but I’m so sorry to say that it wound up just being angsty again. 

I hope you like the fic. As always, like, reblog and comment if you enjoy. If you wish to be added to any of my tag lists, let me know.

Operation Greenacre. 

Amy looked back over the folder in front of her, memorising all the information inside. Her name while on this operation was Amanda Reynolds, an office assistant in central London at a family law firm. Recently engaged to boyfriend of two years, Ben Waverley, aka Lucas North, her current operation partner. 

Amy and Lucas had been given keys to a one-bedroom flat where they would act out their pretend lives, hoping to gather more inside information from their next door neighbours, a couple who were potentially funding terrorists through their charity. 

“Are you sure you’re okay to do this?” Lucas asked, hovering at her desk. “If you don’t feel comfortable then tell Harry and we can stand you down.”  

“I don’t want to let anyone down,” Amy sighed, giving him an anxious and embarrassed smile. Next to Jo Portman, Amy was the closest in age to Lucas, so could easily pass off as his fiancée. However, Jo was on another operation. 

Lucas pulled a chair across from the desk opposite and sat down next to Amy. “Look, you’ve never done this before, and it’s kind of going against procedure here and taking a risk. You don’t have to say yes just to please Harry or to impress anyone. Your safety and wellbeing comes first.” 

“But the only other person is Ros.” 

“So?” Lucas asked, raising his eyebrows. “Ros and I have had cover stories before where we’ve been in a relationship. We can easily make it work.” 

Amy looked at Lucas and felt the butterflies flap more viciously in her stomach. The man was gorgeous, and in Amy’s mind her being seen as his fiancée was even more inconceivable than Ros taking the place. Ros Myers had the confidence and grace that Amy didn’t. Amy was of short stature, more curvaceous, with short dark hair and what she considered more ‘plain’ features. While Amy had proven herself as a damn good analyst and office based intel officer, her confidence waned when venturing into new situations, or when in the company of Lucas. 

*

Near the end of Lucas’ shift, he tapped on Harry’s door. 

Harry Pearce, government renowned intelligence officer and senior lead of Section D, raised his head. “Yes, Lucas. Come in.” 

Lucas closed the door behind himself and sat down opposite the middle aged man. “I want to talk to you about Operation Greenacre. I don’t think Amy is ready, Harry. I’ve got a feeling that she’s accepted this to try and prove herself to you.” 

“Is this because you’re concerned about having to watch out for her, or a genuine interest in her safety?” 

“I can’t believe you’d ask me that question,” Lucas scoffed. “I’m worried for her, not me. She’s not ready for field work. Can we just ask Ros to do it?” 

“Lucas, Amy has already agreed to this and your documentation is being processed. I can’t stop this from going ahead, and Ros has, as of this afternoon, been put onto Op Hickory. I trust that you’ll be able to help her; the two of you seem to work well together and there’s something about the way she interacts with you. There’s an ease and a trust I sense.”

“I’m not questioning how we work together. I’ve always got on very well with her.” 

Harry saw a very faint blush hit Lucas’ cheeks, which was quite rare for him. Not much seemed to faze him, but this conversation appeared to be bringing out the very first signs that Lucas may have been holding a secret close to his heart. 

**

Amy woke early the next morning and rolled over to see that it was quarter to five. She had only gotten a couple of hours sleep, sporadic through the night. Her mind was ablaze with all the details of her new life she was about to live. 

Amanda Reynolds. Thirty one years of age. Born in Manchester. Older brother named Thomas. Fiancee of Ben Waverley. A gorgeous man like him wouldn’t ever be interested in someone like me….

The thoughts had trailed off many times, departing from the facts she had to memorise. All she could think about was how appearing engaged to Lucas would seem so far-fetched. She had even looked upon the engagement ring many times, wishing that it was all for real. What an absolutely stupid dream. This woman that she was pretending to be, Amanda Reynolds, had a better life than she had ever had. 

**

At around half seven, after showering, pacing her flat with podcasts playing in her ears, Amy heard her front door buzzer sound. It couldn’t have been the postman, as he normally left all mail in the boxes in the lobby. Deliveries weren’t usually this early. 

Amy clicked the intercom. “Hello?” 

“It’s Lucas.” 

Just his voice was like a wave of pleasurable electricity. It ran down her spine and made her smile. “I’ll let you in.” 

As Amy opened her door, she saw Lucas walking up the hallway. He was dressed in blue jeans and a black shirt, with the top two buttons opened. He held something in his hands. 

“I hope you haven’t had breakfast yet, Aim,” he said softly. 

“I thought we were meeting at nine, at the flat,” Amy said stupidly. 

“I just thought you might like to have a bit of food first and relax a bit.” 

Amy let Lucas into her flat, feeling the familiar flutter of nerves begin to descend. 

“Malcolm has organised the moving van this morning, so a lot of the stuff should be there when we arrive later,” Amy told Lucas, stepping into the kitchen, with him just behind. 

“Come and sit down for a bit and don’t think about the op. Relax and take your mind off it.”

Amy looked down at the brown paper bag on the counter and then back up at Lucas, feeling something in her chest, an ache that she had never quite felt before. Not only was he gorgeous, but kind. He actually saw her, and made her feel like she mattered. Or was this purely to try and help her feel more confident to better the outcome of the op? A method of getting the best out of her. 

“Did you manage to get that sketch completed?” Lucas asked, taking a large bite out of a croissant. 

“Oh, I didn’t think you’d remember that,” Amy said. Only a few days earlier and Amy had been sketching a photo of her nephew at her desk in work. It was a gift that she wanted to give to her sister for her birthday. 

**

By the time that Amy and Lucas had made it to the flat where they would be spending at least the next couple of weeks, Amy felt a little more at ease. The two of them greeted the moving men. 

Every now and again, Amy would catch a glimpse of a shimmer of rainbow colours from the corner of her eye, as the sun caught the diamond on her left hand. 

It all felt natural as Amy and Lucas began putting items away after unpacking boxes. However, it all changed, when a tall red-headed woman came to their open door. She tapped on it and stepped over the threshold and into the living room. “Hello?” 

“It’s okay,” Lucas whispered to Amy as they remained together in the bedroom, still opening boxes. “You’ll be fine. I’ll be with you in a minute.” Then he winked at her, watching as her startled face disappeared out of view. 

“Morning,” Amy said, her face beaming at the sight of the redhead. “I’m guessing you’re a neighbour?” 

“I am. I’m Pamela from next door, at number five. I heard we were getting new neighbours. It’s been so long since anyone has lived here, and I was starting to wonder if they’d ever find tenants.” 

Amy chuckled nervously. “I’m Amanda. My fiancée Ben is still in the bedroom trying to put the bed back together, so he should be out in a bit.”

On cue, just as Amy spoke those last words, Lucas appeared and approached. He curled his arm around Amy’s waist and drew her in against him. “Hi, I’m Ben. I hate moving. It makes me do some DIY which is one of my pet hates.” 

As Lucas spoke, Amy was sure that she could feel Lucas’ fingers moving in an almost circular motion against her waist. She could feel heat rising up her body at the sensation of being in such close proximity of him. 

“Is that a diamond I see?” Pamela asked, her dark eyes growing bright. 

Amy raised her hand to show her new neighbour. “We’ve been engaged about two months now.” 

Lucas pulled Amy that tad closer as she spoke, feeling a deep warmth rise upward and fill him. Without even thinking, he placed a kiss on her temple. Her skin was so soft under his lips and he could smell strawberries, no doubt from her shampoo. 

“You’ll have to come over for dinner tomorrow,” Pamela offered. “We always enjoy hosting dinners for our neighbours. Ted is ever the showman.” 

“That sounds lovely,” Amy said, her voice ever so slightly teetering on the edge of nervousness. She could feel the change in her voice now that Lucas was touching her. 

“I’ll let you both get back to it. I’ll see you around no doubt.” 

As Pamela disappeared into her front door, Amy immediately pulled from Lucas. She turned away from him and dashed away into the kitchen, where she flicked on the kettle for a drink. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she could feel her legs shaking. For a few seconds, she watched out of the window, focusing on the clouds and took a deep breath. 

“Are you okay?” Lucas asked. “You did well, Aim.” 

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just a little flustered, that’s all.” 

**

The rest of the day was fairly lowkey, with Amy and Lucas putting the belongings away, which hopefully wouldn’t be needed for too long. At the briefing, Harry and Lucas had explained that they hoped that the undercover part of the op wouldn’t be any more than two or three weeks. Most of it hinged on Lucas being able to wind his way into Ted Delaney’s trust and gain any hints as to his reasoning and motives for working alongside terrorists. 

At around six there was a sharp knock at the door. 

Lucas opened the door, only to see Ted Delaney in front of him. Positive ID made from all the documentation that had been gathered prior to the undercover portion of the op going live. 

“I’m Ted from next door. Pam told me you’d moved in and that she’d invited you to dinner tomorrow. Thought I’d come over and extend my welcomes to you both.” 

Ted Delany was a man who was easily in his mid-fifties. His greying hair was swept back and oiled, and his grey eyes were piercing. His clothing showed that he had money and position: a well-tailored navy suit and shined shoes. 

“Would you like a drink with us?” Lucas asked. 

“Sure,” Ted said, flashing a broad smile. 

Lucas immediately approached the whiskey and vodka bottles that were neatly placed out on a small table next to a large bookcase. 

Amy could hear faint chatter as she remained in the bedroom. For a second, she stood with her back to the wall, took a deep breath and then exited. 

“Hey, babe,” Lucas said, seeing Amy. ‘Babe’ somehow felt wrong in his mouth, and he hoped that to Delaney the word didn’t come across too alien. “This is Ted from next door.” 

“Ted, this is Amanda. The love of my life and wife-to-be.” 

I think that may be a bit too much, Lucas. Amy mused. 

Amy sat down on the black leather sofa which was opposite a matching armchair, where Ted had perched himself. 

Lucas handed the glass of whiskey to Ted and then placed himself down next to Amy. His hand rested on her thigh, again doing that circular motion with his fingers. He looked at Amy, passing her a glance. “Do you want me to get you anything from the kitchen?” 

“You’re missing out on the good stuff, love,” Ted said with a hearty chuckle and raised his glass in the air. 

“No, I’m fine, thank you,” Amy replied. “I’ve never been able to hand alcohol particularly well. It just doesn’t sit well with me.” 

“I remember when we first met, and she tried to impress me by drinking a couple of pints,” Lucas said. “She’s always tried to impress me when there’s no need to. She’s perfect the way she is.” Lucas, on instinct, squeezed her leg. 

Amy felt a rod of red hot head swarm in her head, as if angry wasps were buzzing there. “I always felt I was out of your league, Ben, you know that.” 

“Pam was always like that with me, too. Some women might seem like they have confidence, but deep down they don’t, and feel they need to be something they’re not. In fact, they’ve always been the apple of your eye from the very beginning.” 

Lucas chuckled. “That’s definitely always been the way with her. She doesn’t see how amazing she is.” 

**

Ted only stayed for approximately twenty minutes, before leaving Amy and Lucas for the night. There was a silence that had grown between them both now, and as Lucas remained in the living room, Amy sat in the kitchen with a mug of tea between her arms, which were resting on the table. 

“Aim, what’s wrong?” Lucas asked, finally following her into the kitchen. “You’ve been quiet since Delaney left. Is it making you uncomfortable?” 

Lucas looked down at the table to see the engagement ring. It was in the centre of the table, not on Amy’s hand where it should have been for the op. 

“I can’t wear it, Lucas,” Amy said softly. “Not when it’s not real. I can’t close the door and still have it on my hand. It’s bad enough having to have you touch me.” 

“Amy…” 

“It doesn’t matter what I think. We see this op through and then go back to the grid and get on with things.” 

**

Lucas lay on the sofa, while Amy had the bed, and thought on her words. It’s bad enough having you touch me. Was she disgusted by him? That very thought made his jaw clench and an ache rise in his chest. That was why she had dashed from him when Pamela had been at their door; Amy found him disgusting and couldn’t stand him touching her. And that touch had been real, so real in Lucas’ mind. To hold Amy next to him had felt like everything was perfect, and nothing was an act. The kiss on her temple...that was all from Lucas’ heart. 

Amy tossed in bed, replaying the events. The way Lucas had touched her, and those words. They seemed to be somehow as though he was telling her, behind a mask of someone else, that…. Of course he wasn’t! 

Lucas is good at his job. He’s done this so many times before and played the part well to get what’s needed for the case and then move on. Nothing is different about this operation whatsoever. It’s just my imagination. 

Being in a different bed meant that Amy couldn’t quite get comfortable in the bed, and would keep peering out of one eye at the clock on the bedside table. The bed was big, enough space for her to roll around, but it reminded her of how isolated she felt. Cut off. Unwanted. 

It was just after four ‘o’ clock and Amy knew she wouldn’t sleep any more that night. It was like the night before, just a couple of hours made up of half hour dozing phases. A dull thump was already starting up behind her eyes. As Amy pulled herself out of bed, she heard the whishing of blood in her ears. 

She staggered out of the room and across the living room, heading for the kitchen. There, on the sofa, sprawled out was Lucas. He was on his back, mouth wide open. The patchwork quilt had fallen off him, so Amy tottered over to him, and placed the quilt back over his sleeping form. He twitched as the quilt touched him, let out a loud snore, and then rolled over. 

Amy made a cup of herbal tea and sat in the kitchen, her eyes stinging and head thumping. It seemed as if Lucas slept easily, not worrying about the operation and certainly not about the tension that had risen between them. Was it only Amy that sensed any kind of tension? She was starting to assume it was. 

By the time it had turned half six, Amy got dressed into a fresh strip of clothing, choosing jeans and a frilled white blouse: the attire of Amanda Reynolds. Amy Holland, MI5 analyst, would have opted for jeans and a rock band T-shirt with a waistcoat, or a bright coloured hoodie. Sophistication wasn’t something that Amy felt she had. 

The streets were fairly quiet and Amy slipped into a café, ordering two bagels and two Americano coffees. Then she walked back to the flat, feeling that she could finally find a sense of peace out in the chilled mid-March air. 

By the time Amy got back to the flat, she walked in to find that Lucas had vacated the sofa. She could hear the splashing of bathwater and an offkey singing voice coming from the bathroom. 

Amy giggled and placed the breakfasts down on the coffee table in the living room, waiting for Lucas to re-appear. 

When he finally made an appearance, Lucas sauntered over to the sofa and sat down, leaving a gap between Amy and himself. 

“I hope you like bagels,” Amy said, giving a smile. “You brought breakfast yesterday so it’s only fair I do so today.” 

***

Amy ventured out the flat after breakfast, deciding to get out of Lucas’ way for a few hours. The cover story was that Amanda and Ben were on annual leave for a week while they moved into their new property. Ben, being the owner of his own accountancy firm, had left the company in the capable hands of his best friend, and co-director, Patrick Lange. If any kind of phone call was needed to or from Patrick, Tariq had been asked to step in and lend his vocal skills. 

First off, Amy sat down in a coffee shop and watched people wander past the window; tourists, residents. Some of them she could tell immediately as residents of London, carrying briefcases or dressed sharp for an upcoming meetings. Tourists tended to walk slower, some with cameras around their necks, and gazed around in excitement and wonder. 

Her phone chimed. Well, Amanda’s phone. It was one of the many iPhones that were kept on the Grid specifically for operations, with disposable SIM cards. 

Ben: Are you sure you’re okay? You didn’t seem yourself this morning. Love you. Xxx

Of course all text messages had be sent in character, in case the devices were ever compromised. No personal devices were allowed. One very basic Nokia 3310 model was kept in order to report back to Harry in case any challenges occurred, and that was in Lucas’ possession. 

Amanda: Yes, I’m fine, sweetie. I’ll be back later.  xx

Sweetie. Acting out this whole made-up scenario was angering Amy. 

Amy continued on walking, disappearing in and out of shops. All of the money she had was in physical cash. No personal credit and debit cards were to be used while on operation. Every aspect of who she really was had been erased. For the next two or three weeks, Amy Holland didn’t exist. When she looked into a mirror, Amanda Reynolds looked back. Amy could imagine the reflection smirking at her, the diamond sparkling so brightly on her left hand, with Ben’s arm wrapped around her. Ben’s steel blue eyes looking back, his nose wrinkled in disgust at the mere sight of Amy. 

Like I’d ever look at you twice.

Back at the flat, Lucas put more items away, concentrating on the kitchenware. However, his mind couldn’t stop spiralling into thoughts of Amy. She was confusing him and it was twisting his gut so tight. Suddenly he got up from the tiled floor, where he had been putting pots and pans into the cupboards, and called her. 

“Amanda?” he asked. 

“Ben,” she replied matter-of-factly. 

“Are you alone?” he asked. 

“No one is directly around me.”

“We need to talk on neutral ground.” 

“Please, no. We can talk when I get back.”

“We have to be careful as we can be compromised, you know that.” 

“I’m on my way back now. We’ll talk more after the dinner. I’ll be back in about half hour.” 

The line then went quiet as Amy terminated the call. 

Lucas sighed in frustration. In all the months that he had known Amy, which was almost a year, he had never known her be so aloof. She was naturally a shier person, but he had never known her react like this. 

Amy got back to the flat within the half hour that she had promised. She stepped into the living room to see Lucas sat on the sofa. The gorgeous bastard looked up at her and smiled sadly. 

“After the dinner, we’ll go for a walk,” she proposed. 

***

Amy and Lucas prepared themselves for the dinner with their new neighbours at around six. 

Lucas was dressed in a black suit jacket and white shirt, with the top two buttons popped open. It was complimented nicely with a pair of dark jeans, giving a casual edge. 

Amy stepped out of the bedroom, her short pixie cut freshly washed and neatly brushed. She wore a black dress with frills on the wrist, and paired with black dolly shoes. Her whole look was sophistication mixed with a sense of comfort. 

As Lucas looked at her, he swallowed hard. She was wearing a dark eyeshadow and mascara which accented her deep green eyes perfectly. He could sense her discomfort at the get-up, knowing that this wasn’t her usual style, but he couldn’t help feel it suited her so well. 

Amy tried to avoid eye contact and made her way to the door in silence. 

Lucas followed on behind, feeling his stomach twist yet again at her distance from him. He grabbed a bottle of wine from the table by the door, and then closed it behind them. 

Pam was the one to answer the door. She grinned at her new neighbours and let them in. “Take a seat. Dinner won’t be too long now. I’m preparing smoked salmon, topped in my special sauce. Chef’s secret as to the recipe. Everyone who has ever tried it has raved over it.” 

“Good man!” Ted exclaimed, taking the bottle of red wine from Lucas. “Priorities.” 

Amy glanced around the living room, noticing that there was far less in it than hers and Lucas’ temporary abode. The flooring was wooden, and the lights bright. Everything felt too clean and sterile for Amy’s liking. She sat down on a black leather sofa, and then tensed as Lucas perched beside her. He took her hand and rested it on his knee, then caught her gaze and smiled, giving her a very slight nod. 

“So, how did you two meet?” Pam asked, preparing glasses as Ted popped open the wine bottle. 

“Do you want a coffee? You said last night you don’t drink,” Ted asked Amy, interjecting himself into the conversation before anyone else could speak. 

“Oh, yes, please. That would be perfect,” she replied with a grateful smile. 

Lucas began to talk, still holding Amy’s hand. He rolled out the spiel that he and Amy had been given as part of their briefing pack. Amanda and Ben had met through mutual friends at a Christmas party. 

The words rolled effortlessly off Lucas’ tongue, Amy mused. And how she wished all of it was true. To be loved, wanted, proposed to, lived with. She desperately wanted it all. Life was cruel. Rather than be dealt such a lucky hand, she instead had to act it all out, pretend, and live behind a happy mask, where her heart beneath was breaking. 

“You definitely struck lucky, love,” Pam told Amy with a wink. 

The conversation between Lucas and Ted seemed to flow without much thought. However, Lucas’ hand moving up Amy’s thigh, curling further into the inside of her leg. 

Shivers began to race up Amy’s spine as she felt his fingers caress her skin through her thin tights. 

Most of the conversation seemed to merge into a mindless chatter as Amy concentrated on Lucas’ hand on her leg. She studied the veins in the back of his hand, which then caused images of him touching her in more intimate places to flicker through her mind. 

By the time that dinner was ready and the group had moved into the dining room, which again was a sterile looking room, Lucas had finally got onto the topic of conversation that he needed: Ted’s work. 

The table was only small, considering that the flat was large. It gave way for more kitchen space and cabinets. This meant that Amy was sat directly next to Lucas again, with Pam and Ted opposite them. 

“How long have you owned the charity, Ted?” Lucas asked, slipping into his seat. 

Ted began to answer while Pam laid out all the dishes in the centre of the table, her hands covered in oven gloves. “The charity was actually started by my father, who died five years ago, so it was handed down to me. He always spent his life helping disadvantaged children; it was all he cared about.” Something flickered across Ted’s face. Resentment, anger? Lucas couldn’t quite tell. But maybe that was where he could probe further. 

“Are you alright, love?” Pam asked, sitting down directly opposite Amy. “You look a bit pale.” 

“It’s probably the new foundation I’m using. I decided to try a lighter colour as the one before, by Clinique was too dark.” Where had that response come from? Maybe Amy wasn’t quite as bad at this acting while undercover thing as she had originally thought. Suddenly she felt something on her leg and jumped. Thankfully, Pam had started talking to Lucas and Ted again, so none of them noticed her jump. Why was Lucas touching her leg? Their lower halves were concealed beneath the table, which meant he didn’t have to touch her in order for anyone to believe they were lovers. 

While Amy eat her meal, she couldn’t stop thinking about Lucas’ hand coming back to her leg. 

“So, how did you choose to propose?” Pam asked, grinning. “I always adore love stories.”

Lucas blushed and then looked at Amy, catching her gaze. Then, he touched her leg again. Only this time, Amy didn’t flinch. In fact, upon instinct, she leaned her leg into his touch. “I just knew that I couldn’t live without her in my life. I wanted to wake up next to her, have kids with her. Cliché, I know. So I took her away for Christmas, to New York where she’d always wanted to go, and proposed in front of the Statue of Liberty.” His eyes were still locked on hers as he spoke. 

A sudden wave of nausea hit Amy and she leaned to the side, away from Lucas. 

“Are you okay, babe?” Lucas asked. “She’s been like this on and off the last couple of days.” 

Pam’s bright blue eyes lit up in excitement. “Maybe it’s the pitter patter of tiny feet.” 

“I’m going to have to head back to the flat. I’m so sorry to both of you,” Amy said, bolting up from her seat. 

Lucas got up beside her and wound his arm around her waist. “Sorry to leave so abruptly, but she comes first.” 

“Of course,” Ted chuckled. “We’ll have to re-schedule for a better time.” 

Amy and Lucas bid their farewells to their guests and head back to the flat. Amy dashed inside and raced to the bathroom, slamming the door. Rather than vomiting, she got to her knees on the floor and felt the tears of sadness roll down her cheeks. 

The door opened and Lucas stepped inside. He looked down as she sobbed and fell to his knees beside her. “Aim, what’s wrong?” he whispered. “You’re scaring me.” 

“You don’t have to keep the act going, Lucas,” she snapped, glaring at him. “Pam and Ted aren’t here.” 

“Get dressed into something more comfortable and warmer. We’ll go for a walk,” Lucas said, his voice becoming authoritative. 

“I don’t want…”

“While we’re on this operation, I’m the senior officer. Please get changed and we’ll go for a walk.” Lucas felt a stab of shame as he spoke those words, knowing he was using his own position for gain, but he needed to know what was happening. Her behaviour was becoming more erratic. Not only was she worrying him for her wellbeing, but if she continued to act like this then the op would be compromised. 

Fuck the operation! I care more about her. 

Fifteen minutes later and Amy walked beside Lucas, the darkness and cold evening air wrapping tight around them. Once they were a few streets away from the flat, Amy and Lucas sat down on a bench in a small park. 

“You really are scaring me, Amy. What’s wrong?” he asked quietly. “This is me asking because I care for your wellbeing. It’s not an act.” The word ‘act’ dripped with anger. He noticed that, yet again, she’d taken the engagement ring off. 

Amy noticed him look at her hand. “I can’t wear that ring, Lucas. Please don’t make me wear it when I don’t have to.” 

“We’re on surveillance and undercover twenty-four seven with this operation. You shouldn’t take it on and off when you please like this. This goes deeper than that, Aim. I know you hate me touching you, and I’m sorry I have to do it.” 

“I know it’s all an act for the op, Lucas. Don’t apologise.” 

“Is it all an act?” he asked. His gaze locked on Amy’s. “I know I shouldn’t have touched you under the table. There was no need for that. The truth is, none of this has been an act for me.” 

Amy’s eyes were wide in shock and sadness as she stared at him. “It’s not just my imagination?” she whispered. 

“No,” Lucas replied with a smile. “And when you said about not wanting me to touch you…”

“I didn’t mean that I didn’t want you to touch me. It’s I…I’ve liked you for a while Lucas, and it was getting too much. Playing it all like a game when deep down it’s something I want. I’m living another woman’s life that I want.” 

Lucas slipped closer to Amy and cupped her cheek with his hand. “Is it me or Ben Waverley that you want?” 

“Of course it’s you I want.” Amy replied, her face broad with a huge smile. 

Lucas moved even closer to her still, until their lips touched. The kiss started as a simple peck, a moment of uncertainty, but Amy’s hand tugging Lucas’ jacket spurred him on. The kiss grew deeper, their tongues meeting and warmth rising. 

As they both parted, Lucas smiled upon the slight of Amy’s beautiful flushed cheeks. She looked so innocent and angelic in those moments; her eyes sparkling in happiness, her cheeks flushed and her lips plump. 

“Does this mean that if you want Amanda’s life that you’re planning on leaving MI5?” Lucas chuckled. “Pack up and go work as a solicitor’s secretary. We’d miss you.” 

“Maybe I don’t want that part of her life.”  

“If we do this, Aim, and have a relationship, we won’t be put together undercover again, you know that, don’t you?” Lucas asked. “Harry can’t risk any compromise. We’d be a weakness to each other.” 

“Maybe on this op we can draw strength from each other. It’ll definitely make the act easier to keep up.” 

Lucas and Amy walked back to the flat hand in hand. The whole time and Amy was beaming, unable to hide the happiness she was feeling in those moments. Her gaze would drift down to their joined hands every few minutes. 

Back at the flat, Lucas let Amy in ahead of himself, his hand brushing against her lower back. He followed on behind her and closed the door. The way she turned to face him and looked up smiling, her cheeks still flushed, made his heart skip and his stomach flutter. She was so beautiful, with innocence shining brightly in her eyes and love curling her lips upwards. 

Lucas stepped forward and wound his arm around her waist, drawing her in and then leaned down to kiss her again. 

Their kiss grew hot very quickly, with their bodies entwining. 

Amy opened her eyes slowly, looking up into the silver blue depths of Lucas’ gaze. That all too familiar smirk began to form in the corner of his mouth. 

Amy slipped out of his hold and walked slowly into the kitchen, looking down at the table. The engagement ring was still in the centre where she had left it. 

Lucas moved around her and picked up the ring. Then he gently lifted her left hand. “I know you don’t want to wear it, Aim, but please do this for me.” 

With a sigh, Amy watched as Lucas slid the diamond solitaire ring onto her hand. It felt as though the ring had been sized perfectly and belonged there. “Maybe one day I’ll have someone doing it for real.” 

Lucas smiled sadly, feeling a lump form in his throat. Words swarmed in Lucas’ mind. Just one sentence to respond to Amy’s sad comment. But the right one would not come. Instead, he remained quiet. Perhaps one day it might have been him putting a ring on her hand, and meaning it. However, for now, he would have to wait and see, and hope for that future to come. 

***

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#Lucas North #Spooks #MI5 #Richard Armitage #Fanfic #Lucas North x OFC #Lucas North x OC

[linasofia]

Masterlist

Thorin

Business & Pleasure

Thorin Oakenshield x Fem!Reader (Modern AU) Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3 l Part 4 l Part 5 l Part 6 I Part 7 l Part 8 l Part 9 l NYE

Bunnelê

Thorin Oakenshield x Fem!Reader x Raymond de Merville (Modern AU) Part 1 l ...

A Shooting Star

Thorin Oakenshield x OC Vega Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3 l Part 4 l Part 5 l Part 6 l Part 7 l Art

Around the Riverbend

Thorin Oakenshield x OFC

Brothers in Arms

Thorin & Dwalin (platonic)

Among The Stars

Thorin Oakenshield x OC Riin (Crossover AU)

Raymond

Petite Voleuse

Raymond de Merville x OFC Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3 l Part 4 l Part 5 l Epilogue

Le Désir

Raymond de Merville x OC Cecilia Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3

Father Quart

Penance 🧔🏻‍♂️✝️

Father Quart x Fem!Reader Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3

Seven 🧔🏻‍♂️✝️

Father Quart x Fem!Reader

A Piece of Heaven 🧔🏻‍♂️✝️

Father Quart x Fem!Reader

More Than Words🧔🏻‍♂️✝️

Father Quart x Fem!Reader

Our Secret 🧔🏻‍♂️✝️

Father Quart x Fem!Reader

Coming Home 🧔🏻‍♂️✝️

Father Quart x Fem!Reader

Sacrifice 🧔🏻‍♂️✝️

Father Quart x OC Charlotte Part 1 l Part 2

Love Never Dies 🧔🏻‍♂️✝️

Father Quart x OC Palmira Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3 l Part 4 l Part 5

Burning Desire 🧔🏻‍♂️✝️

Father Quart x OC Lucia

Various RA characters

The Night Train

Daniel Miller x Fem!Reader Part 1 l Part 2 l …

Into The Woods

Dr Mikhail Astrov x OFC Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3

The Game

William Farrow x Fem!Reader Part 1 l Part 2

Never Together

John Porter x Fem!Reader Part 1 l Part 2

The Call

John Porter x Fem!Reader

In My Head

Dr. Scott White x OC Emily

The Assignment

Lucas North x OC Lovisa

Richard

The Fire 🔥

Creature (Richard Armitage) x OC Polina

Hunger 🧛‍♂️

Richard Armitage x Fem!Reader

Blood Moon 🧛‍♂️🧛‍♂️

Richard Armitage x OC Sofia x Matthew Clairmont Part 1 l Part 2 I Part 3 l Part 4

Naughty Thoughts 🐴

Richard Armitage x Fem!Reader Part 1 I Part 2 I Part 3 I Part 4

Event

Armitage Summer Splash 2022 Masterlist 💦

Asks

Christmas with Dr. Scott White 🎄

Christmas Eve with Father Quart 🎄

Art

Father Quart x me by @legolasbadass 💙

All pictures from The Man from Rome & Obsession by @enchantzz 💜

Thorin Oakenshield by @legolasbadass 💚

Thorin Oakenshield by @mysandwichranaway 💙

Star Wars

Starflowers

Obi-Wan Kenobi x OC Eliise

#richard armitage #thorin #thorin oakenshield #raymond de merville #father quart #daniel miller #fanfic #fluff #angst #Dwalin #fanfiction #vampire!richard #lucas north #john porter #john proctor #mikhail astrov #ray levine #john thornton #francis dolarhyde #scott white #claude becker #ricky deeming #guy of gisborne #obi-wan #obi-wan kenobi #the hobbit #the man from rome #pilgrimage #strike back #berlin station

[middleearthpixie]

Sweet Dreams

Armitage Summer Splash Prompt #28 ~ Once more, thanks to @fizzyxcustard & @lathalea... :)

Trope: Dream

Quote: “Let’s skip to the good part.”

RA Character: Lucas North

Relationship: Lucas North x Fem!Reader

Warnings: slight PTSD, mostly fluffy fluff

Rating: G

Word Count: 1,377

***

It was the knee in the back that woke you from a sound sleep. Lucas let out a low, almost muffled moan as he thrashed about. “Oh… no… please…”

“Lucas?” You caught him by the should to shake him. “Lucas, hon, wake up.”

He jolted awake as if you’d screamed at him, breathless, face shining with sweat visible even in the low light offered by the bathroom nightlight. He buried his face in his hands, his gasps melting into something far more heartbreaking. 

“It’s all right, love. It was just a nightmare, is all,” you whispered, shifting to gather him in your arms, the same way he gathered your daughter in his whenever she had nightmares. You could only hope she hadn’t heard him and didn’t wake up. Getting a four year old back to sleep in the middle of the night could be a chore and a half.

He clung to you, and you held him as tightly as you dared, one hand moving over his dark hair, which poked in all directions in damp spikes. Little by little, he calmed against you, his breathing returning to normal as he just let you hold him.

“It was so real…” he whispered, horror woven through each word. “Oh, so fucking real…”

“I know.” You had no idea what he dreamed, as he never told you in great detail, but you knew it was tied to his past and the years he’d been imprisoned in Russia. He wouldn’t tell you what happened there, but you knew it had to be awful, judging by the way it haunted his sleep night after night. 

The dreams came in spurts. He’d be fine for weeks, sometimes months, but then they’d descend upon him like relentless vultures, stripping away at his peace of mind until you were sure he’d never know another night’s tranquility again. You’d tried to get him to see a therapist, to get help of some sort for his PTSD, but he refused, saying he could handle it. Sometimes you thought he’d done just that, but others?

“Daddy?”

You both looked toward the doorway. Your daughter, Olivia stood there, her long hair a tangle of raven-black curls about her cherubic face. Lucas pulled away from you. “Hey, sweetheart,” he said softly, as he slid out of bed, pausing long enough to grab the pair of black sweatpants he'd left draped over the footboard earlier and tugged them on, then crossed over to her. “What are you doing up?”

“I heard you,” she said softly, rubbing one eye with her fist. 

“I’m so sorry I woke you, princess,” he told her, scooping her up to cradle her against him. “Let’s get you back to bed. Daddy is fine. He just had a bad dream, is all.”

“Lucas,” you eased to the edge of the bed, “I can—“

“I’ve got her, love,” he said, smiling at you over his shoulder. “We’ll pick a book and Daddy will read to you until you fall back to sleep, okay, princess?”

She nodded solemnly and you pressed your lips together at how she curved her hands against his stubbled cheeks. “Daddy, you look tired.”

“I’m fine, Livy. Let's get you back to bed, then, shall we?”

You didn’t argue, but sank back against his still-warm pillows as he carried Olivia from your room to her own just down the hallway. She had been a surprise, a welcomed one, but most definitely unexpected. It amazed you now to remember how you’d dreaded having to tell him then. 

You stared at the little plus sign in the test window. 

Pregnant. 

A few days later, you were in your gyno’s office, having the pregnancy confirmed via blood test. 

Pregnant. 

You met Lucas for dinner that night, your heart racing, your belly roiling like crazy, your head pounding from the stress, You’d never talked about children. You’d never even talked about marriage. Your relationship was a good one, but you were both happy with the way it had been.

Now… you were going to change his life forever.

You took a deep breath. “Lucas, I have something to tell you, and I don’t know how you’ll feel about it.”

His steel blue eyes took on a wary look you’d never seen before. “What is it?”

You took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”

His eyes widened. For a moment, he just stared as if you’d answered him in Klingon. Your mouth went so dry, swallowing was almost painful. Finally, after a few minutes of stunned silence, came his, “You’re what?”

“Pregnant. Almost nine weeks.”

He stared a moment longer. “Are you sure?”

You nodded. “I’m positive.”

“We’re having a baby?”

You didn't miss his phrasing. You tried hold back your smile as you nodded. “Yeah... We’re having a baby.”

For the next seven months, he fussed over you, almost to the point of driving you totally crazy. In the delivery room, he was red-eyed, with a silly smile on his lips as he cut the cord right where the doctor directed, between the two clamps. Olivia Catherine North had come into the world at four-twenty in the morning and weighed a whopping six-and-a-half pounds and you would never forget the look on Lucas' face when he held her in his arms for the first time.

A month after she was born, Lucas asked you to marry him. Less than a week later, you and Lucas went to the courthouse and made yourselves official. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas North.

And now, there you were. A family. 

You reached for your robe, drawing it on as you rose and padded from the room out into the hallway.

“Read Wizard, Daddy.”

“Again? Are you sure you don't want me to read something else?”

“Daddy! Wizard, please.”

“Okay, okay,” he laughed and then you heard a book being eased from its shelf and knew he was pulled The Wizard of OZ from its spot on Olivia's bookshelf. It was her favorite book and her favorite movie and night after night, either you or Lucas read a chapter of it to her. And now, as you drew near her room, you smiled as she said, “Let’s skip to the good part, Daddy. When they get to the Emerald City.”

“That’s the good part for you?”

“Yes. I like when Dorothy is made pretty and the Tin Man is shiny.”

"But the flying monkeys are cool, too."

"Daddy," Olivia's voice was heavy with exasperation, "you like the flying monkeys. I like when Dorothy gets pretty again."

"Okay, okay," Lucas let out a sigh that was anything but exasperated, "you win, princess. Again. Emerald City it is.”

You paused at the doorway, not wanting to disturb or interrupt them. The only light came from the small lamp on the bedside table, and Lucas and Olivia lay curled together in her narrow bed, surrounded by her favorite stuffed animals.

With a soft sigh, you leaned against the doorjamb, watching as Olivia snuggled up against her father, his arm about her. He opened the book, flipped through to the part where Dorothy and her friends arrive at the Emerald City, and began reading, his deep voice calm and soothing. Olivia tucked her head against his chest, her thumb firmly in her mouth, her favorite stuffed puppy under one arm.  

The resemblance between father and daughter was almost breathtaking—same raven black hair, same piercing blue eyes, same sharp features. As he read, Olivia's eyes grew heavy-lidded and slowly slid shut, and you pressed your lips together as she let out a soft sigh while Lucas kept reading. 

You turned to go back to your room and were halfway to it when you heard the soft thud. As you came back and poked your head into Olivia's room, you smiled. The book lay on the floor alongside the bed, and both Olivia and Lucas were sound asleep.  

You came into the room without a sound and picked up the book to set on the bedside table, then moved to take hold of the pale pink fleece blanket bunched at their feet. You carefully drew it over both of them, pressed a gentle kiss into each forehead and whispered, “Sweet dreams, loves.”

***

Like it? Love it? If so, please love it, leave a comment, reblog it, or do all three! 💜💜💜

Tag List: @tschrist1 @i-did-not-mean-to @lathalea @linasofia @fizzyxcustard @legolasbadass @kibleedibleedoo @xxbyimm @arrthurpendragon @arrthurpendragon @exhausted-humxn-being @rachel1959 @laurfilijames @sketch-and-write-lover @sherala007 @enchantzz @knitastically @notlostgnome @myselfandfantasy @ggfamert @medusas-hairband @guardianofrivendell @jotink78

#lucas north #armitage summer splash #richard armitage #Lucas North x OC #Lucas North x Reader #Lucas North x You #Spooks #spooks fanfic

[sorisooyaa]

Moodboard / Banner / Blend Masterlist

ARMITAGE SUMMER SPLASH HOSTED BY @lathalea AND @fizzyxcustard

WEEK 1:

Enemies to Lovers - Guy of Gisborne x Fem!Reader

Lathalea’s Post

WEEK 2:

A Secret is Found Out -  Thorin x OC (Diamonds and Ashes | Raelynn Adair story)

Coffee Shop - Daniel Miller x Fem!Reader

Kidnapped - Raymond De Merville x Fem!OC

Crossover - Thorin Oakenshield x Eternal!OC

Oblivious Of Feelings - Thorin Oakenshield x Fem!Reader

Comfort - John Thornton x Fem!Reader

Lies - Thorin Oakenshield and Fëanor

WEEK 3:

Arranged Marriage - Raymond De Merville x Fem!OC

Love Triangle - Ray Levine x Fem!OC x Cassie

Illness - Dr. Scott White x Fem!OC

Angel/Demon - Modern!Dragon Sickness!Thorin Oakenshield x Fem!OC

Matching Tattoos - Francis Dolarhyde x Fem!OC

Werewolf/Vampire - Vampire!Thorin Oakenshield x Werewolf!Fem!Reader

Body Swap - Thorin Oakenshield and Thranduil / Thorin x Wife!Reader

WEEK 4:

Break Up - Lucas North x Fem!OC

Time Travel - Raymond De Merville x Reader /  Father!Raymond De Merville x daughter!ofc

Accident - Francis Dolarhyde x Reader

Birthday - Thorin Oakenshield x Fem!Reader

Proposal - Dr. Mikhail Astrov x Fem!OC

Looming Anniversary - Thorin Oakenshield x Wife!Reader

Be Careful What You Wish For - Modern!Dragon Sickness!Thorin Oakenshield x Fem!OC

WEEK 5:

Vacation/Holiday - Modern!Thorin Oakenshield x Wife!Reader

Pirates - Thorin Oakenshield x Mermaid!Reader

Thank you for the likes, comments and reblogs 💖

#armitage summer splash #masterlist #graphics masterlist #richard armitage #daniel miller #raymond de merville #thorin oakenshield #john thornton #ray levine #dr. scott white #francis dolarhyde #the hobbit #hannibal #spooks #lucas north #modern AU #the pilgrimage #stay close #the silmarillion #north and south #the eternals #crossovers #sleepwalker 2017 #berlin station #uncle vanya #dr. astrov #mikhail astrov #shalinizhara #guy of gisborne #bbc robin hood

[badwritinghabit]

Chef's Kiss | Carmy x fem!OC x Luca | Chapter 3

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Masterlist | Ao3

Warnings: language, abusive parent, discussion of body size and food, smoking.

Word Count: 3,764

Summary: Sophie invites Carmy over to meet her sister and is surprised when her mother shows up too. Sophie and Carmy make eyes at each other.

A cool breeze blew through the window and Sophie sipped her coffee while listening to her neighbor’s music making its way through their connecting wall. She was glad they seemed to have similar taste, though she worried a little for her neighbor who seemed to be listening to the same few songs on repeat.

Her mind wandered. She had one thing she needed to do today. She had already put it off twice. Earlier that week she had gotten a call from her sister asking to come see her apartment the following Sunday. She had already gotten a babysitter and her husband was going to be having a guys night. Sophie loved cooking for people so she was excited to turn it into a little dinner date for the two of them. The only problem was Mallary had asked for something else.

“You’ve talked so much about Carmen. You’ve been friends for years.” Mallary said, leadingly. “A quiet dinner party is a good time to introduce people.”

Sophie groaned. “He owns a restaurant. He never has time.”

“It’s a Sunday night. Come on, he has to be able to make a little time. Just ask.” Mallary pushed.

Sophie eventually caved and had agreed to at least ask.

She had put off asking him the evening of the call, deciding it was too late to text him. And the next day didn’t feel right either, she was taking her nieces to the museum and didn’t want to send him a message and not be around to respond.

As she sat, thinking of more excuses, she decided she’d do it in person. She wanted to get out of her apartment anyway. And hearing Noah Kahan songs on repeat all morning may have been getting in her head a little.

She took the subway to River North. Once she was outside Carmy’s restaurant, her nerves returned. But her sister had asked. And she had to admit, she liked the idea of talking to Carmy outside of a restaurant again.

She took a breath and walked in, glad to see it was quiet. Lunch rush was over.

“Sophie. What are you doing down here?” Richie greeted her with a grin.

She winced, already knowing his reaction. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by. I was hoping to talk to Carmy.”

“In the neighborhood? What a coincidence.” He saw through her immediately and she rolled her eyes. “You know this is a place of work.”

“Oh is that what you do here? It seems like you guys are just fuckin’ around all day.” She smirked at him and he laughed at her.

“Hey fuck you,” he said, his voice warm. “Carmen! Your girlfriend is here,” he called, loudly, back into the kitchen.

“Fuck you, Richie,” she grumbled. He just smiled wider.

Carmy walked through the door looking concerned.

“Sorry!” She held up her hands in front of her.

Carmy shook his head and flipped Richie off. “Come on back.” He waved her through to the kitchen.

She walked in and everyone was staring, clearly having heard Richie.

“Hey Syd!” she greeted her as she walked in. When Syd gave her a questioning look, she mouthed ‘Richie’ and rolled her eyes to Syd’s understanding nod.

Carmy held the door to the office for her and she walked through and leant against the desk, clutching her hands in front of her.

“Everything okay?” he asked, as he closed the door.

“Yeah, no. Everything is totally fine,” she said, recognizing the concern on his face. “I have a bit of a favor to ask. And you can say no, of course, but– next Sunday night. My sister wants to meet you. I’m going to make her dinner at my place.” She bit her lip, stopping herself from saying more.

“Next Sunday?” he asked, thinking it over.

“Yeah. I told Mallary I’d at least ask. But if you can’t get away from the restaurant, I totally understand.”

“I can make that work. I’ve wanted to meet her too.”

She blushed, the sincerity in his voice caused her chest to tighten painfully. “She was disappointed you moved to Copenhagen before she could visit us in New York.”

He gave her the smallest smile and it melted her. “Thanks, Carm,” she said. “I’ll text you when we figure out the time.” She hesitated for a second before pointing her thumb behind her. “I don’t want to interrupt work, I’ll just–” She turned to head out and walked straight into Richie’s chest. He had opened the office door and walked in without her noticing.

“Jesus, you a little distracted Sophs?” he teased her.

She shoved him lightly, cheeks flaming in embarrassment. He laughed and stepped aside to let her through.

“Back to the kitchen, chef. This is a professional restaurant.” He yelled the last two words out at Sophie’s retreating form.

“Shut the fuck up, Richie!” she called back, grinning at his responding laugh.

---

Sophie closed the oven door, set a timer, and sighed. Chocolate chip cookies would calm her nerves. She knew her sister would probably tease her and Carmy a little. She could be overbearing at times, but it wouldn’t be too bad. And she had wanted them to meet. So the last hour of nervous pacing she’d done confused her a little. But she pushed the thought aside as she did some final tidying up of her kitchen.

Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts, and she quickly stepped over to grab it off the counter.

“Sophie. I’m sorry, but mom is going to join. Is that okay?” Mallary rushed through her sentences, sounding nervous.

Sophie froze. “Why is mom here?”

“She came down yesterday and is staying one more night.”

“Wait so you knew? Then why would you ask me to bring Carmy?” Sophie asked, growing frustrated.

“It wasn’t for sure, Sophie. I just don’t want to be the in-between person anymore. And I didn’t want you to cancel like you usually do.”

Sophie rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache building behind her eyes. She was cornered. How could she say no now?

“I’ll talk to Carmy. When are you and mom going to be here?”

“30 minutes,” Mallary said, quietly. Sophie loved her sister but she was angry. Mallary should know better than anyone how hard it was to deal with their mother.

“Okay then.” Sophie hung up. She knew her voice was cold but she was past caring. The thought of having her mom visit was causing her to panic a little. She quickly dialed Carmen’s number and was grateful he answered right away.

“Hey, I’m walking up to your door now,” Carmy answered.

“Fuck,” Sophie sighed. “I’ll be right down.” She ran down in her socks

“You good?” Carm asked, clearly worried about her frazzled state.

She was not good.

Sophie shook her head. “My mom’s coming. My sister just told me. You should probably leave before–” She stopped when she saw Carmy was holding something. “Did you bring wine?”

“I did, is that okay?”

“Thank you,” she was touched. And some of the tension left her shoulders. “Carm, you shouldn’t have to deal with my mother. You don’t have to stay. It’s going to be bad.”

Carmy shifted on his feet, unsure. “I want to meet your sister. Will it be worse– with your mom, I mean– if I’m here?”

Something about seeing Carmy with a bottle of wine asking to stay made her rethink her decision. “Come on up.”

They walked up the stairs. “She’s difficult. If she says anything rude to you, I’m sorry in advance.” They had gotten to her door and she waved him in first.

“It is nice– having you here,” she admitted, embarrassed but wanting to let him know how much he’d already helped.

He took off his denim jacket and hung it on her coat hanger. “Can I help with anything?”

Sophie sighed, looking around and wishing she had known sooner her mother would be visiting. “I have cookies in the oven, the timer will go off soon. I have to change. If my mother sees me in jeans, she’ll make a scene.”

“I got the cookies,” he said. She nodded and sped off to her room. She quickly changed into a purple sweater dress her mom had complimented her on once. She ran back to the bathroom and checked her makeup, suddenly more critical.

“Fuck I didn’t shave my legs,” she grumbled to herself pacing past the kitchen towards the living room. She caught Carmy looking down at her legs and shoved him lightly on her way past. “Don’t look!” He chuckled at her and it warmed her up a little.

“How bad does it look in here?” she asked Carmy, glancing around. She thought it looked fine thirty minutes ago, but when she thought about it from her mother’s perspective she saw the flaws, the clutter. She had filled her space with plants, had a mix of artwork styles from friends covering the walls, had a few too many books overflowing from her bookshelf. It looked homey. But her mother was much more austere and clean. Her house always looked like it could be in a magazine.

“It’s nice.” Carmy said but seemed to recognize her look of disbelief. “It looks fine, really.” The timer went off for the cookies and Carmy pulled them out of the oven.

“At least it smells good in here,” she sighed. Carmy walked over and pulled her into a hug.

“You’re shaking,” he said, quietly. “Can I help? Tell me what to do,” he sounded concerned. She took a deep breath, enjoying, for a moment, the comfort of his arms around her again. She missed him. She exhaled and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Just don’t hate me after this. She’s going to be mean,” she said, her voice soft, cheek pressed against his collarbone, forehead against his chin.

“That’ll never happen,” he responded, voice still intense. She wished she could pause time and just stay there. The safe moment before the storm.

The warmth of his arms melted away all of the tension. His smell surrounded her– laundry detergent, smoke, and something entirely Carmy. She was reminded of a bonfire at the end of summer. Or the quiet of a kitchen after a long day. He was somehow comfort and safety and heat all at once.

“Thank you,” she said, finally pulling away.

---

She ran down to the entrance of her apartment when her sister called to announce their arrival.

“You live in a building with a broken buzzer? I thought your books were doing well,” her mother was looking around distastefully.

Maureen Leopold, Sophie’s mother, stood in front of her. It had been over a year since she’d seen her mother in person. She was wearing a simple black dress with a cardigan and impressively tall heels. She was overdressed, of course. She smelled strongly of some fancy perfume, making Sophie feel a little lightheaded.

“They’re working on fixing it, mom,” she said, glad her voice was calm. She straightened her posture, and stepped towards her mother. Maureen leaned down to press a kiss to both of her cheeks in succession then stepped back and looked her up and down.

“You could have dressed a bit more appropriately,” she said, looking down her nose at her daughter. “We don’t know how many more dinners we have together.” Sophie’s heart sank. She squeezed her hand into a fist behind her back, trying not to react and incur her mother’s wrath.

“Sophie!” Mallary stepped up to her next and pulled her into a hug, her voice full of forced cheerfulness. How she ignored her mother’s quips was beyond Sophie. Mallary definitely had the better poker face of the two sisters.

“Come in.” She brought them up the stairs and to her apartment.

She walked in and introduced her mom and her sister to Carmy. Maureen didn’t immediately say anything terrible and Sophie was grateful for that. Her sister grinned widely and pulled him in for a hug.

“I’m really glad to meet you Carmen, I’ve heard so much. I know it is a lot, taking care of me and the girls all the time. So I’m glad Sophie has you in the city too.” She said, smiling softly.

Sophie was distracted watching her mother look around the apartment. She didn’t want to hear what her mom thought. Rather than say anything about the apartment, her mother turned her attention back to her daughter. “You’re getting lines. Have you thought about getting fillers yet?”

“I don’t think I want that, mom,” she said, trying to rein in her anger.

“Sophie made cookies,” Carmy chimed in with perfect timing.

“I can make tea, if you want to sit down. Or Carmy brought wine. Maybe tea first?” Sophie motioned to the table and walked over to put the kettle on. She heard Mallary asking Carmy about his time in Copenhagen and was glad when he launched into a story. She listened in, also curious about his time abroad.

She poured tea. The table already full of cheese, crackers, olives, and a plate of cookies. As she sat beside him, Carmy reached under the table and placed his palm against her thigh. She looked to him in surprise. Seeing his calm demeanor as he talked with her sister and mother comforted her.

Time slipped by and things were going well. Maureen made some snide comments but Sophie was able to roll with them. And Carmy was surprisingly adept at handling her. Though she supposed it made sense with what he’d told her of his own mother.

But it didn’t take long before Maureen had made a comment that left her reeling.

“You really need to be careful with all of these carbs, dear. The last time I saw you in that dress you were so much smaller.” Sophie nearly choked on her tea, face burning in shame. Before she even had the chance to come up with a response, she felt Carmy shift beside her. He wrapped his arm over the back of her chair and slid his hand up against her arm, putting the slightest pressure on her, urging her to lean back into him. She did, melting into the calming pressure of him holding her. The skin of his arm pressed against the back of her neck.

Sophie looked over to Carm and shot him a grateful smile. She knew she shouldn’t read into the fact that he didn’t pull away. His hand slowly moving up and down her arm, like it was the most natural thing in the world. She may have leaned back into him a little more. But she made herself focus on the conversation again. Mallary had already changed the topic.

Before her mother could say anything else, Sophie declared it was time to finish preparing for dinner. Carmy followed her to the kitchen, a cookie in his hands. He broke it in half, sticking part in his mouth and handing the other half to her. She smiled at him, still a little shaky, and bit into her piece.

“They’re amazing, as always,” he said, leaning against the counter next to her.

“Thanks, Carm,” she responded softly. “You want to help with the salad? Or the chicken?” They split up tasks and cooked together. They slipped into familiar territory quickly. They had spent so long in kitchens together it came naturally. She found herself slightly flustered when Carmy occasionally touched her back to scoot around her to get to her seasonings or grab some utensil from a drawer. Each time his touch shot a spark of heat down her spine. She tried to hide it, the effect he had on her. She didn’t know how successful she was as she caught him looking at her a few times, a small smile on his face.

Unfortunately, she had picked a dish that did not take long to cook, and soon they were back at her small table, preparing to eat.

“Are you writing another book?” Maureen asked, looking to her daughter curiously after they had started eating.

“I am. But I’m mostly working on the meal kit stuff right now.” At the end of her time in California, Sophie had written a children's book about a little girl who wanted to become a chef to be like her father. She had met a phenomenal illustrator who was willing to partner with her and the book did surprisingly well. After that, she wrote a second.

And then, with a whole lot of luck and some well timed conversations, she partnered with a meal service to provide monthly meal kits. Each one included a little story of the character from the books along with all the ingredients and instructions to make a few meals. It had become her main source of income and was more successful than she had ever dreamed. With news of her sister’s cancer diagnosis, she had become even more grateful for income that didn't require long hours in a restaurant.

Her mother was not impressed with this direction for her professional life.

“I really thought she was going to be a lawyer. Or go into business. She got a 4.0 in high school. She spent two years in NYU. We thought she was going to make something of herself. Then she just gave it all up.” Maureen was saying this to Carmy, raising her wine glass and gesturing to Sophie. Sophie was poised to softly interrupt and change the subject but Maureen barreled through. “It’s all because of her father. And after what he did–” She shook her head in distaste.

Sophie was prepared to hear insults about herself but not about her father. She froze, her heart suddenly racing in her chest.

“Sophie has made something of herself. She won the James Beard Emerging Chef Award. She’s worked in four of the top restaurants in the country. Do you realize how hard that is to do?”

Carmy seemed to realize he was getting heated and sat back in his chair. “I bought your books for Richie’s daughter. I think she is a little old for them but she still really liked them.” He had turned towards Sophie who was staring at him, wide eyed.

Mallary jumped in and steered the conversation to safer things. Maureen, who had until then seemed to regard Carmy positively, or at least not negatively, treated him coldly for the rest of the evening.

Luckily they didn’t stay long after dinner.

---

Carmy and Sophie sat on her fire escape, legs hanging over the edge. Sophie leaned against the railing, forehead pressed into the metal and groaned quietly. She held out a hand and he dutifully passed a cigarette and lit it for her. She slid it into her mouth and inhaled.

“I’m sorry Carm.”

“I’m fine. She was worse to you. Are you good?”

“Yeah. It helped having you here,” she said softly.

“Good,” Carm responded simply. He kicked his feet out, looking uncomfortable. “She is wrong, you know? About all of it. I don’t know why– what she sees when she looks at you. But it isn’t you.”

She met his eyes, surprised he was willing to talk about it. Surprised he had gone to bat for her in the first place. “Thank you. I think that might be the first time someone stood up to my mother. For me, anyways,” she admitted quietly. She handed the cigarette back to him.

They sat in silence for a bit and Sophie felt her shoulders relax. “Big dipper,” she said, pointing to the sky. She felt comfortable again for the first time all day.

“Your sister seems nice.” Carmy said, filling the silence in a way he almost never did. She wondered how worried he was to be making all of this effort. “Makes me want to meet your nieces too, they sound like they’d be a lot of fun.”

“She is great. And so are my nieces,” Sophie agreed as her eyes suddenly filled with tears. She leaned gently against Carmen. “Really. Thanks for all of this,” she said quietly. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed gently before rubbing his hand up and down her arm. She felt goosebumps form as his calloused fingers brushed against the bare skin below her elbow where the sleeve of her dress ended. He stopped moving, his fingers softly pressed against her arm. All of her focus was suddenly on that one spot. His fingertips against her skin. She stopped herself from leaning further into him but couldn’t find it in her to pull away. So they stayed that way, looking up at the stars. For a few peaceful minutes.

Then she took a breath and sat up straight.

“Well I owe you like a million favors now.”

He shook his head. “You don’t owe me, Soph.” She blushed under his gaze. ”We’re friends. I want to help.”

“You’re right. I just–” She turned so that she was sitting facing him. “I want to help you. It was nice cooking at The Beef last time.”

“Nice?” he asked, with a disbelieving look and she laughed a little.

“Mostly nice,” she conceded. “I just want to do more. If you need help, I mean. And seeing you sometimes is nice too.”

“Yeah,” he agreed quietly, his eyes lowering to her lips. She blushed, realizing he must feel it too-- this heat that kept flaring between them. Just as she started to lean towards him, he looked away. She blinked and looked away too, nervously deciding she must have imagined it.

“I suppose it is getting late,” she said, trying to push past the sudden awkward tension she felt.

Carmy stood and helped her up and back into the apartment.

---

Sophie sent Carmy off with a bunch of cookies and a goodbye hug, her head still spinning from the almost kiss. She was sure she hadn't imagined it. And yet he had pulled away.

But he had defended her. Had brought up her James Beard award and the restaurants she worked at after they had parted ways. He had kept up with her career. He had even bought her books. It must mean something, right?

Her thoughts were still spiraling as she got in bed that night. As she turned off her bedside lamp, the familiar tune of ‘She Calls me Back’ was audible from her neighbor’s apartment. She groaned and decided she really needed to check on her neighbor soon.

[lordsicheng]

the one that got away ; mark lee

Mark Lee x OC

g: fluff / angst

summary: mark unexpectedly meets someone again after a year, and yet he finds himself slightly unsure of his feelings all over again-- on a very special day

word count: 3.9~4k

requested? yes! ♥

a/n: okay i might consider this late because it’s already the 3rd but !! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!!! My lil dumpling you’ll always be my sunshine ily and to the person who requested this i hope you are happy since he is your ult hehe ♥

Mark couldn’t help but get off from the jeep driven by his friend and run towards the seashore, taking in the feeling of being near the waters and the tingling of the sand that crept up in between his toes as he ran barefooted. He stopped as soon as he was only a few steps from the water and closed his eyes, smelling the fresh ocean air and feeling the wind blow coolly as he took a deep breath, exhaling right after opening his eyes to showcase a wide grin

“Ya! Mark Lee!” one of his friends, Haechan, yelled at him as he followed his friend soon after

“I got too excited, sorry.” Mark giggled the moment he turned to his friend

Haechan then put his arm over his friend’s shoulders as he turned him again to look at the ocean, feeling the whole atmosphere of the mildness of the weather and the sounds of the waves crashing towards the shore

“We better get back or Taeyong’s gonna nag again.” Haechan warned, making both of them laugh as they walked back towards the area where the others were at

Something about the any type of bodies of water calmed Mark—he would become elated at the thought of going to the beach or even to the Han River. He’d persuade his friends to go with him but they couldn’t all the time, all because of how busy they were.

But something about the way his gut felt made him slowly lose his excitement and he suddenly became worried. He remembered how something that had happened last summer that made him feel a bit more dejected and it wasn’t helping. Haechan, seated next to Mark in the jeep, noticed this and nudged him lightly with his elbow, making Mark look at Haechan with a raised brow

“What’s up?”

“Nothing, really. I just…” Mark paused for a couple of seconds, turning his head back to the side to look at the view as the vehicle moved

“It’s been a while since we’ve gone to the beach.”

Haechan understood what his friend totally felt, all because of one thing that seemed to pop up in Mark’s mind often that he couldn’t let go of. It was the first time ever for him to see Mark become worried over something for a long time so he naturally became concerned over him. But because he was afraid of saying something wrong, he’d just listen to Mark whenever he opened up to him about the topic.

“Alright, we’re here.” Johnny, one of their friends, announced as he pulled over the driveway to a beach house they rented beforehand, exactly the same place where they were a year ago

This seemed to make Mark feel uneasy, but he didn’t want the others to worry so he only nodded in approval as he got off the jeep with the others. He grabbed some bags and other items out of the jeep to help and bring them in the beach house with Haechan opening the front door with the keys lent by the owner

“We’re gonna have so much fun.” one of their friends, Lucas, exclaimed as soon as he walked inside and put the bags by the sofa in the living room

“Lucas. Help us with the barbecue grill.” Taeyong said as he walked out, making Lucas follow him

“Someone better go to a convenience store or the nearby market. We need to prepare lunch.” Doyoung, another one of their companions, said as he put a basket by the kitchen counter

“Mark, let’s go?” Haechan pat Mark at the back to grab his attention as soon as Mark put down a couple of bags by the sofa

“Here. Don’t go overboard and focus on the ingredients. We can just buy snacks later.” Doyoung gave his credit card to Mark, to which he and Haechan gave each other a high five before walking out the door

“Don’t forget the receipts!” Doyoung yelled, making Mark hum and give a thumbs up in reply

The convenience store wasn’t far off from the beach house, covering only a little over 10 minutes of a walk north. The two friends seemed to talk about random things up until their excitement about their weekend out of town. They were lucky enough to be given a break so they made sure to make the most out of it. As soon as Mark got inside the convenience store, he felt slightly worried all of the sudden. But he decided to brush this off in a second, walking over to the frozen good section

“Try to get some of the condiments and mixes.” Haechan said as he looked over the freezer

“Soy sauce, salt, what else?” Mark asked

“Anything else you need for a barbecue and curry. So yes, curry mix and anything else you can find.” Haechan waved his friend off to go, but Mark was still confused as he walked over to the aisle where the mixes and condiments were located

It took him a while to look for everything he needed, grabbing a basket from the side as he browsed through the whole aisle. He mumbled to himself some of the things he remembered to grab, but he seemed to be a little bit more confused as he wasn’t sure how much he needed. He would lose focus as soon as he looked at the different sizes of soy sauce right in front of him

“Need any help?”

The voice made Mark snap back into reality and shake his head slightly, chuckling to himself as he was a little bit embarrassed to be seen being all confused and lost

“No it’s alri-“

Mark suddenly froze and his smile slowly faded the moment he saw you, smiling at him as you grabbed on to a small basket of things you needed to buy. He felt his heart drop as he became speechless, feeling all lost all over again as he ended up staring at you. Not much of a expression that showed his confusion, but rather his uneasiness

“It’s been a while. Hi.” you greeted, smiling

“Y-yeah. Hello.” Mark greeted back, giving a nod as he looked to the side

Haechan saw what happened as he was to go to his friend, but he decided to hide at the next aisle and try to eavesdrop over the conversation. To his disappointment, there weren’t any. You and Mark were silent, exchanging glances as you both either looked at each other or looked away, but not at the same time

“So, uh, how many of you guys-“

“Eight.” Mark replied immediately, turning his back to look at the soy sauces again

“You don’t need much. Around 200ml is alright. 300 if you need more flavor.” you snickered, looking at him grab a bottle of soy sauce

“How are you, Mark?” you asked, making Mark look down and bite his bottom lip lightly before turning to look at you with a small, forced smile

“Good. Great.” he nodded

“That’s nice to hear.” you smiled back, feeling quite anxious the more you looked into each other’s eyes, which Mark broke contact of

“I heard you guys rented the beach house again.” you tilted your head to look at Mark, as he didn’t want to come off as rude, turned his head slightly to nod at you

“Yeah.”

“I mean, the owner is my uncle so…” you cleared your throat slightly

“I need to go. I’ll… see you when I see you.” Mark felt his voice tremble a bit, but he managed to recover by smiling

“Me too. Bye.”

“Bye.”

You walked away first towards the counter, leaving Mark as he looked down and felt the need to slap himself for being a bit too nervous and cold. But he really couldn’t help it as he was caught off guard from meeting you suddenly out of all places, so he was totally not prepared. Haechan saw you walk by and immediately went to Mark as soon as you were away

“Isn’t it funny how there are millions of people living in this country but we end up seeing people we know out of nowhere?” Haechan chuckled as he approached Mark

“Shut up.” Mark replied coldly, catching Haechan off guard

“Hey, loosen up a bit. It was just a coincidence.” Haechan patted his friend’s shoulder to cheer him up, to which Mark just sighed and shook his head in return

-

The hours went by as the boys chilled and helped each other through cooking and cleaning up the beach house as an enjoyment for the summer. Mark forgot about the whole situation from earlier as he helped out everyone clean the house. He walked over to the back where the others were preparing their meal and grilling barbecue.

“Yo, Mark!” Lucas called over Mark as soon as he saw him walk towards the grilling area

“Those look so damn good.” Mark sniffed the cooked barbecue as stood next to Lucas who helped with the grilling

Mark stayed for a while, chatting with his friends as they continued to prepare food. Mark would help, but he was scared of messing up in the process so he decided not to. Suddenly, Lucas seemed to have a little bit of fun as he opened up a topic that surprised Mark

“Hey, aren’t you friends with the niece of the owner of this house?” Lucas asked, turning to Mark

“Uhh…” Mark paused, making Johnny and the others look at him worriedly

“Lucas.” Taeyong warned Lucas, but Lucas seemed to be unaware

“I mean, nothing wrong with being friends right? I was just curious.” Lucas nodded as he chuckled, but it seemed to make the air a bit more awkward than usual

“Lucas, don’t.” Johnny nudged Lucas as he whispered, to which Lucas became confused

“Huh? What?” Lucas looked at Johnny, but he immediately understood as soon as he looked at him and Lucas immediately looked at Mark

“Oh my God I’m so sorry I didn’t-“

“It’s fine. Really.” Mark smiled, patting his friend on the shoulder

“No seriously, I’m sorry. I really didn’t know.” Lucas insisted on his apology, to which Mark just waved it off

Doyoung, Taeyong and Johnny seemed to pause the moment they saw someone arrive in the backyard, to which Mark looked at the gate to see you walk in holding a bowl full of fruits. It took a while for the others to speak up, but Johnny didn’t want to make everything awkward as it already was and slowly moved to walk over to you

“Y/n, hi!” Johnny greeted and walked over to you, grabbing the bowl from your hands

“My uncle wanted to give this to you as a welcome gift. I hope you guys are having a great time so far.” you smiled, trying to hide your bashfulness and not end up looking at Mark

“Thank you so much, y/n.” Doyoung said from afar, waving to you

“Hey y/n, why don’t you join us for lunch?” Lucas suddenly blurted out, to which Taeyong nudged him hard on his side and make him shut up. Lucas then realized what he had said and side eyed Mark, who looked pretty uneasy again

“It’s fine. I need to go back and help my cousins out on something.” you slowly took a step back, grinning

“It was nice to see you guys again. Have fun.” you waved to everyone goodbye as they did the same, except for Mark who didn’t seem to look at you at all nor moved

Johnny felt slightly concerned about Mark, but Mark just lifted his head up and smiled back as he gave a light sigh

“I mean, it’s been a year. So…”

-

It was fortunate that Mark was able to forget what had happened as the day went by—lunch was greatly set, the others chilled for a while after whilst some prepared for a swim soon after. Mark decided to stay at the beach house and take a nap as he felt slightly sleepy from all the traveling. He didn’t realize he had slept for a couple of hours, waking up to realize it was already past 4pm. He didn’t wonder either to why the others didn’t come back yet, but he believed they were having a little too much fun. He suddenly sprung up from the sofa and stretched a bit before leaning by the sliding back door to see the others enjoy the fun under the sun—until he suddenly had the thought of what happened earlier.

He wasn’t sure as to why of all places, he’d be able to see you again. He did believe chances are that where they stayed at was your uncle’s but for some reason, even though he moved on from the year before, the moment he even sees you or hears the mention of your name made his heart shake in fear. He suddenly walked over to the entrance of the house whilst everyone else was at the beach.

You, on the other hand, walked out of the house where your uncle lived just a couple of residences away. Mark immediately saw you and froze, not able to speak a word. It took a while for you to notice him since you were busy putting a few things on your bike’s basket. Once you put the last paper bag you raised your head to see Mark look at you from afar. You got on your bike and drove your way near him, to which he moved closer before you stopped right next to him

“Got room for one more?” he asked, slightly nervous

“Hop on.”

-

You brought Mark to different places he wasn’t aware of before as the city was more of a beachside rural area, where lots of people visited whenever they needed time away from the urbanized parts of the bigger cities. He suddenly felt at ease again with you, asking about the areas you passed by as well as stopping by a nearby vendor of fruits. You both agreed to grab a whole watermelon to share halves with, since it seemed like the weather was becoming a little bit hotter than usual.

He made you laugh at his posture of eating a watermelon as if he hadn’t eaten anything the whole day, and you responded with a watermelon eating challenge

“But I’m already halfway through mine?” Mark pouted

“Fine. I mean at this point, you already win by default.” you chuckled, continuing to eat

You both hadn’t realized it was already close to sunset and you found yourself running off to the nearest seashore, almost as if you both were chasing each other and playing tag for a chance to get the best view of the beach. Fair enough, you both got to an area that was less crowded than most beaches as it was semi-private that was owned by a family you knew personally.

“Do you think the water is cold at this point?” Mark asked as he looked at you as you stood by each other looking at the ocean

“Only one way to find out.” you shrugged, running towards the waters

“Wait!” Mark ran after you but you didn’t even look back, realizing the water was already by your knees

However, Mark definitely felt cold as he set foot on the water but he persevered just to walk up to you. You turned to look at him suffering the coldness of the water and laughed, making him feel embarrassed as he stopped to look at you

“I forgot how cold the beach could get during sunsets.” he shook his head and giggled at himself

“Idiot.” you splashed a bit of water to him, catching him off guard

“You agreed to no splashing!” he took a step back in slight shock

“I disagree to agree.” you stuck your tongue out as a tease

“I’m going back.” Mark laughed, running back to the nearby shore as you followed him since you had to suck up the chilly winds in conjunction with the cold water

You both sat on the sands while looking at the sunset as the view was more visible than most areas. Mark felt comfortable, as if nothing had happened and that you both were just really trying to have fun. You both were silent, no exchange of words for a long time since you both wanted to look at how beautiful the sunset was. However, as the sun began to set your mind started to think that it was the right time to ask Mark something that you’ve wanted to know and never got the chance to get an answer of

“Why did you leave?”

Mark’s smile slowly faded, looking at the sand on his feet as he blinked a couple of times before looking at the side, opposite to where you were seated

“I thought it was the best option.” he admitted, slightly anxious all over again

“Option?” you raised a brow, still looking at him as he didn’t seem to budge

“I wasn’t sure of my feelings.”

Feelings. Something that Mark always tried to reciprocate whenever he thought about, in general, everything he does. He was passionate for his dreams and he didn’t want to back down since he always believed on what he chose would be his final option. However, he didn’t realize he broke your heart in the process. Nothing serious happened between both of you, but the moment you were realizing your own feelings grew for him was once he had already left.

One-sided as it was, you always waited for the day you both would be able to meet each other again. You both resided in the city, but it made you realize that only this particular part of the city were you both always destined to meet. You met many people around, he met others as well. He had his own things to do, you also had your own. It was summer, whilst you both had a small amount of time for a break in the bustling areas of the city where you both dreamed of fulfilling your dreams, leaving feelings behind at the beach where you first met

“I’m sorry for having feelings for you, Mark.” you bit your bottom lip and looked down, apologetic as you felt like a burden to Mark who just was afraid of hurting you even more

“I admit I liked you at one point, but…” Mark turned his head to look at you already looking down, trying to take in everything one at a time

“You know I’m still scared.” he confessed again, admitting he just was afraid he’d be a burden to you as well since you had dreams of your own that was far different from his

“So this is what rejection feels like.” you mumbled, looking to the other side as you sniffled and smiled

“I’m not rejecting you.”

“Then what are you trying to say? You already broke my heart.” you turned to look at him, eyes already watery

“I broke your heart because I want it to heal without me.” he said sternly, fighting back his own feelings

“There is someone out there more deserving of your love than me. I know I can’t give you all the care and attention you need because I’m afraid of doing something wrong in the process.”

His words felt like daggers that tried to hit you on different parts of your body, but you knew he was right. You felt like a hindrance to his already busy lifestyle and you didn’t want to make it already hard for him as it is. You lightened up and realized, you just wanted the best for him. He always wanted the best for you and as easy as it is it would’ve been nice if you both met while in the city at least. You nodded and smiled, looking at him slowly as he looked back at the beach

“I don’t blame you.” you sighed

“I tend to run away from my feelings because I’m afraid.”

“Don’t be.” you cut him off, still smiling

“Be passionate about what you want. I’m always here to support.” you pat his shoulder, to which he turned and looked at you looking clueless

“I’m sorry for running away once I knew I liked you back.” he confessed

“And I’m sorry for liking you first.” you grinned, slowly laughing as he also started to lighten up and chuckle himself

“I wonder what it would’ve been like if you didn’t move to a different area back in high school. Would we have worked?” Mark mumbled, looking at the sky

“We wouldn’t. I’m too pushy.” you furrowed your brows

“And I’m too gullible.” he looked at you again and laughed, making you laugh as well since his laugh had always been contagious

Mark decided to drive the bike this time back to the beach house where he stayed at, seeing Doyoung and Johnny outside spot both of you in relief as they were worried where Mark was. Mark just waved a bit before driving towards the gate, stopping near his friends

“Where were you both?” Johnny asked, raising a brow with a voice full of concern

“Biking around.” Mark shrugged, letting you off first before he did as he held the handles for you to hop back on the bike

“Hey, y/n. Wanna join us for dinner?” Doyoung offered as he looked at you with a smile

“Thanks, but I have to get back home.” you gave a nod, looking at Doyoung and then to Johnny, and then Mark, who grinned and nodded

“You know where to find me and how to contact me.” you smirked, raising a brow

“Got it.” Mark gave a thumb up in reply

“See you guys around.” you chuckled, slowly biking your way towards the entrance of your beach home as the others waved and both Doyoung and Johnny looked at Mark in suspicion

“Did you guys…?” Johnny prolonged, Mark furrowing his brows and shaking his head quickly

“Are you sure?” Doyoung smirked, raising a brow

“Can you both stop?” Mark laughed, making the other two laugh just as hard

“Let’s go. It’s getting cold and we’re making dinner.” Johnny patted Mark’s back as he and Doyoung walked first towards the door

“Sweet!” Mark chuckled, looking at the direction of your home after to see you put your bike to the side and look back at him

The gentleness of your stares made you both felt a lot better after so much tension made in one day. He gave a sweet smile with thoughts of how much he wanted you to do well in the future, with you smiling back before giving a nod and walking to the door without looking back, closing it shut. Mark went on to walk to the door before turning again, looking up as how the stars started to be visible as well as the moon that glowed at the sky.

He took a deep breath and shrugged lightly, facing the door after to open it to see the others preparing a very special event for him—to which he wasn’t very aware from, and the others were caught off guard at the bad timing as they shuffled around to try and make the arrangements much better. Mark laughed at the sight, but the others continued on to prepare as if nothing happened and began to prepare the table

“Happy birthday to me, I guess.”

#ok so let's play a game called how many tags am i gna put in this post #lkdfjljfs #nct #nct 127 #nct u #nct dream #mark lee #nct mark #lee minhyung #nct scenarios #nct 127 scenarios #nct u scenarios #nct dream scenarios #nct imagines #nct 127 imagines #nct u imagines #nct dream imagines #mark lee scenarios #mark lee imagines #??? are the tags enough #ok im done #happy birthday marky boy