#henry cavill fan fic

[cardierreh15]

When Love Finds a way

I do not give anyone permission to copy or repost my work.

Warnings 18+: Blood , Nudity (Yes, Naked Henry) , Death .

Pairings: Henry Cavill(Drake/Dracula) x Mia/Misty(Black!plus size female)

Description: Dracula & Misty run into one another at the local coffee shop. Could it be… destiny?

Song: No Sunshine by Bill Withers , lovely (instrumental) by Billie Eilish & Khalid .

Word count: 3.6K

(Anything in italics are lyrics. Anything Bold & italics are Dracula’s thoughts)

Two

Aint no sunshine when she's gone. It's not warm when she's away. Ain't no sunshine when she's gone; she's always gone too long, anytime, she goes away.

The thunder roared outside, rattling the skylights and window patio doors. The sound didn’t take him out of his trance though.

Drake had a wooden brush clenched between his teeth as his left hand fingered and teased the paint, and used his right hand to push strokes across the canvas with his brush.

He pulled the brush from between his teeth and dipped it in the white to emphasize the glare in the honey brown. He then stood up from the wooden stool, hovering over his work of art.

Drake was adorned with splattered and smeared paint. He had a chiseled, godly frame. Muscular back, broad shoulders, big arms, tight abdomen and chest that donned thick curly hairs. He himself looked like a masterpiece.

So detailed down to the tiny patterns in her beautiful hazel irises; were the eyes of his beloved, Mia.

The lightning from outside brightened up the room around them, revealing over more than a dozen portraits of Mia. Most of them consisted of her in the color yellow or pink.

Others were just her body parts. Her lips, her naked waist and hips, her naked back with her shoulders and untamed curls cascading down her back. His personal favorite, her fingers interlocking with his; differentiating the sizes of their palms.

‘My dear Mia. Oh you’d be disappointed with how I use my time.’ He chuckled aloud as he wiped his cheek with the back of his wrist, smearing paint against his cheekbone.

And then he found himself staring into the large lively eyes he’d created. Getting lost in them as if she were still physically here.

***

Only darkness everyday, ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone. This house just ain’t no home, anytime she goes away.

He walked as his nose flared; chin trembling as he held his deceased love in his arms tightly. Her blood stained his white blouse. What use to run and pump warmth and life into her, ran cold and endless. His hands, forearms and his cheeks were covered in it.

The scent of her used to bring him a joy like no other, and now, seeing her defiled like this. Knowing the reason why her precious soul was taken, it sickened him.

He walked until he stopped at the entrance of a village. Hesitantly, he looked down at her before looking back ahead of him. ‘Help! Someone help! Someone help please!’ He screamed, and begged. His eyes searched for anyone that could help; some folk came peeking out of their doors, but only a few had the guts to rush over towards the mysterious man. Drake dropped weakly to his knees, but he never let go of his love.

‘What’s happened?!’ One of the onlookers came running over, seemingly looking to help at first.

‘S-she’s been stabbed…’ Drake stuttered, still not able to make sense of what’s happening, he looked up at the stranger before him. He was a short, bald, heavy set older man; he had to be the leader around here.

He was startled by Drake’s bright red eyes and took a step back. “Devil!” The man cried frighteningly, his eyes wide as saucers, a sharp pain shot through the man's heart. He clutched his chest. Others started to murmur, the men in the town pushed their children and wives back into the house as they found pointed objects.

Drake sighed heavily, jaws clinched in agitation; he inhaled deeply trying his best to calm his rage. ‘Listen, I mean no harm, ok? My wife— they killed my wife. Burned down my home. Killed my stock and cattle. I just need… I need some help… just to clean my wife and get her buried…’

“Begawn demon!” One man shouted with a large pickaxe in his hands, another man stepped forward, a cold stare in his eyes.

“We’re good Christian you heathen, if that woman was with you, we’ll then she’s better off dead. Maybe God will forgive her.” The man shook his head, his fingers wrapped around his weapon tightly, these people were surely blinded by their belief in God to think they could take on someone of Drake’s nature. He couldn’t believe the words that just came from this imbecile’s crusty lips.

“Are you ‘too good Christian’ to help your own?! How dare you, hypocrites.” He hissed, bright crimson blood pooled at his eyes, and only a single tear fell down his pale skin. ‘She believed in your God!’ He exclaimed with so much venom behind the word, ‘The same God whose brought you nothing but pain, death, illness and sorrow! Yet, she still believed in him! Just like the rest of you! Was she not good?!’

The crowd grew quiet. Only the sounds of the night could be heard around he and the crowd that surrounded him defensively. Bullfrogs croaked, Crickets chirped and beetles flapped their heavy wings.

As soon as Drake felt he was about to lose hope and his cool, someone spoke up in the crowd, ‘And what do we get if we aid you?!’

He searched the crowd as a woman walked forward. She had black thick and curly hair, her skin was brown and rich like the Earth’s soil. She wore trousers and a slightly stretched out blouse. It appeared to be somewhat of an off duty knight. Her clothes weren’t as damaged and raggedy as everyone else’s.

‘I-‘ he pressed his lips together. ‘Whatever it is that you want. I have no use of any more of my riches… I don’t plan on living on without her.’ Drake looked down at Mia once more. He wasn’t sure how many more tears he could shed. But he wasn’t ready to stop either.

‘Hmph… you’d save me the time then… c’mon now then.’ The pretty woman turned on the toes of her boots and walked back through the crowd; shoving people out of the way. Get out my way! What you lookin’ at?!

Drake felt his slow beating heart stiffen almost in his chest. He was relieved that someone was willing to help. So he stood up to his feet, adjusting Mia in his arms.

***

Drake placed Mia’s lifeless body on the cot. He knew this was probably the last time he’d see her. So he stared at her for as long as he possibly could. He had to take in every feature, knowing that it would be his last

The woman folded her arms across her chest, her head falling to the side.

‘What happened?’

He sat there for a moment before blinking away and looking over at the woman behind him. He felt his chest twist, tears filled his eyes once again before he just let out a shuddered sigh. ‘The Church… found out my hide away. Th-they said she’d been followed. She’d come to see me in the morning. We’d spend the day together,’ he scoffed and swallowed his sticky saliva before continuing. ‘She was the only reason I ever became a morning person… I’d risk burning myself countless times just to be with her and th—‘ his voice was strained; drowned in own tears and despair.

And when Drake had enough strength to speak, darkness reflected in his words as if they looked into a mirror, ‘They took her. from. me!’

The woman watched in silence, studying the picture before her. ‘How long have you and her been—together?’ She asked.

‘A little over a year and a half… she was the reason why I never went back into hunting and killing,’ he looked back at her. His eyes were so sad and lifeless. It almost seem unreal, like sad painting. ‘Because of her, I cherished human life. I saw the potential in your lives. So I went without drinking human blood for that duration.’

Her eyebrows tugged into one, ‘If you weren’t drinking humans then what—‘

‘Animals… particularly moose. Boar. Sometimes bear— anything I could get my hands on really.’

‘M-my God…’ The woman was in disbelief! Could he have been that in love to completely risk his livelihood?

Everyone deserved to love, and perhaps if you are capable of loving, you’re capable of changing. She thought to herself.

‘And so they call…’ he scoffed, his head falling forward; shaking side to side.

‘I don’t think you’re the vampire they are after!’ Drake didn’t say anything, he didn’t much care. Instead, he just grabbed Mia’s hand and placed his cold lips against her cold flesh. He’d just hoped for a small sign of life from her. But he was disappointed once more when reality set in by the second.

The sound of her heeled boots quickly clicked across the wooden floor. ‘Look. I ain’t too keen with working with your kind,’ she said with a slight bitterness, ‘But if I were in your position… I’d do whatever it is that I needed to be done so that my partner gets the justice they deserve…’

Dracula looked up at her with wet eyes. He knew what her suggestion was.

‘That’s just me though…’ she threw up her hands In defense.

He stood to his feet slowly, his thick brows tugging into one,‘Are you suggesting—‘

‘THAT’S… just me now…’ she took a step closer to him, low enough for him to hear, ‘Do what you must. Besides, these folk could use some protectin’ roun’ here,’ She looked over at his wife for a second, ‘She shall be in tip top shape upon your return. And when you get back… we can perhaps discuss a partnership.’ She then stepped back and jerked her head towards the door. ‘Gone head nah. Before I change my mind!’

Dracula gave the woman a gentle nod before turning back to his love, ‘She’ll— she’ll take care of you— my love.’ He then placed his bloodied hand on top of hers.

His chin trembled as he stared at his wife’s corpse. Even in death, she was breathtaking.

‘I’m sorry… I’m so sorry Mia. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you what you wanted.’ He sniffed, wiping his tears before letting out a shaky sigh, ‘I love you… And I’m gonna make this right.’

Dracula pushed her hair behind her ear. ‘Until we meet again my love…’

He looked back over at the woman, darkness clouding his eyes, ‘How far is the Church’s village?’

‘On horseback? About a day’s ride… the sun could be quite dangerous for someone like you.’

Drake pressed his lips together, knowing what he’d have to do to get there faster. ‘Indeed… I must leave,’ he walked towards the wooden door.

‘I never caught your name. I-I want to thank you.’

The woman placed her hands on her widened hips and a smirk curled on her lips, ‘No need to thank me,’ she said raising her hand in protest, ‘Make it back alive and I’ll tell you everything.’

***

A loud thunder clap shook him out of his own head. A smirk curled on his lips slowly, ‘I know… I’m goin’, I’m goin’… I just wanted to take the time to admire you for a bit longer…’

A soft low thunder rumbled, causing his apartment to shake a little.

‘I miss you too…’ he sighed softly.

Shortly after, he gathered his brushes and carried them to the sink and washed them carefully. Afterwards, he set them on a towel to dry.

Before leaving his “showcase” room, he took one more good look at her, ‘Good Night Mia. I love you.’ And he shut the door behind him.

***

Drake stood beneath the hot shower; allowing the water to beat down on his head and the rest of his messy body. He loved these kinds of nights. Since his body didn’t generate it’s own sweat or neither did he get funky, he’d somehow subconsciously yet— perhaps on purpose, smear himself up in paint so he could shower. It was the only thing that reminded him of her. The warmth of her pretty brown skin and how she’d hold him close.

Otherwise, he truly had no other excuse to be in the shower.

Lifting his head up, he ran his fingers through his hair; pushing it back out of his face. He then reached over for his washcloth, and liquid soap. Once he lathered it up, he rubbed those smooth suds into his skin and scrubbed off whatever paint that was left on his body.

Afterwards, he sat in the shower until the water ran cold. He got out and got dressed in something modest and simple. It was still raining outside, and he would’ve hated for his suits to have gotten wet.

He’d dressed in a cotton light gray long sleeved shirt. It had 3 buttons at the chest. He left only one open. Then, he pulled on some briefs and some dark denim jeans and some brown boots.

Drake dried his thick black hair with a towel and then blow dried it. His locks fell wavy and soft against his head.

Once he was done getting dressed, he grabbed his sketchbook, his wallet and keys. Then, he left.

This was the only time Dracula really enjoyed the outdoors in the daytime. The sky had to be dark with clouds and/or pouring down raining. He could smell and feel how refreshed Mother Earth felt when it did. As if the rain was cleansing everything around him.

He also found it funny when unprepared humans would just cover their heads with newspapers or their hands trying to get to cover. Such clumsy creatures.

Closing down his umbrella, he walked inside of a coffee shop. The smell of freshly brewed coffee made love to his senses and caused a slight drool to pool in his mouth.

Coffee was Dracula’s guilty pleasure. Human food was disgusting. Anything processed, would taste as if he were biting into the metal or plastic that kept them fresh. Or, he’d taste the hormones and the particles. If he had to eat human food just to blend in, he’d simply throw it up later. But coffee, he liked his Americano. No sugar. No cream. Just— beans and hot water.

The baristas shouted, desynchronized “Heeey!” “Drake!” “Yooo!”

They were all very happy to see him. After all, it had been quite some time since he’d been down here.

A toothy grin curled on his lips as he placed his wet umbrella up against his booth and placed his book down on the table. ‘Shannon, Luis, Jang. How are all of you?’ Then he walked up to the counter.

‘We’re holding up… we’ve missed ya down here. We were starting to think you moved away or sumn!’ Jang said with a slight smirk.

‘Yeah! Shannon was starting to get sad!’ Laughed Luis.

‘Hey!’ Shannon laughed and smacked Luis on the arm, ‘You’re gonna get enough of telling my business! How are you, D?’

Dracula had been coming to the local coffee shop for about 10 years now. Way before his friend’s arrival. The owners, Lee and Jennifer, had always been kind to him and welcoming. Introducing him to their own families and friends. Having him over for dinner some nights.

Until one night they’d suffered greatly when half of the shop burned down. Drake had heard about this terrible incident and had written them an anonymous check for $40K for repairs. Til this day, the couple hadn’t had a single clue who’d gifted them with something so life changing. And it were to stay that way.

‘I thought I asked you to call me Drake?’ He smirked, pulling out his wallet.

‘I know. But I think D fits you best,’ the woman giggled, ‘The Usual today?’

‘Mmhmm,’ he nodded before placing the $20 bill in her hand. ‘Could you bring it to my booth?’

‘Sure. Anything for my—‘ Shannon paused for a second, getting lost in those bright crimson eyes. Sure she had a crush before, but it had only gotten extreme. ‘Main. Man.’ And a slow smile curled on her lips.

Dracula returned the smile and nodded once, ‘Thank you, Shan.’ And he turned away to walk to his booth.

As soon as he sat down, he opened up his book full of sketches. Some pages were of flowers, mountains and rivers, oceans and the sky. But others were of people he’d come across in his life. But mostly, Mia.

Strangely enough though, he didn’t feel like drawing her today. Technically.

He’d quickly got started on a face. Allowing just his hand and mind to come together; not really thinking.

‘One Americano.’ Shannon said softly with a smile, placing the large mug down on the porcelain dessert plate. ‘Thank you, Shannon. It smells delightful.’ He smiled looking up at her.

‘Anytime.’ She sighed softly before pulling her eyes away to look at his sketch. ‘What ya workin’ on?’

Dracula looked back down at the large sheet of paper. In just a minute’s time he’d already drawn and detailed an eye and a nose. ‘Nothing special just— sketching.’

‘Nice! You’re really talented!’ Shannon jumped when the bell chimed over the door.

He instantly went stiff at her scent. ‘Misty! Hi, welcome back!’ Shannon greeted her with a smile, ‘I have to get back to work. Have fun.’ She said, placing her dainty hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Drake inhaled deeply, as her heart beat seem to thud louder and louder in his ears. The smell of flowers just kept tickling at his nose. It was intoxicating! He was drawing but he couldn’t focus! All that he could see embedded in his brain was her gorgeous smile, her big, thick curly hair, her hazel eyes.

This is probably the closest he’s ever been to drowning. All until,

‘Drake?’

‘Huh?’ He lifted his head quickly.

She was standing there with a sweet yet, puzzled look on her face. Oh she was to die for.

‘I didn’t know you came to this coffee shop!’

‘Misty! Hi! Oh, yeah—‘ he chuckled as his eyes roamed over her body once. The perfect frame. Voluptuous breasts, a tummy, wide hips and thick thighs. ‘I-I know the owners. Been coming here for a few years now.’

‘That’s cool! Hey, do you mind if I join you? I just have a few more minutes to kill before I have to head back to work.’

Of course I mind. You’re only the love of my life’s doppelgänger! I don’t even know what to say or do right now.

‘No, please!’ Lying bastard.

Misty sat down in front of him with a gentle smile on her lips. She watched him take a sip of his coffee first before he went back to sketching upon the white sheet. ‘You draw too? What are you working on?’ She asked before sipping out of her straw.

Drake swallowed his spit as he scribbled, ‘Just some random… portrait.’

‘Hmm! It’s pretty. You take commissions?’

‘Commissions?’ He asked a bit confused, ‘Like pay? No. I do this for fun.’

Misty smirked, adjusting herself in her seat before folding her arms on top of the wooden table, ‘So, if I asked you to do one for me… you’d do it?’

Dracula looked up at her, sizing her face before his eyes dropped to her neck, then her chest. Then, he looked back up into her eyes, ‘If you’d ask me…’

She just stared at him and he just stared at her. Misty finally looked away with a giggle, ‘I-I couldn’t ask that of you. Supplies are getting more and more expensive by the day and art takes time and patience. I couldn’t do that. I’d have to pay you—‘

‘I wouldn’t have it…’ he interrupted. ‘I have enough…’ he paused for a second, ‘I don’t mind.’

She raised a brow, sitting back into her seat. ‘You are stubborn… well at least let me take you out? What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?’ She asked with a smile.

He chuckled as he continued to sketch, ‘You’re asking a complete stranger out on a date? I could be a murderer.’

‘Yeah, you could be. But how would I know if I don’t try?’

You’re just like her… in so many ways.

Drake shook his head as his smirk remained on his face, ‘I work… I’m free after 7pm.’

‘Hmm.. alright. Well, do you have a phone? So I can plug my number in?’

A phone. Dracula was never the type to keep friends so he never thought getting a phone was a logical investment for him. ‘I don’t.’

‘No phone? In the 21st century? Well, I’d say you like to live your life on the edge! What if you were to ever be in danger?!’ She sounded concerned.

Danger? Ha, oh darling, I am the danger.

Drake chuckled and shrugged, ‘Then if it’s my time to go.. it’s my time to go. We didn’t—‘ he bit his tongue and stopped once again. He was getting way too comfortable. ‘I don’t need one.’

Misty took a sip of her ice coffee and shook her head, ‘Well, Mr. “I’m too righteous” for a phone. You should invest in one.’

‘Why?’

‘Cause how would I call you?’

Damn… she’s smooth.

Drake pressed his lips together. He swallowed his spit, feeling as if there was a UV light burning in the pit of his stomach. She had no idea of the chokehold she had on him at this moment. ‘I’ll think about it.’ He said before going back to his sketch.

‘Alright. Well, just,’ she stood up from her seat and picked up her drink, ‘Meet me back here tomorrow evening. 7:45pm.’

He looked up at her as a slow smile curled on his lips, ‘Sure.’

‘I gotta head back now. See you then.’ She said before walking towards the door.

‘Yeah,’ he said before she walked out of the door. ‘See ya.’

Turning back to his sketch before his, he hadn’t even realized he had already worked on her full lips.

‘Dammit.’ He’d cursed.

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[rmtndew]

The Beauty of Thorns

(A ‘Beauty and The Beast’ AU)

Part 1

Summary: Belle lives in a cursed village and those who live there are forbidden to leave. Every year a Drawing is held and a man is chosen to be a sacrifice for the Beast. It’s the only life Belle has ever known but as her friendship with August Walker begins to bloom, she realizes that the Beast can be cruel and that life is far from predictable. 

Pairings: August Walker X Belle

Warnings: Mentions of blood, curses, sacrifices. It’s not gory but very in line with darker fairytales. 

Word count: 4,200+

Part 2

A/N: This was inspired by a post @littlefreya​ shared several months back about the Beast and Gaston and a conversation ensuing from it. She encouraged me to try my hand at writing this AU, so thank you Freya!  Also, this had started out following the Disney version a lot closer but I couldn’t quite get it going, so I had to pivot and I hope y’all like how it turned out. It’s a little different than my beloved cartoon but it felt like it needed another path. 

I pulled at the collar of my dress, fiddling with it as it felt like it was constricting me, making it hard to breathe. Mother kept trying to get me to put my hands down and stop making a spectacle but I couldn’t help it. I understood why I had to wear that dress; it was plain and dark and somber. It was respectful, or at least as respectful as a piece of clothing can be, and what was taking place that evening was due all respect. It was time for our town’s annual Drawing. 

As the door opened at the back of the town hall, I folded my hands in my lap, willing my irritation away as I watched the town elders - including Father - emerge first. Following them were the five men whose names were in the Drawing that year. I knew them all but couldn’t allow myself to feel any type of sorrow at seeing them there. Not until the last one emerged and I saw that it was August Walker. 

He and I had never been particularly close. I feared he looked at me as some scrapy young girl who spent half her life with her nose in a book and the other half like a wildling up in trees or scuffling with the boys in the village. At least that’s what I was like when he returned from war. I’d grown since then into more of a woman than a savage child but I could never forget the day August had returned back to the town: 

One of the boys had snatched my book from me and destroyed it. In a fit of rage, I tackled him into the mud, clawing and biting at him. August saw the commotion and intervened, pulling me off the boy with ease. He gave the boys a thorough tongue lashing before taking me home. Mother and Father were unhappy that I’d gotten into yet another fight but August took my side. The next day he returned with a new copy of the book that the boys had ruined. He’d made a point to look after me since then.  

His name wasn’t supposed to be in the Drawing. It was Moses Young’s turn. But he’d become a father to a sweet girl three months earlier and lost his dear wife during the birth. It didn’t have to be announced but everyone could see why August had taken his place instead. My sister, Marybeth, gasped at the sight of him. I saw Mother take her hand, trying to calm her. Marybeth, like all of the other women in town, was in love with August in some small way. They all talked about how handsome he was, constantly fawning over him, but they never seemed to see beyond that. 

The men stood with Father and the other elders. They looked scared or worried. But not August. Maybe he was scared, I knew I would be if I was up there, but he didn’t let it show. The elders took their places at the front of the hall and Elder Green, our town’s leader, went over the town’s history and why we had the Drawing. 

During the founding, an elder turned away a beggar woman asking him for shelter. After his denial, a young woman came and asked the same request of him. Taken by her beauty, he invited her in. The next morning, the woman was gone, along with the elder’s only child - a son. The townspeople searched for the boy in the forest and found a house hidden in its depths. Inside was the beggar woman. 

She told the elder that since he had been cruel, she had taken something precious from him. When the elder tried to approach, demanding for her to return his son, a great beast appeared beside her. She told the elder that because of his actions, his son was to be sacrificed to the Beast. To save him, the elder could offer himself up as a sacrifice instead. He refused. The beggar woman was furious that he would forsake his own child. 

But a young man that was part of the search offered himself up in exchange for the boy. The beggar woman was touched by the young man’s willingness and took pity on him. She told him that for his bravery, he and the future generations of his family would be spared, while the others would be cursed. 

The beggar woman, revealing herself to be an enchantress, cast a spell over the forest. It came alive, sending vines and thorns to ensnare the men, dragging them from the house back into the forest. The thorns drew blood and when it soaked into the forest floor, the enchantress told them that their lineage would be cursed along with them. No one of their bloodline would be able to enter the forest nor leave the town. 

When the men were released from the thorns, they saw that the elder was gone and in his place was his son. The enchantress told them that to pay for their wickedness, they would have to give up a man each year as a sacrifice to the Beast. If one was not offered, the Beast would be sent into the town to take any man that belonged to the cursed bloodlines. 

But the men forgot their promise to the enchantress and the following year, they offered no sacrifice. That night, the Beast ran wild through the town, taking five of the elders as payment for the broken treaty. From that day forward, the town repented and created the Drawing. Five men - representing the five elders that had been taken - were to be presented and one name was to be drawn. The chosen one would be offered up to the Beast as a sacrifice. 

When Elder Green finished presenting the town’s history, the Drawing began. The names of the men had all been put into a box. Elder Green came forward and the entire room fell silent as he reached his hand into the box. I could hear Marybeth uttering prayers and knew she was hoping that August wouldn’t be chosen. 

I held my breath as Elder Green pulled a paper from the box and unfolded it. His eyes studied the name for a moment before he announced, “George Burns, you have been chosen.” 

The wailing that came from George’s mother sent shivers down my spine. I couldn’t fathom that kind of anguish. I watched Father come forward, bringing the white cloth he was holding to George. Father unfolded it, revealing a single red rose, and held it out, presenting it to him. I could see George’s hesitation. He didn’t want to accept his fate and I didn’t blame him one whit. He visibly began to shake and turn pale. But finally, he stretched out his hand and pricked his finger on a thorn, drawing blood. Once the blood was drawn, the sacrifice was set. There was no going back.

The next day, Mother called me down to the kitchen. 

“Belle, I need you to deliver this,” she said, handing me a basket. It held bread and cheese, a cake and a bottle of wine. I knew it was for one of the men who had participated in the Drawing the evening before and hadn’t been chosen. Though a small gift, the Elders tried to show their gratitude to the men who had been a part of it. 

“Who am I delivering it to?” I asked.

“August Walker.”

I did as Mother asked and took the basket down to August’s house. When I arrived, I raised my hand to knock at the door but before I could, he pulled it open. I was startled and took a step back. August was a big man, looming over me in the doorway. 

“To what do I owe this pleasure, Belle?” he asked. 

I held out the basket. “Father and Mother wanted to give this to you as a thank you for your participation last night.” 

He looked down at the basket but didn’t take it. Instead, he glanced back at me and gave me something bordering a smile. “Why don’t you come in and share it with me?” 

I shook my head. “I couldn’t…”

“Why not?” 

Truly, looking at him I couldn’t think of a reason why I couldn’t. Marybeth was in love with him but so was every other woman in the town. But I had no feelings towards August and I knew he had no romantic intentions towards me so what would it hurt to keep him company? Especially with someone who had volunteered to be in the Drawing as he had so bravely done. 

“Perhaps I could stay for a little bit,” I conceded. 

He smiled then and stepped back, inviting me into his home. He led me to his kitchen before taking the basket from me, then pulled out a chair for me to sit on. He took the cake and wine and placed them both on the table, putting the rest of the basket aside. I watched as he took the bottle and brought it to his mouth, ripping the cork free with his teeth. The bottle made a loud ‘whomp’ sound as he did. I couldn’t rightly say why such an action made my pulse race but it did, though I tried not to let it show. August took two glasses from his cabinet and poured the wine, offering me a glass first. 

“I’ve never had wine so early,” I said. “Mother makes us wait until dinner and even then, she’s not too keen on Marybeth and I indulging in it too often.” 

“If war taught me nothing else it’s that you should never wait to indulge in what you want. You don’t know when your last breath will be so putting your desires on hold may mean that you never get to experience them,” he said. “So if I want cake and wine during the day, I’ll have it.” 

I took my glass and ran my finger over the W that was etched into the stem of it. “May I ask you a question?” 

“You just have.” He gave me a slight smirk but nodded his head at me. “You may ask another.”

“Why…why did you go to war? You’re one of the few Uncursed in town, you could have left here and gone anywhere. But you chose to fight in a war and then return once it was over. Why?”

“I joined the war because I didn’t mind fighting and I wanted to see the world. But I stayed because I realized the best way to learn how people truly think is to see them get scared. Then it’s like skinning them of all their egos, pulling it away from their insides, and you’re left with the true guts of who they are,” he said, grabbing a knife. “I thought by leaving I was getting away from the Beast but it turns out that I was only trading one for a legion of them.” He looked at me. “War makes beasts of all men. Some more violent than others but beasts all the same. And so if I was going to live with beasts, I’d rather do it here. That’s why I returned.” 

“Did it make a beast of you?” I asked quietly. 

“What do you think? Do you see a beast when you look at me?” 

“No, sir.”

“Sir?” he asked with a smirk. 

“Um…no, Captain Walker.” 

He chuckled. “You don’t have to call me ‘captain’ Belle. Or ‘sir’. August is fine.” 

“The Bardot triplets call you Captain.” 

He took two plates from his cabinet and brought them to the table. “They also call you feral, do they not?” he asked. “So perhaps they’re not the best when it comes to titles.” 

“Or perhaps they’re more right than others,” I said. “You are a captain, correct?” 

“I was, yes. But I was barely a man when I gained that position and the things I did to earn it aren’t things you talk about to women.” He sat at the table next to me. “And you’re not feral, do you hear me? They’re just cruel.” 

“They are but that doesn’t mean that they’re wrong,” I said. “I’m not like them. I don’t know how to be soft. I want to be and I try but…Marybeth, she’s the soft one. She has such a tender heart and the talent for delicacy. If you’ve ever seen our needlework from our younger years beside one another you’d be able to tell plainly. She could - and still can - make the most amazingly beautiful works. Even her back stitches were neat. But me?” I shook my head. “It was as if a blind dog did it.” 

He laughed slightly. “It couldn’t have been that bad.” 

“It was. Mother eventually stopped encouraging me because she realized it wasn’t from a lack of trying, it was just that I didn’t have the same talent as Marybeth,” I said. “She and I…we’re like roses. We’ve grown in the same environment, we’ve been cared for in the exact same way, and yet she’s this beautiful, delicate, flower and I…I’m the thorns that grow on the stem beneath it.”

“Anyone can come and pluck a rose. But to handle thorns, someone has to be careful and gentle with how they approach them,” he said. “You deserve someone who will be gentle with you.”

I felt my cheeks warm. I hadn’t expected that response and wasn’t sure what to say to him. “I…I should go,” I said quietly as I stood. 

August reached out and grabbed my hand, stopping me. “Stay. You haven’t touched your wine yet.” 

“I think it might be too early for me to drink it.” 

“So have cake.” 

“I’m not hungry.” 

“Then stay with me.”

I could hear my own uneven breathing. “I’m not much company. You’ll bore of me easily, I assure you.”

“Impossible.” He pushed my chair towards me with his foot without ever letting go of my hand. “Sit. Please.” Though he added ‘please’ there was no request; it was an order. So I sat back down. His eyes felt like they were boring into me and my face flushed warmer. “What do you think of me, Belle?” 

“What do I think of you?” I repeated. He nodded. “I think you’re incredibly courageous. And smart. And I think you stand up for what you believe is right, even if others don’t agree with you.”

“You don’t think I’m handsome?” 

“Of course I do,” I admitted, my ears burning hot. “But you don’t have a say in that. You were born that way. I think what matters most are the things we choose to be. Don’t you?” 

“You’re the only woman in town who speaks directly to me without caring about how I look or that I’m Uncursed.”

“And you’re one of the only people in town who treats me like a lady. Everyone else sees my scraped knees and leaves in my hair and mocks me for having my nose in a book, but you don’t,” I said. “The day after you returned from war, when you gave me a new copy of the book those boys ruined, you told me that you understood why I read so much. That because I’m stuck here, I have to find a way to escape and books…they gave me that. It’s harder to escape in them now that I’m older but it’s the only way I’ll ever experience something new. Maybe it just causes myself heartache to dwell on those things but I want so much more than the life I have and there’s nothing I can do about it. Everyone here should understand, they’re just as trapped as I am, but they don’t. You have left this town and have seen things I’m sure I could never imagine and yet you’re the only one who understands me.” 

“I may be an Uncursed but I know what it’s like to long for something you can’t have,” he said. 

Several hours had passed when there was a knock on August’s door. He answered it and I was surprised to see Marybeth. Mother was worried that I hadn’t returned and had sent her after me to make sure I was okay. August had been telling me about the places he’d been and seen and I wanted to hear more. But he was a gentleman and didn’t want any rumors starting, so he offered to walk Marybeth and me home, quietly telling me that I was free to come back anytime I wanted to hear more. 

Once we got home, he thanked me for the basket I’d delivered earlier and bid me goodbye, but Marybeth wouldn’t let him leave. She said she wanted some fresh air and asked if he’d join her for a walk. He agreed and asked if I wanted to come along. Marybeth shot me a look that would’ve killed me if possible and I politely declined. Instead, I went upstairs to my bedroom and wrote down everything I could remember from August’s stories of the outside world into my diary. I’d lived surrounded by the forest my entire life but I’d never been able to venture into it, so hearing about trees that were over two hundred feet tall and wider than a house seemed impossible. Or mountains that dotted the skyline. Or the ocean. August had made me close my eyes when he talked about the ocean, telling me how everything looked, and felt, and sounded. I ached to be there but I knew it would never be. 

I was at my desk still writing when Marybeth returned. As she entered our shared room, I looked at her with the intent to tease her about her walk with August but before I could open my mouth, she burst into tears. 

“What happened?” I asked. 

“He doesn’t love me!” she wailed. 

“What?” 

She went and flung herself onto her bed beside me. “He doesn’t love me!” 

“How do you know that?” 

“Because…because he told me!” 

“Why would he tell you that without prompt?” 

“He - he didn’t.” She hiccupped. “We were walking and I - I couldn’t stop myself. I had to tell him how I cared for him and that I was madly in love and that I knew I would never love another the way I did him and he…he told me…” 

She was sobbing but my curiosity was getting the best of me. “He told you what?” 

“That he loves someone else!” she squalled. 

“Who?”

“I don’t know. All he said was that she didn’t want to court him.”

I sighed. There wasn’t a single woman in our entire village - save for myself - that didn’t want to court August Walker. It was clear to me that he didn’t share Marybeth’s feelings and attempted to spare her some humiliation of turning her down plainly by telling her that he had feelings for someone who didn’t return them. Though it wounded me to see my sister so upset, I could appreciate August’s forethought to at least attempt to curb her pain. Unfortunately it didn’t work. She cried herself to sleep that night and the next three nights.

Marybeth did her best to avoid August for the next week but it was near impossible to do so when an emergency town meeting was called the following Sunday. We took our seats as Father joined the other elders at the front of the hall. Marybeth was looking behind us when she tapped me. 

“August is coming. Switch places with me,” she whispered urgently. 

“What?” I asked. 

“I can’t bear to sit next to him. Please.” 

Mother wasn’t happy as Marybeth and I swapped places and she sat on the other side of Mother beside Mrs. DeWitt, whom she suddenly found the need to strike up a conversation with. I’d just settled down into my seat when August came and sat beside me. He glanced down at Marybeth before looking over at me. 

“She’s still angry?” he asked quietly. 

“She was never angry. She’s hurt,” I whispered back. 

“It wasn’t my intention to hurt her.” 

“I know.” I looked up at him. “Thank you for trying to spare her feelings.” 

His brow creased. “It didn’t seem to work.” 

“She’ll recover. The thing about Marybeth is that she loves deeply and fiercely. She can’t burn out. But her fire will light up with someone new.”

“She deserves someone whose love burns just as fiercely as hers.” 

“Yes, she does.” 

Once the hall was full, Elder Green stepped forward and the meeting began. “An incident has occurred in the forest,” he said. “I won’t call out any names as they have already been severely punished but last night a group of boys decided to test their bravery by venturing into the forest to see who could remain there the longest.”

Murmurs broke out amongst all of the members of the town. Elder Green held up his hands, a request for complete silence, but it took a moment for the crowd to quiet. “As we well know, the Beast of the forest has forbidden all from entering there unless they are to present a sacrifice to him and this incident was not done in reverence. He has required an additional sacrifice be brought to him. If we do not provide one, he will breach our borders and come into the village to take who he pleases.” 

“This isn’t fair!” Mr. Parker called out. “We all have to participate in the Drawing. I put my name in to make sure that my family is safe. But this was not our fault. Are my children to suffer if my name is drawn and I must go as a sacrifice simply because some foolish boys decided to play games with the Beast?”

The murmurs grew louder as more men agreed. Elder Green struggled to regain control of the floor. Finally, Father stood and held up his hand. “Silence!” he ordered. He waited as the room quietened down. “I understand your fears and concerns. We all do. I myself am a father and I understand the fear of leaving your children behind simply because your name is drawn. However, this is not a Drawing. No one is required to put their name forth to be chosen.”

“Then who will be the sacrifice?” a man yelled. 

“We will require a volunteer,” Father answered. 

The hall broke into louder voices as people expressed their outrage. 

“Who would volunteer for something like this?” I whispered to August. “It’s sure death.” 

“Sure death to one to protect an entire town.”

“Including the woman you love?”

He looked at me. “Yes. Including her.” He looked back to Father and after a moment stood. “I’ll go,” he announced loudly. 

“No!” Marybeth shouted. “Father, no, he doesn’t mean it.” 

He looked at Marybeth. “I do mean it.” 

“August Walker, are you fully aware of what you’re volunteering for?” Father asked. 

August looked at me and I shook my head. “Why must you be so stupidly brave?” I hissed. 

“Love makes people brave,” he said to me before stepping out into the aisle. “Yes, I understand what I am volunteering for.” 

“Then please proclaim it.” 

He took a breath and stood straight, his hands folded behind his back. I saw then the man who had once been a Captain. “The Beast has required a sacrifice to make amends for the disrespect that was shown by the boys who breached our town’s borders as a game. I am volunteering to be the sacrifice so that our town may live in peace and safety until the next Drawing.” 

Marybeth began sobbing and Mother pulled her close. I could see the sound affecting August but he stayed focused straight ahead. I wanted to stop him but what could I do? If it wasn’t him, it would be another. 

“So be it,” Father said, sadness bleeding into his voice. “Captain August Walker, you left this town and fought bravely and valiantly as a soldier and led your men as a captain. When the war ended, you chose to return to this town and provided safety and security for those of us who cannot leave these walls. Though you leave behind no wife or children, your legacy will be your unwavering bravery and your willingness to give up your own life to save the lives of others. Your sacrifice will not be in vain. It will be remembered. It will be taught to future generations. You will live on so long as we do.” 

“Come forward,” Elder Green said. 

August’s eyes flicked over to me for a second, then he looked straight ahead once more and began walking towards the front of the hall. Once he reached the Elders, they all stood and came forward, meeting him. Elder Green held up the white cloth and unfolded it, revealing a single red rose. He held it out and presented it to August. August picked the rose up by the stem and wrapped his hand around it, squeezing it tightly. When he released it, he opened his hand and held up his palm for everyone to see. Bright red blood was smudged across it. Marybeth’s cries became loud sobs then. There was no turning back. Blood was spilt. August was the sacrifice. 

#Henry Cavill #Henry Cavill fan fiction #August Walker #August Walker fan fiction #Beauty and The Beast AU #Beauty and The Beast AU fan fiction #Henry Cavill fan fic #The Beauty of Thorns

[msilwrites]

Sequel to: ASCENT - Defying Desire (ODD WOMEN Series) a 3AM update - SEVEN

A/N: In this chapter, we explore Henry's remarkable capabilities as a shrewd strategic executive and master manipulator.  Henry's effectiveness in achieving his goals is undeniable.  However, as the story unfolds, we also witness a satisfying wave of regret and realization washing over Henry.

Defying Desire

SEVEN

In a posh townhouse nestled within the city's bustling streets, Henry found himself lost in a sea of thoughts. The sleek and masculine interior of his abode mirrored his refined taste and style. With a glass of whisky in hand, he lounged in a plush chair, his mind consumed by memories of Sage. Regret weighed heavily on him as he replayed their past together. He had made a big mistake by ending their relationship, and now he longed to make things right.

The room was dimly lit, casting shadows across his face as he took a sip of the amber liquid. Thoughts of Sage overwhelmed him, igniting a fire in his heart. He couldn't help but recall the passion they once shared, longing to feel her touch and reconnect with her on a deep level.

Although the board members were impressed by his strategic partnership with the app, it was Sage who held the key to his happiness. The business stuff seemed less important compared to the prospect of having her back in his life.

Lost in his thoughts, Henry grew more determined. He knew pursuing a former lover who had blocked all communication was risky, but it only fueled his desire to win Sage back. It became a challenge, a chance to prove that their love was worth fighting for.

In his mind, he pictured their reunion—a spark of electric chemistry reigniting between them. Every touch and whispered word would carry the weight of their shared history. Henry yearned to apologize for the past, to show Sage how much he regretted his actions and convince her that he had truly changed.

As the whisky burned his throat, matching the fire inside him, Henry realized he had to tread carefully. He couldn't just rush back into Sage's life; he had to find a way to break through her barriers.

The strategic partnership with the app offered him an opportunity to reach out to Sage, to discuss the collaboration and the impact it could have on their lives. Ideas swirled in Henry's mind on how to subtly reconnect, to show Sage that his feelings were still strong.

With determination, he set his glass down and stood up. Walking towards the window, he admired the twinkling city lights. A steely resolve emanated from him as he silently promised himself to make things right. He would find a way to win back Sage's trust and reignite their once-burning flame.

Late into the night, Henry's excitement grew. The strategic partnership had opened a door, and now he had to face the challenges ahead. Every passing moment fueled his determination to execute his plan flawlessly and prove to Sage that their love was worth any risk or sacrifice.

In the solitude of his luxurious townhouse, Henry felt a renewed sense of purpose. The whisky coursing through his veins emboldened him, driving his pursuit of his desires. The calculated move he made during the board meeting went beyond business—it was a way to bring Sage back into his arms, where she truly belonged.

----------

Kieran sat across from Sage in the cozy afternoon lounge, their teacups steaming gently on the table. The delightful aroma of freshly baked desserts, coffee, and tea filled the air, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The red brick walls and brown wooden accents gave the place a touch of dark academia aesthetic, adding to its charm.

As Kieran recounted the events of the boardroom meeting, Sage listened attentively. She had already shared with him the fact that Henry was her ex-boyfriend, so Kieran was familiar with their history. Their friendship and collaboration had allowed for open and honest conversations between them.

Sage's eyes met Kieran's, a mix of curiosity and concern reflecting in her gaze. She knew the potential conflict of interest arising from Kieran acquiring her app for his own company while also being associated with the Havel Group as a non-executive director. The situation had taken an unexpected turn with Henry's objection and proposal to buy the app or form a partnership.

Setting her teacup down gently on the table, Sage leaned forward, her voice filled with a blend of sincerity and determination. "Kieran, I never expected this to become so complicated. I appreciate your support in acquiring my app, but I also understand the concerns raised by Henry and the board."

Sage leaned forward, her eyes fixed on Kieran's, her voice filled with urgency. "Kieran, please, if there's any way you can ensure that the app doesn't end up in Henry's possession, I would be forever grateful. I have a suspicion that he's trying to use this as a way to force me to communicate with him again, and I can't allow that to happen. I've blocked him from all my channels for a reason, and I want to maintain my distance. I know it might sound presumptuous, but I've known Henry for a long time, and I can't shake the feeling that he's trying to manipulate the situation to his advantage."

Kieran nodded, understanding the gravity of Sage's words. "Sage, I trust your instincts, and I know you have a deep understanding of Henry's character. We shouldn't underestimate his determination and the lengths he might go to achieve his goals. Rest assured, I'll do everything in my power to keep the app out of his hands and protect you from any unwanted interactions.”

Sage's shoulders relaxed, a sense of relief washing over her. She appreciated Kieran's support and belief in her judgment. "Thank you, Kieran. It means a lot to have someone who understands and stands by me."

----------

As Kieran's Rolls Royce pulled up in front of the office building at Canary Wharf, Sage's attention shifted from the familiar surroundings to the task at hand. Stepping out of the car with purpose, she strode alongside Kieran towards the elevator, her mind focused on the upcoming boardroom meeting.

Navigating the bustling lobby with ease, Sage's determination propelled her forward. She had been to this building before, familiar with its polished halls and bustling energy. Canary Wharf was not uncharted territory for her.

Entering the elevator, Sage exchanged a knowing glance with Kieran, their shared determination palpable. They had meticulously prepared for this moment, ensuring their presentation was strong and persuasive. The ride up to the designated floor was filled with a sense of anticipation, their focus honed on making a compelling case.

As the elevator doors opened, Sage was greeted by Simon, Henry's older brother and the leader of the Havel Group. A warm smile spread across Simon's face as he approached her, enveloping her in a genuine hug. "Sage, it's so good to see you. How have you been?" he asked, a touch of surprise in his voice. "I didn't realize you were behind this app until today"

Sage returned the hug, appreciating the warmth and genuine concern from Henry's brother. "Thank you, Simon," she replied with a soft smile. "I've been well”

As they walked down the corridor towards the boardroom, Simon expressed his eagerness to hear Sage's explanation about the app. He emphasized the importance of her addressing the board directly to ensure a clear understanding of the app's purpose and its compatibility with the Havel Group's businesses.

Entering the boardroom, Sage took her seat at the table, surrounded by the familiar faces of the board members. Among them were Henry's brothers, who held executive positions within the Havel Group. As she looked around, she noticed their smiles of recognition, accompanied by a warmth that conveyed a sense of familiarity and fondness.

Sage met their gazes, returning their smiles with a nod of acknowledgement. Despite the complexities of her past with Henry, it seemed that his brothers still held a level of respect and appreciation for her. It was a reassuring reminder that she had made a positive impression on them during her time with Henry.

With unwavering conviction, Sage highlighted the app's potential to revolutionize the industry and create new opportunities for growth. She stressed that by allowing Kieran's company to maintain ownership and control over the app, it would be able to flourish independently, fostering innovation and agility.

Furthermore, Sage outlined the potential risks and challenges that could arise from integrating the app into the Havel Group. She emphasized the importance of preserving the app's brand identity and user experience, which could be compromised if it became just another division of the conglomerate.

Drawing upon her own experiences as the app's creator and the deep understanding she had gained from working closely with Kieran, Sage eloquently expressed her belief that the best path forward was to allow Kieran's company to continue nurturing and developing the app independently. She emphasized that this would ensure the app's continued success and allow it to reach its full potential.

As Sage concluded her presentation, there was a moment of contemplative silence in the boardroom. The board members exchanged glances, processing the weight of Sage's arguments. Her passion and persuasive delivery had made an impact, causing them to rethink the initial assumption of absorbing the app into the Havel Group.

Henry's voice broke the silence, his tone brimming with confidence. "I understand Sage's concerns, but I believe we should view this app as an incredible asset for the Havel Group," he proclaimed, capturing the attention of the board members.

Henry proceeded to outline his vision for incorporating the app into the company, highlighting the potential benefits it could bring. He argued that by embracing the app's community platform, the Havel Group could expand its offerings, attract new customers, and enhance its overall retail experience.

Sage's heart sank as she listened to Henry's counterarguments. She knew that her app was not meant to compete with the Havel Group's existing retail business. It served as a platform for individuals to buy and sell a wide range of items and services, catering to a different market segment altogether.

Summoning her courage, Sage raised her hand, signaling her desire to respond. All eyes turned back to her, awaiting her rebuttal.

"Sage," Henry interjected, his voice laced with concern and authority, "I appreciate your dedication to the app, but I genuinely believe that it can thrive within the Havel Group. We can leverage our brand reputation and resources to take it to new heights."

Sage locked eyes with Henry, firm in her convictions. "Henry, I understand your perspective, but it's important to recognize that my app doesn't pose a direct threat to the Havel Group's retail business. It operates in a different space, empowering individuals to engage in peer-to-peer transactions and services."

She continued, eloquently explaining the potential risks of integrating the app into the Havel Group. "By aligning the app with a luxury-focused brand, we run the risk of diluting its unique identity. Users value the app for its inclusive nature and its ability to cater to a wide range of needs and budgets. Merging it with the Havel Group could compromise that appeal."

Sage went on to emphasize the importance of maintaining the app's independent image and allowing it to grow organically within its own niche. She painted a vivid picture of how integration could blur its purpose and alienate its loyal user base.

As Sage finished speaking, a charged silence filled the boardroom. The board members exchanged contemplative glances, grappling with the decision at hand. They now had to weigh the allure of Henry's proposal against Sage's compelling arguments for preserving the app's integrity and unique market positioning

The boardroom fell into a hushed pause as the members took a break to deliberate on the weighty decision before them. Sensing the tension in the room, Kieran rose from his seat, gesturing for Sage to join him outside. They stepped out into the hallway, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly.

Sage looked at Kieran, a mix of hope and concern in her eyes. "Kieran, if the board decides to go with the Havel Group, is there any way you can ensure that the app doesn't end up in Henry's hands? I know we have a partnership on the table, but I worry about the consequences if he gains control over it. As a non-executive director, do you have the power or influence to prevent that? Also, I mentioned before, I have a suspicion that he's using this situation to manipulate me into communicating with him again, and I can't allow that to happen. I've blocked him from all my channels for a reason, and I want to maintain my distance."

He took a reassuring step closer, his voice filled with determination. "I get it, Sage. I'll do everything I can to prevent the app from falling into Henry's hands. I may not have full control, but I'll use my influence and connections to find a solution. You won't be forced into any unwanted communication. I'll prioritize your well-being and protect the app's vision."

Sage felt relieved, a small smile forming on her face. "Thank you, Kieran. I trust you to do your best. Let's present our case with strength, and no matter what happens, we'll find a way to keep the app with someone who respects its purpose and my boundaries."

Encouraged by their shared determination, they returned to the boardroom, ready to make their final stand.

----------

As the discussion resumed, the board members deliberated on the future of the app. After careful consideration, they reached a consensus—the Havel Group would acquire the app from Kieran at a substantial price as compensation for his company's efforts and resources invested in its development.

Sage listened to the decision, her heart pounding with mixed emotions. On one hand, she was relieved that the app would not fall into Henry's hands, ensuring her continued distance from him. However, as she contemplated the outcome, a tinge of sadness washed over her. It wasn't the prospect of parting ways with the app itself that saddened her, but rather the possibility of not working closely with Kieran in integrating the app with his company.

Over time, Sage had formed a strong bond with Kieran, appreciating his dedication, support, and shared vision for the app. They had become a formidable team, and the idea of not collaborating further with him felt like a missed opportunity. Their partnership had propelled the app's success, and the thought of not continuing that journey together left a void in her heart.

As she processed these emotions, Sage reminded herself of the bigger picture. The decision to join forces with the Havel Group brought numerous advantages and opportunities for growth. She understood that this collaboration would open doors to new resources, expertise, and a larger user base. It was a chance to take the app to new heights and make an even greater impact.

Still, she couldn't help but feel a sense of loss mingled with anticipation. It was a bittersweet realization that change was inevitable, and that she would have to adapt to a new dynamic. But deep down, Sage held onto the hope that her journey with Kieran and the app was merely taking a different path—one that would lead to even greater achievements and fulfillment.

Kieran turned to Sage, his expression a mix of understanding and resolve. Sensing the weight of the decision, he guided her to a quiet corner of the boardroom, away from the prying eyes and eager voices.

"Sage," Kieran began, his tone gentle yet resolute, "they've agreed to buy the app from me at a high price. It's a significant compensation, and it ensures that the app won't be under Henry's control. I believe this is the best course of action to protect your boundaries and the app's integrity. What do you think?"

Sage looked into Kieran's eyes, appreciating his concern and the trust he had placed in her. Her mind raced with thoughts and emotions, torn between holding onto something she had poured her heart into and the need to protect herself from Henry's influence.

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her thoughts. When she opened them, a sense of clarity washed over her. She knew deep down that Kieran's proposal was the practical and wise choice.

"Kieran," Sage said, her voice steady, "If you believe this is the best way forward, then I trust your judgment. Let's proceed with the sale and ensure that the app continues to thrive under new ownership. I understand the importance of protecting myself and the app's integrity."

Kieran nodded, a hint of relief in his eyes. and then he took her hand in his, offering a reassuring squeeze.  "Sage, I want to reiterate my promise to you. I will go above and beyond to protect you from any unwanted interactions with Henry," he declared, his voice filled with resolve. "I understand how important maintaining your boundaries is, and I'll do everything within my power to ensure your safety and well-being." 

Sage felt a rush of gratitude and relief wash over her, knowing that Kieran was resolute in his pledge to shield her from any discomfort. She appreciated his genuine concern and the weight of his words, knowing that he truly had her best interests at heart.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Sage's lips as she met Kieran's gaze, her eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and trust. "Thank you, Kieran," she replied, her voice soft yet filled with appreciation.

Returning to the boardroom, Kieran and Sage took their seats, their minds still processing the weight of the decision that had just been made. The air was filled with anticipation as Simon Havel, the chairman of the Havel Group, stood up once again, commanding everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Simon began, his voice commanding yet filled with warmth, "I want to express my gratitude to Kieran and Sage for their willingness to work with us on this matter. We recognize the value of the app and the expertise that Sage brings to the table."

He turned his gaze towards Sage, his eyes conveying a sense of respect and admiration. "Sage, we would like to offer you a position as a consultant, working closely with a team from the Havel Group. Your role will be crucial in ensuring a seamless transition as the app is integrated into our operations."

Simon paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in. "Rest assured, Sage, you will be compensated generously for your contributions, both as the app's designer and developer, and as a valuable consultant during this process. Your expertise and insights will be invaluable in ensuring the success of the app within the Havel Group."

Sage listened intently, a mix of emotions swirling within her. The opportunity to continue working with the app, even in a different capacity, excited her. It meant she could still contribute to its growth and see her creation flourish. At the same time, she felt a sense of validation in being recognized for her skills and expertise.

She glanced at Kieran, a silent acknowledgement passing between them. This was the best outcome they could have hoped for—a way to protect the app's integrity and her own boundaries while still staying involved in its journey.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Sage turned her attention back to Simon. "Thank you, Simon. I appreciate the offer and the opportunity to continue working with the app. I’ll do my very best to ensure a smooth transition, and support the apps integration into Havel group"

Simon nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Excellent. We look forward to having you on board, Sage. Let's work together to make this a mutually beneficial partnership."

As the meeting continued, discussions shifted towards the logistical aspects of the app's transfer and the collaborative efforts that would be required to integrate it successfully. 

As the discussions in the boardroom delved into the intricate details of the app's transfer, Henry's mind churned with a mix of ambition and determination. A cunning smile played at the corners of his lips, a telltale sign of the strategizing taking place within.

His gaze repeatedly drifted towards Sage, an unmistakable glint of longing and mischief hidden behind his eyes. Unbeknownst to Sage, Henry couldn't help but steal glances, his mind silently concocting plans on how to once again bring the project under his control.

While the room buzzed with logistical considerations, Henry's attention remained fixated on Sage. Memories of their shared past danced at the edges of his consciousness, fueling his desire to reconnect with her on both a personal and professional level.

However, as the discussion continued, Henry knew he had to bide his time. The Havel Group's acquisition of the app had set the stage for his eventual involvement, but he had to tread carefully to win back Sage's trust. He understood the importance of patience and subtlety, realizing that rushing in would only risk pushing her further away.

And so, with a mask of professionalism and a heart brimming with hidden intentions, Henry kept his glances fleeting, concealing his true motives for now. The allure of Sage and the potential of reclaiming the project were challenges he relished, and he was determined to seize the opportunity when the time was right.

Unbeknownst to Sage, a subtle dance of calculated maneuvers had begun, as Henry plotted his next move in the intricate game of winning her back.

Careful not to reveal his true intentions, Henry maintained a facade of cooperation and enthusiasm during the discussions. He skillfully inserted comments and suggestions that subtly positioned him as the ideal candidate to oversee the app's integration. His past accomplishments within the Havel Group and his familiarity with its operations served as a compelling argument for why he should take charge.

In private, Henry planned further, contemplating the steps necessary to win over the key decision-makers. He identified the individuals whose support he needed and crafted tailored approaches to sway them to his side. With every move, he carefully maneuvered, weaving a web of influence and manipulation to ensure that the app would fall into his hands.

--------

After the initial board meeting, Kieran and Simon Havel quickly arranged another meeting to introduce Aria Hayes as the new director for the app project. Two days later, everyone gathered in the boardroom, feeling a mix of anticipation and curiosity.

Simon Havel entered the room with a confident stride, followed closely by a poised and determined Aria Hayes. Sage's eyes met Aria's, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of reassurance and respect emanating from the new director.

"Thank you all for joining us today," Simon began, his voice carrying a tone of significance. "As we discussed in our previous meeting, we have appointed Aria Hayes to oversee the app project. Aria brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role, and we believe she is the ideal candidate to guide the project forward."

Aria smiled at the team, her eyes filled with determination. "Hey, everyone! I'm really excited to be here. I've seen what you've accomplished so far, and I can't wait to work with all of you to take this app to the next level."

Kieran stepped forward, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "I've had the pleasure of working with Aria before, and let me tell you, she's a good manager. With her in charge, you’re in good hands."

Sage felt a wave of relief. She spoke up, her voice genuine and appreciative. "Thank you, Aria. It means a lot to have you on board. I'm confident that together, we'll make this app a huge success."

With the introductions done, the team left the boardroom, feeling motivated. Unbeknownst to them, Henry had been silently observing, waiting for his moment to make his move.

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Under Aria's capable leadership, the team meetings and integration of the app progressed smoothly. Her management style impressed the team, earning their respect and trust. They worked together seamlessly, addressing any challenges that arose.

Sage, still involved in the project's integration, visited the office twice a week to ensure everything was on track and manage her part. The team collaborated closely, discussing and implementing new features and upgrades that would enhance the app's value for the next update.

One evening, the team decided to have a casual dinner at the office. They ordered takeout and gathered around a long table, enjoying the meal together. Laughter filled the room as they shared stories and celebrated their progress. The camaraderie among the team members was evident, fostering a positive and supportive work environment.

Unbeknownst to them, Henry, driven by his own hidden agenda, had been covertly observing their interactions. From a distance, he watched as they enjoyed their dinner, unaware of the plans he was formulating in the shadows. His gaze lingered on Sage, his mind filled with manipulative schemes to disrupt and seize control of the project.

----------

As Sage gathered the empty takeout containers into a trash bag, she realized she was the last one left in the meeting room. Aria had been called for an urgent online meeting and had hurriedly left, not noticing the time. The rest of the team had promised to take turns cleaning up, but Sage insisted it was no trouble and encouraged Aria to attend her meeting.

Carrying the bag of trash, Sage made her way towards the pantry. The office was now eerily quiet, with only a few executives scattered about, engrossed in their work. Unbeknownst to her, Henry was among them, lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to make his move.

As Sage entered the pantry, she was momentarily startled to find Henry standing there, seemingly by chance. A sense of unease washed over her, but she maintained her composure, reminding herself to stay vigilant. She had learned to trust her instincts when it came to Henry's intentions.

"Henry," Sage greeted him with a polite nod, keeping a safe distance. "What brings you here?"

Henry took a sip from his tea cup, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Ah, Sage, my dear. I work here, remember?" he replied with a hint of playfulness in his voice.

Sage raised an eyebrow, not easily swayed by his charm. "Yes, Henry, I'm aware of that. I meant, what specifically brings you to the pantry at this moment?"

Henry chuckled, a twinkle in his eyes. "Well, Sage, it's a rather revolutionary concept I discovered. They call it 'taking a break.' A remarkable practice that involves momentarily escaping the clutches of work to indulge in some tea and solitude."

Sage arched an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Tea in the pantry, Henry? That's an interesting choice."

Henry leaned against the pantry shelves, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Ah, the pantry, the perfect spot for a break! It's where we escape from work for a moment, sip some tea, and grab a snack. You see, Sage, that's what the pantry is all about."

Sage chuckled, realizing the straightforwardness of Henry's response. "You're right, Henry. The pantry is meant for taking a breather and enjoying a refreshment."

Henry raised his tea cup, emphasizing his point. "Exactly! It's a place of respite where tea and snacks become our allies against stress. So, here I am, embracing the true purpose of the pantry."

Sage nodded, a smile on her face. "Well, in that case, I won't disturb your break any longer. Enjoy your time in the pantry, Henry."

Henry smirked, taking another sip of his tea. "Thank you, Sage. And remember, when you need a break, the pantry is always waiting for you.”

With a nod and a friendly smile, Sage left the pantry, amused by Henry's direct reminder of the pantry's true purpose as a space for snacks and taking breaks.

----------

After a long and exhausting day at work, Sage decides to treat herself to a well-deserved drink at a nearby upscale bar. She enters the establishment, appreciating the sophisticated ambiance and cozy atmosphere. She finds a comfortable booth and settles in, ordering a refreshing Magners cider and a couple of light beers, including a Stella Artois.

As she sips her drink, her mind drifts to thoughts of her work progress and the desire to eventually move on from the Havel Group. Lost in her contemplation, Sage is suddenly pulled out of her reverie by the appearance of Henry, who takes a seat across from her at the booth. She looks up, her expression shifting to one of cautious defensiveness.

Her guard up, Sage questions Henry's presence. "What are you doing here, Henry?" she asks, a touch of suspicion lacing her words.

Henry leans back, a casual smile on his face. "Ah, Sage, what a delightful surprise. Just enjoying my usual haunt, as it happens to be nearby," he replies, his tone laced with nonchalance.

Sage's eyes narrow slightly, not fully convinced by his explanation. "Your usual haunt, huh? Funny how we seem to keep running into each other."

Henry raises an eyebrow, his expression shifting to a more matter-of-fact demeanor. "Yes, Sage, quite intriguing indeed. You see, this particular establishment happens to be the nearest pub to our workplace. It's merely a matter of proximity and practicality."

Sage's mind acknowledges the sense in Henry's explanation, but a hint of doubt still lingers. She can't help but feel there may be more to his presence than mere coincidence. The way he effortlessly rationalizes it leaves her speechless.

As Sage takes a sip from her pint, contemplating her next move, Henry suddenly reaches out to grab her car keys from the table. Startled, Sage looks at him questioningly.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asks, her tone tinged with both surprise and suspicion.

Henry shrugs, a mischievous smile forming on his lips. "I can't let you drink and drive, can I? Safety first, Sage."

Sage chuckles, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Oh, how thoughtful of you, Henry. But let me remind you that you're here to enjoy your evening, not play the responsible driver."

Henry's smile widens, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ah, you've got me there. I suppose I haven't started drinking yet. But don't worry, I'll hold onto your car keys just in case."

Sage stares at him for a moment, a mix of amusement and disbelief crossing her face. "Fine, if it makes you feel better. You can have my car keys. Just promise not to drive my car into any mischief, Henry."

Henry raises his hand, as if taking an oath. "I solemnly swear not to drive your car into any mischief, Sage. Your keys are safe with me."

With a smile and a shake of her head, Sage finishes her pint in one go and stands up. "Well, in that case, enjoy your evening, Henry. Don't get into too much trouble."

Henry grins, holding up Sage's car keys triumphantly. "No promises, Sage. Have a good night!"

As Sage walks away, she can't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. Henry's playful antics always manage to catch her off guard.

Inside the pub, Henry watches Sage through the window glass, expecting her to put up a fight for her car keys. However, to his surprise, she doesn't. Instead, she calmly walks away, leaving him puzzled.

Curiosity gets the better of him as he continues to observe her. His eyes widen in disbelief when he sees Sage walk to her car and retrieve a spare set of keys from her bag. She effortlessly unlocks the car, and a realization dawns upon Henry. His assumption was correct all along.

A surge of urgency fills Henry as he realizes he needs to act quickly. He springs into action, his mind racing to catch up with the situation unfolding before him. He rushes out of the pub, determined to catch up with Sage before she drives away.

From the corner of her eye, Sage notices Henry's hurried departure from the pub. A mischievous smile tugs at the corners of her lips as she believes she has outsmarted him. With a sense of satisfaction, she locks the car doors using the interior locking mechanism and starts the engine, ready to drive off.

As Henry reaches the car, he notices Sage's smile and her deliberate ignorance of his presence. Undeterred, he knocks on the window, gesturing for her to open the door. Sage maintains her playful demeanor, continuing to smile and pretending not to hear him.

Little does Sage know, she has forgotten one crucial detail. Henry holds her other set of car keys in his hand. With a smirk on his face, he presses the unlock button on the key, sending a signal to Sage's car. To her surprise, she hears the familiar sound of the car doors unlocking.

Her triumphant expression quickly fades into a sigh of defeat as Henry opens the passenger door and smoothly slides into the passenger seat. Sage glances at him, a mixture of annoyance and amusement in her eyes. It seems her attempt to outmaneuver him has once again fallen short. Sage lets out a sigh, a mix of exasperation and amusement. "You always find a way, don't you, Henry?"

Sage lets out a tired sigh, leaning against her steering wheel as she looks at Henry, who is sitting comfortably in the passenger seat with a mischievous grin on his face. She raises an eyebrow and asks, "Alright, Henry, what do you want now?"

Henry's playful expression softens, replaced by a more serious demeanor. "Sage, all I want is for you to be safe. You've had a few pints, and it's not a good idea to drive in that state. Let me give you a ride home."

Sage lets out another sigh, her voice tinged with frustration. "Henry, if I were to give you what you want, sleep with you? would you finally leave me alone? Is that all this is about?"

Henry's expression turns somber as he registers her words, a mixture of hurt and longing in his eyes. "Sage, it's not just about that. I know I've made mistakes, but I want more than just a physical connection with you. I want you back in my life, not just as a passing flame , but to rebuild what we had. I want you back in every way possible."

Sage's chuckle escapes her lips, laced with a mixture of bitterness and understanding. She looks directly into Henry's eyes, her gaze unwavering. "You know, Henry, when I visited Thailand a few weeks back, I went to the temple to meet with an old sixth form classmate who was serving as a monk at that time. In the serene halls of a temple, he shared profound wisdom with me."

Henry leans in closer, captivated by Sage's story and the depth of her emotions.

Sage's voice quivers with a newfound clarity, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air. "He told me something that struck me to my core, Henry. He said, 'Before you tear yourself apart, take a piercing look at those you choose to keep close.' And in that moment, the truth unfolded before me like a devastating revelation. Henry... in that moment, I realized that you were a significant part of the pain and insecurity I experienced."

Henry's face pales as the impact of Sage's words hits him with full force. The realization dawns on him, a crushing weight settling upon his shoulders. He reaches out, his voice choked with regret. "Sage, I never meant to be the source of your pain. I never wanted to be the cause of your insecurity."

Sage's eyes glisten with unshed tears, a mix of sadness and resignation etched across her face. "But you were, Henry. You were the one who held the power to shatter my confidence and break my spirit.”  She pauses, her gaze piercing through him. " Yes you never cheated on me, but you tried to mold me into what you wanted, Henry. And when I refused to yield, you resorted to manipulative tactics to get me to do your bidding. You enjoyed making me jealous, playing with my emotions. And I can't bear to be caught in that web of uncertainty any longer. "

Her words hang in the air, the weight of truth finally spoken. Sage waits, hoping that her words will finally penetrate the layers of Henry's self-serving facade and make him realize the impact of his actions.

Henry's eyes widen as the weight of his actions sinks in. His lips part, searching for the right words to defend himself, but they fail him. He realizes now the damage he has caused, the pain he has inflicted, not through physical betrayal, but through emotional manipulation.

"I never meant for it to go this far, Sage," Henry finally manages to whisper, his voice laced with regret. "I thought I could keep you close by doing what I do, but I do see now how misguided and hurtful it was."

Sage's eyes shimmer with a mix of sadness and frustration. "Henry, love should never be a game. It should never be about making someone feel inadequate or insecure. It should be about trust, respect, and building each other up. I deserve better than this constant cycle of manipulation."

In that moment, the realization of their toxic dance settles upon them, a bittersweet recognition that they can no longer continue down this destructive path.

Sage's voice quivers as she takes a deep breath, her emotions palpable. "Henry... I've let you go, just like you wanted before. It's time for you to do the same for me." Her words hang in the air, heavy with finality and a tinge of sadness.

Henry's heart sinks at the realization of his own role in their breakup. The memory of that conversation, when he asked for the separation and suggested they explore other possibilities, resurfaces with a pang of regret. He never anticipated the depth of his feelings and the void that would consume him in her absence.

Henry's heart sinks at the thought of losing her. Memories of their shared adventures, the moments of joy and connection they once had flood his mind. He remembers the worry that consumed him when she embarked on her dangerous expedition to the summit of Mount Everest, how he yearned for her safety and well-being. The months without her presence, her deliberate blocking of him in every channel, had been excruciatingly difficult.

He buried himself in work, trying to distract himself from the void she left behind. He sought solace in the allure of freedom, parties, and the temporary flings with other women. But as time passed, the emptiness grew, and he realized that he couldn't let her go. Not without a fight.

Henry's voice cracks as he tries to articulate the depth of his regret. " I... I never expected it to be like this. I never realized how much I would miss you, how much I need you in my life. Please, give me another chance. I've learned my lesson in the hardest way possible. I've come to realize that I never wanted anyone else. It's always been you, even when I couldn't see it clearly. Please, don't give up on us just yet."

Sage gazes at him, torn between the pain of the past and the lingering love she still holds for him. She sees the sincerity in his eyes, the genuine remorse etched on his face. A part of her yearns to believe in the possibility of redemption and growth.

But another part of her fears the cycle repeating, the old patterns resurfacing. She takes a moment to collect herself, her voice soft but resolute. "Henry, I appreciate your honesty and the growth you've shown in recognizing your mistakes. But love is not just about the depth of feelings; it's about compatibility, trust, and mutual respect. The patterns that emerged in our relationship showed me that our needs and desires were not aligning. I don't need you to change who you are, but I do need a relationship that fulfills me in the ways I deserve."

She pauses, searching for the right words to convey her innermost sentiments. "I felt used, like a toy being played with, manipulated to fulfill your desires. And love should never make one feel that way. I don't want to resent you or view you as an enemy. Instead, I want to find a way to love you from afar, to wish you all the best, and to move forward in my own journey without holding onto the pain and resentment that clouded our relationship."

"Henry, I do care about you, and a part of me will always cherish what we shared. But I also know that I deserve a love that uplifts me and allows me to be my authentic self. And I hope you can find the same for yourself."

Henry's world shatters as Sage's words sink in. He realizes, with a heavy heart, that he has been madly in love with her all this time, but it's a realization that comes too late. The depth of his feelings for her hits him like a wave of regret, and he can't bear the thought of a life without her.

His voice quivers as he bares his soul, "Sage, I have to confess... I've been in love with you all along. Losing you has made me see how much I truly need you in my life."

His eyes glisten with unshed tears as he continues, his voice filled with raw vulnerability,  "I can't change what has happened, and I can't undo the mistakes I've made. But if you can find it in your heart to give us another chance, I promise to spend every moment making it right. "

Henry leans in closer, his voice barely above a whisper, "I know I messed up, and I can't guarantee that I won't stumble again. But if you're willing, I'll love you with everything I have. I'll be devoted to you, I -” 

Sage's looks away, heart aches as she witnesses the raw vulnerability in Henry's words and expression. Part of her longs to give in, to believe in the possibility of a renewed love. But her obstinacy remains resolute, a shield protecting her wounded heart.

She avoids meeting his gaze, her eyes fixed on the unmoving scenery outside the car. The weight of silence fills the space between them, the unspoken  tension hanging heavy in the air. Sage takes a deep breath, gathering her strength.

"Henry," she says softly, her voice tinged with a mix of sadness and determination,  "Could please return my spare car keys," Without another word, Sage extends her hand, silently asking for her car keys back.

Henry's face falls, a mixture of resignation and heartache evident in his eyes. He reluctantly retrieves the spare car keys from his pocket, placing them in her outstretched hand. Their fingers brush briefly, a lingering touch that carries a world of unsaid emotions.

"Sage," Henry says, his voice filled with genuine worry, "I can't let you drive in this state. It's not safe. Let me take you home."

Sage chuckles weakly, shaking her head. "Have I not made myself clear, Henry? I appreciate your concern, but I'll manage. Please respect my decision."

Understanding dawns in Henry's eyes as he recognizes the importance of honoring her wishes. Reluctantly, he retracts the spare car keys, realizing that pushing her further would only cause more harm. He reaches for his phone instead.

"I may not have given up, Sage," Henry says quietly, his voice filled with a mix of determination and concern, "but what matters most to me right now is your safety. I'll call my personal chauffeur to drive you home in your car. Please accept this gesture, for your own well-being."

Sage looks at him, her expression softened by his genuine care. After a brief moment of consideration, she nods in agreement. Henry swiftly makes the call,  providing the necessary instructions to his chauffeur, and within minutes, his chauffeur arrives.

As the chauffeur approaches, Henry and Sage gets out her car. He opens the door of the passenger seat behind for her, a small gesture of care, and motioned for her to take the passenger seat in the back. Without a word, Sage gets in, her gaze fixed straight ahead.

Henry's heart breaks as he watches her retreat into the car, knowing that he must let her go for now. However, a flicker of hope remains within him, refusing to extinguish. He hasn't given up yet. As the chauffeur takes his position in the driver's seat and starts the engine, Henry's eyes meet Sage's.

Henry leans in, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, his voice laced with unspoken longing. "Please take care, Sage," Henry says softly, his eyes locked with hers,

Sage offers him a faint smile, a mix of gratitude and sadness. "Thank you, Henry," she says, her voice filled with a touch of vulnerability. "I appreciate your concern."

Henry watches, his heart heavy with emotions, as the car begins to pull away. His gaze lingers on Sage until her car disappears into the distance. 

A/N: In this chapter, we get to see just how determined and strong-willed Sage is. Her unwavering resolve and shining backbone leave us in awe of her character. And let's not forget about Henry! It's quite satisfying to witness him finally realizing his biggest mistake. But hey, I know some of you might be thinking, "Why can't she just forgive him already?" Well, I'm all for a good life lesson here. We want Henry to truly learn from his errors and grow as a person, don't we? Remember, regret can be a tough pill to swallow, but it plays a crucial part in Henry's personal journey. Let's keep rooting for both of them, knowing that growth and redemption often come hand in hand.

#Henry Cavill #Henry Cavill Imagines #Henry Cavill AU #AU Henry Cavill #Henry Cavill Fan Fic #Henry Cavill FanFic #Henry Cavill Fan Fiction #Henry Cavill FanFiction #Henry Cavill x OC #Henry Cavill x OFC #Original Character #Alternate Universe #Odd Women #Odd Women Series #MSILWRITES #Strong Female Lead #Female Lead with a backbone! #Mads Mikkelsen #Mads Mikkelsen Fan Fic #Mads Mikkelsen FanFic #Mads Mikkelsen x OC #Mads Mikkelsen x OFC #Mads Mikkelsen x Reader #Matthias Schoenaerts

[henrycavillobsessed]

The Dark Side Of Me - Part Three

AU Henry Cavill (Detective!Henry) x female reader

Words: 1,872

TW/CW: Angst/anger. Mentions of pregnancy/miscarriage/harm to babies. Trying for a baby. Violence/blood/mentions of injury. Bad langauge. Hospitals. Nightmares/panic attacks/mental health/therapy.

Summary: Henry finally catches up with Kingsley Archer, the man who nearly took everything from him. The trauma of the attack takes it toll on you.

Notes: I really am sorry it’s taken so long for me to finish this! Life got in the way and writers block really was a thing with this one! However saying that I’m proud I’ve finally finshed my first Henry AU fic and I really hope you enjoy it as much as part one and two!

Part one is here and part two is here

Tag list: @scorpiobitch95 @fanfictionaddiction99 @angelmather1 @tomhiddlestonlove15 @freerose11 @arssunshine @inlovewithhisblueeyes @sunny-byeol @godilovetheenglishx @whitewolf51 @queenofbeingdepressed @maan24 @f1-hoff @witches-of-discovery-a @youronlygoldenangel @yaem1kosgf @dryyoursaltyoceantears @biancacisilino @arssunshinee​ @scorpionchild81

Sunlight filtered in through the open window, bringing with it a slight breeze and the morning chorus of birds that softly woke me. Stretching, I rolled over to see Henry’s side of the bed was empty; I frowned slightly. Always working, I thought to myself, that man is always working… I eased myself out of bed, slightly surprised by how difficult this basic motion was, and looking down I saw… a bump? A baby bump?

“Good morning, my love,” I heard his voice then, and I looked at him in panic as he entered our bedroom.

“Henry? What’s going on? What’s happening to me?” I fretted to him, but he didn’t seem to hear me.

“How are my two favourite girls today?” Henry smiled his crooked smile, my favourite smile, and he bent down to gently pull me up off of the bed and lead me towards our mirrored wardrobe. 

“Henry, what do you mean? What’s wrong with you? I-“ My words choked off in a gasp.

In the mirror, Henry stood behind me, his head bent to rest on my shoulder, his smile now serene as he looked down towards his hands which were tenderly cradling my stomach, my stomach which was straining against my silk pyjama top, and all of a sudden I remembered, and a huge wave of love crashed over me, overwhelming me, and I felt tears of happiness spill from my eyes and down my cheeks…

“Oh, yes… yes! This is our daughter inside of me, isn’t it?” I looked up to meet Henry’s eyes in the mirror, and he nodded. I laughed joyfully once through my tears. “How could I have forgotten! Oh, Henry!”

Then… pain. I was once again confused, as I felt Henry’s hands tense, harder, then harder still as they crushed my stomach, began to crush our baby…

“Henry, stop! What are you doing?” I screamed, looking back up at him in the mirror, desperately.

But Henry wasn’t there. In his place, a man wearing a dark tracksuit stood behind me now, and as I watched his mouth, hidden in the shadow of a cap pulled low over his face, split into a menacing grin, and then the worst pain shocked through me, and my eyes shot down to the fire and I saw it, the handle of a knife sticking out from my abdomen, dark blood flowing steadily from where the blade had entered and I screamed and I screamed and I screamed.

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“You fucking cunt!” Kingsley Archer screamed as he wrenched his head back up from the table; blood gushed from his nose in a torrent, his cuffed hands making him unable to stem it. “You will fucking pay-“ 

BAM. His face once again met the metal table, and this time Henry held Archer there. 

“I thought I said that I was going to be doing the talking?” he growled in his prisoner’s ear. 

Archer moaned, the sound muffled and gurgled as the blood dripped into his mouth. Henry increased the pressure, mashing Archer’s face against the unforgiving surface and he was satisfied to hear the wet crunching that meant the asshole’s nose was breaking further. Yet still Archer wouldn’t cease his whining.

“Look mate, I wouldn’t have gone for her if I’d known it was your missus!”

Henry stilled behind him, fury ice cold in his heart. He bent down, slowly, sinisterly, and his voice was barely a whisper next to Archer’s face. “But it was my missus, Kingsley. And do you know what else? She. Was. Pregnant.”

And with that, the fury unleashed itself. Roaring, Henry seized Archer’s shoulders and using all his strength he wrenched him away from the stainless steel table, the cuffs attached to his arms coming free, and Archer smashed into the mirror behind him, shattering it with his head; blood dripped as he fell down to the floor, groaning, finally lost for words. Henry was upon him then, raining down punch upon punch, each blow punctured with a strangled cry, furious tears burning down his face.

“She was PREGNANT you fucking cunt! PREGNANT! You killed our baby! You nearly killed HER! I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!” Henry raged, and in that moment he knew his words were true, coming from a dark side of him, one he knew existed somewhere inside but had never wanted to meet, yet now he welcomed it, let this dark version come forth, because hurting Archer was never going to be enough, he needed him dead, wasn’t going to stop until he was dead...

“Henry! Henry, stop! That’s enough!” Suddenly Henry felt a pair of arms dragging him away; he struggled against them.

“NO!” he roared. “Not yet!” 

James Brook’s face came into view through the black haze in Henry’s mind. “Henry, stop. This isn’t you. Stop.” 

Brooks’s words finally got through to Henry and panting heavily, he obeyed, all of sudden feeling weak and spent. Angrily he wiped away the tears on his face with bloody hands, and he looked down at the mess that was Kingsley Archer. He was still alive, but barely, and amongst the lacerations and bruises on his face one eye was swollen shut, blood oozing slowly from the socket. Henry felt no regret for what he had done, instead spitting on him before storming from the holding cell.

“I hope you rot, you piece of shit,” were his last words to the animal that had nearly cost him everything, as the door slammed shut behind him. 

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I wasn’t sleeping when Henry walked into my hospital room; the remnants of my nightmare still haunted me and I was terrified to close my eyes again, instead I sat bolt upright in my bed, holding on to the call button, fear leaving a sheen on my skin as I imagined the man with the cap low on his face entering, coming back to finish the job...

I was so pent up that when the door opened I screamed. 

“Ssh, ssh, Y/N, it’s me, it’s Henry! It’s okay, I’m here, I’m here...” Henry rushed to my side and I clung to him, sobbing out the panic, taking comfort in his solid presence, his scent surrounding me, reminding me of safety, my Henry the detective superintendent, my protector...

As my cried subsided and my breathing returned to a normal pace, I shakily looked up at my husband’s face. He looked like hell, dark purple shadows under his eyes, curls sticking up in every direction, and looking down I saw his hands, red raw and bloodied. Alarm coursed through me.

“You found him.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.” 

“Is he- Is he dead?”

“No.”

“But you got him?”

“I got him, baby. He won’t hurt you ever again.”

I cried again then. Relief that my attacker had seemingly paid his debt was coursing through me, although concern rose up underneath it.

“Are you okay though, Henry? Your poor hands...”

He laughed once, humourlessly. “I’m fine, my love, please don’t worry about me.”

“What about your job? Surely this is going to have made an impact.” I asked worryingly and Henry sighed.

“My beautiful wife, I think it’s time I left the police force. It’s been a long time coming, and this whole... situation, it’s made me realise what’s important. I’ve spent so long protecting others, when in reality I should have been protecting you. My job made you vulnerable and I will never, ever forgive myself...” He took a deep breath and continued. “Tonight I met a part of me I never want to meet again. It’s time we moved out of the city and took some time to focus on what really matters- each other. And perhaps, when you’re ready, we can try again for... for a...” his words trailed off as tears pricked his eyes and my heart broke for him. 

He held me close as we both cried, cried for the horror we’d both experienced, and the loss. We held each other wordlessly until long after the sun had come up, only pulling apart when a nurse came in to see to my dressings, and even then I kept him in my sight. 

“I’d like that, you know,” I said to him finally.

“Like what, my darling?”

“To move away, to the country. Kal would too,” I smiled for what seemed like the first time in an eternity and was buoyed when Henry returned it.

“Then that’s what we shall do,” he said, taking my hand and pulling it to his lips, kissing it gently. “That’s what we shall do.”

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

18 months later...

In a cottage in the woods, the wind whipped through the dark trees menacingly, and screeched as it rattled the window frames and shadows danced in the thickness of the trees. In your king sized bed in the master bedroom upstairs, Henry looked down at you worriedly as you tossed and turned, moaning softly as sweat shining on your forehead. Suddenly you woke with a scream, eyes darting around in a panic, breath coming out in pants. 

Henry reached out to you, and held you as you calmed down. It might have been a year and a half since the attack but you still suffered with nightmares and panic attacks. The therapist that you saw said this was to be expected, although you were making good progress with your sessions, and Henry of course did everything he could to help. He had plenty of time to be with you now he’d left the force, in fact he hated to be away from you even for a moment, hence why he’d taken a working from home job doing admin work for a security company. It was a pay cut, true, but totally worth it when it came to your mental health and safety. 

Kal whined softly at the end of the bed, his nose resting on the duvet as he looked at you balefully. “Come on, boy,” you whispered and the akita jumped up. You cuddled into him gratefully and Henry’s heart was full looking at the two of you, grateful you had each other. There was still no sign of a baby in your lives although both you and Henry had spoken about it, and were tentatively beginning to try again. For now though, the big bear of a dog was doing a fine job of being both companion and child. 

“I dreamt... I dreamt he was there again, waiting for me...” you spoke quietly after a while.

“I know, baby. I know it feels so real, but he will never find you or hurt you again,” Henry said, pulling you close. “I promise.”

You snuggled in closer to him. “That storm is getting bad out there, isn’t it?” you shuddered as the wind rattled the windows again and rain began to pelt down against them. 

“Yep. But it’s nice and warm and safe in here, baby. Go back to sleep,” Henry replied, humming softly until your eyes fluttered shut and your breathing evened out once again. 

Outside, lightning flashed through the sky, illuminating the trees, and a shadow skulked back to the darkness, a shadow with a cap pulled low over its face, and a glint of silver in its hand... 

                                                     The end.

#henry cavill #henrycavillobsessed #henry cavill obsessed #henry cavill fan fiction #henry cavill fanfic #henry cavill fan fic #henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill angst #henry cavill au #henry cavill x reader

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

Midsummer Misadventures: Chapter 7

(Henry pic credit. The rest are Google.)

[CH 1] [CH 2] [CH 3] [CH 4] [CH 5] [CH 6] [CH 7]

Pairing: Henry x Female!Reader (you)

Word count: 4942

Warnings: RPF; Enemies to Lovers. Slow Burn Smut (not yet). Snark. So much snark. Olympic-level bickering. Adult language and themes, etc. Somewhat arrogant Alpha-male Henry because I have questionable taste in men. Plot holes and predictability abound.

Disclaimer: Henry is probably nothing like this IRL. This is 100% fiction. Don’t take it seriously and don’t come at me with hate.

Summary: Henry hires you as his property solicitor and you go on a misadventure in Scotland.

A/N:

Happy Bank Holiday! Enjoy an unexpected update because my chapter was once again getting too long and had to be split. The good news is that means the next chapter is already half done. 😂

I hope you all enjoy ❤️

Unbeta-ed. All mistakes are my own.

Reposting my works on other sites or platforms is prohibited. Reblogs, likes, and comments are, as always, greatly appreciated.

The dress proved as much difficult to put on alone as it looked ridiculous, and just as you were about to find something with which set the horrid thing alight, Annie serendipitously appeared to tidy your room and volunteered to assist. 

More’s the pity, because the thought of using it for kindling had been the one bright spot of your morning.

Henry had casually offered to help too, loftily prattling on about his expertise in corsetry. Completely overblown, you suspected, and likely had more to do with taking them off than tying them up (you had seen The Tudors, under acute duress at the time). The thought alone sent your mind on a dangerous spiral, and you swiftly ejected him from the room upon the pain of excruciating death. 

After your body’s earlier shenanigans, you didn’t want his hands anywhere near you. 

Much hemming and hawing, three corset lace-tightenings and loosenings, and a shameful amount of stalling later, Annie forced you through the doorway—literally and figuratively. You let out an audible oof when your skirts got caught in the frame. Upon reaching the end of the landing, you wiggled your toes in your rebellious flats and contemplated (with newly-found, sizable respect for the women of yesteryear) the best way to descend without breaking your neck. Your choice in footwear may not abide by the prescribed costumery, but at least you wouldn’t risk needing to be rushed to the nearest hospital at the slightest stumble. 

Now, if said hospital was next to the airport, then you’d seriously reconsider the hideous heels you left back in the room.

A familiar whoop of laughter and a high-pitched excited titter floated up from the ground floor and broke the rather gruesome reverie. It wasn’t until you reached the very last flight of stairs that you spied Henry. His back was to you as he waved to someone just out of sight. He idly reclined back, one elbow propped atop the railing. 

The step under your foot creaked.

He turned.

Your breath caught.

He smirked.

The glimpse you’d gotten of the costume earlier had been extremely misleading, or perhaps, now it was simply to full effect because it was fitted to his body rather than being thrown over the back of the furniture. 

This was no tin can suit of armour. There was certainly enough well-placed shiny pomp and circumstance to give it a sense of knightly authenticity, but there was also something substantially tactile about it. A dark and dangerous utility favoured over princely show. Henry stood straight, squared his impossibly broad shoulders, and looked as if he was plucked straight out of Arthurian legend. Even his mannerisms were less languid insouciance and more measured lethality. 

His was not just some backwoods community theatre costume like you’d thought. There was a definite whiff of quality about it, and it suited him to a ridiculous degree. Kudos to Caroline for sourcing something so infuriatingly befitting Big Lad Henry. Too bad that enthusiasm hadn’t extended to Arts and Crafts hour you were forced to wear, though Henry had always been a more motivating presence. 

Henry watched the rest of your wobbly descent with something that vacillated between cautious curiosity and thinly-veiled amusement. When you reached the bottom step, he bent with a grandiose bow and raised one hand palm up. 

“My lady.”

An odd shiver ran all the way to your toes.

“You look radiant,” he added, choking back barely restrained laughter.

“You’re enjoying this far too much.” 

The retort hadn’t come out nearly as acrimonious as you would’ve hoped and verged far too close to stunned and breathy for comfort. Henry looked up and his smile was nothing short of devastating. Your mind suddenly felt perilously woolly, and for the first time, you held genuine sympathy for anyone caught in the crosshairs of his (apparently) not-so-alleged charm. It was becoming clearer why he always seemed to get his way. 

Which irritated all the same. Finding your head, you dodged his proffered hand, lifted your voluminous skirts and flounced past, all on the silent hope that you didn’t trip on the excess of lace trimming. There was something steadying in the simmer of annoyance. A calming sense of equilibrium. Balance restored to the universe.

“I am more than entitled, given the circumstances,” he said from behind you.

“To indulge in a bit of schadenfreude?”

He fell into step. “Just desserts, Cupcake. Just desserts.” 

You stopped short and the pendulous weight of the skirts nearly toppled you. You held your arms out to regain your balance, one finger raised for emphasis. “Do not call me that.”

“Your words.” His eyes made a leisurely pass from head to hem and with it came an irrepressible urge to squirm. “And not wholly inaccurate.”

You immediately pulled a face far beneath your years; he responded in kind. Your parents would be so proud.

Henry was definitely enjoying this.

In a horrifying sort of way, so were you.

Rather than risk unearthing any more new weaknesses, you put Henry safely in your peripheral vision and hastened through into the main pub. It was positively hivelike, buzzing with excited energy but still with distinct synchronicity of purpose. A few familiar faces mingled amongst strangers who you suspected were local volunteers. Some bustled about, boxes bursting with ribbons, streamers, and decorations in hand. Others sat and chatted animatedly whilst putting the finishing touches on their projects or braiding fresh summer flowers into garlands and wreaths. The air was so heavily perfumed that it bordered on overwhelming. Beyond the tables lain with jugs of lemonade, half-drunk pints, and light refreshments was Gavin. He was stationed, pail and rag in hand, by the pub’s rather impressive wall of antique windows, evidently on cleaning duty and looking quite discontent for it.   

You felt a fleeting pang of sympathy and asked in passing if he wished to trade places. One startled look at your unfortunate get-up and he swiftly resumed wiping the wavy glass with renewed vigour. 

No one shall accuse you of being uncharitable. 

Jack was nowhere to be found, to your eternal gratitude, as your dignity was already on the ropes and you hadn’t even made it to the stage. Some curious eyes followed you on the way to the back exit, though most appeared too preoccupied with their preparations to do anything other than give you a nod or abbreviated greeting before moving on. Henry hovered closely, likely to ensure you didn’t try to make a run for it (as if you could in skirts this wide) but, nonetheless, you were relieved he was large enough to break lines of sight.

To your face, anyway. There was absolutely no hiding the dress. 

Out the back door, you were greeted by another brilliantly sunny day. The striking view from the terrace revealed the lush fields now studded with the half-assembled beginnings of a sprawling maze of colourful marquees. It was pushing noontime, and given that the same fields had been completely empty the previous evening, the festival crew must have started in the early hours to be this far along. 

The gentle breeze tickled your cheeks as you lifted a hand to shade your eyes. Beyond the tangle of small marquees, you spotted two fenced pitches in the distance. Off to the side were piles of smoothed poles, mounds of coiled rope, and other suspiciously sporty oddments. 

Highland games. Technically, Muirford wasn’t in the Highlands, but what better than something quintessentially Scottish to attract tourists, especially those less inclined to venture further north during high midge season.

Your eyes moved beyond the pitches to another higher, far more prominent marquee. Only the top was visible, but if you hazard a guess, that was the entertainment stage.

“This way,” said Henry as he led you down the steps. 

Evidently, the festival was a much bigger deal and more far-reaching than you’d originally anticipated. The conversation you’d had with Gavin when you first arrived came to mind: that midsummer celebrations were an annual tradition and brought in visitors from many of the surrounding villages, but there seemed to be a heavy emphasis on attracting tourists as well, and now with the undeniable draw of Henry’s presence…

You swallowed thickly and wiped your damp palms over your skirts, knowing full well that the sweat was only halfway caused by the heavy costume. 

There was a sharp thwack against your side, dragging you back into the moment. You grimaced and looked down; the sheathed stage sword attached to Henry’s thick leather belt smacked against your well-padded side with each step, like a slow and steady prod. 

The fact that he got a sword and you got eighteen layers of glittery fluff was an egregious affront. 

You shuffled out of range of the sword and your thoughts and kept pace with Henry. He wove in and out of lanes with confidence that ascribed some knowledge of where to go and you briefly wondered if he’d done some reconnaissance this morning. That, in turn, ultimately made you also wonder where he spent of his evening. In spite of his generally conspicuous existence, he was proving quite adept at skulking off, and you were beginning to wonder where he disappeared. 

Tch, banish the thought. Curiosity certainly never did the cat any favours.

Your interest was diverted by stall after stall dedicated to all manner of offerings, with signage boasting traditional local delicacies and modern speciality street food, both of which you absolutely planned to partake in when you weren’t being publicly humiliated. When you took a fork in the path, Henry’s hand caught your lower back. It was merely to redirect you in the right direction, but the touch branded you through the thick corseted bodice.

Your face and neck immediately warmed, and it had nothing to do with the bright midday sun.

Henry’s hand quickly disappeared from your person, the disappointment from the loss of its warmth on your skin was downright startling. The breeze kicked up. It whipped through your many layers, whirling upward to cool your cheeks. It caught Henry’s hair and gave it a ruffle; he closed his eyes and breathed in, serenely savouring the freshness, and you hastened to look away. 

Down another offshoot was a central circle, the circumference of which was reserved for local artisans who carefully prepared their booths. You passed set-ups for blown glass trinkets, hand-knitted wool jumpers and mufflers, soaps and candles, carved wooden children’s toys and various curios. You peered around in hopes of spotting your new favourite Fraser jam when you heard it, pealing through the air like a death knell:

“WHERE ARE MY UNICORNS?”

You blanched. The urge to bolt edged on violent.

“Don’t even think about it.” Henry caught you by the shoulders and spun you around, and in the process, smooshed the over-puffed sleeves into your face. You swatted at his hands as he not-so-gently encouraged you forward. When you broke through the last line of marquees and the rogue tuille, the raised stage came into full view.

It was chaos worthy of Accidental Renaissance.   

Stagehands rushed hither and thither, organising props and rudimentary scene settings in front of the painted fairytale backdrop whilst dodging others who futilely attempted to wrangle a gaggle of children into their costumes. Two youngsters with rugby helmets far too big for their heads were mid-combat, the dull thudding of their wooden swords and shields coming together in a frenetic rhythm, and some poor helper trying to break up the scuffle was knee-capped for their effort. At opposite ends of the stage, two men upon wobbling ladders struggled to hang a heavy crimson curtain; they shouted after a group of breakaway youths (suspected source of the wobbling) who clambered en masse after a horde of sheep hell-bent on escaping their clutches.

Relatable and oddly mesmerising.

It was a proper scrabble. The children swarmed—strappy, glittering unicorn horns held aloft the fray—and dove after their quarry, but the sheep proved quicker. The terrorised animals broke ranks and scattered, much to the delight of their pursuers, who squealed excitedly as they chased the bleating sheep—exit stage right, down the steps, and out into the field. 

A few harried helpers clutching armfuls of costumery hurried after them.

You stared, mouth agape, but your attention snapped to by the piercing screech of a megaphone:

“Bout time ye showed up.”

You looked down.

A miniature Caroline stood before you. Far too young to be her daughter—couldn’t be past the latter half of primary school, but the familial resemblance was plain as day. Right down to the ruthless glint in her eye. 

“Who are you?” you asked, taking a wary step back.

The lass flicked her dark plaited hair over her shoulders, adjusted the aviators on her nose, and lifted the megaphone to her mouth. As imperiously as a child could, she answered, “Yer director.”

You shot Henry a hard-pressed look that plainly read This is a joke, right?

He returned your unspoken question with a lazy shrug.

“Och, guid, yer here!”

The voice came from behind and you made a startled spin. It was apparent that there was little chance you’d end the day without suffering whiplash.

“Dinna let this wee one give ye a fright. She’s harmless. G’on, Gracie.” Caroline shooed the girl toward the chaos on stage and then turned and smiled between you and Henry. “I’ll introduce ye tae awbody. Juist so ye ken, given the circumstances, we’v made some changes tae the performance.”

You must’ve looked peaky because Caroline immediately bustled to your side to offer reassurance in the form of incessantly patting your hand. “Ye must be a ball of nerves, but ye look — er lovely. Henry took an age tae pick a dress but he wis absolutely right that it’d fit perfectly.”

“You picked this?” The question definitely sounded as accusatory as intended.

Before Henry had a chance to plead his case, Caroline cut in. “Aye, he took great care in chuisin it. Insisted the original dress wouldnae fit. I dinna ken yer size, but wha better to than yer man.”

Caroline smiled broadly in that Cheshire way of hers and proceeded toward the stage, carrying on completely unaware of the fact that you’d fallen back with Henry and were three seconds from ripping off one of your many ribbons and throttling the male lead.

You waited for Caroline to get just out of earshot and hissed, “You are unbelievable. I suppose you chose your own costume then?”

“Oh, this old thing?” Henry motioned innocently toward himself. “Called in a favour with a costumier in Edinburgh. Worked with them a few years ago and they had this collecting dust in storage so I drove there last night to borrow it.”

That explains the realistic appeal and impeccable fit. For the sake of remaining functional, your brain bypassed the fact that he’d driven to Edinburgh and back in the middle of the night and rather got straight back on the path of indignation.

“And you couldn’t have found anything in that storage for me?” You wanted to think it a shock that he would choose something so horrid but it really wasn’t. If the situation was reversed, you would’ve done the exact same thing.

“Revenge is sweet, C—”

“Don’t you dare call me cupcake,” you cut in and then groaned, “This whole thing is utterly humiliating.”

“Be positive,” Henry drawled in a smarmy saccharine tone that did nothing for your mood. He prodded you toward the stage, where Caroline was now frantically waving you over. “Try to think of it more as a selfless act for the greater good.”

“Your greater good, you mean.”

“For Muirford.” 

The hours that followed went just as well as you expected. In order to accommodate your inability to memorise an entire script in less than a day, the story was to be narrated with the actors more or less miming the action in the background. Henry, show off that he was, volunteered to recite his own lines and you were relegated (blessedly) to a primarily non-speaking role, with only fitful sighs, genteel gasps, and girlish shrieks to break your vow of silence. Whenever you didn’t know what to do, you simply feigned a dramatic swoon. No one had commented on it thus far, which said a lot about the general direction of the afternoon. 

Henry muttered a curse as he once again caught you just before you crumpled to the ground. A fine sheen of sweat dampened his brow and his mouth was firmly set in a scowl. You did your best to ignore how he effortlessly held your weight; the way his muscles tensed as he anchored you against his chest; the way your breasts strained further in your bodice from the pressure.  

Jesus fucking Christ, you needed to get a grip. Now was not the time to go method.

“If you swoon one more time, I refuse to catch you,” grunted Henry.

You went slack in his arms, to both grant some space to find your head and to irritate him. “It’s fine. Just let me die here. It would be a kinder fate.

There had been no shortage of chaos as the play progressed, and the anxiety of being centre stage for most of it wasn’t as bad as you’d anticipated. Probably because the whole ordeal was so outlandish that it felt rather like a dissociative experience.

You’d survived a village being burnt to the ground (dark), a plague (even darker), and an evil witch’s curse. Your noble steeds had abandoned you. Most of the flockherd of sheep-unicorns had once again escaped to the fields, along with the majority of the children—most of whom were dressed as various bits of landscape and scenery so things were looking bleak indeed. The brave few (sheep not children) that remained had at one point taken turns seeking refuge under your skirts.

You were sweaty, irritated, and probably smelled like a fetid barn stable on a hot summer's day, but you were too exhausted to care. 

Henry fully committed to his part, much to the delight of the crowd of picnickers who’d come to watch the bedlam unfold. He pulled it all off with aplomb you didn’t feel gracious enough to acknowledge. The crowd ate it up, of course, so his ego was well-fed without any praise needed from you.

But now, after a medically-concerning amount of swooning, you were mercifully at the final act. Slumped on the stage floor, you leaned your head back against the post to which you were loosely tied and tried not to think about how your life had gone so far off the rails. After the pillaging, pestilence, and evil sorceress, you’d been kidnapped. By whom, you still weren’t sure, but Henry was now undertaking a grand rescue.

The End wouldn’t come soon enough. 

“Cue the dragon!” Gracie bellowed into the megaphone.

After hours of that pint-sized tyrant barking orders, you were more than ready to take that bloody megaphone out into the fields and smash it with a rock. 

Yet still, you wondered what poor barn animal was forced to take the role of Dragon. 

A cow, perhaps. Maybe a donkey.

Wild applause and hoots of laughter broke out across the lawn of spectators. You were still mulling over casting possibilities when you heard a rhythmic slapping against the stage. The sound was odd if only because it sounded weirdly familiar. 

You looked up and let out your first genuine gasp of the day. 

Jack stood on the opposite end of the stage. He was dressed head to foot in a bright green hooded bodysuit. It was covered in hand-drawn scales all generously crusted in glitter. His hands were hidden in oversized keeper gloves painted and adorned to match the rest of the bodysuit. Horns hung limply to the sides of his head and resembled rabbit ears more than anything else. The snout on the hood seemed out of proportion with that of a typical dragon and definitely gave more crocodile. You had absolutely no clue what to make of the lime green swim fins on his feet or how they were remotely dragonesque. 

Henry proved a true professional and kept a straight face. The only break in character was a quick wink toward Jack before he drew his sword and gave it a playful swish through the air. 

“Swoop in!” The megaphone screeched, “Guard your prey, Dragon!”

Jack sighed and trudged across the stage, flip flapping through a cloud of flaking glitter all the way, and crouched down next to you. 

“Fancy meetin' ye here.”

You let out a commiserating groan and whispered, “I thought I’d saved you from all this.”

“Aye, so did I.”

The dragon costume really was unfortunate all around. You cast him a sympathetic look. 

“Nae need tae suffer on my account. Looks like yer awready sufferin’ enough.” Jack’s smile was half-hidden by the felt-toothed, stuffed snout that flopped over his face. He lifted a finger and pushed it out of way. “Repurposed from a production of Peter Pan, if yer wonderin’.”

Explained a lot, actually. “I’m so sorry.” 

Jack shrugged. “The things we dae for family.”

You nodded and settled back against the pole. “I don’t even have that excuse.”

“Whit’s yers?”

“Misplaced sense of honour. A healthy fear of cosmic retribution,” you sighed.  “Deeply repressed masochism, even.”

“Oi ye two, this isna bloody tea party!”

Caroline’s voice rose over the echo of the megaphone. “Gracie, mind yer tongue!”

Gracie mumbled something probably far worse out of the register of the megaphone before lifting it to her mouth again. “More fearsome, Jack!”

Jack rose with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. “Best get this over wit.”

He made a valiant effort. He and Henry played well off each other, and at one point looked as if they were actually having a good time of it. Jack made quite a spectacle of the dragon’s eventual death.

Rightfully so. Wouldn’t want to risk resurrection.

Jack let a few of the remaining children amuse themselves by dragging his lifeless form off stage, leaving a scraggy iridescent trail in his wake.

“Awricht,” Gracie snatched up the script from the narrator's hands and read into the megaphone. “Lord Thane, weary and battle-worn, unties his beloved Lady Mariella and gathers her intae a luving embrace.”

Henry huffed and puffed across the stage, adding a bit of a limp for effect. You slipped your hands from the loosely tied scarf around your wrists and Henry feigned great effort in pulling you up. 

“If you lovingly embrace me, I shall forcibly remove your limbs from your body.”

“Don’t make the rest of this harder than it needs to be.”

That sounded ominous. “The rest of what?”

A high-pitched whine cut you off and Gracie’s voice boomed forth. “Center stage. Someone mark their spots.”

You and Henry both took three large steps to the left and a helper marked your positions with bright yellow tape before scurrying back off stage. 

“I said luving embrace. Closer. Closer. Och, for fu—”

“Gracie!” Caroline hollered, on cue.

“Will you relax?” Henry muttered as he wrapped his arms around you and hugged you closer. 

“I’m trying!” you spat. Your back curved as much as the bodice would allow and your head dropped back. Your arms were pinned to his chest, fingers splayed across the faux plated armour. The position forced you to lean into him for support lest you slip to the ground. The whole ridiculous image had to resemble the inner cover of a steamy romance novel. 

“Arms around his neck!”

You grumbled but acquiesced. 

“Perfect!” Gracie finally bellowed. “Adoring gazes.”

You swore under your breath and made your best attempt at moony half-wit. 

“Are you having a stroke?” asked Henry as he watched through heavy, half-lidded eyes. You knew he was acting; this was his profession after all, but his gaze had slipped so quickly and convincingly into sultry and love-soaked that it was unsettling. 

You trod on his toes. His eye twitched.

“Now kiss!”

Your head whipped to the side, just in time to connect hard with Henry’s nose. With no thought to the children, you and Henry cursed loudly and wildly. Some of the spectators gasped, others hooted and laughed. Gracie let out a long, frustrated howl. 

Henry’s arms disappeared from around you as he staggered back.

You gingerly held the side of your head to ease the throbbing. “Excuse me, what?” Directed at Gracie.

Henry muttered something unintelligible through his hands, but you knew it was scathing. His eyes were furiously watery.

Gracie shot you an impatient look, then mimed a motion as if squishing two dolls together. “Kiss!”

“No.” You shook your head and it made the throbbing worse. 

Gracie strode to the front of the stage, which was a good head and half taller than the girl, and fixed you with the most intense glare you’d ever seen on a child. She balled her fists on her hips, which thankfully meant the megaphone was nowhere near her mouth. “Whit dae ye mean, naw?”

“I am not kissing him.”

The lass looked genuinely confused. “I thought ye two wis married.”

“You have been misinformed.” You glowered at Henry for good measure.

“Weel, ye hivtae kiss. This is a luve story and the Happily Ever After is the most important bit.”

“Surely a children’s play does not need a kiss.” This was a lousy attempt to pull rank as the adult in the conversation, though your argument didn’t sound the least bit convincing. Given that almost all the children had abandoned the stage before the end of the second act, you weren’t even sure it could be classified as a children’s production. 

Gracie's jaw dropped; she glanced at you, then to Henry (though he offered no explanation), and then back to you. She looked positively mind-boggled. “Hivna ye ever read a fairy tale?”

“How on earth is this a surprise?” Henry added as he held the bridge of his nose and sniffed, then promptly winced. 

In truth, it shouldn’t be, as it was a fairy tale (or some twisted hallucination masquerading as one), but you honestly hadn’t thought that far with your anxiety caught up in everything else.

Henry tilted his head back and dabbed at his nostrils. “Didn’t you read the script?” 

“Er—not in its entirety.” Embarrassment heated your cheeks. After the seventh scripted swoon, continuing seemed a moot point at the time.

“I ought to sack you for negligence.”

You gave him a withering look. “That’s not what that means and you know it.”

Jack wandered up from behind. The slap of the swim fins was unmistakable. 

“Sorry tae break up this meetin’ of creative minds, but Gracie, it’s time tae pack it in for the day.”

“But we’v no rehearsed the final scene!”

“They’ll sort it oot for the morn.”

“But it’s the kiss,” Gracie whined dramatically. It was the first time all day that the lass actually sounded her age.

“It’ll be fine. I guarantee these two ken how tae kiss.” 

Oh God, if someone could just put you out of your misery that’d be grand.

Gracie crossed her arms over her chest and aimed a piercing, unconvinced look down the line: Henry, Jack, and then finally you.

“Go’n,” Jack insisted. “Ah remember hearin’ yer Gran sayin’ somethin' aboot weel-earned ice creams.” 

“Fine,” she sniffed indignantly, “but the kiss better be perfect.”

She spun on her heel and made it only a few steps before turning to give you all one last glare of disapproval. “Nothin’ less than a true luve’s kiss!” she barked, then stomped the rest of the way to the craft tent. 

“She’s going places,” said Henry after a long, stunned moment passed. He loosened the ties on his armour.

“Straight to the naughty step, I hope,” you grumbled. You enviously watched his fingers fiddle with his costume, knowing full well you wouldn’t get relief from the corset until you were back at the inn and managed to track down Annie.

“Mark my words, one day she’ll be bossing me around on a proper set.” 

“You can’t be serious.”

“She’s got vision and a commanding presence. Both are vital for making a good director.”

“Vision?” Your voice rose in tandem with your disbelief. “This is a fever dream!”

“I’m with the Lady,” interjected Jack as he leaned over and removed his swim fins. “Best no tae encourage madness.”

“Lady,” Henry scoffed. “A swoony, unconvincing trainwreck if you ask me. You didn’t even try. I had to carry you, quite literally, the entire rehearsal.”

You took a minatory step toward him. “I will skewer you with your own sword.”

He mirrored your step forward. “Good luck with that. It’s as dull as that bloke you dated back in Sixth Form.”

“Excellent, then it shall be all the more painful when I jam it up your—”

“Awright, tae yer corners,” Jack cut in, jerking his reptilian hands in opposite directions. His voice dropped as he nodded meaningfully between you. “Impressionable ears and watchful eyes.”

Your chest rose and fell as rapidly as Henry’s. His neck was flushed, cheek colour high, and his gaze sparked. Irritation fizzled your blood. So much for keeping things publicly civil; both of you looked ready to go for the jugular and there was little doubt to the growing number of onlookers that you were mid-row. They all tried (and failed) to appear completely disinterested in your public spat. 

Henry ran a hand through his hair and released an agitated breath, then gingerly inspected the budding bruise on his nose with his fingertips. “I need a drink.”

“Yer in luck.” Jack smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. “I can help ye wi' that.”

#henry cavill #henry cavill x reader #henry cavill x you #henry cavill fan fiction #henry cavill fan fic #henry cavill rpf #rpf #sweetdreamsofgelato writes #fic: midsummer misadventures

[sillyrabbit81]

Cold

Prompt: Slow & Romantic, Cock Warming from @florxdexcerezo (x) Thank you so much for sending the prompt in. Sorry its taken so long.

Pairing: August Walker x Female Reader

Word Count: Approx. 600

Warnings: Smut, cock warming, p in v sex

Authors Note: I wrote this a few weeks ago, but wasn't feeling up to posting it. I'm still on semi-hiatus, going to be a couple of months more at least, but here is a thingy I did. Hope you like it. Thanks to @nashibirne for reading.

Edited by me, there will be errors

Dividers by me.

Masterlist

Celebration Masterlist

Your eyes fly open. A heady rush of adrenaline pumps through your veins as your hand slips under the pillow on the empty side of the bed and curls around cold steel. You keep your breath slow and even as if you're still asleep and listen carefully.

But you’re too late.

A firm hand covers yours and a heavy, hard body traps you beneath it.

“Don’t scream,” he says, “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

You loosen your grip on the pistol and allow the hand to take it away. In the dark, you hear the thunk of the gun being placed on the nightstand.

“You could knock,” you point out.

“I didn’t want to wake you.”

“And yet, here we are.”

The weight on top of you shifts and you think you can just make out a small smile on his moustached face. You reach for the lamp, but he stops you.

“Leave it off,” he says.

“August, please,” you whisper. Your hands cover his whiskered cheeks briefly before he shakes you off.

“Leave it.”

He stands. You vaguely see his outline as he removes his clothes. He’s moving stiffly, slowly and breathing in soft grunts and rough exhales.

“How badly are you hurt?” you ask.

“Nothing so bad that a good night's sleep won’t heal,” he says, dismissively. Sometimes it scares you how easily and smoothly he lies to you.

“Then why are you here?” you ask with a rueful laugh. “The last thing you ever do here is sleep.”

You see his shape pause. You stare at where you assume his eyes would be, he needs to know you aren’t stupid; that you know this thing between you won’t result in a ring on your finger or a pretty white dress.

The longer he stands there unmoving, the harder it is to keep looking into the darkness. What is he thinking? You open your mouth to ask, but close it with a small shake of your head. It's not like he’d be honest anyway.

He starts to undress again. You lay back in bed. Does it really matter if he’s here to fuck you or sleep next to you? You’ll give him what he wants, you always do. You can’t help yourself.

He slips into bed, curling himself around your naked form. His hands begin a long exploration along your hip to your ribs and back again while his face is buried into your neck. You can hear him draw rough, ragged breaths, his mouth is so close to your ear, his lips graze along its edge.

Driven by a primal instinct, you arch your back, lean against him and open your legs in an invitation that needs no explanation. He doesn’t hesitate and quickly you feel the smooth, warm head of his cock sliding over your folds, gathering your wetness before sinking deep inside.

By the same instinct, you begin to roll your hips, relishing the feel of his length as your pussy glides over him. But his hand clasps your hip and holds you still, your ass and back pressed firmly against his chest.

“When I’m gone, I dream of this,” August whispers, “of being inside you.”

“Then please move.”

“No,” he growls, “I need to be inside you. All night.”

You moan and he throbs deep within you. His nose presses into your hair, his arms wrap around your chest, holding you tighter and tighter until you think he’ll crush you. 

“You’re so warm,” he whispers as he softens his hold on you. “I need you to keep me warm. I’m so fucking cold without you.”

#rabbitsmilestone23 #henry cavill #henry cavill fanfic #henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill fan fiction #august walker #august walker fanfiction #august walker fic #mission impossible #mission impossible fallout #august walker x you #august walker fanfic #august walker x reader #august walker x female reader

[ellethespaceunicorn]

Sometimes The Silence Guides A Mind

Title: Sometimes The Silence Guides A Mind

Rating: Explicit, 18+, Minors - DNI

Pairing: Sherlock Holmes x Reader

Fandom: Enola Holmes series

Word Count: 1.7K

Summary: As you were getting close to Sherlock, he stops visiting. You pop over to Baker Street and share an eye-opening moment.

Warnings: age gap(reader is about 20 in this, Sherlock is mid-30s), slight voyeurism, masturbation (male), handjob, unprotected p-in-v sex (wrap it up y’all), creampie

A/N: I’ve been throwing around this idea about Sherlock for quite some time. I hope you enjoy it. Unbeta’d, we die like people who tried their best.

Dividers by: @firefly-graphics

Support/Reblog banner by me

Cover Art by me

My Masterlist 

You’ve been friends with Enola for a short time, only since the beginning of the year. She’s led you on a few fun adventures, but more often than not, she’s led you on wild goose chases. She has helped you come out of your shell and you are grateful for that. On days that you weren’t exploring the countryside or causing a ruckus in the city, you would lounge around her large house. 

Spending time with her in her large house had its benefits. One of which was 6’1 with a head of unruly curls. The famous Sherlock Holmes was your best friend’s big brother. He lived in the city but came to visit Enola every week. 

You always made sure to be available on those days. If only for the chance to say hello to Sherlock. You wanted more but, truth be told, he made you a bit nervous.

You tried your best to keep calm when he would arrive, but Enola noticed your demeanor change every time. She teased you endlessly about your little crush and you would always bring up Tewkesbury. That would usually shut her up.

In truth, she did not care that you liked her brother, she just didn’t want you to waste your time. The man was not exactly sociable unless he found value in the opinions of others. One opinion he respected was that of his sister. You could sit and watch them talk for hours. She would get him to laugh with her jokes, and he would bring her to annoyance with his riddles.

You would interject a thought here and there and when Sherlock would give his attention to you, you froze. Something about the look in his eyes, it was more than attention. It was intense as if the two of you were the only ones in the world let alone the room.

More than once, Enola had cleared her throat loudly to get you and Sherlock’s attention back on her. But sometimes, she would just listen to you ramble on while Sherlock seemed enthralled in your thoughts. You mused about music and how interesting you thought his cases were. The more you spoke with him, the more comfortable you felt around him. 

Sherlock would show up now and then with little trinkets from his cases. At first, it was just things for Enola, but soon he would start bringing you little gifts as well. He started small with a single flower or a tasty treat from his favorite bakery. But soon, his gifts grew oddly specific. He bought you a brooch you had mentioned seeing at a store in the city. He would learn pieces of music from a composer you talked about and play it for you, much to the chagrin of Enola who wasn’t a fan of the violin.

It was when he didn’t visit for two weeks that you started to realize you were developing feelings for the older detective. You’d come to enjoy his presence and not because of his gifts. You just enjoyed seeing his face light up when he saw you. You relished the power you felt when the normally unflappable and distant man would sit enthralled when you gave voice to your thoughts. 

So, why did it stop so suddenly? Had you done something to offend him? 

You wracked your brain and Enola’s brain for that matter. She gave you his address so you could go and talk to him and she could finally be free of your fretting. 

You arrive at 221 Baker Street, your hands trembling as you knock on the main door. A sweet woman opens the door and introduces herself as Ms. Hudson. When you ask to speak to Sherlock, she sends you up the steps to 221B.

As you’re about to knock, a man opens the door and almost collides with you.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. May I help you, Miss?” 

“Ehm, I’m here to see Mr. Holmes…but I can come back if that’s–” You are cut off when he speaks again.

“You wouldn’t happen to be friends with Enola, would you?” You nod, giving your name, “Of course, Sherlock mentioned you. I’m Dr. John Watson, and I have to be going but you are more than welcome to come in. Sherlock is just in his room down the hall.” He points around the corner from the door and walks past you before waving goodbye.

So, that’s how you end up in Sherlock’s apartment. It is eerily quiet and you think he might be asleep. That is until you hear soft moans coming from down the hall. Your first thought is it must have been the floorboards creaking under your feet.

What you hear next is the unmistakable sound of your name followed by a whimper. It sounded like Sherlock was calling to you, but how would he know you were here already? You walk down the hallway quietly and see that his bedroom door is slightly ajar.

Peeking in, you are blessed with a sight! Sherlock is laid out on his bed with his shirt and waistcoat open, his hairy chest on full display as it rises and falls quickly. His beautiful face constricted in pain one second, solemn and peaceful in the next. His curls are a sweaty mess on his forehead. One hand is fisting the sheets at his side and the other hand is wrapped around his thick veiny dick. You’re mesmerized watching him stroke himself until you hear him moan your name again.

In a moment of bravery, you step into the room. Your bosom heaves in your bodice as you breathe shallowly, adrenaline coursing through your veins. 

His hand stops its ministrations and he looks to you as you walk towards him. He’s frozen on the spot and can only watch you as you climb atop the bed and lay next to him. You replace his hand with yours and continue to pump his dick. Your hand barely fits around him and you enjoy the feel of his soft uncut length in your hand.

His hands come up to caress your face and pull you down for a kiss. When his tongue begs for entry, you allow it in. Heatedly, you mold your mouth to his, letting your moans and whimpers be consumed by him. Breaking the kiss, he looks into your eyes and you can tell he is close.

You remove your hand from him and stand up from the bed. It is only when you remove your undergarments does Sherlock understand why you stopped. Climbing back on the bed, you settle yourself with your cunt dripping onto him.

“I want you to be certain that you–” You cut him off as you slink down, his velvety smoothness sliding inside your wet heat. You take a moment to get used to the sheer size of him. He stretches you almost painfully. Leaning down, you whisper into his ear.

“Do I seem certain, Mr. Holmes?”

Instead of an answer, Sherlock groans and twitches inside you. His hands travel under your skirt and rest on your hips. You take that as a sign and sit up. With your hands on his chest, you begin to ride him slowly, agonizingly to the point where his hands start to guide you to a quicker pace. 

Using you like a ragdoll, he flips you so he is atop you while you are on your back. He slams into you repeatedly and you are no longer in control. He savors the sounds coming from you as he fucks into you. He urges you on as he kisses and licks and nips at your neck, careful not to leave any marks.

Pulling out, he moves you to your hands and knees before inserting himself again. The angle allows him to go deeper and you thank the Gods for it. As he holds onto you, he hammers into you. The filthy utterances that come from his mouth only serve to solidify the notion that he missed you too.

“I knew you would feel like Heaven, my sweet angel…”

“This pretty pussy belongs to me now…”

“You would look so perfect with my cum dripping out of you…”

“I could fuck you all day and night and still never get enough of you…”

“Be my good angel and come all over my cock,” He reaches down and rubs your clit between two fingers as he plows into you. You never stood a chance, your walls quivering around him within moments, “That’s my good girl. So good…for me. Fuck, so close!”

“Sherlock, please! Need you to fill me with all you have to give!” You surprise yourself and your lover with those words. 

Sherlock’s answering grunts as he makes mincemeat of your pussy are music to your ears. His punishing thrusts falter and he pulls you flush to him. He’s deep enough to kiss your cervix with the tip of his dick. You feel him swell inside you and it’s enough to make you climax again, milking him through his release. 

And the noises he makes when he comes are more intricate than the 24 Caprices. You’re sure that Sherlock would disagree but you don’t even care. You revel in the melody of his moans and surrender to its hold on you.

Sherlock’s hands roam over your back, your hips, your ass, and your thighs. As if he can’t get enough of you. He doesn’t pull out until you wiggle your hips, a sign that your legs are tired. Extricating himself from your sensitive folds allows his spend to escape. He catches what slips free and pushes it all back in before helping you lay down on your front.

He lays down next to you, pulling you close to him with one arm while the other rests behind his head. He looks so peaceful as he closes his eyes and hums. The feminine urge for pillow talk is high, but so is the need to just bask in this moment.

You’re in the arms of the man you care for, who also adores you. You rest your cheek on his shoulder and tangle your fingers in his chest hair. You breathe in his smell, his pheromones are surely on high alert from your activity. When he rests his head against yours, you feel at peace.

You do plan on talking to Sherlock later about everything. But, for now, you can take pleasure in the simplicity of the harmonization of your heartbeats.

A/N: The title of this fic is taken from The Neighborhood’s Sweater Weather. There is an amazing violin version of this song by Joel Sunny. And anything violin makes me think of Sherlock.

A/N: Also, I know Ms. Hudson wasn't featured in Enola Holmes, but I love her as a character and I wanted to use her.

**Tag List**

@brattymum96 @ambinxe @avengersfan25 @kebabgirl67

@astheskycries @enchantedbytomandhenry @rebelangel1102

Let me know if you wanna be added (or removed) 😁

#sherlock holmes henry cavill #sherlock holmes fanfiction #sherlock holmes x reader #sherlock holmes #henry cavill #henry cavill characters #enola holmes fanfiction #enola holmes #enola holmes 2 #henry!holmes x reader #henry!holmes #henry!sherlock #henry cavill sherlock holmes #ellethespaceunicorn fanfic #henry cavill fan fiction #henry cavill fic #henry cavill fanfic #henry cavill fanfiction

[imyourbratzdoll]

𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔

this is the last part of motherly instincts, I hope you enjoy.

summary - you found your happiness.

warning - slight asshole steve and threats.

the gif I use isn't mine, headers aren’t mine.

part 1 - part 2

Warnings and Reminders - Please do not plagiarise, copy, repost/republish, adapt, or translate any of my work on any social media platforms, apps, or third-party sites. The only platforms I post my work on are: Tumblr and Wattpad. I do not own any character of any franchise (Marvel etc.) All my works are fiction and may be dark or triggering content: READ ALL WARNINGS BEFORE PROCEEDING.

You were happy, beyond happy. You didn’t know if you would find someone after Steve, but you did; he had stumbled into your life. Literally, you had been walking out of your local coffee shop, and this man had bumped into you, causing your things to go flying, and he had begun to apologise profusely, buying you another. Which leads you to now, you are currently cuddled into his side. After a year of getting to know him, going on dates and another two years of being together, you had found your one. 

You had traced his jawline as he slept, your heart fluttering as a small smile graced his lips. You felt as if you could live in that moment forever, the moment between your finger brushing his skin and the smile appearing. It was soft and simple, but it felt like everything. In that moment, you felt beautiful. Not because you actually were, but because even while he was asleep, your touch could cause a smile, and that was more than enough for you. Clark hums, his eyes fluttering open and connecting with yours. “Are you good there, darlin’?”

You smile, nodding softly before leaning down and pressing your lips against his. “Yeah, I think I am handsome.” You stroke his cheek, staring into his bright blue eyes. “You know, you look gorgeous when you sleep.” He laughs loudly, rolling you over and leaning above you. 

“Yeah?” You hum and nod. He brings you into a kiss, “Well, I guess you’ve never seen yourself asleep then because you are the most beautiful woman I’ve seen.” Your cheeks warm before watching as he slowly lowers down, pressing a kiss onto your stomach. “And when this little jellybean is born, she’ll be as beautiful as her mother.” 

Your fingers run through his hair, smiling down at him. “Clark!” He looks up at you, and you smile. “Come up here.” You pout, smiling as he locks lips with you. You pull back and groan. “I just remembered that we have to go to the compound today.” You did know Clark’s secret, I mean. You were having his child. Of course, you knew he was Superman. “Do we really have to go?” 

Clark chuckles, stroking your cheek. “Yeah, darlin’, we have to go. But don’t worry. I’m going to be there with you.” He begins to pamper you with kisses. “Plus, don’t you think it’s time we told them? They are your friends, after all.” 

You hum. “I suppose, but you know who will be there.”

Clark raises his brow. “Voldemort will be there?” 

You whack him, breaking out into laughter. “No, you dumbass.” You interrupt yourself with more laughing, tears being brought to your eyes. “Oh my god, we were just having a moment.” Clark smiles, happy to see your smile and hear your laugh. “You know who I’m talking about.” Your smile slowly slips off your face, knowing you’d probably be running into your ex. 

Clark nods, cupping your cheek. “I know, darlin’. But he doesn’t matter anymore. A man that leaves you is stupid.” 

After your touching conversation, you and Clark got up and prepared for the day. You dressed in a simple but pretty sundress that showed off your bump. Clark, unable to keep his hands off you, holds you close as you head out to the car and begin to drive to the place you used to call home. Your hand grips your fiancee, slowly exiting the car and smiling when the team greets you, pulling you into hugs and congratulating you on the baby. 

You smile as they get along with Clark, happy to see them together, but then the happiness disappears when he enters the room, a new woman on his arm. Clark’s arm wraps around your waist, and Steve frowns, noticing that and your bump. The woman beside him nuzzles closer, glaring at you. Clark clears his throat and smiles, putting his hand out. “Hi, I’m Clark.”

Steve puts his hand in his, and by the looks of it, you think that he might be trying to squeeze Clark’s hand. But winces when Clark does it instead. “I’m Steve. I’m guessing you are her latest? What sad fool agrees to be with a woman and another man’s child?” 

A frown appears on Clark’s face, and Steve groans when he continues to squash his hand. Clark leans closer, a dark look in his eyes. “You ever talk about my fiancee and child like that again, and I’ll kill you, understand?” Steve opens his mouth, ready to argue, when he notices Clark isn’t messing around. His mouth closes, gulping before he nods quickly. A smile forms back on Clark’s face. Letting go of Steve’s hand and pulling you close, pressing a kiss to the side of your head. 

The day goes by, and you ignore Steve, too busy focusing on your friends and man to care about someone in your past. You smile as you watch Clark before his eyes find yours, and leans close. “I love you, darlin’.” 

You lean up and kiss his lips, “I love you too, honey.” 

thank you for reading!

feedback and reblogs are greatly appreciated

#imyourbratzdollwork #clark kent x reader #clark kent #clark kent imagine #clark kent x you #clark kent angst #clark kent x y/n #clark kent fic #clark kent x female reader #clark kent fandom #clark kent fanfiction #clark kent fluff #clark kent fan fiction #clark kent imagines #clark kent oneshot #clark kent oneshots #clark kent au #henry cavill x y/n #chris evans fanfiction #chris evans characters #chris evans x female reader #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers angst #steve rogers #steve rogers au #steve rogers drabble #steve rogers fanfic #steve rogers fic #steve rogers fluff #steve rogers series

[drewharrisonwriter]

Masterlist

I write for any of Pedro Pascal’s Characters and for Henry Cavill. I occasionally go back to my roots, and write WWE fics. All works are 18+, minors DNI

If you want to request a fic, let me know what you want me to write. I don't have a formal tag list for each fic, but just leave a comment 😉

AO3 | Buy me a coffee?

✨On the Mend (Mini-Series | In Progress)

✨Donor (Complete)

Summary: You ask (beg) your best friend, Henry to donate--sperm.

✨ Is that alright? (Paused)

Summary: You are a musical guest in The Graham Norton Show on an episode that also features your ex-boyfriend, Henry Cavill. You play your latest single that you've written when you were 18 and in love with Henry.

✨ No Ties (One shot)

Summary: You don't do commitments, and it looks like Henry may be down for it.

✨Benefits (One shot)

Summary: Pedro and his best friend are in a situationship. With her recent health scare, he tried to muster the courage to ask her to be exclusive.

✨ Keeping Secrets (Currently being rewritten)

✨ A Chance to Start Over (In-Progress)

Written as @thedeadmansgirl

Summary: An unexpected news brought to surface unresolved traumas for professional wrestler, Mark Calaway, resulting to his third wife asking him for a divorce.

When Humanity Fell (2017)

Summary: A series of mini-chapters tells the tale of where some people were at the beginning of mankind's decline.

The End (2013)

Summary: A man swirling thoughts of his lover's demise.

Between Rain and Firelight (2014)

Summary: In the aftermath of a fateful night, two troubled individuals grapple with the weight of their actions and the consequences they must face.

#pedro pascal #pedropascal #din djarin mandalorian #the mandalorian #fic update #fanfic #fic #joel miller #pedro pascal fan fiction #henry cavill fic #din djarin x pregnant reader #henry cavill #henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill fluff #henry cavill smut #henry cavill x #henry cavill x female reader #henry cavill x little!reader #henry cavill x ofc #henry cavill x plus size reader #henry cavill x pregnant reader #henry cavill x reader #henry cavill x short!reader #henry cavill x wife!reader #henry cavill x you #henry cavill x y/n #pedro pascal fan fic #pedro pascal x you #pedro pascal x y/n #pedro pascal x reader

[fatecantstopme]

Fic Masterlist

Here's my fanfiction Masterlist! Read all warnings for each fic please.

Buy Me a Coffee 💜

🥵 = Smut

😬 = Angst

🥰 = Fluff

The Sandman

Morpheus Am I Dreaming? (🥵🥰😬) Let Me Remind You (🥵🥰😬) My Hope (🥰😬) Endless Rapture (🥵😬) Dream's Desire (🥵🥰😬) Need (🥵🥰)

Marvel

Bucky Barnes Unrequited Love (🥵) Give Me What I Want (🥵) How Could I Not? (🥵🥰😬) The Birthday (🥵) If Only (😬🥵) I've Made Mistakes (🥵😬🥰) One More (🥵) Hello Gorgeous (🥵😬) We Were Never Just Friends (🥵😬🥰) I Thought It Was Gonna Be Me (🥵😬🥰) Turning Tables (🥵) Life Finds a Way (😬🥰) Not Afraid to Love You (😬🥵) Love Marks (🥵🥰) I Was Thinking Maybe, Eight? (🥵😬) Why Wait? (🥵😬) Your Past Is Not Our Future (🥵😬) Before I Knew What Love Was (🥵🥰😬) The Wink (🥵) From Past to Future (🥵😬) DBF!Bucky Series: Aged to Perfection (🥵) My Forever (🥵🥰😬)

BBF!Bucky Series: Save Me From Myself (🥰😬) I've Got You (🥰😬) My Whole Heart (🥵)

Steve Rogers Bring Me Back to Life (🥵😬) Thor Goddess of Thunder (🥵)

Supernatural

Dean Winchester She's My Siren (🥵🥰) This Isn't Real (🥵😬🥰) Not Yours to Take (😬🥰) Spell Bound (🥵🥰) Changed (🥵😬🥰) Truth Serum (🥵🥰) Take Your Time (😬🥰) What I'd Give (🥵😬🥰) Unattached Drifter Christmas (🥵🥰) Not Good Enough (🥵😬🥰) My Past, My Present, My Future (🥵😬🥰)

TVD/The Originals

Elijah Mikaelson The Original and The Anthropologist (🥵😬🥰) All My Life (🥰😬)

Riverdale

FP Jones The Serpent Queen (🥵) Remember Me Series Part One Part Two

NCIS

Jethro Gibbs Can't Wait (🥰)

Law and Order: SVU

Elliot Stabler If I Had to Choose...I'd Choose You (🥵😬🥰) The Connection (🥵😬🥰) That's Not What I See (🥵🥰) Love is Never Easy (🥵😬🥰)

Rafael Barba Still Perfect (🥵���🥰) Better Together (🥵😬🥰)

Criminal Minds

Aaron Hotchner Undercover (🥵😬🥰) Never Do That Again (🥵😬🥰) I Can't Lose You Series Part One (😬🥰) Part Two (😬) Part Three (😬🥰) Part Four (🥵😬🥰) Part Five (Coming Soon!)

Luke Alvez Don't Take The Girl (🥵😬🥰)

RPF

Henry Cavill Just You Wait (🥵🥰) My Favorite Cardio (🥵)

Chris Evans Fake It Til You Make it (🥵😬🥰) If I Love You Too Much, I'm Sorry (🥵🥰)

Buy Me a Coffee 💜

#fan fiction masterlist #fic masterlist #fatecantstopme masterlist #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes x reader #gibbs x reader #fp jones #thor x OC #elijah mikealson x reader #dbf!bucky x reader #bucky barnes x plus size reader #Morpheus x reader #Morpheus smut #bbf!bucky x reader #plus size!reader #tvd smut #elijah mikaelson smut #henry cavill smut #henry cavill x reader #henry cavill x reader smut #chris evans rpf #chris evans x best friend!reader #chris evans smut #chris evans x reader smut #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers smut #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner x reader smut #criminal minds smut #hotch x reader smut

[cardierreh15]

Poison

If you’re wondering if I hate you, I do. Enjoy guys 😉

**I do not give anyone permission to repost or copy my work!!

Warnings 18+: Toxic Couple Behavior , Strong Language , Mentions Of Cheating , Mentions of Divorce , Mentions of Alcohol Intake , Domestic Violence , Mentions Of Heart Break and Trying to Move on .

Pairings: AU!DrugLord Henry Cavill x Black!Woman OC (London)

Description: things had been a little rocky between Henry & His Wife, London. So when he has a problem with her going out with her friends unannounced, she snaps!

Word Count: 1.7K

Song: Love Language by SZA

She was sneaking her way into the house. Trying to be as quiet as possible with her footsteps on the tile floor. But with the liquor making her feel heavier, she was making more noise than she thought she was.

London was locking the door, she hadn’t even noticed that he’d turn on the lights. And once she turned around, he was there leaning against the stairs with his large arms folded across his broad chest. She instantly sobered up when she saw him, jumping slightly, ‘Jesus—‘

‘Where have you been?’ He lifted his head to look up at her across the room.

It was so quiet and the air was thick was tension.

Her own cause she was tired of looking at him.

His because she always found ways to disobey him. But why did that matter? They were getting a divorce anyway.

‘Since when do I have to answer to you, Henry.’

‘You don’t. But you do answer to our kids. They’ve been worried about you all night.’

London rolled her eyes and walked towards the stairs. Her hips swayed; her black tight and form fitted dress hugging those curves her children blessed her with. ‘I bet my last dollar they weren’t even concerned about me.’

Henry stepped to the side, standing before her with an intimidating glare. ‘London, I get it… alright— you don’t want to be around me and to be completely fucking honest I’m ready to be over this divorce shit too. But you are still my problem. When I say you need to be home at a certain time— I expect you to be there before then!’

She took a step back and a snarl curled on her lips before she kissed her teeth, ‘Boy! Fuck you. I’m a grown ass woman and I will come and go as I please!’ She tried to step around him but he stood in her way once again.

‘Oh? It’s “fuck me” now. Alright, I’m not doing this shit with you tonight.’ He chuckled as he turned around and began to walk up the steps.

‘Henry, it’s been fuck you OK,’ she followed him. She wanted him to hear what she had to say. ‘You had me at home with our boys while you were fucking the next bitch. But I can’t go out and have a good time with my friends?!’ She stomped up the steps, ‘HELLO!! Henry! I’m talking to you!’

They made it to the stop of the steps. Henry’s hands tucked in his pockets as he tried his best to tune out her shit, ‘London, just let it go man. I’m starting to think you’re not over the shit!’

‘I am over it!’

Henry swiftly turned around, ‘THEN WHY DO YOU KEEP BRINGING IT UP!?’ He didn’t realize he was yelling just then.

London stared up at him with fiery eyes, a deep frown curled downward on her lips. She didn’t say a word

‘… when people keep bringing up bad shit of the past, it clearly means they’re not over it! I told you I was sorry! And I have been trying to make it up to you for a fucking year! You keep pushing me over the fucking edge, London!’

‘Oh you’re not sorry! If you were sorry, it wouldn’t have happened twice!’

‘UGH!’ Henry threw his hand up in the air as he kissed his teeth and turned around to walk into their old bedroom.

London didn’t back out, she followed suit.

‘Oh so we’re not gonna talk about the affair with your dealer?!’

‘I told you, nothing happened between me and her! Shit, if I knew you were going to accuse me of it, I might as well fucked!’

London inhaled sharply, her eyes welling up with tears. ‘You are sick! I swear to God! I don’t know how I got stuck with a PIECE OF SHIT LIKE YOU!’

Henry stood up straight, taking a deep breath and turned around to face her. ‘Then that makes two of us.’

The room grew quiet. You could hear pin drop.

London sighed, walking towards him with her hands on her hips. When she stood before him, her head fell as her tears fell from her eyes; creating traces on her make up. She lifted her hand, brought it back and slapped it across his face in a hurry. ‘You ain’t shit. You ain’t gone ever be shit! I gave up my life for you! I sacrificed EVERYTHING FOR YOU!’

‘I DIDN’T ASK YOU TO! I told you what kind of fucking person was and you overlooked the shit anyway!’

‘I OVERLOOKED IT BECAUSE I LOVE YOU HEN!’ Her voice shattered; It was then when she completely broke down.

Henry stared at her a thin sheet of tears glossed over his eyes and settled at his eyelids. She had seem to be taking the separation well at first… she made it clear on many occasions that she didn’t want this shit to work. But her telling him that she loved him gave him a glimpse of hope.

He wanted his family back.

‘I tried… I tried moving on! I tried dating, I tried everything! But I couldn’t… I’m still in love with you even with your sick ass tendencies, I’m still fucking HERE! When will you see it! When will you see me?!’ She gave his chest a hard shove.

He stumbled back a little bit, inhaling deeply before clenching his jaw together. ‘I— London, I been seen you. I have only been following your league! You wanted 50/50 custody over the boys? I didn’t fight that! You want child support?— I am willing to do that and give you spousal support! I have given you everything you ever wanted when it came to this fucking divorce but you don’t even seem like you know what you truly want… do you?’

London gently wiped her nose with her wrist and looked away from him. She couldn’t look at him.

‘You… don’t want a divorce…’

She didn’t say a word, instead her arms stayed crossed across her breasts.

Henry let out a shuddered sigh and rubbed his face then let out a chuckle before he walked around her.

‘I was only trying to scare you…’

Henry just shook his head.

‘Once I knew you weren’t budging when it came down to it… I just went through with it.’

‘And how’d you know I wasn’t scared?!’ He said before he turned around to face her once again. ‘London, that’s the first time I’ve been scared in my entire life! The thought… the thought of losing you and my boys to the next fucker… I was afraid you were done with me.’

She wiped her tears and sniffed, ‘Why didn’t you tell me? We could’ve worked it out, Hen! Why have us waste all this money on lawyer fees instead of just working it out?!’

‘Because I wasn’t going to press you… I had fucked up… many, many times London. I just accepted my fate— I made my bed, so I must lay in it.’

She sniffed before she heard a tiny, tired voice. Her head snapped towards the bedroom door. Their youngest son, Adonis spoke up, ‘mommy… you’re back home?’ He rubbed his bright blue eyes. The same ones he and his brother stole from their father.

‘Hii my baby boy,’ she walked over to him and scooped him up into her arms, placing kisses on his cheek and head. ‘I’m sorry I was late. But I’m home now, and I missed you and your brother.’

Henry stared at them with a soft smile on his face. Then his head fell forward to hide the joy he felt in that moment.

‘I heard yelling… we’re you and daddy fighting?’ He whined, pouting out his bottom lip.

London looked up at Henry. Henry looked up at her, ‘No… no just- a simple misunderstanding my love.’

‘Yeah, just— we were just talking loud…’ he gave his son a reassuring smile and walked over towards them. ‘Here. Let me go tuck you in alright? Mommy is really tired.’ He opened his arms out to Adonis and the tiny human just reached out for his daddy. He then let out a tired yawn.

‘Come on boy, off to bed!’

‘Goodnight my love,’ she said softly, ‘I will see you in the morning.’

‘Goodnight mama…’ and he waved his tiny palm at her as they exited the room.

London let out a shaky sigh and turned around to look at the king sized bed. The bed that they shared all their 7 years of being together. She walked over towards her side, dragging her fingertips over the soft linen.

She then sat down on it. Remembering how soft and comfortable it was. The one she slept on in the guest room was a full and no where near as delightful as this SleepNumber.

Suddenly, it seem as if she lost control of her body. She just laid her head down on the cool pillow and shut her eyes. She fell asleep in record time. Between dancing the night away at the club he owned and their argument… she was beat.

After Henry had put Adonis back to sleep, he placed a kiss on his boys head and shut their door behind him.

He walked down the hallway slowly, I’m his own head about the things that were said tonight between the both of them. But as soon as he made it back to his bedroom, he felt tense all over again. ‘Here we go…’ he sighed and opened the door.

To his surprise, she was laying on the side of the bed she used to sleep on; knocked out. He just stood there, scoffing as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

Henry walked over to her side and placed a gentle kiss on her head, ‘rest well, my queen.’

Afterwards, he discarded his clothes, placed them in the hamper and dressed in something more comfortable. Gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt. He crawled into the bed, careful not to wake her. Then, he tucked her in and wrapped his arms around her in a snuggle.

Suddenly, London murmured in her sleep, ‘Henry?’

‘Yes?’ He answered with his eyes closed.

‘It’s still fuck you.’

Henry’s chest rumbled with a dark chuckle, ‘I know.’

#henry cavill x black reader #Henry Cavill #henry cavill fanficton #Henry Cavill fan fic #henry cavill x black!oc #henry cavill x black!female oc #henry cavill x black!female reader #henry cavill fanfic #dad!henry cavill #daddy!henry cavill #au!henry cavill #Mob boss

[rmtndew]

Chapter 15

Summary: The Great Depression took its toll on a lot of people and some had to get creative to survive. Seraphina’s father decides his solution is to sell his only daughter to a much older man. But when Sy overhears a conversation about the young woman, he makes a decision that will change his life - and Seraphina’s - forever.

(An arranged marriage AU with Captain Syverson)

Pairing: Sy and OFC Seraphina

Word count: 4,200+

Warnings: Mentions of violence, mentions of abuse, implied smut.

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

. .

Time had an odd way of passing. In one way it seemed slower than molasses in winter, barely trudging on. But then again, it felt like I just turned around and Hazel Mae was already five months old. I couldn’t believe it. It felt like she was going to be small enough for me to hold in the crook of my arm forever, but it wasn’t long before she was big enough to sit up. She still needed help or she’d fall backwards, but when she had it, she loved to move and wriggle around all she could. Which was why she couldn’t be left in her bassinet while I did chores no more; she’d tump it plumb over trying to get out. Mrs. Anderson had shown me how to make a sling out of fabric to wrap around me for her to fit in so I could carry her with me, and once she started moving, she had to be with me or Sy all the time.

She didn’t like doing the laundry with me none and I couldn’t blame her. She was always trying to grab hold of the dirty clothes and I was constantly pulling things out of her bitty fists or her mouth. And I wasn’t a big woman, so holding a baby while bent over a scrub board washing took its toll on me. So one morning, me and Hazel Mae decided to take a break from all the washing and sit on the porch swing together. That’s where we were when Sy joined us. He called out as he was coming up the steps and she started turning her head around like a little owl, searching for him, as her legs got to moving. 

I smiled. “Somebody hears her Papa.” 

He came and sat next to me and she tried everything she could to get to him. I finally took her out of the sling and handed her over to Sy. “Hey, sweetheart,” he said. “Did you miss your Papa?” 

“Ba-ba-ba-ba,” she babbled, then stuck out her tongue and blew bubbles. 

“I missed you, too.” He bent forward and kissed her cheek and she grabbed hold of his beard and pulled. He hissed but didn’t say anything. She gave it a few good tugs and then let it go. 

I leaned my head over on his shoulder and watched her jump up and down in his lap. “She’s been going strong all morning. I hope she tuckers herself out and has a good nap soon.” 

“Maybe we could have a little time for Momma and Papa if she does,” he said, then gave me a sly look. 

I laughed. “Depends on how tired I am by the time she goes down. I might be taking a nap with her.” 

“Then maybe Momma and Papa time is us taking a nap, too.” He smiled at me. “How’s that?” 

“You just want to get your hands on me, is all,” I teased.

His smile grew bigger as Hazel Mae started chewing on her fingers, causing drool to drip down the front of Sy’s shirt. He didn’t pay it no mind. “Yes, ma’am, I do want to get my hands on you. I like holding you. Like having you tucked right up against me, feeling your soft skin against mine. There’s nothing wrong with that and I’m not going to apologize for it.” 

“I didn’t ask you to apologize. I like it, too.”

“And what do you like, exactly?” he whispered, leaning his head closer to mine. “Because it ain’t my soft skin.”

“You know good and well that I like your muscles and how strong you are and all that hair,” I said quietly. “I ain’t ever seen no one as manly as you.” I looked up at him. “But it’s not just all how you look and feel. You know that right? No one’s ever made me feel as safe or loved as you. And that’s what I like about being tucked up in your arms the most.” I felt my face flush. “But the hair and muscles are good, too.” 

He laughed and Hazel Mae started giggling around her fingers, more drool dribbling out and down Sy’s shirt. “That’s good to know, Mrs. Syverson.” He kissed the top of my head and Little Bit took her hand that wasn’t in her mouth and walloped Sy’s face, getting his attention. When he turned back towards her, she tugged on his beard again. “What? You need a kiss, too?” 

He lifted her up and kissed her cheek again then rubbed his nose against hers. She thought that was funny and started giggling even harder than before. He did it again and her giggle turned into a right belly laugh that made Sy and me both start laughing with her. He kept at it, making her cackle, and I smiled so hard my face hurt. There wasn’t nothing better than that feeling right there with the three of us happy as clams. It didn’t matter what was going on in the world, as long as we had each other, we was going to be alright. 

The next day I was sitting on my tree swing with Hazel Mae strapped to me and we were swinging while Sy worked a little bit aways from us. She liked being close enough to Papa to talk to him and see him, but it vexed her something awful that he wasn’t playing with her, so he’d have to keep taking breaks to come pay her some attention. Other than that, though, she enjoyed swinging. 

That’s where we were when Reverend Anderson pulled up. Sy waved him over and he let himself in through the gate. I stayed sitting as Sy moved over to my side and the Reverend joined us. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” Sy joked. 

Reverend Anderson smiled a little but it didn’t last long. “I’ve got a favor to ask of you.”

Sy’s face turned real serious. “Alright. What do you need?” 

“The church is having a little ice cream shindig for the kids up at McCoy farm today and we sent some of the older ones to go see if any of the kids in the community wanted to come and join us. Edward and Dinah went up to invite the Bailey kids to come over and apparently it don’t look too good up there.” 

“What do you mean?” Sy asked. 

“They said all them kids looked spooked and the young’uns were dirty head to toe, few of the older ones had some bruises but the momma looked like she’d taken a right bad beating. Eye swoll shut and everything. Meanwhile H.C. Bailey just sitting piled up, yelling at the kids to wait on him hand and foot,” Reverend Anderson said. “Me and a couple of fellas are gonna go have a talk with H.C. about it. Thought you might wanna come along. Men like H.C. tend to listen better when men like you are there with me.”

Sy nodded. “I remember you taking Pa with you to have talks when I was younger.”

“Most times he just had to be there with me. A few times I had to excuse myself and your Pa had some...private words with them. Either way, I don’t know of a single man that didn’t stick to the straight and narrow and look after his wife and kids once we left their house,” Reverend Anderson said. “Everybody’s struggling right now, can’t argue with that, but men have a duty to take care of their families. If you’re out of work, that’s one thing. But that don’t mean you take it out on them.” 

“I agree,” Sy said. “I’ll go with you.” 

Reverend Anderson clapped him on the shoulder. “Thank you.” 

Hazel Mae started babbling and reaching for Sy. She caught hold of his shirt and started tugging on it. He wiped his hands on his pants, getting off whatever dirt he had on them, and bent down to get her loose from the sling on my chest. Happy to be held, she rested her head on his shoulder and he hugged her close. 

Reverend Anderson smiled at her. “Why don’t all three of y’all come on over to McCoy farm?” he suggested. “We sent someone after Dr. Bradford so he could take a look at Mrs. Bailey and the kids while we talk to H.C. but I don’t know when he’ll get there and I wouldn’t want you leaving Seraphina and the baby behind. She can come and socialize with the ladies and enjoy some ice cream while we’re off doing business.”

“I wouldn’t want to intrude,” I said. 

He shook his head at me. “Nonsense. My wife would be mighty glad to have you there. If you weren’t already married to Sy, I think she would’ve gone and adopted you for a daughter herself.”

I smiled. “It would be awful nice to see her and the other ladies. It’s been a while.” I looked up at Sy. “I think me and Little Bit will tag along with you.”

“Alright,” he said as Hazel Mae tried sticking her fingers in his mouth. He carefully pulled them away and looked at Reverend Anderson. “We’ll get loaded up and see y’all over there.” While he was talking, she managed to stick her hand in just enough to grab his bottom lip. He pulled his head back and her hand fell away. He was real gentle as he took hold of her hand, keeping it against his chest as he looked at her face. “Hey, Papa’s talking.” She shook her head, rubbing it against his shoulder. “Yes, he is. Be good.” 

“I’ll leave y’all to it and let you finish up whatever you’ve got to do and I’ll see yuns over at the McCoy’s in a bit.”

Reverend Anderson left and me and Sy got ready to follow after. When we were in the truck, I looked over at him. “Are you really going to hurt that man?” 

“Who? H.C. Bailey?” he asked. I nodded. “If he’s been putting his hands on his wife and kids and he won’t listen to reason, then…yeah. I will.”

“And your Pa used to do that?”

“Occasionally.” He glanced down at me. “Why? Do you not want me to?” 

“No, it ain’t that…”

He put his hand on my knee. “What is it, honey bee?” 

“Just wondering what Daddy would’ve done if somebody like you or your Pa would’ve come and had a talk to him when I was younger. I wonder if it would have changed anything or if he’d kept on being cruel.” 

“I don’t know, baby. I wish somebody had been there to give him a talking to. I wish I would have. It breaks my heart thinking about anybody being mean to you, but especially your own daddy. I just…” He looked over at Hazel Mae sitting in my lap. “I don’t get it.” 

I kissed his shoulder. “That’s ‘cause you’re a good man and a good Papa,” I said. “And you saved me when it really mattered.”

He returned my kiss to the top of my head then lifted his right arm out. “C’mere,” he said. “Let me love on you while I drive.” 

I scootched over and got tucked right under his arm that he wrapped around my shoulders. I could feel how hot his skin was through the light cotton of his shirt as I rested my head against his chest. Hazel Mae liked that and did the same to me, resting her little bitty head on my chest as her toes squished against Sy’s leg. She liked being in bed with us when we were all cuddled up and loving on her and I reckon she thought that’s what we was doing. 

The farm wasn’t too far away and when we got there, me and Hazel Mae were welcomed by Mrs. Anderson. She came and gave me a big ol’ hug and led me over to the shade where some of the women were talking. It wasn’t long before Dr. Bradford arrived. Ruth was with him and she came and joined us ladies as he left with Sy, Reverend Anderson, and two other menfolk up the road towards the Bailey house. 

“I hope it doesn’t resort to violence but if it does and a brute like Hoyt can’t make Mr. Bailey see reason, then there’s no hope to be had for him,” Ruth said. 

I didn’t like nobody calling Sy a ‘brute’, ‘specially not her, but she was right in a way. I’d seen Sy put Jud Boswell in his place before. I knew he could get right feral when he was fighting. And the day of our wedding, he’d stood up to Daddy and told him off for selling me like cattle. So if it came down to it and he needed to get physical with H.C. Bailey, I knew he would. That’s why I bit my tongue and didn’t say nothing, bad as I didn’t want to. 

“All men have hope, Mrs. Bradford,” one of the ladies said. 

But I thought about Daddy and I wasn’t so sure that was true. 

The men had been gone for close to an hour when Hazel Mae started bouncing like crazy on my hip, her hands reaching out as she babbled something. I looked over and saw Sy and the other men heading down the lane. Hazel Mae had seen her Papa and wanted him to get her. I tried to soothe her while we waited but when he saw her reaching for him, he jumped plumb over a ditch and cut across the yard, making a beeline right for us. 

“Come here, sweetheart,” he said, holding out his arms. “Let Papa get you.” 

I handed her to him and he hugged her real close, kissing her head as she hugged him back. He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath while he cradled her. 

“Are you alright?” I asked him. 

He didn’t say nothing for a second, then finally he nodded before opening his eyes to look at me. “Yeah,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I just…” He let out a shaking breath. “How in the world could anybody hurt their babies? How could you ever put your hand on them and not feel so rotten you’d want to kill yourself?”

I reached up and touched his forearm. “Was it bad?” The look he gave me was all the answer I needed. “Do you think he’s going to listen to y’all?” 

“I’ll make sure he does, ‘cause if he lays another hand on his wife or those kids, I’ll do a whole lot more to him than what I did today.”

“Sy…” I didn’t know what to say. I just gripped his arm a little tighter. 

I could tell he was near crying. He sniffled and tried to hide it, then pulled Hazel Mae back so he could see her face. “Why don’t we give Momma a break and you come with Papa to see some baby animals, how’s that?” he asked her. She didn’t know what he was talking about but she seemed happy all the same. He glanced at me. “Did y’all already go look at ‘em?” 

“No. I was a mite scared of the goose they got back there.” 

He smiled. “With good reason. Geese can be mean.” 

“I know it. I got bit by one when I was little.” 

His smile grew. “So last week?”

“You hush now,” I said, smiling back.

He moved Hazel Mae into the crook of his arm so she could see while they were walking and she started bouncing again. She may not have known what they was going to do but she knew her Papa was taking her somewhere and that’s all that mattered. 

I caught Ruth looking after him as he held our baby in his arms and I knew she wouldn’t dare admit it, but she knew right well that he wasn’t just a brute. She knew it from her time courting him, I was sure of it. There was no way Sy would’ve been anything other than a gentleman during their time together. But he was even softer once he became a father and I knew without a doubt she saw that in him. 

We didn’t stay too much longer at the McCoy’s because we still had work to do back at home. Sy really put his all into the chores once we got there and I knew he was trying to get all his anger at Mr. Bailey out. He wouldn’t tell me just how bad it had been there with the kids but he told me that he’d broken Mr. Bailey’s hand. Dr. Bradford bandaged it up some but Sy said he made sure he wouldn’t be able to take his fist or belt to none of them for a good long while. 

That evening when it was time for his bath, me and Hazel Mae sat in there with him. He wanted us right close so I sat beside the tub and she was in my lap. She held onto the side of it and pulled up, then bounced up and down. Sy was washing his head with the soap when she reached out and smacked his shoulder. He looked over at her and laughed. 

“Can I help you, missy?” he asked. She babbled out something that didn’t make no sense but he nodded solemnly. “Is that right?” 

She growled at him and I got tickled. “You sound like a little bear,” I told her, kissing the back of her head. She blew her tongue out at Sy and then fell down hard in my lap. 

“Little Bit the little bear,” Sy said. He leaned his head over so he could peek down at her in my lap. “Momma calls Papa a bull.”

“You are my big bull.”

He smiled. “And I’m mighty glad of it.”

“What am I?” 

He shook his head. “Nope. I ain’t falling for that.” 

“Falling for what?” 

“You don’t like no animal name I call you so I ain’t going to say you’re anything. You get to pick,” he said, then put the soap away. “I don’t got no intentions of making you cry or get upset with me tonight.” 

“But you had intentions of it before?” 

He laughed. “No, ma’am I did not,” he said. “But I’ve learned my lesson.”

“You always called me something crazy, though. Like a monkey or a possum or hog or -”

“Nope. I never called you a hog.” He bent his head down and rinsed the soap from it. “I distinctly remember saying I was going to fatten you up like a hog but I didn’t ever say you were one. I may say a lot of things without thinking but I wouldn’t ever call a woman a hog - ‘specially not you.” 

“Daddy used to call me little lamb,” I said. “I thought it was sweet ‘til I got older. Then I realized lambs get led to slaughter and they’re expected to stay quiet all the while.” I looked at Sy and saw him watching me, water clinging to his pretty eyelashes. “Some quiet helpless thing. That’s what he wanted me to be. I didn’t like that.” 

“You ain’t a helpless thing.” Hazel Mae started fussing some and he reached his hand out to lay over mine. She settled down a little from feeling him. “It might not be an animal but you are my little honey bee,” he said. “You’re sweet and you work hard but you’re willing to fight back against anybody that says something about your family. You’re fiercer than anyone I know, Seraphina. You were like that when it was just me.” He smiled. “Little bitty ol’ thing like you smacked Jud Boswell when he was bad mouthing me. Nobody else would’ve done that for me. And now with Little Bit?” She took his finger and started gnawing on it. “You’d light up anyone that even so much as looked at our baby sideways.” He lowered his head to look me in the eye. “Your daddy had everything wrong. Everything. You hear?” 

I nodded. “Yeah. I hear.” 

Hazel Mae kept chewing on Sy’s finger but in a few moments started fussing. He moved his eyes from mine to look down at her. “You mad ‘cause there ain’t nothing coming out of there?” he asked. 

I smiled. “I think that’s what it is. It’s time for her to eat and go to sleep.” 

He carefully pulled his hand away from her. “Why don’t you take her on then? I’ll be out in a minute. I’m just going to finish up in here and empty out this bath water and I’ll join you.” 

“Alright.” I leaned forward and he gave me a kiss. Hazel Mae wriggled in my lap and whined until I held her up so that Sy could kiss her, too. Once she got hers, we got up and I carried her out of the bathroom. 

We’d been sleeping on the back porch because of the heat. Sy had Hazel Mae’s crib out there with us. So I took her outside and we got settled down onto the bed. She was getting tired and hungry, so I opened my nightgown and helped her get latched on. She was already sweating just being so close to me, her short hair curling up from it, so I blew on her head to try to cool it down while she ate. It made her close her eyes and it wasn’t long before I felt her unlatch from me. I looked down and saw her smack her lips in her sleep, milk beading up at the corner. I wiped it off and held her, contemplating whether I should wake her up to keep feeding or not. I knew she was tired but I hadn’t meant to put her to sleep before I was empty, and that’s exactly what I’d done. Looking at her sweet little face, though, I knew I couldn’t wake her. I’d have to go to bed uncomfortable, but I weren’t going to disturb her right then. 

I held her until Sy joined us. He came and squatted down next to me, his hand going to my back, rubbing it gently as he looked at Hazel Mae. “She good and asleep or you want me to wait a little before putting her down in her crib?” he whispered. 

I sighed. “No, she’s been asleep long enough. You can put her down.” 

He looked at me, his eyebrows creasing together. “What’s wrong?” 

I shook my head. “Nothing. She just fell asleep a little earlier than I needed her to. I’m still pretty full.” 

“I’m sorry, baby.” He pressed a kiss to my temple. “Tell her goodnight and I’ll take her for you.” 

I pressed a kiss to both of her fat cheeks and one to the top of her head. “Goodnight, sweet girl. I love you.” 

I held her up to Sy and he took her from me. She waved her fists in the air, startled by the sudden movement, but he patted her bottom and rocked her enough to get her settled down again. Then he kissed the top of her head. “Papa loves you, Little Bit. Sleep tight now,” he said before carefully easing her down into her crib next to us, then covering her up with her thin blanket. He turned back to me as I was trying to pull my gown back together. “How bad is it?” 

I looked up at him as I scooted over so he could have his spot on the bed. “How bad’s what?” I asked. He nodded to my chest. “Oh. They’re still pretty full and a little sore. I ain’t ever hoped for her to wake up in the middle of the night but goodness I hope she needs to feed later,” I said, finally covering myself. 

He sat down next to me and put his hand on my knee. “What if you let me help?” 

I laughed. “What are you going to do? Milk me like one of the cows?” 

“No,” he said, his voice all husky. “Not at all like one of the cows.” 

I felt my cheeks grow warmer than they already were. “Sy…”

“If it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t,” he said. “But don’t turn it down on account of me.” His thumb stroked my skin. “‘Cause to be honest with you…this ain’t the first time I’ve wanted to try it.” 

“I mean you’ve kind’ve tried it already. When I leak when we’re coupled up…”

“I have but I don’t want no couple of drops. I want everything you’ll let me take,” he said and I didn’t know how in the world those words could ever set a flame under my skin but they did. He kept stroking my knee. “But like I said, if it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t push it.” 

“It don’t make me uncomfortable,” I whispered. “I trust you.”

“Yeah?” he asked, his eyes going dark in the moonlight. All I could do was nod. “Lay on down, then. Let me take care of you, baby.”

#Henry Cavill #Henry Cavill fan fiction #Captain Syverson #Captain Syverson fan fiction #Sand Castle Netflix #Sand Castle fan fiction #Henry Cavill fan fic #Captain Sy fan fiction #Where Kindness Grows

[greatfandom]

https://chng.it/HsPfz5LtQN

I found a petition guys to keep Henry as The witcher! I doubt it will work but we can only try!

#henry cavill fan fic #henry cavill one shot #henry cavill fanfic #henry cavill #dad! henry cavill #henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill fic #henry cavill fluff #henry cavill imagine #henry cavill masterlist #henry cavill rpf #henry cavill smut #henry cavill x female reader #henry cavill x female reader smut #henry cavill x reader #henry cavill x reader gif #henry cavill x you #pregnant! henry cavill #henry fox mountchristen windsor #witcher fanfiction #witcher ciri #witcher geralt #the witcher 3

[msilwrites]

Sequel to: ASCENT - Defying Desire (ODD WOMEN Series) a 3AM update - SIX

A/N: Some dry humor, surprising revelations, and a deeper look into Henry's manipulative and tactical nature. 

Face Claim Cast:

Auryn Sorenson - Matthias Shoenaerts (A/N: I actually chose him to play the younger brother because he bears a resemblance to Mads)

Defying Desire

SIX

"So you were professionally-zoned," Charles remarks, unable to contain his frustration as he brings up Sage, his father's recent date that he met a week ago when he dropped by their old home.

Kieran's face reddens slightly as he tries to find the right words. "Well... you see, I couldn't just let that app slip through my fingers, and I..."

Vi interrupts with an exasperated sigh, her voice filled with both seriousness and humor. "Da, seriously? You couldn't resist talking business with someone you were interested in? You should have been whispering sweet nothings, not analyzing profit margins!"

Auryn, trying to make sense of the situation, raises an eyebrow and looks at his older brother. "Wait, hold on. Are you telling me you actually started dating someone? And this is how it went down?"

Vi, still frustrated with her father's tendency to mix business with romance, seizes the opportunity to remind him of a past dating blunder. Her voice carries a mischievous tone as she says, "And what about Ms. Ingrid Hawkes, Da? Remember how you let her slip through your fingers? It was the same story. Instead of wooing her, you were too busy talking shop. You've got a thing for these clever, capable women, but can't seem to close the deal!"

The table erupts into laughter, the tension dissipating with each chuckle. Kieran, his face still slightly flushed, joins in the mirth, realizing the comical predicament he found himself in.

Vi's voice turned serious, "Da, I have to wonder, are you intentionally seeking out girlfriends who have a tendency to shoot you? Is it some sort of bizarre criteria you have for a successful relationship? 'Must be capable of wielding a firearm and willing to use it if things go wrong.' Is that what you're looking for?" She paused for a moment, "Maybe you should consider revising your dating checklist, just a thought."

Charles and Auryn erupted into laughter, their shoulders shaking as they recalled the infamous incident of Kieran getting shot during his time as the Section Chief at an government intelligence agency. While it had been a frightening and serious ordeal back then, the passage of time had allowed the family to find humor in the situation. Now, they couldn't resist teasing Kieran about it, sharing exaggerated versions of the story and playfully imitating his shocked expression. It had become a lighthearted inside joke within the family.

Kieran raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, Vi, I suppose I have a unique taste in women. After all, nothing says 'relationship material' like someone who's willing to shoot me in the name of love." He shrugged, a wry smile playing on his lips.

Vi raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Dad, I think it's time you give up on finding a girlfriend who's like your ex. Let's aim for someone who designs beautiful things instead of designing dangerous missions. Trust me, it'll save us from any unexpected explosions during family dinners," she quipped, earning a round of laughter from her brother and uncle.

Kieran chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Vi, my darling, I've had my Let's just say I've learned my lesson. From now on, I'm on the lookout for someone who is more 'designer dress' than 'secret agent attire.' No more bullets, just beauty!" He grinned, adding a wink for dramatic effect.

The family burst into laughter, their amusement echoing through the restaurant. Vi couldn't help but roll her eyes playfully at her father's quip. Charles erupted into uncontrollable giggles, almost causing him to spill his drink. Even Auryn, typically composed, couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head

Charles chimed in with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Da, don't give up just yet, You can still break free from the professional-zone. Take her on a romantic date, show her a side of you that's not all business. It's time to switch gears and make your move!"

Auryn, with his dark blond hair catching the light, leaned forward inquisitively. "So, Kieran, spill the beans. What's the deal with this app and the woman you're into? I'm dying to know what's got you so hooked."

Charles, always tech-savvy, grabbed his phone and began furiously typing. "Alright, let me do some detective work here. Give me a sec... Ah, got it!" He paused for a moment, his eyes widening in recognition. "Hold on a second. This is that community app everyone's been raving about, right? It's got a huge following and people seem to love it."

The rest of the family leaned in, their curiosity getting the better of them. They exchanged glances, excitement brewing as they realized the significance of the app and its connection to Kieran's romantic interest. The conversation veered off into a lively discussion about the app's practicality and the woman who brought it to life.

Auryn's curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't help but ask, "Hey, Kieran, do you have a picture of her? I'm dying to see what she looks like."

Kieran shrugged, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. "Actually, I don't have a picture of her. We've been so engrossed in conversations and getting to know each other that we haven't really taken any pictures together."

Auryn's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, you're interested in her, and you don't even have a picture? How can you not have a picture, Kieran? That's like, the first thing you do!"

Vi chimed in, playfully scolding her father. "Honestly, Da, I thought you were better than this. How can you be interested in someone and not have a single picture to show? You're slacking, my friend."

Meanwhile, Charles, ever the resourceful one, simply tapped away on his phone, his fingers dancing across the screen. "No worries, guys. I've got this. Let me just work my magic and find out everything there is to know about her."

As Charles delved deeper into his online search, his eyes widened with excitement. He discovered Sage's designer profile, showcasing an artsy black and white photo of her. The image portrayed her beauty and creativity in an enchanting way. Without wasting a second, Charles eagerly showed the photo to his sister and uncle.

Vi's jaw dropped in awe as she admired Sage's stunning image. "Wow, she's gorgeous! Da, you really know how to pick 'em!"

Auryn, on the other hand, had a different reaction. His eyes widened in surprise as he recognized Sage. "Wait! That's Sage Lennox," he exclaimed, unable to contain his astonishment.

Kieran looked at his younger brother in confusion. "How do you know her, Auryn?"

Auryn's eyes widen, and he fumbles for words before finally admitting, "Well, we actually had a certificate class together at UAL." His voice trails off, and there's a hint of nostalgia in his tone, suggesting a deeper connection.

Vi, sensing her uncle's hidden feelings, grins mischievously. "Oh, Uncle Auryn had a secret crush, didn't you?"

Auryn's cheeks turn a shade of pink as he tries to deflect the attention. "It was just a passing fancy. We were both focused on our studies, and nothing more."

But his frustration quickly surfaces, and he adds with a hint of annoyance, "Although, I have to say, it was frustrating to see how Sage was being treated back then. I witnessed a few heated arguments between her and that Henry Havel,” (A/N: I actually changed their surnames a bit)

Vi, always quick to pick up on the dynamics, teases him with a mischievous smile. "Oh, Uncle Auryn, your jealousy is showing!"

Charles, intrigued by the mention of Henry Havel, asks curiously, "Who is this Henry Havel?"  His tone carries a hint of skepticism  "What does this man even have that would make a beautiful woman like Sage put up with him?"

Kieran, being a non-executive director at the same company Henry works in, answers with a knowing smile. "Henry Havel is one of the executive directors for Havel Group, a conglomerate in the industry. I've crossed paths with him a few times during my work there. He is actually from the branch family of the Havels. While his grandfather founded Havel Group, he is not the heir to the conglomerate. But he holds a significant position as an executive director in the company."  Charles raises an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "So, he's not the main heir, but he still has influence within the family business. I wonder what qualities or connections he possesses to capture Sage's attention."

Kieran, who is familiar with Henry's reputation, chuckles and nudges his son playfully. "Well, Henry is a capable guy, but why don't you go find out for yourself? Look up Henry Havel and see what you can dig up. I have a feeling you might be surprised."

Vi, unable to resist her curiosity, leans over to take a peek at the screen. However, instead of a mischievous grin, her expression softens with a hint of sadness. "Yep, he looks like trouble! No wonder Sage fell for him."

As Vi's words hang in the air, Auryn's eyes narrow slightly, and a trace of jealousy tugs at his heart. He clears his throat, trying to mask his emotions. "Well, I'm sure Sage saw something in him that others didn't. People can be drawn to different qualities, after all.

Kieran, adds. "It's not uncommon for people to be attracted to charm and charisma, my dear. Unfortunately, Henry is a looker too. The good news is, she is no longer in that relationship" Auryn nods sadly, agreeing with what his brother said. "Yes, and you just had to be the one to capture her attention. I can't believe you let her slip away." scolding his brother.

Vi notices her uncle's wistful look and pokes him playfully. "Oh, come on, Uncle Auryn! You're an award-winning designer with those gorgeous blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. You've got your own set of qualities that can make hearts flutter."

Charles joins in, teasingly nudging his uncle. "That's right, Uncle. Don't underestimate yourself. You're quite the catch."

Auryn looks at his nieces and nephew, a mix of amusement and mock seriousness on his face. " Are you suggesting that I should become your father's arch-nemesis in matters of the heart?  But sorry, my dear ones, I prefer to maintain my position as the beloved and oh-so-cool uncle.”

Kieran joins in the teasing with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, Auryn, don't worry. I'm not threatened by you becoming my romantic rival. I think I can handle a little friendly competition."

Auryn chuckles, shaking his head. "You're quite confident, aren't you? But remember, if you don't make a move to win her back soon, I’ll really go after her myself”

Vi and Charles exchange mischievous glances, sensing the playful rivalry between their father and uncle. They raise their fists in the air and cheer, "Fight, fight, fight! Da vs Uncle!!"

Auryn raises an eyebrow, feigning offense. He rolls his eyes at their antics but can't help but smile. "Alright, alright, settle down, you two. Let's not turn this into a full-blown competition. I was just teasing your father." "

Kieran joins in the banter, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Indeed, let the best man win, may the odds be ever in your favor, Auryn."

Auryn raises an eyebrow, his expression a mix of disbelief and amusement. "You too, Kieran? Seriously? I can't believe I'm being challenged by my own brother. This is getting out of hand."

Auryn's initial surprise quickly turns into laughter as he joins his brother Kieran in their shared amusement. They both chuckle, their laughter echoing in the room.

----------

Henry sat in his private office, engrossed in the stack of documents spread out on his desk. The room was filled with an air of focused determination as he meticulously reviewed each page. Suddenly, he sensed a presence and looked up, finding his secretary standing in the doorway.

The secretary, a young woman with a professional demeanor, couldn't help but steal a quick glance at Henry. His striking looks and undeniable charm were hard to ignore. Henry, accustomed to the effect he had on people, simply offered her a polite smile before returning his attention to the documents.  Despite his reputation as a charmer, when it came to work, Henry made sure to maintain a focused and professional environment.

Unfazed by his good looks, the secretary maintained her composure and approached Henry's desk. She held a file in her hands, ready to assist him with any tasks he required. Her admiration for his appearance didn't overshadow her focus on her job.

Henry looked up, meeting her gaze, and nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Lydia. Please place those documents on my desk. I'll review them shortly."

Lydia, displaying a level of professionalism that matched her poise, smoothly placed the file on Henry's desk. She stood confidently, ready to address any further instructions or inquiries.

As Henry skimmed through the documents, his eyes widened with surprise. Among the papers, he noticed a file bearing the logo of Sage's app. Memories of their past and the recent encounter with Sage and Kieran resurfaced in his mind. “Lydia? can you tell me more about this?”

Lydia, maintaining her professional demeanor, nodded and spoke in a composed tone. "Certainly, Mr. Havel. The app in question has been recently acquired by one of our non-executive directors, Kieran Sorenson. He saw potential in it and decided to make the acquisition for his own company."

A week ago, outside the lounge bar, Henry had caught sight of Sage and Kieran together, their easy camaraderie and connection evident. It had stirred a mix of surprise, jealousy, and regret within him. Now, with the knowledge that Kieran had acquired Sage's app, a sense of rivalry ignited within Henry.

The knowledge that Kieran had acquired Sage's app further intensified Henry's drive to prove himself superior, both in business and in matters of the heart. He couldn't let Kieran's success with the app go unchallenged.

Realizing the importance of the matter, Henry knew he had to bring it to the attention of the board. With a cold smile, Henry looked up at Lydia. "Lydia, inform me immediately when the next board meeting is scheduled. I have an important matter to discuss with the directors."

Lydia, sensing the shift in Henry's demeanor, nodded briskly. "Of course, Mr. Henry. I will ensure you are promptly informed of the board meeting arrangements."

With a calculated glint in his eyes, Henry turned his attention back to the file. He would seize this opportunity to outmaneuver Kieran and bring the app into the hands of Havel Group.  He saw the acquisition of the app as a strategic move to bring Sage back into his life. With careful planning, he intended to smoothly transition the app to Havel Group, using the opportunity to reconnect with Sage on both professional and personal levels. Henry's calculated approach as an executive director would allow him to leverage his charm and unwavering pursuit, ensuring a chance to rewrite their story together.

---------- 

Kieran, dressed in a sharp dark blue suit, entered the meeting room with a file in hand. As he stepped inside, he found the executives and directors engaged in casual conversation, setting a relaxed atmosphere before the formal meeting.

With a friendly smile, Kieran greeted his colleagues one by one, exchanging pleasantries and brief updates. The room buzzed with anticipation, knowing that an important discussion was about to take place.

"Good morning, everyone," Kieran said, his voice carrying a confident yet warm tone. "I hope you all had a productive morning so far." 

The executives reciprocated the greeting, some nodding in acknowledgment, while others engaged in small talk.

As the room quieted down, Simon, the esteemed leader of the Havel Group, stood up and addressed the gathered executives.

"Good morning, everyone," Simon began, his voice carrying authority and respect. "Today, we have an important topic to discuss: the recent acquisition made by our non-executive director, Kieran Sorenson."

All eyes turned to Kieran, who sat confidently, ready to present his case.

Simon continued, "Kieran, we appreciate your entrepreneurial endeavors and your role as a non-executive director. While this acquisition was made for your own company, it is important for us to understand the nature of the app and its potential impact on the market."

Kieran nodded, understanding the purpose of the meeting and the need to provide transparency regarding the app acquisition. He took a moment to collect his thoughts and then began to present a comprehensive overview of the app, highlighting its potential benefits, market opportunities, and how it could contribute to the growth of his own company.

As Kieran spoke, Henry, with a calculated glint in his eyes, listened intently. He saw the potential of the app as not just a standalone venture but as a means to undermine Kieran and regain his connection with Sage, his ex-girlfriend and the app's designer.

With every passing slide, Henry's mind raced, devising a plan to outmaneuver Kieran and bring the app into the hands of Havel Group. He saw the acquisition of the app as a strategic move to assert dominance and challenge Kieran.

Henry, leaned back in his chair, a subtle smile playing on his lips. As Kieran confidently presented the app's features and market potential, Henry's mind raced with thoughts of how he could undermine his rival.

"Thank you, Kieran, for the overview. It's evident that your acquisition holds promise," Henry began, his tone calculated and deliberate. "However, I couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance between your app's features and our own successful online retail division."

An undercurrent of concern rippled through the room as Henry continued, pointing out the potential conflicts of interest that such an acquisition might bring. He emphasized the importance of safeguarding their existing operations and partnerships.

Kieran maintained his composure, though a flicker of worry crossed his eyes. He understood that Henry had a valid point.

Undeterred, Henry pressed on, his voice carrying an air of authority. "Before making any decisions, I propose that we thoroughly evaluate the strategic alignment and potential synergies. We must prioritize the growth and stability of the Havel Group above all else."

The board members exchanged wary glances, recognizing the weight of Henry's words. His calculated attack had successfully cast a shadow of doubt over Kieran's acquisition.

With a self-satisfied expression, Henry leaned forward, locking eyes with Kieran. "I trust that you understand the implications of your decision, Kieran. It is imperative that we proceed with caution and prioritize the best interests of the Havel Group."

Kieran, determined to address Henry's concerns, responded with measured words. "Henry, I understand your perspective, but let me clarify that the app is not a direct competition to our online retail division. It functions as a community platform, enabling individuals to sell their used items, offer services, and connect with potential buyers. It fosters a sense of community and facilitates peer-to-peer transactions."

Henry's confidence remained unwavering. "Kieran, I acknowledge your perspective, but let's not underestimate the impact this app can have on our online retail division. While it may not be a direct competitor, it still poses a threat. People turning to this app for buying and selling their used items means they won't be turning to our online platform."

Kieran held his ground, recognizing the need to defend his position. "Henry, we have an opportunity here to tap into a different market segment. This app is about community engagement and convenience. It can bring new customers and work alongside our existing operations."

Henry leaned back in his chair, skepticism etched on his face. "I appreciate your optimism, Kieran, but let's not overlook the potential risks. We must consider the possibility of resource diversion, customer overlap, and the need to allocate our efforts wisely."

Taking a deep breath, Kieran sought common ground. "Henry, I propose that we conduct a thorough analysis of the app's potential impact and explore ways to collaborate rather than compete. We can establish guidelines to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship between the app and our online retail division."

Henry listened intently, his mind already devising a cunning plan. Leaning forward, he sported a calculated smile on his lips.

"Kieran, I understand the potential value of this app, and I appreciate your entrepreneurial spirit," Henry began, his tone measured. "Instead of viewing this as a competition, why don't we explore a partnership? Havel Group has the resources, market reach, and expertise to help scale this app to new heights."

Kieran raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Henry's proposition. "A partnership? How would that work?"

Henry glanced at Simon, his elder brother and the leader of the Havel Group, who had been quietly observing the discussion. Sensing the strategic potential in Henry's suggestion, Simon spoke up.

"Kieran, Henry's proposal is worth considering," Simon interjected, his voice carrying a weight of authority. "The collaboration between our companies could lead to a synergy where the app can thrive while aligning with our broader business objectives."

Kieran turned his attention to Simon, his curiosity piqued. "Simon, I appreciate your perspective. But how can we ensure that the app's unique community-focused approach remains intact within the partnership?"

Simon nodded, understanding Kieran's concerns. "Kieran, we value the app's core values and its connection with its user base. We can establish a joint committee consisting of representatives from both our companies to oversee the partnership. This committee will work together to define and safeguard the app's unique identity while leveraging the resources and expertise that Havel Group brings to the table."

Kieran contemplated the proposal, weighing the potential benefits against his initial reservations. "If we can find common ground and maintain the app's integrity, then a partnership could be a viable path forward."

Simon extended his hand towards Kieran, signifying their agreement. "Let's explore this further, Kieran. I believe there is immense potential in joining forces and charting a new course together."

As Kieran shook Simon's hand, Henry observed with a mixture of satisfaction and anticipation. The board's support for his proposition indicated that his calculated approach was paying off. The path to a strategic partnership was now open, and Henry's plan to bring the app into the hands of Havel Group and reconnect with Sage seemed within reach.

A/N:  In this chapter, we witness the extent of Henry's capabilities and cunning nature as he strategically navigates the boardroom discussion and manipulates the situation to his advantage. Do share your thoughts and opinions on Henry's character and actions. Do you find his tactics impressive, or do they border on the line of being creepy or obsessive? Let us know your perspective in the comments below. Enjoy the chapter, and I'll be making some minor edits for clarity and flow.

#Henry Cavill #Henry Cavill Imagines #Henry Cavill AU #AU Henry Cavill #Henry Cavill Fan Fic #Henry Cavill FanFic #Henry Cavill Fan Fiction #Henry Cavill FanFiction #Henry Cavill x OC #Henry Cavill x OFC #Original Character #Alternate Universe #Odd Women #Odd Women Series #MSILWRITES #Strong Female Lead #Female Lead with a backbone #Mads Mikkelsen #Mads Mikkelsen Fan Fic #Mads Mikkelsen FanFic #Mads Mikkelsen x OC #Mads Mikkelsen x OFC #Mads Mikkelsen x Reader #Matthias Schoenaerts #Matthias Shoenaerts x OC

[thedemonofcat]

One of my all-time favorite movies is "The Princess Bride." Currently, I'm toying with the idea of creating a Geraskier-inspired story, but I'm not quite in the mood for it. Instead, I've been thinking about casting characters from "The Witcher" as the characters from "The Princess Bride." Here's what I've come up with so far:

- Grandfather: Vesemir

- Grandson (or granddaughter, in my version): Ciri

- Princess Buttercup: Jaskier

- Westley: Geralt

- Prince Humperdinck: Radovid

- Vizzini: Dijkstra

- Fezzik: Eskel or Lambert (either one could work)

- Inigo Montoya: Renfri

- Count Rugen: Stregobor

I'm leaving out some of the minor characters since I can't think of good matches for them at the moment.

#the witcher netflix #geralt of rivia #joey batey #the witcher #jaskier the witcher #henry cavill #the witcher jaskier #geralt x jaskier #geraskier #fic ideas #the princess bride #fan cast #jaskier #gerskier #cirilla fiona elen riannon #freya allan #headcanon #yennefer of vengerberg #anya cholatra #the witcher season 3 #anya chalotra #the witcher season three #radovid #witcher yennefer

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

for the follower ask song would be tupelo honey by dusty springfield fluffy slightly smutty. right now in real life i need a hug. a long hug. but thank you ahead of time for whatever happens.

Fluff Fluff Fluff with shadowy allusions to smut. My big bear internet hug to you, darling. Thank you so much for always being so supportive and encouraging. I truly appreciate it.

Pairing: Henry x Reader (You)

Rating: E for Everyone

Word Count: 975

Warnings/Content: RPF

You closed the front door and immediately sagged back against it. The sigh you expelled was so heavy that you wondered if it took your soul with it. Exhaustion was a perpetual state of being and you wondered how much more you could survive before your body and mind finally gave up the ghost and checked out completely.

Pinching your eyes shut, you crumpled to the floor. Your belongings fell in heaps around you in the entryway as you drew your knees up and rested your forehead against them. No will to move. May even camp out here for the night.

“Tough day?”

You glanced up, blinking blearily through stress and fatigue to find Henry kneeling before you. You were so out of it that you’d not heard him approach. His brow knitted with concern as he leaned forward and cradled your head in his hand. His thumb ran soothingly over your cheek. 

“Tough day. Month, year. Entire existence…” you murmured as you leaned into his touch. You rubbed at your eyes to release the steadily growing pressure. “Can’t seem to catch a break.”

Henry gingerly removed each of your shoes and set them aside. His strong fingers slowly kneaded up your calves and you groaned as the tightly-knotted tension began to unfurl at his touch. 

You cast him an apologetic look. “Sorry, I know we planned to go out tonight but I don’t think I’ve got it in me.”

He patted your knees lightly before untangling you from your bags and coat. “A night in sounds perfect to me. Want some tea?”

“Tea would be lovely.

“Consider it done,” Henry answered. He chuckled at your squeal of surprise when he scooped you into his arms and lifted you from the floor. 

“Henry, you don’t need to carry me,” you half-heartedly admonished. It felt good to be in his arms. “I can manage to the living room at least.”

“I disagree. I absolutely need to carry you.” Henry squeezed you tighter against the broad line of his chest on the way to the living room, and you couldn’t resist snuggling against his warmth. The familiar, woodsy scent of his cologne was profoundly comforting. 

“And maybe I just want an excuse to fondle you.” His hand not-so-subtly sneaked up your thigh under the guise of adjusting his grip.

Your lips ticked into a smirk. “As if you need one.”

“True, I don’t,” he answered smugly. 

Henry dropped a quick peck on your cheek as he deposited you on the sofa. He dimmed the lights, fluffed a couple of cushions and tucked them behind you, then leaned in and kissed you chastely on the mouth. After putting your favourite playlist on the speakers, he disappeared into the kitchen. 

Before you had a chance to settle, Henry quickly reappeared, his jaw set firmly with determination as he strode purposefully toward the sofa. He slowly leaned down over you, his gaze dark and hot on yours as he grasped your chin firmly in his hand and kissed you with an intensity that lit your nerves on fire.

The kettle whistled and Henry growled his disapproval. With one last parting drag of his lips on yours, he disappeared again.

You bonelessly collapsed against the pillows with a dreamy, contented sigh. No lie, it felt good to be fussed over. And lusted after, even if you didn’t have the energy to capitalise on it at present.

Henry returned with tea in your favourite mug which you accepted with much gratitude. It diffused a soothing warmth through your limbs as you held it. You took a restorative sip and sighed happily. “Perfect.”

Henry graced you with a self-satisfied smile before snagging his phone and departing on stern instructions for you to sit back and relax whilst he ordered delivery. Not one to argue, you curled into the cushions and sipped, your mind drifting along with the music all the while. It was the most relaxed you’d felt in ages and just what you needed. The playlist shuffled and the smooth rhythm of Dusty Springfield’s Tupelo Honey floated through the air. A personal favourite. You set your tea aside and got lost in the music. “Dinner’s ordered. How’re you feeling?”

You opened your eyes and found Henry leaning against the doorway into the kitchen. He watched you with a boyish love-struck grin and your heart did a funny flip. All this time together and he still managed to make you feel the butterflies usually reserved for new love.

A flush heated your cheeks. “Much improved, thank you.”

“Excellent.”

Henry swiftly crossed the room. You made a startled squeak when he snagged your hand and gently tugged you to your feet. He snaked an arm around your waist, tucked your entwined hands snuggly against his chest and began idly swaying you both with the music.

You couldn’t resist melting into his embrace as you danced. Henry led you in slow, measured circles; the deep melodic rumble of his hums filled your ears and everything became intensely tactile: the soft brush of his cotton shirt on your skin, the steadying heat he radiated into your bones, the squish of the carpet between your toes as you moved along. It was a kind of grounding that really fuelled your soul. 

“Ready?”

“Ready for wha—” There was a contented sleepiness to your voice, but you didn’t get to finish your question before he encouraged you into a spin. And then another, and another, not drawing you back to him until you were breathless and alight with joy.  

“How is it you always know just what I need?" You beamed up at him. “You’re the absolute best.”

Henry kissed you tenderly before tucking your head under his chin. “Only because you love me.”

🎊FOLLOWER MILESTONE CELEBRATION🎊

FEEL FREE TO SEND ME A FAVOURITE SONG OR LYRIC AND I WILL WRITE YOU A DRABBLE/ONE SHOT FOR HENRY OR ANY OF HIS CHARACTERS BASED ON IT!

🍦CHOOSE YOUR PAIRING

🍦 CAN BE FLUFFY, SMUTTY, ANGSTY, OR ANY COMBINATION THEREOF. PLEASE INCLUDE ANY DETAILS YOU WANT TO BE INCLUDED WITH YOUR ASK.

I’m keeping this open all week so if you have a request, don’t be shy! Thank you all for celebrating with me ❤️

#Henry Cavill #henry cavill fan fiction #henry cavill x reader #henry cavill x you #rpf #henry cavill fluff #henry cavill rpf #fic: follower milestone celebration #sweetdreamsofgelato writes