#that not only have i had to deal with 3 separate men confessing to/hitting on me this year

[ohslenderaphrodite]

okay its pride month when is a girl going to confess her love to me

#text #mine #bro i just realized as i was typing this #that not only have i had to deal with 3 separate men confessing to/hitting on me this year #but im pretty sure thats more than ive had to deal with in the last almost 4 years combined #and i havent had a girl hit on me in even longer #what am i doing wrong ladies #i stopped getting long acrylics #is it the hair #but also actually genuinely what kind of energy am i putting out that is making people try and come on to me again #i was actually content being left alone up until now so wtf is up

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hey steph!! This might be a specific ask but could u like recommend me some fic thats like slow burn, unresolved sexual tension, and some bottomlock. And please please please let it be long so that it hits the sweet spot of satisfying your fic needs but also not stupidly long. Also I love your blog

Hi Lovely!!

AHHHH I’m glad you enjoy!! I try my best, LOL. 

AHH I’ve SO MANY slow burn fics, it’s ridiculous, and I do have separate lists for bottomlock, so I can direct you to those.... BUT I DON’T HAVE A LIST FOR MY U.S.T. FICS YES. So can I do that??? Please??? ANY EXCUSE TO START A NEW LIST :| Hee hee. Forgive me??? 

AND as per usual, all my fics are in word-count order, so you can start at the bottom and work your way up, hee hee. CHEERS!

As usual, add your own, friends!!

First, here’s the lists you asked for:

Love Confessions / Slow Burn / Dev. Rel. (Fluff Version)

Falling In Love / Slow Burn / Dev. Rel. || [MOBILE POST] (April 2019)

Platonics & Domestics Pt 2 / Hugs, Cuddles & Kisses Pt. 3 / Tooth-Rotting Fluff Pt. 5 / Love Confessions, Slow Burn & Dev. Rel. Pt. 2 / Established Relationship Pt. 3

Slow Burn / Dev. Rel. / Falling in Love Pt. 3 (Nov. 2019) 

Slow Burn / Dev Rel. Pt. 4 (Apr 2020)

Bottomlock (April 2019)

Bottomlock Pt 2

And now, check out my UST/URT list :)

UNRESOLVED SEXUAL / ROMANTIC TENSION

The Other Shoe by thewaitwasworthitlove - (NR, 1,053 w., 1 Ch. || Pining Sherlock, Angst, URT, Post-TSo3) - Sherlock realizes how deep in love he has fallen for John. Only Sherlock Holmes would manage to be more shattered than crystal dropped on concrete.

Clarity by socomessnow (thoughtfulwishing) (NR, 1,283 w., 1 Ch. || Post-HLV, POV Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Tarmac Scene, Stream of Consciousness, URT, First Person Present Tense, Implied/Referenced Drug Use) - During-and-post-HLV piece tracking Sherlock’s thought process from his phone call with Mycroft to his return to the airfield. Part 1 of Rifts

Untouchable by greengrapegaze (T, 1,368 w., 1 Ch. || Pre-S3, UST/URT, Oblivious John, Lonely Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, Emotional Hurt / Comfort, Emotional Sherlock, POV Sherlock, Pining Sherlock) – “He never would. Petty, childish, immature-bitter. Jealous. She had all that he wanted. All he could never have.” Part 1 of Steps to a Bittersweet Symphony

Love Hurts by Grac3 (T, 2,215 w., 1 Ch. || Magical Realism, Pining Sherlock, One-Sided Pining / URT, Sherlock / John Whump, Angst, Ambiguous Ending) – In a world where someone's physical injuries manifest themselves on the person who is in love with them, John didn't think that there would ever be anyone who was willing to risk falling in love with him - until he got shot on a case, and it didn't hurt. Unrequited Johnlock.

The Dance Lesson by bittergreens (G, 4,596 w., 1 Ch. || TSo3 Missing Scene, Dancing, Pining Sherlock, URT/UST, Romance, Angst, POV John) – Sherlock teaches John to dip. Part 1 of Goodnight, Vienna

There's Something Living in These Lines by teahigh (orphan_account) (M, 4,676 w., 1 Ch. || Mutual Pining, Love Letters, Angst, Mutual Pining, UST / URT, Dirty Talk) – Two men, complete opposites in almost every way, who speak only in letters and pages torn from books.

You Can't Always Get What You Want by hubblegleeflower (E, 4,804 w., 1 Ch. || Pining, Sexual Tension, UST / RST, First Time) – John wants. He always has, but now that he's living with Sherlock again, it's all he can do to hold it back. And Sherlock isn't helping...

Wasted Hours by songlin (E, 4,973 w., 1 Ch. || Omegaverse || O!John/A!Sherlock, Pining, UST, Angst & Porn) – John is respectful. John keeps his distance. He doesn’t look at Sherlock when Sherlock decides trousers are for dull people. He doesn’t breathe in and savor it when Sherlock flings himself onto the couch first thing in the morning, wafting alpha scent, dressing gown settling around him in a cloud of blue silk. He doesn’t linger when he’s piecing Sherlock back together after a fight, even though he’s half-dressed and beautiful and right there. He can ignore it. He can control it.

Captain John Watson, Genetics, and Other Crazy Things by cyerus (M, 5,581 w., 1 Ch. || Torchwood Crossover ||  Humour / Crack, Jealous Sherlock, Sexual Magnet John, Captain John, UST / RST, Three Continents Watson) – The explanation for John "Three Continents" Watson? Jack Harkness is his father. Sherlock doesn't know whether he's going to die from jealousy or sexual frustration first.

No Light, No Light (in your bright blue eyes) by orphan_account (G, 5,915 w., 1 Ch. || Angst, Pining, Songfic, Mutual Unrequited Love, Unresolved Tension, UST/URT) – Relates to both Sherlock's and John's feelings for each other and highlights select moments of hurt and inner turmoil starting from right before the fall all the way to HLV.

Drawstring by May_Shepard (E, 7,412 w., 1 Ch. || Post S3/TAB, Friends to Lovers, UST/RST, Fluff and Smut, Post-TAB, John POV, Sherlock’s Pyjamas, Rimming, Wanking) – John is bothered by Sherlock’s slowly-falling jim-jams… as in hot and bothered and he is trying to deal with a sexy dishevelled Sherlock while also keeping his pining in check.

High and Tight, Soft and Loose by cwb (E, 7,429 w., 1 Ch. || Jealous John, Miscommunications / Misunderstandings, First Kiss / Time, BAMF John, Insecure Sherlock, Clueless Sherlock, POV John, Embarrassed John, Adorable Sherlock, Junk Size, UST / RST) – John pressed the knuckle of his index finger against his mouth and sighed. “So, you're coiled like a spring and ready to be ... sprung?” “If you want to be pedestrian about it, yes.” “Like I said, you should do something about that.” “And like I said, pedestrian. What would you have me do? Take up jogging? Yoga? Oh! Unless you mean –” “I don't mean anything. Let’s drop it.”

Alone On the Water by Mad_Lori (G, 7,725 w., 1 Ch. || MCD, UST/URT, Angst, Euthanasia, Love Confessions) – Sherlock Holmes never expected to live a long life, but he never imagined that it would end like this.

All the Times Something ALMOST Happened by allonsys_girl (T, 9,049 w., 6 Ch. || POV Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Canon Compliant, Angst, Friendship/Love, UST) – John and Sherlock dancing around what they dance around in canon.

Someone I Love by hudders-and-hiddles (M, 10,002 w., 2 Ch. || Canon Compliant, HLV-Filler Fic, Pre-Slash, Jealous John, PIning Sherlock, Angst & Fluff, UST/URT, Dog Tags) – John gets married and Sherlock finds comfort in wearing John's identity tags around his wrist.

Ravish Me by amalnahurriyeh (E, 10,025 w., 1 Ch. || UST / RST, Makeup / Lipstick, Sympathetic Sally, Experiments, Pining John, First Kiss, Face Fucking / BJ’s, Cuddling) – Sherlock is experimenting with patterns of wear on lipstick in daily encounters. John is going to go insane.

Their Great Reward by BeautifulFiction (T, 10,095 w., 1 Ch. || UST, First Kiss, Fluff) – Boxing day, in John's opinions, is the worst day of the year. Christmas is over, the tree is wilting and stripped of gifts, and there's a week of dead-time until the clean slate of the new year. However the combination of a blizzard, a power-cut and Sherlock might just make it a day to remember.

The Five Stages of Mourning, Plus One by SunnyRea (T, 10,557 w., 1 Ch. || MCD, Pining / Grieving Sherlock, URT, Heavy Angst, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Drug Use, Graphic Death, Depression, Unhappy Ending) – Sherlock did not want this, did not want another stalemate with John in the middle, a gun in Jim's hand. This cannot have happened without a sign. There has to be something he missed anything which said today is the day I kill for real.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder by cypress_tree (E, 10,669 w., 1 Ch. || UST/RST, For an Experiment) – John helps Sherlock with an experiment: for an entire month, they are not allowed to touch each other and must remain at least one metre apart at all times.

I'm content as we are (but) by inqui (The_Circus) (E, 13,086 w., 1 Ch. || Jealous John, UST/RST, Pining, Victor Trevor, Minor Whump, First Kiss / Time, Misunderstandings) – In which John Watson sees something unusual, becomes jealous, and makes too much of a small thing as an old friend of Sherlock's shows up in the middle of a case.

Say For Me, Love by MirabileLectu (T, 13,147 w., 1 Ch. || UST, First Kiss, Drama, Pining John, Victor Trevor) – If you had asked John this morning what the result of his quiet afternoon at home would be, discovering a truth about Sherlock's past startling enough to shift the foundations of their friendship would not have been his first guess. So naturally, that was what was bound to happen.

Barricade by stitchy (M, 14,127 w., 1 Ch. || HLV Fix It, Friends to Lovers, Angst, Happy Ending, UST, Mary’s Not Nice, First Time, Pining Sherlock, Time Skip Filler, Drunkenness) – Sherlock has been struggling to keep his feelings at bay for everyone's sake. Part 1 of Barricade

Second Chance by SilentAuror (E, 15,816 w., 1 Ch. || Post-HLV, Post-Divorce, Friends to Lovers, UST, Romance) – Now that John's divorce has gone through and the dust is settling, Sherlock thinks that he would very much like to see if there is any possibility of moving their friendship in another direction. The only thing is, he has no idea how to go about doing that...

Anytime by SilentAuror (E, 17,995 w., 1 Ch. || UST, Porn With Feels, POV Sherlock, Romance, UST/URT, Happy Ending, Drunken Endeavours) – Sherlock blinks and attempts to focus. There is a little too much vodka in his veins at the moment and it’s having an unfortunate effect on his brain and retinas both. There are two Johns sitting across from him, and both of them are frowning at him. “You’re drunk,” the Johns tell him. Sherlock blinks some more. “Says the man with Mrs Hudson’s doily on his head.”

John Watson doesn't have a Boyfriend by naughtyspirit (E, 18,932 w., 7 Ch. || UST / URT, Fluff & Smut, Voyeurism, Masturbation) – John's date has gone very well. Sherlock requires tea. John wishes he hadn't resolved that their relationship was strictly hands off and isn't about to address it. Unless he has to. Smut, fluff and shower time for a naked John Watson.

For you, there's only me by shock_blanket (E, 19,557 w., 7 Ch. || Jealous Idiots, Virgin Sherlock, UST/RST, Pining, Miscommunication, First Kiss / Time, Insecure Sherlock, Masturbation) – Sherlock realizes he has fallen in love with John, but believes he is unlovable. Cue lots of pining and jealousy on Sherlock's part, followed by our favorite cuddly marksman making it all better. Because for Sherlock, there's only John.

Love Is by SilentAuror (E, 21,508 w., 1 Ch. || Angst, UST / URT, Post HLV, Romance) – At Mrs Hudson’s urging, Sherlock finally decides to tell John how he feels about him. Part 1 of Love Is

Brief Conversations with the Woman by May_Shepard (E, 21,906 w., 20 Ch. || Pining, Love Fairy Irene, Filler Fic, UST/URT, Drug Use, Clueless Sherlock, Relationship Advice, Angst w/ Happy Ending) – Sherlock has a puzzle to solve, and his name is John Watson.

Sonatina in G Minor by SilentAuror (E, 22,574 w., 1 Ch. || Case Fic, POV Sherlock, Angst, UST, Sherlock’s Violin, Post-S3, Romance) – John has come back to Baker Street, but Sherlock doesn't understand the strange tension between them, even after he begins teaching John to play the violin at John's request.

Knotted by naughtyspirit (E, 23,166 w., 4 Ch. || UST/URT, Cuddling, Sharing Body Heat, Confessions, Kissing, Masturbation, Frustration, BAMF!John) – John has to cancel a date because of Sherlock's case, which leads them to be tied up in a basement from which they have to escape. They get wet, get tied up close and John has to step up and save them. Because he's pretty. And hot. And just a little bit of a BAMF.

Hellfire by testosterone_tea (E, 28,596 w., 9 Ch. || Fantasy / Magic / Mages / Elementals AU || Mage Sherlock, Elemental John, Developing Relationship, Torture, Powerful / BAMF John, POV Alternating, Dark / Blood Magic, UST, First Kiss) – Sherlock is a Mage that gets involved with a case involving Dark Summoning rituals, leading him to John Watson, a man with Berserker blood. The only thing is, Berserkers have been extinct for centuries. And of course, nothing involving Mycroft and his interfering ways is ever simple. This time, even Sherlock may have bitten off more than he can chew.

That Partitioning of the Things of Youth by wearitcounts (E, 35,353 w., 7 Ch. || Humour and Angst, Post-TRF, Fake Relationship, UST / RST, Friends to Lovers, Jealous John) – Victor Trevor is in town, and nobody's happy.

The Case of the Vanishing Pants by SwissMiss (E, 44,025 w., 6 Ch. || Five and Ones, Post-TRF, Case Fic, UST, Homophobia, Friends to Lovers, Pining John, Showering Together, Couple for a Case, Sherlock’s Bum, Fantasies, Jealous Sherlock) – Five times John and Sherlock lost their pants in the course of a case.

Wars We Fought, Things We're Not by blueink3 (M, 55,204 w., 10 Ch. || Post S3 / Post TAB, Parentlock, Fluff & Angst, Kidnapping, Whump, Post-TAB, UST/URT, 3G, Mild Peril, Slow Burn, Couple for a Case, Protective Mycroft, Infant Death Pre-Story, Friends to Lovers) –  Five months after John's world has fallen apart, Mycroft sends the consulting detective and his doctor on a case that neither is prepared for.

A Hundred Crimson Sols by elldotsee (E, 55,536 w., 16 Ch. || Astronauts AU || Mars Exploration / Space Travel, Slow Burn, Shy Sherlock, Scientist Sherlock / Biomed Engineer John, Alternating POV, Mutual Pining, UST, Angst with Happy Ending, Domestic Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Injuries, Suicidal Ideation, Zero-G Sex) – Will Holmes is a chemical researcher recognized widely for his contributions to the new Mars exploration program. Thanks to his ground-breaking developments, the IMMC (International Mars Mission Corporation) is one step closer to Martian colonization. Will and his team of scientists are headed out on the first of three manned missions before the first group of settlers arrive. Three days before launch, one of the crew has to be replaced. Will panics because...new people. The replacement is of course one John Watson, biomedical engineer and space hottie who was pretty sure he had retired from actual space exploration and was now content to work in the nice, quiet research lab. Can the crew survive this TOTALLY ROUTINE trip? Will they be able to endure each other for the looooooong trip in close quarters? Gonna be a wild ride... prepare for blast off. Part 1 of SpaceBois go to Space

The Baker Street Nativity by SwissMiss (E, 99,662 w., 23 Ch. || Nativity! AU || Teacher Sherlock / TA John, Pining, Sherlock POV, UST, Angst, Christmas, Music/Song Fic, Anal / BJ’s, First Kiss / Time) – Fusion between Sherlock (BBC) and Nativity! (2009 movie starring Martin Freeman). Sherlock is a primary school teacher and John is assigned to be his classroom assistant. Together, they are charged with putting on the school's Nativity play. What could possibly go wrong? Part 1 of The Baker Street Nativity Verse

A Further Sea by i_ship_an_armada & ShinySherlock (E, 125,492 w., 23 Ch. || Historical Pirates AU || Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Doctor John / Pirate Captain Sherlock, Sailing, UST / RST, Masturbation, Action / Adventure, Mild Angst & Peril, Romance, Shaving, Molly/Janine, Bottomlock, Hand / Blow Jobs, Past Drug Use, Slow Burn, Mild Violence, Facial Shaving, Happy Ending) – Here be a tale of adventure for both body and soul, but beware if ye be not of stout heart, for this be piratelock, ya savvy? Luckless ship's surgeon John Watson takes a chance, and finds himself eye to eye with The Ghost, the scourge of the seven seas and a definite thorn in the side of the blaggard, James Moriarty. But when John finds there's more to this most cunning pirate than be meetin' the eye, he has to choose... is it a pirate's life for him?

The Adventure of the Silver Scars by tangledblue (NR [M], 142,458 w., 41 Ch. || S3 Fix-It, Post-HLV/ Post-TAB / Canon Compliant, Case Fic, No Baby, Angst, Humour, UST, Slow Burn, Angry John, Reconciliation, Not Nice Mary / Leaving Mary, Dependent Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Caretaker John, Fist Fights, It’s An Experiment, Virgin Sherlock, Dancing, Drugging, John Whump, Pet Names, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Scars) – It’s been thirteen months since Mary shot Sherlock and John finds he’s still pissed off about it. Sherlock had thought everything was settled: John and Mary, domestic bliss. But when John turns up at Baker Street with suitcases, the world’s only consulting detective might not be prepared for the consequences. A new case. Some old scores to settle. Certain danger. Concertos, waltzes, and whisky.

Midnight Blue Serenity by BeautifulFiction (E, 151,907 w., 19 Ch. || Friends to Lovers, Gay Bar / For a Case, Drugs, Pining, Case Fic, UST) – When Sherlock infiltrates a club in order to track down a serial killer, his altered appearance is enough to make John question his assumption that Sherlock is beyond his reach. However, is he the only one who appreciates his flatmate's charms, or is Sherlock at risk of becoming the next victim?

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #my fic recs #ust fics #urt fics #babyyoushouldseemeinacrown

[i-like-writing-stuff]

four months; part 2 [five hargreeves x reader]

a/n: thank you all so so much for your support and feedback! i literally could not believe that the first part has over 200 notes and yall want a continuation like omagash??? im soft, thank you guys <3

here is the long awaited part two, but before we dive into that, i felt the need to ask yall if you want five to be aged up?? in most x reader i���ve read on this site, five is aged up, but I felt like, in my case, i didn’t really needed to mention that because i am only like two months older than the actor, and its not like im gonna write smut with him- gross. point is, idk. should i age him up tho??? idk what to do, so here are both aidan and timothee to soothe ur heart for this second part!! <3

(the gifs do not belong to me, lemme know if u know who made them so i can give credits- they’re real cute mah gawsh!!!)

alsoo if you want more five imagines or literally any other hargreeves sibling or fictional character ousside tua, feel free to leave a request in my inbox! kisses <3

summary: after a long family meeting and more booze, you decide to make a bold move and profess your buried feelings.

part 1

“Men are stupid shitheads.” You concluded, setting your flask on the counter, looking at the new bangs Allison had just cut for you.

Even in her drunken state, they seemed to be very nicely done. You were quite surprised by the way they turned out, but pleased nonetheless. It was a spontaneous decision, getting bangs. You had been sitting in the hair salon she was working at with her, Klaus and Vanya after a not so great family meeting.

Hugs were shared, true, but then arguments started and before you even knew it, Luther stormed out, Diego followed him, Five went missing for whatever business he had, and Klaus claimed that Ben was not even there- apparently, ghosts can’t time travel.

So, it was just the four of you, drunk in a hair salon, with too much alcohol and way too many scissors around you, complaining about how shitty your love lives could be.

“Amen.” Klaus raised his drink in the air, “I’ll drink to that.”

“Right?” Allison nodded, combing her second client, Klaus, “The nerve of Ray! I mean, one thing goes wrong and he’s on a warpath!” She vented, holding the bottle of liquor in her free hand, “I mean, doesn’t know who I am?! No, no! No, Ray- you know exactly who I am, you just can’t handle it!”

You watched with a raised brow as Vanya was out of zone, pretending to be shooting the long line of empty bottles gathered in front of her, as Allison kept on continuing her rant. Her husband had just seen her use her powers on the night they started the protest, and was now having a real hard time comprehending what was going on. You didn’t see him at home either, so you figured he may have been upset with you as well for maybe hiding the secret. Or maybe he thought you were like her, who knows?

“Hey, wouldn’t it be weird if Five grew up all hot?” Klaus suddenly asked, taking a drag out of his cigarette, as he got up from his seat to walk around the hair salon, “Wouldn’t that be weird?”

“Why would you even think of your brother like that?” You asked riddled, narrowing your eyes at the man as his sisters almost gagged at the thought.

“Oh, please, you’ve been thinking that, haven’t you?” Klaus asked, pointing at you as you took another swig from your nearly empty flask.

“I... I mean- he’s... Five... uh... no comment!” You suddenly declared, at loss of words, as you got up from your seat, trying to maintain your balance as you made your way towards the bottle of liquor to fill your flask again.

“When are you two gonna confess your feelings?” Allison asked with a groan, letting her head fall backwards as she sat on the chair, “It’s getting really tiring!”

“We have an apocalypse going on!” You argued, “There’s no time for feelings!”

“This is the perfect time for feelings!” Klaus chimed in, taking another drag out of his cigarette, “These might be your last six days on Earth! Do you want to die regretting that you never told Five how you felt about him?”

“I’m not having this conversation anymore.” You declared, out of arguments, as you poured liquor in your flask, “Why don’t we talk about Allison’s crush on Luther instead?”

“We have never even kissed!” Allison defended herself, causing Vanya to spin on her chair confused, looking between the three of you.

“Yeah, but you guys were making little sick moon-dog eyes at each other all through puberty and breakfasts and... all that.” Klaus waved her off, sipping from his own flask.

“Aren’t we all brothers and sisters, or...?” Vanya wondered confused, as you and Klaus snorted amused at her innocence.

“Well... technically...” Allison tried to find an excuse or explanation, but she was having a hard time putting her thoughts in place.

“Technically?” Klaus raised a brow, “If you....” He stammered, trying to regain his train of thought, “If you have to use the word technically, you’re already in trouble.”

“Okay, can we go back to Five and Y/N?” Allison tried to change the subject, “Or maybe at least help me save my marriage?”

“That’s like...” Klaus stumbled on his own feet, filling his flask again, as you leaned against Vanya’s chair curiously, “That’s like asking a nun how to hump someone’s leg! I mean, who in this room knows shit about relationships? This one?” He asked, pointing at Vanya, “In secret love with some farm Frau!”

“Her name’s Sissy.” Vanya informed him.

“Which is an improvement on her previous love interest.” He said, looking at you and Allison, as you shook your heads to slightly tell him to shut up, “...the serial killer.”

“What?!” Vanya yelled, looking between you and Allison for an explanation, but you just softly waved her off, promising to remind her later.

“And look at this one!” Klaus ignored the three of you, pointing at... well, you, “A fifty year old assassin, who got the chance to be a teen again, but she is too afraid to admit her feelings for the... wait, is Five a boy or a man?”

“Both?” You raised a brow, unsure of the answer.

“Meanwhile, I’m carrying a torch for a soldier I haven’t technically met yet, and Luther is in love with his sister.” Klaus waved you off, trying to keep his balance again on his feet.

“Okay, again- we are not biological!” Allison tried to defend herself once more, but Klaus simply ignored her.

“Face it, the healthiest long-term relationship in this family was when Five was banging that mannequin.” He said, making all of you nod in agreement, as you couldn’t help but confess, taking another chug out of your flask;

“I can’t believe I got to the point where I was jealous of Dolores.”

Okay, maybe ‘banging’ and ‘jealous’ were strong words, but you had to admit you were not that pleased when one of the first things that Five did when he got back to 2019, was go to some store to get back his plastic girlfriend who kept him company in the four decades he spent all by himself in the apocalypse.

You understood his mind, though. You would have gone insane as well if you had to be all alone after the end of the world, without another soul on the planet. Nonetheless, you still were maybe a tad too happy when he decided to return her to the store.

Leaving you the only woman he had eyes for, unbeknownst to you.

“I’m gonna tell Sissy that I love her.” Vanya suddenly declared, straightening her position confidently.

“You go, girl!” You cheered, clapping for your friend.

“I don’t want any secrets.” She said, making you and the other two nod in agreement, contemplating about your own lives.

“Yeah!” Allison said, getting up with the bottle of alcohol tightly clutched in her hand, “Yeah, yeah- you’re right! Yes, ‘cause, you know- if this all goes tits-up, the least I can do is be honest with my husband!

“Oh, does that mean I have to face my cult?” Klaus sighed, “I just hate group break-ups, it’s why I stopped dating twins!”

You pondered about it for a moment, in your state that was definitely not the most sober. You had a lot of alcohol coursing through your veins, but you felt like maybe it was better. You could think with your heart more than you could think with your brain, and your heart was telling you that your friends were right.

They all are getting themselves ready to take big risks in their lives, why shouldn’t you? They had a valid point; the world was gonna end in six days if you guys couldn’t find a way to solve this. Last time you didn’t have the brightest plan, so why should this time be a success? Reality hit you; there was a real big chance that you might die.

So why not just be honest with Five? What was the worst that could happen? You manage to save the world and Five rejects you? Big deal!

Well, it actually was a big deal.

“What if he rejects me?” You asked all of a sudden, causing the three siblings to turn to you, “What if I tell Five how I feel about him and he rejects me? I know maybe at my age I shouldn’t be this anxious about a man, but... it’s not like I’m going anywhere, I’m glued to the Hargreeves clan.”

And it was true. After the events of the 2019 apocalypse, right before you and the others got separated, you shared an adorable moment in which you confessed to each other how happy you were to have met and be taken into their family as one of their own.

“Normally, I’d say to not ponder on that for too... long.” Klaus slurred, “But given that it’s Five, you don’t even have to worry about that.”

“He’s right.” Allison shrugged, “That won’t be a problem.

“I have no memory of any of you, but from the hug I’ve seen you two share earlier- you’re not just friends.” Vanya spoke up, making you stare into nothingness for a moment.

I mean, it’s Five we are talking about. If he were to have any feelings, it’s not like he’d be honest with them or act, right? It would be up to you to make the first move.

You let out a long sigh, rubbing your hands on your upper arms, reminding yourself of the hug. It may have been the first time you and Five actually hugged, in all the years you’ve known each other. The way he held you close and nuzzled his face into the crook of your neck, taking in your scent, feeling you in his arms, even if for him it had been only four days. You had to live with the thought that he may be dead for months.

And you hated that, you knew you wanted him alongside you. You wanted that little rude, at times obnoxious dipshit, with a soft heart- as much as he hated to admit it. You loved how much he cared about his family, about saving the world. Five is a great person; he is caring and has a big heart, as much as he tried to hide it behind his trashmouth.

“Fine!” You groaned, letting your head fall backwards, “I’ll tell Five I fucking love him and his dipshit face!”

“Yes!” Klaus clapped, as Allison and Vanya cheered proudly, “Come here!”

You and Vanya walked towards him, as Allison wrapped an arm around his waist, waiting for the two of you to skip towards them, pulling you into a group hug, as “Twistin’ the night away” by Sam Cooke blasted on the radio, causing the four of you to start a small dance party, letting for the first time in a long while your problems just go away.

For the sake of the song.

After a couple more hours of drinking, gossiping and dancing, the four of you decided to finally part ways and attend your promised business. Klaus went to deal with his cult, as Allison decided to be completely honest with her husband at home and Vanya was going to confess to Sissy.

As for you?

You were going to tell Five Hargreeves you were in love with him.

“Hey, dipshit!” You confidently yelled, running up the stairs of the store, trying to find Five.

“Y/N?” Five frowned, walking out of the kitchen with a coffee mug in his hands and a confused look on his face, “Are you... even more drunk? And did you get bangs- what the...?”

“Shut up.” You waved him off, walking towards him to grab the mug out of his hand to sober yourself up, “Why in the hell are you even drinking coffee at this hour?”

“I’m... trying to calm myself...” He frowned, watching as you chugged his freshly poured coffee.

“Normally I’d ask.” You said, setting the mug on the counter, shaking your head, “But right now what I have to say is more important.”

“Is that so?” Five raised a brow curiously, as you slowly slapped your cheeks, trying to get the room to stop moving, “Why don’t you go to bed?” He asked, gently pushing you towards the couch, “And we talk in the morning? I don’t really have time for this.”

“No!” You yelled, stopping in your tracks to poke his chest, “We don’t have to talk! I talk and you- you listen!” You said, poking his chest again, “You never have time for anything, all you can think of is your stupid apocalypse!”

“Oh yes, isn’t that a trivial thing to be thinking of?” He asked with a sarcastic smile, crossing his arms.

“I don’t need your sarcasm!” You yelled, poking his chest a third time, feeling him get more tense.

“I swear to God, Y/N, if you do that one more time-...” Five took in a deep breath, as he could feel as he was slowly losing his patience.

“Shut up!” You groaned, watching as his brows knitted in confusion, “I’m trying to confess my feelings for you, you moron!”

“W...What?” He asked, as his face suddenly softened, unfolding his arms.

“I’m in love with you!” You sighed, rubbing your face, “Okay? I-I am in love with you and I am trying to sober myself up, but I think I may have had too much to drink.”

“You think?” Five scoffed, slowly leading you towards the couch, “Are you sure you’re not saying this just because you have a ton of alcohol coursing through you?”

“Well... kinda, ‘cause if I were sober there was no way in hell I would have confessed.” You puffed, complying, as you let yourself guided by him, “Allison, Klaus and Vanya all convinced me that I should tell you, that we only have six days left on Earth and in case we don’t save it... I shouldn’t be going down with regrets.”

Five listened to your every word carefully, as you continuing venting about how his siblings spent the whole day trying to convince you to tell him about your feelings, as he slowly held your hands, as you took a seat on the couch. He nodded at your words to let you know that he was listening, as he took two pillows off the armchairs beside, placing them at one end, softly pushing you down.

“...and then Klaus said that he hates group breakups.” You said, not even noticing what was going on, feeling your lids get heavier once your head met the pillow.

“Not a surprise there...” Five muttered, grabbing the blanket that was rested on top of the couch, placing it over you.

“Are you trying to dismiss me?” You wondered, but still making yourself more comfortable, as you sat on your side, with your head facing Five, who knelt in front of you tired.

He bit back a smile, watching as you slowly closed your eyes. He knew you were extremely drunk, he could see that in the way exhaust took over you. Not only you had a lot of alcohol in your system, but you’ve also had some long couple of days, and some longer ones were ahead of you until you knew for a fact the world was safe once more.

“I don’t know how it is, that you’re the one person who actually makes me feel... soft.” He confessed, watching your lips curve into a smile at his words, “You... drunken idiot.”

“I regret nothing.” You said proudly, as Five couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, softly stroking your hair to help you fall asleep sooner.

“We’ll see about that in the morning.” He smirked amused, watching as you pouted.

“You never gave me an answer, you know.” You pointed out, letting his soft touch calm you down, as you felt sleep slowly take over you.

“You never gave me a question.” He retorted, knowing for sure that if your eyes were opened, you would roll them at him.

“I think you like to hear me say that I am in love with you, it’s the third time I have to say it.” You said, slowly placing your hands under your pillow, making yourself more comfortable.

“I am happy to see that you still know how to count.” Five said, placing some wild strands of hair behind your ear.

“Screw you.” You said, making him grin, as he went back to stroking your hair.

“In this whole... shitty situation I managed to get myself into, you, Y/N, might as well be the only thing keeping me sane... surprisingly.” Five frowned at the last bit, watching as you opened your eyes, shifting your head to watch him, “I love you too, moron.”

“I never said I love you.” You smirked, teasing him as he rolled his eyes.

“You little chipmunk...” Five sighed, shaking his head in disbelief amused, as you leaned into his touch more, closing your eyes, pleased with yourself.

“Yeah, but you still love me.” You said, not once dropping that smirk on your lips.

“You’re impossible, did you know that?” He wondered, resting his forearm on the couch beside you, as he knelt on the floor, trying to make himself more comfortable, noticing the way you were enjoying the scalp massage... for free.

“A little bit.” You slowly shrugged, wrapping your arms around his, once you felt it beside you.

Five watched with a soft smile as you pulled his arms closer to your face, nuzzling into it with a satisfied smile, happy that you listened to your friends.

And deep down, so was Five thanking his siblings.

#tua #the umbrella academy #the umbrella academy x reader #the umbrella academy imagine #the umbrella academy imagines #number five #five hargreeves #five hargreeves x reader #five hargreeves imagine #five hargreeves imagines

[yurimother]

LGBTQ Visual Novel Review - OshiRabu: Waifus Over Husbandos

If you are at all interested in Yuri or visual novels, you will have undoubtedly heard of OshiRabu: Waifus Over Husbandos. The Yuri rom-com was one of Steam’s top 20 February releases, and it hit the trending page on the platform. These accomplishments are incredible, and it is lovely to see both a visual novel and a Yuri game get so much love and recognition. However, whenever a title succeeds and manages to make an impact outside of the Yuri community, it always brings up a few questions. Mainly, does it deserve to be one of the few Yuri titles to obtain “mainstream success” and is it a positive ambassador for the genre, one which can further Yuri’s popularity and pull new consumers into it? These concerns boil down to one question, is it good? Usually, this inquiry is pretty quickly answered, with most elements of a product either being positive or negative. However, OshiRabu delivers more of a challenge. There are some fantastic parts to this game which I applaud and gush over, yet there are also several problems, both major and minor. The dichotomy between OshiRabu’s highs and lows is possibly the strongest I have ever seen in a Yuri title.

OshiRabu: Waifus Over Husbandos is the debut game of SukeraSomero, the new sister brand of the excellent Yuri studio, SukeraSparo. The plot follows Akuru Hayahoshi, an otaku with an obsession with her “husbandos” from gacha games and seriously bad luck. One day she bumps into a cute and bubbly student, Ren Furutachi. After Ren shows off her uncanny good luck to Akuru, a miscommunication sees Ren believing that Akuru confesses to her. For Ren, it is love at first sight, and she persistently negotiates her way into living with the older woman.

The rest of the game flits between comedic moments as Akuru and Ren live together. Examples include the girls shopping for a new bed, since Ren insists on sleeping next to Akuru, and Akuru creating boys’ love doujinshi with her friend Shino. There is, of course, a climax, which will not be spoiled in this review, and three possible endings, depending on two-player choices. An optional 18+ DLC expands on one of the endings and offers several explicit scenes.

There are some enjoyable aspects of this plot. For one, it is light and pleasant, never letting itself settle too much or grow stale. The situations are not hilarious but enjoyable and well suited to the with the characters’ personalities, and establishing several recurring themes and jokes, such as Shino teasing Ren and Ren accusing Akuru of cheating. There is an excessive amount of adorable fluff, which matches well with the overall tone of the game. These delightful moments cater to a variety of interests and fixations, so every reader is likely to find something they like. My personal favorite was a brief imagination sequence where Ren and Akuru have a child together, cute Yuri stories about women raising a kid are one of my weaknesses, and the reason Voltage’s Lovestruck has stolen hundreds of dollars from me.

The writing is also fantastic. The descriptive prose makes me laugh at the poor quality English translations we had a decade ago, and sometimes still unfortunately get. SukeraSomero deserves a great deal of praise for the simultaneous English, Japanese, and Chinese release. It is amazing that everyone got to experience this game together all over the world, without having to wait years for a possible license and translation. English translator Meru is one of the best in the business, and her work shines here. Her adaptation is amazing and fits the games’ modern setting and feel. I personally do not care for the amount of internet culture language included, such as Ren calling Akuru a “thot,” simply because such terminology tends to become dated quickly. However, I will defend the creative choices as accurate to Oguri Aya’s original story.

There is one more major compliment I have to give this game, and it is a big one. OshiRabu is extremely queer. While most Yuri titles exist as lesbian or lesbian adjacent content with little construction of LGBTQ identity, for example naming, displaying meaningful sexual and romantic relationships, or showing any aspect of queer culture, OshiRabu does all of these. I was floored when, early on in the story, Ren confesses to Akuru that she is a “lesbian.” The word lesbian is actually used directly in the visual novel, an unfortunate rarity for the Yuri genre. I even swapped the game into the original Japanese to confirm, and there again was the coming-out moment; the word “lesbian,” in all its glory, was planted right on the screen. This fantastic scene was not a one-off occurrence either.

Throughout OshiRabu, Ren continuously mentioned her homosexuality, which is usually juxtaposed by Akuru pondering her own sexuality, which she defines as an attraction to 2D men and nothing else. Although, her identity obviously changes because you know the women must end up together by the end. Some other excellent scenes feature queer representation. For example, at one point in the game, Akuru goes to a gay bookstore where another woman approaches her. When trying to explain that she is not interested, Akuru almost exclaims, “I’m normal,” a sentiment which she quickly realizes is hurtful and prejudice with some spectacular self-reflected narration. Moments like these offer nuanced and thoughtful presentations of LGBT culture and are the definite highlight of the game.

Sadly, not every aspect of the visual novel is as fantastic as these. In fact, many parts of it range from unfortunate to downright atrocious. First, the characters, while not awful or unlikeable, have some harmful qualities to them. Akuru is distant and introverted, which often leads to her being cold or even rude to Ren, which is never confronted or resolved. On her part, Ren is sadly the stereotypical aggressive lesbian, and frequently invades Akuru’s personal space, a topic which is again never reconciled. It is fine to have a character make problematic choices, but when their actions do not have consequences and conflicts have no resolution, it is a significant issue. The only character I unequivocally enjoyed was Shino, as she spends the whole game humorously teasing the two.

Speaking of conflicts, the final dramatic twist comes about as a result of Ren running away and refusing to communicate with Akuru. It turns out, minor spoilers, that she was testing her, which is a pathetic and ridiculous action which in real life can and should have serious repercussions or even end the partnership. Additionally, the topic of Akuru’s shared affection for Ren and her virtual husbandos, which is an immense source of stress for Ren, is not addressed in the base game, only the DLC. The extra content has its own set of problems too.

It is not uncommon for visual novels to include adult content in a separate patch so they can sell the base game on Steam. However, such adult patches are usually free, and OshiRabu’s is not, instead it sells for $4.99. This price is on top of the $24.99 base game, which means you are shelling out 30 dollars for the complete experience. An experience which, mind you. only clocks in at about 3 hours, hardly what I would call a value. It is an additional shame because the adult content is really well done. All the 18+ scenes, except for maybe the brief first one, showcase a tender loving relationship and skillfully written erotic content, although one or two metaphors did not land very well. However, not every player will want the 18+ content, and OshiRabu essentially forces them to play through it if they are going to see all the base game’s conflicts resolved.

There is also an unfortunate amount of service. While most of OshiRabu’s service is just sweet and cute moments between the characters, there is plenty of exploitative artwork designed to cater to specific players of a more perverted persuasion. Ren is usually the subject of such content, with shots featuring her panties and one extremely revealing cosplay outfit consisting of little more than two strips of cloth. Obviously, some players will enjoy these aspects of the game, but they did not work well for me, especially when I compared such clumsy service with the robust adult content.

However, this exploitative artwork, along with the rest of the game’s art, is phenomenally well crafted. Artist and character designer DSmile creates detailed and colorful illustrations that match the light comedic tone of the game. The adorable and vibrant artwork, drawn in a light watercolor style, makes my heart sing! There are also plenty of CG pieces, over 20, including the DLC, which adds six more. Given the games short length, this means you will see a new CG every ten minutes or so. The UI is also incredibly clean, easy to navigate, and blends well with the aesthetics of the art. My only complaint visually is that the sprites are entirely static. Except for different facial expressions and a few outfit changes, they are always the exact same, standing like flat mannequins against a backdrop. There is no animation or even alternative poses for them.

The voice acting is similarly high quality. Voice actors Nekomura Yuki, Kitaooji Yuki, and Waou Kirika all give fantastic performances in Japanese, and the quality of the recordings is consistently amazing. Even the adult scenes are voiced and showcase the range of talent present. The music is not nearly as good, but it does not intrude either. There are enough tracks to prevent the music from getting too dull, although the central theme and one of the tracks, “Let’s Go Out!” push this boundary a little far. Unfortunately, none of them are too memorable either, and I can guarantee that I will never be touching the BGM tab of the extras menu.

OshiRabu: Waifus Over Husbandos is a highly polished and visually impressive experience. The visual novel contains incredible artwork and is well constructed, showing the promise and talent of SukeraSparo. The stellar, although unfortunately necessary, adult DLC, and inclusion of LGBT themes are superb aspects that could have made playing this game a blast. However, a poorly constructed story, weak characters, and a high price tag compared to the amount of content offered severely detract from the game’s success. If you do not mind excessive service or are interested in lots of cute Yuri moments, pick this one up when it goes on sale.

Ratings: Story – 5 (6 with DLC) Characters – 4 Art – 9 Voice – 10 Music – 5 LGBTQ – 10 Sexual Content – 5 (9 with DLC) Final – 5

The visual novel is available on Steam and MangaGamer

#yuri #reviews #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtq+ #queer #gay #lesbian #visual novel #oshirabu #oshirabu: waifus over husbandos #girls love #gl #wlw #video games #gaming #game

[thenewlarislynn]

I’m Here Now

Pairing: Katara x Reader

Request: “58 on prompt list 2 with katara” (Prompt: “Where have you been?”)

Word Count: Approx. 1.4k 

~~~

Winding through the crowded city, you looked around for just the right gift for your special occasion. Out of the corner of your eye, you spotted it. On display at a florist’s cart was a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers.

Making your way over, you smiled at the florist. “Excuse me ma’am, how much for this bouquet?”

“That’s our finest bunch,” she replied, “it hasn’t been priced yet, but I can give it to you for two silver pieces.” 

You sighed, knowing you couldn’t afford that. Deciding to barter, you offered, “How about one silver piece?”

The woman looked at you and smiled, “It’s a deal. So tell me, what’s the special occasion?”

“Well you see, it’s my one year anniversary, and I’m trying to surprise my girlfriend.”

“Oh to be young and in love again,” she chuckled. “I’d recommend buying some chocolates too, if she likes that sort of thing. They’re sold a few carts down.”

“Thank you,” you beamed, “although do you happen to know where I can buy some sea prunes?”

“Sea prunes? Well there’s a water tribe merchant a block over, although I don’t know who would want some of those things,” she said with a light laugh, pulling a face.

You responded with a giggle, “They’re considered a bit of delicacy where we’re from, although I don’t see why.” Once you paid for the bouquet you once again made your way down the bustling road. 

On your way to the other merchant, you found yourself thinking back on the day you started dating Katara. 

It was a warm day, for the Southern Water Tribe, that is. Once you had both completed the necessary chores, the rest of the afternoon was yours. She had been your closest friend for the longest time, and you had finally admitted to yourself how you felt about her. 

After keeping your feelings to yourself for months, you couldn’t bear it any longer. So that afternoon, as you watched the sun sink below the horizon, you closed your eyes and blurted out emotions. She was shocked, but returned your feelings. As it turned out, she had felt the same way, but had reservations about telling you, since she didn’t want to ruin the friendship you had. 

Ever since then, the two of you had been dating, leading you to leave the South Pole with her when Aang showed up. Now it was exactly one year later, and surprising her with something from home seemed like a great gift idea. 

Although, you couldn’t take full credit. You had discussed gift ideas with Sokka and he helped you think of the perfect food. Luckily for you, he was also dragging Katara all over Ba Sing Se for the day, so you could sneak off undetected. 

Finally, you made your way to the Water Tribe merchant. On his cart were an assortment of foods that you recognized from home, and you were hit with a wave of nostalgia. “Hi, could I get some sea prunes please?”

“Sure,” he answered with a smile, “that will be 8 copper pieces.” Nodding, you handed over the coins. “Special occasion?” 

You smiled, “An anniversary.” Before you could go into more detail you heard a familiar voice call out, “Those men are Fire Nation! I swear!” Swords could be heard clashing and you tried now to look over.

Curiosity got the better of you, and looking over your shoulder, uneasiness started to creep in. Taking the sea prunes, you left the cart abruptly. You couldn’t see who he was fighting, but it seemed your old friend had gotten himself into some trouble. Hoping to blend into the gathered crowd, you took off. However, your tactic didn’t work. Your name was called out, and you tried to keep walking. It was called again and you turned around, looking Jet in the eye. 

“Please, tell them I’m not crazy,” Jet pleaded.

Looking at the Dai Li agents, you knew what you had to say. “I don’t know you,”

“Yes you do! It’s me, it’s Jet!” An agent dressed in black grabbed you roughly by the shoulder. 

“We’re going to need to question you, just in case you do know him.” 

“I’m travelling with the Avatar,” you protested, “this isn’t right.”

“Just standart procedure,” he assured you, unconvincingly. Leading you by the arm, he tossed you into the back of the truck. 

Jet looked at you, “Why did you pretend not to recognize me?”

“Because,” you whispered, “I was afraid something like this would happen. Now the others could be in danger because of me,” You paled, “Katara might be in danger because of me.”

The rest of the ride was spent almost entirely in silence. When you arrived at the prison, you were blindfolded and led in a separate direction from Jet. You could hear water flowing and once again felt uneasy. They led you down a silent corridor and you could hear their footsteps echoing off the walls. Judging by the sound of it, there were only a few of them. 

A door creaked open, and you were pushed forward. After that, the door slammed shut and your blindfold was removed. Standing in front of you was a tall Dai Li agent, a menacing look on his face.

“Now here’s what’s going to happen,” he said, voice low, “I’m going to ask you a question and you’ll answer honestly. If I detect any dishonesty you will have a longer stay here, and have to undergo the same process your friend is being subjected to as we speak. Understood?”

“Yes,” you nodded, “but he isn’t my friend. I don’t know him.”

“And, you will not speak out of turn. I will be back shortly.” As he turned to exit the room, you smiled. Getting out of here shouldn’t be too difficult. 

Once he was out of the holding area, you stood, ready to leave. Although you weren’t a bender, you studied fighting with the Kyoshi Warriors and in the Northern Water Tribe. The door was, miraculously, left unlocked. Turning the corner, you ran down the hall. You may have been blindfolded, but you remembered which turns they took. 

The man stood at the end of the hall, facing you. “Something told me you would do this,” he said with a smirk. 

“Well,” you replied, “it looks like that something was right.’

“You really think that you can escape?”

“Yes, I do. And I know you won’t come after me, either.”

“Is that so? Do explain.”

“You chose the wrong day to mess with me. See, it’s my anniversary, and nobody interrupts that.” Running forward, you dealt a swift blow to his upper arm, cutting off his chi. Watching Ty Lee’s attacks had taught you a thing or two. A few more quick jabs and he was down, unable to move. 

You opened the door to a nearby storage closet, “By the time you’re found, I’ll be long gone. And I know you have Appa, so don’t think you’ve seen the last of us.” You shoved him in, slamming and locking the door behind you. “By the way,” you called out, “I’m taking the flowers. And my sea prunes.” 

On a nearby table sat the confiscated items, and you grabbed them as you left the hall. Thankfully you didn’t run into anymore agents on your way out, and made your way topside. From there you used your remaining money to purchase a ticket to the inner ring, and rode the train there. 

By the time you finally reached home, it was pitch black out. Opening the door, Katara was waiting inside, “Where have you been? I was so worried, I thought something had happened,” she trailed off, voice shaky. 

You pulled her into a hug, “Hey, it’s alright, I’m here. I got you these, as an anniversary gift,” you smiled. 

“I’m just glad you’re alright,” she said, brushing her lips against yours. 

You returned the kiss, feeling safe for the first time all day. Deciding to come clean about the rest of your whereabouts, you confessed, “I was also captured by Dai Li agents and escaped, but that’s not important right now.”  

Her eyes grew wide, “I’m sorry you did what?” 

“The important thing is,” you assured her, “I’m here now.”

She shook her head, “You’re lucky it’s our anniversary,” she smiled, “otherwise I would be very upset right now.”

~~~

Requested By: anon

A:TLA Taglist:

@coldlilheart

@samsmultifandomblogs

Honestly the world needs more Katara fics. Let me know if you want to be added to my taglist, and as always, likes and reblogs are appreciated! Love you all! <3

#katara x reader #requested #katara #katara of the southern water tribe #katara x you #katara x y/n #atla #avatar the last airbender #katara fanfic #the gaang #sokka #jet #jet atla #dai li #ba sing se #there is no war in ba sing se #avatar fic #atla fic #the last airbender #reader insert #my writing #katara atla #atla x reader #katara drabble #atla drabble #katara defense squad #sokka x reader #zuko x reader

[thejollyroger-writer]

To Serve and Protect - Chapter 6

a/n: this chapter took way longer than anticipated, but y’all have been so incredibly patient with me and my new lovely daughter, so I’m very proud to finally bring you this chapter, which -- as a surprise to us all, myself included -- is actually not the last. 

SUMMARY: Detective Killian Jones has been investigating a stalker-turned-murderer for months by the time he goes home from the bar with Emma Swan. But when he thinks he sees the very man in question outside her apartment, can he separate his feelings for her and his need to keep her safe?

TRIGGERS: well, this is a fic about a serial killer. mentions of violence and death, with some physical violence/whump. as always, if you need me to discuss this further for you to be comfortable, message me. – rated teen

Prologue // Ch. 1 // Ch. 2 // Ch. 3 // Ch. 4 // Ch. 5 // Ch. 6 on AO3

-- -- -- -- 

Henry is unsurprisingly quiet during their ride to the hospital. She tries to ask him about what happened, tries to get some sort of answer out of him, but he seems as nervous as she is, staying completely silent. 

When they pull up to the hospital, she only has more questions, because the parking lot is filled. 

With police cars. 

More police cars than she thought Storybrooke had, honestly. 

Because they’re not all from Storybrooke, she realizes. Some of them are only marked “Maine State Trooper,” some of them from other towns Emma recognizes from around Storybrooke. And then, she sees one from Boston. 

What the hell happened here? 

She walks past them all, past the officers that line the hallways, both uniformed and not. Past Graham outside Killian’s hospital room. And right up to Killian, wide awake in his hospital bed. She’s glad he’s okay, glad he’s awake, but she also really wants to hit his arm, wants to find an outlet for her anger even though she knows it should be anyone but him. 

“What the hell, Killian?” she says, trying not to yell and not quite succeeding. “What the hell happened?” She closes the door behind her, stopping Graham from following her into the room. She can’t deal with Graham right now, can’t deal with anything until she can wrap her head around what happened. 

If that’s even possible.

Killian sighs, desperation in his eyes begging for her to come closer. “He showed up at the hospital, we think for Felix’s body, but he got here much too quickly if he came all the way from Boston, so now we’re thinking he must have been closer anyway and may have been a part of this whole thing from the start. Apparently he didn’t expect me to have protection, though, because I think his goal was to kidnap me, though it’s also illegal to bring a firearm into a hospital, no matter who your father is.”

None of what she just learned surprises her, but it also doesn’t change the question on the tip of her tongue: “Where is he? I want to see him.” 

Killian holds his hand out towards her. “Please, love, just… can it wait until tomorrow? Give everyone the night to figure out what the hell we’re going to do.” 

There’s something he’s not telling her. For a moment, her anger rages. All she wants to do is question him, ask him to explain what the fuck has been happening, but between Killian’s outstretched hand and the pleading in his exhausted blue eyes, she gives in and fills the rest of the space between herself and the hospital bed, her shoulders rising and falling with a slow breath. And then another. And then she meets his eyes, the same sparkling blue she remembers so vividly from the night they met. The same eyes that she has been drawn to since the first time she met them, and the same eyes that have, somehow, been honest with her the whole time. 

And this moment is no exception. 

“Do you think we could both fit on this stupid hospital bed?” he mumbles, pulling Emma down for a kiss. 

Finally — finally — she smiles. “I think we can at least try.” 

It takes a little finagling, but they figure it out well enough. They may not be comfortable, but they’re together. 

Safe. 

-- -- -- --

Killian had hoped that having the night to sleep would change her mind, but it doesn’t. Though they both wake up refreshed in the small space of the hospital bed, he can tell there’s a myriad of questions sitting on the tip of her tongue just waiting to come out. She sits silently outside while he gets his bandages changed, not forcing any of her questions on Graham, says nothing as the three of them make their way down to get breakfast, but their table is as far as she makes it. 

“I want to talk to him.” 

There’s no need for explanation. They both know exactly what she wants, but neither of them want to tell her that they’re not comfortable with it. 

“Emma,” he says softly, looking around the cafeteria before reaching across the table to cover one of her hands with his. “I don’t—” 

“Oh, come on,” she says, her voice filled with anger, not even letting Killian finish. “If nothing else, I deserve this. Felix killed people, tried to kill me, almost killed you. Felix never acted on his own, so this all has some connection to Neal and all I want to do is ask him why.” Finally, she notices that he’s shaking his head, and she turns to Graham, who can’t even bring himself to look at her. “Don’t deny me this. Please.”

“Listen, Emma, you don’t understand—” Killian tries, but Emma cuts him off again.

“Believe it or not, Killian,” Emma says, not even trying to hide the anger in her voice. “It’s not up to you.” She stands up angrily, almost toppling her chair to the floor. “I don’t need your permission to do anything, so whether you’re joining me or not, I’m going to talk to Neal.” 

In her storming away, she misses the glance Killian and Graham share, the screaming in Graham’s eyes, but his hand as it stops the elevator door from closing stops her rage in its tracks. 

“Emma, listen,” Graham says, stepping in the elevator beside her. 

But listen she doesn’t, rolling her eyes as Graham holds the doors open for Killian, moving much slower than usual with his IV attached. 

“I’m not taking no for an answer. I hope you know that. I hope you both know that.” 

“It’s more difficult than that. We have to—” Emma doesn’t miss the nervous way he gulps, the way his eyes never leave Killian once he comes into view, even once he steps into the elevator with them. “When we get back to Jones’ room, we have to talk about this.” 

“There’s nothing to talk about.” 

Killian reaches down to take her hand, which catches her off guard. 

But not nearly as much as when he speaks. 

“He’s dead, Emma.” 

She freezes. Every muscle in her body — her heart — even the rushing of her blood through her body. Everything stops. Between Killian’s confession and the stopping of the elevator, she almost collapses. 

“You had to tell her here?” Graham asks, which only makes the world spin around her a little faster, and Killian must sense her unease, wrapping his arm around her waist and leading her out of the elevator. 

“She wasn’t going to stop arguing with us.” 

This… just makes her angry. This time, she does punch him in the arm. “Are you fucking kidding me? You’ve been keeping this from me? Both of you?” 

“I didn’t know how to tell you, love,” Killian tries, his voice soft as he reaches for her hand again. 

She doesn’t take it, crossing her arms over her chest. “That’s not an excuse. You could have told me. You could have told me on the phone when you called, you could have told me when I got here, or at any point this morning, and you decided not to.” 

Neither of them have anything to say, apparently, silently walking down the hospital hallway on either side of her. 

Rightfully, she’s angry. That’s an understatement, really; she’s far more than angry, a whole slew of emotions that she’s so overwhelmed by that she can’t possibly articulate them all. Even she doesn’t notice the tears streaming down her cheeks until she sniffles, which catches the attention of the men flanking her who, until now, were trying to avoid turning their attention to her. 

“Swan,” Killian whispers, trying to wrap his arm around her waist, but she shakes her head.

“I can’t—” she starts, pushing his advances away, and she speeds up her walk to move ahead of them. “I just need some space.” 

It’s the last thing she wants, really, to be alone, but she knows that she needs space from the two of them. There’s a possibility that she’s never been more angry in her life, even with the man who sent her to jail for his own crimes — a man who is now laying on a slab in the morgue in the basement of the hospital. 

A man whose death should not have been hidden from her. A man whose death she definitely should have been told about instead of lied to, treated like a child, too fragile to know the truth. She needs to talk to someone, someone she trusts, someone she can vent to knowing that she won’t be judged for being angry at Killian and Graham, because she knows they were doing what they thought was best for her, whatever kind of masculine, overprotective bullshit that is. She needs—

She raises her eyes from the ground, taking her anger out on the door at the bottom of the stairs and out into the lobby, and finds the answer standing by the exit, arms crossed over his chest as he stares out the front window. 

“David?” 

He turns around, eyes wide as if seeing Emma is the last thing he expected. But then he smiles, and she feels a little better already, some of the weight somehow lifted off her chest. “Hey, Em.” 

“What are you doing here?” she asks, though the answer is pretty obvious.

“I decided to come down and check on you, see how everything is going.” 

“And you’ve just been… standing by the window, hoping that I come downstairs?” She manages a half-smile, even with the anger that’s still surging through her veins. 

David, of course, laughs at this, leaning back against the large window. “No, no, I called Graham when I got here and he said you were on your way down anyway.” 

This makes her smile grow a slight but barely noticeable amount. “That… makes much more sense.” 

“So, tell me, what’s going on? What happened last night?” He wraps his arm around her shoulder, but all Emma can do is shake her head. 

She just needs to get out of the hospital for a bit, away from the sickening antiseptic scent and the headache-inducing phosphorescence and the thought of what happened here the night before. “Can we get out of here? Even just outside?”

David pushes no further, agreeing immediately with a vigorous nod. “Of course. I hate hospitals. Let’s go grab a coffee down the block.” 

At this, Emma finally feels relieved enough — relaxed enough — to actually smile at her brother, especially once they are through the doors and out into the fresh morning air. 

At first, she says nothing, not even sure where to start, or how to say the words she knows she has to say. But David doesn’t push her, just walks slowly beside her with his hands in his pockets and his eyes turned down save a patient glance at her every few steps. 

Until, finally, the silence and the words racing through her mind get the best of her, and she has to let them out before she explodes. 

“Neal showed up at the hospital last night,” she says, refusing to raise her eyes from the pavement. “Graham said he was probably here for Felix’s body as his next of kin, but he showed up much too fast to have been in Boston, so they think he was here already. But instead of going to the morgue, he tried to attack Killian, which didn’t go over too well considering he’s a police officer and was guarded by the entire Storybrooke force, plus a few troopers that Graham called in for back up.” 

The words stop as David holds open the door to the small cafe, unsure whether she should continue now that she could be overheard by another patron. But the only other patrons are two state troopers sitting in one corner, their hushed words shared as whispers as they both lean across the table between them; and Lily, the barista, who takes out her headphones when she notices the door has opened again. Emma pauses the story as they order their drinks, waiting until they are seated together at the opposite end of the room as the troopers to continue — and to say the words that she finds lodged in her throat when she is ready to start again. 

“They shot him. Killed him. Graham said he came armed, which was really a stupid decision on his part, to bring a gun into a hospital filled with cops, and normally I would be surprised that he made a mistake that stupid, though I can only imagine how off the rails he went when he learned Felix was dead. And that’s assuming he’s anywhere near as level-headed today as he was when I knew him, which I seriously doubt.” 

“Oh, Em,” David says softly, reaching across the table to rest the tips of his fingers on her arm. 

Surprising even herself, she manages a small laugh under her breath as she shakes her head. “But that’s — that’s not even the worst of it.” Until the words start pouring out of her mouth, she wasn’t even convinced that she was going to share this part with David, but once they start, she is both unable and unwilling to stop them, hoping that letting everything out at the same time will aid in her feeling better. “They lied to me about it, hid the truth from me until this morning. Both of them, Graham and Killian. Graham told me he was there, but it wasn’t until just a few minutes ago, really, that they decided to finally tell me the truth, the whole story, the fact that he’s dead. Killian didn’t even sound convinced that he wanted me to know in the first place, just kept refusing when I asked to talk to him.” 

She hangs her head in defeat, in anger, trying to keep everything from rushing back over her all at once. Takes a sip of her hot chocolate. Waits for David to find some sort of response, to analyze and rationalize all the information she just laid on him the way he always seems able to do — she can tell by the low knit of his eyebrows, by the slow scratching of his left hand through his three-day scruff while his right index finger taps against his coffee cup. 

“I know that anything I say will just be something you’ve already told yourself through your anger over all of this: that they were just trying to protect you, to keep you calm and free from worry—” 

She almost feels bad, cutting him off, because he has always been the most level-headed and the calmest of them all, and this situation has already proven no different. “I would have been far less worried if they told me he was dead instead of leading me to believe he was locked in the single Storybrooke jail cell, which he certainly would have viewed as a joke after the cells and prisons he’s found his way out of his whole life.” 

At first, David just nods. He knew this, too, of course. “Well, I don’t have to tell you that Killian cares about you. Graham, too, though in more of a sisterly way. And they don’t know Neal and his history the way you do, so they probably thought that it would be easier for you to learn that he was dead after you got some rest, especially after the stress of last night.”

She sighs, taking another sip of her hot chocolate. Because he’s right. Of course he’s right, it really isn’t that much of a surprise. “So, what am I supposed to do?” she whispers, her eyes turned down to her mug. “I just stormed out on them, and now I’m just supposed to go back like that never happened?” 

In place of an answer, David wets his bottom lip, his eyebrows high on his forehead. Emma already knows the answer. 

Now she just has to go do it.

tagging: @shireness-says​ @kmomof4​ @thisonesatellite​ @let-it-raines​ @wellhellotragic​ @darkcolinodonorgasm​ @profdanglaisstuff​ @stahlop​ @teamhook​ @snowbellewells​ @carpedzem​ @pepperspotts​ @imlaxdris71​ @gingerchangeling​​ @lfh1226-linda​​ @kday426​​ @scientificapricot​​ @resident-of-storybrooke​​ @ultraluckycatnd​​ @itsfabianadocarmo​​ @galadriel26​​ @jennjenn615​​ @therealstartraveller776​​ @nightskylover​​ @xarandomdreamx​​ @kristi555 @nikkiemms​​ @vvbooklady1256​​ @withheartfulloflove​​ – if you want to be added or removed, please let me know

#my writing #wordsbymeganmichael #cs fics #the detective fic #to serve and protect #sooo much dialogue #and some feelings #and HOPEFULLY the real penultimate chapter #but I guess we'll see.

[baileys-aurora]

Under the Surface

Ateez x Reader (fem), Mermaid/ Pirate AU

Part 2/?

Previous Part: Part one 

Word count: 1.8k

As he opened his eyes, Hongjoong realized it was morning, slowly stretching out from his uncomfortable position he was previously in. As the events from last night hit him, he silently cursed himself for falling asleep in the captain’s cabin and not below deck to make sure nothing happened. As he makes his decent to the main deck, most of his crew are already on hand prepping for the journey ahead of them. The sunrise was breath taking, most of his happiest moments are always at daybreak, when the golden warmth spreads across the rippling water, wasting no time to start its day as the moon chases after it, never quite reaching its goal. He let out a consent sigh before moving towards the below deck entrance. However, when Hongjoong reaches the cell he finds both the mermaid and San passed out on the floor.

 Did she do something to him? Scenarios ran through the captain’s head as he rushed to San, “San!” he whisper yelled, shaking him slightly awake. “What happened? Did she hurt you? I told you to wear earplugs while down here” San sighed while sitting up and rubbing his neck, due to the uncomfortable sleeping position he ended up in. “I’m fine,” San reassured Hongjoong, “I must of feel asleep since it was late by the time we finished talking.”  San replied as if he wasn’t sure, while in reality he knew he watched the sleeping girl for a while just enjoying the peacefulness oh her chest rising and falling slowly. He even went as far as reaching through the bars to move a strand of hair tickling her cheek, wondering what she possibly be dream about with such a content look on her face.

 “Hi?” you sounded up in your small morning voice, which was being directed to the captain, yet also broke San out of his thoughts about last night, “I didn’t hurt him” you said immediately after realizing San was still near your cell and probably was found there.

 “Can I speak with you in my cabin?” Hongjoong asked San sternly, then looking at me, “I’ll be back after you wash up to speak with you as well.” he stated looking back at San, “where is Yunho? He can help her wash up.” “what about Seonghwa?” your small voice interjected, to which you just received stares from both men. You averted your eyes downward, “Yunho sounds nice, where is he?” “that’s what I thought” the captain replied before leaving, San following behind after giving a small smile to you.

“Looks like I’m on mermaid duty” a very tall man said walking around the corner that separates the cell you were in and the crew’s bunks. So, he must be Yunho you thought to yourself, he looked nice but also intimidating at the same time due to his tallness. All you could do was stare up at him as you still couldn’t stand without falling, after a few seconds passed in silence he tilted his head, confusion clearly on his face, “soo, are you planning on getting up or laying there all day?” he asked half joking, “I can’t” was all you simply responded watching to see if his next move would be a dangerous one now that he knows you couldn’t run away. “Oh right! I apologize for my lack of consideration, this is your first time having legs then?” you were taken back from his answer, “yeah, but if you could just lend me a hand I should be fine, just need a little support.” you responded slowly letting your guard down to him as he seems friendly enough, even more so then Seonghwa was. However, when he unlocked the cell, he didn’t just give a hand but just ended up picking you up bridal style so he can get this over with as fast as possible.

 "I am lost San" Hongjoong spoke up as soon as they reached the captain's cabin. San observed the man as the ran a hand through his slightly faded red hair and placed his back against the desk. "Why were you even there? Are you trying to give me another reason to send her there?" He said with stress showing deep in his eyes. When San didn’t respond Hongjoong continued, "If I don’t send her to the market, we will have to let her go here and chances of her making it back to her reef alive are nonexistent." He let out a long sigh, "If we kill her it solves nothing and we receive no gain, yet we can’t turn around because of our shipment deadline.... please San, tell me what I should do in this situation?" The captain finished hanging his head slightly. "Firstly, I'm sorry I have caused you this much trouble, even if I had no restraint, I should have fought back. However, after talking to her a bit I believe we should find a way to return her home safely after we complete our shipment deal." San spoke cautiously to his captain, who has now looked up at San, taking in his thoughts on the situation. "I also think we should ask her before deciding her fate ourselves, maybe she wants to risk swimming back on her own, maybe not, but I believe she should have the choice." San finished. "I will speak with her next" Hongjoong voiced after a minute of thought. San nodded before walking to the door, "not so fast, lover boy" San froze hand halfway to the doorknob, "you still haven't given me an answer on why you were passed out next to her. Without ear plugs at that, don’t tell me your intentions were as impure as I am imagining them to be." After a few seconds of silence San responded, eyes still on the door, "Far from it, Joong" yanking the door open San left. "Thank God" the captain sighed letting out a breath he wasn’t aware he was holding. "The last thing I need is feelings to get in the way of my men." He said to the empty room in front of him.

 "You don’t have to carry me everywhere, you know?" You smiled at the boy named Yunho who you have grown very fond of in the short time you've known him. Throughout the morning the only time your feet hit the ground is when you were sitting on something. He joked with you and asked questions about what breathing underwater felt like, and since he couldn't see the air could you see the water. Ultimately, you began to drop your guard even more around him, not fully but more so then anyone else on the ship. "I know." He simply responded with a wink, interrupting your memories from the morning with him. "Last stop, after breakfast, getting a comb through that head of hair, and washing your face and hands." Yunho said verbally listing everything he was told to do with you to make sure nothing was forgotten. "Who’s the unlucky one today" you asked slightly frowning. "I would say me, but unfortunately my clothes would be too big." He responded with a reflection of the frown you gave him not to long ago, as he set you down to sit on his bunk, "How about this, since both mine and Mingi's clothes would be too big and I don’t want to include the Captain for obvious reasons, pick a number between 1 and 5." Yunho suggested with a face saying he was a genius for thinking of such a solution. “mm... 3?" You responded with hopeful eyes. "And the winne- I mean loser is..." he said with playful eyes, "Wooyoung~" Yunho finished, to which you just hung your head and pouted, "I'm in so much trouble" you whispered to yourself so Yunho wouldn't hear. A few minutes later he returned with some black skinny jeans, black boots, and a white blouse. "I'm going to turn around but if you have issues figuring out his complicated clothes let me know, I promise I won’t look." He voiced with a smile and another wink. "Thank you, Yunho." Was all you responded back before successfully dressing yourself on the first try. "What do you think?" You asked signaling it was safe to turn back around, "they fit you nicely, now come here so I can carry you to the captain's cabin."

A muffled come in was heard after Yunho knocked on the Captain’s door. You made Yunho hold your hand on the way there, so he wasn’t seen carrying you around like before.  As you entered the room your eyes focused on the floor still feeling guiltily and scared about the situation. After Yunho helped you sit down he gave you an encouraging smile before leaving and shutting the door quietly behind him. “I’m sorry” was the first thing out of the captain’s mouth, leaving you shocked as you finally made eye contact with his worried eyes. You could tell you have caused a deal of stress from his tired stance so early in the morning along with his furrowed brows. When you continued to just stare at the man behind his desk, he spoke up again, “I should’ve let you go yesterday when you were still close to your home, and now you are to far to make it back safely and we can not turn around.” He must have saw your shocked facial expression because when he looked back up to meet your eyes, his features seemed to relax and even let out a low laugh. “so, I’m not going to the market? I have a chance to make it back home?” You asked wide eyes and hope shining in your e/c eyes. “Sort of, that is what I need to discuss with you. I had no intention to send you to the market, but my sense of authority took over and I said the first threatening thing I could think of besides death.” The boy confessed. And from that statement alone you saw he wasn’t what you first assumed he would be, everyone you’ve met has so far. “I am free to leave then?” you asked, “yes, if you believe you can make the swim safely back to your reef.” He replied still maintaining eye contact with you as he walked and sat on the front of his desk facing you. “I’ve never been outside the barriers before.” Defeat heavy in your voice, “but I will try.” “you don’t have to” the captain started, “after we complete this shipment we should be heading back west. Allowing an opportunity for you to return home safely.” “Really! I’m allowed to stay until then?” you replied with all sadness laving your eyes. “Only if you pull your weight, I’m not that hospitable.” He responded, seeming less stressed now that he has figured something out. “one more thing” he returned serious within a second, “you will sleep in here, no wondering around at night, do not go through my stuff, and no seducing anyone. These are my rules, follow them and no issues will arise between us.” “of course, anything you ask I will do.” You responded with confidence.

Next Part

#ateez #san #mingi #hongjoong #wooyoung #jongho #yunho #yeosang #seonghwa #ateez x reader #san x reader #mingi x reader #yunho x reader #hongjoong x reader #wooyoung x reader #jongho x reader #yeosang x reader #seonghwa x reader #pirate ateez #pirate au #mermaid au

[wolfpawn]

I Hate You, I Love You, Chapter 159

Chapter Summary - Tom and Danielle tell Luke their news before it is declared to the world.

Previous Chapter

Rating - Mature (some chapters contain smut)

Triggers - references to Tom Hiddleston’s work with the #MeToo Movement. That chapter will be tagged accordingly.

authors Note - I have been working on this for the last 3 years, it is currently 180+ chapters long.  This will be updated daily, so long as I can get time to do so, obviously.

Copyright for the photo is the owners, not mine. All image rights belong to their owners

tags: @sweetkingdomstarlight-blog @jessibelle-nerdy-mum @nonsensicalobsessions @damalseer @hiddlesbitch1 @winterisakiller @fairlightswiftly @salempoe @wolfsmom1 @black-ninja-blade

Luke stretched his neck and cursed falling asleep sitting up the night before. Tabloids had caught wind of Tom being at Wimbledon and every last one to see it made note that Danielle was not there with him and assumed they had been the first to realise that she had left him or him her without any shred of proof or indication of such. It was hardly the most taxing or bothersome of stories but it covered more of the internet than Tom's recent outings so he had to keep an eye on it all the same. He found himself rolling his eyes at the analysis of some people declaring that Tom was depressed looking, or elated to be rid of Danielle, depending on their own personal thoughts of her. To be honest, Luke could never understand what would make a woman willing to endure the sheer madness of Tom's life outside of genuine love of him.

He looked at his watch and noted that Tom would be arriving at his office supposedly in the next fifteen minutes. He shook his head. Tom tried to be punctual, he really did, but he would get caught talking to someone or get overly interested in a book and genuinely be too polite to excuse himself or forget the time before being delayed and turning up late and apologising profusely. He was unsure why Tom asked to see him with no situation that he could think of to warrant an official enough meeting between them. He knew of Tom and Danielle's trip to the seaside with his family, he worried that perhaps something had gone awry there and the pair had seen fit to part ways, but his tone on the phone was pleasant, something he knew with confidence that Tom would not be inclined to be should his friend and his partner had broken up.

Only five minutes later, he received a call from his secretary informing him that his clients were waiting outside. He chuckled and he gave his assistant the go-ahead to let them in before waiting to see what it was he was dealing with, the plural giving him an indication it was not an impending breakup.

Tom and Danielle came in smiling, Tom embracing his friend and Danielle giving him a small peck on the cheek as they entered. “Hello, I was worried about this meeting at first, I see that was a terrible assumption on my behalf.” He indicated for them to sit across from him at his desk. “I assume that this is an official visit?” Tom smirked and handed a sheet of paper to his friend. Luke looked at him sceptically before taking the piece of paper and opening it. For a moment, he looked at the paper before looking up at the pair across from him. “Really?”

Tom smirk turned and lifted Danielle's hand, showing her ring to him. “Mum is having it put in tomorrow's paper because Danielle is working in London for a fortnight and she will be spotted wearing it, so we thought it best to inform you so to prepare for whatever madness arises.”

Luke reread the piece again before smiling brightly. “Well, after the claims from yesterday, this will be hilarious, congratulations to you both,” he looked at Danielle's hand. “Antique and classy, as though I could expect anything else.”

“What's this of yesterday's claims?” Tom asked worriedly.

“You, going to the tennis final by yourself is somehow a declaration that you two have gone your separate ways.” Luke informed them. “Danielle’s absence is nothing short of a formal break up announcement in their opinion.”

'Wow, this will be awkward for them,” Danielle scoffed. “Are we allowed any time apart? I dare say it is tiring being attached to one's significant other all the time. I was too busy stealing our niece for a few hours to boil myself in the unusually warm weather.”

“Yes, I cannot believe it had lasted this long.” Luke looked to the air conditioning vent in his office. “If that fails, I will be relocating to a freezer.” Tom and Danielle gave a laugh. “So, this is official? When are you thinking about a wedding? There's nothing rushing this is there?”

“No, nothing of the sort, we are talking about next summer, most likely. Nothing is planned yet, though Mum very much has plans to change that soon for fear we delay.” Tom informed him.

“Well, I appreciate the consideration. We can ensure everything is covered on this side of things,” Luke smiled before chuckling. “For a time, I genuinely never thought I'd see the day. You finding someone and settling down. Danielle, you made him see sense.”

“And this is my penance apparently,” she joked in return. “I’m sorry for the bother that this will cause you.”

Luke shook his head slightly. “Please, this is what I do as my living, I am just grateful that this is a good and pleasant situation to be overseeing as opposed to what others have to deal with. I will have this place ready for it, all I can say is like with the announcement that you two are together, there will be positive and negative reactions.”

“We know.” Tom gently rubbed Danielle's hand. “As Elle said, you will have to bear the brunt of this, so long as Elle stays offline,” he gave her a small pleading look.

“What, some people are ridiculous and hilarious?” She shrugged.

“And cruel and spiteful and some outright sick in the head,” Luke added, which Tom nodded to.

“They're the minority and the immature. People with odd notions of somehow finding Prince Charming and him ignoring obvious issues such as age, geography and other aspects and running away with them to live happily ever after into the sunset together. And I will admit, I enjoy their tantrums when I'm in the right mood.”

Tom shook his head and sighed. “You are mad.”

“You knew this anyway.” She laughed with a slight shrug as they all rose from their chairs.

“Elle, I need to speak to Tom for a moment, if that's alright?” Luke requested.

Danielle did not even blink before smiling brightly. “Of course.” She stepped out of the room and went to sit on one of the comfortable chairs outside Luke's office.

“A little warning?” Luke chuckled. “I know you said soon but you never mentioned it being this swift.”

“The last time I tried to plan around her, she overheard part of the conversation and thought there was something to worry about. I hadn't a time and place planned, I just went with what felt right and thankfully, she said yes.”

“Against her better judgement, no doubt.” Luke joked. “I am thrilled for you, Tom, I really am. How was your family's reaction?”

“You need to ask?” Tom beamed. “Mum is anxious to start planning.”

“So, it really is going to be a long engagement, as they do?”

“I don't think you could force her forward. Apparently, her cousin is getting married in the Spring of next year, which is already being noted as being too soon and to go ahead of that is a social faux-pas like nothing before by Irish standards.”

“I'll take your word for it. But being honest Tom, I am not sure Elle should allow herself read what some people are going to say, this will get a vitriolic reaction from some, in the same way Ben Cumberbatch and his wife suffered. I am not joking when I say that there may be reason to alert the authorities should they threaten her physically.”

Tom's eyes widened slightly. “They are just vocal online because of anonymity, they surely wouldn't….”

“They don't tend to, no but considering the abuse I physically witnessed her receive the time it was revealed she and Emma were friends before you began seeing one another, people seem to forget that they cannot say and do what they like without consequence. You too have noted how things have changed, Elle's safety from fanatics, and indeed yours is paramount. I think some may not take this well and get angered at you also.”

Tom studied Luke's expression. “What do you not tell me about what you see online with regards me and Elle?”

“You would lose sleep if I told you everything,” Luke confessed. “But with even YouTube stars being shot dead by supposed fans these days, no PR person can take any threat too lightly.”

“Alright, we'll be smart,” Tom swore, not certain as to whether or not he would say too much to Danielle for fear of scaring her when it was more than likely not necessary.

Luke made towards the door and opened it. When they stepped out, Danielle was looking astutely at her phone. She did not notice the two men standing beside her as she focused on the work plan in front of her.

“More changes?” Tom asked, knowing that she had been given two altered sets already.

She looked up at them and put her phone on standby. “No, just studying the street plan to see where are dangerous positions for large machinery.” She explained as she sighed. “I really should do more on my laptop or invest in a tablet, I am going bleary-eyed from looking at a small screen.”

“Business expenses, it's a great excuse,” Luke suggested with a grin. “I will alert everyone here to the imminent news so don't worry about that. You two have a pleasant day before your faces hit every celebrity news site and no doubt a tonne of papers and don't allow it to bother you.” He shook Tom's hand but Tom pulled him in for a hug. “You did better than you should have.” Luke jested.

“There's no need to tell me I am punching above my weight.” Tom acknowledged.

“Elle, congratulations, or commiserations, I'm not sure which is more suitable, it's debatable.” He moved forward and embraced her.

Danielle laughed at his words. “Well, you've had to endure him for enough of a period of time to know the truth in that.” She gave him a peck on the cheek. “Thank you for this and I really am sorry for any bother this creates for you.”

“If I did not wish to deal with public relations, I think it is safe to say I am in the wrong job.” He laughed as they walked to the office door. “I will be contactable if either or both of you want me and of course, I will be keeping you both posted on everything here.” After giving their thanks, Tom and Danielle left. Luke smiled at his friend's news and happiness as they did so before looking to the piece of paper in his hand and turning to his secretary. “Could you call everyone to my office please?” He requested, causing his secretary to go and do as requested. “We're in for a busy day tomorrow.”

*

The engagement is announced between Tom, only son of Dr James Hiddleston, of Oxford and Mrs Diana Hiddleston, of Aldeburgh and Danielle, the only child of the late Dr Matthew Hughes and the late Mrs Bridget Hughes, of Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland.

The next morning, The Telegraph declared to the world in its engagement section that Tom and Elle were engaged. To them, bar the texts of congratulations from those they had not told by text themselves, nothing was any different. Tom kept Danielle offline by strategically requesting that she assist him with a long overdue clearing of his wardrobe, as it was becoming cluttered. Before he said anything, she had a black bag readied, her sleeves rolled up, and a terrifying look of determination on her face, Tom felt allowing her online would be less painful at that moment.

“I don't want to dump anything.”

“There are clothes here with holes that are not supposed to have holes,” she pointed specifically to a pair of socks that Tom was certain he wore training for the London marathon over a decade previous with large holes in any seam it had. “Do you need these?”

“No.” A moment later, they were in the bag. She then held up a t-shirt with a hole in the armpit. “No, not that,” he pleaded.

“Have you worn it in the last year?”

“I haven't worn it in over a decade.”

“Then why keep it?”

“It means a lot to me, I have a lot of fond memories in this.” He smiled at the t-shirt before taking it from her. “In RADA, I always wore this before a performance that mattered, for grades and such.” He watched as she took it from him and folded it neatly and placed it on the bed with a loving smile before holding up something else. “Don't bother dumping that, burn it,” he declared, physically wincing at the shirt she was holding up. “What the fuck was I thinking?”

Danielle assessed the shirt and shook her head. “I think it's safe to say you weren't thinking. I take it you bought this when you were shitfaced someday and thought it a good idea?”

“No.” Tom growled before looking at her sheepishly. “I was hungover and my shirt was covered in...well not pleasant things and my lift back from Cambridge was due and there was no way I would be allowed in the car otherwise and it was the best of a bad lot.” Danielle laughed. “So burn it.”

She glanced over the shirt. “It hasn't been worn since has it?”

Tom shook his head. “I'm still trying to figure out how it got here, I'm fairly sure I dumped it years ago before moving here.” He watched as Danielle placed it in a smaller empty bag she took out. “What are you doing?”

“Donating it. That could be something someone else needs.” She smiled.

Tom could only smile at her, elated at the knowledge that the world would now know she saw him as worthy of something she held in such high regard like marriage.

#tom hiddleston #tom hiddleston fic #i hate you i love you #chapter 159 #wolfpawn

[flowers-creativity]

Bad Luck (chapter 19)

Fandom: The Musketeers Characters: Porthos du Vallon, Athos (Comte de la Fere), Aramis (René d’Herblay, d’Artagnan (Charles), Jean Tréville, Flea Warnings: Violence, whipping, racism, slavery, abduction, minor character death Summary: Porthos rarely had bad luck at the card table. But when he hit a streak of really bad luck, it was only the beginning …Soon, the other three Inseparables were desperately searching for their missing friend while he did his best to get back to them.

Notes: Angst, thy name is Aramis ...

AO3 link

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18

Chapter 20

The atmosphere in the small room had changed with Porthos' first awakening. The routine that followed in the next few days was no less familiar than that of their earlier days but much less tense. He was still sleeping most of the time, but now they could relax and leave his bedside more, catch up on sleep themselves and get fresh air, though it went without saying that one of them was still there whenever he woke.

Two days after he had come around for the first time, they said goodbye to Marcel and Fadil. The two men had sent word of their survival and freedom to their families when they had originally arrived at the small inn, using the same carrier Athos had sent to update Captain Tréville, but they had refused to even entertain the idea of returning to Paris while Porthos' fate was still uncertain. Now that he was no longer in danger and on the mend, the call of home was too strong to ignore any longer, which none of the Musketeers could fault them for. They left exchanging smiles and firm handshakes, and the promise to call at the garrison in a few weeks to catch up and check with their own eyes that Porthos had fully recovered, of which Aramis was convinced.

At least his body. His mind and soul, now, might be a different matter.

Aramis tried to push back that niggling worry and stretched, working out a kink in his back. He sat back on his chair and propped his stockinged feet up on the edge of the bed, contemplating the still form of his sleeping friend. Porthos was on his belly, one arm loosely curled around the pillow. His bare back was a network of dark scabs, the infection finally gone from the wounds so that they were healing. They had opted to leave the wounds open to the air for a while to aid in healing, and Aramis could see the first patches of shiny new skin and scar tissue between the scabs. They would have to work on keeping the skin of Porthos' back flexible, and he would bear the scars to remember this experience for the rest of his life. But still, it was the best possible outcome they could have hoped for, Aramis supposed.

As for his state of mind, it was harder to say. He had been quiet whenever he was awake, but how much of that was due to the lethargy of a body sapped of strength by fever and lack of nourishment and the discomfort and lingering pain of healing wounds, was difficult to tell. They had caught up on what had happened while they were separated, but that had been mainly Athos, Aramis and d'Artagnan talking. Porthos had little to contribute they hadn't already heard from Marcel and Fadil …

“Stop thinkin' so hard,” a voice broke into his thoughts, and his head snapped upwards to meet Porthos' eyes. His brother was blinking at him lazily but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Porthos,” Aramis breathed, and as had happened every time he had woken since the first time, he felt another bit of tension leave his body at seeing his eyes clear, hearing his voice speak freely and without confusion. Porthos didn't reply, just cocked an eyebrow at him, and Aramis laughed tiredly and sat back in his chair, rubbing a hand through his messy curls. “I was just woolgathering,” he said.

Porthos hummed and shifted onto his side, grimacing slightly. “Nah, you're worryin',” he said. “Stop that. I'm alright.”

Aramis snorted. “Says the man who's barely able to stay awake for more than an hour still,” he returned.

Porthos narrowed his eyes at him. “Gettin' there, at least,” he insisted.

Aramis nodded, conceding the point. However, he reached out and took Porthos' hand, interlacing their fingers. “You know you don't have to be,” he said, “alright, I mean.” He looked at him intensely, trying to read what was going on behind these dark eyes. “What you went through--”

On most days, he could read Porthos like an open book. Today, however, he could literally see the shutters closing, the walls being built, and he was left disconcerted and helpless on the outside. Porthos' hand twitched in his grip as if he was fighting down the urge to withdraw from him physically, too. His voice was flat as he said: “It's over. I survived. That's what counts.”

“Porthos ...” Aramis' voice was imploring, one step above pleading. “Don't shut me out. You know what happens when you don't deal with things like that. It will fester and turn sour.”

Porthos' brows drew down in a deep frown. “Nothin' to it,” he objected. “And if there is, I'll deal with it.”

“Let me help. And d'Artagnan and Athos – let us help,” the marksman insisted.

“Dammit, Aramis, let me be! I don't want your help!” Porthos ripped his hand from Aramis', scooting back in the bed until his back was to the wall and pulling his legs up. His face was contorted with anger but beneath that, Aramis thought he saw something else, a tremble at the edge of his lips, his eyes a bit too wide and wild.

Aramis raised his hands in a placating gesture, ruthlessly pushing away any hurt feelings that were welling up in him. He knew Porthos was just lashing out. Still, it felt like somebody had reached into his chest, grabbed his heart and squeezed, seeing his brother shy away from him like that. “Hey, it's alright,” he said soothingly. “I'll stop pushing. Just … Please, if you need somebody, come to one of us, yeah? None of us will be judging you.”

Porthos stared at him, his eyes narrowed and his heavy breaths loud in the silence. Finally, he nodded slowly. “Yeah,” he answered grudgingly, his tense body language relaxing slightly. “I know.”

Aramis exhaled and returned the nod. “Come on, lay down again,” he asked. “Sitting with your back against the wall like that can't be pleasant.”

Porthos grunted but shimmied downwards until he could lay down on his side again, propped up on one elbow. He was still looking at him with something bordering on mistrust in his eyes, and Aramis ached from it. Silence settled over them, awkward and heavy. Porthos shifted a few times to find a comfortable position, then closed his eyes, and it did not take long until his breaths evened out into sleep, and Aramis was alone with his thoughts again. He bit his lips, running his hands through his hair and tugging at it, using the minor pain to ground himself. Had he just made things worse? Suddenly, he could no longer stay in place. Surging to his feet, he strode from the room – Porthos was fine, or at least fine enough to be left alone for a bit.

He had barely closed the door behind him and turned when he nearly collided with Athos, drawing up short in the nick of time. A small “Oh!” escaped him.

Athos' eyes immediately narrowed. “Aramis?”

Aramis looked from him to d'Artagnan who had appeared behind their leader, his arms laden with their lunch. “I'm sorry, you just startled me,” he tried to play it off.

Athos' eyes stayed on his face, and he knew that the man could read him – not perfectly, maybe, but enough to notice that something was off. Without looking, he reached past Aramis and pulled open the door. “Go on in, d'Artagnan,” he ordered. “Get everything set up, we'll be along in a minute.”

The Gascon's gaze bounced between them, eyebrows raised, but the lad didn't ask, just nodded. “Alright.” With that, he disappeared into the room, and Athos shut the door behind him. Then he turned to Aramis and asked: “What's wrong?”

Aramis pasted a smile on his face. “Nothing,” he replied while at the same time wondering why he was doing so. Athos was not a fool.

Those cool blue eyes narrowed, torn between concern and annoyance. “Aramis.” It was a talent of their leader that he could say whole paragraphs with only one word, only a bit of inflexion and his accompanying expression. This word clearly said Who do you take me for? and Talk to me, or I'll make you. To underscore it, he reached out and clasped the marksman's shoulder, conveying the sympathy his tone lacked.

Aramis sighed. “Porthos just woke up,” he said, “and I tried to get him to talk to me – about what he had gone through. He … didn't want to. He made that very clear.”

Athos raised an eyebrow. “It's all very fresh for him. He may just need some more time,” he pointed out.

Aramis nodded, flexing his hands to keep himself from them running through his hair again and making even more of a bird's nest out of his curls. “I pushed him too hard,” he confessed, “and … The way he reacted, it felt like he was no longer seeing me but someone who was trying to hurt him. What if--” He broke off, biting his lip. “He has blocked me out before but never like this,” he ended on a whisper.

Athos squeezed his shoulder, his eyes calm as they held Aramis' gaze. “Stop thinking about what-ifs,” he advised. “And I know it's hard that he is closing himself off to you when you want to help him so much. But I'm afraid that the only thing you can do right now is being patient.” He patted his shoulder and let go. “You two always figure it out. Trust that your bond doesn't break so easily – nor does Porthos. He'll get better, and he will talk to you when he is ready.”

The medic took another deep breath, taking strength from Athos' certainty and firm determination. “You're right – thank you,” he said.

Athos gave him a shadow of a smile. “Always, brother,” he replied. “Now – lunch?”

Aramis laughed tiredly. “Yes, please.”

#the musketeers #Porthos #athos #aramis #d'artagnan #flower writes #bad luck story #bad luck

[marvelmymarvel]

War Is No Place...

Part 3/9

George Luz x Medic!Marshall!Reader (Wink)

Joseph Liebogtt x Medic!Marshall!Reader (EEEHHHH)

Eugene “Doc” Roe x Medic!Marshall!Reader (....)

Synopsis: You had your eyes on George Luz since day one. Quickly, you fell in love with one another, but you soon realized that war is no place for a lot of things. Mainly, though, its no place for love.

A/N: Okay this one was just a filler part.. the next two parts are Bastogne and that's when things get interesting. Just an FYI, The reader is wounded in September and Bastogne is in like December. So she’ll be up and running by then. 

Your eyes snapped open as you inhaled sharply. Eugene was hovering over you as all of the airborne had stopped on your behalf. “Hey, sweetheart... How ya feelin’?” he asked calmly as he ran his hand along your head softly. You whimpered as he helped you sit up from the cold hard ground that you were laying on. He glared at George and Joe who were behind you before looking back down at you softly. “I hurt a lot Genie” you whispered out hoarsely as you rubbed the place where your head slammed into the corner of the seat. He nodded before pressing his lips sweetly over your fingers that covered your head, the other men seemed to inhale sharply wanting to attack the sweet medic who they knew loved you as well. “The force of the hit against your stomach almost reopened the wound” He began before looking back up at the two foolish men angrily, they looked down ashamed and he continued “luckily for you though, princess, it’s unharmed and healing” he whispered down at you and you nodded as you winced at the pain that shot through your head once more. “We have to move out soon... Is she up?” You heard Winters call out and your headshot over to your CO. 

A relieved smile formed on his face as he approached you, he sent a look at George and Joe who immediately scrambled away. He would deal with them later. “Your father was worried about you Private” he whispered as he bent down and helped you up. Your head spun a little and Eugene's arm wrapped solidly around you as Winters gripped your arms harder. “I got her sir, her wound is fine and still healing” Eugene whispered as Winters let go of your arms which instantly wrapped around Eugene's shoulders for support and comfort. Winters nodded at that finally feeling a sense of calm wash over him at your safety. “You need to rest up Private... I’m gonna pull you off the field until that-” he started as he pointed at your wound for effect, “Gets fully healed... You’re one of the best medics we have... I can't afford to lose you.” You nodded quickly before saluting at him lazily “Aye Aye Captian” you whispered out before Eugene nodded at him and pulled you away. You learned then that you all were stopping for the night and were not heading up despite Winter’s words. The reason, it seemed, was that your little predicament caused you to be passed out for 3 hours and your father was not having it back home. Eugene set you down against a tree a little ways away from the main camping out area. He told you that he would be right back as he left to get you some supper that the men were cooking up. You fiddled with your medic bag and heard footsteps approaching, “Thanks Genie-” you started as you lifted your hand along with your eyes. You stopped, realizing it was not Eugene with your food.

It was George with your heart. 

He was throwing the baseball into his glove as he looked down at you. You cleared your throat and looked back down at your hands, “Can I help you” you asked and he just sat down in front of you, placing his ball and glove on the ground beside him. “We need to talk” he began and you just snorted at those plain words “If you’re here to tell me that I’m in the wrong then-” 

“I was an idiot Y/n” He cut you off and you fell silent. “And no... I didn't just realize my mistake when Joe was hitting on you, or when you kissed Eugene-” 

“How do you-” 

“Webster” he stopped you before you could cut him off anymore. Your eyes were wide as the man that you loved began to open up to you. Finally. “Joe wasn't hitting on me” you whispered out and he just scoffed quietly to himself. But he didn't press on that matter, instead, he looked up at you with a fire in his eyes. “I realized my mistake, the minute the words left my mouth. Truth be told. I thought I could keep you safe if we weren't together. Jumping into danger made me realize just how much I couldn't protect you... And that hurt me. It's not your fault that I broke up with you. It could never and would never be your fault. I’m an idiot... But I love you.” There they were. Those three words that shook your world every single time... No matter how many times he whispered them to you in the dark. Or screamed them at you during a fight. The words still shook you to the core. “George,” Eugene said firmly as he came up to you two. George just watched you and you opened your mouth, looking up at Eugene with a new emotion in your eyes. “Give us a minute Genie” you called out softly, Eugene stared at you for a couple seconds before nodding and walking away. Once again leaving you two in a world that was only made for you and him. A world where you could go and escape everyone else. A world, where you loved him and he loved you. You missed that world. You missed him. “How could you leave me in the middle of a war... Not just externally but internally as well” you choked out and his heart broke in 3. “I was afraid of losing you” he whispered out finally. He was so afraid and ashamed to admit that that was the reason, so he just pushed it off as anger towards you. Considering the fact that either of you could die instantly and while he knew that going into the relationship, nothing prepared him for actually going into the gunfire. Having you be put in the line of fire everytime someone was shot?? That made him shell shocked. “Seeing you wounded made me realize that I couldn't protect you by leaving you... That you, as well as me, are in this war together... We are both in danger and goddamnit Y/n” you started to see the tears form in his eyes and you knew he meant every word, but he wasn't done. “My world was dark without you.” You inhaled sharply at his confession and you nodded before swallowing the lump that formed in your throat.  You felt the same. Life was darker without the little ball of sunshine in your life. “If you’ll let me... I would like to show you that my love for you has not changed and I promise... I promise to never let you go again” 

“George” you whimpered out softly.

“Now you just hang on. I’m not done yet” he cut you off and you just felt your heart grow in size the more he talked “I love you to the moon and back, and if I could take that bullet instead of you having to suffer, I would. I love you... Y/n..... Please tell me you forgive me” he had started out strong, but by the end of it, his voice was light and airy. Like he was protecting himself from you saying no. What he didn't know though was, that you never stopped loving him. “I forgive you George” you whispered out. His eyes widened and he stopped breathing for a quick second at your words. He prayed day and night to hear those words. He didn't care if you said the three words ‘I love you’ all he wanted to hear was ‘I forgive you’. You pushed up from your spot against the tree with a wince but you still flew over the 3 feet of ground that separated you two. Flying into his arms you finally felt safe and secure. You both flew back as you hid your face in his neck, “I love you, George. I will always love you, please never leave me again” you whimpered out heartbrokenly. He nodded as he moved his one hand to your back, holding you steady against his chest as the other hand tangled into your hair. “I’m so sorry” he muttered over and over again in your ear as you two just laid there, crying into each other. 

“What a load of bullshit” Joe hissed out to the other men as he threw his cigarette down onto the ground. Stomping on it, he turned and stormed away from everyone. He hated George. He hated the fact that you forgave him like what he did to you was nothing. Like those sleepless nights were you just cried into Joe were nothing. It was bullshit. What Joe didn't know though was... That you and George had a bond that nothing and no one could break. Even though he broke your heart into a million pieces, he still had it in his possession. He forever would. Joe would never understand that... And that would cause some issues later on. But for now. You laid in Georges' arms in the middle of that dirty ground, and you kissed him like the world was ending. Because without him. It felt like it. 

Part 4

tags:

@hell-itwasyou @desired-love-

#george luz imagine #george luz imagines #george luz x reader #george luz #joseph liebgott imagine #joseph liebgott imagines #joseph liebgott #eugene roe imagine #doc roe imagine #doc roe imagines #doc roe #eugene roe #band of brothers imagines #band of brothers imagine #band of brothers fanfic #band of brothers #war is no place... #war is no place

[inevitably-johnlocked]

hi!! im wondering if you have any long (over 50k words) johnlock fics with no smut..? thank u !

Hi Nonny!

Ohhhh, gosh I ABSOLUTELY do! I love long emotional connection fics! I’ll stick to my K, G, and T-Rated fics since those I can guarantee has no smut, and I’ll also include M-Rated fics, so if you’re not okay with brief mentions of sex (not graphic details, just “the next morning after a love session” kind of description), then you can skip those :)

SMUT-FREE FICS OVER 50K W.

K to T-RATED

A Love with No Name Series by aceofhearts61 (G to M, 49,955 w. across 20 stories || Asexual Sherlock / Straight John, Est. Rel, Queerplatonic Relationship, Romance, Cuddling, Fluff, Platonic Romance, Domestics) – In which Asexual!Sherlock and Straight!John are platonically in love life partners.

An Experiment in Empathy Series by belovedmuerto (T, 62,397 w. across 13 stories || Empath AU || Psychic John, Psychic-by-Proxy Sherlock, Empathy, Psychic Bond, Romance / Bromance) – In which John is an empath, Sherlock is Sherlock, and an epic bromance happens. In the aftermath of The Great Game, John creates an unexpected bond between himself and Sherlock. Now they have to learn how to deal with it. John is better at this than Sherlock is.

You Have Drawn Red From My Hands by J_Baillier (T, 67,085 w., 17 Ch. || Three Garridebs, Heavy John Whump, Hurt / Comfort, Pining, Heavy Angst, Case Fic/Adventure, Slow Burn, Sick Fic, Injury, Guilt & Depression, Just Talk Already Please, Medical Realism, PTSD) –  John getting injured leads Sherlock on a path of guilt and revelations.

The Green Blade by verityburns (T, 72,929 w., 15 Ch. || Casefic, Bromance) – As a serial killer hits the headlines, the police are out of their depth and the next victim is out of time. With faith in Sherlock Holmes at an all time low, this is a case which will push loyalties to the limit…

Darkling, I Listen by You_Light_The_Sky (T, 73,254 w., 8 Ch. || Fairy Tale AU || Loosely Based on Beauty and the Beast, Magical Realism, Suicidal Themes, Romance, Creepiness, Adventure) – No one who enters old London ever comes out. They say that the beast devours them. When his sister disappears, John ventures into the dead zone beyond the wall, and finds a brilliant madman under a terrible curse… Part 1 of Darkling I Listen + Extras, Deleted Scenes

A Case of Identity by jkay1980 (T, 91,009 w., 22 Ch. || Post-TRF, Fake Relationship, Case Fic) – John and Sherlock have succeeded in rebuilding their friendship after Sherlock’s fake suicide, but an unusual case puts their relationship to the test. They pretend to be engaged and attend a marriage counseling workshop. Under the pretext of the case, Sherlock turns out to be a master of seduction, and John finally learns he might like Sherlock more than he thought. Slowly, John discovers that he loves Sherlock not only in a friendly, brotherly way, but both men have to fight their own demons before they can think of taking their relationship to a new level…

Definitions by siennna (T, 101,528 w., 12 of ? Ch. || Dev. Rel., Pining, Fluff and Romance, First Kiss, Love Confessions, Fluff, Cuddles) – Sherlock’s journey in defining his flat mate and stumbling through the muddled world of emotion. {{This feels complete; the chapter count is listed as ? but I feel like it is done}}

between each beat are words unsaid by darcylindbergh, hudders-and-hiddles (T, 107,998 w., 215 Ch. || Epistolary, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Angst, Happy Ending) – On their wedding night, John and Sherlock gift each other with the things they each said when the other could not hear, the things they each put down where the other could not see: a collection of writings that illustrate the way their love for one another has grown over the years. Part 1 of between each beat

THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF JOHN WATSON by skyefullofstars (T, 110,758 w., 24 Ch. || H/C, Kidnapping, Angst, Violence, Whump, Nightmares, Murder, Drug Addiction, Torture) – While Sherlock grapples with his new-found feelings for John Watson, he faces a very real threat: John’s kidnapping and shooting at the hands of James Moriarty. And the knowledge that the love of his life is being used to test an addictive drug - at the risk of John’s sanity and life. Prequel to THE BOYS OF BAKER STREET. Part 1 of THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF JOHN WATSON

The Swan Triad Series by Pennin_Ink (T, 121,660 w. across 3 works || Swan Lake AU || Magical / Fairy Tale AU, Romance, Falling in Love, Pining, Psychological Torture, Transformation) – Sherlock and John grow up spending every summer together. Their mothers’ attempts to play matchmaker only fuel their mutual resentment and scorn. But then, one summer.

The Horse and his Doctor by khorazir (T, 129,003 w., 13 Ch. || Horse / Vet AU || Magical Realism, Horses, Vet John, Horse Sherlock, Implied Alcoholism) – Invalided after a run in with a poacher in Siberia, veterinary surgeon John Watson finds it difficult to acclimatise to the mundanity of London life. Things change when a friend invites him along to a local animal shelter and he meets their latest acquisition, a trouble-making Frisian with the strangest eyes and even stranger quirks John has ever encountered in a horse.

Mise en Place by azriona (M, 161,004 w., 28 Ch. || Restaurant (Kitchen Nightmares) AU || Sherlock is Gordon Ramsay / Celebrity Sherlock, Restauranteur John, Harry Plays Prominent Role, Alternating POV, Mutual Pining, Cranky Sherlock, Bed Sharing, Slow Burn) – John Watson had no intentions of taking over the family business, but when he returns from Afghanistan, battered and bruised, and discovers that his sister Harry has run their restaurant into the ground, he doesn’t have much choice. There’s only one thing that can save the Empire from closing for good – the celebrity star of the BBC series Restaurant Reconstructed, Chef Sherlock Holmes. Part 1 of Mise en Place

Fallen Series by Belladonna_Q, mamishka (T, 222,094 w. across 3 works || Winglock || Angel!John, Angels & Demons, Faes, Christianity, Changelings) – In a world where myth, mystery, and the supernatural flourish beneath the veneer of modern civilization, Sherlock is a master of magic as well as science and deduction. But there are some things that he cannot see, riddles he cannot unravel, even when they walk right beside him in the form of one John Watson…

M-RATED

The Homecoming Series by sussexbound (M, 51,744 w. across 12 stories, WIP || Domestics, PTSD, Love Confessions, Hurt/Comfort, Cuddling, Jealousy, Family Issues) – Sometimes home is all you need. After three years of horror, betrayals, and crushing loss, John and Sherlock find their way back home to one another, and together find new footing in a world that has changed forever.

John Watson’s Twelve Days of Christmas by earlgreytea68 (M, 53,464 w., 14 Ch. || Christmas, Holmes Family, Fake Relationship, Alternate First Meeting, Falling in Love, Fluff and Angst, Hardcore Pining) – It’s the holiday season. John Watson needs money. Sherlock Holmes needs something else.

Wars We Fought, Things We’re Not by blueink3 (M, 55,204 w., 10 Ch. || Post S3 / Post TAB, Parentlock, Fluff & Angst, Kidnapping, Whump, Post-TAB, UST/URT, 3G, Mild Peril, Slow Burn, Couple for a Case, Protective Mycroft, Infant Death Pre-Story, Friends to Lovers) –  Five months after John’s world has fallen apart, Mycroft sends the consulting detective and his doctor on a case that neither is prepared for.

floating through a dark blue sky by Lediona (M, 58,966 w., 15 Ch. || Notting Hill AU || POV John, Celebrity Sherlock, First Date / Time / Kiss, Past Drug Addiction, Angst with a Happy Ending) – Of course, I’d seen his films and always thought he was, well, brilliant – but, you know, a million miles from the world I live in. Or, when John is the owner of a travel book shop and the famous Sherlock Holmes stops in one day.

The Burning by SrebrnaFH (M, 60,658 w., 24 Ch. || Reverse Reichenbach, Suicide, Depression, Hurt Sherlock / John, Separation, BAMF John, Good Big Brother Mycroft, Angst, Implied/Referenced Torture, Fake Character Death, Rescue Mission, Reconciliation / Reunion, Hospitalization, Marriage Proposal, Illnesses, Physical Therapy, Happily Ever After) – Something went very, very wrong. John had seemed, if not happy, then reasonably content with his life. Sherlock had never predicted something like THIS might have happened. Not in his worst nightmares. He was the lousiest friend ever, apparently. At least Mycroft found him something to occupy his mind with, so that he didn’t have to go back to 221B and stare at the walls and the chair, where John Watson would never sit again.

Bedtime Universe by Liketheriver (M, 65,173 w. across 2 stories || Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Angst, Humour, Case Fic) – John’s POV during Season 2 and beyond when Sherlock takes up semi-permanent residence in his bed. A collection of codas and missing scenes wrapped up into one long fic and topped with a bow that takes the story beyond Reichenbach and into happy territory once more.

The Vapor Variant by 88thParallel (CanadaHolm) (M, 72,684 w., 18 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post-THoB, John Whump, Protective Sherlock, Guilty Sherlock, Anxious/Worried Sherlock, Virgin Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, PTSD John, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Suspense, Virus, Sickfic, Big Brother Mycroft) – They stood face to face in the middle of a clearing. The dim light of the moon barely allowed Sherlock to see the glassy terror in John’s eyes and the sweat that glistened off his forehead. His nose was bleeding again, blood dripping in a slow stream from his right nostril. They were both gasping for air, John’s eyes locked on Sherlock’s. There was no recognition there, just wild animal fear. Time stood still for an eternal few seconds, and Sherlock took a shaky breath. “John—”Spell broken, John spun and bolted back into the woods. Still heaving for air, Sherlock took off after him.

Summit Fever by J_Baillier (M, 78,802 w., 18 Ch. || Mountain Climber AU || POV John, Angst, Tragedy, Suicidal Ideation, The Himalayas, Mountain Guide / Doctor John, Mount Climber Sherlock, Loneliness, Drama, Suspense, Slow Burn, Injured Sherlock / Sherlock Whump, Pining John) – After graduating from medical school, John Watson followed his heart to the Himalayas. Ten years later, he’s a haunted cynic working for his ex-lover’s trekking and mountaineering company. Will leading an expedition to Annapurna I—the most lethal of all the world’s highest mountains—shake John out of his reverie, and who is the mystery client added to the group at the last minute?

The Burning Heart by May_Shepard (M, 119,150 w., 21 Ch. || Canon Divergence, Post-TRF, John’s Sexuality, S3 Rewrite, Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, POV John Watson, John’s Gay) – When Sherlock dies, John Watson feels like his life is over too. He’s completely shut down, until Mark Morstan, a new nurse at John’s medical clinic, catches his attention, and helps him uncover the long buried truth of his attraction to men. Although he’s certain he’ll never get over Sherlock, John plans to move on, and build a new life with Mark, unaware that Sherlock is not quite as dead as he appears, and that Mark is hiding secrets of his own.

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #t rated fics #long fics #50k fics #my fic recs #Anonymous

[peepeethepissking]

FILM NOIR REC LIST

THE MUST SEE’S—DETECTIVE NOIR:

[‘44] Laura: Follows a cop investigating the murder of a well loved socialite as he questions the people closest to her—notably an esteemed writer that helped advanced her career, and her fiancé, a fellow socialite with a poor reputation. The lead is very endearing and the film pulls off one of the most natural twists I’ve ever seen in a whodunit. My only real complaint is that the romance felt a little rushed, but it’s a small price to pay for an otherwise delightful movie.

[‘44] Murder, My Sweet: It’s unsurprising that this is a good film, because it’s based on a book by Raymond Chandler, one of the founding fathers of the hard-boiled detective genre that paved the way for film noir. Humphrey Bogart notably plays the same character, Philip Marlowe, in the Big Sleep. This is one of few films that I think really successfully utilizes an in-media-res frame. It follows Marlowe through two intertwined jobs—a search for a thug’s old girl and the truth behind a jewelry fence. I was surprised with how well it handled the two simultaneous storylines without letting them become too confusing.

[‘46] The Big Sleep: As the above film, this is based on a Raymond Chandler book. This is the only time Bogart depicts Philip Marlowe, and he’s considered one of the best depictions of Marlowe to ever hit the silver screen. This one doesn’t handle it’s plot quite as delicately as Murder, My Sweet, and I honestly ended the film with…a lot of confusion. But even so, it’s a very fun watch, and it feels like a true noir classic. It starts off with Marlowe getting a job from a sickly old colonel to poke around a gambling debt his daughter has acquired, and it follows Marlowe poking his nose in all kinds of businesses he’s not welcome in. [this notably has been recommended by kevin vibert himself!]

[‘47] Out of the Past: I’m not sure what it is, but this is by far my favorite noir I’ve seen, to date. Poor Jeff Bailey gets an unwelcome reminder of his dark past as an amoral P.I. one day after he’s reestablished himself as a small town mechanic. Cornered by an old client that’s much too powerful, he takes on one last job while trying to protect his new life, and his new love. It’s half flashback half real time, but it handles that quite well. My biggest complaint is that the ending is pretty far from what I had wanted, but it’s all for the sake of art, I suppose.

THE MUST SEE’S—TRADITIONAL NOIR:

[‘45] Mildred Pierce: This film starts with a murder, and then within the frame of an interrogation tells the story of Mildred Pierce’s life after divorcing her first husband. This film doesn’t quite feel like a noir—it’s brightly lit, it features a female lead and no real “fatale” character, the murder isn’t really the focus of the film—but when you look at the real “message” of the film it lines up with the traditional noir pretty neatly. It’s about the disillusionment of capitalism as a fix-all, it’s about how heartbreaking unconditional love can be, it’s about how hard life will always be for some people. It’s a very frustrating film to watch because of how poorly Mildred Pierce is treated, but it’s a very cathartic film to watch because of how transparently realistic it is.

[‘46] The Blue Dahlia: This one’s a real classic, but I personally can’t decide if it was outstanding or forgettable—which I’ll grant, to have that strong of a discrepancy, it must’ve done something right. It’s a trope that we haven’t seen otherwise on this list, the unreliable memory of a freshly grounded war veteran. You get the facts immediately, with an opening scene that shows one of the gang is just a little troubled from his time overseas. It’s a whodunit that follows a mostly ensemble cast after the ‘lead’ runs out on his wife, then finds out she’s been murdered. What really makes this film worth watching is the end scene, which of course only works at all because of the groundwork laid in the first hour of the film. It keeps you on the edge of your seet with an unreliable narrator kind of confession and then whips you around and wraps everything up with what really happened in like, ten minutes. It’s absolutely dizzying and a real explosion of an end.

[‘50] In a Lonely Place: Another delightful Bogart movie, because, well…I like Bogey, what can I say. This film doesn’t really feel like a noir until you get about halfway through, and everything starts to build up and gain tension. It has a very satisfying ending for a film that almost feels like it isn’t about anything. I’d say it’s especially worth watching because of Miss Jeff Donnell’s absolutely wonderful performance as the-best-friend’s-wife. As far as the plot, it follows a screenwriter that happens to be the last person to have seen a murder victim alive, and is therefore a suspect in the muddy case. It does a great job of making you doubt every character, and the truth of the murder is successfully withheld until the very end.

THE B-SIDES:

[‘47] Crossfire: This one’s split between being a police procedural and a veteran noir, but I think it follows the vets around more than the cops in the end, so I’m putting it here instead of under “detective.” Fair warning—this film deals with antisemitism, and the central murder is revealed to have been a hate crime (don’t worry, though—the overall message of the film is that we shouldn’t judge our fellow man before we get to know him). We follow Sgt Keeley while the police question him and try to find his best friend, the prime suspect in a recent murder. Played by Robert Mitchum, notably the lead in Out of the Past, Keeley is a breath of fresh air—as all of Mitchum’s characters seem to be. He’s charmingly a sort of father figure to the other soldiers, and you find yourself rooting for his friends simply because their his friends. This film has probably the weirdest setup for an arrest I’ve ever seen, and I doubt it would hold up in court, but it’s a classic noir ending, nonetheless.

[‘47] Dark Passage: This movie is just incredibly fun to watch, because it’s such a product of it’s time. It has some of the goofiest filming decisions I’ve ever seen in an A-Lister! The beginning is shot in first person, through the eyes of the lead. It feels like playing a dating sim, almost. It’s made very sincerely, though, which really carries it through the humor, and makes it very fun and strangely light hearted. It follows a man wrongly convicted of murder as he escapes prison and tries to find out who framed him, with the help of a local fanatic that followed his trial and believes he’s innocent. Bogart is delightful to see in such a strange role, and Lauren Bacall has an incredible performance that would’ve just felt insincere from anyone else.

[‘49] D.O.A.: This movie follows a guy as he tries to find the man that fatally poisoned him. It’s an interesting twist on the whodunit where the “murder victim” himself is the one trying to find out whodunit. It uses a flashback frame in order to start immediately with that “who’s been murdered?” – “Me!” twist, but beyond that shock value, the frame is really unnecessary. This one’s would’ve been much more fun to watch if the main character wasn’t such a dick to women. The answer to “who did it and why” was also…a lot more confusing than it had to be, which left the end feeling a bit muddled. As a side note—here DOA stands for “dead on arrival.”

[‘53] The Big Heat: Follows a cop as he investigates a suicide that should’ve been an open-and-closed case. The closer he gets to the truth, the more trouble he gets into—and before long, it seems he’s gotten himself wrapped up in a world of crime that infiltrates even the police station, and the men in charge will do anything to keep his nose out of it. This one’s really classic, and it conforms so well to the genre that it almost feels forgettable—but it’s the fact that it is so true to the genre that makes it worth watching.

NOTABLE ABSENCES:

[‘44] Double Indemnity: I watched this movie in three separate parts because I fell asleep each time I tried to finish it. It’s a kill-the-husband-so-we-can-be-together type of movie, and it’s also notably an insurance adjuster film instead of a detective film. This one’s a real classic that almost everyone says is a must see, but personally I thought all the tension was killed by the unnecessary flashback frame. If nothing else, this one is worth watching because it’s absolutely dedicated to the well known tropes of the noir, but for me that just wasn’t enough.

[‘46] Gilda: Gilda was almost a good movie. Glenn Ford did an incredible job acting against his typecast—this time portraying a charming crook that got his job running an illegal casino by counting the right man’s cards. The movie was just too unorganized, though. It’s a sort of 3 act show that just goes further downhill the longer it goes on. There’s a couple of song-and-dance scenes that feel all but thrown in simply because Rita Hayworth does indeed know how to sing and dance, and the end kind of blows up in its own face without a proper set-up. It’s cinematically a beautiful movie, but I was disappointed by how messy the plot ended up being for something with so much hype.

[‘58] Touch of Evil: Allegedly the last classic noir made in the true film noir era. I watched about a third of this film before calling it quits, which I will admit, is rare for me—I like to suffer through to the end just incase there’s that one scene that makes a movie worth it (see the Blue Dahlia, for example.) This film is about “marijuana, murder, and police corruption,” and it takes place in a California-Mexico border town—which is a big part of what made me quit out. It felt tired and cliché in way that was just a little too close to racist, and I found myself without a real reason to root for the main characters.

as I continue watching noirs, I will update this here to include new recommendations, my watch list, and an “honorable mentions” section

#the penumbra podcast #im sorry this is SO LONG but it really doesnt suit a read-more #feel free to drop in my inbox or dm with questions or conversation!

[rosegardentwilight]

A Moment in Time Chapter 3

Adrien’s jaw dropped from slight bewilderment at why such a gorgeous girl would randomly sit down at his table and start talking away. The only problem? His name wasn’t Adam.

AU- Alya sets Marinette up on a blind date with a guy named Adam, but after a phone incident and the time change, she ends up crashing at a different table thinking it’s her date.

Chapter 3/8?  maybe more?

Tagged per request: rosalind2013

The cringe plastered on her face couldn’t be helped, but Marinette had no clue what she did to make her best friend that upset. She went on a date as Alya wanted, nothing else came to mind for ways she offended her best friend. She turned and made her way up front to find Tikki, who was attempting to quiet Alya and failing miserably. Marinette leaned against the nearby counter a bemused smirk played her lips.

“So, what did I do now to earn your wrath this early in the morning?”

“We promised that we wouldn’t lie to each other!” Alya hissed. What? The smirk fell instantly. She hadn’t lied about anything, maybe left a detail or two out about the date. Marinette failed to see how that could evoke this kind of anger.

“What are you talking about?”

“If you didn’t want to go on a date you didn’t have to fabricate a story. I could have handled the truth instead of finding out that you stood him up.”

“I went on the date Alya; you can ask Tikki, I didn’t come to the bakery at all.”

“It’s true!” Tikki pipped in despite her dislike for confrontations.

“You could have played hooky, we both know how terrible a liar Tikki is.”

“Alya, you know how much this place means to me, do you really believe that I could spend a day away from this place if I could help it?”

Alya’s face crumbled, “no.” She huffed pride obviously hurt for jumping to conclusions. “But why would Adam say you didn’t show?”

“That’s what I’m wondering,” Marinette’s hands became busy twisting a dry hand towel near her. “Maybe he didn’t have as good of a time as I thought.”

“Impossible, talk me through with what happened. Were you late?”

“A little,” Marinette winced at her confession and quickly backtracked. “But by a couple of minutes tops. My phone broke sometime overnight, so I had to deal with that.”

“Wait your phone stopped working?” Alya parroted as the gears in her mind started to move.

“Yeah remember, I told you on the phone after my date.”

“Marinette, did you reset your clocks?” It would explain everything, Adam was probably a great guy, but he wouldn’t wait over an hour if he thought he got stood up.

“I didn’t need to, my phone...automatically changes.” Her words slowed as what her best friend hinted at finally sunk in. “But there was a guy there with a blue scarf!”

“Did he look like this?” Alya navigated social media quickly she managed to pull a picture up with ease. Marinette stared onwards at the screen; her stomach dropped within itself.

“No,” she answered after a couple of minutes of silence. Alya burst into laughter, but she seemed to be the only one amused.

“You stood up Adam and crashed another date thinking he was Adam.” Marinette’s face paled, she couldn’t help it.

“This can’t be happening,” she groaned. “If I didn’t go on a blind date with Adam, then who did I go out with?”

“Don’t worry,” Alya flipped out her phone. “I can fix this.”

Marinette’s eyes drifted down to the table, how could she have been so stupid? He had a blue scarf and green eyes and furthermore didn’t bother to stop and explain that she was at the wrong table. It would have been embarrassing, but not to the extent she was currently experiencing. He essentially lied to her, how was she supposed to trust anything he said when he mislead her with something as simple as his name? They had spent the whole day together, he could have corrected her at any time, and she wouldn’t be getting worked up right now.

Out of the corner, she saw her screen light up with a text message.

Unknown: Hello Beautiful, I can’t stop thinking about you.

If it had been any other time, she would have been over the moon to receive such a text. But not she knew it came from not-Adam. Her building anger overshadowed any flutter from her heart. She couldn’t have fallen for the guy that much in the span of one date.

She felt so stupid, maybe he humored the situation and stayed with her out of pity or because it boosted his ego. If that were the case, then why would he text her? What did he have to gain, he must have known that when she figured it out things in the end.

Liars are losers; she decided as she flipped the phone face down so the message wouldn’t taunt her further. If he couldn’t be honest with her, then there was no ground for a relationship. She was only happy in the fact that his perfectness was shattered making it that much easier to ignore him. He could text her day after day, but she made the decision she wouldn’t respond. He would get the hint eventually and then she could move on with her life.

“You can thank me later, Adam is coming to the bakery tomorrow morning.” Out of all the feelings, Marinette felt, she wasn’t sure relief was one of them.

The corners of her eyes glued shut as Marinette hobbled into her bakery the next morning. Sleep had evaded her, and she tossed and turned all night, her mystery man to blame. Every time she closed her eyes his image conjured in her mind with his captivating green eyes and infectious laugh. Normally she wouldn’t mind, but the constant reminder would make it that much harder to get over him. Not to mention, time was against her, it was day 2 of adjusting to daylight savings time, and it hit her harder than she cared to admit.

But someone had to run the bakery, and she couldn’t keep dumping the responsibility of openings on Tikki, it wasn’t fair.

“Marinette!” Tikki chirped the second she walked through the door, but all Marinette could think of was how morning people existed; let alone functioned this early. “When I opened up this morning there was something left for you,” she teased. She popped around the corner do quickly that Marinette could have sworn she hallucinated the whole thing. The thought was forgotten soon when Tikki barreled back through the door with an armful of flowers of various types.

“What?” Who would send flowers, let alone this early? Her fingertips grazed them before their scene filled her nostrils. She couldn’t deny that the arrangement was gorgeous with the sunset of colors. Tikki handed the card nuzzled between the flowers and with nimble moments the card released from the envelope.

The second her eyes landed on the black cat outside of the card; she knew exactly who they were from; mystery man. Her fingers tremble slightly as she flipped the card open.

Hope your day is as beautiful as you are.

-Secret Admirer

It didn’t take Marinette long to realize that every time she saw them that it would bring him to mind, not conducive to the process of getting over him.

“Throw them out,” the words clung to her throat tickling her throat into a tremor.

“What?” Marinette didn’t blame Tikki for looking as stunned as she did at the request.

“I don’t want them.” Her statement and resolve didn’t stop the sinking feeling in her gut as the flowers flopped into the trash. “Shall we get started?” It was no time for her emotions to take over, but despite her adamant request, she couldn’t bring herself to throw the card out too. Instead, she slipped it into the depth of her desk.

A growl emerged from Adrien’s stomach the moment he stepped foot in the station. He smiled knowing that the only thing that separated him from breakfast was a flight of stairs. Adrien made his way towards the eating/living area, but the closer he got, the more he could smell the most unusual odor. When he rounded the corner, he stopped immediately in the doorway; his hand went flying over his nose to shield the smell.

“Plagg, please tell me you’re not incorporating camembert into breakfast. You know it stinks up this whole place.”

“I would,” Plagg smirked, “but that would be a lie.” The response earned a groan as Adrien slid into a seat at the table. They would rotate between the men on who would handle the meals, and whenever it was Plagg’s responsibility, he would always find a way to insert the cheese with every dish he did. His coworker had a love for Camembert in particular, which tasted fine enough, but the station would usually smell for a day or two.

“Did you do anything interesting on your day off?” Adrien shifted uncomfortably in his seat. If he lied, Plagg would bound to find out.

“I- uh- had a date,” he confessed only to be met with laughter seconds later.

“No, what did you really do?” Plagg asked in between trying to regain his air. When he glanced over and saw Adrien’s eyes glued to the table, any further teasing died on how tongue.

“Was it someone, your father, set you up with?” With as much knowledge and taste that Gabriel had revolved around the fashion industry when it came to his son’s love life, M. Agreste managed to have the bad luck of picking only girls that didn’t click with Adrien.

“Nope, she sat down at my table at breakfast.” Plagg stopped messing with the food in front of him, head tilted in confusion.

“She just sat down, unprompted, started talking and then you two went on a date? What’s the catch?”

“She thought I was someone else.” Adrien hoped that if he answered as casually as possible, Plagg wouldn’t interrogate further.  

“That��s a new one,” he mused. “What did she say when you told her who you were?”  Silence echoed through the room, and Plagg looked up from his pan once more. “You did tell her, right?” Adrien’s focus remained on the table instead of answering.

Before a Plagg could squeeze any more answers out of him, the alarms started blaring.

“Station 8851, we have an unconscious adult male. Please respond.” Plagg pushed his unfinished breakfast off the burner and sighed; all that wasted glorious camembert. Sometimes he wished the people of Paris could not need saving long enough to enjoy his breakfast.

“Come on, Plagg!” Adrien shouted over his shoulder as he made his way to the truck.

“Such a waste.”

“So, tell me why we had to go to this specific bakery when we passed several perfectly fine ones 10 minutes ago?” After the call, it didn’t take much convincing to go out and get some breakfast since theirs was interrupted.

“I told my friend that I would check this place out.” Adrien felt the guilt twist in his stomach. Maybe he lied, but he couldn’t very well tell Plagg that he wanted to go to the bakery for the sole purpose to see her. The idea that she was continually running through his mind after one date was insane. Something about her kept drawing him in; he could sit and talk with her for hours circling through multiple topics and still wish for more time. Every moment spent with her was like a breath of fresh air compared to the stiff and shallow conversations he has grown accustomed to among the people his father associated with. Now that he had the experience something different, he started to crave it.

“Which friend?” Plagg’s eyes lit up with a mischievous light that Adrien appreciated, except when it came to his teasing.

“It doesn’t matter,” he grumbled unable to stop the heat rising from his cheeks.

“If it doesn’t matter, then you wouldn’t have any trouble telling me.” Plagg shot back enjoying watching Adrien squirm. They had met a couple of years ago and became quick friends, despite the disapproval of Adrien’s father. He had seen how manipulative Gabriel was and gave Adrien the nudge he needed to break out and figure out who he was. From what he heard about the date, whoever this Marinette girl was, she would be good for Adrien. He hadn’t seen Adrien this happy in a long time. However, knowing M. Agreste, he always had a mapped-out plan regarding his son’s life, and a new girlfriend not of his choosing would not be part of it.

“Are you Marinette?” The question caused her to abandon her pastry inventory count to glance up at the owner of the deep, alluring voice.

Before her, stood a guy, who resembled Alya’s earlier photo from the piercing green eyes to the muscular build. If she was honest, the picture didn’t do him justice.

“You must be Adam,” she replied pushing a smile on her lips. The thought never occurred to her how awkward this conversation would be to have. “I’m so sorry about the other day. There was this mishap with my phone and my clocks not changing with the time change.” The word vomit was unavoidable at this point, but the more that came our she wondered if its function was justifying the reasons she went on the other date.

“Alya explained everything,” he interrupted before she could continue with her ramblings.

“Oh,” her shoulders relaxed and yet her heart still raced.

“I figured I would come here in person and ask you out  since time stole the first try.” Marinette blinked blankly at the statement. He still wanted to go out with her?

“Okay,” she replied without a second thought. If Alya was so sure that they would be a good match, then she had to entertain the idea of a date. He made an effort to come and visit her at work, how could she say no to that? Her fingers slid some loose hair back into place as she allowed her nerves to take over. “Um, here,” she dug into her pocket and pulled out her phone and held out to him. With a few taps of his fingers, his number got entered, and he handed it back to her.

“Are you free Friday for lunch?”

“I’ll clear my schedule,” Marinette smiled. She hoped that the date would help curb the desire to text mystery boy back. Not to mention Alya would be pleased that, for once, she didn’t mess things up beyond repair. Adam’s phone rang, and he gave an apologetic smile.

“Sorry, work. You understand.” She did. Standing there chit-chatting with him wouldn’t bring the cookies out of the oven.

The cookies.

She waved goodbye, but Adam was too wrapped up in whatever his phone call entailed and strolled out of the bakery without another glance in her direction. However, Marinette didn’t have time to mull over her interaction unless she wanted extra crispy cookies.

The second he got a glimpse inside the bakery his feet stopped in his tracts. The more he watched, his heart sunk. A guy was talking to Marinette, and their interaction seemed more a simple customer relation. Adrien didn’t need to hear to know the guy was flirting; he had seen it dozens of times.

Against his better judgment, he pulled out his phone and checked for any text messages, only to be disappointed.

Maybe she didn’t get her new phone yet? Or didn’t have to respond, after all, mornings were the busy time for her profession. He was expecting at least an initial text to say thank you for the flowers he left at her storefront this morning.

Adrien knew the last thing he should be was jealous; they only had one date. One that he didn’t ask for, but he wouldn’t take back for the world. They didn’t resemble anything to an exclusive couple, but he wanted to be the one to smile like that. She seemed like she enjoyed the date, he thought, but he could have imagined the secret glances and lip bites.

“You know I think I saw another bakery around the corner.” He pointed behind him, but his friend kept headed towards the door.

“We’re going inside. You did not make me drive twenty minutes out of the way to visit your little girlfriend for us not to go see her.” Adrien wasn’t mildly prepared for the color and heat to onslaught his cheeks.

“She’s not-we’re not,” he stammered; unfortunately, it only caused the color to rise to the tips of his ears.

“But you want to be,” Plagg teased furthering the torture. Adrien opened his mouth to protest, but he got cut off. “You won’t be able to convince me otherwise, kid.” Adrien squinted at the nickname still not used to it over the past two years. The origin of it was unknown considering he was in his twenties and the fact that a Plagg only had a couple of years on him. “Now if you excuse me, I’m going to get a cheese danish. You can decide if you have enough guts to face her today or you’re going to let some competition scare you away.”

“Alright, let’s go,” Adrien mumbled and followed him inside.

The second Adrien stepped foot into the bakery two things instantly occurred, his mouth began to water, and he started searching the surroundings for Marinette.  There were barely any tables open, clearly a sign of how successful her bakery had grown. His search came up empty, and the frown from earlier reappeared, she must have gone into the back.

“Welcome, how may I help you?” Behind the counter, the first thing he noticed about the woman was her fierce red hair in compared to her warm brown eyes. His mouth grew dry, although he wanted to ask for Marinette, any words he tried to say remained in the pit of his stomach. Plagg rolled his eyes and started his order.

“I’ll take three cheese danishes, and this one would like to like to talk to his girlfriend.”

“Plagg!” Adrien exclaimed. Teasing him when they were alone was one thing, but this girl most likely worked with Marinette. He didn’t want her to think he was calling that when they didn’t have a chance to discuss it.

“You’re her secret admirer?” The uneasiness in his stomach grew as he watched the lady’s eyes widen, but it wasn’t in a way he would describe as excited. “You probably should leave before she-“ Tikki didn’t get to finish her warning. The sound of metal hitting the floor clattered through the front half of the bakery and the freshly baked cookies scattered.

“You.” She might as well have seen a ghost with the way her face paled.

“H-hi,” He had waited for two days to talk to her, and now all he could do was stutter? What happened to all the confidence he had this morning when he dropped off the flowers?

“You have some nerve coming here.” Her arms crossed over her chest and any smile he had dropped. He didn’t understand. What made her so bitter towards him?

“What?”

“You can drop the act; I know you’re not Adam.” The sentence sunk into his bones and he wanted nothing more than to disappear.

“Oh.” There wasn’t anything else he could say. Adrien didn’t know how the situation could get any worse. She could have concluded that he wasn’t going to tell her when he did have every intention to do so, at the proper time. For a moment, he enjoyed being Adam no matter how short the illusion lasted.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” The bite in her tone caused him to cringe, confirming his worst fear.

“I tried, multiple times, but after a while, I-I thought that if you knew that I wasn’t Adam that you-“Adrien stopped himself before he went on an embarrassing spiel that would probably get him nowhere.

“Well now that I know you lied, I think it’s best if you leave.” He thought this would be a story that they could laugh about in a couple of years. Now that he knew how this affected her, he wanted nothing more than a time machine or at least to try and make it up to her.

That’s when he saw them, his flowers in the trash. The heart inside his chest started free falling into the pit of his stomach much like being dropped to the bottom of the ocean, air slowly being sucked out in the most painful way possible.

He screwed up. The whole situation had tossed him way over his head, and he wasn’t even sure if he could fix it.

He scooped out his wallet and tossed a couple of bills on the counter. “For the cookies,” he mumbled even though she was the one who dropped the pan.

“What about my cheese danish?” Plagg whined.

“I’ll get you some,” he snapped the recoiled at how harsh he sounded. “We’re not welcomed here.” He only made it a couple of steps before he stopped, “not that it matters now, but my name is Adrien.” He hoped she would stop them, when he glanced back she was poised as if she was going to call out to him. Any hopes dashed as he exited the bakery and met the crisp late morning air.

“What was that?” Plagg demanded as soon as he was sure they couldn’t hear him.

“Just drop it.” Adrien didn’t even bother to look at him. Instead, the ground seemed to be a fascinating point of interest. Plagg complied, but not before looking back at the two bakers who hadn’t moved from their spot.

The rest of Marinette’s day dragged on far slower than she would like. Despite the preparation requiring her attention, she wanted to go home and sink into a long hot bath. This was a first for her, the desire to leave early in favor of going home. Most times this feeling crept up when she felt blocked, but in this instance, she had no reason to fuel the desire not to continue baking for the day. Marinette pressed on despite her slump not wanting to leave Tikki with the piles of work to be done.

Despite numerous assurances from Alya of Adam’s plans to visit the bakery that morning, she couldn’t help but be surprised that he asked for her. As inherently pleased as Marinette was that she hadn’t screwed up her chances with Adam, her mind shifted to Adrien and their conversation. Now that time had cooled her temper, Marinette realized that she might have been too harsh on him. Had she been put in a similar situation, she might have waited until after the date as well. She glanced down at her phone, fingers itching to reach out with an apology. Maybe after a couple of days to let everything die down. If he agreed, she would want to try another first date, this time with no pretenses. The one person she would have the most trouble convincing of the new plan would be Alya due to her protective nature, but that bridge only had to be crossed only if Adrien agreed to another shot.

Her pace slowed when she noticed an unusual car parked in front of her building. It could have belonged to anyone, but that didn’t stop the uneasiness that crept up her skin. Her hand slipped into her purse to find something to be used as a weapon if it came to it. As she came closer to the front door of she heard a car door open.

“Mlle Dupain-Cheng,” a woman's voice filled the air and stopped Marinette in her tracks. When she turned to a dark-haired woman minus the streak of red among her bangs. Her clothes reflected her hair with the only pop of color being the turtleneck under her jacket.

“Who are you?” And how do you know my name? Her mind added.

“My name is Nathalie Sancoeur, and I’m here on behalf of my employer M. Agreste, who sent me to speak to you about his son, Adrien.”

#miraculous ladybug #miraculousladybug #miraculousfanfic #miraculousladybugfanfiction #adrienette #adrien x marinette

[lasersheith]

Lasersheith’s Fic Masterlist

Thanks so much to everyone who reads/likes/comments on/shares my stuff, it means the world to me!

Finished works

AU:

Take It If You Want It | Complete | Ch.13/13 | 57k | M

Tags: Modern AU, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, fluff, light angst with a happy ending, pining, irresponsible use of alcohol, side pairing: Mattor, side pairing: Allurance, side pairing: Hidge

Written for Sheith Big Bang 2018!

Keith and Hunk make New Year’s Resolutions to finally tell their respective crushes how they’ve felt for years. Hunk takes all of 3 minutes, but Keith needs… a little longer.

Birthday mishaps, misunderstandings, self discovery, exciting new job opportunities, minor blackmail… a lot can happen in a year. Surely the perfect moment for a years-overdue love confession fits in there somewhere?

Serendipity’s Wings | Complete | Ch.7/7 | 24k | E

Tags: Modern AU, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Fake/Pretend Relationship, bedsharing, fluff, hurt/comfort, pining Shiro, sidepairing: Allura/Kuro, Shirogane twins

When Shiro receives bad news about his grandfather, he immediately books a flight for Japan. Luckily for him, he finds a familiar face in the pilot. It's been a long time since he saw his childhood friend Keith, but they pick up where they left off almost immediately.

Unluckily, his twin brother has decided to jump to conclusions, and now his family thinks he and Keith have rekindled a flame that was never there. Rather than disappoint them in a tense moment, Keith gamely agrees to play along. What are friends for, after all?

Oh Brother | Complete | Ch. 6/6 | 17k | T

Tags: Modern AU, fluff, humor, salt, sidepairing Matt/Allura, one-sided kl

What do you do when your boyfriend is in the hospital and they only let in immediate family? Lie and say you’re married? Not if you’re Keith, you don’t. Thanks to Keith’s inner turmoil, he and Shiro are stuck pretending to be brothers while he recovers. But Keith has to admit, “Mr. Shirogane” has a nice ring to it. 

The Gravitas of a Mattress | Complete | Ch. 7/7 | 16k | M

Tags: College AU, fluff, humor, oh my god they’re banging each other’s roommates, sidepairing Latte

From the prompt: My roommate got it on with yours yesterday and I don’t think I can face them for a while after hearing the sounds they made last night. Mind if I stayed with you for a while?

Keith gets sexiled from his dorm room because Matt and Lance won't stop hate-fucking. He decides that it's only fair that he gets to crash in Matt's room if Matt gets to keep him out of his own. Shiro is confused but accommodating. Very accommodating.

Matt and Lance have their own fun side adventure in learning to like each other and play nice. Pidge doesn't like it. Allura might.

Flowers don’t always mean “I love you” | Complete | Ch. 8/8 | 14k | T

Tags: Flowershop AU, Slow Burn, pining Shiro, PTSD, fluff, humor

Takashi Shirogane had fulfilled his dream of becoming a test pilot, but after a terrible accident that left him without an arm and in sudden need of a new career, he moves back home and starts working at a family friend’s flower shop while he focuses on recovering and finding a new direction for his life.

Things are going as well as can be expected until an attractive stranger shows up out of the blue, and keeps coming back. Who's this guy buying all these flowers for?

DDY 1138 | Complete | Ch. 3/3 | 7.2k | T | My favorite thing I’ve ever written

Tags: Modern AU, fluff, humor, meet ugly, disaster gay Shiro, smooth Keith

alternate title: Have you ever seen a man so beautiful you crashed your car?

Shiro learns that it's possible for the best day of your life to coincide with the worst day of your life in the dumbest way possible. He gets into a fender bender due to some distracted driving, and his cute mechanic doesn't make things any easier... until he does.

Hat Trick | Complete | Ch. 2/2 | 6.5k | E

Tags: Modern AU, Frat AU, Frat boy Shiro, Frat boy Keith, light angst with a happy ending, humor, crack played straight

No one has ever seen Takashi Shirogane without a hat on his head, or so the legends say.

...

“I tell you what,” Matt said after Keith told him he'd figure out Shiro's secret, the real secret. “If you find out the true story behind Shiro's hat before your initiation ceremony, I will personally pay your dues until you graduate.”

Keith's eyes glinted as he took another long swing from his beer. The steep price of brotherhood had been one of the few reasons he'd been wary about pledging. “What if I don't?” He asked suspiciously. It hadn't taken long to work out that Matt was an agent of chaos. No matter how confident he was in himself, he had to make sure it was worth the risk.

Matt smirked. “You have to wear a Santa hat to the Christmas party.”

Keith furrowed his brows. The punishment didn't add up with Matt’s smug look. His face paled as the realization dawned on him. “Just the hat?”

Matt's smirk shifted into an impish grin. “I knew you were a smart one.” He said with a wink, sticking out his hand. “Do we have a bet, then?”

Never one to back down from a challenge, Keith took Matt's hand and pumped it twice with determination. “You're on.”

Hey Sugar | Complete | Ch. 4/4 | 5k | G | I’m gonna rewrite this one soon rip

Tags: College AU, fluff, humor, pining Shiro, disaster gay Shiro

Autocorrect can be a beautiful thing. It can also be a Very Bad Thing. Keith accidentally sends a text with an embarrassing autocorrect to the hot guy he's been crushing on all semester.

Check Yes Juliet | Complete | Ch. 2/2 | 2.8k | T

Tags: College AU, fluff, humor, mistaken identity, Shirogane twins

Who knew a little Shakespeare knowledge could get you a midnight kiss from the hottest guy at the New Years party? However, young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes... Just ask Keith.

Melt | Complete | Ch. 1/1 | 1.4k | G

Tags: AU modern setting or Post-canon, domestic fluff, established relationship

It's way too hot outside, and the AC is busted. Short and sweet domestic fluff featuring Spot the fluffy wonder and a trip to the store for some much needed ice cream.

Canon-Verse:

The way you looked at me | Complete | 17k | M

Tags: Amnesia, crack played straight, one sided fake dating, shiro is a mess, humor, fluff

Keith wakes up in the hospital and he's not sure of much, except that he and Shiro are definitely together. Shiro doesn't have the heart to correct him- much to their friends' amusement.

It’s not you, it’s me (also it’s you) | Complete | Ch. 3/3 | 7.5k | T

Tags: Canon-verse, pre-kerberos mission, humor, miscommunication, disaster gay Shiro, Matt is a Bad Friend

Keith catches Shiro doodling hearts in his notebook. When asked who the hearts are for, he blurts out Matt's name so he won't have to confess his feelings for Keith. Now Keith has made it his mission to help Shiro woo Matt at all costs. Matt is very unhelpful.

The Sweetest Apology | Complete | Ch. 1/1 | 2.3k | Gen

Tags: College AU, fluff, humor

Everyone hates those tiny little desks every college feels the need to cram into huge lecture halls- they're way too small and there's never enough of the left handed ones. Keith thinks he scored big time getting the only left handed desk in his new class, but didn't realize he'd be stealing it from a classmate who's missing his right arm... How do you even apologize for that?

Not the right time | Complete | Ch. 1/1 | 2.3k | T

Tags: Canon-verse, angst

fic request: Sheith and "It is always not the right time for us, isn't it?"

They've had so many chances to tell each other how they feel, but for Shiro and Keith it just never seems to be the right time.

Ringing in my ears and one on my finger | Complete | Ch. 1/1 | 1.5k | T

Tags: soulmates, shiro is trying, fluff, humor

Canonverse soulmate AU: Colleen notices a soulmark on Shiro's finger... 

Head over heels | Complete | Ch. 1/1| 1.5k | G

Tags: Canon-verse, established relationship, fluff, humor

Keith's lost an entire Saturday to detention because Iverson is jerk. What better way to get revenge than a practical joke?

from the prompt "Shiro getting caught up in Keith pranking Iverson"

With a little help from my friends | Complete | Ch.1/1 | 1.4k | G

Tags: Canon-verse, pre-relationship, everyone loves Shiro, thirsty Keith

A malfunction in the engine room has left the castle a sweltering nightmare. Hunk has deemed it time for a team underwear party, but Shiro's nervous about his scars. His friends help him feel a little better.

p=mv | Complete | Ch. 1/1 | 1.4k | T

Tags: Canon-verse, humor, meet ugly

The story of how Keith and Shiro met at the Garrison.

Or, the first time Keith saved Shiro.

Or, how a concussion led Shiro to the love of his life.

Or maybe it was all 3.

Love, Shiro | Complete | Ch. 1/1 | 1.3k | G

Tags: Canon-verse, fluff, established relationship, humor, kerberos mission

Shiro and Keith decide to write each other letters while Shiro is away on his mission. This is a collection of some of Shiro's.

Getting there | Complete | Ch. 1/1 | 1.3k | T

Tags: Canon-verse, hurt/comfort, Shiro whump, fluff

A lot of things changed in the year they were separated, but Keith's feelings aren't one of them. Shiro needs a little convincing after everything that's happened, especially with how much of an obvious physical toll it's taken. Keith is happy to oblige.

Just In Case | Complete | Ch. 1/1 | 1k | G

Tags: Canon-verse, humor, fluff, established relationship, pre-kerberos mission

Shiro is accidentally late for a morning inspection because he spent too long snuggled up with Keith. His commander isn't super thrilled about it. 

Series: It’s killing me when you’re away | Complete | Works 4/4 | 4.8k | T

Tags: Canon-verse, Keith’s time in the desert, angst, pre-kerberos mission

Keith’s devastated over losing Shiro

Tumblr Drabbles

Sheith Month 2018 | Canonverse Pre-Kerberos | 20k | G-T

My collection of prompt fills for Sheith Month 2018. All of them are pre-kerb fluff and/or humor!

As Many Drabbles As It Takes | Mix of settings | 10k | Ch. 14/? | M

Collection of sheith drabbles and prompt fills originally posted on Tumblr!

Posted WIPS:

Series: Easier with you | Ongoing | Works 6/? | 15k | M

Tags: Modern AU, Veteran Shiro, Veteran Keith, hurt/comfort, PTSD, Mutual Pining, Shiro Whump, Shiro & Matt, Allura/Matt,

Shiro's just returned back from the military, having been medically discharged from service after losing his arm. Matt is his best friend and is trying his best to help him deal with the loss. He convinces Shiro to go to a VA support group that will end up changing his life.

Best laid plans | Ongoing | Ch. 1/? | 2.3k | T

Tags: Canon-verse, crack, humor, fluff

Was Keith proud of the fact that petty revenge was his first thought upon being given an amazing stealth suit? Not particularly. But was he going to let that stop him from enacting said petty revenge? Absolutely not. Turns out, Karma isn't so much a bitch as a… well, you'll see.

Or, how to attempt to counter-prank your buddy and end up stuck as a cat, a memoir by Keith Kogane.

We’ll fix it in post | Ongoing | Ch.1/? | 2k | T

Tags: Modern AU, Barista Keith, humor, mistaken identity, Shirogane Twins

Shiro is a producer on the hit animated show "Voltron: Warden of the Cosmos" and a huge fan of it himself. Keith is a new barista at the coffee shop across from his studio and a lover of his show. A fortuitous meeting leads them on the path to romance, but there's just one problem: Keith thinks Shiro is his brother, Ryou, voice actor for Keith's favorite character on the show.

#samwrites #long post #way too long #why am i like this #fic masterlist #if anyone has organizational ideas for this beast please please dm me i'm drowning #updated september 2nd #sheith

[imjustthemechanic]

Natalie Jones and the Golden Ship

Part 1/? - A Meeting at the Palace Part 2/? - Curry Talk Part 3/? - Princess Sitamun Part 4/? - Not At Rest Part 5/? - Dead Men Tell no Tales Part 6/? - Sitamun Rises Again Part 7/? - The Curse of Madame Desrosiers Part 8/? - Sabotage at Guedelon

The group track down the elusive Madame Desrosiers.  She is not cooperative.

Guedelon Castle was just a few minutes outside Triegny – they pulled up into an entirely modern car park, separated from the building site by a row of trees.  A path led around to the other side of those, and there, very intentionally like something out of another time was the castle itself.  Construction had been going on for some fifteen years now and was expected to take ten more, with all the work being done in the same way as it would have been in the thirteenth century – right down to the workers dressing in period-appropriate clothing.  The only concession to modernity was the hard hats and steel-toed boots required by the safety laws, and a couple of cars and trailers that must have belonged to employees, parked a short distance away.

Natasha had been looking forward to seeing how Sir Stephen would react to the place, and how close he thought it was to the fantasy middle ages he came from. It was, however, Clint whose eyes lit up eagerly as they approached the building site.

“I… I remember seeing repairs being made to the castle in Nottingham!” he said, referring to his other life as Robin Hood.  “It was just like this, with the treadwheel crane and the mason’s lodge… I recognize all of this!”  He laughed. “It’s weird how this stuff pops up so strongly when something reminds me.  Like a childhood memory I’ve almost forgotten, and then it comes back!”

His delight was infectious – Natasha smiled back at him.  “Are you still working on your book?” she asked.

“Uh… not really.  Not since I got back,” Clint admitted.  “It would feel like cheating now, like the whole story is already written for me.”

“You’re still the one who came up with it,” Nat told him.

Sir Stephen looked up at the crane, powered by two men in what looked like a giant wooden hamster wheel, hauling blocks of sandstone up to the top of one of the towers.  He nodded, as if he approved, then lowered his eyes to look at the woman who was coming up to greet them.  She was small and plump, dressed in a shapeless forest-green dress and a wimple.

“Can I help you?” she asked in French, a little sharply.  “We’re closed to visitors!”

It was almost six-thirty – they would probably be stopping work for the night soon.  Nat wondered if she and the others should have waited for tomorrow, but Sir Stephen bowed to the woman as if she were a great lady, and then took out his CAAP badge. “I am Sir Stephen of Rogsey,” he replied, in perfect French, “of the Committee for the Appraisal of Archaeological Peril in London.  My colleagues and I are looking for Madame Helene Desrosiers.”

“Oh,” said the woman, a bit startled by his behaviour.  “I’m Sylvia Lefevre, the site director. What do you want with Madame Desrosiers?”

“We have some questions for her about the stolen Egyptian mummy.  We understand she had a family interest in it,” Sir Stephen explained.

Lefevre looked worried now.  “Madame Desrosiers said she would be leaving tonight. You might still catch her at her trailer.”

They looked towards the small cluster of employees’ vehicles – and at that moment, they heard an engine start.  At the end of the row was a particularly large and expensive-looking RV, which was now humming as it prepared to drive away.

Nat grabbed Sir Stephen’s hand.  “Quick!” she said.

They ran back to the car park, where they were in time to see a woman lugging what must have been a very heavy suitcase up the steps to the RV door with her teeth gritted.  To Nat’s surprise, she was not European but East Asian, with fair skin and shiny black hair in a neat bun at the back of her head.  She remembered Wainfleet mentioning that she’d taken over the attempt to reclaim the mummy from her mother-in-law, and wondered what Monsieur Desrosiers thought about the whole thing… or indeed, whether his opinion mattered.

“Madame Desrosiers!” Natasha called out.

The woman looked up.  “I am in a hurry!” she said.  Her accent was French, meaning she’d probably grown up in the country – most likely in Paris or its suburbs.  “I cannot talk!”

“Going to visit your Mummy?” asked Sam.

Helene Desrosiers paused a moment, as if what he’d said had surprised her, but then she shook her head.  “I am going to see Monsieur Wainfleet in England!” she snarled.  “To give him a piece of my mind about his little stunt!  That sarcophagus belongs to me!”

Nat came closer.  “So nobody’s told you they found it?” she asked.

That made Desrosiers stop cold.  She searched Nat’s face for a moment, looking perhaps for a sign that she was lying.  “Where?” she demanded.

“At the side of the road, smashed,” said Nat.  She hadn’t had time to look at a newspaper that day, but was guessing the Gendarmerie hadn’t told the press.  Possibly because they hoped to keep the information private in order to test any tips or confessions they received, but just as likely because they wanted to avoid embarrassment.

Desrosiers stared a moment longer, then hissed something through her teeth. Nat couldn’t quite make out what she’d said, but it sounded like German.

“What did you say?” asked Nat.

“I know who did it,” Desrosiers declared, “and I will deal with him.  You foreigners,” she added, “your job was to protect the sarcophagus and you have clearly failed at that, so you are no longer needed.”  She hauled her suitcase up the last step.  “Laurent!” she called to somebody else.  “Allons-y!”

“Oui, Madame!” came a reply from up front.

Desrosiers was about to shut the door, but Sir Stephen put his hand in it to stop her.  “Wait!” he said.  “Who are the men who look like Buckeye?”

“The men who… who?” she asked, blinking at him in confusion.

“The identical men!” Sir Stephen insisted.  “There were two of them in the party that robbed the train, and they turned to ash when their faces were shown!”

Nat saw recognition flit across Desrosiers’ face, settling a moment later into annoyance. “Of course there were!” the woman snarled.  “That is not your business, either.”  She slammed the door on Sir Stephen’s fingers, forcing him to yank his hand back. It would take a lot more than that to stop him, though – still shaking his fingers to get rid of the sting, he ran to stand in front of the vehicle as it passed along the dirt track between the mason’s lodge and the castle moat.  The driver, a man in his early twenties with the sides of his head shaved, looked nervous for a moment but then revved up the engine, and Sir Stephen was forced to hurry aside.

“She knows!” Sir Stephen said, pointing a furious finger at the RV.  “She knows and she will not tell!”

“She doesn’t have to if she doesn’t want to,” Natasha pointed out.  “We don’t actually have any authority in France.”

“We cannot go home without answers!” Sir Stephen declared.  “I will not allow it!”

The rest of the group had caught up with him now, and were gathering around to try to calm him down – but then Clint’s eyes suddenly went wide.  “Hey!” he shouted, taking off to chase the RV.  “Wait!  Stop!”

Whatever he’d seen, he was too late to stop it.  There was a crack from high up on top of the half-finished tower, and the immense wooden crane broke.  Its arm swung down to fall into the moat, which fortunately was only a ditch, not yet filled with water, and the load of stones it had been lifting came crashing down on the front of Desrosiers’ RV.

There was no hesitation on the part of any CAAP member – they rushed forward. Sir Stephen ripped the RV door off its hinges to get at the crushed driver’s seat.  The young man named Laurent was lying there, covered in glass from the shattered windshield and with his legs trapped under the collapsed dashboard.  Sharon shot the lock off the passenger door and she and Natasha climbed in.  Madame Desrosiers was sitting on the floor just inside the doorway between the cab and the living space, clutching some crumpled paper to her chest and staring in horror at what was in front of her.  Had she been a foot further forward, she would have been killed.

“Come with us,” said Sharon.  She and Natasha took Desrosiers’ arms and escorted her out of the vehicle.

Outside, people were gathering from all over the castle grounds to see what had happened.  Allen was comforting Madame Lefevre with one arm around her shoulder, while she buried her face in this stranger’s shirt so she wouldn’t have to look at the accident. With his other hand he was trying to dial his phone.

“Nine-nine-nine doesn’t work!” he told Natasha.

“It’s one-one-two on the continent,” she said.

Sam had pushed Sir Stephen out of the way to get a look at Laurent. Natasha caught his eye, and saw him shake his head.

“This one’s dead,” Sam said.  “How’s Madame Desrosiers?”

“I’m perfectly all right,” Desrosiers replied stiffly, though she was trembling.  “I have to leave.  I’m going to miss my flight.”

“We’ll get you out,” Sam promised.  “Sir Steve?”  This got no response, and Sam looked around.  “Sir Steve?” he repeated.”

“He went with Clint,” said Allen, briefly waving his phone in the direction of the castle before putting it to his ear.  “Hello?” he asked whoever had answered.  “Hi, do you speak English?”

Nat turned towards the stone walls.  Clint was halfway up the scaffolding, with his bow and arrows on his back, but had paused to look down.  Sir Stephen was at first nowhere to be seen, but a moment later there was a fuss halfway along the outer wall.  A man jumped down to land in a heap and roll down into the moat, with Sir Stephen right behind him.

The first man started to get up, but Clint clung to the scaffold with his legs while he fired an arrow, and hit the man in the back of the shoulder.  This was not a sharp arrow, though, but one of the taser ones the young scientists at Shrivenham had made – the victim went stiff, and then fell to the ground all over again.  Clint began climbing back down.

Sir Stephen had landed on his feet a couple of metres away.  He slid down the side of the moat to grab the fallen man by the shoulders and drag him to his feet.  It turned out, however, that the man either recovered quickly or had only been faking being stunned – he rolled over, kicked Sir Stephen in the face, and got up to confront Clint, who was now coming at him from the other side.  Clint pulled out a second stun arrow and made to jab at him with it physically, perhaps with the idea that he hadn’t hit the right spot the first time.  The man responded by parrying the arrow with one arm, while the other pulled a hunting knife out of his belt and stabbed Clint in the side with it.

“Shit!” Nat exclaimed.  She left Madame Desrosiers in Sharon’s care, and dashed towards the fight.

“Shit!” Sam agreed, and went with her.

Clint had collapsed, clutching his wound.  The man who’d jumped from the wall was dressed, like the other workers, in a medieval tunic, hose, and hood, with a leather vest that had perhaps blocked the shock from the stun arrow.  A yellow hard hat and a pair of safety goggles made it difficult to see his face.  While Sam and Nat were still on their way, Sir Stephen managed to knock the knife out of the man’s hand and then ripped the hat and goggles off in him in a single motion.

#fanfic #natasha romanov #steve rogers #sam wilson #clint barton #sharon carter

[chmergess4ever]

Only Forever (Part 3)

Hi Guys!! The response to the second chapter made me so happy so I decided to make the third chapter extra long for you! Fourth part is almost done, hopefully posted tomorrow! Enjoy! Don’t forget to like/reblog and leave feedback so I know if you’re still enjoying the story! 

Their relationship had dwindled down rapidly. They went from never leaving each others sight to almost nothing as time passed. They had lost contact after the Dancing with the Stars was placed on a Hiatus. Something that they never thought, would happen-did. Val thought back to the Tour Bus Confessions Video that he filmed for the We Came to Dance Tour, when asked who he would keep in contact with in 30 years he said “Sharna”, and somehow after only three years they were no longer talking. They hadn’t had a falling out, everything was perfectly fine.

Now he was 34, Newly Divorced, with a 1 year old baby. He had married Jenna shortly after his Confidential Tour and the two had a baby almost instantly. As their marriage hit the two year mark it became more and more evident that they were not happy and weren’t going to get much happier, mutually they agreed it would be better for the both of them to part ways. He decided to not let the divorce get the best of him, he was going to raise his child as peaceful as possible and  He was going to  live his life the way he wanted to live it. Except he felt like something was missing-The love that once filled his heart, the love of the woman he loved in return for the love he gave her. It was the one thing that was missing.

Val walked through CVS trying to find the aisle for Men’s body spray. Once he found it, he turned down focusing his attention on the options and looking for the one he usually used. Out of the corner of his eye he thought he may have seen her. He turned his head looking to the right. He looked back to the spray. Sure that it was just his mind playing games on him and then he heard her chuckle. His heart stopped as he knew exactly who was in the next aisle. He turned and walked to the right slowly. He turned to his right and then peaked around the aisle to the right. He saw her and he could feel himself tense up. He took a deep breath and then turned walking into the aisle.

“Still loving those snacks, Huh Burgess?” He put his arms out as he smiled.

“Oh my god! Val!” Sharna dropped the bag of snap peas she was holding and ran to hug him. She pulled back resting her hands on either side of him. “How are you? Oh my god.” She pulled him back in for another hug.

He grasped her tightly, embracing in the moment. “I’m good. How are you?”

“Better now!” She released him and stepped back. “Look at you! It’s been a long time.”

“Too long.”

“How’s Jenna? And Jake?” Jenna and Sharna also grew apart when the show ended. They weren’t overly close but it still surprised her that someone she was once very close to, just went away.

He assumed she knew about the both of them from facebook and social media.

“Jenna and I actually split up.”

Sharna felt her heart thump and her stomach flutter when he said it.

“Oh I’m so sorry.”

“It’s ok. We’re dealing and we’ve got a wonderful little boy who we adore. How about you? How’s everything going?”

“It’s going! Nothing too significant.” Sharna clicked her phone to check the time. “Listen, I actually have an appointment but I would really love to catch up with you. Are you free anytime for dinner?” “I’m free tonight.”

“Sounds perfect. Pick me up at 7?”

“Same place?” “You know it. Living the life!” Sharna laughed. The laugh he loved so much. He pulled her in for another hug before they separated.

After paying, he got into his car and smiled, taking a deep breath. He didn’t know what did, but something felt different and he loved it.

Later that night they were out at what used to be their favorite pub. They were 2 hours into their time together but it felt like they could sit there for ages.

“Yea, so that was a one and done thing.” She was in the middle of recounting a story of one of her past flings.”

“He really said that to you?”

“Yeah, he was a gigantic ass.” Sharna took a sip of her drink as she laughed.

“So you haven’t dated anyone?” He said in disbelief.

“Nope.” The awkward silence set upon them as they both knew it was because of what she told him that night at the bus. “Only Forever.” Repeated in her head. She cleared her throat and took a sip of water. “So tell me about you.”

“Well, Jenna and I became increasingly unhappy. I think it’s because we rushed into everything those years ago. It was just so intense, so fast.” Val fiddled around with his beer bottle.

“Sorry.”

“No, No. It’s good. I’m happy.”

“And Jake?”

“Jake’s great. He’s a little over two now so he talks a little bit. Best little guy ever tho! He can definitely make you laugh when you need it.”

“Maybe I can meet him sometime?”

“Of course you can.”

A moment of silence dawned on them and Sharna decided to break the ice, “Val?” “Mhm.” Val lifted his head to look at her.

“What happened to us?” “What do you mean?” “We used to be best friends. I used to be best friends with your sister-in-law and good friends with your wife. And then everything just fell apart. It just doesn’t make any sense.”

“Life got in the way.”

“Yeah it did.” Sharnas smile dropped.

“What matters though, is we’re back together now and we’re going to make the most of it.”

The next weeks flew by. Val worked at the studio, while Sharna continued to work on her website and clothing line. They had stayed in contact, talking everyday more than once a day. It was like they had never separated. A couple of nights ago, Val had taken Sharna to see Peta. The two screamed, and jumped up and down, and it seemed like everything was back to normal. Sharna had gone over to Val’s a couple of nights a week and they had eaten dinner and watched their favorite TV shows together. They also watched some of their favorite dances from dwts together.

It was now a month since they had reunited and Val decided it was the perfect time for Sharna to meet Jake. He had invited her over for dinner as he had Jake for the night before Jenna picked him up later on. Sharna arrived at 5, just as Val was finishing cooking dinner. He opened the door giving her a kiss on the cheek and threw the kitchen towel over his shoulder. “I’ll just go get him from his room.”

Sharna silently clapped. Val left and returned minutes after carrying the baby on his side. He had both his arms wrapped around Val’s neck and his head tucked into his shoulder. As they approached Sharna, he lifted his head.

“Jake, This is Daddy’s friend, Sharna. Can you say “Hi Sharna.”

The baby was silent.

“Say “Hi Sharna”

“Hi Sha”

Sharna laughed. “Close enough.” Sharna tickled his belly. “Your so cute. You know that? And you’re Daddy loves you very much.”

The baby reached his arms out for Sharna to take him.

“You want to hold him?”

“Are you sure?” “Of course.” Val carefully handed Jake to Sharna. Sharna bounced up and down as the baby smiled.

“He looks just like you.” Sharna called to Val, who was now in the kitchen.

“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.” Val laughed.

“It’s a very good thing.”

Jake pointed to one of his toys on the floor. “Ball!”

“You want to play?” Sharna looked back at Val. “Is it ok if he plays?” “Sure.”

Sharna sat down with the baby in her lap and handed him the ball. Val walked over carrying two glasses of wine. He handed one to Sharna. “You’re great with him.” “I love kids. Always have.”

“I know who to call when I need a babysitter.” Val teased. “Ok, he should nap before his mom comes to get him. She’ll be upset if I give him back when he’s tired.”

Sharna rolled her eyes and handed Jake to Val. “He’s yours too.”

“I know. Just sometimes it doesn’t feel that way.” Val carried the baby back to the nursery and then returned a few minutes after. “Shall we eat?”

He grabbed Sharna’s hand pulling her up off the floor. They ate the dinner that Val had cooked engaging in pleasant conversation and then moved to the couch to continue talking as they drank their wine. Val had the baby monitor attached to his back pocket. “So does it all seem real?” Sharna asked him as she pointed to the baby monitor.

“What? Having a kid?” “Yeah.”

“It took some getting used to but im adjusted now. It’s great. It’s like if something in my life goes wrong, he makes it ok. Cause I know he’ll be there.”

“That’s sweet.” Sharna swallowed and then asked what was on her mind, “So you don’t miss the romance at all?”

“Everyday. I miss the feeling of loving someone like that. It’ll happen again. Just have to wait”

“I want that so bad. It just seems like it won’t happen.”

“Any guy would be crazy not to want you.”

“You think so?”

“I know so. We have been together, ya know.”

Sharna hit him playfully and then looked at him as he looked at her. They could both feel the atmosphere and what was about to happen. Val looked from her eyes to her lips and she did the same to him. He leaned into her and as their lips were less than a centimeter apart there was an abrupt knocking on the door. Val’s shoulders dropped and he sighed. Sharna scrunched her nose and cleared her throat.

“Come on Val, I know you’re in there.” There was knocking again.

Val got up and walked to the door. He opened it and saw Jenna. “Hi.”

“You look flustered.” Jenna walked in and saw Sharna. “Sharna?! Oh my God! Hi!” She walked over and have her a hug, but then quickly noticed the atmosphere, Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was interrupted a date.” You could tell she got uncomfortable.

“You weren’t.”

“You weren’t” Sharna said in unison with Val.

“Sharna wanted to meet Jake so I invited her over.” “I didn’t even realize you guys were still talking.”

“We lost touch but we recently reconnected.”

“Oh.” Jenna stopped talking. “Well,I guess I’ll just take Jake then.”

Val walked into the nursery and returned with Jake and a little napsack. “He ate already and I changed his diaper not too long ago.”

“Ok. We’ll, I’ll see you later then. It was nice seeing you Sharna. We should get lunch and catch up one time.”

Sharna smiled as Jenna left. Val looked at Sharna. “Well, that was awkward.”

“I can tell.”

SIlence filled the room and Sharna spoke. “I should go. I have to be somewhere early in the morning.”

“Oh. Ok. I’ll talk to you tomorrow then?”

“Of course you will.” Sharna gave him a kiss on the cheek and then left. Val moved to the kitchen to begin cleaning when he heard a knock on the door. He went to get it and saw her standing in the doorway. “I’m sorry. I’m not letting you get away with it.” Sharna spoke to him. “With what?”

“I waited for you, like I said I would. It’s the least you could do.”

“What?”

“Kiss me, you ass!” Sharna yelled.

Val smiled and pulled her in his house. She stood on her tip toes and he craned his neck down to kiss her. The delicacy of the kiss made it all the more special. And for the first time in a long time, Val felt the missing piece of the puzzle fit perfectly into his heart.

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