#tom hardy x female reader

[darklydeliciousdesires]

Dirty Bliss - An Alfie Solomons/Reader One Shot Story.

Here we are then, everyone. The first winning submission from my new Tell me your Fantasy feature is here, this from @liliac-dreamer​, their fantasy as follows - 

Now, we all know the mad baker gives massive public-place-sex vibes, BUT! To me he mostly gives off possessive/territorial vibes, so... Is there any way you can mix these two things together? (maybe one of the people he's dealing with tries to get too close and he NEEDS to show you're already spoken for? Maybe he let's them overhear something? 😉 )

I hope this lives up to your little fantasy, darling! :)

Words - 1,666

Warnings - Smut below the cut, minors DNI!

You can always feel when Alfie is on edge. It isn’t just the fact that his muscles stiffen like lead, or that his jaw clenches and he begins grinding his teeth. His entire being seems to seethe with palpable annoyance, just like he is now, sitting next to you within the private box at the Royal Opera House, tension coursing through him. There’s a very specific reason why, too, why he cannot enjoy Aida, one of his favourite operas.  

Albert Ross is that reason.  

The business associate, a fellow figurehead within the organised crime world, has never made a secret of his desire for you, no matter how perilous such might be, to openly covet another dangerous man’s wife. Especially when that man is Alfie Solomons.  

“He’s fuckin’ undressing you with his bleedin’ eyes,” he hisses in your ear, the sound of back teeth grinding in fury audible as his eyes dart between the stage and Albert.

Resting a calming hand to his thigh, you stroke, hoping to settle him. “He’s only looking, love,” you remind him. “I’m not about to go dive on him, you know that. And he’d be even more of a stupid prick than we know he already is if he tried anything with me.”

Alfie rumbles a quiet laugh, his hand covering yours. “Ain’t that the truth, treacle.”

It seems this notion is entirely negatable, though, you discover after excusing yourself to go and powder your nose, wanting to ensure that your visage is indeed perfect. The toilets up there for the private box guests are a single room with one lavatory, able to be locked from the main entrance door rather than housing multiple sectioned cubicles, but since you are only there to quickly check your face, you do not bother clicking said lock.  

About ten seconds after placing your compact back into your small, beaded clutch, you wish that you had.

“Evening, you lovely little filly.”

Turning to Albert, you lift your chin, not wanting the small flare of nerves you felt within grow to show upon your face. “Mr Ross.” Straightening, you push your chest forward, willing yourself to radiate confidence and nonchalance over his intrusion. “This is a ladies’ only bathroom. I shall have to ask you to leave.”

Albert sucks a breath over his teeth, making a show of pondering your words. “I know, Mrs Solomons. It is, however, the only place I could get you alone, to reveal to you my intentions.”  

“I care not for them, excuse me.” Stepping forward, you swerve around him, the man catching your arm in a firm grip.  

“Not so fast.”

Snatching your arm back, he hangs onto you. “Get your fucking hand off me!”

“No,” he tells you firmly, closing the space between you, his eyes radiating entertainment at your biting reaction to his advances. “Won’t be doing that, not until I’ve had a piece of you, you pretty little thing.”  

“Now, now, old son,” you hear Alfie speak, pushing open the door. Horror fills Albert’s eyes immediately. You aren’t the only one who wishes they’d locked it behind them on entry to the facilities, something Alfie does after stepping in. “You heard the lady. Get your fucking hand off her.”

His words are delivered quietly, but with all the frost of an arctic chill, Albert releasing you from his grip immediately, his mouth floundering. “Alfie, mate. It isn’t what it looks like.”

His eyes widen as he stands at your side, his chest barrelling. “Oh, do forgive me for not having my glasses on, because what it looked like, yeah. Is you putting your dirty fucking hands on my wife. And what it sounded like, right, was you telling her you wouldn’t remove ‘em until you got a piece of her!” Turning to you, he amps up the slight theatrics of his retort. “Apparently, I need an ear trumpet as well as a new pair of specs, my darlin’.”  

“Alfie, please, I...”  

“No!” he bellows, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a gun. “You’ve said quite enough for tonight, sunshine. Now, what you’re gonna do next, yeah, is fucking stand there against them sinks, and watch me get a piece of what you wanted.” His face falls, Alfie chuckling. “Oh yeah, that’s right, Albert. Ain’t nobody who teaches a fuckin’ lesson like me.”  

The blaze of arousal you feel melts down your spine, puddling between your legs, turning to kiss Alfie’s neck, his soft beard tickling against your nose. “Yeah, take your dress off, love. I want him to get a full view of that’s mine and mine alone.” He reaches with his free hand to assist, lowering the zip while you smirk at Albert, arousal radiating from your every pore.  

To fuck in front of someone else has always been somewhat of a turn on for you, but to do it before a man who has presented himself as an adversary, while your husband keeps him there at gunpoint, well. It is not your typical Friday night, that’s for certain. Once your gown is removed, you take it to hang upon a brass peg mounted onto the tiles, Alfie moving to close the wooden lid upon the toilet, seating himself, arm still raised, his pistol pointed at Albert.  

Crouching before him, your smile widens, Alfie’s eyes flitting to yours for a second, grinning. “This is gonna be a good time, treacle. A right memorable trip to the opera.” Unzipping his trousers, you pull his rapidly thickening cock free, taking him into your mouth, your lips gliding down the thick, vein ridged shaft. “Oh yeah, sweetheart,” he encourages, his free hand coming to rest gently on your shoulder. “That’s it, my darlin’, fuck!”  

You can only imagine the look upon Albert’s face at being forced to watch, hearing Alfie chuckling softly with amusement between his gruff grunts, your mouth working him, leaving little trails of red from your lipstick all over his flushed cock, precum wetting your tongue as you moan around the thick of him. You work him so well, you can feel his thighs tremble, his cock twitching a little in your throat, Alfie reaching to gently grasp your jaw.  

“More of that later, my love,” he speaks, winking at you. “Don’t wanna spend myself before Albert here gets to watch the main act.” Standing up, he pushes your hip in indication he wants you to turn, facing Albert, his face set in a mixture of arousal and chagrin, while you take Alfie’s cock and guide him to your glistening apex, sinking down with a soft sigh.  

“Mmmm, there’s no better cock in the world than yours,” you hum, turning to kiss him, all smouldering embers as you begin to bounce upon him.  

“Yeah, look at that, Albert,” Alfie moans, his arm tightening around you, hand then reaching to grasp your breasts in turn. “Look how beautiful she looks split around a great, big cock. And you were hoping it’d be yours. Nah, son. Not tonight, and not with my missus.”

The sight of someone watching has thrill meeting fire, the heat misting, biting pleasure warming your veins as you chuckle, Albert’s face reddening more.  

“I think he likes it,” you purr in tease, turning to run your tongue up Alfie’s cheek, your husband beginning to move beneath you, doing an excellent job of bouncing you upon his long, girthy cock.

“And who wouldn’t like watching a woman as fuckin’ sublime as you getting fucked, eh, my sweetheart? He’s just sour that it ain’t him doing the fucking though, ain’t you, Al?” The man remains quiet, looking at the floor. “Oi! Chin up and answer me, you cunt!”

“Yes, Alfie. I am.”

“Yeah,” Alfie chuckles, panting as he kisses your shoulder, “bit of truth never hurt no one, did it? Except maybe you and your pride. As it should.” He continues to laugh, his tongue touring your throat, gun still primed as you circle your hips on him, your walls fluttering as the sound of your sex fills the room, the wet squelch of him cutting into you deeply, your flesh smacking together. “God, fucking ‘ell, my love. You bloody don’t half know how to ride a cock. Yeah, fuck, that’s it.”  

His encouragement spurs you on, your eyes never leaving Albert’s, watching the humiliation dance in his irises, your mouth dropping open as you feel Alfie’s fingers reach to begin rubbing your clit, his lips peppering kisses against your spine.

“Mmm, fuck, darlin’,” he pants. “Let’s get you comin’ hard all over my cock, yeah?”

The tempest of fervid heat begins to wind within you, coiling hard, the pleasure rolling and coursing as you pant, his fingers rubbing at your bud tightly, the press firm as he strokes your slick, his teeth sharp at your shoulder.  

“Fuck!” you cry, breathless as it catches you, wailing ferally as he tips you into the glittering abyss of your release, Alfie staccato beneath you as his cock twitches and then fills you with thick ribbons of cum, everything that was frenzied beginning to slow, catching your breath.  

“Well, Albert,” he begins, panting hard. “I hope that taught you a thing or two over just what the fuck I will and won’t tolerate. Now, if I ever see you in my neck of the woods again, the belly of the Thames will get what my dogs don’t finish from that festering bag of bones. You fuckin’ understand, yeah?”

“Yeah.”  

“Good. Now, get the fuck out.” Albert tears a path from the room, and you get up quickly to go and re-lock the door, save anyone else coming in and witnessing your near nudity, snickering into your evening glove covered hand.  

“I think I enjoyed that,” you laugh, Alfie pulling himself back into his trousers as he stands.

“I know you did, you mucky mare,” he chuckles with affection. “Had you wailing louder than the bird out there on the stage, didn’t I?”  

Yes. He most certainly did.  

#alfie solomons #alfie solomons fanfiction #alfie solomons smut #alfie solomons x female reader #alfie solomons x you #alfie solomons imagine #tom hardy #tom hardy fanfiction #tom hardy smut #tom hardy x female reader #peaky blinders #peaky blinders fanfiction #peaky blinders smut #ddd tell me your fantasy feature

[simpforbuckyb]

In the blink of the eye

Pairing: Alfie Solomons x f!reader

What happens when Alfie finds a strange woman in his bed and disappear at the blink of his eyes…

Gif not mine

April 2024, London, England

You were tired so you decided to turn off the tv and head to sleep.

You were watching peaky blinders and developed an obsession with the famous gangster Alfie Solomons.

You spent too many hours watching all the episodes that he was in until your eyes stung from keeping them open most of the time spent watching.

Which led you to get some sleep while cuddling your pillow and pretending it was Alfie’s body you were holding.

——————————

April 1922,Camden Town, London, England

It was dawn and Alfie’s throat felt so dry that it woke him from his not so usual peaceful sleep.

He stirred while struggling to open his eyes, moving his head to the side away from the moonlight so some darkness would help him open his eyes fully.

Sighing heavily, he was about to open his eyes until he caught a whiff of strong vanilla and coconut.

Alfie tensed. Like really stiff that he stopped breathing for a second so he can feel his surrounding.

His arm was slightly aching as he realized there was something weighing on it. There was also a small puffs of air against his neck. Maybe it was Cyril? But Alfie remember locking his bedroom door before sleeping.

Alfie opened his eyes slowly until he realized that there was a woman between his arms. The smell he caught earlier was from her hair that was under his chin. The weight that tingled his arm was her head and the air against his neck was her breathing.

“fucking hell” Alfie mumbled while looking at the woman sleeping and wondered if he was drunk and brought the woman here.

“But i’ve neve’ seen that face before, right?”

He kept mumbling to himself as he rose to lean on his elbow so he can have a better look at the woman. A small sigh left her as she stirred to get comfortable until her breathing heaved again.

She was beautiful. Most likely a beauty he’s never seen before. Her hair was around the space and her lashes were kissing her cheeks. Her lips were slightly chapped but he couldn’t take his eyes off of it. Who the hell is this woman? He kept wondering.

He rose until he stood beside his bed and noticed the weird clothes she was wearing. An awfully long sleeved shirt that has so many frog faces on it. He lifted the blanket and was stunned from the view of the naked skin of her legs that he threw the blanket back down covering her.

Alfie shook his head and looked at her one last time before unlocking his door and heading to the kitchen. He stood for a solid five minutes looking out of the kitchen window until a heavy sigh left his chest and drank some water.

Slowly, he went up the stairs and opened his bedroom door slowly as his eyes searched for her sleeping form only to find his bed empty with the blanket at the same position he’s left before.

“What the fuck?” Was all what Alfie said as he looked at his bedroom like nothing has ever happened.

—————————-

You woke up to the annoying sound of the alarm and bright sun rays from your window. You got up heading to the bathroom to wash your face then went to the kitchen to have something to eat. You pass the tv and thought of Alfie and giggled at yourself.

“Crushing on a fictional character like a teenage jeez” you mumble into the air as you got ready for work. You work at a library. You just moved in and it was the closest building to your apartment so you decided to ask for a job and got accepted. It was quiet and peaceful working there. Not too many people head there and you spent most of your shift reading some books that caught your eyes.

As the day passed, you changed to your favorite nightgown and rested your head on your pillow staring at the ceiling. You grabbed your pillow ,hugging it, wishing that you would actually cuddle someone and not just a pillow.

“God, I’m so sick of being lonely” you sigh heavily as sleep finally consumed you. Ironically enough, your dreams are about one man who is called Alfie.

——————————-

Alfie was sure as fuck that he wasn’t drunk nor brought someone to his bed. Then why the fuck was that woman in his bed again and how did she even got in here? It’s been two minutes since he left his bed and went to the bathroom only to come back and find her sleeping.

He held the door frame as he looked at her. She was wearing something different tonight. A black satin nightgown that showed the skin of her arms. She is stunning but who is she? Earlier this day, he spent hours searching for that face only to find none but then he finds you here, in his bed and under his blanket.

He approaches your sleeping form slowly as his eyes never left your face.

“Oi!” He said loud enough to stir you from your sleep.

“Ey wake the fuck up…how the hell did you get in here?” He didn’t realize how he stepped closer until he was looking directly into your half lidded eyes. What a beautiful eyes, he thought

“Speak up, who are you, woman?” He asks when he noticed your wide eyes looking up at him with your lips agape.

“Alfie” he hears his name whispered softly from her lips as she rises to a sitting position and look at him. The blanket fell from her chest, showing him her upper body that was covered by that soft looking satin.

His gaze moves to hers and he was stunned to find her hand hovering his cheek. Her fingers were inches from his skin and he fought the urge to close the distance just to feel her.

“How the hell did I get in here?” She says before her hand touched his cheek and as soon as he felt her skin on his, he blinks and find nothing.

————��—————

Sooooo yeaah this happened . I know. Funny enough that’s the first time for me to write something and this shit is hard asf. That was a dream that i had one time and couldn’t get it out of my head. I searched a lot for a similar plot but found none so i just decided to write it down lol. Idk what to say and I don’t even know if someone is gonna see this but yeah that’s it. Have a great day and stay hydrated.

#alfie solomons #tom hardy #alfie solomons fic #alfie solomons x reader #peaky blinder fanfic #peaky blinders #Alfie solomons x female reader

[thedevilshardy]

Knock you out

Tommy Conlon x fem! Reader (short smut)

You always tried to avoid him. Tried to put the same ignorance in your gaze that he put at yours. When you were at the gym, a silent nod was all he had for you. A cool look, the slight twitch of his chin, and that was it. 

Tommy Conlon didn't like you. At least, that's what he radiated whenever you watched him box and train. And that's why you're even more surprised that you ended up in this position. 

Your breath is stagnant, your legs are shaking, and you want nothing more than that cock, already with the tip pressed firmly against your pussy. He doesn't penetrate you though, just presses his tip heavily against the folds of your pussy, but he doesn't push it in, not yet, even though you're already dripping. That's how much you want this man, who hasn't said a word since he had wordlessly pressed you against the ropes of the boxing ring and had kissed you. 

Tommy Conlon kisses like a god. His lips are soft and full, and what he doesn't say in words he packs all the more into the passionate movements of his mouth. Your breath caught when he kissed you so roughly, your knees went weak, but his strong forearm held you. You don't even know how much time has passed since he had pressed you to the floor, his hands on your body like a command. How deftly those fingers have pushed through the light layers of your gym clothes, as if they've done nothing else all their lives. Biting kisses, gasps for air, sweat, heat, everywhere. There was nothing like pressing your body up against his, feeling his heat, his hardness between your quivering legs. 

He'd almost managed to finger you to climax. But only almost. He'd stopped before you'd gotten the chance, and there it had been, a small, barely visible grin at the corners of his mouth. 

And now you're lying here, his hard cock between your legs, and he's still teasing you, holding you roughly while his tip just rubs very gently against your wet folds. Your body cries out for him, for release. You try to push yourself down further, up onto his dick, but he won't let you. Goosebumps run over your skin as you finally hear his voice against your ear. It's rough and deep. 

"You're so damn wet baby, how bad do you want me? Do you want me to fuck you?"

You nod, swallowing hard against the burning heat in your throat, clawing at his strong shoulders. 

"Tell me how bad you want me to fuck you."

"Fuck me, please. Now, Tommy I-"

A jerk, and you moan. A tiny bit more his hot dick has slid into your center, just barely grazing his tip at your entrance. God, it's driving you crazy, this here, he-!

"You want me to fuck you - right, huh, until you can't walk anymore? God baby, you're so fuckin' wet, you're so..."

"Tommy," your hands reach into his sweaty hair, pulling him down against your face. He growls quietly. "Fuck me, now."

"Impatient nasty girl, you are" he grunts, and it's amused, you can see it in the corners of his mouth.

You get a warm, breathless kiss, and before you know it, he's suddenly forcing inside you with one hard thrust. 

It's a revelation, that feeling - as his stiff cock finally penetrates deep inside your dripping pussy, as he finally conquers you with a sharp thrust of his hips. His lips slowly open as he sinks completely into you - for a moment he looks down at you, brushing a wet strand from your face. 

"Have you ever seen a real buck fight, honey?"

Your vagina tightens, you can feel exactly how your walls vibrate with every word - how they're already contracting tightly now, how they suck his cock in deep. 

"Of course."

"Then I'm going to show you how I fucking knock you out."

And he does. He supports himself with his strong arms to the left and right of your body, bites his lips hard, and then begins to thrust hard and relentlessly. His hips move as if boxing, penetrating deep and only pushing your trembling legs further apart, hard, sharp, tight thrusts, deep into your pussy. You can't even brace yourself against it, pick up his rhythm, it's too strong. And it really drives you to the edge of madness. 

Tommy Conlon fucks like a god, too. His hands claw into your sides, holding you, making your breasts bob along to the beat with each thrust. You see he loves it, the way he licks his lips afterward, the way his hips sputter. 

Your pussy almost explodes. Tommy's thrusts and cock are way too good for you, catching you ice cold and fucking you to a level you never thought you'd reach. He keeps up this pace, even as your dripping walls slowly tighten around him as the warm feeling in your belly grows stronger. You try to hold onto his shoulders, but he shakes your hands off, gets on his knees, pulls your ass up onto his trained thighs. And then he just keeps fucking you, the in and out of his hard dick like a prayer that all you can do now is whimper. 

"Tommy-"

"Come baby, come, I want to feel it, come on."

His right rough hand slides between your folds, and he teases your clit to no end, his thumb sliding over it, teasing the little wet bud. 

You come. You come so suddenly, as if Tommy had personally punched you in the face, as if he had thrown you out of the ring. You come so suddenly and so fucking hard that for a moment you can't even move your body, can't even breathe. 

He fucks you through your orgasm, wordlessly, breathlessly. His hand stays on your clit, keeps rubbing, his cock keeps fucking until you can't take it anymore, until your pussy contracts tight and hot, squirting slightly. And Tommy loves it. 

You don't know how long you feel the violent waves of your orgasm - but eventually you feel more wetness, more heat between your legs, feel his hips fucking harder than before and he lets out a deep grunt. He comes, pushing you over the edge again. 

When you're done, the floor of the boxing ring is wet as hell, showing all the traces of your violent encounter. You feel exactly how his cum runs between your legs, warm, always down your thigh. Tommy's eyes move between your legs, and he grins slightly. 

"We're going to take a shower, and then I'm going to fuck you again."

"Wow, you've talked more than you did all last year," you say shortly, and Tommy helps you stand up. 

His eyes don't even leave you as you walk to the shower, and he even catches you as your shaking legs give way. 

#tom hardy #tommy conlon #tommy conlon x reader #tommy conlon x you #fanfic #short one shot #female oc

[wandawiccan60]

More Than Friends

Eddie Brock X Venom X Arli (FemOC)

***SMUT***

A/N: Hi guys I hope you all having a good week so far and finally Finally I got to do my first ever One-Shot with our sweet adorable softie Eddie Brock and our cute and scary Venom. This idea for this fun and yet adorable short story just came out of nowhere because I've been watching short clips of both Venom and Venom 2. So I said why not do a short story about Eddie and my new character Arli? And here are the final results of this new and fluffy story of Eddie, Venom, and Arli. Again thank you guys so much for liking and leaving comments on my latest post the prompt I did on Alfie again I appreciate it so much. As always guys please comment, reblog, and follow my blog it'll mean so much for both the page and for me thank you every single one of you for following and liking. Once again guys enjoy this new trio and catch you guys later. See Ya!!!

More of our favorite Team Lethal Protectors???👉🏻X(If you want to also have chocolate as well 💙🤍🍫)

ONE-SHOT/DRABBLES MASTERLIST

Word Count: 6,261

TAGS: @hecatemoon87, @kittycatcait219, @ao3feed-symbrock, @alikaheroes, @potter-solomons, @pottersolomons2, @jarvisrocks, @theshelbyclan, @theshelbyslimited, @thealmightybitchgoddess, @zablife, @edwardthomashardy1, @professor-alfie-solomons, @tomhardyspinkyfinger, @annisse, @rikki-b-lake, @solomons-finest-rum, @omgeternal, @symbean, @weirdgirl16355, @97freaknik, @thefics-that-drip, @rayanee05, @ninja-potato-shelby-solomons, @smellslikeillusorydreams, @veddieiscanon, @raincoffeeandfandoms, @bubblyani, @buttercup32sstuff, @darklydeliciousdesires, @thehardy-boys, @tea-atfive, @mariadecapitated, @quarterpastmidnight, @queenofthefaceless-main, @queencoraline3, @simpforbuckyb, @thetragedyofophelia, @lovebitesimagines, @mollybegger-blog,

WARNING 18+!!!: Fluff, Cuteness, Lots, Lots, of SMUT, SMUT!!!(Alien Sex)

🖤💙🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤💙🌗🖤💙🌗🖤💙🌗🖤💙🌗🖤💙🌗

Eddie was the person who one should say they are lucky to have as a friend. And Arli was grateful to be one of those people since both had each other’s back, besides Eddie being some sort of a hero around San Francisco. They both go way back to when they were both around their teens and, of course, before the whole Carlton Drake and Eddie becoming Venom’s hoist for the first time. Eddie and Arli clicked in an instant when they both had to do a science project; mostly the work was done by Arli. But Eddie did the talking when it was time for them to present their project and they ended up getting an A+ thanks to Arli being smarty pants.

“See, I told you we would nail that project,” Eddie said once they got out of school, when Arli gave him a punch on his right arm. “OWW Arli, what the hell, what did I say?”

“That’s for leaving me hanging on the rest of the project and doing the entire work, you butthead. You owe me a chocolate bar for sure,” she said, sticking her tongue playfully out towards Eddie, which he shrugged off.

“Yeah, yeah sure, but hey I am a good talker, aren’t I? And ok, you’re right, I’m sorry I should have helped you. I promise on the next project we will do it together, I’ll do the work and you will do the talking. Deal?” He said, giving her a playful wink and cheeky smile her way, which she just chuckled and shook her head.

“Gosh, Eddie, you are something you know that, right? Remind me again why we are friends again. Oh right, because we are both shy, lazy, quiet, and anti-social, which overall makes us weirdly enough to be here right now in front of each other. How can you explain that genius?” Arli said, crossing her arms together, giving an arched eyebrow at Eddie saying “I don’t know” and shrugging his shoulders at the same time.

They both laughed as both teens walked their way towards their homes, playfully nudging each other’s arms to each other.

After they both reached high school 4 years later, they both couldn’t help but not be away from each other for at least an hour. They were like fire and ice and most of the time during lunch and after school, they would always be with each other. Arli found some friends along the way in her classes, but mostly, it wasn’t really as much fun as when she was with Eddie. He found some guy friends, but he also found nothing fun when he was around “the boys”. Usually, his friends would mostly talk about which chick was the hottest in school, the school’s football team, ditching school, etc. Well, the ditching part was the only thing that Eddie enjoyed more, but after that, it was boring. So what he would sometimes do is make up an excuse to get away from his friends and instead go hang out with Arli. Luckily enough, he would find her in the school’s library, spending most of her time reading books of any kind. Eddie would make fun of her for being such a bookworm and a nerd, while Arli would playfully hit him with whatever book she would be reading.

“What the fuck can you quit doing that? First it was the punches to the arm and now you hit me with books? Why are you so sensitive, R?” He said, trying his best to keep his voice down while the librarian in front of them was typing on the computer.

Arli just giggled under her breath while she went back to reading her book. Eddie, meanwhile, was doing his best to focus on doing his homework, which was giving him a hard time. Most of the work was from his English literature class, where he never really pays a lot of attention. He had never enjoyed reading books ever since middle school, seeing that it seemed pointless to do. But mostly he hated to spend some nights doing useless and pathetic essays that he also saw as a waste of time. 

“For fuck’s sake, I got to read 3 chapters on this dumb book and write at least a paragraph for each chapter and its due tomorrow. God, I hate literature,” he said, letting his head fall flat on top of his notebook as he heard Arli chuckle at his silly behavior.

“Wow, Eddie, you give up easily, don’t you? And come on, cheer up books aren’t all that terrible, sometimes they are fun to read. It just depends on what genre you’re reading. Hey and that reminds me, come with me. I think you might like this part of the library. Follow me,” Arli said, closing her book and shoving it into her backpack while Eddie let out a small groan as he lazily got on his feet as he as well put his stuff inside his backpack and followed her lead.

As they made their way upstairs, she stopped for a moment, making sure they weren’t being watched. She then grabbed Eddie’s right hand as they entered some staircases that lead upstairs to the top of the building. 

“Arli, we’re not supposed to be in here. Let’s go back before we get in trouble,” Eddie said, not liking where this is going.

“No, we’re not Brock, don’t be such a scary cat. Come on, follow me. It’s not too long from here,” she said as she made her way up the stairs while Eddie just let out a loud sigh as he still followed her lead.

Once they got to the top, there was another door in front of them, and without pausing for a second. Arli then opened the door while Eddie breathed heavily for some air.

“Jesus… Arli… what the… why did you… bring me up here for?” He said between breaths, placing his hands on top of his bent knees while Arli just laughed at him.

“Why Eddie? Well, therefore I wanted to bring you up here,” Arli said as she pointed out into the distance Eddie then looked up to see an outstanding view in front of him. 

“Holy shit,” he said as he walked his way by Arli’s side as they saw a beautiful sunset setting behind some buildings of San Francisco while the soft cool wind blew across their faces. 

Arli smiled as she closed her eyes, extending her arms open wide, feeling the warm sun against her body. Eddie saw what she was doing, making him smile at the sight of her best friend. Arli then relaxed her arms and as she opened her eyes, she then sat carefully down on the edge. She then looked back at Eddie as she patted on the brick cement, gesturing for him to sit next to her. 

“You know I’m not good with heights,” he said as he felt his hands tremble while breathing softly in and out of his nostrils. 

Arli then got on her feet, making her way towards Eddie, placing her small tender hands on top of his. This made him feel calmer once he felt Arlie touch his large hands. 

“Just don’t think too much about it, ok? Here we will walk slowly and keep your eyes on me. You trust me, don’t you?” She said reassuringly as he nodded his head “yes,” as he did what he was told. 

Before long, they both then sat on the edge of the building as Arli then air kicked her feet. While Eddie had his legs crisscrossed together while resting his elbows on top of his knees. 

“Man, if only I could just stay up here forever, you know? Feeling and smelling that fresh air of freedom, not giving a damn about nothing else but feeling relaxed, and just… god it’s just so peaceful up here,” she said while she continued to kick her feet in mid-air as Eddie nodded his head in agreement at what Arli said.

“Yeah, me too, you got nothing else to worry about but just feel unruffled. That’s another word for at peace,” Eddie said, trying to show off his vocabulary advances in front of her face. 

“Oh ha ha, hilarious Brock. I thought you said you hated literature and reading books. So why are you trying to sound so innovative?” Arli said, also trying to sound better than her best friend.

“Ummm… ok, what type of word did you use in that last sentence? Because that is a word that I haven’t heard of until you said it right now. You're smarter and fucking better than me. I give you that much,” he said, feeling mentally defeated while making Arli chuckle at this.

“Hehe, thanks for noticing, but seriously, I would stay up here for the rest of my life if I had the chance. But sadly, that can’t be possible even if it was,” she said, letting out a small sigh as the sun now set lower behind the city. 

Eddie eyed her sideways, seeing that sad expression form on her face. He then lightly placed his left hand on top of her hand, making Arli look in his direction.

“If you had lived up here since the beginning, I would have never met a bright, lovely person such as you in my life. I wouldn’t be here next to you if it wasn’t for you R. I’m just happy and grateful to call you my best friend,” Eddie said, giving her a smile while she returned that same expression. “Well, if it wasn’t for that science project back in middle school. I wouldn’t have met that shy, quiet, anti-social but explosive fun kid. That went by the name of Eddie Brock or B for short. I am also grateful and lucky to call you my best friend also,” said Arli, making Eddie’s cheeks blush hard red.

They sat there for another good hour as they saw the city light in the dark of night. Eddie could then feel Arli’s headrest up against his left arm. As she wrapped her right arm around his forearm, Eddie didn’t want to disrupt her sleep if he moved an inch. Meanwhile, he felt this tiny spark that lit up inside of him having to embrace this moment with Arli. Not wanting to ruin this memory with her while he still looked at the view ahead of him. Thinking and wondering what the future would be like for them. Arli would be there with him and she would have his back like how that saying goes. 

“Best friends until the very end, no matter what.” 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

5 Years Later: Winter 

“Eddie, Eddie, how about that one right there?” Venom said, shifting Eddis’s head to look at another diamond ring that caught Venom’s eyes.

“V, how about I make the choices here first and you can choose the next place we will go, ok?” he said under his breath, not wanting anybody else to think he was talking to “himself.”

“Hmmm… ok, but I will get a better gift than you will. What is so important for us being in this place anyway?” said Venom, sounding annoyed and not understanding why such a small thing could be so important to Eddie.

“Because it’s something that I have been wanting to do for so long since I and Arli have been friends for so long. And I think now it’s a good time to ask her to be more than my best pal and girlfriend. That is why it’s essentially important why we are here,” Eddie said while he still looked around to find the best ring to buy and get for Arli, hoping it wasn’t too much when he would ask her to be his fiance.

It was nerve-wracking when Eddie asked her to be his girlfriend for the first time. But to his surprise, Arli also had a lot of feelings for him all along since they graduated from high school. She also was afraid and shy to tell Eddie about how much he meant to her. But once he first asked her, Arli, then said yes, and they have been together ever since that day. And that is when the whole mess of Carlton Drake and The Life Foundation happened after they became boyfriend and girlfriend. Until now, Arli and Eddie have stuck with each other even though Venom was part of the relationship. They would always have fun whenever they felt like running around the city at night. Which Arli enjoyed the most while feeling the fresh cold air while Venom would run and jump on top of the buildings.

An hour went by, as both Eddie and Venom made their way out of the jewelry store, feeling the cold chilly wind blowing across his body. 

“Now is it my turn to choose what I want to get for Ali now?” Venom said, sounding eager to choose the best gift to give to Arli.

“V, I told you so many times it’s pronounced Arli, not Ali. There’s an R after the A and yes, we’re getting there. Either way, what type of gift are you going to get her that’s way better than the ring I got for her?” Eddie said, making his way towards Mrs. Chen’s liquor store to 

“Hi Eddie, hey Venom.” she said, greeting them both as she heard the bell chime from the entrance.

“Why are we stopping by Mrs. Chen’s place?” said Venom said as he made his way to get some drinks from the large glass fridges 

“I got to get some drinks for me and Arli and this is the place where she likes to get them the most,” he said as he got two large red wine bottles out of the fridge.

“Why do they look so red? Don’t tell me, is it blood? Are we going to drink blood with some delicious raw meat with it,” said Venom which Eddie just rolled his eyes at the comment that the symbiote just said. 

“Don’t be so stupid. You know what this is already, so don’t pretend that you don’t know what wine is,” he said, making his way towards Mrs. Chen behind the cash register.

“Hmmm, you getting the fancy stuff I see you got any plans you doing tonight Eddie?” she said before Eddie can answer her Venom then pops his head out from announcing the biggest announcement.

”Eddie is going to propose to Arli tonight, which I find it pathetic but he says it’s very important to him,” Venom said, making Mrs. Chen arched an eyebrow towards the slimy creature in Eddie’s direction.

“Wait, you're talking about your best friend and girlfriend from high school you told me before? Awww, Eddie, that’s great, so what made you have the guts to want to propose to her now more than the other time?” Mrs. Chen said, giving Eddie a cheeky smile, making him feel embarrassed and warm from his cheeks.

“Well… it’s just… she’s just special to me, you know, and I thought since we have been friends for so long. I just caught so many feelings for her after we both went to different colleges. I’ve liked her more than just a friend and now, I thought that tonight is the night and moment I ask her to be mine. But I don’t know how she will react to this since I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” he said, recalling the times he had so many chances in wanting to ask her to be his wife but was terrified to do it.

“Eddie, I know she will say yes, just be yourself, and take deep breaths. The things you have told me about her, she sounds like a keeper. So don’t mess it up,” she said with a sharp finger, pointing at him while he gave her a thumbs up. 

“I won’t promise, and speaking of which, look at this beauty,” Eddie said, talking out the small black square box that had the lovely sterling silver ring with a big blue diamond in the middle of everything else.

“Well, well, Eddie, she is a lucky girl, but I wish a lot of happiness and luck for the both of you. You have a good night Eddie and say hi to Arli for me,” Mrs. Chen said, handing over the two bottles to him, which he smiled in return.

“Thank you and believe me, she is a keeper.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“When is she coming already, Eddie? I am starving,” Venom said, sounding desperate as he flipped through the many channels on the TV. 

“She’ll be here any minute. Calm down man, it’s not like it’s the end of the world. And can you choose a channel already? You’ve been changing one channel to another for the past 30 minutes already,” he said as he looked at his wristwatch, seeing that it was 10:30 P.M. which she normally doesn’t come back home late at these hours.

Eddie prepared a nice steak with some potatoes and some fresh broccoli on the side for dinner, which was Arli’s favorite dish to eat. The table was set nicely while white candles were lit in the middle while some soft music played in the background. Before he felt he was about to pass out on sleep, the front door of the place they shared opened up. Venom then made Eddie get on his feet in a swift, making him curse out for a moment.

“There she is, Eddie’s beautiful soon-to-be wife,” Venom said as Arli was busy taking her boots off until she noticed the scene in front of her.

“What the… Eddie, what happened here? Is this some sort of fancy thing you cooped yourself up with Venom or you got yourself a raise at the new job you got?” she jokingly said, giving Eddie a big hug as they both kissed each other on the lips.

Eddie could feel her cold, small, thin lips against his while they continued to share a long, tender kiss. They then parted away from each other as she nuzzled her nose against his, making each other chuckle.

“Welcome home baby, and surprise from us to you,” he said as he gave another kiss on top of her forehead. 

“Awww, you guys are so sweet. So what made you and Venom make the place look intriguing and that smell? Is that cherry blossom?” Arli said as she sniffed the fresh, pleasing scent in the air.

“I, I just wanted to make something special tonight for you and me, and no, I didn’t get a raise, but I wish I did. But that don’t matter what’s more important is that I made your favorite dish and I’m pretty sure you are dying to eat already. So what do you say, baby, care to join me?” he said as he raised his hand towards her, which she took with a small chuckle coming out of her.

“So, when can we have chocolate? And do you have the ring with you? I hope you do because if you don’t you will look foolish in front of Arli if you won’t have it”

“V, can you shut the hell up while we have dinner, please?”

“Hehe, what is Venom saying now, baby? Let me guess, he wants chocolate again?” Arli said as she sat on her chair while Venom, like a gentleman, used one of his tentacles to gently push Arli forward towards the table. 

Eddie then sat on his chair while Venom aggressively shoved Eddie forward towards the table. Almost knocking out Eddi’s and Arli’s dinner off the table made her giggle as she shook her head at the same time.

“Wow Venom, you’re being so nice and a gentleman tonight. I wonder why you both are acting like this tonight?” Arli said as she cut her steak into small pieces. 

“Do you want me to tell her, or are you going to pussy out on this one again?” Venom mockingly said while Eddie bit his lips together in frustration, trying his best to not lose his cool.

“No, well sorry, I meant to say that yea me and V made a deal that we just wanted to surprise you. Just you know I just want you to feel special tonight and well I got a surprise soft you too. But Venom wants to give him before mine,” Eddie said, shifting himself under his chair, feeling the small square box on the side of his right pocket.

“You guys are too much already and hehe Venom has a gift for me too? How exciting I wonder what it is?” Arli said as she took a bite of her steak while Eddie nodded his head.

“Pussy.” 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Once dinner was over, Venom then took out his gift from the fridge. It was a full fudge chocolate cake with some strawberries on top, placing it in front of Eddie and Arli on top of the table.

“Ta-da! This is my gift from me to you Arli, now let’s eat it,” Venom said as he cut an enormous piece of the cake with the kitchen knife, devouring his piece in one go.

“Hehe Venom, you’re so sweet and my favorite flavor of cake chocolate thank you V,” she said as she placed a small kiss against the symbiote’s left cheek, making the creature blush.

“Now it’s Eddie’s turn to give you his gift. Go on then if you are brave to do so,” He said while Eddie gave him an annoyed sideways gaze at him, wanting to slap him hard across the face. 

Before Eddie could say his next words, he then grabbed Arli’s hands in his as they stood up on their feet.

“Arli baby, I want to say first that you have been the best friend and girlfriend that I have ever met in my life. And I want to say thank you for being here with me from the very beginning,” he said, raising her hands and placing small kisses on top of them, making her smile bigger than before. “Come with me. I want to give you my gift in the bedroom.”

“Ok, you lead the way, my sweet boy,” she said as they made their way to the bedroom where they both shared.

“But I need you to close your eyes first before we go in, ok? Do you trust me?” He said as he still held onto her hands while she let out a chuckle.

“Hehe, I remember I told you that when we were up that building back in high school. You are a very funny babe and I do trust you very much, love. So lead the way and surprise me,” she said, still with a big smile on her face.

“Yeah right? And good baby, now can you close you’re for me, please? I’ll let you know when to open them,” he said as Arli then closed her eyes while Eddie took out the black square box with the ring inside it.

“Do you want me to open the door?” Venom asked while he whispered a quick “yes,” which Venom then used one of his tentacles to open the door for Eddie and Arli. 

Eddie took Arli’s hands, guiding her inside the dimly lit room while her eyes were closed shut. As they made it inside, Venom, then closed the door with his tentacle as Eddie felt nervous about what he was about to ask her next.

“Can I open my eyes now, Eddie?” Arli said as she clasped her hands together in front of her, while Eddie then got himself on one knee holding the box between his hands.

“No, not yet, babe. I want to say before you open your eyes, I love you so, so much. And I want to continue being your loving boyfriend and you continue being my girl,” he said as he caressed the little box with his fingers, feeling his heart pumping fast as he continued talking. “I would be the happiest man alive if you took this special gift and asked you if you… you would.”

“Go on Eddie, just like Mrs. Chen said she is a keeper, and just be yourself. She will say yes,” Venom said as Eddie then opened the small box and prepared to say the next words that would come out of his mouth.

“Arli my baby girl, would you be my wife forever?” he said, which made Arli gasp as she now slowly opened her eyes to see Eddie kneeling before her, seeing the small black box that contained the ring inside.

She noticed that they also decorated the room with some red and white candles while the bed had two bouquets of roses. And in between the flowers was a medium size black box with a nice dark blue bow on the top. She then looked back at Eddie fearfully, anticipatingly waiting for Arli’s reply.

“Is that the face of disappointment or excitement?” Venom then said this Eddie felt more anxious waiting to see what Arli would say about his proposal.

“Eddie, baby, this… this such all such a big shocker. I… I don’t know what to say to this love. This is so, so gorgeous. I love it and yes, I do so deeply want to be yours forever, Eddie Brock,” Arli said, can’t help holding back the smile and excitement building inside of her.

Eddie felt his heart relax as he let out a small chuckle that he was holding back all this time. He then stood up on his feet as he wrapped his enormous arms around her as he lifted her off the floor, twirling her around in 360.

“Haha, babe put me down please we might fall together,” she said as she continued to giggle as he then steadily placed her down on the bed next to her roses and gift.

“So it was the face of excitement. I knew that all along,” Venom said as Eddie then placed the ring on her finger, which fit perfectly as he hoped it would be.

“Yes V, it was the beautiful face of exhilaration,” Eddie said, caressing Arli’s hand, seeing the bright diamond ring on her finger as they kissed once again on the lips. 

They parted their lips away as Eddie handed over Arli’s gift, which she took with that bright smile she had on her face. She then untied the small bow from the top and in seconds took the lid off. 

“Eddie, you didn’t have to,” she said as she took out a 5 book set box of her favorite horror author. 

“You would always talk about this author so much that I got you this collection set. Do you like it, baby?”

“Like it? Babe, I Love It!!! Thank you so, so much and thank you Venom. You two are the best that I could ask for,” she said as she hugged Eddie around his neck as he placed a kiss on the side of her left cheek.

“Awww, she is cute. I might feel like I might cry,” Venom said as he turned Eddie’s left arm into his arm while hugging her and Eddie tightly between the three.

“I’m glad you loved them, my Arli. I’m happy that you loved everything that we gave you,” Eddie said, giving her another kiss on her cheek.

Arli leaned back as she placed the box set back into the box, setting it down on the carpet. She then grabbed the two bouquets of roses and settling them down with the box. She then placed a hard and soft kiss on Eddie’s plump lips, making him laid back on the soft white bed. Arli then let out a small moan between their lips as their tongue twirled lovingly. Eddie unbuttoned Arli’s black long blouse while their kiss continued. 

“Your so fucking hot baby, how did I get this lucky with you?” Eddie said as he kissed the side of her neck, making her moan out loud.

Arli helped Eddie get her blouse off from her, showing her dark red bra in front of him.

”Eddie, are you and Arli going to… do it again?” Venom nervously said, but Eddie didn’t listen to him as he was busy leaving a small hickey on Arli’s soft neck.

Eddie then squeezed her butt cheeks while kissing her between her tits Arli bit her bottoms lips at this reaction. 

“Baby, stop your teasing… make me your little slut tonight,” she said, as she helped Eddie take off his long sleeve gray shirt, revealing his muscular body in front of her. 

“Oh yeah? Do you want to talk dirty and make you be my naughty girl too? Alright baby, I’ll make you into one then. Get in your back,” he said as Arli got on her back while Eddie then undid her dark red bra, releasing her small and fleshy breasts. 

“I like when you let out her boobies. They always look yummy,” said Venom as Eddie then took in her right nipple as he playfully teased her left breast.

“Ohh fuck baby… hmmm yea,” Arli moaned feeling his teeth lightly biting and nibbling her right breast while he continued playing with her left breast.

He then made his way down to her stomach while caressing her right breast. He then unbuttoned her black jeans until he noticed Venom’s head popping out from him. 

“Guys… is it ok if I could join in?" Venom asked shyly. Arli then looked at Eddie, wondering if he felt comfortable if the black symbiote should join.

“V, if you want to join in with me and Eddie, you are more than welcome, just as long as you feel comfortable. I don’t want to see you do something that you don’t want to do, Eddie. Are you ok with this?” Arli said, wanting to be sure both boys agreed with her.

“Yeah, sure. Just if you do maybe get freaked out, V let us know, ok?” Eddie said as Venom nodded his head while Eddie finally unzipped Arli’s jeans.

“Arli, is it ok if I could lick your boobies?” Venom said as Eddie kissed Arli’s stomach, letting out a small whimper.

“Yes… Venom, that’s fine,” she said between moans, and Venom licked both of her breasts while Eddie removed her red panties, along with her black jeans.

Eddie planted kisses on both of Arli’s thighs, the symbiote, then licked the side of her neck. Her body filled with goosebumps while both Venom and Eddie gave her pleasures that she had never imagined before to feel. Eddie then twirled his tongue against her sensitive clit, making her gasp, and arched her back. The symbiote cupped her chin with one of his tentacles as he gave her a sweet kiss. Arli moaned between his mouth as she felt Eddie insert two fingers inside her warm core. 

“Oh, fuck you guys… yes, just like that,” she moaned out loud Venom then kissed and licked her lips while Eddie fucked her pussy with his fingers.

“You like that, don’t you, little bad girl?” Venom seductively said, caressing her tits with two of his tentacles, making her whimper out of control.

“Eddie, V… oh god yes don’t stop,” Arli said as she grabbed softly on Eddie’s brown locks as he tongued and fucked her continuously on her pink flower.

She felt she was about to reach her climax until Eddie then sat on his knees, removing his fingers away from her wet core.

Arli and Eddie then clasped into each other’s lips, tasting her own sweet juices off from his lips. Venom then unzipped Eddie’s pants as the two couples continued to kiss passionately and lovingly. Eddie was now laying on his back. Arli in no time kissed her way down towards where she wanted her mouth to be.

Eddie let out small moans while feeling her delicious wet lips trail down to his abdomen. He felt her hands slowly undo his jeans, along with his black boxers. Venom cupped her face with his tentacle again, giving her another small kiss.

“Hey, hey V, she’s mine. Take it easy,” Eddie said as he watched both his beautiful fiance and his best pal making out in front of him.

“Jealous much Eddie? Consider that she is ours now,” the creature said, giving a smirky smile Arli just giggled at this.

“Boys, boys, I love you both equally. I mean it a lot. Eddie sweetheart, you want me to suck that lovely cock of yours?” she said with a cheeky smile, wrapping her hands softly between his erected hard cock.

“Oh Arli babe, I want that so fucking much. Don’t make me wait anymore longer and fuck me with your mouth please,” he said as he felt her sucking on the top of his dick, letting out a hot moan.

Venom felt the vibration through Eddie, loving how pleasurable and amazing it felt as she continued to suck his cock. Eddie grabbed a fist full of Arli’s light brown hair as she bobbed her head up and down at a steady pace.

“Oh, fuck… shit… yes R, just… oh fuck, please don’t stop,” Eddie whimpered, tightening his fist on her hair while Venom let out a pleasing groan.

“Yes, yes Arli, this tingling feeling you’re making us feel is so good,” Venom said as she massaged Eddie’s balls with her left hand, making both boys moan at the same time.

“Fuck… I might cum,” Eddie burst, feeling his insides building up little by little.

Arli came to a brief halt, feeling drips of her saliva streaming down on the corner of her mouth, hearing Venom whine at her stopping giving head.

“Hehe, don’t worry Venom, the best part of having sex is just beginning,” Arli said, getting on top of Eddie giving him another wet kiss on his lips, tasting his own somewhat sweet cum.

“I can’t wait to feel that fluffy feeling while you guys fuck,” said the symbiote as Arli became to grind against Eddie’s length, hearing Venom moan at this feeling.

She then made herself get comfortable between him and her genitals until, not long after, Arli sank down on Eddie’s cock. Making all three couples moan in unison as she then rocked her hips back and forth. Eddie placed his hands on top of her hips as she continued her rhythmical thrusts against Eddie’s hard rock.

“Fucking hell baby… oh yeah, who is my little naughty girl?” Eddie demanded as he grabbed both of her breasts with his large hands while Venom kissed the side of her neck.

“Just like that, Arli, make us feel good and dirty,” Venom said against her left ear, sending chills down her spine as she picked up the pace. 

She moaned louder than Eddie’s cock was hitting the right places inside of her warm walls, feeling like she was above the clouds. As he thrust rocked faster and faster, Arli aggressively kissed her soon-to-be husband’s lips. Groaning and moaning between their lips as Eddie now thrust his cock upwards against her small, tight pussy. Venom liked this new pleasuring feeling as he then fingered her clit with the tip of one of his tentacles. This made Arli fall off the edge, feeling her climax was about to burst soon.

“Eddie… Venom, FUCKKK!!!!” she moaned out, feeling both their orgasms burst as Eddie rocked out his semen inside of her warm canal.

Not long after, Eddie, Arli, and Venom felt relaxed catching their breaths while she rested on top of Eddie’s chest. Hearing his now steady relaxed heartbeats, while he caressed his hand up and down behind her back. Venom then gave a small kiss on top of Arli’s head as he removed a small lock of her hair behind her right ear.

“Arli, do you feel ok? You don’t feel hurt or anything that seems wrong?” Venom said while Eddie placed a kiss on top of her head, feeling his warm chest rising up and down on the side of her face.

“I feel good Venom. I got to say that was the best sex that we three have ever had. We should do it more often in the future, which I enjoyed ever so much. My boys, where would I be if I didn’t have you two in it in my life? I’m grateful for the two of you so much. Thank you for everything tonight,” Arli said, feeling her eyes drooping off to sleep while hearing both boys say “you're welcome,” in unison.

“Arli, are you sleeping? Eddie is she awak-.”

”Shh V, she is sleeping. Let’s not make too much noise. Either way, I’m beat too. We should all go to bed, still my birthday gift was better than yours,” Eddie said as he pulled up the white blankets over his and Arli’s body, giving her another kiss on her forehead.

”No, mine was much more delicious and edible than those red plant things, the silver ring and those small covers you humans call “books,” Venom said in a little tantrum which Eddie ignored as he closed his eyes while a big smile was glued to his face.

“I got no time for this and I’m going to ignore you now, so goodnight V,” he said as he hugged Arli close to him, hearing a low hum coming out from her.

I love you so much, my Arli Brock.”

🖤💙🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤🌗💙🖤💙🌗🖤💙🌗🖤💙🌗🖤💙🌗🖤💙🌗

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[cannibalcoyote]

Unraveled Ch.3: The Family

Ch.2 Ch.4

After doing some paperwork for about an hour Ellie suddenly runs into the office, rushing over to my desk.

"Come on Els! The beach has been blocked off and we're both being called down there. Apparently there is a body." Ellie whispers quickly to me in distress.

I look up at her, feeling my memories attempting to resurface, but I quickly push them back, swallowing my nerves as I put on my cold, stern exterior. We quickly walked out of the department, hopping into our respective cars and heading over to the beach. I can constantly feel the memories of that little girl's body in the water trying to pick its way into my vision, but I shake it off. I couldn't avenge her, but I can try and solve whoever it is that we find.

Flashing our badges we park our cars and get access to the beach, I stumble slightly in the sand as Ellie and I weave through the small group of people beginning to crowd against the police tape.

We walk straight up to the tape, quickly being allowed in by the uniforms, Ellie going first and walking towards the body. I, however, feel myself slowing down, the waves rolling and the image of a child's dead body being all too similar. My mind and my body feel disconnected, like I am physically here but my mind is simply watching the nauseating scene unfold.

The only thought in my mind being, 'Is this penance for my downfalls, God?', closing my eyes and sharply reopening them I push myself forwards, watching Ellie beginning to get emotional, I think I heard her saying 'no' and 'I know this boy.' Both of these caused my blood to run just that much colder.

I trek towards the body with false confidence, keeping my eyes trained on the body. I can see figures of the D.I. and Ellie having a slight confrontation in my peripheral vision, but I pay them no mind as I spot the body of Danny Latimer lying in the cold sand.

I then look up when I hear an all too familiar accent and tone. The buried feeling of longing resurfacing as the voice awakens old memories.

"Shut it down. You're working a case now!" His voice was serious and his accent Scottish, I finally look up to see his face. He luckily hasn't seen me yet, but seeing him causes my striding over there to hesitate greatly as I feel my facade of confidence crumbling in mere seconds.

He introduced himself to Ellie but I care not about that, all I can focus on is the face of my best friend, Alec Hardy. Luckily they are talking about Danny, him turning around as Ellie identifies the body, Alec turning around as he learns this information. The sickening feeling in my gut is only growing in this whole situation, but I push myself forward. I've got a crime to solve now and I can't let past personal experience interfere with that.

I walk forwards, my feet feeling heavy, the type of heavy like when your boots are filled with water that can never be emptied. I only stop when I reach Ellie, trying to stay out of Alec's view.

"Ellie? Is that who I think it is?" My question rang through the tense air, my voice soft and accent not as noticeable. Ellie jumped in fright before realizing it's me.

"How bad are the uniforms at keeping civilians out of a crime scene?!" Alec exclaims in anger, luckily not looking at me yet.

"They're not that bad, seeing as I'm no civilian Alec." I state. Ellie looks at me in surprise and confusion as I call our new D.I. by his first name. Even he freezes at my tense greeting, almost as if having a moment of realization at hearing my voice. He slowly turns to see my face, the face of his missing best friend, the face of a person he desperately longed for though thought he would never see again.

"Elswyth?" His soft yet gruff voice is full of longing and questioning. His eyes seemingly darkening in sadness as he remembers our past together. Sadly we don't get long to remember as I hear the sound of someone who is not going to take this situation well at all, Beth Latimer.

"Oh, God, who's that?" Alec questions as he shifts his gaze to the distraught mother.

Ellie and I both looked as well with wide eyes, seeing one of our closest friends and mother to the now deceased Danny. We both glance at each other before stumbling forwards, holding our arms out to catch Beth before she can reach Danny. Ellie is telling her she can't be here, but my only focus is to keep her from reaching Danny. I grab her, struggling as she pulls me slightly forward, Alec grabbing her too until the uniforms finally rush over and drag her back, Beth fighting violently as she screams about how those are Danny's trainers, screaming both of our names in despair.

I quickly look away, stumbling backwards slightly, this is all wrong, it's happening all over again. I feel as though I'm going to collapse and be sick when two strong arms grasp me quickly, holding me against their chest as comforting words are spoken quietly. I recognize him, his smell and touch are the same even after not seeing him for so long. He turns me around, as I rest my head against him, his arms wrapped tightly around me as we both understand how this is affecting each other.

After a few more moments I push away from him, I can't let Ellie see this, she would quickly catch on to what happened in my past, and I don't want her hating me like how she loathes Alec. He looks at me as I stumble back again, reaching out to steady me but I push his hands away, he stops immediately, looking down slightly and lowering his hand at my rejection. I can't stand looking at him sad, so instead I turn to Ellie, her hands against her forehead at the despair of Beth. I quickly pull her into a hug, I know this is going to be one of the worst experiences of her life, and I have to be there to make sure it doesn't end up how my case did.

——————————

We're walking along the cliffs, the tape now blocking the edge. We all walk through the y'all grass, I cross my arms across my body as a form of comfort, the waves below splashing loudly.

"They let people walk along here, no safety barriers?" Alec questions, his tone confused as to why.

"It's the coastal path, people know to be careful." Ellie responds simply, all of us continuing to trudge through the tall grass.

"It's a death trap." Alec states as he looks behind us then back around. I give a small, almost nonexistent smile at how blunt he still is, hopefully he doesn't realize how much I've missed his rudely blunt and socially awkward personality.

We continue walking, finally running into SOCO at the crime scene.

"How's it going?" Alec asks as we stop to speak with Brian.

"Well, from what we've got up here, sir, it's looking like the rockfall around the body was faked." Brian responded solemnly. My eyes going dark as I now know for sure that this is a murder.

"What do you mean?" Ellie questions. I hold in my sigh of annoyance as I remember that I can't be mad, this is after all her first murder, as well as this town's first murder; I'm going to have to be patient for Ellie. Brian continues to talk but I feel my mind wandering elsewhere as I examine the area in my head, already having seen that there was no proof Danny was even up here, I then begin to think of all possible suspects, the family are always suspects at first, as well as anyone he might've seen on a day to day basis.

I don't even realize we're leaving until I hear my name being yelled, "Els! Let's go!" I quickly look over to see Alec glance over at my frozen form before walking down the path and Ellie waving me over before following Alec. I quickly run over to catch up, hearing Alec telling Ellie to get the pathologist to hurry up even if it's preliminary. I walk a few feet behind them both, my head looking down at the steps until I hear a sharp yell that grabs my attention.

"D.S. Miller! D.S. Carlisle!"

"Who's that?" Alec questions Ellie as to why someone is shouting our names. I look up to see the one and only obnoxious reporter, Olly Stevens. I push in between them, pushing both of them forwards faster.

"Just keep walking." Ellie sighs as she picks up the pace.

"Ellie! Els!" Olly shouts as if we're best buds.

"He seems to know both of you." Alec states, albeit a little bitterly as he looks at me. I roll my eyes knowing exactly what he's thinking.

"Auntie Ellie! Auntie Els!"

"No no no, don't pull that bullshit Olly." I angrily snarl as I continue walking, now leaving the other two behind as I head to my car.

"I told you, don't do that!" I hear Ellie practically growl at him in annoyance. I ignore them as I go to open my door, looking back to see Alec scowl and release a disgusted sound when hearing Olly works for the Broadchurch Echo. I smile slightly at that scowl upon his face, it makes me remember back to when I would call him Hardy when we were younger and he would scowl in annoyance before returning the favor and calling me Carlisle. I realize what I'm doing and wipe the smile off my face, slipping into my old Alfa Romeo and waiting for Ellie to leave, hearing bits of their conversation and how they're not giving statements.

Olly, seeming to not have any luck with them, instead rushes over to my car.

"Auntie Els, I heard there was a body?"

"Don't pull that shit Oliver, we're not giving statements right now, and you are not allowed to speculate. Now shut it and wait till we give a proper statement." Feeling pissed I slam my door, harshly shifting gears before I speed off to follow Ellie to the Latimer house.

——————————

We all exit our vehicles, Ellie looking a little confused and perturbed. Alec must've told her to tell him if the family we're acting odd. I understand why she's acting like that, but she needs to understand that right now everybody's a suspect. Ellie walks up to the doors first, Alec hangs back and pulls me aside.

"Els, I know this case is bringing up bad memories, if you want to hang back in the cars I understand." Alec states, his normally rough Scottish voice now quiet and concerned. I smile slightly, resting my hand against his shoulder as he looks at my eyes.

"I would love to take up that offer, but this is Ellie's first homicide, and I can't let her face that with you, I know you understand what you're doing, but Ellie won't listen to you, she needs me there to guide her." I pat his chest before walking up to the door, Mark answering it. A flash of uncertainty streaming across his eyes as he greets Alec, Ellie, and myself.

We enter their home, meeting the whole family in the living room. Beth standing up, anxious and restless as she already knows why we're here. Her daughter Chloe, gazing up at me as if begging me to tell them it's not Danny. I look away, the ground becoming my sole focus as they take their seats.

"Hi I'm Detective Inspector Alec Hardy, and I believe you know D.S. Miller and D.S. Carlisle" Alec introduces, inviting them to sit down as he grabs me and himself a chair. We all sit down, the whole family distraught, Ellie barely keeping it together, and Alec being the one forced to keep it together. I'm simply there, I'm there for Ellie and the family, and now I'm also here to make sure that Alec is alright as well.

"The body of a young boy was found..." Alec starts before Beth interrupts, being hushed by Mark before he tells Alec to continue.

"We believe it's Danny's body." Alec states.

Beth looks over at us as she breaks down, "Please Ellie, Elspeth... Was it him?" Beth's question destroys Ellie, she looks over at me before nodding in confirmation to Beth. Beth breaking down even more now, Ellie being unable to hold in some of her tears.

The whole family shudders, the dread of the situation amplifies as everyone cries and Mark attempts to keep it together and hold the family.

I have a feeling of complete emptiness, this is the second murder of a child I have to investigate where I know the family personally, and this is going to be the one to destroy what was left of my shattered soul. My hands shake slightly, and Alec discreetly reaches over to hold them, running his thumb over the top of my hand to calm me down whilst still keeping an eye on the family's reaction. I knew this case was hitting close to home for him as well, so I attempted to soothe him as well, squeezing his hands in thanks and comfort.

Ch.2 Ch.4

#broadchurch #broadchurch imagines #broadchurch oneshot #broadchurch series #alec hardy #ellie miller #joe miller #tom miller #murder mystery #david tennant x reader #david tennant #david tennant imagine #alec hardy oneshot #alec hardy imagine #alec hardy x reader #alec hardy x y/n #x you #x you fluff #female reader #england #murder

[inkwolvesandcoffee]

Mokum Part 1 (Alfie Solomons x Reader, Modern AU)

Genre: Romance, Angst, Humour, Modern AU

Pairing: Tattoo Artist!Alfie Solomons x Dutch Fem!Reader

Word count: 16.7K

Warnings: Swearing/Cussing, mention of a certain disease (not going to give further spoilers to save the plot), Alfie being a tooth-rotting fluffy gentleman, vaping, fighting, injuries, unrequited crush/love/lust (or is it?), Papa Solomons (yes, that is a warning in and of itself).

Summary: Sequel to Ink & Rum Raisins.

Alfie

The little dove and old wolf made a promise to meet again in September. Now, the wolf, right, he had done some thinkin’ and noticed his thoughts kept returnin’ to the little dove. Stranger still is how his emotions are more unstable than usual when she is involved, his fuse is shorter, his words harder to come by than usual. His thoughts have started to turn to the things he’s deemed impossible, remembering the wishes and ambitions he once had before discoverin’ how wicked the world is. He thought of them as he prepared to uphold his end of the bargain.

Now, the wolf is nothing but honest to the little dove. However, sometimes, yeah, sometimes it’s better to only tell a half-truth. Not a full lie, for a king lyin’ to a woman is a pest. A half-truth, right, half true. The little dove knows this too for she, as it turns out, feeds him slivers of what goes on in her funny little mind, her story, as well.

Old, grey, and damaged, the wolf had resigned to the fact his tale would be over soon. Yet, his clever associate, though she doesn’t know, made him change his mind.

Because he wants her to be part of his story and vice versa.

If only to know how it plays out.

How it ends.

Y/N

Our thoughts revolve around what we crave, what we long for so much it hurts. But that’s Love, innit? It’s the type of Love which makes you go mad with fancy, finding bits of your distant dream in the little things.

A bottle of rum. A scarf. Krentenbollen.

A wind chime. Space bunnies. The vague memory of drawings in a notebook.

A wolf.

There is only today and tomorrow before I’m left with these scraps. After all, a story can only go on for a limited amount of time. But, if you take a closer look, you’ll find the details tell a story of their own.

One I hope to remain a part of.

Because I fear the end.   

Author’s Note: So... my hand slipped while writing and editing and now we have another behemoth filled with yearning and mixed signals. I suppose the next part won’t be any shorter. Anyways, moving on!

I came across @solomons-finest-rum‘s piece called האָב דיך ליב איך, in which the reader learns a bit of Yiddish to surprise her husband with while celebrating their anniversary. Now, it was this that inspired me to more or less implement the same idea in this story. However, seeing as I don’t speak a word of the language myself, I had to resort to online translating. Therefore, if you see any mistakes or general mistranslations, please let me know! I’ll edit them right away.

Also, Mokum is a nickname for Amsterdam and is actually Yiddish for ‘place’ or ‘safe haven’. In bargoens (a form of Dutch slang), it had quite negative connotations. However, the semantics changed in the 20th century and the nickname is now used by Amsterdammers in a sentimental context.

Lastly, let me know whether the h-dropping makes this piece harder to read. If it does, I’ll leave the accent feature out in the future.

I’ve bent your ear (eye?) long enough. Sit back, make a cup of coffee or tea (or get a glass of rum, whatever you fancy), get a snack, maybe a tissue, and enjoy.

TH Masterlist / Monster Masterlist

Tag list: @buttercup32sstuff @liliac-dreamer @vir-tual  @potter-solomons @ilovemanypeople @zablife​ @hecatemoon87​​ @alikaheroes

Want to be tagged in the future? Send me a message or leave a comment and I’ll make sure to add ye! 

Mid-September in The Netherlands, a time between the last breath of summer and the first chills of autumn. The temperatures slowly but noticeably lower, showers almost a daily occurrence. The sun still shines, warm and comforting after getting absolutely drenched to the bone.

Mid-September.

When I can’t even get my Starbucks order straight, too occupied with the destination of the train I’ll board in a wee bit.

“… cream?”

“Hm?” Blinking like an eejit, I stare blankly at the barista. “I’m so sorry, I was distracted.”

“It’s alright, no worries. I said the coffee normally comes with cream and asked if that’s okay.”

“Ehm, could I get it without?”

“Sure! Can I get a name?”

“Y/N.”

“Anything else?”

I throw a last glance upon the slice of pumpkin loaf in the display and sigh, common sense gaining the upper hand and urging me to not overdo it. “No, that’s all.”

I pay and move towards the end of the counter to wait. A few moments later one of the other baristas calls out my name and hands me the nectar of the autumn gods. 

Clutching the pumpkin spice latte, I head for the window seats overlooking the street outside the mall. A few cars are queuing up in front of the traffic lights of the big crossing leading to Vredenburg. A group of high schoolers or perhaps students, it’s hard to distinguish one from the other nowadays with barely anyone looking their age, race each other up the stairs leading to the parking lot beneath the mall. 

Sipping on the spiced drink, I scroll through Instagram to gain inspiration for new ink. Or that’s the plan, but I rather find myself continuously switching between my feed and the message function, tempted to send Alfie a picture of my drink and the current view. It wouldn’t be the first time to send him a photo and a little message. After all, I’d done it before when I selected the picture of all the ones he took after completing Anubis on my thigh, another one of his masterpieces.

We created a bloody masterpiece, didn’t we?

The words echo in my head as my eyes wander to my thigh. 

He said ‘we’. We did it. Together.

Of course there’s nothing to see aside from black denim, but I can nevertheless picture the god of the afterlife as perfectly clear as if I was wearing those blasted shorts again. By the way, they are now put to rest in the shadows of the back of my closet, not to see the light of day until summer absolutely calls for it. But I can also vividly recall something else.

How his hand felt on my thigh while prepping the skin and applying the stencil, the grip gentle yet strong, encouraging surrender yet not going out of bounds and hurting me. Then there  was the way my hand felt in his, comically large compared to mine, as he led me to the makeshift photo studio. His calloused palm felt warm beneath my own, sturdy and protective.

Secure.

Safe.

I tap on the little icon in the corner of the screen and then on Alfie’s username, TheWanderingKing1888. I breathe in deeply to gather my courage and begin to type.

Got myself a pumpkin spice latte.

Followed by a pumpkin and smiling cat emoji.

Delete.

Almost on my way to Amsterdam.

Thumbs up emoji.

Delete.

Pumpkin spice latte by myself. Feels lonely.

How the fuck did I think that was a good thing to write?

Delete. Delete it! Delete it now!

I let out a deep sigh and hang my head.

For-fucking-get it. It’ll likely only annoy him, anything that isn’t business.

Especially the hilariously bad attempts of a young girl trying to win an older man’s heart.

A curious sound rings in my ear. I glance around the coffee shop, but nobody else seems to have heard it. The chatter continues, nobody sparing so much as a glance at me. A mother and daughter in the corner among the plants rise from the brown leather seats, arms laden with shopping bags. Next to me a girl sits down and sets up her laptop, likely about to have a quick study session before a seminar or lecture. We exchange polite smiles and retreat into ourselves again.

Nobody heard the noise.

Like a butterfly’s wings were ripped away.

I glance at my watch. Ten minutes before the next train to Amsterdam.

Better hurry.

Drink in hand, I sling my bag over my shoulder and head for the station.

The trains to Amsterdam, or, as I like to call it thanks to my grandpa, Mokum, are as hellish as usual. Regardless of the time of day, you’re guaranteed to be packed like a sardine in a can if you don’t manage to find a seat. The pandemic has largely changed the way we interact and I’m entirely honest when I say I generally keep my distance from people and refuse to sit down next to strangers. However, I make an exception when it comes to the train in this direction because I don’t particularly fancy standing for half an hour to forty-five minutes with a whole day of walking ahead of me. Fortunately, I’m in luck and the solo seat in the carriage is still available. I plop down on it and lean back, growing more excited by the minute at the prospect of seeing Alfie again.

Will he really have that bottle of rum he promised me? Likely not. He was merely being nice, wasn’t he?

Nonetheless, even if he was simply being polite and the promise turns out to be loose, my heart skips a beat when the train comes into motion. The music playing over my headphones fades into background noise, the scenery outside the window replaced with a life-like repeat of what happened in Birmingham.

His smile, bright enough to show his slightly crooked teeth.

His eyes, bright like a sunny day at the beach with mischief one moment and dark and pensive like a fierce autumn storm in the next.

His sturdy grip on the back of my thigh after making sure he had my explicit consent and the many inquiries afterwards. 

His simple though heartfelt apology.

My fingers warm at the memory of how he kissed them before we said goodbye. Had he been as hesitant to let me go as I was to leave?

For a moment, the feeling travels to my lips, the ghost of his plush ones mixing with the scent of dark vanilla and oud wood.

An image flashes by of Alfie nestled between my legs, his heavy weight pinning me down on the mattress while he holds my hand and we kiss.

Wishful thinking.

I rub my lip and snicker.

Some fool, you are. Like that will ever happen.

The solo seat is a blessing and a curse. One the one hand, it allows you to retreat into your personal bubble. On the other hand, there’s no space for another person, a possible connection.

One sits in loneliness, enraptured by dreams.

Ah, what a wonderful curse is the artist's. To be in love with a distant dream and take him for your Muse.

Amsterdam is busy as usual. I don’t think I’ve seen the station devoid of suitcases, rushing people, and fragments of various languages carried throughout the hallways. Aside from during the pandemic.

I take a left towards the water, what we call ‘’t Ij’. Another look at my watch tells me I have yet little more than an hour to go before the convention starts.

Why, of all days, didn’t I bring a book today?

I groan and look around the passage, debating whether or not to turn back to cross the station and pop into the city centre or stay put and settle down at a coffee shop. If Alfie was here, I’d have someone to talk to with the added bonus of getting to spend more time together. Selfish, innit, to wish for such a thing? Futile too. 

Apparently, though, the issue of having too much time on my hands is solved faster than I thought.

Someone rests their hands on my shoulders.

What the fuck?

“Mother of god!” The hairs on the back of my neck raised in alarm, I tense and spin on my heel, palm raised and ready to lash out. 

“Sorry, I’m not.” As if being held at gun-point, my surprise non-assailant takes a step back. 

“Michael,” I lower my hand, sheepishly sticking it into the pocket of my coat. “Jaysus fuck. Hey, hi. Howya?”

“Good. You?” Michael visibly relaxes, the tenseness in his muscles melted. 

“Still alive despite the heart attack you gave me,” I chuckle. “I thought you’d already be at the convention.”

He smiles a sweet boyish smile. “I let Tommy know I’d come later. You’re on your way too?”

“Yeah, but,” I look at my watch, only ten minutes have passed since my arrival, “it seems I’m extremely early. The convention opens in an hour and I don’t think it’ll take that long to get there with the ferry.”

“It isn’t too early for lunch,” he says suggestively, greenish blue eyes bright. “I haven’t had breakfast so… I don’t know if you’re hungry, but- uhm, this might be a bit forward, but would you- but I’d like it if you-” he closes his eyes and lets out a deep sigh through his nose, brow furrowed as he rethinks what it is he wants to say. After a moment, he seems to have strung the words together correctly or, at least, sufficiently enough. “Sorry, I meant to ask if you’d like to keep me company while getting something to eat.”

Although I’m not big on lunch, I know the pumpkin spice latte won’t keep me on my feet. So, if I’m going to eat, I might as well do it with a nice guy like him. “I’ll admit I’m getting rather peckish.”

“My treat?”

“Michael, that’s very sweet, but-’’

“It’s alright, Y/N. I don’t mind. So,” he rubs the back of his neck while making an effort to maintain eye contact, “that’s… that’s a yes?”

“Yes.’’

As soon as the word has left my mouth, a bright boyish smile spreads on his lips. Like an excited puppy, he bounces on his heels. ‘‘Well, then, let’s find someplace, eh?’’ 

We don’t take the time to properly look around for a place to eat, but immediately settle for the vegan café behind us. Michael opts for a wrap with roasted veggies while I decide to keep things light with a cup of yoghurt and granola.

“Are you sure that’s enough?” he asks, looking at the tray in his hands. Compared to his order, mine looks rather like a side for it.

I shrug. “It’s fine. I’m not a big eater. Besides, I’ve just had a nice pumpkin spice latte which will keep me going for a while.”

He tilts his head, the amusement in his voice hardly concealed. “Ever thought about getting a pumpkin spice tattoo?”

“Don’t give me ideas.”

“I’m serious, though. At least get a protein bar or fruit salad. I don’t know if you’ll actually get some new ink today, but I don’t want you to pass out because of an empty stomach in case you do.”

His genuine concern renders me speechless. Here I was, thinking we’d have lunch as mere acquaintances. Yet, here we are. Familiar up to the point of friendship.

Stranger still is me doing as he says and returning to the cooling by the window to grab a cup of pineapple pieces. Normally, I would have insisted there’s no need to be worried about me.

That I’m fine.

Always.

Even when no one else is watching my back. 

It seems I’ve come across two exceptions to the rule. One is Michael, who hardly hides a relieved smile when I put the cup of fruit on the tray. The other, I suppose, is Alfie. He constantly checked in on me, shooed Arthur away, and made sure I stayed hydrated.

Then again, those are general things he’d likely do for any customer. For how many women hasn’t he done the same?

Proper care, my arse. I was nothing but a client, still am nothing aside from a potential source of income.

Befriend your customer and they’ll come back for more. Or, in this case, also gain her friendship and trust, have her show you around, and make the most out of your trip. It’s clever.

And I’m stupid enough to go along with it.

In the distance, the same peculiar noise from the coffee shop sounds.

Rip.

“Y/N,” Michael asks. He takes me in, his features marred by concern. “Are you alright? You’re looking a little pale.”

He also didn’t hear it. I must be going mad.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine,” I say, voice more hoarse and close to breaking than I want it to be. “Don’t mind me.”

He glances around the café, looking for a free table. Judging by his grim expression, this topic is far from over. “Let’s find a place to sit.”

I trail behind him as we make our way upstairs and settle by a table in the corner, which overlooks the water and ferries below. Absent-minded, I mix the granola into the yoghurt and nibble on a piece of pineapple while Michael stares at me, his food untouched.

“What were you thinking about?” he asks, breaking the silence.

“Nothing.”

“Didn’t seem like it. One minute you’re animated and chatty. The next you look like you’re about to cry.” He leans in, fingers woven together. “Is it something I did?”

If butterflies could cry, would they when they tear their wings? Or are they too enamoured with the rose to notice, only crying when it’s too late and they’ve fallen?

“No,” I sigh. I bite my lip and force myself to meet his gaze. “It’s not you. I just… I have this tendency to go with the fairies.”

“It’s Solomons, isn’t it?” Passively aggressively, though more so the latter, he cuts his wrap into pieces. I don’t think it’s far-fetched to wager he’s thinking about cutting Alfie into pieces. “I swear, if I get my hands on that cunt…”

Enough!

“Michael, he didn’t do anything,” I retort, trying to wring out the words as kindly as possible despite the stiffness in my jaw.

If anyone’s to blame for my melancholy, it’s me. My inaction, my cowardice.

The silly fancies of a lovesick woman. 

“He’s bad news, Y/N. I’ll be honest, it worries me you’ve taken a liking to him.”

My lips curl into a sneer. “Just because you don’t like him-’’

“The money he earns isn’t real. It isn’t honest.”

I scoff and roll my eyes. 

“He’s a gangster!” He slams his hands on the table and gets up. 

“Not anymore!” I roar. 

My outburst scares the elderly couple seated at the table on the other side of the pathway. Mortified though curious, they look at us but quickly mind their own business again when we make an apologetic gesture at them.

He told me so himself. No more fighting, gangs and firms. And he sure as hell doesn’t earn dirty money!

“Look,” Michael takes a deep breath and sits down again, “all I’m saying is you can do better.”

With you. That’s what you’re gonna say, innit?

But he doesn’t. 

End of topic.

End of the conversation. 

A silence settles in, filled with an underlying hostility rather than the amiability present in the quiet moments with Alfie. We both eat our food, neither of us open for communication, enclosed by our own personal bubbles. My stomach coils with dread, the cold silence growing more and more suffocating by the second. Eventually, it becomes unbearable to the point swallowing a piece of pineapple takes effort. 

The same goes for speaking the words to break the icy wall between us, careful and hesitant. “You said you haven’t had breakfast. Did you sleep in or…”

“Pulled an all-nighter drawing.” Michael wipes his mouth on a napkin, his voice steady and kind like before. “I’ve been meaning to create an art book, which includes designs I’ve already tattooed as well as some I’ve never shown anyone before.”

“Or are completely new.”

“Exactly.” He fishes his tablet out of his bag. “Would you like to take a look?”

“An exclusive sneak peek? How can I say no to that?”

Despite the argument, I actually still like the young man across the table. At least enough not to want to get on his wrong side. Perhaps I can get a fragile chip of friendship out of him, salvaged from the damage done. 

He starts up his tablet, opens an app, and hands the device alongside the electronic pencil over to me. “Here you go. Feel free to tap whatever document you like.”

I check out the various designs, filling the silence with a soft tick tick tick which stands in a funny contrast to the scraping of metal on metal caused by Michael’s tableware.

The colours are vibrant, each design respectful of the meaning behind the symbolism while the overall composition is in harmony. I especially remain stuck staring at a design which incorporates a bit of neo-traditionalism. Two nine-tailed foxes sit beneath a Sakura tree, a few dainty pastel pink petals dwindle to the ground behind them. In the distance sits a temple with an ornate red roof. 

“I’d never get bored looking at these.’’ I briefly look up to show my sincerity before returning to happily leaving through the designs. ‘‘They’re beautiful, Michael.”

“If you want, I could give you a copy when it’s out. A careful grin tugs on the corners of his lips. “I’ll even sign it.”

“I’d love that. It’ll get a place of honour in my bookcase.”

“Much appreciated.” He looks out the window. “The ferry will be here in ten. Let’s go.”

We eat the last of the food, clean up, and put the tray on a trolley before joining the others on the quay. Unfortunately, neither of us are prepared for the large dark grey cloud that passes over. Of course, we’re too late to participate in the struggle for cover beneath the wee awning nearby, so we hunch our shoulders and keep our heads low in the burst of rain while hoping the ferry will arrive fast.

Which it does, drifting towards the pier a minute later. 

As soon as the horde of passengers has left, Michael and I go with the flow of the crowd trying to board the ferry. Fortunately, we manage to find a spot on deck where we can at least stretch our arms without slapping someone in the face and are sheltered against the rain should it start again. 

I pull out my phone to make a quick snapshot of my half-soaked coat and shoes to edit and upload on Instagram as a Story.

It’s not raining. It’s pouring. Add to Story. There.

Throughout the journey, we stand close together to share what little heat our bodies generate. The wind is fierce, relentlessly sending chills down my spine, while the rain comes and goes, softly clattering against the windows of the ferry.

And in a typical Dutch manner, the sun shines bright once we step off the boat at NDSM. The weather truly is as fickle as our parliament.

We move out of the way of the other passengers and take in our surroundings. It’s not entirely unjustified when I say we must look like tourists, either lost or ignorant as to what to do in this part of town. I mean, in a sense we are.

“Do you know how to get there?” I ask. Surely his cousins have already shown him around the venue if not at least given him directions regarding how to get there. 

“Uhm, no?” Michael admits sheepishly, holding a hand up to shield his eyes against the sun. 

Well, that’s just grand, innit?

“Me neither, but that direction” I point to our right, where a couple of red-brick refurbished edifices stand tall, “looks far more likely to have warehouses than this one. Otherwise, I guess we’ll have to follow the crowd. Maddening as it might be.”

He chuckles. “You’re funny.”

“I am aware I have the tendency to be unironically ironic. Also prone to making puns.”

“Well, keep ‘em coming because Arthur’s are godawful.”

Eventually, regardless of our excellent sense of direction, we end up trailing behind a small group of people who seem to be headed for the convention. Turns out, the way is much simpler than we initially thought and fairly a matter of walking straight ahead. Again, I’d like to reiterate we have great navigating skills, which simply gave us the signal we had to follow the others in order to find our destination. There was no risk of getting lost whatsoever.

Would Alfie have helped if I sent him a message saying I'm lost? Would he… would he even come pick me up? Gods, I’m getting more pathetic by the bloody second. 

A burly figure in a long grey tweed pea coat and a white scarf around his neck stands in the middle of the parking lot. Upon closer inspection, he’s dressed for the weather, the outfit reminiscent of the fact autumn is around the corner. A beige sweater, dark grey trainers which I dare to bet are waterproof, and black jeans to match. A simple yet charming look that riles up the familiar storm of butterflies in my stomach. 

Were it not for the slippery concrete and the fact we’re not close friends or anything of the sort, I’d have given into the urge to run up to Alfie and either jump on his back or hug him from behind. He’d turn around and wrap me up in his arms, keeping me close to his big warm body. Nice and cosy.

Safe in a world of our own.

A world that doesn’t exist.

Tír na nÓg. 

“You’re late,” Alfie grumbles as we approach. His expression darkens when he notices my companion. 

“I would’ve come earlier, but we,” I gesture from Michael to me, “took a detour. Besides, the convention just opened.”

“And already you ‘ave treacle glued to your shoe.” He takes us both in, a sneer forming on his lips when his gaze falls on me. “Couldn’t even bring an umbrella to shield ‘er against the rain.”

“Like you have one on you,” Michael retorts.

“Actually, I do ‘ave one, but it’s inside.”

“You also could have gone and picked her up yourself if you’re so concerned.”

“I could’ve,” the corners of Alfie’s mouth curl up into a careful though sly grin, “but she’s a big girl. She can take care of ‘erself.”

I can, but, today, it would’ve been nice if you did. Although, the day’s hardly begun so there’s still hope.

It quickly becomes exhausting when it is constantly you who's looking out for yourself. And despite the fact I loathe depending on others, it is Alfie who I depend on for my dreams and feelings. Female desire, especially the female artist’s, is both dark and pathetic. It is full of fancy, but also prone to fleeting. Nevertheless, I hope it remains, fossilised in Time, crystallised like the patterns in history.

“To be fair, we didn’t agree on a time. Besides, he had to be here early to set up, didn’t you?” I interfere, looking at Alfie.

“See?’’ Eyebrows raised in mock surprise, he gestures to me. ‘‘The little lady gets it.”

“Why are you picking his side?” Michael mutters in my ear.

“Because I think I should. Still,” I speak up even though Alfie likely has heard me perfectly the first time around, “thank you for walking me here, but I think you should crack on and see what your cousins are up to. Can’t let them have your hide before the release of your art book, eh?”

“Art book?” Alfie echoes quizzically.

“Yes, Solomons, you’re not the only one capable of publishing one,” Michael responds, the words dripping with venomous sarcasm. 

“Watch it, kid.” The other man’s knuckles turn white with strain. If I don’t yet again interrupt the conversation soon, I can very well imagine Alfie using that cane for violence beyond imagining. 

Henceforth, albeit against my very nature, I put a hand on Michael’s shoulder and give it an encouraging squeeze. “I’ll drop by later, okay?”

“Fine.” He breathes in and exhales deeply. “I’ll see you later, but, Y/N, do think about what we talked about.”

And with that, he’s off inside.

Thank the gods.

“What did you talk about with the kid?” Alfie narrows his eyes, which cloud over like the sea on a stormy day. “When?”

“We had lunch before we got here and we discussed… some stuff.”

“What kind of ‘stuff’?” Alfie takes a trek of his vape pen and releases the smoke through his nose like an irritated dragon. “What kind, darlin’?”

I avoid his gaze, hands tucked deep into the pockets of my coat. “Nothing. It was nothing.”

“No, no, no, you’re not getting off the hook so easily. He said somethin’ ‘bout me’, didn’t ‘e?” I slowly nod, fully releasing the rage that’s built up inside him. “Fucking ‘ell! What kind of monster did he make me this time?”

Breathe, just breathe. Don’t cry, he’s not gonna hurt you. There’s security nearby. They’ll help.

“Alfie…” My voice is little more than a whisper. I hug myself, keeping the tense and mortified pieces of myself together, all the while forcing myself to stay.

He shrugs off his coat and drapes it over my shoulders, the kindness he harbours deep inside slowly resurfacing again. “Bastard couldn’t even keep you warm.” His unoccupied hand, the fingers decorated with various rings, rests on my upper arm. Though it does little to heat my bones, he lovingly rubs it. “I’m sorry, yeah, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. That boy, right, has a tendency to get under my skin, but I think you already noticed that. Whatever he said, it’s all lies, yeah? It’s not true. By the way, I ‘aven’t greeted you yet, ‘ave I? Shalom, darlin’.”

“He said you’re a gangster and I said you’re not anymore. That’s what we talked about.” I wrap his coat closer around my body. A whiff of the familiar mixture of oud wood and dark vanilla hits my nose and puts my nerves at ease. “That’s also a lie, right? You’re not a gangster. Not anymore.”

“No, not anymore. I’d never lie to you, it’s not gentlemanly.” His features softened, he retracts his hand. Immediately, the warmth it provided evaporates. “I still have no ill intentions towards you. Now, when it comes to that numpty…”

“Alfie, don’t start this again. Please,” I look up at him. “Please. If not for his sake, then for mine.”

Men are jealous creatures. Especially when women are involved.

For a moment I take him in, keeping what he said in mind. However, instead of finding a reason or any sort of confirmation for my own fantasies, there are dark circles beneath his eyes and the lines in his face, paler than the last time we met, have deepened. Perhaps the sunlight is partially to blame, highlighting the grey in his beard and hair, but he appears older.

You look exhausted. Are you okay?

Such a simple question yet so hard to ask, particularly when you don’t know the other person well enough to get an honest answer. Regardless of their promise to not lie to you.

He takes another trek from his Vape pen and blows the smoke out through his nose. “Right.” He purses his lips, glances at me, and averts his gaze back to the concrete. “Right.”

“Thank you.” My eye falls on the cane he’s leaning on, metal with a wolf head for a handle. 

“Chronic sciatica,” he says, having read my mind. “Old bullet wound caused a herniated disk that was never properly treated. Led to sciatica.”

I swallow hard, ill at ease at the prospect of his answer. “Does it hurt?”

“Nothing I can’t handle, darlin’.” He leans in. “Enough about my leg. ‘ow’s yours?”

“Good. I’d show you, but, uhm, I don’t have shorts on me. Besides,” I vaguely gesture to the sky and in the distance, “it isn’t really the weather for it.”

“Well, you could say that, but as long as I don’t ‘ave actual proof, yeah, I won’t fulfil my end of the deal.” He takes another trek, again breathing the smoke out through his nose. ‘‘The weather is a very poor excuse. I might be English, but I don’t let it interfere with business.’’ 

You remembered?

I cross my arms, feeling emboldened by the fact he evidently recalls more from our conversations in Birmingham than I thought. “Then what would suffice as proof, Mr Solomons?”

“Well, miss L/N, if you show me a ‘ealed picture in the least, I’ll pick you up from the airport. Otherwise,” devilish will-o’-the-wisps illuminate his eyes, “you’ll ‘ave to get to Margate by yourself.”

“I thought you were gonna say you wouldn’t show me around at all.”

“Well, we never wrote down our terms and conditions on paper. So, that means, yeah, the contract is subject to change. Besides, it’d be nice if you see what’s in the south other than London.”

“I know there’s more than London, but I’ve never gotten the chance to see it. And, recently, travelling on my own seems to be getting to me.” He shifts his weight and tilts his head, waiting for me to continue. “It’d be nice to have someone there, you know? Someone to share the experience with.”

“To make you forget about the inherent loneliness of being alive and essentially alone in a wicked world.”

“Exactly.” I blink, astounded by his empathy. “You ever get that?”

“I…’’ he groans, hesitant to share his own experiences. ‘‘I’m familiar with the feeling. Margate does feel lonely, yes. Camden is full of people, but none I can call friends.”

“What about your studio? The artists working there?”

“People. People from somewhere in Camden.”

“What,” I bite my lip and clutch the inside of his coat, “what am I?”

“A little fair lady I owe a bottle of rum.” He gestures to the convention’s entryway. “Let’s go inside. Those clouds don’t bode well.”

Right, the bottle. It’s all business. Be friendly, lure them in with a present, and they’ll stick to you, become yet another source of income. It’s nothing personal.

My shoulders slumped, I match my pace to Alfie’s. People make way as we approach, visitors and fellow tattoo artists stepping aside to let us through like we’re royalty. Then again, he is the King of Camden. 

And the influence stretches further than London. 

Without so much as a glance at the people at the ticket booth, he walks past the ticket point. 

I stop, having very much noticed their presence and aware they are the only way for me to get in. “Alfie, wait! I need to get a ticket!”

He storms over, as fast as his leg allows him, and grips my wrist. The shock at the rash action quickly turns into a pleasant shiver down my spine. “She’s with me.”

“Sir, she’ll-’’ the woman behind the till stammers. 

“She won’t need a ticket,” he firmly states before starting to pull me along, giving the security a deadly glare as if to make the mere attempt to check my bag will end up with them all blackened and bruised.

“I really should get a ticket, though,” I say, stumbling along.

“No, you don’t,” Alfie grumbles, but softens his tone when he looks over his shoulder. “See it as one of the perks of being my associate.”

An associate… a little fair lady he owes a bottle of rum. I suppose both are better than being a mere client.

The stands near the entrance would not be misplaced in an alternative marketplace, selling bits and bobs as well as clothes and accessories. However, after a few metres, the first few tattoo booths start to pop up. The further we walk into the convention, the more it starts to look like what I imagined with various ailes filled with the sound of buzzing needles and artists selling merch or tattooing clients.

We make a left towards a small area a bit cut off from the rest of the convention. The King of Camden Ink booth is simple and minimalist in set-up. A white tapestry depicting a black crown like on both of Alfie’s hands and the studio’s name hangs between two pillars. A couple of men, I assume some are artists working at the studio, sit around drawing on their tablets, having a chat, or are prepping their workspaces. A few foldable tables have been linked and have been clad in black cloth, stickers, shirts, maps with designs, and business cards on display.

We plop down on the tattoo table right underneath the tapestry, right in the middle of the space.

‘‘Welcome to my little kingdom outside London. My word here is law, like it is back ‘ome. Don’t worry about the men. I told them you’re off the fucking menu. They won’t bother you.’’

However, instead of asking why he’d trouble himself with my safety, I decide on a more shallow course of conversation. After all, it hasn’t slipped my notice the long locks have been cut short. “I didn’t say it before, but did you get a haircut?”

“Yeah… yeah, I did. Ollie, right, that cunt over there,” Alfie points over his shoulder at one of his colleagues, a slender man with brown curly hair, who glares at him in response, “bloody brave bastard suggested it. Thought I looked like The Wandering Jew, but I suppose ‘e’s right. It isn’t proper for an old soul like me to show up to a meeting with a fair lady lookin’ all ‘aggard.”

I highly doubt you did it for me. Why go out of your way for me when I’m just, well, me? Just a girl you owe a bottle of rum to.

‘‘Do you like it?’’

‘‘I do, though I have to say the long hair wasn’t so bad. Either way, you look good. In a friendly way! I meant that as a compliment,’’ I add, haphazardly trying to define an already clear boundary. 

He chuckles, a lovely sound which turns into a dissatisfied hum when he runs his fingers through his beard. “Should’ve done somethin’ ‘bout the beard, though. I trimmed it a bit this mornin’, but maybe a little more would’ve been better. Or a clean shave.” He turns to face me. “Y/N, do you know how to shave?”

The question might be simple, but I have a nagging feeling my answer is not the correct one. After all, it can’t be as plain as knowing how to shave myself. “Ehm, I do?”

“I meant a man, darlin’.”

“Oh,” I look down at my hands, my fingers fumbling with the hem of my shirt. “N-No, I don’t.” 

He remains quiet, taking the comment in with an expression which I can only partially describe with the word thoughtful or, perhaps, pondering. 

“But, for what it’s worth, I- I really like the beard,” I add hastily, which only makes me want to kick myself in the face more than before.

Such a smooth talker, I am.

“Why?”

It was already warm inside when we entered, but the overall temperature feels like it’s risen in the meantime. At least it feels like that if my cheeks are anything to go by. “No reason. Just… no reason.”

It makes you look like a wolf.

He holds out his hands. “May I?”

I tilt my head, unable to fathom his intentions. “What?”

“If you trust me, right, put your ‘ands in mine.”

  Although he hasn’t wronged me in the little time we’ve known each other, the muscles in my arms and shoulders tense. Tentatively I reach out to do as he said. As soon as his fingers envelop mine, his palm as rough and callous as I remember, the memory of the way he led me to the makeshift photo studio in Birmingham plays itself out in my mind. It’s followed the second after by the moment we said goodbye, the tips of my fingers still vividly imprinted with the ticklish feeling of his bushy whiskers. 

However, the muscle memory isn’t as vague as it usually is. In fact, it feels like I’m actually touching him.

Which I am.

As if burned by fire, I flinch and try to pull my hands off of his face. Nevertheless, Alfie keeps them in place, a hint of amusement underlying the sternness in his expression. “You looked desperate to touch it and now that you finally are, you’re scrambling back.”

“Alfie…” I swallow hard, my heart beating as fast as a Derby race horse. 

“Nice, innit?” Eyes closed, he guides me. Or, rather, invites me to explore on my own. 

Albeit a little hesitant at first, I continue to run my fingers through his beard. A warm pride spreads through my chest when his brow furrows and a low pleased groan spills from his lips. 

“Wolfy,” I say without thinking, lost in how smooth his beard feels against my fingertips. 

“What?” Through half-lidded eyes, he nuzzles my palm and smirks against the skin.

There’s no need to reiterate my words. He’s heard me perfectly fine.

Why am I such a fucking weirdo? I need a bloody filter for my mouth.

“N- Nothing. Be- I’m- Silly. I’m being silly.”

I try and fail again to retract my hands because Alfie renews his grip on my wrists to keep them firmly in place. “I meant it when I said I’m curious about what funny things go on in your head.’’

I sigh and press my lips together, afraid of his reaction.

Which, observant as he is, doesn’t escape his notice. Moreover, I think I’ve figured him out well enough to be correct when I say that once his interest is piqued, he won’t hold back until he has thoroughly figured it out. So, in a not so subtle effort to convince me to spill my thoughts to him, he leans into the touch. ‘‘Tell Papa Solomons. Me, I mean. Tell me, yeah. I won’t judge.’’   

Despite his gentle tone, the uncharacteristic stumbling over his words and the way he referred to himself cloud my mind and sends it in a direction it shouldn’t go. The fantasies are mere mirages in a barren landscape, bound to be covered in butterfly wings. Yet, there it goes, off on a journey guided by the strengthened scent of dark vanilla and oud wood, underlined by tobacco. A flush of warmth spreads outward from between my thighs when I caress his cheeks with my thumbs. The corners of my mouth curl up into a smile underlined with euphoric victory when I have fully coaxed him back to the state he was in before. Content and satisfied.

Because of me.

Because of the futile fancies I harbour because of him.

I stop caressing him. Alfie slowly opens his eyes, blinking as if forced out of a pleasant dream. Unfortunately, in the end, it might as well be. 

The dream of us. 

Until it becomes a reality, fragile friendship is all we have. And it is because of that, combined with the odd sense of safety he emits, I explain the nickname to him. To my own ears, my tone sounds casual and kind enough to cover up the tears in my heart. “Well, I was thinking Alfie plus ‘wolf’ makes Wolfy. Cheesy, I know.”

“Wolfy, eh? Is that how you think of me?”

“N- No! No, I don’t!” I yank my hands from his grip and fold them into my lap, head bowed. “I don’t… Shut it.”

“The little dove calls one wolf by its name, unsure whether he’ll respond. Maybe he will, maybe he won’t.” He leans in when he notices he’s caught my attention with his vague remark, an annoying lopsided smirk on his lips. “Who’s to say?”

Is this some kind of allegory for his opinion on my stupid ramblings?

“Wolfy~” he repeats teasingly.

“I said shut it!”

“Oh, someone’s getting angry.”

“I thought aggravating women was against your etiquette. Y/N, fancy seeing you here,” a husky Brummie accent remarks. “And in the company of mister Solomons.”

I look over Alfie’s shoulder at the owner of Shelby Tattoo Company. He’s wearing a black shirt with his studio’s name and logo, a skull wearing a peaky and a red chequered scarf that covers its mouth and nose. As per usual, he looks eerily calm and disinterested in his surroundings. “Yeah, ehm, well, I kinda promised-’’

“I owe her a bottle of rum,” Alfie interrupts, turning around and directing Tommy’s attention to him rather than me. “We had a deal and she’s here to make sure I uphold my end of it.”

“Is that so, Alfie?” Tommy looks him up and down and then diverts his gaze back to me. “It was his birthday yesterday.”

“Tommy,” Alfie warns.

“But he��s a busy man. Always working.”

“Tommy, I’m going to fucking shoot you.”

“Still,” Tommy puts his hands in the pockets of his jeans, “it’s strange he didn’t tell you, considering you two seem close.”

“There are boundaries!” Alfie grabs his cane and steps in front of me, his looming figure throwing an imposing shadow while he stares down the owner of the Shelby Tattoo Company. “Say I pulled a gun, yeah, and shot you. Bang, bone, mush, bone, again if an unlucky sod happens to pass behind you, tapestry, wall over there which is a shame, innit, because that wall’s fucked now and I’ve got to get shot of it. So, what I do is this. It’s fucking simple, mate. I’ll literally help clean up that wall. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll help clean up the wall. I’ll take half of the rubble and the mess on the floor and I’ll put it into a barrel. And I’ll take the other half of the rubble and mess, in all its pieces, and put that into another barrel, right? And I send this barrel off to Mandalay. And the other barrel off to somewhere like… I don’t know.” He perks up with an idea, full of mockery. “Timbuktu. You ever been?”

“No,” Tommy answers, unfazed. 

“No? Would you like to go?”

“No.”

I jolt at the sound of Alfie clapping his hands. The animosity has melted into amiability suspiciously fast, which means the game between the two men is far from over. Then again, Alfie is a bit eccentric. “I saw your new flash sheet. Looks peng, mate.”

Tommy crosses his arms and leans sideways, eyebrow cocked. “I see your protection has expanded.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go? Timbuktu’s lovely.” Alfie takes a step to the side, resuming his duty as a wall between me and the outside.

“I’m quite certain, Alfie,” Tommy answers, voice cold and monotone. 

“Then fuck off.”

 “It was lovely seeing you, Y/N. Do drop by later, Michael will appreciate it. Also, do let me know if mister Solomons poses any trouble. The Peaky Blinders will take care of it. Until then, scratch his beard.” Leaving us gobsmacked, Tommy nonchalantly walks off.

Was he seriously there the entire time?

Alfie is fuming with pent-up rage. His hands are clenched into fists, knuckles white with strain. Jaw jutted forward, he watches Tommy leave, grumbling what I can only assume is a string of curses under his breath.

“I- I’m gonna take a look around,” I carefully suggest, fingers aching to reach out to his arm. However, I keep flinching, afraid of the possible consequences.

Because, when he’s like this, I’m not so sure he won’t hurt me.

“Not on your own,” Alfie says, glaring at the artists and visitors who have witnessed the conversation between the two studio owners.

I get up from the table. “But your leg-’’

“My leg!” he roars, turning to me. “My leg’s the least of my concerns right now. You’re not going alone and that’s final. Understand?”

I exchange an anxious glance with Ollie, who seems to silently beg me to take Alfie away for a little bit for the sake of a moment of peace. 

“Y-Yes,” I stammer, heart hammering in my ears. I take a step back to be safe in case he’ll vent his anger with his cane somehow.

He holds out his arm. Slowly, a quiver running through my fingers, I place my hands on his bicep. I look past the man at my side and lock eyes with Ollie, who mouths a silent “thank you”.

How do you keep up with him? Also, that’s nice and all, but now it’s just me and him.

Alfie nods in the direction Tommy left. “Let’s go that way.”

“No,” I say, braver than I feel.

“It’ll only take a second, darlin’. I’ll kill Tommy and we can crack on.”

I point the other way. “No, don’t want a wall to get shot, you to get banned from the convention, or the police to show up. So, let’s go from there and work our way around.”

“Temper is a hard thing to control,” he starts, walking in the direction I proposed going. “It’s a powerful tool, which can be used to one’s advantage if used right. But it can also be to their detriment if it isn't.” 

Clueless about what to say in response, I look up at him in hopes of being given more to go on. For a moment he remains silent, lips pressed together tightly. Then, letting out the breath he was holding, Alfie provides me with an opening in the conversation I rather wish he hadn’t. “I can’t get it right with you. I keep losin’ it.”

“It’s okay.”

You’ll regain some control after you leave. Or, rather, once our ways separate. Forever.

I shake my head and smile wistfully, staring ahead.  

It’s just a stupid crush, anyway. I’ll get over it. I’ll get by.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Alfie asks, the question underlined by a grim anxiety.

I shake my head. “It’s nothing.”

Just one more day.

And then it’ll be just that.

Nothing.

In the distance, the strange sound weaves through the buzzing of needles.

The convention might have barely opened its doors, but there are more and more people coming in by the minute. If it’s already this busy on a Friday, I can only imagine what the weekend is going to be like. However, when it comes to the overall set-up, it’s smaller than the conventions I’ve been to thus far. To be fair, those were international ones whereas the Amsterdam Tattoo Festival comprises for the most part of national artists, judging by the locations on the many business cards and Instagram accounts to check out after snatching yet another freebie sticker.

“Well, hello, hello!” I greet the girls at Intuition Ink’s stand. I’ll be honest, they form part of the reason I wanted to go to the convention in the first place. In spite of only having been twice to the studio, I’ve never experienced the feeling of being immediately placed in a group of friends anywhere else. 

‘‘Y/N, hey!” Miranda, a sturdy young woman who can truly be called a Jack of all trades in the tattoo industry, walks around the stand with open arms. “It’s good to see you! How are you? Let me give you a hug.”

I let go of Alfie, who’s watching what unfolds before his eyes with a mixture of wariness, satisfaction, and confusion, to answer the gesture in kind. “I’m good. Besides, I promised I’d pop by, didn’t I?”

“Who’s this?” Celia, Mariana’s apprentice and an absolute geeky sweetheart, asks. “He kinda looks like Tom Hardy,” she adds in a whisper.

Ye ken, you’re not wrong. He really does look like him.

“This,” I switch from Dutch to English and gesture to the man next to me, who’s still watching me like a hawk, “is Alfie Solomons.”

“The owner of King of Camden Ink in London,” Miranda chimes in, also switching languages. “A celebrity in the industry.”

“Seems you’ve all heard of me.’’ Awkwardly, Alfie shifts his weight from one foot to the other. ‘‘Unfortunately, that gives me nothing else to say.”

“I didn’t know you two knew each other,” Miranda says, taking us both in while inconspicuously giving Alfie a reason to talk. And if he won’t, then I’ll be the one doing the talking.

I point at Alfie. “He did the Anubis on my thigh.”

“I meant it more like ‘I didn’t know you were close,” she clarifies, arms crossed and a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

“Oh, that.” I clench my jaw, mind racing as it searches for an excuse. You’d think I’d have a reason ready for someone I know and trust, but as with Tommy, I come up short-handed.

A little help would be grand. Alfie, say something. Anything. Even a weird analogy would be fine at this point.

Fortunately, it isn’t one of his odd train of thoughts he jumps in with. “Y/N’s kind enough to be my private guide while I’m here, starting the job by accompanying me while stretching me legs.”

“Exactly!” I exclaim, glad for Alfie’s intervention. “Exactly.”

Miranda winks at me. “Keep holding on to his arm. You two look cute together.”

I gawk at her, gobsmacked.

Did- Did you seriously? You bloody bastard!

Olivia, specialised in vintage designs, is of the same mind as me. “‘Ey, that’s a bit much.”

In the corner of my eye, I notice Alfie reaching out to me. However, he thinks better of it and rests his hand on top of the other on the head of his cane. “I’m glad she does, though. It’d be a shame if I lost my guide and I’m left to wander on my own.” 

The last part of the sentence sets off a strange bell somewhere deeply hidden in the back of my mind, its ring as dim and distant as the way the trees boost the echo of a wolf’s howl in a forest. Nevertheless, although it’s audible, the question remains where it comes from.

Where is the source of the wolf song?

Where have I heard his words?

Although, perhaps the better question to ask myself is when? When did he say those words to me for the first time?

All I know for sure is that it wasn’t in Birmingham. 

“We should crack on.” I glance from Alfie to Miranda to Celia and back at him, grabbing his arm and giving it an encouraging squeeze. “We won’t hold you guys up any longer.”

Through gritted teeth, loud enough for only my companion to head, I add. “C’mon, let’s go.”

Alfie nods to the girls and grunts, his version of a polite goodbye.

I glance over my shoulder as we walk away. Miranda, Celia, and Olivia have stuck their heads together and are watching us go. I gesture for them to return to whatever they were doing, mouthing “go back to work”. Unfortunately, all I get in response are wiggling eyebrows and knowing grins.

“They mean well,” Alfie says while casually looking around.

“I know, but still.” I sigh. “I’m sorry for Miranda. She’s from Amsterdam and therefore can be very direct. In conversation it’s a blessing, but her comment about us, I have to side with what Olivia said. It was too much, too bold.”

“Do you disagree with it, though?” Nothing in his voice betrays his own thoughts, locked away behind the emotionlessness of the inquiry. Neither does the stoicism in his expression or the coldness in blue eyes like a lake on a winter’s morning.

No, but we both know, deep down, there is no hope for us. 

We are both spinning out of control.

Slowly going mad in a rabbithole I am not sure he descended in as well. 

Though his response might prove whether he did. “I know it isn’t polite to answer a question with a question, but… do you?”

He makes a noncommittal sound, a low grunt which neither confirms or denies that we are on the same page.

We walk on for a few moments in silence. The topic hangs heavy in the air, but there is no awkwardness. It’s comfortable, neither of us inclined to part ways with the other because of the conversation and the opinion of outsiders. Nonetheless, I let out a breath and feel the tension in my body ebb away when he speaks up. 

“I appreciate you switched to English when you talked to them, to include me in the conversation.’’

Surprised yet confused by his remark, I respond the only way that seems appropriate. “Of course I did. It’s impolite to close others out by changing to a language they don’t speak.”

“So it is. Though some languages lend themselves better to certain purposes. Russian, for example, is a splendid language for cursing.’’ His brows knit together when I chuckle. ‘‘What’s so funny?’’

‘‘I’m sorry, I just imagined you swearing Heaven and Hell together in Russian and it being simply another day at the office. I don’t know. Somehow it suits you.’’

‘‘So me swearing in Russian is now a typical thing in your eyes?’’

‘‘Yeah. Don’t need to have seen you do it.’’

‘‘Fuckin’ ‘ell, your mind is somethin’.’’

I snap my head to the side, tone harsh even to my own ears. ‘‘Are you saying I’m weird?’’

Alfie shrugs nonchalantly. ‘‘Not at all, darlin’. I’m merely confirming, yeah, what we talked about last time. We’re both mad.’’

I open and close my mouth, speechless and flattered by how much he remembers from our previous encounter.

‘‘But tell me this. What did that girl whisper to you?”

I blink, taken aback by the change in subject. “Who? Celia?” 

He nods. 

I laugh and shake my head. “She thinks you look like Tom Hardy.”

  The muscles in his arm relax. I wonder what a man like him would fear from a couple of Dutch girls. Perhaps the untouchable king has a fragile side to him. After all, he, too, is human. “e’s an actor, right, from London, if I recall correctly.”

“Hammersmith.” Alfie’s eyebrows shoot up. “He’s my celebrity crush. And a huge inspiration. He’s turned his life around for the better and is, I believe, a sincere and humble man. He’s even participated in a jiu jitsu competition, multiple, I think, and has won medals at them. I’m really proud of him for that.”

His expression falters as gloom treks over his face, darkening his features and defining them the same way the sun had in the parking lot. A string of incoherent words falls from his lips, illogical yet solemn.

“I’m still proud to wear your art. In a sense, you could say I’m proud of you.” I give him an encouraging squeeze and giggle. Only to burst out in a panic attack the second after. “Fucking hell, that was cheesy! Forget I said that! The last part! Forget that!”

“I won’t,” he says, gaze somewhere in the distance. The corners of his mouth are curled up into a sliver of a smile.

“Alfie!”

“I won’t because people hear it so little these days, whether it be a friend, a stranger, or a merely familiar face who says it.”

“Hey,” I lightly shake his arm to make him look down at me, “I mean it. I’m proud of you.”

He hums in acknowledgment, though he doesn’t fully agree with me.

I don’t know you well, don’t know your full story, but I’m proud of you for being here. For living another day as a man better than the one you told me you were.

Funny, that, how Love makes one have these feelings for a dream, an ideal.

A man not mine. 

I stop in my tracks at the stand for Lemon & Tangerine Ink. For a few months now, I’ve been following the studio’s and it’s owner’s Instagram page. I can’t recall his name, but he combines mysticism with animals in the neotraditional style. Nonetheless, it aren’t the shirts, stickers, or the art book which has piqued my interest. Rather, it’s the print out of designs in one of the portfolios showcased on the table.

Alfie has also come to a halt, brow furrowed as he tries to discover why we’ve stopped. 

“Can we take a look?” I ask, lightly squeezing his arm.

“Of course, darlin’.”

We approach the boot so I can check out the portfolio at leisure. A vague sense of recognition washes over me as I leaf through the designs of windchimes and intricate ornaments inspired by Korean and Japanese culture, some of which seem to tug on a withered string attached to a distant memory.

I’ve seen something like this before. But where? Also, what were these ornaments called again? Someone told me, but… shit, I can’t remember.

Although it does not make me recall the proper name for the ornament, the design of a windchime similar to the one I have hanging in my room unearthes the name I had forgotten from the depths of my mind.

Chris.

He was a Korean-Australian exchange student I became fast friends with when we followed a course in American literature during my first year. He came from the Film Studies department and had never done literary analysis. We were paired up during the first seminar and asked to make a simple analysis of the fragment we were assigned. I explained how to make one and in response he asked whether I’d mind pairing up with him for the rest of the course. I said I didn’t and from there on out there isn’t a lot to tell. It’s been three years since I saw him, but I imagine he’s either gone back to Korea or Australia to continue his studies. I wonder what he does nowadays.

Anyways, he gave me a wind chime not unlike the one drawn on the paper. Mine has a purple bell whereas the drawn version has a blue one. However, both have a moon and round intricate pendant which are attached to the bell with red thread. The drawn chime has, instead of a piece of paper, a highly detailed depiction of flowers dangling from it. The card dangling from mine states Moon rabbits and space bunnies live on the same planet. We stare at the same moon every night. The quote is basically a poetic summary of one of our last conversations.

Chris called me late at night because he couldn’t sleep. When I asked what the hell he was doing still up at two in the morning, he asked me. “Do you think there are bunnies on the moon?”

“What?”

“I’m currently looking at the moon and legend has it that there are rabbits on it.”

“Space bunnies. You’re calling me at two in the morning to tell me there are space bunnies.” I groaned and pinched the bridge of my nose, but did not hang up. I remember turning on my side and curling up beneath the sheets, eyes still closed and glad to hear his voice. “Chris, you okay? Why are you actually calling me?”

“I’m fine. Sorry for waking you up.”

“No worries. You can always call me. But,” I yawned, “do you really like the moon so much?”

“The moon is one of the two things I love. It calms me down.”

“What’s the other?”

He sighed deeply and changed the topic. “I won’t keep you up any longer. Still, it’d be nice if we could watch the rabbits on the moon together.”

“One day we might. Good night, wolf boy.”

Because that’s who he was to me.

A boy in love with the moon in the same way a wolf is. 

Funny how now the same can be applied to me. Or, rather, again for I am once more a creature worshipping the beautiful unattainable.

“Do you like those?” Alfie asks, his breath warm on my ear.

“I used to know someone who drew these types of things in his notebook.”

“Do you miss him?” He asks flatly.

“Yeah,” I admit without hesitating, flipping back and forth between the designs. The memory of Chris’s warm smile while he held my hand as we walked around Utrecht makes my heart crack. “Sometimes I really do.”

Where are you now? Do you still want to spot space bunnies with me?

Alfie remains quiet and takes a step back.

Alarmed by his attitude, I glance over my shoulder. However, as soon as I open my mouth to ask whether he is alright, I am interrupted. 

“I’m sorry, the person who created those got to ‘ear last-minute ‘e’s needed at his job. Boy also needs to earn ‘is money until ‘e can call ‘imself one of us.” A man with luscious brown curly locks that are slicked back and wearing a tailored suit, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to show the swallows on his wrists, casually saunters over. “‘Ello, love.” 

A grimace treks over the tattoo artist’s features as his eyes shift to the man standing behind me. “Solomons.”

“Chester.”

I look from one man to the other. “You two know each other?”

“Yeah, we do,” Alfie drawls, hardly trying to conceal the contempt in his voice. 

“Only sort of,” the other quickly interrupts, much to Alfie’s displeasure, judging by the grunt bordering on a growl that erupts from his throat. “Chester Mansfield, madam.” He makes a polite bow. “Pleasure to meet you.”

“Spare the theatrics. You’re not some goddamn Shakespeare.”

“Now, aren’t those words a bit harsh?’’ Chester tilts his head, arms crossed in defiance. ‘‘We’re in the company of a lady.”

I feel a big warm palm between my shoulder blades. “She’s a tough one. Has the mouth of a sailor, don’t ya, darlin’?”

“I- I do, but, ehm…” I sputter.

Don’t pull me into this. This is your battle.

“Don’t put the lady on the spot. I thought you were always so big on gentleman etiquette.” Chester shifts his attention back to me. “I’m terribly sorry, dear. It seems this man is little more than a grumpy wolf rather than the king he claims to be.”

“How’s Wycombe, Chester?” Alfie cuts in. “Heard there’s a bit of a stir, people losing faith in the security offered to them.”

“Thanks to some youngsters from Camden who don’t seem to be aware of what the term ‘borders’ entails. Sent them straight back after teaching them a lesson.” Chester’s upper lip quivers, fighting the urge to snarl, and looks Alfie dead in the eye with a gaze as cold as a winter gale. “There are extra bodies on the streets to ensure there are no more ‘leaks’ in the future. Perhaps that’s something you should look into as well.” 

His features soften when he turns to me again. “Camden might seem safe, love, but it’s a battleground. ‘owever, I can ensure you my studio is in safe territory.”

The hand between my shoulders has lowered to my waist, Alfie exercising a bit of force to guide us away from the table. “As safe as Brixton. Like ‘ell I’d let ‘er go there unsupervised.”

“Oh, is she yours, Solomons?” Chester calls out as we walk away. “She’s still her own person, bruv!”

After a few steps, Alfie retracts his hand and slows down his pace. My ribs tighten, every ounce of courage to ask for his touch crushed under the heaviness taking over.

“He’s got lovely designs,” I say as we walk on, afraid of the next silence. I’d hate having to deal with another one that’s comfortable yet heavy. 

‘‘‘Ow’d you know? You ‘aven’t checked out his portfolio,’’ Alfie grumbles.

‘‘I follow him on Insta.’’ No response, likely to make me stop talking about Chester.  However, I am not done with the topic. “I’d really like to make an appointment with him.”

“No. We’ll look for someone else who does something similar.”

“It’s my body. My choice.” If anyone should understand that, it should be him.

Or so I thought.

So you’re a gentleman and a feminist until a woman doesn’t listen to you when it concerns her body? The thing society has reduced her to?

“And it’s my choice to not allow you to go to High Wycombe to see that cunt!” Alfie roars.

Who the fuck are you to control me?

“If you’re so overly concerned about my well-being, why don’t you come along, eh? At least drop me off and come pick me up later,” I sneer, my voice raised.

“If you do make an appointment, I’ll be there the entire time.” He points at me with a warning finger. “It’s non-fucking-negotiable, right?”

Don’t punch above your weight.

“Right,” I mutter under my breath, gaze turned to the floor.

What have I gotten myself into?

The accusing finger curls beneath my chin and tips it up. “It’s common decency to look someone in the eye if they’re talking to you. Now let’s try this again, eh? If you go to Wycombe, you’re not going alone. I’m comin’ with ya and I’ll stay until money has exchanged ‘ands and you’re properly taken care of.” He grabs my face, his grip firm. Pain starts to blossom in my cheeks and jaw as the tips of his fingers dig into my skin. “It’s either that or not at all. No negotiatin’.”

And then I see it. 

In the statue he has turned into, the grey in his hair and beard enhances the exhaustion engraved in his pale complexion. His nostrils flare with hardly contained rage, but the stiffness in his neck tells he’s forcing himself to repress it.

And I have no desire to open Pandora’s box.

The decision has been made.

“Okay,” I squeak. “Please. Please, let me go.”

Immediately Alfie releases me. “I’m sorry,” he reaches out with a shaky hand and his breath tapers when I flinch and take a step back, “I’m sorry. I got carried away, darlin’. I didn’t mean to, but believe it at least when this old soul says it’s for your own good, yeah? Did… Did I hurt you?”

In spite of the faint throbbing, the only reason I can possibly hate him for is how his action made my knees weak in a way they shouldn’t. Nonetheless, for both our sakes, I’d rather tell him a lie than the truth. He’s suffered enough as is. “No. No, you didn’t.”

He opens and closes his mouth, uncharacteristically speechless. He glances around as if searching the environment for the right thing to do. Coming up empty, he groans and lowers his head, looking at me through his lashes. “Trust me enough to keep holding my arm?”

I nod , bridge the distance between us, and clutch his bicep.

“Tomorrow’s off the table, I wager,” he remarks dejectedly.

“It isn’t.” I squeeze his arm, hoping the encouraging sentiment translates well through the hard layers of muscle. “But… am I… am I really just someone you owe a bottle of rum to?”

“Today, yes, though you’re not ‘just someone’. You’re the Dutch fair lady with an accent like they ‘ave in Belfast and who guards ‘er story well.” He leans in, a playful taunting tone in his voice. “And so ‘appens to think of me as ‘Wolfy’.”

I stare at him, unable to speak yet glad we seem to be right where we were before snapping at each other’s throats.

“Cat got your tongue?”

“Shut up,” I mutter, lips pulled into a pout.

“I like you, Y/N.” I clutch the fabric of his sleeve a little tighter, uneasy despite it being a compliment. “You’re much better company than Tommy or any of those other fucking Shelbys.”

“Don’t you have a partner? Surely they’re better company than me?”

  “I only ‘ave my dog, yeah… Cyril is the bugger’s name.”

  “Oh, I- I’m sorry, I thought, never mind.’’ I cringe, ready for the earth to swallow me whole. ‘‘I shouldn’t presume things.”

“‘ow about you tell me your own answer to the question and maybe, right, if you’re lucky, I’ll forget about this.”

“Look who’s negotiating now,” I joke jovially. Nevertheless, I quickly tone down my faked and exaggerated amusement at his stern expression. “But, no, I don’t. Single as a Pringle. And a hopeless romantic.”

“No one sufficed…” he drawls, growing distant and thoughtful. 

Well, someone did. Once. Scared the bejaysus out of me.

“Nope, no one ticked my boxes. And the few men who spoke to me, either in person or online, were quite obviously after sex only or completely not my type. Such is the modern man. Fucking disgusting.”

“You’ll find someone, darlin’. A pretty and funny little thing like you is bound to.”

“Hm, I’m hard-pressed to believe that.”

I doubt I’d find anyone like you or Chris.

“Tell me a couple of your demands. What does your ideal man look like?”

Like you.

“I don’t want to be shallow, but… he needs to be handsome. Also, if he’s financially stable and has a good job, that’s a massive plus too.”

“And his character? What personality does this chap ‘ave?”

“Maybe a little old-fashioned. A gentleman who, ehm, isn’t afraid to, you know, take… control. Uh, yeah, and then the obvious. Sweet, kind, caring, loves to read, a creative spirit, spontaneous because I’m an introvert, so…”

“You’re an introvert?” Alfie chuckles.

“I am!’’ I exclaim, but quickly lower my head to hide my rosy cheeks. ‘‘I’m just, I don’t know, strangely comfortable around you. And when I get like this, I get chatty and a bit weird.”

And you’ll walk away because I’m too weird. It’s okay. They eventually always do.

“I don’t think you are. To me you’re a normal spontaneous girl, clever and witty. In fact, I’d argue it’s not a far-fetched idea if I say you’re real.”

“Oh,” I blink and frown, confused though flattered, “th- thanks.”

He cocks an eyebrow. “Never heard that before?”

“Once.”

Chris used to tell me the same thing.

“Now you have again. And, if you want, I’ll tell you every time we meet.”

I clutch his sleeve tighter to still my trembling fingers. “You don’t have to, Alfie.”

After all, we only have tomorrow and I don’t want to get my hopes up.

“Well, that’s a shame, because I will. It’s a wicked world and if this is how I can deliver you from the sins in it, I will.”

A bit dramatic, but typically you. But why? Why would you trouble yourself with that?

“How old?”

I blink, missing the clue. If there is any. “Hm?”

“What age is your ideal man?” he clarifies, voice deep and low.

“Older than me.” I let the words sit, my courage down the drain. “I- I don’t know why, but, yeah, I guess older men just have this air of security, stability, around them. I like that.”

“I’m forty-five now.” The comment is almost inaudible, underlined by wariness.

Nevertheless, the words mill in my head, unleashing a storm of butterflies. Though I can’t see it, I’m pretty certain my ears are tinged red and if they aren’t, surely my face is. 

Damn it, damn it, damn it! He’s big, burly, thick, and forty-five. This isn’t fair. The gods hate me.

“So, what you want, yeah, you want someone who can provide you with a stable life and, correct me if I’m wrong, right, but that person should also be able to provide for you.”

“Well, not fully. I mean, I still like to do my own thing and have a job and such because I hate leaning on people, but, sometimes, that’s indeed what I want.” I sigh. “For someone to care for me instead of me caring for myself.”

He mumbles something under his breath.

The secret’s out now. I guess I just basically confessed my crush to him. And I’m bloody certain it won’t go as before.

This time, it certainly isn’t reciprocated. 

Alfie stiffens and groans, a spurt of pain raising his pitch.

“Alfie? You okay?” Worried, I search his face for a hint about what’s going on since he won’t tell me outright.

“Yeah, just my leg,” he says in between pants. He lifts his cane and points to the wee coffee van parked nearby. “How about a cup of coffee, eh?”

“I can’t say no to that. However, how about you go back to your booth and I’ll get us coffee?”

“No,’’ he shakes his head, jaw clenched to hide how much strain his leg’s putting on him. Little beads of sweat grace his brow. ‘‘No, let me pay, Y/N.”

“You can repay me with a pumpkin spice latte tomorrow.”

Stop stalling! Let me take care of you, gods damn it.

“Addicted to those, in’t ya?” Even though he means to lighten the mood, his breathless chuckle costs him precious energy I’d rather he preserve for the journey back.

“It’s a guilty pleasure, yes.” I gently rub his arm and nod ahead, coaxing him into motion. “Come on, let’s go.”

We pass the Shelby Tattoo Company stand, where Michael is busy placing a stencil of a hanya mask on a client’s calf. I shake my head when Alfie leans in to ask whether I want to stop by for a chat, noting he’s busy. Also, I’ll be honest and admit I was glad to see him go in the parking lot.

Back at the King of Camden Ink stand, I help Alfie down on a chair. An opportunity, apparently, to try and slip me his debit card so he’ll still end up paying.

I grab his wrist, which makes him immediately halt his attempt to put his card in my pocket of my hoodie. “Oi, what did I say? You can repay me tomorrow.”

“Darlin’, a man shouldn’t let a woman pay for something to share. C’mon, take the bloody card. You can pay contactless anyways, it’s fine.”

“Or I could make a run for it,” I dip my head and cock an eyebrow, “did ya think of that? We Dutch are notorious money wolves.”

“Don’t bother because you won’t,” he calmly responses. “You might be clever, but stealing isn’t in your nature. Besides,” he holds up his phone and shakes it between his fingers, “I can block it instantly. And I’ll know who to report to the police for theft.”

I snap my fingers, feigning disappointment. “Seen right through me. I should work on my poker-face.”

“And not blatantly allude to criminal deeds you’ll commit.’’ He crosses his arms and tilts his head. ‘‘Might help too.”

“How do you drink your coffee?”

“What’re you ‘avin’?”

“A cappuccino.”

“Make that two.”

“Anything else? An extra shot, something to eat?”

“No, darlin’, that’s all.”

‘‘You sure? You’re looking kinda pale.’’

He sighs, a soft smile hiding beneath his bushy whiskers. ‘‘I’m a big man, darlin’. It’s gonna take a whole lot more than me fucking leg to take me out.’’

“Alright, if you say so. I’ll be right back.” An eerie feeling washes over me the moment I make to leave. However, as soon as I turn on my heel, Alfie grabs my hand. His grip is strong, iron-like.

Like he’s afraid to let go.

“Alfie,” I place my hand over his and crouch down, “something wrong?”

The smile that was there has grown mirthless and has gone in the meanwhile. A solemn fleeting thought passes behind sombre blue eyes.

“Ikh nor gevalt tsu kukn bay ir far a moment mer,” he mumbles, clear enough for me to make out the words.

I stare at him in disbelief, an uncertain sense of understanding gnawing at my common sense. Considering what he told me about himself, I reckon he actually uses Yiddish whenever he starts to mumble. Oddly, the language is vaguely similar to Dutch and German, at least enough for me to fathom a semi-correct interpretation. I stress, semi-correct… I think. Anyways, it sounds an awful lot like “I just wanted to look at you for one more moment”. 

“Did you understand that?” He smiles wistfully, already knowing my answer.

“I think so.”

“So my excuse of getting tired faster with age won’t ‘elp me this time, eh?”

“No, but it might be better if we continue as if you did.”

His brows furrow, crooked teeth nibbling on his bottom lip. “Get the fucking coffee.”

“Alfie, I-’’ I lean back, stomach roiling and my mind scanning the conversation to try and discover where it went wrong. Desperate to find something, anything to salvage.

“Get-’’ he raises his voice, but lowers it an instant after, remembering how he scared me earlier today. Instead, he averts his gaze and retracts his hand. “Go.”

I swallow hard and slowly rise to my feet. My heart in my mouth, I head to the coffee van. 

You’ll regain control soon. As will I. Butterflies rip their wings and die. We’ll be okay once autumn turns to winter.

Winter.

Fall. 

Somewhere in between we’ll be okay. Maybe, if we’re lucky, we’ll be ourselves again in November.

No sooner have I placed the order and two cups of coffee in my hands or Ollie’s voice rises above a kerfuffle nearby. The closer I get to the King of Camden Ink booth, the louder the sound of men grappling and Alfie raging becomes.

“Boss, calm down!” Ollie begs, hardly audible above the struggle. “You only just got back from the hospital!”

“Hospital?” My breath hitches, caught in the thick terror that has wedged itself into my throat, expanding itself. “What for?”

Alfie stops struggling, breathes in deeply with his head tilted back. He exhales slowly and turns to me. “Cancer.”

“Where?”

“Lungs.”

I bite my lip to suppress the quiver in it. The world turns watery and dim, my voice choked by the tears that are threatening to spill. “Has it spread?”

“Yes.”

The conversations around us fade until they’re nothing but white noise. I stand frozen in place, too afraid to move with a head that feels as light as a balloon, begging to fly away. Upwards, towards the sun. 

But did Icarus not fall when he did the same?

Alfie shrugs the men holding him off, his imposing figure featureless and blurry as he approaches. He takes the cups of coffee from my hands and places them on the table. “Don’t cry, darling. It was a pneu- pneu- Ollie, what the fuck was it called again?”

Ollie tries to muster an encouraging smile, but fails to make it look genuine. “He got a pneumonectomy.”

“Thank you, Ollie, that’s what they did. Removed me left lung. Told me it was riddled with-” Alfie abruptly stops talking, either offended by or curious about why I’m avoiding his gaze.

What else can I do to stay yet hide, show I care without showing too much? 

My hands are balled into fists at my sides, trembling like a twig.

A pair of strong arms pull me flush against a warm chest that’s sturdy though soft with neglected muscles. I bury my face in the fabric of his sweater, seeking comfort in vanilla and oud wood. “Ya silly girl.” He tightens the embrace. “I’ll still be ‘ere tomorrow.”

This isn’t fair. Why does it have to be you? What if it returns? How much time will you have left?

“I- I’m-,” I choke out, trying in vain to explain myself.

However, he has already caught on to what I meant to say. “I know, I know.”

And I let it all out, despite the faces, the frustration, the anxiety, the dread at the uncontrollable.

The gods hate us. You deserve better. We both do.

Alfie rubs my back while I cry for an ideal. We softly sway as he murmurs into my hair. The words are incoherent and nigh impossible to make out. Nonetheless, knowing him, they’re perhaps Yiddish, Russian, or maybe a mix of both with a sprinkle of English. Regardless, they’re comforting to hear, calm and pleasant as they spill from Alfie’s lips. In between, however, there is a phrase so clear it can’t be interpreted otherwise. And I think it isn’t meant to be. 

‘‘Papa Solomons isn’t goin’ anywhere.’’ 

You better fucking not.

When I’ve regained my breath enough to make coherent sentences again, Alfie lets go to rummage in his bag, grumbling about his leg and groaning with pain. Nevertheless, no man dares to stop him. 

I help him stand up, wondering what it was he was searching for.

A tissue.

“May I?” he asks, his gravelly Cockney accent underlined by a note of caution.

I nod, speechless. Gently, he wipes away my tears, one hand reassuringly on my shoulder. He gives me another tissue after disposing of the first in a makeshift bin, which is essentially a garbage bag stuck to the table with tape. “Blow your nose or you’ll sound like a constipated leprechaun.”

Unable to hold back, I chuckle, take the tissue from him, and do as he says.

“There she is,” Alfie says as he hands me my coffee. “The little lady can smile again.”

“I’m sorry for what just happened.”

“You care,” he says matter-of-fact. “Don’t apologise for what you feel. But it’s curious, innit, the things we feel when it comes to another. What do we base them on, instinct or,” his eyes glisten in the artificial light, “a sense of familiarity?”

You’re a strange man, Alfie.

I say nothing and take a sip from the cappuccino. He joins the silence, sitting down on the chair I left him on before the coffee run. We watch the most unscathed of the tattoo artists clean around the stand and correct some of the furniture. A few in the team have sustained injuries. A black eye, vicious cuts made by rings on the cheek, a broken nose. In the booths around, people are murmuring conspiratorially as they steal glances at Alfie and his men. A glance in their direction is enough to make them mind their own business again.

Ollie and I lock gazes. He spreads his hands and lets them fall against his sides in a gesture of helplessness. Nevertheless, he seems glad I’ve returned and have recovered from the shocking discovery.

It isn’t like I’m the key to keeping him in check, ye ken.

He, as if having read my mind and begging to differ, shakes his head and gives me a knowing smile before he turns his back on us to help the others.

‘‘Madam?’’ I nod in thanks to one of the King of Camden Ink artists who presents me with a chair he put upright the second before. 

“Tell me about that boy,” he mutters once his colleague has left, straining himself not to bark out the command. 

“What boy?” 

“The one who drew in ‘is notebook.”

“It’s been a long time since I saw him.” I cross my legs and clasp the wee paper cup in my lap. “Why are you asking me about him?”

“Now that’s interestin’, your reaction. Why are you defendin’ ‘im, eh? Unless… yeah, ‘e was important to you.” His expression falters. “The wolf asked the little dove what she wanted, but she kept her wings firmly against her body, closed off and wary.”

Sharper and colder than intended, I respond to his reverie. “And she’ll keep them that way until the wolf understands this is a secret she won’t reveal.”

He blinks and shifts in his seat, a hand on the back of his chair while he tries to read me. “‘E ‘urt you.”

I scoff and bite my lip, remembering dark teary eyes at the airport. “Quite the opposite.”

“It’s not in your nature.”

Well, at least he’s calmed down enough to talk.

Whether it’s good he’s intrigued, however, is a different matter. 

For as far as you know it,” I snap. I take another sip of coffee and sigh deeply. “Look, it’s all in the past. It doesn’t matter. Not anymore.”

“But the past has a way of repeating itself,” he darkly comments.

“Alfie, stop. Just,” I hold my hand up and let it meekly fall, “just stop.”

I flinch as I see him reach out in the corner of my eye. The action startles him, and he awkwardly tries to cover up his failed attempt at whatever he was trying to do. Clasping the tiny cup between his big hands, he stares into the cappuccino like he’s drawn in by the foam. “Not all thinkin’ is good thinkin’. Mistakes are made because someone doesn’t think well at that moment. Trying to predict them is futile, but, sitting ‘ere, I think I’m very close to makin’ one.” He purses his lips and nods. “Yeah, big mistake I’m tryin’ to hold off. But sometimes, yeah, sometimes mistakes are a blessin’ in disguise, right, because the consequences allow for new opportunities and room to grow and learn. There are, ‘owever, people selfish enough to profit from that. They try to benefit from another’s failure.”

I remain quiet, unsure whether he is giving me a failed pep talk or his convoluted words hold a message I’m simply not catching on to.

He leans in, the mixture of his scent and proximity leaving me dizzy. “The woods are a dangerous place where Time goes on, but it remembers. It remembers stories, secrets, pain. The wolf and little dove are part of it. But ‘ow, we ‘ave yet to see.”

He pulls away. I release the breath I’d been holding. “Drink your coffee. Afterwards, I’ll walk you back to the quay.”

“You can stay here. I don’t want you to put yourself in pain because of me. Besides, it’s only a ten minute walk at most.”

“You forget, my fair lady, you’re dealing with a gentleman. From Margate, need I remind you?”

“Ah, yes, how could I forget?” I chuckle. “A gentleman and a king.”

“We’ll take a day to explore Camden together.” His smile is all cheek, his crooked teeth showing. “I’ll show you around my part of town, my kingdom.”

“Look at you, planning my holiday.”

“Technically, darlin’, it’s also my holiday since you’ll be staying with me. Which means, I’m also responsible for you.” His voice lowers to a gruff murmur close to purring to use my own words against me, creating a tune so sweet only the Devil can sing it. “Seeing as I’m providing you with accommodation, I think it’s also only right I provide you with what London and the south have to offer.”

“Meals included?” I nudge his nose with mine.

“Simple ones, yes. I’m not too good of a cook.”

“I could teach you.”

“Only if you let me teach you how to shave a man.” His lips brush past mine, his beard ticklish on my skin.

If I kiss him, would he like it?

I lean back lest I give into the temptation. I clear my throat and extend my hand. “We have a deal, Mister Solomons.”

Like he did in Birmingham, he brings my fingers to his lips and kisses them. “So we do, Miss L/N.”

For a moment we stare at each other, unsure where we stand now.

“Right, I- I’ll get my stuff.” I sheepishly check my bag and coat. “I think I’ve got everything.”

“Don’t forget your bottle of rum and,” he smiles in a way that makes me both want to smooch him and slap the grin off his face, “krentenbollen.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” I take the gift bag he holds out to me, retrieved from the storage hidden beneath the table.

“Ready,” he stands up, leaning heavily on his cane, and offers his arm, “my fair lady?”

“I am, but are you sure? I don’t want you to strain yourself because of me.”

“I’ll strain myself however fuckin’ much I want,” he grumbles.

“I appreciate it,” I blurt out as I place my hands on his upper arm. “Thank you, Alfie.”

“Ir zent a vanderfali modne,” he mumbles. This time, my linguistic knowledge is only great enough for me to understand the first part of the sentence. For all I know, he called me a bumbling fool. Not that he’d be wrong. I mean, I haven’t been anything but one around him. 

I’m a what?

“What was that?” I ask

“Nothin’, darlin’. He shakes his head. “Let’s go.”

I involve you in the conversation by changing languages. Why not do the same when you agree it’s impolite? Why keep me out now?

“It wasn’t an insult,” Alfie notes as we step outside into the parking lot.

“Then what was it?”

“A compliment.” From the corner of my eye I see him staring at me, a hint of hurt underlying his stoic expression. “I said you’re wonderfully funny.”

“No lie?”

“I promised I wouldn’t lie to you. I meant that. I’m a man of my word.”

Maybe I should start learning a bit of Yiddish, though. Just in case.

“You better be,” choosing peace over violence, I resort to joking, “otherwise, I’ll never support your family’s rum business.”

“I can live with that. Still a shame, yeah, but fine. As long as you still come to me for ink.”

“My body, my choice.” I bite my lip, mentally scolding myself for going on the offensive.

“Only if you’d like,” he says, nudging my shoulder. “Should’ve phrased that better. We created art together, right, a bloody masterpiece. It’s been too fucking long since I sat in such a flow. It’d be great, biblical,” he grins as he notices me smile at his choice of words, “if we could do that again.”

“I’ll first have to figure out a design, though. Something to fit the aesthetic.”

“Which is?”

“Ah dinnae ken,” I shrug, “although the idea of a gnarly ‘Of Gods and Monsters’ aesthetic does quite strike my fancy.”

“You also speak Scots now?”

I pinch my thumb and forefinger. “Och, only a wee bit. Besides, I can only read it and know a phrase or two. Otherwise, I’m still an honorary Irish woman.”

Alfie stares ahead, his words directed to himself rather than me. “You’re quite somethin’, int’ya? Quite somethin’.”

Within a matter of minutes we reach the quay. I let go of his arm while we watch the water and the skyline across it, tucking my hands in the pockets of my coat. 

“At what time shall we meet tomorrow?” I ask after a moment of comfortable silence, turning to face him. 

“Nine?”

“Nine? In the morning?”

“Yeah, let me take you out for breakfast.” He cocks an eyebrow, lips pulled in a straight line. “Don’t like the idea?”

“I do! I do, but…” I bite my lip, trying to think of how to phrase it. “But my family will become suspicious if I head out that early on a Saturday morning. They’re used to me leaving early for the fabric market, but never before ten.”

“‘Ow about brunch, then? We’ll meet at eleven, end of the mornin’, right, at the central station. Nothin’ suspicious ‘bout that. So,” he smiles gently, “eleven it is. Don’t be late.”

“Yes, Mister Solomons.” He stiffens and looks at me blankly. “Too much?”

“No, just… simply the soul recalling something.” He clears his throat and straightens his shoulders. Then he takes off his scarf and drapes it around my neck. “Don’t want to have you catch a cold if it starts pouring again.”

“You saw my Insta Story?”

He chuckles. “Maybe.”

I close my eyes and bury my nose in the soft fabric, which smells like a sweet and briny mixture of tobacco, his scent, and the water.

Alfie hums, pleased. The sound startles me, now only too aware of what I just did. “I- I’m sorry. That was weird. Shouldn’t-’’

“Like it?” He takes a step closer when I don’t answer, leaning in to purposefully lock eyes with me. “Well?”

I slowly nod because the storm of butterflies in my stomach makes my capability to talk questionable, to say the least.

“Good.” He straightens his back and looks out over the water. “I’ll stay until the ferry comes.”

“You don’t have to.’’ I wave dismissively. ‘‘I’ll be okay from here on out. You’ve got appointments or walk-ins to do. It’s alright. Go.”

“A gentleman is nothin’ but a bastard if he can’t even properly escort a fair lady.” He shrugs. “I’m sure the clients will understand that I want to see my associate safely on her way.”

Silence drapes itself over us like a blanket while we watch the harbour. Eyes closed, Alfie sunbathes. 

Until a pained grunt disrupts our moment of peaceful happiness. 

“Your leg?”

“Yeah, can’t stand around too long.”

“There’s a bench over there. Need help?”

“No,” he sneers. I flinch at the harsh tone and take a step back. Alfie opens and closes his mouth, aware of the damage he can cause by solely his voice. In a softer tone, he repeats himself. “No, darlin’.”

I match my pace to his while we saunter over to the bench beneath a wee awning. Despite his insistence on his independence, I remain closer than I usually would should anything happen. We sit down, continuing to watch the harbour and soaking in the September sun. Or, rather, Alfie’s watching the harbour. I, on the other hand, am enjoying a different view. If only he could see the beauty in his solemn serenity, devoid of the intimidating persona outside our moments together. Although he is feared by many, right here, right now, to me, he is simply a man with a story I know as well as he knows mine. I grow restless with the temptation to lean against him, but bite the inside of my cheek to suppress the urge.

Don’t count your blessings just yet. There’s only so much luck in a day. 

So I remain where I am.

A small distance between us.

Eventually the ferry arrives.

“Time to go.” I get up.

However, as I turn on my heel to board the boat, Alfie grabs my hand and presses his lips against my knuckles in a loving kiss. “Safe journey, my fair lady. And don’t forget. Tomorrow. Eleven at the station.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll remember.”

He lets me go, resting his hands and head on the handle of his gaze. I feel him watching me, the knowledge of which causes a pleasant shiver down my spine. One step away from boarding, I look over my shoulder. Alfie perks up, eyebrows furrowed. “Don’t kill anyone, alright? Especially Tommy. Man deserves better than Timbuktu.”

Alfie laughs and waves, officially sending me off.

I shuffle to the front of the ferry in search of a spot where I can soak up the sunlight. Fortunately, I manage to find one, removed from the other passengers. Although it’s nice and warm, my hands remain cold.

I step through the front door and put my coat on the coat rack in the hallway. As per usual, Mom is playing Solitaire on the old laptop, a cup of tea at her side.

“So, how was Amsterdam?” she asks, diverting her eyes from the screen. 

I plop my bag on the pouffe next to the coffee table. “Quite small and it was an event where the freebies were better than what was actually on sale. Also didn’t see any designs I want.” I hold up the bag Alfie gave me. “But I did get this. The artist who did my leg in Birmingham, Alfie, his family has a rum distillery, apparently. Got me a bottle, free of charge. Oh, and also a few of the buns he made last time. They’re kinda like krentenbollen.”

“What’s the catch?” Ah, the good old tone of wariness. Then again, they hope I come home someday with someone who does better than my sister’s ex. Which, to be honest, isn’t hard. 

“There’s none. It’s a gift.”

“Hm, well, better not show your father that bottle. Although, he doesn’t drink rum.”

I point at the gift bag. “Either way, no one’s allowed to touch it or eat the buns aside from me.”

“How old is he?”

‘‘Forty-five, it was his birthday yesterday. I’d say that still works with twenty-three.” I shrug. “He’s a good man.”

She snickers and shifts her attention back to the screen. “Forty-five and twenty-three. Should work.”

I can’t tell if she’s serious or sarcastic. She knows I’m into older men, I’ve made that more than clear on the rare occasion the conversation took a turn to my non-existent love life. Her boss is with a lass a wee bit older than me and my da’s best friend also has a younger girlfriend.

If somehow, by some gods-granted miracle, I end up with Alfie, would she support it? Would da, considering his pals’s taste in women?

My phone buzzes. I fish it out of the back pocket of my jeans, the screen lighting up with the notification I have an Instagram message.

From Alfie.

Don’t squeal. Stay cool, calm and collected. Don’t start bouncing around the living room.

Got home alright?

Yeah, just arrived.

Good. Have a nice glass of rum.

I’ll have it tonight with one of your excellent buns.

Maybe I will too. X Wolfy

I clench my phone, shake my head and grin like the Cheshire cat.

You bloody bastard

Later, at night, his message mills in my head as I’m watching a series online and working on the wee project meant as a surprise and make-shift ‘thank you’ for Alfie. In spite of being tucked in and there being no space for someone else, it feels lonely like the two-person beds at hotels I’ve stayed at during my travels. It’s the same kind of solemnity that accompanies the table with two chairs some of those rooms had in them. I remember the antique-looking one in a hotel in Galway.

My mind transports me back there, but instead of me sitting in the seat, I’m watching him and me from a distance. We’re still clad in our pyjamas, talking about something while we have breakfast.

A loud meow followed by a heavy weight on my chest pulls me out of my reverie. Solomon, totally ignorant as to how intrusive he is when he pushes his adorable fluffy white and grey snout in my face like this, curls up into a ball beneath my chin. Fortunately, I’ve finished my glass of rum and bun because eating and drinking is nigh on impossible when he or his brother glues himself to me like this.

I should have gone for that third glass sooner.

The rum has a strong bite and though the various notes of the ingredients come through, it’s vanilla which is the most recognizable flavour. Perhaps it’s because it reminds me of Alfie. The first glass made my head light and my step uneven. The second unlocked the creativity that only comes with true tipsiness. In my defence, I barely drink in general so little is required to send me over the edge of soberness. But Hemingway was on to something when he advised writing drunk.

Though, being drunk on love works just as well. Alcohol simply enhances the effect and makes you lose your inhibitions faster. And, if you’re an artist, it adds an extra dimension to your creativity too. But to keep the flow going, you have to have your glass filled. The flavour of the rum fades quickly, taking with it the dreams of the tattooed gentleman. So I keep drinking.

Completely succumbed to the vicious flow of hope mingled with art.

Afraid to lose the craving in the shape of an ideal.

Mortified to make the same mistake and lose it all.

Again.  

Cradling my purring oversized kitten, I tilt my head to look out the window. 

The autumn moon is bright. 

#Facepuller #Tom Hardy #Peaky Blinders #Alfie Solomons #Alfie Solomons imagine #Peaky Blinders imagine #Alfie Solomons x Female Reader #Alfie Solomons x Reader

[crochetotterblog]

Our Parasites

Word count: 2,188💕

—Eddie’s POV—

After I had stormed out of the apartment building, I rubbed my face with tired hands. I sighed, ‘Jesus, what am I going to do? She thinks I’m crazy’, zoning out slightly as I continued to walk down the sidewalk. Not sure where I am going, but anywhere but the apartment with Y/N would be nice. ‘Eddie, where are we going?’ Venom asked, I didn’t respond right away, and continued to walk down this quiet street. ‘I don’t know buddy..But tell me, how could a parasite like you fall in love, or better yet, make someone fall for you?’ Venom popped out from my shoulder, slowly changing himself into a Bluetooth headset. You know, the ones that are just a single earpiece that important business people wrapped around my ear and said, ‘What do you want to know?’ I sighed out of frustration. I had asked him what I wanted to know yet he didn’t just start. “Like, tell me you're story with the person you “supposedly” fucked” I said, tossing my hands about, I heard him sigh at my outburst. ‘Jesus, Eddie. Symbiotes don’t “fuck” more like we throw our parts at each other, same distance apart at high speed. Once our parts meet in the middle, both the male and female rush to the center to grab the fusing parts, whoever gets there first, which is mainly the males, doesn’t carry the baby. It is very rare for the female symbiotes to make it to the center before the male. Not impossible, just rare. That’s beside the point, now shut up so I can explain’ he sneered. I rolled my eyes at his stupid and childish response.

—Start of Flashback—

My life was just like ours now, Eddie. Boring, stupid, I was a loser; I still am but it still hurts. She was the most beautiful symbiote I had ever seen, like once you see her all you're problems would go away, so pretty and calming to look at. Her creamy grey body was so stunning. On our planet, the landscape is very orange, pink and purple, though the sky is a bright teal, retro planet really. Kind of like how you humans have weddings, where the bride throws her flowers and whoever catches it will get married next and such. We were all gathered around each other in what we call ‘Mating grounds’, yes, it is what it sounds like, but we do not do the baby ritual in front of anyone other than the two who will get intimate. She was sitting on a rock, her skin didn’t blend in completely, but was such a match that it would be hard to find her if you didn’t know where to look. I crawled to her to introduce myself, others watched as I made my move towards a female; she didn’t notice me right away, but when I had reached her and tapped her floppy shoulder she jumped letting out a small yelp, “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you“ I said softly. Her pale blue eyes stared back at me with a sparkle in her eyes. She relaxed and slid off the rock to face me better. We began to talk for a while, talking about our lives and what we wanted to do/be. This was before Riot took a few of us to you're planet, which me and her were on that asteroid towards Earth. I found out her name was Ghost, that she like most meats but fish, she just couldn’t eat fish, seafood like lobster, clams and crabs she could handle, just the “slimy, salty dumb creatures” her words not mine. She told me about the time she went to Earth years ago. I listened to her talking about the many other hosts she had, and how they were not a perfect match.

“Ghost does not like Riot” she said swiftly, I nodded in agreement, “He is an asshole huh?” She nodded at me. When talking to female symbiotes, they would try and express their interest in you extremely, and again it was rare for them not to express but the males to express. She gave off a sweet scent of fresh blood, you would find it gross, and think she was always covered in blood. But in reality, it is just like the scent of strawberries from Anne or something.

We talked for hours and hours. It was beautiful, she had this goofy, toothy grin; it sent sparks through my gooey body. I knew at that moment I loved her, that is when I made my move, I leaned into her, combining our bodies together to make this marble creamy, grey black effect; which resembled a breeding circle that snakes do. I gripped her soft chin slowly pulling her upwards, our bodies still tied together, I slammed my lips onto hers within seconds the unholy, sloppy sucking sounds were coherent. I’m sure she felt the sparks too, like a stupid corny romance movie, where the girl would hold up her leg in content, getting the man of her dreams. That is what I was feeling the entire time I was exploring her toothy mouth. She pulled away from my lips, staring into my eyes, blushing slightly. I never knew symbiotes could blush, we didn’t have blood nor a host to express the redness. But she was blushing, which would get darker the longer we stared at each other. Out of the corner of my eye I saw someone staring at the two of us. Another symbiote, a grey symbiote. It is very common for other males and females to become jealous and fight for their soon to be forever mate. But this other male, wasn’t playing nice in any way. He tried to pull her away from me whenever he could. She didn’t like that male, she expressed it clearly. “Ghost says to go away, Ghost doesn’t fucking like you” I heard her scream from across the field. “Don’t be like that babe, I’m way better than the loser Venom” he snickered. Ghost doesn’t talk much but when she does it is music to my ears, but this wasn’t one of those days. I had picked some rocks for her, she likes rock for some reason, not sure why but she does. I began to walk back towards where I had left her to see her talking with another suitor; “Come on baby, you have a nice piece of goo on ya” he grinned moving closer to her, touching her, trying to fuse with her. Fusing is fighting words when it comes to mating, I haven’t claimed her yet, so I couldn’t just jump in and kill him even though I wanted to. I crawled over dragging my small bag of rocks, “Hey, she said to leave her alone.” I snapped, all he did was look at me with anger in his white eyes, staring me down and said, “Fuck off grasshopper” picking me up and throwing me miles away.

—End of Flashback—

‘When he threw me away, he threw me here. Before I had met you, I was jumping between people, that is when we started working together, to stop Life, saving Y/N; having her move in with us’ Venom paused, taking a deep breath and exhaled his next sentence, ‘Y/N smelt, so much like Ghost, I miss her, I would do anything just to see her again, to hold her. Thinking about it now, staying here is where I belong, I just hope she comes looking for me’ Venom said shakily, knowing that V had emotions of his own, towards someone he loves was something I never saw everyday. “Maybe I could help you get in contact with her. Maybe we could sneak into Drake's place and look for anything related to her?” I asked, Venom sighed a ‘yes’. Listening to Venom’s story was sweet, but I had to come back down from Neverland. Once I came too, I found myself in front of Anne’s new house with her Fiance Dan..My eyes widened once I realized what I had walked out for, I looked around to see if anyone was looking at me weird, which yes, there was this lady staring at me with an angry face. I knocked on the door, hoping I could talk to Anne, in some way at least, I looked in her driveway and saw one car. Maybe Anne isn’t home, or they both aren’t home, I highly doubt Anne would be home on her own, knowing her the little amount that I could remember at least. The door flung open, I looked up to see a familiar face, it was Anne, in what I can assume are her pajamas? She greeted me with a smile moving out of the way letting me in, I took my shoes off setting them down by the door as I walked in. “Eddie, what brings you here?” She asked, I gulped looking up at her through my lashes, “Well, some Life swat team came into the apartment, saying I had something of theirs” which is true, I did have something of theirs, “But Y/N was asking me to many questions that overwhelmed me, I walked out and didn’t realize I was coming her, would it be okay if I stayed a single night? I don’t think I can face her without getting angry in someway” I rushed, she just smiled and nodded at me with that toothy grin, so pearly white, straight and perfect teeth. And there is me, crucketed teeth, yellowish teeth, a very dirty greasy man. I can see why my appearance could be a reason why she had left me.

I shook my head to get thoughts dumb thoughts away, Anne sat down next to me with a concerning look across her face. “Why are you looking at me like that Anne?” I asked, she blinked rapidly to regain her thought train, “Sorry, um, I have a question though” she stated, I nodded in response waiting for what she wanted to ask. “Eddie, do you, I mean you probably do, but do you ever think about us getting back together?” She said softly, messing with her hair. I felt my eyes widen, ‘Eddie what is going on? You’re heart's racing and you seem a little too happy’ I heard Venom say. I sighed lightly “Yeah, I do, but you made up your mind and I have to respect it, I’m not that kind of guy to wreck a home, I don’t like it and I don’t like it when people do it. Besides, you and Dan look so happy together, I am not going to ruin it because my dick still has feelings for you” I huffed. Anne glanced at me then to the floor, “I guess that’s true” she said in a sunken tone. Was she having second thoughts about her and Dan, was there something more to what she was thinking? “Look, I’m tired and I would like to hit the sack, is that fine with you?” I asked softly. She nodded and stood up to grab me a blanket and a pillow. Once she found the two things I needed for the night, I slipped out of my leather jacket, setting it on the arm of the couch. I fluffed my pill, and spread out the blanket, I pulled the blanket over my body, looking out the living room window at the sun slowly setting. ‘Goodnight Eddie’ Venom whispered, ‘Goodnight V’ I replied, my eyes began to feel heavy, soon they collapsed together, sending me off into slumber.

—Slight time skip—

Morning came so fast, I wasn’t happy about it, but I did say I was staying one night. I am a man of my word, which means that I will be leaving soon. I opened my eyes slowly to the sound of dishes clanking and water running. I sat up looking towards the kitchen to see Dan, making breakfast. A smile crept across my face slowly. I walked into the kitchen to greet him, but I was only met with a huff and a groan. I guess it was too early or he didn’t want me here, knowing the whole me and Anne breaking up, “Dan you have nothing to worry about, I have accepted that you and Anne are going to make it official soon, I’m not going to ruin a perfect relationship” I said with a smile. That didn’t seem to help him in any way, I sighed and looked down at my feet, snug in grey socks filled with holes. “See ya man” I sassed, I turned on my heels to grab my jacket and to the door to slip on my shoes. Then someone spoke, “Eddie, Anne told me you were hitting on her, tried getting in her pants and everything. I do not want you anywhere near me, Anne or our house. Leave my property before I make your day living hell!” he growled.

Taglist

@being-worthy @my-obsession-spn

#eddie my beloved #eddie x fem!reader #eddie #tom hardy #venom #ghost #venom ghost #eddiebrockxreader #fem #female #femreader #reader #yn

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All Characters are organized by fandom and alphabetical order. I do not claim any owner ship of any fictional character I write for. Please read my request guidelines before requesting a character from this list. Any character I scratch out I am currently not taking requests for. It will always be x female reader unless otherwise stated.

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PEAKY BLINDER'S; alfie solomons, thomas shelby SONS OF ANARCHY; kip 'half-sack' epps, jax teller TOP GUN: MAVERICK; bradley 'rooster' bradshaw, jake 'hangman' seresin, mickey 'fanboy' garcia, natasha 'phoenix' trace

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✩✩ ✩✩ ✩✩ ✩✩ ✩✩

UPDATED [2/23/24]

#peaky blinders x reader #alfie solomons x reader #thomas shelby x reader #sons of anarchy x reader #jax teller x reader #top gun maverick x reader #bradley bradshaw x reader #rooster x reader #jake seresin x reader #mickey garcia x reader #natasha trace x reader #pedro pascal x reader #frankie morales x reader #travis kelce x reader #andrew beck x reader #joe burrow x reader #nick bosa x reader #tj watts x reader #javier pena x reader #tom hardy x reader #james delaney x reader #matt sturniolo x reader #chris sturniolo x reader #nick sturniolo x reader #colby brock x reader #johnnie guilbert x reader #jake webber x reader #sam golbach x reader #zach justice x reader #damiano david x reader

[darklydeliciousdesires]

I Will Punish - An Alfie Solomons/Reader Smut Short.

For @cillmequick! 

Words - 389

Warnings - Smut below the cut! Minors DNI!!  

“Next!” In walks a worker, the routine never deviating. “Here’s your wages, now fuck off. Next!” The small stack of wage envelopes are handed across the desk, until the queue of men thins to nothing. “Next! Oh, there ain’t no next.” Alfie mutters, his hand grasping at an empty space upon his desk.  

“Yes, there is.” Looking up, he removes his spectacles, leaning back in his chair. 

“Well, ain’t you a sight for sore eyes, treacle.”  

“Yeah, and that’s just the parts of me you can see.” Hitching your pencil skirt up, you reveal the lace tops of your stockings to him, Alfie’s eyebrow arching with salacious interest as you come to sit astride him.  

“Oh, like that, is it? Bit of afternoon delight for your ole’ man here?”  

You lean close to his neck, slowly tracing along the line of a tendon with the tip of your tongue. “Maybe. Or perhaps I just came here to show you what you’ll get when you finally show up at home.” 

“Yeah? And who says I won’t just take you right here, right now in me office, ay?” 

Your smile carries a glint of mischief to it, tilting your head as you stroke his thick chest through his shirt. “Me. I say.”  

He takes a sharp breath through his nose, his brow furrowing. “Don’t think I like that.” 

“Oh? Well, there’s nothing you can do about it.” Getting up, you step back, smirking.

He chuckles, his hands grasping your hips. “There’s fuckin’ plenty I can do about it, sugar. Don’t be a bad girl, now. You know what happens when you’re bad.” You do, it’s why you aim a wink of seductive tease at him.  

“Do I look like I’m messing around? Don’t think I won’t punish you.” 

“Oooh,” you purr, licking your lips. “And how will you punish me?” He moves from his chair, roughly turning you, flattening your body against his office door, his hands yanking your underwear down, nestling his hard cock against the curve of your bum. 

“With my cock, straight up your tight little cunt.” 

You chuckle, hearing him unzip his trousers. “That isn’t a punishment, Alfie.” 

His laugh is baleful, a deep, predatory rumble, shoving your thighs apart with his knee and sinking into your heat. 

“The way I’m gonna fuck you will be, darlin’.” 

#alfie solomons #alfie solomons smut #alfie solomons fanfiction #alfie solomons fanfic #alfie solomons fic #alfie solomons smut drabble #alfie solomons drabble #alfie solomons x female reader #alfie solomons x you #tom hardy #tom hardy fanfiction #tom hardy fanfic #tom hardy fic #tom hardy smut #tom hardy x female reader #tom hardy x reader #tom hardy smut drabble #tom hardy drabble #peaky blinders #peaky blinders smut #peaky blinders fanfiction #peaky blinders fanfic #peaky blinders fic

[justsomerandomfanfic]

Masterlist - 2023

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

𝓡𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓵𝔂 𝓤𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓕𝓲𝓬𝓼:

Fanfic Friday 4/28/23

A Rose By Any Other Name - George Weasley X Female (Slytherin/Sirius Black Daughter) Reader; fluff, slight angst

Vet Bills - John Wick X Female (Vet) Reader; fluff, mini angst

Party Games - Steve Rogers X Loki Odinson; fluff, slight angst, Pocky Challenge

Chocolate Surprise - Loki Odinson X Thranduil; fluff

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

Alphabetical List -- Updated on 4/28/23 (newly added George Weasley, John Wick, Steve X Loki, and Loki X Thranduil Fics above and below)

Italics = I have already made fanfics on this character if you wanna read them

↑ My Fanfic Masterlist is located on my page, or click here "X Reader Masterlist" Or click on the fandom titles below for the specific Masterlist and/or Character

For Requesting Rules, click here "Request Rules" You may request as many times as you like, as long as you stay along the lines of the said rules above

(Here is a list of songs for characters that inspire me! "Songs"

(Requests Are Open!)

DC | Gotham - Bane (Hardy), Bruce Wayne (Bale), Bruce Wayne (Keaton), Bruce Wayne (Pattinson), Bruce Wayne (Val), Edward Nygma (Carrey), Jack (Heath) Joker, Jason Todd, Jerome Valeska, Jervis Tetch (Gotham), Jonathan Crane (Gotham), Jonathan Crane (Murphy), Klarion Bleak, Maxwell Lord, Richard Grayson, Roman Sionis, Victor Zsasz

CR | Disney - Christopher Robin, Cruella de Vil, Ella (Cinderella 2015), Gaston LeGume (Beauty And The Beast 2017), Jasper Badun

Harry Potter - Cedric Diggory, Draco Malfoy, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Severus Snape

Kingsman - Eggsy Unwin, Hamish Mycroft (Merlin), Harry Hart, Jack Daniels

Marvel | X-Men - Bruce Banner, Bucky Barnes, Charles Xavier, Eddie/Venom, Erik Killmonger, Everett Ross, Harry Osborn (TASM), Heimdall, Helmut Zemo, John Allerdyce, Johnny Storm, Kurt Wagner, Logan Howlett, Loki Odinson (Not the Series), M'Baku, Natasha Romanoff, Otto Octavius, Peter Maximoff, Peter Parker (Andrew), Peter Parker (Tobey), Peter Parker (Tom), Pietro Maximoff, Quentin Beck, Sam Wilson, Scott Lang, Shang-Chi, Steve Rogers, Thor Odinson, Tony Stark, Vision, Wade Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Wenwu

Star Wars | The Mandalorian - Anakin Skywalker, Armitage Hux, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren, Din Djarin, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Rey

Stranger Things - Alexei Smirnoff, Billy Hargrove, Eddie Munson, Robin Buckey, Jim Hopper, Steve Harrington

The Hobbit / The Lord Of The Rings - Aragorn, Bilbo Baggins, Boromir, Dwalin, Elrond, Faramir, Fili, Kili, Haldir, Legolas Greenleaf, Pippin Took, Samwise Gamgee, Thorin Oakenshield, Thranduil

Pedro Pascal -

(Pedro Pascal Characters Masterlist) (Let me know if I should add any more)

Kingsman - Jack Daniels - Included/Merge Mansion - Tim Rockford/The Last Of Us - Joel Miller - Included/The Mandalorian - Din Djarin - Included/Wonder Woman 1984 - Maxwell Lord

Miscellaneous -

Assassin's Creed - Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Brothers Grimm - Jakob Grimm

BBC & Enola - Sherlock Holmes

Hell Boy - Red (Hellboy), Abe Sapien, and Agent John Myers

Encino Man - Linkavitch "Link" Chomofsky

George Of The Jungle - George

Ghostbusters (2016) - Jillian Holtzmann, Kevin Beckman

Indiana Jones - Indiana Jones

John Wick - John Wick

Jurassic Park - Ian Malcolm

Scooby Doo (2002) - Shaggy Rogers

The Last Of Us - Joel Miller

The Pirates Of The Caribbean - James Norrington, Hector Barbossa

The Phantom Of The Opera - Erik Destler

Uncharted 4 - Sam Drake, Rafe Adler

X-Files - Fox Mulder

(If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to let me know!)

#requests are open #requests open #requested #request #requests #reader #x reader #x gn reader #x female reader #x you #x y/n #mcu marvel #marvel fanfic #marvel mcu #marvel cinematic universe #marvel #dc #dc imagine #dc fandom #dc comcis #masterlist #2023 #poto #the phantom of the opera #the last of us #sherlock holmes #uncharted 4 #xfiles #potc #star wars

[cinebration]

Opening Requests!

Hi, everyone! I am opening requests again! Please read the rules carefully before submitting your request(s).

Rules

Send to my ask box! Please keep in mind that these requests are meant to be one-shot drabbles.

No smut. No pregnancy fics or A/B/O fics. No crossover fics. No actor x reader. All reader characters must be 18 or older. Other AUs acceptable.

I’m asking this time that requests do not ask me to continue fics I have written, regardless of whether they are multi-chapter or one-shots.

Identify the gender of the reader if you want something other than female.

Because I try to remain as true to character as possible, I reserve the right to reject or tweak requests to keep the characters in character.

Below are character lists divided by actors.

Oscar Isaac

The Moon Knight Boys, Poe Dameron

Pedro Pascal

Javi Gutierrez, Din Djarin, Ezra, Maxwell Lord

Diego Luna

Cassian Andor

Christian Bale

Gorr the God Butcher, Alfred Borden, John Preston, Patrick Bateman, Russell Baze

Henry Cavill

Napoleon Solo, August Walker, Captain Syverson, Geralt of Rivia, Sherlock Holmes, Walter Marshall

Tom Hardy

Eames, Eddie Brock, Alfie Solomons, James Keziah Delaney, Bob (The Drop), Forrest Bondurant, Tuck, Tommy Conlon

Sebastian Stan

Bucky Barnes, Charles Blackwood

Chris Evans

Ransom Drysdale, Jake Jensen, Colin Shea

Ewan McGregor

Roman Sionis, Dan Torrance, Obi-Wan Kenobi

I’m also open to other characters and fandoms if you want me to try my hand at something!

#requests #Oscar Isaac x Reader #Pedro Pascal x Reader #Diego Luna x Reader #Christian Bale x Reader #Henry Cavill x Reader #Tom Hardy x Reader #Sebastian Stan x Reader #Chris Evans x Reader #Ewan McGregor x Reader #Oscar Isaac imagine #Pedro Pascal imagine #Diego Luna imagine #Christian Bale imagine #Henry Cavill imagine #Tom Hardy imagine #Sebastian Stan imagine #Chris Evans imagine #Ewan McGregor imagine

[whatstruthgottodowithit]

COLLECTION OF CHRISTMAS THEMED FICS

RPF

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Pairing: Chris Evans x Reader Word Count: 1847 Rating: Teen

The Nice List Pairing: Chris Evans x Reader Word Count: 1190 Rating: Gen

Santa Bring My Baby Back Pairing: Elvis Presley x Female Reader Word Count: 3208  Rating: Mature

Wrapped Around My Finger Pairing: Elvis Presley x Female Reader Word Count: 3492  Rating: Teen & Up

Fist Fights and Silent Nights Pairing: Austin Butler x  Female Reader Word Count: 1827  Rating: Mature

Santa Tell Me Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader Word Count: 1956 Rating: Teen

Will You Marry My Daddy? Pairing: Joe Mazzello x Reader Word Count: 999  Rating: Gen

All I Need Pairing: Zendaya x Reader Word Count: 2323  Rating: Teen

Early Christmas Present Pairing: Ben Hardy x Female Reader Word Count: 1289  Rating: Gen

TV

Santa Stole My Girlfriend Pairing: Chandler Bing x Original Character x Joey Tribbiani Word Count: 1558 Rating: Teen

I’ll Be Home For Christmas Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader Word Count: 2091 Rating: Gen

Free Beer and The Festive Season Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader Word Count: 1043  Rating: Mature

Last Christmas Pairing: Nick Miller x Reader Word Count: 1974 Rating: Teen

MARVEL

All I Want For Christmas Is You Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader Word Count: 1430 Rating: Gen

Baby It’s Cold Outside Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader Word Count: 1446 Rating: Teen

A Perfect Christmas Pairing: Tony Stark x Reader Word Count: 1260  Rating: Teen

HARRY POTTER

Santa Baby Pairing: Draco Malfoy x Original Female Character, Draco Malfoy x Valentina Fleamont Word Count: 1867 Rating: Teen

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? Pairing: Harry Potter x Reader Word Count: 1347 Rating: Gen

A Little Magic Pairing: Sirius Black x Reader Word Count: 1300  Rating: Gen

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Pairing: Ron Weasley x Reader Word Count: 953 Rating: Teen

#my writing #chris evans #harry potter #harry potter fic #chris evans fic #supernatural fic #dean winchester #joe mazzello #zendaya #tom holland #christmas #christmas fics #masterlists #my masterlists #My masterlist

[cannibalcoyote]

Unraveled Ch.8: Dull

Ch.7 Ch.9

"Cocaine though... Must be a one-off." Ellie spoke as Alec poured himself a cup of tea.

"They're not that type of family, Chloe's not that type of girl." Ellie continued to say - though she seemed to be attempting to reassure herself. Her hands on her hips as she observed Alec at the kitchen; myself standing to the side of Alec, peering through the blinds to the gray sky.

"Nobody ever is." Alec states in response, continuing to make his bitter tea.

My mind drifts away from the conversation, it's not that I'm uninterested, it's just that I can't seem to focus. What Jack said to me at his shop still replays in my mind, the confrontation still fresh. I just can't believe he would say that to me, after how close we've gotten, I've even started to think of him like a second father. I understand why he doesn't want to tell anyone, but he should know that I would never break my promise, and that him threatening to tell others of my experience frightens me more than anything.

In my peripheral I notice Ellie walking away, probably something to do with the dull phone ring I heard a few seconds ago. Shaking my thoughts away, I attempt to settle back into reality when I hear someone - I presume to be Alec - speedily walking out of the door and down the hallway. I turn just in time to see the door close, quickly following after him. I just manage to catch a glimpse of him as he slips into the restroom. I'm a little confused as to why he left in such a hurry, it's not like we haven't had the restroom available at all times.

I decide to just go back into the room and wait for him to return, sipping the bitter tea he made whilst daydreaming.

_______

Alec walks back into the office and I quickly put down the now empty mug, slowly walking after him until he enters his private office. Deciding to give him his space I head over to my own desk.

The workers in here still make me uncomfortable, their eyes are scanning everything, and I don't like how that one guy is looking at Frank's desk. Having strangers here in general makes me uncomfortable, though there ain't much we can do about that at the moment.

I glance up as I hear Ellie telling off a phone line guy, this guy specifically makes me feel nauseous. I don't know why, but just being in the same room as him makes me uncomfortable, uncomfortable to the point of having an internal argument on whether I should just continue working at my desk or walk into Alec's office with my laptop and continue work from his couch. However, I don't have time to decide as Alec quickly strides out of his office, calling for us to follow him.

"Carlisle, Miller. Postman, come on." He speaks as he shoves on his jacket, not even sparing us a glance. Ellie pushes me forward as I stumble back into reality, hastily tossing on my jacket as well before following after Alec.

_______

We're out here in a nice, quiet part of town. I remember looking for a house out here, but everyone living in this area has a family, and being around them just made me sad. The children of said families either reminded me of Pippa or Daisy, both of which left me feeling guilty, ashamed, and morose.

Deciding I need to pull myself together and get back into this investigation I listen carefully to Kevin. He's a nice lad. I've seen him a couple of times on my occasional early morning walks, but we've never said any more than 'hello's' or just the normal greetings.

"Yeah, that's my round, up past Briar Cliff." He responds, hands shoved in his pockets casually.

"And did you work the route last month?" Ellie questions, hands folded politely in front of her as she awaits his answer.

"I think I've done every delivery out there for the past eight or nine weeks, I'd say." Kevin states as he estimates how long he's been working his route, glancing slightly between Ellie, Alec, and myself.

Ellie also gives the both of us a small glance, about to say something before I decided to speak,

"Did you ever see Daniel Latimer during your rounds?" My voice is steady, holding no accusation, maintaining a neutral tone.

"Yeah, all the time. He used to deliver papers up there to a couple of houses, including the hut... When I heard, I thought, 'I've only seen him a couple of days previous'." I can tell he's answering honestly, I really don't think Kevin was involved, but I know we have to be thorough and be completely sure.

Stepping back I allow Ellie to continue her questioning,

"And did you ever talk to him? I'm thinking particularly the last week in June."

"I might've waved, and maybe said 'hello'. I didn't really know him to talk to." Kevin replied, his voice holding a hint of confusion as to why last week in June was important.

"That's it? Just 'hello'?" Ellie clarifies, her mind likely wondering as to why the information Jack gave us isn't adding up, myself wondering the same thing.

"What else would I say?" Kevin asks, curious as to what else he would say and why he is even being questioned about it.

An empty pause fills the atmosphere, the information we were given isn't adding up. I look over to Alec's stern and stoic figure, he hasn't said a thing the entire time, just listening and reading Kevin's body language. As the silence drags on, Kevin's curiosity turns into confusion, his mind now realizing that something must've been said about him that led the police to warrant questioning him.

"You didn't ever have a conversation with him?"Ellie breaks the pause

"No" Kevin responds.

"Or an argument?" Alec's voice is steady and calm, he must also know that Kevin is more than likely not a suspect. I cross my arms and glance away from him as I listen to Kevin's answer,

"What am I gonna be arguing with a paper lad about?" He responds, probably a little weirded out as to why they would ask if he ever argued with Danny.

"And where were you Thursday night?" Ellie continues, asking him for his alibi.

"Thursday, I'd have been with the boys. We got hammered. Six of us, there was. Finished at 4:00, My missus woke me up at 7:00, I was out cold." Kevin explained, nodding his head as he remembered his whereabouts.

"We're gonna need the names of all those you were with." Ellie replies, Alec glancing over at her before going to me, then back to Kevin.

"But I mean, you don't think I had anything to do with it?" Kevin concerningly asks, pointing at himself in disbelief.

"Oh, it's just to rule things out. Nothing to worry about."

"Alright, thank you Kevin." I quickly say as I attempt to draw Alec's attention away from Ellie, pushing them forwards.

I can almost feel Alec's struggle to hold back telling her to shut up. The questioning was going good, and Ellie is doing fairly well for her first murder, but her and Alec will most definitely continue to butt-heads on this case.

"Don't say that." Alec speaks in a quiet and frankly tired tone, being careful to not allow Kevin to hear their conversation.

"Don't say what?"Ellie asks, confused as to what she's done this time."

"No need to worry." Alec replies.

"Why not?" Ellie questions, finding no fault in her past words.

"Don't reassure people. Let them talk." Alec states. Hearing him talk like this reminds me of when he would be forced to mentor new recruits back at our old station.

"Can I just say, you can't just walk up here and try to mold me. I know what I'm doing, and I know how to handle people. And you can keep your broody bullshit shtick to yourself." Ellie frustratingly rants for a moment as they approach her car.

Releasing a tired sigh I lazily grab Ellie's arm and pull her away from the car and a little down the sidewalk.

"What are you doing?" Ellie questions, still frustrated from her prior conversation.

"Ellie, I get that you don't like our new boss, but that doesn't mean you ignore everything he says!" I grunt as I glance over to see Alec leaning against Ellie's car.

"Don't tell me you're taking his side!" She responds, now even more frustrated.

"Listen, whether you like him or not, what he is saying should not be ignored. You shouldn't have reassured Kevin, he would have continued talking had you not said that." I explain calmly.

Her expression goes from frustrated to conflicted, hopefully my words get through to her, the last thing we need is for her to make her first murder case harder than it already is.

She releases a quiet sigh before looking up at me, giving a small nod. I smile in reassurance before giving her a playful shove and walking off to my car.

_______

I decide to take a detour, sending a quick text to Ellie before turning my car away from the station, instead heading towards the grocery store.

The real reason I postponed going back to the station was because I needed a breath of air away from everything. With everything that's going on, feeling bad and haunted by my past makes me feel selfish, but that doesn't stop my memories from affecting me; I feel disgusted and shameful of myself, I should be worrying about Beth and finding Danny's murderer, not worrying about what happened to me.

I pull into my parking spot, the steady foot and car traffic isn't really helpful, but it's a welcome change from the foot traffic of the phone men in our office.

I just sit in there, my eyes glazed over as I stare through the windshield, trying to convince myself to get out and buy something I want to eat. The only thing that awakens me from my internal thoughts is the sound of a loud scrape.

I jump in my seat, praying it's not a crash that will require my attention. Instead of finding two drivers arguing, I see Beth, who, in a fit of rage, is slamming her hands against her car.

My recent thoughts forgotten, I speedily shove my door open, and run towards Beth. I grab her arms lightly but firmly, attempting to stop her from hitting the car and possibly hurting herself.

"Beth...Beth stop." I calmly speak as her rage simmers down, only her sadness remaining as she leans herself against me, slowly crouching to the ground, myself following.

I can hear someone else calling her name, but I'm too focused on her to care. I only realize it's Paul when he crouches down across from us, a concerned look displayed upon his face.

"Are you alright?" His question is obvious and stupid, but it is what you would expect anyone to ask. Though I saw his question coming, Beth's answer was far from expected.

It takes her a few moments before she responds, her entire face seeming dazed at everything that is truly happening to her.

"I'm pregnant." She states, leaning against the car as though both physically and mentally exhausted. Her response shocks me, I can only imagine how this affected her when she first found out.

Shaking myself out of my thought-filled daze, I assist Paul in helping Beth up, Paul lifting her by her left hand whilst I provide stability on the other side.

We sit in her trunk for about a minute before Paul breaks our silence.

"Have you told anyone?" His question was, once again, obviously going to be asked. But that's not to say that it hadn't preoccupied my mind for the past 60 seconds.

"I only found out about two weeks ago." Came Beth's reply. Usually when someone talks about their pregnancy they are filled with happiness, but with Beth I can hear how exhausted she is.

"You don't want to tell Mark?" Paul asks as he glances over at her.

"It's complicated" Was Beth's short reply.

"Of course." Paul accepted, though you could see the worry and confusion at her current situation.

Placing my hand gently on her shoulder, I give her a small smile as she glances at me.

"Do you have anyone you can talk to? Your mum, maybe?" I question calmly.

"No. Not now, and don't you go telling her either." Beth states, her voice serious and her tone final.

Another silence ensues for a couple of moments, and I know for a fact that Paul is going to ask her another question. As much as I love Paul, he tends to ask a lot of questions whenever he's in a situation like this.

"What are you gonna do?" He questions, I hide my grim smirk, knowing now is not the time to find humor in knowing your friends so well.

"Can you stop asking me bloody questions?" Beth retaliates, beginning to become frustrated.

"Beth, you know he isn't trying to upset you." I state, trying to calm her growing tension and Paul's growing uncomfortableness.

"No, no, it's alright, I do ask a lot of questions, apparently." Paul explains.

"I'll leave you alone." Paul continues, standing up, nodding his head to both Beth and myself before heading on his way.

I can practically hear Beth thinking, though I don't know what to say. So much has happened in such a short amount of time, and finding out your pregnant after your son's murdered must be a very shocking and unnerving thing to deal with.

"Beth.. I know you don't want to talk about this, and that's okay, but are you going to be alright on your way home?" I question softly, trying not to enrage the already on-edge Beth. She simply gazes forward at the bustling people before glancing towards myself, offering a short smile before replying.

"I'll be fine Els, you go on." Her voice is strained, almost as though her body has had no rest in quite awhile. Unsure of her answer I simply nod and get up to leave, but not before saying,

"If you ever want to talk, whether it's just in general or about this, I'm always here." I state comfortingly before nodding to her and heading off to my car, the thought of buying myself a snack long having left my mind.

Ch.7 Ch.9

#broadchurch #broadchurch imagines #broadchurch oneshot #broadchurch series #alec hardy #ellie miller #joe miller #tom miller #murder mystery #david tennant x reader #david tennant #david tennant imagine #alec hardy oneshot #alec hardy imagine #alec hardy x reader #alec hardy x y/n #x you #x you fluff #female reader #england #murder

[inkwolvesandcoffee]

Feeling shite but inspired

I’ve picked up sewing to distract myself from the current situation with my cat. Also, I simply needed a new hobby.

Anyways, I’ve started making plushies (by hand) and having a blast with it. But it also got me thinking about two things:

1. Sewing a wolf plushie for tattoo artist!Alfie which he basically takes with him everywhere he goes. It results in him sending you various goofy pictures as he travels the world and a wee message that, though convoluted on first glance, tells you he misses you. For example, he’ll be sitting down at a restaurant somewhere and put the plushie on the opposite seat, propping it up until it looks like it’s actually seated for food. The message might be somewhere along the lines of: “Sharing food is good for bonding. People have been doing it for centuries, but while the little chap across me is charming, I don’t think I’ll have much of a bond with him.”

Nobody says anything about it, afraid of what reaction it might trigger. That is, no one but Tommy. And Alfie certainly isn’t afraid to let on he indeed fancies you.

Now this is meant to be shared. Hold on, mate, let’s commemorate this.

*proceeds to grab the plushie and take a photo to send you*

2. Sitting in a comfortable chair overlooking the water in Alfie’s home, sewing. Normally, it’s his chair, but he gladly gives it up to you just so he can see how serious yet serene you get while working with needle and thread. He loves to sit on the couch opposite you, watching (yet trying to make it seem as if doesn’t).

The gentleman man that he is, he will make sure you won’t forget to eat and drink. So, whenever he thinks you should take a break, he’ll serve tea with biscuits or scones.

Unless it’s lunchtime. He’ll whip out a luxurious sandwich, prepared with the bread he made. If it’s late, there will be glasses of rum and chocolates.

*carefully reaches for your knee to grab your attention*

Little dove, you need a break. Let’s have some tea, yeah?

Just to boast a wee bit, here’s my current project. And I do have to say, it’s coming along quite nicely.😸

#peaky blinders #alfie solomons #alfie solomons x reader #alfie solomons x female reader #Tom Hardy

[simplystevies]

undress me

pairings || tom hardy x actress!reader

summary || sitting in an interview with your celebrity crush since you were a teenager, you feel his eyes undressing you.

warnings || 18+ minors dni, rpf, a pinch of angst, but it’s acting, public sex, tom is a flirty shit, messy kissing, tom gives reader a pearl necklace ;), fluff!!, swimming pool sex, unprotected sex, acting, pet names (darling).

note || @lipstickbisous @strwbrrybucky i hope you two enjoy this mwah mwah i love u both

wc || 1.9k

during your many years as an actress, you’ve made it pretty obvious who you liked or who you didn’t like. one thing you kept secret, was your love for your co-star tom hardy.

god, was he a man. when you found out you would be working on venom with him, you didn’t think you would ever recover.

standing in the same building as tom nearly had you on the floor passed out, but when he walked over to you, smiling widely with his hand out as he introduced himself your legs went weak and you struggled to keep yourself held up.

you returned the gesture and gave him a small smile, giving him your name. you didn’t want to open your mouth after “i’m y/n.” because there was no way you could hold yourself back from blurting your massive crush on tom.

working with the tom hardy was too much for you to handle. the day you found out you were kissing tom hardy, you could barely sleep for a week before.

“you ready?” tom was always so friendly and comfortable around you. you calmed down slightly, but jesus the butterflies were still full in your tummy anytime he spoke.

you took a deep breath before nodding. you two were waiting for the sign to go, which came quicker than you thought. “beck, come on, i can’t have you getting closer with venom.”

his acting was brilliant, you felt so much emotion. “i can’t leave you eddie, you mean too much to me.” you whimpered, your arms wrapping around his neck tightly.

“you mean so much to me too, you’re all i want, but i can’t have you, i don’t want to find out what would happen if you got closer to venom.” toms strong arms wrapped around your waist tightly, pulling you into him.

you sighed against his shoulder, tears welling in your eyes. tom pulled away, grabbing your face. “no, no, no no no, come on, please don’t cry, i can’t see you cry.” tom pouted, wiping under your eyes.

you sniffled and shook your head. “i don’t want to leave you.” you whispered, looking into his eyes. tom smiled and nodded, leaning in slowly. you watched as he leaned in, moving in yourself.

tom’s lips connected to yours, in a soft, passionate kiss. you didn’t know if it was just you, but you felt some love in the kiss. tom’s tongue slid into your mouth, his hands moving to your waist.

tom pulled away and placed his forehead against yours. “i’ll always love you, i’ll never forget you.” he was going off script. “you’re all i care about, and my top priority is keeping you safe.”

what was he doing? you looked into his eyes, clearly confused. “and if that means i have to leave, then so be it. i’d do anything to protect you.” at least he was staying in character… he’s staying in character right?

oh god all you needed now was tom to drop out of your life after you two finish shooting together. you nodded, sniffling again before kissing him once more.

“i love you, tom.” you whispered, sighing slightly. tom backed up a bit, a small smirk on his face. then it hit you. “oh my god, i’m so sorry!” you panicked, covering your mouth.

“and that would’ve been so perfect if you hadn’t.. confessed your love.” tom smirked, looking at andy serkis, the director. andy laughed and shook his head, stopping the camera and waiting for you two to prepare.

you two, eventually, buried the confession deep. you two were doing press conferences for venom, giving your own opinions and answering anything you could answer.

“so, i think the big question really is, are you two dating?” the interviewer asked. you felt your cheeks heat up, shaking your head. “well, y/n did confess her love to me by accident during shooting.” tom smirked.

your eyes grew wide as you looked up at him. “oh my god, i cant believe you would throw me under the bus like that!” you gasped, covering your face. “did you actually?!” the interviewer seemed excited.

probably because he was getting exclusive information before anyone else. “listen! tom was going off script, and i got distracted and it just fell out!”

“she obviously had it on her mind.” tom rubbed his chin, a wide smile. you rolled your eyes and tried to ignore the question. the rest of the interview you felt toms eyes on you, constantly.

at your next conference, the question was brought up many times. “y’know, y/n is a wonderful girl and i would be so grateful to have her as my girlfriend, i’m already grateful to have her as my friend.”

tom defending you sent butterflies to your core, making you grip the chair slightly. “she’s just a great person overall, and having her here next to me is more than i could ever ask for.”

you bit your lip, wanting to jump his bones right then and there. during the interview, you felt tom burning holes into your body with his eyes. god, you needed him.

the wetness between your legs growing and growing. you grew scared to get up, you were scared that there was a wet patch at the back of your dress from how wet you were.

when you two connected eyes, you could tell what he wanted to do. he wanted the exact same thing as you did. once you took in his body, he was covering something on his lap.

you bit your lip and looked at the interviewer, trying to avoid eye contact with tom because you knew if you held it for too long you’d end up fucking him right then and there.

chewing on your lip, you felt toms foot tap yours. you smiled and tapped his back, a small gesture, but it meant everything to you. the small gesture confirmed every question in your head.

tom wanted you, the way you wanted him.

after the interview, you were in your hotel room, taking off your makeup and getting ready to go to bed.

a knock sounded through the room, making you get up and go to get the door. you open it to see tom smirking, roses in his hand. “i thought it was romantic.” he said, handing them to you.

you took them and smiled, kissing his cheek. “thank you tom, they are romantic.” you said, walking away from the door allowing him to walk in. “there’s um.. there’s swimming pool, if you’re interested.”

“it’s closed! it closed an hour ago.” you poured, putting the flowers in a vase. “you can get in anywhere if you’re famous enough.” tom smirked, shaking the keys in front of you.

you bit your lip and looked at him. “i have no—“ you started. tom shook his head and put his hand over your mouth. “bra and panties, i’m wearing my boxers.” he said.

a sigh left your lips before nodding. “let’s go then, hm? you better not disappoint.” you pointed at him, squinting your eyes. tom chuckled, grabbing your finger and pushing it down.

“when have i ever disappointed you?” he asked, acting fake offended. “well.. you aren’t the best kisser.” you lied, walking out with tom, who now had his hand on his chest and his jaw wide.

“i’m not a good kisser? wow.” he shook his head, pushing past you. while he was walking past, his hand landed on your ass, giving it a tight squeeze. you gasped and slapped his hand.

tom bit his tongue as he laughed, making you smile. “little shit! don’t grab my ass.” you shoved his head, walking to the pool with him. tom smiled and started stripping once you two arrived at the pool.

the only light was from the pool, everything else was dark. you watched him pull off his shirt, revealing his tattoos. you bit your lip, looking him up and down.

“you gonna start getting ready to go in too?” tom asked, pulling down his pants. you nodded and started to pull off your shirt. eventually, the both of you were in your undergarments.

tom was the first in, gasping from the cold. “is it cold?” you asked, covering your chest with your arms. “freezing, but you’ll warm up.” tom nodded, pinching his nose.

you sat on the edge, testing the water with your feet. “come ooonnnn, don’t be laaaaaame.” tom pouted, swimming up to you. you shook your head and kicked some water at him.

tom groaned and shook his head. “okay, that does it!” he said in a mocking tone, grabbing your legs and pulling you in. you screamed before being dunked under the water.

you shot up, wiping your eyes and slapping toms chest. “i hate you so much!” you whined, continuing to wipe your eyes. tom pouted and moved your hands, wiping your eyes himself.

when he was finished, he held your face. “i’m sorry, accept my apology?” he asked, his pout growing bigger. you sighed and nodded, shaking your head. tom smiled and moved his hands to your thighs.

you looked into his eyes, confused. tom pushed you against the wall of the pool, holding you against it. you bit your lip, looking into his eyes. tom took a second before leaning in, his lips centimetres away from your lips.

a rush of ecstasy rushed through your body. toms lips pressed against yours, a small sigh leaving your body. tom’s tongue slid into your mouth, your tongues playing with each other.

tom pulled away, his lips travelling down your neck. “i’m gonna make this fast.. and we can continue in your bedroom if you want, okay?” tom whispered, pressing a kiss onto your shoulder.

you nodded and allowed him pull off your panties. tom pulled down his boxers, quickly sliding into you. you gasped, grabbing toms shoulders and pulling him in. “okay, okay, you’re okay.” tom whispered.

you felt yourself slowly stretch around him. tom waited for you, kissing around your body while you two waited. you tapped his shoulder, signalling he could go. tom took the message and started to slowly thrust.

you cried out, tom was barely a second into fucking you and he was already hitting your g-spot. “fuck, tom!” you sobbed, throwing your head back. tom smiled and kissed your neck, marking you.

“you’re doing so good for me, darling, doing so so so well.” he whispered, speeding his the movement of his hips. your hands moved up to his hair, pulling on it roughly.

tom moaned, the noise going straight to your core. “come on, darling, you look so fucking beautiful.” tom mumbled, his hands squeezing your hips. you slowly moved your hips against him, adding more pleasure.

you rolled your eyes to the back of your head as you felt a knot form in the pit of your stomach. “tom! oh god tom!” you cried, pulling on his hair. toms right hand moved down to your clit, rubbing it in tight circles.

this added to the pleasure, sending you over the edge quickly. your eyes were squeezed shut and your legs tightened around toms waist as you released against him.

white flashes appeared in front of your eyes before you calmed down. “fuck, that was so good baby, i just gotta cum and then we can go, okay?” tom assured with you.

he hoped he wasn’t pushing you over the edge too far, so he had to ask before he kept going. you nodded, wrapping your arm around his neck as he started to thrust again.

this time, you started to realise that the water was splashing all over you two, making you both ten times more wet than before. “fuck.. fuck.. fuck!” tom moaned, releasing inside of you.

you sighed and leaned your head back at the feeling of tom releasing inside of you, enjoying it as long as it lasted. “i love you.” tom whispered, his head falling onto your chest.

you smiled and lifted his head. “i love you too.” you said, kissing him softly. tom smiled and pulled away, helping you out of the pool. once you two were dressed, tom carried you bridal style back to your bedroom where you both had the night of your lives.

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