#which is something you think you'd ask about when purchasing a building but i guess i don't have the business sense my bosses have | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lostinthewiind · 3 years

Text

Piss Off Your Parents - Part 8

Ukai Keishin - Haikyuu

Synopsis: freshly turned 18, you want to prove to your parents that you aren’t a child for them to push around anymore. First, get a job at the local corner store. Second, use the store owner’s 26-year-old son with piercings and a cigarette addiction to piss your parents off. Third, accidentally fall in love.

Rating: PG13

Warnings: none

Song → 18 by Anarbor

Previous → Part 7

Next → Part 9

Feeling a body shift beside you, you slowly began to wake from your deep, dreamless sleep. With thin rays of sunlight shining through the crack between the curtains, you let a content, sleepy smile toy at the corners of your lips as you rolled over in Keishin's arms and came face to face with his sleeping form.

It had been over a week since you had started staying with Keishin and even though waking up beside someone every morning definitely took some getting used to, you were a little surprised by just how quickly it was beginning to feel normal. Not only that, but you never slept better than you did in Keishin's bed with his warm, calming presence beside you and strong, protective arm draped over your waist.

Eyes closed and lips slightly parted, Keishin was fast asleep. His chest rose and fell rhythmically and at some point during the night, just like every other night, his hair—which wasn't tamed by the headband while he slept—had gotten all messed up and a few strands had fallen into his face.

Whenever you woke up before him, you would always take the chance to just look at him. While he slept, he seemed completely and utterly at peace—no longer burdened by the stress of coaching volleyball, working at the store, and no doubt whatever extra problems you had brought into his life. You thought back to the time you had watched him sleeping on the couch in the back room and sighed happily; the thought of how much things had changed in such a short period of time truly putting things into perspective.

Unable to keep your hands to yourself any longer, you reached out slowly and brushed the loose strands of hair out of his face and tucked them behind his ear—the same way you had done when you two had first had sex and the same way you had done countless times since.

Keishin could sleep through a thunderstorm or the sound of you calling out his name, but as soon as he felt your fingertips graze against his cheek, his eyes fluttered open. Upon noticing he was awake, you made your touch more prominent and caressed his face.

"Good morning," you whispered, unwilling to raise your voice any more than that and ruin the soft ambiance of the early morning.

Keishin leaned into your touch and smiled softly. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," you answered as you ran your thumb along his bottom lip, internally debating if you should ambush him with kisses now or wait until he had woken up a little more first. Chuckling to yourself over your own thoughts, you caught yourself staring at his lips and directed your gaze back to his eyes. "I'm just looking at you."

Keishin scoffed as he pressed a gentle kiss to your thumb. "Why?"

"Because you look so beautiful when you're asleep," you told him matter-of-factly. "Not that you don't always look beautiful," you added quickly before he could make some sort of sarcastic comment.

Keishin rolled his eyes before pulling you flush against his chest and kissing you. "You're such a sap, you know that?"

You laughed. "First, I'm dramatic. Now I'm a sap. What's next?"

"I have no idea." Keishin shrugged the best he could while lying down. "What I do know, however," he glanced at the clock, "is that we need to get up and get ready."

Following Keishin's gaze to the time, you huffed sadly when you noticed there were only five minutes left until your alarm would go off, forcing you to get ready to open the store. "Can't we just stay in bed all day?" you asked, hoping you could convince him to stay under the covers with you.

"Not unless we want to go broke and end up living under a bridge together."

You chuckled as Keishin crawled out of bed, the temptation of slapping his ass gently when he stood up almost too much but you managed to control yourself. "Together?" You grinned. "You'd stay with me even if we were both dirt poor?"

Keishin rolled his eyes playfully at your takeaway from his statement. "Of course." He collected his clothes before making his way around to your side of the bed and pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. "But I think I like plumbing and heating too much to give them up, so let's shower and get ready."

Sitting up in bed, you cocked an eyebrow. "You want to shower together?"

Keishin flashed a devilish smirk as he headed for the bathroom. "Purely for the purpose of saving water." He disappeared into the bathroom and seconds later his boxers flew out and landed on the floor, indicating he was completely nude. "But if you hate the planet, then I guess that's on you."

Your cheeks flushed red but nevertheless, you swung your legs over the side of the bed and began removing your clothes as you approached the bathroom. "Sure," you laughed as you closed the bathroom door behind yourself and let your eyes wander over Keishin's wet, naked body as he stood under the steaming water. "If it's for the planet, how could I possibly say no?"

20 minutes of passionate kissing and soapy hands exploring every inch of each other's body later, the two of you towelled off and finished getting ready before sitting down for a quick breakfast together.

"So the volleyball team has a game today, right?" you asked Keishin as you poured milk into your bowl of cereal. Keishin nodded. "What time do you think you will be home?"

Keishin thought for a moment before answering. "Probably around six or seven tonight. The game is right after school so it shouldn't run too late."

"Okay." You sat down across from him at the table. "Should we get dinner after I close up the shop?"

Keishin nodded again. "Sounds like a plan."

With a few more bites of his breakfast, Keishin was setting his dishes in the sink, pressing a quick kiss to the top of your head, and rushing down the stairs and out of the building to start his day.

As you listened to his footsteps stomp down the stairs, followed by the sound of the back door opening and closing to indicate that he had left, you sighed to yourself and sat back in your chair. It was then that you took a minute to think about everything; your job, your boyfriend, your living arrangements, your tattered relationship with your parents. In the span of a few months, your life had completely turned upside down, but that wasn't the part that freaked you out the most.

What really got you thinking was the fact that, even though your life had done a complete 180, you had never been happier; which led to the constant internal questioning about if you had ever really been happy before you had met Keishin at all, or if this was just a different kind of happy—a happy that only a stable, supportive significant other could provide.

Before you had the chance to get lost in your thoughts, you snapped out of it, finished your breakfast, and headed downstairs to open the shop and begin your day.

As usual, you dealt with the typical morning rush of people stopping in to grab a coffee or other various food items on their way to work or school. Once the mid-morning slump hit and the customer traffic went way down, you took the time to do some routine cleaning and inventory. By now, you were like a well-oiled machine when it came to the daily task of running the store.

Around noon, as you were finishing up stocking some shelves, the front door opened and a very well-dressed man strolled into the store. "Hello," you greeted him, standing from where you were kneeling in front of the shelves and dusting off your pants.

The man gave you a once over, eyeing you from head to toe. Without so much as an acknowledging nod, he brushed past you and toward the full-length fridges at the back.

Assuming the man just wasn't in a chatty mood, you took the empty boxes to the storage room. When you exited, the man was already standing at the front counter, impatiently tapping his foot while he held two bottles of water in his hands.

"Sorry for the wait," you apologized. "Just the waters today?"

The man just nodded and let out a grunt.

Trying not to take his dismissive attitude too seriously, you rang up his purchases and gave him the total. Instead of pulling out his wallet, however, he just gave you a dirty look.

"That's a little expensive for two bottles of water, don't you think?" he retorted.

You didn't know what to say to that, so you shrugged. "I'm sorry, I don't make the prices, sir," you told him. "I just work here."

Huffing loudly, the man fished his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out some bills before tossing them haphazardly onto the counter. "Fine. Don't forget my change."

Before you could open the cash register, the front doors opened again and a woman dressed in a beautiful dress with her hair done up elegantly walked in and stopped beside the man before you. "Have you paid yet?" she asked the man, who was either her boyfriend or husband based on the way she was hanging off of his arm. "I just realized I'm out of cigarettes."

"I'm just paying now," he told her, his face softer than you had seen it yet before he turned back to you and asked for the brand of cigarettes that his partner smoked.

Spinning around, you felt your stomach twist at the sight of the empty dispenser of cigarettes, meaning that you were out of the brand he had requested. Of course, the delivery for that day hadn't come in yet, making your job even harder right now.

Plastering the warmest smile on your face that you could muster, you turned back to the couple. "I apologize, but we are all out of that brand. Can I get you something else?"

The woman rolled her eyes. "No, everything else tastes like garbage."

"I see." You stepped back up to the cash register. "So just the waters then?"

The man nodded. "I guess so if your shitty little store doesn't even stock up on popular brands of cigarettes." He watched you intently as you opened the register and counted his change. "I knew we should have stopped somewhere other than this hole in the wall."

As much as you so desperately wanted to rip this man and his spoiled girlfriend a new one, you bit your tongue instead and grinned as you handed him back his change. "Here you are." You dropped the coins into his outstretched hand. "Have a wonderful day."

Neither one of them said anything in response as they turned on their heels and marched out of the store, noses turned up at everything around them. As you watched them get into their fancy car and speed away, you wondered if they treated everyone like that or just lowly corner store workers like yourself.

Trying to let the incident slide off of you like water off of a duck's back, you returned to the remaining tasks on your to-do list and tried to forget all about being treated like a second-class citizen.

As the day turned to late afternoon and the after-school and after-work rush hit, you had found your way back into your groove again.

An hour or so before closing time, and roughly around the time Keishin would be returning, you heard a pair of heels clacking against the tile floor and stood up front behind the counter only to come face-to-face with your mother. Dressed in a pencil skirt and blouse, it was obvious she had just come from work, but your attention was more focused on the envelope she was holding out to you.

"This came for you the other day." She didn't even bother with a simple greeting even though it had been weeks since you had seen or spoken to her or your father.

"Oh, okay." You reached out and took the envelope from her. Turning it over, you felt your heart jump into your throat when you read that it was from the University of Tokyo.

You looked up at your mother expectantly but she waved you off. "Don't ask me what it says, I didn't open it," she said, folding her arms across her chest. "Why didn't you tell your father and me that you applied to the University of Tokyo? It's a very good school."

"Because I didn't do it for you," you said as you tucked the envelope into your back pocket. "And I certainly didn't do it to go to law school or anything you guys would approve of."

Your mother narrowed her eyes at you. "Then why did you do it?"

"To play soccer," you answered, your mind immediately going to the conversation you had had with Keishin while taking inventory together. "And because I told someone I would."

Your mother eyed you for a minute more, waiting to see if you would reach for the envelope again to open it. When you made no indication of sharing your application results with her, she hummed softly. "Well, whatever that letter says, you should take some time to seriously consider what your next step is going to be." She turned to leave but stopped halfway to the door and looked at you over her shoulder. "It's not too late to make the right choice. Think carefully before you throw your life away."

With that, your mother exited the store, leaving you with a mixed slurry of emotions and no clue how to deal with any of them.

Pulling the envelope out of your back pocket, you set it down on the counter in front of you and stared at it. Whatever was printed on the single piece of paper inside would set a course for your future . . . although you were unsure if you even still wanted the future that this piece of paper could give you.

All you wanted was to be happy, and all you knew was that Keishin gave you that.

Anything more felt like asking for too much.

Anything more felt like a gamble that wasn't worth the risk.

#piss off your parents #part 8 #haikyuu #haikyuu!!!#sexy time #haikyuu smut #lostinthewiind #reader insert #reader imagine #x reader #ukai keishin #ukai #ukai x reader

181 notes · View notes

janaeekook · 4 years

Text

Incapable i. || {myg}

“You cant love Min Yoongi, he doesn’t know how to love. Or care for that matter. You’ll just end up getting hurt.”

pairing: assassin!yoongi x reader

word count: 2.3k

warnings: - mafia - death - masterbation -

series masterlist

prologue.

It was your 16th birthday when your father and your older brother Namjoon told you everything — their affiliation and leading of the largest mafia gang in Seoul. You always knew your family was wealthy, that's what you were raised knowing. But you never knew that for your family to obtain it's wealth, the two most important men in your life would go out and risk their lives every night in criminal activities.

You hadn't believed them at first, thinking it was just some prank, a wild joke. The idea of them having a gang made your stomach twist in knots. You had always been your fathers little girl, you saw him as your knight and shinning armor, slaying the dragons of your bad dreams.

Since that day you received vigorous training. Intelligence gathering, undercover and stealth missions, trades; organized crime soon became your life. You were endowed to it, you saw a lot of horrible things, things that never sat right with you, but it all became a twisted new normal to you. The only jobs you refused are to take someone’s life, for you fear your soul may never recover.

When you were eighteen, your father had decided to retire. Leaving the legacy of Bangtan Sonyeondan to your brother. Many of the older members went with your father leaving it fully in the hands of the youth they'd spent years training.

Now you're 21, and head of intelligence. After your father left, you and your brother purchased a new estate in the countryside which served as base camp. The extravagant building was large enough to be considered a castle with its different wings. The west wing was for the higher ups, there was 8 of you in total and you all kept business booming with your varying talents.

Namjoon was very clearly the leader, the true business man, he handled transactions and bigger things along with interigation.

Kim Seokjin, or Jin— was your brothers right hand and the more ruthless of the two, he hated conflict between members and he also specialized in interigation.

Min Yoongi; a cold assassin who never really said much just got the job done without fail, it's quick and painless, he said the screams annoy him.

Jung Hoseok, he deals mainly with illegal substance transactions. He's a sadist in his work, something you'd never guess.

Kim Taehyung, the brains; he is the eyes and ears of every operation and he's just a plain genius when it comes to the plans. He's usually the one to stay at the base camp watching monitors that display cameras he's hacked.

Jimin works along side you in intelligence. He's a complete flirt. He specializes is hand to hand, He may look small but he could take you down in a second.

Jungkook is your arms man, he handles all the weapons, he loves his guns and he's an incredible shot, he never misses a target.

Lastly there's you, head of intelligence, gathering information on enemies, often working close with Jimin. You're also an amazing shot and can be found sniping with Jungkook and Yoongi.

The east wing, on the other hand, housed many of your henchmen; the army. They were not to be trifled with, They were trained to kill. They are the most loyal followers, that's why Bangtan is on top, some even said if they died protecting the 8 they would have fulfilled their duties. They were willing to die for you and the others.

Loyalty is very important, it's drilled into their heads from the first day of training to their last breath. They all take an oath of trust and they devote their lives to Bangtan. Once an army, always an army.

•

"Y/n, can you hear me?" Taehyungs voice came through your earpiece.

"Ya." You spoke quietly as you sat at a booth in a stuffy little downtown bar.

"Ok, he's the one at the bar wearing the red suit, you should make your move now." You nodded and stood from the booth, making your way to the bar and next to the crimson clothed man.

"One Jack Daniels please." The bar tender nodded, you sat on the stool next to the man. You could feel his eyes raking your body.

"What's a pretty young thing like you doing here all alone?" His voice was thick with a Russian accent.

"My boyfriend dumped me." The bar tender slid you the drink and you took a large sip. The man continued to ogle you in wonder. He was not an attractive man, he resembled a drowned rat with his hair all greased back.

"He's quite unwise to leave such a beautiful woman." You looked to his face, scanning it before bringing a fake smile to your lips.

"You think I'm beautiful?" You asked feigning shock.

"Incredibly." His hand moved to your knee, his rat-like face forming the most unpleasant smirk. You took another sip of the strong whiskey before looking back into his beady eyes.

"Hmm." You bit you lip, which came off sexual but you were really trying not to gag, "What do you say we get out of here?" You stood from the stool, grabbing his hand. He pulled money from his pocket and placed it on the counter before standing.

You led him through the chorus of drunk people dancing, weaving your way to the door where Jin waited on the other side. They were hidden from view as you stepped into the cold night air with the rat man following close behind you. The way his eyes wandered your body, mentally undressing you, made you feel uncomfortable.

"I can't wait to see this body." He spoke lowly, placing a calloused hand on your hip. You grabbed the hand before twisting it behind his back and pushing him to the ground, you held one hand behind his back and the other you held to the concrete with your knee.

"What the fuck!?" He groaned, struggling in your grasp.

Hallow footsteps clicked along the pavement as Jin walked up, a cigarette between his the nimble fingers of his right hand, his other hand grasped a black cane that had a gold skull on top. He had injured his leg on a mission a few years ago and it never healed the same, but the cane made him all the more intimidating.

"W-what do you want?" The Russian man inquired from his position on the ground as he looked up to Jin who had placed the end of his cane to his throat.

"I want you to tell me what your boss is planning, and why you're in Seoul." Jin spoke calmly but the intensity and seriousness of his voice would make anyone cower in fear.

"I-I" He stuttered then Jin pushed his cane harder onto the mans throat and You tightened your hold, "Ok! Ok— we're working with another gang." Jins eyes narrowed.

"Who?"

"I-I don't know h-he wouldn't tell us! I'll do anything to prove it to you, I'll work as a spy!" The man crumbled after only seconds of Jins cold stare, the chuckle that bubbled from his throat was just as cold.

"You see, trust and loyalty is very important to me, and you crumbled under the slightest pressure. I hate men like you, cowardly, weak, you could never be one of us." Jin then walked away, you quickly stood and followed after Jin, the rat man scrambled to his feet.

"You whore! You played me! You're already someone's dirty bitch!" The man spoke to you and you just smiled viciously at him.

"It's just part of the game sweetheart." You turned walking away to the car with Jin.

"You're not even worth my time you tramp!" He called out, and I rolled my eyes.

"Yoongi." you heard him hum through your earpiece and a deafening shot rang out, the cold lifeless sound of body meeting pavement, and then silence.

•

The car pulled up in-front of the mansion. You exited the car followed by Jin and ascended the steps to the front doors, the guards on either side bowed to us.

Pushing the door open, you went inside, kicking off your heels instantly. The 4 others sat in the foyer to your left, discussing plans.

"I'm gonna change." You told Jin quickly heading up the left staircase and to your bedroom. You pealed the dress from your body, before tugging your sweatpants on and a long sleeve shirt. Hair tied back in a bun, you headed back out and down to the others.

You plopped down next to Jungkook, he looked to you and smiled, that smile of his never seemed to match his aura, or the array of tattoo's that covered his golden skin. Everyone began talking about random stuff and the mission. The muffled sound of a motorcycle outside told you all that Yoongi had arrived.

When the door opened and he appeared in everyone's view his face visually upset, but You could never really tell. He wore all black and held a full face helmet in his hand, a scar ran over his right brow and extended to his cheek. Your stomach fluttered when his tongue poked at the inside of his cheek. Your relationship toward Yoongi had always been strictly business, though your attraction to him grew, he was painfully attractive.

"Thanks for leaving the body to me." He spoke sourly his gaze directed towards Jin. He sat on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, his cane leaned on the couch next to him. Jin only chuckled at the younger man.

"It's your job." Jin held a fake smile upon his face, he stood using his good leg before grabbing his cane.

"Sure pin it on me." Yoongi spoke, Jins intimidating smile stayed on his face as he stepped closer to the other boy.

"I know you're not trying to start anything right Yoongi? You know how much I hate it."

He scoffed, "Whatever." He turned and headed up the stairs. Jin just sighed and went back to his original seat. Your eyes followed Yoongi as he disappeared up the stairs, You wanted to follow him but you knew he'd just shut you out.

You laid in bed that night, unable to dodge the thoughts of him. You groaned rolling onto your side and tried to lull yourself to sleep, it was no use your body longed for his hands all over you -- but your mind told you it wouldn't be wise to try to love someone who was so emotionally absent. But was he really?

Your mind and body were deeply contrasting one another, the allure he had; both nothing and something. It called you forth to let him break you, but your morals pulled you back as the dark aura also pushed you away. You chewed at your cheek as your mind was running rampant. Your imagination beginning to take hold the scenarios swirling through your headspace, bringing you into a daydream like state as your mind played out what your mind had thought of sending your cheeks ablaze.

"What do you want me to do princess?" It was Yoongi, he had your daydream self pinned between himself and a wall.

"Touch me." Your voice a pitiful whine as you begged for his hands, he smirked sensing how needy you were, and it was all his doing. Well dream Yoongi of course.

"Where?" He asked, your words failed to exist in your mouth so you grabbed his veiny hand, guiding the strong appendage between your legs. You hadn't realized you were fully naked in this scenario, but you didn't care as his hand began to explore you, treating you like some toy.

Your eyes shot open, not being able to face the crude scene any longer, Your room felt as if it were on fire, your clothes becoming unbearable as they stuck to your skin. Your mind had somehow found its way to the side of your body, running a mile-a-minute with thoughts of Yoongi and different ways his hands could pleasure you. Your face was bright red, You were thinking of extremely sexual situations about someone who probably saw your relationship as otherwise platonic. You groaned, feeling your core throb as more thoughts invaded your mind. You had grown incredibly hot and bothered you couldn't take it, you went to the bathroom starting a shower in hopes to cool down your bodies rising temperature.

The water ran down your body, as you stood under the steady streams unmoving. You shook your head, rubbing your hands over your face, as your mind wandered to the idea of him fucking you against the shower wall. You felt dizzy as you grew more aroused as you thought of the man only doors down from you. You groaned before taking in a shaky breath, you brought your hand to yourself, eyes fluttering shut as you finally did what your body begged for.

It was slow at first as you rubbed small circles over that familiar bundle of nerves, your mind wandering back to the idea of him fucking you senseless in the shower. You bit your lip before pressing your back against the cool tile, lifting your leg to rest it on the shower bench next to you, allowing your hands perfect access to every sensitive part of you. You pushed a finger past your entrance, quickly accompanying it with another. You imagined it was him, his experienced hands touching you, getting you off.

Your small noises concealed by the water hitting the shower floor, you quietly moaned his name as you silently wished it was his cock inside you. Your legs began shaking as you drew closer to your orgasm, you threw your head back in pure bliss the tension finally unraveling in your stomach-- and it was Yoongi's name on your lips, the last word you spoke as you rode out your high.

You quickly cleaned your now relieved body and your sweat ridden hair, before finally exiting the shower. You collapsed on your bed, drifting off into a dreamless sleep, relief and satisfaction running through your veins.

241 notes · View notes

norafike · 3 years

Text

It's Christmas Time

>Nora, Lem and the Gang Celebrate Christmas

Words: 2411

~Not canon to my fanfic "Despite all this, I still love you~

"And you got Dutch of all people to agree to this?"

Hosea gave her a simple nod as he hid the remainder of small gifts in the back of Arthur's wagon, hidden amongst the ammunition he had set up. For most walking by it appeared as if they were simply restocking supplies instead of hiding gifts to exchange in the coming days and it was exactly what Hosea needed them to think. "He's allowing us to throw a small get-together."

"And who's dressing up as Saint Nick? Heard you had arranged that too."

"Bill originally but he refused, so I'm either thinking Uncle or Swanson."

Nora frowned at the remaining suggestions. "Are those really the last two options?" She hoped he'd say no, that those two weren't the only choices left but he could only reply to her with an apology. "Arthur could do it but he's been doin' it for the past three years."

"So we don't wanna bother him with this again."

"Exactly, Miss Morgan." He replied.

She looked over at the scout fire where Kieran sat, telling a story to Jack who listened intently at the tale. She couldn't hide the smile on her lips as she watched from afar and Hosea needed to bite back on his teasing.

"We could ask Kieran to do it.. boy hasn't dressed up as St. Nick yet." Hosea suggested while he joined in on watching the exaggeration in his movements as he began to act out the story to Jack. "Seems like he'd enjoy it."

"He's enjoying whatever he's telling Jack right now."

Hosea let out a light chuckle. "He is, yes."

"You could go ask him. I gotta grab some presents for Mary-Beth and Tilly."

"Yes the necklaces, you've not got any yet?"

She shook her head. "But Saint Denis surely has some."

He furrowed his eyebrows as she mentioned the city, thinking she would most likely be getting herself involved in some sort of trouble so close to the holiday. But when she noticed his concern she raised her hands dismissively. "Don't worry... I ain't gonna do somethin' illegal so to speak. I know a guy an' that's it."

"Just be careful, Nora."

She gave him a gentle smile before walking over to the hitching posts where the horses were, digging through the snow for grass and finding only mud. She had hay ready in her hand for Casper, who looked tired when she called for him.

"One last errand for a while boy, don't you worry." She spoke softly to the horse while she fed him and Micah snorted at the easy tone she would speak to the lesser creature in. She ignored the man, which provoked him to tease further.

"Say.. while you're out Nora why don't you try and find less of an attitude to come back with."

"Sure an' I'll find you a whole new personality too, Mr. Bell." Her witty responses weren't so well planned when she was cold and frustrated, so her attempt to annoy him wasn't as well illustrated but enough to get him off of her back for a while.

She tightened the girth of Casper's saddle before mounting up and riding out towards Saint Denis.

...

The door pulled open and in a rush a man walked out, colliding with Nora on the path as he tried to walk out of the Saint Denis markets. She fell backwards, landing on the stone pathway which prompted a small yelp as a reaction.

"Shit.. sorry." He apologised and immediately she recognised the voice. She looked forward and when their eyes met he quickly hid his hand behind his back to stop her from seeing what he had on him.

"What are you doin' here, N-Nora?"

"Should ask you the same." She replied, grabbing onto a flower pot to pull herself to her feet. She rubbed her lower back with her left hand, using her right to help Lem stand.

"Quite comical that we both fell." She mentioned and he hummed in response. "So what are you doing at the fence anyway, Lemuel?"

"Buyin' something. You?"

"The same really.. picking up necklaces for Mary-Beth and Tilly, as a gift you see."

"That's sweet."

She nodded gently, finding conversation awkward after not seeing him for many weeks. He too felt the same way, awkwardly whistling to divert them from silence. "Are y-you busy after?" He asked.

"Not really."

"Perhaps you'd like to go for a drink? Maybe Rhodes since I ain't so keen on Saint Denis." He offered and she gave him a light chuckle at the suggestion. "I would like that very much."

"Good."

He waved goodbye as he departed from their conversation, making haste and leaving Saint Denis as soon as possible. Nora would linger on the step outside of the fence, watching the general direction in which he walked to hold onto what ghost was left before finally prying herself out of thoughts and letting herself into the shop.

...

"You changed your clothes." She stated as she sat opposite, taking note of the white shirt and black pants as opposed to his usual blue shirt and red vest get up. The man frowned and folded his arms as he leaned back against his chair. "No, 'how are you?' what a conversation starter."

"Sorry.. guess I got so familiar with seein' you wear that one thing."

"Oh no, no." He smiled. "I was jus' messing with you."

"Where have you been these past few weeks?"

Lemuel looked ashamed after her question and avoiding her eyes from there. "I used to love the s-snow growin' up." He changed the subject.

"Me too." She sighed. "It's real pretty."

"Yeah." He brought a glass of whiskey to his lips, taking a long drink of it. "What are you plannin' for Christmas?"

"Hosea been plannin' a party. Havin' someone dress up as Saint Nick for young Jack an' we're gonna exchange some small gifts."

"That sounds real lovely."

"You got somethin' planned that day?" With her question he looked more glum than ever. He hesitantly turned to face her, giving a gentle smile. "Not really."

"You gotta come celebrate with us then."

"I don't want to intrude."

Nora leaned towards him, grasping both of his hands with her own. He almost flinched at the contact, not expecting it but eventually warmed into the touch "Nonsense." was all she needed to say and had been enough to convince to spend Christmas with her and that strange lot back at Clemens Point.

"Would you like to go for a walk?" He asked. Nora had thought about it before nodding. Following from this, Lem grabbed his jacket from his chair and threw it on, ready for the snow outside and freezing temperatures.

...

"How did your date go, Mon Ami?"

"It wasn't a date or whatever, Marcel." Lem replied, this annoyance in his tone of voice. The Frenchman had to stifle a laugh as he resumed making his moonshine, watching as Lem searched throughout the small basement.

"What are you lookin' for?"

"That bracelet I gave you, for Nora, where is it?" Marcel didn't answer and so Lem tried again, asking for the gift he trusted his friend to look after while he was away.

"I don't have it." Marcel finally replied, turning away so he wouldn't have to personally face the younger man.

Lem gasped, this anger building up inside of him as he wasn't able to replace the gift as he had spent the last of his money to purchase it. Marcel could feel the shift in mood and frowned, a string of curses being repeated in his mind that had been directed towards him. "Where is it M-Marcel?"

"I don't know." The man answered, he was honest and it crushed him to have lost something so important to Lem. "I put it on the shelf an' when I came back, it was gone."

"I don't have nothin' else to give her."

"I am sure that you will find something." It was Marcel's best attempt at comfort but it didn't do anything to help cheer Lem up. "We got two days until Christmas a-and I haven't enough money to b-buy a replacement."

"I am sorry, Lem." Was the last he could offer. Fike couldn't say anything else and left the basement in haste, slamming doors behind him as he marched outside.

Maggie curiously walked down to talk with Marcel, a scowl present at her nephew's behaviour. "What was that about?"

"I, er, I lost a bracelet he bought for Madame Morgan."

"How the hell did you manage that?"

"I.. I don't quite know."

Maggie shook her head, placing her palm against her forehead. "Well, I s'pose we should find a replacement then."

...

Kieran scratched at the fake beard of straw he was forced to wear, finding it rather uncomfortable against the skin. He wasn't sure why Hosea made him shave but he was certain that after this he would most likely never shave again, no matter the consequences.

He wore an old coat of Bill's, red and much too big for him. The way his belt hung loosely around his waist had elicited a chuckle from Nora when she first saw the costume and Kieran almost called it quits if it meant that the other's was going to laugh at him.

"Thank you for doin' this, Kieran." She said in a low whisper, fixing the white scarf draped around his neck for additional warmth. "It weren't nothin'."

She gave him a low smile before walking away to join the other's around the fire, whispering to Hosea that he was ready to be brought in. The older male clapped his hands together to grab their attention, when each member had looked at him he began making up a short story on how he was to be leaving now for the rest of their celebration, much to the gang members dismay.

"Stay old friend." Dutch tried to convince, but Hosea wouldn't listen.

As he left camp following the path, Lem Fike had entered and on the way he apologised to Hosea for the late arrival and that Nora invited him to join. "Trust me, you're right on time." Hosea spoke in vague terms, waving him goodbye as he went to fetch their St. Nick.

"You made it." Nora cheered, running from the campfire and wrapping her arms around the man in an embrace. He was taking back but slowly reciprocated, allowing her to take his hand and drag him back over to join the others.

"Of course I made it." He whispered but averted his attention over towards Hosea who let out a rather loud cheer. "Look who I found while out there." The second leader announced as he brought Kieran into the camp once more.

Most the men had trouble disguising their laughter at how ridiculous they found the get-up, but the women and Jack looked on with awe at 'Saint Nicholas'.

Kieran didn't know what to say, only standing there with an awkward look in his eye and so Hosea took lead and called over Jack with the wave of his hand. "Told Santa would be back again."

"Yeah." The boy spoke so softly, a little shy at seeing this mysterious being. When Kieran saw the bright smile on Jack's face he softened up and became far more confident as he took on the role of Saint Nick himself, instead of being regular Kieran Duffy.

"I have a gift for you, Jack and a gift for everyone else. Would you like to help me give them out?" Kieran asked and Jack nodded enthusiastically.

Hosea called everyone over and slowly they all began to line up in the snow, waiting for their gifts to be exchanged. "This first gift is for.. Abigail." Kieran read the scribbled name our loud and the boy approached his mother with the item in hand. She took it with thanks and tore into the paper, smiling as she pulled out a box with a very pretty ring inside.

"For Miss Gaskill." And Jack took it over, giving the gift to the person intended.

Time went quickly as they exchanged gifts and Lem felt guilty for not having anything to give so he could participate with their celebration. Soon the bag was empty and Kieran or "Santa" could be escorted out of camp by Hosea, waving his farewells to everyone.

"Come with me." Nora whispered, taking Lem by the hand and walking with him over to the beach so they were alone for five minutes. Mary-Beth watched with a small smile as they felt, elbowing Karen to grab her attention. "Look at them, ain't they cute?"

...

"Sorry I didn't take part.. felt a r-real fool out there."

"You were invited last minute, ain't your fault." She dug into her satchel before pulling out a small item wrapped in cloth.

"For you." He took the object from her hands and gently unwrapped the cloth. When he took the gift from it's wrapping a bright smile appeared on his face for she had brought him a small wood carving of a moonshine bottle. "Did you make this?"

"Kinda.. Cripps did most the work. Apparently, he knows wood carvin' an I wasn't gettin' the hang of it."

"It's lovely. Thank you." He gently placed the gift in his pocket but his moment of joy was short-lived when he remembered his lack of a present for Nora. "Unfortunately, I don't have nothin' for you."

"You don't have to buy me gifts, mind."

"I-I know.. I bought a bracelet from Saint Denis a while back for you, but trusted the wrong person with it."

"What happened?"

"Marcel lost it."

She let out a small giggle and nodded, holding onto her friend's hands with a small smile. "Can I tell you somethin'?"

"Sure."

"My best gift this year is spendin' it with you, Lemuel. Nothing could be that."

"Can I kiss you?"

She was taken back by his request but couldn't deny that she had thought about doing the same thing for a long time and so slowly, with a genuinely happy smile, she nodded.

His head tilted to the side as he leant forward and gently her lips were captured in a kiss, her heart beginning to race faster with the gesture. Time around them seemed to slow down and while she stood there, with her arms wrapped around his neck she thought that this, this was her best Christmas yet.

0 notes