ʙᴇɴᴇᴀᴛʜ sᴛᴀʀs

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

you can find my new multi-muse blog HERE.

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

i really need to stop doing this, BUT i made a new multi. which can be found here. i am starting fresh with threads, but am keeping established ships. i’ll likely reblog this a few more times.

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

i really need to stop doing this, BUT i made a new multi. which can be found here. i am starting fresh with threads, but am keeping established ships. i’ll likely reblog this a few more times.

[vivenjolras]

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

vivenjolras‌:

“ …  join in the fight that will give you the right to be free.“ ©

                                                                 this is a sideblog to agtwarren & absinclair.

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

tommyatlaw‌ ( abby & tommy )

Their first fight. Interesting considering at no point in time was a “their” discussed in the first place. As far as Tommy was concerned, they were getting to know each other. Clearly Abby was way ahead of him as to where they stood.

He listens to her, taking sips of his beer every now and then. When she’s done, he sets the beer down on the kitchen counter as he’s taking a seat on one of the seats there. 

There’s a few different emotions surging through him right then. For one, he is definitely offended that she thinks sex with him is wasting her time. Tommy prided himself in the things he could do. There was also the fact that it sounded like she was asking him to be her boyfriend and raised a Catholic in a patriarchal family, that was not making him feel great.

“You want to know the truth?” Another gulp of the beer. “You’re trial period is six months. You’ve got five to go. I figured we could have fun and get to know each other in that time. Once your trial period is over, you’re a partner and we wouldn’t have to hide. You’re not the kind of girl I want to hide, Abby. If you want to make this official now, I’m more than willing to do that, but until you’re a partner, I can’t treat you how you deserve and it’s unfair to hold you back. In five months you can meet someone better and I don’t want to be alone when that happens.”

              This might be the first sign of progress they’ve had since Tommy arrived at her apartment with soup. Finally having an idea as to what is going through his head in regard to them. It does make her feel better to know that he didn’t outright turn down the possibility of them becoming exclusive further on down the road. It even sounds like he may be open to the possibility of becoming exclusive now. Though she doesn’t want to push him into it. That’s not what she’s asking for here.

              ❝I know we’d have to keep our relationship a secret until then. You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know. And I’m okay with that. I’d be okay with keeping our relationship hidden until the six months are over. Tommy, I haven’t been interested in anyone else since we went on our first date together.❞ The truth is that it was earlier than that. But she thought it was for the best if she kept some things from him.

              ❝But I don’t want you to think I’m forcing you into anything. I just – if you would rather wait until the six months are up, then I would feel more comfortable if we steer away from sex until then.❞ Mostly because she can’t promise she won’t get jealous again if she sees him with someone else. Then again, there’d be a sense of jealousy there either way.

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

tommyatlaw‌ ( abby & tommy )

Finally. Tommy steps into her apartment and the second he’s in there he begins to get comfortable. Fight or not, he’d been at work all day and needed to unwind. He undoes the button on his suit jacket and loosens his tie. It was the male equivalent of taking off a bra.

“So?” That was the wrong word to say and he knew it too. “I mean, first morning we officially met, in my office, you had no interest in dating me. A week or so later, we’re flirting. I ask you out. At what point during all of this were we exclusive? And how was I supposed to know we were?” 

Honestly, Tommy should have known that they were, or at least getting there. It should have been obvious given how he’s getting comfortable in her apartment, now even going over to the fridge and grabbing a beer from the pack he’d bought last time he came over. 

“Besides, you knew I was a terrible person so don’t act shocked.”

              Abby doesn’t have the answer. Unable to pinpoint a precise moment in time when she began developing feelings for the guy. ❝Don’t put this all on me. Have you once thought to ask me if I was okay with you sleeping with other women? Did it never cross your mind that I might have a problem with it?❞ Because apparently he has no problem with storing some of his things over at her place as if it’s like a second home to him. Like the beer she notices him grab from the fridge.

              ❝No, I think you’re more oblivious than anything else.❞ Unless the guy really is that much of a dick to the point where he doesn’t care if his actions hurt her. She’d like to think that’s not the case, though.

              ❝But at the end of the day it doesn’t matter when it started.❞ If it ever did. Because according to Tommy they were never exclusive to begin with. ❝What I want to know is if that’s something you would want. Because if it’s not then I don’t want to waste my breath on something that’s never going to happen.❞

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

tommyatlaw‌ ( abby & tommy )

“Are we really having this conversation through a crack in your door?” He didn’t sound annoyed by it though. It wasn’t a sassy remark either. It sounded genuine. It was uncomfortable to talk about this while he stood in the hallway, not to mention he was tired from work. He hadn’t even been home yet, choosing to bring soup over to a sick Abby.

He shakes his head, his right hand coming up to squeeze at the bridge of his nose before dropping to his hip. “How was I supposed to know that?” That she liked him. A lot of girls like him. How was he supposed to know that Abby liked him enough to get jealous?

“Can you open the door?”

              Tommy does have a point. As much as Abby may hate to admit it. Standing at her front door – with said door cracked open – was not the ideal place to be having this conversation. This isn’t how she originally imagined this conversation playing out either. She thought it would be brought up one of the nights they arrived home from work together. Whether it was at her or Tommy’s apartment. Didn’t matter.

              ❝We’ve gone on multiple dates together.❞ That was a sign, right? At least in her mind it was. Unless he chooses to take his one-night stands on dates. Then again, he did ask her for dinner the morning after they slept together.

              Abby doesn’t respond right away. It takes a few seconds before she steps back and pulls the door open to allow him access inside her apartment.

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

tommyatlaw‌ ( abby & tommy )

Now it was Tommy that was upset, borderline angry. He didn’t quite understand why she was so mad at him. They weren’t exclusive. As far as he knew, they were both free to do what they wanted, or as the case would have it who they wanted. Did he like her? Yes but until it was official there was no point in stopping himself from meeting people or getting laid.

“Well I’m not.” Leaving, that is, and to further drive that point home, he sticks his foot between the door and the door frame. A big mistake considering just how expensive those shoes he is wearing are and how angry Abby is. “Can you at least take the soup and tell me what I did wrong?”

              Abby’s gaze drifts down to the floor where Tommy’s foot is currently preventing her front door from closing completely. The temptation is definitely there to close it on him, but she refrains from doing so. Luckily for her boss. Reluctantly she reaches for the soup, but makes no motion to widen the door.

              ❝I like you.❞ If only she could use that term in the past tense, but she still very much has feelings for him. No matter how much Tommy hurt her that night. ❝I know we haven’t talked about being exclusive, but when you go out of your way to flirt with strangers at the bar. Well, I can’t imagine I mean that much to you. So what am I to you? Really? Someone you can mess around with on the side? And when you get bored with me you move onto the next in line?❞

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

tommyatlaw‌ ( abby & tommy )

Oh. Ohhhh. That’s what this was about? Like a true man, it takes him a little longer to connect all the dots. You could almost see him mapping things out in his facial expression. She wasn’t sick sick, she was love sick, or something close to that. Abby was jealous of a blond at a bar that Tommy had no intention of ever seen again. He didn’t even get to sleep with her that night. Truth: he would have. Fact: Abby was being so passive aggressive it killed his mood.

Tommy felt like an idiot through and through. For not figuring it out sooner, for standing outside her door with soup, maybe even for showing up. Tommy wasn’t the kind of guy that did this sort of thing. “Well, she’s going to have to miss me for a lot longer because I’m here with you.” Kind of. He wasn’t anywhere with Abby. Abby was in her apartment and he was out in the hall. “You’re cute when you’re jealous.”

              ❝Is this a joke to you?❞ In what world did Tommy honestly believe mentioning she looks cute in this state would help her feel any better? She’s a wreck. She has a headache as a result from crying as much as she has. At this point she doesn’t believe he deserves an answer. If he cannot determine the difference between her being jealous and hurt then he doesn’t need to know. It’s clear to her now that she was nothing more than a quick lay to him. Besides, he had no problem running off to someone else when she wasn’t around.

              Of course there’s a few choice words she wants to say to him, but she’s tired. Exhausted, even. She doesn’t want to fight with him. ❝I think you should leave.❞

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

@tommyatlaw → ( x )

              Today marks the first day Abby called in. Claiming she was feeling under the weather and couldn’t make it into the office. When in reality she didn’t want to see Tommy today. Not after what happened at the bar. Not when she saw him flirting with another woman as if it was no big deal. Sure, they never really discussed whether or not they were exclusive, but still. The sight alone hurt like hell. Obviously her feelings for him were not mutual.

              And then he showed up to her apartment after their usual work hours with soup.

              Really?

              ❝No. No, Mr. Reilly, I’m not okay.❞ It takes every ounce of physical restraint to prevent her eyes from watering. Already shedding more than enough tears over this. How could she have been so foolish? ❝But maybe you should go see your friend at the bar. I’m sure she’s missing you by now.❞ As much as she wants to slam the door in his face, she refrains from doing so. Though she has yet to open it wide enough to allow him access inside.

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

tommyatlaw‌ ( abby & tommy )

Tommy would never understand why it was so hard to look at Abby and not smile. There was just something about her. She was adorable to him. Sexy when she needed to be, incredibly smart but also the kind of girl he wanted to keep hold and protect. She’s going off on him, because he can’t tell that she’s teasing him, and he’s smiling. 

“All right. Deal.” He replies in an all too calm and serious manner, turning in his seat to face her completely. “Friday night. We leave here at five. I’ll pick you up at seven thirty.” Yeah, Tommy’s serious. “That gives you time to get all dressed up for our date and gives me time to pick up some flowers.” He places his arm on the arm rest and leans his weight on one side, looking at her. “Roses? Nah. Too cliche. You’re different. Well, I’ll think of something.”

Now came Tommy’s turn to tease - “If dinner is a precourse to sex, wear something sexy underneath your clothes.”

              What? The way Tommy responds is more than enough for Abby to realize her boss is not just teasing around with her. He’s serious about this. More importantly he’s serious about their date. Three weeks ago they decided their relationship would be kept strictly professional. Sure. There was some teasing thrown at each other here and there from then to now. Could even classify some as flirting, though she never would have admitted it at the time. However, deep down, this is what she wants. She wants to go on a date with him. See what it leads. Throw all caution to the wind for once in her life.

              ❝I find it funny how you assume I haven’t already made plans for Friday night.❞ She hadn’t. He knows that. ❝Then I’ll be expecting you there at seven thirty sharp.❞ Trying to hide just how excited she is about this date. So much for keeping things professional between them.

              ❝Already expecting sex on the first date?❞ It wouldn’t be that far-fetched of thinking. Not when you take into account the two had sex on the first night they met. ❝Let’s see how well our date goes first.❞

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

tommyatlaw‌ ( abby & tommy )

It was the way Abby reminded him that they were in an unlocked bathroom that made Tommy unwrap his arms from around her. Something in her tone. It almost sounded like she was reprimanding him. Sleeping together or not, this was still a work relationship and he was one bad move away from a sexual harassment lawsuit. It was hard to tell where they stood. They worked together. They liked each other. The sex was great. But what the hell were they? Furthermore, what did Abby want them to be? It really wasn’t discussed.

The words that followed the reminder were the reason why Tommy was so confused. She all but smacked his hands away from her but now was hinting at continuing in his office. Women were complicated and Abby Sinclair was the most complicated woman he’d ever had the pleasure of meeting. 

“Well, you have to meet me there. Walking out at the exact same time will be as suspicious than you walking out of here with a hickey.”

              Abby didn’t expect him to unwrap his arms from around her as soon as he did. Though she was thankful for it. What would they do if his secretary or someone else at the firm were to walk in on them in such a compromising position? The way his arms were wrapped around her and the kisses to her neck were nearly impossible to play off. Even if they were not reported and she was somehow able to keep her job, she didn’t want people judging her. Thinking the only reason she’s working here is because she’s sleeping with her boss.

              But it’s not just the sex. She likes him. Her jealousy when she noticed him flirting with the blonde at the bar was proof of this. Even if they didn’t really start sleeping together again until a couple weeks after. It’s just something the two haven’t really discussed in great detail or at all, for that matter. Does he feel the same about her? Or is this just sex to him?

              ❝Then I say you should leave first. Seeing that you interrupted me when I was still washing my hands.❞ She adds with a grin. Although she knows he’s unable to see it. Unless he can see it from the bathroom mirror. ❝Give me about a minute or two and I’ll be there.❞ While this relationship with her boss has crossed the line of being professional a while ago, they’ve yet to engage in sexual activities at the office. Is that all about to change now?

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

tommyatlaw‌ ( abby & tommy )

“You can be a terrible person and still have manners.” That was his retort to her comment. He wasn’t a good person and everyone around him knew that. Abby could hear stories from his secretary. In that moment he makes a mental note to tell her not to talk to Abby about him. A second mental note is made to not make it sound like he’s interested in her.

Hearing her speak, he reaches for his coffee again, grinning. “Oh don’t worry about me. I’m very professional.” The grin turns into a smirk because he is definitely hinting at the fact that she should worry about herself when it comes to keeping the relationship professional.

The smirk soon vanished at the mention of the clients. “Oh shit. The client.” Yes, he’d forgotten. Not very professional. He presses the button on his desk phone that connects him to his secretary. “Can you send the client in?”

“Yes, Mr. Reilly.” He’s grinning at how professional she sounds. That means there’s a full waiting room. He’s fixing his tie as he waits for the client to walk in and looks at Abby. “You might want to drag that chair over here.” Behind his desk, closer to him. “I’ll have someone bring you a more comfortable chair later today. I can assume you want your own desk as well?”

              ❝Right.❞ Mr. Reilly can say whatever he wants about being a terrible person, but until he proves it to her she’s not going to believe him. ❝Do you want to know what I think?❞ Although she doesn’t really wait around for a response from him before continuing on. ❝I think you might try to hide behind a tough exterior, but deep down you’re a good person.❞ Of course this isn’t a conversation she would typically be having with her boss on her first day of work. But Tommy is not a typical boss.

              Good. Though she’s able to catch onto his smirk. Having a fairly good hunch as to what he’s referring to. ❝So am I. So we shouldn’t run into any problems then.❞ Besides, how hard could it be? Keeping their relationship professional. She’s got this.

              Abby is unable to silence a soft laugh when it’s clear he damn near forgot about the client. How long would he have allowed them to continue on with talking like this? Before she has a chance to say something, she begins moving her chair around to the other side of his desk when requested to do so. Sliding it over next to his. ❝I would like that.❞ A more comfortable chair. A desk of her own. How could she say no?

              Now the nerves are settling in. This will mark her first client. Well, first client while working alongside Mr. Reilly. More than likely allowing him to take the lead and watch how he handles things. She offers a small, friendly smile when the client steps into the room.  

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

@tommyatlaw → ( x )

              It’s difficult for Abby to determine what bothers her the most. The fact that Tommy is flirting with a blonde at the very same bar they first met in or the fact this scenario bothers her to begin with. It shouldn’t. It really shouldn’t. It’s none of her business what her boss does outside of the office. Or, better yet, who. She chose to continue her job at the firm as opposed to seeing if a relationship could work out between them. Now a week has passed as she’s beginning to second guess her decision. As much as she hates to admit it. Though she has no intention of telling Tommy. She is the one who requested their relationship to be kept strictly professional.

              The blonde’s words do not go lost on Abby. Forcing a friendly smile at her before leaving with Tommy to the table she assumes he was previously waiting at. Sitting down in the chair he pulls out for her.

              They came here to discuss work. Something Abby doesn’t typically have a problem with. But at the same time it’s a little hard to ignore Tommy’s newfound friend constantly looking off in their direction. And apparently she doesn’t do a good job in hiding her uncomfortableness among other things.

              ❝I’m not jealous.❞ Feeling the need to repeat herself. ❝I’m just not comfortable with my boss thinking he needs to openly flirt at the place we’re supposed to be meeting to discuss work matters.❞ Never mind what happened here between them about a week ago. ❝Let’s just get to why we’re here. I don’t want to keep you from your new friend any longer than I need to.❞

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

@tommyatlaw → ( x )

              ❝I’m sorry.❞ What Abby said was uncalled for given what just happened. It’s just not very often when she sees her boyfriend this angry. Fuming, even. However, that doesn’t mean she’s completely forgotten what Nikki – that was her name, right? – said about Tommy. The cheating. Using his credit card as a way to make it up to her. In an attempt to keep her around. One of the worst feelings is to have that lingering notion that your partner is cheating on you. Abby felt comfortable with Tommy, especially after having the conversation about what they are to each other. Deeming their relationship as exclusive. But to know he’s done something like this in the past? It does cause for some worry to build up within her. That is to say if her words were correct. Tommy didn’t really dismiss them.

              As much as Abby wants to ask she decides now isn’t the best time. Not when he’s this angry. So, she opts for grabbing a tissue from the living room table and using it to dab gently on the small amount of blood that formed from the cut just above his cheek bone. ❝C’mon, you should sit down. Try to relax.❞ Hoping it would help to calm him down before he did something foolish. Like punch a wall or something. She’s never known Tommy to be the violent type, but there’s usually something that could send someone over the edge.

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

@tommyatlaw → ( x )

               His mother? Abby had no reason to believe this was going to be more than dinner until Tommy mentions his mother hosting a yearly Christmas Eve party. That’s when her nerves begin settling in. Of course a time would eventually come when she meets his family and he meets hers, especially if they are both serious about this relationship. That’s one thing Abby hasn’t really told Tommy about herself. She’s a very family oriented person. She’s close with her parents. Always has been. Something she’s prided herself on all these years. So having the chance to meet the family of her significant other meant a great deal to her. ❝No. I’m not going to bail.❞ She says as she slips on her last heel, looking at him with a smile. ❝I kind of wish you would have told me in advance so I had some to time prepare.❞ But maybe this is for the best. So she didn’t spend the whole day worrying. Worrying about what? ❝What if your mother doesn’t like me?❞

[beneathstxrs-a-blog]

@tommyatlaw → ( x )

              Words only begin to explain how thankful Abby is that Mr. Reilly – Tommy, her boyfriend – went through the trouble of purchasing a real tree. When given his credit card, she kept to her word on using it to buy only things related to decorating a Christmas tree. There were the ornaments, of course. Those were a must. Then there were the lights, beads, tree skirt, and to top it off the angel on top. It was going to be perfect! And him helping her with decorating the tree fit in with what she imagined. So it’s of no surprise that Tommy’s response earns a frown from her.

              ❝All I’m asking is for you to help with the ornaments. I already put up the lights and the beads. I’ll let you put the angel up on top.❞ Though with the way he’s reacting to her asking to help with the decorating. ❝Or I can.❞ If that would be too tough for him. It’s then that she chooses to sit down beside him, resting against him. ❝If you say yes I’ll even make it up to you later on tonight.❞ A little something better than watching a show on television. ❝What do you say?❞