100% That Bitch For Happy Endings Is Back! | This is STILL An 18+ Blog | 40 | Fic Masterlist | THIS IS FOR ALL MY STORIES | All stories are female reader unless marked otherwise | Stories are slowly being migrated remain calm
It is long, sorry not sorry. I will slowly update links. All links on here are good links. I have removed all links to my now flagged blog.
TOM HIDDLESTON
*Tom Hiddleston One Shot Masterlist
*Tom Hiddleston Series Masterlist
LUKE WINDSOR
Day After The Rain- Luke has to deal with the aftermath of Tom’s “heroic efforts”. This is why Luke keeps a solicitor’s number on speed-dial. For the day he kills Tom. Hilarity ensues as Luke untangles the mess. Based off of @redfoxwritesstuff The Things You Find (in the Rain) series.
Shouldn’t- Tom went over to Emma’s to celebrate her birthday. One thing led to another and now the two of them are splashed across the gossip columns. Luke must now untangle the mess but not before giving Tom an earful. Companion fic to my series Should.
You Did What?!- Evelyn Hiddleston, Tom's daughter asks Luke to tell her a story. Luke tells her the story of the day she was born. Hilarity ensues. Follow up to Unexpected Delivery
CELEBRATION MASTERLISTS | MULTIPLE CHARACTERS
*600 Followers Drabble Request Masterlist
Tri-Drabble Writing Cup Masterlist
*Smut-a-Rama June 2020 Masterlist
Twelve Days of Hiddlesmas Masterlist
LOKI (MCU)
*Loki One Shot Master List
Series
A Midgardian Christmas Masterlist | Loki x Reader
This Loki’s first Christmas on Midgard. You decide to show Loki all that a Midgardian Christmas has to offer. Things don’t seem to go as planned and you are having a harder and harder time keeping your burgeoning crush for Loki hidden.
Destiny Has Other Plans Masterlist | Loki x OFC UPDATES ON SATURDAYS
When Loki goes to ask his father for permission to marry, he is shocked to discover his destiny has already been made for him. He is already betrothed to Sjofn, the daughter of the King of Vanaheim. An arranged marriage to bring the two kingdoms closer together and strengthen the bond. Never mind that Sjofn and Loki can’t stand each other.
After The Battle of New York, Loki is sent to live at Avengers Tower as punishment for his misdeeds. But it doesn’t mean he has to like it. A year later, he has adjusted to life on Midgard but has avoided any romantic or emotional entanglements, still bitter over his lost love. Dr. Alexis Randall is skilled at helping others fix their relationships as a couple therapist, but can’t help her own love life. A chance encounter with Loki in a dive bar has life altering consequences for both of them. Now, Alexis and Loki must figure out a way to co-habit without killing each other in the process, plus navigating impending parenthood and other roadblocks along the way.
Silken Sails | Loki x OFC, Steve Rogers x OFC, Clint Barton x OFC Masterlist (Charlotte Liddell) ON HOLD INDEFINITELY
Summary: Charlotte Liddell dreams of a life of adventure on the high seas. She sets sail for the Caribbean which ends up entangling her with the hunt for the lost Spanish ship Viuda Negra and untold Spanish treasures. Along the way, she crosses paths with British Navy Officer Steve Rogers and famed French pirate Loki Laufeyson. Will she keep her wits about her?
ADAM AND CHARLIE | ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE
Adam and Charlie Masterlist | All Stories
Charlie can’t believe her luck when she lands an apartment all to herself in Quincy, Massachusetts in a decaying triple decker. But life gets more complicated when someone moves into the basement. Specifically her landlord, Adam, who also happens to be a vampire. As life collapses around Charlie, these two forge an uneasy and unlikely relationship. But is their relationship as doomed as the building they live in?
Other Tom Characters
*Other Tom Characters Masterlist
OTHER MARVEL CHARACTERS (BUCKY, STEVE, STEPHEN STRANGE)
Trivia Night | Stephen Strange x Reader
Stephen can’t pass up music trivia night at a local dive bar. But what should have been a landslide win is a bitter battle. Has Stephen met his match in more ways than one?
Dancing With Myself | Stephen Strange x Reader
Stephen goes out with Wong for some groceries and comes back to find his cloak and the reader up to some shenanigans.
We’ve Been Had | Stephen Strange x Reader
Wong and the Cloak decide to make a match of the two of you.
Milk Dud | Bucky Barnes Reader
You and Bucky settle down for a movie night and Steve is an unwanted tag along.
Netflix and Panic | Bucky Barnes x Reader
Bucky has a crush on you and invites you over to watch some Netflix. Panic ensues as Bucky hides a secret.
*Drink Me | Steve Rogers x Reader
You are running late for Valentines with Steve at your place. You have just started dating and hoping to the relationship to the next level but will a critical mistake by Steve ruin the whole evening.
*Oh Captain | Steve Rogers x Reader
You are secretly dating Captain America. One day you sneak Steve into your parents’ house for a little smutty interlude, when your mother rudely interrupts.
*Somnophilia | Steve Rogers x Reader
Steve hears you moaning in your sleep and takes matters into his own hands.
OTHER CELEBRITIES
Ben Barnes
Wrong Phone, Who Dis? | Ben Barnes x OFC
After a sidewalk collision, Ben and Madelyn end up with each other’s phone. They quickly right things but find the chance encounter has had more of an effect.
Chris Evans
*Come On Over Baby | Chris Evans x Reader
You invite your good friend Chris over to watch the game. One too many beers and the truth comes out.
*Are You Jealous? | Chris Evans x Reader
You spot Chris’s old co-star, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, at a party. Chris introduces the two of you but the attention you lavish on Jeffrey does not go unignored by Chris.
*Kitchen Sex | Chris Evans x Reader
At a summer BBQ, Chris gets a little frisky in the kitchen.
I'm sorry it's been so long for me to get in touch again. Things still remain stressful and rocky here for me. I'm still waiting on my sleep study to try and find out what is going on with my insomnia.
Stress remains high and is impacting my mental health significantly especially given that on Tuesday we received a letter from my landlord informing us that we have three months to find somewhere else to live as they want their house back. So it's so stressful right now as we will face becoming homeless if we can't find somewhere else that will allow pets and just in general that we can afford on basic benefits as we still continue to fight the system over what we're rightly entitled to.
I hope things are better with you my Goddess. I miss you terribly.
Always yours
Magnus
My love... Life seems intent on dealing you the short end of the stick. I am doing okay. I am doing my best to maintain my mental and physical health. I will send every good vibe to you that I can. I wish you the best, my sweet Magnus.
Hi! I just discovered your work and I don't know if you do requests, but if you do could I request something where the reader got role acting with Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch and when they find her having a flash-back from her sexual assault she comes clean about it and admits how terrified she is now of anything sexual and they both decide to help her get over it and show her that it's fine and can bring pleassure instead of fear. If you don't feel comfortable writing it I completely understand and I'm sorry if you don't do requests.
Hi! I just answered your other request over on my main blog. I am not certainly if you knew this was also my blog. As I put in that answer, here is my FAQ for fic requests. I am going to put the rest of this under a cut with a trigger warning.
TRIGGER WARNING: MENTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
Again, I am going to politely decline this request. As I stated in the other answer, I no longer write reader inserts. I also don't currently write Benedict Cumberbatch as a main character unless he is paired with his wife, Sophie. Finally, sexual assault is a serious subject. And while I have never personally been a victim, I know many who have. And I am concerned about the optics of having it as the background for a smutty threesome. If I were to write about sexual assault, it would not be in this form.
If this is how you are personally choosing to deal with or otherwise cope with your own experiences, I am not judging or shaming that decision. But I do not feel comfortable writing this story with the scenario presented. Thank you for reaching out.
I am not one to unnecessarily create drama but one of my kind followers informed me this morning that @tomislikeadream had stolen my James Conrad sex pollen story. Naturally, I was upset. Imagine my surprise when I find that they had also stolen Night of a 100 Kinks as well. Needless to say, I have reported and blocked them from my account.
For the sake of receipts, I am posting screenshots of my fics and then theirs. As far as I can tell all they did was change the title.
Mine (Don’t Touch That! published on 8/8/2020)
Theirs (Sex Pollen, published on January 23, 2022)
Mine: (Night of a 100 Kinks, published on April 3, 2020)
Theirs (Practice Makes Perfect, published on January 17, 2022)
As you can see there are no changes to my words that I wrote almost two years ago. To say I am hurt and upset would be an understatement. I have worked so hard to provide stories to this community. To help support other writers and to be a resource for new writers out there. And to have someone steal my work outright.
I have been lucky this is the first time, I have ever caught someone stealing my work. But I know others have not been lucky. I don’t know if all of their stories are stolen. I know at least one on there is from @lokis-little-fawn (who was also kind enough to reach out to me.) There are Loki, Hiddleston, and Bucky stories posted They are a newer blog it appears but that is no excuse. Stealing is wrong. Cutting and pasting someone’s work is wrong. End of sentence.
Summary: After a sidewalk collision, Ben and Madelyn end up with each other’s phone. They quickly right things but find the chance encounter has had more of an effect.
Warnings: excessive fluff, and curse word or two.
THANK YOU FOR READING, IF YOU ENJOYED, PLEASE CONSIDER COMMENTING AND/OR REBLOGGING.
-
Madelyn only bothered to look up from her phone when it rattled out of her hands and onto the London sidewalks when a shoulder hit hers hard. Another phone clattered next to hers.
“Ow.” She rubbed her shoulder and reached down to grab her phone, tucking it into her coat pocket.
“I’m terribly sorry.” The soft British accent hit her ears.
Madelyn’s head snapped to the source, blond curls covering half her face until she pushed them out of her way. The man was tall, with dark hair and impossibly dark eyes. She gulped. “A.. apology accepted.”
“Is this Kings Road?” he questioned, grabbing his phone and tucking it into his coat pocket.
She stood there, dumbstruck for a moment. “Kings Road?” Then she snapped back to her senses. “KINGS ROAD.”
“Kings Road.” His eyes darted. “I’m running late, so if you could point me in the direction...” He flashed her a smile, his nose scrunching up.
“Uh… end of this block, take a left.”
The smile on his face widened. “Thanks.” He gave her a quick hug before taking off at a jog. He called after her. “Sorry about the shoulder.”
Madelyn watched him until he disappeared around the corner, giving a little wave. “Bye handsome hot guy with no name.” She muttered to no one but herself before continuing on her way to her job.
-
Ben’s publicist stood outside the building, tapping his foot against the pavement. Ben held up his hands in a pleading gesture. “I can explain, I—”
“Let me guess, you got lost.” His publicist gave him a knowing glare. “You have no sense of geography. Get inside. The interview is starting.”
Ben nodded and headed into the building.
-
Madelyn hung her coat on the hook by her front door after a long shift at the library where she worked. She fished her phone out of her pocket to inspect it for damage. At that point, she noticed, the case was black and not navy like hers. She turned the phone on to find ten missed text messages. The first one read:
You have my phone.
The words stared back at Madelyn from the small screen on her desk. It was correct. The phone she currently possessed was not hers. But the identity of the true owner eluded her. The phone was locked. She continued to flick away the text messages until she found this one.
Code is 568399. Please respond.
She quickly punched in the code and the screen and responded to the text with a smirk.
Wrong phone, who’s dis?
Madelyn watched the three little dots blink on the screen while the other person typed a response.
The rightful owner of the phone currently in your possession. Perhaps you remember me? The gentleman who collided with you on the way to Kings Road?
Madelyn blushed as she typed.
I remember you. Or more specifically, my shoulder, remember you. Did you get where you needed to?
More blinking dots.
Yes. Eventually. Now, the matter of switching phones.
Madelyn thought about that, smirking.
What will you pay for ransom?
What are you asking?
A meal with you?
I am willing to offer a cup of coffee and a pastry of your choice.
Madelyn tapped her nail on the table, considering her options. She typed back a response.
You drive a hard bargain, but I will accept your terms. Brickwood 7, tomorrow morning. Do you need directions?
What about tonight?
Can’t I’m busy. You’ll have to struggle through the next 8 hours or so without your beloved… She quickly scrolled through his apps. …Farmville. Really FARMVILLE? Who even plays Farmville anymore? Not even my gran plays Farmville!
Ben glanced down at the phone, mildly amused and offended at the same time.
I happen to LIKE Farmville. Fine tomorrow.
He slumped in his chair.
See you then. Sweet dreams, Farm boy.
Ben groaned and tucked Madelyn’s phone into the pocket of his jacket so he wouldn’t forget it in the morning, and then headed off to bed.
Madelyn settled onto the sofa, the phone not too far away. She lied when she said was busy. Unless catching up on whatever trashy movie she found streaming counted as busy. It had been months since she had gone out on an honest to god date. After too much leftover Thai food and not enough beer, she fell asleep.
-
Madelyn came careening into Brickwood at 7:05 the next morning, her long tangly blonde curls flying behind her. The morning started with her sleeping through her alarm, using body wash instead of shampoo, and then having to go back to her apartment halfway to retrieve the phone.
To her mild shock, Kings Road guy was nowhere to be seen. She pouted a bit, brow furrowed as she gets in line. Surely, he didn’t come and go. She still had his phone. Madelyn continued to look around the small and increasingly bustling cafe for him.
At nearly quarter past seven, the door flung open, and he stepped through, his dark hair mussed. She stared as he glanced about the cafe. With a semi-dazed expression, Madelyn waved him down. Ben’s face broke out in an expression of relief. He quickly made his way to the front of the line, where she waited.
“I am terribly sorry.” He huffed. “I got lost.”
Madelyn raised a brow. “You got lost? Didn’t you use a map? Do you not live here?” They scooted up a spot in line.
Ben’s cheeks turned a light shade of pink. “Ah… yes to all. I have no excuse other than I have no geography?” He shrugs his shoulders. “I have all my life. As you saw the other day.”
The cashier cleared his throat to signal it was their turn to order. Madelyn hustled forward. “Ummm…” she scanned the menu. “medium vanilla latte and… orange cranberry muffin.” She gestured to Ben, who was studying the menu.
“Pot of tea and a cheese toastie.” He smiled.
Madelyn pulled her wallet from her purse, but Ben stopped her hand.
“Please. As payment for being late.” He smiled at her and Madelyn nodded, tucking her wallet back into her purse.
Ben paid as Madelyn found an empty table. As she sat down, he extended his hand. “The name is Ben.”
She took his hand and shook with a firm handshake and they both sat. “Madelyn.”
His nose scrunched up as he smiled. “Madelyn. It’s nice to know the name of the ransomer of my phone.”
“Nice to put a name with shoulder I ran into.” She matched his smile. “Although I have to comment, you promised me coffee and pastry. Tea and a cheese toastie are neither.”
“Well, I don’t care much for sweets and always tea over coffee. Besides, you are partaking of coffee and pastry of your choice, so the promise has been fulfilled.”
Madelyn chuckled. “Semantics. You wouldn’t be a barrister, would you?” A server came by to drop off a pot of tea for Ben, Madelyn’s latte, and the food.
Ben laughed. “No. Definitely not a barrister.”
“Then where were you running to, oh so late, on Kings Road?” She sipped her latte and hummed. “Sweet caffeine and sugar.”
Ben watched her indulge in her coffee as he fixed his tea to his liking. “An interview.”
“Oh, like a job interview?” She perked up.
“Something like that.” Ben fibbed. He was hesitant to share what he did for a living and rather enjoyed this casual conversation. “I’m a musician, among other things.”
“Oh, an artist.” Madelyn smiled. He looked like an artist. There was something almost soulful about him. “I work at the library.”
Ben smirked at her. “Where are your glasses? And the messy bun and stern look?”
Madelyn narrowed her eyes. “Quiet, sir.” Her lips twitched. “I’ve heard all the jokes.” She did her best to hold the face. “Okay, I can’t keep a straight face. I have perfect vision and a messy bun with this much hair hurts my neck.” she pulled out a hunk of her hair, tangled from her morning “jog” to the cafe. “Not all of us were born with perfect glossy lock with just enough body.”
Ben turned to his left and then to his right and then pointed to his chest. “Me?”
“Yes you, Mr. Perfect Hair.”
He took a big bite of his toastie. “It’s good product.” His mouth full of food as he smiled. Ben swallowed the bite and leaned over the table. “So, do you have the goods?”
“The goods?” Her brow furrowed. “OH! The goods.” She dug in her purse and pulled out Ben’s phone.
He grabbed for the phone, but Madelyn pulled it back. “Hey! No grabby hands. This is a mutual exchange.”
Ben pulled Madelyn’s phone and placed it on the table. “Nice wallpaper background. Boyfriend?”
“Brother. An Aston Martin? Seemed very cliche.”
“It’s called manifestation. Now, slide the phone across the table.” He raised a brow. “Slowly. And no one gets hurt.”
She chuckled for a moment before matching his expression. “We will exchange in the middle. No funny business or the phone gets it.”
In what was one of the most bizarre exchanges ever, Madelyn slid the cell phone across the table and Ben did the same. As soon as they reached the middle of the table, the two of them scrambled to grab their respective phones. Ben made a show of taking the phone and pressing it to chest.
“I will never let you go again!” He quickly unlocked the phone and started flipping through apps. “You didn’t dig through it?”
She looked at him, bewildered. “No, I didn’t. It’s personal. Did you dig through mine?!” Panicked, she unlocked her phone and can’t see anything.
He smirked at her as he pocketed his phone. “Is there something I should have looked at?”
“No….” Madelyn responded, placing her phone in her purse. “So I guess, that’s it.” She hoped she didn’t sound disappointed.
Ben pondered her words. He guessed it was. But he found himself wanting to linger in her company. “I guess it is.” He cleared his throat. “I am sure you have better things to do than sit around with a man who has no sense of direction and can’t tell which phone is his.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I should head off to work. The books won’t read themselves.” Madelyn gulped down the last of her now lukewarm latte and stood. Ben followed suit. She extended her hand to him. “Thank you for returning my phone and it was a pleasure to meet you.”
He smiled a slight smile and gripped her hand firmly. “The same goes for me. Perhaps I’ll run into you again someday.” He closed his eyes for a moment, realizing what he said. “Not literally. In a metaphorical sense.”
She giggled and pulled back her hand. “That would be… nice. Thank you for breakfast and…” Madelyn wondered what else to say that wouldn’t sound either awkward or borderline stalker. “… until next time!”
Well, that failed, she thought to herself as she heaved her purse onto her shoulder and headed for the exit. The cafe was loud and crowded now as the morning rush was in full force. Madelyn glanced back for a moment at Ben, sitting down, sipping his tea while he thumbed through what she assumed was missed messages. There was a small flutter in her stomach, but she pushed that far away, in the same place where she kept her irrational fear of vertical blinds.
“He’s a pretty boy, but not for you, Madelyn.” she scolded herself before heading out the door.
Ben glanced up to see if Madelyn had left yet, but he couldn’t spy her in and among the people. With a sigh, he finished his food and tea and headed about his day.
-
Two Weeks Later
Madelyn flopped down at the table across from her friend Stephanie, just as her phone buzzed in her hand. “Hold on.” She held up a finger to pause her as she glanced at the phone to see a text message from an unfamiliar number.
Wrong phone, who’s dis?
It took a few seconds for everything to click, and then she started giggling and typing back. Stephanie leaned over the table. “What’s so funny?”
“Hold on, I’ll show you.” She quickly typed up a message.
Remember me, the girl who babysat your phone one time?
She showed her phone to Stephanie. “It’s that guy I told you about.” Madelyn beamed. “Ben…”
“You are swooning.” Stephanie smirked. “You are swooning over Phone Guy.”
“I am not—” Another text came onto her screen.
I have a gig coming up this weekend and I was wondering if you might want to come. I have some extra tickets.
Madelyn squealed. “He’s inviting me to a gig. Do I say yes?” Stephanie opened his mouth, only for Madelyn to continue. “I’m saying yes.”
I would like that. Send the details and I will be there.
Stephanie sat there watching Madelyn type out everything with a bemused smirk. “Can I speak now? Are you done mooning over this guy?”
“Ben.”
“Ben. Phone Guy.”
Madelyn furrowed her brow. “Ben Barnes. The struggling musician.”
Stephanie stared at Madelyn, somewhat dumbfounded. “Wait, that is Phone Guy’s last name?” she pulled out her own phone.
“Yeah….” Madelyn’s furrow deepened.
Stephanie placed her phone on the table and spun it towards Madelyn. “Is this your struggling musician, Ben?”
“How did you?” She gazed down at what had to be a professional photo of Ben, looking all kinds of delicious in a black t-shirt and jeans. “Does he have a website?”
Stephanie’s mouth fell open. “I swear…. you’re my smartest friend…” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Do you even WATCH television?”
“Hey! I was watching a documentary the other day. Why?”
“Let me ask one more question before I answer that. Did Ben actually say the words ‘struggling musician’ or did you fill in some blanks?”
Madelyn replayed the conversation in her head, like she did on a weekly basis. “He said he was a musician, among other things. I assumed he meant server or bartender or something.”
“Or how about a movie and TV star? Dorian Gray? Prince Caspian? For fuck’s sake, you are a librarian!”
“You mean… he’s like a celebrity?! But he seemed so normal!”
Stephanie snorted her drink. “Ow. That went up my nose, Madelyn. Warn a girl. I mean, he is a human being. Not an alien. I hope he seemed normal. So what are you going to wear to this gig?”
“Clothes.”
“Clothes for a gig with hot Phone Guy TV movie star you have been swooning over for the last two weeks.” Stephanie shook her head. “I am going through your closet.”
“Fine, but nothing too revealing.”
“Trust me, Madelyn.”
-
Madelyn tugged at the hem of the dress Stephanie pulled from the back of her closet.
“Why do you never wear this?” Stephanie held up the black bodycon dress.
Madelyn blushed and scoffed. “That was for a Halloween costume!”
“Well, now it is for your date.” She shoved it at her friend.
“This is not a date!”
Stephanie threw a look at her. “It is so a date.”
“He invited me to hear him play music. With a bunch of people.”
Stephanie grabbed a pair of kneehigh suede boots and an oversized tweed blazer and handed them to Madelyn. “He invited you. A person he met twice. He personally invited to come and listen to him play music.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Precisely. Now wear the dress and everything else.”
When Madelyn arrived at the venue, she found the ticket window where her tickets were. An employee led her to a small table near the stage with a sign reading “Reserved”
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“Ah…” she quickly scanned the menu. “Whisky neat.”
The server left, and Madelyn surveyed the venue. It was a small jazz club with the almost required haze in the air and a small raised stage with a piano and guitar.
“Your drink.” The server set the glass on top of a napkin of the tabletop.
“Thank you.” She fished out a few bank notes, but the server waved her off.
“The bill is taken care of.”
“Oh.”
By that time, the rest of the patrons sat at the tables scattered around. The lights on the stage go up as the rest of the lights dimmed. A young lady came onto the stage and tapped a microphone.
“Everyone, Ben Barnes.” Everyone clapped as Ben took the stage.
Madelyn grinned as she watched him hop behind the piano wearing a short-sleeved button down over a white t-shirt and faded black jeans. He caught her eye for just a moment and flashed a smile. Madelyn’s cheeks heated.
Over the next hour, she sat enraptured, listening to Ben sing jazzy original songs and covers of pop songs. She sipped her whisky, not wanting to gulp it down as she already felt a buzz. Madelyn nibbled on some chicken wings, trying her best to not drip on her dress. Which proved difficult as she fumbled every time Ben glanced her way.
Ben grinned throughout his performance. It was a small group but an enthusiastic one. He couldn’t stop himself from stealing glances at Madelyn off to the side. Part of him regretted reserving a table for her so close to the stage it was rather distracting. As the performance came to a close, Ben grabbed the mic to address the audience.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming out and supporting me tonight. I have one more song and I am dedicating it to a special someone. Hopefully, they know who they are.” He sat back down at the piano and hit the opening chords.
“Can anybodddddyyyy….” Ben belted out the iconic lyrics. “find meeee… somebody toooo… love.”
Madelyn flushed red and glanced around the room to see several others doing the same. She took a deep breath and calmed herself down. You barely know this man, Madelyn. It’s not like that, she thought. After that, she enjoyed the song and clapped along with everyone as Ben took a bow and hopped off stage. She wanted to thank him for the tickets and the refreshments before leaving, but they immediately swarmed Ben. After waiting for several minutes in hopes the crowd would disperse and it didn’t, so she downed the rest of her whisky, left a tip for the lovely server and headed for the entrance.
Ben tried to make a beeline for Madelyn, but got caught up by several people. He strained to see if she was still at the table, but by the time the crowd cleared a bit, the table was empty. His eyes darted around the club to see a cloud of blonde curls exiting the club.
“Give one moment, please.” Ben commented as he headed to the door with haste, shrugging off a few more people with hasty apologies.
The night air pricked at his skin. As he glanced to the right, Ben spied Madelyn making her way down the sidewalk. “MADELYN!” He called out as he jogged to meet her.
She turned at the sound of her name and saw Ben hustling towards her. Madelyn pushed her hair off her face. “What are you doing out here without a coat?”
He furrowed his brow. “You didn’t say goodbye.” Ben stated matter-of-factly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Madelyn blinked back at him. “Uh… I didn’t think it would… All those people were… You came all the way out here so we can say goodbye?”
Ben grinned at her. “Well, yes, and this…” In what was surely an instant but felt like minutes, he cupped her face and leaned down to kiss her hesitantly.
In shock, Madelyn neither advanced the kiss nor recoiled, instead savoring the moment. As they part, she can’t help but have her lips curve up into a smirk. “So… that last song?”
Ben’s chest heaved as his heart pounded in his chest. “Did you think I meant it for anyone but you?”
“But you don’t even know me.”
“Then let me learn. A proper date. You and me, dinner, a movie. Whatever you want.”
“BEN!”
They both turned to the name to see an irate man in a suit, glaring at them. Ben chuckled.
“My manager. I should go.” He kissed her cheek. “Can I call you tomorrow?”
Madelyn nodded, still reeling from what had just happened. “Yeah… I mean yes.” A giggled bubbled up.
“Yes?” Ben grinned. “Yes!”
“BENJAMIN!”
He winced. “Got to go. Call you tomorrow.” One more quick kiss and then he jogged back to the club, glancing back at Madelyn.
“Is that the girl?” Ben’s manager asked once he reached the door.
“Yeah…” Ben watched as Madelyn disappeared into the crowd.
“And are we seeing her again?” He pressed his lips together, watching Ben getting starry eyed.
“I’m calling her tomorrow.”
“Good, then this was worth the trouble. Now come back inside, you’re not even wearing a jacket, you’ll catch a death.”
So the time has come to discontinue my taglists. I have had these lists since almost the beginning of this blog. But the cost-benefit scale has been tipped. So I will be no longer tagging my stories.
But JTH, you say, I still want to read your fics, how can I do that? Well you are in luck because it is still SUPER easy to catch all my stories.
1) follow my writing blog @justthehiddleswrites . And you can also turn on notifications. I post everything over there first. I will do my best to only post stories and writing related updates over there.
2) continue to follow me here on @just-the-hiddles I will always reblog my stories to here.
3) Subscribe to my AO3. I am under the name (wait for it, it’s shocking) justthehiddles. That is the MOST complete version of my stories. As I have not migrated everything over the writing blog yet and my masterlist on here is not the most up to date.
I will tag all my list under the cut here, as well as reblog this to the writing blog and that will be it for the taglists. Thank you all as we continue this journey!
A/N: Sorry for the delay, life is brutal. This is unlike anything else I have ever written. It is dark fic. It is a Mafia AU. There may or may not have a happy ending. So read at your own risk. The chapters are likely to be shorter in this fic from time to time. Also writing credit goes to @fadingcoast , @lokifae42 , and @emeraldrosequartz . Not only did they write parts of the first few chapters, but they created the inspiration for the entire premise and fic. And I am forever in their debt for it. Thank you.
Pairings: Tom Hiddleston x OFC (Jae Birichinata), Tom Hiddleston x OFC (Madison McMahon), Loki Laufeyson x OFC (Jae Birichinata)
SERIES MASTERLIST HERE
Summary: When a one night stand with the only daughter of one of New York’s biggest crime bosses results in a pregnancy, Tom is trapped. Fast forward, now 10 years later, Tom is stuck in a loveless and cruel marriage with four kids (only one is his), a cheating wife, and no escape. The only bright spot is in his life is his love, Madison, the sweet bookshop clerk working a block away from the university he teaches at. Going on four years sneaking around with Madison, Tom is certain Madison’s important news is she is breaking up with him. The truth rocks his core.
Now Tom has only one goal, getting his son, William, and himself out of the hellscape called his life alive. A vindictive wife, in laws with access to money, resources, and brute force, and not to mention his wife’s lover who is more than meets the eye, Tom is starting to wonder if his father-in-law is right. No one leaves the family alive.
Trigger Warnings: Violence (both graphic and implied), forced marriage (sort of), infidelity, mentions of pregnancy, mentions of childhood physical abuse and sexual abuse, implied in*$t, smut, torture, death and more as I can continue to write it.
READ WARNINGS BEFORE YOU INTERACT WITH MY WRITING. IT IS YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR YOUR MEDIA CONSUMPTION. MINORS DNI, THIS IS AN 18+ STORY.
Taglists are open, please let me know if you want to be tagged.
THANK YOU FOR READING, PLEASE REBLOG, LIKE AND COMMENT IF YOU ENJOYED. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT!
-
That Saturday morning, Jae barricaded herself in her “beauty” room. Which was really the bedroom she slept most nights. She sent a text to Tom to avoid seeing him.
All the kids have playdates arranged today. Therese will take them and pick them up before dinner. Don’t fucking disturb me.
Tom exhaled in relief and texted back.
Whatever you say, Jae.
His phone beeped again.
I SAID DON’T FUCKING DISTURB ME!!!
He scoffed and tossed the phone away. Tom quickly showered and dressed for the day. He waved all the kids goodbye as Therese, their part-time nanny, picked up the kids, giving Will an extra tight hug. Once the coast was clear, he headed out too, not even bother to leave a note.
He didn’t dare pull out his burner phone until he was four blocks away.
I have the day. The witch is having a “moment”. I’m coming over.
-
Maddie wiped her mouth as she leaned against her bathroom wall and then flushed the toilet.
Okay. Bring saltines and ginger ale, please. Love you.
With much effort, Maddie dragged herself into the shower and dressed in a sweatshirt and shorts. She curled up on the sofa until there was a soft knock on her door.
“Princess?” Tom called out.
She groaned and opened the door. Seeing Tom’s smile brings one to her own face. “Hey.”
“Hey, princess.” He stepped inside, wrapped his arm around her waist, and kissed her deeply. “I’ve missed you. I can’t wait until I get to kiss you whenever I want.” He held up a plastic bag. “I brought ginger ale, saltines and matzo ball soup from that deli you like.”
“Grunfeld’s? You drove all the way out there?” She peeked into the bag to see the deli container of soup.
“Anything for the mother of my unborn child.” He pulled her into another kiss.
“You spoil me, Thomas.” she giggled against his lips.
“Yes, I do. Morning sickness already?” He finally let her go and goes to the kitchen, pulling out two bowls for the soup.
Maddie joined him and set the table. “That’s how I figured out to take a test. I nearly took out an entire shelf of erotica.”
Tom raised a brow. “Were you reading again on the job, Madison?” He placed the bowls on the table and takes a seat.
Her cheeks blushed. “No comment.” She moved to sit down.
“That’s not your seat, princess.” Tom commented, moving her bowl next to his. He stood up and took off his pants. It took just a few strokes of his cock to make it hard and he sat back now. Tom patted his lap.
Maddie bit her lip and walked her way over, pulling off her short. She placed her hands on the table to steady herself as she lowered herself onto Tom’s cock. His hands gripped her hips to guide her down.
“Fuck.” Maddie whimpered as her walls stretched to fit Tom.
“Only if you are good, princess.” Once he was fully sheathed inside, Tom wrapped his arm around Maddie’s waist to steady her. “Eat up.”
She reached for the spoon, but her body was shaking. “I… I…”
Tom gripped her tighter, kissing her neck. “I’ll take care of you, princess. I will always take care of you.” He grabbed the spoon and fed Maddie bites of the soup, also feeding himself.
Maddie does her best to not wiggle too much in Tom’s lap. Soon she needs more and rocks against him. “Tom…I… need…” she whined.
With a smirk, Tom held her hips still. “I need you to use your words, princess.”
She gritted her teeth, struggling against his grasp. “I need you.”
Tom grinned and loosened his grip. “That’s my girl.” He thrusted up, flexing his hips against her. “Make me cum.”
Maddie’s body fell back against Tom as she lifted her hips over and over, bringing herself and him closer to release. “You feel so good…” she moaned.
He guided her up and down his cock. “So do you princess. Always so wet and tight for me.” He growled.
Her hand moved to rub her clit. “I need to cum, please.”
“Not until I do.” He gritted his teeth as he thrusts deep into her cunt and then with a deep feral growl, he cums inside of her. His mouth sucked on her pulse point and he bit down, claiming her as his in the throes of his orgasm.
“FUCK, TOM!” Maddie screamed as she came too, gushing against his legs, her body tensing.
As they both come down from their highs, they cling to each other. Tom’s hands ran up and down Maddie’s body. “I can’t wait to be with you all the time. Just you and me. And our child.” He buried his head into her neck and inhaled her scent.
She did her best not to cry. “Me too, darling. Me too.” With a sigh, she moved and pulled her shorts back on. “So how exactly are we extracting you from the gaudy claws of the Wicked Witch of the Jersey Shore?”
Tom smiled and laughed at her. “The first thing is save up money. Lots of it. In cash. When we leave the city, we can’t—”
“—Leave the city?!?” Madison shrieked. “But everything, our lives are in New York!?”
“And so are the Birichinatas. They own at least a third of the city. Dozens of cops on their payroll. I wouldn’t be surprised if they…” Tom’s voice trailed off, as an idea formed.
Maddie furrowed her brow. “I don’t like that look. That look means trouble.”
He waved her off. “It’s just…” His fingers tapped on the table. “It’s not enough to disappear on paper. I would still be legally married to Jae. And that means she and her family can use Will as a bargaining chip. They need to be destroyed. Thoroughly. And that can only happen from the inside.”
She snorted. “You’re married to their daughter, isn’t that inside enough?” She reached for a small box of macrons. Tom’s favorite. “How much more inside do you need to get?”
“As Bond might say, deep.” He fished for his phone out of his pocket and dialed a familiar number. “Hey Vinnie, it’s Tom. I was wondering if we could have lunch sometime this week? I have a business proposition to discuss.” There was a long pause. “Sounds great.” Tom ended the call and smiled at Maddie.
“This is a terrible idea, Tom.” Maddie shook as she spoke. “You are getting involved with…” She searched for the right word. “…THE MAFIA! Killers, thieves, criminals! What if… what if…” Her mind reeled with scenarios each one more terrifying.
Tom scooted and wrapped his arms around Maddie, kissing her cheek. “I don’t like it either, my love. But she left us with little choice. Jae will use every resource available to her and her family to hunt us down. I have to make sure they can’t do that.”
She pouted. “I still don’t like it.”
He leaned over and kissed her bottom lip. “I promise to be careful. Nothing too dangerous. Just like couriering or paperwork.”
She still pouted, but then sighed. “If it means we can be together sooner, then I guess I can leave with you being a gangster. Temporarily.”
Tom smiled and then lifted her up into her arms. “Enough talk about this. I want to spend the rest of my day with you talking about our little one.” He nuzzled his beard against her neck.
“THOMAS!” Maddie squirmed in his grasp. “It tickles.”
They both giggled as Tom walked into the bedroom.
-
Jae didn’t emerge from her sanctuary until early afternoon on Monday. Tom was at the university and the kids either in school or preschool. Her bruises now faded to an ugly purple green. With a fair amount of concealer and some makeup magic, the everyday person would never know.
Just as she was going to call one of her girlfriends for a a day of shopping when her phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Spitfire.” Loki purred into the phone.
“Loki!” She perked up. “What a pleasant surprise. I don’t usually hear from you during the day.” Jae twirled her ponytail in her fingers. “Is everything okay?”
Loki inspected his nails from the back of his town car. “Everything is fine, darling. I’m actually getting ready to pass your building. My lunch date cancelled and I am wondering if you would care to join me?”
“Depends on where we are eating…” She bit her lip, already moving towards her closet to pick out an outfit.
“Tavern on the Green. Only the best for my little spitfire. Be ready and downstairs in ten minutes.”
Jae threw on her favorite black leather dress from Alice + Olivia and her tried and trued Stuart Weitzman boots before shoving on her Chanel sunglasses to hide her eye and hustling towards the elevator, boots clacking on the tile. The black town car with blackout windows stopped at her feet and the back door opened, seemingly all on its own. Jae hopped in and took the seat closest to the open door, slamming it shut.
“Hey, baby.” She leaned over to kiss Loki’s cheek as he wrapped up his phone call.
“No, I don’t care how much time it will take, do the job right.” He snapped into the phone. Loki turned to smile at Jae and leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Hello, darling. Just give me one moment.”
Loki reached up and touched his lips. He wiped away makeup with his fingers. “I got to go. Text me when it’s done.” He ended the call, pocketed the phone, and turned to her. “Jae, remove the sunglasses, please.”
She turned to face Loki. “But it’s so bright outside. I would like to keep them on. Squinting causes wrinkles.” Jae smiled at Loki.
His smile melted away to a somber face. “The windows are black out. Take the sunglasses off.”
With a shaking hand, Jae pulled off her sunglasses and tucked them into her bag. She prayed her heavy eye makeup under the low light would hide her injuries. Loki unfurled black handkerchief and wiped away her makeup to reveal the discolored skin around her eye. His green eyes flashed in anger.
“Who did this to you, spitfire?” His voice low with rage laced around the edges. “Tell me.”
A big tear fell on Jae’s cheek as Loki held her by the chin. Her lower lip trembled as she struggled to say the name. “I… it… it… was… I can’t!” she sobbed. “He’ll…”
Loki grabbed for her hand. “He won’t. Just tell me. I will protect you.”
Jae choked back another sob. “It was… Thomas.” She turned away. “He saw the marks at dinner and lost his mind. Said I had embarrassed him. Emasculated him. And then he hit him me. Hard.” Jae collapsed into tears.
“Shhh…” Loki wrapped his arms around Jae, rubbing her back. “I promise to make him pay.”
Jae nodded. “Thank you, darling.” She reached for the handkerchief and dabbed her face. “Sorry for ruining lunch.”
“You’ve ruined nothing. It’s your husband’s fault. He ruins everything.” Loki commented softly while still comforting Jae, the wheels turning in his head.
Sometimes Violence Is The Answer | Chapter 1 |Domestic Bliss?
A/N: This was one of those Give Me a Title, I Will Give You a Plot ideas from forever and a day ago. Currently, there are only this chapter and part of another, so I am not sure how often it will update. But this is part of 2022, post what I love.
Pairing: Loki x Mina Laufeyson (OFC)
Summary: Loki has left the taking over the world and fighting to others. Instead, he writes an award-winning food blog and stars on a hugely popular cooking show on YouTube. Now settled into domestic life with his wife and three kids, Loki has the happily ever after he always wanted. If only everyone else agreed.
Warnings: some violence, cursing, um... not sure what else will happen. Will update as needed.
AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR READING MY WORK, BE CONSIDER REBLOGGING AND TAGLISTS ARE OPEN!!
-
Loki pinched his nose as he paused the video he was editing on the laptop in his study. Even with bookcases lining the walls, he still heard the dull thump through the walls. Loki tugged his dark green shirt down and stepped out into the hall.
“Magnus!” he bellowed in the house. The third door on the left creaked open, and a head popped out.
“Yeah, Dad?” Magnus asked.
Loki stared down at his youngest son. With his long mop of blond curls, he looked nothing like Loki, but his personality was all his father’s.
“How many times have I told you, no drums while I’m doing voiceovers?” Loki sighed.
“I don’t know Dad, like twenty times.” Magnus smiled an all too familiar smile. “Maybe number twenty-one will be the one that sticks?”
“No drums, Magnus. Or I am sending your mother after you.” Loki matched with his own smile.
Magnus mouth dropped open. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me, son. I heard her and Emma could use someone to hold their purses at the mall.”
“But the band has a gig on Sunday! I have to practice!”
“You are ten years old, you are too young to have gigs. Your lead vocalist still has a 7 o’clock bedtime.”
“Dad! Ragnarok is the one of the best bands in the neighborhood. We are playing a bat mitzvah.”
Loki snapped his fingers at Magnus, whose mouth snapped shut.
“You are not naming your band that! Give me an hour to get this done and then you can practice that noise you call music.”
Magnus huffed and slammed his door. Loki returned to his study. He hated to be so cruel to Magnus, but this video needed to go up tomorrow morning. Loki glanced around the room as he collected his thoughts. His golden YouTube button hung next to his James Beard Award. Loki smiled. If anyone told him, people would know him more for his knife skills in the kitchen than in battle. He would have laughed in their face.
Loki returned to his script and pressed play on his video of him making candied bacon. As he was uploading the video for rendering, a pair of hands gripped his shoulders.
“You know, in my younger days, doing a thing like that would get you killed.” Loki hummed, leaning back as the hands pressed into the knots forming where his shoulder blades were.
“I think I will take my chances, dear husband.” Mina tilted her head to kiss his cheek. “How is the editing going?”
Loki moaned in pleasure as she massaged the knots out of his back. “Better now that my personal masseuse is here.”
Mina smacked his shoulder playfully. “Very funny. Did you really tell Magnus you make him go to the mall with Emma and me?”
“Perhaps.” Loki’s head dropped when she hit a particularly tough knot right in the middle of his back. “Right there, love. Harder.”
She chuckled and whispered in his ear. “I thought that was my line.” Her voice was as rich and decadent as the sinful chocolate desserts Loki demo’d on his blog.
Loki stood and wrapped his arms around her. “Close the door and it can be again.” His lips latched onto the spot on her neck that made Mina’s knees buckle.
“Isn’t that how we ended up with three kids?” Mina’s fingers weaved into Loki’s hair, her blue-gray eyes sparkling. He kept his hair shorter these days. It was that or the truly awful man bun Mina hated, so Loki compromised with keeping in chin length curls.
“We could also go for one more.” Loki purred, his hand traveling down her torso, delighting in a body he had memorized over the years. “Trying for a matching set, two boys and two girls.”
“Are you changing the diapers?” Mina hummed, scratching his scalp.
“Why would I do that?” Loki questioned, his lips trailing down towards her chest. Mina yanked his head up by his hair. “Ow.”
“Because I’m not doing it alone.” Mina smiled at him, pecking his lips. “Now before you go to take cold shower, I came up here for a reason.”
“Which is?”
“Jane called. Three times.”
Loki groaned. “Why did I agree to cater her wedding to my brother?”
She smoothed out his shirt. “I believe the words ‘you owe me’ and ‘the time you stabbed me’ were used.”
Loki’s lips curled into a smile. “I missed those days.”
“I don’t. Worried about you coming home hurt. Or worst not coming home at all. No, thank you. I prefer that the biggest worry is that you’ll burn dinner.”
Loki’s mouth dropped open. “I haven’t burned dinner in years.”
“I know.” She kissed him once more and swatted his ass. “I just like getting a rise out of you. Call Jane back while I go comfort your youngest son.”
“Or I could talk to Magnus…”
“I’m walking away, Loki!” Mina shut the door behind her, leaving Loki alone in his study.
“I hate brides.” Loki muttered as he punched in Jane’s number.
-
“I heard his brother Thor is getting married, and he is cooking all the food for it.” Corvus Glaive commented, rubbing his chin with his long fingers.
“Since when does Loki cook?” Proxima commented.
Ebony Maw growled from across the table, staring at the rest of The Black Order. “He’s gone soft.” He sneered with a long face. “He has a blog where he cooks food. And has kids.”
Obsidian Cull grunted. “Weak.”
Proxima slammed her fist on the table. “Which is why it is the perfect time to go after him. It’s been years since he last fought.”
Corvus smiled. “He’ll never see it coming.”
Ebony rose and clenched his fists. “And if we enlisted a few others loyal to the cause, we should easily defeat him.”
Proxima leaned forward. “Who did you have in mind?”
-
Jane paced along the length of Loki’s commercial kitchen. While he usually did recipe testing and most filming at home, he kept the professional kitchen for the small catering business he ran on the side.
“So I know I said to do the crab puffs for the cocktail hour, but then I started thinking, what if people are allergic to shellfish, or what if they don’t like shellfish? Or what if they are vegetarian or vegan?” Jane’s hands gestured wildly in the air. “Is anyone in your family allergic?” She turned to face Loki.
“Not that I am aware of.” Loki stood off to the side, arms crossed.
“What about special diets? Is Odin vegan?” Jane panicked.
“I doubt Odin even knows what the word ‘vegan’ means. He is decidedly carnivorous.”
“And your mother?”
Loki smiled. “Is polite. What do you want me to do, Jane? The wedding is in three weeks. I need to put my order in with my suppliers.”
Jane chewed on her thumbnail and bounced on her feet. “Keep the crab puffs but halve it and do the other half with veggie quiches.”
Loki snapped his fingers. “Done. Now if you don’t mind. I have some recipes I will test since you dragged me into the city.”
Jane wrinkled her nose. “I can’t believe you live in the suburbs.”
Loki scoffed. “And pay the real estate prices of Manhattan? No, thank you. Once Magnus was born, we needed the space. I needed a full kitchen.” Loki reached out and patted Jane’s shoulder. “Just wait and see.”
Jane chuckled. “Thor and I are city people. The culture, my research…”
The door to the kitchen slammed open and a woman wearing some god awful white polyester dress from the 80s stepped in.
“If you are looking for a consultation on catering, make an appointment—” Loki commented, which was cut off by the woman hurling what Loki could only describe as a dagger made of water towards Loki and Jane.
Loki grabbed Jane by the arm and pushed her behind the stainless steel counters. The water dagger clinked against the metal and hit the wall behind a stove, droplets falling upon impact.
“Is this the little missus?” the woman sneered. “And I thought I was your true love, Loki. Before you decided to leave me for someone else!”
“Who the hell is she, Loki?” Jane questioned.
Loki peeked over the edge to see the woman prowling towards them. “If memory serves me, Venus.”
“The Goddess of Love?! You broke up with the Goddess of Love?!”
Another dagger hit above their heads as Venus got closer.
“Not exactly…”
“Loki,” Venus taunted. “Come and introduce me to your wife.” Another dagger.
“She thought she was Venus, but she turned out to just be a siren.” Loki finished, glancing over the counter again.
“And you broke up with her? What, did you do it by email?!” Jane continued to scream at Loki.
Loki stared at Jane in shock. “I had the decency to tell her to face.” Jane glared at Loki. “Okay, I sent a note centuries later. I was preoccupied at that time.”
“Doing what?” Jane sneaked a peek over the counter. Venus waved at her with a sadistic smile.
Loki shrugged his shoulders. “Escaping the underworld?”
“Come on out, darling. I just want to sing you two lovebirds a song.” Venus purred.
“Shit.” Loki’s eyes darted around the kitchen until they settled on a pair of oven mitts. “Put these on your ears and do not remove them for any reason.”
“Why?” Jane’s tone growing more shrill.
“So you don’t die.” Loki stood up and smiled at Venus. “Pet, I’ve missed you.” He held his arms out. “How about a hug?”
“I’m not falling for your charms again, Loki!” She hurled a dagger at his head, which he easily dodged. “You said you loved me.” Her lower lip quivered.
“And I did at the time.” Loki moved slowly towards Venus outstretched. “Remember, I promised you the world.”
She sniffled. “You did.”
“And remember that lovely necklace I bought you?”
Venus held up the pendant around her necklace. “I still wear it, pumpkin.”
Loki flinched at that awful pet name. He thanked the Norns Mina settled on far less irksome terms of endearment.
“As you should.” Loki could almost reach out and grab Venus’s hand. “Because it is a symbol of our love.” He slid around to her back and wrapped one arm around her waist. The fingers of his other hand ran along the chain of the necklace. He pressed his lips against her ear as he walked her away from Jane and towards the back wall. “It’s a shame it is nothing more than glass.”
Venus stiffened. “You tricked me.” She struggled, but Loki held her tight in his grip.
“I am the Trickster. You should have expected it.” He opened the door and shoved Venus in the massive walk-in freezer and slammed the door shut. “When will people stop falling for that?”
Jane stood up, a bit dazed. Loki lifted his chin towards the brand new heavy duty spatula he purchased. “Can you hand me that, please?” With a furrowed brow, Jane picked up the spatula. “A little quicker, please. I can’t hold the door forever.”
With a jump, Jane hustled towards him, handed the spatula to Loki. He bent it around the door handle.
“That should hold her long enough for the freezer to dampen her powers.” Loki turned to Jane. “I suggest we not be here when that happens. Can I take you to lunch?”
Jane blinked, not entirely sure what was going on or why Loki was so calm. “Ah, yeah, yes. Sure. Thanks, Loki.”
He led her out of the kitchen, with Venus banging on the freezer door. It took three blocks before Jane got her wits back.
“Does that happen often?”
Loki smirked and patted Jane’s arm, which was linked with his own. “Not as much as it used to. I racked up quite a list of enemies in my day. Lovers too. There quite a bit of overlap between those two lists.”
“And they just attack you out of nowhere?”
“Sometimes. Although, these days it is people wanting my brownie recipe.” Loki joked, trying to lighten the mood.
“But what about your family? Do they know…”
Loki stopped and yanked Jane around to face him. “No. They don’t know and you can’t tell them. There is no need to worry about something as trifling as jilted ex-lover. It will just upset Mina.” Loki said these things as much to convince Jane as he did to convince himself. Venus come back now was unusual.
Jane raised an eyebrow. “Fine, but I don’t like keeping secrets Loki.”
“Neither do I. Now, where should we eat? My treat.”
A/N: So the first part of this Loki & Rocket crackfic is finally done. It is based on the premise of what if... things went wrong when Rocket and Thor went back to Asgard and Thor bailed, stranding Rocket there. Naturally, he would team up with our Trickster.
Pairing: Loki & Rocket platonic (I mean is hate/annoyance platonic), gen fic.
Summary: After Thor stranded Rocket on Asgard, he teams up with Loki, and they hightail it off the planet for destinations unknown. When they reach Vanaheim, they split up, but there are forces at work intent on keeping this unlikely duo together.
Trigger Warnings: cursing, violence, kidnapping, more to come.
AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR READING AND SUPPORTING MY WRITING. TAGLISTS ARE OPEN! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WISH TO BE ADDED.
-
“Are you certain you can ACTUALLY fly this thing?” Loki questioned as the ship slowly lifted off the ground.
“You know, you’re awfully picky for a man who stuck in a prison cell thirty minutes ago.” Rocket deadpanned back as he worked the controls.
“I am no man, I am a god and I am—”
“Wait, let me guess, you’re burdened with glorious purpose?” Rocket didn’t even bother to look over in Loki’s direction, more concerned about not taking down the stone columns in front of him.
Loki blinked at Rocket. “Well actually, yes.” The ship rumbled as Rocket expertly maneuvered the ship out into the open air. “Acceptable piloting. Now, how did you know what I was going to say? Are you a magical creature?” He reached out to poke Rocket.
Rocket knocked Loki’s hand away. “Hey, hands off the merchandise. Everyone who has a chip on their shoulder feels they are burdened with ‘glorious purpose’.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I also read your file.”
“I have a file?”
“You have an entire shelf.”
“Not sure if I should be impressed or insulted.”
“Probably a bit of both.” A klaxon went off. “Hey Burdened Guy, you any good with the weapons on this ship?”
“I am Loki of Asgard, Rightful King of Jotunheim—”
“So that’s a no.”
Loki stomped off towards the back of the ship and fired up the gunner station. “Am I any good with the weapons system?” he scoffed as the three Asgardian ships came up on the tactical screen.
He carefully took aim at the closest ship and fired just as their ship banked sharply and his shot went why. Loki slammed his fist against the control panel.
“THIS WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY EASIER IF YOU WOULD HOLD THE SHIP STEADY!” he yelled towards the cockpit.
“Excuse me, your Highness, I am trying to GET US OFF THIS PLANET!”
“WHICH IS USELESS IF THEY BLOW US UP!” Loki countered and squeezed off another shot in frustration, hitting the Asgardian ship.
He gave a little fist pump and then the ship rocked as the second ship’s shot connected.
“LESS CELEBRATING, MORE SHOOTING!” Rocket screamed back as the ship climbed towards the upper atmosphere.
“The first chance I get…” Loki grumbled as he worked the controls to get a clear shot at the second ship.
His first attempt missed, so he modified the weapon’s frequency and connected the second shot. The second ship barrel rolled into the third and they both fell into the silver ocean below. With a swagger, he headed back to the cockpit.
“They have been disposed of.” Loki plopped down next to him.
“And what do you want, a cookie? Gold Star? A tiara?” Rocket snapped as the ship finally left the atmosphere. The space stretched out in front of them as Rocket fell back into the pilot’s chair. He turned to Loki. “Name’s Rocket.”
Loki’s nose wrinkled at the creature sitting beside him. “What kind of name is Rocket?”
“What kind of name is Loki?” Rocket countered. “And how about ‘thank you for helping me escape’?” He got out of his chair and moved towards the back of the ship.
“Thank you?” Loki scoffed incredulously.
“You’re welcome.” Rocket called out from inside a storage container.
“I… you…” Loki growled in irritation and popped out of his seat. “Now hang on…” He stomped to where Rocket was throwing things left and right. “What in the Nine Realms are you doing?”
Rocket turned to face Loki and threw a mess kit. “Food. Or do Asgardian princes sustain themselves on ego and charm?”
“Has anyone ever called you an asshole?”
“All the time.” Rocket slumped on the storage container. “Is there any food on this fancy ass ship?”
“This ship isn’t intended for long distance interstellar travel. Just small jumps.” Loki crossed his arms.
“That is very disappointing. So tell me, your Majesty, where’s the nearest planet to buy provisions?”
“The ship could make the trip to Vanaheim, but if you think I’m going to—”
“To Vandermeer, it is!” Rocket hopped down from his perch and skittered to the pilot controls.
“VANAHEIM… And I am not going with you.” Loki tugged on his tunic.
“Then by all means, jump out.” His furry finger lingered over the hatch button. Rocket glanced over at Loki and had a rare moment of empathy for the god. “I know why they had you locked up. It wasn’t your fault. I remember being angry like you once. Wanting a dark corner to disappear in.” He quickly punched in the coordinates for Vanaheim after consulting the star charts and started the autopilot. “Once we get to Vanaheim, you can be rid of me and whatever you else.”
Loki listened to Rocket, but if his words had any effect on him, it didn’t show. A calculated behavior learned throughout his childhood. The constant taunts, jabs, and jeers from Odin, and to a less degree, Thor. He lifted his chin and gazed down his nose at Rocket. “Finally, something you said made sense.”
“Oh, do you not understand me? I’ll speak slow and use hand signals.” Rocket retorted sarcastically, leaning back in the pilot’s chair. “We should be there in about 5 hours.” He grinned at Loki. “So when the big hand is like this…” Rocket placed one arm straight up and down, “And the little hand is like this…” He jutted out his other arm at an awkward angle, mimicking the hands of the clock. “We will be at Vanderpump.”
“VANAHEIM! Home of Vanir, Emerald of the Nine Realms. If you are going to insist on butchering its name, then don’t do so in front of me!” Loki huffed.
“Sorry, Vanaheim.” Rocket hopped down from his seat and walked away. “Lighten up, Loki.” He kept far away from Loki for the rest of the trip, pretending to nap at the back of the ship.
-
Loki squinted as he adjusted the rough fabric of the gray cloak around his shoulders. He was doing his best not to draw attention. Which was made difficult by Rocket using him as a personal lookout tower.
“Ow, do you mind?” Loki swatted at Rocket.
“No, you’re actually quite comfortable for a skinny little bastard. Do you work out?” Rocket pulled a pair of some sort of binoculars and looked out at the crowd. “Over there.”
“What, that bar over there? You really think you are going to—” He stopped as Rocket scampered down his back and took off into the crowd. “NOW HANG ON A MINUTE!!”
Several heads turned to stare at Loki, and he pushed his way past them. “Haven’t you ever seen a disagreement before?”
By the time he reached the rundown bar, Loki found Rocket speaking with two rough looking Vanir. “Now you can’t go running off.. like that?”
The larger of the two stood and came toe to toe with Loki. He smelled and looked as though baths were things he did twice a year, whether he needed it or not. “You know this guy?”
“He was just leaving.” Rocket shot Loki a look. “I hitched a ride with him from Asgard and now our business is finished.” Rocket nudged the smaller of the two men in the shoulder. “You know how those fancy pants Asgardians are. You give them tiniest taste of adventure and the next thing you know they think they’re your best friend.”
“We are NOT friends!” Loki stood his ground, undeterred by the size of the Vanir. “And neither are these…” He tugged on his cloak. “gentlemen. And I use that term as loosely as language allows.”
“Is he calling us ugly?” The bigger man reached into his cloak.
“What if I am?” Loki did the same, manifesting a dagger in his hand.
“Gentlemen, gentlemen…” Rocket leaped in between them. “There’s no need to resort to violence. You’re both very very handsome gentlemen.” Rocket grabbed Loki by the hand and turned him around. “Are you trying to get us killed?” He hissed.
“Quite the opposite, actually. You know nothing of these men.”
“And neither do you. Listen, I appreciate your concern, but believe me when I tell you, you should be more afraid of me than of them. Now go and catch a royal carriage home or wherever the hell it is you plan on going.” With a wave, Rocket dismissed Loki and returned to the two Vanir. “Now as I was saying, I’m looking to go to…”
Loki stood there, watching Rocket talk with the men, and he slinked away to another corner of the bar. He ordered a cup of mead and some mushroom soup, which came with a hunk of brown bread. He couldn’t really see anything through the midday crowd, and he strained to hear the conversation, only catching snatches of words and Rocket’s raucous and annoyingly fake laugh.
Soon, the soup and mead was gone and Loki paid with some coin he pulled from interdimensional storage, leaving a generous tip for the young Vanir maiden who had checked on him several times during his meal and even offering a refill of his mead on the house. As he made his way to the front of the bar, he spied Rocket and the two men heading out a side entrance. What he also noticed was another man, with heavy scarring on the side of his face, get up from a table and follow the group towards the entrance. With a sigh, he stepped outside and turned to find an alley next to the bar.
“HEY!” Rocket yelled as the scarred man grabbed him by the neck. “Who the hell are you?”
The mysterious bar patron smiled sinisterly at Rocket, holding him up by the scruff of his neck. “Feisty, a fighter. You’ll fetch a pretty penny.” His voice rough as though someone had taken sandpaper to the man’s vocal chords.
“The animal is with us.” The tall Vanir stepped in front of the mystery man.
“Well, that’s a shame.” Bolts of dark red energy shot out from underneath the man’s cloak, incapacitating both men.
Loki ducked behind the corner, pulling the cloak’s hood around his face, peeking around the corner. He saw the man clamp on some handcuffs onto Rocket before shoving him in a bag. Just before Rocket’s head disappeared into the bag, his eyes caught Loki’s and he pleaded silently for Loki to help. Without knowing whether the source of those energy bolts was from a weapon or magic, Loki didn’t dare risk making his presence known and losing the advantage of surprise.
He watched the man heave Rocket over his shoulder and head down the alley and away from the two Vanir men and Loki. Once he felt it was safe, Loki stepped out and ran towards the two men who were just coming to.
“Do you know that man?” Loki questioned as he helped them sit up, his cloak falling from his head.
The smaller of the two shook his head, groggy and in pain. “Scyther Pruhl. Notorious bounty hunter and black market dealer.” He stared at Loki. “Are you…”
Loki waved it off. “I’m not him. I’m nobody.” He didn’t want to answer questions about himself, knowing every moment put more distance between him and this Scyther Pruhl.
“But you look just like him. The Crown Prince, but that’s impossible… he’s…” the taller man muttered, coming to, shaking his head.
“Imprisoned on Asgard?” Loki added. “That’s what I heard too. It’s been terrible for business as an impersonator.” The two men looked at him, confused. “I mean I had to put these good looks to work.” He grinned. “Due, however, to Prince Loki’s unfortunate incarceration, I’ve had to resort to less than legal methods for maintaining my income.”
“Oh, like picking pockets and what not?”
“Something like that.” He screaming internally, these people are idiots! “Now where could I find this Mr. Pruhl?”
“The docks down at the end of town.” They pointed in a general direction.
“Thank you.” He rushed off.
-
Scyther ducked and weaved through the crowds as Rocket squirmed in the bag, his screams muffled.
“Listen here, you rat. Keep it down or I’ll have to take extreme measures to keep you quiet.”
Rocket contemplated his choices and decided remaining conscious was his best chance of escape. He quietly examined the cuffs Scyther placed on him. Standard issued magnetic cuffs, but Rocket couldn’t pick them in the dark. After about 20 minutes of being jostled, Scyther unceremoniously dropped the bag containing Rocket to the ground. Rocket strained to hear the conversation occurring next to him.
“My ship ready to go?” Scyther questioned as he pulled a few coins to pay his bill to the dock manager.
“Full fueled and serviced, Mr. Pruhl.” The young attendant squeaked out, his eyes transfixed on Scyther’s scars.
He growled at the kid. “Stop staring. You’re making me uncomfortable.” He pulled back a coin, intended to be a tip for the young man.
“Yes, sir.” His head lowered and he let loose a small whimper as Scyther took back the coin. “Is there anything else today?”
Scyther thought about it. “Can I get enough rations for a 3 day hyperspace trip? For two? Well, one human and one pet.” He gave the bag a kick.
“Ow!” Rocket yelled. “Hey, I’m in here!”
The young man jumped. “Yes, sir. Where you headed?”
Scyther lit a cigar, blowing smoke at the kid. “Taruta.”
The boy’s eyes grew three sizes. Taruta was a place he only heard about in stories by the men who frequented the dock. A place where the seedy underbelly of the universe thrived. If there was anything nefarious or highly illegal, Taruta was the place to go to find it or someone who could acquire it for you. “Wow…” he whispered, as he shoved rations into a bag and handed it to Scyther.
“Wow is right, kid.” He picked up the bag of rations and Rocket like they weighed nothing and headed towards his ship.
-
Loki could run faster than Thor. What Thor had in strength, Loki always made up in speed. He raced through streets of the town, shoving people out of the way and knocking over at least one cart filled with apples and other produce. He reached the docks and glanced around for any sign of Scyther or Rocket. Spying a young boy who appeared to work there, Loki approached.
“Can you tell where Scyther is?” Loki huffed, trying to catch his breath.
“You just missed him, mis…” The boy dropped the container of spare parts in his hands and trembled. “I mean your Highness.” He fell into a fumbling bow.
Loki stood up to his full height and straightened his clothes. “Thank you, young man, for showing respect. Now I command you to tell me where Scyther Pruhl is headed.” Loki figured he would take advantage of the boy being intimidated for as long as he could.
“Taruta.” His voice still shaking.
“Very good. Now, I am going to commandeer one of these ships under authority of the AllFather and the crown to follow him. He has…. jail breaked an enemy to the throne.” Loki lied. “And they have tasked me to bring them both back to Asgard.”
“Wow….” the boy whispered. “You could take the ship I have been working on.” He pointed to the docking bay at the far end. “It will get you where you need to go.”
“And food. I require sustenance for my journey.”
“Of course, your Highness. Anything.” He quickly shoved rations into a bag, which Loki took.
“Thank you, young man. You have earned the gratitude of your prince.”
The boy made some unintelligible sounds as Loki walked off. He hit the button to the dock’s door and step inside to see his vehicle and his shoulders slumped. “You have got to be kidding me.”
Two Days Later
Two Einherjar towered over the young man. “Tell us, boy, have you seen the escaped prisoner, The Crown Prince Loki?”
So as the new year comes barreling towards us, I am wondering what kind stories/fic/characters/plotlines/etc. you would like to see from me in the next year? Please feel free to send an ask (anon is on) and let me know. I am definitely looking to see what everyone is wanting to read.
So because of the holidays and my own schedule, Ties That Bind will next post on the 8th of January. Because I don’t want to fuss with a taglist on Christmas Day or New Years Day.
I have been working on a little Rocket and Loki one shot crack fic. not like relationship, so slow your roll anon haters. It may turn into an episodic thing, it may not. I am unpredictable.
My requests remain open. Again, please read my FAQs. They have been updated recently.
Reblog this if you want readers to come into your ask box and ask for the “director’s commentary” on a particular story, section of a story, or set of lines.
Or, send in a ⭐star⭐ to have the author select a section they’ve been dying to talk about!
Thank you so so much for the homesick imagine! 🥺🥺 My homesickness is starting to get a little better now that I’m home for Christmas but I had a friend who’s a little bit like Tom at uni and he’d gone home early which is why I think I was struggling but I’m so so appreciative for you because you’ve helped me tenfold! ❤️❤️
You are so welcome, Nonny. I am glad, most of all, to hear you are doing a bit better. It is hard and you are not alone. Secondly, I am thrilled you enjoyed it! Have a wonderful holidays!
I am so sorry for not being in touch sooner, things here are still so rough. I'm honestly not sure if I'm coming or going at all. Things with my best friend are doing slightly better. They're now living with my mum and stepdad. We had to get all of her belongings from her mother's place out by the end of November so it's been busy with that.
Now that those ties have been sorted out its only the property that ties her there. But her mother contacted me again yesterday for a forwarding address, so I've had to give mine so I can act as a go between incase she wants to cause shit.
The other outside stressors are still there and don't seem to be improving any time soon. Dragging me further into it. I honestly don't know how much more I can cope with. My mental and physical health is really suffering.
I'm not sleeping well at all and it's so damned hard being in the middle of everything. I'm trying so hard to remember to take my medication and take care of myself but I fear that I'm going to break.
I'm having medical tests done to check for any underlying health issues that might be causing the disruption to my sleep, but I honestly don't know if it's not just the stress of everything else.
I miss you so much my darling and I hope that things are better for you. I could really use one of your hugs right now.
If I don't hear from you before. I hope you have an amazing Christmas and the new tear treats you kindly.
I love you so much my Goddess.
Always yours
Magnus
My darling,
It sounds like this has been a very trying and hard year for you. I am glad to hear your friend is doing better, but obviously disheartened to hear you are continuing to do poorly. I hope your tests are fruitful and you get some answers. I will sending you good thoughts and vibes, my love.
I miss you too. Life seems to have evened out a bit. I am sending you the biggest, tightest, warmest hug your way. Every day.
Homesick | Tom Hiddleston & OFC (Lyla Brooks) | Platonic
A/N: This was for this lovely anon request: I have separation anxiety and have recently gone from living with a dog and three family members and seeing people every day to living alone and not seeing my family and it’s really not easy 🥺 it’s not practical for me to get a pet and I’m an hour away from home. How would Tom help the reader through a situation like this? He seems very wise and as if he would know what to do! Maybe include lots of cuddling and watching things that Tom has starred in? It didn’t quite come out this way, but hopefully you still enjoy it.
Pairing: Tom Hiddleston & Lyla Brooks (Platonic)
Summary: Lyla Brooks accepted a prestigious apprenticeship with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the costuming department. Which unfortunately meant leaving behind her mom, dad, and beloved cat, Snickers. Three months into her move and Lyla is not doing well. She misses home and she worries about her dad. But she is not the only worrying.
Trigger Warnings: very vague mentions of Alzheimer’s, some light angst, some light fluff.
MY TAGLISTS ARE OPEN, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WISH TO ADDED! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MY WRITING!
-
“Okay, Mom.” Lyla sniffled into the phone, doing her best to hide her sadness. “I miss you too. Give my love to Dad. And Snickers. And Lulu.” Her chin dropped towards her chest as her mind wander. “No, I’m fine, Mom. Just allergies. Yes, I’m taking my — I got to go. Talk to you soon.” She hung up the phone before she completely broke down.
In the colder air of London, Lyla’s tear wet her cheeks and chin, chilling the skin. She pulled her thin sweater around her body, protecting from the cooler weather. Having moved three months ago from the West Coast, Lyla struggled with a proper fall and winter wardrobe for London.
When she entered her tiny apartment, Lyla sunk into her secondhand sofa and listened to nothing while staring at her boxes of books stacked against the wall next to the unassembled bookcases she purchased. Unpacking was not her priority. Surviving was.
Lyla never expected to move this far away from home. But when a golden opportunity to apprentice with the Royal Shakespeare Company Costuming Department came up, her mother practically put her on the plane herself.
“This is your dream, Lyla.” Marjorie Brooks said to her daughter as she read the letter. “If you weren’t going to accept, then why apply?”
“I never thought I would get an offer.” Lyla stared down at the letter on Royal Shakespeare Company letterhead. “I can’t you and Dad—”
“—will do just fine.” Marjorie interrupted. “I will make sure he goes to his appointments and takes his meds.”
Lyla sighed. Her mother still worked full time at the textile factory in town. When her father started acting “distracted”, she turned her focus on making sure he took his medication and made all his appointments. In doing so, she turned down an internship with a prestigious clothing company in New York, without even telling her parents.
“But Snickers..” She pulled the orange tabby cat onto her lap. “He needs me.”
Marjorie frowned at Lyla. “Lyla Marie Brooks, this is not going to be New York all over again. You’re going and that is the end of it.”
Lyla sat there, slack-jawed, as her mother headed to the kitchen.
A sharp knock on her door rudely interrupted Lyla’s spiral of self-pity and loathing. She groaned and figured if she waited long enough, the person on the other side of the door would leave.
“Lyla, I’m not leaving.” Tom called out from the hallway outside her apartment. “So get off the sofa and answer the door.”
She grumbled the entire way to the door and opened it up to see Tom smiling sheepishly at her. “How are so fucking cheerful at 5 in the evening?”
“Hello to you too.” Tom shoved his hands into the pockets of faded black jeans. He stared at her for a moment. “Did you forget?”
Lyla’s brow furrowed at Tom. “Forget what?” She combed her fingers through her hair, tangling her light brown locks.
“Our date.” Tom smiled, running his fingers through his recently shorned ginger curls, now even more curly than when Lyla first met him.
“Daaaattteeee….” she drew out the word as if she drawled it her memory would come back.
Tom chuckled a bit. “Your bookshelves. That you bought last weekend. And I dragged up three flights of stairs. That you promised to put…” He stepped into Lyla’s apartment and spied the unopened boxes and smirked. “…together. What happened?”
“I forgot.” A hint of redness tinted her cheeks. More like a complete lack of wanting to do anything except hop on the next plane out of here and back home to hug my cat, my dog and my parents, she thought.
“Clearly.” Tom clapped his hands together. “Well then, let’s get to work.”
It took you ten minutes to find the tools and within 15 minutes, Tom put together both bookshelves together and installed on either side of your TV.
“See? That didn’t take long at all.” He moved beside her, smiling. “Thank you for the help.”
Lyla snorted. “I handed you a screwdriver and held a board.”
“Exactly. Help.” Tom gave her a side hug. “Ready to load them up?” He already moved towards the boxes.
“Um… sure.” She pulled open one of the boxes. “I unpack and you put them on the shelves?”
“Sounds like the best plan.” He reached out his hand for the books.
Twenty minutes later, the shelves were full and the boxes empty. Lyla’s eyes teared up a bit, feeling slightly more at home. She wiped at her face.
“Are you alright?” Tom’s brow furrowed as he looked at her.
“I’m fine. Just the dust.” She sniffled and pulled herself together. She glanced outside. “Oh look, it’s dark. You should be on your way.”
Tom glanced out where dusk was barely setting in. He looked at Lyla and then at her apartment. He had come over a handful of times in the past two months and not much change except for the takeaway containers in the trash. He worried, but didn’t feel comfortable pushing the issue.
“You’re right. Don’t want to say out too.” He headed to the door. “Some of us are getting together on Friday for pints. Would you like to join us?”
“I’ll think about it.” She smiled at him.
“Good. I’ll remind you. And send you the information.” Tom opened the door but leaned in for a one last hug. “Please come out.” He whispered before taking his leave.
Lyla sighed as the door clicked shut. Her heart and head a mix of emotions as she headed in to shower and then settle onto the couch with a book, cup of tea, and leftover Indian food.
-
The rest of the week had been a blur of fittings, fabric shopping, and costume repairs. Lyla had little time to think about home. She took her lunch break to Facetime her mom back home.
“Hey, mom.” She smiled into her phone.
“Hey, sweetie. How is life in glamorous London?”
“Great!” she lied. “I’ve made lots of friends. Going out. Hardly a dull moment! How’s Snickers?”
Marjorie chuckled. “Still moping. He misses you. Your bed is going to be covered in his hair by the time you come home for the holidays.”
Lyla’s lip trembled for a moment. “That silly cat. You tell him his mom is disappointed in him. “
There was a small meow in the background.
“I think he heard you.”
“Is that Bubby?” Lyla overheard her dad in the background.
“Dad?” She watched as her dad shouldered his way into frame.
“Bubby!” He smiled a warm smile. “Have you seen my camera? I can’t find it anywhere.”
“You are not asking her that! She doesn’t know. She’s been away for three months.” Marjorie argued.
“But she knows everything.” He turned back towards the phone. “Don’t you, Bubby?”
Lyla had to fight back tears. “Try the pocket of your coat, Dad. The green one you wore to the zoo.”
She watched as her dad toddled off and then heard him screaming. He came running back. “YOU FOUND IT!” He gave Marjorie a shove with his shoulder. “I told you she would know.”
“Yes, dear. Can I finish my conversation?”
“I’m not even here.” He walked away.
“I can come home.” Lyla blurted out.
“He’s fine, sweetie. You are not coming home.”
“I can book a fli—”
“You are staying put, and that’s all there is to say about it.” Marjorie said sternly. Lyla knew when her mom said “that’s all there is to say about it.” There was no more discussion.
“Yes, Mom. I got to get back to work. Talk to you tomorrow.”
She hung up the phone. It took the entire walk back to the theater to stop crying. Everyone else in the costuming department noticed but didn’t say a word. Alice, the other apprentice, set a cup of tea near Lyla.
“Homesick?”
Lyla glanced up at Alice’s bright green eyes and concerned face. She nodded.
“And my dad has these memory problems. I was the one who helped and my mom works full time. And my cat, Snickers, misses me.” Lyla sobbed softly. “I never lived away from home before.”
Alice sat down next to Lyla and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I remember when I left for university. I cried every day for two weeks. And every time I come home and left again.”
“Really?”
Alice nodded. “I used to wear sunglasses everywhere. Not the most fashionable look indoors.” She giggled. “But then I found things made university home. A sandwich shop like the one I used to eat at. A new pub to go to with friends. It just takes time.”
Lyla grabbed the cup of tea and sipped. “There was this pork schnitzel sandwich at this local diner. My dad would take me there on Sundays. They put this gravy on it.” She sighed. “I think I’m going to head home, if you don’t mind.”
Alice nodded. “I’ll let Anders know. See you on Monday.” she hesitated before giving Lyla a quick hug. “You have my number. Call my anytime.”
Lyla nodded, gathered her things, and headed home. She grabbed a pint of ice cream and headed to her bedroom, crying.
Tom whistled as he headed into the costuming department. He had a sneaking suspicion Lyla would duck out on his invitation.
“Oh, Mr. Hiddleston!” Alice perked up as he walked in. “Your fitting isn’t until next Tuesday.”
Tom’s brow quirked. “I’m not… I was looking for Lyla Brooks.”
Alice smirked. “She left early today.” She shrugged her shoulders. “She wasn’t feeling well.”
“Oh dear. I hope she feels better.” Tom sheepishly tucked his hands into his pockets. He turned to head out.
“Wait!” Alice grabbed his arm. “I think there is something you could do to help.”
-
Lyla woke up from her late afternoon nap to continuous knocking on her door.
“For fuck sakes, go away!” She yelled as she peeked through the hole to see Tom standing there. Lyla fumbled with the lock. “Tom, what are you doing… SHIT! The pub. I f—”
“Forgot?” He smiled at her. “I am sensing a pattern. I heard you weren’t feeling well and left early.”
She grew self-conscious. “It’s just a cold. I’ll be right as rain by Monday. No need to worry.” She coughed for effect.
“But I do worry.” He raised his shoulders. “I can’t help it.” Tom held up a greasy paper bag. “Pork schnitzel sandwich. With gravy.” He pointed to the bag. “For two.”
“Alice, I’m going to—”
“Take it easy on her. She worries too.” He cautiously stepped into her apartment. “I remember missing home.”
Lyla nodded, fighting back. “How old were you?” She went to the kitchen and grabbed some plates for the sandwiches.
Tom set the bag on her small table. “Seven.” Lyla’s mouth dropped open. “Boarding school is pretty common over here.”
“Did you cry?”
Tom nodded. “But it got better. I made friends. Created a home away from home.”
She inhaled the scent of the sandwich and broke down. “I miss it so much. I miss them.”
Tom wrapped his arms around her and pulled Lyla against his chest. “I know. It hurts.”
She sobbed for she didn’t know how long, leaving two wet spots on Tom’s sweater. “I’ve ruined your sweater.” She mumbled, pulling back.
“I have seven more at home just like it, don’t worry.” Tom grinned down at her. “Feel better getting all that out?”
She nodded, wiping her face with the back of her sleeve. “Sorry for the outburst.”
“Nonsense, what are friends for?” Tom commented. “Let’s eat and why don’t you tell me all about home and your family. I have found talking about it makes it easier to deal with.”
Lyla sighed and sat down as Tom handed her a sandwich. She took a bite and moaned. “It tastes like home.”
Tom took a big bite of his own sandwich. “Oh, that is fantastic.” He took another big bite and his eyes rolled back into his head.
Lyla giggled for the first time in a long time. “I told Alice it was the best.” She settled back into her chair. “So you want to hear about my family.”
“I want to hear everything.” Tom grinned.
-
Several hours later, Tom and Lyla were still chatting over empty plates and full cups of coffee. Tom glanced at his phone.
“If I stay much longer, I might turn into a pumpkin.” Tom wiped his hands and stood.
Lyla caught the time. “Oh my god, I took your whole evening. The pub, your friends.”
“I’ll catch them next time. Besides, I spent time with a friend who needed me more.”
Lyla walked him to the door and hugged Tom tightly. “Thank you. I needed this.”
He squeezed her hard. “I am here if you ever need to cry or talk or just stare at the wall.” Tom chuckled. “Do you feel better?”
“Much.”
“Then mission accomplished. And next time, I fully expect you to come out with me. To an actual place. That serves food. I only make house calls for emergencies.”
Lyla grinned and giggled. “Deal. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Tom opened the door. “Goodnight, Lyla.”
“Goodnight, Tom.”
He gave a little wave before heading down the hallway and down the stairs. Lyla watched from her window as Tom stepped out onto the sidewalk. He turned and gave her a small smile and waved before heading down the street towards the Tube station.
Lyla grabbed her phone and sent a text to her mom.
Mom, I made a new friend today. And you will never guess who it is.
