𖤐 With You Part Four (Austin!Elvis x Reader)
Austin!Elvis x Fem!Reader
Word Count: 3172
Summary: Following your discharge from the hospital and into the arms of Elvis, the two of you are more than ready to resume your lives together.
Note(s): This gif. That's all. I think it fits pretty nicely with this chapter's tone's, but you didn't hear that from me ;) First of all, thank you so much for all of your continued support and compliments, I am forever grateful. Secondly, over 200 followers!! That means more to me than you will ever know that so many people like reading my work! Thank you so much. Enjoy this chapter, I'm so sorry it's been a while, but my mental health has taken a big toll on me and my writing and so I also apologise if this chapter is not up to standard! As always, all feedback is appreciated, but please be nice! Thank you, El ᵕ̈
Taglist: @captured-memory@flwersgarden@chaoticbilly@callthedarknessdown@xcallmetaniax@jazmin2211@thatcrazyfangirl22 @swatson06 @heavenlylake @imagineslut01 @k1sses4you @impossibleapricotlampbat @austinbutler17 @poppet05 @xhannahbananax03 @lindsaylop81 <3333
Four days of resting your exhausted body later, the nurses finally tell you that you may leave the hospital. You and Olivia were the only ones who had heard the news, and you had instantly begged your older sister to phone Elvis and inform him right away. The notion that the paparazzi and the media would ultimately find out about his location didn't cross your mind in your euphoric haze, but with the masses already assembled outside of the hospital's grounds only an hour after the phone call, you realise you should've been a lot more modest with your glee.
Olivia sighs as she stands next to you, staring out the window, before turning to Elvis, who had been speaking quietly with his father. She clears her throat to catch his attention, "Is this how it always is for you? All these people crowdin' round, watchin' your every move?"
Nobody could dispute that she had been trying to get along with Elvis. She was initially opposed to the two of you getting back together, arguing that he'd hurt you once and would do it again. Fortunately, she reluctantly dropped it soon following your insistence that he was different this time, that he was better. She still wasn't sure about him yet, but she was trying for your sake, unlike your father.
Your father hadn't seen you in three days, clearly taking the news of your rekindled relationship far more personally than Olivia had. He caught the two of you red-handed as soon as he returned to the room after his twenty-minute breather, and if you thought he was upset before, he was even more so after. He'd raged at Elvis for ten whole minutes before throwing you a dissatisfied look and left without saying goodbye. Olivia informed you that he was aggressively drinking away his frustrations at home and that you should simply let him deal with it as he saw appropriate. She told you that he would soon come to his senses, so just to leave him be 'till then.
Elvis approaches you both, inspecting the crowd out the window before turning to face Olivia and wrapping his arm around your shoulders. "S'pose, but don't worry, Daddy and I were just talkin' 'bout getting you both out the back way so you don't get swamped by media people."
"Y'ain't comin' out with us?" you twist beneath his arm, peering up at him with surprise.
"The Colonel says it's best to make a statement now so they ain't hasslin' us at Graceland," Elvis explains as he leans forward to kiss your temple. "'s okay, I won't be long, Daddy'll bring the car back 'round and I'll be right with you, doll."
"What do y'have to make a statement about?" Olivia frowns.
"About the accident," Vernon interjects, capturing everyone's attention. "Elvis will just be explaining what happened and giving an update on Y/N's condition, it's really no big deal."
"Are you gonna tell them we had a fight?" you ask, looking up at Elvis.
"No, it's not…" He struggles to find the correct words, clearly conflicted in his mind. "It's not as deep as that, doll. Just gonna say that you were a little tipsy and went one step too far into the road, but that you're doing much better now, that type of stuff."
Olivia scoffs, "So you're just gonna humiliate her? After everything, you ain't gonna give her one ounce of human decency and tell your role in it rather than just playin' the knight in shinin' armour?"
She ignores you, "It's bullshit. You said you were gonna let the world know about your relationship, but now she's just some drunk girl who got hit by a car in front of you? You know what, Elvis, grow a pair!"
Despite understanding her perspective, you feel obligated to just accept the humiliation that the press may bring. Being with Elvis will not be simple in terms of the challenges that the media will throw at you, so it's best not to allow it to get to you so soon, or so you think. You hope, though, that Elvis will at least disclose that the two of you are dating and that the Colonel hasn't talked him out of that as well.
"No, no, she's right." Elvis glances toward Vernon, an uneasy expression on his face. "I can't go out there sayin' all that stuff, letting others speculate about and humiliate her, Daddy."
"Son, the Colonel has experience with all of this, he knows what's best," Vernon sighs.
"Elvis," you say, resting your hand on his shoulder. "Don't let anyone force you to do anything; if you have to do it, I understand, honey."
Elvis' burden didn't seem as heavy on his shoulders this time since you were there to help leverage the weight with your patience and kind words. He regrets nearly allowing the Colonel to push him into making another mistake on your behalf, knowing how easily it could have gone wrong for you both again, and feels a lot braver knowing he'd be standing up to the Colonel with you by his side now. For once, he didn't care about the repercussions as long as he still had you, happy and safe right next to him.
"No, I swore to ya I'd never make the same mistakes with you twice, sweetheart." Elvis lays both hands on your cheeks and leans in for a brief and loving kiss. "The Colonel's a smart man, but he ain't dictating my relationships no more. I want you to make the statement with me."
You, Olivia, and Vernon all appear to exclaim in unison, each of you thinking his proposal is insane, but a part of you is utterly head over heels for this rebellious side of him, the one who would do anything for you. It was the Elvis you'd always wanted to see, but your rational side understands that this would be disastrous for him in the long term.
"Elvis, honey, I appreciate you saying that but…"
"But what? I thought you wanted us to be out in the world, baby. It'll be just like what we said, there'll be no more hiding." He sighs as he stares out the window, the crowd and his excitement growing along with it. "We can finally be happy together, ain't nothing stopping us after this."
You sigh, "Elvis, of course I want that, but there's a reason you never told them before. The Colonel wants you to be available, and bringing me into the limelight is just gonna bring everythin' from our past back up and the media'll be hasslin' both of us even more…don't you just wanna move on?"
"I don't give a damn 'bout any of that!" He steps away from you, frustrated, trying to cool off for a bit. "They ain't gonna hold us hostage in our own damn relationship! They can say whatever they damn please, dig us up however they choose, hell I'll even pass 'em the shovel! We ain't bad people, we ain't done nothing wrong to them. I ain't hiding you away for no one's benefit no more, Y/N."
As you approach him, his back is turned to you, his head down in shame for being so fired up. "Okay, baby, okay," you say as you put your arms around his waist and lay your head against his heaving back.
Vernon sits in the corner, a thunderous expression on his face as he considers the consequences of his son's decision, but even he can't bring himself to be upset with his son's choice. "I support you if that's what you want to do, son."
"Hm, so he does have the balls," Olivia comments, raising her brows in surprise.
Elvis carrying you through the Graceland threshold later that day feels heavenly, the two of you full of joy and exhilaration after finally revealing your truth to the world. It had been overwhelming, with cameras flashing in all directions and microphones jerking at you every few seconds, but it had also been perfect; Elvis had said all the right things, speaking about you in a way that made you swoon, aching to be alone with him so you could kiss him, but he kissed you there anyway, unafraid of being true to himself and your relationship.
It truly felt like being on cloud nine, the only exception being that while you're on cloud nine, you know you have to descend at some point to return to earth.
The Colonel's face is enough to go by as he storms into the hallway of the home, followed closely by Gladys who is carrying a half empty bottle of wine in her shaking hands. He looks you both over, grimacing at your smiling faces, "What happened to the original plan, my boy? The one we spent hours on perfecting?"
"No! You deliberately went against me, boy," he interrupts, looking to Vernon who is trailing behind you and Elvis with obvious fear of what is to come. "And you, Vernon, you let him go out there and make a fool out of himself with her."
Elvis places you down, stepping forward, "Her? She's got a name, Colonel."
"Not for much longer, boy," The Colonel looks at you with a sneer. He wags a condemning finger at you. "No, that's no longer a girl with her own name, her own life. She's forever imprinted as your girlfriend, and do you know what that makes you? Unavailable. Do you have any clue how big of an impact this- she will have on our business from now? Forget about the merchandise and the sales; it'll all be gone. Your daddy will no longer have a job! This is what we fought so hard to avoid, boy, and you've destroyed it all!"
You feel terrible as you stand behind him, guilt devouring you from the inside out. His future could have been protected if you had simply been a bit more persistent and realistic with him. You can't help but feel like this is all your fault, despite the elation that accompanied the two of you finally being honest. Perhaps it was safer to keep good things hidden, no matter how much it hurt.
"Y'should've just waited, baby." Gladys says as she prepares to leave the room, her words garbled by the quantity of booze she has consumed while watching the news coverage of her son on TV. "You're getting too involved with the press recently, always dragging yourself into trouble. You shoulda waited for this all to blow over before decidin' to play happy damn families."
Elvis swallows, ignoring his intoxicated mother's ramblings, and looks up at the Colonel, "You were the one who told me to make a statement."
"Yes, I did," The Colonel scoffs, a little stiffly approaching the two of you, "but never did I say a love proposal."
Elvis' body stiffens as the Colonel passes by you, but he does not turn to look at him. "So, that's it? You're just leavin'? You're s'posed to be helping me, helping us, to salvage the business."
"My boy, I can't help you," The Colonel grumbles as he walks out the door. "You can't even help yourself," he remarks as he turns to glance back in your direction.
With that, he strolls off the porch of Graceland, and the house falls silent, Elvis hardening his posture in front of you. Vernon bounces on his feet as he shifts his gaze from the Colonel to his son, evidently agitated. "I..I'll go talk to him. We'll fix this, son, don't worry."
He pursues the Colonel, and you follow them both with your gaze, feeling entirely helpless and to blame. All you wanted was to be free of hiding from the world, and you know Elvis did too, but he may have changed his mind now. You clench your fists together at your sides, sweat building up from your anxiety. You look up at Elvis, who is turning to face you, and you're worried he's going to tell you what a huge mistake he's made and how much he regrets the whole thing.
"I'm so sorry, Elvis." Your words are rushed and emotional, tears welling up in your eyes as his blues meet yours. "I never wanted any o' this."
Elvis sighs, touching your face, and says, "I know, mama. It's not your fault, no need to apologise. C'mere."
He embraces you in his arms, his chin resting on top of your head, savouring your aroma. With one hand running down your back, he supports the back of your head with the other, humming gently to calm the two of you down. You immediately recognise the tune, 'That's All Right, Mama.'
"Ain't no one gonna tell me I can't show y'off." Elvis mumbles into your hair, his eyes closed in the comfort of the hug. "Colonel can be mad at me for as long as he wants, I don't care. All I care 'bout is you and my family, and singing the songs I love to the people I love. No one's gonna take that away from me."
Wrapping your arms around his waist, you hug him hard, frightened he'll slip out of your grasp again. He plants a long, chaste kiss on your hairline, slightly smiling as your hair tickles his chin, before pulling away, leaving you feeling empty from the absence of contact.
"C'mon, let's get something to eat and then we can work everything out, 'right?" Elvis extends his hand, and you grab it eagerly, causing him to chuckle lightly. "Don't worry, doll, I ain't going nowhere."
You hadn't expected the two of you consummating your relationship to be first on the list of figuring things out, but you're not complaining as you lay under him, both of your breaths erratic as you come down from your highs.
"My God, baby," he chuckles, planting wet, breathy kisses across your lips. "That was somethin' else."
"I know, I…I haven't…since…" you laugh breathlessly beneath him.
He glances at your expression, surprised, removing stray strands of damp hair from your eyes, "Really? You ain't been with no-one else?"
"No." You mutter, your cheeks flushed with humiliation. "Is that bad?"
"Course not, baby," Elvis says as he plants another kiss on your lips.
He gradually moves off the top of you, and you draw the blanket over your nude body. He glances back at you and smirks, "Nothin' I ain't seen already, darlin', no need to hide. I like looking at 'cha, anyway."
"It's not 'bout that," you scoff, leaning up against the pillow and dragging the blanket with you, wrapping it around you like a scarf over your entire body. "What if your mama were to walk in here? Or how about the Colonel?"
"Don't go puttin' that image in my head," he whines.
"Sorry," you giggle as he begins to make his way to the bathroom, his naked body on display. "Elvis?"
He comes to a complete stop as he takes his robe from the door, rotates, and offers you his full attention. "Yeah, baby?"
"Thank you for..for doin' what you did for me," you whisper, squirming awkwardly in the face of his gaze. As you continue, he leans against the door frame, lowering his head with a smile, "I know it may have caused some problems with you and your daddy and the Colonel but it meant the world to me that you were willing to do that. Made me feel real special, so, thank you."
Elvis puts on the robe and adjusts the belt around his waist before returning to the bed, "You're the most special girl in the world to me." As he slides towards you on the bed, his confession sends chills up your spine, "I'd do anythin' for ya, 'specially now I get to call ya mine again. Hell, I'd follow ya to the ends of the universe if ya asked me to. Just say the word, baby."
You press your lips against him, enabling him to push you back down onto the bed, where he can once again hover over you. You close your eyes, the emotion between you igniting a never-ending inferno of fierce passion. You interrupt the kiss to utter five little words that hold the weight of the world to you: "I love y'so much."
"I love you, baby," he says back, cradling your face with a wide smile.
You embrace him, nuzzling your face into his neck and squeezing him gently. He lays his head on your shoulder, and you marvel at the intimacy, which is so simple yet has been dearly missed.
When the door knocks, Elvis rushes to answer it, but not before adjusting his robe and drawing the blanket even tighter around you. "Daddy?" he says, half opening it and gazing out.
Vernon mumbles a few faint words that you can't understand.
"What, now?" Elvis answers, looking dissatisfied. "Yeah, I'll be down now, Daddy, jus' give me a minute," he says, returning his gaze to you and sighing.
You gradually sit up and wrap your arms around yourself, waiting for Elvis to shut the bedroom door.
"Daddy says Colonel's come back to talk," Elvis explains as he carefully approaches his chest of drawers, noticing your puzzled expression. He pulls out a pair of boxers and opens the next drawer to get some trousers, all the while talking. "He said he has some sort of plan for me. Better not be like that damn hound dog shit he pulled."
"I'm sorry, Elvis, I'm not followin'," you say after he mutters the final piece to himself.
"Don't worry 'bout it, baby." He mumbles as he dresses quickly before going to his closet for a shirt. "You just rest in here and I'll be back b'fore you know it, alright? Don't want ya to have to listen to the damn Colonel droning on 'bout shit he ain't got no idea 'bout."
"Okay," you carefully crawl to the edge of the bed, aware of your bare body as you take a seat, wrapping the blanket tightly over yourself. "You gonna be okay, honey?"
He returns his gaze to you as he finishes buttoning his colourful shirt and tucking it into his pants, "I'm gonna be more than okay, baby, got my girl back and that's all I ever wanted f'so long. I'mma take care of all this stuff with the Colonel, and we'll finally be able to restart our lives t'gether, clean slate. Hell, I'll even get you some daffodils. What'd you tell me they meant, 'gain? New beginnings?"
"Mm, that's right," you say to the man you love, your eyes welling up with tears.
"New beginnings with my girl." Elvis comes over, cupping your face once again and kissing you on the lips. "I'm gon' make this work for us, baby, I promise. Tell me ya trust me, doll."
"I do, I do trust you. More than anythin' else in this world, Elvis."
