Aida submitted: Meghan failed Meghan’s desire to borrow from Diana’s playbook has backfired now her father has leaked intimate letter says royal biographer Andrew Morton
Plan in place, the team heads to the first round of competition.
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Thanks to @leonardsnartbigbang for the Beta
Execute the plan
The second morning begins much like the first. Leonard wakes to find Sara already training; they share coffee in the kitchen. Len enjoys the quiet companionship as they each prepare for the tasks at hand.
Once Mick is up and they’ve had breakfast, the three prepare for the first day of the competition. Leonard sits on the patio, scanning the historical records on the competition in hopes of minimizing any change. Away from the furniture, Sara is sparring with Mick, walking him through tricks she’d picked up over the years and scolding him for things that will get him disqualified. In a way, it reminds him of life with the Rogues (well, aside from the crappy safehouses). There’s a comradery here, three people who can exist together. Without judgment, without scorn, something Len wasn’t sure he’d ever find again outside of Lisa and Mick.
“Alright,” Sara’s voice draws his attention back up once more. “I, for one, need a shower before we do this.” She turns from Mick, giving a gentle touch to Len’s shoulder as she passes him into the living area. “You two decide on lunch!” she calls back over her shoulder.
Mick drops unceremoniously into a seat across from Leonard. “I say we pick up burgers on the way in.”
Len shrugs, adding a couple final notes to the small blueprint he’s sketched out for Sara. “Fine by me. We should have time to eat before you are in the ring.”
It’s quiet a couple minutes before his partner’s voice again breaks into his thoughts. “You aught to make a move.” Mick motions toward the door. “Blondie’s interested, know you aren’t blind about it.”
“First,” Leonard drawls, looking up from his work carefully rolling the papers. “Sara and I are…friends.” He holds up a hand to cut off Mick’s response. “Second, if I was interested, that is not pertinent to this mission.”
“Cause you’re so likely to talk to her with the ‘ole crew wandrin around.” Mick rolls his eyes, rising once more. “I’m gonna go get ready.”
Leonard watches him go, briefly wonders when Mick got quite so perceptive about the unspoken things between people around him. Len rises with a shake of his head, reminds himself that there is no unspoken thing between himself and Sara. They make a good team, that’s it.
Once they’ve all changed into street clothes, Mick and Sara having packed a bag with clothes for the event, they begin the walk to the arena. They stop at a burger joint on the way, Mick and Sara solidifying a story about how they met and a few various details, should their relationship get questioned.
It’s not until they get in sight of the building that Leonard gets to see Sara change. The warrior shifting into something entirely foreign. She tucks herself closer to Mick, the sway in her step bringing further attention to just how tight her jeans are (not that he’d noticed).
“Name.” The bouncer looks between them.
“Mike,” Mick offers a wild grin, “Heatwave.” The man nods, and Mick drops his arm to Sara’s waist, pulling her closer. “This is my girlfriend, Kara.” Sara just leans into him for emphasis, giving a little giggle that Len finds somewhat disturbing from the Assassin’s lips.
“His trainer, Leo Wynter,” Len offers, gaining another nod from the man.
“Alright, you’re clear.” He motions inside, and the three walk in.
It’s easy enough to locate the locker room, Sara and Mick both pulling out their alternate outfits before heading to change. Leonard remains behind with their stuff, looking over the other contestants that have arrived early. The competitors are all a good size, but he doubts Mick will have any issue holding his own against them.
Mick comes back first, black shorts with red and orange flames down the sides, predictable. He has a portion of his forearms taped up, hiding the worst of the burns than Leonard knows lay beneath. Sara comes out just after, footsteps heavier than her usually soundless movements. She’s still in the tight jeans, but in place of the T-shift she now wears a red crop top, her hair bouncing around her shoulders and lipstick a few shades to bright.
But the playful amusement in her eyes is familiar, and offsets some of the strangeness. “So, the girls are definitely chatty, shouldn’t be too hard to slip into the ‘in crowd’.” She makes air quotations.
“Good.” Len nods, motioning toward the ring. “I want you with us the first match, make an appearance, cheer your lover on. Then try and find our mark.” He tilts his head. “Do you have the –”
Sara pats her pocket, “Yep.” She smirks at him. “This isn’t my first undercover op, Leo.”
He nods. “Just being thorough.” He glances around. “The quicker we find the goblet turned trophy, the sooner we can get out.”
“Just don’t hurry too much,” Mick cuts in, glancing between them. “I’m looking forward to a couple good fights.”
Before either of them can reply a voice comes over the loudspeakers, “Five minutes competitors.”
“That’s our cue,” Sara grabs Mick’s arm, “Let’s get this party started.”
As it turns out, Mick doesn’t fight until the third match, so they stand off to the side watching. On the occasions Leonard pulls his attention away from the competitors, he finds Sara watching intently. It’s a familiar look, the warrior sizing up her opponent. He almost wishes that she was the one going to be in the ring, though with her training it would hardly make for a challenge.
Finally, they call Mick out; Len checks his gloves, and puts his mouthpiece in place. Once they are both in the ring, Sara pulls herself up by the top rope to press a kiss to his cheek. Only those paying close attention notice her whispering in his ear before dropping back down.
The bell rings, and Mick starts to circle the other figure. “Pointing out that his opponent favors to swing wide with his left arm?” Len glances over at her.
She nods. “Easy opening for a rib shot.” She shifts to stand slightly closer, both standing with their arms crossed as they watch. “You did remind him that the goal isn’t to kill anyone, right?”
“He knows a kill would prevent him getting another fight.” Leonard smirks. “He’s looking to forward to the competition for that.”
“At least it gives Ray’s suit a break, I think he about melted it last time,” she quips.
Mick’s opponent goes down hard, drawing their attention back to the ring. He manages to get up, and they go another round. Mick comes out on top, slipping out of the ring to join them once more. Sara grins, grabbing a towel from the stool beside her and handing it to him to wipe the blood from his lip. She and Len remove his gloves, and he pops out the mouth guard.
“Hope that’s not the best they’ve got!” There’s a wild glint in Mick’s eyes that Len hasn’t seen since they last time they were in Iron Heights together. And for a moment, he’s not sure if this mission will work in their favor, or against it.
They sit through another match, and then Sara sneaks off to try and find the artifact they were sent to retrieve. Part of him doesn’t like it; not because he doubts Sara, he doesn’t. But he’s used to being the front line of a heist, so if a problem arises he knows right away, can act without having to explain a plan.
“Girlfriend’s were a bust, so was the office.” Sara states through the coms, Leonard lifting one hand to cover his ear to block the noise around him. “I’m going to go back to the lockers, maybe another competitor brought it.”
“Keep alert,” he replies easily. “These aren’t the kind of men who like their belongings searched.”
He hears her chuckle, “Copy that, Crook.”
Mick goes back in the ring after that, and Len focuses on his friend, makes note that he’s learned several new moves. People have always accused his partner of being brute strength; they rarely credit him for the skillset he displays in hand-to-hand battle.
“Um, guys, we have a problem,” Sara hisses over the coms.
“What’s going on, Sara?” He watches Mick deliver another solid blow to his opponent’s jaw. And here he was beginning to think they might actually get through this plan smoothly.
Summary: Determined to not let her crush on Dean derail her goals she sets out to make the best of her tutoring sessions with him. However, when he starts to show an interest in her outside of studying her plan begins to unravel.
Characters: Dean Winchester, Cas Novak, Mack (OFC), Reader
Pairing: Dean x Reader (eventually)
Warnings: Fluff/Angst/College Shenanigans
Word Count: 3116
A/N: As always this is unbeta so all mistakes are mine. Likes, comments and reblogs are splendid and I will love you doubly for them! Enjoy!
Check out: The Master Plan Masterlist
The first few tutoring sessions with Dean gave (Y/N) a headache. He was not joking when he said that he needed help with his English course. He was incredibly smart and could recite anything he read. However, writing was his downfall and he happened to have the one professor who was focused on creative writing.
(Y/N) was reading through his essay as Dean sat back in his chair tossing a football in the air. It was her fourth time reading over his paper and he was finally loosening up his writing style. She could tell he was nervous from his leg bouncing under the table. They were the only ones in the Student Center since it was well past midnight.
“You are the slowest reader in the world, (Y/N).” He sighed loudly setting the football on the table.
She narrowed her eyes at him, “That is because I’m reading every word carefully. I’m not just skimming through it. Now shush so I can concentrate.”
Dean groaned resting his forehead on the table. His hair was damp from taking a shower after football practice. The tips were almost blond from being out in the sun so much. His t-shirt sleeve was riding up his arm revealing a definite tan line around his bicep.
His low chuckle caught her attention as she noticed he was looking up at her. “How are you supposed to read my paper if you’re staring at me?” he asked with a cocky grin on his face.
(Y/N) rolled her eyes and lowered them back to his essay. Every time she would glance up his eyes would be glued to her. By the time she was finished reading her nerves were shot from him staring at her. She handed his paper back with a few revisions written on it.
“After you make those changes you should be good to go. The way to Professor Talah’s good graces is thinking outside the box and writing with feeling.” She said collecting her things into her bag.
Dean scanned over the suggested changes and stuffed the papers into his bookbag. “Feelings are not something I’m good with. So, I was thinking maybe we could grab a bite to eat this weekend. You know in between your master studying plan.”
They both stood up as she placed her bag strap across her body, “Dean… you seem like a great guy…” she started as he grinned at her.
“Yeah, and cute, huh?” He said making her giggle softly.
Nodding she said, “Yeah I guess you’re cute as well.” Her smile faded along with his.
“But, there is a but coming, right?” He asked.
“However, I really don’t have the time with my class load for dating.” She said looking down at her feet.
She felt Dean’s large hand clasp onto her shoulder, “Then what about dinner with a friend while we study?”
(Y/N) could not help the smile spreading across her face as he looked down at her hope filling his green eyes. Sighing she conceded, “Sunday night at six o’clock. I’ll have dinner ready for us.”
“It’s a study date then.” He said excitedly his smile reaching ear to ear.
Over the next few days, (Y/N) had a hard time focusing in her classes and studying at night. By the time Friday came around she was exhausted more so than usual, and Mack had taken notice.
“What is going on with you, (Y/N/N)? You seem off this week.” She asked as (Y/N) groaned rolling onto her side to face her.
“I don’t know… I guess I’ve been a little distracted lately. I get back on track.” She saw that Mack was not buying her answer.
She had not told anyone about her tutoring Dean or how much he had been hanging around her. If she were honest with herself it was because she did not believe it was really happening. If she spoke it out loud then she would wake up and it would all be a dream.
“How about the truth this time.” Mack said sitting cross legged on her bed.
(Y/N) sat up mirroring her position on her own bed. She was picking at a worn spot on her jeans trying to decide if she should tell Mack or not. Not being able to keep anything from her best friend she began explaining everything that had been going on since the start of the semester.
“Now, he is going to come over here to study and have dinner on Sunday night.” She glanced up seeing Mack’s bewildered expression turn into pure happiness.
She launched herself off her bed and collided with (Y/N) on hers letting out a squeal. “Oh my god, you finally have a crush on someone and he likes you back! This is great!”
(Y/N) pushed Mack off of her rolling her eyes, “This is not great. Having a crush is not a part of my plan to graduate top of my class or even better early.”
“This is the best thing to happen to you. You don’t want to look back on your college years with regret that you didn’t have more fun. Not to mention, Dean Winchester is one beautiful distraction to have. You know how many girls would kill to be in your shoes right now?” (Y/N) looked up at Mack reality hitting her between the eyes.
Once again, doubt filled her head and her inner voice screamed at her. “You’re stupid for thinking he would ever be interested in you. Look at you! Nerd glasses, thick body and plain looks. You’re a nobody, he’s a somebody and you don’t deserve the attention he gives you.”
“(Y/N), whatever you are thinking right now is far from the truth.” Mack’s soft tone and gentle hand on top of hers drove away her inner demons. Mack was the only person in the universe she had told about her senior year of high school. The experience that made her into who she was today.
She shook her head slightly giving her best friend a weak smile, “I’m alright. Maybe I should just cancel this whole study date with Dean. I mean I’m sure he would rather go out and have fun with someone else.”
“You certainly will not! I will make myself disappear for a few hours and you will study with that handsome man.” Mack demanded as (Y/N) chuckled.
“Actually, I might feel more comfortable if a few others were here as well. Please?” She stuck out her bottom lip and gave Mack her best puppy dog eyes.
She groaned getting off of (Y/N)’s bed, “Fine I will ask Cas to come study with us. However, you know he is going to be a little shit disturber.”
(Y/N) laughed and realized Mack had left someone out, “What about Ryan?” she asked.
Mack winced slightly, “Ryan shouldn’t be around Dean if you’re nearby. He tends to get a little hot headed.”
Sighing (Y/N) nodded grabbing her Chemistry note cards and spent the next couple of hours memorizing key words.
When Sunday came around, (Y/N) and Mack took to the common kitchen in their dorm to cook dinner. The other girls always came out whenever they cooked snacking on whatever they were making. Tonight, was stuffed cheddar and pepper burgers with steak fries. Once they had made enough for the group of girls and themselves they went back to their dorm room to clean up a bit.
Six o’clock on the dot, there was a knock on the door. Mack opened it inviting the guys in. (Y/N) was sitting on top of her desk with her feet on her desk chair reading from her history textbook. She looked up to see Dean in a pair of loose fitting jeans, a dark grey t-shirt and an open button-down shirt.
He kicked off his shoes and crawled onto her bed settling against the wall it was up against. He smiled over to her, “How are you this evening, (Y/N)?” He asked pulling out the same history textbook she had.
“I’m good Dean and you?” She set her book down and got up from her desk.
He puckered his full lips causing his dimples to shine, “Much better now that I’m here. However, I’m starving.”
Cas laughed, “You’re always hungry, Winchester.” Dean threw one of her pillows at him glaring down at Cas.
“I’ll go get dinner.” (Y/N) said as she left the room and made her way down to the kitchen.
Just before rounding the corner she heard two freshman girls talking about Dean. “Did you see whose room he went into?” One of them asked.
“Yeah, (Y/N) and Mack’s room. I heard from a friend of a friend that apparently Dean has a thing for (Y/N), but she won’t give him the time of day.” The first girl scoffed as they started walking back towards their rooms.
“She’s weird. All I ever see her do is study all the time. She’s not even all that pretty and those glasses are horrible.” (Y/N) walked into the kitchen hearing their laughter echoing in the hallway.
She looked around seeing she was alone and gripped the edge of the corner tightly. Her inner voice baring its ugly head, “Told you so. You’re a loser and all he will do is break your heart. Just like Jake.”
(Y/N) felt her tears burning a trail down her face and she hastily wiped them away. Taking a few deep breaths trying to calm herself down she grabbed the plate of burgers and bowl of fries along with a few condiments.
Walking back into her room she saw Cas and Mack sitting closely to one another on Mack’s bed. She passed out paper plates and the food to everyone not bothering to make herself a plate. Her stomach was churning so much she was pretty sure that she could poop butter.
“Oh… my…god…” Dean moaned with his mouth full of his burger.
Cas looked down excitedly at his, “Yes! I was hoping you would make your famous burgers. (Y/N) makes the best burgers in the world.”
She shrugged nonchalantly taking her seat back on her desk and picking up her textbook. She caught Dean moving closer to her out of the corner of her eye. “You made these?” he asked the tone of shock in his voice.
“Yeah. A recipe I learned from my dad. These are my favorite burgers.” She explained not looking up until she felt his finger poke her arm.
Her eyes connected with his as he whispered, “Then why aren’t you eating?” She leaned over close enough that her nose was almost touching his.
“Because I’m not hungry.” She whispered lean back and looking down at her textbook again.
For most of the night, (Y/N) kept quiet while the rest of them chatted. It wasn’t until Dean handed her his graded essay she helped him with that she spoke up. “An F?!” she said stunned.
He nodded looking ashamed, “Professor Talah said I must have stolen someone else’s paper or paid someone to write mine. That there was no way I could have improved that much in just a few short weeks.”
(Y/N) stood up pacing in front of her desk, “That’s ridiculous! I know for fact that you improved because I helped you. All of this was your work, you mind, your creativity, all you. I’m going to talk to her about it. She has asked me to be her TA for next semester so I’m sure she will believe me.”
Dean took back his paper and shook his head, “Don’t, it doesn’t matter anyway. She has her mind made up about me. I’m just another dumb jock in her mind. Doesn’t matter that I was on the Dean’s List all last year.”
“You were on the Dean’s List?” (Y/N) asked shocked by his admission as he nodded.
“Yeah, I’m only able to come to school here on my football scholarship. In order to keep my full ride, my grades must be perfect. I work extra hard to make sure I never lose my scholarship. That’s why I asked you to help me.” He explained.
(Y/N) was completely stunned and ashamed for assuming that Dean just did not care about school. Cas chimed in, “No one was more shocked than Mom and Pop Winchester. They always thought Sam was the brains and Dean the brawn.”
She looked to Dean questioningly as he smirked, “My younger brother, Sam. He is a junior in high school and incredibly smart. He’s a lot like you. Always studying and putting a social life on hold. It works for him and for you until I started bothering you.”
Something in the tone of his voice caught her attention. As if, he felt the way she did about not being good enough. She that little bit of vulnerability shine a whole new light on him for (Y/N). “I still think I should talk to Professor Talah.” She said.
Dean shrugged picking up his notebook to start writing another rough draft for his research paper, “If you want too then I can’t stop you. I just don’t think you will change her mind. However, I will keep writing like you showed me how to since I know I turned in an A paper. That is all that really matters to me.”
(Y/N) smiled at him a sense of pride swelling in her chest. She sat up on her bed next to him pulling out her flashcards. She bumped her shoulder with his and whispered, “By the way, you’re not bothering me. I like it when you’re around.”
The wide grin on his lips made her heart skip with joy. As the guys were leaving, (Y/N) and Mack walked outside with them. Mack and Cas disappeared out of sight which was odd for them. Dean chuckle made her even more curious.
“They haven’t been very good at hiding themselves all night.” He said as she looked up at him raising an eyebrow. “Cas and Mack are an item now. I think for a couple of weeks now. They’re always sneaking off with one another leaving me with Ryan the Grumpy.”
(Y/N)’s jaw dropped slowly, “I had no idea they even liked one another. Why wouldn’t she tell me?” She looked off towards the direction they had disappeared too.
“I’m sure she will tell you in her own time. She may just not want to bother you with it. We all know you are trying to focus on studying. That’s why after tonight, I will back off slightly.” She turned to face Dean who was looking down at his feet kicking an imaginary spot on the ground.
“Dean, I…” she started to say how she did not want him to stop bothering her. She liked the attention from him, but deep down she did not believe he was genuine about it.
He glanced up his olive eyes seemingly darker under the night sky, “Yeah, (Y/N)?”
Taking a deep breath, she pushed the words out of her mouth, “Don’t back off.” He looked at her perplexed for a moment.
“You don’t want me to stop annoying you by asking you out to dinner or to hang out?” He asked as she nodded at him.
“I need someone other than Mack to push me out of my comfort zone. I can be single mindedly focus and sometimes I need a good swift kick in the ass into what is good for me.” She explained biting her lower lip nervously.
Dean pulled her into his strong arms wrapping them around her shoulders and hugging her. Her arms hesitantly slid around his narrow waist and she pressed her ear to his chest. His heart was pounding within it as he rested his chin on top of her head.
“I will gladly keep bothering you as long as you are okay with it.” She nodded against him and he pulled back slightly not letting go of her. “Since that is settled then I want to ask you something.”
She looked up at him already feeling the anxiety building in her chest, “O-Okay, what?” she stammered.
“I want you to come to the homecoming football game against Nebraska-Kearney. Mack and Cas are coming as well, and it would mean a lot if I knew you were in the stands cheering me on.” He said hope shining in his eyes.
She lowered her gaze down to his chest nervously, “Can I think about it? I will have a few tests to study for the following week.”
She immediately noticed the disappointment in his shoulders, but he quickly rebounded giving her a soft smile, “Of course. I don’t want to disrupt your studying schedule. Trust me, I can understand how hard it is to study all the time.”
Before (Y/N) could even think about what her body was doing she pushed up on her toes and pressed her lips against Dean’s cheek. The roughness of his cheek’s stubble tickled her lips in a way she found pleasing.
“What was that for?” He asked gently touching the very spot her lips had been.
She smiled widely, “For being understanding and for being you.” She said as he laughed.
Mack and (Y/N) watched the guys walk back towards their dorm and then headed inside themselves. (Y/N) gave Mack a piece of her mind before they headed off to bed about not telling her about Cas. Just as Dean as said, Mack did not want to bother her with it. Once they had some juicy girl talk about Cas, they both laid down to go to sleep.
(Y/N) looked over to her alarm clock reading three in the morning as she lied awake. Everything from the previous night replaying in her mind. The fact that Dean was a star football player with practices three times a week, going out with Cas, Mack and any other of his million friends on campus and achieving being on the Dean’s List impressed her.
If he could do all that then what was stopping her from allowing herself to enjoy her time at college while getting good grades. Sure, her past had taught her not to trust anyone again with her heart and to keep focus on bettering herself on her own.
But now, with Dean, everything felt different. He made her want to enjoy life. He made her want to be social and ditch the books for a while. He made her want to live life to the fullest while in college. The happiness he brought up in her was unlike anything she had ever felt before. In that moment, she knew her master plan was no longer a top priority.
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