"Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it."
- Albus Dumbledore
summary: Even a regular evening at Hard Deck can change Bob’s world completely once he meets the oh-so familiar pair of eyes and the sweetest smile. The whole world sets into motion, love pulling him in like a force of nature - and physics.
a/n: Hi everyone! First and foremost, thank you so so much for the love and support you gave to the lastest fic, it was my biggest motivation to keep going! I’m finally pass the writer’s block I suffered due to a month full of studying and exams - but it was all worth the suffering in the end haha :D So here’s the winner of our poll! Hope you’ll enjoy this as much as I did, writing for our sweetheart Bob once again!!! Enjoy ;*
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"Earth to Bobbie," Jake's voice cut through the loud noise of Hard Deck, taking Bob out of his trance.
It was an evening like any other, Bob sipping his beer in the corner of Hard Deck, watching his friends play a round of pool before it was his turn. He let his eyes wander across the place, observing the bar ready to explode with people, who only kept coming in. There was music blasting from the nearby jukebox, the chatter falling into the perfect sync and although Bob liked his peace in quiet, after all these evenings, Hard Deck felt like home.
That was until a very loud group started cheering nearby, Bob's eyes suddenly getting stuck on the company of people near the darts. Some would say it is a coincidence, others that it is faith. But once Bob decided to watch those strangers, his evening was to change forever - he was to found out one wasn’t any stranger to him.
A familiar face appeared between the movement of the bodies, a face he didn't expect to see ever, and of all the places definitely not in Hard Deck.
His mouth went agape at first. It took him a few seconds to fully comprehend that you were real. Really there, standing just a few feet away from him. Then he dived into the chaos of questions popping up in his mind, the most important being - what should he do?
So Bob was determined to do what he knew the best. Observe.
He stole secret glances at you every now-and-then, stealthy, quickly looking away anytime you glanced his way. But then you got the darts into your hands and Bob found himself hypnotized, watching you giggle as you missed or hit the target, despite getting the smallest amount of points possible.
It was only Hangman's firm grip on his shoulder that brought him back to the reality he was in, staring too long at someone across the whole place.
"Bob, you with us, buddy?"
Bob shot his head towards Hangman, gulping. His face heated up immediately, suddenly becoming fully self-aware of what he was doing until now. He quickly looked away, plastering on a polite smile. He very much hoped Jake Seresin would leave it be. But then it wouldn't be Jake Seresin.
"Who is that girl you're so obviously checking out, huh?" Jake’s shit-eating grin glowed - with obviously no plan on leaving Robert alone. Bob let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head again.
"She's my friend from high school," he explained, falling silent again as he looked back at the group, proving to himself once more that you were real and not just his imagination playing tricks so far.
He hadn’t seen you in ages, but he would have recognized you anywhere. You didn't change at all, that bright smile of yours lighting up the room just like all those years ago. Your beauty forever unchanging.
Suddenly, Bob felt like that little kid sitting behind his desk, listening to the teacher in front of him faintly as his eyes were glued to the hair in front of him. He jumped slightly, trying not to seem caught red-handed, as the girl unexpectedly turned around, her eyes boring into his.
"Do you know the answer to the third question?" she whispered quietly, her gaze unwavering.
"Yeah, it's the third one. You just have to use Newton's first law of motion," Bob whispered back, earning a bright smile, from his classmate. "Thanks, B. You're a genius," she spoke softly before turning away.
Bob sighed, his heart finally slowing down before he was startled once more, again by the motion in front of him.
"Tutoring again at 4? In the library? I really need to get to know Newton or I won't get through this year,"
"Yeah," Bob broke a small smile, pushing his glasses up his nose. “We can get to know him,”
You laughed quietly before turning back, Bob unable to contain the smile on his lips until lunch.
"My man, you're out of it," Jake commented, letting go of Bob's shoulder. "If she's your friend, then you should go talk to her," he stated, crossing his arms.
"I couldn't possibly-" Bob snorted, "I haven't seen her in years!" He shook his head.
"I doubt she even remembers me," Bob looked towards the darts, his eyes landing on you again. But this time you were staring back, the intense look a little too familiar. And Bob's heart skipped a few more than just one beat.
He watched as you whispered something to your friends before leaving the spot, slowly making your way through the crowd. He gulped, looking away in search of something more interesting than you (which he found impossible) until you stood right in front of him, your presence now completely demanding his attention.
"Bob? Bob Floyd? Is that you?" you asked, your voice a little higher, curiosity crawling through it as your eyes widened.
"Hi, yeah, that's me," Bob smiled, his eyes still a little avoidant.
"I'm Y/n. Remember me? From high school?"
"How could I forget," he nodded with a small smile, pushing his glasses up once they slid on the tip of his nose.
"Oh my god, B, how are you?" you opened your arms, immediately pulling Bob into a tight hug.
"I'm good and you?" Bob chuckled into your hair, his arms slowly following your silhouette before finding their place on your back. You squeezed him slightly before a loud "ahem" came from the people next to you.
You both pulled back.
"Do you mind?" Hangman cleared his throat once more, his raised eyebrow directed at Bob.
"Oh," Bob grounded himself, clearing his throat before another bright smile painted his face. "Y/n, these are my friends," he pointed at the Dagger Squad, all letting out a ‘hello’ in unison.
"This is my friend Y/n, from high-school" he then pointed at you. "Nice to meet you all," you waved at them, earning a few smiles back.
You turned back to Bob, your eyes running from his matured face down to the laces of his large shoes. "You've grown so much," You checked him out, the muscles shaping his fabric also not escaping your attention, just as his height and the way his hair was now cut short. If it weren't for those warm brown eyes you knew so well, you probably wouldn't recognize him.
"I could say the same about you," Bob responded, his eyes finding the wooden floor as the well-known redness decorated his cheek.
A bunch of voices broke out, calling your name. You sighed.
"Guess that's my cue," your lips tightened into a line before you pulled Bob into one more hug.
"But it's so great to see you! I miss you a lot, B," you laughed into his shoulder, pulling back, your hand lingering on his arms. "Bet my semesters in uni would have been easier with you by my side," you confessed. “You were always the smartest,”
"No, no,” Bob blushed, scraching his temple.
”I'm sure you did just fine," his eyes found yours, "you always did,"
You could only sigh, not leaving his gaze. Your spark faltered for a second.
Until you heard another wave of shouts from behind you.
"See you around, okay?" was the last thing you said, pushing yourself on your toes and planting a quick peck on his cheek before you let go, briefly waving to his group and making your way towards the bar and to your friends.
"Okay," Bob repeated softly, turning to his friends and meeting their amused faces. "What?" he asked, clueless.
"You've grown so much, Bobbie," Hangman started, his voice climbing two octaves higher. "I miss you a lot, B," Rooster joined the mocking teasingly, Bob left only with a sigh of resignation.
"She's a friend," he explained again, but Phoenix chimed in, cutting him off before he could say any more nonsense.
"And friends hug each other like that - no judgment, I’m sure she knows how to hug a friend," the irony dripped from her tongue as a teasing smirk appeared on her face.
"I- We haven't seen each other for a while," Bob turned his head towards the bar longingly, falling silent.
"Bobbie, you're staring again," Jake teased. "It's like she hung your fucking galaxy,"
"Maybe you should go ask her on a date," Rooster tapped Bob's back in encouragement. "I mean, you both couldn't be more obvious,"
"On a-What?" Bob's head snapped towards him. "I don't think it's like that- I mean she-"
"Look man, if she isn't flirting with you, then I am an eight-eyed slug. Which I'm not," Jake crossed his arms.
"I-" Bob's words got stuck in his throat once he looked towards the bar again, meeting your gaze as you turned towards him, waving at him from the bar before you spun back to your friends with a sweet smile playing on your lips.
His heartbeat rose to the skies.
He was doomed.
"In human language, we call that a sign," Jake raised his chin, pointing towards the bar, "Go on, Bobbie, get her,"
"Okay," the squad observed Bob as he wandered towards the bar, carefully squeezing through the moving sea of bodies. "They grow up so fast," Hangman leaned towards Rooster, earning a loud chuckle.
"Hey, you," Bob tapped your shoulder lightly. "Hey, yourself," you said, your smile brightening. "I was thinking… Wouldn't you like to catch up? You know, about how you're doing and-"
"I would love to," you cut him off, standing up right when Bob extended his hand, accidentally brushing past your waist. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to," Bob started apologizing immediately but you hushed him. "That's okay, B. I don't mind," you smiled and Bob's breath hitched.
"Oh," was the only thing he could say when you took his hand, already dragging him towards the beach.
"How does it go in the navy?" you asked into the warm night, breaking the silence only followed by the sounds of the ocean. You were sitting on the deckchairs at the beach, the warm lights from Hard Deck falling on the backs of your heads as you watched the waves in the dark.
"Oh, you remember that?" Bob was taken aback by your question, correcting his glasses again.
"How could I not? You were such a nerd when it came to fighter planes," you sighed in content, glancing back at the porch of Hard Deck. "I bet that's your squad. I've never seen so many jacked people in one place," you giggled as Bob smiled sheepishly. "And besides, there's an airbase nearby," you shrugged.
"Wow," Bob bobbed his head in acknowledgement, "See? You're just fine on your own. Not everyone can connect the dots like that,"
"What do you mean?" you asked right away, noticing the widening smile on Robert's face. "This one time there was this group of people from out of town," he started and you leaned in, curious. "I was collecting empty cups from the squad, ready to go refill them, when this one man stopped me,"
"Oh god," you chimed in and Bob only gave you a validating look before continuing.
"And he stuffed my hands with another 7 cups, quickly let out a thank you and shoved 10 dollars into my pocket," Bob finished, proud once your laugh pierced the air. "You're kidding! What did you do?"
"I bought them beers - for those ten dollars," he only shrugged as if that wasn’t significant in the story. "Wow," now it was your turn to sigh. "You're still a walking angel, after all those years,"
"I guess anyone would do that," Bob only shook his head, taking a deep breath after another minute of silence. "Now it's my turn," You straightened as he looked up at you softly, lost in thought for a moment.
"Did you open the art gallery, like you always wanted?" he grinned when you chuckled, his heart skipping another pair of beats.
"Ah, I wish. I'm stuck in an office job right now," your posture faltered and so did Bob's lips. He couldn't believe it. "I still paint from time to time though, don't worry" you winked at him.
"It wouldn't be you if you didn't," Bob let out a breath of relief, his whole body relaxing in the moment and something in you moved.
"You know, I sometimes think about your physics tutoring," you confessed, shocking Bob once again. "Especially Newton's third law of motion,"
"You still remember that? You hated physics," Bob's eyes widened, shaking his head, unsure where all this was heading. "You even fell asleep during the tutoring. Twice,"
You laughed, the memory so vivid in your head.
"But now I know he was right," your soft voice made Bob freeze. "When one object exerts a force on another," you slowly leaned in, your eyes falling to his lips. "The other object should exert the same force back on the first object, right?"
"So you were listening after all," Bob spoke and for a moment you looked up, only to catch his gaze coming up to yours as well.
"So you know what I mean?" you asked, your voice slightly shaking.
Bob fell silent for a while, to the point where you thought he wouldn't say anything.
Then he cleared his throat.
"So can I… kiss you?" Bob rasped, his gaze now steady. Like you were the target.
The tips of your noses touched.
"I knew you were a genius, B," you whispered and with that, you closed the gap between your lips.
Your hand immediately went to the nape of his neck, pulling him closer. His big hands completely covered your face, cupping it softly. Neither of you wanted to stop, diving into the sweet flavor of each other's lips until your breath ran out
A few cheers breaking out from behind you once you pulled away. You both snapped your heads towards the sound, finding your friends standing on the porch, clapping, their smiles so wide, it must’ve hurt them.
"That's my boy Bobbie," Hangman laughed out loud, grabbing Fanboy around the shoulder. "You rock, Bob," Rooster whooped, earning another wave of cheers. You hid in Bob's shoulder, trying to cool down the heat in your face, before looking up at him. "And no cheers for me?" you teased.
"I will cheer for you," Bob smiled slightly, unable to look away from your eyes. "I will tell them you're the best kisser,"
"I’m just finally making use of what I learned in school," you winked and Bob couldn't help himself but kiss you all over again.
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Please let me know how you liked this story with a like, comment or repost!
Who would you like me to write about next? -> requests open!
If you liked this story, you’ll enjoy -> Cry-baby -> That’s my wife
GUYS 300 NOTES IN 4 DAYS???? I can’t believe it!!!
Thank you so much for the love you give to Hangman and Bob, it only keeps me motivated to share more of the stuff I write, knowing you love it as much as I do❤️
Which member of Dagger squad do you want to read about next?
Rooster
Phoenix
Bob
Hangman
Voting ended onMay 2, 2025
Or is there someone else you would like me to write about? Let me know in the comments or message me about any idea you have!
Could you write something for bob? Anything. I really enjoyed ‘cry baby’ if that helps.
All the best
A/n: Hiii! I was waiting for the moment when I finally get the kick to write to Bob and this was it! I actually got a bunch of ideas, but in the end I settled for this! Hope it was worth the wait - I do plan to share other tropes for Bob as well... maybe in a Cry baby universe? ;) But for now, ENJOY!
That’s my wife
Robert 'Bob' Floyd x fem!reader
⤞ My masterlist ⤝
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It was crowded in Hard Deck, as it was every Friday night. Bob usually didn't mind, always staying close to his group by the pool, but today was different. All of a sudden, he felt annoyed by the pushing bodies, making it hard for him to see the entrance of the bar. Because today was not an ordinary night at the pub. Something special was happening for Robert Floyd, thanks to special someone about to make an appearance.
And just as he thought about her, he manifested her presence into the bar.
Bob would recognize his wife anywhere. Even in a totally packed Hard Deck, where he probably wouldn't be able to find his own mother. She made her way through those sweaty bodies, her 'excuse me's and 'thank you's flowing through his ears like a sweet melody.
Bob started to look for a place to put his beer to for the time, ready to meet the girl of his dreams at the bar just like they agreed to. When he finally found a small space under the window, he heard a loud whistle. His head snapped.
"And who is this pretty lady," Hangman's voice made the whole company turn as he gazed towards the bar. "Ha, Hangman," Rooster joined him at the staring contest, nudging his ribs. "You can bet, she wouldn't go for a guy like you," he grinned, seeing Jake's shocked face. "A guy like me?" He repeated. "Then what are you? A trashcan?" He retorted, wiping the smile from Rooster's lips in a second.
Bob gulped. He followed the direction in which the two were looking.
His body froze on the spot, trying to figure out what to do. They were eyeing her. She was beautiful, as always. It was these moments, when Bob couldn't comprehend his own luck. His right hand traveled to his left, subconsciously playing with the ring on his finger. Well, shit.
"You're just worried she wouldn't go for a trashcan like you," Hangman provoked and everyone could only watch with a small smile how quickly Bradshaw took the bait. "We'll see about that," and with that, he was on his way to the center of the room, Jake Seresin right at his heels.
Bob was too stunned to do anything. Something in him started to burn, eating him from the inside, pinching every corner of his heart. But he just kept on twisting the golden ring, not noticing the questioning look Phoenix gave him. Her face twisted in surprise at first, connecting the dots pretty quick despite the silence from her best friend. But then she was right beside Bob, nudging his shoulder a little.
"Don't worry," she whispered. "She's got the same ring on her finger," Bob only managed to nod. Natasha's face brightened. "Congrats," she gave him a smile and Bob shared the enthusiasm with a small lift of the corners of his mouth. "Yeah," he said, finally picking up the courage to take a step forward. "I told her about you, although I wish this wasn't the way they meet for the first time," Natasha caught his arm in his motion.
"Hold on," she said, nodding towards the three at the bar. "I wanna see this,"
"Hey there," Rooster went all out. His huge frame surely made an entrance for him, but an additional smile and a confident greet couldn't hurt. And beside that, chicks are digging his deep voice.
Before you even got to turn around, another man was standing beside him, his smile brighter as ever. You eyed them both, with Hangman pushing Rooster to the side and stepping forward. "Is he annoying you? I can take care of him for you," Hangman cooed, not noticing your slight lean backwards, away from the two peacocks in front of you. It took you a while to recognize them, but after a few seconds, it was unmistakable who these two were. You knew them from a photo of the whole group Bob was showing you after he got back from his mission. You weren't sure if you were supposed to laugh or cry. Who would have thought you would meet like this?
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"That's Hangman" Bob pointed at a handsome pilot with a smile that shined with bright white teeth. "Avoid him at all cost," he looked at you, his eyes completely serious, which only made you burst into a fit of laughter. "I'm serious," he said, the corners of his mouth tugged upwards. "I can see that," you breathed, your hands travelling to his back and rubbing it reassuringly. "But noted," your kiss tickled Bob's cheek, spreading a tint of pink across his face.
"And this is?" you pointed to a tall man with a stache, his big arm hugging your husband around the shoulders. "Oh, that's Rooster," Bob's eyes softened. "And this is Nat, right?" you exclaimed, pointing at the woman hugged by Rooster from the other side. "Yeah, that's her," you two shared a smile as you watched Bob slide his fingers across the photo. "I can't wait to meet them," you said softly into the warm morning and Bob couldn't help but smile sweetly. "They mean a lot to me," he whispered back, gulping. "I know," you turned his face towards you before pecking his lips, both of you falling into a calm silence of comfort with each other.
☆ ☆ ☆
You slightley stretched upwards, trying to look past the men's broad shoulders that bumped to each other, trying to push the other out of the way. Your husband was nowhere to be seen and although you were quite enthusiastic to meet his crew, enthusiasim was pretty far from what you were feeling now. You watched the two glaring at each other and you bit back a smile. If only they knew.
"Can I buy you a drink?" Rooster pushed forward, making Hangman stumble back. "Get in line, chicken," Hangman grabbed his shoulder, forcing himself next to you instead of Rooster. "Boys, I hate to say this-" you began, your fingers falling on the ring on your left hand.
"Come on, sweetheart, let me get you something," before you could finish, you were blinded by Jake's perfect set of teeth, the photo from Bob apparently doing it injustice. "Guys-" you tried to speak up, but to no avail. "Penny, one more on me," Jake called to the woman behind the bar, who only nodded, preoccuppied with other customers. You sighed.
"Don't listen to him," Rooster touched your right hand gently, making you look at him. Ah, missed. The two completely ignored the shiny stone on your ring finger glistening in the dimmed lights of Hard Deck. You decided to let them go in this one, forcing on a straight face as they bickered with each other.
"They are all over her. Maybe I should-" Bob watched the bar, an anxiety creeping into his voice. Phoenix looked closer, noticing the crease forming between his eyebrows and the way he narrowed his eyes. His hands, unbeknownst to him, closed into fists. He was ready to shoot.
"Bob?" she grabbed him by his shoulder, grounding him. He looked at her, his brown eyes a little lost. "I've got your back," she tightened her squeez and that was all Bob needed. It was time to get his wife.
"And why shouldn't she listen to me? She obviously likes what she sees," Jake retorted, nudging you with a flirty smile. "Cause you're a casanova, Bagman," Rooster fought back. "You wouldn't smell love even if it was right under your nose," you had to pause at those words, yanking your hand from Rooster. This was going too far. Bradley looked at you in surprise, to which Hangman bursted out laughing. "You too, so it seems," he got out through heavy breaths, leaning on the bar for support. "Nice one sweetheart,"
"Speaking of love, gentlemen," a woman's voice came from behind the two competing mountains of men. They both turned to the lieutenant who grined at them. If she didn't have ears, she would be smiling all around. "Nat," you sighed in relief, recognising her immediately. "In the flesh," she grinned at you. "It's so nice finally meeting you," she said, Jake and Bradley exchanging confused looks. "Bob told me so much about you," you ignored the two, clinging to a conversation with Natasha like a tick. "Bob?!" the loud yell of both aviators brought you back to the reality. "Are you Bob's sister or some-"
"Yeah, no, I didn't have you for the types to go after married women," Nat giggled, cutting off Hangman as the two completely paled. They slowly turned towards you, their eyes falling on your left hand resting on the counter. A silence fell on the Hard Deck.
"Whose-" Rooster was the first to recover. "Mine," a bright smile blossomed on your face as you saw Bob walk from behind Natasha. "Sorry, looks like I got here first," he grinned as well before stepping in front of you. "Penny?" he called out, but he didn't have to say anything else.
That night, Hard Deck was filled with the dreading sound of a bell and if Rooster and Hangman could become more pale than they already were, they probably did. "Guys," Bob turned sround, his hand automatically traveling to your lower back. "This," he looked at you, his eyes twingkling in the warm light.
"Oh no," Hangman groaned, rubbing a hand through his face.
"Oh shit" Rooster let out.
"This is my wife,"
Your face brightened hearing the words as cheers errupted from around you - everyone ecstatic they will get a free round. And there was a lot of them. "Nice one, Bobby," Coyote and the rest joined the group, not even trying to hide their smiles. They mirrored Bob's contagious smile, the warm atmosphere spreading to everyone around. Well, to almost everyone.
"How do you want to pay?" Penny stopped by amidst pouring shots, smirking at Hangman and Rooster, both still in shock, grilled in their own embarrassment. "We-" the two looked at each other pleadingly for help from the other. "Shit," both said at the same time. "Well, lads," Payback and Fanboy patted their shoulders. "It was nice to know you," they pushed them lightly towards the door leading to the empty beach.
"I'm gonna kill you, Bagman," Rooster glared at his friend, Jake only laughing slightly. "Can you believe it? Our little Bobby found himself a wife! And I went after her!" he laughed at himself. "Yeah, cause you're a fucking idiot!" Roosters last words disappeared into the night, drowned in the laughter and chatter of the people around.
"Well, that was something," you giggled, looking back at the two men, now having it out with each other, their feet sinking in the cold sand. "You're okay? I'm sorry I didn't come sooner," Bob started to apologize but you knew how to shut him up.
"I'm okay. Better even, now that you're here," you pulled back. "And here I was, thinking that they wouldn't like me," you joked, making Bob snort as others joined you.
"Congrats, man," Fanboy hugged Bob around the shoulders, giving him a tight squeeze. "You seem like a lot of fun," Coyote laughed, pointing at you. "I sure am. If only they listened," everyone followed your motion to the entrance, "they could have had some fun too,"
Everyone laughed as you looked at your ring one more time. "But honestly, Bob, where did you find her? She's hot! Do you have siblings?" Payback had to chime in, other boys only agreeing with his statement and awaiting your answer. You only shook your head, earning a few groans from the group. "No wonder she got those two out of their minds," Natasha smirked.
"Yeah," Robert's eyes fell to the floor, suddenly feeling overwhelmed from the compliments. A sheepish smile spread on his face.
That's my wife
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Let me know how you liked this story with a like, comment and repost!
Who should be next from the Dagger squad?
If you liked this story, you might like -> Cry-baby -> 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
summary: Jake Seresin is a walking pile of ego and pride, but who would have thought he would find himself an angel of a girlfriend. Who also turns out to be a huge cry-baby!
a/n: since I’m sick I decided to binge-watch the two Topgun movies (again) and it has definitely brought back the love I have for this franchise!!! And who can be a better writing material than our young aviators from the second movie? And although I don’t know how I got this idea, it wouldn’t work on anyone but Jake Seresin. ENJOY!!!
warning: a bit of swearing but otherwise just fluff ;)
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You and Jake have been dating for a while now. You still couldn't believe it. Jake. Seresin. He was a walking embodiment of confidence, ego, pride and perfection, an aviator on top of that, which meant he was also always cornered by women everywhere he went. Always ending up on top. And yet he picked you. And this was never about an insecurity of yours or some self-doubts.
It was about the fact, he invited you out even after your kind of disasterous first date.
"Woah! Somebody better bring a fire extinguisher soon," Jake commented the second you came into the restaurant for your first date, taking off your coat. You rolled your eyes, knowing this must have been one of his overused lines, but a small smile crept on your face. And that was all for Jake Seresin to brighten up like the sun itself. You spent your whole first date just talking, Jake always asking you questions and finding all the opportunities to brag about himself. You barely knew each other, introduced by a distant relative in one of the family gatherings. But despite all your doubts, he was an amazing listener and talker, the conversation between the two of you flowling as smoothly as ever.
You learned a lot about Jake from that first meeting. He was stationed far away from his family ever since he joined the Navy, missing his little sister who seemed to grow twice as much everytime he came home. He didn't really talk a lot about his first years in the Navy. He loved all types of sports - according to him, he was just so good in all of them - and he enjoyed old love songs. He was also a big lover of board games, altough not a lot of people knew that about him. He especially loved them, thanks to the fond memories with his family. As the evening went, you started to slowly but surely fall for Jake Seresin. Although with his charm, you were sure it was inevitable.
Yet you couldn’t be more different from him. You were never good in board games and it only ended up in others fighting. You were never a big fan of sports - you didn't really grasp the rules quick enough to stay interested, and to be completely honest with yourself, you sucked in every one of them. On the opposite, you loved baking - Jake admitted that he was never very patient for that mysterious art. You absolutely adored trips to the nature - Jake had barely any time for that, flying off in jets that produced too much of CO2 (you had to breathe through that one).
Despite all of these differences, you seemed to find a greater understanding in one another. While you adored Jake Seresin as a family guy, he immediately suggested a hike in the mountains, connecting both of your hobbies. At frist you thought Jake Seresin was the type of guy to hit and run, end the first date with an extra sleepover and then disappear without a note the next morning. But his eyes stayed trained on you the whole night, his hands stretched out in the middle of the table, taking yours in only if you let him, and letting go, once you needed them to support your story with additional gestures.
"What about love songs? Or any songs in general? Although I am warning you, I am prepared to fight for the honour of my love songs," Jake winked at you, the butterflies in your stomach making you let out a loud chuckle. "Okay, I'll keep that in mind. So, songs, huh?" you hummed, trying to come up with a genre you liked. Because you loved love songs, but behind close doors. The reason being something a guy like Jake Seresin probably wouldn't want to know on the first date. But you could never pick the right timing.
"Mary," a man at the table behind you said, the name catching your ears together with the romantic songs suddenly played by the band, slowly closing in on the table. The man got up, taking the attention of the whole restaurant, before kneeling on one knee. "Oh god," you managed to whisper to yourself as your eyesight started to get a little blurry on the edges.
"Will you marry me?"
The time has seemed to stop as you weighed your options. The best one for now seemed to be the bathroom.
"Yes!" Mary exclaimed, throwing herself onto her soon-to-be husband. The band, the candles, th whole restaurant getting up to clap, it was all too much. You had to go. Now.
"Excuse me," you got up as tears welled up in your eyes, fighting to get out. Nobody really noticed your escape except Jake, who looked quiet puzzled at your sudden disappearance, but decided to make nothing of it. Yet. But suddenly it was 10 minutes since you left and he couldn't help himself but start to worry. So he decided to investigate.
He walked up to the bathrooms, waiting for anyone to come up from the ladies' room. After a few seconds, one woman did, stopped immidiately by Jake's towering figure. "Sorry, is there a pretty lady about this tall there? I have a suspicion my date might have escaped," he joked a bit on his own account as he began to feel nervous, but still trying to keep his cool. The woman was not laughing the slightest.
"There is. But I don't know what you have told her, that girl is crying tears like a waterfall," and with that the woman was gone, leaving Jake even more confused. "What the fuck?" he said to himself, trying to pick up the courage and open the ladies' room to check up on you. He stood there frozen for a few seconds.
After that, he finally managed to at least knock.
"Y/n?" he asked, not hearing any response for a few seconds. "Y/n, I know you're there. If you haven't already escaped... Is everything okay?" he knocked once more, now finally getting an answer.
"Yes, yes! Everything is just fine!" you facepalmed yourself, trying to make the redness go away, along with the rest of the tears. You just have to stop thinking about the couple.
"I don't know about that. Apparently you are in there, crying," Jake yelled from the corridor. Shit! You cursed, still trying to salvage what you could. But Jake was still there, knocking. Nothing could save you.
"Y/n," Jake was slumped against the wall after what felt like an eternity of knocking, his two fingers lazily knocking out different rythms before you opened the door, startling him. "Holy mother of god!" he yelped, looking down at you. Your face was all puffy, eyes reddened together with your cheeks. From the embarrassment obviously. "I'm sorry," you whispered, taking in a deep breath. "I understand if you don't want to continue this anymore, or see me again, it's completely-"
"Hold on, hold on, hold on. What are you on about now?" Jake interrupted your already memorised bathroom speech. You two stared at each other in confusion, your mouth opening and closing for good 10 seconds before Jake decided to take the interrogation into his own hands.
"Why, exactly, are you crying?" he asked, his eyebrow cocked. You gulped. "There's one thing I haven't told you about," you looked down, the floor suddenly more interesting than the hotshot in front of you. And Jake didn't like that. "Hey, hey," he snapped his fingers gently. "Eyes are up here," he smirked and you rolled your eyes, wiping your nose. "I do listen to love songs, very much but," your gaze again fell on something behind him, the couple no longer there. “I get very emotional, as you can see, anytime something like that happens.”
"Do you have like a chronic emotional crying syndrome or what?" he asked with an almost mocking laughter in his voice as he looked to where you were looking. Your brows furrowed. "Yes. Yes I actually do," you said a bit fiercely for your character, immediately cooling the fire rising inside you. You didn't want to make it even worse than it already was.
"Wait, really?" his head shot back at you, now actually full of surprise.
"Well, it's not an official condition," you mumbled, now slumping next to him against the wall. Who cares about that dinner anyway now?
"I just cry everytime I see or hear something that rises too many emotions in me. I cannot control it. Everything is just so beautiful and breathtaking! These tears attack my eyes and I have to run away for at least a whole half an hour until I'm all fine again," you confessed, waiting for his reaction, although you knew exactly what it was about to be. He didn't disappoint.
Jake Seresin broke into the biggest fit of laughter ever. Although he was at least trying to be quiet, you had to give him that. "Yeah, right," you mumbled, pushing yourself off the wall, ready to pack your things and leave. Another ruined date. Thanks taken couples, you really make it easy for us.
"Hey, wait! Where are you going!" you heard Jake try to call after you between his laughing and panting. You were already by the table. "Y/n, where do you think you're going!" Jake cornered you there, tears of joy sparkling in his eyes. "I'm sorry! I just- I haven't met anyone like you so it seemed a little funny to me, I'm sorry, really, I didn't mean it," he started apologizing, bits of chuckles escaping his lips. "Yeah, you still seem to find it funny," you pouted, ready to leave.
"No, no, I promise, I mean it when I say that I'm sorry," he caught you gently by your wrist. "But here I was, crushing my ego, thinking this hot chick just escaped the thorugh the bathroom window because I was ugly, can you believe that?" he wiped his tears. “I swear, even I have some weak moments,” he wiped the tears away, shaking his head with a few chuckles. His hand relaxed, letting yours go, because you suddenly didn't feel like going yet. "You're so shallow," you hit his chest playfully but he caught your hand on the place where his heart was beating.
"But this hot chick hasn't escaped, right?"
You let out a loud laugh that was caught between his lips. And that's how your first of many dates went. You couldn't believe your luck, nor your memory from that day. And after a few months of dating, Jake took you to cinema to see his favorite film, leaving out the fact that this was the only film making him emotional enough. He sniffled quietly next to your storm of tears, occasionally breaking a smile at how hilarious you were, when in fact you were just the same, laughing at him. It was a miracle how you two found each other.
"That's Hangman's chick?" Nat pointed to a woman in the corner of the bar, close to where Hangman was playing darts at least 100th time this evening. She was holding a strawberry milkshake in her hand, dangling her feet as she watched her boyfriend win (100th time, again). And everytime he did, he leaned in for a peck, quickly wiping the tears of joy off of her cheeks- from yet another of his wins.
"It's like he kidnapped her and the ransom is to act this with him, or something," Rooster mumbled, making Natasha let out a loud laugh in surprise. “Someone is jealous, huh?” she teased, Rooster rolling hus eyes. "She looks nice, kind," Bob noted, smiling the girl's way. "Yeah, definitely not Hangman's style, they're like peas and carrots," Rooster noted again, a teasing smile on his lips.
"What do you know?" Phoenix shrugged, turning around for her turn in the pool. "Maybe there's a side of Jake we are yet to discover," she said nonchalantly, hitting her ball straight to the hole. "Bull's-eye!"
But the game was interrupted by the sudden long ringing of Penny's bell.
"Attention!" she shouted across the bar, every guest prickling their ears. "There's a couple, Ben and Mary, who have been frequent guests of ours to the point where we call them family," Penny smiled as the whole bar agreed, lifting their drinks. "But today, Ben has a special announcment he wants to share with you,"
A man walked into the middle of the bar where probably Mary was standing, taking a deep breath.
"Mary?" he asked, lowering himself on one knee.
"Oh no." Hangman's head immediately shot to you, but you were already staring at him, tears already glistening in the light.
You won't make it to the bathroom. Jake lifted his eyebrows, nodding to the bathroom across the bar and shaking his head.
You sniffled.
Beach? He pointed to the open door nearby, leading to the beach.
You nodded frantically and as the words 'Will you marry me' fell from Ben's lips, you were already out of there, heading for the ocean waves.
Jake hugged you from behind, hiding his amused smirk (which you knew was there), quickly wiping the tears already streaming down your face. "You cry-baby!" he said mockingly.
"I know! But it's all just so beautiful," you sniffled, already used to his teasing.
"So are you, babe, and I don’t cry every second?" he teased.
You hummed. “Guess you ain’t that beautiful too then,” you deadpanned. Jake burst out laughing.
You turned around. Jake’s eyes looked at you in content, making you feel like you’re the only one for him. Because you are the only one for him.
“Oh, I love you,” he whispered, pushing a strand of your hair behind you ear, his hand resting on your cheek.
“I love you too,” you whispered back.
“Even when you’re a little cry-baby!” Jake pinched you cheek lightly, his mocking tone making you laugh out loud. That was until he locked the laughter by connecting your lips with his, keeping it all to himself.
Thanks taken couples, you really make it easy for us.
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Who else from the Dagger squad would you like to read about next? ;)
If you liked this story, you might like -> That’s my wife -> 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
a/n: AAAND WE'RE BACK!!! I can't believe it, I am so sorry it took so long, but I had to figure out which way to take this story... And I am afraid this can and might turn out into the whole series!!! You guys seem to love it and I am forever grateful for the support! Anyways, here's part 3 xoxo
warning: !spoilers if you haven't read the first and second part!, mentions of self-hate, harm, wounds
tags: @peachydarlingz
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Finnick's panicked breaths echoed across the hall as he kept running around back and forth, his eyes darting around every corner like a madman. You couldn't just disappear, not under his watch, not when he finally felt like he was living again. The world turned so quiet suddenly, Finnick unable to hear the distant party as his blood rushed through his body, raging in his ears. The dreadful sound he knew so well from the arena, adrenaline rushing in, his senses hyperfixating on every sound, every move he could possibly spot that could lead to you.
A loud laughter came from the end of the hall, causing Finnick to straighten up, his charming smile on again as a group of women dressed in the most vibrant colors walked by. One’s gaze froze on Finnick, her head turned towards him. He winked, nodding with a grin. The girl giggled, catching up with her friends. As they cut the corner, he slumped down again, rubbing his eyes. He sighed.
Where were you? He will never find you here and he couldn’t help the weight falling on his shoulders, called guilt. You could have been long gone. Someone could have had you dragged away, drugged beyond any conciousness, while he was trying to have the time of his life. All of this just so they could take advantage of you because of him-
Finnick paused.
He will not find you here, but he knew where he will find some answers.
And suddenly he knew exactly which way to go, fear and desperation replaced by the anger, the boiling blood taking over his sight. When he entered the gardens the white roses seemed red like the blood that dripped from Snow's hands. He just wished it wasn't yours.
"Snow!" He yelled out as he neared a small silouette in the dark, the fragile hair coloured white like angel's wings, like the fresh snow, yet to be stained again and again by his horrendous sins.
President Snow turned around, a bright smile showing his white and prefect teeth, just as the rest of him. But Finnick knew better. His teeth were slowly rotting just like everything inside of him.
Finnick stopped infront of the president, huffs of hot air escaping in clouds from his flaring nostrils. "Where?" He began, staring into Snow's blue eyes, darkened by mischief.
"Where is what, my dear boy?" Snow retorted with a question, lifting both eyebrows in amusement. "Where are they?" Finnick huffed, his patience wearing thin. He wanted to kill him there and then, yet he knew he couldn't. He wasn't even sure what he was doing there. His own suicide. He was scared, sweating and only wanting to run for his life to the nearby coast before his throat could be sliced.
And yet he couldn't. Because he had won once in the face of deatn. Because the vision of what might be done to you will haunt him for the rest of his days. And he would never forgive himself.
Snow chuckled, seeing the state Finnick was in. He never saw him in this light and he couldn't help but feel entertained by the sudden rage in such a broken body he thought was left to wither. "You know Finnick," Snow began, walking past the young man and heading back to the mansion. Finnick knew it was his que to follow him, knowing there was no choice. He just hoped there was enough time.
"For a while you fooled me. I thought your rather sudden relationship was... fake," the president smirked, giving Finnick a quick glance before focusing his gaze on the road ahead again. "At first I did not understand why someone like you would pick someone like them," Snow hummed. "I thought it was madness. You had become so stupid, you decided to fake your relationship with someone so violent just to be like Peeta with Katniss. Make them desirable," Finnick's breath hitched in surprise but he wouldn't let it show. "When in fact, their path leads far away from happiness." President Snow chuckled to himself once again. "But I suppose you're smarter than I thought you to be, despite our long history and my deepest belief in you," he finally stopped by the entrance back to the mansion. The yellow light fell on his white sick face, shadows recreating his face to that of a demon, trying to show at least half of what this man was.
"Maybe you picked them for protection. Maybe to kill all the victors. Or maybe they will kill you in your sleep one day. One day, when they realize what you dragged them into." Snow smiled brightly, Finnick trying to find sense in his puzzles.
"They are in their chambers. I did them a favor and send them with a friend. That way, they don't have to be alone. And maybe they might find something common to talk about later." The demon in front of Finnick winked, his words sinking into Finnick's skin until he understood their meaning too well. His mind went blank.
After that he was on his way. He flew up the stairs, rushing down the bright colorful corridors until he found the right door, calling out to him. His hand was on the doorknob when it turned, opening the door. Back at him was staring an unfamiliar face, makeup smudged all over their face due to heavy crying. Whimpers escaped their mouth as they clutched to their clothes, bruises and cuts already visible on their arms and legs.
The short man looked up at Finnick with tears glistening in his eyes, only to be met with cold yet confused look of the victor. Finnick's eyes flickered to the room, trying to find the one he actually came looking for. He shoved the man aside, causing him to fall and cry out again, but he didn't care. "Crazy," he heared the man whisper. "They are all crazy monsters,"
Finnick rushed in. He found you on the bed, your once beautiful dress all torn apart with only pieces hanging on to their dear life, still keeping you at least half decent. You hugged your knees, your right hand squeezing the dagger with your knuckles turning white.
Your eyes brightened upon falling on his face, filling with tears held for so long. You got up only to get hit by Finnick's scent, your cheek crashing onto his chest, his warm safe arms wrapping around you. The dagger clanged on the wooden floor.
"I didn't mean to- I- I-" you sobbed, your eyes wide from the shock as you realised what truly happened. "I was just pro- protecting my-myself" you tried to catch your breath, Finnick staring down at you as you gazed to the distance. "I- I- am not a monster! I swear, mom!" You exclaimed, squeezing him tight.
"Y/n" Finnick spoke up, finally making you look up at him. Your eyes were shaking, disoriented. His hands slid from your waist to your cheeks, hugging them just as tight. "It's me, Y/n," he stared into your eyes, trying to find you. He sat you down. "Breathe," he whispered, brushing a strand of your hair away from your face.
You took a few deep breaths, finally grounding yourself. "Are you hurt?" He asked but you did not answer. "What happened? Did he do anything to you?" Finnick slowly started checking up on you without your answers. Your eyes avoided his gaze in embarrassment as you frowned.
"You met him by the door. You saw how he looked." You gulped, squinting your eyes for a while before opening them. "And?" Finnick raised an eyebrow, not understanding your point. "How are you asking me if I'm okay, when I obviously hurt him?!" Your head fell to your hands as you yelled out in frustration, palms covering your ears. You just wanted to shut the world out. It was happening all over again. You were back in the arena, trying to survive while now the tributes are doing worse to you then just killing you. You are not worth even the end of your suffering. You will sin again and again, your fate sealed ever since you won your own games. You're the victor. You became part of the cycle. You won your one-way ticket to hell.
Finnick sighed, his hands shaking a little. His heart ached from the state he saw you in. Somewhere deep down, he knew this was exactly how he looked all those years ago. He was all alone then.
"Y/n," Finnick's voice seemed distant with your palms over your ears, but it was there. He bent down, forcing himself into your field of view. "I have been there," he spoke, his voice calm almost shaking a little. "I blamed myself day and night, first for not doing anything and then for doing something to those, who chose to hurt me willingly over and over again."
"I felt like I was nothing. Worse than nothing. I hated myself, I hated my life, I hated my mother for giving birth to me because if she hadn't, I wouldn't have to be here in the first place."
Finnick closed his mouth, the damning silence falling on the both of you, his words echoing in the room like a curse.
You looked up, tears in your eyes again. You were scared. Beyond scared. But when you looked into Finnick's eyes, despite the salty tears watering them, they were calm just like the ocean after a storm. When everything finally quiets down.
"Do not blame yourself for picking up the rest of human dignity you saved for yourself and standing up. Do not blame yourself for what you have done to protect your life, hoping it would give you what you were asking for. Do not blame yourself for winning, because you will have to live with it whether you like it or not. Blame those who put you into that position." He talked slowly, every word rolling down his tongue like a prayer he told himself once. Maybe he still did to this day. You nodded, swallowing the rest of the tears down to your core. He was right. The blame had to be shifted because that was exactly what this cycle was feeding on. Victors haunted by the blame, by the guilt, by the grief. The hurt, hurting others. You wrapped your arms around him.
"Please do not leave me again."
. . . . .
"Did you know Katniss and Peeta also faked their relationship?" Finnick said, ending the silence in which you were lying on the bed, your head on his chest as the hand around your shoulders brushed your hair. "What?" You mumbled. "Snow told me. He said he thought I just jumped on the opportunity to win me some love and peace with another star-struck lovers story." Your chests rose in sync.
You looked up at him. "Snow told you?" You're eyes widened.
"We..." Finnick fell quiet for a while. A strand of your hair got tangled in his fingers.
"We have a history, me and him. One day I will tell you. I'm sorry." He whispered the apology, his body shaking a little. "What are you sorry for?" You asked, your gaze fixed on something in front of you as if looking miles away. "For not being ready. For dragging you into this. I never should have fallen for this trap. Never should have believed it for a second." He shook his head, burying his face in your hair, and placing a kiss into it. "I will never ever leave you again."
"I'm sorry too." You spoke. "I cause trouble wherever I go. I deceive. But one day I will tell you. I have a history as well." You spoke, earning a tight smile from Finnick. He let his mind wonder to the man he found by your door, when he first rushed in. He was cut deeply, way worse than you. But that didn't mean anything. You were protecting yourself and that was enough for him. But the questions, especially one you haven't answered. What happened? He had to shut them out. At least for now.
"I have to talk to them one day," Finnick chuckled. "Katniss and Peeta. Ask them, how they did it."
"You're not mad at them?"
"A bit? Yes. They fooled us all while signing their death wish. But they are the same as me and you. Just victors, nothing else. Bunch of kids, thrown to arena, doing all it takes to win."
"Yes, I know that feeling." You chuckled to yourself. Finnick hummed, his thoughts taking him back to Snow. He was so angry when Snow told him about Katniss and Peeta. He was angry at them that he became a fool, just like the rest of the Capitol. He also remembered the smile playing on the president's face. Maybe that's what Snow wanted the whole time. He wanted to make him mad at other victors. First by picking him as one of his servants. Now by pouring honey into Finnick's ears. Hiding behind the shadows of his lies.
And what about you? Could you really kill him in his sleep one day, or was it just one of Snow's deceits. The deceitful victor. Finnick never saw your games. He just heard the rumours he chose to ignore, due to his own encounters with you. They were different than the stories knitted around you. And who was he to judge your way of surviving when it was your fight and not his?
But lately there was also this other thing.
He cared for you.
He cared for you, way more than he realised. It was weakness, now that Snow knew. But it was also strength, now that he had you with him again. One day, he will tell you how he feels. Maybe you will feel it too. For now he just had to try for a world, where feelings could exist in the first place.
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a/n: roughly inspired by the song Merry Christmas, i miss you by Alex Crichton. Literally have been listening to these type of songs the whole holiday and also got into Smallville… So why not mix it up together right? :D Plus my obession w Clark Kent aka THE TOM WELLING is growing so you all better stay tuned!!! I planned to post this during the Christmas time but got caught up between baking and watching old movies, oops. Anyways, hope you enjoy!!!
summary: You and Clark have fallen out of touch for a long time, not only because of the distance between you two but also because of your feelings for him you failed to hide so well. Yet, after you’re left alone on the Christmas Eve and reminiscing about the old times, you can’t help but think about calling him. What if he picks up?
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It was the 24th of December, the streets of Metropolis covered with white snow warmed by the yellowish streetlamps and Christmas decoration. The whistle of the cold evening wind has been playing through your closed windows, which despite the isolation, could not contain the ecstatic laughter of the families and friends walking beside the building you lived in.
You could not relate to them, while you were safely covered by your warm blanket, your fingers wraping around the inviting heat of your teacup as you watched your 5th Christmas movie today. You were warm, safe and sound, and yet you felt the worst when it came to the mentioned people on the street. Your lips tightened into a straight line as you glanced at a small Christmas tree you bought already decorated, reminding you only of another tradition you were missing out on. Your gaze slid under the coffee table it was sitting on. No presents.
You barely had the time to pack the things you have bought yourself “for Christmas” and afterall, it was only for you, so why waiting until the Christmas morning? Why not already use them if you need them so much? You do not have presents for anyone else, because there is simply no one to celebrate with. It’s been a year since you left your hometown, your family making plans for Christmas you could hardly follow with your first year on University, away from your friends and loved ones. Your friends.
In college, you did not have many friends. At least you didn’t think so. You have been talking with most of your class, but you barely knew about their families nor crashed at their homes at least once during your highschool years. The feeling was mutual. On the other hand, you have befriended a small group of four kids from the grade below. It happened quite fast. At first you met Lana, your new colleague you were supposed to teach the art of waitering after your first year of working in the small coffee shop that opened in Smallville. Then you noticed a tall guy with bright blue eyes, visiting every single time during Lana’s shift, sitting in the corner and watching her with those piercing eyes behind the rose-colored glasses. He always came unnoticed by her and disappeared just as fast, even you didn’t quite catch him leave most of the time, just collected the payment he left on the table, secretely slipping the tips into Lana’s pocket. Then he started bringing friends as well, feeling more confident around them, so much so he actually spoke with Lana too. You couldn’t help but smile behind the counter as they chattered her shift away, only for you to freeze, the piercing blue gaze catching yours. But you looked away, dismissing the feeling immediately.
“I’m Chloe! I noticed you were friends with Lana and you are always there whenever we visit, doing all of her work while we entrtain her, so sorry about that… I just noticed you actually go to the same school as us! Which grade are you in?” A small hand has stopped you in the middle ofthe full corridor, dragging you away from the bumping bodies and close to a bunch of lockers. You opened your mouth for a second, only to close it in the next, the surprise of the suddent encounter mixing with confusion. You stood there for a short while, processing what this blonde girl just hauled at you but then you cleared your throat, an honest smile plastering on your face. After that, you found yourself next to Lana, chit-chating both of your shifts away by the nearby table, already claimed by the growing gang. And if Lana wasn’t there, you still stood there, talking your heart out for eternity.
You smiled subconciously. You enjoyed those days a lot, but not enough to treasure them as much as you would have right now. And then there was Clark. At first you took him as a friend. That one friend who has an enormous crush on Lana. But it was once that Lana was not at work for a few weeks, that Clark Kent walked into the café as usual, sitting down by the table in the front as he always did and something felt different. You went on about your day, feeling light tingles on your back. And everytime you turned around to find their source, you got stuck in the neverending blue of Clark’s eyes, examining your every move. You felt heat coming to your cheeks as you looked away, a shy smile already playing on your lips, without you actually realizing it. Jeez, what was he onto?
You did not say anything, occassionally meeting his gaze to exchange a small grin even the day after, and the day after that one as well. Even after Chloe and Pete arrived later on some of these days, his eyes stayed trained on you. When it was the whole gang, you actually picked up the courage to stop by. Despite the shivers you got from Clark’s gaze. You hoped he managed to blink at least once in a while.
“Uh-oh. I think you have some angry customers to get to, Y/n. You shouldn’t keep them waiting,” Clark smirked as he sipped on his smoothie. Your eyes focused on him. “Then maybe you shouldn’t keep talking, my, obviously, not so angry customer,” you retorted with a smirk. “And what are they paying you for exactly?” Clark called after you with a laugh as you made your way to other tables, making you turn around and send daggers his way. “Hey! Don’t give me that look!” You saw him put his hands up in defeat before you turned around, focusing on getting back to work. Yet, you couldn’t help the smile creeping on your face despite getting yelled at by the unsatisfied customer in front of you. You noticed that smile stayed on your face until you closed the whole café, Clark long gone with your friends. Your heart skipped a beat as you turned around in the dark, a small yelp escaping your lips.
Clark was standing in front of you again, in the middle of the sidewalk, his hands in the pockets of his jacket as he stared you down. “Jeez, Clark, you scared me!” You fussed, only to be cut off by his giggle. “Sorry Y/n, I just went on a walk and realized you were still closing up sooo… Why not give you a company? Besides, it’s really getting dark out here at this hour,” he scratched the back of his neck as he walked in closer, his hand extending towards you. You held your breath in as it neared your arm, only to miss it by an inch and falling on the cold steel of the entrance door. He pulled it towards him, the metal clinging on the quiet street, to make sure it was locked. “Ready?” He smiled at you, small dimples showing on each corner of his mouth, so small you could miss them. Unless you were staring as much as you did in that moment. His eyebrow shoot up in question, making you breathe out a quiet “yeah” before his hand finally moved to yours, taking it and dragging you away from the lonely streets. Your pace slowed down as you strolled away from the town and towards the small houses and farms nearby, his body staying close to yours the whole time, up until he had to leave you at your front porch.
“Y/n” he asked, making you turn away from your front door. You happily walked back to him, feeling his closeness again as you waited for what he had to say. “I-“ he inhaled sharply before cuting himself off. You tilted your head slightly, curious as to why he tensed up all of a sudden. “I- You know I’m just a phonecall away, right?” He said, his gaze getting lost in something behind you. “Of course, I do,” you smiled cheerfully, your smile falling a bit as his worried eyes met yours. You realised he was serious.
“Don’t worry. Look I know there are some weird things going around in this town, but I promise I’ll be careful,” you explained yourself, his eyes still not leaving yours, his pupils almost swallowed by the bright blue around. “And I will call you if anything is wrong. On that I can even pinkie promise,” you stuck out your pinkie, watching as Clark exhaled, his whole body slumping a little as he finally calmed down. He tied his pinkie with yours, squeezing it slightly. “Deal. Pinkie promise,” he smiled, the spark coming back to his eyes.
He walked you home a few nights afterwards. And maybe it was the way you could be so naive sometimes, or just the fact that no one has done that for you like ever, but you started to believe that maybe it didn’t have to be Lana, who he visited the coffeee shop for. But with summer, everything changed. It was a few weeks before your graduation. You started to take more walks around Smallville, the reality of leaving it behind sinking in, as you knew you will be moving for university in Metropolis after the summer break. The sun was slowly setting, casting colorful beams on the houses and shops of the small town. The bright orange reflected from the windows on the empty street, except two people standing in front of the café, their bodies close to each other. You could recognize the tall figure with dark messy black hair anywhere, and the small one with long brushed brown hair too. Lana and Clark were standing in front of the shop, Clark’s arm gently rubbing Lana’s as she laughed, a magic spell creating a smile on Clark’s lips as well. You froze, your heart sinking deeper with every second you stood there, watching them. That was until Clark finally caught your gaze, his eyes widening, but by that time you were on your merry way home, holidng in the tears you wish you didn’t have to deal with in the first place. That was the last time you had a proper interaction with Clark, your last days fading into one as you slowly had to say goodbye to the town you grew up in, along with its folks.
And now you were here, alone on Christmas Eve, wishing you could have your friends nearby, wishing for at least a bit of closeness. Wishing for Clark to show up at your door so you don’t have to be alone in the dark, taking your hand and taking a stroll in the cold weather before he’ll have to leave you by the front door again. It was just a wish, just a small prayer to hear his voice. Because he was just a phonecall away. You paused. You couldn’t possibly call him, not after such a long time. But if there was something going on, you should call, you promised him.
No. No way. He definitely must be busy, especially on Christmas.
But what if? What if you call? And he picks up?
And that was enough for you to grab your phone, searching for his number, dialing it faster than you could realize what you were actually doing. Only when the loud beep ringed through the room, you realized you were calling him and he might not pick up. And what’s worse, he actually might pick up.
“Hello?”
His voice came out of the speaker, clear as ever, just as you remembered it in your memories. “Clark?” You asked, face-palming yourself afterwards. “Yeah, Y/n, what’s up?” He asked, confusion painting his voice. You stayed quiet. You brain got clouded by so many questions, so many things you had to say but didn’t know how. “Y/n? Are you there?” He spoke again, taking you back to reality. “Of course, yes, I am here,” you spoke fast, only to fall silent again. But this time you took your thoughts one at a time. “How are you Clark?” A sigh came from the other line, making your heart ache. “I’m okay, how about yourself?”
“I-I guess I am okay,” you answered, but your lie could be smelled from miles away. “Is that the reason you called me? ‘Cause you guess you were okay? Or you just wanted to know that I am fine?” He retorted with a snort, his usual sassy comments showing up, just like during your old times. “No, I mean yes, I wanted to know how you were doing after…” you shifted on the couch, trying to find the right words. “After such a long time,” you sighed, recieving the same sigh from the other line too. “Y/n, I don’t-“
“But the reason I called,” you cut Clark off, not ready to hear what he had to say. At least not yet. “Is that I guess not everything is okay. And… You said you’re just a phonecall away,”
There was the quiet on Clark’s part, but if it was still the Clark you knew, you also knew it was because of his bright smile. “That’s true. So? How can I be of service?” You chuckled. “I suppose I am alone and could use some company. It’s quite lonely here in Metropolis, but you must think I’m crazy,” a smile did not leave your face as you began to talk, a sudden warmth taking over your whole body. “You’re in Metropolis?” Clark seemed genuinelly surprised, although where else would you be? “Weren’t you supposed to come to Smallville for the holidays?” He asked and now you were the puzzled one. “Hold on. You’re not in Smallville?” You asked back, earning a sigh from Clark. “Nope, I’m in Metropolis, at the centre, where the big bright Christmas tree blinds innocent passers-by, how about you?”
“I’m home, alone, staring at the pathetic copy of what’s supposed to be a Christmas tree, knowing Santa won’t like it at all,”
“Well, there are already presents under this one. Maybe I will leave you some,”
“You better. I’ll be there in 10,” you exclaimed, already rummaging through your clothes.
“Okay, okay,” his laugh rang between the four walls like a melody.
“Clark?” You managed to catch him before he hung up.
“Yeah?”
“I missed you,” you smiled, knowing he smiled too. And in just a few minutes, you will be able to see that smile for real again.
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Let me know how you liked it with like, comment and repost!
Thank you for all the support and let me know if you want a part two!
A/N: Hi guys! You absolutely loved the first part of this and I cannot express how happy that makes me :D I am so thankful for every reblog, like and comment! Here's the awaited part 2, I really hope you'll like it! Should there be a part 3?
Let me know ;D
Warning: !spoilers if you haven't read the first part!, slight hint of drugs and swear words
Special mentions: @merromimo , @justtrying2getby
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Cameras.
There were cameras everywhere as soon as you stepped out of the train. The citizens of Capitol had grouped around the station as if your arrival was worth looking at, and they certainly hadn't missed the show. Your breath hitched in your throat as soon as you saw the dark voids of lenses taking you in. They recorded your every step, which eventually led to tripping and falling off the last two stairs. They also manage to eternalise the way you landed into a pair of strong arms, the chuckle the person holding you made, and when you looked up, you saw the broad shoulders of Finnick Odair, covering you from the broadcast.
"Watch your step, honey," he whispered with a sly smirk, making you look up. Anger took over your previous shock. You knew you could easily be the talk of the Capitol. And you couldn't care less about their shenanigans as long as you had the promise of peace. Because you knew they couldn't hurt you any more than they had already done. They couldn't hurt you any more than your own district already did. But you didn't expect it from any of the victors. Not from Finnick Odair. Though the question making you go crazy at that moment was, what did you really expect?
You didn't expect of Finnick Odair to even glance your way, ever since you saw him in the Capitol after your games. Why he was there, you don't know. He acknowledged you a few times you happened to be at the same party in Capitol. You never expected him to approach you alone. Let alone, ask you on a date. And then bring the whole nation to come and watch your downfall. No, no matter what you had done in the past and how much you had come to despise your life, you would never allow anyone to drag you down like this. You had your pride to keep that for yourself.
And that pride led you to a small dimly lit room, somewhere near the station. Your memories were blurred by the red that kept colouring your sight, your chest rising up and down rapidly, with your loud huffs of air that fell on the face in front of you. He barely breathed as you held a small knife to his throat, his hands up in surrender, but that smile, that smirk on his face, you couldn't wipe it away even with a dagger threatening his thread of life to be cut. He was a victor too, after all, but you refused to step away now. "When you approached me," you started, still panting. "I thought you confused me with someone else. When you asked me out on a date, I thought you had to be totally wasted,"
"But you came-" Finnick hissed, making you push the cold metal against his neck even more, shutting him up. "I came because I never expected you to be so out of your fucking mind!" you retorted, your voice louder. The truth was, you didn't know why you came. You thought he might really have taken an interest in you. Was it that bad? To finally be able to escape your life in your district? No more spitting on you on the streets, no more threats, no more surviving. But as the seconds went by, you were more and more convinced that was the life you deserved.
Meanwhile, Finnick was panicking inside. This was not how he imagined it to be, your dagger on his throat, the cold metal slowly grazing his dead skin cells before it could dig into his nerves and veins. He was so caught up in himself, so naive, thinking you would just roll with all of this. Now he thought you might stab him. Your guard was up, the smile from before was gone, it was replaced by anger, fury and... fear. You were scared. So was he. He could play on that.
"I'm not out of my mind, sugar, you don't have to worry about that. And you don't have to worry about them," he nodded towards the locked door. "They won't hurt you anymore," His eyes softened as he spoke. If you could just play this with him, they will hurt neither of you.
Your eyes widened. "I'm not... I'm not worried about them," you relaxed your grip. And you noticed; Finnick did not take advantage of that. Then you let him go completely and he bent down, caressing his sore throat. "You have a nice grip," he nodded.
But you stayed silent, watching him warily. "I swear, I won't hurt you," he extended his arms to you. You blinked a few times before your muscles relaxed. You haven't heard that sentence in 2 years. How refreshing, to have someone say that. But at what cost. "What do you want then?" you asked, still not letting him close enough. He smiled, gently. "You remember Katniss and Peeta?"
"The new victors?"
"Yes. I know how they survived this. We can do that too," he spoke softly, each word a seed in your heart, setting it ablaze. "How?" you asked too eagerly. "We will become star-crossed lovers ourselves," You gulped.
"Trust me."
He took your hand, opening the door to the outside. There were people on the sunlit streets, your hand in his soon enough catching their attention. You looked around, noticing their curious glances, the lifted eyebrows, faces of amusement. They wanted this.
Finnick spun you to face him, placing his palms firmly against your cheeks. "Do we have a deal?"
"Yes," you whispered, and with that, he pulled you in. Butterflies exploded in your stomach, his lips tasting sugar and ocean salt at the same time. They created a taste you could never forget.
And if there was one thing you had to give to Finnick Odair, it was his charm. He did keep his word. He wooed you with just one date.
And that's how you happened to end up here. It took a few weeks, a few meetings, a bunch of interviews and you stood in one of the rooms in one of Capitol's mansions, the party downstairs at its peak. It took you a few kisses too, but you didn't dare to admit that it was your favorite part.
A subtle knock on your door made you turn around as you tried to finish zipping up your dress. "Come in," you said, immediately smiling when you met Finnick's dark brown eyes. "Ready?" he asked, but you hesitated. "I don't know, I mean, what if they-"
"Hey, no what ifs, it's too late for that anyway," he came closer, placing his hands on your hips. "We'll just grab you a few drinks and you'll see how fast you'll relax," his warm breath tickled your ear as he turned your back to him, finishing your zip. "Finnick!" you hissed back instead of thank you, turning away to hide the redness on your cheeks. "I'm kidding! Just keep close to me and I'm sure you'll have the time of your life,"
"Yeah, can't wait for that," you mumbled as he gasped dramatically, your hand already in his, dragging you out and to the party.
As always, your entrance brought all the attention to you. It was like as soon as you started to appear with Finnick, his beams seemed to shine out of you too. He switched his grasp from your hand to your lower back, guiding you through the crowd, looking forward as if none of them existed. And everything seemed fine, until people actually started approaching you. You were terrified, unable to count how many times Finnick had to nudge you to relax before you could deprive his arm of any blood flow. Soon enough he was handing you a pink drink he fetched from the waiter, making you relax with every sip.
"Sleepless pills," one of the colorful guests smiled at you.
"Huh?" you managed to say back.
"It's a new pill from Capitol! Why sleep when you can eat this and stay up all night? Without feeling tired?" the woman squealed together with the man next to her. You looked up at Finnick to exchange shocked glances before you excused yourself, your head spinning, Finnick following you right after. "This is sick," you stated, leaning against one of the tables for support.
"I'm trying to catch at least a few hours of sleep every night and they are creating pills to avoid it?" you couldn't believe the words you had just heard.
"Don't mind them, Y/n, you know they will never know what it is like," Finnick caressed your back gently, but his words and alcohol only made you angrier.
"I think I need a minute," you breathed heavily, looking away from Finnick and down to the floor. "Should I get you water or something?" you heard him say, his words coming in muffled. You dragged yourself to the wall near you, sliding down your back and onto the floor.
"I will get you-" you couldn't hear the rest, looking up and watching as Finnick's black suit disappeared in the crowd of walking rainbows. Then everything went dark.
When Finnick came back with water, you weren't there. In fact, you completely disappeared out of the hall. He looked around in panic, your name slipping down his tongue. He was ready to shout it at the crowd, maybe they noticed something while sipping the purple liquid...
Your drink was pink.
Finnick's face turned pale with realisation. And then he was shoving his way through the guests and out of the hall.
Summary: You meet Coriolanus Snow during his service as a Peacekeeper in the 12th district. The 10th Hunger Games were forgotten, Lucy Gray was gone and Snow is now stuck with someone who promises a fair company. What looks like a happy ending can easily turn into an ugly betrayal. All it takes is a click of a device.
A/N: Happy holidays everyone! Stay safe, lots of love and if you like my work feel free to like reblog and comment! :)
Also if you want to ask me anything -> /ask
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Coriolanus Snow served his time in District 12, mostly bored out of his mind. He tried to accompany other Peacekeepers to the bar every evening in search of at least some fun, just for his eyes to find the podium and fall on the victor of the 10th Hunger Games. He gritted his teeth as Lucy Gray left the podium, performing another of her songs like always. Not a glance spared his way.
Instead, she threw herself onto a nearby chair, stuffing her mouth with a small piece of meat she got for her performance. Her fingers dug into the bone. Her lips were smeared with grease. A wave of disgust rose in him, sending shivers down his whole being. She was a victor. How could she live like this? How could she just come back and live her ordinary and poor life after what she has been through? And how could she treat him like a ghost? After what he had done for her?
While there was disgust in Snow, there was never an ounce of anger. After all, if it wasn't for Highbottom, he would be in Capitol holding his prize, knowing damn well he played the same games as she did. That's just how it was. And if Lucy Gray hadn't known how to play the game, she wouldn't have been a victor. But the game was over, Lucy Gray was rather forgotten and so was he, now stuck in the poorest district, forced to do the dirtiest work, his ego hurting every time he looked around, knowing very well he did not belong here, at least not like Sejanus seemed to.
It was a sunny day when Snow creeped out of the centre of the 12th and towards the flower-covered Meadow. His heart was beating out of his chest as his legs carried him down the hill to a lonesome tree, watching over the rest of the woods down in the alley. It was where he spoke with Lucy Gray for the last time. He came unarmed, relying on the completely abandoned stones under the tree. Yet, they weren't. Not really.
"You can go keep peace where it's actually wanted," a voice from above made him jump up. His right hand immediately reached for the absent belt on his hips. He almost forgot he didn't bring his gun, didn't think he needed it. As his eyes slowly scanned the tree trunk from the roots to the branches, he noticed a sly smirk flashing between the greenery of the tree's leaves. The intruder seemed to be amused by his scare. He couldn't help but frown in confusion as a disobedient smirk already sat on his lips. How did he not notice?
"Got you good, huh?" the person spoke once again, now their voice coming from in front of him, accompanied by an intentionally loud thud that made him jump once again, this time his palm reaching for his heart.
His widened eyes scanned the person that now stood steadily on the ground, already knowing they had to be from the Covey. The pieces of colourful fabric that covered their body, matched with the green of the forest and the occassional bright colour of the flowers. The crown on their head was made of early dandelions. And the fact that no one in their right mind except the Covey would dare to stray so far away from the District's centre, gave Coriolanus a clear answer who this person was.
But Coriolanus knew he was an exception as well. He also dared to stray this far away.
"Do you greet everyone like this?" he breathed out the air he was holding in his lungs up until now.
"No, just lost peacekeepers who seem to get in the way," you shrugged, already taking him in from head to toe. No weapons, but white hair cut into a buzzcut which would sort him into the peacekeeper's family immediately, if his uniform wasn't giving that out already. It made you scoff.
"You shouldn't be here," the peacekeeper's voice broke the silence. "I could call the others if I wanted to," he threatened, but it only made you laugh out loud, your melodic laughter catching the attention of the birds around.
"What's so funny?" you looked back at the man in front of you, only to find his composure completely serious, almost as if he meant everything he said. "You cannot do anything here," you spoke, the giggles still hearable in your voice. "You shouldn't be here as well,"
"But neither should you," the blond repeated once again.. "Covey is way lower in the alley, you barely come here,"
"They barely do. Let's say I come here a bit more, alone," your voice got lost in the breeze around you as your last few words turned into a whisper. Nevertheless, you straightened up your posture, waiting for the peacekeeper's next words, ready to flee if needed.
"Coriolanus Snow," was what came from between his lips. Your eyes widened. "That's my name," Coriolanus felt like he had to explain, based on your confused expression. "Y/n," you let out, not believing your own ears. A mischievous smile painted his lips, "Well, Y/n, what now? I like to come here alone too,"
If someone had told you a peacekeeper would accompany you through your days in the Meadow, you would laugh into their face. There was no way. But Coriolanus turned out to be different. He started to talk to you about how it was in the Capitol. You started to teach him how to survive in the wild.
"Don't eat that!" you scolded him once as you walked through the trees, hiding from the hot flames of the sun's beams. "That's nightlock! You could be dead in a minute," you found yourself screaming, smearing the juice of the berries on his hands, trying to get rid of the deadly fruit.
"I... didn't know. They looked like the berries you showed me the other day," he said, stunned, staring at the dark purple on his hands.
"They do, but they are not. Let's get you cleaned," you grabbed his hand, the paint smearing your hand too. You dragged him deeper into the woods, the trees thickening. But they were no escape from the hotness now, its source coming from your hands intertwined together, his piercing gaze burning the tips of your ears.
You soon found out you were drawn closer to the convicted ex-citizen of Capitol, and he was too, something you never imagined, even in your wildest dreams.
"If you could be anywhere but here, where would you go?" he asked you once, his curious eyes watching you. "I would just disappear to the woods," you hummed. You didn't notice his subtle smile dropping. "What about you?" you asked Coriolanus, taking in his strong features in the setting sun. The orange brought a bit of warmth into his usually cold stare.
"Woods sound nice. But I don't think it's my forte," he mumbled, his eyes already stuck on you. "I will have to be careful about the nightlock. And what would I do when you leave?" his fingers crept up your neck, sending shivers through you, but you let him, wondering how far they would dare to go.
"You could come. I would have shown you everything," you found yourself whispering once again, but he could hear you.
"I think with you I could," he whispered back, the breeze bringing his voice to you before it was locked between your lips, moving against each other, dancing like the leaves in the wind. There was no more Lucy Grey on his mind, and maybe he was actually willing to throw away his Capitol dream for a time in the woods with you. Because he didn't think he had a shot at coming back to the Capitol.
After a while, Coriolanus brought a friend of his, Sejanus. And although you found yourself a bit bitter about it, he started to become your company more and more by day. But he also started to grow closer to your heart.
"What would you do if you could go anywhere you wanted to, Sejanus?" you asked in the middle of the night, hanging from the tree as Sejanus looked up at you.
"I would go see my parents," he spoke softly. And then he added, "I can't visit them and I wish I could. But it's okay. I am fine with where I am right now, as long as I am free from the Capitol,"
Your eyes darted to the blond but Coryo just laughed.
Sejanus didn't.
Coriolanus leaned himself against the wooden cage full of birds they came to catch. You couldn't remember the name, but he told you they were mutts, destroying nature, creating mutations.
"We will run," Sejanus started. A silence fell upon you three. Then a subtle click sounded in the air and Sejanus continued. "I spoke with some people from the district. We will rescue Lil and escape through the loose fence," Again, all of you fell silent. Your heartbeat rose. "What?" you whispered to the night but Coryo cut you off. "You won't survive a minute there, Sejanus, you're from Capitol-"
"I'm a good shot," you watched Sejanus turn to Coriolanus, both their glances determined to convince the other. A good shot. You thought, soon enough realising. The rebels have guns.
"Why are you saying this?" Coriolanus asked out loud, his voice cold.
"It's us, together, remember? You are my friend," you watched Sejanus' lips spread into what looked like a smile in the moonlight. You couldn't help but smile too. This might be your chance.
"There is a new bird in the woods. I think I saw it before, but I don't remember where," you commented on one of your casual walks with Snow a few days later. He arched his eyebrow but didn't act surprised at all. Yet, he still asked. "Really? Which one?" he said, almost uninterested, lost in his thoughts. "That one," you stopped in your tracks, making his stiff body bump into you. He hissed before looking up, his fingers unconsciously wrapping around your wrist.
"Oh, you mean Jabberjays?" he whispered, making you gasp. You found yourself backed up against the tree trunk, your left wrist pinned against the hard bark, Coryo's hand already on your collarbone, slowly sneaking up your neck like a snake. Your right hand automatically fell on his hip.
"Yes, Jabberjays," you repeated, your face brightening, hearing something click. Suddenly, your voice spread through the air, repeating the same word billions of times. "We were here to capture them, remember?" Coryo spoke through the mimic of your voice, so similar, you almost thought your mouth must have kept on going. Your hand travelled to his arm, and down to his fingers, holding something. You hugged his hand in yours slowly picking it up, while withholding eye contact, his bright blue eyes sending cold down your body as usual.
"And this is how you set them off, right?" his fingers let go of the device under the touch of your fingers. "This is what they used during the revolution," your voice was now all quiet as you turned the device off. "They used it to spy on people,"
"On rebels," Coryo nodded, drawing closer.
"Are they spying on us now?" you looked up, stopping him with your gaze. He looked up, staring at you intently, switching between your eyes and lips.
"Could they hear about our escape?" and before you could ask anything else, his lips were on yours once again, their warmth contrasting to his always freezing gaze. His hand around your neck, becoming tighter with every graze, his movements more passionate.
"Coryo," you breathed. He smirked at the nickname but didn't answer and shut you up with more kisses. "Coriolanus," you tried again but to no avail. "Coriolanus Snow," you finally spoke out loud, making him groan.
"You need to go," he frowned at your statement. "Duty calls?" you smiled a bit at his state, his eyes widening as he realised he was about to be late. "See you by the tree," were the words he spoke before he rushed out of the woods. Leaving you alone, with the small device still in your hand.
You waited. You waited for days, but there was no sign of Coriolanus nor Sejanus. You almost forgot how it was to spend your days alone, sitting in the crown of the tree, your only company the birds flying around. Suddenly you took notice of the Jabberjays and Mockingjays, spending your time saying something, making Jabberjays say it back and watching as the Mockingjays repeated the intonation of your voice.
But after a few hours, you couldn't keep on going. You found it foreign and scary, how well the Jabberjays repeated what you wanted them to. Their eyes were empty, looking almost pointless when they didn't have anything to repeat. But one day, there were no Jays to keep you company. There was no sun, no breeze. Just silence. Everywhere.
You found it disturbing. For the first time in your life, you willingly made your way to the centre of District 12. But you found it empty just the same. Except for the square by the hanging tree. And then you realised.
You wanted to run away badly, kept ordering your feet to turn around and flee, knowing you were never the type to digest the hanging. But you didn't stop, no, you kept going until you arrived, standing in the audience on one of the stairs above the crowd, your eyes darting to the boy standing under one of the branches. His dark eyes screamed in fear with dark messy curls falling into them, occasionally silencing his already silent pleads. Your stomach turned. Sejanus.
But why? Why would they hang him? He was a peacekeeper, he did his job well. The only thing you knew was unpopular with the peacekeepers, was befriending the district's citizens. But they all did, they were all poor just the same.
There was a woman on the other side of the tree. You recognised her. Her husband was hanged a while ago, you heard. Her name was Lil? One of the rebels. And you started to understand.
You found Coryo pretty quickly. After all, he was standing right under the tree. Gun in his hand. His eyes trained somewhere in the distance. At you. Coriolanus Snow kept his composure, not an ounce of expression on his face. How could he stand there? Without moving? How could he not protest against the death of his friend? Wasn't he, too, supposed to run away with them? Run away...
You were brought back to the night Sejanus told him about the plan. There was a click, a cage full of birds you couldn't remember, until Coriolanus told you days later, that Jabberjays, they are able to copy exactly what you say if you use the device to record. The device you held in your hand, tied to the birds sitting on the tree.
Peacekeepers keeping peace under it with two rebels about to be hung. Jabberjays and Mockingjays, all together, one created by Capitol, the other by the district. Your fingers moved in your pocket, you heard the click as a thick rope was thrown over Sejanus' throat.
"No!" he yelled out. "Ma! No, please, Ma! Help me Ma!" his screams filled the air, sending shivers of terror down everyone's spine. Except Coriolanus Snow, who didn't move, his eyes stuck on you, your hand, the black device in it. Small tears formed in his eyes as the sound of rope tightening filled the air, the sound of wood falling to the lower platform, Sejanus' screams never falling silent, filling the branches above his head.
The Jabberjays screamed, the Mockingjays mocking them and with the return of the wind, you were gone, away from the district, away from the lonesome tree, away from Coriolanus Snow, away from the device created by Capitol.
Summary: In a world where nobody remembers who Peter Parker is, the poor boy is slowly building his life again, especially when it comes to MJ. He hopes to gradually restore their lost relationship when he meets another girl, a new contact he didn't know he needed.
Warning: This is part 2 of the story New Contacts
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Two weeks flew by quicker than you thought and what was originally supposed to be one-time tutoring for Peter Parker turned out to be a whole set of study sessions for your exams and projects, flavoured by the constant help from Peter. You found yourself wandering how did this guy not attend MIT with you, or maybe even Harvard, when he was so effortlessly grasping topics that took you weeks to figure out.
"I hate this professor," you mumbled once, sitting on his couch as he sat on a pillow on the other side of the table, tugging on your physics book. "Why?" he chuckled, pulling it out completely and opening it on a random page, breezing through the tiny printed words. "He made me do this absolutely impossible project because I was ten minutes late. Ten minutes! And he knows how much I suck at physics, so he's basically giving me hell like every lesson!" you threw your arms into the air in frustration, letting them fall down with a loud thud against the couch.
"Why do you take his subject then, if you don't like it that much?" you met Peter's dark chocolate eyes staring at you from behind the book. "My parents want me to be an engineer," you sighed. "Said I needed a proper job instead of-"
"A waitress," he cut you off, earning a pillow flying above the table, aimed for his head.
"No," you chuckled, looking away from his sweet smile that always managed to capture you too much. "No, I was thinking of making it to Brodway one day. I used to write small plays for my elementary school and highschool, thinking that maybe one day they could be plastered on the bilboards of New York City,"
Peter watched your eyes get lost in the view of his window, the roofs of millions of buildings in Queens visible from where you were sitting. "Who says they couldn't be? One day?" your were brought back by his soft voice, making you smile sadly. "My parents," you commented, leaving him with nothing to say as he knew that fear of disappointing his loved ones. Yet, he still knew he had to choose his heart. And he thought that you should know it too.
"You should follow your heart," he broke the silence between the two of you, his words creating another smile on your lips, this time a rather sarcastic one. "Okay, Disney princess," you joked, getting the lost pillow thrown back at you. "I might, once you tell me why didn't you follow your heart to MIT. You're obviouly a nerd and you know your way around this... stuff," you gestured at the opened books in front of you, mere look on them making you shiver in disgust. "I'm not a nerd," Peter immediately shook his head.
"Really? Tell me the name of a certain math term defined as 'a rectangular array or table of numbers, symbols, or expressions, arranged in rows and columns'," you lifted your eyebrow. "Matrix," Peter said without missing a beat. "And what planet is Chewbacca from?"
"Kashyyyk," you nodded, Peter's immediate responses only proving your point as a victorious grin spread across your face. "Bingo," Peter scrunched his nose as you moved your body in a small victory dance, taking a sip from one of the two glasses full of strawberry milkshake on the table.
"So now, spill the beans, why aren't you studying at MIT?" you watched as Peter's posture slumped just like the first time you met him in the cafeteria, his eyes suddenly thousand miles away, lost in his complicated mind. "I almost was," he spoke up after a while, his voice quiet. "I applied and I got in... They just lost me," he breathed out a heavy breath that seemed to be stuck in him this whole time. He technically didn't lie, they did lose him, as in any information about him, just like everyone on this world. And despite the weight it has put on his shoulders, he seemed to breathe a bit lighter once it was out.
"I'm so sorry," you muttered, feeling bad for pushing a topic that was clearly sensitive for him. "Are you thinking of applying again?"
"Only if you submit one of your plays to Broadway," he grinned. "Maybe a smaller theater for the starter?" you smiled back helplessly, sighing in relief as he nodded, and stuck out your pinky. "Promise," he tied your pinky with his, sending warmth from his skin to your whole body. "Deal,"
"How was the vacation?" you asked, turning your head a bit to see MJ on the other side of the cafeteria. "It was good, had a lot of fun with everyone, until our car broke down," she shrugged, unphased by your shocked expression. "And I suppose everything ended well, since you're here safe and healthy, or am I talking to a ghost?" you joked, earning a small chuckle from your colleague. "Ned's grandma alarmed their neighbour to come and pick us up," MJ shrugged, joining you at the mixer.
"Why two glasses? Thought you were doing a milkshake for yourself?" she shouted through the mixer you manged to turn on with a pink mess turning inside. "For Peter," you yelled back, the bell at the door jingling as soon as you turned the gadget off, the mentioned brown haired boy skipping inside.
"Guess who applied!" he put his phone in front of you, barely registering MJ standing next to you, watching him in surprise. You gasped as you read that his application was sent successfully, pushing yourself over the counter with one hand to hug him with the other, Peter reciprocating the hug tightly. "Now, where's the play?" he smirked, making you shake your head. "That will come after the physics project. Can you imagine what he told me? That apparently my, well, your idea wasn't enough and I should use real physics as a base for this project," you groaned, remembering the talk from your physics teacher that kept bothering you the whole day. "He's such a jerk, but we'll figure something out! If he wants real physics we better give him one," he winked, making a small giggle escape your lips.
"I didn't know you two are friends," MJ's voice made both of you turn to her, meeting her confused eyes jumping from him to you. "MJ," Peter breathed out a bit of air, the rest getting stuck in his throat as he didn't know what to say. You looked at him, a bit confused what to do before MJ opened her mouth again.
"Chocolate moccha for you as usual, Peter?" she watched as Peter's eyes fell on the two glasses of strawberry milkshake you were holding, the drink now becoming a tradition after two weeks of drinking it with you. "I'll have it later, thank you," he nodded back at MJ politely, taking a glass from you.
You watched in shock as MJ turned away immediately, Peter's lips parting to release the rest of the breath he was holding. "Peter," you spoke up, feeling there was something between them you might have interrupted when an interruption of your worried thoughts came in a form Peter's gentle smile. "I will talk to her later, for now I have you and your strawberry milkshake,"
A/N: I honestly REALLY like this prompt and felt like it could work for Finnick! It's a bit too sudden, but I think that's kind of the charm of this whole idea, sudden, unexcpected but exciting ;) I might make a part two cause I think I built too good of a background for reader (at least in my mind) so please let me know how you like it!
Warning: a bit of swearing and mention of killing if you squint
Prompt: “I need just one date.”
“You think you can woo me with just one date?”
“Absolutely.”
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It has been years since the perfectly arranged hell for Finnick Odair had started. But who would have thought about it? That the Capitol's sweetheart, the youngest victor who stole thousands of hearts across the whole country, now suffered in the wealthiest part of Panem? Unimaginable. To be drowned in gold and washed in blessings, to wake up every day and have his plate filled with food and enough water to drink and bathe in, even for the whole day if he wanted but hate every single minute of it.
And though it was hard to grasp, that was Finnick Odair's case. Because Finnick dreaded every upcoming moment of his life since he was brought from his games as the victor, the survivor. The bloodthirsty drive to live, once warming his heart that followed him through each step in the arena, has now subsided, trapped by an iron fist of fear and desperation.
He could vaguely remember the first time those feelings had settled in, spreading through his veins like poison as he left his firts customer's bedroom, making him loathe every breath taken in and out by his body ever since. That's when he knew he would have thrown everything beautiful about his victorious survival just so he could live again. But that just wasn't the case for Finnick Odair, it simply wasn't his fate. And while his life was partially in his hands, he mostly felt like the blood of whatever part of himself he had killed was preventing him from moving on, from fighting. Maybe he grew tired of it. Maybe he thought he had enough of fighting for his whole lifetime.
He watched from afar, how fond the Capitol had become of District 12's star-crossed lovers, Katniss and Peeta. And for the first time ever since he was 16, something had awakened in him, a hope, that maybe this could be the end of his show. That maybe the citizens of Capitol had found someone else to watch and obsess about and he could finally be free. But that thing, that hope, was killed before it could even be aflame.
As he turned around from the glamorous couple, his eyes fell on the darkened blue ones, hidden like snakes in the snow made of white hair. The disgust, the abomination, the darkness screaming nothing but death brought Finnick to the harsh reality, once his gaze was met with Snow's. He was never getting out of this train. Not alive.
Until the spark inside him ignited again.
It was the meeting of the previous victors, one to which the new love-struck victors were not invited, yet they still happened to be the centre of its talks. Thankfully, the space was filled with only the comfort of people Finnick had known for a while and who had known him. There was a certain silent alliance the victors had built over the years. As he passed the familiar faces, sending polite smiles here and there, he caught a face that was very unfamiliar to him. You were new there, you have won only two years prior to Katniss and Peeta, the 72nd hunger games, which happened to be the opposite of the 74th year's sensation.
Finnick could remember meeting you in the Capitol, you're terrified tearfilled eyes meeting his, billions of questions behind them making his stomach turn there and then. But now you seemed just stiff, your guard high up. He would even go to the lenghts of saying you had an intimidating aura around you.
You could feel his stare burning your skin, so you turned around to face him, your mouth shaping into a genuine smile as soon as you saw him, your eyes sparkling in recognition. That's what he was talking about. All that pressuring shell fell right apart when you smiled or opened your mouth, earning you tons of sponsors back in your games. When you sent him your smile through your tears back then, Finnick could feel the butterflies rummaging through his guts. "Who are you staring at, Finnick Odair," Johanna's low voice beisde his ear made Finnick jump. "Johanna," he groaned, rolling his eyes as his right hand fell on his heart.
"The deceitful seemed to have caught you're eye, hm?" That was your nickname. The deceitful victor. Finnick remembered the talks once your games were over. You were called two-faced, a liar, and while some of the Capitol's people found this feature of yours absolutely unacceptable, others found it intruiging. After all it was thanks to your deceit, that you had won.
"They just seem rather... lost," he hummed, shrugging it off and turning to face Johanna fully. "Didn't expect you to come here,"
"Neither did I myself," she snapped back, looking behind her. "Blight dragged me here," Her piercing eyes slowly turned back, burning a hole in Finnick's face, the sole proof of the little affection the woman had towards him. "Charming. Make sure to say hi from me," Finnick grinned as Johanna scoffed, placing her hand on her hip and rolling her eyes dramatically. He could only nod, leaving the victor from the 7th District be as he made his way through the party again.
"They just did it right," one of the men in the group behind Finnick stated loudly, alcohol audible on his tongue by the volume of his voice. "Getting Capitol into their story, creating a perfect ballad except both of them survived to live the happily ever after," Finnick stopped in his tracks, the glass full of liquid spilling a bit on the grass under him, as he halted too quickly, not entirely sober either. He groaned as some of the drink got on his shoes but it didn't stop him from listening closely. "Do you get it? They are not harrassed by Snow or anyone, except the Capitol's undying obssession. They just continued to live in District 12, leaving as if nothing happened, as if they haven't just dismissed the whole history of the hunger games," a woman shrieked. Finnick smirked. Imagine leaving like nothing happened. That would be nice.
"That would be nice," another boy voiced the same thought. "To leave and spend your life with someone like that. They survive the games with you so you have someone to lean on, support, love, Capitol doesn't bother you that much, just to see what you already do naturally, it's-"
Freedom, was the word on Finnick's tongue. He didn't hear the rest of the sentence as it was drowned out by the sound of Finnick's blood flowing, his heart beating out of his chest as his eyes widened. Freedom, support, protection- no more abuse, no more hell, just peace. Finally, a bit of peace for Finnick Odair. His head spinned, his stomach turning from the sudden imagination, a certain heat spreading through his body, coming from his chest. The flame burned, burned in his eyes as he looked around, his eyes falling on you.
You were perfect. Capitol didn't have an exact opinion on you which was hurting your reputation as one of the victors. You could use some of those blessings Finnick was showered with daily. And he could use you. As his freedom.
His fast loud steps made you turn just before he stopped inches away from you, his feet rocking him back and forth for a while until he stabilised himself. You smirked as you thought about whether he was drunk, wanting to talk with you, but you were sure he had to be when his words hit your ears.
"Come on a date with me,"
You couldn't help but let out a loud snort, immediately clasping your hand over your mouth, the noise still audible. "What the fuck," your eyes landed back on his, the dark browns burning like two coals. "You're serious?" you stopped laughing, your eyes widening at him. "Yes," he nodded, falling silent again, waiting for your answer. "Why?" was another question that slipped out of your mind. You seemed to have caught him off guard, his right leg now tapping nervously. It was a good question. He didn't know himself, why, he just knew he was drunk enough to come up with such idea and sober enough to make it work. But he didn't think of you're answer taking so long. And you partially enjoyed it, finally seeing that confident Finnick Odair uneasy, his state suddenly depending on your answer. It made you wonder what was in it for him.
"Why not?" he finally spoke, voice raspy.
"Why yes?" you retorted back, making him roll his eyes. "We barely know each other, and correct me if I'm wrong, but this is actually about fifth time in our lives we even acknowledged each other,"
"So? Please, Y/n. I need just one date," he groaned, taking a step closer, you refusing to back away. It was always games, everywhere you went, the play never stopped.
"You think you can woo me with just one date?" you lifted your eyebrow in disbelief.
Summary: In a world where nobody remembers who Peter Parker is, the poor boy is slowly building his life again, especially when it comes to MJ. He hopes to gradually restore their lost relationship when he meets another girl, a new contact he didn't know he needed.
Warning: Spiderman No Way Home spoilers but honestly, who hasn't seen that masterpiece at this point???
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"Aaand you're back," MJ commented as her regular customer entered the cafeteria she worked part-time in. It was about 2 months since this mysterious boy entered the place for the first time, his actions rather odd at that time. MJ could recall the way his puppy dog eyes stared at her for good 20 minutes before he blabbered out his order. And even then his dark brown eyes hadn't left her, following her behind the counter as she served him and other customers.
"Hey," he waved his hand at her quickly as usual before glueing himself behind the computer in front of her. He comfortably leaned both his hands on the wooden counter, rubbing his palms and sucking his lower lip as he glanced at the early summer offer filled with new special drinks. "You're gonna have chocolate moccha, right?" her quiet voice caught his attention, a small smile playing on his lips as he nodded. "You know it!" he grinned as she smiled back, pushing himself away from the counter. He sat at a small table in the corner of the cafe, where he had the best view of the whole counter.
While waiting for his coffee to be served by his former girlfriend who has forgotten him, Peter resolved to playing on his phone, checking the push notification of breaking news he got, one more bizarre than the other.
However, he didn't forget to check on MJ taking orders whilst she made his chocolate moccha, occassionally catching her eyes meeting his as he found her staring at him from time to time, making heat spread from his ears to his cheeks. Each time her lips broke into a small smile. Peter waved and smiled back, boping his head into the beat of the song coming from the speakers, when his phone buzzed.
Another notification interrupted him, making him jump from his seat, startling MJ who was just now bringing him his coffee. "I gotta go, sorry, thanks for the coffee, I'll drink it later!" he managed to spit out before his feet sent him flying across the cafe and out the door to the street, his heart cursing his unstable job more than ever.
"And he's gone," MJ spoke to the empty chair she was now facing, letting out a loud sigh as her body relaxed again, her second hand holding the cup now letting it go as she took the money Peter left behind. No matter how many times he has ordered and disappeared like this, she could never get quite used to the oddness of the boy.
"Hi, I am so sorry about yesterday, my job-" Peter rushed into the shop the next day, an hour before MJ's shift was to end.
"Excuse me? Can I help you sir?"
He stopped in his tracks, completely freezing on the spot as his head turned to the counter as an unfamiliar voice found its way into his ear.. But today, despite the schedule Peter has studied thoroughly, the girl standing in front of him wasn't MJ. It wasn't her smile, it wasn't her voice, it wasn't her eyes looking at him with curiosity. No, this was someone else, a new girl he hasn't seen before but he already could tell that he didn't like her very much. Mostly because it was supposed to be MJ, and it wasn't. "I'm sorry," he managed to let out, finally moving from the front of the door. The girl tilted her head, one of her eyebrows rising while her polite smile seemed to be fighting with an amused one.
"That's okay, what can I get you?" she waved her hand, the polite shape her lips were stretched into staying on top. She watched as Peter eyed the offer, unbeknownst to her, waiting for MJ to tell him his usual offer but his eyes were gliding through the different colours and prizes of the drinks for too long now.
"The strawberry milkshake is one of the best," she leaned in, following her gaze to the summer offers, a small smirk on her lips. "Really?" Peter looked at her briefly, pulling back at the sudden closeness before getting back to the offer, his chocolate eyes now stuck on the strawberry milkshake. "Then one strawberry milkshake, please," he forced a sweet smile, cursing himself for not ordering a chocolate moccha he craved.
"It's my favorite," the waitress nodded, her teeth showing as she typed the order to the computer in front of her. "Mhm," Peter only brought himself to hum, eyes wandering all around the cafe, in hopes of spotting MJ cleaning tables or coming out of the storeroom. But she wasn't in today.
"Where's MJ?" he found himself asking, eyes still looking at everything else but the girl in front of him. "She's not working today. Why?" he got back another question, his eyes finally meeting the girl's wary ones. "She was supposed to help me study," Peter came up with the first lie he thought about, immediately face-palming himself in his head. Yeah, sure, study, when he wasn't even attending a proper college. Yet, it seemed to convince her.
"Really? That's odd. She's on a vacation with her friends for next two weeks, so I don't get why she would offer you tutoring knowing she would be gone," the waitress raised her eyebrows, moving from the computer to the mixer, Peter finding himself following her unconciously, his eyes now stuck on her, beggin for answers. "With her... friends?"
"Yeah? Aren't you... friends?" The loud sound of the mixer cut Peter out before he could say anything back, making him stare at the moving mixture, contemplating his answer.
"I guess not... We don't have that much contact," he sighed sadly once the noise had stopped, the girl turning around just to watch his shoulders slump down as he sat by the wooden counter this time, completely ignoring his usual spot. "I'm sorry..." she hummed, pouring the milkshake to the glass in front of her.
"Maybe you should find some new contacts," her voice made him lift his head, watching her as she handed him the drink, taking it when the sun from outside broke through the windows to light her up in its beams, all this for Peter to watch as a sweet strawberry taste from the straw spread on his tongue, bringing him to hum quietly in satisfaction. Her smile widened at his response. "Told you," she winked at him before getting back to work. And in that moment, he couldn't help but agree. The strawberry milkshake was truly one of the best he ever had.
"I attend MIT as well," the girly voice broke him out of scrolling through his phone mindlessly, the waitress standing in front of him once again. "So, if you need any help, let me know," a hand appeared next to his drink, sliding a small paper towards him with a name and a phone number. "I'm Y/n," he looked up to find her with an extended hand towards him again. "You're new contact,"
That evening Peter found himself contemplating whether to call you or not. He held the small folded paper in his pocket on the whole way home, placing it on top of the books on his table as soon as he got into his small apartment. He stared at it for hours, picking up his phone from time to time, wishing he could text Ned or even MJ about it, but he couldn't. He didn't have their contacts, he had no one, there was only one phone number on his contact list and that was the old cellphone of aunt May, now lying somewhere under the ruins of their old apartment building. And that meant no one. He had no one.
A/N: Hiii, so yeah, this is basically my first post of a one-shot I wrote like a year ago but I am still proud of it to this day. At first it was written based on D'Artagnan from the movie The Three Musketeers but later on I realised that it works perfectly with the one from the series as well so you got both of them here haha. I also decided to leave this in a 3rd pov despite reader's involvement in this story. Anyway, please enjoy and let me know how you like it ;D
Warning: none it's just fluff
Summary: D'Artagnan and his wife wake up to another morning in their bed until they realise the daunting truth of what is to come.
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Another cold morning had hit the residents of Paris. The early busy streets were haunted by a mysterious fog and the warm breaths of people talking with each other in hopes of buying something for what little they had. Amongst the civilians, a bunch of feathered hats moved around. The musketeers, the pride and joy of the King's army, were up early and ready to protect their country and their King. All of them but one.
She pulled her bedsheets up, trying to hide from the merciless cold that had crept into her usually warm bedroom. She could use the feeling of his body to fight the cold but found no strength to search for his touch as her place in the bed was partially warmed up by her. As if her thoughts called him, his arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer to his chest. It felt just like the usual morning they were to spend together. Except it wasn't.
The reality hit her like a wild horse and broke all of her dreams of a lovely morning into pieces. "Charles," she croaked. There was no response but she knew he was up, he was a light sleeper, his profession made him to be one. "Charles," she tried again. A sound returned to her voice and finally hit his ears as he snuggled closer to the crook of her neck.
"Oui, mon ange?" he mumbled against her skin, placing a small kiss. It was prickling like a needle as she slowly realized it might have been one of the last kisses she was to receive from him.
"You have to go," her voice shook and she gulped, to swallow the lump in her throat caused by the urge to cry.
He groaned, realizing the truth as well, but choosing to ignore it in favor of more cuddles. "No, we still have time."
She sighed as she glanced at the clock, "No, we don't, the musketeers will be here any minute." She started wiggling, trying to break free from his grip that only tightened, making her break a smile whilst she kept on trying. "I have to prepare you a bath. And get your clothes,"
"No, you don't, I can do it later," he muttered sleepily, pulling her as close as physically possible.
"I do, or you'll have to go through the embarrassment of being dragged out of the bed naked by one of your brothers in arms," she giggled, hitting his hand which had proven to be the right method to make him let go.
"Please don't leave," he begged, setting off a tear down her cheek. However, it quickly dried as she gasped when the freezing air hit her skin, biting into every inch of her naked body.
She quickly dressed herself, and he, unbeknownst to her, was watching her with adoration. All of her motions, the way she tied her hair into a ponytail with a black tie, creating a small bowtie at the top. How she quickly put on her underwear to fight of the spreading goosebumps on her skin, small almost inaudible gasps escaping her lips with each movement. The way she perfectly slipped into the black dress he gave her last winter, the one she wore every time he had to leave her. And after all those times, he learned to despise the dress, wishing he never had given it to her. Wishing she never had to put it on, on another of those mornings.
As she left the room, it was as if a symphony he didn't even realise was enveloping his entire world came to a halt. But then her voice rang across the house and he found himself fighting the cold outside their bed just to get to her. As he washed, she made sure everything was ready for him. She always did. She didn't even forget the small package of food for the way, no matter how many times he had told her that Porthos would bring something. And every time, he made sure to eat everything she packed for him instead of what Porthos had brought.
He was drying himself up when he noticed the unusual silence coming from his significant other. "Why so silent, amour?"
"Just a lot of thoughts," she shrugged, forcing a smile onto her lips, even though her eyes glistened with tears.
His posture softened under her teary gaze, but it didn't stop him from his usual habits. "You don't have to mourn, you know I will be back," he grinned arrogantly, letting out his boyish attitude to reduce her worries. But it was very like him to laugh in the face of Death and then escape, no matter how carelessly he threads the line between life and death. She smiled honestly this time, a small giggle escaping her lips and he wished he could trap it in a jar and take it with him. She opened her mouth to retort back but was interrupted by a sharp knock on the door.
"D'Artagnan, you better not be sleeping or I will break this door down and drag your ass out whether it's naked or not! Athos is already waiting for us on the academy grounds." Aramis' voice roared from the outside. Her eyebrow lifted, glancing at D'Artagnan who was half naked with a towel in his hands. "I suppose you are at the risk of a major embarrassment."
"I'm not if my love makes sure to hold them up for me," he smirked devilishly as she rolled her eyes, already heading for the door. "Sometimes I wish to not do as you say and witness the actual threat getting fulfilled, I think I'd find it more than hilarious," she yelled at him in the middle of her tracks, a mischievous smile, he could see in his mind, painting her lips. "You wouldn't do me that dirty, you love me too much for something like that," he managed to answer while frantically trying to put on his pants.
"Do I really?" she teased, grabbing the door knob and twisting it.
"Hello, gentlemen," she smiled brightly at the two musketeers in front of her. They bowed their heads while holding their hats in an elegant matter, both smiling at her, Aramis appearing to be more joyful than any other time. "My lady."
"Definitely not yours!" D'Artagnan's voice thundered from the other room.
"She will be if you don't come out ready this instant!" Aramis snapped back, throwing a bold wink at the lady of the house. She could only roll her eyes at the cheesy gesture as she leaned on the door frame, preventing the two men from entering any further. She smiled politely. "You will have to forgive me, but I oppose to that idea, unfortunately,"
Aramis grabbed her hand and placed his lips on top of it. "Oh, what a shame, my gorgeous lady," he sighed after holding it for longer than appropriate, only making her chuckle.
"Fortunately!" Charles yelled out again.
"Mon amour, I cannot hold them much longer. Aramis is gonna be all over me if you don't get here soon," a smirk on her face met Aramis' similair one in front of her as Charles D'Artagnan appeared from behind her, accompanied by a loud crash.
He puffed out his chest after his 'graceful' entrance. "Weren't you the one who taught me not to profane the lady?" he send daggers Aramis' way, towering over the two of his friends, "And here you are, dragging my wife into whatever is going on in that head of yours. I think this matter cannot be resolved any other way than a proper fight upon our return," her eyes widened upon the words of her husband as she noticed the challenging sparks in the musketeers' eyes.
"In no way are you fighting after your return. I will be more than thankful to have you come in one piece after those few weeks so don't you even think about getting yourself killed the very next day," she turned around to fix his shirt and coat that was visibly put on in a hurry. However, she did not fail to handle his clothes with rough tugs, a heat rising in his chest from the warning fire in her eyes. "And you better not let him do anything stupid, I know he will try anyways," she turned around again, eyeing the other musketeers who bowed again under the urging flames.
"At your service, my lady," they smirked in Charles' face and set off running when he gave chase and chased them all the way to the front yard and to where the horses were already prepared to set off. She followed them, walking to the front yard slowly with a soft laugh but quieted the second she saw them by the horses. D'Artagnan was still with his feet on the ground and waiting for her with a glint in his eyes. Oh, how she was going to miss his dark loving eyes only ever laid on her and the warmth of his body on all of those winter mornings. Oh, how he was going to miss the sweet, sweet smile of hers and the way her voice sounded between the walls of their house. How he was never looking forward to the deafening silence around him without her presence, despite Porthos' mouth never shutting up during the missions. It was a list of unspoken vows they never told to each other out loud but they could always feel it, the way the world stopped at that very moment.
And without any wait, when she was within his reach, he pulled her into a bittersweet kiss, sending thousands of painful but sweet needles down their lips as both of them knew this may be their last. It was long, full of longing and pain, but mesmerising enough to deafen Aramis' scoff in the back. "Please don't leave," she begged after their lips finally parted, her forehead resting on his. She begged again after he hopped on his horse and again right before they departed. "You know I will come back," he reassured her. And yet, she kept on begging in silence, hoping that he would keep true to his word again just as he did up until now.
