Summary:your return home for the summer after your first year of college to find that little has changed or gotten better in your fractured family. (dilf!Thor, Loki)
Author’s Note: This is for @darkficsyouneveraskedfor ‘s pre code movie writing challenge. Reader is married with a young son and working at a popular nightclub in the 1930′s. Her husband is terribly sick and his new treatments are swiftly draining their meager savings. Desperate, she struggles to make ends meet with her waitressing job. Until a dangerous wealthy powerful up and coming politician named Loki Laufeyson becomes a regular patron. The unimpressed reader soon catches his eye and he offers her a way out of her money troubles. But how far is she willing to go to save her husband? This fic is very loosely inspired by the 1932 movie “Blonde Venus”.
Contains: coercion, extortion, implied noncon, dubcon, implied sexual content
“What are you saying Doctor?” You ask in a wavering voice as you hug Johnny to your chest. The unaware toddler mumbles quietly and plays with the ends of your hair with strawberry stained fingers. Down the hall, you can hear the assault of ragged wet coughs followed by horrible wheezing and you bite your lip in dread. The balding middle aged doctor gives the pair of you a look of sympathy before solemnly continuing.
“It seems like his condition has taken a turn for the worse. The infection has spread to his lungs and I fear your husband is not long for this world.”
You shake your head, refusing to believe it. “No please! There has to be something we can do! He has to get better. We-” you voice hitches and you feel your eyes water with desperation.
“The medical field has recently developed a new treatment for pneumonia called Sulfapyridine that may work to fight the infection. But it may be too late to help him. His symptoms have only worsened and it’s…rather expensive.” You don’t miss the brief albeit haughty glance around your homey yet common apartment. You bite your tongue at his callousness, wincing as Johnny yanks on your hair.
“Whatever it is, we’ll pay it. I’ll find a way if I have to work day and night.”
The doctor nods and places a reassuring hand on your shoulder. “Very well. I will write up a prescription and return in five days to administer. And I will leave you with the bill for today. Just…try to keep him as comfortable as you can. I’ve given him something to help him sleep so he should be out in a few minutes. Keep giving him fluids and monitoring him. And keep the little one away.” He punctuates this last line with a half-hearted ruffle through Johnny’s black curls. You can hear it in his voice. To him, Richard, is already dead. A lost cause and a waste of valuable resources. You don’t bother showing the doctor out, offering only a curt nod as he grabs his medical bag and walks out of your apartment.
You sigh and lean your head down to bury your nose in Johnny’s hair, being slightly comforted by the smell of talcum and baby powder. You feel him begin to sag in your arms as exhaustion begins to overwhelm him. Perfect timing because it was almost time for your next shift at Louie’s. You set Johnny carefully down in his playpen and go get dressed.
“Mabel, I can’t thank you enough for watching Johnny for me,” You say flustered as you gather your belongings for the night. Your sweet elderly neighbor waves you away with warm dismissal.
“Nonsense, dear, I’m happy to help. And little Johnny is just a delight.” She carefully picks the two year old up, her wrinkled face suddenly etched with worry. “What did the doctor say?”
You answer with a glum shake of your head. “It’s…not looking good. I have five days to come up with the money for a new treatment but…it sounds like the doctor has already given up on him.”
Mabel reaches out and places a small wrinkled hand on your shoulder. The metal from her many rings is cold on your bare shoulder.
“Oh you poor thing. I know it seems bleak, but I’m sure everything will work out.”
You give her a strained smile as you grab your clutch. “Thank you. I’m going to see if Louie will let me work a few extra shifts to cover the costs. I’ll send word if I have to work late. The doctor gave Richard something to sleep it off so he shouldn’t wake before I get back. Just peek in on him when you can.”
“It is no trouble at all. You do what you must for your family.” Mabel replies with an unusual finality.
You nod, gesturing to the oven. “I made you your favorite blueberry muffins as a thank you. It should go off any minute.”
Mabel gives you a wry smile. “And you wonder why I’m always happy to help you.”
Sultry jazz music seeps through the walls as you carefully apply another coat of red lipstick to your lips. Your eyeliner is thicker than usual and your lashes are curled and prominent around your eyes. You almost don’t recognize the woman in the reflection. But ever since Richard got sick, you’ve relied on tips just to make ends meet. The prettier you look, the friendlier you are, the more tips you get.
You straighten up and adjust the knee length black cocktail dress and carefully fix your hair. You pick up your tray and spread your painted lips in a wide approachable smile. In the dim light, no one will notice that it doesn’t reach your eyes. The evening crowd was just starting to drift in and you have a lot of schmoozing to do.
A/N: This is unlike anything else I have ever written. It is dark fic. It is a Mafia AU. There may or may not have a happy ending. So read at your own risk. The chapters are likely to be shorter in this fic from time to time. Also writing credit goes to @fadingcoast,@lokifae42 , and @emeraldrosequartz . Not only did they write parts of the first few chapters, but they created the inspiration for the entire premise and fic. And I am forever in their debt for it. Thank you.
Pairings: Tom Hiddleston x OFC (Jae Birichinata), Tom Hiddleston x OFC (Madison McMahon), Loki Laufeyson x OFC (Jae Birichinata)
Summary: When a one night stand with the only daughter of one of New York’s biggest crime bosses results in a pregnancy, Tom is trapped. Fast forward, now 10 years later, Tom is stuck in a loveless and cruel marriage with four kids (only one is his), a cheating wife, and no escape. The only bright spot is in his life is his love, Madison, the sweet bookshop clerk working a block away from the university he teaches at. Going on four years sneaking around with Madison, Tom is certain Madison’s important news is she is breaking up with him. The truth rocks his core.
Now Tom has only one goal, getting his son, William, and himself out of the hellscape called his life alive. A vindictive wife, in laws with access to money, resources, and brute force, and not to mention his wife’s lover who is more than meets the eye, Tom is starting to wonder if his father-in-law is right. No one leaves the family alive.
Trigger Warnings: Violence (both graphic and implied), forced marriage (sort of), infidelity, mentions of pregnancy, mentions of childhood physical abuse and sexual abuse, smut, death and more as I can continue to write it.
READ WARNINGS BEFORE YOU INTERACT WITH MY WRITING. IT IS YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR YOUR MEDIA CONSUMPTION. MINORS DNI, THIS IS AN 18+ STORY.
Taglists are open, please let me know if you want to be tagged.
~
“Tom, I’m going out. Watch the kids.” Jae tugged on a glittered thigh high boot to complement her short sequined dress, before grabbing a short black feathered jacket to go over the entire ensemble.
Tom’s head popped out from his study, his one safe space in their sprawling New York apartment. “That’s the third time this week. I have papers to grade.” He frowned at his wife as he glared at her outfit. “Where are you going?”
“Out. With a friend.” She didn’t even bother to glance up at her husband. Jae smiled at him. “Are you saying you can’t handle your own children? I could always have my Ma come over to babysit while you work.” She tilted her head to the side, the same smile plastered on her face as she waited for his response. Jae already knew what it would be.
Tom glanced into the living room to see the children. The twins, Frigga and Magnus, were currently fighting over the last package of fruit snacks, while LJ was doing something in a corner that appeared to involve fire but no matches. And his oldest, William, sat curled up in a beat up leather chair, glasses slipping as he read the Complete Works of Shakespeare. Again. His ginger curls a stark contrast to his siblings’ darker looks.
“No, I’ll handle it. Have a good night. And I will see you later.” he sighed, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Oh, Lucy and I will probably just get a hotel room.” A smirk came across her face. “And don’t forget dinner with my family on Friday night.” She walked over to pick a piece of lint off his sweater with disdain. “Daddy is looking forward to seeing you.”
“BUT FRIDAYS ARE MY NIGHT!” Tom’s voice boomed. The children not even pausing at the outburst. It wasn’t the first time they overheard this argument. “I‘ve had to cancel on the boys the past three Fridays.” He whined.
“Then one more won’t make that much of a difference. Unless you want me to tell my father you couldn’t bother to come.”
Tom gulped. The last time he “missed” a family dinner with her family, his car was sideswiped and nearly totaled. “It’s not necessary to involve your father. I will be there.” He forced a smile. A skill he had perfected over the last ten years of marriage to Jae.
This is not what Tom imagined marriage to be. He imagined a wife that loved him. And he loved. That dream went out the window with two pink lines. Too much scotch at a bachelor party led to Tom grinding against Jae on the dance floor at a club he would normally never go. Which led to one drunken night of some wild sex in a hotel room. Tom didn’t realize that Jae was Jae Nicole Birichinata, only daughter of the infamous mafia boss, Michael Birichinata. Fast forward and Tom was stuck in a hellscape, which included a wife who could barely stand to be in the same room as him and three more children he knew weren’t his, despite his name being on the birth certificates.
“Good to hear. Aren’t things better when I get my way?” There is a knock on the door. “Lucy’s here!!” She goes skittering to the door and opens it, blocking most of Tom’s view.
“Ready to go, darling?” asks a deep voice belonging to someone not named Lucy.
“Fuck yes I am. DON’T WAIT UP!!” she hustled out the door.
Tom leaned over and swore he got a glimpse of a fine Italian suit. Men’s suit. He sighed and headed back to his study, and stared at the stack of ungraded English essays from his students. With a heavy heart, he pulled out his phone to text. I am sorry, but I am going to have to cancel our Friday date again, princess. He set the phone down and waited for the response.
-
Loki grinned as Jae came bouncing out of the apartment, closing the door before her husband or kids could see who was behind it.
“Ready for some fun, Jae? I’ve already booked us the VIP table at Marquee for later, and dinner tonight is sushi at Nakazawa.” Loki knew that would excite her. And she did not disappoint with an excited squeal and dance.
He put his arm around her, always loving the way her boots clacked on the sidewalk. It was a reminder of her spark, her fire. The light that had almost been extinguished by domestic “bliss” thanks to her wet towel of a husband and the child they accidentally made together over a decade ago.
Well, he did what he could to rectify her situation. Making sure she still got to enjoy all the finer things in life.
“I’m SO ready, Lucy.” She giggled a bit cruelly. Though who could blame her? “And I organized family dinner or Friday so Tom can’t go see his little ‘princess’… ugh, like I don’t know he’s not seeing ‘the boys’. What boys?! What FRIENDS, even?”
She laughed, and he joined her. Verbally beating down her husband was one of her favorite pastimes. He found it was best to let her release that pressure valve early in the night.
“Of course, darling. You deserve so much better…” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, grinning as she giggles and squeals. “And I plan to give it to you, husband or not.”
She leaned over and kissed his cheek back, not caring they weren’t even out of the apartment building. Her father paid off all the employees, anyway. “And I plan on taking it.” She grinned and throws her head back as they climb into Loki’s black town car, heading off to dinner.
—
Tom sighed as he glimpsed the town car pulled away from the building. “She could at least have the decency to walk around the block.” He muttered to himself. Just then, his phone buzzed.
THAT FUCKING BITCH! I swear, Tom, she does it on purpose! It’s like she knows exactly how to make our lives miserable.
A small smile crossed his face. He always enjoyed Maddie’s spirit. Her fire. It was one of her many qualities that made him fall in love with her. While his wife’s eyes reflected only contempt and disappointment, Madison’s shone with compassion and devotion. Their stolen pockets of time, clandestine dates at her cramped apartment in the Bronx, dinners at restaurants no one ever heard of; they were the lifeblood of the past four years for Tom.
Of course she knows, darling. That is the entire purpose of this. To make my life miserable. Why else would she force me to raise kids that are not mine?
It takes several minutes before his phone buzzed again.
I can’t, Thomas. I need to tell you something important. I was going to tell you in person. But since the hag won’t let that happen…
Tom inhaled sharply, and he shook, tears welling up in his eyes. This is it. She’s leaving. She has finally had it. His mind raced and what to say, how to cope.
I’m pregnant.
And with two words, Tom realized he had to get out.
