100 story challenge (Tom Hiddleston imagines) *edited*

Boundary (Pine)

He doesn't tell you who he is. You're not even sure what his name is anymore. You've heard people call him all sorts of names: Andrew, Jack, Jonathan, Thomas, and others. He never brings up his work in the past. It's like he doesn't trust you anymore.

It was gone midnight and he still hadn't come to bed. You're only dressed in one of his t-shirts and you decided to look for him.

"Darling..." you whisper as you enter the living room.

"Y/n, what are you still doing awake? I told you to go sleep hours ago."

"I can't sleep without you. You know that."

"Well I'm busy, s-"

"Doing what Jonathan? What is so important that can't wait a few hours?" To say you were frustrated was an understatement. Lately he spends his days away from home. Waking up early coming home late. But not actually sleeping in your bed when he does decide to sleep. You've woken up in the night to find him lying on the sofa, with papers facing down spread across the coffee table. You just want him to let down his walls, let you see who he really is. It scares you not knowing.

"Sweetheart you know I can't tel-"

"I don't care. We have been together for over a year and I still feel like we've only just met! You never tell me anything about you, about your work," you continue before he can cut you off, "I know 'you can't tell me anything' but now you make it like you can't speak to me at all. I feel single... and you're just my roommate. We have completely separate lives; Jesus we hardly sleep in the same bed anymore!"

The tears in your eyes were stinging as you cried, you didn't want to, but you cried. You were finally letting it all out, and you weren't going to stop.

"Darling..."

"No. You don't get to talk. Not yet. You said that there wouldn't be any secrets between us. I've told you everything about me. Why can't you just let me in?!"

"There are just boundaries that you can't cross."

"And are those boundaries not knowing your real name? Not being able to see you in the day? Not being able to tell you how I love you when we fall asleep together in our bed?... Not even being able to have sex with you whenever you're home long enough for us to actually do it?!"

Without thinking he pulled you towards him and kissed you deeply. You still cried in his arms, but you couldn't let go of him. It was like you would lose him if you let your tight grip of him go.

"Y/n listen, what I do... what I am... is very dangerous. I know you don't like it when I'm in danger, but my life is full of it. I can't tell you about my work because it will put you in a very bad position. I can't tell you about myself because one day you may have to have plausible deniability that I was ever in your life. You must understand that I don't want this relationship to feel empty and for you to think I don't love you because I do. I really do. It's just, I can't express that as often in a conventional way. But please just allow me to protect you. This is what I am doing. Protecting you. I am showing my love by protecting you... from me. I am the Jonathan Pine you fell in love with. That is my real name, that is the real me and I'm so so sorry I've lead you down this hole of mystery, but please understand and accept that our lives are going to have to be very secretive and rather separate for your safety and mine... you are the most important thing in my life y/n. I love you and I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Trust me I know what can happen to the people who I fall in love with, and I'm not prepared to make that mistake again. So for your safety please go back to bed and do not ask me about any of this again... I will join you."

You were utterly shocked by his words. He's never been this truthful to you. It took time to process all Jonathan said, everything was racing in your head. But now you had even more questions.

"Just let me ask you one question Jonathan."

"Okay."

"Why?"

"Because I've seen a lot of things, and I've seen what can happen to people in war. Some of those things didn't line up to what I thought a soldier was meant to do. I made a decision, that has saved the lives of millions of people. Including yourself. That's why..."

You looked into his red rimmed eyes as you stopped crying. You kissed him gently and rested our forehead against his.

"I love you Jonathan Pine."

"I love you y/f/n."

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A/n: woo first story done only 99 more to go. Btw y/f/n = your full name, if you didn't know. ❤️