Fandoms of the Past (Random One-shots)

The Distraction (John Graves Simcoe x fem!reader)

You stared between your two best friends and Anna Strong. "You must be joking," you stated. Anna looked ashamed while Caleb glared at Ben. Ben just kept his gaze on you. "Benjamin Tallmadge, you had better be joking!" you yelled, prompting Caleb to reach over and place a hand over your mouth. "I'm sorry, Y/N. Really I am. But Simcoe is getting too close. It won't be long before he figures out who Culper really is. He knows Anna doesn't have any real feelings for him. That leaves you to distract him. Throw him off course until we can make a plan."

The three of them looked at you with such hope that you groaned and agreed. You hated it though. You didn't even know who Culper was. "I hate you all," you muttered as they pulled you into a group hug. "If anything goes wrong at all, I will personally hunt you all down." They let you go, and scurried off. Now you had one job. Distract John Graves Simcoe, Lieutenant Colonel of the Queen's Rangers.

Finding the man was simple enough. Getting him to notice you was a little bit more difficult. You tried the more mundane ways such as "accidentally" losing your handkerchief, or nearly running into the man. Things like that. But nothing seemed to work. In the end, you knew there was one thing that was absolutely guaranteed to make him notice you. Have him be your valiant knight in shining armor.

"You sure about this, Y/N/N?" Caleb asked after you explained the plan to him. It had been weeks with no luck so you'd had Anna hang her petticoats to get Caleb's attention for you. "It's the only shot I have left, Caleb." He nodded with a sigh before kissing your forehead. "Alright then, off you go. I'll follow." Without any warning, you let out a shrill scream and took off running back to the town, Caleb hot on your heels.

You ran and screamed until you came upon Simcoe. "Help! Please!" You darted behind Simcoe just as Caleb appeared, rifle raised as if to shoot you. He pretended to freeze when he saw Simcoe before turning and running back toward his boat.

"After him," Simcoe ordered. He nearly ran as well, but you made sure you had a gently hold on his coat. Feeling this, Simcoe turned around, his blue eyes locking with your (e/c) ones. "Are you alright, Miss?" You felt yourself beginning to shake being so close to the man your friends had warned you was extremely dangerous. "I-I think so. He just appeared out of nowhere. Gave me such a fright."

"What were you doing alone in the woods?" You pretended to glance down at your feet in embarrassment. "I was gathering berries for my family. Before the winter cold comes. He came upon me so quickly." Simcoe smiled gently down at you as you finally let go of his coat. "Shall I escort you back to your home? I would not want anything unfortunate to befall you." You did your best to smile at him. You couldn't let him see how uncomfortable the situation made you. "I think that might be best. I clearly have a way of finding trouble, even when I'm not looking for it." He chuckled softly and offered you his arm.

Simcoe walked you home, promising to call again the next evening to check on you. Your father thanked him, cutting you off from doing so, but your eyes remained on Simcoe and his were on you. As he bid you goodnight, you knew you had accomplished your mission. You had his attention. Now all you had to do was keep it long enough for your friends to do what they needed.

*time skip*

After spending yet another afternoon with Simcoe(much to your father's delight), you bid him good evening and closed the door behind him. Then, you watched from the window as he walked back toward White Hall. He glanced back and you waved with a smile. The two of you had grown so close over the last few weeks. You couldn't believe you'd been so hesitant to meet him at first. John Simcoe was so much more than Anna had told you.

Yes, he was intense in everything he did. He fought for king and country with a zeal that was almost frightening. But he was so much more than that. Beneath the veneer of a soldier and monster, beat the heart of a lover. Even spending only chaperoned time with him you could tell that. He loved like he fought. With everything he had in him. After that first night when you grabbed his attention, he had begun showing you that he was still a man with desires and passions despite the war. He showed you that he was capable of a love you'd only every read about. And, to your shock, you found yourself wishing you could show him that type of love in return.