#st reader insert

[lena-after-dark]

Pairing: Henry Creel x Reader

Prompt: "Why are you running? I did this for you!"

Requested By: Anon

Warnings: Light stalking, yandere themes, death, blood, kidnapping.

Henry was finally free. Free of the lab, of the restraint placed on his powers. Free to mold his surroundings to his desires - to make the world as it should be.

And then he found you.

He saw you out walking and his first instinct was to follow you. Instantly intrigued, he had to watch you; to know what you were doing, to see where you were going. The feeling washed over him so suddenly that he couldn't ignore it. You were special.

Henry watched you every day for a week. He knew that he had to have you. You had to be a part of his new world. To stand beside him. When he finally approached you, he was perfectly polite. A gentleman in every way. He was charming and direct, and he knew once you agreed to spending time with him that he had you.

He invaded your mind. He saw your memories and used them as a guide to form a bond. To make you want him. To make you need him. If you fell for him, he knew you'd see his vision.

Then things changed. He knew that eventually Dr. Brenner would come looking for him. He just hadn't expected to be so easy to find. He'd have to leave - and you were going to come with him. He hadn't yet gotten to show you how perfect things would be.

You were witness all at once to what he could do. Henry, who had been so gentle with you, wreaking carnage upon those that had been sent to take him back to the lab. A mess of mangled bodies strewn about, blood splattered here and there. Some of it had landed on you. The warmth of it surprised you when it splashed against your skin. The smell of rust and death. It felt like a nightmare.

You ran before you could process anything. Your instincts took over and you fled. You could hear Henry calling for you. "Why are you running? I did this for you!" Henry's voice was just loud enough to reach your ears; his tone almost pleading.

He let you flee for a moment - processing his confusion and pain. But he stopped you in the end. And as he held your wriggling form against him, he reminded you over and over that it was for you. Everything he did was for you. To keep you safe.

To keep you.

Buy Me A Coffee?

[yanderedrabbles]

Yandere Survivor - Zombie Apocalypse Au

Yandere! Survivor who's at ground zero when the infected start attacking. Who watches the world turn to chaos in the blink of an eye.

Yandere! Survivor who's willing to face off against hordes of infected because he wants to live. Even if the grisly horror of it turns his stomach.

Yandere! Survivor who knows there isn't hope for anything. The army is scattered and helpless. The cities are overrun. The people don't have a chance in hell.

Yandere! Survivor who knows but fights anyway.

Yandere! Survivor who saves you from a whole pack of infected. Who can't belive his eyes when he sees you. The city is overrun with freaks and you're still wearing a pretty little sundress, not a single weapon in sight.

Yandere! Survivor who stands frozen when you hug him. Who can feel the way you're trembling, your fingers knotted into his shirt. Who finds his voice and promises to keep you safe. Somehow.

Yandere! Survivor who fights tooth and nail to get you out of the city. Who scavenges guns and ammo off dead soldiers and tries not to look into their milky, rotting eyes.

Yandere! Survivor who finally has someone to look out for and it makes the loneliness much more bearable.

Yandere! Survivor who gets stronger each day. Who can feel his muscles literally straining against his shirt.

Yandere! Survivor who tries to teach you self defence and fails miserably, because every time he has you pinned under him he can't help but get turned on.

Yandere! Survivor who inspects the hem of your sundress and let's his knuckles brush against your thighs. Who scoffs and tells you its way too flimsy to keep you safe, that a zombie could bite straight through it.

"Hell, I could rip it off without even trying."

Yandere! Survivor who loves how helpless and scared you are. Who feels a rush of pride every time a zombie shrieks and you immediately grab onto him.

Yandere! Survivor who quickly learns to trade with other survivors but to never let his guard down.

Yandere! Survivor who notices the way men stare at you. Like they're dying for a taste of you even worse than the zombies are. Who notices the way people talk about you like you belong to him.

'Your girl.'

Like you're his property or something.

Yandere! Survivor who feels a rush of pride every time it happens. And soon he starts thinking that way too. You're his responsibility therefore you are his.

Yandere! Survivor who never settles down or allies himself with other people. He doesn't trust them. But more than that, he doesn't trust them around you.

Yandere! Survivor who finds it easier and easier to kill the infected. And from there, it's just a small step to start killing the living.

Yandere! Survivor who slits the throats of an entire trading party because he heard them talking about you. In the morning, he tells you they just left early and that it's nothing to worry about.

Yandere! Survivor who doesn't let your disappointment linger when you have to leave camp and move on. Who constantly reminds you he's doing what's best for you.

Yandere! Survivor who insists on being with you when you bath in the rivers and lakes that dot the countryside. He'll keep his back turned for most of it, but inevitably he'll find an excuse to turn around and watch you. Your clothes always cling to you afterwards and he's throat always goes dry when they do.

Yandere! Survivor who takes any chance he can to share a bunk or sleeping bag with you. Who tosses his arm around your waist and tells you it's just to conserve heat.

Yandere! Survivor who knows there isn't a future for the world, but he'll be damned if he can't see one with you.

[zafirosreverie]

Little North Star (North x f!reader)

It started with the footprints.

You had come home from work, tired and annoyed, only to find a pair of snow boot prints, too large to belong to anyone you knew, especially since you lived alone (deep down, you thought you recognized those footprints, but ignored it for the moment).

Your heart skipped a beat at the thought of someone breaking into your house, but upon a quick inspection, you saw that there were no broken windows or forced locks, so you figured maybe someone from the courier had come and not found you and left. Whatever the case, the incident was out of your mind the moment you relaxed in your bathtub.

Then it was the wrapping paper. You hadn't decorated this year, feeling too big and too tired to get into the Christmas spirit. You weren't even going to travel home with your parents to celebrate, even when they lived at the next town, so you hadn't bothered to buy presents or decorate the house.

However, one day you found a bunch of rolls of wrapping paper and boxes with ornaments and lights. For a moment you thought you had gone crazy. You hadn't taken any of this out, it should be in the attic, not the living room. You tried to come up with a logical explanation and ended up convincing yourself that you had probably been too tired to remember bringing these things down from the attic.

Anyway, you found yourself decorating your house two days before Christmas, despite having said you wouldn't. A couple of lights and a tree with ornaments wouldn't hurt anyone, right? Plus, it was a nice way to make the house feel a little warmer and more welcoming.

You tried not to think too much about the little flashes of memories of big hands and a loud, warm laugh visiting you on Christmas Eve. You told yourself that they had just been dreams, and that was what they were.

_____________________

Then came the letter.

The night before Christmas Eve, you found a letter in your mailbox with no return address or zip code. It was just adorned in white and red with a little reindeer sticker that said "North Pole." When you opened it, you saw a recipe for cookies that you used to make as a child. They were your favorite to make with your mother for the big man of Christmas.

You smiled a little and assumed that your mother had sent you the letter in an attempt to help you get back into the Christmas spirit, and as you walked through the aisles of the supermarket, looking for the ingredients for the cookies, you couldn't help but remember the afternoons you spent talking to your mother, looking forward to a visit from Santa Claus.

Everything had been easier then, being a little girl whose only concern was to behave well so that she could receive a gift from the big guy in the red suit.

Never stop believing, little North Star.

You gasped a little and had to lean against a soup rack as memories of a man ran through your mind, a big, strong, warm, and cheerful man, who came to visit you every Christmas Eve, while the rest of the world slept.

He used to call you little North Star, and he would tell you stories of his fellow guardians, the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny, the man in the moon, and the Sandman, while his blue eyes, full of wonder and kindness, filled your soul with warmth and security.

You shook your head, trying to compose yourself as you went to the registers to pay. Deep down you knew they were just dreams, that it was your imagination as a child…but why did they feel so real?

___________________

It was Christmas Eve, your house was decorated, the smell of freshly baked cookies filled the place, and you were sitting on the carpet, with an open gift box between your legs, your eyes full of tears and a smile too big that hurt. An early gift, the tag said.

For my little North Star to come home -N

It was him. Now you were sure of it.

No one, not even your parents, had known about this. There was one night, when he, North, had brought you a snow globe, made by himself, with a beautiful figure of his sleigh inside. So that you would always remember him, he had said.

At that moment, it had seemed easy to your child's mind to promise that you would never stop believing in Christmas, in magic, in him. But as you grew older, you convinced yourself that it had all been mere dreams, that it had not been real, and one day, you could not find the globe. Over time, you had believed that that had also been a dream, that there had never been such a gift.

And now, here it was again, in your hands.

All the memories began to flow, invading your mind with a strength and warmth you hadn't felt in years. The secret nights with North, when he told you the stories of the world, the secrets of the guardians of childhood.

He had called you his little North Star, because he always came back to you, no matter what. How could you have forgotten that you had been Santa Claus's favorite girl?!

A part of you, the part that had grown up and stopped believing, wanted to keep clinging to the idea that it was all a dream. But the biggest part of you now knew that it wasn't, that it had all been real.

How many years had you wasted, how much time wasted? How many promises had you broken? You had to do something, anything, to let North know that you remembered, that you now believed in him again.

You got up from the ground with a joy and lightness that you hadn't felt since you were a child. The illusion and magic awakening in you again as you smiled like you once had. You called your parents, bought last minute gifts and took the last train back home.

Christmas was not lost after all.

_______________________________

A warm and thunderous laugh that did not seem from this world, filled your empty house in the middle of the night, while North lay on your couch and ate the cookies you had left for him, reading your letter over and over again.

Thank you, for giving me back the magic, for making me believe again.

"No, thank you, for coming back to me, little North Star" he said to himself, putting the letter in his suit.

[supercap2319]

The Asses

Life at the Xavier Institute was anything but boring, especially with characters like Bobby Drake and Pyro roaming its walls. Home to many mutants, older and younger to harness the unique abilities that they possessed. Y/N was the son of human-hating mutant-liberator, Magneto. Younger brother of the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. Most of the students didn't like or trust Y/N, especially the older members of the X-Men, but Professor X took a chance on Y/N Maximoff, and he was right.

Y/N was born with the abilities of a ghost, telekinesis, and energy manipulation. The younger kids referred to him as Phantasma, and it kinda stuck. Especially with the mutants his age. Y/N tried to make his time at the Institute as productive as possible, but that didn't mean he didn't pull his share of pranks.

Most of the people who were victims of his practical jokes were Bobby and Pyro, always trying to outdo the other boys. Like the time Y/N created a see-through wall to the boy's shower, so the rest of the students could see a naked Bobby showering. Or when he possessed Pyro and made him wear makeup and pink dress. But they did get him back. Bobby froze all his clothes, so they'd shattered during a report Y/N gave in front of the class. Pyro just set his pants on fire and made Y/N jump into the fountain in front of the school like an idiot.

But today. Today, they really fucked up. Y/N was walking down the hallway, opposite of the danger room, when he heard yelling and cursing. “You two fucks are so dead!” Could be heard from a floor up. That was Logan. Why was he so mad? His question was answered when Bobby and Pyro came from outside the elevator, running towards Y/N with panicked glee on their faces.

“Oh, shit, Drake! You really did it now.” Pyro laughed.

“Me? You're the one who set Logan's hair on fire.” Bobby smirks.

They flew past Y/N, heading for the safety of Professor X’s study. Just as they rounded the corner, Pyro turned his head back, and winked at Y/N. “Better move your pretty ass, Y/N! Wolverine is out for blood, and we told him it was your idea!”

Before Y/N could ask what that meant, the sound of angry panting and grunting caught Y/N’s attention as he saw Logan, Adamantium claws out and ready. When his eyes landed on Y/N, he growled, literally. “Say your prayers, Bub. Because when I get through with ya, the doctor won't know what piece of your body to sew where.” He charged.

Y/N let out a less-than manly scream, and flew after Bobby and Pyro, hoping to make to safety, and hoping to strangle those two fuckers once Logan was calm.

[caxde]

disposible heroes | 𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

summary Eddie is assumed to be dead, you belived it, until music found his way into your live again, and a promise he's still alive is evident (7.2k)

warnings fem!reader, fluff, hurt/comfort, mutual pining, yearning etc, slowburn, idiots in love!!!, english is not my first language so I apologise if there’s some mistakes, not proof read!, canon-ish complaiant?

a/n: thank you to @sage-glowstick for all your help as I was writing this <33

“You know I’m here if you need me, right?” Robin’s voice felt as if it were coming from a thousand miles away, even if she was beside you, her fingers running through your hair, petting you softly. 

“I know” Your voice came out croaky, heavy, raspy. Tears were still falling from your eyes, you felt them, the coldness of the salty water running down your reddened and hot cheek. 

“Anything you need.” She repeated, wiping it away, her finger on the apple of your cheek a bit longer, trying to make you feel seen. 

“It just doesn't feel real.” You whispered, not being able to actually say it fully out loud. 

“I know.” She imitated your low tone, standing up from the bed as she looked out the window. “It’s a lovely day out, we could go for a walk.”

“In a bit, maybe.” You gave her a forced, half smile to her. She imitated it before nodding, standing up to finally leave the room, leaving the door ajar. 

It was a good day out, sunny and without a cloud, the leaves on the tree outside your window moving slowly. 

But he wasn’t there. 

As far as you knew, his body still laid lifeless on the fractured darkened ground of the upside down. 

And you hadn’t saved him. 

Guilt consumed you. 

It was worse, you had to lie to Wayne, you had to lie to the only person that knew him as much as you did, that cared for him as much as you did. 

You buried an empty coffin a couple of weeks ago. 

And all you had was an old shirt of his, and his guitar pick necklace you had once gifted him. 

Your hands closed around it, one last tear falling down as you did so. I miss you, i’m sorry were the only thoughts running through your mind. 

After a long time of just thinking, your eyes vacant and your thoughts going a bit too fast. As soon as Robin came to check on you once again, she knew where you were headed off to. 

The mix he had made you was still in your car, playing his music as if he was next to you. If you concentrated enough, you could still hear him sing them, in his usual chaotic goofy voice and tone he always used to get you to laugh, though if he was being sirius or was in his own little world he actually had a beautiful voice, an angelical one if you were the one listening. 

A weird combination of crying and laughter was now consuming you, as you finally parked your car in the same spot you had for the last few weeks. 

It was a weird feeling, you became more yourself the closer you walked to his grave, the closer you came to seeing his name carved in stone, the fuller you felt, as if he was walking beside you. 

The wind rustled in the leaves, as birds stopped singing, the sun still shining, your skin soaking it in, your puffy eyes squinting harder because of it. 

It was a very scenic moment, you thought as you sat down in front of the carved stone. 

“Hey Moon.” You whispered with a heavy heart. The stinging coming back to the back of your head as you looked at the faded graffiti you had cleaned yesterday. “I brought you a bit of music, I thought you might like it.” You fumbled through your bag, trying to find the little portable cassette player you had saved up for, that he had drawn in the back of with one of his markers. EM was here could still be seen in a faint white ink. “I finally got you the Metallica cassette you wanted.” You half smiled, trying not to break down again. 

The first guitar notes from the song battery filled the air, you let your body hit the ground right as the bass started, your feet stomping at the melody. 

“You’d love to play the guitar solo of this one.” You teased him, mumbling to the sky, your eyes closed, your body relaxing a bit more. 

The little portable player was starting to make that funny noise it had been making for the last couple of days, that dirty interference that made you angry every time, interrupting your time, it only infuriated you more now that you were here, trying to be close to him once more. Your arm reached to it, your eyes yet unopened, spanking it a bit, hopeful that it would go away. 

It didn’t. 

It started going in and out of focus, as if something was tampering with it, or water had crawled in, making the switch to the next song sound as if it was coming from deep underwater, as if a wave had just engulfed the speaker. 

“Fuck’s sake.” You complained through gritted teeth, grabbing it and holding it up, wiggling it a bit. As you did, the muffled sound went away, and the thing that should not be started playing. 

You lowered the volume, and let the speaker sit next to your ear, letting it sing only for you. 

It didn’t give you any trouble for a while, until it started acting up again. This time, the volume went up and down. At first you thought it was random, until you started paying attention. It seemed like a message, and grief invaded you enough to make you believe impossible things. 

Your shaking hands grabbed it, pulling it a top of your lap, looking back at where his name was carved before whispering “Don’t fuck with me” as you played the backwards button. Letting the song start from the beginning once again. “I swear to god Eddie if you’re fucking with me I’ll kill you again.” You spat as you mumbled angrily at the air, hoping to be right. 

To your astonished surprise, it seemed to work. 

The volume went up, as if it was a code, as if he was screaming. If you were honest, you could feel him screaming and yelling the lyrics in that chaotic voice you learned to love and miss. 

The very first word of the song spiked up messenger, it felt obvious enough, though it could just be a dumb coincidence. lurking beneath the sea made the volume go up, lowering immediately after it. You kept listening, writing it on the sketch pad you always carried in your bag. 

Once the song ended, the previous blank paper had sparesed lyrics over it. 

It read a confusing mess that you had to bring to Dustin as soon as possible. You recited it over and over again while you were speeding on the car. 

The motor of your car was louder with every gear shift you made, the little orange arrow in your speedometer kept rising, but you payed it no mind. In a similar manner, you didn’t care if your car skidded anytime you made a left turn, the only thing in your mind where the little words you had heard louder than the others. 

You didn’t care if your car blocked his driveway, or if the keys were still in the ignition. The bag on your left shoulder felt havier now that it was guarding the little instrument that felt magic. You hands where still shaking and you could stop fidgeting with his necklace, moving it one swipe left and two right as you made your way to Dustin’s front door, not sure what to say, not sure what to do. You were now anxiously looking down at your feet, and the way they moved through the cobblestone, the bumps that they left on your feet. 

You gathered enough courage to bang on his door. 

But he was taking a bit too long. 

Bang

He still hadn’t come down stairs. 

Bang Bang Bang Bang

“Jesus what?” He finally opened the door, the usual annoyed look on his face disappearing once he the way your lips were pressed together. 

“Upstairs, now. Code red.”

-

“Can you read it again?” Dustin asked, a pen in his own hand. 

“Messenger. Lurking beneath the sea. Forbidden site. Shadows. Underground. Fallen city, living death.” You looked at him, sharing a deep breath. “Then it repeats, Lurking beneath the sea, and ends with not dead”

Dustin stood up, pacing around his room while his hands fidgeted with the pen he had. 

“And you’re sure it worked normally before you arrived at the grave?” He inquired, his words pausing between them as he usually did when he was trying to figure out something. 

“Look I know it sounds stupid, but… I… It can’t be a coincidence.” He acknowledged just how hopeful and defeated you were, and he gifted you a smile. 

“I wanna believe it too, I just, can I hear it now?” You nodded, while you took the little player out of the bag and played the song again. It sounded crystal clear, no interference, no change in volume. “And it changed volume once you were…” 

“Yeah, I told you.” 

“We should go there, I’ll ask the others to join us there.” He grabbed the talkie while he handed you the phone, letting you call into family video, the number already dialed up. 

“Family Video this is Steve how may I help you today?” He sounded as bored as he always was, you could tell he was playing with the telephone chord. 

“Steve, can you take your break now?” Your voice was quieter than usual, and that pulled him in, you heard how his elbows hit the table, and the receiver was caught between his cheek and his shoulder. 

“Hey honey, everything okay?” His tone was sharper now, you felt the way he was measuring his words, he had become rather used to spreading kindness and handling you with care ever since you had come back, you had no time for that kind of nonsense right now. 

“Yeah, that’s why I’m asking you to skip work in the middle of the day.” Your words were coming out sharper and colder than you intended for them to. Irony stinging like a dagger. 

“A simple no would also work, y’know.” He answered, a bit hurt, but mostly worried. He knew the number was coming from Dustin’s house, and the only reason you had to go over his house was for one he didn’t dare to think about. 

Mostly because the last time you had barged in with Dustin into Family Video he ended diving into cold water, and with a few scars to remember those days by. 

“Can you take your break or not? We kinnda need both of you.” You were impatient now, you were speaking faster, snappier, quicker. 

“What the hell is going on?” You could physically see him holding the bridge of his nose, his eyes closed while he loudly breathed out into the receiver. 

“Steve! Please?” You were begging now, the frustration of wanting to let him know everything all at once, while trying to be careful to not say too much, the fear that someone might listen to you, the impotence of not being able to do enough, it was all enough to create tears that wouldn’t fall. 

“Breathe out.” He reminded you. He didn’t know what was going on, or why you seemed to be so aggravated, but he could tell that it was important enough, a sense of urgency clear in your voice. He took a second, looking at Robin while his eyebrows raised she called the ‘the decision look’ and she knew better than to oppose it. “Is this a code red?” He finally asked, wanting and needing you to say no, his head falling deeper once he heard your muffled yes. “Where are we meeting?” 

“Graveyard.” You answer quickly, the iron taste in the inside of your mouth becomes more prominent now that you are speaking again. “Pick Nance up.” You told him before hanging up. 

You gave a quick glance over your shoulder to check on Dustin. His words were fast paced, he started the second one while the first was still finishing in his mouth, he had no time to lose, which in a weird way, was reassuring for you. Someone cared as deeply as you did, it made you feel not that alone, seen in a way. 

You found your way downstairs, your feet feeling heavier and your chest tightening, a fast thought entered your mind, as it grew bigger so did the worry that accompanied it. What do we do if he is alive?

If Eddie really is alive, and he has been there, all by himself for the last weeks he must be pissed off. Not only that, as far as you remembered he was incredibly injured, so he could be right at death's door, a slip away from being actually gone. And if that was really the case, and he was bloodied, starving and a whisper away from death, you’d never forgive yourself if you didn’t at least just try, you had to try. 

But then again, that panic was shared. 

Dustin did not talk while you drove. He didn’t complain while you smoked one of his cigarettes that he had left on your glove compartment, he limited himself to stay still, biting his thumb as a response to the nervousness that was now deep inside his body. 

You parked where you had a mere hour ago, and the birds sang until you found your way next to his gravestone. You looked at Dustin, needing reassurance, he just nodded. Weirdly enough, you were both in a lost for words. 

You sat in silence, looking at his name with clear sandness in both of your faces, you hid a whimper, culpability making its way into your body. 

“I feel insane.” You confessed as you buried your face into the palm of your hands. Needing just a second to process it all. 

“You’re not the only one.” Dustin added, looking back as soon as he heard a familiar car pull into the secluded place you both were, he gave you a soft pad on your shoulder, his head nodding to it so you’d look. 

Steve emerged from the burgundy car, closely followed by Robin, Nancy and Jonathan.

Robin’s eyebrows were raised in concern as she ran to where you were, she wasn’t a fiscal touch person, but lately she had been giving you hugs every chance she had, and this time it was no different. It felt familiar, a sense of reassurance you desperately needed. 

“What’s going on?” She whispered into your ear, pulling away slowly, looking deep into your eyes. You waited for the other three to make their way up hill, Nancy’s knuckles were white with how much strength she was holding Jonathan’s hand. 

“He’s alive.” Is all you could bring yourself to say, before breaking down. 

You weren’t even sure why you were crying this time, maybe it just felt good to say it outloud, maybe it was just too much to manage, or maybe you just needed to relise your bottled up emotions. It didn’t matter. 

Nancy’s eyes widened, as Jonathan looked at her, not really understanding why you’d say that. Meanwhile, Steve’s arms crossed in front of his chest, he was having a hard time following you. 

“What are you talking about?” Steve’s voice was not only lower, his tone had never been as serious, not a trace or irony or sarcasm in them. 

“Dustin?” You plead for help, you didn’t think you could manage to explain it all again. Your hands were busy fidgeting with the cassette player, tracing over the speaker, wishing that it would happen again. 

“She uh… Well…” Dustin was having a hard time, the possibility that you might be right was a bit overpowering for him. 

“I came over, and played him the new record.” You gestured to the empty cassette case with the white crosses on it, Robin picked it up and looked at it closely, smiling in that that’s sweet way that she does when she finds something charming. “And uh…” 

“She says that the cassette player started going wild, the volume going up and down by itself, interference, water sound in it. But we played it again at my house and it sounds perfectly clear. And well… The words that were actually louder were like a call for help and if we look at this logically-” Steve cut the explanation that Dustin had started, a crease in the middle of his forehead. 

“That’s insane. You’re seeing things where there are none.” He exclaimed, gesturing wildly with his hands. 

“Steve…” Robin pleaded calmly, her eyes asking for him to consider the situation. 

“It’s not!” You screamed. You needed them to understand, weirder things had happened to all of you in the last couple of years, this was nothing new. “Will was able to communicate with you!” You looked at Jonathan now, trying to make him understand, trying to win him to your side of the argument. 

“Yeah but… He actually… It was his voice.” Jonathan mumbled, trying really hard to believe what you were saying, trying to see your side of the story, but the look of desperation on your face was too close to Joyce’s, and that gave him a bad feeling in his stomach. 

“He’s alive.” You repeated, looking back at the way his name was carved into the gray stone, how long it took you to be able to accept it, and how it hopefully would be destroyed, as if it never had happened. “And he’s down there, alone, injured and with no strength, do you really think he’s going to start chatting?” With every word you said your tone became higher and higher. 

“Look, there is no way he’s alive…” Steve’s voice sounded defeated as he crouched down, closer to your eye level as you were still sitting down at the floor. “We all saw him down there, bloodied and… I get that you want him back, but you shouldn’t make it our problem.” his cheeks were red, as the vein in his left temple became bigger with every breath he took. 

“Your problem?” That made you lose it, it was one thing to not believe you, it was an entirely different thing to call you crazy and accuse you of being delusional. “You were the last one out, if he is alive, it’s your fault.” It had been like poison, hearing you say such things. You knew far too well that you were hurting him, his lips were pressed against each other, his left hand holding on thigh to his arm. 

“Guys…” Robin tried to calm you both down, exchanging looks between the both of you, knowing full well this could blow everything up. Knowing that pain can be spread around faster than any disease. 

But before she could say anything else, her ears perked up, as she heard the way the wind was rustling through the trees, she was a bit too sensitive to these kinds of things, over vigilant after everything she had seen. 

“That’s way out of line…” Steve whispered, with clear guilt creeping in through his voice. “You know that if I could trade it… You know I don’t…” He was truly at a loss for words, not being sure what he could say, an extremely defeated expression rested on his face, his eyes avoiding eye contact with yours, looking at the ground, and the way the grass moved thanks to the wind. 

“Guys!” Robin screamed at all of you now, as she picked out a rusting coming deep and low from the little player you were still holding. 

Silence broke through all of you, as you looked down and started hearing the beginning of a song you hadn’t hit play for, the red light that usually shined bright when it was on was absent from it. 

“Did you–?” Dustin started to ask, you shook your head, as a hopeful smile invaded your lips. 

You went quiet, looking down at it, a guitar solo started, before you heard the tape playing backwards until the last phrase of the song was found, volume creeping louder and louder reaching out again could be heard from it, you let out a chuckle, a nervous giggle that went around the group as everyone had now experienced what had happened to you. 

“What song is that?” Nancy asked directly at you, her face still in clear shock, mouthing the first words since she got here. 

“Welcome home” You mutter, with glee in your eyes. “He is here.” You tell her, knowing that she fully believes you, by the way fear was creeping into her body. 

“That could just be a coincidence…” Steve was still cautious, not wanting to fully give in. If he did, that meant that you were right, and that he left him for dead, and he couldn’t handle the guilt that came with it. 

“Eddie!” Dustin started screaming, directly into the little player that you would not let go of, repeating his name with urgency. “Buddy, are you really there?” 

“It’s changing again.” Robin pointed out, as her fingers traced a pattern on your leg, reassuring you that this was actually happening. 

It was exactly as it had happened a few moments ago, when you were by yourself, as if water had creeped inside, mumbled and far away it sounded as the song changed to another one, before becoming crystal clear to your ears. The heavy thumping of the guitars starting again, quieting down before abruptly going up once the lyrics Twenty-one, only son, but he served us well could be heard. 

You were tearing up now, and you weren’t even capable of hiding it any longer. 

But panic came quick once you heard the next highlighted set of words. 

Finished here, greeting death, he’s yours to take away

“What’s this one called?” Jonathan asked this time, his head whipping fastly from Nancy to you. 

“Disposable Heroes.” 

-

You wasted no time. 

Dustin held on tight to his car seat every time your foot pressed the accelerator, everytime you swerved the car you could feel him holding his breath just for him to release it in a nervous manner. 

They were all gathered around Steve's kitchen table, arguing over themselves. 

You weren’t all there, the only thing going over your head was him, and the promise of actually being able to hear his voice once again. 

Your foot kept on tapping the ground, a repetitive pattern that you weren’t able to stop, your hand still playing with his necklace. The chatter of them talking was overwhelming you, they were wasting time and that was infuriating. They were arguing, and you were frozen in the spot. They kept talking and you remained quiet. 

Nancy sat down next to you, she still hadn’t said anything either. 

Her hand traveled to yours, a top of your thigh. She squeezes your hand, you knew it was her way of telling you i’m here, i’m sorry. 

“They’re wasting time.” You finally whispered, your voice hoarse, a trace of sadness in it. 

“I don’t think I can go back.” She said at the same time, a trace of guilt in hers. 

“You shouldn’t.” You reassured her, not only with your calm voice, but with the same squeeze she gave to your hand, now on her’s. You didn’t have to tell her that you planned on going alone, she had already noticed. 

“You can’t.” She finally looked at you, deep into your eyes. You noticed the way her eye twitched before shaking his head. “We barely made it out of there, there’s no way you’ll make it by yourself, and having to carry Eddie or…” 

“His body?” She snorted a laugh, trying hard not to giggle, thought the nervous laughter got you too. “This has to be one of the most insane days…” She nodded while you both laughed, catching your breath before she talked. 

“I’m watching over you, I’ll stand at the gate. That I can do.” she stood there for a second longer, her lips pursed in that shy smile she usually gave people, the ones she actually cares about. 

“Thanks Nance…” You let go of her hand, to give her a playful bump on her shoulder. She nodded as she saw you finally stand up. 

Robin looked at you with curious eyes, as she saw you finally leaving the couch. She watched in a quiet manner as she saw you grab the car keys and put them in your pocket, and how you looked around as you put your hair up in a messy ponytail, bumps caused by shaky fingers. She only put her hand around Steve’s arm, her eyes still trained on you, once she saw you pocketing the vodka bottle and the old rag to light it up. 

Steve looked at Robin first, following her eyesight until she saw you, trying to not look suspicious as the rag poked out of the pocket of your brown leather jacket. 

You knew you were being caught as soon as you heard the sudden silence. 

“Woah, woah, hey…Where do you think you’re going?” Steve pointed out, one hand on his waist as the other one gesticulated widely. Confusion and worry evident in the way he spoke, his voice coming up and down like a rollercoaster. 

“What do you think?” The frustration was clear in the way you not only looked back at him, but in the way your words sting. “You’re wasting time…” You were now defeated, your hands now buried deep into your jacket pockets, fingers playing around with what you had in them, a way of distracting yourself. 

“We’re not.” Dustin tried to make a point, though his furrowed brows read as sadness. “We need a plan, so we’re just trying to come up with one…”

“What plan? We go in, Nancy guards the door, we get him, we come back.” Your shoulders scrunch up as you simplified it all, their eyes switched from you to Nancy, who was still sat down at the sofa, a bit tenser than when you were beside her. 

“Nance, you’re not coming?” Steve inquired, his whole body turning to face her from a distance. 

“I… I can’t…” Her eyes crystalised as shock emanated from her body. 

“She doesn’t have to, I’ll be with her, we’ll keep watch. Right?” Jonathan jumped in, reassuring Nancy, as Steve took a step back. “You’re not leaving my sight.” He whispered in her ear once he got by her side, their foreheads touching. 

You smiled to yourself, a sweet moment between them. The world stopped for them, you could tell, and that’s exactly what you were craving right now, and worrying you might never get back. 

“Fine, but we still don’t know how to get in.” Steve added, his arms flexing in front of his chest as he shook his head in defeat. 

“Watergate.” You mutter. 

“You’re insane.” Robin snapped as soon as she heard you, pausing in between words. “Even if we did manage to get down there and it was still open, how do you plan on coming back with him? What if there’s more rabies infected bats around? What if you get stuck there this time? We need to find another gate!” She was now talking in full speed, cascading words as her thoughts entered her mind. 

“So we go to the woods!” You whine, frustration and impatience invade you once more. 

“The woods?” Steve asked. 

“She’s right.” Dustin added, his eyes finally leaving the ground shining as they did so. “Vecna killed Patrick and that created Watergate, so maybe there’s a gate near Fred’s death, like the one in the trailer…”

“What?” You questioned him as you saw him losing the train of thought. “We go to the woods and we get in and out, what’s wrong?” 

“We killed Vecna, so the upside down should be collapsing since he isn’t alive and isn’t there to power it so…” He continued as he thought out loud. 

“So what?” Steve asked as his voice went higher in tone. 

“So it’s crumbling down.” Dustin pointed out as if it was overly obvious. 

“So we have to go, now.” You said at the same time, heading to the door, no time to waste. 

You heard their footsteps following you as you found your way to your car, you were finally getting somewhere.

-

You thought you would feel relieved once you saw you were right, what you weren’t expecting was your jaw to clench at the sight of the hidden gate. 

It wasn’t big, it was small and weak. 

The same thing that happened back in the graveyard started again. The wind picked up, hollowing through the trees replacing the chirping of the birds. 

“Take care.” Nancy said with a trembling voice, while her hand was holding tightly with Jonathan’s. 

Steve’s grip on his bat changed, firm and steady now, before twisting it a bit, readjusting it so he’d be more comfortable. Dustin’s hands fidgeted with the end of his jacket, patting his pockets checking once again that he wasn’t missing anything. 

“If we’re not here in an hour, check in with El, she’s with the others guarding Max, but she should be able to…” Dustin recalled for the hundredth time, going over the plan he had been yelling about in the car drive over here. 

“Yeah, one hour. Got it.” Jonathan nodded as he spoke, waving bye as you stepped in. 

You just pressed your lips as you heard him. 

If you only had an hour, you had to make it count. And it had to start now. 

You had never just walked into the upside down. You had always fallen into it, so you didn’t have time to actually feel the veil breaking as your skin found its way in, the viscosity of the red hue, and the dryness that could be felt immediately after that. Your eyes slowly adjusted to the lack of colour and light, as you became hypervigilant, looking up at the sky before the others found their way. 

Nothing. 

There was absolutely nothing there. 

A cloudless sunless grey sky welcomed you, with no thunder or lightning. 

If anything, that nothingness was just more unnerving. 

Every step they made echoed through, and made you look around, hoping to find something that would make you keep your hopes up. 

You agreed on walking to the graveyard, if there was nothing there, you’d find your way to the trailer park and go back. 

“Something’s weird.” Steve pointed out, as he looked around. 

“Not weird, decaying.” You added, nodding to a grey crumbled up vine. The hole in it seemed to get deeper and bigger by the second. 

“Quiet.” Robin said, as she looked up. “There’s no bats, no thunder either.” 

“You can still trip though.” You told her as you held her from stepping into a fallen tree branch. 

You walked, you weren’t really sure for how long, yet she was right, it was oddly beautiful now. A stuck in time version of Hawkins where nothing seemed to change, where everything looked as if it was straight out of an antique photograph you had found hidden in a cupboard. 

You could see the iron gate from the cemetery, the bars on it starting to fold down, as if they were wilting flowers of an old bouquet. You felt as you collectively held in your breath. 

It wasn’t long after that that you started hearing someone yelling unintelligible things. 

While you were slowly making your way in, Eddie lied there. 

He was right where you thought he’d be -unaware that you were near him- an empty space between gravestones, his body falling into the floor, exhausted from getting there, starving and malnourished. He had been talking nonsense for a while, he started whispering it into the heavens, until now, his voice was loud, and even if he didn’t intend to, panic found its way in it. 

“Just one more song? Please? I need to know you’re there. I’ll sing along again if you want!” He had been looking at the void in the sky for a long time, he wasn’t sure if it had been an hour or two, to be honest, it felt like he had been there for days. “C’mon baby, please? Just a bit more, a guitar solo, or just… your voice would be nice…” He started begging now, pleading with some force he didn’t quite believe in for something that would indicate you’re there, near. “For fuck sake! I know I’ll die here, at least you could play some music while I do so!” Themix of desperation and tiredness was now getting into him, he looked at his hands and realised how his rings looked bigger, then now danced and moved with more ease. “Or just… Maybe if you light one up?” 

At the same time, you started hearing his screams, and you started picking up the pace, running through the maze of granite carved stones, with different names and dates. 

Dustin was the first to start screaming his name, while you just focused on running near where the voice came from. 

You’d know it was him even if you hadn’t heard him in thirty years. 

Adrenaline came over your body, so you rushed until your legs stopped, all of a sudden once you saw him. 

He was there, his hand on his stomach, where blackened stains in his shirt layed wrinkled. 

He was there, his hair laid perfectly still in a careful knotted mess. 

He was there, his chest raised up and down as he breathed. 

He was there, and he was alive. 

“Moon…?” The nickname you had for him fell from your lips, your tone shaking as you still couldn’t believe it. 

He slowly stood up, a grin of discomfort from pain evident in his face. He looked at you, his eyes barely opening up. He was still sitting on the ground, you felt your lips curving upwards as relief invaded you, seeing him smiling at you in recognition. 

“Eddie?!” Dustin screamed as he ran up to him, falling to his knees as he hugged him, his head hitting his chest, Eddie’s arms slowly wrapped around his body. “I thought I… We lost you…”  His voice was muffled, still you could tell he had started crying. 

“I thought I lost you too.” Eddie’s voice trembled as he looked directly at you. His eyes crystalised once he saw the first tear jump from your eyes. 

You felt Robin’s hand on your shoulder, a thigh squeeze letting you know it was real. He was okay, and you were getting him back. 

She nodded, letting you know it was okay if you wanted to interrupt.

You walked slowly to him, the back of your hand wiping away your tears. You let your body hit the floor, you couldn’t keep your eyes off of him. 

“Hi” You whispered as soon as you were a breath away from him. 

“Hi” He gleamed back as soon as he got you close. 

“You’re okay?” You asked, as your voice quivered, desperate to hear him again, talking directly to you. 

“Yeah, I’m okay.” He nodded as a trembling hand found the back of your neck. 

Dustin smiled before stepping back, leaving you both alone for a moment, a much needed moment. 

You gave in, melting into his arms. You were both crying quietly now, his hands stroking your hair politely, afraid that you were nothing but a mirage, while yours held on thigh to him, scared that you would cause him pain from needing that close. 

“You scared me to death.” You half joked as you chuckled through the crying. 

“I’m the one dying.” He added on to the joke, his lips finally kissing your temple, drinking your perfume in as he did so. 

“Shut it.” You shake your head as you slowly pull back, your hand now cupping his cheek, as your thumb slowly graces the high points of his cheekbone. “I’m getting you home.” 

You thought about kissing him, your lips touching his, melting completely under his touch. But once he leaned in to do so you saw how blood stained his shirt again, your eyes darted from his as you looked down, the red growing wider by the second. 

Fear invaded your body again, a sense of urgency creeping over both of you. 

“Yeah, we should really go” He grunted through gritted teeth. 

-

It had been a blur. 

Nancy grabbed your car keys from your hand, as you helped Eddie inside the car, sitting on the back with him. Cradling him as you talked to him, trying to keep him calm even if you were panicking deep inside. 

Steve arrived at his house before you, opening the door wide open, Robin helping you bring Eddie in. 

They were downstairs now, phoning Hopper, and El and finally Wayne. 

Steve’s bedroom guest had a big window where sun creeped in, a soft breeze helping him cool off as cold sweat dripped from his forehead. You helped him lay on the soft mattress sitting next to him carefully. 

You had enough supplies hidden under the bed, you knew you could stitch him up enough so he would stop hurting, you had enough experience patching people up. 

“Can you take your shirt off?” You asked him with a slight raise of your eyebrows. 

“You already want me naked?” He joked. He tended to do that when he got nervous. You tilted your head as you bent over so you could take the little box full of supplies out of underneath the bed. He chuckled once he saw the box in your hands. He started trying to take his jacket off, with a grunt in his face he shook his head. “I might need help.” He admitted, a grunt on the back of his throat. 

“Thought so.” You muttered under your breath. 

You scootched over to him, your trembling hands becoming steadier as they found the neck of his jacket, pulling it down slowly. At first, Eddie moved, tried to help. Once he felt your hands against his arms however, he stood still, his eyes not letting go of you, and the way your hands moved with such carefulness and tenderness. 

The tips of your fingers were now in between his skin and his shirt, soaked in dirt and blood. 

You looked at him before pulling it up, he nodded, his eyelids halved opened, a cautious smile in his lips. He sucked to his teeth as his skin separated from the stiff cloth, your fingers brushed his abdomen with care, avoiding to trace his skin as soon as you saw the grin of discomfort he had on his lips. His arms ached once they were up in the air, the shirt falling off of them slowly. 

“It looks worse than I thought.” Eddie grunted as he finally looked down. You guided his torso against the cushions that were prepped up, his hand lingered to your arms, the tip of his fingers burrowing into your skin. 

“I’ll clean it up, I’m sure it’s not that bad.” You tried to play it off, a kind smile curved your lips upwards, a little gesture he imitated. 

“You must really like me” He started in a soft whisper. “You keep lying trying to make it all better.” 

You laughed it off, a short chuckle coming out of him. You started soaking the cotton swab with alcohol, the odor of it filling the small gap between the both of you. 

“You know I do.” He smiled in a soft manner, his teeth showing as he tilted his head. “Ready?” 

“Yeah.” 

You smiled kindly before starting to clean his wounds. They were as if someone ripped and crumpled a paper sheet. They weren’t deep, just repetitive bite and claw marks over the same spot. The big one was on his lower abdomen, another one near his collarbone, a gash on his neck. His arms were full of scratches and deep cuts you had to keep clean. 

He didn’t complain. He just let you do whatever you thought you had to, deep down he knew that if he let you take care of him, you’d feel better. And if he was being honest with himself, he enjoyed you dotting and caring for him, you knew it was because he won’t trust anyone else but you. 

“You know you could just wait for Hopper to come right? He’ll probably make me go to a hospital or something.” He whispered in an attempt to get you to look back at him, his eyes not leaving yours. 

“I know, I just…” 

“I’m okay.” He started, reassuring you, trying to get you to stop overcleaning the same spot on his chest. “Hey.” You kept overdoing it, a blank look on your face. “Darling, please…” He begged now, the way his lips said the nickname snapping you out of it. 

“I thought you were dead.” You crumbled down, nervous tears threatening to jump out, your lips quivering as you started to talk. “I thought you were gone, Moon…” 

“I’m not.” He reached out, his hand finally holding yours. “You really think it’s going to be that easy? You’re not getting rid of me.” 

“I buried you… Well there was nothing in there but… I just.”

“I know, I heard you and Wayne talking.” He confessed, his eyes changing, now they were full of melancholy, and a hint of guilt. “I’m sorry by the way…” 

“What the fuck are you on?” The words fell right out of your lips, tilting your head as your tone went higher. 

“I just… I heard you crying. Begging and all that. I’m sorry I almost died and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything I wanted to, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I loved you before, I’m sorry I left I-” You interrupted him, as soon as you heard the big word. Your hand tightening around his. 

“You do?” 

“I do what?” He tried to brush it off, the confession had fallen out of his mouth without him thinking too much about it. 

“Love me?” You were embarrassed by how hopeful you sound. His free hand travelled to your cheek, slowly stroking it as he looked deeply into your eyes, falling deeply into them. 

You gave in, your head now resting in the palm of his hand, he slowly pulled you closer to him. Finally closing the distance between the both of you, slowly, then all at once. His lips met yours, a smile appearing on both of them. It was a careful kiss, a needy and soft kiss. It said more things than you both could ever tell eachother. His lips begged for yours to never leave him again, to let him stay by your side. Yours were yelling for him to be patient, and let you love him in a quiet and slow manner. 

You pulled away slowly, your forehead touching his. 

You both knew each other understood. Still, he whispered low enough for you to barely hear him, right before you were interrupted by the door opening. “Of course I do.” 

“Happy you’re back kid.” Hopper’s voice interrupted the both of you, moving your heads so you could look at him. “I’m sorry but you’ll have to answer a couple of questions, then go to the hospital”

“Stay?” Eddie asked, a promise in his voice. 

“Yes. For as long as you let me.” 

He kissed the tip of your nose, before talking again. 

“Forever then.”

[pascaloverx]

MATTHEW BROOME

MASTERLIST

ENCHANTED FANFIC

two

three

SHAMELESS FANFIC

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three

four

five

[i-heart-slashers]

[noobiestnoober]

🧛‍♂️ The Vampire Diaries Master List

✨ Reblog = support the writer! 💌 Requests Open! #fyp #fandomwriters

Damon Salvatore

A Complicated Love – PART 1 | PART 2

The Cost of a Prank

Plan F: Fabulous or Failure?

A Dangerous Game – 🔥 Smut

Red Wine and Bad Ideas - PART 1 | PART 2 – 🔥 Smut

Kai Parker

Shadows of Destiny – PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3

Shattered Reflections

Pretty Little Monster

Mine, In Every Universe

Stefan Salvatore

Veil of Deception

Between the Quiet

Blood-Stained Kisses (Ripper Stefan)

Lorenzo St. John (Enzo)

Whiskey & Secrets

🌀 TVD Group & Chaos One-Shots

Prison World IKEA: Assembling Chaos – (Damon, Bonnie, Kai, Reader)

Blood Ties and Petty Fights – (Damon, Stefan, Reader)

Prank Wars – Mystic Falls Edition – (Reader, Damon, Stefan, Kol)

Truth or Dare Gone Wrong – PART 1 | PART 2 | (Mystic Falls Gang & Reader+Mikaelsons)

Cooking Disaster at the Boarding House – (Reader, Stefan, Damon, Enzo)

Road Trip from Hell – (Reader, Damon, Caroline, Klaus)

Vampire Training Gone Wrong – (Reader, Damon, Stefan, Alaric)

Mystic Falls' First Karaoke Night

[dadsperm]

𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ 18+ only... no minors please... ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

big brother!seishiro nagi x f!reader x reo mikage

1288 words. f!reader

content warnings: incest (full) - dubcon - threesome - fingering - praise - good girl - slight cucking - power dynamics - slight edging

all characters aged up btw

"You're a pretty sick guy, Nagi, you know that?" Reo laughed idly as he watched your big brother towering above your frightened form. Your eyes moved between the two older men in front of you, unable to believe what was about to happen.

You've always had a thing for Reo. He's cute, he's rich, and the way he's looking to devour you in this moment makes your heart race. Your eyes are fixated on him as the hair he's consistently attempting to keep tucked behind his ear keeps falling in front of his eyes.

A gasp leaves you as Nagi pinches your cheeks and forces you to look at him. His brown eyes staring daggers into your, it's like he's examining how you could even have the audacity to look at a man who isn't him.

"She's my little sister. I'm meant to protect her, isn't that right?" he speaks without shifting his gaze for even a second. You nod, obediently, earning a smile from him. "It's my job to look after you... so I think it's my right to break in your little pussy."

"M-My pussy?" you stutter. You gasp once again as he forces your legs to spread. He flips up your skirt and presses your chest hard enough that your back connects with his unmade bed. You shudder as you feel a slender finger run up the line of your slit. Your soaking panties become stickier with each second his digit is pressed against you.

"Yeah... pretty pussy, baby. Virgins always get wet so easily... 'n your even wetter because you're excited for your nii-san to fuck you. Mmm..." he groans, still teasing your panty-clad folds as he begins to palm at his cock.

You whimper, and he catches the way you glance at Reo like he's your saviour. Like you're begging him to understand you've never done this before, let alone with your brother, and you're oh so worried. Nagi moves the gusset of your panties into the crease of your thigh, baring your petalled flesh to himself and Reo.

"Woah..." Reo speaks. He turns into a blushing mess as he can't tear himself away from the sight between your legs.

"Never seen a cunt before, Reo?" Nagi asks, a single finger circling your sticky clit before he ease it into your tight heat. "Don't tell me you're a virgin, too." he laughs, shallowly.

Reo clears his throat, his eyes finding yours as he searches for your reactions to the pleasure like an addict. The way your face winces at the single finger intrusion couldn't have ended in any other result besides from him being rock hard. His cock straining against his jeans. He's losing his resolve, knowing he'll need to touch himself soon to alleviate the tension.

"No, I- I have- just never seen one that pretty..." he explains.

His response results in Nagi donning a fake pout, before laughing once more.

"You hear that, baby? Prettiest pussy Reo's ever seen... shit, I have to agree." he explains. He wastes no time forcing a second finger inside of you, pumping and scissoring them inside of you to stretch you out. "I'm gonna make you cum nice 'n hard, like a good big brother should. Because your nii-san has a big cock, y'know? It'll be easier to take after you cum."

"I- I-" you speak, a few tears rolling down your face as you try and find the words to say through the concotion of blinding pleasure with an agonising sting.

"Mm... you always look so pretty when you cry."

"Don't think we should be doin' this... Sei... i-it's wrong..." you sniffle, knuckles turning white as you grip onto the bedsheets beneath.

All he can do is tut as he watches you take his fingers like such a good girl. He curls them against your sweet spot, forcing you to throw your head back. He uses his free hand to swipe his fingers over your clit, and at the same time Reo has finally freed himself from his confines. His cock in his hand as he cant resist but to pleasure himself as you fight with the morality of being pleasured by your brother.

"This is exactly what little sisters are made for, sweetheart." Nagi assures you. "Made for nii-san's to fill up like good little girls. You're mine. 'N if you're a really good girl, you'll let nii-san and his friends touch you and fuck you whenever we want."

"Mmpf..." Reo moans, stroking himself up to a climax. Hearing the way Nagi speaks to you like you're nothing more than a plaything seems to be a sexual awakening for Reo.

As beautiful as you are, as gorgeous as your moans are, as pretty as your pussy is.

You're just Nagi's property.

"A-Am I a good girl? A good sister... f'you?" you ask him with pleading eyes.

He smirks, fingering you more as your tears continue to flow.

"Do you want to be? Wanna be our good girl?" he asks, his head tilting in Reo's direction to include him in the conversation. "Do you think what nii-san is doing is wrong? Or do you want to cum all over his fingers?"

"I think she wants to cum." Reo intervenes.

"I think so too. I think my sweet, baby sister wanted to sound like a good girl by saying this is wrong. But you're so close, aren't you? Naughty girl about to make a mess of her brothers fingers."

"N-No..." you sniffle. "Wanna be good... please." you sob, voice sticking in your throat as you can't bear to say anymore.

"The only good thing you can do right now is what we tell you. So, go on... cum all over nii-san's fingers."

And with that final, strict command, your hips are rolling against his fingers as you try to chase your high. You can't believe this is happening. The absolute astonishing pleasure you're becoming dizzy over due to your big brothers ministrations. All the while your crush is watching with so much lust in his eyes, you think he might cum along with you. His face is becoming sweatier, his fist turning to a blur as he works himself faster.

"I- I love you!" you call out, pearlescent cream coating Nagi's fingers as you continue to experience bliss. His fingers don't stop, and your words are just more encouragement to drag every last aftershock out of you.

You aren't even sure who you were talking to in that moment. To Reo? Your brother? Hell, it might have even just been the feeling of cumming. After it's all said and done, and Nagi still won't give you a moment of reprieve, you can't help but stare at Reo once again. You want to see him cum, you aren't sure why, you just feel that it might be close to art when he does.

"Stop it." Nagi commands as he looks over to Reo.

"C-Can't..." Reo explains, his fist still going as he stares at you. He's chasing the feeling you've just experienced, he wants to be in that blissful release with you. He can't stop... he can't... he-

Nagi grabs his wrist and moves his hand away.

"I invited you hear to enjoy my sister's pretty pussy. Have some respect for her. You can jerk yourself off any time, if you blow this opportunity, I won't be kind enough to let you have another."

Reo grunts practically choking out sobs as he's had his ecstacy robbed from him. He takes a few deep breaths, looking at you briefly before looking at Nagi again. He nods, agreeing with his words, the pair of them looking at you again.

"Alright, sweet girl. Nii-san's going to fuck you now."

©𝐃𝐀𝐃𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐌

[imaginefan]

Pick One

Damon Salvatore X Fem!Reader Possible Lorenzo St. John X Fem!Reader

Word Count: 1037

Requested: Anon

Request: Would you write a story about how damon is dating elena but you and danon kiss on a drunken night. you don't want to share him or anything, you tell him he either breaks it off with elena or you're done. He doesn't end up doing it but he gets mad and jealous when he sees you flirting with someone else and when guys hit on you etc. Thank you. Reader is also a Vamp. One shot.

You shouldn’t have let it happen, Damon is supposed to be dating Elena and yet you had both ended up kissing at a party where you were both more than a little bit tipsy. You and Damon had danced around each other for years, with both of you being vampires. It had been a long time and while you wanted to be happy that it was finally happening you pulled away and put some distance between both of you. “Damon.” You warned as he attempted to move closer to you. “What?” He asked playfully. “You have a girlfriend remember, you choose one of us, you don’t get both of us.” You explained. “What, you don’t want one night of fun?” He asked. “No I don’t Damon, so end it with Elena or I’m done with you.” You ordered, seemingly sobering up, instead of continuing the conversation any further you walked into the bathroom for the bedroom that you had noth stumbled into, you locked the door and leant over the sink, you thought about washing your face before thinking better of it, given the makeup on your face. You then walked out of the bathroom back into the main room stopping for a second when you see Damon sitting on the sofa laughing at something that was said with Elena on his lap, you rolled your eyes and turned to the door, if that was his answer you weren’t going to stick around waiting for him.

The next morning you groaned as you woke up in your room “all the consequences and none of the fun.” You mumbled to yourself as you shuffled into your kitchen. “Good morning sunshine, you left early yesterday, you should not look like that.” Enzo teased from his place at your kitchen table. “What are you doing here?” You asked. “I came to check on you, you know after you and Damon disappeared.” He answered. “What did he do?” “He… We…” You gripped the door of the fridge as if everything that happened the night before finally hit you and he chose someone else. “You didn’t have sex did you?” He asked. “What? No. We just kissed.” You answered “but he’s with Elena.” “He’s never cared about that before.” Enzo shrugged as he stood from where he was sitting. “He didn’t care, I did. I told him that he had to choose me or Elena.” You explained. “And he chose Elena.” Enzo sighed as he walked over to you and pulled you into a hug, while you had both been friends for almost as long as you had been friends with Damon, your friendship was different, he treated you like a little sister and often had your back where you needed it. “Well surely we can find you someone else to have a little fun with, he’s really not worth you hiding away for.” “I don’t know.” You muttered. “Fine, you don’t have to find someone else but you can’t hide in here forever.” Enzo wagered and you sighed. “What do you have in mind?” You asked. “Come on, let’s just go out, see where we end up.” Enzo suggested and you thought for a second, in all honesty you had no other plans for the next couple of days past wallow in self pity so instead you nodded. “Fine but let me get ready first.” You answered as you disappeared back into your bedroom.

Your morning started with breakfast, you guys headed out to a cafe where you got something to eat and talked about how you were going to spend your day. “(Y/N) hey, we noticed that we left early last night, Damon said that you weren’t feeling too good, you look like you feel better now.” Elena said as she caught sight of you in the cafe. “Yeah, way better now Enzo has been helping me, he got me something to eat and came to check on me this morning, we’re going to have a quiet day today I think.” You explained, trying your hardest to be normal with her, she wasn’t the reason that you were upset, she didn’t hurt you. “Good, well I’ve got to go but I’ll see you later.” She waved as she met with Caroline outside of the cafe and they both disappeared. “See better even after a few hours, how’s the hangover?” Enzo asked, drawing your attention back to him. “Good.” You answered. “Great, so have you decided what movie you want to go and see?” He asked. “Yeah.” You nodded.

3 hours later, you were coming out of the movie theatre giggling with Enzo, he had his arm over your shoulder, you both walk out just as Elena and Damon were walking in Damon says something to Elena before just walks in and you were continuing forward before he calls out to you “are you just going to ignore me?” “I thought you were pretty clear with your choice yesterday.” You answered. “So we can’t talk anymore?” He asked. “Damon, I need some time, you know for you it might have been some fun for the night but I actually wanted something from you, so no for now we can’t talk.” You answered, feeling Enzo gently squeeze your shoulder in silent reassurance. “You moved on quickly for someone who needs time.” Damon continued to argue and you were going to give him an answer but Enzo didn’t seem to want to let that one slide. “She’s not like you, we’re just out as friends.” Enzo answered. “Is that what it is to you as well?” Damon asked. “It’s whatever she wants it to be, don’t get me wrong if she offered something more to me than friendship, I’d take it in a second but I’m happy with a friendship if that’s all she wants.” Enzo admitted pulling you away. “Come on.” “Enzo, did you mean that?” You asked. “Of course I did but there’s no need to talk about all that now.” Enzo said as you looked at him “after all if I am the one to get you, I want to be your boyfriend, not your rebound.” He winked before opening the car door for you and taking you home.

Requests and general question!

[robinbuckleyluvr]

once st s5 drops and the robin buckley fangirls revive you people wont be ready... just wrote 7k words on an unfinished robin buckley scenario. real writers r still alive guys i got u

[zafirosreverie]

The Brightest Star (North x F!Reader)

Every year since I have this blog I have written at least one fanfic for North when Christmas is close, I couldn't let this one be the exception, so I hope you like it.

______________________________

You sighed as you tried to control your shaking hands, you really didn't want to ruin another machine, but nothing seemed to work. You couldn't help it, not when he was so close, even if you couldn't see him, you could feel it in your bones, that terrible, ancient fear that stabbed into your skin like a million needles, seeming to inject those horrible shadows into your being.

You shuddered when the memory of that terrible day suddenly came to your mind. You had blocked out most of the details, but you remembered perfectly the feeling of a deathly cold hand wrapping around your throat, stealing all the air from your body, the darkness slowly filling your senses and the screams of children echoing in your ears.

Pitch Black had escaped, but you could still feel his grip on you.

"Are you ok?"

You jumped when you felt a large but warm hand on your shoulder and thanked everything in your mind that you hadn't screamed when you saw blue eyes filled with concern staring at you.

“Yeah, I’m fine” you lied.

The man didn't seem to believe you, but he was kind enough not to push, so he just gave you a gentle squeeze and took a seat next to you. Internally you were grateful that he was so easy to work with, because you were sure that your teacher would already be questioning you.

You silently passed him the toolbox and returned to your own project, allowing muscle memory to take the reins and letting your memory wander back to that day, though not to Pitch's terrible memories, but to the bright light that you had next to you.

Nicholas St. North, retired bandit, loud but kind man, Santoff Claussen's savior. Again, you didn't remember the details, but you did remember the way the blanket of darkness around you was suddenly broken with the clean cut of a sword, and the cold that seeped into your bones slowly melted with the warmth of a pair of big arms. You felt safe even without knowing who the man holding you was.

North had saved you, he had saved your home, your children, magic, and because of that he had not only earned a place as Ombric's apprentice, but, without knowing it (and you wouldn't admit it), he had earned a permanent place in your heart.

He was a brilliant man, with surprising ingenuity, his inventions surpassed anything that had been created before in the town, and a heart of gold. Ombric had given him a place in his house, and since you were also technically his apprentice, it was a matter of time before you struck up a friendship with the former bandit, to the point that your teacher joked that you couldn't live without him anymore.

Not that you cared, you liked North more than you were willing to admit, and the man in the moon knew that man needed a family, a home to belong to, and you hoped, deep down, that somehow you could be part of it.

You just wished he could see how special he was, that he could see himself the way you and Katerine saw him. Despite his carefree attitude and the confidence he projected in front of others, especially in front of children or Ombric, you knew that guilt and memories of his past life still haunted him, that he often questioned whether he really deserved a place as a guardian.

"Do you think I'm worthy?" he asked

"You are" you smiled, reassuring him "you're a really bright star"

________________________________

You smiled as you watched the elves running around, getting between the tables and getting in the Yetis’ way, who were already too used to it to really bother with them. You loved this time of year, the bright lights, the decorated trees, the colors, the warmth of the fireplaces, the cookies, the gifts, and in the middle of it all, him.

In the end, Ombric had been right, you couldn't stay away from North, so when he formed his alliance with the Yetis, moved to the North Pole and built his magnificent city where his inventions brought joy to everyone, you had naturally been at his side.

It had been a long time since you had finally admitted your feelings for the man, and with Manny's blessing (who had made you age as slowly as North did), you had sworn to share his mission of protecting wonder in children for whatever centuries you had left.

"Mrs. Claus" a cheerful voice sounded behind you.

You smiled as you turned to him. In front of you was Santa Claus himself, as imposing as the legends said, with the years reflected in his face, which still retained its childish warmth and as handsome as the day you met him.

"Mr. Claus" you replied "ready for your big night?"

Christmas Eve was always a busy and difficult night for North, but you knew that, like you, he would never change the children's joy at seeing that Santa had visited them for anything. 

He simply smiled and offered his hand to you, escorting you down the hallway as you headed to the reindeer shed. You never accompanied him on deliveries, preferring to wait for him with a cup of hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies, but you were always there to watch him leave. He had said you gave him luck, and you never questioned it.

"Tell me, darling" he whispered "do you still think I'm worthy?"

Oh, so it was one of those nights. Despite everything he had experienced, despite how much he had done for children and for the world, there were still echoes of his ghosts walking through his mind. It wasn't as frequent anymore, maybe once every few years, but sometimes, he still needed you to remind him how special he was.

"North" you said softly "look around you. Look at everything you've created, the wonderful ideas you've made come true, look how much this place has grown"

Carefully, you let go of his arm so you could take his hands instead, making him look at you with an intensity and fragility reserved for you.

"But most of all, look at what you have become, everything you represent" you said "You are not only the guardian of wonder, you are more. Christmas is not only about gifts and beautiful lights, it is the memories that are created, the love that is strengthened, the joy that is shared, the illusion that is reborn even in adults. You represent all that. Even when the magic seems lost, people find it again in your figure, in your celebration"

North smiled and closed his eyes, savoring the feel of your palm as you caressed his cheek gently.

"You are the most important guardian, protector of magic" you continued "and you are the brightest star of Manny's new golden age."

[supercap2319]

"So, you know on St. Patrick's Day, how you're supposed to pinch people who don't wear green?" Y/N asked.

Dean looks at him. "Yeah? So?"

"Well, Sam didn't have any green on, so I pinched his cheeks."

"How? He's taller than you. How'd you pinch his cheeks on his face?"

"Who says I pinched his face cheeks?" Y/N smirks with a wink.

"Ah, that's just gross!" Dean makes a face.

[aloneinthehellfire]

Chapter Fourteen: We're Running Out Of Time

Gates Of Hell [Masterlist]

Word Count: 3.9k

Warnings: swearing, mentions of death, horror, blood, this is not proof read and that's probably the biggest warning

[A/N: I rushed through this entire chapter so I'm so sorry if it is terrible but I just wanted to write one specific scene and- I'll shut up now. Enjoy :)]

We're Running Out Of Time

“... what?”

Everything was frozen in a compressed motion, only the erratic beat of your heart ensuring you were still living, breathing, in the moment.

Three weeks ago, you had followed El through the mothergate, a silent promise to find your sister when she was nowhere to be found. You had fought your way through the Upside Down, slaying monsters, collecting scars and bruises.

And three weeks later, you find out it was all for nothing. El didn’t need to be found.

She was never missing.

A voice that undoubtedly belonged to her was telling you all of this through the radio gripped tightly in your hand, feeling like your mind was drifting in and out of consciousness. You had been tricked so easily. A shapeshifter- a mirage. It knew exactly what buttons it needed to push, the nuclear code that led to your heart, your guilt. And now, three weeks later, you were sat on the floor of the Radio Shack in the darker version of your home, beside a boy that didn’t deserve this. Steve didn’t deserve your foolishness.

Maybe he was right, back in that arcade mere days before freshman year. You could only ever ruin people.

“Y/n.” Steve reaches out to take your hand, gently rubbing his thumb across your knuckles. You look up at him, frowning.

Rather than speak, you silently hand him the radio and slip away, resting your back against the very wall he had broken down on earlier.

“Hello? Anyone there? Over.”

“Yeah, yeah, we’re-” Steve pauses, eyes widening. “Henderson?”

“Son of a bitch!” Dustin responds in a gleeful tone, striking a smile on his face. “I knew you weren’t dead! Over.”

“Yeah, man, all safe and sound down here.” Steve risks a glance over to you, but your eyes are focused somewhere else, glazed. “Wait, how the hell is this possible right now?”

There’s a long pause and he thinks the radio must have lost contact until Dustin’s disapproving tone drops in.

“You didn’t say over. Over.”

If Steve wasn’t so happy right now, he’d find a way to reach through that phone and tackle him. “Whatever. Over.”

“Okay so basically I have been playing around with the idea of creating my own ham radio. That’s a big radio for longer distances by the way. Over.”

Steve rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, get to the point. Over.”

“Well, we weren’t sure if it was gonna reach down to you. Cerebro, that is. Like in X-Men? When Professor X needs to locate other mutants- Ow! What the hell Mike?- Oh, right, yeah. Anyway, I recorded a message on this thing maybe two weeks ago and we’ve been broadcasting it ever since. Pretty sweet, right? Over.”

“Pretty, uh, pretty sweet, man.” Steve praises, running a hand through his hair as his concern centres on you. “Any chance you’ve built a portal back to the real Hawkins?… Over.”

The static blares into the silence again and Steve tightens his lips. You finally meet his eyes, offering a small smile with all the willpower you could muster. He really can’t imagine how you out of everyone must be feeling right now. He understands it, at least. Being strong enough to sacrifice and protect, but too unprepared to deal with the consequences.

“Hey, Mike here.” Mike speaks and Steve returns his attention, taking a deep breath to recentre. “So, it’s a long shot, but… we might have a way to get you both out of there.”

You’re beside him in a flash, gently taking the radio into your own hands with determination. “Seriously.”

“The gates haven’t completely disappeared.” Mike explains, a faint sound of rustling in the background. “They’ve just been opening and closing one at a time. Hopper has been trying to track them down but they haven’t stayed open long enough to catch ‘em.”

“There’s no pattern?” You ask, scrunching your face. The last thing you want to do is run around Hawkins hoping a gate would appear, especially not with the demons lurking down here.

“Actually, yeah. They’ve opened at Lake Jordan, Lover’s Lake, even the community pool.”

“So it’s water-based?”

“Exactly. Except the thing is, we’ve ran out of water-based gates- what? - I’m not saying that, it’s stupid- No- I… ugh, fine. - The watergates hit every lake and pond. We’ve pretty much ran out of water so, we have no idea where it’s gonna hit next. - What now? - No, go away, I already said your stupid name. - Beca-”

You assume the boys are continuing their fight as you let out a breath, brows scrunched together.

“Great.” Steve mutters, shaking his head. “Now we have to figure out where the next gate is gonna be and, I’ll be honest, I’m not great at hide and seek. Not the hide, and especially not the seek.”

Something clatters in the distance and you both turn, on high alert.

“Sorry, Mike again. Dustin was… Dustin.” He returns, panting slightly. “We’re gonna keep working on it but at least we found you now. Hopper should be back soon and I know you’ll probably have a lot to talk about.”

The static blares out, feeling heavy in your hand as Steve slowly stretches from his crouch to peer over the top of the shelves. Nothing was in here with you, thankfully. But he can just make out a shadow outside, growing bigger and bigger…

“Hello? Guys?”

Steve’s head whips to the radio, stomach plummeting. “Shit, turn it-”

The shrill sound of glass shattering makes him duck down in an instant, something breathing in heavy and uneven intervals, crashing between the shelves and hurtling towards you.

You scramble to shut off the radio, cutting off the cries from the kids and shoving it into Steve’s bag. You could deal with it later when you weren’t dead.

Steve swoops up the backpack and holds a finger to his lips, the other hand pointing down the aisle furthest to your left. You both keep low, eyes on the ground to avoid stepping on anything that could announce your location to whatever was hunting you. And, just as you follow Steve around the corner, you both hear it searching the aisle beside you, grateful to have made the right decision.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t as slow as the other things you’ve battled and, much like everything else, you figured it depended on hearing. You and Steve weren’t amateurs in this game of prey and predator, especially since finding literally everything down here wanted to eat you. Escaping was your speciality, and right now you feared it was the only option.

As you take slow and silent steps, crouched on the opposite aisle, you can just make out its dark black shape stalking between the shelves.

You don’t feel like you can breathe, hands balled into fists as you use your peripheral vision to guide you towards Steve, eyes never leaving the shadowed figure. You’re scared that if you look away, it would immediately find you when you were distracted.

That was a crucial mistake.

Your next footstep landed directly on a musty wrapper, a sharp sound of a crinkle echoing out when you accidentally crush it with your boot.

Steve’s eyes go wide, head snapping back to you as your blood ran cold, a fearful gaze meeting his. Fuck.

You anxiously look back between the shelves.

Pale white eyes are staring directly at you, unwavering as terror slices through your spine.

And then it screams.

Its wail is ear-piercing, inflicting pain on you both as you tumble over, trying to cover your ears to muffle out its sound. You couldn’t run if you wanted, feeling completely paralysed by the high-pitched drone of this creature’s cry.

Steve feels something damp against his palms as he groans against the relentless stabbing against every nerve in his brain. Whatever this thing was, its screech was damaging you both beyond repair. He needed to get you both out. He needed to stop it before there was no coming back.

In a split second decision, Steve bears the pain long enough to prop himself up on one knee and use his free leg to kick as hard as he can against the shelves, boot shaking the frame. The display topples over, landing with a heavy thump against the creature and cutting off its cry.

Steve sighs in relief, blinking back into the blissful silence. His headache was booming as he clicks his jaw, desperate to relieve the stress on his eardrums. He turns back to you, noticing how you’ve brought both hands in front of you, staring down at the red dye with a tired concentration.

There were trickles of blood coming from your ears and down your nose, the aftermath of the screech. And, judging by how wet his upper lip felt, he knew his own face matched.

He sees the body beneath the shelves start to twitch, trying to regain consciousness below the rubble of trinkets.

“We have to go.” He tries saying, his own voice muffled by his ears.

You don’t hear him and he groans, steadying himself by gripping onto the fallen wooden frame and pushing himself to his feet. The world span as he wrapped an arm around you, pointing to the exit.

Steve wasn’t sure if you would both make it to safety stumbling away from the crime scene, and that thought stayed with him even when you were both out of view of the Radio Shack. It lingered, like the thought always did whenever you both set out for your search.

Mostly, he was just afraid he was going to lose you at any second.

Never before was Steve so relieved to be stood in the murky Motel 6 bathroom, staring at his worn expression. Every time you both make it back here, he can’t believe he’s still alive.

He had torn up an old t-shirt you had found rummaging through what would have been the Byers house, the fabric easily wiping away the larger chunks of dried blood on his face. How many new creatures did that make now? 10? 11? He lost track too many fights ago.

Feeling much better, he takes the moments to simply breathe, flexing his fingers against the ceramic sink. This was a lot harder than he thought. Mentally. Physically. He couldn’t be more grateful he wasn’t doing this alone.

His head snaps up, suddenly aware of the ghost of your presence.

“Hey,” He peers around the door, walking out. “Bathroom’s free if you…”

Steve stops. You never even made it to the bed, back against the front door, eyes drooping.

“Shit. Hold on.” He rushes over to you, grabbing your face in his hands. He knows you were slightly closer to the blasted scream, but not far enough to be affected any worse than he was. But you looked physically weak, your attempted speech slurring as you have to blink yourself back into consciousness.

Steve helps you to your feet, guiding you towards the bathroom to sit you at the toilet so he can tear another rag from the tee, constant glances of worry being sent your way.

By the time his hands found your face again, you were wide awake, frowning around you. You didn’t even recollect making it to the motel.

One hand cups your chin as the other gently wipes away the blood from your upper lip. You try to protest, claim you could do this yourself, but Steve wasn’t taking objections. He tilts your head to the side, swiping away the trickle of blood from your ear down to your neck…

He pauses, breath hitching. Your eyes squeeze shut.

Black veins were creeping up out of your collar, slithering along your throat and stopping just below your chin, marking you cursed. Steve should have known your ail wasn’t from the monster you just encountered.

“It’s okay.” You say, trying to meet his eyes.

“None of this is fucking okay.” He says, but it comes out as a whisper despite the endless echo of screams raging through his mind. He tries to go back to finishing up on your nose when you gently lower his hand, holding it between both of yours.

“Steve.”

“I thought we had more time.” He admits, a sad laugh falling in a broken sob, trying to hold it together.

“Maybe we do.” You try, smiling up at him. But your eyes were telling a different story.

Steve had been noticing it but never acknowledging it for as long as you’ve been trying to hide it. The breathless exhale of excursion any time you had to face a beast. The way you’ve only been able to hit two locations before your body screams for rest, muttering excuses to get back to the motel. And that smile you always gave him, slowly losing its shine like a lost star plummeting from the sky. He ignored it all because some part of him was stupid enough to think it wasn’t going to end like this.

“This isn’t fair.” A single tear rolls down his cheek and your breath hitches. “You don’t… you don’t deserve this.”

For a moment, you don’t speak, mouth opening and closing with words scratched away before they could hit the air.

“Do you remember the day this all started?” You suddenly ask, looking up at him. His brows are furrowed, nodding his head. “I remember… I remember being sat in that chair dreading ever leaving it. I, uh, I thought detention was going to save me from facing my problems. That’s why I was in there in the first place. I found an opportunity and I exploited it enough to bide myself some more time before I had to realise what a shitty human being I was.”

“You’re not a shitty human-”

“But I was.” You shrug, pushing the hair away from your face. “I was so selfish. And arrogant. And before those screams echoed out, before Holloway disappeared, before you even walked into the room, I was realising that I had ruined myself. I was so adamant on proving I didn’t need anybody that I was completely and utterly alone.”

“And then,” You look up at him, a small smile tugging at your lips. “And then the freaking apocalypse started and as awful and wrong as it sounds… it’s starting to feel like it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Because I found reasons not to be selfish anymore, and- and to realise I didn’t have to alienate people just because I was afraid they were going to leave.”

Your hands start to intertwine themselves with Steve’s.

“Even though that thing bit me… I’m perfectly happy knowing that I was becoming the person I always should have been. You made me not want to be a shitty person anymore.”

His hands squeeze yours, his body leaning forward to rest your foreheads against eachother. Tears start to escape your eyes in silent paths, feeling completely and utterly comforted by the boy you once called an enemy.

“I was starting to wonder when you’d say something nice about me.” Steve eventually quips and you laugh, pulling away from him.

“Don’t get used to it, Harrington.” You chuckle, your hand involuntarily reaching up and brushing away the hairs that fell in the path of his eyes. You notice a look in his eye you had never caught before, smiling. “What’s that look for?”

He flickers between your eyes, softened and sad, his thumb reaching up to brush against your cheek. You weren’t sure what you were expecting, but your heart starts to race. You’ve grown used to a pit in your stomach since being down here, a dread. But this was different. Butterflies. And the way Steve was looking at you sent them soaring.

Steve leans in closer, glancing down at your lips. Every nerve in your body was alight, the incomprehensible tension building when you don’t pull away to the moment he finally speaks, words feather-light like you were the only one who deserved to hear them.

“I’m not ready for you to leave me.”

The first touch of his lips against yours was tentative, a feather-light connection that sent shivers down both your spines. It was a sweet and slow, the world around you fading away as if you and he were the only two souls in existence.

The kiss deepened once Steve realised this wasn’t a dream, pulling you impossibly closer with his hands cupping your cheeks, a mixture of passion and vulnerability woven into the embrace. Only the sound of your heartbeats could remind you time wasn’t truly standing still.

When you finally pulled away, both of your eyes still remained closed, trying to live in the moment as long as you could before reality could pull you back into its cold embrace. Steve wanted to stay here for as long as it could, holding you. He would willingly bend time to relive this moment over and over until it was the sweetest broken record.

“We, uh…” You start in a whisper, chest rising and falling in desperation for his lips to fall against yours once again. But you couldn’t fall back into it from fear of never leaving it again. “We should probably get some rest.”

“Yeah.” He whispers back, barely a breath away from you with a hand resting on your cheek. “I, uh… I’ll take first watch.”

It took his manual control of every muscle in his body to step away from you and not pull you back into him once more, choosing to leave the room before he imploded. He exhaled a long breath, a hand running through his hair as he smiled against the warmth of his flushed face. Part of him still couldn’t believe this was reality. Perhaps it wasn’t. Perhaps it truly was in his greatest dreams.

You leave the bathroom a few seconds later, hiding a smile behind your hair as you lay on the bed. You watch as he settles himself on the ground, back against the bed frame and preparing for a long night of staring at the door.

You felt light-headed in the most wonderful way, giddy. It was almost impossible to have a rush of these emotions fluttering in your chest, but it was there, acting as a safety blanket around your heart. But once you close your eyes, its like they’re being snatched away from you as the fear comes rolling in.

The virus was almost at your brain and soon, you would be nothing but a mindless monster hell-bent for the thirst of blood. And no matter how many times you convinced Steve you were okay with it, never once had you managed to convince yourself.

“Steve?”

Your small voice was a surprise, calling out to him in the darkness. He twists himself to find your form, resting his arm on the edge of the bed.

“Yeah?”

“Can you…” You pause, striking his curiosity with your hesitancy. “Nevermind.”

“Tell me.” He says softly, propping one of his legs up as he shifted on the floor.

“I don’t want to be alone.”

It took all of five seconds for Steve to abandon his post and walk around the bed, propping his bat against it as he lowered himself next to you. He felt nervous, unsure of what you truly meant by your request.

And then you roll over, slotting into him perfectly as he automatically wraps his arms around you, holding you.

Steve was the first to wake up, blinking up at the ceiling before mentally punishing himself for falling asleep in the first place. He was meant to take the shift tonight.

Gently shifting out of your embrace, he moves to the small mirror in the bathroom and pushes his hair back, taking a deep breath. And then he remembers, a smile spreading across his face with a small yet noticeable dimple denting his right cheek.

And then the reality hits, blinking him out of his own happiness. He promised himself he would get you out of here, back home.

He grabs the forgotten radio after rooting through his backpack, switching it back on and spewing out tiny curses under his breath. Shit, would this even reach them anymore? How would he even contact them? What if that was your only chance to-

“This is Echo Base, come in Falcon. Over.”

The familiar recorded message almost brought a tear to his eye as he brings it to his lips.

“Hey, it’s Steve. Anyone there?”

Static blares through and then the message starts again. Another muttered curse.

“It’s Steve. We’re here. Over?”

He waits all of five seconds before the static cuts out again, this time answering his call with a voice he never wanted to hear ever again.

“Well if it isn’t Harrington. We all thought you were roadkill.”

A shot of anger festers in his chest. Billy.

“Where the hell are the others?” Steve asks through gritted teeth, not in the mood for Billy’s antics.

“Busy.”

“Great.” Steve mutters to himself, taking a deep breath and reminding himself he only needed to get through this one conversation. “We, uh, we got cut off last time. We were trying to find out how to get the hell out of here.”

“Yeah, I can probably help you with that.”

“So?”

“So, I’ll give some instructions.” A pause. “Only gonna tell ‘em to Y/n, though.”

Steve’s blood boiled.

“Tell me what?” You showed up, looking sleepy but mostly confused.

You were using your fingers to brush through your hair, a hazy smile on your face as you met Steve’s eyes. His shoulders relaxed, admiring how he could feel this deeply about you even barely 3 minutes out of consciousness.

“Uh,” Steve clears his throat, holding out the radio. “Billy wants to speak to you.”

You roll your eyes, taking it from him and making him chuckle at how uninterested you seemed.

“I’m here.” You say, waiting for the response.

“Hey, princess.”

Steve wrinkles his nose in disgust and you pinch the bridge of yours, shaking your head.

“I told you not to call me that.” You sigh, leaning against the door frame. “What have you got for me?”

“Damn, I don’t think I can say when there’s kids around- ugh, fucking hell, fine. Take it.” He scoffs. “Later, princess.”

“Later, princess.” Steve mocks under his breath, looking back in the mirror. He catches your smirk in the reflection.

“Hi, it’s Max. Sorry about that.” Max cuts in and you find yourself smiling. “We’re currently on shifts so the boys aren’t here but Dustin did leave a message. He wanted us to tell you that they’ve been tracking some kind of signature using… shit, I don’t know, fancy technology or whatever. It can detect when another is gonna appear except it uses some kind of tracking in the water? Does that make sense to you? They know the gates appear at the heart of the bodies of water… okay, this makes literally no sense, I’m gonna kill him.”

Steve frowns. Heart of the bodies of water? They had already ran out of lakes in Hawkins, ponds were few and far between, there was no other possible options-

You gasp and he looks at you inquisitively while you bring the radio closer.

“I know where the next gate will be.”

Chapter Fifteen: Sattler's Quarry ->

taglist: @toomanyfandomsimfanvergent . @sheisjoeschateau . @kthomps914 . @curled-hair-red-lips . @nix-rose . @palmtreesx3 . @kryztalglear . @sattlersquarry . @hey-barnes-stole-a-jeep . @sadslasher13 . @iliveonteaandbooks . @innercreationflower . @newyorkangelbaby

[eddiemunson-reader-shame]

No one:

Eddie DMing a campaign combat that’s lasted upwards of two hours with no end in sight: Okay whoever gets your DM a beer right now can use fireball to end this whole battle.

[twilighcreed]

Fallen Light

Part One, A Scarred Homecoming (you're here)

Part Two, Crossed Paths (coming soon!)

Pairing: Rey Skywalker x Slight OC, Male Reader (friendship established); Finn x Rey Skywalker (eventual love triangle) Word Count: 4.2 k+ Content Warnings: Readers should be aware that this chapter features themes of parental abandonment, loss, and the hardships of survival in a harsh environment.

Summary: After months apart, Kaelen returns to Jakku, sharing a precious, full meal with Rey and reigniting their deep-seated conflict over her unwavering hope for her parents' return. Their argument is cut short by the desperate arrival of a strange droid, leaving Kaelen to ponder its mysterious purpose and his own forgotten past under the desert sky.

Author's Note: Welcome, dear readers! I haven't written a short story in a long time, and this particular idea has been stuck in my head since December 2016. It's a joy to finally bring it to life! I want to apologize in advance for any grammatical errors or inaccuracies in Star Wars lore. I've tried my best to research and describe everything as faithfully as possible. Please remember, this story is purely for entertainment and fun. This fan fiction was written with a reader-insert in mind. "Kaelen" is simply a placeholder name for the male character, so please feel free to imagine him with any name you prefer, or no name at all! Thank you so much for reading! I truly hope you enjoy this first part, and I look forward to sharing part two soon (hopefully!).

Disclaimer: This is a fan fiction work. I do not own the Star Wars universe, its characters, or any associated intellectual property. All rights belong to George Lucas, Lucasfilm, and Disney. This story is written purely for entertainment and is not for profit. The story image is AI-generated.

SPOILER WARNING: The following story contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Original Post: June 04, 2025 | Edited: June 04, 2025

The subtle groan of the dilapidated cargo transport settled onto the Jakku flats was the sweetest sound Kaelen had heard in weeks. He swung his travel-worn pack onto his back. It’s creased and scuffed hide molded onto his back, heavy with reclaimed parts and scrap. They were salvaged power conduits from the ruins of Kessel’s outer rim that he was hoping to sell for rations or give to Rey. She was smart and well-skilled with technological parts. She would know what to do with them.

When the hatch opened, the sudden shift from the controlled climate to the hot, thick air of Jakku, and the smell of scorched metal and stale dust was a familiar balm after the sterile, recycled oxygen of the cargo holds. Kaelen coughed, pulling his tattered scarf higher over his face. As his eyes adjusted to the sunlight, he could make out the outline of Niima Outpost. Stepping off the ramp of the cargo transport, he could feel the gritty sand underneath his boots. It was a wasteland, but a place they called home, for now, anyway.

With a steady breath, Kaelen hoisted his bags, the weight a familiar burden. The long desert haul to their reclaimed AT-AT stretched before him. He’d arrived unannounced, midday, and without Rey’s speeder, he knew the journey home would take the rest of the day. But each grueling step was worth it; he was determined to bring his treasures back to share, and more importantly, to see her eyes and hear her voice again.

...

The sun had begun to set when Kaelen crested the last sand dune, his legs ache and his breath heavy. That was one thing he did not miss on his journey away: the way his feet would sink and the effort needed to put another foot forward. So when the half-buried AT-AT came into view, a instant sigh of relief escaped him. The setting sun had turned golden, reflecting off the metal of the large armored transport, and Kaelen noticed a small, yet stout figure huddled by the foot of the walker.

Could it be?

Time seemed to stop when their eyes met. Recognition and tears welled in the pools of her deep hazel eyes. Relief, anger, and happiness overwhelmed her as she stood from her spot, forgetting her half-eaten rations and racing to the slope where her friend was. His tiresome walk turned into a half-trot, racing to meet her. The weight of his pack slowed him down, making it effortless to let the straps fall from his shoulders. It landed with a soft thud.

When she was within arm's reach, his arms were the first to pull her in, his much larger frame encapsulating her as he buried his face in her neck, and hers in his chest. They didn't say a word, both out of breath, taking in each other’s dirt-scent and the warmth they radiated. With one arm wrapped around her waist and the other cupping the back of her neck, they rocked back and forth. Relieved, they settled there for a moment, both too afraid to break the silence. She was here, and he was home. After months away in an attempt to garner better supplies and credits to make a difference, here they stood at last.

Their embrace lingered, a silent testament to months of absence and enduring friendship. When they finally separated, a quiet joy settled between them. Rey’s eyes were still glistening, a small, genuine smile gracing her lips. "I knew you’d come back," she murmured, a statement of unwavering faith. Kaelen’s heart ached. His friend was all too familiar with abandonment since her parents had left her on Jakku. He vowed to always return to her.

"I wouldn’t miss it," he replied, reluctantly pulling away before turning to pick up his fallen pack. Its presence on the sand was a stark reminder of his arduous trip. The time had come to show her the treasures, to explain the risks, to finally settle into the quiet rhythm of their lives again.

When her eyes settled on his pack, curiosity sparking, she reached out a hand and unlatched the clasp, revealing the scraps and parts within. He could see the excitement begin to rise as she recognized a few of the parts he’d managed to salvage—valuable parts.

She looked up at him, her eyes bright and full of hope. Oh, how he'd missed this. "Come on," he smiled, "You can search through it and see what you can use over a meal. I'm starving."

Agreeing, both friends turned and headed where Rey had been enjoying her meal moments before. At the sight of her plate, Rey's eyes clouded with sorrow as the pair walked side by side. Kaelen noticed the sudden shift in his friend and gently gestured for her to speak.

"I was only able to afford a quarter portion…" Kaelen nodded in understanding. No doubt it was the work of Unkar Plutt, an unclean blobfish who regarded himself highly at Niima Outpost. Selfish and hateful, he was.

The meager cube of nutrient paste sat on her plate, a familiar, unsettling sight. It was barely enough to sustain her, let alone fill her empty stomach.

Placing a hand on her shoulder, Kaelen offered Rey an encouraging smile. Kaelen wasn't blind to their struggles, let alone the difficulty Rey had endured while he was away. He noticed she was thinner.

"Hey—it's okay. Look," he said, reaching into his bag. He rummaged through it before pulling out a familiar sealed packet: a full ration. Although it was an unappetizing sight—dried green meat and beige powder that turned into bread when added to water—to Rey, it was like he'd just hit a gold mine. "Tonight we eat like kings!"

...

Kaelen watched as Rey meticulously prepared their full rations. The beige powder, when mixed with just enough milky water, transformed into a surprisingly hearty loaf of bread. The dried meat, once rehydrated and heated on the makeshift wok, was placed neatly on each of their plates. Rey happily cleaned his, grateful to be serving for two instead of one. Without him here, she did everything for one. She cooked for one. It was a lonely existence without her friend to comfort her. Plucking the bread from the makeshift tin, both carried their plates outside, a bottle of water in the other hand.

The dried meat had a chewy but satisfying texture. It wasn’t gourmet, but for them, sitting side-by-side, watching as the sun’s rays turned from a bright yellow to a deep orange and red, it was a feast. They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the rare indulgence a quiet celebration.

Once their stomachs had ceased to ache, and she was satisfied, Rey watched her friend for a moment. “So,” she began, shifting her position next to him to face him, her knees drawn up comfortably while her back rested against the metal of the walker. She wiped the stray crumbs from her chin, “tell me about Kessel’s outer rim. Find anything interesting besides these treasures?” A hint of her usual adventurous spirit sparkled in her eyes.

Swallowing his last piece, Kaelen grinned, nodding his head in agreement before placing his plate beside him. “Interesting? Rey, it’s a nightmare out there. The air tasted like melted circuits and burnt hair. And the scavengers… they make Unkar look like a generous benefactor.”

Rey chuckled, a sound Kaelen cherished. “Worse than Unkar? Now that’s saying something.”

“Believe me,” Kaelen nodded, “I had to dodge a few blaster bolts just to get to the good stuff. Found a derelict Cruiser—Republic-era, I think. Twice the size of anything in our graveyard here. You wouldn’t believe the tech still clinging to its guts.”

Rey's eyes widened. "A Republic Cruiser? No wonder you were gone so long. Any active defenses? Droids?"

“A few,” Kaelen said, a shiver running down his spine at the memory. “Had a close call with a patrol drone. Thought I was a goner, honestly. Its programming was still active. Had to play dead for an hour before it moved on.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “But the power conduits… they were worth it. Pure kyber-flux. That’s why I know they’ll fetch us a real meal, maybe even some real credits, next time we’re at the outpost.”

Rey shook her head, a mix of awe and worry on her face. It did not go unnoticed, and for a moment, Kaelen debated if he should’ve told her. He didn’t want to worry her. “You really risked all that for… for a few meals?”

“For us, Rey,” Kaelen corrected, his voice soft but firm. “This can last us weeks at the right price.” He countered, “And for a chance to finally get off this sand-pitted rock. These parts… they might just be our ticket.”

Rey’s eyes softened for a moment before turning hard again. “No,” she shook her head. “You know I can’t leave.”

Kaelen sighed, his shoulders dropping. “Rey, it’s been…” he thought briefly, treading carefully over the subject. “...over ten years since they’ve gone… It’s time to start thinking differently.”

Kaelen could see the internal conflict flicker across his friend’s face. For years, she had stayed here, exactly where her parents had left her all those years ago. To Kaelen, they were a confusing jumble of memories, all centered around the first time he met her, but for Rey, it was clear as day. He remembered her cries for her mother and father, begging them not to go. Kaelen, only a few years older, a young orphan himself, took pity on the lone girl. It was the beginning of their friendship, marked by a tragic day. No child wants to be left behind. Yet, here she was. Still waiting. Hoping.

At that exact moment, on the horizon, a distant, silent ship was headed off, leaving a white trail as it exited the planet. Both looked at it, longing in their eyes. For Kaelen, it represented escape, a better life, but for Rey, she silently hoped it was them.

Rey turned back to Kaelen, her eyes bright with unshed tears, her voice tight with a familiar frustration. “They’re coming back, Kaelen! You don’t understand. I have to be here. What if they come back and I’m gone?” Their reunion was turning tense. “What if they don’t know where to find me?” Her voice slightly faltered, her gaze swept around their familiar, humble shelter, as if physically anchoring herself to the spot. “This is my place. This is where I belong.”

Kaelen reached for her hand, his expression pulled into a sorrowful frown. “But what if they don’t, Rey? What if they can’t?” Turning to face her properly, he leaned in closer. “This planet… It’s a trap. It takes everything and gives nothing back.” Rey looked at him, her eyes slightly narrowed. She had a feeling he was talking about his own past and the death of his parents. “You’re wasting your life waiting for ghosts.” He squeezed her fingers, his voice dropping to a soft plea. “There’s a whole galaxy out there. A chance for something more than scavenging in the dirt for enough to just survive. How long before I can no longer make these long trips?” The intensity between the friends grew, as if a wall was starting to rise between them. “We could find something real!”

“Real?” Rey pulled her hand away, her voice rising now. Kaelen slightly recoiled as if he had been burned by her fury. “This is real! My life, my home! And my family! They will come back for me. You can’t throw away hope because it’s hard!”

“What about me, Rey?!” Kaelen pleaded, both of their frustrations coming to the surface.

Astonished, Rey pressed her lips tightly. For over ten years, Kaelen had been her companion through it all. When she had no one, he was there, showing her the ways of their harsh reality on Jakku. How to survive. While Rey looked at the sky, Kaelen stood by her, looking at her.

Rey opened her mouth to argue, a desperate counter-point on the tip of her tongue—perhaps about the futility of endlessly waiting, or the immediate danger of leaving their home on a chance—when a sudden, desperate volley of frantic beeps and alarmed whistles cut through the stillness between the two. It wasn't the distant moan of the wind or the creak of old metal. This was close. Too close. And the sharp, metallic clang that followed, along with a distinct, whirring whine of distress, left no doubt. Someone—or something—was being captured, right over the hill of sand.

Kaelen was not sure if it was the opportunity to break away from their argument or Rey’s compassion, but without a second glance at him, she broke away from Kaelen. Standing straight, rushing, she grabbed her makeshift quarterstaff, not saying a word to her friend before bounding over the AT-AT to the distressed sounds.

“Rey!” Kaelen called her name, quickly getting to his feet, stumbling before going for his own weapon. It was a salvaged electrostaff he had found. No longer did it hold the same power it once had during its use in the Galactic Civil War, but it was strong and plated in phrik alloy. More than once, this staff was the line between survival and death.

As Rey crested the hill, leaping up it with well-practiced ease, she laid her eyes on the scene before her. Unnatural were the dark figures that stood out from the desert wasteland. There, just a little ways down, a small and brutish native that inhabited Jakku, a Teedo, riding on a massive creature called a luggabeast—a non-sentient quadruped species artificially enhanced beyond their natural abilities—had a small circular droid caught in a net. Within a heartbeat, Rey shouted, anger boiling at the injustice.

“Tal’ama parqual!” Rey rushed forward just as Kaelen caught up with her, his larger frame not as agile as his counterpart.

At the presence of the two humans, both the Teedo and the small droid stopped, turning to Rey. “Parqual zatana!” she shouted, dropping her staff before reaching for her small curved blade, grasping at the thick netting before cutting it loose.

The Teedo, clearly angry at the intervention, began shouting at Rey, threatening her. Its string of vile words ceased at the sight of the second human, striding with a fierceness that made the native rethink its strategy.

Pointing the tip of his staff at the creature, Kaelen harshly spoke back, his voice fierce. “Noma!” At this, the Teedo barked back, cursing the pair as if telling them to go to hell.

With the small droid free, the Teedo beckoned the luggabeast forward, leaving the scene and its treasure behind. The droid started to beep angrily, yelling in its own language, claiming this victory. Rey hushed the droid, not wanting the conflict to grow beyond what had already happened.

All three of them watched on as the Teedo headed off, the tension dying down with it. After a few moments, the droid beeped, a question that pulled both of the humans to look at it. It was then that Kaelen and Rey were able to take in the details of the machine.

It was a little larger than they previously expected, its height a little taller than Rey’s knees. Its spherical main body was an off-white, scratched and dirty from wear, with striking orange and silver accents. Prominently displayed across its surface were several deep orange, circular panels, bisected and joined seamlessly across its two hemispheres, each with a slender black line tracing its circumference. Inside these orange rings, unique silver patterns added metallic detail. Its dome-shaped head, a smaller half-sphere, sat atop the main body, with a single black optical lens functioning as its "eye." Two antennae protruded from its head: one thicker and shorter, the other thinner and longer, bent at an angle.

“That’s just Teedo. Wants you for parts. He has no respect for anyone.” Rey noticed the bent antenna first. “Your antenna’s bent.” Kneeling in front of the droid, she carefully reached her hand over to him, plucking the thin wire from the droid’s head, bending it back in an attempt to make it straight. Glancing up at the droid amidst her task, “Where do you come from?”

Kaelen stood close by their side, softly placing the tip of his staff on the ground, observing the interaction between them. Silently regarding the droid, he did not recognize the markings. The overall design—a series of geometric patterns and subtle asymmetry—hinted at a sophisticated engineering far beyond anything they usually scavenged on Jakku. It was far beyond Kaelen’s own skill set. He was used to pulling things apart, not creating them.

So where did it come from?

The droid began making a series of beeping noises, communicating with Rey of its origins, or the lack there of, keeping its identity a secret.

“Classified. Really?” With the antenna now straight, Rey began screwing it back in place, the droid’s head dipping to assist. “Me too. Big secret,” she said. Kaelen’s brows knitted together at her words. His jaw slightly clenched, reminding him of their previous conversation. Although he could understand her pain in his own right, how do you comfort someone you love when they’ve been abandoned?

“Niima Outpost is that way,” Still kneeling before the droid, she turned her torso and pointed in a direction. “Stay off Kelvin Ridge.” Reaching for her staff, she dusted it off with a shake. “Keep away from the Sinking Fields in the north, you’ll drown in the sand.” Now standing at her full height, she turned, her eyes meeting Kaelen’s for a moment, regarding him. Neither of them had forgotten the argument. Dismissing him, she started back towards the fallen AT-AT, an invisible string pulling Kaelen to follow her.

As the pair began their walk back, Kaelen noticed the droid start after them, beeping as it did.

“It’ll figure it out,” Rey muttered, not looking back.

Kaelen watched the little droid roll determinedly, its head swiveling, its beeping growing more insistent. “Dones’t look like it wants to figure it out alone,” Kaelen pointed out.

Rey glanced back, then stopped, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. “Don’t follow us. Town is that way,” she insisted, pointing in the direction she had earlier. But the droid only became more desperate. Rey, now heading home, left Kaelen standing there, torn between curiosity and pity for the droid.

“Rey,” Kaelen called out, taking a step towards the increasingly distressed droid. “Wait. It’s… It’s lost.”

Rey stopped, but didn’t turn fully. “Everything out here is lost, Kaelen. It’s how we survive.”

The droid, sensing a potential ally, rolled closer to Kaelen, emitting a series of mournful beeps and desperate chirps, almost nudging his leg. The droid's pleas were sweet this time. That it was all alone, scared, and had no one else. This caught Rey’s attention. Although she had Kaelen, she too was scared and alone.

“It’s asking for help,” Kaelen murmured, his hand already moving instinctively towards the droid’s dome. “Look at it. It’s scared.” He glanced back at Rey, repeating the droid's words. “And it’s a droid. Could have valuable data, or even parts if we fixed it up.” Kaelen was searching for ways to persuade her. “It’ll be picked apart before morning.”

Rey finally turned, a frustrated sigh escaping her lips. "And then what, Kaelen? We bring it home? Another mouth to 'feed' with precious power cells? We barely have enough for ourselves."

The droid let out a particularly long, sad whistle, then a series of faster, pleading beeps, as if trying to explain its plight.

"It's harmless," Kaelen argued, gesturing towards the small sphere. "And you heard the Teedo. Someone's after it. It needs shelter. Just for the night. We'll figure it out in the morning."

Regarding the droid one more time, Rey considered Kaelen's request. Glancing at her friend and back at the droid, she slowly nodded her head. Not liking the droid, she caved. With a slight gesture of her head, she said, reluctantly, “Come on then.”

Success at last, Kaelen smiled, but it did not last long when Rey did not return the sentiment.

“In the morning, you go,” she grumbled, for the last time, going back home.

The droid beeped in excitement, thankful for the help from the two humans. With the droid and Kaelen traveling side-by-side, they headed back to their home.

“You’re welcome,” Kaelen whispered, the three of them disappearing behind the dune.

...

Kaelen sat by a meager fire, the flames casting dancing shadows across the sand, reflecting off the metal of the walker. With the sun hidden and the moons of Jakku displayed brightly in the sky, the heat had dissipated, leaving a cold night ahead of him. With the heat of the fire barely pricking his nose, he pulled the tattered blanket closer on his shoulders. The desolate expanse of Jakku stretched endlessly around him.

He hadn’t bothered going inside the AT-AT. Part of it was the cramped space and his need for air, but mostly, it was the need for distance after his argument with Rey. He could still feel the sting of her words, the rigid set of her jaw. Her hope, so fiercely guarded, felt like a wall between them, thick and unyielding.

Over ten years, he thought, stirring the embers with a stick. How much longer can she cling to ghosts?

He remembered the day she had first arrived on this planet, her parents then at her side. She was very young, a meager six-year-old girl. Although he was older, then and even now, Rey was wiser beyond her years. In the depths of darkness, she still carried a light within her. It had only grown more fierce when her parents left her in the hands of Unkar Plutt, without a word or warning. He never witnessed that hope fade or dwindle. It was the first thing that attracted the young Kaelen to her, even now. But as their youth slipped away from them, and as they grew—Rey, a young woman, and Kaelen pressing into his early twenties—their mindsets, once united, started to slip into different paths.

Kaelen knew his parents and of his origins. At first, it was his father who was killed. Murdered by unnamed scavengers over scraps. Without their father, Kaelen’s mother had to now take over the role as provider. Then she had gotten sick…

Kaelen shook away the memory, closing his eyes for a moment. Trying to picture what his parents looked like… it had been so long. Reaching into his coat, his fingers grasped something twin-like, revealing a small, polished fragment of a crystal. It was dull, non-glowing, but beautiful. He could never part with it. Even as dull as it was, he could feel something from it. An electrifying feeling, like there was life within the crystal.

A soft whirring brought his gaze to the small sphere beside him. BB-8 was its name. The droid occasionally emitted a quiet beep or a curious swivel of its dome, reflecting the firelight in its photoreceptor. It hadn’t left his side since Rey had grudgingly allowed it to stay. Kaelen still didn't understand its frantic distress or its mysterious origins, but there was an undeniable insistence about it, a purpose that felt strangely heavy for such a small machine.

“It was my mother’s,” Kaelen revealed, his eyes examining the small fragment. “She gave it to me before she died.” Carefully wrapping the twin fragment around the crystal, he placed it back in his coat pocket.

BB-8 looked at him, quietly observing him. A soft hum from the droid told Kaelen he was listening.

“Where did you come from, again?” Kaelen asked, not looking at the droid.

BB-8 was quiet.

“It’s okay. We’ll help you get where you belong. At least one of us will make it home.”

BB-8 hummed, appreciative.

Kaelen traced the orange markings with his eyes, a feeling nagging at him that this droid wasn't just lost; it was looking for something, or someone. And that something, he suspected, was far more important than any salvage.

He shifted, opting to lie on the blanket he had set underneath him, a rolled piece of fabric acting as his pillow. The sand was already shifting under a faint breeze, erasing the tracks of the luggabeast and the Teedo. Jakku had a way of swallowing things whole, making them disappear without a trace. As he looked up at the night sky, the stars twinkling, he hoped, for the droid's sake, that its secrets wouldn't be buried by the morning. The nagging feeling persisted: his life, Rey's life, felt poised on the edge of something immense, something brought to their doorstep by a little spherical droid with a big secret. Kaelen closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath of the crisp night air, wishing the droid a good night. Mumbling a soft good night to Rey before letting the crackling of the fire gently lull him to sleep.