cozy-fantasy-corner - Tumblr blog

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

interrupted lunch break at Rogers’ Mechanics (oil on stucky canvas, 2018)

my art

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

Daddy’s Home (Steve Rogers Drabble)

Pairing: Caregiver!Steve Roger x Age Regressor!Reader

Warnings: Mentions of stress, age regression, the use of the word “Daddy” (non-sexual usage)

Word Count: 547

Summary: Steve has a long day at work and his best girl knows exactly what to do to make it all better  :)

Author’s Note: This is a sfw age regression fic. Please DNI if you sexualize age regression. It is a coping mechanism. This is a comfort fic. 

After a long day at the office, Steve trudged wearily towards his apartment, the weight of his responsibilities as both an Avenger and a leader pressing down on him like a heavy cloak. Each step felt like a struggle, his mind consumed with thoughts of mission reports and training sessions that seemed to stretch on endlessly. Every ounce of his expansive muscle mass wound tight. All he wanted was to get home to his best gal. 

As he stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for his floor, Steve felt the exhaustion seeping into his bones, his eyelids heavy with fatigue. Leaning against the wall, he let out a sigh of relief, grateful for the brief respite from the chaos of the day. For a moment, he allowed himself to drift, the image of a warm bath and a cozy blanket beckoning to him like a beacon of comfort in the midst of his exhaustion.

But his moment of peace was rudely interrupted by the loud ding of the elevator doors opening. Before he could take a step towards home, a blur of fluffy curls and cable-knit flew at him, filling the cramped space with warmth and sweet giggles. She was swallowed whole by his favorite sweater. A soft chuckle escaped him, Steve found himself enveloped in the embrace of his beloved, her petite frame fitting perfectly against his tired muscles.

Burying his face in her neck, Steve inhaled deeply, the familiar scent of roses and oranges washing over him like a soothing balm. "Baby, I missed you," he whispered, his voice barely above a breath as he held her close, savoring the feeling of her in his arms. She peppered soft kisses across his gruff face and carded her thin fingers through his long mane. A wistful sigh escaped his lips as her nails gently scraped the nape of his neck. 

As they stumbled into their apartment, Steve's heart swelled at the sight that greeted him: a massive pillow fort, expertly constructed and adorned with twinkling fairy lights and their favorite Disney movie ready to play. His exhaustion melted away at the sight of the care and creativity his babygirl had poured into the surprise. Confusion danced across his feature. How on Earth did such a tiny woman get their Alaskan king from the bedroom to the living room. 

She had been staring hopefully at his tired weary face, but his look of confusion was mistaken for anger. With a sheepish look about her, she wriggled out of his embrace, her eyes shining with tears. 

“Daddy, please don’ be mad. Fri said you needed snuggles n sleeps. I made dis jus for you.” she pleaded mournfully to him. Steve's heart ached at the sight of her tears, his love for her swelling with each passing moment. He smoothed them away with a calloused thumb. Pulling her close, Steve showered her with kisses, his laughter mingling with hers as they sank into the comfort of their makeshift castle, the troubles of the day fading into the background as he curled around her petite frame. 

“Oh sweet girl. How could I be mad? This is exactly what I need.” he cooed with a soft chuckle. He rubbed his beard against her soft cheeks and she shrieked out a laugh. 

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

CHRIS EVANS as STEVE ROGERS Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

Masterlist

This masterlist will be expanding soon! 

Stucky x Reader: 

Series - 

Band of Idiots

-WIP

We Idiots Three - The sequel to Band of Idiots 

-WIP

Oneshots - 

All is Fair (Afro-Arabian!Reader x PostEndgame!Stucky) 

-WIP

Drabbles- 

Steve Rogers x Reader:

Series -

Oneshots -

Drabbles - 

Daddy’s Home (Caregiver!Steve Roger x Age Regressor! Reader) 

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

Band of Idiots Pt. 5: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (Sneak Peak)

Pairing: Stucky x Reader

Summary: It’s Steve’s 21st birthday, and the night takes a wild turn

Walking alongside Steve and Bucky, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the carefree days of our youth. We were all more than grown now, life having beaten us all down. Today was a welcome reprieve from the daily hubbub of work and domestic life. It was Steve's 21st birthday and the excitement was palpable in the air. 

The events of that summer day in 1934 felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by the laughter and ease of the present. We had settled into a rhythm. Bucky and I kept our love reserved around Steve, but over the years there was a shift. Something bubbled under the surface of our trio. Perhaps tension, no. It was softer than that. 

I threw up a silent prayer to the Virgin Mother, pleading for tonight to just be about celebrating Stevie. No nonsense, just liquor and laughter and a little bit of dancing. Okay, maybe more than a little. How lovely it would be, dancing the night away with my lover and my dearest friend. All I could do is hope. 

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

Taglist:

@krazykatkay456

@sophieromanoffx

@pomelo-villano

Band of Idiots Pt. 4: Coney Island

Pairing: Stucky x Reader

Warnings: Fluff, angst, pining, language, Steve being an angsty cat, mentions of violence, alcohol, illness, death, and fondue-ing 

Word Count: 2.8k

Summary: Steve, Y/n, and Bucky are as thick as thieves. They spend a day at Coney Island together. Feelings are discovered and lies are told.

Author’s Note: It’s been ages since I’ve updated this fic. My apologies. Life got crazy. I graduated high school, moved out of state for college, and then got super sick. But I’m back and better than ever. My inbox and dms are always open!

(not my gif. credit to the owner)

——-

Brooklyn summers could be unbearable. The molten heat pounding on the asphalt of a concrete jungle was enough to make any seasoned New Yorker feel faint. The air looked like a blur and felt like it was baking the city alive. The sun a constant, unrelenting oven. 

July of 1934 was no different. In fact, it was somehow worse. 

Just two weeks ago, Stevie had his fourteenth birthday. And boy was he rearing to go. The torturous temperatures had Stevie acting like an alley cat. He was always yowling about something and picking fights with any and everyone. 

Three days this week he’d come home while Miss Sarah was at work cut up and bleeding. I’d be an amazing nurse with the amount of times I’ve given that boy stitches and set his nose. 

With Bucky’s new job down at the docks, he couldn’t save Steve so easily from all of his fights like he used to. Poor Buck is so worried about our boy. The thought of him biting off more than he can chew is enough to cause a knot in all of our stomachs. We wouldn’t know what to do without him. 

Keep reading

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

Band of Idiots Pt. 4: Coney Island

Pairing: Stucky x Reader

Warnings: Fluff, angst, pining, language, Steve being an angsty cat, mentions of violence, alcohol, illness, death, and fondue-ing 

Word Count: 2.8k

Summary: Steve, Y/n, and Bucky are as thick as thieves. They spend a day at Coney Island together. Feelings are discovered and lies are told.

Author’s Note: It’s been ages since I’ve updated this fic. My apologies. Life got crazy. I graduated high school, moved out of state for college, and then got super sick. But I’m back and better than ever. My inbox and dms are always open!

(not my gif. credit to the owner)

-------

Brooklyn summers could be unbearable. The molten heat pounding on the asphalt of a concrete jungle was enough to make any seasoned New Yorker feel faint. The air looked like a blur and felt like it was baking the city alive. The sun a constant, unrelenting oven. 

July of 1934 was no different. In fact, it was somehow worse. 

Just two weeks ago, Stevie had his fourteenth birthday. And boy was he rearing to go. The torturous temperatures had Stevie acting like an alley cat. He was always yowling about something and picking fights with any and everyone. 

Three days this week he’d come home while Miss Sarah was at work cut up and bleeding. I’d be an amazing nurse with the amount of times I’ve given that boy stitches and set his nose. 

With Bucky’s new job down at the docks, he couldn’t save Steve so easily from all of his fights like he used to. Poor Buck is so worried about our boy. The thought of him biting off more than he can chew is enough to cause a knot in all of our stomachs. We wouldn’t know what to do without him. 

------- 

Today, Bucky had the day off of work and he’d been saving for weeks to take us to Coney Island to blow off some steam. For him, that was spending all his money to impress dames. For Stevie, it was drawing while next to me on a bench or the beach. As for me, I loved to just sit and observe all of the people: the sights, the smells, the sounds. 

The train ride to the amusement park was crowded and boiling with body heat. It smelled like stale sweat and old people in the worst way. The screams of children and the loud chatter from other patrons were enough to give me a headache, even with my bad ear. My back was killing me from standing for so long without a break, forcing me to brace myself on Steve and Bucky’s shoulders. Of course, Mister Meat-Head over here was flexin’ his suddenly very toned shoulder under my grip which caused me to blush. Thank God my face was already red from overheating, or he’d have poked fun at me about it. 

My shitty lungs were being squeezed by the warm, wet air, and I wheezed slightly. My wheezing was met with Steve’s and a concerned glare from Bucky. I moved my hand to my bag, fumbling for my peppermint oil. My fingers met the cold glass and pried it open near our noses. A deep inhale eased the pressure in my chest. 

“You alright, Kiddo?”

“She’s peachy, Buck. We’re on a hot train with a buncha loud, smelly assholes and we both got shit lungs. Wattaya think, ya jerk?” Steve snarked back, radiating thick annoyance. My mouth fell open in shock. 

Bucky threw up his hand defensively, a mildly hurt look on his face. Steve was never this cross, even on his worst days. Something was wrong, had been for weeks. Getting into fights, coming home later, skipping meals, being snippy, even to me. Now it was getting worse. I hoped that it wouldn’t ruin our day out, but part of me knew that things would only go downhill from there. And all I could do was brace myself for impact. 

I pulled my shoulders closer to my neck and inched towards Buck a little bit. My eyes squeezed themselves shut and I tried to breathe in, hoping for calm. All I got was B.O. and a frown from Steve. He knows I only do that when I’m nervous, and he was the thing making me nervous. 

Buck seemed so set on enjoying the day that he glazed over everything and plastered his trademark Bucky Barnes grin on his sweaty face. I almost wanted to pinch his arm just to snap him out of it. No one should smile that much or look that good doing it. Especially not on a train in the summer heat. Honest to God, it was annoying. 

Between Mister Sunshine and Mister Scrooge, the day was bound to be interesting to say the least. 

------

Bucky had stopped to grab me some pop while Steve stormed off, a bit too eager to be rid of us for my taste. A minute piece of my heart crumbled away. Never, in all the years that I had known Steven Grant Rogers, had he voluntarily put distance between us. I couldn’t figure a rhyme or reason, all I could feel in that moment was hurt. 

I ambled along the dock, book in hand. The salt-tinged air lapped at my frizzy locks and splotchy skin like a cooling balm. It felt like I could fully exhale finally. Deep breaths were a blessing. 

Very little time passed when Buck had bounced up beside me with his angelic grin. His baby fat had melted away in recent months, giving him a devilish yet heavenly appearance. That stupid, perfect grin caught me off guard. I was in awe that my safety net, my friend could possibly be this beautiful. He had always been handsome, but not once in my life had I seen someone, anyone, look so perfect. I wasn’t aware that my feelings for him could grow, but by-golly they did. 

Just staring at him wouldn’t do, so I elbowed him in the ribs. His playful pout made my chest squeeze. It wasn’t in the usual painful way like my attacks. It was something new, unfamiliar. He chuckled and pulled me under his arm as we continued down the dock. I felt so small and safe at his side. Tiny jolts of electricity seemed to pass from his skin to mine with every step. 

Nestled into Bucky’s side, we meandered towards the rides. A good handful of summers had passed since we’d been able to come here, but we had long outgrown the attractions we were used to. We bickered back and forth about which adventure to choose. I was thankfully able to convince him to take me on the ferris wheel at some point today, but I knew I’d have to let him have his fun first. The way his eyes lit up talking about the Cyclone told me that I wouldn’t have any choice but to go with him. God, I hate roller coasters. 

That Godforsaken ride was the bane of my existence, but my boys loved it to death. I always ended up with my head tucked into someone’s chest as we whipped ‘round and ‘round. On especially good days, like today, I was able to hold my lunch down.  

Something about this time felt odd. Bucky kept looking at me with a goofy grin. This smile wasn’t his normal endearing, toothy grin; there was something more to it that I couldn’t quite place. That look had my heart pounding in my chest, not from fear, but excitement maybe. 

------

Many more strange glances were exchanged over the next couple of hours, Steve’s attitude problem mostly forgotten. I couldn’t help but worry that something was wrong with Buck. Over the last 7 years, he had looked at me a lot of ways: worried, annoyed, caring. Today was a whole fresh set that I couldn’t quite name. It made me uneasy, yet giddy at the same time. A tiny, delusional part of me thought that maybe, just maybe the older boy loved me like I loved him. That would be impossible. He loves me like a sister. 

The rumble of Bucky’s voice shook me from my thoughts.

“How ‘bout that ferris wheel now? I think I’ve tortured you enough for one day.” he said with a chuckle. I nodded eagerly. 

As I went to start walking towards my favorite ride, I felt a hand in mine. Bucky’s. My breath caught in my throat, but I wouldn’t allow myself to freeze up. He couldn’t know how that tiny gesture affected me. Instead, I smiled up at him, squeezing his massive hand as we moved. 

Such a simple motion brought all of the thoughts I had shoved to the side crashing forward. My mind was in such a state that I didn’t even realize that we were at the front of the line, about to enter our car. Bucky moved to help me up with his kind smile and I sheepishly accepted. 

Damn him. Damn his beautiful smile. Damn his gentlemanly ways. 

After we settled beside one another, he took my hand in his again. His calloused thumb smoothed over the back of my velvet soft hand. It was almost like he was trying to tell me something. Lord, I need calm down. 

As we reached the top, Buck peeled me away from his side and turned look at me. He had an energy about him like he wanted to say something. His brow was furrowed, his eyes serious. His hands rubbed themselves down his thighs nervously. I couldn’t help but feel a little scared. Bucky is the calm one, the happy one. There has never been something he couldn’t turn into a joke. His brow only set itself this way when he was uncomfortable. 

He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. 

I gulped. 

This had to be bad, right? But it couldn’t be. Nothing bad could ever come from such beautiful lips. Nothing. 

A sudden warmth on my lips jerked me out of my worry. My eyes blew wide in surprise. The warmth was Bucky, more specifically, Bucky’s lips. Everything faded away, even the shock, as I melted into the soft feeling of him against my mouth. His work-hardened hands came up to cup my cheeks while I sat there limp in his arms. We had all kissed on another over the years, light pecks on the cheeks and forehead. This one was different. 

Bucky pulled back for air and I sighed softly. Our foreheads met, eyes closed. My body was still limp, but my head spun a million miles a minute. He feels the same way. I’m not crazy. What does this mean? What about Steve?

Steve! 

We jumped apart when a sharp, familiar cough pierced through the haze. My startled eyes met Steve’s angry ones. Dread filled my stomach as I clamored away from Buck and onto the platform of the ferris wheel. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. 

------

Steve grabbed my arm roughly and dragged me towards a building nearby. Buck ran after us, yelling for us to stop. I was filled with panic and guilt. Steve looked like he was going to kill someone, well Bucky specifically. 

“What the FUCK was that, Y/N?” Steve growled, fist closing more tightly around my bicep. 

Before I could respond, Bucky was towering over both of us looking just as confused as I was. He paused for a second, taking in my shaking figure. His eyes hardened with rage. No one was allowed to scare me, not even Steve. He grabbed his shoulder harshly and spun him around. 

“You wanna let her go, Punk?” Buck hissed. Steve bristled and clenched his jaw. 

In true Steve fashion, he decided to forgo using his words, leaping straight to using his fists. His fist connected with Bucky’s jaw and I screamed. Bucky shot me a worried glance before pinning Steve to the wall as gently as possible. They stared one another down. All of our chests were heaving. 

Steve looked up at our friend with tears brimming his baby blue eyes, “How could you, pal? You know better”.

Bucky’s face softened instantly and my panic grew. Steve has feelings for me?

Buck muttered an apology and let Stevie go. I pushed myself between them, tears rolling down my flushed cheeks. Their gazes on me were piercing, my skin heating under their eyes. I grabbed Bucky’s hand and turned to Steve. He grabbed my free hand and squeezed softly, eyes full of tears and remorse. I put my head on his chest and hugged him tightly. 

“Stevie, what’s goin’ on, huh?” I whispered pulling back slightly. 

He just croaked, his words seeming to escape him. Buck squeeze my hand, whispering his goodbyes. As the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the alley, a heavy silence enveloped us. Steve's gaze was distant, lost in the swirl of emotions that had consumed him. I stood there, my heart heavy with the weight of unspoken truths and tangled feelings.

"I... I don't know where to begin," Steve finally murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes searched mine, a mixture of pain and longing flickering within them. 

I reached out, gently touching his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my fingertips. "It's okay, Steve. Whatever it is, we can figure it out together," I said softly, offering him a small, reassuring smile. Of course we could, I love him more than life itself. 

He nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. "I... I've been trying to deny it, but... seeing you with Bucky, it just..." His voice trailed off, his expression haunted.

I took a step closer, closing the gap between us. "Steve, whatever you're feeling, it's okay. You don't have to hold it all in," I whispered, my heart aching for him. I didn’t mean to hurt him. We had promised as kids never to harm the other. That promise lay shattered at our feet, and it was all my stupid fucking fault. 

Tears welled up in his eyes, reflecting the fading light of the setting sun. "I'm sorry, Y/N. I'm so sorry," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion.

I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close as he buried his face in the crook of my neck. We stood there, clinging to each other in the dwindling light, the weight of our unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. I shushed him softly like Ms. Sarah would, hoping, praying that I could ease his pain with imitation of his mother’s love. 

In that moment, amidst the chaos of tangled feelings and fractured relationships, the crushing realization that I had potentially destroyed the most meaningful bond in my life washed over me. One kiss and our worlds had crashed apart. 

Steve and I remained locked in our embrace, the warmth of each other's frail presence a balm to our troubled souls. The world seemed to fade away around us, leaving only the echo of our steady heartbeats and the whisper of our shared breaths. Clinging to him seemed to be the only thing keeping the ground from vanishing beneath us. He would never let me fall. 

With a gentle touch, I tilted Steve's chin up, meeting his gaze with a tenderness born of years of friendship and unspoken understanding. "I need you to say it." I whisper, my voice cracking under the weight of years of shared memories and unspoken emotions.

Steve's eyes searched mine, his gaze filled with a vulnerability that tore at my heart. "I love Bucky. More than you will ever know, Minnie." he admitted, his voice raw with emotion. Something inside of me fractured. 

He loved him? I felt betrayed. Steve had known for years how I felt, and he had kept this to himself. To what, protect me? Tinges of frustration bubbled up inside of me. He had lied to me, let me confide in him in the earliest hours of the morning, given me advice. None of it was in earnest. 

My anger fizzled out when I saw the tears falling from his pleading eyes. There wasn’t a way in the world I could stay mad at my Stevie, however betrayed I felt. 

I brushed away a stray tear that clung to his cheek, my thumb tracing a gentle path across his skin. "We'll figure it out together, Steve. Whatever comes our way, we'll face it together. All three of us," I promised, the conviction in my words unwavering. He flinched at my mention of all of us. His eyes begged me to keep his feeling for Buck between him and myself. I nodded knowingly, unwilling to betray him. 

In that moment, amidst the fading light of a Brooklyn sunset, I knew that this God-forsaken mess was far from over. But as long as we had each other, I was certain that we could weather any storm that lay ahead. And with that knowledge warming my heart, I held Steve a little tighter, silently vowing to never let go. 

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

It's been a minute...

Okay, it's been more than a minute. A couple of years more like it. Life got rough, but I'm back and better than ever.

I'm really sorry to anyone who was invested in Band of Idiots. I will be continuing the series. My writing style has improved drastically and the chapters that I have in the works are much longer than the old ones. I really hope you enjoy it.

I have also done a bit of rebranding. I'm no longer a silly teenager, and I can't have my blog or my work reflecting who I used to be. I'm now officially the Cozy Fantasy Corner. I've expanded the fandoms that I write for and will continue to do so as I collect more hyper-fixations and knowledge about the movie/tv/literature world.

A post schedule will be pushed out in the next couple of weeks so that I can be held accountable to keep up with my shit.

Thank you for your patience,

MJ

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

Reblog if you write fanfic and would be totally down with your followers coming into you askbox and talking to you about your fic

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

2015. graphite, watercolor, acrylic, ink, colored pencil & white gel pen on 9x12″ hot press watercolor paper.

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

Hello there! Can I be added to you Band of Idiots taglist? I'm loving this story so much 😍

Yep yep! Thank you soooo much!

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

holy shit 

BUCKY BARNES + legs (requested by anonymous for 10k follower celebration)

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

Taglist:

@krazykatkay456

@sophieromanoffx

@pomelo-villano

Band of Idiots Pt. 3: Numb

Pairing: Stucky x Reader

Warnings: Mentions of death, nightmares, panic attacks, shame, alcohol, and grief 

Word Count: 1.6 K

Summary: In the aftermath of her mother’s death, Mykel is numb. Her best friend Steve has recovered and offers her comfort, in turn he meets Bucky

Author’s Note: I’m sorry that it took so long. My writer’s block was horrible and I had way too many ideas. This is kind of a filler chapter, so it’s not amazing. It’s there though. I hope you don’t hate it entirely. My inbox and dms are always open!

——-

I’d never asked what grief felt like. Steve knew it. Bucky knew it. Miss Winnie and Miss Sarah knew it. But it never crossed my mind to ask them what it was like.

I knew pain and I knew sadness. I had never met grief until now.

It was pure agony. It was numbness. It was anger and frustration. It was dangerous, like a caged animal at the Bronx Zoo. It was ugly, and it wasn’t easy.

It held a hard, stale taste in my mouth. My limbs felt like lead and there was an uncomfortable knot in my chest. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep.

All I could do was lay there like a rag-doll in Bucky’s bed. Unblinking.

Keep reading

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

Taglist: 

@krazykatkay456

@sophieromanoffx

@pomelo-villano

Band of Idiots Pt. 2: Momma

Pairing: Stucky x Reader

Warnings: Death of a minor character, mentions of abuse, illness, and alcoholism

Word Count: 1.5 K

Summary: Y/n gets to know Bucky and Becca better. She makes a horrible discovery when it’s time to go back home

Author’s Note: I’m sorry that it took so long. My mental health has been on the rocks a bit. I’m super nervous about this one because it’s really angsty towards the end. Please feel free to let me know what you think or request anything. My inbox and dms are always open!

Bucky had spoken a total of 18 words to me. 

18 words and all I wanted was for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. I sat there with my mouth hanging open like a fish. He was just so damn pretty.

His gentle tone and caring eyes reminded me of Stevie. Even though I took care of him, I was his best gal. If anything were ever to hurt me or make me cry, he’s be the first one swinging at it. Well, unless it was Papa, then he and Miss Sarah would just quietly patch me up. They both gave me this feeling that this is what home feels like, and I’d known Bucky for all of a minute.

When he made his way over to the couch and plopped down beside me, sandwiching me between Becca and himself, I could tell he was full of questions for the strange girl wheezing on his couch. 

Keep reading

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

I heard you're making a taglist. Can I be in it?🌞😊

Absolutely hun! Thank you for asking!

[cozy-fantasy-corner]

Taglist: 

@krazykatkay456

@sophieromanoffx

@pomelo-villano

Band of Idiots Pt. 1: July

Pairing: Stucky x Reader

Warnings: Mentions of abuse and illness

Word Count: 1K ish

Summary: Y/n and Steve Rogers have been best friends since they were babies. One day, Steve is taken ill and Y/n has to find someone else to play with. This encounter will change all three of their lives forever. 

Author’s Note: This is my first fic, but I’ve put a lot of love into it. I really hope you fall in love with this story as much as I have! 

I was a runty little kid growing up, just like my neighbor, Stevie. I was always sick, and I was so skinny that it scared my mama. My poor health and my small size did nothing for me, but it never stopped me. If you asked anyone that knew me, I was ten times more stubborn than my Stevie. Thick as thieves, us two. We did anything and everything together. 

Our mamas both worked at the hospital together. I stayed with Stevie most nights because they had late shifts, not to mention Papa was a mean drunk. He would never watch us, just wake up and yell, maybe slap us around a bit. I’d do all of my work with Stevie, play on the fire escape with him, and curl up in his bed at the end of every day. It was nice, it just being us two. 

Everything was wonderful as it could be. Every day was the same things, but they never got old. A case of pneumonia or the flu here and there spiced things up, not to mention the random asthma attacks. But sometimes I craved a little more. I know, it sounds silly. I wanted more adventure, maybe even a new friend to add to our duo. 

Keep reading