#“wow billy how come your mom lets you have two hot dogs”

[whyisablog]

"Wow billy, how come your mom lets you have two drinks?"

"Because im indecisive and it eases the anxiety of making other people wait when i can have two drinks to choose from."

[leossmoonn]

chemistry part fourteen

part thirteen | part fifteen | masterlist

zuko x fem!reader

avatar: the last airbender

includes - you, zuko, suki, katara, toph, sokka, and aang

special appearances by - iroh, azula, appa, and mai

warnings - language, angsty, mentions of sex

“what if they don’t like me?” you asked nervously.

“they, will. azula’s opinion doesn’t matter, and my uncle loves you,” zuko said.

“alright,” you smiled. “i’m ready.”

zuko leaned over and kissed your cheek. “you’ll be great.”

you smiled and stepped out of his car, wrapping your coat around you. zuko and you walked up to his house, holding hands. you had the cupcakes you made in the other hand, and zuko had the gifts you two bought in his other hand. the door opened quickly, revealing iroh.

“hello! come in, come in,” iroh smiled.

“hi, iroh,” you smiled.

“hello, y/n. it is so nice to see you again. i was wondering when my nephew would finally ask you out,” iroh said.

zuko rolled his eyes. “well, i did it.”

“yes, and we’re all happy. hm, you brought cupcakes! you can put those on the kitchen table,” iroh said.

you nodded and left zuko’s side for a moment, going into the kitchen and seeing a few more of zuko’s family members.

“you must be y/n. i’m azula, zuko’s sister.” a pretty, young woman came up to you. she looked so much like zuko; basically a female version.

“hi, it’s nice to meet you,” you smiled and held your hand out. azula shook it, giving you a welcoming smile.

you felt a hand snake around your waist and looked to see zuko standing behind you. you smiled at him, metling into his embrace.

“zuko, you didn’t tell me your girlfriend was so pretty,” azula complimented.

“thank you,” you smiled.

“he could do better,” a mono-toned voice said. it belonged to a girl- zuko’s age. she had black hair, a red dress on, and a cold glare that she directed towards you.

“mai, don’t be so rude,” azula frowned.

“and don’t be so nice, zul,” mai said.

“oh, you’re mai?” you said, your mood dimming a little. “it’s, um, nice to meet you.”

“likewise,” mai gave you a strained smile. she then looked to zuko.

you stiffened as you saw the look she gave him. zuko noticed your reaction and pulled you closer, interlocking hands.

“want to get a drink with me, zuzu?” mai asked.

“nope, i’m good. i’d rather get a drink with y/n,” zuko said.

“ugh, fine. you’ll regret saying no,” mai grimaced, walking away.

“sorry about her, she’s still in love with zuko. if you ask me, you two are cuter together,” azula said.

“thank you,” you smiled gratefully at her.

“yeah, thanks, azula. y/n, wanna go get those drinks?” zuko asked.

“yeah, sure,” you nodded.

you two moved passed azula, exchanging goodbyes. 

“so, when did you and mai date?” you asked, grabbing yourself a diet coke. 

“in high school. i dated her from sophomore year to half my junior year. so it was about a year and a half relationship,” he explained honestly. 

“wow. that’s a long time,” you chuckled.

zuko sensed your anxiety and put his hand on your’s to reassure you. “yeah, but it’s all in the past now. i’m very over it. and plus, i’m with you now.” you smiled at him. “yeah, i know. thank you. have you had other relationships in the past before?”

“yeah, a few. another long-term, a couple short-term. i haven’t been on a date since sophomore year of college, to be honest with you,” zuko said bashfully. 

“well, i’ve never had a boyfriend before. well, not an offical one anyways, so i wouldn’t worry,” you smiled

“you not having a boyfriend? i can’t imagine that,” zuko teased. 

you blushed and shrugged, “no guys interested me. especially not in high school. all of them are so immature and gross.”

“understandable. i came from a strict family, so i wasn’t too bad,” zuko said. 

“that’s not what sokka said,” you grinned. 

zuko rolled his eyes. “alright, well, sokka is different. he's all goofy and may have coerced me into pranks, but i was a good kid and student.”

“true. i mean, you are my tutor after all,” you laughed. 

“right. right. speaking of tutoring, do you still want to continue?” zuko asked. 

“yes! but instead of calling it ‘tutoring’ we can just hang out and you can help me with homework,” you suggested. 

“sounds good,” zuko nodded, taking a sip of his beer. 

“hey, did you want to play with the vr?” he asked. 

“yes!” you exclaimed. 

zuko smiled at your enthusiasm. “alright, wanna go in the basement or my room to play?”

“oh, um, wherever,” you shrugged. the thought of you in your boyfriend’s room made you nervous, but filled your stomach with butterflies.

“we can go in the basement,” zuko said. 

you nodded. “wait, i want to see your room though.” you knew you didn’t have to go in there and be alone for a long period of time yet, but you at least wanted to see what it looked like.

zuko nodded and took your hand, leading you through the small crowd of people. you went up to stairs and walked to the bedroom that was down the hall. 

“i’m going to the bathroom real quick, feel free to look around and stuff,” zuko smiled. 

you nodded, watching his retreating figure. you opened his door hesitantly, your nostrils immediately filling with the sweet smell of cinnamon. your eyes immediately went to the bed that sat across from the door and in the middle of the room. his sheets were black with red lines down the middle. his pillows were both black and red, alternating in a pattern. he also had a few stuffed animals laid out on his bed. one of a red dragon, turtle-duck, and a polar bear-dog. he had two, dark-brown coloured nightstands on each side of his bed. on the left one, which was closest to you, was a lamp, a few gum packets, and a few books for school. the right one had a picture frame of him and his mother, him and his sister, one of him and just his mom, and another of him and iroh. across from the right nightstand on the wall, was a black bookshelf. it had 5 shelves with three and a half filled with all sorts of books. 

avid reader, i see, you thought. 

all around his room he had posters and pictures. the posters were of his favorite bands: AC/DC, greenday, rolling stones, queen, and nirvana. he had some jazz singers, too. like louis armstrong, billie holiday, frank sinatra, and nat king cole.

good music taste, too.

across from the foot of the bed was his desk that had a bunch of papers on there, a clock, and a pencil holder. he had standing lamp next to his desk, too. 

“his bed is so comfortable.”

your body stiffened once you heard mai’s dark, monotoned voice. you didn’t look at her, you just kept your eyes trained on his stuffed animals. 

“oh, really? how would you know?” you challenged. 

“because we’ve had sex there. he’s really good at it, too,” mai said. you could hear the smirk in her voice. 

of course that’s the reason why.

“and the jazz music he would play while we cuddled after a few rounds. ugh, so magical. you won't believe the things he can do with that body of his,” mai said. 

“oh,” you said, your voice breaking. 

mai put her hand on your shoulder, leaning to whisper in your ear. “he's mine, y/n. always have and always will be. he’ll be done with you soon and come running back to me. he always does.”

tears sprung in your eyes and a few ran down your cheeks. you didn’t say anything else, knowing that if you opened your mouth, the only sound that would come out was a sob. 

“have fun. ta-ta!” mai said and took her hand off of you. you heard her footsteps walk away, going down the stairs. 

you let out a shaky breath, taking out your phone to text katara to take you home. she responded quickly, thankfully, and told you she’d be there in 10. 

zuko existed the bathroom, smiling once he saw you in the doorway of his room. 

“hey, how do you like the room?” zuko asked. 

you took in a deep breath, wiping away your tears harshly. “it’s cool. i really like the posters and the stuffed animals.”

zuko noticed your discomfort. “what’s wrong?” he went in front of you, his heart breaking once he saw that you were crying. “hey, hey, why’re you crying?”

you averted his gaze, shrugging. “nothing, i’m just tired. you mind if i have katara pick me up?”

zuko narrowed his eyes at you. “al-alright. but… why?”

“i just… i got a text from my mom. it's an emergency. i have to go,” you lied.

zuko looked at your face, knowing you were lying. he knew he wouldn't get the truth out of you now, though. so he decided to let you go, let you calm down, then ask you about it in the next few hours. 

“yeah, sure. i’m sorry you have to leave,” zuko said, reaching out for your hand gently. 

you let him, his touch calming you. “yeah, me, too. walk me out?”

zuko smiled softly, “yeah, sure,”

you two walked down the stairs in silence. you put on your coat, reaching for the doorknob. 

“i had fun, thank iroh for inviting me,” you said.

“of course. text me when you get home, okay?” zuko asked. 

“will do,” you nodded and exited the house. zuko watched you walk away, sighing. 

he looked to his left, catching the eye of mai. she had a malicious smirk on her face, not trying to even hide it. zuko glared at her, putting the pieces together of why you left. 

fuck you, mai, he thought.

you got into the car, seeing katara with worried eyes. 

“hey, what’s wrong?” she asked.

as soon as you sat down was when the tears starting coming out in hot streaks. 

“m-mai,” you sobbed. 

katara narrowed her eyes, “that bitch. what did she say?”

“she was talking about how good zuko was at sex. how wonderful their sex was. it was horrible. she also mentioned that he goes back to her all the time. is that true?” you asked.

katara’s eyes widened. “i… why don’t we go back home and get you calmed down first, alright? we have cookies and whiskey.”

you nodded, wiping your eyes. katara drove you home, keeping her hand on your’s for comfort. 

note - hope you guys read and enjoy this as new parts are added! if you wanna be on the taglist, message me and/or reply to this post :))

taglist - @sorrythatspussynal @theblueslytherin @charlenasaxen@akiris @the-paintedlady @thatarthistorynerd @freckled-and-daydreaming @fi-chanwrites

[foggyhoundbiscuitskeleton]

Her lips softly graze mine, connecting with a lustful passion, that send bolts of lightning down my body, awakening parts of me that have never been touched before. She pulls back and I audibly gasp, my breath was shaky and my eyes focused on hers as a smirk crept upon her face.

“Holy shit”, I blurted.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself”

“Goodnight Y/N”

And with those parting words Billie got up and headed back to her bed, I turned to stop her, but the words wouldn't leave my mouth, as my mind was racing, and my heart was pounding. I couldn’t sleep after that, I stared at Billie’s bed, wondering what the future had instore for us, wondering if I could handle what was to come.

We arrived in Arizona early in the morning, too early for anyone to be awake besides from the bus driver and myself. We pull into the hotel which was conveniently right beside a Starbucks, as soon as my foot hit the pavement, I darted over desperately in need of some caffeine to keep my mind and body going. After, the night I had, I'd be lucky not to have to snort a line of cocaine to keep me going. I leave the Starbucks with my venti americano, with a double shot of expresso, I figure the busier I keep myself today, the better it’ll be to keep Billie off of my mind. I enter the hotel and get straight to work getting the room keys, and getting the rooms ready for Billie and her crew. After, a couple hours of setting everything up and making sure the venue was ready for tomorrow nights concert, I walked down the hall, in the hopes of getting a 20-minute power nap. As, I rounded the corner I bump into someone, I turn and see Finneas standing in front of me.

“Goodmorning Y/N, did you sleep well?”

“Oh yeah, sound asleep, all night like a baby!” I groaned.

“Ha-ha, you sure doesn’t sound like you slept well.”

“Thanks, Finneas, next are you going to tell me I look like shit too?” I retorted.

“I mean.... if the shoe fits!”

“Don’t even think about finishing that sentence!” I interrupted.

Finneas lets out some giggles, while he rolls his eyes, before walking away. I continue on my path to my room, in desperate need of some shut eye. I get to my room, drop my bags, and hit the bed, so hard I

6 / 10

knock myself right out. I’m woken out of my slumber, by my phone ringing like crazy, I answer and hear Zoe’s voice on the other end.

“Hey, whatcha doing?”

“umm,” I look over at the clock and see that it reads 1:00p.m., “not much just chilling....” I rambled.

“Well good, you have three hours to get your ass ready and down to the lobby, we’re going to dinner and a movie tonight.”

“Who all is going?” I responded.

“Who do you think, Billie, me, Fineas, You, duh.”

“Listen, that sounds really fun, but I'm going to be super busy checking stuff.” I noted.

“Yeah, what stuff, because as far as I know everything is good to go for tomorrow?”

“Well, I want to double check everything, you can never be too sure, ok!” I restated.

“You can be too sure and you’re coming, so get ready and be down in the lobby by 4:00p.m. or I’ll come up and drag you down here!”

“Don’t try me!”

“Zoe listen,” but before the words could get through, she hung up the phone, great, I said to myself.

After, having a mental breakdown about my situation, I finally decide to get up and have a nice cry in the shower, while I half-ass get ready. I didn’t know what was about to go down, if Billie was going to mention the kiss, if I should mention the kiss, if the others knew about the kiss or what was even happening at this point. I still couldn’t wrap my head around what happened last night, if the kiss meant something to Billie and I’m not sure what the kiss meant to me. I just want to run away at this point, I know that Zoe’s trying to be kind to me and invite me out, if you would call it inviting, it was more like forcing, but it makes me worry even more that she knows that Billie kissed me.

I wasn’t sure what to wear as I didn’t want to come off homeless, but I sure as hell didn’t want to look sexy. So, I went for a nice in between, and chose a big gray sweater, with black mom jeans, and high white converse. It’s comfy, causal and most importantly not sexy, it screams mom, so, unless Billie has a mommy kink, I should be safe. After, composing myself, I head downstairs for a long hopefully, uneventful night. Once, I arrive in the lobby Zoe runs up to me.

“Hey whore, you look cute!”

“Excuse me!” I hesitated.

“Don’t take it in a bad way babe, I meant you look hot.”

“I mean thanks, but why did you call me a whore, what did I do?” I stammered.

“Nothing, I meant it as a joke, it’s just an expression I use, whore.”

“Ha..... oh ok, cool whore.” I wheezed.

7 / 10

“Anyway... there’s been a slight change in plans, we have an extra person joining us.”

“Really, who?” I questioned.

“Catch me outside how bout that.”

“Huh.” I croaked.

“Damn whore, you never watched Doctor Phil, Bhad Bhadie is coming with us!”

“Um... yes I’ve watched it and yes I know who she is, your impression was just shit, whore.” I argued.

“Chill, before you catch me outside!”

“Hahaha, ok!” I laughed.

“But, seriously let's get going, I'm starving!”

“Ok, where are we eating? "I questioned.

“I don’t know yet, we’ll take a vote.”

We walk over to the group gathered at the entrance of the hotel, Fineas and Billie were standing with Danielle, who had her back turned towards us. As, we get closer to the group Danielle turns around and looks me up and down and yells,

“Hey, white chocolate, what’s poppin!”

I didn’t answer until we were with the group, so the whole hotel didn’t hear me unlike, Danielle.

“Um, good, how bout you? "I whisper.

“You know, I’m out here husslen, busslen, grindin making money moves!”

“Word dog.” I stated.

Billie burst out in giggles as Danielle waves her long nails around, as she precedes to continue her conversation about the grind. Billie never drops her smile as she walks over to me and puts her arm around my shoulders and leans on me. Zoe being me savior grace, but also my demon, barges into the conversation and states,

“Listen, as much as I love the grind, I also love food, let’s go now!”

“Ok,” I said, “where are we eating?”

Zoe responds, “I’ll give three choices, Mexican, Japanese, Pizza, so raise your hand for Mexican, thumbs up for Japanese, or stand there for pizza.”

After, the vote, Japanese won as it was the one with the best vegan choices for Billie and Fineas. We all loaded a black SUV and headed to the best Japanese restaurant we could find. Fineas drove, Zoe sat in the passenger seat, while Billie sat in between Danielle and me. I was hoping I’d get to sit up front, but Zoe ruined that idea, by calling shotgun. As, long as Billie kept her hands and eyes to herself, I’d be fine, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. As, soon as we got situated Billie’s hand went straight to my knee, while she started a conversation with Danielle. I was hoping that no one would notice, and that the

8 / 10

night would flow smoothly, but knowing my life, I knew that would never happen. Billie side eyes me and with a smirk asks me.

“So, have you got use to sleeping on a tour bus?”

“Well, I prefer me bed home, but it’s fun to travel, I guess.” I responded.

That answer wasn’t good enough for Danielle apparently as she came for me after I said that.

“You guess, hoe you’re on tour with BILLIE FUCKING EILISH and you guess it’s alright! If you don’t want to be on tour let me know and I’ll come, do your fucking job.”

“It’s not that personally, I didn’t mean it like that, I was just saying I prefer to sleep in a bed that’s not moving.” I retorted.

Billie was about to speak up and help me, when Fineas pulled up to the restaurant.

“Ok, we’re here can we please just eat and have a good night,” he stated, while getting out of the car.

We walk into the restaurant and of course we head straight for the VIP section. We get a square table with three chairs on one side and three on the other. Fineas and Zoe sit on one side and to help cool the argument, Zoe pats the chair next to her, signaling for me to sit. Billie takes the sit in front of me and Danielle sits in front of Zoe. After, when we were seated our waiter, Ben walks up and hands us our menu and gets our drink orders. Fineas, Billie and I order Sprit, while Danielle gets Coke, and Zoe, gets a hot tea.

“So, what are we thinking about eating,” ask Zoe.

“I don't know give me a second,” scoffed Danielle.

“Well, I’m thinking about Udon and some vegan sushi.”answered Fineas.

“Defiantly, shrimp and chicken stir fry.” I spoke.

“I’ll have that also, but without the chicken and shrimp.” Billie stated, while looking at me.

“Ok, well I’m also getting sushi.” Zoe added.

The waiter came back, and we all ordered our food, with Danielle finally deciding to also get sushi. My anxiety was getting bad as I had Billie sending me fuck me eyes and Danielle sending me Imma kill you looks. Billie also kept trying to play footsy with me, as she every now and then would poke me with her foot. I turn to Zoe and try to start up a conversation in the hopes of getting Billie to stop and Danielle to calm the fuck down.

“Zoe what movie are we going to see. "I asked.

“We also need to vote on that, our two choices are Blackpather or Frozen 2”

“Wow, good choices Zoe,” Fineas laughed.

“I ain’t going to see no kid movie, y’all got me fucked up!” Danielle shot.

“Ok, so it looks like it’ll be Blackpather then.” I huffed.

9 / 10

“I’m fine with that I love action movies and I know this is going to be one bad ass movie!” Billie burst.

Our waiter came showed up with our food, Zoe started inhaling hers as soon as the waiter sat it down, I picked through mine as my nerves made it hard for me to eat. Billie also picked through hers, but I don’t think it was her nerves that ruined her appetite. We got through our meal with little conversation and lots of tension from Danielle and looks of lustful looks from Billie to me. Once, I picked through all I wanted, I excused myself and headed for the bathroom.

I entered the bathroom and started splashing water on my face trying to collect myself and pull it together, I didn’t hear when the door opened, but I felt a pair of hands wrap around my waist. I turn and as soon as my eyes met Billie’s she smashed her lips on mine, without breaking the kiss Billie slide her hand up in my hair and put the other hand in the side in my cheek deepening the kiss. My heart started racing, and my mind went blank, but I never pulled away. We were still eating each other, when we heard the dreaded sound.

“What the fuck do you think your doing?” Danielle screamed.

As, I turned to answer her, she stormed out of the bathroom. Billie and I followed her watching as she stormed past the table and out of the restaurant. Zoe and Fineas got up and came with us, as we went outside to calm Danielle down. Once outside, Danielle was pacing back and forth talking to herself calling me a bitch, a slut, every name she could think of to express how horrible of a person I am. Billie walked up to her, but Danielle quickly turned and yelled,

“What’s so special about her, huh, what does she have that I don’t?”

“What are you talking about, Danielle you’re just my friend.”

“Yeah, you think I don’t fucking know that I’ve been trying for a year to get you to love me and you fall in love with some basic bitch!’”

“Dainelle it’s not like that, she’s different.”

Different, she’s a fucking basic, stupid slut, who probably fucked her way to be on tour with you and who probably is only making you think she loves you for your MONEY. Are you fucking stupid, open your eyes!”

It was one thing to bash me, but I wasn’t going to stand there and let her speak to Billie like that, when she did nothing wrong.

“It’s not Billie’s fault you’re obsessed with her, and I’m not a fucking slut, you’re just trash who needs to be taken out!” I exploded.

Danielle turned to me and as soon as the words registered in her head, she ran at me and swung.

[thegayagenda-forkids]

T.J. Goodman and Cyrus Kippen

AO3 Link

Sequel

“I have no idea if this is the cutest or the dorkiest couple outfit you two could have come up with,” Buffy said, adjusting her red and gold tie.

“Says Hermione Granger,” Cyrus retorted, gelling up his hair, frowning as he tried to get it to look *just* right. “You got the flashcards, right?”

“I did,” Buffy said cautiously. “And I think T.J. is going to flip when he sees all of this effort you put in.”

“Of course he put in all this effort,” Andi said, straightening out her bow tie. “Besides, I think I win at the nerdiest outfit.”

Both of her friends groaned. “It doesn’t count if you’re going as an actual nerd!” Cyrus said. “And I still can’t believe I lent you my old glasses for this.”

“You don’t even use them anymore because the prescription is out of date,” she argued back. “Besides, look who’s talking about borrowing clothing items.”

“This is different,” he said as a matter of fact.

“Why is it different?”

“Because...this is the only way to sell it...Besides, my outfit belongs to Buffy.”

“And you can keep it. That is from two basketball teams ago,” she said. Finally Cyrus smiled when he got the hair right and pulled on a zip-up hoodie, leaving it open so that the Jefferson Middle School Basketball jersey underneath was visible.

“Well? Ladies?”

“Whoa…you’re selling it,” Andi said.

“Yup. You look like him.”

Cyrus looked in the mirror and smirked. “I’m no longer Cyrus Goodman. Until Midnight tonight, call me T.J. Kippen.”

______________

Soon there were knocks at the Goodman’s front door. It was the GHC’s dates for the night, and Jonah, all in costume ready to see their other halves. Jonah wore a Shazam costume since everyone said that the actor who played Billy Batson looked like him. He wasn’t really into costumes all that much but they all begged him to the point he felt like a total jerk if he didn’t wear it.

Marty was dressed up like Ron Weasley, so even though he also wore a Gryffindor robe and tie, he swapped out the usual sweater for a burgundy one with a big gold “R” on the font and even found a twig, snapped it, then wrapped an ungodly amount of tape around it. He knew Buffy would commit and stole some of her dad’s old law books to carry around.

Amber wore her cheerleading uniform, but kept her hair down and curled, only putting up a small section into her giant hair bow. Her sneakers were shining white. Her couple outfit with Andi would be the nerd and the cheerleader, but with a gay twist. Instead of fighting for some boy like Taylor Swift’s “You belong with me” video, they were dating each other.

But T.J.’s won out of those guys, and he was excited to see Cyrus’s interpretation. He was dressed up in a patterned button down, had a messenger bag, and even slicked his hair down some. Just in case, he had the old Bar Mitzvah sweatshirt tucked in the bag just in case people didn’t realize what he was doing.

Cyrus’s mom opened the door and T.J. immediately put on his cheesiest smile and went “Hello, hello, hello!”

Mrs. Goodman couldn’t help but start laughing. “Oh my god, I’m not sure if this means you two hang out too much or you two are perfect for each other.”

“Both.” Marty and Amber said together.

“Hey, don’t hate,” he said back to them. “So...where is the wonderful, amazing, puppy-dog of a human being T.J. Kippen?” He joked.

“All three of them are upstairs,” she said. “And I want pictures of you all before you leave for the party!”

They were all headed upstairs and knocked on the bedroom door. Cyrus, dressed as T.J. was the one who opened the door and both boys almost lost composure immediately. They tried not to let it show, but they quickly took a breath and looked looked at each other. “Cyrus, My man,” Cyrus deepened his voice as much as he physically could. “You look Niceberg.”

T.J. had to bite his tongue for a second so that he didn’t laugh and he started talking, getting more and more excited and speaking faster as he did. “Wow Teej, you look absolutely amazing because you are amazing because this is going to be the best Halloween ever and you’re wearing a hoodie that matches your eyes and your jersey which you always look super hot in…”

“Oh my god, what did we sign up for,” Amber groaned and moved past them to go kiss her Nerdy Andi.

“I’m just gonna hang with my totally fly Cy guy,” Cyrus said, pulling a step stool from behind the door and standing on it so he could simulate the reverse of the height difference between the two. Jonah actually broke down laughing at that.

“And I get to be with my super cool, absolutely amazing boyfriend,” T.J. said, looking up at Cyrus. So that’s how it felt for him. T.J. was suddenly very aware of his own height.

“Good god, and I thought we were bad with out-extra-ing each other,” Marty said, putting his arm around Buffy’s shoulders. “Let's get to the party before this they somehow derail everything.”

“How would they even derail it?” Andi asked.

“Sure, act like we aren’t standing in front of you,” T.J. said.

“Do not underestimate my brother’s narcissism,” Amber said. “The sooner we’re out in public, the more guaranteed we are for having the two stay within a PG rating.”

“Hey, just because I can shoot three pointers with ease, or cross the court in seconds flat, doesn’t mean I am so self-absorbed,” Cyrus said, and everyone but Buffy and Andi looked at him in awe.

“What did you say?” Marty asked.

“What? Just tossing out some b-ball lingo. I’m just saying that it doesn’t matter that I truly rock because I can shoot nothing but net from half court, I’m just that amazing of a point guard,” he said. “But I’m an even more amazing boyfriend to my muffin of a man.”

T.J. was staring at him open-mouthed. “H..how?”

Buffy sighed and pulled a twenty dollar bill from her robe pocket. “I regret this so much...you all honestly could not begin to imagine.”

“Now I understand completely,” Marty said. “Come on, we have a party to get to.”

_________________

Everyone piled into the Kippen minivan that Mrs. Kippen allowed them to borrow, with T.J. driving and Cyrus in the passenger seat. “Are you sure you should drive, Underdog?” Cyrus said, back in T.J. mode. “I mean, you did almost fail your driver’s test.”

“I aced the written part and technically passed the driving part by like...a point,” T.J. replied. “I’m sure I’m fine for one night. Besides, your mom thinks I’m a good influence on you.”

“You totally are, you got me to start getting help for math. It was totally Niceburg.”

T.J. hissed under his breath, “I said it that word one time….”

Cyrus smirked at him from the passenger seat.

Marty opened his mouth and Buffy cut him off. “If you say blimey or bloody hell, I’m throwing you out of this car.”

Marty closed his mouth.

“I’m feeling very single right about now,” Jonah said.

“Ironic considering just about everyone attracted to men has had a crush on you,” Buffy said. “Except for me. You were too...swoopy for my type.”

“Swoopy?”

“You know...like Justin Bieber back in the olden days? Swoopy.”

“And now I’m…?”

“Still a little swoopy, but much more human.” Everyone let out noises of agreement.

“Human?” He raised an eyebrow. “Ironic considering I’m dressed like...well…” he swished his Shazam cape.

“Dude, you were above the whole world back in the day,” Cyrus said. “Like some unattainable god! I couldn’t even just say Jonah when I talked to you. I had to say your full name.”

“Wow...so wait...you had a crush on me?” Jonah asked.

“Ladies and gentleman, the most oblivious man on earth,” Marty announced holding his arm out and presenting Jonah. “Raise your hand if you’ve ever been attracted to Jonah Beck.”

Everyone in the car except for Buffy and Marty (and obviously Jonah himself) raised their hands.

“Wait...Andi and Amber I know because I’ve dated both of you on and off...Cyrus...well...yeah I can see that...but...T.J.?”

“Yeah T.J.,” T.J. said. “Why else do you think I was a total dick to you in little league...or just a dick overall?”

“Never doubt the powers of heterocompuslivity and internalized homophobia,” Cyrus said.

“That intense?” Jonah asked and literally everyone except Buffy in the car shouted “YES!”

“Yeah Jo, you and I are the only non-queers in here as far as I can tell.”

“As far as you can tell?”

“Well, I know I’m straight,” she said. “You haven’t said straight or otherwise.”

He paused. “I mean...I’m into girls…”

“Be free to be,” Marty said. “That’s all that matters.”

“Sounds good to me,” he said. “So Buffy is the only confirmed straight, and I just have a question mark dangling.”

“Hey, still unique even among the majority,” she teased.

___________________

The party was being held in some warehouse downtown, and everyone was in costume, some as a couple, most as a standalone costume. Buffy and Marty were just playing around with each other, daring the other to the tabletop games and later, to who could stay in a kiss the longest. People told them to get a room, and those people got the finger.

Amber and Andi spent the whole night dancing and mingling with other people in costume, though sometimes a guy would try to hit on Amber and brought a friend with them to hit on Andi. They always seemed confused when she said that she was in a relationship, and then once or twice, got so annoyed that she pulled Andi in by the bow tie and kissed her deeply.

T.J. and Cyrus meanwhile, continued their shenanigans, pretending to be the other, complimenting both themselves and the other, being all sappy with each other. T.J. even sat down for most of the evening so that Cyrus could stand and keep the height difference.

People loved seeing how in sync the couple were, and even let them choose several songs over the course of the night so the two could dance together. They were even able to reunite almost everyone and do a reprise of “Born this Way,” except this time one of T.J.’s hands was occupied by Cyrus holding it tightly and kissing the back of it. They ended their night with the final chords of the song and kissed each other deeply on stage while everyone cheered. Buffy and Marty also kissed next to Andi and Amber who kissed as well. Jonah jokingly hugged himself tightly and jumped up and down.

_____________

They were all pretty much exhausted by the time they were leaving and thankful that the Macks agreed to host the group sleepover, with the rule being that they all had to sleep in sleeping bags in the living room to police each other.

T.J. and Cyrus were the last ones awake and they were cuddling, leaning against the couch, using their sleeping bags as blankets as they watched some Disney movies on mute with subtitles on as to not wake up the others.

“Hey,” T.J. said softly, his arms around Cyrus, who was using him as a pillow. “You know I love you, right?”

“Yeah,” he said sleepily, smiling up at T.J. “I love you too.” They leaned in and kissed each other softly. “I love you Mr. Goodman,” Cyrus teased.

“And I love you Mr. Kippen,” T.J. teased back, his fingers dancing playfully over Cyrus’s palm. “You know...I actually kinda like the sound of that. Mr. Goodman…”

“I was about to say the opposite,” Cyrus said back, his eyes close to closing. “I prefer the sound of Mr. Kippen.”

“How about a compromise then,” T.J. said, starting to get tired as well, but wanting to stay awake for as long as Cyrus was. “Mr. Goodman-Kippen.”

“Mr. Goodman-Kippen,” Cyrus yawned that last part. “I really like that...I can’t wait…”

T.J. watched him fall asleep, breathing evenly against his chest and turned off the T.V., adjusting the two of them so that they were lying down and making sure that Cyrus didn’t wake up. T.J. thought about his plans of surprising the group with a trip to Disney World for their senior year graduation trip, and then presenting Cyrus with a very special small box with a special and important gift inside. He smiled at the thought and laced his fingers with Cyrus’s. “Yeah...can’t wait either…”

Tag list: @theobligatedklutz @anarcoqueer1994 @honey-aes @luzawithoutu @tyrus-and-the-swings @losrgeekwhatevr

[thephantomofthe-internet]

Mania (Eros p.t. 14)

Billy Hargrove x Reader, Jonathan Byers x Reader (Unrequited)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16

Word Count: oof 5006

Warnings: swearing, WATCH YOUR HEARTS CAUSE FLUFF HELLA FLUFF

Permanent tag: @hotstuffhargrove @steveharringtonofficial @denimjacketkisses @flamehairedwritings @hargroovin @nistaposebno @giftofdreams @feverxxdream

Series tag: @hargrovesgoldilocks @xicarcalii @wtf-richarddd @sighsophiia @baebee35 @rhyxn @wearemightyghosts @toriasaysso @random-stupid-stuffs @so-not-hotmess @warsintothestars @lilmissperfectlyimperfect @angellastor @baileythepenguin @sleepyspacegal @kingbouji3 @abbyed @80steenmovie @ohtaylorrose @strangerthingshargove @peanutlicker5000 @demoncrypt1066 @jinx-is-fire @pinklux

The female student body of Hawkins High was certainly not excited to see you arrive with Billy the next morning. The petty whispers about how ‘Billy’s guard dog had returned’ milled around you. But you didn’t mind as much as you should’ve, you were just happy to be friends with Billy again. It felt a bit odd, but you chalked that up to settling back into friends after so long as a third wheel. The strange vibes had to be from not knowing what your place was when there wasn’t a Valerie-type to conform your actions to.

Valerie, without a Billy, replaced the object of her attention and affections with the little sophomore, wrapping her arms around his neck and hanging off him in every situation. While Billy made that sort of thing look desirable, on that tiny boy’s frame it looked stifling and claustrophobic. You almost felt bad for the poor kid, but then you remembered what he was getting out of the relationship and the feeling ceased; he was living every sophomore’s dream. You wondered what Valerie was getting out of the whole thing, but that was a question no one seemed to have the answer to, so you let it lapse.

Besides, your days were infinitely filled with Billy at every turn. He seemed to be trying to fill every free moment you had before Christmas break, as though you wouldn’t see him at all during the break. Maybe you wouldn’t, nothing about Billy was ever set in stone and you couldn’t predict anything except that you’d miss him and you hoped he’d miss you too.

It was still too cold to sit outside at lunch, but Billy insisted on trying to continue your old tradition of sitting outside and listening to tapes in his car.

“It’s too cold freaking cold, Bill!” you cried at the very suggestion.

“It’s not that cold.” Billy retorted, crossing his arms over his chest like a huffy preteen.

“It is too! Especially when you leave that damn window open! It defeats the purpose of having the heater on and I refuse to have you hot boxing the car with your stupid habit!” you exclaimed, rolling your eyes at him.

“So I won’t smoke, there problem solved.” He decided, marching outside. You grabbed his bicep, failing spectacularly at pulling him back, trying to dig your heels into the hard tile floor.

“Billy!” you cried as he laughed at your feeble attempt, yanking you forward onto the balls of your feet. You fell forward slightly, and Billy’s arm came out to catch, almost like a parent’s arm when they stop too hard and fast. If this was a romance movie, your eyes would meet and, as if pulled by gravity, your lips would meet in the most heart stopping kiss imaginable. But life wasn’t a movie and you found your footing again, standing up straight.

“I am not sitting outside. You can go be cold outside on your own, but I’m going to be warm inside where I belong.” You said firmly, turning on your heel and heading back into the cafeteria.

Billy shuffled behind you, grumbling “You’re no fun…”

You chuckled “Yep. But don’t worry, we’ll continue the trend when its warmer.” You replied, dropping your things on a clear table.

“Yeah sure we will.” Billy muttered bitterly. You rolled your eyes, pulling out your history textbook and grabbing Billy’s homework from him, ready to correct the work your teacher hadn’t bothered to do, sliding your pack lunch to him.

“If you’re gonna be bitter I won’t fix this for you and then you won’t know why you failed again.” You said in a sing song voice, pulling out a red pen to follow along with his chicken scratch.

Billy continued to grumble for the rest of the day, but you paid him no mind. Even when he was acting like a baby, it was still nice to have him around. Hell, you had managed to muffle all the butterflies and keep them at bay for most of the day. You hardly blushed at all when he said that the little snort you’d let slip out while laughing was cute. You barely stared at all when you caught him smiling at his high grade on his English essay. You laughed and joked and pestered like everything was normal. It was as though your heart didn’t ache every time he whistled at or checked out another girl, his favour obviously falling to newly single Tina.

Of course, you couldn’t hear his internal monologue. How his heart sped up every time you laughed at one of his jokes, which he knew was ridiculous; he already knew that you thought he was funny. How he almost blushed when you reached over to brush a curl away from his face, even though he never blushed and hadn’t done so since he was eleven. How your smile felt both earned and desperately beautiful-quite possibly the most beautiful thing in the world. He was certain he was just horny. He wasn’t getting any even when he was with Valerie, not at the end, and now he was somehow getting less than before. Sure, he always thought you were pretty, but now it felt like a problem he had to conquer and the only possible answers were to sleep with you and move on or sleep with someone else and move on. Tina became the obvious answer, he wasn’t going to use you, and she’d been all over him since he arrived in this shit town. Flattery, with her, would get him anywhere, as it seemed.

So that afternoon, he gave your seat to her and you pretended to be fine with it. You walked home with Max skating ahead, making sure she didn’t get run over by some asshole in a pickup truck. The walk was cold and boring, but blissfully short and you were barely frozen when you got inside.

You had made up your mind that today you would tackle the mountain of laundry pouring out of your room. You’d been avoiding it for long enough to where you’d had to dip into your summer wardrobe for clean shirts and dug up some old cardigans from freshman year to cover your bare arms and shoulders. Now, it was time to tackle the beast. You also had to try to wrestle your mother’s paisley housedress off of her; she’d been wearing the same one from almost a month straight and it would take some supreme coaxing to get it into the laundry room and into a pre-soak. Just as you were loading the machine, switching the wet darks for the dry blues, the phone rang loudly. You stepped back into the kitchen, pulling the canary yellow phone off the wall.

“Hello?” you asked, cradling the receiver between your ear and shoulder, pulling the cord taught as you continue the laundry, using your foot to push the start button.

“Hey, Y/N, what’re you doing?” Billy asked on the other end.

“Laundry, what’re you doing? I thought you had plans with Tina?” you asked, bending down to grab the long forgotten basket of towels off the floor, propping it up on your hip and walking back into the kitchen. You placed it on the nearest counter and began the endless folding of the day.

“Eh, let ‘em fall through, she’s got a great ass but nothing much else.” Billy replied easily and you rolled your eyes.

“Wow I really didn’t need to know that.” You said, pausing with the big green towel to force the image of Billy’s hands on Tina’s ass out of your mind.

Billy chuckled “Sorry.” You hummed in response, dropping the folding towel and grabbed another one out of the basket, repeating the process. “So, you wanna go do something?” he asked.

“Eh,” you said, grabbing a face cloth and scratching your nail on a strange spot of pink paint, leftover mess from wiping your fingers on it while painting flowers on a corset for Romeo and Juliet. “Depends on what you wanna do?”

Billy rolled his eyes “What’d you wanna do?” he groaned, looking out into the cold, blustery afternoon. Since returning home it had started snowing and the thought of him leaving the house almost felt as though it wasn’t worth it. But the idea of seeing you made his heart lift out of its slump and he found himself wanting to go out again.

“Honestly, what I want to do is finish off my laundry. And I know for a fact you have a calculus test to be studying for.” You replied. Billy groaned, knowing you were right, but he wasn’t willing to give up yet.

“Well how about I come over and I help you with the laundry and you help me calculus.” He offered.

You scoffed “Two problems with that idea: one, my house is not the hangout and you know that, and two, I am shit at calculus and math in general and you are excellent at it.” You replied easily.

Billy sighed “You’re right, you’re right I just…I just wanna hang out with you, you know? When Valerie was around we didn’t get to hang out one on one as much…” he admitted.

You felt conflicted now. He was right, you two hadn’t hung out on your own much, both before their breakup and after, although each for their own reasons. So while you didn’t want to go out that day, you made up your mind to go out and make things better between you. “Okay, how about this-you let me finish my laundry and you finish studying and we’ll go out and drive around when we’re done, saying like seven, after I finish making dinner for my mom. Sound good?”

“Yeah, that’ll do, you want me to pick you up?” Billy said, sitting up in bed, looking out at his car, already being piled in snow.

“You told me that sitting in my car made you feel like a pussy, I wouldn’t want to emasculate you.” You joked remembering how, the first time you’d offered him a ride, he’d scoffed and cringed and did everything in his power to keep away. His car was one of the only things that gave him power, you realized.

“Fair enough.” He replied, trying to figure out how he was going to clear all the shit off his car. Truth be told, he was inexplicably excited. Sure, he’d seen you mere hours ago, but another chance to hang out with you seemed like something he couldn’t pass up, certainly not because of a bit of snow. It occurred to him that he’d do anything to see you, which was an odd thought to say the least.

Billy didn’t do anything for anyone, he refused to get attached. How could he? He moved every other year, his father avoiding one thing or another; he didn’t have the time with people to become dedicated. Girls were playthings for awhile, to take from and leave behind in a cloud of dust. And other guys were those to mooch off of and take from and cut off when it was time to go. He knew well enough to not get used to anyone. But he always unpacked-that was the part he never understood about himself. He let himself find something to like, hell to love, in a place and then had it ripped out from him when he had to leave.

California had been home for his entire life. He’d lived up in the north and down by the beach, Santa Monica to Sacramento and San Francisco and then right outside Los Angeles. He’d gone celebrity with his first step-mother, Carla, and surfing with his stepbrother, Mark. He’d learned to skateboard up the intense hills with his first best friend, Jake, who he stopped writing when he got to Sacramento. Friends and former family left scattered on his father’s endless search for something to call home. He didn’t seem to realize what Billy knew-that home had been with his mother, no matter where they went, and he’d left her scattered on the beaches in Santa Monica and packed them up to leave her behind.

But you-you were something like home. You had made cold and dark Indiana feel warm and bright simply by being around. You made everything better. You would be the hardest thing to leave behind when he left. You made him want to stay, which was a crazy thought seeing as Hawkins was quite possibly the worst place Billy had lived yet. Maybe it was only terrible when you weren’t with him. Maybe you’d make everything better. You already did so in the tiny world he lived in here; maybe it’d work outside Hawkins.

Billy didn’t put stock in people; he thus far had only needed himself. But he needed you. And that was a terrifying thought. Billy didn’t want to need anyone, he wanted to be free as a bird and wholly independent, but he had to admit that he needed you. Desperately. And Billy didn’t know this feeling well enough to define it, but he knew it probably went along with those butterflies and he knew that wasn’t a good sign. That was a bad sign. But the feeling was so wonderful that he almost felt addicted to it. He wanted to bathe in the feeling of his heart lifting and filling with joy, the warmth on his skin and the way you felt pressed to his side or chest. Billy had to admit it-he liked you way more than a friend should.

And he could either tackle the feelings head on or push them aside and hurt over them.

Billy ended up showing up early. You had to let him in; he still didn’t have a winter coat and it was freezing outside. You insisted that he stay in the foyer while you brought your mother dinner and grabbed your things from upstairs. He did as you instructed with a smile. He was just glad you didn’t scream at him for coming to the door like last time.

You tiptoed into your mother’s room, placing the tray on her bedside table and a kiss on her forehead. “Mama?” you whispered, brushing her sweaty hair off her forehead “I’m going out, I’ll be back later okay? Daddy will be home later.” You left before she could even stir and grabbed your bag, rushing back downstairs. You were relieved to find Billy exactly where you’d left him, not touching any of the dusty furnishings like Valerie had. And he was smiling, a sight that was becoming less and less rare.

“You ready?” he asked. You hopped down the final steps and brushed past him to get to your coat. If you had known that the very faint touch had nearly stopped his heart, you’d probably faint from shock.

“Just let me grab my coat.” You replied, giggling slightly. He was so antsy, you had no idea why, but it was cute. Once you were ready, you led him out of the house.

“You got a nice place.” He said and you rolled your eyes.

“No need to be nice, Hargrove, I know it’s a nightmare. I think my room is the only place that’s actually clean. Well there and the kitchen. Those are the only places I feel capable of tackling.” You explained with a shrug, pulling open the passenger side door before the thought of opening it for you even crossed into his mind. He followed your lead and started out of the driveway.

“I just meant that it’s big, bigger than my place. I feel like I’m trapped every time I’m home.” He replied, turning his car straight again and speeding out of your street.

“Well I mean we’ve got less people, it’s really only me and my mom most of the time, my dad’s usually at the hospital.” You said, grabbing onto the cushion of your seat. “Okay, slow the hell down, we’re gonna spin out on the fucking ice on the side streets!” you gasped, smacking his arm.

“Chill, kid, we’re fine.” Billy replied, although his face and voice were anything other than reassuring. He looked like he was having fun, which cranked up your nerves to eleven.

“We are not fine! Slow down, please Billy!” you cried. Billy’s gaze flicked to you and the sheer anxiety and fear on your face was heartbreaking. His foot lifted off the gas without a second thought, bring his speed back down to something normal.

“Hey, we’re okay. I’m slowing down, why you pick a tape or something? Focus on that for a bit.” He said quietly and you nodded, opening the glove compartment, rattling through tapes with shaky hands, pulling out the first one you found.

The inscription on the found was enough to break down some of your nerves. ‘Love Grows Where My Billy-Willy Goes, and Nobody Knows But Me’, the label read in pink ink, the title surrounded by hearts. In the right hand corner, the creator had signed it ‘Love, Cherry’ which made you laugh even harder.

“Oh my god, who the hell is Cherry and why is she such a sap?” you asked, flashing the tape at him and earning an embarrassed groan.

“She’s this chick from Inglewood who I used to see, I can’t believe you found that.” He replied, his face scrunched into a look of embarrassed disgust.

“Is she actually named Cherry?” you asked.

“Don’t make me answer that…” he muttered and your face brightened exponentially.

“No no now you have to tell me!” you cried. Billy only shook his head and you rolled your eyes “Either tell me the story or we listen to this tape.” You warned.

Billy sighed “Her name is Irma, god awful name, I started calling her cherry cause she was a virgin and wouldn’t go all the way and she liked it and thought I was being sweet or some shit. I mean I was making fun of her, but I think she liked not being called Irma.” He explained, turned down Main Street and picking up his pace again.

“Wait seriously?” you asked, furrowing your brow. Billy shrugged, nodding reluctantly. “Why was she so into you then? Sounds like a shitty time.” You said.

“I don’t know, honestly I was just trying to shake her, but she wouldn’t release, ya know? Made me the tape when I left, I’ve never listened to it.” He explained, speeding past Benny’s Diner and carefully into the woods, minding the trees as he weaved his way to the quarry.

“Well, no time like the present!” you said, popping the tape into the car stereo and turning down the volume. You half wished she’d done some sort of introduction, whispered sweet nothings to the listener before the first song started, but instead the first song just began. You could practically feel how hard Billy’s eye roll was when California Dreamin’ started through the speakers. It was quite possibly cliché song anyone could’ve chosen for someone leaving California.

“Oh my god…” Billy muttered “This is the cheesiest thing ever…”

“Eh, it’s definitely the wrong song, but the band itself isn’t bad. She could’ve gone with Dedicated to the One I Love if she was dead set on The Mamas and the Papas.” You replied breezily, watching snow laden trees brush your window. The forests of Hawkins were abnormally beautiful tonight, or maybe it was just the way the moonlight hit the thin white blankets covering the sleepy town.

Billy parked close to the lake and you undid your seatbelt, tucking your feet under you. Billy didn’t comment on your feet being on the interior. He turned down the radio.

“You ready for your calc test? Last one before exams…” you asked, turning to face him, tucking loose strands of hair behind your ears.

“Ugh the semester’s almost over, isn’t it?” Billy groaned, rubbing a hand over his face.

You chuckled “Yep, just about, it’s a week till winter break.” You replied.

“You going away for it or staying in town?” Billy asked.

You shrugged “No clue, usually we’d go down to visit my grandparents but these past few years my dad’s worked Christmas so probably not.” You said.

“How’s that?” Billy smirked, already guessing how awful it must be.

“Eh, it’s not bad.” You sighed “It’s just lonely. My mom doesn’t get out of bed most days anyway but on Christmas she usually spends a chunk of the day just crying. I try to stay out of her way, stick to my room. I’m not expecting many if any gifts anyway so I just try to busy myself for the day.”

Billy nodded, his expression souring. He wasn’t a huge fan of the holiday to begin with, but that sounded incredibly awful and depressing. He reached his hand over to yours and squeezed it comfortingly. You gave him a weak smile, squeezing his hand back before releasing it again.

“What about you? Headed back to the sunshine state for Christmas? Gonna find a real palm tree to set your gifts under?” you joked meekly, earning a small smile from the worried looking boy.

“Nah, no way would my old man put up the cash to fly us all home for the holidays. Knowing him it’s just gonna be a stupidly early morning to please Susan and then him getting mad when we disappoint her by not being excited about it. After the mandatory family shit I’ll probably be trapped in the house all day, unless Max needs a ride somewhere. According to them I don’t have anywhere else to be without Val.” He replied grumpily.  

You smiled “Well, looks like we’re both gonna have a shit time.”

Billy laughed at that “If I have to drive Max anywhere I’ll make a stop to you but other than that I’ll be stuck inside. Probably can’t even call because the phone lines have to stay open for all those merry Christmas calls we aren’t gonna get.”

You felt a small smirk come to your lips as an idea flashed through your head. “There is one part of this shit holiday I do wonderfully and that’s baking. I can most definitely get into your house.” You replied.

“How the fuck is you being a good cook, which you aren’t by the way I’ve seen your home ect grades, going to get you into past my parents?” Billy scoffed.

“I have my ways…” you said with a wink.

Billy nodded, looking out into the trees. “I took your advice.” You hummed in response, turning to watch the side of his face as he swallowed hard. “I came up with a plan. Not a backup plan, cause I didn’t really have a plan to begin with, but now I know what I’m doing when everything goes to shit.”

You smiled “Good. That’s really good, Bill.” You said, patting his shoulder. A small smile spread across his face, genuinely proud of himself and more than a little happy that you were proud of him.

“What’re you doing after this?” he asked.

“Well I’m going home, probably gonna finish that laundry-” you joked easily, your face breaking when Billy turned back to you with a scowl.

“I mean after high school, doofus.” He replied.

You shrugged softly “I don’t know. I’m not going to school just yet; don’t really know if I want to go at all. I wanna leave this town though, go live somewhere new for awhile, far away from Hawkins.” You said.

Billy nodded “I’m going back to California.”

That hit you hard. You expected as much, Billy wasn’t long for this town, but the idea of him leaving so soon, how quickly it was all ending, hurt. You wished you could bottle soft moments like these and hold onto the feeling they gave you. You didn’t want to have to move on with life without Billy around. It sounded too boring and sad.

“I called Karalee, told her about Indiana, she said when I graduate I can come back to Sacramento, live with her for awhile. It’s not a permanent set up, she can’t really afford to have me live with her forever, but it’ll work until I’m on my feet out there.” Billy explained, but you were a million miles away from him, in the throes of the sadness that he’d inadvertently set upon you.

“Right…” you nodded, closing your eyes and you found a tight smile “That’s really great, Bill.” You said.

“You should come with me.” Billy said simply. If you weren’t already looking at him, you would snap to look over at him. The idea was so out of the blue. But looking at Billy, you could tell he’d thought about it. That was a comforting thought, knowing that he’d thought about this.

“What?” you asked, choking on your own spit.

“Yeah, come with me. It’d be fun.” Billy said smoothly, his cocking smirk replacing the smile as he turned back to you, taking your hand in his.

“Bill…it’s a sweet offer, but I really can’t intrude on Karalee, I mean she doesn’t even know I exist. I mean it’s just not plausible I-” you started, but Billy cut you off.

“Karalee would like you. I already told her about you anyway so I really don’t see a point of arguing with this one.”

“Why should I come anyway? It’s not like you can’t handle California on your own. And who said I even wanted to go there anyway? What if I have my own plans?” you shot.

“You’re right; I can handle California on my own.” Billy agreed and you smiled smugly. “But I want you to come with me. I want you in my life, alright, and I think this would be a fun adventure for you, is that a good enough answer?”

You felt a light blush come to your cheeks as you looked away “It’s certainly a sweet answer, I just…I don’t know. I have a lot to consider, okay?” you said.

“Consider saying yes.” Billy replied with a smirk.

“Bill…” you sighed “If I say maybe, can this conversation end?” Billy nodded, watching as you began to smile just a little. You looked incredibly shy and sweet, damn near innocent like a fucking bluebell. His whole brain felt sappy and saccharine, and while usually he’d feel stupid and gross, right now he really liked the feeling, which was incredibly stupid.

“Okay sure fine, we’ll move to California,” you relented “In this hypothetical world where-”

Billy’s hand was around your neck before you realized what was about to be happy. Your senses filled with the spicy scent of Billy’s cologne, intoxicating and sexy; Jonathan always smelt like laundry soap and a tiny bit like green apples, which was sweet and simple. Compared to him, Billy was a blazing fire while Jonathan was a cool, still, boring pond. You’d never wanted to burn so badly in your life. And then-fireworks, electricity; your body felt like it was about to short circuit and it never felt more wonderful.

Billy’s lips were so soft and so needy; he was kissing you like you were the coldest drink in the hottest desert imaginable. You couldn’t help but kiss him back, it was too wonderful and you wanted it so badly; you hadn’t realized how much you needed this until it was happening.

But, as Billy’s warm hand slid up and under your shirt and he pulled you effortlessly closer, you started to worry. He’d just broken up with Valerie and he had been so broken up about it at Vicki’s. Sure, he’d said that he wasn’t in love with her, but Billy liked to lie and this would’ve been something he’d easily lie about. And that worried you. It worried you so much that you broke away, pushing a hand into his chest, trying not to revel in the feeling of his hard body under your suddenly sweaty hand.

“Woah woah…” you gasped, looking up at his as you panted together.

“What? What’s wrong what happened?” he asked breathlessly, hands coming tightly to your hips, rubbing small circles on them.

“I won’t be your rebound.” You said, your voice finding some strength that you didn’t know it had. You felt almost brave for saying as much.

“What?” he asked, furrowing his brow.

“You just broke up with Val, I know you still have feelings for her and I won’t be your rebound.” You snapped.

“What the fuck are you talking about? I’m not fucking interested in Val.” He retorted.

“You certainly were trying to block out something with Tina today.” You muttered.

“Jesus Christ I was trying to block out you! I wanted you and I was too lame to do anything about it!” Billy snapped.

You scoffed “Why is this coming up now? Why didn’t this come up when I poured my heart out to you?” you demanded.

Billy shook his head, flabbergasted. “When did you pour out your heart to me? When you were screamed in my face and told me to fuck off?” he asked.

“After Vicki’s party! I told you I loved you and you laughed in my god damn face!” you cried.

“I…what? You love me?” Billy asked, his eyes wide. Nobody had said that they loved him since his mother passed away. He didn’t believe you. But he wanted to so badly.

“Yes! And I won’t be fucking hurt by you! I won’t end up like Tina or Val or any of the other’s you left behind!” you cried, forcing the door open. Hot tears were streaming down your cheeks, it felt terrible. You had a long walk home and you wouldn’t let him make it hard.

“Y/N! It’s fucking freezing! Get back in the car!” Billy cried as you marched deeper into the woods. You merely flipped him off, pushing deeper into the darkness. Anywhere was better than here.

[ficdirectory]

Disuphere Universe miniseries: When I Was 8: Pearl

Thursday, July 4, 1991

Pearl can’t wait to get out of the car.  Driving around all day with Mom was boring.  And she’s already read all of the Babysitter’s Club books she brought with her.  They’re easy.  But they’re fun.  Plus, if they have summer reading lists for like numbers of books you read?  This will definitely put Pearl way ahead.

Mom parks.  It’s been a quiet ride except for the moment Pearl tried to compliment her singing voice.  Annie Lennox had been playing on the radio.  Mom was singing along.  Pearl was in awe:

“You have such a good singing voice,” she’d said.

“No, I don’t,” Mom responded, serious.

“Seriously, you do.  You could be on the radio.  You could be famous like Madonna.  That’s who Stef likes.  You know, Madonna, the singer?” Pearl had pressed.

“Yes, I know!”  Mom snapped.  “Just because you live under a rock doesn’t mean all of us do.  Leave Stefanie alone when we get there.  She doesn’t want an 8 year old tagging along after her.”

So, Pearl lugs her 16 books, her backpack, her notebooks and all of her pens inside the tiny cabin next door to Frank and Sharon Cooper.  Sharon’s fun.  Frank is crabby.  But Stef?  Pearl would like to be her.

“Don’t forget your overnight bag!” Mom snaps.  “I’m not gonna carry it.”

Pearl sighs.  She goes and finds the neon yellow bag with the neon pink trim.  It’s got all the faces of every single New Kid on the Block.  She hadn’t known about them or really cared about them until Mom got her a tape of theirs last month for her birthday.  She loves Cover Girl the most.  But she’s trying to get more into Madonna.

She listened to Mom’s Madonna tape when she wasn’t home.  Memorized all the lyrics to Like a Prayer.  But Pearl’s not as great a singer as Mom.  Or Madonna.  Pearl stops unpacking to look out the window.  Stef’s out there looking bored, hand on her hip, talking to her dad.  Stef has her hair styled the same way as Madonna.  Blonde curls to her chin.  With bangs.

Stef is 19.  Pearl would kill to be 19.  Okay, she wouldn’t really kill.  But she’d definitely be willing to get in some trouble if there was like, a Zoltar machine and she could make a wish to be big.

Pearl tries to remember what Mom said about not bugging Stef.  She rereads Mary Anne Saves the Day because that’s the best Mary Anne book.  By the time Jenny Prezzioso starts to not seem like herself, Mom yells to Pearl.

“Pearl, you are not going to sit inside  and read all weekend.  Go outside!”

“Okay!” Pearl says, jumping up off the couch and out the door.  She tries to walk like she’s cool, like Stef.  But instead, she looks like she has ants in her pants, because who knows how to walk cool when they’re eight?

She finds Stef on the step of the cabin.  Leaning back.  She’s got sunglasses on.  Pearl should go get hers.  Oh, they’re on her head.  She puts them down onto her face.  Hopes Stef won’t notice the Snoopys on them.  

“Hey,” Pearl says, leaning one elbow on the railing and yelping.  

“Hey.  That’s hot,” Stef warns.

“I know.  I mean, I didn’t know.  I just found out.  So…  I like your Madonna hair.”

“Ha!  Pearl likes my Madonna hair, Mother!”  Stef calls through the screen door.

“Pearl, please don’t encourage my daughter to look like a rockstar…” Sharon says, but she’s not mad about it.  She offers Pearl a beater to lick.  It has Cool Whip on it.  

“Thank you,” Pearl says.

“Hey, what about me?” Stef asks.

Sharon gives her the other beater, and walks back inside.

“So…” Stef says.  (Even the way she licks a beater is cool.  Pearl will never be this cool.)  “No Barbies?”

“Mom wouldn’t let me take them.  Too many accessories.” Pearl frowns.  She thought about sneaking her Mary baby Barbie doll with somehow.  But then she was pretty sure Mary would miss Katie.  And Theodore and Billy.  Her sister and brothers.  So Pearl left them at home all together.

“So…” Pearl leans back on her elbows, imitating Stef.  “No boyfriends?”

“There is this one guy...Mike?  But he barely knows I’m alive,” Stef breathes, disgusted.

“Ugh, I know.  Boy germs,” Pearl wrinkles her nose.

Stef blinks.  “Right.  What am I talking to you about boys for?  Aren’t you going into third grade or something?”

“Fifth,” Pearl says, proud.  “They kept letting me skip.”

“Wow,” Stef manages.  “I mean...wow…  If I was as smart as you, I wouldn’t be working at a corner store and babysitting, that’s for sure.”

“But that’s so cool!” Pearl gushes.  “I bet you have a lot of money saved up.”

“Not as much as you think…” Stef remarks.  “This takes work.”

“What?” Pearl asks.

Stef gestures to her face.

“Oh!  You mean your makeup!  My mom wears makeup.  I can’t yet…”

“Yeah?  Well, consider yourself lucky…” Stef mutters.

“Why?” Pearl asks.  “I can’t wait to be 19.  You can stay up as late as you want!  Have your own money.  Not have to listen to your mom.”

“Whoa there, little missy,” Sharon says, through the screen door.  “Just because Stefanie is 19 does not mean she doesn’t have to listen to me.”  She’s smiling, but Pearl still apologizes.

“I’m sorry,” she ducks her head.

“Come with me,” Stef invites, nodding to Pearl.

Pearl jumps to her feet.  They go down to the lake.  Pearl usually stays away from here, but with Stef she doesn’t feel so nervous.  They find Mom, smoking a cigarette.

“Got an extra?” Stef asks, and Mom taps out one and gives it to her.

Pearl’s mouth falls open.

“Don’t you get any ideas,” Mom warns Pearl.  

“I’m not.  Smoking’s bad for you,” she says.

“You could always go see if my mom needs help in the kitchen,” Stef remarks.

Dejected, Pearl walks away.  She can’t believe her role model smokes cigarettes!  She’s going to die like eight years earlier now.  That thought makes tears spring to Pearl’s eyes.  She had already cried all of her tears over the idea of Mom dying eight years earlier and now she has to deal with the idea that Stef is gonna die, too?

She sits on the steps alone, this time.  Tears drop off her face and onto her legs.  Her Never Going to Be Madonna Legs.

“What’s shakin’, bacon?” Frank asks, sitting beside her on the steps.

Pearl pushes her glasses up on her nose.  “What?”

“What’s all this?  What are the--uh--tears for?”

“They wash your eyes,” Pearl explains.  Maybe they didn’t learn science when Frank was a kid.

“No, I mean…  What’s upsetting you?” Frank asks, flustered.

“Human mortality,” Pearl tells Frank seriously.

“Damn,” Frank swears.  “Well, why don’t you help me at the grill?  Handling meat always makes me feel better…” he grunts, getting to his feet.

Pearl squints behind her sunglasses, cocking her head.  “Why?”

“Couldn’t say.”  But he extends a hand her way.  She follows.

She spends the next few hours forgetting all about Stef and Mom smoking by the lake.  She puts cheese on burgers.  Even though Frank said she might get to handle some meat to make her feel better, he seems to think better of it when she’s actually standing there.  She doesn’t mind being on cheese duty.  She loves cheese.  Thinks about eating it all.  The only thing that stops her is the idea that Mom might find out and Pearl might be in trouble.

That night, they eat the burgers and hot dogs Pearl helped with.  There’s strawberry fluff that Mom made.  And a cake that Sharon made.  And raw veggies and brown beans and chips.  Pearl eats a ton.  Wondering if she’ll ever gain any weight or always look like a beanpole.

That night, they all get in Frank’s boat.  Pearl shivers in her tee shirt and shorts.

“I’m cold,” she whispers to Mom.  

“Well, you should’ve grabbed a jacket like I told you,” she says, whispering back.

Except Mom never told her to grab a jacket.  

Pearl sits on one of the seats, huddled up as Mom rolls her eyes and laughs.  “Pearl, it’s not that cold.  It’s the 4th of July.”

But she feels something get draped over her shoulders.  Stef’s jean jacket.  “Here,” she says.  It smells like smoke and Christian Dior’s Poison perfume.  Like grapes times infinity.  Uniquely Stef.  

Pearl cuddles in the jacket.  “Thank you.”

Now that she’s warmer, Pearl watches the sky, ready for when it explodes with color.  Fireworks are so radical.  It’s even better when Stef puts an arm around Pearl’s shoulders.

“I still have to listen to my mom,” she whispers.

“It’s okay,” Pearl reassures.  “So do I.”

Stef kind of laughs.  “I wanted to stay home this year, but Dad wouldn’t hear it.  Mom either, so here I am…”

“It’s okay.  We can hang out together,” Pearl reassures.

“Does your mom need a babysitter?” Stef asks as the sky explodes with the grand finale.  

She’s so happy.  Then the sky goes dark again.  Then, Stef’s question really sinks in.

Pearl deflates.  Mom doesn’t have extra money for anything.  And Pearl left her saved allowance at home in the tiny cardboard box with the money slot.  She has about $30 saved.  Including birthday money.

“We can’t pay you,” Pearl says serious.

“What?” Mom budges into the conversation.  “Pearl, don’t talk about money, honey, it’s rude.”

“She asked.” Pearl protests.

“I did,” Stef nods as they drive back to shore.  “Wanted to know if you could use a sitter.”

“You know, I really could.” Mom answers.

Pearl keeps her mouth shut and listens.  It’s not like Mom ever watches her anyway.  But Pearl’s not going to do anything to ruin the chance to get to hang out with Stef more...even if it is to get money for watching her.

For the next two days, there’s a note on the table when Pearl wakes up that says to go next door and Stef will watch her.  But at home, Pearl’s not allowed to go anywhere when her mom isn’t home.  She hangs out inside, making sure her bed is made and she is dressed and has eaten breakfast before peeking out the window at the cabin next door.  She won’t go over until she sees one of them go outside.

It takes two hours for Pearl to see Stef go outside with her book.  Then Pearl runs out to meet her.  “Hi!”

“Hey.  Thought you were gonna be here at like 8:00.  That’s what your mom said.”

“Oh.  I didn’t wanna wake anybody up.” Pearl admits.

“So, did you like the fireworks?” Stef asks.

“Yeah,” Pearl smiles.  Just saying it makes Pearl remember the warmth of Stef’s jacket and the arm around her.  The grape gum explosion smell and smoke all mixed together with the fabric.

“Do you think I can still get paid for those two hours even though you weren’t here?” Stef asks.

“I won’t tell,” Pearl promises.

For a while, it’s fun.  Stef reads aloud to her.  Stef drives them to the Taco Bell and they have lunch.  But after lunch, Stef goes back inside her cabin.  Pearl follows.  They’re showing Beverly Hills, 90210 all day.  Stef looks like this is where she wants to be.

After a while, Sharon comes in and nods to Pearl.  Pearl gets up and goes with her to one of the bedrooms.  In it, she finds an old Barbie case.  With Barbies from the ‘70’s inside.  Pearl plays by herself, giving them names, and stories.  

(They’re not the same as her Barbies at home, but at least they’re Barbies.)

All the rest of that day and all the next she plays with Stef’s old Barbies. She sees Mom at dinner time every day.  And on Saturday, it’s time to go.

Pearl watches Mom give Stef a bunch of money.  Pearl feels funny inside.  Knowing she really only watched her for two hours.  But Pearl promised not to say anything...so she just doesn’t.

“So, did you have fun?” Mom asks, bright.

“Sure.  Did you?” Pearl asks.

“I really did,” Mom says back.

Pearl settles in with her books again, and thinks, as long as Mom’s happy.  

If Mom’s happy, everybody’s happy.  

[gutterdreams]

Hey!! I love your work I've been re-reading it this past week and it's amazing!! Would mind doing number 123 from the prompt list with Billy?

Thanks!

“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here or like I’m an object in the room that can’t hear you.

Your mother wasa tough woman. She had gone through Hell and back again, emerging inone piece with fire screaming her eyes. Joyce Byers was scared ofnothing, so if Billy thought that he could honk his car obnoxiouslyoutside her house at eight o'clock sharp for you as if you were a dogrunning at the sound of his whistle, he had another thing coming.

“Do not go tohim, [Y/N] Byers.” From the couch, folding laundry over the coffeetable in front of her, Joyce caught you right as you were running tothe door to step into your shoes and leave to go to the movies withBilly. It was a routine that she had to make herself okay with, youleaving every weekend after dinner to spend your time with the newboy in Hawkins who had earned his reputation quickly.

“You said itwas okay that we were going to Gremlins...” As the only otherfemale in the house, you were close with your mom and had told herout of excitement that you were going to go see the kooky comedy.

“It is okaythat you go and see it.” Humming as she lifted up one of Will'sshirts from the hamper, she assured you. “I'd like to see him cometo the door first.”  Making both of you jump and sigh, Billy's carhorn sounded again through the walls of the house.

“Mom. He'swaiting. He doesn't know he's supposed to come to the door.” Antsy,you shook out your arms and explained to her.

“If he's nota moron, he'll figure it out.” Joyce gave him the benefit of thedoubt, but then Billy honked again. This time, he held it down andlet it play. You two could detect his irritation in the flat sound.

You threw openyour front door and leaned out, waving for him to get out and comein. He couldn't make out your expression from where he was sitting,but you weren't smiling. Billy turned off his car with an eye rollthat could tilt the world on it's axis and pushed open the car doorto get out, one boot at a time.

“You saidyou'd be ready at 8...” Once close enough to you, he groaned. Billyhad hard and fast rules about punctuality. He was like an armygeneral about it and was always checking his watch.

“My mom wantsyou to come to the door.” You told him right before Joyce poppedin, extending her hand for Billy to shake. As if a switch was flickedinside of him, he changed the annoyed and devil-may-care expressionon his face to something much more engrossing as soon as sheappeared. “Wow, Mrs. Byers, I understand completely where [Y/N]gets her gorgeous eyes from.” He took her hand in his and thencupped it with her other hand.

You steppedaside, stunned, and made enough room for this version of Billy tocome all the way into your living room. The last time he was there hewas unconscious and woke up to you pouring alcohol in the cuts on hisface.

“Thank you.”Faking a smile, your mom tried to be kind for your sake. A singlemother of three, she tried to be both parents for you and yourbrothers and that required her to keep a level head. Besides, witheverything that she had gone through with Will, you dating a boy witha hot rod, a mullet, and a penchant for wearing too much muskycologne was a walk in the park. “We just haven't had a chance toreally get to know each other and, I thought, if you only ever honkat my daughter like she is cattle, we'll never have that chance.”It was a biting remark, but dressed up kindly. Joyce could tell,watching Billy swallow around a rude reaction, that she had made herpoint.

You wereleaning your back into the closed front door, hands behind your butt,just waiting for the awkward moment to be finished.

“She didn'twant me to come in. She told me she would be ready.” Through atoothy grin that made it seem like he was posing for a picture, Billyexplained and slowly released your mom's hand from it's shake thatlasted way too long.

“I can'timagine my daughter told you to honk at her.” She pointed her chinright at his nose, sizing him up. Billy was much bigger than yourmother, but she knew she was tougher.

“[Y/N]'s abig girl. She doesn't need a chaperone to walk her to and 'fro.”Billy was embarrassed. She was calling him out and not even the jocksin his class did that. Hell, some days his dad even bit his tongue.

“Well, she'salso my daughter and - “

You didn't letyour mom finish, you stepped between the two of them and put up bothhands to try and stop the conversation that was only going to endwith both of them pissed off.

“Hey, I amhere, you know? I have ears.” Back and forth, you looked at yourmom and then Billy. “Don’ttalk about me like I’m not here or like I’m an object in the roomthat can’t hear you. Billy, next time we go out, come to the door,”It was that easy and you wish your mom had just said that to himinstead of been passive-aggressive. It was a new approach she wastaking with the world since everything that happened with Will. Shehad to handle it alone, without your dad, and it hardened her. “andmom, I'll be home by midnight. I have keys.” You tapped at one ofthe pockets of your jeans for proof. “I love you.” You kissed heron the cheek and then stalked by Billy to rip open the door andleave. You two were definitely going to be late for the movie now.

Usually, Billy led the way and walked in front of you or was possessive with an arm in the back pocket of your pants. Seeing you be authoritative turned him on though. He didn’t realize how much he liked a strong woman until you called the shots just moments ago. Billy had been dreaming about being behind you again, plowing into you with his hands on your hips, but now he had a new fantasy of you riding him. As he rushed forward to open up the passenger side door for you, Joyce smiled from the window. She had returned to fold the laundry, but watched you leave with the boy who left a sour taste in her mouth. She was happy to see he was stepping it up.  

[crewhonk]

i just need getting your ears pierced at a claire’s in the 80s with billy okay ? like billy holding the little bear they have on the chair :(( or him not even flinching when they put the earring in wow - Mae

you can take part in freaky friday!!! MAE BABY I LOVE YOU

you and Billy were best friends since the day you were born, and today was his sixteenth birthday

“let’s do something crazy.” you had said, as you lay on his bedroom floor throwing a stuffed basketball in the air and bored out of your mind

“like what?”

“wanna jam a needle in your ear?”

“Jesus Christ sweetheart. not really”

“oh come on for me? please?”

“I love you, and I'm so grateful that you’re in my life, and I don’t know what I would do without you, but not enough to do that.”

“William Hargrove.”

“don’t you dare.”

you get up and rest one knee on the side of his bed, waiting for him to look at you

“i, Y/N Y/M/N Y/L/N, double dog dare William Alexander Hargrove do get his ear pierced at Claires!”

“bean, no. please. no.”

“are you backing out of a double dog dare? you know that means now you have to be my slave for an entire day.”

this made him shoot out of bed. you were needy and he couldn’t handle that. 

he grabs the keys and you follow him out of his beachside house with the biggest smile on your face

you ran past his mom (she was bringing in groceries) and you waved wildly as he pulled you out of the house. 

she loved you two together, and she knew his smile was the brightest around you. 

“what are you doing, you two?”

“i dared him to get his ear pierced! if not he has to be my-”

“get in the car, Beans! Love you, momma!”

“love you, Kids!”

he was there in five minutes- there was a mall near the pier and soon enough he was sweating in the purple glittery walls of the Claire’s

he was pushed into a chair, and there was a dot on his ear and the worker was cleaning the needle

“do you want a bear?” you giggled, holding his hand. the grip he had on you was enough to crack your knuckles

“I have you,” he grumbled. 

you laughed and blushed and the worker looked at you with the softest look on her face

“you two are a cute couple. how long have you been together?”

“I-”

“were not-”

“we haven’t-”

“there's no-”

the worker laughed softly and asked if he was ready

“maybe the bear wouldn’t be such a bad idea”

“Oh, so I’m not enough?”

click

“Oh, my fuc-”

your hand slammed over his mouth hard and you looked at the group of little kids that had just walked in

billy hargrove looked like a damn motherfucking snack with a shiny stud in his ear

you paid for his piercing and a handful of earrings (5 for $15) and looped your arm through his

“you look hot by the way.”

“I didn’t before?”

“maybe its the fake diamond im attracted to”

“my heart hurts, Bean.”

“whatever, Hot Stuff.”

[whorror-jpeg]

Rottweiler (pt.2)

Pairing: Billy Hargrove x Reader

Summary: How much are you really willing to risk for him? Your art? Your grades? Your social status?

Prompts: noNE BENCH

Song: Rottweiler Playlist

Request: none

Requests Are: Open

Warning(s): cursing, angst, violence (it’s Billy), fluff

Word count: 1.4k

Author’s note: firstly, i’d like to thank everyone for the hype of this story, it means so much knowing that the content i put out is loved.every time I talk about the reader’s mom I imagine Mama from What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? lmfao. I hope you guys enjoy this part, I’m having too much fun writing this. Ps, Billy’s such an angsty teen. No one compares.

one// two// three// four// five// six// seven// eight// nine// ten.

“So, how’d you get that shiner, huh?” you asked. At this point, you didn’t even have to look to see it was him. It was, and it probably always would be.

“Oh,” he laughed a bit, “Tommy H. got a good swing in. You should see him, though.”

You turned to face him, the bruise now a greenish-yellow color.

“Mhm, I’m sure he looks bad.” you played, earning a glare. “Why are you following me around, huh?”

He crosses his arms and leans on the locker next to him, “Should I remind you what happened last time I wasn’t around?”

You gave a sardonic laugh, “Oh, so now you’re protecting me? While what you did was nice and all, I don’t need you hovering around me, okay?”

“Hey,” he gently grabbed your elbow as you were leaving, “Seriously. Be careful. Carol’s a bitch.”

You scoffed, giving him a disapproving shake of your head, and walking off.

He yelled at you, “I mean it, (Y/L/N)!”

“I can take care of myself, Hargrove!” you shouted over your shoulder, smiling.

In Physics, Jonathan Byers passed you a piece of folded up paper. You rolled your eyes when you read it.

“What are you drawing today?”

It was a thing he’d come up to unintentionally annoy you. He was a sweet boy, with very limited friends, as well as too curious for his own good.

You scribbled down a name next to the drawing and showed it to him, making him hold back a laugh. The drawing was different positions of the same, drooly, dumb Rottweiler, simply labeled as “Hargrove”. Proud of yourself, you made the mental note of showing the dog-boy himself later on in the day. The two of you had gym together, anyway, and it’d be fun to see his reaction, you concurred.

The bell rang, you changed into your gym clothes, and brought your sketchbook outside and setting it near a  tree for later.

“Hargrove, (Y/L/N), come up here.” Coach Mac called. You and Billy both gave each other a look, as if to ask “what the fuck did you do?”

“Let’s race the two fastest runners, shall we?” Mac announced, earning an excited majority. You looked at Steve, who shrugged his shoulders, then turned to Billy, who smirked. Neither one of them were very much help at all.

“Yeah. Let’s.” Billy starts, “I lose, you go on a date with me. You win, you get to do whatever.” he says quickly.

Without thinking, you nodded, going to the start of the track with Billy, waiting for the whistle.

It sounded, people cheered, and you ran. For a bit, Billy was even with you, even challenging you by going faster than him. And you beat him, by five seconds.

“I win, loser.” you panted, smiling. Billy walked coolly to you, smirking and sweating.

“You sure did.”

Your façade dropped, “What are you smiling for? You lost.”

He chuckled, “Yeah, remember the deal?” you nodded, “I lose, you gotta go on a date with me.”

You thought for a moment, then realized he was right. You groaned as he laughed at you.

“Eat shit, Hargrove. I won’t have fun. You can’t make me.” you yell, going to grab your journal and take a shower as everyone else went to do what they desired, be it homework or talking.

He laughed harder, “Sure, Princess.”

As the weekend approached closer, the knot in your stomach grew tighter, until Saturday came up. You dressed better than normal, making sure to grab a jacket, then ran down the stairs in a hurry, fearing your date would actually be a gentleman and knock on the door.

“Hey momma, got your meds taken care of for tonight?” you asked, tying your Chuck’s and tucking in the laces.

She hummed in approval, “Where you goin’ baby?”

You ran to the closet, grabbing an umbrella. The night decided to pour, leaving the roads dark and ominous.

“Out with a,” you hesitated, “A friend.”

Your mother waved you off, telling you to be safe, when you heard a honk.

You ran out, the rain starting to come back from its previous showers.

“Wow, I was worried you were gonna try to be a gentleman, Hargrove.” you joked when you got in, putting your seatbelt on. Billy was, for once, quiet, and smoking a cigarette. You couldn’t see him well in the lighting, the front porch light not providing much illumination.

You looked at him, “You okay?”

He blew out his smoke and started the car, muttering an ‘I’m fine’.

The ride to wherever you were going was too quiet. The boy, who preferred everything loud, especially his music, played no music at all, nor did he talk. And you were sick of it.

“Billy pull over.”

“Why?”

You rolled your eyes, “Just do it.”

He did as told, stopping at the side of an ongoing cow field and under a streetlight, parking.

You turned to him, “Look at me.”

He tilted his head back, sighing lightly, before turning to you.

“What’s wrong.”

He arrogantly scoffed and turned away, going to turn the car back on, being stopped by you grabbing his hand. It was shaking.

“You can’t be doing this hot-and-cold bullshit with me, Hargrove. I will get out of this car and walk home right now if you don’t start talking.”

He stared at you for a bit, swallowed, then looked away again. You mumbled an ‘okay’ as you took off your seatbelt and got out of the car, walking back in the direction of your house. This was quickly followed by the sound of the car door opening and slamming shut, then boots running in your direction.

“Listen,” he grabbed your arm lightly, “I just, I got into a fight with my dad, okay? I guess I’m still pissed about it.”

You looked at him carefully. Now that his face was more illuminated, you could make out a split lip and a welt forming on his cheek.

“Just a fight? Billy, this isn’t just a fight with your dad!” you presented quietly, lightly putting a hand over his newly injured cheek.

“Listen, it’s not a big deal, okay? I was asking for it.”

“Billy, do you hear yourself? Your dad is beating you and you’re coming up with excuses! You’re almost eighteen!” you lightly put your hand on his shoulder. The rain began to pick up pace, and apparently so did Billy’s emotions.

Billy let out a shaky sigh, coming closer to you and resting his forehead on your shoulder, wrapping his arms around your waist, and frankly, you didn’t know what to do. The Billy Hargrove you knew wasn’t a crying, vulnerable teenage boy. The Billy you knew was nearly full grown, strong-willed, primal, and hard headed. He didn’t have emotion. Yet here he was, sobs racking his body as he hugged you closer to him. You lightly ran your fingernails up and down his back, another hand coming up to massage his head, equally as light.

“C’mon, Billy. I still owe you a date, yeah?”

You grabbed his face with both of your hands, tears streaming down his face and mucus lightly coming out of his nose. He nodded, opting to get out of the freezing rain and let you drive while he finished crying. The entire time, he never let up on holding your hand while you drove.

By the time you got to a small burger joint, Billy had stopped crying and rested his head on the window of the passenger door, slightly falling asleep, no doubt tired from his outburst.

You looked at him and rubbed his bicep after getting your hand free. He woke more and looked around, not knowing where he was.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m gonna get us food and we’ll drive to my house to eat, okay? We’re freezing.”

He nodded, laying his head back on the window and  falling back asleep. You quickly got out of the car, coming into the restaurant, and was mindlessly greeted by Tommy H. And god, did he look like shit. An eye swollen over, his nose and lip were split, bruises adorning them and virtually the rest of his face.

You took your order, waiting on a barstool for the food to be made, all the while Tommy H stared at you from his place at the cash register.

“Hey, (Y/LN).” you turned to him, “Keep your bitch of a boyfriend on a leash.”

You chuckled nervously, “I’m sorry?”

“Billy. Keep him on a fucking leash.” he aggressed as his co worker gave you your food.

You gave Tommy the due money, “He’s not my boyfriend.” you whispered.

“Yeah? Well he sure acts like it.” he yelled after you as you walked out to the car with your paper bag of food. You startled Billy when you got in, quickly cooing for him to fall back asleep until you got to your house.

------

TAGS:

@artisticlales

[kennyispoor-blog]

Billie ellish is the HERO we NEED

GUYS! not many people know this but Billie ellish is the hero we need in this society because we live in a society. but ill start at the beginning of my story.

I was in my room, listening to Billie ellish on my BIG TABLET because my mom hates me so much she wont get me a phone, when my GAY DAD comes in.

Dad: honey even tho you are totally awesome and cool i have to inform you that your stupid mother is about to fall off a cliff.

Now normally I would not care if my ugly ass mother fell off a cliff, but my loser mom told me she would get me a REAL phone and I was not about to let that opportunity down.

Me: OK dad if we must than i shall go help my disgusting dog turd butt fucker shit face asshole meanie of a mother.

Dad: wow thank you honey after let me buy you mac & cheese.

Me: yes, very. 

So, my dad and I got in the car to go to my nothing mother.

The whole time i was thinking happy thoughts. My dreams, my crush, my dead bitch mother, and the new phone I shall get. I had a plan. Once my gay dick face mother is saved by me (of coarse) she will thank me with a real phone. After obtain my prize she will pay for all the times she made me clean my room or do chores. Anyway I will kill my puppy hating mother and father so i can be adopted by Billie ellish.

Once i have the iPhone you see Billie ellish will think Im really rich and adopt me. My dad and I had made it to where my whore mother was. We rushed over and saw my mom at the edge of a cliff! she was garbing on the edge of the cliff for dear life.

Poser mom: There you are! please help me! 

I honesty did not care at ALL, but of coarse i had to save my mom and be the hero she or my dad never were so I can get my beloved prize. I approached my lesbian mother.  I saw her tears roll down her face as i garbed her hands to pull her up. 

To my surprise my disgusting fat mother was to fat for ME to pick up. I fell to the ground.

I had no hope left. I guess she was going to die, but how would this affect my plan. Maybe I could just kill my dad now, just push him of with my crack head mother. but then I wouldn't get my phone and Billie ellish would not want to adopt a dirt poor child.

MY MOM NEEDED TO LIVE.

Me: Dad we have to do something!

Dad: Im sorry your mom is just to fat.

Me: If only Billie ellish was here.

Just then Billie appeared and garbed my jack ass mom. 

Billie: Don’t worry child for I am here.

Me: OMG BILLIE I LOVE YOU WILL YOU ADOPT ME!

Billie: yes, for you are so amazing and I would love to adopt an amazing human like you.

Whore: Now that’s it. honey there is something i must show you.

Just then my GROSS MOM turned into Billie ellish herself.

I

WAS

SHOCKED

Billie: you poser it is time you learn your actions have consequences

Billie: no

They both then started to fight over ME!

At this point i couldn't tell who was who. 

Me: Dad what do we do?

Dad: My best answer is that we leave while we still can

Me: Are you joking!? I could possibly get an autograph from Billie eilish!

Dad: I suppose you are right. I am sorry I ever doubted you. god you are so smart.

Me: i know

I turn back to the fight. at this point it was getting very heated.

I could not believe it as I saw both Billie ellish’s gain powers. on breathig fire (or at least I think its fire) and the other with lasers from their hand. I felt the heat of the fire on my face. 

Then

Complete blackness was all i could see with my ears ringing in agony.

As i gained my gearing i could hear crackling and I was also very hot.

I opened my eyes...

I saw everything I ever wanted right in front of me. my crush ,josh, the two Billie ellish’s and my dad. they then handed me the prize that I deserved.

The new iPhone 8! I was so excited, this was WAY better than my plan! after all this time i finally got the ending I deserved. I was adopted by two Billie ellish’s and my crush. My ugly horrible mother who was actually Billie ellish. And Billie    coming to save my *insert insult here* mom which ended in a fight. All for this phone. I garbed my headphones to listen to some Billie ellish for celebration.

But as I reached to put them in...

The phone had no headphone jack.

[bibliophileiz]

Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox

Yockey knocks it out of the park with this debut -- ‘Asa Fox’ may be in my top five favorite SPN episodes. Directed by John Badham,featuring one of the best musical montages in the recent seasons before the title card and featuring the always perfect Sam Smith as Mary, Kim Rhodes as Jody and Lisa Berry as Billie, it is criminal that this one only has an 8.5 rating on IMDb. (I mean, Billie’s presence alone makes it at least a 9.) 

Anyhoo, let’s dive in.

In this opening scene, we meet baby Asa Fox racing through the woods running from a werewolf. And may I just say I am pissed that we didn’t get an AU Resistance Leader Asa Fox in Season 13 (one of my many disappointments from that plot thread.) Mary is the perfect blend of badass hunter and typical mom (cleaning Asa’s face). Also, her braids are super cute.

“Since the last time we saw you, I killed Hitler.” “Thank you?” Dean is a rom com chick, pass it on. Ellen and Asa were bros, it’s cannon. “We’re going to salt and burn the body tomorrow. I can’t believe I just said that like it’s something normal.” God, Dean is distractingly hot this scene.

How did the Winchesters get into Canada? Are you telling me they have fake passports?!?!

The actress playing Asa’s mom does not get the credit she deserves for this episode.(I looked her up, and she is Laurie Paton. She’s also in The X-Files.)

There should be more episodes that feature a shit ton of hunters getting wasted. “Nobody can take out five Wendigos in a night.” I want that episode.  THE BANES TWINS!  “She was, like, a good witch. Very Enya. It was the ‘90s.” “What did she teach you?” “Mostly how to seduce men.” Max. Buddy. I need you to give Dean a nudge. In other news, I want the Banes twins to be my best friends.

“It’s not like we’re in the live-till-you’re-90, die-in-your-sleep business.” That line has a lot of weight, especially now going into the final season.

Rollerskating ghouls!!! I want that episode too. Sam and Dean walking in just in time to hear that Asa and Jody banged is so awkward. 

Jody fangirling over Mary is still the cutest thing that has ever happened.  Mary’s short hair this season is the other cutest thing. Also, unrelated, but I love Sam Smith’s voice. My best friend once described my mom’s voice as sounding like a hug, and while I knew what she meant -- because she’s my mom and I’ve always gotten the same feeling hearing her talk (unless she’s mad) that I get when she gives me a hug, but I didn’t think other people would feel that way -- but that’s how Sam Smith’s voice sounds. Like a hug.

Big Sister Jody coming to Dean’s rescue, as usual.

How come Lorraine heard the name “Mary Winchester” and didn’t immediately assume Mary is Mary Winchester’s daughter who just has the same name? Maybe she just assumes all hunters are childless loners. “You’re the reason my son didn’t become an astronaut.” Also the reason he didn’t become a werewolf, Lorraine, keep up. I do think this scene is wonderful, because as Lorraine says, “Hunting was his whole life. He never married, never had kids--” Mary’s hearing the story of her own sons.  And the next scene is the same: Sam telling her Asa chose to be a hunter will later parallel him telling her he chose to be a hunter in “The Raid” (another criminally underrated episode. God, I love Season 12.) “Everywhere I go and everything I do, it just feels wrong.” Maaaaaarrrrryyyyy!!!! When Sam says Mary was still hunting in 1980, after Dean was born and “everyone” thought she had quit, Mary gets this guilty look on her face that is not really explored to its full potential. And I just want to say that in a perfect world where Jeffrey Dean Morgan was able to come back for a length of episodes and could have a fully developed arc (and not the delightful but kind of fan servicy one he had in the 300th) that THIS is the plot I would have wanted -- John being resentful of Mary for keeping her hunting life secret from him and, arguably, putting their sons in danger for it. 

You guys, this episode is already so good, and we haven’t even really gotten to the Agatha Christie-style murder spree yet. 8.5 my ass.

Also, Jared Padalecki is killing it this episode. I love his scenes with Sam Smith.

Is the blood dripping on Asa’s forehead supposed to parallel the show’s first scene? I mean, I’m sure it is, but I need some meta writer to explain to me why that is.

And here’s where the plot picks up. Also, we need more crossroads demons in our life. (Where’s my Bela Talbot Crossroads demon???)

“Go away.” “You’re not the boss of me.”  Billie and Dean is one of my favorite dynamics in the entire show. “You can huff and puff, but that house is on supernatural lockdown.”

Jael kills both a First Nations girl and then later Marlene and her kid to create angst for Asa. Does it count as fridging if it’s in dialogue? Turning off the water is so smart! I love me some smart villains! I love how Jody immediately takes command of the situation -- before Sam, even. I kind of always wanted her to be like Sam’s lieutenant.

“It’s a one-way ticket.” Billie is like me, and wants to watch the Agatha Cristie-style murder spree, which would be totally ruined if everybody could get out of the house.

Did Jael say, “Elvis has left the building”? That motherfucker ....

This is the first time we see Mary grab an angel blade, which means the angel blade Mary carries the entirety of this season is Asa’s.

Kim Rhodes makes a delightfully evil demon, and seems to have had a blast doing so. “I so hoped you’d kill your mom! Wouldn’t that be a riot?”

(also, my brother’s dog is named bucky, so every time a character says bucky’s name i just get really distracted.)

I like the hunters all saying different parts of the exorcism.

“That sucked.” Poor Jody!

You guys, Bucky sucks. Also, hanging the person you actually killed from a tree so that no one would suspect you actually killed him is like ... so opposite of what the demon-dealing-happy Winchetsters would do in this scenario that they can’t even comprehend how to handle it.

I just realized this ep even has an Agatha Christie-style reveal, with the murderer confessing all at the end after being revealed. (And everyone else’s identities/crimes/motivations being revealed FIRST.)

“I was wrong. Asa did have a family. I’ve even got grandchildren.” Wow, it’s almost like hunters can have families too.

“Mom to mom....” Why, oh why did Jody and Mary not hang out more?? (It’s because those fuckers at the CW cancelled Wayward Sisters before it could get filmed.)

Also, this scene between Billie and Mary is so. good. “She’s not alone.” Dean. Buddy. I love you forever. “Then I guess you’re just going to have to wait.” “Winchesters.” This scene is just *kisses fingers like an Italian chef* “So does this mean you’re coming home?” “Well, not yet, see I’m only contracted for like 10 episodes this season ....”

And scene.

I mean. This episode, man. Everything about it is criminally underrated. It’s not very flashy in terms of mytharc plot, but it contains so much rich worldbuilding, such great writing and acting, and a healthy dose of ominous foreshadowing the likes of which only Yockey can pull off.

Yockey knows the perfect characters to mix and match. (And I think the scenes between Lisa Berry and Jensen Ackles this episode became the inspiration for their even better scene in “Advanced Thanatology.”) This is the only episode we ever get that has Mary AND Jody AND Billie, three of the best characters. He also creates delightful original characters (which we’ll see again with Tasha Banes, Lily Sunder, Noah the eyeball-eating monster). I know this is the casting director, and not Yockey, but each of the actors playing those original characters were on point.

I also am a total fan of the Agatha Christie tropes -- to my knowledge, that had never been done with Supernatural before, but this episode was just the perfect combination of the two.

I can’t think of any major problems with this one, or even really minor ones. (I mean, the scene with Sam and Dean talking about Jody’s sex life is pretty awkward....) Keep ‘em coming, Steve Yockey. I will watch everything you ever write forever. 

[jbuffyangel]

The Shift Begins: Arrow 5x10 Review (Who Are You?)

Wow. I mean... WOW. "Who Are You" was an amazing episode. 

Probably my favorite of the season. I liked it even more than 5x08 and I LOVED 5x08. It had unbelievably tight pacing, great action, strong (and necessary) character development, wall to wall Olicity and fabulous subtle LL shade. It integrated the new characters almost seamlessly too. 

Y'all... I even liked Wild Dog.

But best of all? The shift has started for Oliver and Felicity.

Let's dig in...

Olicity (and Bl*ck S*ren)

Storytelling is never an easy journey, especially in television. It is a long, arduous, sometimes infuriating, and at times boring, process.  It can also be exhilarating and heart wrenching. Our emotions fluctuate as does our investment. Watching a television show as it airs, with a 23 episode season, is full of ups and down. There will be good episodes. There will be bad episodes. It's a roller coaster ride. 

But every once and awhile there's that fantastic episode. The one that shines above all the rest. The loopty loop. The diamond in the rough so to speak. The episode that makes all the patience worth it.

"Who Are You" is that kind of episode. There's a significant amount of pay off from the set up of the beginning of Season 5, but also for those of us who've been religiously watching for five years. The shift in Oliver and Felicity's dynamic started tonight and it's launching them in an entirely new trajectory. And it's exactly where we need to go.

"Laurel's" return isn't really all that much about Laurel. I mean... it IS, but I've always said that as long as they bring KC back for specific ways, this guest contract can be extremely effective. As irritated as I was at how quickly Arrow brought KC back after we JUST said goodbye to Laurel, this was an effective use. It highlighted the emotional shift between Oliver and Felicity, by examining their vastly different perspectives on what Laurel's return means. It's not even about Laurel. This is about world view.

For Oliver, it's a miracle. Listen, as cover stories go, Bl*ck S*ren's was a spectacularly bad one. Sure the "time travel" excuse works, especially when you throw in Sara and the Wave Rider, but once you dig into the details a bit it makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.  

Details Felicity rapidly picked up on and Oliver was blind to.

For Felicity, it was too good to be true, so she was suspicious. It was too good to be true for Oliver, but rather than be his pessimistic, distrustful self, he just embraced it full on. It wasn't just that Oliver believed Laurel was a miracle. He needed her to be one. 

Whereas for Felicity, we can finally see the events of the last four years finally taking a toll on her. She's sees the darker underbelly of this supposed "miracle" because history has taught her that when something is too good to be true on Arrow... it normally is.

Felicity: After the past four years it's hard for me to accept good news.

But the fact that Oliver is essentially throwing caution to the wind, ignoring all signs, and embracing the freaking rainbows, is such a freaking massive character shift, it's almost mind boggling.  This is the Oliver Queen version of Rainbow Brite.

It's also a massive character shift for Felicity to be the one who is not hopeful. To be the one who is suspicious and distrustful.

So, it's strange when it's Felicity who wants to throw the party celebrating Laurel's return. Have you ever seen a less enthusiastic party? Nobody wants to celebrate Laurel's return. 

Of course, Felicity isn't celebrating Laurel's return. She's getting her Nancy Drew on with an elaborate ruse in the form of a “Welcome home Laurel” party. 

She's using the party to analyze "Laurel" more and then, literally analyze her, by using her glass for a DNA analysis. Did you notice that "Laurel" almost reached for the glass of champagne instead of the glass of water? Somebody forgot to do their homework! Tsk tsk.

To Bl*ck S*ren’s credit, she figures out Felicity’s on to her almost as as quickly as Felicity figures it out.

You pretended to be Laurel for a hot minute Bl*ck S*ren. Slow your roll. Although, maybe a minute was long enough.

Of course, Oliver shows up just as Bl*ck S*ren is attacking Felicity and Rory. 

HE RUNS TO FELICITY'S SIDE.

Oliver needs to know she's safe; to know that she's not hurt.  He uses his special “hey.”

Like he’s done so many times before...

Felicity reassures Oliver, but 

 He can't even take his eyes off of her. Felicity is his only concern.

Words are never enough for Oliver in these situations. He needs to touch Felicity. He needs to feel her. The physical connection is the only way Oliver can reassure himself. Oliver has done this again

and again

and again

and again

and again

and again

This is no different. As much as some things change... some things never do. 

They grip each other's forearms, as Oliver holds Felicity steady, but he doesn't help her stand up. In point of fact, there's absolutely no reason for the two of them to be holding onto each other so tightly and for so long other than ALL THE FEELINGS. And, once again, Olicity is surrounded in green light. The ever present, unbreakable connection. For Oliver to feel, in her bones, that she is safe. It's his tether. The same tether Oliver needs. The same tether he will always need. 

These two wreck me.

After a nasty run in with Prometheus, Bl*ck S*ren reaches out to Oliver and the team arranges a meet by that god awful statue. 

Don't worry, it's on its last legs.

This when we see the shift in Oliver and Felicity clash. 

Honestly, his crabby voice is even hotter when he’s crabby with Felicity.

Oliver is trusting Bl*ck S*ren. He believes she can offer intel and he tells the team NOT to move on her. Felicity argues with him, but Oliver holds firm. Felicity pretends to agree, but then she switches "the boys" (there's no limit to how much I love that Felicity called them that) to a separate channel. In one of the best lines of the episode, Felicity tells the boys to "light her up." 

Commence the fist pumping.

My parents have had similar arguments, with my mother issuing orders that differ from my father's to me and my two sisters. So, Oliver and Felicity are Mom and Dad of Team Arrow, and "the boys" are trial run triplets. Come fight me.

But you know what my sisters and I did? We listened to our mom. And that's exactly what Curts, Rene and Rory are going to do.  Where Mama goes so goes your nation.

Of course, the team jumps the literal gun and spooks Bl*ck S*ren, prompting her to unleash her sonic scream and, in the process, DESTROYS LAUREL'S STATUE. This calls for the Numfar Dance of Joy.

Goodbye statue. We knew thee for a short time and yet we shall not miss thee.

Loyal little children that they are, Curtis, Rory and Rene try to cover for Felicity, but she comes clean with Oliver. She gave them the order to go. What I love about this is Felicity's isn't sorry about what she did. She firmly believes she was right.

QUEEN. 

This is the start of that split in tactics we've been hearing about. Felicity liked that the team listened to HER. They followed HER orders. They used HER tactics. When Oliver wouldn't listen and do things Felicity's way, she ploughed right through him. This is very S1-S3 Oliver Queen esque behavior. It strongly points to Felicity setting up her own team to go after Prometheus once she grows tired of Oliver's opposition to her tactics and his approach.

And this is all about approach. Felicity doesn't trust Bl*ck S*ren and, while Oliver recognizes there's good reason not to trust her, he can't let go of the hope that there's a piece of goodness in Bl*ck S*ren. That there's a piece of Laurel in her.

Felicity believes Oliver has blinders on. Is Felicity right? Yes. But oh... isn't it wonderful to see him so doggedly optimistic? So blindly and stupidly hopeful. That's what heroes do. That's who heroes are. And that's the question Arrow is really asking. 

It's the question Oliver asked Bl*ck S*ren, but it's really the question he is asking himself. It's the question Diggle and Felicity are asking themselves as well. We decide, every day, who we are, with every choice we make. Our souls, are simply a reflection of the circumstances we are presented, the choices we make and the consequences of those choices. Which then lead to more circumstances and more choices. And so on and so on and so on and before you know it, you've built a lifetime of choices. And in their wake is the legacy you leave.

Oliver believes if you change the circumstances, you are giving someone the chance to choose again. He wants to give Bl*ck S*ren love, trust, compassion and hope because maybe she hasn't been given those things before. Maybe that's the shift that will make all the difference for Bl*ck S*ren to choose again, and be someone else. It's certainly something Oliver has felt in his own life. It's the gift Diggle and Felicity gave him and Oliver is trying to pay it forward. It's the question that haunts him, especially in light of Prometheus and Billy, because it is Oliver's choices that led to the creation of Prometheus. He believes it led to Billy's death. If Oliver could just change the circumstances... would he do it all differently? He's offering Bl*ck S*ren the redemption he so desperately craves. Not just for Laurel's death, but for every mistake he's ever made.     

Oliver, Felicity and Diggle have all chosen to be heroes, but now it's about choosing what kind of hero they are going to be. Every season, Oliver misses a piece to his evolution to the Green Arrow. This time, this season, he's finally starting to see the whole picture.

And for Felicity as well. This is not just about Billy. He was just the last straw in a house made of straw. She has suffered so much. She has endured so much pain and loss. Felicity has always taken the higher road. She's always been the believer, but she's really asking herself, "Where has all that belief gotten me?" Felicity is tired of losing. She is tired of hurting. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. So, Felicity is adapting. She's going to fight fire with fire this time and maybe it'll yield a different result. Maybe this will make the pain go away.

Felicity works out some major rage, by beating the crap out of punching bag. Oliver comes in and ever so softly, in that gentle voice reserved only for her, tells her to extend her wrist. Y'all he just gave her a training tip.  And that sweet little smile he gives, scrunching up his nose, when Felicity says “Ow” because he can’t handle her adorableness? Fabulous.   IS THIS REAL LIFE?

Felicity can't even stand to hear Oliver use "Laurel's" name. Bl*ck S*ren isn't Laurel. She's a bad guy and she's thrown in with the Big Bad. Felicity isn't interested second chances. She doesn't want to hear about how Oliver is trying to save Bl*ck S*ren . She's using Oliver just like Prometheus did. Felicity wants Oliver to stop Bl*ck S*ren before anyone else gets hurt... before he gets hurt. 

But Oliver pushes back just as hard. If there's anything the past five years has taught Oliver, there is so much in this world he doesn't understand. Instead of closing himself off to that, Oliver is trying to expand his world view. He's trying to be more accepting, more understanding, more compassionate. He needs to reach Bl*ck S*ren because once upon a time, not so long ago, someone came along and reached for Oliver. 

Someone changed Oliver's circumstances. 

Someone gave Oliver a second chance at life.

Felicity.

(And Diggle too). But what's so heartbreaking about this scene, is that Oliver is still Oliver. He can be obtuse, oblivious to the what's right in front of him. As he waxes poetic about changing Bl*ck S*ren's circumstances, he fails to recognize that Felicity's circumstances have changed to. And those circumstances are changing Felicity.

Felicity: You think you can save her?

Bl*ck S*ren is just a symptom of a much larger problem that is brewing between Oliver and Felicity. This shift in dynamic has a purpose. 

This line is an important callback to the same line Helena said to LL in Season 2 when she was facing her island. Eventually, every character on Arrow goes to the Island. Every character lets the darkness in, because we all have a dark side. That’s just being human. Felicity is the last to go to her island because of who she is. She’s the strongest among them and because of that strength was able to hold onto her light. But everyone has a breaking point and Felicity has found hers. The darkness is setting up shop. There will come a time when it will be Felicity who needs to be saved. Only, she won't want to be. Felicity won't want Oliver to reach her, or anyone else who loves her. Yet, Oliver remains doggedly determined about Bl*ck S*ren. Imagine the determination he will have for Felicity. Oliver will reach her. There won't be a choice. Not when it comes to Felicity.

But the darkness never comes out. It always stays. It will always be something Felicity has to face, understand, and overcome. Just like every character on Arrow, but most especially Oliver. The key is that she has the person who brings out the best in her. The person who harnesses her light - OLIVER. This brings another level of connection to their relationship. It’s equal emotional support... and that is one area Felicity has always done the heavy lifting. This shift is necessary. 

Whooo! Both are bringing their zinger A game.

But first, we have to allow Felicity to go down this darker path. We have to allow Felicity to get lost, so she can be found. This season is all about Oliver and Felicity walking in each other's shoes. Oliver is being the light, the source of hope and belief. And Felicity... is taking matters into her own hands. She's going to protect those she loves, especially when they cannot protect themselves. Felicity lost Billy to Prometheus' deception. That deception caused Oliver incalculable guilt and pain. Felicity can't save Billy, but she will save Oliver. She will protect him, especially when Oliver cannot protect himself. Felicity will protect Oliver even though she knows he will disagree with her methods.

It's a very Oliver Queen like move. Why is it so important we walk in our partner's shoes? Why is it so important we understand their perspective on a deeper level. Because it's the catalyst to change. It ignites our compassion, our understanding... and our forgiveness.

Felicity faces off with Bl*ck S*ren, and I have to say, it's an exceptional scene. Emily Bett Rickards is bringing this unflinching, uncompromising, darkened steel to Felicity Smoak. It's fantastic and Emily is chewing up this meaty storyline. They are only going to give her more and it's only going to get better. I feel it in my gut.

Honestly, this scene with Bl*ck S*ren is straight out of fanfiction.

Although, that "taller" remark fell a little flat. Is LL taller than Felicity? Does Oliver have a height preference I was unaware of? I was so confused. 

Maybe some fanfiction authors should send the Arrow writers some better zingers. They did pull their ace though, a line I am sure they have been waiting a loooong time to say.

I cackled. Arrow having the balls to make fun of their exceptionally horrible romantic backstory with L*uriver will never get old with me.

Felicity knows what's really going on with Oliver. He feels guilty over Laurel's death and Bl*ck S*ren is a shot at redemption for him. Felicity Smoak knows Oliver Queen in his bones. Yes, I know what I did there.

Bl*ck S*ren escapes and Oliver is basically WTF because they followed Cisco's specs and no one ever escapes from The Flash! Felicity levels with Oliver. Bl*ck S*ren didn't escape. She let her go.

Oliver uses his angry voice. It's super hot. The exchange goes something like this:

Felicity: Don't worry. I put nano tech in Bl*ck S*ren's water. We'll be able to track her.

Oliver: (in his hot angry voice) That's a horrible idea. WORST IDEA EVER.

Felicity: Hey buddy, you taught me how. You did the same thing with Anarky!

Oliver: Oh.  (whispers) Damn it.

Awkward pause...

Oliver: (in his deep angry voice that keeps getting hotter) Can we have the room please?

It would be at this time I shouted at my television, "For hot, angry sex! SAY FOR HOT ANGRY SEX!"

He didn't say it. Damn it! The boys have to leave and Wild Dog is bummed. He wants to watch Mom and Dad fight. 

HA! Sucker!!! We get to stay. Muhahaha.

But hot angry Oliver doesn't yell. He immediately softens. 

Felicity does not soften, however. In fact, the gloves are off.

It is the first time Oliver is really realizing how far Felicity is willing to go to get to Prometheus. 

Felicity risked her life and not only is it worrying to Oliver... it's scaring the crap out of him. 

SHOTS FIRED! I didn't take this as Felicity blaming Oliver for Billy's death. It's clear that she doesn't. It is, however, a condemnation on Oliver's attempt at the moral high ground. He's killing again. Morally justified? Perhaps. Goodness knows Felicity has advocated for Oliver killing the Big Bads before and she certainly has no problem putting Prometheus in the ground now. However, Felicity doesn't believe Oliver has the right to argue the moral high ground. He's taken the darker path too. He's doing whatever is necessary and so is she.

And yes, maybe, there was a little dig in there. If Oliver was holding to his "don't kill" code then he would have never tried to kill Prometheus... and Billy would be alive. Change the circumstances... change the choice... change the result. She's uses his Bl*ck S*ren argument against him, and twists the knife a little as she does it. This is an angry, frustrated, grieving Felicity. This is Felicity in pain.

Oliver promises justice for Billy, but Felicity jumps in with yet another zinger. Felicity NEVER refers to LL as Oliver’s ex, so she is really angry. And maybe Bl*ck S*ren’s digs got to her a little.

Honest to God, I thought he was going to kiss her. The way she's inches away from Oliver, challenging him. Remember, Oliver has a thing for strong women! 

Yes, they are fighting but it's been so long since she stood this close to him. It's almost like Felicity is daring him to. Oliver glances down at her lips and hesitates. Then, he takes a deep breath, almost like he's holding it, willing himself not to just lean in and... 

Is it warm in here? Wowza.

This one of the reasons I didn't mind the more subtle touch with Oliver and Felicity's scenes in 5A. Sometimes, when you pull back on characters it's almost like recharging a battery. Then, when you let them loose again the chemistry is electric. It's shooting sparks on steroids. 

That was this scene. This is the push/pull dynamic we've been waiting for between Oliver and Felicity. Neither of them is backing down and it is so hot.  As they say, opposites attract, but what's so interesting is that they've role reversed. The believer versus the cynic. The hopeful versus the disillusioned.  The light versus the dark. Yet, the role reversal still maintains their opposite corners. This is a fight Oliver and Felicity have had before... many times. Only this time they are walking in the other's shoes.

Felicity and Oliver both take a step back, retreating to their separate corners, if not to just  break the physical temptation, but allow themselves a moment to regroup. 

Oliver watches the video between Felicity and Bl*ck S*ren and acknowledges what we all know... Felicity Smoak knows him best.

He comes towards her again, only this isn't a confrontation. Oliver has softened. He extends an olive branch. Oliver acknowledges that Bl*ck S*ren isn't their Laurel. Their Laurel is gone and they are never going to get her back. (This is yet another big blazing sign to the LL fandom that she is gone forever). But that's why Bl*ck S*ren is so important to Oliver. He's acknowledging that Felicity is right. He failed Laurel. This is a shot at redemption for Oliver. Without Bl*ck S*ren there's no chance of that. Or is there? We'll get to that later, but right now, Oliver feels like he's failed so many he's lost without the chance to fix it. Felicity is arguing it's an illusion, but Oliver argues back it's an illusion he needs right now.

And then he just says, "Okay?" 

It's soft, gentle and pleading. This isn't Oliver demanding. This is Oliver asking. This is Oliver asking Felicity to please do this... for him. 

That goes both ways. If it's Oliver asking... Felicity will do it.

This is an exceptionally beautiful, heart wrenching scene, because at the core of this is Oliver and Felicity's relationship. Oliver failed Felicity on a massive level. All he wanted to do was fix it, but he couldn't. She shut the door on them forever. Oliver feels he's lost any chance of redemption with Felicity as well. Oliver needs to reach for Bl*ck S*ren because he can't with Laurel, Moira, Robert, Tommy, Shado, Billy (even Prometheus in a way)... and most especially Felicity.

OR CAN HE? The whole point of this Dark Felicity story line is to offer Oliver that chance at redemption. It will open the door both Oliver and Felicity feel is long closed. Oliver will reach for Felicity the same way he's reaching for Bl*ck S*ren, only this time it will not be an illusion of what he lost, but the real thing. When Oliver reaches for Felicity she will eventually reach back.

Oliver puts Felicity in the field because Curtis needs help with the tech that'll stop Bl*ck S*ren's scream. Felicity is helping Curtis. The world makes sense again. Also, Felicity in the field so ...

Oliver and Prometheus face off. 

Prometheus informs Oliver he can either stop him or save Felicity. It's 100% ridiculous that Prometheus thinks there's a choice. Dude, you need to watch Arrow.

Take it away Damon Salvatore.

Bl*ck S*ren goes after Felicity.

Can't you hear all those horrid anti Felicity fans cheering? This line is the writers thumbing their nose at that incessant request however. 

See, this is why I love Arrow. Never have I seen a show so unabashedly play favorites. Bl*ck S*ren is the bad guy. Arrow won't let the bad guy win. Hell will freeze over before Arrow lets Bl*ck S*ren, or any version of LL, kill Felicity. Hell will freeze over before Arrow ever chooses LL over Felicity. There's no choice to make with them either.

Oliver chooses Felicity because DUH. Once again, they are enveloped in green light. The tether, the connection, the impossible dream, the minute and far away, is always there. 

Oliver gives Bl*ck S*ren the hard sell.  Yet, even when presented with love and compassion, Bl*ck S*ren still chooses evil.

Thus, cementing her as a real and true bad guy. The force of her sonic scream blows Oliver and Felicity backwards. 

Oliver grabs Felicity and she holds on for dear life. 

Once they hit the ground, Oliver shields Felicity with his ENTIRE BODY. 

He even covers her ears with his arms, giving absolutely no thought to his own life. He couldn't protect her from the bullets. 

He couldn't protect her from Havenrock 

or Billy's death. 

But he will protect her from this.

THIS is the kind of Olicity stunt we know and love. Welcome back old friend.

Curtis saves the day with his tech (more on that in a bit) and no truer statement was ever made...

And because Arrow is unabashedly Team Felicity, they give us this glorious gif:

There will be no end to the reblogging of this gif. This gif gives us life. 

And if you think Arrow doesn't know the underlining meaning behind this scene, trust me, they know. That's why they put it there. It's the proverbial "shove it" to all the anti Felicity fans. Also, I may only refer to Bl*ck S*ren as pumpkin from now on.

And of course, because she is a total cupcake with extra frosting, Felicity excitedly tells Oliver she listened to his training tip and kept her wrist straight.

But Arrow is not done. No sir! Oliver can't hide the pride and heart eyes. Doesn't even bother trying.

OLIVER IS US Y'ALL! I mean, we always knew he was Team Felicity, on account of him choosing Felicity over Laurel every chance he got, but I thoroughly enjoy a little anti Bl*ck S*ren shade coming from him after we've heard him wax poetic about her for the last 40 minutes.

And then... Felicity and Oliver find a peaceful truce. They haven't resolved their issues at all. In fact, they are just ramping up. However, Felicity concedes that what she did was reckless and put the guards' life at risk. Oliver acknowledges that her plan worked. They almost got Prometheus. 

See, this is why when Arrow finally pulls the trigger on an Olicity that stays together it will work wonderfully. There is enough "drama" between these two characters just based on their personalities and approaches to life. The push/pull dynamic is where the heat comes from. You can have Olicity fight and face drama without constantly keeping them apart. What's beautiful about them is even when they disagree, they have each other's backs. They are a team. And they will always find their way back to one another.

Felicity is sorry about Laurel.  

Oliver is sorry about Billy.

The love in her voice fills the bunker. We can actually see Oliver’s heart stop.

Just stop fighting it y’all.

Oliver tells Felicity that "Laurel" isn't back in Central City. He's moved her to ARGUS lock up. He's keeping her close, because he still hasn't given up hope that he can reach her.

Between The Wars by Allman Brown

 Between the wars we dance

Between the wars we left

Don't wake me yet

We're still what's left

Hasn't happened, hasn't happened yet

 Between the wars we stay

Fading echoes spin away

Lost in memories, in memories

We're still what's left

Hasn't happened, hasn't happened yet

It's important that Felicity asked specifically about "Laurel." Note, she doesn't use the name Bl*ck S*ren. It's a tiny little acknowledgment that Oliver's hope is worth something. 

In fact, it's worth everything.

And this is the line. The line that tells us exactly where Arrow is headed with Olicity. This is the line that we will hold on to when times get darker between them... and they will. We are just beginning this dark arc for Felicity. But this line already signals the door is already opening in Felicity. It will be Oliver's optimism, his light, that will help lead Felicity out of the dark and back to him. And when she does, Oliver will be ready for her. He will be the man she's always deserved.

And thus... the shift begins.

Flashbacks

We're back in Russia! Remember Russia? Honestly, I totally forgot what was happening in Russia, so it was good Flashback Ollie did a little recap for me.

Basically, Oliver is getting the crap beat out of him by Pakhan, who's upset that he failed at blowing up Kovar's casino. Instead, Oliver put his own interests (killing Kovar) above the Bratva. Oliver thinks Pakhan is a two faced, lying, SOB, because Kovar is a government agent and the deal he made with Pakhan also betrays the Bratva.

Pahkan argues that Oliver fails to see the bigger picture.  For all Oliver knows, Pakhan could be double crossing Kovar that in serves the Bratva.

Arrow has struggled with tying in the flashbacks fluidly with present day, but they did a little better in this outing. Pahkan does a nice little psychoanalysis on Oliver, post ass kicking. The photo of Laurel falls out of Oliver's pocket, and Pahkan mistakes Laurel for Whatshername. It's important to note that Oliver didn't bother telling Pahkan Whatshername's real name because I'm pretty sure, like me, Oliver has forgotten what it is. When Oliver explains that she's not the woman he's here to avenge, Pahkan is a little, "Dude. How many do you have a thing with" and thus becomes my flashback spirit animal.

Oliver explains he couldn't return to Laurel because he's become a monster she wouldn't recognize. Well... that and you were the douchebag that cheated on Laurel with her sister and then her sister died, but that's just details.

Pakhan has an interesting take on things. He believes Oliver is blaming himself for the darkness inside of him, when really, it is just a product of his time on Lian Yu. It's the circumstances that created the darkness... not Oliver. Pakhan believes that ultimately, Lian Yu, made Oliver who he is today. Otherwise he'd still be a total asshat.

This feels accurate. It's the Bratva way of looking at the road not traveled, similar to what Oliver did in 5x08. Pakhan is pushing Oliver to view his darkness as a positive, to turn it into nectar, by committing himself fully to the Bratva. It's a slightly messed up version of unconditional love and acceptance. It's an illusion of family, but one Oliver needs. Just like he needs the illusion that Bl*ck S*ren is Laurel.

Here's the problem with Pahkan's take. Yes, in many ways Oliver's darkness is a byproduct of his circumstances. However, that eliminates any responsibility on Oliver's part. He still had choices to make. Just like Bl*ck S*ren made choices. Just like Felicity made choices. Oliver shouldn't be hating himself as much as he does for his darkness, but he doesn't get off scot free either - which is what Pahkan is selling him right now.

There is a happy medium here and Oliver will find it in present day. He'll let go of the guilt, but understand that he is still responsible for the choices he makes regardless of circumstance. Which is why, in the end, he will toe the moral line no matter what happens.

Tina Boland: The New Black Canary

Arrow removes the god awful statue of Laurel and Felicity wonders if they are doing the right thing. Perhaps they should rebuild it.

It is absolutely the right thing to remove that eye sore and you should absolutely not rebuild it.

Oliver has a much more poetic response than my, "Sweet Mother of Moses NO!" He's starting to realize legacy isn't about statues. A legacy is a living and breathing thing. He hasn't done enough to honor his promise to Laurel. He's determined to find a woman worthy of the BC title. That's how Oliver finds redemption in her loss. That's how she never truly dies. Laurel's legacy lives on in the people who loved her and those who continue to her fight.

Are they making Laurel more important in her death than she ever was on the show? Yes, absolutely. This is not going to change my friends. This is why they killed her. Her death served more purpose than her life. The good news is we're moving on from the LL piece of the BC chapter. Even better, Olicity is going to find the new BC. Arrow is ready to shift the story to somewhere new.

As we predicted, and as it was spoiled, the new character Tina was introduced at the end of the episode. She has the sonic scream just like Bl*ck S*ren did. So, obviously she's a meta human. It's possible Arrow has another origin planned. Her sonic scream sounded different than either LL's or Bl*ck S*ren’s. But Tina could be connected to Central City and the particle explosion. I'm wondering if Wild Dog is from Central City.  Granted, I can’t tell if Wild Dog knows Tina in the promo, but if he does then maybe he’s hiding from her for a reason.

I'm wondering because the amazing @callistawolf was quick to point out to me the scene where Wild Dog remarks about everyone's blasé reaction to Laurel's return. Oliver tells him the Lance sisters have a habit of coming back to life and Wild Dog is floored this has happened before.

This is a thinly veiled reference to the Canaries coming back to life. I believe there's a Wild Dog connection with Tina. Perhaps they were in a relationship or she’s a family member. It's possible Wild Dog believes Tina died in the explosion. It could explain his angry reaction to the metas in the crossover (Thanks Sara!) In any event, I believe Oliver's "warning," for lack of a better word, to Wild Dog, about Lance women coming back to life, is that tradition will continue with the new BC. Wild Dog's BC. 

I thought it was a great introduction to Tina. Her desire to protect women is a call back to Sara's crusade, the one who started it all... The Original Canary. So this isn't just about Laurel. It's about honoring the history of the Canaries on Arrow. 

I enjoyed Juliana Harkavy's delivery  and her physicality. It was just a brief glimpse, but I liked what I saw so far. The promo looked awesome. Wouldn't it be wonderful to love Arrow's BC? Fingers crossed!

John Diggle

Diggle wasn't in the episode a ton. "Who Are You" was mostly set up for his bigger storyline coming up. Diggle isn't running this time, but he's not giving up like last time either. He's ready to fight the charges. Again, this is about the kind of man, the kind of hero, John Diggle wants to be. And he doesn't want to be the kind of man who lets his demons get the better of him. John Diggle is a man who stands up and fights and he's finding that piece of himself again.

Adrian Chase

Oliver was able to bring in Adrian Chase and I have to say the gelling of this new character was seamless. Arrow did an excellent job of explaining away that pesky detail about Adrian not being a military attorney. The scene in which he instructs Diggle to punch him to delay his transfer and transfer him to civilian court was GENIUS.

There was a moment, between Adrian and Oliver that's worth noting as well. Adrian told Oliver it was important to keep what happened with Billy and Prometheus a secret. He essentially said secrets are the only way to justice. This could be a veiled reference to Adrian Chases' comic book history. SPOILERS.

**************

Adrian Chase is Vigilante in the comics. However, in the comics his identity is revealed and Adrian commits suicide. It's an incredibly dark resolution to this character. Since this season is all about legacy, and Oliver deciding who he is and what kind of hero he wants to be, I think this line is very important. It points the direction where Adrian is going. The amazing @callistawolf, has long believed Oliver will reveal himself as The Green Arrow, Tony Stark style.  If Adrian Chase, The Vigilante, believes secrets are the only way to justice, and is ultimately destroyed by that belief, then he represents a lesson Oliver has to learn. The point is to push Oliver towards a new way of doing things. Oliver can no longer find justice through secrets either. I'm going to meta on this more later because there's a lot there. Stay tuned. 

Curtis Holt and Wild Dog

Y'all... I liked Wild Dog this episode. I was agreeing with Wild Dog. I assure you it was a disquieting feeling.

But then he called Felicity "blondie," infuriated me 

and all was right with the world again.

I appreciate Arrow’s references to Rene being an acquired taste. That’s the writers acknowledging many of us can’t stand him. The reason Wild Dog was easier to take this episode is because he stopped being a dick for the majority of the episode. 

In fact, it was Curtis calling Rene on his general asshatness that triggered the shift in character. So, lets keep that up Arrow. Less dick-douche and more compassionate friend. That’s a taste more to my liking.

Curtis lost his husband and is generally tired of getting his assed kicked. He's tired of failing at being a vigilante. He feels he's lost everything with nothing to show for it.

Arrow used the newbies extremely effectively this episode. Now that they've set the characters up, and we've gotten to know them, they can shift focus back to the main characters and the newbies can become solid B storylines. This is an excellent example of that.

Curtis is the new LL when it comes to fighting.  Arrow isn't doing that great of a job at showing his progression. We sort of jumped to kicking ass in about an episode, complete with parkour moves, but at least they've settled on this "Mr. Terrific gets beat up" theme with every fight. It's an acknowledgment that he has the longest way to go training wise.

Curtis worked amazingly well last season on Arrow because they played to the character's strengths: his humor and chemistry with Emily Bett Rickards, and his technical abilities. My biggest frustration with the evolution into Mr. Terrific is that Arrow seemed to abandoned his technical abilities. Instead of being the Cisco of Arrow, like I hoped, he was taking over areas of Felicity's expertise. Forcing her to act out of character to make it work sometimes.

That was all fixed in "Who Are You" and played heavily into Curtis' arc. Wild Dog wisely told him that instead of focusing on what he can't do (fighting), focus on what he can do (genius inventor).

So, it's Curtis who comes up with the tech to stop Bl*ck S*ren and he ultimately saves the day. Let's stay on this road with him Arrow. Make a clear division of duties between Curtis and Felicity. Let Curtis be Arrow's Cisco and slowly move him along on the Mr. Terrific training. I don't think they'll stop Curtis from becoming Mr. Terrific, but I'll be happy if this slows the train down and refocuses his character like they did in this episode.

Stray Thoughts

Where you lookin’ Oliver? Felicity’s eyes are higher up.

I almost didn't notice Thea wasn't in the episode. That is how bad it's gotten with her lack of storyline. Let's fix that Arrow.

Flashback Ollie actually referring to LL's photograph is something new and different.

Don't try to understand The Flash Wild Dog.

Best Curtis line of the night. Close secod was "Heard what? Just kidding. Pretty sure people in Florida heard that.”

Bl*ck S*ren's black lipstick is so distracting. I dislike it very much.

Oliver should have explained his friendship with Diggle to Adrian this way, "John Diggle is my Yoda. We have the bromance to end all bromances. Save my lobster."

Anti crime unit is still a thing? Billy was part of the anti crime unit? Ugh. I'm trying to remember Billy's 10 minutes on screen, but it's hard.

John Diggle... why is your voice so handsome? Also your face? I ask the important questions.

"I'm use to it." Has anything more accurately summed up Olicity? I think not.

Wig is still worse than Oliver's bloody face.

Felicity has a hard time swearing. Because she's a cupcake

"More tinkering. Less fighting." STOP MAKING SENSE WILD DOG. YOU ARE FREAKING ME OUT.

Talia Al Ghul has arrived! She's pretty. She looks like Nyssa. I am jazzed. My Batman roots demand it

[nowitsdarkfic]

chapter twenty (sonia the fink)

October 17, 1988. Oswego, New York.

I'm back home. I can sense it. I feel the carpet underneath my hands and my face. I can smell the clean aroma from when Maya scrubbed the place.

Indeed, once I open my eyes, I recognize the hallway stretched before me.

I push myself off of the floor and lean my back against the door panel.

I came back home. I took Lars' pendant and now I'm back home. But Death told me to come back so I have to do the one thing that means the most to me right now.

I turn my head to look down at the doorknob: without hesitating, I swipe my key from the hook before unlocking the door and heading outside, where I find the sun has already set upon upstate New York. I lock the door behind me and then head out to the middle of the complex. I'm taking the short way to the street because it's urgent.

It's getting dark but I don't care. I'm only focused on two things as the icy cold wind from the lake blows through my hair, all the way down to the roots. I peer over my shoulder at the rest of the town by the lake, where it's buttoned down for the incoming night and the sole light emerges from the streetlights and the power plant in the hills. After seeing everything in Seattle not even a few moments ago, I feel like I've gone back in time.

I reach the sidewalk, where most of the ice has melted, which is good because I'm not wearing my boots. The House of Grey lies straight ahead, with the windows dimly lit from their lamp and the roof still coated with a thick blanket of snow.

Within time, I reach the edge of the property and the walkway up to the front door. Barney's car is parked in the driveway. Good. They're home.

I reach the front step and knock on the door panel four times with two knuckles.

Silence.

I knock on the door again, this time with my open hand.

I hear a woman's voice behind the panel. She's followed by the clicking of a lock and the door swinging open. I recognize her kinky hair.

“Sonia!” I declare. “What're you doing here?”

“I should ask you the same thing,” she replies as part of her greeting.

“Are Barney and Billy home?”

“Who is it?” I recognize Billy's voice floating out from behind her.

“It's Joey,” she calls over her shoulder.

“Let him in!” Barney calls from the kitchen. She steps out of the way to let me into their cozy warm house which smells like roasted chicken and potatoes. I peer about the room: Maya must be in one of their bedrooms. Billy emerges from the kitchen with a dish towel slung over his shoulder.

“Hey, man, what's up?” he greets me; Barney, who's at the table reading a book, nods at me.

“I came to see how Brick's doing, and also Maya's doing.”

“She's taking a nap in Barn's bed right now—the docs all say Brick is in stable condition, but they don't know when he'll be home. And I'm making dinner.”

“I was just gonna say—it smells incredible in here.”

“Also, your parents called,” Barney pipes up, “—like an hour ago. They got home real early this morning and Mama Belladonna says she can't wait to have a birthday dinner with her baby on Friday.”

“Last night?” I demand, feeling my heart skip a couple of beats and my face grow warm. “Oh, I guess from the blizzard.”

“Yeah, that, and—some weird layover bullshit over in Boston. Your dad didn't really go into it but I guess it was a complete nightmare over there getting train tickets to get back home.”

“Well, at least they're home,” I point out with a relieved sigh. “That's all that matters to me.”

I turn my head to face Sonia. “Anyways, what're you doing here?” I ask her again.

“I drove Spence home from the hospital, like he called me from here because he couldn't get a ride, 'cause you know, he gave a fair amount of blood to Brick—”

“Oh, right, right. Jeez, you had to drive all the way out from Rochester just to get him?”

“No, he was down in Syracuse,” she corrects me, and I gape at her.

“They took Brick all the way down to Syracuse?”

“Yeah. Some weird technological magic down there that's more state of the art and sophisticated or something or other.”

“State of the art? It was a blood transfusion, though.”

“Well, I guess he lost more than blood,” Barney adds.

“Oh, really.” That makes my heart sink. Brick and I have been playing hockey for years; what's he gonna do now?

“If it makes you feel better, it shocked me, too,” Sonia continues. “Like I was like, 'are you shitting me, you guys are down in Syracuse?' I had to take a day off from work and school and everything. Poor Marcia was even considering closing up shop for a day because we were understaffed and she almost couldn't handle it, too.”

“Well, God damn. I'm really sorry you guys had to go through all that. I wish I could've done something.”

“You were with Lars, though,” she insists. “You know, you guys were trying to figure out what's her—” She nods down the hall in mentioning of Maya. “i—what's her deal. Nothing to worry about, Joe. I promise.”

“Yeah, I second that,” Billy joins in from behind me. “By the way, dinner's gonna be ready in about—twenty minutes or so. You can join us if you'd like, Joey.”

“I'd love to, man. Besides, it smells good in here, and I still don't have anything to eat back at my place, either.”

I peel off my jacket right as Sonia strides over to the couch for a seat. I hang up my coat on the hook next to the door before I join her in the living room; no sooner do I take a seat in the big comfy recliner chair next to her when she opens her mouth again, this time with a glimmer in her eye.

“Do you love your mom?” she asks in a low voice.

“Do I love my mom? Very much so,” I answer to her. “The thought of her makes me all warm and silky inside, even on the coldest of nights. I ain't no mama's boy, though. Why?”

“Oh, just curious…” She twirls a lock of hair around her finger. I raise an eyebrow at her.

“What you gettin' at?” I lower my voice to a near whisper.

“What am I getting at?” she repeats it, holding her hand right next to her face and with the hair still entwined around her finger.

“Yeah. You don't ask someone a question like that unless you have something else behind you, like a 'buttering up' of sorts.”

“Nah, if I was buttering you up, I'd literally be buttering you up. Slathering you from head to toe with melted butter.”

“That'd be a mess,” I point out.

“But I assure you there's no buttering up here, though. Not if I take you over to Smell the Magic, Marcia's bakery, and give you some butter to rub all over your chest and your stomach.”

That gets a chuckle out of me. “Then why'd you ask me?”

“Like I said, just curious…” She continues to twirl her hair around her finger. “I like a guy who loves his mom. It tells me he's sweet and he knows how to treat a lady.”

She scans me over and I try to relax there in the chair, but she makes me a little nervous.

“You're actually—very good looking,” she remarks. It's not Marcia, but I know she means well. At least I hope she means well. “Belladonna, your last name is?”

“Yeah.”

“Italian… alright. That's rad.”

“I'm also Iroquois.”

“Ooh, sensual. That explains the hair and the big puppy dog eyes. My last boyfriend was Filipino so there's just something about brown boys that—I dunno.”

Sonia licks her lips as she drops her gaze to my chest.

“What?” I ask her. “Tell me.”

She nibbles her bottom lip and then her tongue shoots out of her mouth. “Something about brown boys and exotic boys that gets me… hot.”

I feel my muscles in my stomach tense up. I really hope she means well here.

“Hey, Joe, you wanna go check up on Miss Maya for us?” Billy offers me.

“Uh, yeah, sure.” Well, as long as it gets me away from her. I climb to my feet and make my way down the hall to Barney's bedroom. I make out her silhouette laying there in the middle of the bed. I hear her breathing heavy from sleep. She wasn't tortured, and then there was that inscription on the bird bath. There's also “Maxwell Industries”. I'll figure this one out before she starves in her sleep.

I have no idea if she's even eaten the whole time she's been here at the House of Grey. I step into the room in hopes to wake her.

And I feel someone grab my ass.

I turn around to find myself face to face with Sonia. She clutches at my shirt as she pushes up against me.

“You're so hot—I want you,” she whispers to me. She parts her lips as she brings her face close to mine.

“You're really sexy...” she repeats it, and she lets out a soft groan from inside of her throat. But I'm not feeling it like I do with Gwendolyn or Dominique.

“Kiss me,” she begs me in a hushed voice, hushed so as to not wake up Maya or not grab their attention? I really don't feel like it. But she's thirsty, leaning in closer to my face.

“Sonia?” Barney calls from down the hall.

“What?” she scoffs, letting go of me.

“How's Maya doing?”

“She's still sleeping, man,” I answer him. She turns back around to scan me over there in the dim light: I can see her eyes darting down to my hips and my thighs and then back up again. She puckers her lips at me as if to get a kiss from me. But she never does get a kiss from me.

And Maya doesn't wake up the whole entire span of dinner time, which bothers me probably more than Sonia wanting to play footsie with me under the table.

She brushes up against my shin with the arch of her foot. I try not to move so much to not gain attention from Barney and Billy.

“So how's Seattle?” Billy asks me.

“Seattle's about a thousand years ahead of everyone,” I admit; but then again, I've got a girl I'm not even attracted to rubbing up against me as I'm trying to talk to my friends and eat my dinner.

“Like how?”

“Was it Seattle or Portland you went off to?” Barney follows suit.

“It was both,” I clear my throat, flinching my leg away from her. “But yeah, Seattle's got a big bright downtown area which is like… the town of tomorrow or something like that.”

“Wow. Just Seattle?” Billy continues, picking up a forkful of potatoes.

“Yeah. Portland isn't even there yet. I also saw something called 'Maxwell Industries.'”

“Maxwell Industries? As in, Brick?”

“Yeah, it interested me, too. I was wondering if either of you guys know anything about it.”

They glance at one another; out of the corner of my eye, I notice Sonia holding the tines of her fork to her lips as if trying to entice me.

“I'm afraid not, man,” Barney confesses with a shrug of the shoulders.

“Also, how's Maya doing?” I ask them, turning my attention away from her.

“We haven't been able to get her to eat anything,” Billy continues, his gaze dropping, “we have been able to get her to bathe, though.”

“Well, that's good.”

“Yeah, she was starting to smell like… swampy, almost. So I finally talked her into taking a nice hot bath just last night. She cleaned up nicely, like I thought her hair was black at first.”

“Haven't found out anything about her?” Barney asks me.

“Afraid not. Well, I kinda did with—Lars was telling me about her zine called 'after the watershed', and it was there I was able to find some bit about her. She's English and she's a writer, and it sounds like she had kind of a rough past. Don't know anything else other than that, though. I have a couple of guesses, like maybe she was tortured.”

“I don't think she was tortured,” Sonia pipes up out of the blue; she's still holding the tines of the fork near her lips.

“You don't?” I feel my throat close up at the sound of her voice.

“No.” The silence falls over the table. “Baby, I've had enough sex to know torture from other things.”

“You… think she was—”

“I know for a fact. In fact, after dinner here—I volunteered to take her over to Rochester for a little rape kit.” She turns her attention to Billy at the opposite end of the table. “Pass the salt, please.”