#I can’t remember what ends up happening with that money so this might be nothing

[concoulor]

wait wait wait in DC does logan send roman to get the money because he knows roman is the best charmer or because he wants him out of the way of the cruises hearing because of his weird sex thing

[dreamwritesimagines]

Garden of Secrets [28] - Poison Ivy

A.N: Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and support my loves, it made my whole week, you’re amazing!❤ I hope you’ll like this chapter as well, and please don’t forget to tell me what you think, thank you! ❤

Thanks so much to @theskytraveler​ for helping me with the chapter!

Summary: Anger leads to impulsive decisions.

Warnings: Regency era society and social rules, some gender specific language and terms, angst.

Word Count: 4500

Series Masterlist

Well, this—

This was definitely unexpected.

You could feel the fear pounding through your system, the ticks of the clock in the drawing room echoing in your ears. Josie looked almost frozen in her seat, but you knew that expression on her face way too well. As soon as your uncle had left his study, he had asked you all to go to the drawing room so that you could talk about the letter away from Teddy, who was sent to play outside again.

“What does it say?” you croaked out as soon as the maid walked out of the room after serving you tea, and your aunt heaved a sigh.

“There’s nothing to worry about, we assure you.”

“Uncle?”

“What your aunt said,” he said. “It’s just a letter.”

“He doesn’t write to you,” you insisted. “You know I know that. So what is it?”

“Y/N…”

“Can I see the letter?” Josie spoke for the first time and your uncle heaved a sigh, then handed her the letter. You rubbed at your wrist, watching her frown before you extended your hand.

“May I?”

“This is not happening,” Josie growled, holding up the letter and your uncle shook his head.

“Obviously it is not,” he assured her and you pulled the letter out of her hand, then scanned the lines, your heart still beating in your throat.

“…They want to host Teddy for the season,” you murmured, raising your glances from the letter, then shook your head fervently. “No. Not that’s not—”

“That’s not going to happen,” your aunt said. “Teddy isn’t going anywhere.”

“It’s a trick,” you managed to say. “Remember what he was saying when you first got there to get us out, he only wants Teddy with you so that he can use him to get more money from you—”

“I know that,” your uncle said. “Trust me. I see through him very well.”

“And this…” A hysterical laughter spilled from your lips as you checked the letter again. “What is this supposed to mean? Coming to visit?”

“He’s not going to come here to visit,” your uncle said. “As you said, it’s a trick.”

“Uncle, if he tries to take Teddy away—”

“He’s not going to take Teddy away,” your uncle said. “I promise you. He’s not going to get any of you there ever again.”

You threw the letter on the coffee table and flexed your numb fingers before digging your palms into your eyes, shaking your head.

“I will just throw more money at him and it’ll be the end of it,” your uncle said as you lowered your hands. “I honestly wouldn’t have told you if you two hadn’t found the envelope, there’s no reason to be worried.”

“And everyone is safe,” your aunt said, reaching out to squeeze your hand and you offered her a small smile.

“Josie?” your uncle said softly and Josie turned her head.

“I’m fine,” she said and cleared her throat, rolling her shoulders back before she stood up. “I’m fine but um…I need to find Bess, excuse me.”

She walked out of the room in a haste and you exchanged glances with your aunt, then you darted after her as well.

“Josie!”

“I’m fine I said!” she snapped as she made her way down the stairs and passed the foyer with you following her.

“No you’re not!” you told her as you both stepped out of the house and you grabbed her arm to make her stop. “Come on. It’s me. I was standing right beside you throughout that hell, remember?”

Josie turned to you and clenched her teeth, then scoffed a bitter laugh.

“I don’t want to see him, or her.”

“Funny we have that in common,” you deadpanned and she clicked her tongue.

“I might just have to kill him if he shows his face here.”

You grimaced.

“Don’t,” you said. “Bess would kill me if I let you get hanged, and I can’t handle Andrew alone.”  

She heaved a deep sigh and sat down on the marble stairs, and you sat beside her, taking her hand in yours.

“He’s not going to take Teddy away,” she said. “Over my dead body.”

“And mine,” you said and twisted your wrist, trying to ignore the throb of pain but it didn’t escape her notice.

“I almost forgot,” she mumbled and you shrugged your shoulders.

“It’s fine,” you lied through your teeth. “It’s a habit at this point, it doesn’t even hurt anymore.”

“Are you alright though?”

“Um…” you trailed off, pursing your lips before nodding your head. “Yeah. I’m just worried about Teddy, that’s all.”

“And yourself?”

“I’m safe, I have Benedict.”

Josie smiled slightly. “I almost forgot,” she said. “Yeah. You’re married, they couldn’t take you back if they tried.”

“Oh that’s not why—” you paused and shook your head. “They wouldn’t have tried anyway. I’m not the heir, I’m worthless.” A small laugh climbed up your throat. “Look at that, I sound like mother.”

“Don’t say that,” Josie said. “Never say that. You know that’s not true.”

You heaved a sigh, fixing your gaze on the carriage before clearing your throat.

“You know, father sending a letter makes a lot of sense when you think about it,” you mused. “I was beginning to get too much sleep lately with zero nightmares. He must have sensed it or something.”

Josie’s lips twitched for a second and you raised your brows, then tried again.

“Not to mention I have been smiling too much, and Benedict even said he forgot how scary I can look sometimes,” you said. “We can’t have that, I have a reputation to uphold.”

That managed to draw a small chuckle out of her and you smiled at her, squeezing her hand.

“Will you be alright?”

“Probably,” she said. “You?”

“Always am,” you said. “I can take care of myself. Learned it from you.”

She smiled at you softly, then hugged you and stood up from the stairs.

“I will find Bess,” she said. “Will you tell Benedict?”

“Uh…” you trailed off. “I don’t know. I guess so.”

“I’ll just go and come up with a plan in case they do decide to show up,” she said. “Kiss Teddy for me?”

“Will do,” you said and she walked away to get in the carriage. You watched it go down the stone road and heaved a sigh, then stood up as well, threw your shoulders back and made your way to the backyard where Teddy was playing.

“Y/N!” he called out as soon as he saw you and ran to you. “Can we play now?”

You tried to blink back the tears and hugged him tight, then pressed a kiss on top of his head.

“Yeah,” you rasped out. “Of course we can, my sweet.”

                                               *

When you got back home, it was after lunch and you were so tense that you could feel it all over your body. While you were with your family, you had tried to act as if you weren’t worried at all especially because Teddy was with you, but now that you were home and didn’t have to pretend, your head was swimming with possibilities of your parents showing up.

And if they did decide to take Teddy back…

No. That was not going to happen. You were not going to let them, not even if it killed you.

They weren’t going to hurt Teddy, ever.

“Hey you’re back,” Benedict’s voice snapped you out of your thoughts as you were walking past his studio and you turned your head, trying to pull yourself together.

“I am,” you said. “And you’re still here?”

He motioned at the canvas in front of him and you stepped into the room, your eyes finding the covered canvas at the corner of the room before you turned to him.

“New project?”

“You could say that,” he said with a sigh. “I was working on yours but there’s just something in your eyes that I cannot depict on canvas. Not to mention the…rest of you.”

You raised your brows. “What are you working on then?”

“A landscape,” he said as he stood up from the stool. “At least I will be working on it once I get back. Right now only the sky exists.”

“You’re leaving?” you asked, your stomach doing a painful flip and he nodded, then cracked his neck, making a face.

“Yeah I’m meeting Henry,” he said. “It wasn’t in the plans but he insisted. How about you? How was Josie?”

You could feel your throat tightening but you managed to keep your expression calm.

“She’s fine,” you said and shifted your weight, nibbling on your lip. “Benedict, can we um… when you come back, can we talk?”

He pulled his brows together. “Is everything alright?”

“Yeah!” you said quickly. “Sure.”

“Because I can stay—”

“No need for that,” you said. “It’s not urgent.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” you lied through your teeth and smiled. “It’s just that—it’s a long story. It can wait.”

His blue eyes searched your face as if trying to see whether you were lying and you could feel the panic filling you once more so you cleared your throat.

“You should go, you wouldn’t want to keep Henry waiting.”

He nodded slowly as if still deep in thought and stepped closer to you to press a kiss on top of your head to say goodbye. As soon as he pulled back, you rested your forehead against his chest, his scent filling your nostrils, the lovely sensation shooting through the absolute terror in your mind. You closed your eyes for a moment as his hand went to the back of your head and he pressed his nose into the top of your hair.

“Hey,” he said. “Are you sure everything is alright?”

You swallowed thickly and pulled back to look up at him, wrapping your fingers around his wrist to squeeze at it in an assuring manner.

“Totally,” you said. “I’m just tired I suppose. I should take a nap until the dinner time.”

“Okay,” he said gently. “Then I’ll see you at dinner time and we will talk, yes?”

“Yes,” you said, nodding your head. “At dinner time. Sounds good.”

He kissed your temple, making you smile slightly.

“Get some sleep,” his murmur was soft and he walked out of the room, his footsteps getting distant.

Panic crashed down on you so fast that it made your head spin. Your breath got caught in your throat and you managed to sit down on the sofa before your knees buckled, your heart beating in your ears. You clenched your teeth and closed your eyes, then forced yourself to take a deep, shaky breath.

“You’re fine,” you muttered to yourself as you buried your face into your trembling hands. “You’re fine.”

                                                 *

For the whole day until the dinner time, you felt as if you were watching the world through a haze. The panic was always there at the corner of your mind, and no matter what you did, you couldn’t focus on anything.

Walking in the garden didn’t help.

Trying to read in the library didn’t help.

Going over the ledgers for the staff didn’t help.

You had spent some time in the gazebo to at least enjoy the weather and relax your mind, but even that didn’t help.

You went back to the house around the usual dinner time when the sky turned dark, even if Benedict was nowhere to be found. You weren’t even hungry to be honest, so when the maids asked if you would like to take your dinner, you told them it could wait until Benedict got there and excused yourself to the drawing room.

It took around two hours of you listening to the ticks of the clock on the wall while staring at the book in your hand for Paula to knock on the doorframe, then step inside.

“Ma’am, the food is cold,” she said. “Would you like the cook to heat it?”

You tried to unclench your jaw and took a deep breath.

“I’m actually not hungry,” you managed to rasp out. “Could you perhaps bring me some tea Paula?”

“Of course,” she said and looked over her shoulder. “And—there’s a messenger boy for you.”

That made your head snap up. “What?”

“Shall I send him in?”

“Yes,” you said and stood up from the sofa as she walked out of the room and the boy stepped in.

“Mrs. Bridgerton,” he said and bowed slightly. “Ma’am, I bring a message from Mr. Bridgerton.”

Your heart dropped to your stomach as dread filled your system.

“Is—is he alright?” you stammered, looking at the clock before turning to him. “He’s late but I figured—”

“Oh no ma’am, he’s absolutely fine,” he assured you quickly. “There’s just…there’s this party at Sir Granville’s house and he sent word for you to join them.”

For a couple of seconds you could do nothing but stare at him, your heart clenching in your chest as if someone was squeezing it.

“…He’s at a party?” you heard yourself say and the boy nodded.

“Yes ma’am. A very fun one too. He sent you a carriage to take you there.”

The disappointment hit you so fast that you could feel the tears rushing to your eyes but you blinked them back, turning around so that you could give yourself a moment to pull yourself together.

A party.

Of course.

He was at a party having fun while you waited for him like a goddamn pathetic idiot just so that you could talk to him about what had happened earlier.

The hot red fury burned through your chest and you pressed your lips together, willing yourself to keep it under control before you dug your fingernails into your palms just so that you could focus on something else. You gritted your teeth and sniffled, then cleared your throat and turned to him again.

“What’s your name?”

“Joseph, ma’am.”

“Joseph,” you repeated and grabbed your small purse on the coffee table, then took out two coins. “Would you do me a favor, Joseph?”

“Of course ma’am.”

“Tell Mr. Bridgerton that when you came here, the maids told you I went to bed early,” you said, putting the coins into his palm and his eyes widened, then he looked up at you and nodded.

“Yes ma’am.”

“Thank you for your trouble,” you said and he bowed again before walking out of the room. You went to sit down on the sofa again, trying to ignore how badly your eyes were burning but bit inside your cheek, willing yourself to stop the tears on their way.

Paula entered the room carrying a tray and placed it on the small coffee table.

“I had them put some biscuits and such as well,” she said. “You haven’t eaten the whole day—are you alright?”

Your throat tightened as you tried to swallow, still keeping your eyes on the fireplace.

“Yeah,” you rasped out. “Yeah I just realized something.”

“Realized what?”

“How much of a fool I’ve been,” your voice came out as a whisper and you sniffled again before clearing your throat. “Paula?”

“Yes ma’am?”

You turned to look at her.

“There’s uh…” you motioned at the door. “In my bedroom, there’s a vase with a tiny sprout in it. Can you give it to Mr. Binsted? Tell him it’s geranium and that he can plant it in the garden or put it in the greenhouse, or throw it away if he wants.”

“Of course ma’am,” she said. “Now?”

“Now would be good, thank you.”

She offered you a small smile and left the room. A bitter laugh climbed up your throat and you shook your head slightly, a tear escaping from your eyes. Your hand shot up to wipe it away quickly and you heaved a trembling sigh, then pulled your knees up to your chest and wrapped your arms around them, resting your chin on them and fixed your gaze on the flames in the fireplace.

                                               *

You knew how to deal with anger.

Growing up in that hellhole your parents called a home had taught you a thing or two. You knew how to function with anger burning in your veins and remain completely calm to the outside world, no matter how much you wanted to scream.

And you should have seen that coming. It wasn’t as if this was Benedict’s first time telling you he would be there and then not turning up, it had happened when he had promised you a dance for the first time as well.

Not coming home at night was new though. You had read about it on Whistledown before you got married of course, but it hadn’t occurred to you that it would take place within your marriage as well.

Yet another thing you should have seen coming.

People didn’t change, really.

You couldn’t sleep that night no matter how much you had tried. You kept tossing and turning in bed, and when the morning came you decided there was no use trying, so you made your way to the breakfast room, the smell of delicious food filling your nostrils before you sat down, and a maid filled your teacup.

“Thank you. Can I have the room please?” you asked and the maid and the footmen walked out of the room, leaving you there. You pushed at the food in your plate and sipped your tea, grimacing at how hot it was before you heard the footsteps coming closer and soon enough the door opened.

Benedict.

Even the sight of him was enough to break your heart but it didn’t take long for sadness to be replaced by absolute fury. You could swear the rage was powerful enough to blind you but bit inside your cheek as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

“Good morning!” he said, smiling. “Y/N you have no idea what happened last night.”

Your jaw clenched as you watched him grab a piece of toast before he bit on it, your eyes taking in his whole appearance. He looked rather disheveled in a way you would have thought was handsome if it were any other time, but right now it only poured gas over the flame of your anger. His cravat was loosened, his hair was ruffled, he had rolled his shirt up to his elbows and the excited gleam in his eyes signaled that he’d had a rather fun night.

“I just got home by the way, I know I missed dinner but I sent a messenger boy to you last night but you were already asleep so I figured—anyway, last night there was this party at Henry’s, and Lord Easton was there!” he said, oblivious to your silent form. “My hero in art! And Henry introduced us, and he even showed some of my sketches to him and he said I was very talented! And Henry had this room for the party for artists only, and we all painted while drinking and Gordon—that’s Lord Easton by the way— he thinks I should apply for the Academy this year as well, can you believe that?!”

Your fingers curled into fists as you dug your fingernails into your palms, that fire in your chest climbing up your throat.

“I drank too much,” he said with a small laugh. “I absolutely lost the track of time around evening and we all fell asleep elsewhere at dawn, Margery was telling Lucy how her back will never go back to what it used to, and I woke up merely half an hour ago starving.”

You raised your brows, trying to keep your anger under control while he grabbed his cup to pour some tea, and took a sip.

“I’m just going to have a bath and a change of clothes after breakfast,” he said. “I can’t wait to introduce you to Gordon—he is a genius and he actually thinks I’m good! He was telling Henry how he didn’t exaggerate at all when he mentioned me to him!”

It felt as if you were swallowing glass shards.

“…Congratulations,” you managed to say through the haze of anger and he smiled.

“Thank you,” he said and sat down on the chair near yours. “Anyway, sorry about missing dinner last night. What did you want us to talk about?”

A silence fell upon you as you tried to see through the red haze of anger. You grabbed your fork just so that you could do something with your hands and pushed at the food on your plate, biting inside your cheek.

Calm down.

“It’s uh…” you rasped out. “It’s not important, I solved it myself.”

He tilted his head, now his whole attention on you.

“There was a problem?” he asked and you stopped the hysterical laugh threatening to spill from your lips at the last second, pursing your lips together.

Calm the hell down.

“It’s not important,” you repeated through your clenched teeth, willing yourself to keep your anger at bay as you kept your gaze on your plate. He shifted his weight, and out of the corner of your eye you could see he was frowning.

“Wait, I didn’t know—”

“It’s not important Benedict.”

“If I knew you needed me—”

“Why on earth would I ever need you?” the words left your lips like poison from a snake as your eyes snapped up to his, and even you were aware of just how cold your glare was.

As it was when you two had first met.

And even though you had been trying so hard to think through the fury and remain calm, you knew it was not going to work. The familiar fury had already taken over you, you were tired and sleepless and hungry and the worst of all, the tension that had been pulling at all your muscles since yesterday made you feel as if you were about to shatter into pieces.

He pulled back slightly, and from the look on his face you could tell that he recognized that cold glare just fine.

“What happened?”

A bitter chuckled escaped from your lips and you clicked your tongue, watching him with narrowed eyes.

“If this is about me spending the night somewhere else,” he said after a moment. “You were asleep already and I assure you nothing happened. I would never.”

“I assure you I couldn’t care less if anything happened,” you replied. “Your overestimate my interest in your life as usual. You are free to do whatever you want with whoever you want, that’s not the issue at all.”

“Then what is?”

“That you almost had me fooled,” you mused. “Which I admit was a mistake on my part to let you but you had yourself fooled as well so I suppose it’s not that surprising.”

His frown deepened.

“How am I fooling myself?”

“You’re not in love with me.”

A look of shock crossed his handsome face and you shrugged your shoulders, anger still pulsing through you.

“You—you’re just—” you stammered. “You’re an artist, a very good one at that, who was so desperate to fall in love and get some inspiration that you made yourself believe you were in love with the first person you found slightly interesting.”

“You don’t believe that,” he said, his eyes locked in yours and you scoffed.

“Why would I not?” you asked. “It’s the truth. You’ve never had any issues in your entire life so you had to create one, and you found the solution by making yourself think you loved me because all artists are supposed to be tortured and suffering, but life has been too good to you. Endless praise, endless wealth, endless opportunities with zero responsibilities, ought to be hard to find something to suffer in all that.”

His jaw clenched in anger. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“No?” you asked, trying to provoke him but it was no use, because even if you could tell that he was angry, he didn’t even let it seep into his voice as he spoke.

“Not at all.”

“Even you have to see how convenient this all has been for you though,” you said with a small, insincere smile as you stood up from your chair, leaning your hands on the table. “You had to find someone who wouldn’t bore you to tears but still be accepted by the ton, so you found the one person who didn’t swoon at the sight of you just so that—”

He stood up as well, running a hand through his hair, taking a step away from you as if he was trying to keep his calm.

“Y/N.”

You kept going as if he hadn’t interrupted you. “Just so that you could have an inkling of what all the other artists were driven by.”

He turned to you and narrowed his eyes. “You’re honestly being nonsense right now.”

“No, I think it’s the first time since I met you that I can actually see clear,” you retorted. “That’s what I meant by fooling me. And this?” you motioned between you two. “This was never supposed to get to this point. You didn’t even want to marry me, you merely wanted to find someone whom you could use as your inspiration because you’re so used to getting everything and everyone you want—”

“Don’t.”

“And you figured you might as well pretend to love me—”

“That’s not—”

The impatience got the best of you; “Do not interrupt me!”

“I will interrupt you all I want if you’re going to throw false accusations around!” he snapped back and you let out a bitter chuckle, a momentary silence falling upon the room until you broke it.

“I’m not accusing you,” you ended up saying. “If anything, I’m thanking you.”

He raised his brows, sarcasm etched in his tone. “Oh you’re thanking me?”

“Absolutely,” you said. “Now that we both know the truth, I do not need to feel guilty or bad.”

“For what?”

“For not feeling the same.”

That managed to get an actual reaction from him. The flash of pain crossing his face was more than enough to make your throat tighten, tears filling your eyes but you quickly blinked them back, trying to ignore just how badly your chest was hurting.

“You do not love me,” the words spilled from your lips like a growl, and you leaned in to lock your eyes with his, your palms on the table. “And I do not love you. I will never, ever love you.”

With that, you pushed yourself off the table and walked out of the room without looking back, tears burning your eyes but you managed to keep them at bay until you reached your room and slammed the door behind you and fell on your knees.

And then you started sobbing.

Chapter 29

[mountttmase]

A Mountain To Climb

The Christmas Special

Part One

Note - Merry early Christmas. This is a little different to what I’ve done before but it all leads up to part two that I’ll post in a week. Hope you all enjoy 🤍

Pairing - Mason Mount × Reader

Word count - n/a

Warnings - fluff

masonmount

liked by: y/n. benchilwell, declanrice and others.

masonmount Happy 3rd anniversary baby. So lucky to still get to do dinner and a movie with you 🩷

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y/n happy anniversary 🥺 the loml I swear

masonmount many more to come 😘

declanrice they grow up so fast. Proud of you son

masonmount thanks dad

Freyaaaaxo I still remember being on the phone to missy just before you picked her up for your first date. Time flies 🥺

masonmount wouldn’t be here without you Frey 🩷

y/n my wing woman ❤️‍🔥

benchilwell you used to carry me around like that

masonmount I still got you bro 😘

y/n

liked by masonmount, freyaaaaxo, lukeshaw23 and others

y/n Life lately

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masonmount ☹️❤️‍🩹

y/n need a cuddle

masonmount on my way 🦸🏻‍♂️

woody_ smile might be good

y/n nothing to smile about in my life

declanrice stop drinking leaf water you’ll feel better

y/n it’s peppermint tea you uncultured swine

Freyaaaaxo Parker watching the game with you at home is so precious to me 😩

y/n he’s a good boy 🥺 I’m glad you enjoyed the game and my ticket didn’t go to waste 🩷

masonmount

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masonmount Good things are happening people. Thank you for sticking by us and stay tuned 👹

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y/n 🤭😉

masonmount 🤫😘

lukeshaw23 🤷🏼

rasmus.hoejlund good game today bro 🤜🏻🤛🏻

masonmount ⭐️👦🏼

lisandromartinezzz brother ♥️

masonmount miss you out there man ♥️

kobbie Money Mase 💰

masonmount parter in crime 🤝🏼

lukeshaw23 god you look good in red

masonmount 🤭

y/n

liked by masonmount, freyaaaaxo, lew.mount and others

y/n Parker is so excited to let you know he’s about to become a big brother 💛

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masonmount mumma 🩷

y/n daddy 😏

Freyaaaaxo Parker will be the bestiest big brother I just know it 🥺 congrats guys, how did we end up here 🥹

Y/n anntie Frey 🩷 and no idea, but I’m so thankful to have had you right next to me for the journey 🥰

sophiaaemelia STOP IT RIGHT NOW?!?!? Girl you’re GLOWING 😍 Congratulations you two, you’re gonna be the most perfect parents ever 🤍 miss you xx

y/n Soph 🥹 we miss you too. When bubba is here you must come for a cuddle ☺️

sophiaaemelia it’s a date. I can’t think of anything I’d want to do more 😘

kaihavetz29 I’m coming too 😌

masonmount of course you are 🙄

laurenfryer_ a bestie for Jude 🥺 congratulations guys this is so exciting 🩷 if you need any tips let me know

y/n calling you right nowwwwww

jazbenham we’re all honestly so excited to meet the new addition 🥺 but I think summer is the most excited out of all of us 😂

y/n bless her 🥹 it’s a big deal being a big cousin but we can’t wait for you all to meet them 🩷

masonmount

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masonmount don’t be fooled, she just had a really big lunch

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y/n thanks Mase 🙄

masonmount ily 😘

declanrice let that bun cook 😤

masonmount oh it’s cooking 🧑🏻‍🍳 did you know they’re currently the size of a pineapple

y/n feels more like a bowling ball

benchilwell I’m gonna be an uncle 🥹

woody_ I’m gonna be the favourite uncle 🥹

lew.mount get in line you two

kaihavetz29 well how has this happened then. Congrats you guys ♥️

masonmount thanks bro! I’ll tell you later 😉

reecejames my boys turning into a man 🥹 forever proud of you

masonmount proud of you bro!

y/n

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y/n A whole week of you, George 🤍 Merry Christmas everyone and thank you Santa for the most precious gift of all. We’re both so full of love for you 🥰

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masonmount that’s my boy 🩷🥺

y/n we love you sm 😘

Freyaaaaxo LOOK AT THAT CHUNKY BOY 😍 the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen 🙊 can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am and how PROUD I am of you and Mase. Georgie is so lucky to have you guys 🩷

y/n I’m too hormonal for this Freya but we all love you so much you have no idea 😭🩷

benchilwell congratulations guys 🤍 mason looks like a natural already

y/n another thing he can do perfectly 🙄

sophiaameila what a beautiful baby 🤍 so happy for you all and I can’t wait for cuddles 😭

y/n George and Parker can’t wait!

anouskasantos a new bestie for Reign 😌 he’s beautiful babe congratulations

y/n I sense some play dates incoming 😉

masonmount

liked by y/n, declanrice, lew.mount and others

masonmount To the love of my life, and the little boy that made me a dad. I’m so in awe of both of you and all the new things we’re learning together 🤍

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Y/n the kindness and patience you’ve shown us over this week is more than I could ever ask for. You’re the best dad in the word and we’re so lucky to have you 🩷

masonmount my absolute world 🌏💘

declanrice congrats brother!

masonmount uncle dec 🤍

woody_ Parker 😩 (also George 🥺)

masonmount he’s taking his protector role very seriously

manchesterunited a new red ♥️ got the shirt being printed as we speak. Congratulations Mase and y/n!

masonmount thanks all!

lew.mount the baby’s had a baby 🥺♥️ he’s perfect congratulations the pair of you I can’t wait to see him

masonmount soon bro 🤍

benchilwell mini Mase 😭 congratulations I’m so proud and happy for the pair of you

masonmount brother ♥️

[forays-into-fiction]

I Hate You... But Not Really

Eddie and you have been best friends for as long as you can remember and you’ve been crushing on him for about as long. He starts dating Chrissy however and jealousy rears its ugly head for both you and Jason. Jason has the bright idea to “date” each other to make them jealous instead. Nothing goes as planned... or does it?

Request fill for Anon, hope you like it... this one ended up being very long lol.

Minors DNI

Contains: Fake Dating/Fake Relationship (Jason/Reader), Eddie/Reader, Eddie/Chrissy, Jason/Chrissy, Bestfriend!Eddie, Virgin!Reader, A Little Bit of Angst, Loss of Virginity, Protected Sex 

You had decided to take lunch in the library today, curling up with a book instead. It wasn’t that unusual for you to skip lunch and hang out in the library, you had to get away from the rowdy Hellfire boys and their antics every now and then.

However, since Eddie had started dating Chrissy, you’d spent more and more time in the library rather than be subjected to their lovey-dovey nonsense. If you had to see them, make goo-goo eyes at each other one more time you might actually explode. 

God forbid she ever showed up at a Hellfire session you’d up and leave the club if that ever happened. You were trying to be happy for him, happy that he was happy, but it was hard when they just had to go and rub it in your face.

That’s where he finds you, tucked away in a corner reading quietly when he breaks the silence.

“y/l/n!” He whisper-yells as he approaches you.

“What is it, Carver? I’m not in the mood for your shit today.” His presence only serves to worsen your sour mood.

“Ok, since when did you get so sassy?”

“Fuck off, I told you I’m not in the mood. What?”

“Well, I’m… I’ve come with a proposal of sorts…” he drawls.

“Jesus Christ, get to the point.” You huff.

“Look, I know we’ve had our differences…” You scoff, he continues, “…but I think we’re both in the same little predicament.”

“Oh, yeah and what’s that?”

“You know Chrissy left me for the Freak-.”

“Hey, don’t call him that!” You can’t help but defend him, even now when you’re mad at him.

“Ok, for… Munson, and it’s kinda obvious the way you pine over him.”

“I DO NOT ‘pine’. You’ve had that same stupid joke since we were ten get over it, Eddie and I are just friends.”

“But that’s not what you want is it? You want it to be more than that and I want Chrissy to take me back, so…”

“So, what…? I’m not following.”

“Geez and I thought you were the smart one. We make them angry, jealous… we date each other to rile them up.”

“God that has to be the stupidest plan I’ve ever heard. I’m not dating you, Carver.”

“Well, you wouldn’t be… not really anyway. We’d just pretend long enough to each get what we want.”

“And why exactly would either of them even care?”

“I don’t know what’s going on with Chrissy that she’d leave me and especially for that…” You give him a warning glare, he continues, “…for him, but I know she doesn’t really love him. She loves me, I love her we… we had plans to get married-”

“Oh, wow that is pathetic, marriage? You’re fucking eighteen get over yourself. Maybe that’s why she left you.”

“No, it’s not, it was her idea actually… that doesn’t matter. Anyway, I’ve seen the way Munson looks at you, he’s got feelings for you even if he won’t admit it.”

“So, what? How would that even work?”

“We go on ‘dates’, get seen together doing couple-y shit, see how they react and go from there I guess.”

“Ok, but what ‘couple-y shit’ are we talking about here, cause I’m not fucking sleeping with you.”

“Jesus, I never said you would! It’s not like I’d want to either. I dunno like the normal stuff, holding hands, maybe some kissing that kind of thing.”

“I’m gonna need a whole lot more outta this than ‘Eddie might have feelings’ for me to do anything with you.”

“Am I really that bad?”

“Yes actually, you are.”

“Fine, I’ll pay you.”

“Eww you creep. I don’t want your money.”

“Then what will it take?”

You ponder for a moment before answering, what would it take? You reach a decision, “You have to be nicer to all the Hellfire guys from now on. Or at least civil with us, even after you get Chrissy back.”  

“Ok, but what about if Munson tries to start shit?”

“Then you ignore him, be the bigger man or whatever.”

“Alright fine.” He concedes.

“Fine.” You huff back in response.

“So, like do you want to set up a schedule or something?”

You glance at the clock on the wall, “Look, lunch is almost over why don’t we just meet up on the weekend and sort out the details then…”

You reach into your backpack, pulling out a notebook and pen you scrawl across a page before tearing it out, “… here is my address, just come past around noon.”

He takes the slip of paper folding it and placing it in his back pocket, “Sure, I’ll see you then.”

He turns and saunters off while you pack away your belongings and begin heading to your next class.

He stands on your front porch and jabs at the doorbell, you’re not too far off and answer quite quickly.

“Y/l/n.” He nods his head in greeting.

“We’re going to at least have to call each other by our first names, you know?” You usher him inside, lingering in the front hall.

“Right, yeah that’s true. Ummm, do we… do we use pet names too or…?”

You shrug, continuing as you lead him through to the living room, “I mean maybe… that is something couples do.”

He looks around taking in his surroundings, “Your parents home?”

“No. No, they’ve gone out for lunch with some friends. So, take a seat I guess and let’s get to… whatever the hell this is.” You gesture to the couch.

He does so more awkwardly than you would’ve expected from him, was he nervous? No that couldn’t be it, not Mr. Cocksure Big-shot Basketball Captain.

“So, uh… y/n…” he begins, tentatively testing out your name, “how about we start with some ground rules, lay out all the do’s and don’t’s and what each of us expects from this.”

“Well, let’s start with the obvious, no sex, in fact nothing past first base. You may call me common pet names, like babe, baby, honey, when appropriate, but never sweetheart. No one can know the truth, everyone has to actually believe we’re dating and happy together for it to work. Also on that note, how did this supposedly start? Why did I suddenly get over all your years of torment and fall into your arms?”

“Ok, well that was a lot all at once. Um I guess yes to all of the aforementioned, I will add that I will pay for any ‘dates’ that we do go on. I’d feel weird if I didn’t, even if this isn’t real. Also you have to show up to my games, all the big ones at least. But as to the last part I don’t really know… I uh apologised…” he replies uncertainly, with a slight wince.

“Oh, that’s all it took you said sorry and suddenly I was swooning over you?”

“I don’t know, it was a really good apology?”

“Ok let’s hear it then. Like you mean it too.”

“What?”

“This grand apology that was supposedly enough for me to forget what a fucking jackass you are to me and all my friends.”

“O-ok… ummm y/n…” he trails off.

“Wow solid start there bud you wanna maybe continue, you didn’t even say the words ‘I’m sorry’.”

“I’m thinking ok! When did you become such a bitch anyway, thought you were all quiet and shy and shit?”

“Oooh yeah, that’ll really sell it call me a bitch-”

He cuts you off quickly, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. It’s just, this is hard, ok?”

“Can’t be harder than the shit you put Eddie and me through.” You grumble.

“Ok I’m sorry, really, I am. I don’t even know why I gave you shit, you actually seem kinda normal enough. I guess it was just ‘cause you were always around him, always defending him. Why even hang around that creep anyway?” He answers surprisingly earnestly.

“‘Creep’ isn’t any better than ‘freak’ you know.”

“See, like that always defending him.”

“He’s my friend, surely you know what that’s like or at least have some concept of it? And don’t give me some “oh being popular is a curse you never know who your friends really are’ type shit.”

“Of course, I have friends… it’s just no one has ever defended me like that.”

“Maybe ‘cause you’ve never needed it, anyway that is entirely beside the point. We’ve gotten derailed, let’s try to get this back on track.”

“You believe that I am sorry, right?”

“I believe that you think that, but it’s good enough. Just maybe leave out the bits about insulting my best friend in your apology and it’s fine.”

“I am sorry.”

“Ok, so you apologised and then what? How did it get from mutual understanding to ‘I’m madly in love with you.’?”

“As part of my apology I offered to buy you dinner, extend an olive branch so to speak. At dinner we actually hit it off and find that we don’t actually hate each other. Maybe we have some things in common and we decided to do it again.”

You hum in consideration, “Ok, sure we’ll go with that, but what do we actually have in common?”

“Not much I’d imagine, we… uhhh go to the same school, we’re in the same grade, ummm what… what kind of movies do you like, what sort of music do you listen to?”

“Well, my favourite movie genres are horror/thriller and fantasy. Music, it varies, but mainly rock I guess, like punk and alternative type stuff, I know my music taste surprises most people. I think they think that I’d have to be into like classical music or something for being so shy and bookish, even though I hang around a bunch of metalhead rockers.”

“I dunno none of that really works, I mean I don’t mind horror but it’s not my favourite. Ummm there… there is one thing that no one really knows about me…”

“Yeah, what’s that oh man of mystery?”

“Don’t… don’t make fun of me, please.”

“Why shouldn’t I?” You begin but catch sight of his pleading gaze and you fold, “Oh, alright fine, guess I’ll take my own advice and ‘be the bigger man’.”

“Thank you. Uhh… I actually like to read… like a lot, but I don’t let people see me when I do ‘cause I gotta wear these dorky glasses. I’ve had a few concussions and it’s messed with my vision.”

“Oh, ok I actually didn’t expect that at all. What sort of stuff do you read?”

“I like a lot of different things, stuff on history and war, sports… and um poetry…”

“Poetry? You, Jason Carver, read poetry?”

“Yeah, come on I said not to make fun of me.”

“No, I’m not… I’m not, it’s just not what I expected, the rest is yeah typical, I get that, but poetry? Does Chrissy know about this?”

“Yeah, she does. She also said she thinks my glasses are cute, but I don’t know, I think she was just saying that to make me feel better.”

“Ok, well I’m not all that into poetry myself, but history is alright, I guess. So, reading, we both like to read um anything else?”

“What about aspirations for after high school?”

“Well, you said you and Chrissy were thinking marriage, right?”

“Yeah, but not for a while yet, we’d have to get settled first, build careers so we can support ourselves.”

“Yeah, didn’t actually think you would’ve thought that far ahead, no offence. Personally, I’d like to get out of Hawkins for a start. Go to college, study maybe either something in writing or science, what about you?”

“Well, I’m aiming to get a basketball scholarship if I can, do something with that, but sports is kind of a high risk kinda deal. There’s no real guarantee. Not sure what my fallback could be, but I’m working on it.”

“That’s good. So, let’s recap. You apologised and took me out for dinner. I accepted and we got to know each other, found out we’re both readers and bonded over that. We shared our aspirations for after high school and agreed to do it again some time.”

“Yep, that all sounds about right, but don’t tell anyone about the glasses thing, ok?”

“Secret’s safe with me.”

“Thank you.”

“Ok, so the actual ‘dates’ is that going to be like a spontaneous thing or should we have a scheduled ‘date night’?”

“Scheduled date night sounds better to me, I can do Saturdays after practice?”

“Yeah, that works I guess, how are we going to balance your games and Hellfire though? They clash more often than not.”

“Well, can’t you guys reschedule your little cult meetings?”

“Jason,” you sigh exasperatedly, “you were doing so well too. It’s not a cult, it’s a Dungeon’s and Dragons club. And they will not reschedule for this. I can maybe get someone to sub for me every now and then, I guess.”

“It’s ok you only have to come to the big games, I’ll let you know which ones they are when they come up.”

“Sure ok, that’s settled. First ‘date’ next week, what are we going to do?”

He shrugs, “We could go to the cinema? I overheard Chrissy telling her friends that… Munson was going to take her to see ‘Pretty in Pink’.”

“Really, you want them to see us together that soon?”

“I dunno, why not?”

“Oh, no. No, we are nowhere near ready for that. It has to be really fucking believable before that happens.”

“Ok, so what do you think we should do?”

“I think the first few ‘dates’ should just be practice being around each other. Don’t try and focus on somewhere we can be seen, think somewhere we can both be comfortable.”

“I mean I’d say the library, it’d fit into our narrative, but then there’s the whole glasses thing.”

“Yeah, ok… um how about we actually go for dinner. Maybe somewhere less common for all the Hawkins High kids to be at.”

“Oh, there’s this restaurant my parents go to! It’s called Enzo’s. How about that?”

“Wouldn’t that be a little, um… expensive?”

“Yeah, but so what? I’m paying.”

“I dunno just makes me feel skeevy…”

“Don’t. I’m the one who suggested it. Think of it as reparations for years of bullying.”

“Ok, fine. Enzo’s then. When does your practice finish?”

“Four. So, we’ll make the dinner around seven, I’ll uh pick you up if you want or we could just meet there.”

“Um yeah you can pick me up, it’ll give us more time to go over our stories, get everything straight.”

“Ok cool.”

“Cool.”

“Uhh… now what?”

“Um I mean you can go…what else is there.”

“Yeah, sure I’ll go.” He stands awkwardly, you stand with him to escort him out.

He pauses at the door, “Should we… try to interact at school?”

“Yeah… nothing too extreme just yet, but yeah, I guess. Maybe just like greeting in the halls, small talk, that sort of stuff.” You shrug.

“Ok, so I guess we’re doing this… babe.”

“Uhhh… yeah I guess so… babe.” The word feels foreign on your tongue, using it to address Jason Carver of all people.

You open the door waving as he leaves and he waves back. You retreat back into the comfort of your home a little dumbfounded by how that had turned out. It was interesting, being forced to see him in a new light, as a multifaceted human being rather than just some dumb jock stereotype.

It’s like the world is working against you, any time you and Jason are together, Eddie and Chrissy are nowhere to be seen. It’s beginning to frustrate you, you know there is gossip going around the school about you two, but neither of them have given any indication that they’re aware of it. 

Not even the rest of the Hellfire Club have said anything. They all know you’re seeing someone you’ve told them as much, you had to give some explanation as to why you were missing Hellfire sesions so much. They all believe you’re in a happy relationship, they just haven’t seen it yet.

You’re on yet another date with Jason, you’d missed out on this session of Hellfire Club to go to one of his games and he suggested dinner at the diner afterwards. A few of his teammates and their girlfriend’s had come too, but you insisted on your own booth, it could be so stifling being around Jason’s friends.

“So, what actually happened with you and Chrissy, if you don’t mind me asking?”

He sets down his cutlery and sighs, beginning in a hushed tone, “She started pulling away from me, don’t know what I did, it wasn’t so much like she was mad… just distant. I don’t get it.”

“Hmm, you know it may not have been anything you did, maybe she was going through some personal stuff.”

“Yeah, but why wouldn’t she tell me, I could help her. Why did she turn to… him?”

“Look I can’t answer for her personally, but sometimes when I’m dealing with my own shit I retreat into myself. Don’t wanna feel like I’m burdening others with my problems… especially those I’m closest to. Usually when I get like that Eddie is the one to pull me up, dust me off so to speak and just get me through it. He’s good like that, very observant when he wants to be, he just knows when someone’s got it rough and he wants to help.”

Jason scoffs, “Yeah alright, all the girls going to Munson… what’s he got that I don’t.”

“Did you even listen to a word I said? It’s not about you or what you can offer. She’s probably just going through something, maybe something she’s ashamed of or is embarrassed about and doesn’t want you to know. Maybe she’s just worried about how you’ll see her if you find out.”

“I would never judge her for anything, she should know that. Instead, she turned around and left me for another guy.”

“Jason have you fucking seen yourself, you can be such a judgmental, righteous prick-”

“Hey, keep it down, you don’t want someone to hear you saying stuff like that if we’re going to pull off the ‘loving couple’ shit.” He hisses cutting you off.

You lower your voice slightly leaning in, hopefully from the outside it just looks like you’re two little lovebirds wrapped up in your own little world, “… you are a bully and you’ve shown that girls aren’t off limits, why would she think she can go to you with everything.”

He has the decency to look ashamed at that, “I am sorry you know… for how I treated you.”

“Fine, ok I got that, I’m moving past it, but can you see where I’m coming from?”

“I-I think so, but what can I do… what could I have done then? What if we get back together and something like this happens again?”

“I don’t know, it’s a complex thing, you gotta be patient with her. Push but not too hard, get her to see that you won’t judge her for anything. When she really believes that maybe she will accept your help when she needs it.”

“I guess… thank you. You know I haven’t really talked about this with anyone, it’s good to get stuff off my chest.”

“Yeah, that is the general idea, when you’re going through something you need someone that will listen. And look at you turning to ‘another girl’ for support.”

He rolls his eyes, “Yeah, I get it now, ok. You don’t have to rub it in.”

“Ok… you know deep down and I mean deep, deep down you’re not so bad. You know when you actually act like a human being.”

“Oh, careful that almost sounded like an actual compliment.”

“Shove off… I mean I get why you act the way you do, I guess. I know your popularity is important to you, but is it really more important than being yourself, was it worth losing someone you love?”

“Ummm… no, no it’s not...” He concedes, “…but it is what I gotta do to get where I wanna go.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it-”

He’s getting frustrated, you can tell, the way he clenches his fists, “No it’s not. If I’m not popular, I’m not basketball captain. If I’m not captain, I don’t get the recognition. If I don’t get the recognition, I don’t get a scholarship-”

You place a hand over his, “Stop, relax its ok I’ll drop it, just keep in mind Chrissy likes you for you… I’m assuming… and if she doesn’t, she’s not worth it, but that is going to be how you win her back… by being yourself.”

“Fine.” He grumbles.

“You gonna finish those?” You point to the last few fries on his plate that he’d been ignoring.

“Nah, have ‘em if you want and then we can get out of here. I’ll drop you off at yours.”

“Thank you.”

As you stand to leave, passing the other guys from the team, Jason nods his head towards them and you give them an awkward little wave, calling out, “Bye guys, see you around.”

Andy calls back, “What you guys leaving already? Don’t wanna come back to mine? My parents are gone for the weekend, I was thinking we could… party.”

Jason answers for the pair of you, to your surprise in the negative, “Nah, sorry man gotta take my girl home she’s feeling a bit tired. You know how it is?”

Andy gives him an exaggerated wink that makes your skin crawl, “Sure do man, you kids have fun.”

You tug on Jason’s arm and he escorts you out to his car, “Ugh why’d he have to be so gross?” You groan with a full-body shiver.

He responds as he starts up the car, “Oh, come on it wasn’t that bad… and isn’t that what we want? For people to think we’re a good, real couple… real couples have sex you know?”

“So… you and Chrissy then…?”

“Of course, me and Chrissy. What… did you expect us to be celibate or something?”

“No uh… I don’t know, it’s not like I think about you with her… like that.”

“What about you… have you ever…?”

“Uhh… no, umm… it’s not that I don’t want to, I just never… I mean…”

He holds up one hand in surrender, the other still on the wheel, “Hey, it’s fine, you don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

You let out a sigh, “Ok, yeah… I am tired you know? This shit is fucking exhausting.”

“Gee, thanks. Good to know being with me is exhausting.”

“No, it’s not that, it’s just doing this is like constantly being on stage, putting on a performance… having to be so acutely aware of every action and everyone in the room.”

He’s silent for a moment, “Do you think… do you think maybe that’s how Chrissy feels with me?”

“I can’t answer for her, maybe that’s just something the two of you will have to figure out for yourselves.”

“Oh… ok.” He seems a little crestfallen.

“Sorry, I can’t give you a better answer.”

“Nah, that’s fine we’re almost at your place now.”

“We’ve gotten to know each other now, like really know each other, but there’s one thing I still don’t get.”

“Yeah, what’s that?”

“Why are you part of Munson’s little cult, I get maybe you didn’t have any other friends when we were kids but come on you could do so much better than that now.”

“Watch yourself there, Carver. You’re on thin ice…” you warn, “…and it’s not a cult. Ok, how bout I put it to you like this. That game we all play dungeons and dragons, what do you actually know about that?”

“Just that it’s some devil-worshipper thing…”

“See you’re wrong though, it’s not… at all. If anything, it’s the complete opposite cause you’re fighting against evil.”

He looks at you sceptically, you continue, “It’s just a little fantasy game, we’re not hurting anyone by playing a game. Look, you play basketball, you love basketball, there’s this whole culture around that. The way you feel about the game, your teammates, it’s not so different from Hellfire Club.”

“Yes, it is.” He protests.

“Just hear me out ok, D&D brings us together it gives us a sense of camaraderie we band together to fight the big bad evil guy, there’s strategy and an element of chance and everything can be decided by the roll of a die. I imagine scoring the final game wining point would feel the same as defeating the villain or pulling off an insane move that gets the party through untold dangers.”

“But-”

“Look, how about you just come to one of the Hellfire sessions see what it’s really like. You’ve got a bye this week, don’t you?”

“Yeah, but will they even let me through the door?”

“Yes, I’ll make sure they’re nice to you ok… but you gotta do the same.”

“I will.”  You shoot him a look, “I will, I promise.”

“Good.”

“Still doesn’t explain Munson though that guy is clearly…”

You stop him in his tracks with a pointed glare, “Yes… care to finish that statement?”

“Well, what I mean to say is he’s just so… so… oh the only words I can come up with are still devil-worshipper, with all his metal music and chains and leather, what do you see in him?”

“He’s a good guy,” he looks at you sceptically, “No really, he is, all of that hard-ass attitude stuff is just like a barrier to protect himself. He hasn’t had it easy and stuff like his music helps him cope. Is it really so bad that he is unapologetically himself?”

“Y/n the guy is crazy, jumping on tables, shouting off his little rants that make digs at the rest of the school, not to mention everything else.”

“He’s not crazy, he can be a bit dramatic but he’s got a point with that stuff. Like really why? Why do we get singled out and picked on for our interests when the basketball team can be celebrated for theirs?”

You rush to add,” I mean no offence by that, but really, we’re all here just trying get by, make it through one day at a time, find happiness where we can. He gives the outcasts of the school somewhere we can belong and he’s been my friend since about as far back as I can remember, always been there for me regardless of what he’s going through. He is a good guy.”

“I mean I guess… when you put it like that. I still don’t like him though.” He grumbles.

“I never asked you to like him just be civil with him and I’ll try to make sure he does the same.”

“Fine I can live with that.”

At lunch the next day you decide to broach the topic with the rest of Hellfire. When you get there she’s there, you shouldn’t be so surprised you guess, but it had been a few days since you sat with them for lunch.

The way she was dressed today was almost enough to turn your stomach… she was wearing his Hellfire shirt. You steeled yourself, no you weren’t going to let this get to you, all the more reason to invite Jason to Hellfire.

“Hey guys!” You greet everyone as you plop down into a seat.

They reply in kind and you continue while you have their attention, “So, everyone knows I’ve been seeing someone…” they nod, “… well I kinda wanted to ask if you guys would be alright if I brought him by one of the Hellfire sessions? Just to watch of course, he said he wants to know what it’s about, so I thought the best way would be to show him.”

Eddie narrows his eyes at you, “Right why would we let some random guy-”

“My boyfriend.” You correct him.

“Whatever, your boyfriend… why would we let him sit in? We don’t even know the dude.”

“Well, there you go you can see just who he is when we both show up.”

“Yeah, and on that note, you’ve been missing a lot of sessions lately… what’s up with that? Would you even know how to play anymore?” He bites back snarkily.

Oooh, is he bitter, could this actually be working already?

“Of course, I remember how to play, it’ll be fine… please?”

“Fine, we’ll put it to a vote…” he looks around the table and the others squirm under his gaze, “right, everyone in favour of y/n’s boyfriend joining the next Hellfire session, raise your hand.”

Everyone at the table raises their hands, except you, Chrissy and Eddie, he continues with a sigh “…ok looks like he can join, but just this once.”

Dustin tries to lighten the mood, “Come on Eddie, don’t you wanna meet y/n’s new boyfriend?”

Unfortunately, that was the wrong thing to say, Eddie scoffs in response, “What difference would that make to me? He’d still be some intruder to our game.”

Gareth speaks up on your behalf, “Come on don’t be like that man, just be glad we’re getting y/n back and we’ll get to see who’s been making her so happy lately.”

“Yeah, sure whatever…” he turns to Chrissy suddenly, “Hey, sweetheart… would you like to come to the next session too?”

She offers an apologetic smile, “Uhh… no sorry babe, you know I’m not really into that stuff… but you guys have fun.”

She turns to you, “Hope your boyfriend enjoys it too.”

You try to match her cheerful demeanour without sounding sarcastic, “Yeah hopefully once he sees it, he’ll get just why I love it so much.”

There’s a heavy tension that hangs in the air for the rest of the lunch break, you keep your involvement in conversation to a minimum and finally breathe a sigh of relief once the bell rings.

You sit in Jason’s car twisting your hands nervously in your lap, “So you ready for this?”

He places a hand over yours, “Relax, it will be fine.”

“And you can promise you’ll be nice to everyone, and I mean everyone?”

“Yes, I won’t like it, but yes.”

“Thank you. And remember to keep an open mind, don’t just judge the game immediately because of what you’ve been told to think of it… please?”

“Ok, I’ll try.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, you ready to go in?”

“Now or fucking never, I guess. Hopefully we’ve done enough that it’ll convince everyone we’re a ‘happy couple’.”

“Yeah, come on.”

You hesitate again when you get to the drama room door, but he gives you a little nudge and you open it.

Everyone’s already seated at the table chatting animatedly, you call out to get their attention, “Um hey, everyone… sorry if we’re a little late-”

You’re met by flabbergasted stares and slack jaws when they turn to see you, arm in arm with Jason Carver.

Eddie is the first to speak, face set into a deep scowl, “Uh what the fuck is this, what is he doing here?”

“You guys said it was ok to bring my boyfriend. I said I was sorry for being late, but come on it’s only by a couple minutes.”

“Can I have a word with you outside?” Eddie storms over to you grabbing your arm harshly and leading you out the door, not waiting for a response.

“What the fuck was that in there? You’re dating Carver? The guy you’ve been dating… is fucking Jason Carver?!”

“Yeah… and? What’s it matter to you?”

“It matters because you’re my best friend and it’s fucking Jason Carver… you’re dating him after everything he did to me… to us?”

“Yeah well, you’re dating Chrissy what the fuck is up with that?”

“That’s different, don’t bring her into this.”

“Why? Why shouldn’t I huh? Some best friend you are, as soon as some pretty little blond shows you a smidge of attention it’s like I don’t even exist.”

“Just ugh… why did it have to be him?”

“Why did it have to be her?!”

“You can’t just throw my question back at me, at least Chrissy wasn’t the one going around calling us freaks and making our lives miserable.”

“Yeah, not like she stopped it either. And really Mr Nonconformity, you’re gonna go for the basic ass cheerleader? Way to break the mould. Really, I applaud you on that one, you’re definitely not just like every other teen boy here. All hard up over a girl in a short skirt doing her little rah-rah school spirit bullshit.”

“Chrissy is NOT like that!”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure.”

“And I could say the same about you, dating Mr Meathead Jock… that’s not any better now, is it?”

“Whatever, screw you.” You turn to go back inside.

“Screw me, no hey don’t walk away from me.” He grabs your arm again.

“Eddie, just stop.” You shoot him an angry look.

“Have you fucked him?” He hisses through clenched teeth.

“What?!” You can’t believe he just said that, where the hell did that come from.

“I said have you fucked him? He would be your first if you had, wouldn’t he?” He repeats, his tone bitter.

“That is none of your fucking business and don’t act like you haven’t slept with Chrissy.”

“Actually, I haven’t. She said she wants to take things slow and I respect that. Says she wants to wait til marriage and all that.”

“Yeah, that’s not how Jason tells it and he would know he’s actually slept with her. You sure she even really loves you? You sure you’re not just some rebound destined to fail?” You retaliate.

“What the fuck? When did you get so fucking bitchy, or is that just what taking Carver’s dick does?”

Before you know what you’re even doing you’ve reared your hand slapping him across the face sharply.

“Why don’t you ask your girlfriend what taking Jason’s dick does? She would know after all.” It’s a low blow, you regret it as soon as the words leave your lips. Regret almost everything you’ve said to him, especially when you see the look in his eyes, but it’s too late now.

It’s then that Jason pokes his head out of the doorway, “Hey…. ahhh, you guys, ok? You’ve been gone a while… the others sent me out to check on you…”

You turn to him, “We’re leaving, come on let’s go babe.”

“But I thought-”

“Yeah, never-mind…” you turn back to Eddie, who’s standing there shellshocked cradling his cheek, “I quit Hellfire by the way, see you fucking never Munson.”

You grab Jason’s arm dragging him along with you, willing yourself not to cry, just hold it in at least until you get outside, just make it outside.

When you do reach the front doors of the school you break, tears streaming down your face, sobbing.

Jason turns you to face him, “What happened? What did he do?”

“Fuck off Jason as if you actually care, there’s no one here to see it, just leave it alone, ok.”

He grabs both your shoulders, looking into your teary eyes, you turn you head away, “I do care though, what happened?”

“We had a fight obviously… this stupid fucking plan isn’t working. I told you it wouldn’t and now I’ve just lost my best fucking friend. I really fucking hate you, did I ever mention that?”

He cuts you off with a fierce kiss, you push him off of you, “What the fuck was that for?!”

“I dunno I kinda like you I guess…” He shrugs.

“Oh, no fuck off with that, I know you’re still in love with Chrissy. No one was here to see that, so what was it about really?”

“I do kind of like you though, not like Chrissy, different from that and I do still love her, but… what if we tried to make this work for real? What if those two never realise how we feel about them and it never works out?”

“No. I’m not going to be someone’s consolation prize or whatever. I don’t care if you don’t get Chrissy back, you can find someone else… maybe just be less of a ‘meathead jock’ and it’ll work out for you. Let someone see the real you for a change, the guy that reads and takes a girl out for silly little dates and cares about something other than himself.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… you’re not a ‘consolation prize’ and you do deserve better too. Just forget about Munson… honestly, you’re better off without him.”

“Don’t know that I am… what do you want to do about this now then? Do we still ‘fake date’? Try to get Chrissy back for you, even if Eddie won’t have anything to do with me now?”

“What do you want?”

“I don’t know, I guess… I want at least one of us to get something from this, otherwise it’s all been for nothing.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be for nothing really, I mean we never would have spent time together… reconciled our differences, if it weren’t for this. You could say we’re friends now at least.”

“Yeah, I guess… and I’m gonna need a friend, just kinda lost all of mine back there in one fell swoop.” You give him a bitter, teary-eyed grin.

“Ok, so let’s do that, we continue this ‘fake dating’ thing for a bit longer, see if Chrissy will come around. If not, I’ll be here for you as a friend either way, agreed?”

“Yes… as long as you never try to kiss me like that in private again, seriously what the fuck was that?”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

Fate really had a way of shoving it your face. Before when you were with Carver, you’d never seen Eddie and Chrissy around, but now it seemed like everywhere you looked Eddie was there glaring at you. You couldn’t take it, jealousy would have been fine… but this hatred that came pouring off him in waves was like torture.

Jason could see your discomfort, your pain, he asked you multiple times if you were still ok with this plan. You powered through, one of you should end up happy from all this, right? You still couldn’t believe that in all of this Jason Carver was the one to console you, if someone would have told you that just a few weeks ago, you would’ve laughed in their face.

The rest of Hellfire give you a wide berth, but still offer little smiles in your direction when you pass them… only when Eddie isn’t around though. You wonder what he would have told them, you’re sure he can’t have painted you in a very good light, but it was too late for you to try to explain yourself to them.

That’s how you found yourself on a Saturday night, curled up on Jason’s bed watching Friday the 13th: A New Beginning. It had just come out on VHS and Jason suggested the two of you watch it to get your mind off things for a bit. He had begun to warm up to horror movies in general, still not a major fan but he enjoyed it more now… your influence maybe?

Meanwhile, Chrissy had made her way to Eddie’s trailer, with a heavy conscious. She raises her hand to knock against the door, when it opens and she jumps back slightly.

“Oh, Chrissy hey… didn’t mean to scare you. I was just on my way to see you.”

“Uh… yeah, could we go inside and talk for a bit?”

“Sure, sure come in.” He steps aside, ushering her in with a sweeping gesture.

They both stand there awkwardly, before Eddie says, “What did you want to talk about?”

She hesitates and he moves towards the couch, urging her to join him, “Come on take a seat and tell me what you need.”

She makes her way over, tentatively perching on the edge of the couch.

“So…?” Eddie prompts her.

“Ummm… there’s no real easy way to say this, but umm… I think… I think we should end things Eddie.”

“Wh-Why do you say that?” He asks nervously, he had actually been planning to go see her to break things off, maybe this’d give him an out.

“Come on isn’t it obvious? Everyone knows you have feelings for y/n. It’s even clearer now that she’s dating Jason… and I… I don’t know… I think I still have feelings for Jason too.” She hangs her head in shame.

“What? I don’t have feelings for y/n… I’m with you, why would you say that?” He splutters, unconvincingly.

“So, you’re just not going to acknowledge that I have feelings for Jason?” She huffs looking back at him.

“Well, uh… fuck… I don’t know… did you ever have feelings for me?”

“Yes… just… just not like I do for Jason. Look you helped me through a really rough time and I am grateful for that… but I don’t love you.”

He sighs, “Yeah uhhh… I-I don’t love you either… I know how bad it sounds, and I do care about you… but I think it was ‘cause you were the first girl to ever show me any interest.”

“What about y/n?”

“What about her?”

“You have feelings for her, don’t try to deny it.”

“Ok fine, I have feelings for y/n… what difference does that make? We’re just friends… fuck not even that anymore. And she’s with Jason fucking Carver, of all the fucking people she had to choose from, she picked him.” He turns away angrily, hot tears prick at his eyes.

“Jason’s not that bad of a guy really, but what if we did something to… break them up?”

“Wh-what? Why? What would that even achieve… they’re happy with each other, I can’t take that away from her… and for what? She’s not even speaking to me, won’t even look at me, it’s not like she’d come running into my arms if things ended between them.” Tears have begun to run down his cheeks, he swipes at them angrily.

“Eddie… look at me.” She implores.

He does so and she continues, “You must be fucking blind not to see that she is in love with you.”

“What are you talking about?” He hiccups out.

“Y/n, she is sooo head over heels for you, Jason even picked up on it when we were ten for Christ’s sake.”

“No, that was just some dumb joke Carver used to taunt me.”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now? She loves you, you love her…” She reinforces before adding quietly “…I love Jason.”

“Then what are we even fucking doing together in the first place?”

“I don’t know, you were there for me and things just kinda happened…”

“Ok, so what do we do now?”

“Well… I mean we are over, right? I mean we can still be friends if you want, you are a great guy Eddie, I hope you know that.”

“Yeah… uh friends, I don’t know, we’ll see about that, but thank you. Do we have to break them up though… not that I’m happy seeing her with him, but can’t we just each talk to them tell them how we really feel?”

“I mean, I guess. It would be the nicer thing to do. Do you think you could handle it though, you’ve had all this time to tell her before, why haven’t you?”

“I just couldn’t… if things went wrong, I couldn’t lose her, but now… now she already hates me. She’s already lost to me, so what’s the harm in telling her now… not like she could hate me any more than she already does. I said some horrible things to her Chrissy…” He hangs his head, pressing his palms into his eyes.

She rubs a hand over his shoulder, “Hey, if things don’t work out, I’m here for you, ok?”

“Th-thank you. Should… should we go to them now?”

“You wanna go right now?”

“Yeah, I… I don’t wanna wait ‘til whenever we see them next.”

“Ok… alright, I guess right now it is.” She stands brushing down her skirt.

Eddie stands as well moving to the door, “Did you drive here?”

“Uhh… no, I walked.”

“You what?! In the middle of the night, you walked to the trailer park? Why?” He asks incredulously.

“Umm… my brother had the car tonight.” She shrugs.

“Then why did you come?”

“I just… it couldn’t wait, it was eating me up inside. I had to get it out. Besides the exercise will do me good.”

“Don’t. Don’t start with that. You could have called you know, if you didn’t want to say it over the phone I coulda picked you up at least.”

“Well, too late now… you wanna give me a lift to Jason’s? Then you can head off to y/n’s.”

“Yeah, of course. Come on.” He grabs his keys and escorts her to the van.

You had begun dozing off against Jason’s shoulder, when the ring of the doorbell rouses you suddenly. Jason looks down at you confused, before extracting himself by your side, he leaves the movie running while he goes to answer the door.

He sees Chrissy standing there bouncing on the balls of her feet, warming her hands with her breath, he then notices Eddie sitting in the van parked in his driveway glaring daggers at him. He turns back to Chrissy, “Uh, hey what are you doing here? You wanna come in for a bit, you must be cold?”

“Uh no that’s ok, this won’t take long… I just… I had to say… I still love you, Jason.”

“What about Eddie?” He glances over at him.

It was the first time he’d ever actually said the guy’s given name, first time he didn’t have to pause before he said it, first time he’d ever referred to him without any malice in his voice.

“We just broke up, it… it was never going to work between us. He’s in love with y/n… you know that.”

“Ok… so what’s he going to do then?” He looks over her shoulder again back at Eddie.

“Well, he’s going to tell her too. Right after whatever happens here… waiting to give me a lift if I need it.”

“Well, she’s here right now so…”

“Oh, um… I guess both of us should go then? Right, we’ve like interrupted date night or something?” She turns to leave, he stops her with a hand on her shoulder.

“No.”

She turns back, “What do you mean ‘no’?”

“I… I want you back. Have since the moment you left.”

“What… what about y/n?”

“She’ll understand… trust me. And you said Eddie wanted to see her… tell him to come in.”

“Are you sure about that… I don’t really see that going too well.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. Just uh… tell him to be on his best behaviour, ok?”

Chrissy makes her way back to the van, when she reaches the driver-side door, Eddie rolls down the window.

“Well?” He asks expectantly.

“It uh… went well, I guess. Um y/n is here now. Jason said you should come in and talk to her.”

“She’s here now, fuck I should have guessed as much… I mean, why wouldn’t she be with her boyfriend on a Saturday night? Jesus, I’m a fucking idiot. What am I doing?” He palms at his forehead in frustration.

“Did you not hear me, I said it’s going well.”

“What do you mean?”

“Jason is going to take me back. Y/n is going to be single and he’s invited you in to talk to her. That’s something right?”

“Inside his house… ha what so he can see me crash and burn, so they can both laugh at me, while she crushes my heart?”

“Don’t be so dramatic, just give it a chance.”

“You really think it’ll go well?”

“Yes. Now get out of the damn van and get inside.”

When he gets to the door, Jason greets him stiffly, “Munson.”

Eddie narrows his eyes at him suspiciously, “Carver.”

“I should… I should probably tell you guys something first. Umm… y/n and I dating was never real… I uhh, I wanted to make Chrissy jealous. Jealous enough that she’d take me back so I got y/n to help me.”

“What? Why would she even agree to that?” Eddie face sets into a frown.

“Well, the agreement was that from the moment, our little thing started from there on out I’d have to be nicer to you…” he nods in his direction, “and to all the other Hellfire members.”

“That seems kinda dumb.”

“Well, it was she thought so too, but I guess she thought it was worth it to protect her friends?” He shrugs.

“So, you gonna go up and talk to her? Sort your own shit out, while the two of us,” He gestures between himself and Chrissy, “can work our shit out too.”

“Uh, yeah sure. Which way am I goin’?” He eyes him suspiciously.

“Just up the stairs, first door on the left. We were just watching a movie.”

Eddie nods and makes his way upstairs.

He opens the door with a shaky, sweaty hand.

“Jason, who was at the door? What took so long?” You ask without looking away from the screen, snuggled down into the covers.

“Uhhh… not Jason…” He stands there awkwardly rubbing at the back of his neck, the sound of his voice surprises you, head snapping towards him.

“Eddie, what the fuck are you doing here? Why the fuck did Jason let you in?”

“We need to talk.”

“Yeah, save it. I don’t need any more judgemental bullshit from you… can’t stand to see the way you look at me now… so full of hate.” Tears spring to life in your eyes, you turn away from him.

“No, it’s not like that. Do you really think Jason would let me in if I was here to do that… on that note, I am soooo sorry for what I said to you that day. Words cannot express how sorry I am.”

You can’t bring yourself to look at him as you remember the harsh words the two of you had exchanged, guilt sweeping over you, “I-I’m sorry too, I didn’t mean the shit I said to you… it’s just you really hurt me, and I know that’s no excuse but…”

“No, I get it, I get it… I was just lashing out because I was hurt too.”

“I know… I should have known that dating Jason would hurt you I just…”

“You wanted to make Chrissy jealous? For him? So, they could get back together”

“What… how…?”

“Jason. Jason told me. Told me how it was all his idea, that the only reason you even went along with his dumbass plan was so he’d be nicer to me and the other Hellfire guys. It worked by the way, they’re both downstairs talking it out.”

“Shit… I’m sorry that was a really fucking shitty thing for me to do. I’m sorry you lost your girlfriend.”

“Don’t be, it worked out for me too.”

“What does that mean?”

“Well, I didn’t really love her… I love you.”

“Don’t.”

“Wh-what?”

“Don’t. You don’t mean that. Did Jason say something? Did he tell you how I feel about you?”

“H-how you feel about me? Y/n, how do you feel about me?” His heart palpitates, his palms sweat even more.

“Don’t play dumb Munson, I… I love you. I’ve loved you for as long as I can fucking remember…”

He interrupts you with a fervent, teary kiss. You hesitate a moment before reciprocating, melting into his touch.

You break away from him suddenly, “What are you doing Eddie? Why now? I don’t want to just be your rebound while you get over Chrissy.”

“Jesus, I forget how stubborn you can be. I. Don’t. Care. About. Chrissy. I love you. I’ve always loved you… don’t you get that?”

“You’re serious?”

“Of course, I’m fucking serious! Now kiss me again.” He demands.

You pull him back in for another kiss, then all at once you realise where you are. Kissing Eddie in Jason Carver’s bed and you pull away again.

“Um… sorry Eds, but I don’t think we should be doing this here.”

“Oh shit, you’re right.” He giggles, “You want me to take you home? Or we could go to my place if you’d prefer? I’ve got the van downstairs and I think Chrissy will be ok to stay here.”

“Yeah… your… your place sounds good.”

You make your way downstairs to find Jason and Chrissy making out in the hall, you grin and clear your throat.

They snap apart, Chrissy looks away bashfully as Jason looks over to you, “So, how’d it go?” he asks, more towards you.

“It uh… it went well. I’m guessing it went well for you two as well?”

He nods, “Did you two…” he gestures between Eddie and yourself, “… did you tell each other how you feel?”

“Yes, we did.” Eddie answers firmly, “And we’ll be going now.”

He looks to over to her, “You gonna be ok to stay here, Chrissy?”

She nods, looking up at the pair of you, “Yeah, I’m good. I’ll see you guys around I guess.”

“Yeah sure. Let’s… let’s head out y/n. Leave these two to their… reunion.” He smirks.

You nod and follow him to his van.

Seated beside him, his brash music playing softly in the background “So, I guess all of that worked out in the end, huh?”

He grins at you, “It did… in like a weird, roundabout kind of way.” His face twists into a grimace, “Does this mean I should be thanking Carver?”

“Maybe not that far, but I think he’ll be more civil towards you from now on at least.” You shrug. “Anyway, lets get back to your place, so we can have some more fun.”

“Oh, geez… hang on we’ll be there in no time.”

You laugh at his response, “Well someone’s eager.”

“Yeah, yeah we got a lot of lost time to make up for you know.” He waves a hand in your direction.

Before you know it, you’re back in his trailer, Wayne still isn’t home, not due back for another couple hours.

Eddie ushers you inside overly excited, his motions remind you of a puppy, bounding along, looking back at you over his shoulder.

“You wanna… go to my bedroom?” He asks voice laden with purpose.

It wouldn’t be the first time you’d been in his room, nowhere near it, but the air was heavy with expectation tonight.

He continues a little rushed, “We don’t have to do anything, especially if you’re not one hundred percent comfortable with it-”

You cut him off, “Eddie, relax I’ve been in your bedroom a thousand times it’s no big deal… and I do want to kiss some more… if that’s ok with you?”

“Oh, sweetheart that is more than ok with me.”

“Yeah? Let’s go then.”

He grabs your arm, pulling you along all the way. He practically launches himself at the bed and you tumble along after him giggling.

“I’m not going anywhere you know, you don’t have to fall over yourself to get here.”

“Promise you’re not going anywhere?” He pouts up at you, looking at you with those big brown eyes.

“I promise. Now kiss me Munson, like you mean it.”

He dives in kissing you clumsily, messily, but you don’t mind because it’s Eddie… after all this time pinning after him, you were here.

Your hands wander into his long curls as things begin to heat up. His hands begin to wander too, but he pulls away, “I-is this ok?” He gasps breathily.

“Perfect Eddie.” You grab one of his hands guiding it to your breast, “You can touch me wherever you want, ok?”

“You mean that? Like… really anywhere?”

“Absolutely.”

“This… this is your first time, right? I mean…” He trails off.

You know what he’s getting at, “Yes, it’s my first… nothing ever happened between Carver and me… it was never real.”

“And how far do you want to go tonight? ‘Cause I am more than fine keeping it just like this, we don’t have to do more…”

“Eds, relax honestly, look at me.” He looks deep into your eyes, and you proceed, “I am ready to give you anything you want tonight. If that means we go all the way, great. If that means we just lay here making out and groping that’s great too. Just know that I want you too.”

“I can’t believe this is actually happening.” He gasps.

“So, what do you want Eddie?”

“I want you, all of you… but I’m not… I’m not very experienced… I’ll try to make it good for you. Your first time should be…special-”

You press a finger to his lips halting his babble, “I know, and it will be special because it’s with you.”

“Fuck… ok, yeah…” He groans before capturing your lips with his own once more both yours and his eyes fluttering closed. His hands move to slip beneath your shirt and his calloused fingers fumble with the clasp of your bra for a moment before it releases.

He moves to the front of your chest, sliding his hands between the loose cups of your bra to cup your tits, squeezing them gently. When he rolls over one of your nipples you moan into his mouth. He matches the sound with one of his own, grinding his hips against your clothed core and you can feel the hard line of his cock.

You pull away from him, his lips follow yours for a moment, his eyes snap open searching for yours. You reach down gripping the hem of your shirt you pull it over your head, your bra follows along shortly after. He gapes at your bare chest and you giggle at his expression and tease, “Like what you see Munson?”

“Fuck you have the most perfect tits… can I… can I suck on them?”

“Remember, anything you want.” You answer.

He swoops in, ducking his head, tongue laving at your breasts occasionally pressing sloppy kisses to them. You move to straddle one of his legs, grinding down on it. He gasps against your skin. You tug on his shirt, “Can I see you too, please?”

“With pleasure.” He pulls away from your chest, hooking a hand into the bottom of his shirt, pulling it over his head and tossing it away blindly. You run your hands down his now exposed chest coming to rest at his belt-buckle, you look deep into his eyes, “Is this ok?”

“Yes, yes, god yes.” He whimpers.

You unbuckle his belt, undo the zip and slide his jeans down his thighs, eyes locking onto the bulge in his boxers.

You look back up at him, “You got condoms, right?”

“Absolutely, bedside table… by the ashtray.”

You clamber off of him pulling down your pants as you go, you can hear Eddie ridding himself of his own jeans completely. You spot the dusty blue box and pluck it out of the clutter moving back to the bed.

You look at him, both of you left in nothing but your underwear. You hand him the box and he sets it down beside him, “Sweetheart, you’re going to need a little more prep before we get into it.”

“What like… fingering and stuff?”

“Uh, yeah sure… um could I try… eating you out… I really, really like that…”

“Yeah… ok we can do that.” You agree shyly.

He beckons you over, “Lay down for me.”

You take a seat on the bed leaning back lengthways, resting against his pillow.

He crawls up to you, resumes kissing you slowly beginning to trail down your neck. Your eyes close and you whimper in response, he continues further down over your torso until he reaches the waistband of your panties. He pulls them down gently, easing them off of your legs and tossing them aside too.

“So pretty.” He mumbles to himself before diving in and pressing a kiss to your folds.

“So wet too.” He groans.

His tongue moves to lap up your juices and you gasp. He probes your entrance a few times with the tip of his tongue before running it all the way up to your clit. He grins against you when you jolt at the sensation, running a hand up your leg squeezing at your thigh before bringing it to join his tongue.

He spreads your slick over your folds, before slowly slipping two digits into your entrance. He crooks them against your spongy walls and you tangle your hands into his hair again gasping out his name. He groans against you and the vibrations are something else. Your hips rock against his face of their own accord.

You can feel yourself gushing over his fingers, a tension mounting somewhere deep in your belly as he stretches your slick walls with his hand. His other hand comes to press down on your stomach limiting the motion of your hips, but doubling the sensation.

Soon your legs are trembling either side of his head, you tug on his curls firmly. A tingly sensation spreads from your cunt to the extremities of your limbs. You call out his name again as you pulse on his fingers and flood his tongue with your release.

His fingers slip out while you’re coming down from your high and you release his locks. He looks up at you face slick with your juices and his drool, he makes no move to wipe it off. Just grins at you and asks, “Did you like that?”

You pant out, “Jesus fucking Christ Eddie, that was amazing… not experienced my ass.”

“What… I’m not.” He insists.

“Ok, if you say so… but goddamn that tongue of yours is good.”

He chuckles, “Thank you for the review, I appreciate the feedback.”

You slap his arm, “Ok, come on… you think I’m ready now?”

“Yeah… yeah let’s go.” He fumbles for the box of condoms. Pulling one out, he looks down at you, “Now, you are sure about this?”

“Oh my god, Eddie if you ask me one more time if I’m ‘sure about this’ I’m going to slap you in the fucking face… just fuck me already.”

“Ok message received loud and clear.” He surrenders.

He rolls his boxers down wriggling out of them, his flushed, weepy cock bounces out, bobbing between his legs. He tears open the condom and grips the length of his shaft. He lines up the condom with the head of his cock, moving to pinch the tip of it rolling it down over his length smoothly.

You watch every motion eagerly and he gives his length a few pumps with his hand before turning to you, you see him open his mouth to speak but you beat him to it, “I swear to god Munson if you ask one more time if I’m sure, that’s it…”

“I wasn’t, I swear… I was just going to say, I love you and I really hope I can make this feel good for you.”

“Aww, Eddie come here…” You pull him in by the back of his neck, kissing him in earnest and he reciprocates.

He pulls back, “Ok now let me just…” his little tongue pokes out between his teeth as he grips the base of his dick and runs the tip through your slippery folds a few times, fully focused on his motions.

He rests at your entrance, just pushing in ever so slightly before looking back to you, “You ready? It might… it might hurt a little, but I’ll go slow. Let me know if you need me to stop, ok?”

You hum in response, “Mhmmm… I’m ready... and I love you too Eddie.”

Slowly he eases himself into you, inch by inch, you grit your teeth against the slight burn. He drops a hand to circle your clit and the pleasure overtakes any pain. You whimper and moan, as he coos down at you thrusting shallowly, “Look at you taking me so well, such a good girl for me. That feel good?”

You nod biting your lip in an attempt to hold back your moans.

“Let me hear you sweetheart, please… wanna hear all the noises you make.”

You break at his words, whining, “God… fuck… Eddie, please more… faster or something, need more.”

He increases his pace one hand still circling your clit the other moving to grope your tits.

“Yes, fuck… just like that Eddie.” Your walls begin fluttering around him as he groans above you, sweat collecting on his brow, hair hanging in his face, panting loudly.

You writhe beneath him as you spasm on his cock, clamping down on him. His hips begin losing their rhythm and he growls, “Fuck… gonna cum… hngh… gonna cum for you.”

He stills, buried deep inside you and you feel him twitch and throb as he unloads into the condom.

He pulls out and rolls over, collapsing beside you gasping for breath. He removes the soiled condom tying it off and tossing it over the edge of the bed. He turns his head to look at you, breathing out, “Fuck that was good, did I mention I love you? How was it for you?”

You giggle, “Yes you’ve mentioned it multiple times now and it was good for me too, thank you Eddie.” You reach over and stroke his hair, he leans in to your touch.

“So, uh… what now?” He mumbles.

“Umm… I dunno we go out on a date I guess, the usual boyfriend/girlfriend stuff.” You shrug.

“We kinda did this a little backwards, you’re supposed to date before you have sex, right?”

“Well, I think in our case we can make an exception, don’t you?”

“Uh yeah, I’m not exactly complaining I just think it’s kinda funny.”

You giggle, “Yeah and all it took was us dating the completely wrong people for the wrong reasons.”

“It’s where we ended up that counts though. How about we clean up and you spend the night? I can give you some clothes to sleep in.”

“Sounds wonderful.” You grin back at him.

When Wayne gets home, he peeks his head into Eddie’s room to check on him, force of habit by now. He’s a little surprised to see you there, wrapped up with him under the covers all snuggled up. 

He decides to leave it til morning, talk to the pair of you properly then. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t see this coming, but he wasn’t sure when Eddie had broken things off with his other girl… or if he even had. He shakes his head, all questions for tomorrow, he needed sleep now too.

[hbyrde36]

Chapter Two

Ch 1 <-

WC: 4574 | R: Explicit | TW: Suicidal ideation, depression | Ch 2/10 | AO3

~Eddie~

One week to the day after Eddie Munson narrowly escaped an almost certain death, he woke up from a coma brought on by major blood loss.

Not that he knew that at the time, but later on he’d overhear a few chatty nurses talking about him when they thought he was asleep, and eventually he’d be talked at by a doctor who looked like he’d rather be treating anyone else. 

Eddie came to gradually at first, and then all at once, as if the hand on the dial of reality had slipped, going from one, to two, to one hundred without warning, leaving him squinting up into a painfully bright light. His thoughts were syrupy slow, and it felt a little like his limbs weren’t quite attached to his body… or maybe his body wasn’t quite attached to his brain.

Blurry fractured images flashed through his mind. Rows of small sharp teeth, the spokes on a bicycle wheel, blood—so much blood. 

Nothing that made any sense.

For a hysterical moment, when his eyes finally managed to adjust, he thought he was in school. The drop ceiling tiles and fluorescent lights reminded him of the classrooms he’d been rotting away in for the last too-fucking-many years. But just when he was starting to wonder how the hell he’d managed to fall asleep on the floor in English class, and why anyone hadn’t woken him up, he finally registered the steady beeping of a heart monitor.

Oh. 

Hospital. He was in a hospital.

One realization led to another, and more sounds quickly began to fill his ears. The whoosh and whir of other unseen equipment around him, the heart monitors incessant beeping becoming faster and faster as he took it all in, broadcasting the rate of his heart as it raced inside his chest—a chest housing a dull ache that was becoming sharper and more insistent by the second.

A broken rib. He'd put money on it. It wouldn’t be the first time, but how had he gotten a broken rib?

Eddie swallowed hard, or tried to, anyway, but only managed to choke on the tube he’d only now realized was jammed down his throat. In a panic he went to reach for his face, fully intent on ripping the thing out himself, but he couldn’t move more than a few inches before his wrists caught, the bite of metal into his skin and the clang of handcuffs rattling against the rails of the bed telling him everything he needed to know about his current situation.

Namely, that he was fucked. 

It all came back to him in a rush. Chrissy, Vecna, Dustin, the bats.

A face swam into view as he continued to struggle against his bonds, a familiar man looking down at him with concern coloring his features.

“Relax, Munson. You’re gonna hurt yourself. I know it feels like you can’t breathe, but you can. You're okay. Someone will be here any second to get it out, I promise.”

Eddie might not have known it from the face alone, and the guy looked completely different than the last time he’d been busted for speeding, but Eddie’d been chased out of enough house parties to know that voice anywhere. 

Former Police Chief Jim Hopper. 

Former, because he was dead.

And Eddie, well—the last thing he remembered, he’d been dead too, or in the process of getting there at least. Is that why he was seeing the late chief now?

No, that didn’t make any sense. If he was dead why would he be in the hospital—or handcuffed to the bed for that matter?

So what the hell had happened? 

This was literally a nightmare come to life. Worst case scenario shit. To somehow have survived being torn apart by a swarm of demobats, only to end up shackled to his own hospital bed, in a town that hates him and thinks he’s some kind of devil worshiping serial killer.

A nurse in blue scrubs arrived seconds later, just as Hopper had promised, gently removing the tube and shutting off the ventilator while Eddie was still busy trying to wrap his brain around it all. The woman, apparently unfazed by the resurrection of a well-known dead man, attempted to stare the chief down over Eddie’s bed in some kind of silent standoff, but eventually conceded. She gave Hopper a shallow nod before taking one last glance at the various monitors, exiting the room with a quiet, “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

Eddie tried to speak but the only noise his wrecked vocal cords could produce was a harsh croak. Hopper was right there yet again, bringing the tip of a bendy straw up to Eddie’s mouth without a word. Eddie glared over the cup as he took a sip. The cool water was like heaven and it was only out of sheer spite that he managed not to moan at the feel of it soothing his painfully raw throat.

“Aren’t you supposed to be dead?” Eddie finally choked out.

The ghost of a smile crossed Hopper's lips. “Do I look dead to you?"

“No, but you do look like shit.”

“Could say the same thing about you, kid.”

Eddie had so many questions, beginning with how was Hopper even there right now? And why? 

Was he there to interrogate him about Chrissy, Fred, and Patrick? If so, then why was he being so... nice? Hopper had always been kind-of a dick to him if he was honest, but that was to be expected when you were a small town drug dealer. And Eddie had definitely heard the saying ‘death changes a man’ before, but he didn’t think this was what they meant.

Hopper sighed heavily and dropped down into a chair next to the bed. "How about I talk and you just listen for now?”

Eddie scowled reflexively, but his sore throat was grateful.

"First, if it isn’t obvious, I’m not here in any official capacity. Powell let me in to see you as a personal favor. I don’t think he would have agreed to it under normal circumstances, but coming back from the dead has its perks. Look, we don’t have a lot of time, but I know you didn’t kill that girl, or any of the others. I know all about Henry Creel and the half-baked plan you knuckleheads came up with to go into the Upside Down and kill the bastard.”

Eddie's eyes went wide, it was so far beyond anything he’d been expecting to hear that his brain just short circuited for a second.

"Don’t look so shocked. I know all about the otherworldly dimensional shit, my kid’s the one with the superpowers, though I guess you probably haven't met her yet. So, did I miss anything?"

Something finally clicked, and Eddie felt a little slow for not having figured it out sooner.

He vividly remembered the news reports, and the chief’s picture in the paper. He’d died a hero, rescuing others in the fire at Starcourt. But Eddie knew now that the incident at the mall had been no simple fire. He didn’t really know the details, only that it had to do with all the rest of the weirdness, and he’d definitely overheard Robin make some vague references to Russians.

“Did they?” Eddie asked.

Hopper tilted his head, brow furrowed. “Did they, what?”

“Kill him.”

“Yeah. Yeah, they got him.”

Eddie let out a long breath, nodding mostly to himself. 

Good. That was good at least.

"A-and how am I—” he stuttered out, gesturing to the all of himself, wrapped up in bandages, and hooked up to monitors and an IV drip. “How did I get here?" 

"You almost didn’t. Steve… he found Dustin sitting with you and they thought—” Hopper trailed off, clearing his throat. “But, he started CPR and somehow they got you out of that place and into the back of an ambulance. Honestly, the whole thing sounds impossible. It’s a miracle you survived."

Eddie’s breath caught in his throat, and the sound of the heart monitor, which had begun to even out as they talked, picked up speed again as the implications sank in.

So he had died, or close enough. It’d been over, curtains, time to pay the riverman and all that, and Steve fucking Harrington had taken it upon himself to reach through the veil and drag him back?

Eddie’s vision swam, the room around him spinning, and suddenly far too bright. He felt like he was going to pass out. 

This was not supposed to happen, it was supposed to be over.

Eddie was so lost in his anger at the fucking audacity that he didn’t notice the nurses barging in until they were practically hovering over him. 

“What’s going on in here?” One of the new arrivals asked, shooting an accusing glare at Hopper.

“Nothing, we were just talking.”

“Well I’ve got alarms going off in the nurses station that tell me maybe that’s enough talking for today.”

Hopper grit his teeth but didn’t argue, meeting Eddie’s eyes over the nurses heads as they poked and prodded him. "I’m sorry you had to hear it from me, and I'm sorry about the cuffs, but I swear we’ll figure this out and get your name cleared. Just hang in there."

-

Another week passed, the time going painfully slow now that he was conscious and had absolutely nothing to do, and no way to distract himself from his thoughts.

Apart from a few kind souls, most of the nurses gave him a wide berth, popping in and out, completing their tasks with cold clinical efficiency. The doctors weren’t much better, telling him he was healing well without going into any specifics. They didn’t volunteer any information, and Eddie didn’t ask, only speaking when he absolutely had to.

None of it mattered.

His body may have been healing, but inside Eddie had never been more shattered.

He was increasingly surprised with each day that passed, that no one had shown up to interrogate him yet. He supposed he probably had Hopper to thank for that one, and not that he’d ever admit it out loud, but he was grateful. He wouldn’t have had the first idea what to say anyway, even if it would break up the monotony. No one would believe the truth, and he had no way of knowing what cover story the others might have come up with.

On the seventh day post coma Eddie received his first and second visitors. 

First, in a surprising turn of events, was officer Callahan. Who, after a stilted and insincere apology removed Eddie’s handcuffs, informed him that he was no longer a suspect in any of the murders, and rushed right back out the door without waiting for a reply.

Which was fine. Eddie had nothing to say to a man that had allowed him to be hunted down like a fucking animal anyway.

His second visitor, and the one person on the planet that could make Eddie crack a smile despite it all, was his Uncle Wayne.

“My boy,” Wayne spoke softly, leaning over Eddie to draw him into a gentle hug. “For a while there I thought I’d never see you again.” 

“I'm sorry,” Eddie said, as Wayne settled himself into the visitor’s chair that had sat empty since the day Hopper left.

He meant it too, even if the apology was woefully inadequate for the amount of worry he’d caused the older man. He might have wished things had turned out differently, but he still didn't like the idea that he’d hurt his uncle. It wasn’t Wayne’s fault that he was so fucked up.

“Wayne, I swear, I didn’t…”

“I know you didn’t, son. I didn't believe it for one second no matter what those two yahoos with badges said.” Wayne scoffed, shaking his head. “Good thing about Hopper though, hmm? I still can’t believe he was working undercover. Imagine faking your own death like that. He really went to bat for you, y’know. Not sure why it was even necessary, mind, what with the injuries you came in here with. It's not hard to believe you were hurt by the same monster who killed those poor kids.”

Eddie’s heart jumped up into his throat. “Monster?”

“They can call him a serial killer all they want, but people can be monsters too. Word’s not only for those things in your dice game.”

Eddie sagged back against his pillows in relief. For a second there he thought someone had told Wayne the truth. Not that the old man couldn’t keep a secret, but he didn't need to be burdened with the brutal reality of what Eddie and the others had faced down. Not now that it was over.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know it’s called Dungeons and Dragons, old man.”

“I admit nothin’,” Wayne chuckled, shaking his head as he pushed himself to his feet. 

Eddie threw him a questioning look. Were visiting hours over so soon? Did his uncle have to go back to work already?

"It’s good to have you back, and much as I’d like to keep you all to myself, there’s a lot of other people wanting to see you too if you’re up for it,” Wayne offered in answer.

Eddie blinked up at him. "Huh?" 

“What’d you think, Ed, that they’d all just left you here to rot? You’ve got a waiting room full of folks down there who seem to care about you a whole lot. Between 'em all checking in on you and that red-headed girl, those poor nurses at reception haven’t had a moment’s peace.”

Actually he kind of had thought that, to be honest. It was hard not to when he'd been stuck in isolation like this. The red-headed girl could only be Max, and Eddie felt like such an ass. He’d been so busy feeling sorry for himself that he hadn’t considered if anyone else had been hurt.

Something must have shown on his face, because Wayne reached out and took his hand, squeezing. “She’s okay, went home a few days ago. It’s been a little quieter around here since then, until today at least, but I swear that little fella Dustin sleeps here some nights, and Steve hardly ever leaves.”

Dustin he almost understood. They were close. He loved that little shit, and death-bed request or not, he could think of no one better to watch over his sheepies when he was gone, sorry Gare.

But Steve.

Eddie’s jaw tightened just thinking about it. 

What was Steve playing at? What right did he have to sit here day after day. Hadn’t he played the white knight enough to boost his own ego, or asswage whatever misplaced guilt or whatever the fuck had made him think Eddie needed, or deserved, or even wanted saving?

He’d spent the entirety of the last week sinking further and further into himself, drowning in despair, self-pity, hopelessness. Finding out he was no longer a suspected murderer had done very little to make him feel better. He was still stuck here in this shithole of a town, in his shithole life, with even less prospects for the future than before. 

He’d be a high school dropout now, because let’s face it, even if Higgins would be willing to let him repeat his senior year for a fourth time, Eddie was done. Surely all these days he was missing would push him over the edge. Those hard fought D’s becoming F’s in the blink of an eye. There was no point in trying anyway. Diploma or not, no one would hire him now. Hopper might have gotten him off the official hook, but Eddie knew how the world worked. Memory for hate was long and though he was innocent, though he would never spend a day in jail, the god-fearing people of Hawkins would always treat him like a murderer.

That was the life Steve had condemned him to by interfering, by taking away his only way out, and Eddie was so fucking angry. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to forgive the other boy for what he’d done.

He wouldn’t have minded seeing Dustin. He probably owed the kid an apology for bleeding out in his arms and maybe causing him a lifetime's worth of trauma, but didn’t know how he’d manage that without the others tagging along. 

“I don’t know, Wayne. I’m pretty tired,” Eddie said eventually, and didn’t even have to fake a yawn. This was the most excitement he’d had since he woke up, and he was still on a lot of drugs that made his bones feel heavy and his eyelids droop.

His uncle gave a sympathetic nod, releasing his hold on Eddie’s hand. “That’s okay, I’ll just go tell them you’re not up to it right now. They’re used to waiting around anyway, maybe later we can—”

“Can’t you just tell them all to go home?!” Eddie snapped, cutting him off. Instantly feeling terrible for raising his voice at the last person in the world who deserved it.

Wayne’s eyebrows flew up. “But… Ed, they’re your friends, aren’t they? They’ve been worried about you. I’m sure they’d like to see with their own eyes that you’re—”

Eddie looked away, dropping his gaze to stare down at the place where his IV disappeared into his skin as if he was suddenly fascinated with it. 

“Listen, I don’t know the half of what you’ve been through, but I’m not stupid,” Wayne went on with a sigh. He rounded the bed, perching himself near the end of it where the rail was down. “I know it’s not as simple as that story Hopper’s pushing out. And those kids down there? They’ve seen some things, and I got a hunch that you have too. Don’t push 'em away now. You’re gonna need each other to get through this.” 

“I don’t care,” Eddie said softly, still not looking up, eyes burning with unshed tears desperately trying to escape. 

“Ed.”

“I’m sorry. I just—I can’t see them, okay?” The first tear rolled down Eddie’s cheek, hanging on to the end of his chin for a moment before splashing down on his chest, absorbed instantly into the thin material of his hospital gown. He didn’t even know why he was crying. 

“Maybe after I get out of here, but for now, I—” Eddie cleared his throat roughly, but still couldn't force the rest of the words out.

“Alright, son. It’s alright.“ Wayne patted his leg and stood, making his way over to the door. “I doubt they’ll listen, but I’ll try and convince them to go on home.” 

-

Wayne visited every day until Eddie was discharged about another week later. If anyone else continued to hang around the waiting room day-in and day-out, his uncle didn’t mention it, and Eddie didn’t ask. 

The broken rib would still hurt like a bitch for at least a few more weeks, but his stitches had all been removed, and his wounds were healing nicely, or so he was told.

The wounds that could be seen anyway. 

He’d have one hell of a scar on his stomach, among others, and one side of his mouth would always pull a little funny when he smiled, but he would make a full recovery. The doctors sent him home with nothing more than instructions on keeping the various areas clean and a mild prescription. 

Read: non-narcotic.

He supposed he’d have to find some other way to try and numb himself then. 

The trailer was new, a bit bigger, and boasted two whole bedrooms so at least neither of them would have to sleep in the living room anymore. Their old home had been taken into custody by some “shady government types”, according to Wayne, but he’d salvaged as much of their belongings as he could before they’d hauled it away. 

Eddie's new room looked almost identical to his old, if a little cleaner and sadly lacking his sweetheart hanging in her place of honor on the wall, lost to the Upside Down.

It must have taken hours, days even, for the old man to get it set up like this and Eddie knew he should have been grateful—should be thanking his uncle profusely for this and everything else he’d done for him since the moment Eddie had been dropped on his doorstep.

But he didn’t feel grateful. 

He didn’t feel much of anything, and prayed it would stay that way.  

-

“How’s he doing?”

Eddie woke to the sound of voices speaking quietly nearby. He must have fallen asleep in front of the TV again. He remembered finishing the last drops of cheap vodka from the bottle, stashing it under the couch cushions before blacking out at some point during a rerun of The Twilight Zone.

He remained still. Too tired to move anyway and not wanting whoever was there talking to his uncle to know he was awake. 

“I don’t know, Chief, “ Wayne whispered, the obvious worry in his voice making Eddie’s stomach roll, or maybe that was the hangover. “He won’t talk to me, hardly leaves that couch. I got these kids calling day and night and he won’t talk to them either, flat out refuses to come to the phone. He’s drinking—a lot I think. I don't even know where it’s coming from. He must be running out when I’m asleep, or maybe he’s getting it from someone here in the park. I’m sure he thinks I don’t know, but I wasn’t born yesterday.”

“I’m sorry, Wayne. What he’s been through, it’s…” Hopper trailed off, blowing out a soft breath. “Maybe he just needs some time.”

“Yea, maybe,” Wayne agreed, but not like he believed it. 

“I did want to check on you both,” Hopper went on. “But that isn’t the only reason I stopped by.”

“I had a feeling.”

“I’m trying my best to get the story out there, to let the community know Eddie is innocent, and now that I've been reinstated I can promise he won’t get any trouble from my guys—” Hopper hesitated. His voice sounded muffled, and it wasn’t hard for Eddie to imagine him rubbing at his face with tired hands.

“But?” Wayne prompted.

“But, public opinion is hard to sway. There’s been a lot of… pushback. It’ll die down eventually, and I’ll see if there’s anything more I can do, but it might be best for him to keep laying low for a while.”

“I hear ya.”

“You call me if you run into any problems around here or in town. Either of you.” Hopper said.

There was the sound of a chair being pushed back, and footsteps coming closer, as if the two men were walking towards the front door. Eddie squeezed his eyes shut, trying to breathe even as he continued to pretend to be asleep.

“Thanks, Jim, and thanks for helping my boy.” 

The door creaked as it opened, and a bit of sobering fresh air blew gently over Eddie’s sweaty face.

“If even half of what I hear is true, he’s a good kid. I’m sorry if I gave him a hard time before.”

Wayne chuckled softly. “Not like he didn’t deserve it.”

There was silence in the air for a beat, and Eddie thought maybe Wayne had gone outside with the chief, until Hopper spoke again, his tone solemn. “He doesn’t deserve this though.” 

“No,” Wayne breathed, “no he doesn't.”

-

A few days after Hopper’s surprise visit, Eddie finally took one of Dustin’s calls.

He wasn’t exactly feeling any better about things, but he was tired of the looks Wayne was giving him whenever he refused to come to the phone. He didn’t know what the look was exactly. There was definitely disapproval in the set of the old man’s jaw, but his face also carried worry, sadness—even pity. 

It wasn’t a great combination. 

Eddie had also smoked the last joint from his own stash, drank himself out of booze, and ran out of cash to buy more. He couldn’t afford so much as a six pack.

He was growing restless, bored, and with no way to medicate himself he was no longer immune to the crushing guilt that had been steadily building since he’d refused visitors at the hospital.

“Eddie?”

“Hey, Henderson.”

Eddie braced himself, expecting to get shit for almost dying and then falling off the face of the earth, but Dustin was—careful.

“H-how are you?” The kid asked. 

Eddie pulled the receiver away from his face and let his head thunk against the wall, thinking he’d have preferred getting yelled at.  

“Oh, y’know… getting there. Healing, day by day, all that jazz. I’m—I’m alright.”

God, he sounded like an idiot.

Dustin let out a whoosh of air on the other end of the phone. “Good, that’s–that’s good. It’s really great to hear your voice.” 

“Yeah, you too, man.” Eddie smiled to himself, and even though this entire thing was making his skin crawl a little bit, he found that he really meant it. “Listen, Dustin, I'm sorry about everything, and going MIA like that. It wasn’t fair to you.” 

There was a beat of silence in Eddie’s ear, a muffled sniffle. 

“I’m just glad you’re okay,” Dustin said finally, his voice a little thick and nasally. 

“Yeah, me too.”

Which couldn’t have been further from the truth, but the kid didn’t need to know that.

There was a rustling noise in Eddie’s ear, and something like a horn, but was probably the kid blowing his nose. And Dustin sounded a little more like his usual self when he spoke again. “So, I know how tired you’ve been, but—”

“What?” Eddie asked, dumbly.

“You’re usually sleeping when I call, so I just thought—”

“Yeah—yes, right.”

Not the most graceful save, but spending days on end drinking, only to be suddenly involuntarily sober had left Eddie’s brain feeling like cotton candy.

“Well, now that you’re feeling better, I thought we could finally have our, we saved the world, party.”

“You say that like it’s a thing. Is that a normal thing you-all do?”

“Of course! You gotta celebrate your victories.”

“I don’t know.”

“Please? Will’s back in town too. We have so much to fill you in on! I was thinking maybe we could even play a quick one-shot now that we’re all back together. Steve wouldn’t mind if we took over his dining room table. He might even watch!” 

Well, that answered the question of where this godforsaken event might be occurring. 

Eddie remembered Dustin, Mike, and Lucas all raving about Will the Wise, and in another life he’d have been thrilled to finally meet the kid and play, but for one thing, he was in no condition to run a campaign yet—or maybe ever again.

And for two…

Steve.

“Absolutely not.”

“Eddieeeee,” Dustin drew his name out, long and whiny.

“No.”

There was no way Eddie was voluntarily getting within a five mile radius of Harrington or his stupidly big house. 

“Come on, forget the game then. Just say you’ll come to Steve’s on Friday.”

“I’m sorry, but the answer is—”

“Please?” Dustin begged, his voice taking on a watery quality again. “I really need to see you.”

And fuck, how was Eddie supposed to say no to that? He should have never picked up the phone. 

“Alright, fine. Tell me what time this shindig is and I’ll be there.”

Chapter 3

Thanks and love to @penny00dreadful and @pearynice for all your help and encouragement with this.

Permanent taglist(open): @penny00dreadful @pearynice @hitlikehammers @bookworm0690 @wonderland-girl143-blog 

@goodolefashionedloverboi @themagicalari @awkwardgravity1 @rocknrollsalad

[lightlycareless]

How could you break my heart on Valentine’s Day??? Waaaahhhhhh, it makes sense but it still hurts. You’re gonna give me a part three or else 🔫

Seriously though it was really good! I loved it. I calculated and rounded up how much Naoya paid Mei Mei in U.S. Dollars and this dude really paid her around $17,500 and that’s not including all the gifts he bought Y/N. If I was Naoya’s parents, his debit card is getting confiscated. That is INSANE. I can’t imagine if they somehow managed to force out what actually happened to learn he spent all that on a girl that didn’t even RECIPROCATE his feelings like oh my god. I can’t imagine the earful poor Ranta is gonna get especially since this was kinda his idea for Naoya to confess his feelings(Although I don’t know if Ranta thought he’d go about it like this).

I wonder though if Y/N would reconsider Naoya’s feelings if she read his letter. Oof but now I’m thinking about what she’d do if she learned Naoya was the reason why she didn’t receive any gifts. I don’t know how long he’d stay on her bad side after that.

Hello anon!

Gee this is surely a really late response, but I still hope you know I appreciate your lovely words about my work!! Thank you so much 🥺❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I'm sorry that I broke your heart on the 14th haha it was kind of unexpected ngl, but that's just where the characters took me 🤭 though it's not all sad... if you know you know.

AS FOR THE MONEY HAHAHAH poor Naoya, he definitely got an earful from his parents, or more like the people in charge of the finances, I doubt Naobito cared enough to scold him (shall I make Tomoko involved? IF SHE WAS AROUND THOUGH THINGS WOULD'VE TURNED SO DIFFERENT) Damn I need to write a small drabble explaining what happened there, but in the meantime, it kind of went like this:

Ranta: What happened Naoya?

Naoya: nothing. *doesn't talk to anyone for weeks*

Ranta: That bad?

Naoya: :(

(he doesn't regret spending all that money on you. it's like a hobby of his lol he loves it.)

But anyways, I keep thinking that the third part for this series I would like something like an epilogue, a peak into the future…

Warnings: none. Fluff. A happy ending 😊. (By the way, this is the oneshot anon is referring to. Highly recommend reading this first!!!)

Happy reading!

“—And that, dumpling, was your papa’s and I first valentine’s day together! Kind of, not really, but it was the first time I got gifts from him. It was certainly different from what I expected, but if you look really closely, it was very sweet, and now, I’m able to look back on it fondly!” You smile; truly, who would’ve thought that you’d end up marrying that awkward, somewhat intense kid? And having a beautiful daughter too?

Though you could see in Naomi’s tense chubby face that this wasn’t exactly the romantic story she was hoping to hear, and you do not blame her, Naoya’s approach had been nothing short of alarming and unexpected, just enough to scare you off from ever considering something more from him!

But his subtle persistence, the small gestures he’d still give you even when openly denouncing he’ll never seek you again, is what eventually persuaded you otherwise.

Through his attentiveness when you were out on a mission with him, making sure that you were neither too cold nor too hot, either through offering you something to drink or his own sweater to wear.

Quick to save you from a curse that got too close, or a fellow student you were not in the mood to entertain.

Whenever you needed help with jujutsu—either a term you didn’t quite understand just yet, or plain practice. Naoya had much more experience than you, so it was only natural that you’d seek him; that wouldn’t change even with that awkward valentine’s interaction…

But above all, what made you see that Naoya might be the one you were waiting for all along, is the fact that he remembered all the things you liked, the ones that made you happy—from sweets, food, to even your favorite characters…

If his emotions weren’t genuine, he wouldn’t have done such a thing!

Perhaps your only regret is ever giving him the idea that you couldn’t come to appreciate him, or that he wasn’t deserving of love.

But that was long in the past, and after a few dates, and getting to know each other… you two fell in love.

Unfortunately, Naomi wouldn’t come to see it that way.

“What’s wrong, pumpkin? This isn’t the story you expected?” Naoya asks with a smile, enjoying the way she huffed in response—though that satisfaction wouldn’t last long.

“No, papa, you were creepy.” She pouted, and her mama could almost hear his heart shatter.

“Oh.” Naoya doesn’t even come to wonder how she knew of such word, undoubtedly from his cousins, but that would be a matter to tend to later after he mends his broken heart.

“Well, he’s done his due! Papa loves us very, very much and would never do anything to scare us!”

“Thanks, Y/N.” Naoya responds sarcastically. “That makes me feel much better.”

You giggle.

“Why don’t you leave us alone, pumpkin? Papa and I need to talk a bit.”

And Naomi obeys immediately after, not that it took much for her to do so, for her disappointment rapidly pushed her to seek something better, a bit more entertaining—like Mai and Maki’s daily occurrences, more ways to annoy her father and such.

Once alone, the two are able to freely look back on that fateful day…

“What I did back then was messed up, wasn’t it?” Naoya sighs.

“I wouldn’t say that necessarily.” You add.

“But nothing happened after that.” He says. “Things didn’t change until much later.”

“Well, I did get to see a new side of you, one I didn’t think you had.”

“What did you think of me…?”

“That you were… bold. Arrogant, a bit snobby too…” you say, Naoya’s face reddens out of shame.

“Don’t—Don’t say anything else.” He frowns. “I get the idea loud and clear…”

“But that you were sweet too.” You smile, taking his hand. “I’ve never been lucky enough to have someone hold such strong feelings for me… thought it to be something out of a fairy tale—Until I met you—someone that harbored so much love to give but didn’t know how to express it.”

“You make me sound much nobler than what I really am—I don’t know how you do it, Y/N…”

“It took me time to get there, love.” You laugh. “But it’s only because you’re so cute that I eventually thought otherwise.”

“Cute?” he huffs, ready to retort otherwise, until you lean in to kiss his cheek, gesture enough to have him willing. “Alright—but only you can call me that.”

“I better be the only one.” You warn. “Although I was hoping our dumpling would do so too when I told her our story…”

“…Well, I can’t blame her, it must’ve sounded crazy for her.” Naoya sighs. “…If someone dared do the same thing to my daughter you can be sure I’d send the kukuru to get rid of him! No jerk is going to impress her!”

“I don’t think that’ll happen; Naomi didn’t seem amused by us either way.” You reassure him. “And she’s too young to be worried about that too! All she cares about right now is when will her papa get her that kitten he promised her…”

“I’m working on it!” Naoya frets. “It’s just that kittens aren’t born until later in the year…”

“Well, let’s hope that you aren’t too late, something tells me that my sister might be already on the lookout…”

“NO, she’s not.” Naoya breathes. “I will never forgive her if she does!”

But you just shrug playfully, not really giving Naoya much of an opportunity to not worry about spoiling his daughter, fearing that he might lose the position of favorite human in the whole wide world against your sister! A rank Hinata has been coveting for as long as he could remember, competing with the rest of your family too…

A tough endeavor, though he’ll have something else to worry about now.

“By the way… I’m aware of what you did with with the gifts.” You say, he freezes.

“Ho—How?” he blinks.

“Shoko told me. Mei Mei wasn’t that… fond of keeping secrets that were too juicy to hide.” You reveal.

“That woman… she told me that—!” but he goes silent, understanding there was a much bigger issue at hand. “…Are you angry with me?”

“Yes, so angry, that I’ve decided to personally torment you for the rest of our lives!” You tease, at the mischief of your voice, a weight is lifted from Naoya’s shoulders. “I was angry, but… it didn’t last long, considering that some of those gifts were from people I didn’t really want to be involved with… so, you kind of did me a favor… though I did have to go through a whole day thinking I didn’t get anything…”

“…I’m sorry—I might’ve gotten ahead of myself trying to impress you…”

“Well, for all the chocolate I missed back then, you made up for me, tenfold!” you grin, wrapping him in your arms and placing kisses all over his cheeks until you could no more. “I love you, Naoya—you and all of your bold, extravagant, though a bit silly, ways. So don’t worry about that anymore, not when it was the reason that brought us together.”

Naoya blushes, letting himself be consumed by the incessant demonstrations of your affection and the acceptance of your words, for there was honesty behind them—even when a rocky start, it ultimately fated the two together.

What was once nothing but a dream, one that seemed so far away on the day you rejected him…

Now was his everyday reality—if not better, for it brought along a small bundle of joy that made both of your lives happier, although there were moments where she didn’t feel particularly the same, unamused by her parent’s antics from time to time…

But even then, he wouldn’t want it any other way.

They got their happy ending nonetheless :') Really, that day was only the beginning for them. It was enough for Y/N to finally set her eyes on him!! And the rest is history 🥺❤️

Thankfully I do plan to write a bit more of this HS AU, you know, the simple things like them slowly falling in love 🥺 ajfghajkghajghjkas this has to be one of my favorite au's (if not the favorite haha) can't wait to write them in time.

Now, thank you so much for your support and patience 🥺❤️❤️!!!! I'm really glad you're liking my work!!!

Take care, and hope to see you soon!!

[cowboyemeritus]

Il Suo Campione (Copia/Reader)

Chapter Two

Series Masterlist

Summary: Copia, for some reason, decides to pamper you a bit. (18+)

Content Warning: smut, graphic violence, minor character death

Read on AO3

Notes: Alright, we’re doing this. I’m taking the plunge and making this into a series. There definitely won’t be a set schedule for updates because of how my life works, so we’ll just have to see where this goes. I might also want to do oneshots/drabbles between chapters so I don’t get burnt out (*wink wink*). Feedback is always welcome!

Darkness. Boots thumping like your tiny heart. Through the slats in the closet door, you can just barely see them; four pairs of legs surrounding Daddy, who’s on his knees.

“Please, man,” he begs. “I can get the money, but you gotta give me more ti-“ One of the figures kicks him hard in the chest and he falls back, slamming into the wall. Someone scoffs as he sputters and wheezes. Your eyes begin to sting with tears, but you do as you’re told and keep quiet.

“I do not think you understand, man,” the kicker snarls. There’s a strange quality to his voice you can’t quite place. “You owe us. You are in no place to negotiate.” Daddy’s face twists with anger.

“It’s not my fault the deal didn’t work out!” The man laughs, but there is no joy in it. It’s blood-curdling.

“You think you are clever? That we would not find out about you pilfering our product for your own use? And now you lie to me?” He’s nearly screaming by the end. Daddy looks scared, and presses himself further into the wall.

“Look- Please, I’ve got a daughter. You can’t-”

“We are done here.”

One of the other men grabs Daddy by the hair, wrenching his head back. The silver blade of a knife flashes as it enters your field of view. Before you can even blink it plunges into his neck with a squelch. You want to scream, to throw up, but nothing comes out. The tears in your eyes spill over, hot on your cheeks. The blade is yanked out and blood begins to pour from the wound in Daddy’s neck, soaking into his shirt. He gurgles, a trickle of red running out of the corner of his mouth. The man lets go of his hair and he drops to the floor, twitching. His head is turned towards the closet, eyes meeting yours. For a moment, they are filled with a deep, primordial fear, and then nothing.

“Kid must be around here somewhere,” one of the men says. You feel your chest constrict, and clamp your hands over your mouth to keep yourself from breathing.

“Do not bother,” the man with the strange voice says. “We have more important things to worry about.”

You wake up in a world of hurt.

That’s not unusual. What’s a little weird is that you’re laying on the plush couch in Copia’s living room, a knitted blanket draped over your body. He normally has you taken to your apartment after fights. You remember falling asleep in the car, Copia insisting you rest your head in his lap. One of his minions must have carried you inside.

Did something happen while you were asleep? It’s not uncommon for things to go south after these events, whether it be the authorities catching wind of the operation or issues with an unhappy customer. There have been times where you’ve had to lay low for days, even weeks.

There’s humming coming from the kitchen. Copia, it seems, is alright at least. Your body groans in protest as you sit up, head throbbing. It feels like your tight braids are pulling the skin on your forehead clean off. Your mouth feels like it’s full of sand. On the coffee table, a glass of water and some pills catch your eye. You grab the water and gulp it down greedily, taking the suspicious-looking tablets in hand. As you saunter over to the kitchen, you catch a glimpse of yourself reflected in one of the large living room windows. The bruising has settled under your eyes in dark purple rings. There’s swelling around your broken nose, too, and pink welts decorate the rest of your face. One could easily mistake you for a zombie in this state. Based on the way you’re feeling, you may not be that far off.

You find Copia hovering over a pot, obsessively stirring some sort of sauce. It takes him a moment to notice you standing there.

“What are these,” you ask, holding out the pills for him to see. He gives you a confused look.

“Ibuprofen? What- Dolcezza, what did you think they were?”

You shrug. “From your brother.” Copia blinks, then shakes his head.

“Oh. No.”

Without further question, you pop the pills in your mouth. You have to step around Copia to get to the sink, refilling your glass and taking another swig. The cool water is like mana from heaven.

“Something go down?”

“Not at all. I thought we could, eh, celebrate your victory together.”

He dicked you down, AND he’s making you dinner? Tonight can’t get any better.

You know he has an ulterior motive of some kind, but choose not to question it for the time being. He adds a pinch of salt to the pot and stirs. With a spoon, Copia scoops up a bit of the sauce, gently blows on it, and then offers it to you. You can only sort of taste it with your nose plugged up, but nod in approval anyway. Copia made it; you already know it’s good.

After a quiet dinner, punctuated by the occasional comment from Copia about the fight, he’s able to lure you into his large, luxurious bathtub. The lights in the bathroom are low, a few lit candles providing some extra visibility. Smarmy Italian music plays from a portable speaker on the counter. After all the time you’ve spent with Copia, you recognize most of the songs on the playlist, though you don’t know the lyrics. You can’t help but roll your eyes at the thought that, knowing him, they’re probably all love songs.

The warm, soapy water does wonders for your aching muscles, and you find yourself leaning against his bare chest, eyes closed, as he massages an herbal-smelling shampoo into your scalp. Maybe it’s the wine you had with dinner, but his fingers are like magic. When he passes over a spot near the nape of your neck, a groan involuntarily slips out from between your lips.

“Feels good, dolcezza?” You nod silently, letting your head fall back onto his shoulder. Copia chuckles, withdrawing. For a few tranquil moments, you lose yourself in the warmth enveloping your battered form. The veil of sleep begins to slip over you, your mind wandering into the realm of unconsciousness. When Copia’s hands dip below the surface of the water, the sound barely registers. Once he starts gently caressing your breasts, however, your eyes crack open. Already, a different kind of heat is pooling in your gut.

Copia presses an open-mouthed kiss to your neck, sucking and biting at the tender flesh. Without a doubt, he intends to leave yet another bruise on your body. You shudder, a groan rumbling in your throat. He gives your chest a squeeze and you can’t help but wriggle against him, feeling him hard against your back. With an unusual boldness, your hand snakes into the crevice between your bodies, grasping at his erection and giving it a few pumps. The angle is awkward and you can feel your shoulder protest, but when Copia moans quietly in your ear none of that matters. Your whole arm could snap off for all you care. He pinches your nipples hard and you gasp audibly, giving his cock a similarly firm squeeze.

“Oh, baby.” He’s never called you that before. Something about it sends you into a frenzy. Shifting, you sit up and turn to face Copia, kneeling between his parted legs, the soapy water sloshing around you. Grasping his manhood, you begin stroking him vigorously, hungry for every sound you can pull out of him. He throws his head back and you feel his hips buck into your touch. “Fuck.”

You want to devour him, to bury your teeth in his flesh and leave your own claiming mark. You know he’ll stop you before you can even try, but the desire lingers. Instead, you surge forward, capturing his mouth in a desperate kiss. You have to turn your head at an awkward angle to avoid crushing your nose, knowing your neck will be stiff in the morning. One of his hands finds your core, rubbing your clit in frantic circles, while the other palms at your breast.

An unfathomable amount of time passes like this. You are lost in the feeling of him, and in a moment of pure, unhinged delirium, you bite down on his lower lip. Copia completely falls apart, his cock kicking as he finds his release. There’s a tangy, metallic taste in your mouth, and when he pulls away you can see the tiniest red bulb on his lip. You’re so fixated on it that you don’t realize you’re still stroking him until he hisses, grabbing your wrist.

“Alright,” he laughs, chest heaving. “Let’s not get carried away.”

Some time later, you’re laying in Copia’s bed under buttery-soft sheets. He’s spooning you, one hand on your hip as his thumb traces circles into the flesh. It’s dark and quiet, both of you seemingly lost in thought. You feel featherlight, loose and floaty from the climax he has just pulled out of you. Your heart beats a little faster recalling the way he looked up at you from between your parted legs, a tenderness in his eyes you haven’t seen from him before. For the first time in… you’re not sure how long, you feel something that resembles contentment. It’s a foreign sensation, warm and fuzzy in your chest like the dying embers of a fire.

Suddenly, Copia rolls onto his back, groaning. You prop yourself up on an elbow to look at him, quirking an eyebrow in a silent question.

“My father,” he reveals, draping his arm over his eyes. “I have to meet with him tomorrow.”

So he needed a distraction.

You say nothing, lowering yourself back down. The fuzziness you had earlier is now gone, replaced by a dull sinking in your chest. You close your eyes and try to fall asleep but can’t, stuck on this evening’s events and what exactly this man’s game is.

Once you’re certain Copia is asleep, you sneak back to the couch.

[justtwotired]

Like mother like son Lloyd x OC (platonic)

Alright, so I randomly had an idea, I just watched Percy Jackson, and you know that scene where Percy is like “I am Sally Jackson’s son” yeah that one, but then Lloyd to Misako about an oC (Aruna) because she was like a mom to him when Misako wasn’t there, so I give you Lloyd with a good mother figure.

(I aged the ninja up a bit for this one, because it’s very small Cole x oC but really not the main plot, it might be there if you squint your eyes.

They first met when Lloyd was around six. He had ran from Darkleys and ended up in a small café in Jamanakai. A girl that was 17 years old at the time was working there, as it was her parents shop and she brought him some hot chocolate as he seemed so cold.

“I have no money,” he told her with a sad pout and she smiled at him. “That’s alright, this one’s on me,” she said and he happily thanked her before drinking his hot chocolate.

He stayed for a while after that so she brought him some lemonade. “Where are your parents, sweetheart?” She asked and Lloyd shrugged.

“No idea, I don’t really remember my parents,” he said and her heart broke. “What happened to them?” She asked, wondering if he had maybe been living on the streets after an incident.

“Nothing, my mom left me at a boarding school and I have no idea where dad is,” he said and she frowned a bit. “Do your teachers know you’re here?” She asked worriedly.

“No, not like they’d care at darkleys,” he mumbled and she tried not to scoff. What kind of parent leaves their child at darkleys?

“Why don’t you drink up your lemonade and I’ll get you some paper and crayons,” she said, making him smile as she walked off to the back of the shop.

She came back and gave him the paper and crayons.

“What’s your name, love?” She asked and he looked up at her. “It’s Lloyd,” he said with a smile. “Lloyd Garmadon,” she smiled back at him, she obviously knew who his father was, but she didn’t mind, he seemed like a sweet kid.

“Nice to meet you Lloyd, I’m Aruna Whitlock,” she said, sticking out her hand. He looked at it confused and she smiled. “You shake it,” she whispered and he happily did so.

He stayed until Aruna had to close down, she had given him some food trough the day of course, making sure he was taken care of well. She looked at him as he sat in a corner, now playing games on her iPad.

“Come, I’ll bring you back,” she said and he pouted at her. “I don’t wanna go back,” he said and she gave him a sad look.

“I’m sorry, dear, but I can’t let you stay outside,” she said and he got of his chair, sadly. She took his hand and walked him to her car.

“Can I come back?” He asked. She knew that it wouldn’t be allowed by the school, but she also knew how horrible the school was.

“Whenever you want,” she said, making him grin. This was the first time in Lloyds memories that he experienced love.

The second time he visited, he came to sit with her behind the counter, telling her story’s about himself that definitely didn’t happen.

She did have to scold him a bit, telling him that he shouldn’t steal or be mean to others.

She did give him some cookies and her iPad, letting him watch some videos on YouTube as she helped her customers.

The third time he visited, she was prepared. She had bought some commics, blankets and a hoodie, as the boy always wore a t-shirt even though it was cold outside.

It was plain black, but she hoped he’d like it anyway.

Spoiler alert, he loved it. But the comics weren’t of much use, the boy couldn’t read a word.

Aruna should’ve thought about it, he was only 6 after all. She wondered how he even managed to escape his school all the time.

But now, every time he visited, when there were no clients, she took her time to teach him how to read.

The boy was actually quite smart and at his tenth visit, he could already read small children’s books. He begged Aruna to give him some off the comics to read and she finally gave in.

It went pretty well, but he ran over a lot of times to ask her about a certain word, which she then explained to him.

This is how he became obsessed with starfarer and he visited so much eventually, that it didn’t take long before he had read all of them.

Whenever a new one came out, Aruna bought it so the boy could read it when he came by.

It was his the twenty first time he visited that he proudly showed off his black hoodie, which he painted with white paint so it looked like a skeleton.

It was messy, but Aruna could laugh about it and called it beautiful, making his eyes shine.

One of the days Lloyd best remembers, is the day he visited on a Thursday, the day the shop was closed.

He sat outside the shop door, tears staining his cheeks because he really wanted to see Aruna.

Luckily for him, she had forgotten her phone charger the day before so she found him at the doorstep.

He hugged her tightly when he saw her and in tears he explained that he had missed her so much.

She hugged him and picked him up in her arms. He burried his face in her neck and mumbled something before he fell asleep.

Aruna just opened the cafe door and made a makeshift bed out of some blankets and pillows, where she laid him down.

When he woke up, he rubbed his eyes and found a glass of lemonade and the newest starfarer comic next to him.

He looked up to spot Aruna with a cup of coffee at one of the tables and she winked at him.

He happily read his comic and drank the lemonade. He had run up to her three times to know the meaning of a word or what it said.

“Lloyd,” she said when he finished the comic, he looked up at her with questioning eyes. “Have you heard that there’s a starfarer movie?” She asked and his eyes lit up.

“There is?” He asked and she nodded. “It’s actually in the cinema today… wanna go?” She grinned and his mouth fell open.

“Really?” He asked and she nodded. “Really,” she said.

This day is what Lloyd would call the best day of his life.

It had been a bit longer than a year of his visits. He was at the cafe once every two weeks at least and he and Aruna had became really close.

So close that one day… he accidentally called her mom.

“Oh- I mean, Aruna,” he quickly said, a scared look on his face. She smiled at him and ruffled his hair.

“You can call me mom if you want to, love,” she said and he grinned, showing of his little fangs that Aruna had no idea where he got from.

Years went by and nothing really changed in their cycle, Lloyd visited, called her mom, learned new things and manners, and you could go on.

She loved the boy like a son, she made sure he had a place to go to when he needed help, when he needed a mom.

“Were you demanding candy from the villagers again?” Aruna asked, looking unamused as she raised an eyebrow at the blonde boy, hanging on a wall with the hood of his hoodie.

“Yes…” he mumbled and she sighed. “What did I tell you about bothering people and being disrespectful?” She asked.

“To not do it,” he said, looking at the ground with a pout. “And what did you do?” She asked. “I still did it- but like- this is just mean!” He said and she chuckled.

“You’re right, this is mean,” she said and took him off the wall, holding him in her arms. “So we learned not to do that again, right?” She asked and he nodded, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

She took him inside and gave him some apple juice and a lollipop to keep him busy while she helped her clients.

When there weren’t any clients, Lloyd told her the story about how the ninja had stopped him and where complete meanies, in his words.

She told him that it was not fair how they treated him, but that he should not be a meanie to other people either, making him sigh and nod.

“Shall I bring you home?” She asked and he shook his head. “I’ll walk,” he said and she frowned.

“Are you sure, love? I could give you a ride if you just wait a few hours,” she said but he shook his head.

“No, I want to walk, it’s good for me, right mom?” He asked and she chuckled.

“Yes, exercise is good, but sometimes taking a kind offer is also good,” she bend down to be at his height.

“Yes, but I want to walk, I want to go back anyway,” he said and she chuckled at him and kissed his cheek.

“Than you may walk,” she said and he waved her goodbye through the front windows.

She could never have guessed what Lloyd would do next and she could never have stopped it.

Later that day, some villagers took refuge in her shop. There were serpentine outside, terrorising the people around, they said.

“Lloyd Garmadon is with him, he’s always here, isn’t he?” A woman said and Aruna’s eyes widened.

“Are you sure it was Lloyd?” She asked and the woman nodded. “Pretty sure, he was rather proud with calling his name,” she said and Aruna put a hand over her mouth.

“I am so sorry, stay here, I’ll talk to him,” she said and walked outside. She saw some serpents but it only looked like they were in a hurry to get away.

There wasn’t any sight of Lloyd, but it wouldn’t surprise Aruna if he was really behind it, there were deserted wheelbarrows of candy and Lloyd had always been fascinated by serpentines.

She looked around with sad eyes as some villagers were hurt. She then noticed the ninja were also there.

One dressed in black came over when he saw her staring. “Can we help you, Miss?” He asked and she nodded.

“Please don’t tell me Lloyd was with the serpentine,” she said and his eyebrows rose slightly.

“I- yes, he uh, he was, it actually seemed like he was commanding them,” he said and Aruna groaned.

“He said he was going back to darkleys,” she said, rather disappointed. “You know him?” He asked and Aruna nodded.

“He’s in my shop a lot, can I give you my number, so you can call me if you find him?” She asked and he nodded.

“Yes, of course,” he said and took out his phone. They exchanged numbers and soon enough he left.

“Did you just get the number of that pretty girl?” Kai teased him and Cole nodded.

“Yes, but not because of what you think, she knows that little trouble maker, she seems to care about his wellbeing,” he said and Jay huffed.

“Why would someone care? He just let the serpentine lose, no one can tell what will happen now,” he said annoyed.

“Awe come on Jay, he’s just a kid,” Nya said and Jay quickly changed sides, stumbling over his words and blushing.

Kai rolled his eyes while Cole laughed at him.

It was a week later when Aruna got a call from Cole.

“Hey, it’s me, the black ninja, but just call me Cole,” he said, a bit awkwardly.

“Have you found Lloyd?” She asked quickly, having been worried all week.

“Yeah, yesterday evening, I didn’t want to bother you so I waited until morning to call,” he said and she just brushed this off.

“It’s fine, where are you? I’m coming over to see him,” she said and he was surprised for a moment but thought it couldn’t hurt if she stopped by. He hadn’t really realised Lloyd was apparently this important to her.

He told her where they were and Aruna grabbed her keys, closed the shop and got into the car, ready to drive over there.

She called her parents on the way, telling them that she closed the shop and they needed to fix someone else because she had an emergency.

Damn was she lucky they were understanding people.

She had already gotten the news that the ninja were taking residence on a flying ship, so she didn’t think much when she saw it.

She rushed on board and the four ninja all seemed to be training there.

The red one seemed to notice her first and greeted her politely. “I’ll go get him,” he said but before he could do so, the boy already came running outside.

“Mom!” He called and jumped into her arms. She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek, before putting him down.

“What did I tell you about hurting other people and behaving?” She asked in a scolding tone.

“Always be kind and don’t do anything that might hurt other people or myself,” he said, looking at the ground.

“Why did you think it was a good idea to set the serpentine free?” She asked and he shrugged.

“The ninja had been mean,” he moped and Aruna sighed and looked at the ninja who where staring at them from a few feet distance.

She stood up and crossed her arms. “Did you apologise to him?” She asked in a scolding tone.

“Uh, no?”

“I don’t think we did…”

“Obviously not,”

“I think we might’ve forgot…”

“Apologise to him, now,” she pointed at the boy and the surprised ninja all muttered apologies.

“Have you apologised to the ninja?” She asked the boy who crossed his arms rebelliously.

“What do I have to apologise for? They started it!” He pointed and she raised her eyebrows.

“Excuse me?” She asked and he pouted at her, making tilt her head to the side slightly.

“Sorry mom,” he said before turning to the ninja. “Sorry, I guess,” he said. “Lloyd,” she said and he looked back at her before he turned to the ninja again.

“I’m sorry I set the serpentine free and kind of messed up,” he said.

At that moment, a man with a long white beard came walking outside.

“Sensei Wu! Your sister in law seems to be here!” Kai called and the man looked up in surprise and longing.

“Misako?” He asked and Aruna raised an eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure I’ve never met him,” she said.

Wu frowned as he walked over. “And I’m sure I never met you,” he said and that’s when Lloyd took over.

“Mom, this my uncle, uncle, this is Aruna, my kind off mother” he said and Aruna chuckled and stuck out her hand for Wu to shake, which he did.

“I think you know I’m not his actual mom- I’m also much to young for that, but he calls me mom,” she said while Lloyd held her hand and leaned against her.

“It’s nice to meet you, Aruna,” Wu said kindly, rather happy to see Lloyd had found some sort of parental figure.

“Can she stay with us, please, please, please!? There is enough room on the bounty!” Lloyd begged.

“If she wants to, she may stay here,” Wu said and looked at his students. “Right boys?” He asked.

“Uh, sure, I don’t mind,” Cole shrugged. “I think Nya would like her,” Kai nodded.

The other two agreed aswel and Aruna chuckled.

“I’m not sure Lloyd, I still have the shop and I really don’t want to be a bother,” she said but he rolled his eyes at her.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to quit anyway? Your parents can take care of it, can’t they?” He asked, and even though she thought it irresponsible, she let herself be convinced by Lloyd.

It did lead to the very awkward moment where she met his dad, though.

Garmadon had not been interested in her, at all, but the moment they came back to the ship after trying to save Lloyd, he saw the devastatingly, heartbroken look in the girls eyes when she found out Lloyd was still in the erupting volcano, he thought maybe his son had been really important to her.

He had been right, because the moment Lloyd got back, it wasn’t his father he immediately ran to for comfort and a hug, no he ran to the strange girl and called her mom.

Of course, he did get a hug after, but he was really surprised, because for a second he was conflicted if Misako had just changed so much or if this was just a random girl.

The answer was obvious of course.

When it became clear Lloyd was the green ninja, Aruna had stayed with him all night, because she knew he was going to need her.

In his room, he told her about how heroic he was going to be and how he was going to be a great fighter.

“And than, when the time comes, I will beat-” he cut himself off as realisation flooded trough him. “I will beat my dad…” he said and looked at Aruna with heartbroken eyes, tears starting to spill.

She held him, the whole light she held him. She sat on his bed and he laid in her lap, sobbing until he fell asleep.

The next day the ninja found the two, Lloyd snoring in a sleeping Aruna’s arms, it was the moment they really realised how important this girl was for the boy they actually started to like.

Through the days, the ninja actually became great friends with Aruna, deciding that they had to put up with Lloyd for a long while, so they would be ‘stuck’ with Aruna aswel.

When they defeated the great devourer, she helped them find jobs and things that they could do to earn money.

She loved watching as they trained Lloyd in the Mojo Dojo.

She also loved watching Lloyd glare at Dareth whenever he tried flirting with her.

She did like it when they got the bounty back, it had really started to feel like home to her, and now she could watch the ninja train Lloyd there.

Cole started to make some time to teach Aruna some stuff aswel. “If you’re going to be around for as long as we think, you might aswel learn how to fight, you’re going to need it,” he had told her.

She really liked the training time with Cole and couldn’t help but blush ever time he moved her a bit to better her stance.

The day of the tomorrow’s tea, is a day Aruna would never forget. She had been out for a while, and when she came back, nobody was home.

She didn’t think much off it and waited for them to get back.

They jumped onto the deck one by one and she looked around the group for a few seconds.

“Where are Kai and Lloyd?” She asked, the group exchanged looks and Cole stepped forward.

“Listen, Andy, something happened,” he said and the frowned. “Are they okay? Is Lloyd hurt? Is he in the hospital?” She asked and he quickly calmed her down by grabbing her hand.

“No, it’s not that- it’s… you better see so for yourself,” he said and moments later, Lloyd walked onto the deck.

He only seemed about three or so years younger than she was. Her breath hitched and tears started stinging in her eyes.

What happened to her boy?

“What happened?” She asked, her voice breaking. “There was an incident with some aging tea…” he shrugged, trying to give her as reassuring smile.

It fell when he saw the heartbroken look in her eyes.

“Hey,” he tried to laugh as he walked towards her taking her hands in his. “Mom, I’m still here, alright?” He said and she nodded before pulling him into a hug.

The group watched all a bit mournfully as they watched a mother and son that could be mistaken for a brother and sister, two friends, or even boyfriend and girlfriend (everyone felt disgusted by the last one really) hug, knowing that the bond they had would never be able to break.

Aruna had joined the group when they visited the museum, it was pure coincidence that she was there, but it was lucky she was, because it was important for Lloyd at that moment.

“You guys are such idiots,” Aruna laughed as she looked at the destroyed gift shop. “Oh come on, like you could’ve done it better,” Kai said.

They made their way out of the shop to see Wu with a woman, he seemed rather in love.

“So, are you gonna introduce us?” Jay asked and Wu nodded.

“Yes,” he said. “This is Misako, Lloyds mother,” he said and Aruna felt her heart crashing trough the ground as she looked at the woman who actually really resembled the boy.

They all stood to the side and looked at a surprised Lloyd.

“My- my mother?” He said and the woman smiled.

“Ah, Lloyd? My little boy,” she walked toward him. “You’re so much bigger then I remember. “

Aruna glared slightly at the woman and Cole laid a hand on her shoulder, and gave her a concerned look. She just lightly smiled at him.

“Yeah, well, it’s been a long time,” Lloyd said, recoiling from her touch.

“I didn’t want us to meet like this,” Misako shook her head. “I have a reason why I’ve been away!” She tried to explain.

“Well I don’t wanna hear it,” he spat and turned away, walking toward the door.

“Lloyd wait! Please!” She called. “You’re my son!” She cried desperately.

Lloyd turned around and for a moment Misako seemed to have hope until she saw his angry glare.

“I am Aruna Whitlocks son!” He yelled at her before turning away and slamming the door.

“I’ll go talk to him,” Aruna said, walking toward the door.

“Maybe it’s better if I go to explain my reasons,” Misako laid a hand on Aruna’s shoulder and the girl turned around with a small huff.

“No, I think it’d be better if I go,” she said with a a small sneer.

“And who are you?” Misako asked, a bit irritated. “I am Aruna Whitlock,” she answered with triumph before going after Lloyd.

Aruna found Lloyd sitting at a large sinkhole. She walked over and laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Are you alright, love?” She asked and sat down next to him.

“It’s so unfair how she thinks she can just explain her reasons and think we’re all good again,” he said and rested his head on Aruna’s shoulder.

“It is unfair,” Aruna said. “But maybe if you heard her out, you might want to give her another chance,” she tried and Lloyd huffed.

“Another chance at what?” He asked and Aruna shrugged. “Well she’ll never get another chance at being my mother, that spot is taken,” he said and the girl chuckled.

“Yes, I’d be jealous,” she teased, making him laugh lightly. “But maybe another chance to be in your life,” she combed her hand trough his hair like she did whenever he couldn’t sleep or had a nightmare.

“You might wanna look out, that sinkhole doesn’t have a bottom, son,” the voice of Misako entered the room. “It’s where I found the ancient stone warrior,” she explained.

Aruna stood up from her spot and looked at the woman for a moment. “I’ll leave you to alone, I’ll wait outside,” she said before she kissed the top of Lloyd head and headed outside.

Aruna waited outside of the room and she saw the others about to head inside. “Are you coming aswel, Aruna?” Zane asked and and she gave him a small smile.

“No thanks, I’ll wait,” she said in a small voice. Deep inside, she felt scared that Lloyd would choose Misako as his mother again and they’d lose their spark.

After composing herself, Aruna headed inside, to see what was going on and if the two made up.

“Leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve ever had time do,” she heard Misako said. “But faced with saving you and the world, I had no other choice,” she said.

Aruna came to stand with the others and Lloyd stood up.

“I can forgive you,” he said, making Misako smile. “And I can let you back into my life again,” he continued, slowly stepping towards the others behind him.

“But I am afraid to say the face of a mother belongs to someone else,” Lloyd looked at Aruna who gave him a reassuring smile.

(Tell me if you want a part two or maybe a series of this,)

[skelswritingcorner]

A Vessel, A Stranger, An Experiment

A/N: This took half a week to write, and is significantly longer. Also, the reader character's canon name is Ailith, but I use Y/N since this is the reader character. She behaves like a stray cat. I mostly consulted tvtropes because the wikis aren't exactly helpful with getting a nail on the bots' personalities. Also, the translator is an idea I took from @tripleglitchwriting's Ignition fics,

This is a partial rewrite of An Unfamiliar Place.

Part 2 can be read here!

Word Count: 3K

Reader character is written with gender-neutral pronouns. POV changes and timeskips are designated with three stars.

Warnings: SFW, mentions of blood and injuries, communication problems, G/T (giant/tiny), mentions of unethical experiments

You knew about your injuries before going on the little ship you called home. It’ll be fine, you remember assuring your most recent client after you got your payment, I know how to mend myself.

Clearly, based on the spike that impaled your torso, you were indeed not. Your client didn’t need to know, you had the money to pay someone to fix you up if you can’t do it yourself. Perks of being a bodyguard for hire; the money makes up for any injuries sustained. At least the cloak hid that from the client; you knew they’d prevent you from leaving the planet if they saw.

You removed your mask and cloak, peeling your gloves off your hands as well as removing your grappling hook, and limped toward the mirror. Shit, you thought to yourself, the injuries are more severe than what you assumed. The spike in your torso was the one you knew about, but there were also bullet holes in your left calf. You checked your sleeves, mostly just small scratches and scrapes. Nothing you couldn’t fix.

Grabbing the medical kit, you went to work. Cleaning the wounds of blood and possible grime, then applying the bandages and wraps. The spike would have to be removed by someone more professional, you need to navigate to the nearest space clinic. Plopping onto the chair, you set the ship to go to the nearest clinic. However, as a precaution, you turned on the emergency signal in case a larger ship with someone more skilled in medicine could help. Hopefully the trip will be quick, and smooth-sailing.

Oh, how much of a fool you were. Oh-so foolish of you. You thought this was going to be anything but a disaster? You fool, you absolute buffoon.

There was a massive ship, you knew it was for something gigantic. How and why did you end up in this situation?! You weren’t sure what to do, so you kept the ship where it was. The ship you were facing was ten miles wide at least, and you might be its target.

Something grabbed the ship. It pulled you closer and closer to the gigantic vessel, until you knew you were inside it. Launching yourself off the chair as fast as you could, you hurriedly fastened your magnetic grappling hook on your right arm and grabbed the smallest weapons you had. No time to grab anything else, you needed to run as soon as you could. You held the handle of one of your smaller blades between your teeth.

Clearly, what was holding you was massive, footsteps jostling both you and your vessel, but eventually the ship you were in was put down somewhere. Once everything went silent, you cautiously opened the front hatch.

The vessel you were in was truly massive. Whatever crew is inside this thing must be members of species ten times larger than you at least. No time to dawdle, though. You needed a place to hide, and with haste.

Using your grappling hook, you descended down to the floor. It gave out midway, however, and you unceremoniously fell. Waves of intense pain overwhelmed you, fortunately the knife in your mouth prevented you from shouting out in pain. You’d check what happened later, though. You needed to find a hiding spot some distance away from your ship.

Holding onto your bloodied side, you scurried to a wall and started searching. Fortunately for you, there were some boxes that were open on its side after a few minutes of sprinting. You used your grappling hook to get to them, and entered one of the boxes. Now all you needed to do was wait. See if the crew is friendly, or if they’re going to kill you. Or if you end up dying from blood loss, which is the most likely option.

✩✩✩

It was Ultra Magnus out of anyone who noticed the object at first, and the blood trails coming outside of it. It’s an organic, and an injured one at that, he thought. Using his comm link, he informed all upon the Lost Light of the injured “intruder.” As they were minibots, Tailgate and Rewind were delegated the responsibility of investigating the interior of said object; see what it was for and if anything about what was inside could be discovered. Fortress Maximus chose himself not to look for the organic, for his size made it difficult for him to detect the source of the blood trails. That, and he didn’t want to squash them, so he checked all the cameras in the ship. Ratchet and First Aid were to prepare a berth, as the blood implied potentially life-threatening injuries. Brainstorm and Perceptor were to prepare some restraints and trapping items, in case said organic was being difficult. Now, to figure out who to find the organic…

Much to his dismay, however, Rodimus declared to find the organic himself. “I’m the captain of this ship,” he argued, “I’m going to search for them!”

Magnus pinched his enstril, a deep sigh coming from his intake. Rodimus has always been stubborn, refusing to heed anyone’s advice and acting without plans. Which, given the potential gravity of this current situation, could be disastrous. “I’d suggest not running off by yourself, Captain. At least bring one other Autobot, two pairs of optics are better than one.”

He could feel Rodimus roll his optics.

“I’ll go with the Captain.” Drift sighed. “I know you don’t trust me, but I’ll do the best that I can.”

Magnus grumbled, “Fine. You go with the Captain. I’ll remain by the object the organic came out of. Based on the size, they shouldn’t be too far off. Follow the red trail, and once you get them, bring them to the medbay.”

✩✩✩

POV: Tailgate and Rewind

When Tailgate and Rewind entered the ship, it was relatively empty, yet had signs of life. The blood on the floor made Tailgate panic a bit, but he carried on with reassurance from Rewind.

There were a few items of note, mostly the mask and cloak on the floor. The mask was birdlike in appearance; midnight blue in color with signs of wear. Mostly scratches. The cloak was a similar shade of blue, and rather bulky. There was a cut on the back of it, with blood around where the cut was.

Tailgate turned on his communicator. “Oh, this is bad.”

“What is it, Tailgate?” Magnus questioned.

“There’s an item on the floor, there’s a deep cut on it and… and I think the organic’s injuries might be way more severe than we think!”

“Ten four. I’ll inform Ratchet and First Aid of this.”

Rewind noticed a container, opening it up to see several weapons. Most of said weapons were blades. “We’re not dealing with just any organic,” he muttered, “this is one that knows how to fight. They could be armed as well.”

Rewind opened his comm link to Rodimus.

Tailgate investigated thoroughly, there could be a bomb on the ship. Every container he opened lacked bombs, however. Replacement parts, some stuff written in an unfamiliar language, and… diagrams?

Tailgate looked at the diagrams more closely. Based on the shape, the form was of a human. There were peculiar additions on the chassis, left bitarlueus, and right side of the midsection. Likely something Perceptor and Brainstorm could figure out.

“I found what looks like a recording device! It seems rather old, but I think it might work.” Rewind’s words broke Tailgate out of his trance, “We should activate our translator modules so we can figure out what it’s saying. Once everyone’s translators are online, I’ll play the recording.”

Once everyone confirmed that their translators were online, Rewind pressed the play button on the device. The words that came out were steel cold.

“If you’re listening to this, you’re on my ship. You’re a sneaky one, ain’t cha? I’ve been given many names; The Masked Merc, The Bodyguard Who Shot That One Guy’s Eye Out, and many other names. You’ll be getting my real identity from my cold, dead corpse. If you’re expectin’ me to cooperate with you if I’m alive, you better be polite about that. I’m willing to throw hands if you try to force anything out of me. I might be a mercenary, but I’m not one to throw hands just for the sake of it.”

The recorded message on the old device ended. The two bots looked at each other, and back at the device.

“Wait, there’s another button next to it.” Rewind pressed the button, and another recording played. The voice this time was much softer, and younger. Likely their first recording.

“Hello. I am Y/N. I’m not sure what I really am in this world, this is my first time experiencing many things. Heh, the consequences of living your first decade of life in a lab, I guess. I doubt I can find my ‘real family’ at this rate, if they even miss me at all. I’m a bodyguard for hire. Rarely need to use my weapons, guess some people find me too scary. Goodbye for now. If you see me, you see me. If you don’t, you don’t.”

Silence.

“So the organic’s a bodyguard. Y/N, huh? Must be a pacifist, from the sounds of it.” Tailgate pondered.

“Or is powerful enough that most don’t even try to challenge them since it means swift deactivation.” Perceptor rebutted through the comm link.

“WE FOUND ‘EM!”

✩✩✩

POV: Rodimus, Drift, and Reader

Once the two reached Ultra Magnus, Tailgate, and Rewind, Drift began checking the blood. “There’s a splatter on the floor here,” he mentioned, “must’ve had a nasty fall before they started finding somewhere to hide.”

Rodimus winced trying to imagine the pain. Why couldn’t the organic stay put until they got help? Weren’t they the one sending out the emergency signal?

“Let’s go find that organic!” Rodimus started walking while looking down at the blood trails, Drift swiftly following.

The two walked slowly, optics scanning for where the blood led towards and listening to their comm links. They heard Tailgate and Rewind’s notes about the organic’s possible injuries, the weapons, and the recordings.

Rodimus noticed a slightly open crate, where the blood trail ended. A squeak from inside was all he needed to justify putting a servos on the crate’s side, and opening it up.

“WE FOUND ‘EM!”

Well, you got caught. Took what you believe is half an hour, but better than dying. You weren’t going to hop onto them instantly though, they might try to kill you. More likely than not, they might not be super cautious. Especially the orange one, they seem like they’ll accidentally manhandle you and make your injuries significantly worse.

Wait, how can you understand them? Are they using a common tongue? You have some handle on certain languages from your years as a mercenary, but you weren’t sure how they knew any of the languages you knew. Nobody mentioned giant sentient robots when talking to you. Actually, they probably did it in whispers since most people are scared of you. Dammit.

The white one tilted their head, “You’re clutching your midsection with your servo. Are you hurt there?”

Well, shit.

You slowly removed your hand from where you were covering your injury. The spike got pushed when you fell, and is currently jutting out from your stomach. Fortunately, or unfortunately, it didn’t end up on the side of the subspace pocket the scientists installed on you, so you can hide that for a little while longer. Your hand, however, was covered in blood.

The orange one held out their hand, or what they called a servo. You did not trust him to handle you gently, and walked further into the crate. They grumbled, something about you being difficult.

“Let me, Rodimus.” The white one held his servo out, “I think they don’t trust you with holding them.”

You approached the servo with caution, touching a digit with your not-super-bloody hand. When they didn’t try to grab you, you slowly crawled onto their open palm. Another squeak of pain came from your lips when your injured leg touched the hand, though.

The servo slowly brought you close to their body, and the one you assume is Rodimus put a servo on the side of their helmet. “Drift’s holding the organic, I’ll go with him to the medbay and have Ratchet look at ‘em.”

“Percy and I will be there too,” another, more younger-sounding voice said, “I think I found something of note.”

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. What did they find? The medical kit that’s pretty low on supply right now, your sewing kit, or…

They found the files you took with you when you escaped, didn’t they? All those diagrams and logs about your conditions and states, and how your body responded to the implementations. You should’ve kept that in the subspaces, in hindsight.

“Don’t worry,” the one holding you, Drift, comforted, “Ratchet’s a bit grumpy, but he’s one of the best doctors here.”

He’s gonna struggle with the spike since it’s so tiny compared to them. Unless he has some sort of assistant closer to your size, you’re probably gonna be the one to remove it for the doctor.

They started walking, Drift making sure that you were safe, and that you wouldn’t be jostled too much.

You heard a door open, and heard another approach.

“This is the injured organic? The berth is ready, First Aid and I will take care of them.” you assume that was Ratchet.

Drift walked closer to a large metal slab, gently lowering you onto it. A pair of smaller servos held you, lowering you so that you laid supine.

“What’s the thing they’re holding in between their dentas?” the voice from who you infer as being First Aid asked. You removed the switchblade from your mouth without saying a word. With a flick of the wrist, the blade went out, but you then put it back in its original position.

A red servo took the knife away. You wouldn’t need it right now anyway, but they better give it back once they’re done fixing you.

“We should take care of what’s poking out of them first. It’s incredibly tiny though, I doubt my servos can even grab onto it without slipping.” Ratchet prodded around the injury, making you wince.

You sighed, grabbing onto the spike. A growly voice came from your mouth, “I can remove it for you.”

First Aid grabbed onto your bloody hand, “You’re injured! We should be the ones removing it!”

“And you’re literally twice my size,” you rebutted, “I’ve had worse done to me. This is nothing.” You weren’t bluffing either. Those researchers have done worse things to you with their twisted experiments.

Ratched sighed, “They’re probably right. I know it hurts your spark to have a patient removing something that you can, but it seems that they have… experience with removing things from themselves. Clean the wound and stitch it up once they remove the object.”

First Aid looked into your eyes. Despite the plate on their face and visor preventing you from reading his expression, you knew from his tone of voice and body language that he was worried. He reminded you of yourself, in a way. That hyper-empathy that frequently decides to say hello when you least expect it.

“Ready?”

You nodded, slowly pulling the spike out. First Aid held your hand during this, not caring about the blood staining his servos. Comes with the job, you suppose. Once it was removed, a cloth was put over the gaping, bloody hole.

It took a decent amount of time before all injuries were cleaned and stitched up. They also made you digest some kind of liquid that Ratchet claimed to help speed up the healing process. Throughout, you were as obedient as a dog.

During the time the procedure was happening, Drift left. In his place, two other robots were there. First Aid was lifting your upper body so you could sit.

“The patient was rather pleasant, didn’t try fighting me or anything.” Ratchet reported to the red and blue one.

“Eh,” you shrugged, “You spend half your life as a lab rat, you get used to followin’ orders and getting weird things injected into your body.”

Everyone went silent and stared. Some looked confused, others horrified. First Aid stopped.

“Y’all’re lookin at me funny.”

The white and blue bot, who was likely the one who went into your ship, said those six words you remember hearing years ago, “What did they do to you?!”

Not this again.

“Based on those documents,” the red and blue one spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, “many things. I translated all of them. It appears that the patient,” he gestured to you, “was used in experiments to see if subspace entrances could be added to organic bodies for purposes of smuggling items. Clearly, they were successful.”

Welp, cat’s out the bag.

“Do these documents have any information other than that?” First Aid asked, “Where they’re from? Their name? If they have a family?”

You scoffed, “I was taken when I was a baby, as far as I’m concerned I’m an orphan. And I’m confident it’s too late to try and find my biological relatives, if they’re even alive.”

The white and blue bot covered where their mouth would be, “But do you know what planet you’re from? We can start there.”

“The documents say they’re from Earth, and therefore a human. From that recording Tailgate and Rewind found, their name is Y/N.” The taller bot said.

“Thank you, Perceptor. I’ll look over the documents once we clean and sanitize the berth.” Ratchet nodded.

You were exhausted from the chaos of today. Closing your eyes, you quickly fell asleep.

✩✩✩

Ratchet carried the sleeping human to the scanner, looking at the screen as it was scanning.

“There appears to be multiple points of trauma, both new and old. Along with those, signs of experimentation are shown especially on the upper chassis, left bitarlueus, and midsection. The peculiar crescent scar below their tank shall be noted for later questioning.” He noted on his datapad. “For now, it’s best that they rest.”

After the scans finished, he brought the human to a berth meant for the minibots, and sat on a chair nearby to monitor them.

[seokmthw]

happy birthday, idiot | kim gyuvin

⇢ pairing: gyuvin x reader

⇢ warnings: fluff, kinda enemies to lovers?, mutual crushes

⇢ word count: 668

⇢ note: happy birthday to this silly boy, and thank you to the lovely @zerobaselove for this idea. wishing gyuvin nothing but the best on his special day today <3

JOIN MY TAGLIST!

you sighed, glancing down at the slice of cake in your hand, it’s stupid blue icing and piped white border causing you to rethink your entire decision of even purchasing it – all he did was pester you and make it impossible to get anything done at work. you couldn’t stand him, really, so what possessed you to even consider buying him a piece of cake for his birthday, let alone spend your hard earned money on it? you weren’t entirely sure, yet there you were with it anyway. 

shaking your head, you exited the elevator upon it’s ‘ding!’ and onto the floor of your office, your bag slightly slipping off of your shoulder and your grip on the cake plate weakening almost too much. thankfully, you were able to save it, aggressively adjusting your bag with a heave of your breath. it was all his fault your lunch break ended terribly and you were now almost 15 minutes late returning to your shift. 

you quickly scanned your id badge and entered into the bustling office, many people standing in their friend groups and fully wrapping up their lunches. thank god your supervisor was lenient, you thought to yourself as you shuffled over to your desk, plopping down the piece of cake on his before you fully sat down. you pretended not to see the confused expression painted across his face, and instead logged back into your computer to finish up a report that was due by the end of the day. 

“oh y/n~” there his voice was, in it’s annoying, sing-song tone, “you remembered?”

“pft, no. i just stole it,” you retorted, rolling your eyes at his antics. you knew this was going to happen and you knew you had that report to get done, so why on earth would you enable him? you were still searching for the answer and couldn’t come up with anything in your head, so you decided to simply press your lips into a line and zone in on your work.

a quiet chuckle erupted past his lips as he popped the plastic covering off of the container, rather loudly at that, and dug into his cake. he remained quiet, and for a brief moment you thought you were out of the woods, but this was kim gyuvin and he never understood the definition of silence. especially around you.

“i can’t believe you got me a gift,” he mused, annoyingly licking his fork clean after every single bite of the cake he took, “and in my favorite color!”

you shifted your eyes in his direction, suppressing a loud laugh at the look of the way the blue icing was staining his entire mouth. maybe this was a good idea, especially considering he had a meeting he needed to attend within the next half an hour. finally, you told him, “don’t get too ahead of yourself.”

“this cake says otherwise!” he exclaimed, a smug grin tugging at the corners of his mouth, eyes dead set on you to better gauge your reaction in an attempt to prove himself right. 

you huffed quietly, this time being the one with the mischievous grin, “yeah yeah, whatever. you have icing all over your face, idiot, might want to get that cleaned up before your meeting.”

gyuvin’s eyes grew as wide as saucers in bewilderment, his fingers hurriedly swiping on his phone to open up his camera and see the damage for himself. his jaw fell slack in shock, his expression a mixture of many different emotions, “damn it, y/n, why would you do this to me?”

“nobody ever said you had to eat it now.”

“i’ll get you back for this, mark my words,” he fired. sure, gyuvin was annoying, and sure getting back at him after all of the grief he’s put you through was satisfying, but instead of retaliating back a second time, you just let him have the last word. 

besides, it was his birthday, maybe you could cut him some slack.

[thickenmyblood]

maca this chapter was insane i was kicking my feet the entire hour I took to read it!!

but can I just say as much as I was team damen in the beginning cause I didn’t fw laurent’s whole approach to the breakup…..I don’t get why damen was so upset with laurent abt the needing a lawyer reveal when he immediately recognised that it was obvious that laurent continued to stay with him because he genuinely loved him.

Don’t get me wrong I definitely love that you took that approach cause your writing is so REAL and Damen recognises he’s being an idiot sometimes!!But I didn’t expect Laurent to not push back abit in some sense like he was just a traumatised kid barely a year older than nicaise is rn when they met (if i got the math right on that).

anyway I think I just wanna hear more about your thoughts on Laurent’s headspace if it’s not spoiler-y ofc. Thank you for such a brilliant chapter and happy holidays ♥️♥️

hello! i was actually talking to @savoytrufflephd about this the other day. this is terribly long but we're reaching the end of the fic and i will never get the change to speak on these things again, and so i hope this answer guides your reading experience and helps clear any doubts you might have going into the last chapter.

about damen:

during their argument, damen is gutted to find out that laurent approached him because he needed a lawyer and money, and, indeed, damen doesn't have an absolute "let's berate laurent" meltdown right then and there, but i wouldn't say he "immediately recognized" anything.

there are three main emotions at play during the reveal scene.

sadness: damen feels deeply hurt by laurent's confession.

There is nowhere to go. There is no other sound in the world but Laurent’s voice, tearing him open.

They should be doing this in the kitchen, Damen thinks. For old times’ sake. For symmetry. There must be a reason why Aimeric keeps picking kitchens as his bleeding spot.

anger and/or self-righteousness: damen makes comments to hurt laurent and express the hurt he's feeling himself and how he feels cheated and wronged.

(...) Was a live-in nanny so expensive that you had to spend the next four years forcing yourself into bed with—”

“You were nervous. Before. I remember the—was the bathroom break so you could vomit in between—”

(...) So you stayed up all night, going through that—that shit, and you had ten liters of coffee this morning so you could be brave enough to sit here and tell me that I was your pimp for a while. (...)

“I wouldn’t blame you,” Laurent says, “if you—” “Don’t play the martyr card.” “I’m so—” “Fuck you,” Damen says.

defeat: damen slowly realizing this is the worst case scenario. there can't be anything worse than this, and so it's almost a relief to hear it because he 1. didn't have to ask 2. can't imagine any other blow hitting him harder (which... i mean, he did have a heads up from nikandros). now what he wants is to understand how this happened and why.

Something is leaking out of Damen now, except it isn’t blood. He feels it by its absence, by the relief it leaves behind. This, he thinks, as he looks at Laurent. This is everything they have done to each other. There is nothing left but this: the wound, drained; the wound, re-dressed. This is what he wanted to know, what he asked for. This.

He might as well lay down on the table and pass Laurent the knife.

He wants to feel stupid and can’t, wants to lather himself up in hatred to slip away from this with ease. He can’t. He’d thought in those first months at Nikandros’s that he knew what hating Laurent was—annoyance, mostly, and contempt, slightly—but now he knows that wasn’t hate. He could never hate Laurent. Maybe he could learn, could train himself to do it, but he doesn’t want to. He wants to understand. He wants—

damen is not the best when it comes to understanding his own emotions. later on, when analyzing this argument with neo, this happens:

“I don’t know how it made me feel,” Damen says. “I was angry yesterday. At him. And I know I should be angry now, or earlier when he said—when he told me.” “But you weren’t.” “I wasn’t sad either. It was like…” “Like?” Damen smooths over the sheets beside him. The bed is cool and neatly made on that side. “Like I’d been waiting for him to say it for so long, that when he did, it wasn’t… I don’t know.”

he did feel all those emotions in the argument, but when asked to talk about them, he holds onto defeat instead of anger or sadness. i wrote him this way because i wanted a version of him that was tired of arguing with laurent, that didn't want to do that anymore, that wanted things to be fair between them. plus, i wrote very early on that he's just not very creative when it comes to (active) cruelty. it just doesn't come naturally to him.

now, about laurent:

i agree that this laurent reads very passively. he doesn't strike back, doesn't argue that he was desperate, that it wasn't his fault, etc. this is because:

he's being self-hating. this is him basically telling damen "look at what i did and hate me for it. i don't deserve the way you've always helped me, the way you're STILL helping me. i'm not a good person. i'm not who you think i am." this is why, in this fic, laurent also allows nicaise to treat him like shit. it's the reason laurent did not tell agnes about the verbal abuse he was being subjected to. he thinks he deserves it. it's the reason he tells damen having sex with maxime was a chore and still he kept doing it.

like damen, he's also tired of arguing. in fact, i would say he's MORE tired than damen. he's getting the worse of nicaise's ire and has been for months. he knows damen is upset with him bc of that 10 minute conversation he had alone with nicaise in ch18. the day before, damen looked him in the eye and told him it was all his fault, that everything wrong that happened with nicaise was on him, that he was to blame because he was too busy having fun and being stupid to take care of the one person he was supposed to look after. he's emotionally drained. he spent the entire night looking through nicaise's phone, analyzing dates and punishing himself for everything that happened. after almost 400k words of fucked up situations, he's finally reached this strange limit of "whatever, just let it end".

the self-fulfilling prophecy aspect of his relationship with damen. in a way, laurent never dared to hope what he had with damen would be forever. in fact, he believed in order to keep damen, he had to sacrifice many, many, many things and aspect of who he was and is as a person, because otherwise damen would not and could not love him. things like his mental health, his own abuse, his views on sex... but also small, stupidly vulnerable things, such as letting your partner know that you fucking douche!!!!!! letting him know you do things every other human does. laurent wanted damen to love him, but he didn't think damen ever could if he showed him all his cards and baggage and whatever you want to call it, and so he made himself palatable. and this was, ultimately, the downfall of their relationship (along with damen's obvious ignorance, emotional issues, repression, etc.)

this is all i can say on laurent's end. ch20 will give you some more details to help you look at his actions and thought process throughout the fic in a different light. i hope this answer made sense and wasn't just me babbling for seventeen thousand words.

thank you for your time!!

[fruitcoops]

Slowburn

Fic O'Ween Day 12: Goosebumps, with part five of the firefighter/ EMT AU! Coops, Leo, and Layla belong to @lumosinlove, fest header belong to @noots-fic-fests!

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

TW extremely brief mention of bodily fluids (one sentence at the beginning)

Five hours and forty-four minutes. He had been bled on, puked on, grabbed, yelled at, and nearly toppled. His only spare pair of pants was now bound up in a plastic bag. Miracle of miracles, Sirius’ shirt was the only thing that hadn’t been damaged in the miserable afternoon. It made a great undershirt. It would also need to be washed at least four times before he could even dream of returning it.

Layla stared at a spot above his shoulder in the opposite jumpseat. One side of her eyeliner had been completely smudged away; the other, smeared sideways to her temple in a smoky trail.

“Nice job today.”

“Thanks.”

“That was a lot.” Layla nodded mutely. His heart pulled for her, a little bit. Even if their cases had been run-of-the-mill, nearly six hours of back-to-back calls would wear anyone down. He nudged the tip of her shoe with his own. “You’re learning fast. I saw some good work out there.”

“I’m…” She blinked slowly, then shook her head. “Wow, I think I fell asleep sitting up for a minute.”

“It happens.” In time, she’d learn to sleep wherever she could catch it. “When does your shift end?”

“Seven.”

“Almost done, then.”

“Mmm.”

The ambulance went over a bump, rattling the near-empty shelves and bashing Remus’ tailbone against the back ledge. “Sorry!” Leo called through the small window to the cab.

He had mostly given up hope that he’d see Sirius in the next twelve hours. His shift wasn’t over until midnight, and Sirius’ started at six the next morning. If he made time between his dentist appointment and calling his parents, he might be able to stop by in the afternoon, but it would be a stretch if he wanted to get any laundry done. And, Christ, that was a chore he couldn’t delay for another week. He liked those pants. More importantly, he now knew just how much Sirius liked them.

Something stirred in his belly at the thought. Warm hands cupping his ass and sliding over his flanks with astonishing care. Sirius had felt him up enough that he could probably make a Model Magic version of Remus’ body on touch alone—and wasn’t that a thing to picture. Somewhere between rounds two and three, Remus remembered kissing the backs of Sirius’ thighs. Pale skin and dark hair above the bare, sensitive bend of his knees. They slotted so well in his palms. Sirius had looked like glory itself when he peeked over his shoulder to look.

“What’re you thinking about?”

Remus jumped. “What? Nothing. Sorry, nothing, why?”

“You’re all frowny.”

Thank god for that. “Just…the day.”

A vague and reliable excuse. Layla snorted. “Tell me about it.”

There will never be a day when I tell you about this. Remus hoped his laugh didn’t come out too strained. “Seriously.”

They took the next turn a little wider, sending their final two ointment boxes sliding out of place. He fixed them blindly while the city center rolled past through the back windows. Did Sirius still have scratch marks on his upper thighs?

Another bump knocked the thought from his head. “We’re home,” Leo singsonged from the driver’s seat. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be in the showers, wondering why I chose this life path.”

“Mood,” Layla mumbled.

“I’m also Grubhubbing a sundae, and you can’t stop me.”

One of the last functioning neurons in Remus’ head lit up. “Get me one.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Get your own.”

“I’m your boss.”

“You make more money than me.”

“Yes, let me flaunt my extra fifty cents an hour,” he countered dryly. “Every night, I rub my quarters together, just to flex on you. That beautiful sound of a handful of nickels.”

“…I’ll see what they have.”

“Good rookie.”

He didn’t wait for the ambulance to stop before opening the doors. The familiar ka-chunk of the lock coming free was music to his ears—a sweet, sweet anthem of freedom, the promise of a lukewarm cup of coffee and a maybe-stale donut from the break room.

And Sirius.

Sirius, sitting on one of his packed and labeled inventory bins.

Remus stared.

“Remus?”

“Go ahead,” he said absently. “I’ll catch up.”

Layla hopped out with a groan. Six hours was a long time to be up and down. Remus was sure his feet would ache the same when he stood. If he stood. Sirius’ hair stuck up at the back, like he’d been running his hands through it.

Remus loved when he did that.

He just. He really did like him, quite a lot.

Keep me.

What had he been thinking? Six hours was a long time to wait. He had told Sirius he’d be right back. It was his day off; why hadn’t he left after it was clear Remus wouldn’t return?

He supposed he could ask the same question about that morning. God, could it really only have been a few hours since he felt Sirius’ bare chest against his own? They had practically been spooning with how tight they were tangled in each other when he woke. Remus hardly remembered falling asleep, only aware of the pleasant ache in his muscles and the humming pleasure in his belly. Pure satisfaction. Pure comfort, at having Sirius hold him like more than a friend.

He watched Leo wander off. Sirius didn’t seem to have noticed. He didn’t so much as flinch when Remus stumbled off the rig and beelined for him, not until Remus stopped in front of him, unsure what to say. I want you I like you I’m sorry please kiss me again, I still get goosebumps thinking about the way your mouth tastes with adrenaline.

Sirius blinked up at him, full lips and glossy lashes. His bone structure was fucking criminal. “You’re back,” he said, so soft and sweet and genuinely happy that Remus’ stomach flopped over itself. Sirius stood, tucking his phone into his pocket without a second glance at it. He was just—big. And tall. And gorgeous. Remus now knew precisely how solid his chest was, and how nice it was to kiss. “Did you have a good day?”

Remus stepped forward and planted his face directly into that chest.

“Oh,” Sirius laughed. It vibrated against his forehead; he closed his eyes. Arms came up around him, hands settling at his nape and the small of his back. He knew he smelled awful. Sirius didn’t seem to care as a tentative kiss nestled on the top of his head and melted Remus’ insides out his throbbing feet.

He sighed. Sirius smelled all warm and spicy. Detergent, cologne, or simply the way he was? Remus couldn’t wait to find out. “This is nice.”

“Yeah.” The delight was back. Sirius pushed the breath from his lungs on a squeeze. “Yeah, it is. I like this.”

“I’m gonna kiss you,” Remus mumbled. “Gonna kiss you so good. Just…two seconds.”

“You can kiss me whenever you want.”

“Two seconds.” It was so dark in his new haven. Sirius’ lungs moved calmly, steadily. His heart rate was a little fast, but nothing to worry about. Remus let his ears go foggy and pressed closer, nuzzling into the space between his collarbones.

Sirius kissed the top of his head again, less hesitant this time, before resting his chin there. “Long day?” he asked after several seconds. Remus hummed. “Sounded like you guys didn’t get much of a break.”

“Mhmm.” He turned his head to the side and rubbed his cheek over Sirius’ sternum. He couldn’t count the number of times they had sat together on the couch or at the table or in the window seat, legs intertwined while they worked through their days. Separate snacks at first, then a single bowl to share once they knew each other’s favorites. It had been nice, to have someone there. Someone to talk to, someone to listen, someone who understood.

But this…this was so much better.

Sirius’ thumb stroked a short path along his spine. It zinged all the way into the base of Remus’ skull. “I sweated through your shirt,” he muttered, pushing his head further beneath Sirius’ chin. “After I stole it from you by accident. Sorry. I’ll wash it.”

He felt Sirius’ smile on his temple. “Keep it. Looks better on you.”

“Think I left mine at your place.”

“Guess you’ll just have to come back and get it,” Sirius whispered playfully. Remus couldn’t help a grin, raising his head despite the pounding drowsiness behind his eye—he had barely opened his mouth to retort when there were lips brushing his own, a wordless request. He granted it easily.

This was different than the rushed promise on the ambulance. Different than last night’s smoky, need-fueled passion. He let Sirius lead, tender and questioning, then pushed into it a little more. Have it, he tried to say. Take it all, it’s been yours for a while. The words may not work, but he was willing to bet Sirius would understand anyway. His lower lip was chapped on one side when Remus ran his tongue along the seam, giddy and dizzy with the kiss-buzz of chasteness.

“Hmm.”

That was good. It was all good, if Sirius would keep making noises like that. He brought his hands up to rest on narrow hips (marked with a tiny scar just above his thigh, which Remus was so fucking glad he knew now) and gave a little more, pushed a little harder. Sirius’ hand cupped his jaw and the right side of Remus’ brain powered down.

“Hm—wait, wait.”

His attempt to lick forward into Sirius’ mouth was stymied by sudden distance between them. Not far—he could still pick out each fleck of quicksilver in Sirius’ unfocused eyes—but far enough to be frustrating for the part of him that was enjoying turning his thoughts off. Remus went up on his toes for more, but Sirius pulled away. “What?” he whispered, though they were alone. “Did you—are you mad at me?”

“No,” Sirius said hurriedly. His hands soothed down Remus’ sides in a long drag that sent tingles through each cell. “God, no, I’m trying to—” His cheeks went a touch pink as he glanced around them and coughed lightly. “Uh, I’m trying to calm down.”

“Oh. Oh.”

Remus hadn’t even thought about that. He was pretty sure he was too tired for his body to consider arousal, aside from the inevitable spike of desire for a soft place to land for two to eight hours. Sirius’ mouth was so nice, his body so warm, that it was all too tempting to get lost in it.

Sirius’ tongue darted out to wet his lower lip. Well. Remus supposed he might be able to feel something other than pure exhaustion, if he tried. “What time do you get off?”

“Whenever you want me to,” Remus answered immediately, then felt himself redden at the arch of Sirius’ brows. “Fuck—sorry. Midnight. My shift’s done at midnight.”

The fingertips on his back had become an extraordinary distraction. Sirius looked almost shy, so at odds with the animated boy he knew against this backdrop that Remus wanted to memorize every inch of it. “Can I…” Sirius began, then trailed off as his blush darkened. His thumbs hooked around Remus’ hipbones and paused there, lingering on bare skin. “Can I maybe take you to dinner? Or a diner?”

“At midnight?”

“I know a couple places.”

Remus frowned. “You have work tomorrow.”

Sirius gave a sheepish half-shrug. “We could nap together. Today, I mean. If you want.”

“I smell horrible.”

“You smell fine.”

“I’m soaked in dry sweat.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I—” That was it for excuses. That was all he had. Every defense against Sirius was dust in the wind. He smiled, and stood on his toes again to kiss one scruffy cheek. “Yeah, sounds good. Let me wash my face and grab some water. I’ll meet you in the bunks.”

Sirius’ eyes crinkled, and Remus fell for him all over again. “I’ll be waiting.”

[jungjungmochi]

Unspoken Feelings

- Berleezy x Fem! reader

- 3rd person point of view

- Reader is Krysta’s sister

- This might be short and I’m so sorry! It’s probably so bad and I’m really sorry! But I’d been in a hurry to update you guys. I had a lot going on with my apartment and stuff but I’m now present and hopefully this will get you through!

- Angst to Fluff

- Summary: Even if the relationship didn’t last, biting down on the tongue hurt. So, with a bit of awkwardness, hurt feelings, and the push from your sister, it was time to confess with the unspoken words. Wanting to fix it all.

If someone had ever approached you, told you that you wouldn’t last with Berlin, it would’ve made you give out the biggest laugh of your life. Not you and Berlin. The couple that did almost everything together, the couple that showed up in videos, the girlfriend that always did photo shoots for the merchandise. The supportive girl and her protective boyfriend who cuddled her at night, assured her everything would be okay. It felt unreal. But it was the reality, and it hurt thinking about the way it would be the truth, even if you didn’t want to accept the reality. Every bit of what someone would say, was true.

It was rough remembering the split from Berlin, Krysta remembered seeing your tears. She felt for you, her intentions to introduce you was to never watch you two fall apart, it was to never watch you both get hurt. And sometimes it took you to assure when she apologized a thousand times that it wasn’t her doing and she shouldn’t take the blame for the miscommunication that both of you had. Having to give her a talk about how it was your relationship and not her responsibility to worry about something she had no ill intentions for. She remembered showing Berlin a photo of you, which turned into him being genuinely attracted, which became the desire to meet. And when it happened, you wanted nothing more than to be together from there.

It was like any other day, today work called in early, as much as you despised opening, you still preferred to secure your job and money. Not wanting to go without, so you’d stick around for a few hours of your shift. Which is what you did, and now after the dreading hours of trying to keep calm and not explode on the rude customers you had for the day, it was time to sink into the comfort of your home. “Oh you’re home from work!” Krysta smiled. “Girl please. It was the worst. I hated it! Some girl came in yelling at me and it didn’t help that I couldn’t hit her! She stood there and complained for an hour before she was told to leave. I couldn’t reason with her.” You scoffed at the thought of the lady from earlier. This caused your sister to let out a laugh as she shakes her head slightly. “Well. Y/n. You can’t fight customers. Sadly. So I’m glad you didn’t hit her.” She hums. Yeah, glad. You were happy you didn’t either, you were still upset, hurt. And had anger from your break up.

These feelings didn’t go by easily, even your sister could sense they were still there. She knew, and deep down she wanted to make sure you’d always be okay no matter what. Even if it felt like your three-year relationship was really a waste of memories. “Look. Y/n, if you want us to stop being friends. We can. I won’t hang out with him…” she said. At least you knew she always had your back, but you had no reason to make your sister stop her friendship. Mainly because it was never her fault in the first place. "No, Krysta. I'm not going to make you stop your friendship with him. It's not your fault that things between us ended." you assured. She still felt bad, she hated seeing you so down, knowing you still love him, even though you made it obvious based on your reactions upon hearing his name. "Besides that. Would you like to go out and eat tonight?" she asked. A small smile had formed on your lips. "Sure, later tonight we can go. I need to get out of these damn clothes," you said as you smiled at her. She always knew a way to cheer you up.

The sounds of people chattering filled the room, but it wasn't so bad after all. Being able to sit at the table and eat with your sister, share a laugh, and have some drinks, which drinking has never fully been your best suit. You remember the time Berlin damn near exploded upon hearing that you walked home drunk late at night. But, once again, he was there. Because he made sure he would find you and get you home and well taken care of. Krysta couldn't scold you though since she would be sober if you did get drunk.

"This ended up being better than I thought." you giggled lightly with the small tint on your face. "I did dread work today, so this makes up for the work I've been doing, which sucked because my manager never has my back," you mumbled under your breath. The waiter walked over and he smiled. "Everything going good?" he asked as you two hummed. "Can I get another one of these?" you pointed to the glass. Krysta kept her eyes on the man, making sure he wouldn't say or try anything. "Of course." he smiled, taking the cup before walking away. Sighing, you glanced at your sister. "You don't have to stare him down so hard," you replied as she rolled her eyes in annoyance. "It's my job to look out for you when you drink a lot. Guys are creeps. Y/n. You need some form of security." she stated.

Upon hearing those words, you thought of him, the times Berlin had assured you and made you feel safe despite the setting you two would always be in. It felt like hell now without him, would you being careless be enough? would it regain his attention so he would stop being stubborn?. Maybe he would hear you out but the desire of his attention was too much. He would never hear you out, let it go. "Has Berlin always...be strong-minded?" you asked. The question was sudden but Krysta cleared her throat. "What do you mean?" she asked as you sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if his strong mind is what makes him feel like he doesn't have to hear me." you frowned as she did too. "What? That's nonsense, Berlin would hear you out." she hums.

The doubt sank in. "No. Because he doesn't love me."

Then the tears welled up. "He never did."

Why couldn't you forget him? "I mean why?"

All you wanted was for him to listen. "He broke up with me."

And were you to blame? "He told me it was my doing.."

Would he ever listen? "He wouldn't even stop for a second."

Did he still think of you? "Maybe he's moved on."

Krysta hated this, watching as you crumble and wonder if you were really in the wrong. But she didn’t have time to comfort because ole and behold, Berlin was there. She couldn’t help but clear her throat as she had grabbed your hands. “Y/n that’s not the case. Berlin loves you.” She said. “He didn’t even take the time to listen to me, he just assumed I was cheating, and that shit hurt.” You huffed. Your sister could only shake her head, why couldn’t you two just make up? That’s all she wanted. “I don’t want him to think the worst. But he’s not even willing to hear my half of the story. So the reality is that we won’t ever piece our relationship back together.”

Berlin was always hyping you up and when he let you go out with the girls. You recalled getting dressed cute, makeup going, hair going. You felt good about yourself, even coming to the time he told you how good you looked. And the idea of that night when you kissed his lips and told him sweet words before you left, you always put Berlin before them and didn’t mind staying home to watch movies with him on some days you didn’t wanna be bothered with the outside world. He was always so sweet and willing to do everything for you as you were him, but your heart always aches when you recall the ending, the moment he accused you of cheating.

How could he? His y/n was no cheater but he just had to assume you were cheating because you hung out with a guy friend. Did Berlin have no recollect concept that your friend wasn’t into women to begin with? He was so damn cruel that night. Assuming that guy was taking you home, calling you a cheater in front of all those people and some actually believing him. Krysta never once accused you or believed you were, the simple fact and thing was that he was a ticking temper bomb. And at any moment anything could trigger him to react to situations, even if it wasn’t that serious to need a reaction of his. And you remembered the nights Krysta had to lay awake with you. Comforting you through that heartbreak and false accusation of his, going far as to listen to you cry for hours, cry yourself to sleep. She had no words, only comfort by listening and you were forever thankful your sister would listen to you that long, putting her sleep schedule behind for you.

“Y/n. He thought you were cheating…that’s why you need to talk to him. You can’t keep letting the idea of him break you like this. I know somewhere deep down you wanna be with him” she frowned as she shakes her head. “But you can’t if you can’t speak to him, if you don’t. He’ll go his whole life thinking you wanted anyone but him.” She hums softly. Somewhere deep down, you knew Krysta was right. Even if you never ended up with Berlin again, she was right about clearing the air with him after the accusations. “Look. I’m gonna go use the restroom. Berlin’s here…” she mumbled before getting up to use the restroom. Somewhere in you, you couldn’t help but keep your head down as the guy brought the drink before walking away. Fighting the urge to turn around and glance at him, you missed him so bad, you wanted to look back at Berlin so bad.

But it seems, you didn’t have to glance to know he walked over to you. “So you’re out again.” He said as you look at him with a hint of curiosity before humming. “I came out to eat with Krysta.” You spoke, grabbing the drink to take a sip. “Are you sure that’s the cause?” He asked. Dear God no, there he goes giving attitude, that tone of being right, digging under your skin. And in this state of mind? You couldn’t help but grip the glass tighter. “Don’t accuse me of looking for a boyfriend.” Your tone now giving him the same attitude back. “Oh I thought you were very happy in that relationship of yours.”. And the sarcasm dripped off his tongue, how could he be just so, annoying with it.

Krysta watched in fear of what might come next. “You know. You don’t know anything about that night because you refused to listen. So is it really my fault that you remained stuck up and felt right? You thought I wanted to cheat on you?. Please Berlin, where’s the proof? Where is it besides the accusations your mind made because you’re mentally missing a screw to your brain?” You spat harshly as your voice held venom in it, desiring nothing than to prove his ass wrong for once. “Since you came here to put me on the spot. Let’s talk about you.” You huffed as you stood up, looking up at Berlin in annoyance. “How about the times you went clubbing with the guys and you had girls all upon you? Is it justified because you’re the man? Because it’s just, guy things? Please Berlin, educate me. Oh wait. You can’t because you don’t know shit from that night. Now bite your tongue. And walk away.”. You downed the drink, slamming the glass down before grabbing your bag and walking out the door. Krysta had quickly rushed to pay so she could see you, speak to you about this, but Berlin beat her to it when she noticed he was following you out to the car. Could you two get anymore worse?.

Berlin had grabbed your arm, stopping you from walking. “So you think drinking is going to help?” He asked as you groaned loudly. “What’s going to help? You weren’t so concerned about help when you left me. Wouldn’t listen to me! You know what Berlin!” You spoke loudly, pulling you arm away. “You can’t claim to love someone and be the reason love hurts. Did you ever love me if you don’t trust me? In fact. I’m done crying tears over you. I’m done crying and crying, and grieving a whole relationship you didn’t care about. You threw our three years worth of love down the drain for your ego! And you have the nerve to come at me like I want a man. I would have one if you didn’t mean shit to me. I never wanna speak to you again.” You huffed, walking to the car with the anger going through you. Deep down, your sober heart knew it spoke words, but half lies. How could you be over him? You weren’t and you did want to see him again. This is not what Krysta meant when she said to clear the air.

Sitting on the bed in your pajamas, Krysta had watched as you sighed heavily. “That liquor really makes you bold.” She said, trying to lighten the mood. “It does huh? I think I shouldn’t drink it anymore.” You replied more monotone. Never mind, cheering up the mood after that would not happen nor be easy. “No it was a good thing, Y/n. As your sister I think you need that release. This gives Berlin a chance to really consider what this whole breakup has done. To realize that he’s wrong, and to give you a chance. But I need to push you to do it. To make peace and if you never end up together again, who cares. You two have unspoken words. It’s obvious with that tension from earlier.” She nods her head, trying to encourage you to make the move to speak to him again. It would require something, that push.

“When I watched you two, I clearly noticed the tension and I noticed the hurt you both felt. He refuses to speak to you about it but don’t make it easy for him to avoid it till you speak your peace. Let it go. Off your chest. Talk.” She frowned as she rubs your arm gently. And you knew she was right, you two required peace. Something between you two, bad blood mainly, was the whole reason it felt the relationship was crumbling around the two of you. “I’ll try…”

Trying? Now it’s been three weeks and you had plenty of time to try and piece this back together and you couldn’t find a way to fix it. Berlin had took what you said to heart, and you figured he did when Jojo called to check on you and the subject of Berlin happened. Today was shop day, you got invited to go with your sister and some part of you wanted to decline but again it was Berlin, it was all fixable if you both allowed the other to express that heartache felt that night. Sticking the casual but cute outfit of yours, not wishing to stand out too much since your sister always had a thing in telling you what would be best to wear for something’s. She really was the best part of your heavy days.

Upon walking the mall in attempt to bring up the mood, your sister had been looking at outfits for you two. And everything was super cute for whatever plans might come up. “I’m telling you. You’ll look cute in this dress! Can’t go wrong with a bit of red unless it’s styled incorrectly.” She giggled as you chuckled behind her. “Right. Because red is the color everyone can magically pull off. But I guess trying the dress on wouldn’t hurt.” You nodded your head. She squealed with excitement before skipping away to find someone in the store that could give you some access to the changing rooms.

Standing by the clothes, and beautifully lined dresses, you hadn’t expected anyone else to be around. “Excuse me…just wanted to come over and say you were beautiful.” The guy spoke. That’s when your eyes looked at the guy, he was pretty handsome in your eyes. “Awe. Thank you.” You hum, giving a gentle smile. You’d hope with that he wouldn’t push too much, but it was worth a shot. He’d nod his head before giving a response. “I actually spotted you earlier and I got nervous so I couldn’t find the words to tell you that but I gained some confidence to come and say it now.”. Poor guy, he was nervous, no lying about that, but he also seemed the pushy type since he thought stepping closer would result in anything better.

“Could we maybe. Exchange numbers? Go out?” He asked, there it was, the date but it’s not a date, type of tone and question. He was pushing his luck. “Ah. Sorry but no thanks.” You chuckled nervously. Hopefully he’d walk away, no means no. Turning your back to walk away and quickly find your sister, he had only hummed. “Sure but you know, you could be a nice girlfriend. I’m sure just one date could prove that we would fit together?” He said. “And I think you’d be a perfect fit for even me.”. That’s when you felt his hand get placed on your shoulder. He was the type of pushy creeps that Berlin had always warned you about running into.

“No seriously. It’s fine.” This time your throat ran dry, nerves. “No really! I swear you’ll like it.” He nods his head with a large smile. This time, you felt the world crashing down but only for a moment. “She said No. now leave her alone.” The stern tone spoke from behind you two. Both turning around to spot Berlin, he looked like he was ready to kill the dude over this. “Now get away from her.” He said harshly. He was still protective huh? That was a good thing to know. “Move it.” Jojo cut in as the guy glanced at the two before quickly leaving the store. You finally felt the relief and ease of breathing, not realizing the guy had you holding a breath. “Thank you..both of you.” You spoke in a low tone. Keeping your eyes down as you didn’t know what to say. “We need to talk.” Berlin grabbed your hand, pulling you away as Jojo watched, clinging his tongue before Krysta stood beside him. “Where are they going?” She asked as he shrugs. “Either an argument or something else, I don’t know.”

Some part of you felt he had something to say but again he could just be using this moment to scold you and accuse you once again of something. That didn’t matter though, since you now stood outside of the mall. “Look Berlin. If you came to accuse me-“ you were cut off by his words. “I’m sorry.” He apologized. Your eyes had soften a bit as you glanced up at him with a bit of disbelief to his words. “What?” You raised a brow. “I’m sorry. I said. I’m sorry for the way I acted at the restaurant when it was just time for you and your sister.” He said. He sounded genuine, good. You felt good knowing he did in fact mean his apology to you. “Berlin…have something I need to say too…” you mumbled in a low whisper. He did still catch on, so he was all ears.

“Krysta told me to get this off my chest. And I owe that to you and myself.” You shake your head. “That night you accused me of cheating, I didn’t mean him at the club with my friends to cheat on you. I went there with them and he was there. But he’s not into women Berlin. Him and I have nothing but friendship for each other. But instead of explaining myself. I want to be honest. I can’t do this without you. I’m having such a hard time without you because I realize I love you too much to let go so easily. That shit at the restaurant? I didn’t mean one word from that.” You frowned

Just say it. “I’m really sorry.”

He needs to know. “I’ve cried and I realize..”

You can do it. “I realize I love you more than myself and I can’t do this life without you Berlin. I know it’s not helping you understand except the nights I stayed up crying and I’m grieving you! I’m grieving you and I just want you to not be mad at me! Because I’d never piss you off purposely! We may have our differences but my heart belongs to you and I’d never cheat! I’m in love with you and one day I wanna call you my husband! Berlin…”.

There it was. The truth. The nights you laid awake crying and imagining your life without him, it hurt, but finally you could be free from the words that held you down all along. “Y/n.” He grabbed your hips. “I love you too. And I’m sorry. And one day…I’ll be your husband because what I feel for you is there. And I miss you.” He admitted. He’d lean down, moving his lips to yours before giving you a loving and passionate kiss. A man of his words, and the relief felt great. “I misjudged your friends, I assumed they had knew all along but they didn’t, they didn’t know cause it was never true.” He frowned. “I made that up in my head and I accused you but it was wrong. It’s lonely not having you interrupt my recording with food and kisses and drinks. And I just want you to always be mine. I miss it. Waking up with you, I miss it.”

That felt good for the two of you, your relationship with him meant the world to you, Berlin had always been there. And the nights of lying awake and wanting to break down into tears. Was finally over because the two of you held the relationship into nothing but miscommunication. Something you’d be sure would never happen again.

[sarcasticbambi]

Enchanted Chapter I

Next>

“Why did I agree to come again?”

Was the thought running through the heads of two people, neither knowing how the night would end for them.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you in one of these events, miss…”

“MDC, Monsieur. You can refer to me as MDC”

“Right… MDC you say…”

“...”

“So, what brings you to the Wayne Gala this year? Oh,I hope you understand the curiosity, it is the first time you’re participating in the event after all.”

Just because you make it sound polite, it doesn’t mean you’re actually being polite you-

To say Marinette was done with the fake and pretentious high-class pigs was the understatement of the century. 

Just because you have enough money to be invited here doesn’t mean you’re all that. It just means that M. Wayne will have more money to donate to the associations that will actually use it for something productive.

But then again, she too was invited so it’s not like she can say much. However, she never covered her words with honey to insult someone.

“I’m here as M. Stone’s plus one” “Wasn’t M. Stone’s plus one his manager Ms. Rolling?”

“No! Haven’t you heard? This year he invited his  designer!” 

Here comes the gossip…

“You mean the very exclusive designer known for working with Clara Nightingale and being the only one capable of keeping up with his extravagant personality?”

“I hear they keep themselves anonymous and so never go to galas and such even though many high-profile personalities invite them everytime.”

“THAT designer?”

The way they all turned to look at her could only be described as a predator ready to launch on their prey.

The compliments were very appreciated, even if her confidence sometimes made her think otherwise. Honestly, if it were in any other situation she’d probably be a blushing and sputtering mess, but considering that it came from these old people with nothing to do but flaunt their money all day, well, lets just say that she felt no remorse in putting the mask of professionalism that often came with dealing with annoying press *cough*Alya*cough* as Ladybug. She just wasn’t sure if the red and gold mask was enough to cover the glare she was sure was on her face. It sure wasn’t enough to cover the deadly annoyed aura she emitted.

“Yes, I-”

“M! There you are! Dad and Penny are looking for you!”

“Oh, Luka! I’ll be right with you! I’m sorry ladies and gentlemen, it seems I’m needed somewhere else. Wouldn’t want to leave M. Stone waiting now would we?”

If Marinette saw the pale faces of the people remembering a certain disaster pertaining to the impatience of one Jagged Stone, neither her nor Luka mentioned anything. And so, the pair of best friends left the group of pretentious old people to their gossip and judging words covered with honey so thick it might as well give you cavities. “Is Uncle Jagged really calling for me?”

“No, but I had to intervene, you looked ready to murder those people with your glare alone!” Luka said with a chuckle. “Ugh! Stop laughing, it’s not funny! Why did I even agree to come again! This is exactly why I’ve rejected all of the invitations!!”

“Well, you know how dad can be…” another chuckle

“Don’t I?! He threatened to destroy one of the suits I made him! And not just any suit, but the one specifically  made to open the stage on his upcoming tour!”

“It can’t be that bad, I mean, you made them almost 100% Jagged proof so no accidents could happen right? Even if he tried I’m pretty sure it’d be very difficult to damage them beyond repair”

“Oh no, you don't understand. He threatened to have Fang “play” with the suit! I may have made them Jagged proof, but they’re hardly CROCODILE PROOF!!”

“... You don’t really believe he’d go that far,do you?”

“Oh dear Luka, I don’t need to believe, I know so. And you want to know how I know that? Because he actually had the audacity of sending a picture of the suit dangling in front of Fang and the little menace looking at it like the most delicious snack ever!!!”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.”

The silence that fell upon them was the comfortable kind, the one that wraps you like a warm blanket on a cold evening. Even though their relationship didn’t work, they didn’t let that get in the way of a very understanding friendship. Both parties know how to appreciate and lift each other up when needed, especially with the weight of the responsibilities held in their shoulders.

“I think I'm going to stay on the side for a bit. I'm pretty sure if I have to continue another one of these fake conversations, I'm going to say or do something I'll regret and maybe get Uncle Jagged in trouble.”

“It’s ok, after a couple months of following dad to these things I know how bad they can be. And by the way, you - more than anyone else really - should know that my dad doesn’t need you being honest with these people to get him in trouble. He gets himself in trouble all the time! Honestly, I can't say with 100% certainty that trouble isn’t somehow his middle name.” The snort that followed this comment was somehow covered well enough to look elegant, how he did it? She’s still trying to figure it out.

“Yeah, I’m well aware” a soft smile appears on Marinette’s face, memories of various chaotic fittings coming to mind when thinking of her honorary uncle. Sometimes she wonders how Jagged and Anarka managed to give birth to the most quiet (and shy, in Juleka’s case) kids she knows, considering their personalities! Kagami is the only exception to the rule since her quietness and composure comes from years of training and discipline.

“I have to go find dad, you know he needs someone to keep him in check and Penny is trying to get a night to herself. Are you sure you’ll be ok?”

“Yes, I'll be fine. Go find him and help Penny keep the few years that Jagged has yet to make her lose to stress” Marinette said with a giggle.

“Ok, but be safe. If you need anything just call and I’ll be right here.”

“I didn’t know I brought my mum with me.” She said with a roll of her eyes “Don’t worry, I’ll just stay on the side of the room, I’ll even text you if I decide to go and check if the gardens are as amazing as they claim.”

“Ok. I’ll see you in a bit then, you know dad wants to introduce you to his friend.”

“Oui, oui, now leave so I can people watch and judge if these macarons are good enough.”

After one last reluctant look at the petite girl he now considers a sister, Luka left to find his dad.

Marinette walks to the table holding the array of snacks and picks up a pink macaron, turning it side to side judging its appearance first and then taking a small bite. It’s not as good as the ones she bakes with her parents back home, but considering all she has eaten in the US in the past week, suffice to say that it was up to her standards. She would not mind having a second one.

Resting her back against the marble pillar at the corner of the room, she settles with people watching for the time being. Wandering bluebell eyes land on the group of kids on the other side of the room where they were playing with each other, before spotting the tall ginger gentleman in a crouch speaking with a little girl. At first she was suspicious, but judging by the little she can see of the interaction - the little girl giggling at something the man said - she relaxes a bit more, guessing it’s someone she knows or is acquainted with.

After people watching for a couple moments more, she gets bored and decides to indeed check the famous Martha Wayne Gardens, perhaps she’ll even get a strike of inspiration, who knows. Sending a message to Luka so he doesn’t worry,  she moves along to the exit, unaware of the little green eyes following her form.

-----------------------------

Roy Harper was definitely not listening to Jason Todd ever again. No matter what.

“It’ll be fun!” he said.

“I’ll be there with you the whole time!” he said.

“Lian will have fun!” he said-

Ok, that last one is true. She is enjoying herself and playing with kids her age outside of school. But still, WHY DID I AGREE TO COME TO ONE OF THESE THINGS? The suits are uncomfortable, the people are annoying, Jason is off somewhere (probably at the bar avoiding the dangling pieces of meat that can’t seem to understand the word ‘no’) the list goes on and on!

Turning around, Roy leaves to go check on the kids. He knows he doesn’t need to worry, the Waynes would obviously only get the best of the best, security included, so he knows his daughter is in good hands. But he still prefers it when he has eyes on his little girl, no need for unnecessary troubles…

And Jason can make fun of how she has him wrapped around her pinky all he wants, later.

Not like you can say much right, Uncle Jay Jay?

Going up to the little kids group, Lian spots him immediately and runs up to him, mischief clear in the same green eyes he sees everyday in the mirror.

“Hey baby. Everything good?”

“Of course daddy, I’m a big girl now! You don't need to go around worrying about me!” she exclaimed, puffing her little chest up and making herself seem taller to get her point across.

“I know princess. I’m sorry for doubting your capability of not getting yourself in trouble or not creating chaos”

“*le gasp* Daddy!” The grin that appeared on his face betrayed the look in his eyes. He would do anything to protect his little girl, mischievous or not. He’d do anything for her, hunt the whole world down for whatever she asked and from whoever had it, if only to be able to keep that smile on her little face everyday.

“I don’t get in trouble! Trouble is the one to always find me! What do you want me to do, ignore it? You yourself said that it was rude to ignore people..”

Oh Lord. She knew exactly what she was doing, and there was absolutely nothing he could do, so with a resigned sigh he looked up at his daughter again and cleans the little bit of cream from the pastry she was eating earlier.

“Was the cream puff so good that even your cheeks wanted a bite?”

“Yes! You should try some yourself!” The little giggle she released hid the glance she threw at the masked lady on the other side of the room.

“Let's go then.”

—----------------------------------------------

Glancing around, the gardens were indeed quite beautiful. It’s a pity that Martha Wayne passed away, because even though it’s been years since the accident and someone else is in charge of it, it’s very obvious that the foundation of the garden is still the same as it was some twenty years ago.

With the care she is sure the gardens receive everyday, she can see why they’re called the best gardens in Gotham after the Gotham Botanical Gardens. But that is only because it’s Ivy who’s taking care of them - it doesn’t matter how good you may be at caring for plants, no one can beat Poison Ivy’s ability of bringing them to the best of their potential. 

It’s not long after moving around the gardens that Marinette hears her name being shouted from the entrance of it. 

guess it’s time to go back to that insanity. It was good while it lasted

Getting up from the bench she found around one of the several fountains, she fixed her dress and moved back inside.

——————————————-

Seeing Lian try and “sneak” another cream puff from him, Roy decides that that’s enough. 

“Come on little troublemaker, enough cream puffs. Your daddy won’t be able to endure another sugar high session.”

Ladies and gentlemen and non-binary people, this single statement brings forth the most challenging battle Roy has ever fought - and if you know about his… nightly past time, you know that he’s had several and very complicated battles, some even had him on the brink of death!

I introduce you, ‘The Pout’, by Lian Harper!

Obviously, Roy can never say no to his precious little girl. Who would be able to after seeing ‘The Pout’. At this point, not even Jason can say he’s managed to achieve such a feat!

“Princess, baby, light of my life, don’t do this to me. Please!”

“But daddy, just one more!” ‘The Pout’ intensifies…

“You said that last time too…”

“I promise! I’ll even get away from the table! We can go outside to the gardens!” 

If Roy wasn’t so desperate to get his daughter away from the pastry and snacks table, he would have been able to identify the glint that appeared in his daughter’s eyes whenever she was up to no good. But alas, he was too busy.

“Ok honey, one last one and that’s that! You promised!”

“Yes, yes. Now let’s go into the gardens! I saw a fairy move there and I DEFINITELY need to meet her!”

“… a fairy?” The look of confusion on his face spoke volumes.

“YES! She was wearing a gold and red dress! And her hair was so pretty too! It shone in the light! I’m pretty sure only fairies’ hair shines like that!”

Thinking it was another one of Lian’s fairytail settings where he’s required to play along and help her uncover mysteries or save someone (*cough*princess Lian*cough*), Roy just sets her down, holds her hands and guides her to the closest balcony. It’s too cold outside for them to actually walk around the garden, but it’ll be fine to stay on the balcony where they can oversee them. Should be enough for whatever adventure Lian’s mind conjured this time. 

—--------------------------

“Daddy look! It’s the fairy!”

Looking out the balcony towards where Lian's small fingers pointed, Roy finally understood what she meant when she said she saw a fairy. 

There, standing in front of the fountain with a glass of what he can only assume to be the expensive champagne being handed around the party, stood the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid his eyes upon. Luscious strands of midnight hair fell down her back only to stop at the small curvature of her back. The strands were so dark it shone blue in the light of the full moon that for once was visible in the dark, gloomy and foggy sky of good old Gotham.

Her red dress fell down to the crisp grass he was sure Alfred kept at the exact same even height every single time. Whoever made the dress, knew for sure what they were doing, because it seemed to float even though he saw it drag through the grass  when she moved. Although there wasn't much he could make out from the distance he was observing her, he could still see the shine of the gold lining and details in the dress with the small movements she made. 

And wasn't that a blessing. Because when she moved, he was able to see a bit more of her features; the pale skin that seemed to glisten in the moonlight, and the blue orbs that shone as bright as the bluest of sapphires to have ever been found, looked in his direction, and he was sure that time stopped right then and there. 

Like some kind of spell, he was entranced by the beauty that stood feet away from him surrounded by the most beautiful of greenery, making her fit for the word his daughter had used to describe her: a fairy. A Garden Fairy. He should tell Alfred that he did such a good job at keeping the garden in shape, that it was blessed by the presence of the most ethereal of fairies.

After a couple seconds of eye contact, her attention was given to something else - probably someone calling her, from the way she seemed to react. And so, after another glance his way, the Garden Fairy (as he’s decided to call her until he finds out her name) turns fully towards the building and starts walking inside, finally vanishing under the big balcony he was standing in.

“Awww, she left Daddy!” his daughter spoke for the first time since getting into the balcony with him. Or he’s assuming it was the first time, since he was completely  entranced by the Garden Fairy and would probably not have heard any comment from his daughter. Which, by her mischievous smirk, was a very accurate assumption.

“She was very pretty wasn’t she? I told you she was! Did you see her hair? I told you it was amazing! I also want hair like hers!!”

“Yes, yes she was. And you were very right, she does have pretty hair. Maybe we should get back inside to get away from the cold and maybe find this Garden Fairy of yours to get some hair tips?”

“That’s a great idea! Let’s go!”

Picking up the 6 years old, Roy turns around to head into the salon, when his daughter gets his attention again. And the look in her eyes? It spelled trouble.

“But Daddy, I never called her Garden Fairy!”

Next>

[hyenahunt]

Obbligato: The Punishment of Kaname Tojo - 5

Writer: Akira

Season: Spring

Characters: Kaname

Proofreading: Remi (JP) & honeyspades (ENG)

Translation: Peace

Kaname: They'll have to pry this position out of my cold, dead hands.

[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]

Time: An hour later

Location: Outside Reimei Academy

Kaname: ... Hello, big brother?

Uh huh. So you saw my latest show? Thanks for watching.

Heehee. Yes, it's all thanks to you.

By following your instructions to the word, doing all that you've said to do during my performances, my work has been flawless.

I'm not lacking whatsoever as Reimei Academy's Top Idol.

And thanks to my good reputation, I've been offered job after job!

Kaname: Ah, yes... I've been doing as you instructed, of course. I’ve passed off work I can’t get to towards the other Special Students.

They're ever so grateful to me for it. I'm praised, flattered, and adored by them now...

... Even though beforehand, after I'd fallen from their ranks due to that taboo mistake I'd made, they'd done nothing but ridicule me.

They treated me as if I wasn't a human anymore, either ignoring my existence or only acknowledging me to insult me.

Kaname: And now they've flipped back the other way, like it all never happened — but they're too late. I won't ever, ever forget the humiliation I faced at their hands.

Honestly, I don't even want to get into their good graces by giving them the jobs I can't fulfill— it feels like I'm trying to butter them up.

They should all burn in Hell.

They should feel the same pain as their victims did, and then die.

Kaname: ... Oh, yes, I'm fine. I'm perfect, after all. I don't show any sign of those sentiments to them, of course. I simply do exactly as you tell me to.

Honestly, I do! Don't you trust me, brother?

Heehee. We didn't know of one another for the longest time, so we haven't been able to bond the way other brothers normally do...

In fact... we might not ever be able to bond, rely on, or even love one another the way a true family should.

But you know, I do want to love you. As your younger brother, I want to love you as my older brother.

Kaname: For as long as I can remember, I've always lived on my own.

When I was young, my mother passed away…

Then I tried to survive within a facility with a miserable environment — with only the dreams my mother entrusted to me, and the lessons she taught me held close to my heart.

In that disgusting facility, I and the other children were exploited for all we were worth —

I worked half to death trying to save up money from jobs I picked up, just so I could run away from that prison.

I wasn't even given a proper education there. No, it wasn't a place someone could grow up well and learn what they needed to know.

It was Hell, where we did all that we could just to survive.

So I studied. I studied, I worked hard, I did everything I could—

And in the end, all my efforts were rewarded: I became an idol, just as I'd always dreamed!

Kaname: As a Special Student of Reimei Academy, I was finally able to walk such a glorious path.

I really was happy. Truly overjoyed. My life couldn't have gotten better.

And then... because of a stupid slip of the tongue, I fell from the summit into the ranks of the Non-Special Students — I couldn't stand it.

Kaname: My blood, sweat, and tears went into climbing out of Hell, only to fall right back to the bottom of it—

But thanks to you, I was able to escape once again.

That's why I don't wanna make the same mistake I did before and fall back in.

This time, I'll do everything perfectly. I won't make a single mistake.

Kaname: They'll have to pry this position out of my cold, dead hands.

I'll fulfill the dreams of my poor mother, who died far too young, and... that'll be how I repay her for giving birth to me, for raising me until she couldn't anymore.

My mother is dead. There's no Heaven or Hell — or any kind of afterlife at all, is there? No matter what happens to me, she won't be able to feel a single thing.

But... It was my love for her that kept me going through those hellish times.

Kaname: Uh huh! My mother is a God to me. I can't switch my doctrine from her words, and I can't abandon my faith now.

It's what I've built my life on. The very backbone of my existence — they're everything to me.

You think it's ridiculous, don't you, brother?

You're strong, and it seems as if you're fine living on your own. You gave up what I desperately wanted for so long, so easily—

And nevertheless you live on, put together as can be.

Ah, I don't resent you or anything, though. I really am impressed.

I could never do what you did, or live how you do.

I'd collapse far too easily without emotional support. I know that, because I've lived in such cruel circumstances.

I absolutely had to have something I could hold on to, or else I couldn’t have kept on living.

Maybe it was because I was selfish, or inconsiderate— something like that, but everyone around me gave me the cold shoulder.

The only person who I'd ever felt love from was my mother. That's why I've placed my faith in her, why I've clung so tightly to her.

She had always been my support. But now, I have you too — someone else I can call family, so I feel a little more stable.

Kaname: Heehee... I really am thankful I met you, brother.

This must be a reward for all my hard work. No, it's certainly because God realized he'd trampled on me far too much and decided to apologize in this way.

God doesn't exist? You would think so, wouldn't you?

You might understand once you've found yourself at rock bottom.

The panic to cling on to something warm, as if you’d freeze to death.

Right. Okay. Instead of chattering endlessly, I should do what I'm supposed to. I'll do as you ask.

Hey, so... Will I really find happiness if I do that?

Kaname: (... Ahaha, he hung up. I wonder if my clinginess disgusted him.)

(He really does seem to hate idleness and inefficiency. Maybe he's annoyed by my affection and dependence on him...)

Kaname: (But... I really do need something to cling to just to survive.)

(I'm sorry, brother.)

[ ☆ ]

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[catboymitosis]

Daan/Levi drabble request: Levi finding out about Daan's sweet tooth <3

Sorry I'm kind of behind schedule on this one, I’m worried its kind of nothingburger but I don’t want to leave your requests hanging either aaa;; Used the Levi old town shop party talk as a jumping off point for this. Please dispense your disbelief in how early the trend of hotel mints was established (google says it was the 1950s and used to be chocolates instead of mints)

“They don’t seem too well stocked” Daan muttered to Levi as he looked around the newly opened old town store. Cardboard boxes stacked against a shelf rather than any proper display.

He approached the clerk “Excuse me, is what's in those boxes for sale?” 

“Yetakealookaround”

Daan nodded and made his way towards the boxes, Levi trailing close behind as he always did. 

“They have a lot less than they used to…” he pointed out as he rummaged through the boxes. In their short time together it had been proven rare for Levi to ever speak up without having been first addressed.

“Well people tend to buy up everything they can before rough times hit, though that would imply anyone knew this was coming beforehand” Daan pondered “So, any stories about this place?”

 "The other kids at the orphanage used to have this plan on how to shoplift some candy from this kiosk..."

Daan nodded, encouraging him to continue his story.

"One would order something that required the clerk to reach the top shelves, while he was occupied with that the others would shove as much candy as possible to our pockets..."

“And were you part of that group?” Daan asked him

“Sometimes, there wasn’t really much else to do… It worked pretty well until the clerk hammered a nail through the palm of a kid who was caught still gouging the candy jar..."

Daan hissed at the thought of that though it did not entirely surprise him. He knew well how theft was used as justification to be physically cruel to children. 

“This clerk?” he asked in a hushed tone.

Before Levi could respond to him they were interrupted by loud banging, the bandaged man bashed his baby doll’s head against the shop counter repeatedly. Just as suddenly as he started he stopped his assault on the thing and returned to swaddling it as if nothing had happened.

Daan and Levi stared at him in surprise, then at each other for a moment before they turned back to the boxes.

“Shopkeepers are always on the lookout for thieving kids even though they’re the ones stealing the most inconsequential things, just waiting to enact revenge on the first target that can’t fight back. I remember being chased away from even looking at candy displays when I looked too poor to pay, window shopping is a privilege only those with enough money to dress well seem to get” Daan rambled.

“At that time the only way I ever got my fix was from a patient of mine, she’d been robbed and only had a hotel chocolate to pay me with. I treated her regardless of course, would stop by her street corner every night hoping she might still feel grateful enough to give me another. Most nights she wasn’t there but the nights she was were one of the bright spots in my life” he reminisced.

“Hotel chocolates?” 

“Single squares of chocolate, they leave on your pillow.”

“I didn’t know they did that… I’ve never stayed at one.”

“Not all of them do, only the high end ones. I’ll take you to one someday. Did you find anything we need?” Daan stood up with a few medical supplies in his arms. 

Levi shook his head, they paid for the goods and left the store. Once they were back out in the old town Levi fished out a wrapped hard candy from his pocket and presented it to Daan.

“It’s not chocolate… Sorry it was the only one I could find.”

“Did you steal that from the kiosk? We would have had enough to buy it, you know.”

“Just… Seems like a waste of money right now”

“Well you should have it then, doubt we’ll come across anymore and you’re the one who did the work”

“I don’t really like candy…”

“So it’s just about the thrill for you?” Daan smirked.

“... Sorry I thought you’d want it… I’ll just go throw it away…” Levi fidgetted. 

“I’m just teasing love, thank you Levi you’re too sweet” Daan accepted the gift and popped the candy into his mouth and gave Levi a reassuring ruffle of his hair for good measure.