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ladykailitha · 21 days

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Icarus Part 18

Hey, guys! I'm back!!! I had a great and very productive hiatus, the results of which can be found here.

But tl;dr is that this story is complete, so it will be regularly updated on Sunday until it's done. Then I will release the story that started this all "The Rise of The Fallen" in two parts, also on Sundays. Which will take us all the to December, if you can believe it.

I'm still working on the other stories and at least The Hellfire Exotic Club (stripper), The Caged Bird Still Sings (sugar!baby), and Of Butterflies and Backstrokes (Olympic swimmer) are all going to be fairly long so that should be exciting. Then I'll be working on the fun little game show story now called "A Love Connection". Which won't come out until one of the others ends. Sorry. But WIP Wednesday will show you teases of it until then.

I recommend rereading the previous chapter to refresh your memory and away we go!

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17

Steve was riding on the best high. Their next song was “Kiss the Boys/Kiss the Girls”. The song was about finding love in whatever form that took. With a full verse on non-binary folks, despite the title. There was nothing in the world that could compare to crowds screaming your name. It didn’t even matter that the name they were screaming wasn’t Steve, it was Abbadon.

He stumbled into the green room that had all their stuff in it. Corroded Coffin had taken the stage and him and his boys were relaxing with their masks off, Hopper at the door.

“I’ve never been so nervous in my life!” Shane said after downing an entire water bottle. “That crowd was massive! And diverse! Usually we just get college aged kids but there were literal kids out there and old time rockers too.”

“Shit, yeah,” Spence said, pushing his hood off his head to splash a little water on his head. He didn’t have a spotlight on him but wearing all black still made for a hot set.

Shane laid down on the floor, sprawled out spread eagle. “Is this is what real fame is like?”

Steve slid off the chair he was sitting in, to sit next to him. “God, I have such mixed feelings about that if it is. Because the energy was off the charts and I’m pretty sure I sung my heart out...”

“But you aren’t sure you keep up with it for the whole tour?” Simon asked quietly.

Steve threw his head back to rest on the seat of the chair. “Yeah. I don’t want to burn out before I turn thirty, you know?”

“You should talk to Eddie about what they do not to burn out,” Spence suggested. “Because they’ve been doing this for ten years and longer tours than this.”

Steve hummed his agreement.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. “Celeste, incoming,” Hopper muttered, before opening the door.

Anyone in view of the door, put their mask over their face and then off again when the door closed behind their manager.

“Good job, guys,” Robin said cheerily and sat down on the floor between Shane and Steve. “I just got off the phone with Vickie and she says social media is going batshit insane about the song and Steve’s intro. And it’s good. Like really good. There are some assholes, but it seems that even the media and music critics are calling it the next gay anthem.”

“What are they saying?” Simon asked, sitting up on the sofa and scooting to the edge.

Robin grinned. “This is my favorite one: Heaven is where the assholes are, we always knew all the good people were in hell. Keep up the good work, Abbadon and all of the rest of The Fallen. From Metallica’s official Twitter.”

The room was deathly silent for all of two seconds before they all erupted into gleeful screams. They all jumped on her and started hugging her tightly.

“Get off me! Get off me!” she shrieked. “You’re all sweaty and gross!”

They deliberately smeared themselves all over her before they got off, giggling like children.

“Boys!” she huffed dramatically. “So gross. I swear you lot don’t grow up you just get older.”

Steve leaned over and gave a huge kiss on the cheek. “Probably, but you wouldn’t love us if we were any different.”

Robin swiped her cheek in an exaggerated fashion. “Maybe, but boys are still gross.” She went on to tell them all things that Vickie was sending her about the world’s reaction to the song.

Then after a while she bumped into Steve’s shoulder. “Go on. I know you want go watch some of the show, I’ll hold down the fort here.”

Steve smiled at her and gave her shoulder a squeeze. He got to his feet and put his mask back on. After checking to make sure no one was in view, he knocked on the door for Hopper to let him out.

Once the door closed, Robin let out a long sigh. “I worry about those two.”

“Who?” Shane said, sitting up for the first time. “Steve and Eddie? Why?”

She nodded, pulling her knees up to her chest and tucking her chin between her knees. “Being in the closet is hard. And I know Abbadon has come out, but he’s still in the ‘closet’ as it were about his identity and Eddie and Steve having to hide their relationship on top of Steve hiding who is... let’s just say that great relationships then theirs have crumbled under the pressure.”

The room was silent as they all took that in.

“Are we just doomed from having relationships?” Spence asked. “Are we all destined to be lonely?”

Simon’s lips quivered. “I hate that I have all these women throwing themselves at me but they really don’t care who’s under the mask.”

“I hit up every gay bar in every city we tour in as me,” Shane muttered picking at the skin around his nails, “and I don’t know if it’s worse they don’t know who I am than if I had gone as Astraeus.”

“I’m trying to have a girlfriend,” Spence said bitterly, “but all I can tell her is that I travel for work. And yeah it’s new enough she isn’t asking as what, but how much longer can I dodge that question?”

Robin let out another sigh. “I know, and it’s not as though I can really date either. Are they dating the goofy lesbian Robin, or the sophisticated fashion plate, Celeste? But with Eddie I think Steve has it harder.”

“It’s because Eddie is famous, huh?” Simon asked, sliding off the sofa to sit next to Shane on the floor.

Spence got up and curled up around Shane. Robin inserted herself into the pile and they just cuddled until the show was over.

Steve wanted to be on that stage more than anything, just singing with Eddie, happy and free. But he was Abbadon right now and while he might get away with it, Steve didn’t feel comfortable with the not being able to kiss his boyfriend senseless.

He waited until the it’s almost time for the encore before he slipped back into the green room. Everyone else is already changed and gone. It’s just Robin as Celeste waiting for him.

“How did he not have a boyfriend before now?” Steve muttered as he pulled on the khakis and blue polo shirt of his ‘uniform.’

Robin snorted. “For the same reason you went pretty thin on the dating field. He was hung up on a special someone.”

Steve blushed and ducked his head. “I’m assume you think it’s me.” He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to get it lay straight after being hidden under the hood for so long.

Robin got to her feet and leaned down to look him in the eye. “Are you telling me you don’t?”

Steve looked away. Robin gently lifted his chin and then held his face her hands. “Steven Kincade Harrington, you listen to me close. You are worthy of love. You are worthy of care. You are worthy of attention. And Eddie Munson is one hundred percent onboard to give all three. Of course he was waiting for you. Any person with eyes can see how much he loves you. Fuck, Simon bristles every time he’s brought up now because instead him being your protector like it used to be, it’s Eddie.”

Steve stared at her with his mouth wide open. “Simon’s jealous of Eddie?”

Robin laughed and kissed his stupid head.

“Babe,” she said fondly. “Spence and Shane have been beating him off with a stick every time Eddie comes around.”

“But Simon doesn’t protect me,” Steve said tilting his head to the side. “I protect him. He’s so painfully shy outside of the band and he’s always curled up on my lap.”

“Please tell me you aren’t that naive,” she said. “He is always sticking up for you about your writing, about your singing. When it comes to band stuff Simon is the biggest mama bear of them all.”

Steve blinked at her for a moment and then mouthed the word “Oh.”

“You are such a dingus,” she said shaking her head. “But you’re my dingus so that evens it out a bit.”

He pushed her playfully. “I’m going to get out there before people wonder where the missing EMT is.”

He slipped out a different way from when he came in and she watched him go. Steve was brilliant at a lot of things, people included. But he always had a blindspot when it came to when other people caring for him.

She sighed and then made her way out of the green room so that Corroded Coffin could unwind now.

Robin passed Chrissy on the way out.

“Hey,” Chrissy said with a huge smile. “My boys want to go afterwards with your boys, you think they’d be down?”

“Of course they would!” she replied. “As The Fallen or no?”

Chrissy slapped her palm to her forehead. “Shit I forgot. As The Fallen. But they have casual masks to go in right?”

Robin smiled back at her. “It’s fine, of course they have casual masks. I’ll let them know. It’ll have to be much later because they have to be see as normies for a bit before they slip back into The Fallen.”

Chrissy winked and tapped the side of her nose. “I got you.”

Just then all the Corroded Coffin boys came bursting from the stage into the wings, whooping and screaming. They huddled together, arms around each other and counted to twenty.

Once they got to one, Eddie screamed whooped again and all four of them ran back on stage.

Robin blinked at them for a moment. “Didn’t they just have an encore?”

Chrissy threw back her head and laughed. “Depending on the city they can do anywhere from two to five encores.”

“Holy shit!” Robin said in genuine awe. “That’s insane.”

“It’s not even their record,” she said.

Robin’s eyebrows shot up. “There’s no way.”

“Six in Salt Lake City,” she explained. “Just coming off their third album, the one with eight singles. Which was too many in my opinion but apparently a couple radio stations thought there were a really good deep tracks and played. Then it got around, yaddy yadda. You get the drift.”

“But six?” Robin asked a little unsure.

Chrissy nodded. “Salt Lake is crazy for that shit though. I’ve heard bands go there if they want their ego stoked.”

“Any bands avoid it for that reason?” Robin giggled.

“I have no doubt there are,” she said with a hum. “Most of the time bands whine about the lack of boobs and booze when they refuse to go back.”

Robin rolled her eyes. “Men are so gross.”

“Agreed,” she replied with a wink. “Go lesbian power.”

Robin fist bumped her. “I’ve got to go look like a PA schlep for awhile. I’ll text you when they’re free.”

“You’ve got it girlie!” Chrissy said.

Eddie was not pleased that they were at a bar. A bar was the last place he wanted Gareth to be right now.

But he insisted he would be fine and seemed for the most part to be sticking to a cherry coke, but Eddie was keeping an eye on him.

Things were actually going well until...

Astraeus let out a yelp of pain.

Abbadon and Azrael were on their feet in an instant, Asmodeus close behind. There was a little action going on so Eddie couldn’t see what happened, but oh boy did he see the aftermath.

Standing behind The Fallen’s bassist was an asshole with his phone up, filming and another guy yanking on Astraeus’ hood.

“Get off of him,” Abbadon hissed. “Or else.”

Abbadon was the shortest of his band, but fuck in that moment, he looked the most intimidating.

The dude with phone scoffed. “Or what? I’m filming you, you can’t do shit.”

Steve let out a huge ear-piercing whistle and yelled, “Security!”

The two dudes’ eyes went wide as they turned to scramble away from their table, but ran into two very meaty looking guys flanking Hopper.

“You two boys going somewhere?” the head of security asked, low and dangerously.

“We weren’t doing anything!” the one dude said. Not the one with the phone, but the one who had pulled on Astraeus’ hood.

“Yeah?” he asked. “And would these boys say the same?”

The asshole with the phone scoffed. “They’re just a bunch of weird, rich assholes, they’d say whatever.”

“And the security cameras won’t show you filming your friend here, yanking on this man’s hoodie?”

The two dudes looked at each in actual fear for the first time.

“And by the way, that’s assault,” Hopper continued to press. “So unless you want to be arrested, you’ll delete that little videos of yours unless you really, really want to broadcast your crime to the internet.”

The guy with the phone had Hopper watch him delete it off his phone.

“Good,” he said, “now these two gentlemen are going to escort out of the building, a building you’ll never be allowed to come back to ever again.”

After Hopper left with the bouncers and the two idiots, Gareth turned to them.

“Shit,” he said, “that was fucking terrifying. Does that happen a lot?”

Abbadon and Azrael exchanged a glance.

“More than it really should,” Azrael said. “It’s why Ellie designed a hoodie that would be harder to yank off. The trade off unfortunately is that hurts like a bitch when it’s pulled.”

“That fucking sucks, man,” Jeff said. “The next round of drinks is on me.”

Eddie nodded, but inside he was screaming. He didn’t know that this was something the band experienced at all. And even if he didn’t know who they were, that would still freak him out. But it was worse knowing it was Steve that they were doing this to.

Abbadon squeezed his hand under the table. It didn’t reassure him, not really, but it was still nice that Steve recognized his turmoil.

The night was a little more subdued after that as the Corroded Coffin boys thought about the implications of what just happened and The Fallen boys because all they wanted was a fun night out and it was ruined.

Part 19 Part 20

Tag List: CLOSED

1- @mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog

2- @gregre369 @a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence

3- @goodolefashionedloverboi @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog @irregular-child @blondie1006

4- @yikes-a-bee @bookworm0690 @anne-bennett-cosplayer @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten

5- @genderless-spoon @y4r3luv @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt

6- @disrespectedgoatman @eyehartart @dawners @thespaceantwhowrites @tinyplanet95

7- @iamthehybrid @croatoan-like-its-hot @papergrenade @cryptid-system @counting-dollars-counting-stars

8- @ravenfrog @w1ll0wtr33 @child-of-cthulhu @kultiras @dreamercec

9- @machete-inventory-manager @useless-nb-bisexual @stripey82 @dotdot-wierdlife @kal-ology

10- @sadisticaltarts @urkadop @chameleonhair @clockworkballerina @garden-of-gay

#my writing #stranger things #steddie #ladykailtiha writes #rockstar eddie munson #rockstar steve harrington #rockstar au

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absolutebl · 5 months

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This Week in BL - new entries upset the rankings

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

April 2024 Wk 2

Ongoing Series - Thai

City of Stars (Fri iQIYI) ep 11 of 12 - Like most Thai BL pulps, this show doesn’t have much story to it. But I'm discovering that what it does have I actually really enjoy. I love that the gay boys got to play matchmaker for a change and I like how just GAY they are. It's nice. Refreshing.

We Are (Weds GMMTV iQIYI) ep 1-2 of 16 - University ensemble BL featuring PondPhuwin, WinnySatang, AouBoom, MarcPawinPoon. I like it. It’s old school Thai BL, but having fun with itself and its tropes. I’m not expecting much, so I don’t mind it waffling. All the couples are comfy. Chemistry is okay. Friendships are nifty. I like Pond's floppy hair. We fine.

Two Worlds (Thurs IQIYI) ep 5 of 10 - What an extremely bloody episode. And bad guy turned out to be very bad indeed. And now pretty much everyone is dead. Nice kiss. Of course.

Deep Night (Thurs iQiyi) ep 6 of 8 - It’s cute, they happy, not a ton happened. Random gratuitous bathing. As you do in BL. And I still think the sides should just end up in a thrupple

Only Boo! (Sun YouTube) ep 2 of 12 - Oh they very cute. Also very silly.

1000 Years Old (Thurs iQIYI) ep 9 of 12 - No. NOT THE GUITAR. YES abandon guitar for the sniff test! Love this for them. And me. My most favorite trope defeated my least favorite trope. VICTORY!!!

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Unknown (Taiwan Tues YouTube & Viki) ep 8 of 11 - It’s just so good. Baby went away, grew up, and learned how to become a temptation... and a husband.

Gray Shelter AKA Gray Currents (Korea Thurs iQIYI) 1 of 5 eps - SooHyuk, only just surviving, reunites with YoonDae, his (brief) younger stepbrother who feels abandoned. They end up living together. The younger brother is played by Lee Jae Bin of Choco Milk Shake. OMG. STEPBROTHERS TROPE. Lucky me! Two in one season. Yay!!!! It's Korea so great visuals too. I shallow but yeah, this is great.

Living With Him AKA Kare no Iru Seikatsu (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 1 of 10 - Kindly Ryota goes off to uni only to find his new roommate is his childhood bestie, Kazuhito. Kazuhito doesn’t have a girlfriend and Ryota tries to help him figure out why. Same director as Old Fashion Cupcake. It’s utterly charming. I am charmed. Also the framing is gorgeous (of course). Very stylish.

Love is Better the Second Time Around AKA Koi wo Suru nara Nidome ga Joto (Japan Weds Gaga) ep 6fin - I don’t know. Kind of a flat ending with the leads apart for most of it. I enjoyed this show but it never really hit with me.

Summation

After a teen betrayal and resulting separation a reporter reunites with his first love. That love wants him back. I enjoyed the authenticity of a reunion romance explored in Japan's quintessentially contemplative yet surreal way. The juxtaposition of the tenderness of the sex scenes with this Japanese style of authenticity was oddly elegant but all in all this still fell a little flat for me. There's nothing objectively wrong with it, but in total the narrative felt sluggish and the main couple were just... stiff (in the wrong way). Frankly, I'd rather just rewatch Tokyo in April is. 8/10

Love is like a Cat (Korea Mon Viki) eps 3-4 of 12 - What is going on with this show? No, I get the plot. I just don't get the show or why I’m watching it. Annoying.

It's done, but I suck

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Gaga) 10 eps

To Be Continued (Sat C3 Thailand grey) ep 7-8fin - I can't for the life of me find the final 2 episodes. Haven't had a real hunt, but yeah. No dice so far.

It's airing but...

Takumi-kun Series 6: Nagai Nagai Monogatari (Japan Furritsubs) eps 1-? of 10 - I may wait and binge it.

Lady Boy Friends (Thai WeTV grey) 16 eps - reminds me a bit too much of Diary of Tootsies only high school. Not my thing. DNF unless it turns a corner and is truly amazing.

Kiseki Chapter 2 (Sun iQIYI) 6 eps - It’s so boring DNFed at 2.

Close Friend Season 3: Soju Bomb! (Weds iQIYI) 6 - The problem with situational comedy BL is it must be situational, comedic and a BL. This show gets 1 of 3 claims correct. 33% is not a passing grade. Dropped at 3.

Memory in the Letter (Thai WeTV) - only 4 eps, tell me if I should bother?

Next Week Looks Like This:

4/18 At 25:00 in Alaska AKA 25 Ji Akasaka de (Japan Thurs Gaga) 10 eps - Yuki lands his first starring role in a BL drama alongside superstar Asami (previously his senior at uni). Said superstar suggests they form a sham relationship until filming concludes. As they actually begin to fall in love, the spotlight begins to burn. I think I've seen this before (joke) and also the trailer doesn't inspire confidence.

Still to Come in April

4/25 Boys Be Brave! AKA Roommates (Korea Thurs Viki) 8 eps - Trailer Jung Ki Sub is Kim Jin Woo's slacker friend - and secret crush. So when Ki Sub crashes at his place, his heart tingles to be near him everyday. But as the short stay turns into permanent mooch, how long can Jin Woo keep his true feelings under wraps and hold back from confessing?

4/26 My Stand-In (Thai iQIYI) 12 eps - adaptation of Chinese novel "Professional Body Double" by Shui Qiang Cheng. Stars Up (Lovely Writer) and Poom (Bake Me Please) directed by the same team as KP (not a recommendation IMHO - my biggest criticism of that show was the clashing directing styles). This one looks complicated, lemme try: Joe is a stuntman for famous actor Tong. Joe falls in love with Ming but Ming sees Joe as nothing more than a Tong-replacement. After learning this horrible truth, Joe dies. Joe then wakes up in the body of another man also named Joe. He manages to rebuild the same life as before—with the same people eventually re-meeting Ming. Ming wants Joe back but Joe doesn't understand why. But Ming seems to know what's going on and wants to give him some kind of explanation.

I'm exhausted just trying to describe the plot.

Knock-Knock Boys (Thai WeTV) - 4 college friends conspire to help their friend lose his virginity. Familiar faces like Seng (yes, Billy's previous pairing) and Best, news here. But will it actually air this month?

Upcoming BLs for 2024 are listed here. This list is not kept updated, so please leave a comment if you know something new or RP with additions.

NOTE: It looks like one of my personal favorites of last year Unintentional Love Story is getting a spin off!

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENT

Sniff test turning into a make out sesh? Please and thank you. City of Stars

(Last week)

Streaming services are listed by how I (usually) watch, which is with a USA based IP, and often offset by a day because time zones are a bother.

The tag BLigade: @doorajar @solitaryandwandering @my-rose-tinted-glasses @babymbbatinygirl @babymbbatinygirl @isisanna-blog @mmastertheone @pickletrip @aliceisathome @urikawa-miyuki @tokillamonger @rocketturtle4 @blglplus @anythinggoesintheshire @everlightly

If ya wanna be tagged each week leave a comment and I will add you to the template. Easy peesy.

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minnielvr · 1 year

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DIE FOR YOU ; a hwang hyunjin smau

synopsis : jyp uni's resident "bad boy" hwang hyunjin decides to swoon y/n l/n, not too popular but also well known, as a dare from his friends. what happens when he actually falls for her? genre : college smau!! with written parts. lots of drama but there will also be plenty of fluffy moments! enemies to lovers woohoo!!! pairing : hwang hyunjin x fem! reader featuring : stray kids, yunjin from le sserafim, minji (faceclaim), hanni, & haerin from newjeans, keeho and intak from p1harmony, wonyoung from ive. others may be added as the story continues. warnings : cursing, kys jokes, bullying as a joke, alcohol usage, suggestive jokes, lots of angst tbh. status + updates : this smau is ongoing and updates will be slow af bc im in college and busy! TAGLIST : the taglist is OPEN!! pls comment on this post or send an ask if u wld like to be added!!! playlist : music that reminds me of this series & its characters!! its a mix of like almost every genre so it wont be everyones cup of tea🤷‍♀️ also play it on shuffle!! notes : guys i cant stop LOLLLL😛 like i said updates will be hella slow but like this idea has been in my head for saurrr long and i need to get it out NEOW. also guys PLEASE do NOT spam like. you can js comment or reblog instead thank you!!! ────────────────────────────── profiles gangy😜 | FBGM💰 ────────── chapters 1. super shy🙈 2. right guy 3. no y/n stop comeback🥺🥺 4. shes crazy frfr 5. fym EYE happened 6. next time 7. welcome home cheater 8. party 9. plot twist 10. #pussypower 11. y/n asf 12. hehe😈 13. school girl 14. miserable & pretty 15. ilyt ig 16. oh. 17. old ass 18. thinking caps! 19. dont call my girl sweet 20. y/n pls cum 21. iykykykyk

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naomikozura · 3 months

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Playing with Fire: Chapter 5

Jason Todd (Red Hood) x Fem!Reader (Criminal)

Trope: Enemies to Lovers, Forbidden Romance

Warnings: strong language, gun usage, bodily harm, gunshot wounds, reader's past, slight angst, use of pain drugs/inhibitors (lmk if I missed any!)

WC: 8.7K

Summary: You don't imagine yourself getting caught in the middle of a difficult situation, especially not when you're being suspected by one of your boss's partners and being followed by your past. With Black Mask watching your every move, you have no choice but to turn to the last person you'd ever want to ask for help. What do you do when an underlying truth is revealed and a chance at leaving this life behind presents itself?

Series Masterlist

Chapter 4 || Chapter 6

Flash Back

There was a calmness tonight, feeling the warmth on your skin as you walked up the stairs that led to the roof, your heart racing in your chest as you pushed the door open, your heart stopping in your chest. Robin stood on the roof, a picnic mat laid out, a few small drinks and food placed perfectly as Robin met your gaze. Your smile spread across your face, a warmth in your chest as he walked over to you, his devastating smile making your body feel giddy.

“Hey, (Y/n).”, your eyes were bright as you looked up at him. Robin was tall, his dark hair slightly messy and his body muscular for a 16 year old.

“Hey, Rob.”, you smiled at him, your arms around his body as he hugged you tightly. He smelled like woodsy musk, the smell making you feel safe and comfortable.

“I have something for you.”, he pulled back, digging something out of his pocket as he held it out for you. “Happy Birthday, (Y/n)”

You gently took the small box, opening it to reveal a beautiful emerald green necklace on a silver chain, the stone a deep color in an oval shape. It was one of the prettiest pieces of jewelry you’d ever seen, and you’ve seen several pieces thanks to your adoptive mother. She had a wide range of jewelry and accessories made from the finest jewels and golds. All of them worth thousands if not hundreds of thousands, but this… this was worth far more than any expensive necklace someone could give.

You felt a rush of emotion, a tugging in your chest as you admired the green stone and touched it lightly, letting it sink in that Robin had just gotten you the best birthday gift ever.

“I… It’s perfect, Rob.”, you smiled up at him, your eyes flooding with a glossy sheen as you held back a small flood of tears from overflowing. “I love it.”

“I’m glad. I saw it and I thought of you. I think it brings out your eyes.”, he smiled as he pulled the necklace out of the box, moving your hair to the side as he walked behind you, his hands going over your head and clasping it around your neck. He looked down at you with a warm glance, taking in how the necklace sat on you. “I guess I was right. It really does look pretty on you.”

“I didn’t even get you anything for your birthday..”

“Well, you don’t know my birthday, and second, even if you did, you are more than anything anyone could ever give me.”, he smirked while tilting his head. “You’re the only thing I could ever ask for.”

“You’re such a flirt.”, you shoved him gently, moving over to the small area where he laid down the picnic area.

“I get it from my older brother.”, he shrugged.

You raised an eyebrow at him, “You have an older brother?”

“Yeah, he’s the golden boy of the family but I don’t mind. I prefer not being in the spotlight. Draws too much attention.”

“You say as you wear the Robin suit on a regular basis”, you joked as he let out a deep laugh, as he sat down next to you. He wore dark jeans and a gray long sleeve shirt, his eyes covered with sunglasses instead of his usual domino mask. It gave you a glimpse of what it would be like if the two of you had met under normal circumstances. Would you two meet up for dates? Would you meet his family?

The thought left you warm inside.

“Penny for your thoughts?”, he cocked his head to the side, staring at you as you snapped out of your trance. “Just… thank you for making today a good Birthday.”, he leaned in, placing a soft kiss on your lips, your mouth moving against his as you breathed him in. You didn’t want anything else but to be happy, and you found that in Robin. He showed you it was worthwhile living in Gotham, he understood your background, your struggles, your dreams.

“Anything for you.”, he smiled.

Everything was perfect.

“Y/n”, your head snapped up, meeting Penguin’s gaze. “Here is the paperwork for our partner.”.

He handed over a packet that held all the paperwork for the Arkham Asylum release, reading over all the information. He was confirmed for release in three weeks. Had it already been two months since they had started the process to get him out? Sionis had hired him but knew it would be difficult to get him to fulfill the job unless Black Mask and Penguin worked on bailing him out.

“We need to finalize the security transfer. You will go with the men to pick him up on his release to ensure no one can find that he’s out. Can’t have him getting a hit put in him either.”, you nodded as you took note of the date, committing it to memory. “You’ll be accompanied by Black Mask’s men, four guards and three drivers”

Such a high profile prisoner. You didn’t question the why, you knew the reason and it made your stomach churn. You’d never met the man in person but you knew he was evil, maniacal, a psychopath.

You wondered if he would actually be able to get the job done, especially since you already had suspicions of your inability to catch Red. You still couldn’t let Sionis get a leg up so easily. Penguin never questioned you or why you hadn’t caught him, the only thing that mattered was everything in the underground operations to run smoothly. For the past two weeks they had been. Red had stayed hidden since your encounter at the server room.

He’d helped you when you didn’t ask for it, he’d helped you even when you didn’t deserve it. You let out a sigh, pushing the thoughts out of your head before standing, stretching your arms as you handed the documents back to Penguin.

“Is there anything else I need to know before I have to make preparations?”, you cocked your head at him, raising an eyebrow to him as he waved you off.

“How is Calvi coming along?”, he lit his cigarette.

“It’s progressing. In fact, I may need the next week off before picking up our VIP. Calvi invited me to attend an upcoming Gala in a few weeks. I think it may be good to be his plus one for the evening.”, you mentioned, hoping he would be pleased with the progress you’d made with him.

“Take the time off, so long as you can be back the night of transportation.”, he nodded. “I look forward to the results, (Y/n).”

You nodded to him before grabbing your things and heading out for the evening. The guards led you out to the side, slipping out of the hidden door and wandering back to the main streets of the city. It was still early, probably enough time to get food at the store near your apartment.

It was only around 7pm, the sun barely starting to set as you moved through the streets. People were still out and it was a nice day, the sun was warm and many of the nearby stores were filled with people eating dinner, buying groceries, or just strolling on the street with their friends, families, or partners. A simple life they must live. A life you would never get insight into. It was never anything you could achieve but it was something you had dreamed of at one point. It was a lifetime ago that you envisioned yourself living a normal life.

Friends, a partner, nights out, birthdays, New Years celebrations, parties, movie nights, a family.

It was all a distant dream, something you were sure you had signed away rights to when you joined this life. You convinced yourself long enough that you were okay with it but nights like tonight, where you could see the buzzing of the evening and see the connections, the love, the trust everyone of these strangers had for one another. It caused an aching in your chest.

The past 6 years had been lonely.

“What about your friends?”, Robin asked as he cocked his head towards you.

The both of you were at a park this time around. It wasn’t often you’d go anywhere but the roof but he wanted to take you to the park. It was warm and the day was nice. You also had never met him during the day. He had a different kind of glow to him but it wasn’t any different than he was at night. You were off in the secluded part of the park, away from any people to give you your privacy.

You wore shorts, your hair up in a ponytail and a loose white tee and flannel. It was a more casual outfit than you’d normally wear, the family usually making you keep appearances, but you liked having casual days.

“I don’t really have friends.”, you admitted as you picked a dandelion out of the ground and picked the petals.

“You go to school right? You don’t talk or hang out with any of them?”, he leaned back on his arms, his legs stretched on the grass as he looked at you.

“I.. I’m not really liked at my school. Everyone sees me as this… thief who will never be at the same level as them.”, you hugged your knees to your chest, resting your chin on your knees and staring at the small ladybug on your shoe. “I won’t ever fit in with the rich people who live in this city.”

“Seems pretty boring to fit in.”, Robin leaned towards you, “I think it’s better to not be a part of the crowd.”

You turned your head, leaning your head on your arm as you looked at him. His hair was messy, his dark sunglasses covering his eyes, wearing black jeans and a dark gray shirt. It was tight around his arms, showing off his muscle and how fit he was, definitely because of the life he built with Batman. He was devastatingly handsome, you were sure if he went to a regular school every girl would be all over him and yet he spent his time with you.

“What about you? Any friends back in your normal life?”, you asked softly.

“I don’t try and make many friends, they’d never understand the life I have to live or the secrets I have to maintain to ensure Batman and I’s identities and work get exposed.”

“So… why do you hang around me if you don’t keep friends?”

He smiled at you, his hair flopping forward before running a hand through his hair and shrugging.

“It’s different with you”, he paused, biting his lip before speaking again. “You understand living in the street, and just getting picked up by someone and having to adjust to this new life. It wasn’t easy, especially because no one understands but… you do. That makes this a lot easier to manage knowing I can trust you to share my thoughts with.”, his body was relaxed, his aura changing as he opened up and felt more laid back.

A warm feeling spread in your chest as you held his gaze, the sensation making you feel more connected to him. How could someone you’d only known for a short while had grown as such a prominent part of your life. He was open, charming, kind, sometimes on-guard but he had opened up slowly overtime. You also opened up to him about different parts of your life on the streets, his own experiences similar to yours.

“You’re not too bad yourself, Boy Wonder.”

You grabbed a few items off the shelf, placing them in your basket before moving through the aisles as someone bumped into you, some of the items falling out of your basket.

“Shit, let me grab those for you.”, you turned to look at the guy as he picked up your items, standing at full height as he looked down at you. Your eyes widening slightly. “Sorry, I should’ve seen where I was going.”

He was tall, dark hair, green eyes, and was… handsome. He placed your items back into your basket before you thanked him quietly.

“Ah… it’s alright. Thank you for this. Accidents happen.”, you smiled slightly, holding up your items before turning and leaving, the man walking back to the other side of the aisles.

You quickly paid for your items, thanking the cashier as you headed home, letting the night come to a quiet end as you sank into the soft cushions, the exhaustion washed over you from the endless stress and pressure. You had Black Mask watching over you, Penguin’s job with Calvi and his VIP, and trying to catch Red. It became overwhelming, your body’s exhaustion finally catching up to you.

You laid your head back, staring up at the ceiling as you sank into the couch as the silence wrapped around you. It’d become routine. Work in the most extreme cases and with the craziest of people then coming home to a silence that’s become comfort for you. A break from the chaos was all you could ever ask for. You’d never be able to get a clean break. At least you feared not being able to.

You closed your eyes, letting the sound of the city blend into the background. The hum of the fridge, the cars outside, even the small voices of the people in the street all meshed together into a satisfying mix of what a normal life could be like.

Through half lidded eyes, you noticed something on the counter, furrowing your eyebrows in confusion before walking over and noticing a small box. You took the lid off of it, your heart dropping in your chest.

A pair of green earrings.

Instinctively, your hand touched your necklace, the exact one to match the jewelry in the box. You felt your heart swell with hurt, flashbacks of secret nights flooding your mind as you clenched your jaw. The thoughts flooding your head are borderline delusional. He was gone. He left you.

You picked the small box up, examining it for any notes or script left behind but they were by themselves. Placed perfectly in a velvet box, and beautifully crafted, they were meant to be worn as a set. A part of you knowing perhaps Robin would’ve given you the earrings if he’d asked you to be his. You shook your head, forcing the hurt of the thoughts away.

Your eyes narrowed slightly. The only thing that gave away why they were here was written in a calligraphic cursive.

Happy Birthday Y/n.

The night of the Gala was fast approaching, your preparations slowly falling into place as you gathered what you needed for the next two weeks. Everything was meticulously planned, you’d convince Calvi of working with Penguin and get him to cease trade with Red. The Gala was the perfect opening.

The warm water cascaded down your back, the heat burning your skin in a soothing and relaxing way. It was one of your sacred moments. Basking in the warmth and letting your body relieve itself from being tense. The fog filled the clear glass, your eyes focused on the water droplets as they fell down the wall of the shower.

After another half hour, you wrapped your towel around you, drying your hair with an old t-shirt you never wore anymore. You looked at the time, it was still early in the night, you figured you could go out for a ride to get your mind off things while you had the time.

You quickly changed into dark jeans, an old long sleeve and pulled on a leather jacket with your combat boots. You grabbed your helmet and made your way out the window, ensuring your front door was locked. You dropped down into the alley and pulled the tarp off the motorcycle. Swinging your leg over the seat, you turned the key and revved the engine, taking off through the streets.

There were still a good amount of people out tonight, some of them headed to upper Gotham for the rich and exclusive clubs and bars and others headed to the deep, dark corners of the East side. Gotham had its clear divide and there was no in between. Those caught in the middle would always be grouped with the lower half unless they had ties with the upper side.

You swerved through the cars, passing by in a flash through the city, the lights from the buildings adding to the ambiance of the night. It made the night feel different but it didn’t make the city any better. Pretty lights to cover up the shit show underneath them. It was all just a mask.

The sounds of the city slowly faded behind you as you drove through the outskirts of the city, heading to the nearby harbor that had a secluded beach that not many people seemed to visit anymore. It was nice enough but just not worth coming at night.

You kicked down the bike stand, leaving your motorcycle on the rocky road as you looked at the body of water in front of you. There wasn’t anymore sand, just a few rocks to sit on and the water fresh as the wind made small waves. You walked towards the water, standing right at the edge as the small waves kissed the bottoms of your boots. It came and went as the wind allowed it to, barely touching your sole as you watched it move smoothly.

“Do you ever have days off to just relax?.”, you looked out at the water, the moon reflecting on the waves as you stared out blankly.

“Relax? I barely get time to do homework”, Robin was standing next to you, throwing a stone against the water and watched as it skipped, making the reflection ripple in turn.

“Does Batman know you need to do good to graduate?” you joked as he shrugged his shoulders.

“He’d actually kill me if I did bad in school”, he picked up another rock before skidding it again. “Besides, it’s too easy regardless if the advanced curriculum”

“Woah okay, calm down know it all”, you laughed at him, the sound filling his chest with a warmth he hadn’t felt before. It sounded like a sort of heaven.

The both of you sat in the sand at the same time, the warmth of the sand against your skin, his legs stretched in front of him as you watched the lone birds swim in the water.

You felt his hand graze yours, his fingers slightly over yours as he tightened his grip slightly. He was relaxed, laid back, and confident. You melted into him, leaning your head on his shoulder and breathing in his woodsy scent. It calmed you.

He turned his head towards you, his other hand softly brushing your cheek, your eyes meeting his darkened ones. You wish you could see him without those damn sunglasses. You were sure he had the prettiest eyes. His thumb stroked your cheek and pushed a strand of hair back before pressing his lips against yours.

You melted into him, smiling against his lips causing him to smile through the kiss.

“You..”, he whispered against your lips. “You drive me crazy, Y/n.”

A blush crept up your neck, the heat burning between the two of you. Your heart full of happiness, full of content, full of…

“Always staying out past your bedtime, aren’t you?”, the silence broke, your body turning slightly, almost relaxed. Red stood a few feet behind you, his gaze locked on you as you stared at him with a soft look in your eyes. It made him falter an inch. Something that went unnoticed by you.

“Always following me? I’m beginning to think you’re obsessed with me.”, you said as the wind carried your voice towards him.

“Keeping my enemies close.”

Your eyes followed his movements, his hand clenching into a fist before relaxing as he walked beside you and stared out at the water. He stayed silent, confusion running through your head before his distorted voice rang out.

“You know he’s keeping tabs on you right?”, your ears perked at his comment, furrowing your eyebrows at him.

“Who’s keeping tabs on me?”

“Black Mask.”, he retorted as the silence grew thick with tension.

A wave of annoyance went over you, like every time he was near you it drove you mad. Red’s revelation cut through the tension like a blade, his words repeating in your head as you broke them down.

“You don’t have anything better to do than follow me around and lie about my alliances?”, you bit out at him, the anger slowly building inside of you.

“When have I lied to you?”

“When have you told the truth?”, you spit back quickly, your eyes snapping to him while glaring daggers.

His entire energy changed then, turning from relaxed to tense, his shoulders flexing under all the kevlar he was wearing. Why did you have to be so stubborn? Why did you believe the kingpins in Gotham were on your side? It frustrated him, made him burn at the fact that you couldn’t see how they undermined you.

“Do you really think Black Mask is on your side?”, his spit out, his hands forming into fists at his sides from his irritation. “You think he trusts you when this entire time he’s had tabs on you, waiting for the perfect moment for you to fuck up and out you to the fat bastard.”

Your eyes filled with anger, your shoulders tense with anger. Who the hell did he think he was to question your allies?

“Fuck you.”, you spit out as you pushed past him to leave, stopping when you felt his hand wrap around your arm, keeping you in place.

“I’m warning you. You already don’t like the son of a bitch, why would I lie about this?”, he questioned. “You suggesting he’s keeping tabs on me means you think Penguin also doesn’t trust me. They’ve been partners longer than I’ve worked for Penguin, accusing Sionis of keeping tabs on me means Penguin questions me too.”, you narrowed your eyes. “My loyalties have always belonged to Penguin.”

“And what are you going to do when you find out that I’m right?”

“You won’t be.”, you spit.

“They. Don’t. Trust. You.”

Enough was enough. You pulled your arm out of his grasp, turning and lifting your leg, letting your foot meet the side of his head, his neck cracking to the side as he moved back. You lunged at him, your fists meeting his body and making him release grunts of pressure. He recovered quickly, matching your aggression, his movements fluid and precise as he dodged your hits and tried to hit back with equal force. His hits barely made their mark as he moved forward, trying to grab you.

Every insult he’s made, every taunt, every doubt just pushed you further to the edge, adding fuel to the fire of your anger until it consumed you entirely. He overwhelmed you, consumed you, completely filled you with anger, frustration, annoyance, and yet you couldn’t bring yourself to make the final blow.

You’d told yourself for weeks, months, that it was all in spite of Sionis but was it really or did you enjoy torturing yourself? Did you enjoy the rush you got every time you came into contact with the infamous Red Hood that had all of Gotham after him?

You continued to take hits at him, your arm getting caught in his hand as he twisted it and pulled you over his body, slamming you to the ground as he forced you into the ground. Your hair feeling the cold, wet sensation from the waves of the water brushing against your hair slightly, his gloved hand next to your head in the water.

“Let me go!”, you pushed against him. “Don’t be fucking naïve, Y/n.”, he muttered. “The only reason he hasn’t fucking caught you is because I’ve been cleaning up your fucking mess and covering your tracks.”

You felt your entire body freeze at his comment, your blood growing cold at the confession.

He’s been covering my tracks?

“You expect me to believe that?”, you snapped, your voice laced with disbelief. “You don’t know shit! I’ve proven myself to Penguin for years, he trusts me and if Sionis wants to keep his connections he knows not to doubt Penguin.”

You almost gave a convincing argument, but the meeting you had with him a few days ago replayed in your head.

“It’s been almost two months. Why haven’t you caught the son of a bitch yet?”

“Doesn’t seem like you’re doing everything you can.”

“If you fail, I’ll make sure to do my own look as to why.”

“Believe what you want, sweetheart. You’ll realize sooner than later that you're nothing but a pawn in Sionis's game", the warning laced in his tone, his voice cutting through the haze of your anger. "And no matter how hard you try to fight it, you'll always be just another piece on his chessboard."

“Why bother helping me if I’m just some lowlife nobody?”, you demanded, your voice tinged with frustration as you held Red’s gaze. “If you hate me so much, why bother helping me? Why not let Sionis catch me and let him torture me? Or better yet, why not turn me in and watch as he beats me to an inch of my life?”, you were taunting him, pushing him to the edge as his grip tightened slightly.

“We both know Sionis isn’t shy when it comes to getting rid of those who betray him. So tell me, why?”

“I have my reasons. Don’t read too much into it.”, he forced out, his muscles flexed and you could tell he was getting more annoyed than he already was. It pissed you off that he was elusive, refusing to give you a straight answer to your questions. Your heart pounded in your chest, the adrenaline spiking once again because of him.

What was he hiding and why did it feel like he was tricking you?

What information did he have that would’ve made you second guess yourself, and why would he even suggest helping you by ‘covering your tracks’?

You wanted to dive deeper, but believing him would mean second-guessing the company Penguin kept. Regardless of how you felt towards Sionis, you wouldn’t question Penguin’s ties if you wanted to stay under his protection.

Red released you, moving away and walking back towards the road. His shoulders were tense, your confusion flooding your mind as you tried analyzing what just happened. The water dripped down your neck as you sat up, watching his back as he walked away.

“You’re not telling me everything.”, you wanted to know more about Sionis and his tabs on you. How long has it been? What did he know? Who was relaying the information back to him?

“Maybe not.”, he called out, his distorted voice sounding haunting with the quiet of the night. “But I’m sure your trust in the son of a bitch doesn’t require you to know more.”

Fuck.

He turned, leaving you sitting in your own confusion and frustration. How would you find out if what he was saying was even true? When would Sionis even find the time to focus on you when Red was the one destroying and dismantling all of his jobs? He would spend more time focused on killing Red instead of focused on why you haven’t caught him.

Sionis forgets your loyalty belongs to Penguin yet he questioned you tirelessly, always watching you and the way you were with Penguin’s partners. You were working on convincing Calvi to work with Penguin and it took priority for a split second. Now that you knew that Red was connected to Calvi it made everything more complicated. Sionis doesn’t care about complications, he cares about getting the job done and you haven’t been so cooperative in that aspect.

You forced yourself to your feet, wobbling as you brushed the dirt off of you, your body tired of Red throwing you around like you were some rag doll.

You needed to get out of this mess, needed to find out if Red was being truthful, if Sionis really was keeping tabs on you, and if Penguin had gotten any hint of his suspicion of you from Sionis.

All in its own time but the gnawing in your gut told you you needed to figure it out sooner than later.

Before it was too late.

One Week Later

This was stupid, brainless even. A part of you on edge at you as you paced around the roof, letting yourself try and calm down but your anxiety slowly ate at you.

The abandoned building laid in the outskirts of the city, it had no surveillance and was completely abandoned by every crime lord due to its lack of structure and functionality. It was the perfect, clandestine meeting spot. You recounted every word, detail, every bit of information in your head and shifted through each of the files you had organized in your head. Your feet pacing were the only thing that could be heard as you but your thumb while thinking. You checked the time, impatience and uneasiness tugging at your gut, the sound of footsteps making you turn a little too quickly towards them.

“You’re late.”, you said.

“You didn’t exactly make this spot easy to find.”, he retorted as he walked up to you, the distance only a few feet between the two of you. “The message you left for me was cute enough though.”

You’d blown up another one of his satellite locations on the outskirts of the city. Leaving a carefully planted code with a message attached on one of his shipments you knew only he could find. You knew it’d be a 50/50 chance of him showing, but you liked the odds anyway.

The silence suddenly laid over the both of you like a blanket, causing the tension to rise a bit but left more of an awkward silence than anything. The silence was necessary to help you collect your thoughts but also annoying as it made your anxiety eat at you.

Your eyes stayed trained on him, your guard down as you contemplated even asking him to meet you here.

“I-“, you stopped yourself, trying to swallow your pride. “I want you to tell me what you know about Sionis keeping tabs on me.”

You heard a deep chuckle escape him, his arms crossing as he stood tall, confident in himself and entertained by the fact that you were choosing to believe him. There was an obvious blend of distrust and reluctant cooperation. He’d never expected you to accept the intel he’d share.

“Tell me why you hate him”, he said with a firmness that left no room for you to reject his ask.

You hesitated, your guard slipping just a fraction. “It’s personal. I have my reasons.”, you said through clenched teeth. You met his gaze, your eyes hardening. “Leave it at that.”

“You give me information, I give you yours. Otherwise, figure it out on your own”, why did he always make everything much harder than it needed to be?

His words rang around in your head, you didn’t have time for this or his games. You needed answers, an in that Sionis would never know you had.

“Four years ago, I was barely getting into the Gotham Crime Ring. I was stealing from one of his jobs and he found me. He had his men beat me half to death before dumping me in the back alleys of Gotham. I nearly died before Penguin found me. I was weak, small, and Sionis doesn’t even fucking recognize me.”

“But you’re still trying to dismantle his empire”

“The only way I know how. From working on the inside.”, you confessed. “Now there isn’t a day that son of a bitch doesn’t try to get me to try and prove myself to him and his cause. As if I answer to him and not Penguin.”, the hate was evident in your tone, the disgust you had towards him burning deep inside of you as you fixed your gaze to the ground.

“So you’re risking getting caught.”, your eyes held a level of vulnerability in them that made Red’s walls falter before regaining his composure. “Gotham’s taken a lot from me. Forced me to give my old life for this one. This isn’t about taking out Black Mask. It’s much bigger than that.”

In that moment, the both of you shared a rare instance of mutual understanding.

“Sionis hired one of his men to follow you on the jobs your pig of a boss has been sending you on. He’s been watching you since the building fire.”, Red retorted, his arms still crossed as he took you in. You were wearing leggings and an oversized sweater that fell off your shoulder. Your hair was down and tucked behind your ears, your eyes full of confusion, distrust, vulnerability. It made something inside of him soften despite himself. “I found the son of a bitch.”

“Did you throw him off with a false lead or plant information?”

“No.”, he said seriously. “I killed him.”

Your eyebrows furrowed, the emotions swirling inside of you at his confession. He covered your tracks by getting rid of the person tracking you. No intel to make it back to Sionis, no suspicion raised about your loyalties or why you’d failed to kill Red.

The shuffling of his feet made your head snap to him again, watching as he turned to walk away before you called out to him. He turned to look at you, the silence elongating with each passing second.

He had killed Sionis’ informant…

Sionis had hired someone to track you all because you hadn’t caught Red yet. Were there others? Did he have other informants looking into different jobs you had been doing or was it just the one?

“There isn’t any others if that’s what you’re wondering.”, Red’s voice sounded as you clenched your jaw. There was a knawing sensation that ate at you from his confession and a part of you wondered why he’d even consider a task like helping stop information that could expose you to Sionis. It would remove you entirely from the equation and make everything easier for him to achieve.

“How do I know you aren’t lying.”, she narrowed her eyes at him, waiting for a crack in the lie that you wanted the truth to be so badly and yet he further proved he was telling the truth.

He threw a device at you with a badge attached to it, your hands gripping the receiver and noticing it was the same technology that Sionis Industries mass produced for all of Sionis’ close men that did the underground work for him whenever he needed, The badge had two photos in it, one of the man who was hired to follow you and the second being a photo of the same man decapitated.

“I’m not your enemy, Y/n.”, his voice was so deep you could feel the vibration flow through your body and left you with a sensation in your chest that you couldn’t quite place. You wanted to believe when he said he wasn’t the enemy, but in reality he was. He’d infiltrated a majority of Penguin and Sionis’ operations, has killed more men in the underground than you could count, he was constantly after you and taking any open hit to get rid of you, he would further prove your disloyalty in letting him go time and time again even if it was unintentional. Yet, he stood here telling you about the informant, getting rid of them and in turn saving you from having to face whatever abuse Sionis would bring on to you for not following simple orders. Orders if disobeyed by anyone else would’ve resulted in their death a long time ago.

“I know you don’t trust me, but you’ll figure out why this is happening sooner than later. I’m helping keep you out of trouble Out of his line of fire. Out of everything.”, his voice had softened slightly, the edge no longer present.

Your breathe came out ragged, your eyes filled with confusion and disbelief. She couldn’t trust his word, couldn’t take his side over Penguin’s. It wasn’t a pill she wanted to swallow or a reality she wanted to face, yet the proof was right in front of her. The photo, the device, the badge confirming employment through Sionis.

“I’m not here to hurt you… not anymore.”, he said finally before he turned, slipping into the shadows as you stood still examining the items and being left with your thoughts. As the echo of the night slowly faded away, you were left with the grappling realization that Red wasn’t her enemy anymore, and Sionis wasn’t an ally to Penguin.

When did the tables turn so quickly?

When had he become the ally and the business partner to your boss the enemy?

Sionis had always been your enemy, but his partnership with Penguin allowed you a certain level of immunity from him. Now, it didn’t seem like Sionis was following that code of business anymore.

Red… he was a puzzle you couldn’t solve, and being in this world of crime, it made him the most dangerous thing of all.

Could you trust him?

There were times that you wondered if any of your jobs would ever go on the right track, if you could make it through just one night since meeting Red without being stuck in an impossible situation or have him fuck everything up while you tried getting the intel you needed.

The blood in your veins pumped through you and roared in your ears as you ducked behind a crumbling brick wall, the distant sound of gunfire echoing through the air. You tried looking around the corner to find an out, anything to get out of the shitshow Red had created.

You grit your teeth, narrowed eyes focused on Red as he shot towards the men, your path blocked by their pointless shoot out.

“Hey! If you’re done playing with your friends I would love to leave!”, you yelled at him as he threw himself behind a pillar and tried getting out of the shooting range.

“Sweetheart, I’m glad you want my attention, but I’m a bit busy trying not to get killed”, he shouted back as he shot back at the men on the other side.

This was pointless, you needed to get out. Your frustration reached its boiling point as you tried to slip away on your own, trying to find even the tiniest opening. Once the bullets stopped for a split moment, you quietly slipped through, the moment short lived as you heard the sound of a lone gunshot ringing out and buried itself in your shoulder, throwing your body in the ground as you let out a cry of pain.

“Y/n!”, you heard Red’s call after you as he took better aim, two of the men immediately falling. You body lay on the ground, the blood pouring out of you as you tried to push pressure on your shoulder. This was the second time you’d been shot in the shoulder, both times thanks to Red.

Your vision started to haze, your head spinning from the pain. Regardless, you couldn’t stay in one place, you tried to push yourself out of the way and drag yourself out of the line of fire. Before you could even move, Red tan over to you, his hands helping pick you up as he moved you to the other side, a slight sign of movement tipping him off as he turned and shot the last of the men, the body limping as it fell hard on the ground.

“Y-you..”, your anger slowly melted away as the grip of his hands stayed on you, making your skin burn in embarrassment. You grit your teeth in pain, your pride wounded just as much as your shoulder.

“Relax”, he muttered.

“You try fucking relaxing with a bullet in your shoulder!”, you spat back in annoyance. His body language changed from helpfulness to frustration at your stubbornness, trying to relax as he laid you down on the ground.

You glared at him, watching as he pulled out bandages and a small, collapsible version of forceps.

“This is gonna hurt.”, he met your eyeline, handing you a piece of fabric to bite on.

“Whatever, just get it over with.”, you laid against the small wall, your head leaned back as you felt the pressure build in your shoulder, your own blood running down your arm as he carefully inserted the forceps. You clenched your teeth in pain, feeling the flesh move around as he slowly tried to remove the bullet.

Anesthesia would be ideal, but being in field and completely caught off guard made it impossible. Red focused, trying his best to ensure the pain could end sooner than later, the sound of your painful grunts made him work faster.

The twitch in your leg made him focus more, applying pressure to try and stop the bleeding. The sting of the bullet burning you from the inside, lifting your arm to cover your mouth to try and keep from screaming. The white burning pain left you in overdrive. You’d been shot before but removal was always done with you under anesthesia or being completely knocked out so Penguin's doctor could work. This was a pain you never wanted to experience again.

Red finally managed to remove the bullet, luckily all in one piece. He quickly applied the small bottle of alcohol on the wound to keep it from getting infected before wrapping it in bandages. Your chest heaved as you tried to catch your breath, the shakiness making Red wonder if you’d pass out from the pain.

“Y/n”, he watched as your eyes dropped, tapping your face slightly to get you to snap back to attention. “Y/n.”

“What?!”, you snapped, your body full of irritation and frustration. How many more hits could your pride take before you started to look pathetic?

“You need painkillers”

“I don’t need shit.”, you muttered, forcing yourself to stand as you reached into your utility belt, pulling a small dial and twisting the cap to reveal a needle. Red watched as you shoved it into your arm, the relief from pain sweeping over you in a sweeping sensation.

Red’s eyes narrowed, watching you as your breath evened out and your body relaxed. A wave of relief helped you focus, orient yourself back to reality as you turned and watched Red’s narrow gaze.

“Drugging yourself up now?”, he retorted.

“It’s a pain inhibitor.``, you forced as you tried rolling your arm to lessen the soreness. You hated using it but you were desperate, it wouldn't last forever and the after affects would leave you sore but at this moment, you couldn't care about those affects. You needed to get home, away from him and his chain of bad luck. The shot gave you enough leeway to get home and take real pain killers. This would only last for a short time, often used whenever you were too far from home or the Lounge to get actual medical assistance.

You shot him a final glance, turning and walking away as he rose to his full height, his stature still overwhelming as he stood a good foot, foot and a half over you. In any other circumstance the obvious power difference would have done something to you, would’ve built a pressure in your gut but right now you couldn’t bring yourself to care about his presence.

You started to walk away before feeling his hand clamp on your wrist, your annoyance eating at you. You did not want him near you right now.

“I have a job proposition”

Oh, now he was getting fucking bold.

Your eyes snapped towards him, narrowing and staring daggers at him. His silence giving an edge to his statement. You didn’t care if he was serious, he could go fuck himself. You pulled your hand out of his grasp as he stepped forward.

“Work with me.”, he reached for you again, but you turned quickly, kneeing him in the gut and slamming his head down against your knee in one other movement. He grunted as you pushed him back and swung your leg around, snapping his head to the side as he fell, pulling out your knife before forcing him to the ground, your teeth clenched in anger.

“You get me fucking shot and now you think you have the right to ask me dumbass questions?”, you spit out as your arm burned slightly. He grunted underneath you, his body moving slightly before you leaned down.

“Why would I ever agree to work with you”, you spat at him, your knife digging further into his neck, a small trail of blood trailing down the side. You had venom in your voice but the sound of his Jericho 941 connecting to your temple and being cocked echoed in your ears. The barrel was cold, giving you a rush of adrenaline being on him like this.

Red’s eyes squinted as his gun remained connected to your temple, your body still on top of him as your legs held down his arms and your hands stayed trained on the dagger you held to his throat. It was a compromising position, but one move from either of you would result in both of you getting killed. A double murder at the hands of each other.

What a glorious yet lame way to die.

“I can offer you something with this that you’ve always wanted, sweetheart.”

You leaned in, your face getting close to his, the gun still cold against your head. “And what’s that, Red?”

“Your freedom.”, his distorted voice whispered, your eyes narrowing at him as you watched his hand lower, the gun falling to the ground as he uncocked it. “You do this job with me, I’ll give you a 50/50 cut.”

You stared at him, trying not to let the shock be evident on your face. You slowly moved your body back, your legs rubbing against his causing friction between the two of you. You loosened your grip on the dagger and put it back into its sheath. Why would he hold this over your head like some trap?

“What are you after? How do I know you’re not playing me for a fool?”

Red started sitting up, his body weight on his elbows and forearms as he looked up at you, meeting your eye line. “A couple million is more than enough for anyone to live comfortably. I want to do this to get a direct hit at Black Mask’s operation and under the table trades with the Black Market. You hate him and I’m trying to dismantle him one piece at a time just like you are. If we steal and sell one of his most valuable possessions, you get the money to leave Gotham like you’ve always wanted. Set our differences aside, steal the target, get our payout. We both live to see another day and go our separate ways.”

“You’re a con-man. The enemy. I don’t trust a single thing you have to say.”, you pushed yourself off of him, standing as you took a few steps back, letting yourself think about his bogus offer. You worked for Penguin, not Black Mask. You had been trying to find ways to get a straight hit at Sionis without outing yourself. Could this son of a bitch be your answer?

“Have I not shown you I’m not your enemy.”

You turned to look at him, your hair blowing in your face as you stared at him with narrowed eyes. You watched as he stared at you, the white sockets of his helmet moving slightly. You crossed your arms to try and cover your body from his wandering eyes.

“How do I know you’re being serious and not planting this meeting so you can out me later on for agreeing to work with you?”

Red walked towards you, his body seeming bigger due to the weapons he had on him and the thickness of the kevlar plates covering his body head to toe. He stared at you as he held out a small flash drive, waiting for you to take it.

“This has everything you need to know about what I’m trying to do. It should prove how serious I’m being about this.”, his voice broke as his filter cut in and out, making him sound even more ominous than usual. “Besides, anyone who’s anyone in the underground knows that you’re one of, if not, the smartest person to have on your side when trying to orchestrate a heist. Especially one at this caliber.”

You furrowed your eyebrows, slowly taking the drive out of his hand before examining it. It was standard, easy to plug into your off grid computer and not be traced. If it had some sort of virus, you’d already programmed your computer with an anti-virus to delete anything and everything off the drive.

“I’ll think about it.”, you said, still holding his gaze.

“Good. I look forward to your answer sweetheart.”, you watched as he turned, walking to the ledge of the building before jumping off the side and going down into an alley, likely where his motorcycle was hidden for an easy getaway. You followed suit, heading back home as you held the drive in your hand, the questions swirling in your head. As you reached your apartment you quickly changed into loose clothing, letting yourself get comfortable before taking some of the pain killers you had in the cabinet.

You grabbed the blanket off the couch and pulled your laptop onto the table, opening it before connecting the hard drive into the USB on the side. The file window opened, showing the file size and the name.

‘Josephine’

You felt a tug in your gut at the name. There was no way.

You leaned forward, your elbows on your knees as you watched the file download onto your laptop. Your heart pounding in your chest. He wouldn’t be so crazy to pull something suicidal like this…. Would he?

Your eyes focused on the screen as everything poured in. Blueprints, camera locations, attendance lists, background checks, security measures, charity dates, gala notices, lists of every major possession in the building, bank information, possible outliers, anomaly situations, emergency exists, car information, hidden passages, even valet service and the company that would be in charge of the event. Your eyes widened as you skimmed through all the information like a hawk.

You slouched back into the couch. Your blood rushing through your ears as you soaked in every bit of information, your brain overwhelmed by how deep he’d done his research.

He was serious.

He was insane.

Out of every encounter you’d ever had with the Red Hood, this would be the most insane thing he could possibly think of. All this just to get at Black Mask? A part of you had to commend him for being so cocky and having the balls to believe he’d pull something at this caliber off.

He’d escaped a burning building and a massive explosion, being taken on and hunted by all of Gotham, being chased down and shot at, being forced to fight 10 men all at once. He had come face to face with Batman and Nightwing, Black Mask’s men, Penguin’s men, and you. A series of misfortune and yet he'd come out alive every time.

You physically felt your stomach turn at the information in front of you. Your heart pounding as you brought a hand to cover your mouth slightly.

That son of a bitch.

He was fucking lowballing.

He wasn’t doing this for a couple million.

He was doing this for a $48.4 million diamond.

A/N:

Hi guys! This chapter was probably one of the most difficult to write since it's mainly a little bit of filler to move and transition into the Gala chapter, which I have planned and get things moving and picked up! I truly do hope that you guys are enjoying this and if you do I would love to see your comments and feedback! I truly do thrive off of feedback and seeing everyone love on this series even if it is only starting out!

Also, I have been rewatching Attack On Titan and wonder if you guys are also anime or AOT fans, if you guys would be interested in a Royal!Reader x Criminal!Levi Ackerman series once I'm done with Playing with Fire?

I've had the idea for years. I remember writing a series on DeviantArt wayyy back in the day and plan to revamp it! Let me know if that's something you guys are interested in and I've also already received a good amount of feedback from other users on here.

Sorry for the long note but I hope you enjoy this chapter and I can't wait for next week! See you then, xx.

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dark-frosted-heart · 2 months

Text

Roger Barel Main Route - Chapter 16

As usual, can’t guarantee 100% accuracy on this. I’m doing this for archiving purposes and you can probably find a better translation out there.

Kate: …Nn…Where is this?

I regained consciousness on the cold floor.

(That’s right…I ended up smelling something that came from behind me…)

(is this…a warehouse…somewhere?)

My head still felt heavy as I raised it, and stood up.

(I’m not tied up…)

I sighed in relief, but then—

Kate: …!

When I sensed a presence, I turned around and saw a boy and girl looking pale and trembling.

(Who are these kids?)

(...Could it be that—)

~~ Flashback ~~

Barkeep: These days you hear a lot of young men and women get attacked or go missing.

Liam: Lately, young people have been getting attacked or going missing.

Ellis: Do you mean the incidents Victor and Will are investigating?

~~ End flashback ~~

(...Did I end up getting involved in the incident?)

While I sat there in surprise, I suddenly heard footsteps from the darkness.

Man in a black hood: Looks like you’re all awake.

One, two, three, four men with black hoods over their eyes appeared.

(These were the criminals who attacked me…)

They each held either a gun or a knife.

(I thought I was glad that I wasn’t tied up…How naive)

The fact that I had such freedom meant that there was no way you’d get away.

Depending on what they do, my life could be taken instantly.

I went pale with fear and fell to my knees.

(Calm down…I’m a fairytale keeper trained by Roger)

(Out of everyone here, I’m the one most familiar with “evil”)

I felt for the gun strapped to my garter belt. Luckily that wasn’t taken away.

(Everyone should soon realize that I’ve disappeared)

And then Crown…Roger will come save me.

The evil Crown was the best group you could have as your ally.

(Besides, Crown’s been following this case)

(If they thought that saving me would help solve this case, then they’d be on it now)

I just had to wait.

(...I’ll need to buy some time)

(Or else…the kids and I—)

A shiver ran down my spine when it felt like the Grim Reaper was drawing near. I mustered up all my strength and stood in front of kids to protect them.

Kate: …Why are you doing this?

Man in a black hood: I don’t see a point in explaining ourselves to someone who’s about to die.

(“Someone who’s about to die”...)

Meaning they plan to kill us in the end.

(We’re not being held for ransom)

(They kidnap random youths)

(But…why would they kill all these people?)

I didn’t understand their intentions.

That made me anxious, and after putting all that effort into standing, my legs started shaking.

Look for a chance to escape

Beg for your life

Provoke him +4 +4

Kate: …It’s not like you’re going to let us run. If we’re waiting to die, then wouldn’t it be nice to have something to take with us to the afterlife? But if you can’t even give us that…then do what you want.

A look of annoyance crossed his face and he gulped audibly.

But the provocation did its job and the hooded man started to talk with an air of confidence.

Man in a black hood: In this world, there’s a thing called “being useless”. Withered flowers, abandoned buildings, dead people. However, there are some people who find value in these.

Kate: There are people who value us even after we die?

(I think…Roger and I had a conversation like this before)

~~ Flashback ~~

Kate: Roger, what’s this law written here in “Dissection Laws”?

Roger: As you know, medicine’s advancing pretty rapidly in England. With that comes a lot of dissections performed by doctors and researchers. Now here’s a question. What do you think the problem with this is?

Kate: …They run out of specimens to perform dissections on?

Roger: Correct. So then people go and collect human specimens however they can.

Kate: Ah, I’ve heard of people who dig up graves to steal corpses.

Roger: That’s why the “Dissection Law” was established to prevent that and ensure cadavers were acquired legally.

~~ End flashback ~~

(...Being regulated by law increases the shortage of human specimens)

That’s why they were killing young people.

Not for ransom.

But the corpses had value.

With this, I came to a conclusion—

Kate: Are you all doctors or researchers who need human specimens?

Man in a black hood: Oh? You’re clever…Who are you?

Kate: I don’t have a name to share.

Man in a black hood: Hmm, cheeky. You’re not entirely wrong, but… Let’s stop chatting. My client wants silent offerings.

The hooded man took something out.

What reflected the dim light dully was—

(A knife…)

Roger: This is supposed to be the base, but there’s nothing here…Did we get it wrong?

When they entered, the warehouse was only filled with silence and the smell of dust.

Nica: It’s too early to give up, no? These places tend to have dummies. Like hidden passageways or hidden doors.

Roger held up a finger to stop him from talking.

Roger: …I can “hear” something. There are people in the basement.

Nica: Oh, so that’s abnormal hearing. I thought it had its limitations, but it’s pretty useful.

Ale: Arf arf.

Jude: The dumb dog found somethin’.

Picking up Ale who was sniffing around a wooden crate and moving said crate out of the way revealed—

Roger: A hidden passageway.

Nica: See, I knew it. That means you’re likely right.

They descended into the hidden passageway.

At the base of the stairs, a lone candle casted a shadow on the wall.

Roger: There’s no hiding spots though. Guess we’ll have to get out.

After they emerged, someone saw the shadows their shadows on the wall.

Man with mouth covered: …Who’s there!

10 men appeared, all with their faces covered by cloth.

Jude: Oi, quack. Keep goin’. Princess will be dead if ya don’t hurry.

Roger: …Jude

Jude: Huh? What’s with that face? It’s on your conscience if she dies. Go.

Roger: Sorry. I’ll waive your medical bill. Don’t die, Jude.

With that, Roger ran into the darkness.

Man with mouth covered: Hey, one’s running away. After him!.

The once quiet underground space turned into a warzone full of angry shouts.

Nica: Oh, I caught something good. You might look mean, but you’re a quite the compassionate fellow aren’t you?

Jude: Don’t think ya got time to chat when you’re gettin’ attacked from behind.

Man with mouth covered: …Die!

Nica: …

Less than a second after noticing the shadow on a ceiling, a gunshot rang out from Nica’s hand.

He killed his target with precision without even looking.

Nica: Unfortunately, I’m not easy to kill. You chose the wrong people to fight.

Man with eyes covered: …Shit, I thought I had you…Gah.

Jude broke the man’s jaw with the tip of his shoe.

Jude: Shaddup.

Jude: …Who the hell are ya.

Cobalt blue eyes smiled at the cold gaze.

Nica: Nica Schwartz, a member of the German Empire’s Vogel. It’s cruel that you’ve forgotten after I’ve already introduced myself. I have a glass heart you know.

Jude: I’m not imaginin’ things when I say you’re too experienced for a mere lapdog. How’d you know ‘bout his abnormal hearin’?

Nica: Don’t worry, I know about you too. Jude Jazza, the president of a trading company. A company that deals in materials and food that don’t often face changes in demand, as well as luxury items and jewelry… You’re also skilled in handling what’s trending in the market. Having a diverse range of products limits risk, so you must be making a lot of money. …Want me to keep going?

Jude: Tch, all that snoopin’s makes me sick.

Nica: You need to know someone to get along with them. Don’t you think we’d get along, Mr. President?

Nica smiled suggestively. Then, multiple footsteps approached.

It appeared that the mens’ colleagues noticed that something unusual happened in the basement and assembled.

Nica: It’s rude to interrupt when I’m trying to solicit* someone. Let’s finish you off quickly.

Jude: Careful I don’t kick you by accident, Vogel lech.

Nica: That’s my line.

Meanwhile—The noises underground haven’t reached the warehouse where the kidnapped youths were being held.

Man in a black hood: Let’s stop chatting. My client wants silent offerings.

Kate: …

I gasped at the dull glint of the knife.

Man in a black hood: Ah, yes. You lot, make sure they only get one stab in the stomach. Our client wants the bodies as clean as possible…Ugh, drugging would’ve been easier.

Another man had warned the man with the knife out.

(There are 4 people…My gun has seven rounds. I can take them)

(However)

—Am I able to kill people?

Kidnapped girl: *sob* …No, I don’t want to die…

Kidnapped boy: Me too…Getting killed…In a place like this…

(...Don’t be scared, don’t hesitate)

(They need to be condemned for taking so many lives)

To not arouse suspicion, I slowly reached under my skirt and then pulled out my gun.

(Roger gave me this gun for self-defense)

(But…Now’s the time to use it)

I hated myself for being weak.

I felt frustrated and wanted to change, so I decided to get stronger by being with Roger.

(Roger would definitely kill them all)

An image of him shouldering the guilt while taking however many lives with his rifle popped up in my mind.

(That’s why, I—these people, kill evil)

I held my gun up and placed a finger on the trigger.

(...)

But my finger was shaking—

Kate: Ah.

The bullet I resolved to fire went way off the mark and made a hole in the wall.

The hooded man turned at the sound and looked at me with my gun still aimed.

Man in a black hood: Pfft, hahahaha! You use a gun like a child playing with a toy.

Kate: Eek…

He grabbed my arm and took my gun away.

Man in a black hood: I’ll show you how you use a gun properly…When you want to kill someone.

Kate: …

The feeling of the barrel of the gun pressed against my temple was a firsthand lesson in the price of failure.

(Ah…Damn)

(So this is the end…)

The only sound I could hear was my own heartbeat, yet as I stared into the darkness, I wished that I could see Roger’s face one last time.

(Farewell, Roger…)

*The word Nica uses can also mean flirt, hit on, make a pass at :3

#ikemen villains #ikevil #ikevil jp #ikevil translations #roger barel #ikevil roger #ikevil roger route

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jtl-fics · 6 months

Note

Nooo, I am not late. It is in fact Wednesday👀👀

(is it working? If yes, I would love some pretty boy)

WIP Wednesday 3/6/24 (CLOSED) | Pretty Boy

"That's a pretty big step Andrew, I'm proud that you're even considering it." She says setting her hot chocolate to the side seemingly preparing to dedicate her entire focus to him the way she does whenever Andrew needs her to.

Betsy has always been excellent at reading what Andrew needed in the moment.

"Can I ask what brought on this decision?" she questions.

#Lol well it sure is Wednesday when I'm answering it XD #FIC: Pretty Boy #AFTG #AFTG Fic #Neil Josten #Andrew Minyard #Andreil #Pretty Boy - Chapter 4 - 13 #3-6-24 WIP Wednesday #WIP Wednesday Ask Game #16

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sunsuns-babie · 7 months

Text

If I Get My Way {K.SUNOO x F!READER}

IN WHICH: Kim Seonwoo aka Sunoo is a Sophomore at Decelis University and has a crush on the pretty Music Education Major Y/n Marsh. Seems like a match made in heaven since he’s also a Music Education Major and has had a crush on her since Freshman year when he met her at orientation… well sort of. He’s a little delusional about her but that’s okay, right? When finally given the opportunity to get to know her and potentially date her some weird things start happening that Sunoo doesn’t quite understand… which leads to the postponement of his grand plan to confess his feelings for Y/n. At the end of the day does he get the girl or does he miss out and think of what could’ve been?

ALSO IN WHICH: Sunoo and Y/n’s friends also have their own storylines and side quest relationships happening simultaneously with theirs.

PAIRING: Kim Sunoo x !Female Reader (ft. Mystery Character 1 & Mystery Character 2)

GENRE: Non-Idol AU, College/University AU, SMAU

WARNING: Swearing, sexual jokes/comments, allusion to sexual activity, attempts at humor (I don’t think I’m funny but I’m trying), jokes about murder/killing oneself, and Danielle from NewJeans as the face claim.

FEATURING: Lee Heeseung (EN—), Jay Park (EN—), Jake Sim (EN—), Park Sunghoon (EN—), Yang Jungwon (EN—), NI-KI (EN—), Jang Wonyoung (IVE), Shin Ryujin (ITZY), Choi Yeonjun (TXT), Choi Soobin (TXT), Choi Beomgyu (TXT), Karina (aespa), NingNing (aespa), Huh Yunjin (LE SSERAFIM), Yoon Keeho (P1HARMONY), Anton Lee (riize), Hwang Yeji (ITZY), and mentions of various other idols.

status: temporarily put on hiatus

start: Feb. 12, 2024

end:

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction and is in no way a real depiction of the idols portrayed in it and has no actual connection to their real world selves. I don’t know them I’m just using their image for characters in a fictional story.

A/N: This is my first SMAU ever I’ve written stories on other platforms in the past and kind of stopped to be a reader for awhile but I recently got an idea for a story and wanted to try and make it a reality. So please forgive me if it’s bad I’ll try my best to make it enjoyable for you. But I barely know how to work Tumblr as a creator or writer so forgive me if this is all over the place 😭😭😭.

A/N 2: If you want to be added to the taglist for this SMAU you can comment on this post or which ever chapter you see first!

INCOMING MESSAGES…

PROFILES: 2 HOT 4 U LONER BOYS CLUB (ft. 2 Baddies)

01: bitch boy

02: you’re not my mom

03: DDEONU GOOD!!!

03.5: bonus chapter 1

04: we going on a date 🤪

04.5: bonus chapter 2

05: free food + written part (755 wrds)

06: blasting Olivia Rodrigo traitor

07: Love changes a man ❤️❤️

07.5: bonus chapter 3

08: keeho is a furry confirmed ✅

08.5: bonus chapter 4 [written part] (1,304 wrds)

09: KILLING MYSELF [POSTPONED]

10: tba….

10.5: bonus chapter 5

11: tba…

12: tba…

13: tba…

14: tba…

15: tba…

16: tba…

17: tba…

18: tba…

19: tba…

20: tba…

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mysteryshoptls · 5 months

Note

🤗Hello! Are birthday vignettes canon? as an example, the 1st year students are 15 or 16 years old, and we have already had 4 birthdays in total (the 4th being together with Disney's 100th anniversary), so in total they would be 19 or 20 years old?

Vignettes are basically "canon-adjacent." I mentioned it once before that vignettes in general don't really follow a prescribed timeline, but are there to give us more information on the character. Permanent Cards (Ceremonial Robes, Dorm Uniform, etc.) seem to be more or less canon compliant, especially with call backs to events that actually took place in the main storyline, while event vignettes seem to be canon to the event they are a part of (although the events themselves are also only "canon-adjacent"). To put it simply: the students are still the same ages that they were when the game first started. It doesn't matter that there's been four birthday celebrations so far, the first-years are still first-years (For example, Ace mentions that he's a first-year in the 3rd birthday card, Bloom Birthday). Yes, in the four years that the game has been available, we've had four birthday celebrations for each student. This is for the sake of gameplay, to keep us entertained. It would be boring if we only got the same birthday card year after year. if it helps, think of each birthday card as an AU of their birthday. In Birthday Boy, they are being interviewed by Yuu for the school paper. In Birthday Jacket, "magical dice" chose their presenter for them. In Bloom Birthday, a "magical pendulum" chose their presenter for them. And in the Platinum Jacket, although it is a "birthday card," they are all at a National Art Museum in the Land of Dawning as a "supporter" for the museum on their 100th anniversary. This coincides with Disney's 100th Anniversary, so this series is a little special. There are some people who follow the "time loop" theory, saying that this storyline has happened multiple times, with different Yuus. We've even had one example of an AU of an event (Fairy Gala IF). Because this is a game, the timeline and storylines can be pretty malleable. (I almost typed Malleusable, but you know what, with what's going on in Chapter 7, that's also a possibility) In conclusion, no, they would not be aged up because of four years of real world time with four birthdays. They could be aged up one day by the developers if they decide they want to bring in new first-year characters for the new school year. But that will be reflected in their profiles if so. A new card every year is just another way to give us deeper character lore.

#ras replies

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luvangelbreak · 7 months

Text

Deprived | Fourteen

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 matthew sturniolo x layla venita (female!oc) summary: everyone knows the story of the bad boy and the good girl but what happens when the school's most popular boy, Matthew Sturniolo, and the girl who notoriously is never there, Layla Venita, cross paths. warnings: swearing, smutty smut smut, oral (fem!receiving / male!receiving), fingering word count: 3.6k a/n: i kinda went off with this one?? i kinda fucking ate??? i actually am so proud of this chapter????

pov: layla

I don't know what was going through my head. I didn't understand why I was doing what I was doing. I never wanted to be this close to someone, figuratively and literally, but something felt different about Matt. He gave me something I had never felt before and I couldn't figure out what it was.

I hated it at first, it made me never want to see him again. But instead, I felt myself drawn towards him soon after our drive to McDonald's. His sense of naivety, innocence and pure love for the world made me want to protect him from it. I knew I would destroy it if I stuck around too long but selfishly, I wanted to be the one to show him what life was like outside of his beautiful little bubble.

So I popped it and leaned in to place my lips against his. He didn't move for a moment and I thought I had made the wrong move, maybe he didn't want this. But then that feeling washed away when his mouth moved against mine gently, his lips sliding against my own in a soft and caring manner.

It was like that for a moment, soft and delicate just like he was. But there was a switch, a moment of passion and adrenaline between us and I moved to straddle his waist, a heavy breath leaving his lips when I did so. He placed his hands on my waist, gentle fingertips gripping the warm skin of my hips so softly as if he thought I would break if he pressed too hard.

I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, sliding myself forward as I tangled my hands in his brown curly hair. I couldn't stop myself, my body felt like it was out of my brain's control as I pressed my body against his further as our mouths moved in sync. I'd kissed people before, I'd been this close physically to someone before, but it never felt like this.

There was always a disconnect, a gap no one could ever quite fill. There was never a passion, a longing to hold someone so tightly as if you were scared they would slip away at any moment until this point in time.

I rolled my hips forward over his own, a groan emitting from his mouth that ignited a fire in my stomach that I couldn't ignore any longer. I repeated my actions and I felt his hands gripped my hips ever so slightly tighter.

"Layls," he mumbled breathlessly against my lips and I barely pulled away, still rolling my waist back and forth against his.

"What is it, pretty boy?" I asked softly, catching his lips in mine again quickly before I pulled back again, this time opening my eyes to see his cheeks had a tint of pink across them, his lips slightly puffed.

"Are- are you sure this is okay?" he asked quietly and I smiled at his genuine concern before I nodded.

"Mhm. Are you okay with this?" I asked in the same hushed tone, using my fingernails to scratch the nape of his neck lightly and he nodded, "I need words."

"Yes," he answered quickly before leaning forward, connecting his lips with mine again. There wasn't a hesitance to his actions anymore, his hands gripping my sides unapologetically as his hips began rolling into my own.

A whine escaped from my lips as he squeezed my hips and I felt him smile against my lips, the heat building between my thighs as every second passed. I pulled his bottom lips between my teeth, biting down lightly, a hum emitting from him. I kissed him gently again before biting his lip ever so slightly harder eliciting a moan from his lips.

I pulled back and looked down at him, a smirk on my lips as I said, "Matthew Sturniolo, do you have a pain kink?"

"A little," he answered quietly, looking up at me with dilated pupils as his eyes glazed over with lust and a smile on his lips.

"Cute," I mumbled as I leaned forward, placing my lips on his and he melted into me again.

I began grinding my hips against his again and he let out a small, "Fuck."

"Matt," I breathed heavily as I continued kissing him, "You don't have to be so gentle."

"I don't wanna do something you don't like," he responded quietly, placing a kiss on my lips as our breathing got heavier.

"I'll tell you if I don't just please..." I trailed off as I tugged on the hairs on the nape of his neck and I moved to trail kisses down his jawline before I whispered in his ear, "Touch me."

That was all he needed before the switch flipped in his brain, his hands travelling from my waist to grab my ass roughly. I let out a heavy breath, still trailing kisses down his neck before I sucked on the skin just below his jaw. He let out a groan and unexpectedly I was flipped over onto my back, a gasp leaving my lips from the sudden movement.

He sat between my legs, leaning up to slide his shirt off of his head and I stared at his torso in awe. I never got sick of looking at him and I'd spend all day just staring at him if I could.

"You okay?" he asked while crawling over me, placing his hands on either side of my head and I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him down to my lips again.

He trailed his right hand down to my waist, gripping it lightly before his hand slowly made its way up my shirt. He smiled against my lips when he reached my chest, realising I wasn't wearing a bra.

"Can I take this off?" he asked against my lips, tugging on my shirt lightly and I nodded. He leaned back and I gripped his forearm to pull myself up. He grasped the hem of my shirt, sliding it up my body at a teasingly slow pace as I lifted my arms up, allowing him to pull it over my head before throwing it onto the bed beside us.

I fell back onto the bed and I looked up to see him staring at me below him. Instinctually, I covered my chest and stomach with my arms but Matt reached his hands forward, gently grabbing my wrists and pulling my hands away from my body slowly.

"Don't hide from me, pretty girl," he whispered as he leaned forward gently trailing kisses down my neck as I tilted my head to the side to give him more access. He made his way down to my chest, looking up at me as if to study my reaction as he kissed between my boobs making me shudder.

He pecked kisses all over my chest as I tried to steady my breathing. I felt slight anxiety being so exposed to him, the vulnerability making me feel uncomfortable but I didn't want him to stop. I let out a whine as he wrapped his mouth around my left nipple, using his hand to knead my other boob. I tilted my head back, my hands finding their way to his hair before tugging on it slightly making him groan around me.

As he sucked and licked my chest, I shifted on the bed. The ache between my legs was becoming unbearable as he began lowering himself further, kissing down my stomach and I sucked in my stomach subconsciously. He paused, looking up at me as I let go of his hair.

"Why are you doing that?" he asked softly and my eyebrows furrowed.

"Doing what?" I questioned back and he placed his palm on my stomach.

"You don't have to suck in your stomach, pretty girl. I think you're beautiful just the way you are," he looked at me with a soft smile and I sighed, letting my stomach return back to its normal shape. He smirked up at me before trailing kisses along my waist. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of my shorts before mumbling, "Can I take these off?"

"Please," I pleaded, lifting my hips up to show my urgency. He chuckled as he leaned back further, pulling my shorts down before I kicked them off my feet. He leaned back over me, placing his left hand beside my head to hold himself up as he kissed my lips again.

He suddenly cupped my pussy with his right hand over my underwear making me moan into his mouth. He began circling my clit painfully slowly and I bucked my hips upward to make him hurry up.

"So impatient," he mumbled against my lips before he pulled his hand away making me whine from the loss of contact. He continued kissing me before he slid his thumb on the inside of the waistband of my underwear making me shudder. He teasingly dragged his thumb against my skin before he pulled back from me, sitting back on his heels to look down at me.

He hooked his hands inside the waistband, looking at my face for any sign to stop as I shifted under him. He pulled my underwear over my legs at a slow pace before I kicked them off my feet like I'd done with my shorts moments prior. I clenched my thighs together, insecurity flooding me again and he ran his hands along my thighs. Wettness was pooling between my legs so much that I was convinced I was dripping onto the sheets below me.

"You okay?" he asked while squeezing the flesh of my thighs in his palms and I nodded, "Words, baby."

"I'm okay," I mumbled, still holding my thighs together as I placed my arms over my stomach, "I'm just completely naked and you're still in jeans."

"You want me to take 'em off?" he asked, a smirk on his lips once more and I nodded quickly. He began unbuttoning his jeans while looking into my eyes as I breathed heavily. He undid the zipper before pulling them past his waist, sliding them over his knees and kicking them off his feet. My eyes trailed down his body seeing the imprint of his dick through his black boxers making me bite my lip. His hands travelled back down to my thighs, gently pulling them apart before he stared down at my pussy.

"Don't just stare at me. Do something," I demanded impatiently and he chuckled, shuffling down so his head was between my thighs as he lay on his stomach. He trailed kisses down my thighs, sucking and biting at them every now and then as I whined, "Matt."

"What is it, pretty girl?" he mumbled against my skin and I threw my hands back, balling the sheets between my fists.

"Please. I need you to do something," I asked quietly and he chuckled against my thigh. The scruff on his cheeks brushed against my thigh as he made his way down to my core, wrapping his arms around my thighs to hold them in place.

He licked a stripe up my core making me whine loudly from the sudden friction. That was all the confirmation he needed before he wrapped his lips around my clit, sucking and licking softly as moans tumbled from my mouth. I moved my right hand to his hair, tangling it between my fingers as my hips shifted to grind against his face.

I tugged on his hair roughly eliciting a moan from his mouth that travelled straight to my clit, the vibrations making another loud moan fall out of my lips.

"Fuck, Matt," I panted as I tilted my head back, my back arching in pure pleasure. The hair on his cheeks added to the sensory overload I was feeling, my thighs clenching around his head making him hum against me. He removed his hands from around my thighs, one of them reaching up to grab my boobs roughly as the other joined his face between my legs.

He slowly inserted a finger into my pussy making me pull on his hair once again as he moaned into my clit again. He began pumping his finger in and out of me slowly as he pulled his mouth away to look up at me, his chin dripping with my wetness making him somehow look even sexier than before.

He ran his tongue across his bottom lip before pulling it between his teeth and my breathing became more rapid. He carefully added another finger and I clenched around him as he looked down at my pussy in awe. He let go of my boob, quickly finding my hand that was gripping the sheets beside me and threaded our fingers together before his head dipped back down to my core.

The sensation of his hand in mine, his hair running against my thighs as his mouth worked on my bundle of nerves while his fingers quickened their pace made the knot in my stomach tighten and I knew I wouldn't last much longer.

"Matt," I moaned out as I pulled on his hair even tighter as he hummed against me, "I'm gonna-"

My words were cut off by a moan and I squeezed his hand tightly. I pulled his head impossibly closer towards me as his tongue swirled my clit rapidly and I let incomprehensible noises fall from my mouth.

"You wanna cum, baby?" he mumbled against me, the vibrations adding to the pleasure even more.

"Uh-huh," I panted, my hips shifting as I came so close to my high.

"Cum for me, pretty girl," he demanded as he went impossibly faster on my clit, his fingers feeling like heaven inside of me. It pushed me over the edge, finally reaching the climax I had been chasing.

"Fuck, Matt!" I yelled as my thighs squeezed around his head as he worked me through my high. My legs shook uncontrollably around him and he moaned against me, rutting his hips into the mattress below him. He slowed his pace as I clenched around his fingers, my eyes rolling into the back of my head.

I let go of his hair as he carefully pulled his fingers out of me before placing one last kiss on my clit making my body jerk at the sudden contact again. He kept his other hand in mine as he moved to kneel between my thighs again, bringing his fingers between his lips and sucking them clean.

How does he get hotter with everything he does?

He crawled back over me, placing a gentle kiss on my lips before smiling against them, whispering, "You have no idea how long I've been wanting to do that."

I smiled against him, tasting myself as I ran my tongue along his lips before I let go of his other hand, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him impossibly closer.

"My turn," I mumbled against his lips before I pushed him onto his back and I climbed on top of his thighs. He let out a huff from the unexpected movement.

"Layls, you don't have to-"

"I want to," I cut him off as I ran my hands along the soft skin of his chest. Although I was sweating, my nipples were rock hard from the cold air and I bit my lip looking down at him, "I wanna make you feel good. Please."

He smiled up at me before nodding and I pursed my lips, hiding the shit-eating grin that threatened to cover my face as he said, "Just know I don't expect you to."

I let the grin now cover my face from his sweetness and I nodded before saying, "Tell me if you don't like anything I do."

"I like everything you do," he replied smoothly making me shake my head before I shuffled down, hooking my hands under the waistband of his boxers. His chest rose and fell rapidly as I slowly pulled the boxers down his thighs, his dick springing out and hitting his stomach from how hard he was.

"Fuck," I whispered to myself as I looked at the length in front of me, not realising how big he was until now. I moved off of his lap, sliding his boxers off of his legs and onto the floor before I grabbed his knees, sliding them apart.

I moved to kneel between his legs which were still flat on the bed as I felt him observe every move I made. I felt the wetness pool between my legs again just from looking at him splayed out on the bed. My eyes locked with his and I smiled, a giddy feeling arising in my stomach. His mouth was hung open, his eyes filled with lust making me want to pleasure him even more.

I shuffled down even further, carefully wrapping my right hand around the base of his dick making him hiss from the sudden contact. I slowly began pumping him in my hand as I shuffled back, bending forward to give him the perfect view of my ass.

I paused the movement of my hand, licking a stripe from the base of his dick all of the way to the tip making him whine as he clenched his eyes closed, balling the sheets in his fists as if to contain himself. I kissed his tip, a whimper falling from his lips before he looked down at me. I opened my mouth, looking up at him as I began taking his tip into my mouth, my tongue swirling around it teasingly before I pushed my head down. He hit the back of my throat and I closed my eyes, thankful my gag reflex was practically nonexistent.

A moan escaped his lips as I bobbed my head up and down, my hand working on the rest of his length that I couldn't fit into my mouth. His hips jerked forward, his tip hitting the back of my throat roughly and a choked moan left his mouth.

"Fuck, sorry," he mumbled and I looked up to see an apologetic look on his face, letting me know he didn't mean to move his hips. I pulled back, spitting into my palm before working my hand around him faster as he panted heavily, whimpers and whines leaving his lips desperately.

I swiped my thumb over his tip, a loud moan leaving his lips involuntarily as he bucked once again. I smiled at him as he tilted his head back, his jaw clenching. I continued pumping his dick quickly, running my hand over his tip every now and then eliciting a moan from him every time.

I let my hand go from around him, placing it on his stomach as I leaned forward. I kissed his tip before I forced my mouth down on him, taking him fully as I felt him bulge in my throat. My eyes rolled to the back of my head as they began watering, the sensation winding me up once again.

"Fuck!" he yelled, gripping my hair roughly making me moan around him as he began guiding my head over his length. Unimaginable noises emitted from his throat as he gripped my hair, sliding me up and down his dick with ease.

I let him use my head however he wanted, going as fast and rough as he needed to feel good. I quickly tapped his stomach and he loosened his pressure on my hair, allowing me to come up for air as I used my hand to pump him again.

"You feel good, pretty boy?" I panted, catching my breath the best I could as he nodded, catching his own breath before I pushed my head back down, taking him down my throat once again and he moaned so loudly I wouldn't be surprised if the whole neighbourhood could hear him.

"I'm gonna cum," he said so quickly I almost didn't catch it and I quickened my pace as he whined loudly. He gripped my hair tightly making me moan around him.

"Oh god," he moaned loudly before I felt a warm liquid coat my mouth and I continued to work around him, slowing my pace so he didn't get overstimulated too quickly, "Oh my fucking god, Layla."

I pulled him out of my mouth with a pop before I swallowed the cum, some of it dripping from the side of my mouth. He let go of my hair, reaching his hand around and wiping the liquid from the side of my mouth. I grabbed his wrist, pulling it toward me before I slid his thumb into my mouth, sucking on it gently as he looked at me in awe.

I pulled his thumb out and he smiled at me as I crawled forward, laying down on his chest as my legs fell between his. I placed my hand on his chest before putting my chin on the back of my hand, looking up at him with a smile as he caught his breath.

"You will be the death of me, woman," he mumbled with a dopey smile and I giggled at him, pushing a few pieces of hair out of his face with my other hand.

"You're welcome," I smiled up at him and he wrapped his arms around my back, pulling me tight against him. He swirled my lower back with his thumb gently before I leaned up, placing another kiss on his lips. I pulled the covers over our naked bodies despite the fact we were both warm from our activities but I wanted to keep his warmth on me as long as possible.

"If you stay on me like this, I'll get hard again," he smirked as he looked down at me and I smiled, shrugging my shoulders.

"I won't be mad if you do," I giggled to myself, the dopamine of my high still travelling through my brain as he pulled a hand up, brushing my hair behind my ear gently.

"You're so cute," he whispered as he leaned forward, placing a kiss on my forehead and I closed my eyes contently, hoping I could stay in this moment forever.

tags:

@ilovechrissturniolo1 @sturnfix @lilsstvrn @sturniololol @sturniolowhore @dsturniolo @chrisstankyleg @lov3bug @pinklittleflower @thatcrazybitch-69 @trinity2058 @alorsxsturn @leprechaunbirthdaygirl

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matttgirlies · 5 months

Text

Matt & Me 🎀

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

a story heavily based on Priscilla Presley’s Book “Elvis & Me” based in the 1950’s - 1970’s.

fem! reader x singer! matt

disclaimer!! - in no way am i saying matt would ever support or do these kind of things, for the sake of the book certain unethical things do happen at times.

warnings - age gap,, i think thats all

all of the songs and celebrities mentioned in here are from the time periods this was written if you are confused🩷

Chapter 1

It was 1956. I was living with my family at the Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas, where my father, then Captain, Joseph Paul y/ln, a career officer, was stationed. He came home late for dinner one evening and handed me a record album.

“I don’t know what this Matt guy is all about,” he said, “but he must be something special. I stood in line with half the Air Force at the PX to get this for you; everybody wants it.”

I put the record on the hi-fi and heard the rocking music of “Blue Suede Shoes.” The album was titled Matt Sturniolo. It was his first.

Like almost every other kid in America, I liked Matt but not as fanatically as many of my girl friends at Del Valley Junior High. They all had Matt T-shirts and Matt hats and Matt socks and even lipstick in colors with names like Hound Dog Orange and Heartbreak Pink referencing names of his songs. Matt was everywhere, on bubblegum cards and Bermuda shorts, on diaries and wallets and pictures that glowed in the dark. The boys at school began trying to look like him, with their fluffy hair and turned up collars.

One girl was so crazy about him that she was running his local fan club. She said I could join for twenty-five cents, the price of a book she’d ordered for me by mail. When I received it, I was shocked to see a picture of Matt signing the bare chests of a couple of girls, at that time an unheard-of act.

Then I saw him on television on Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey’s Stage Show. He was sexy and handsome, with his deep brooding eyes, pouty lips, and crooked smile. He strutted out to the microphone, spread his legs, leaned back, and strummed his guitar. Then he began singing with such confidence, moving his body with unbridled sexuality. Despite myself, I was attracted.

Some members of his adult audience were less enthusiastic. Soon his performances were labeled obscene. My mother stated emphatically that he was “a bad influence for teenage girls. He arouses things in them that shouldn’t be aroused. If there’s ever a mothers’ march against Matt Sturniolo, I’ll be the first in line.”

But I’d heard that despite all of his stage antics and lustful, tough-guy looks, Matt came from a strict Southern Christian background. He was a country boy who didn’t smoke or drink, who loved and honored his parents, and who addressed all adults as “sir” or “ma’am.”

I was an Air Force child, a shy, pretty little girl, unhappily accustomed to moving from base to base every two or three years. By the time I was eleven, I had lived in six different cities and, fearful of not being accepted, I either kept to myself or waited for someone to befriend me. I found it especially difficult entering a new school in the middle of the year, when cliques had already been established and newcomers were considered outsiders.

Small and petite, with long y/hc hair, y/ec eyes, and an upturned nose, I was always stared at by the other students. At first girls would see me as a rival, afraid I’d take their boyfriends away. I seemed to feel more comfortable with boys—and they were usually friendlier.

People always said I was the prettiest girl in school, but I never felt that way. I was skinny, practically scrawny, and even if I was as cute, as people said, I wanted to have more than just good looks. Only with my family did I really feel totally protected and loved. Close and supportive, they provided my stability.

A photographer’s model before her marriage, my mother was totally devoted to her family. As the oldest, it was my responsibility to help her with the kids. After me, there were Don, four years younger, and Michelle, my only sister, who was five years younger than Don. Jeff and the twins, Tim and Tom, hadn’t yet been born.

My mother was too shy to talk about the facts of life, so my sex education came in school, when I was in the sixth grade. Some kids were passing around a book that looked like the Bible from the outside, but when you opened it, there were pictures of men making love to women, and women making love to each other.

My body was changing and stirring with new feelings. I’d gotten looks from boys at school, and once a picture of me in a tight turtleneck sweater was stolen from the school bulletin board. Yet I was still a child, embarrassed about my own sexuality. I fantasized endlessly about French-kissing, but when my friends who hung around our house played spin the bottle, it would take me half an hour to let a boy kiss my pursed lips.

My strong, handsome father was the center of our world. He was a hard worker who had earned his degree in Business Administration at University of Texas. At home he ran a tight ship. He was a firm believer in discipline and responsibility, and he and I frequently knocked heads. When I became a cheerleader at thirteen, it was all I could do to convince him to let me go to out-of-town games. Other times no amount of crying, pleading, or appealing to my mother would change his mind. When he laid down the law, that was that.

I managed to get around him occasionally. When he refused to let me wear a tight skirt, I joined the Girl Scouts specifically so I could wear their tight uniform.

My parents were survivors. Although they often had to struggle financially, we children were the last to feel it. When I was a little girl my mother sewed pretty tablecloths to cover the orange crates that we used as end tables. Rather than do without, we made the best of what we had.

Dinner was strictly group participation: Mother cooked, one of us set the table, and the rest cleaned up. Nobody got away with anything, but we were very supportive of one another. I felt fortunate to have a close-knit family.

Going through old albums of family photographs showing my parents when they were young fascinated me. I was curious about the past. World War II intrigued me, especially since my father had fought with the Marines on Okinawa. He looked handsome in his uniform—you could tell he was posing for my mother—but somehow his smile looked out of place, especially when you realized where he was. When I read the note on the back of the picture about how much he missed my mother, my eyes filled with tears.

While rummaging through the family keepsakes I came upon a small wooden box. Inside was a carefully folded American flag, the kind that I knew was given to servicemen’s widows. Also inside the box was a picture of my mother with her arm around a strange man and, sitting on her lap, an infant. On the back of the photo was inscribed “Mommy, Daddy, y/n.” I had discovered a family secret.

Feeling betrayed, I ran to phone my mother, who was at a party nearby. Within minutes I was in her arms, crying as she calmed me and explained that when I was six months old, my real father, Lieutenant James Wagner, a handsome Navy pilot, had been killed in a plane crash while returning home on leave. Two and a half years later, she married Paul y/ln, who adopted me and had always loved me as his own.

Mother suggested I keep my discovery from the other children. She felt it would endanger our family closeness, though when it did become known, it had no effect on our feelings for one another. She gave me a gold locket that my father had given her. I cherished that locket and wore it for years and fantasized that my father died a great hero. In times of emotional pain and loneliness he would become my guardian angel.

By the end of the year, I’d been nominated to run for Queen of Del Valley Junior High. This was my first taste of politics and competition and it was especially trying because I was running against Millie Collins, my best friend.

We each had a campaign manager introducing us as we went from house to house knocking on doors. My manager tried to talk each person into voting for me and donating a penny or more per vote to a school fund. The nominee who collected the most money won. I was sure that this competition would jeopardize my friendship with Millie, which was more important to me than winning. I considered quitting but felt I couldn’t let my parents or my supporters down. While my mother was out looking for a dress for me to wear to the coronation, my dad kept reminding me to memorize an acceptance speech. I kept putting it off, certain I was going to lose.

It was the last day of the campaign, and a rumor began circulating that Millie’s grandparents had put in a hundred-dollar bill for their vote. My parents were disappointed; there was no way that they could afford to match that much money and even if they could, they objected on principle.

The night they announced the winner, I was all dressed up in a new turquoise blue, strapless tulle net formal that itched so badly I couldn’t wait to take it off. I sat beside Millie on the dais in the large school auditorium. I could see my parents with happy, confident looks on their faces though I was sure they were going to be disheartened. Then the principal walked up to the podium.

“And now,” she said, hesitating to heighten the suspense, “is the moment you’ve all been waiting for . . . the culmination of a month of campaigning by our two lovely contestants: y/n y/ln . . .” All eyes turned toward me. I blushed and glanced at Millie. “ . . . and Millie Collins.” Our eyes locked for a brief, tense moment.

“The new Queen of Del Valley Junior High is . . .” A drum roll sounded. “ . . . y/n y/ln.”

The audience applauded wildly. I was in shock. Called up to the stage to give my speech, I had none. Sure that I was going to lose, I’d never even bothered to write one. I walked, trembling, to the podium, then looked out at the crowded auditorium. All I could see was my father’s face, growing more disappointed as he realized I had nothing to say. When I finally spoke, it was to apologize.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m not prepared to give a speech, as I did not expect to win. But thank you very much for voting for me. I’ll do my very best.” And then, looking at my father, I added, “I’m sorry, Dad.”

I was surprised as the audience graciously applauded, but I still had to face my father and hear him say, “I told you so.”

Being elected Queen was a bittersweet victory, because the closeness that Millie and I once shared was restrained. Still, to me that crown symbolized a wonderful, unfamiliar feeling: acceptance.

My newfound tranquility ended abruptly when my father announced that he was being transferred to Wiesbaden, West Germany.

I was crushed. Germany was the other side of the world. All my fears returned. My first thought was, What am I going to do about my friends? I turned to my mother, who was sympathetic and reminded me that we were in the Air Force and moving was an unavoidable part of our lives.

I finished junior high school, my mother gave birth to baby Jeff, and we said our goodbyes to neighbors and good friends. Everyone promised to write or call, but remembering past promises I knew better. My friend Stephanie jokingly told me that Matt Sturniolo was stationed in Bad Neuheim, West Germany. “Do you believe it? You’re going to be in the same country as Matt Sturniolo,” she said. We looked at a map and found that Bad Neuheim was close to Wiesbaden. I said back, “I’m going over there to meet Matt.” We both laughed, hugged each other, and said goodbye.

West Germany

The fifteen-hour flight to West Germany seemed interminable, but finally we arrived in the beautiful old city of Wiesbaden, headquarters of the U.S. Air Force in Europe. There we checked into the Helene Hotel, a massive and venerable building on the main thoroughfare. After three months, hotel living became too expensive and we began looking for a place to rent.

We felt lucky to find a large apartment in a vintage building constructed long before World War I. Soon after we moved in, we noticed that all the other apartments were rented to single girls. These Fräuleins walked around all day long in robes and negligees, and at night they were dressed to kill. Once we learned a little German, we realized that, although the pension was very discreet, we were living in a brothel.

Moving was out of the question—housing was too scarce—but the location did little to help me to adjust. Not only was I isolated from other American families, but there was the language barrier. I was accustomed to changing schools frequently, but a foreign country posed altogether new problems, principally that I couldn’t share my thoughts. I began to feel that my life had stopped dead in its tracks.

September came and with it, school. Once again I was the new girl. I was no longer popular and secure as I’d been at Del.

There was a place called the Eagles Club, where American service families went for dinner and entertainment. It was within walking distance of the pension and soon proved an important discovery for me. Every day after school, I’d go to the snack bar there and listen to the jukebox and write letters to my friends back home in Austin, telling them how much I missed them. Drowning in tears, I’d spend my weekly allowance playing the songs that were very popular back in the States—Frankie Avalon’s “Venus” and the Everly Brothers’ “All I Have to Do Is Dream.”

One warm summer afternoon, I was sitting with my brother Don when I noticed a handsome man in his twenties staring at me. I’d seen him watching me before, but I’d never paid any attention to him. This time, he stood up and walked toward me. He introduced himself as Steven Wright and asked my name.

“y/n y/ln,” I said, immediately suspicious; he was much older than me.

He asked where in the States I came from, how I liked Germany, and if I liked Matt Sturniolo.

“Of course,” I said, laughing. “Who doesn’t?”

“I’m a good friend of his. My wife and I go to his house quite often. How would you like to join us one evening?”

Unprepared for such an extraordinary invitation, I grew even more skeptical and guarded. I told him I’d have to ask my parents. Over the course of the next two weeks, Steven met my parents and my father checked out his credentials. Steven was also in the Air Force and it turned out that my father knew his commanding officer. That seemed to break the ice between them. Steven assured Dad that I’d be well chaperoned when we visited Matt, who lived off base in a house in Bad Nauheim.

On the appointed night I tore through my closet, trying to find an appropriate outfit. Nothing seemed dressy enough for meeting Matt Sturniolo. I settled on a navy and white sailor dress and white socks and shoes. Surveying myself in the mirror, I thought I looked cute, but being only fourteen, I didn’t think I’d make any kind of impression on Matt.

Eight o’clock finally arrived, and so did Steven Wright and his attractive wife, Carole. Anxious, I hardly spoke to either of them during the forty-five-minute drive. We entered the small town of Bad Nauheim, with its narrow cobblestone streets and plain, old-fashioned houses, and I kept looking around for what I assumed would be Matt’s huge mansion. Instead Steven pulled up to an ordinary-looking three-story house surrounded by a white picket fence.

There was a sign on the gate in German, which translated as: autographs between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. only. Even though it was after eight o’clock, a large group of friendly German girls waited around expectantly. When I asked Steven about them, he explained that there were always large groups of fans outside the house, hoping to catch a glimpse of Matt.

I followed Steven through the gate and up the short pathway to the door. We were welcomed by James Sturniolo, Matt’s father, a tall, gray-haired, attractive man, who led us down a long hallway to the living room, from which I could hear Brenda Lee on the record player, singing “Sweet Nothin’s.”

The plain, almost drab living room was filled with people, but I spotted Matt immediately. He was handsomer than he appeared in films, younger and more vulnerable-looking with his haircut. He was in civilian clothes, a bright red sweater and tan slacks, and he was sitting with one leg swung over the arm of a large overstuffed chair, with a cigar dangling from his lips.

As Steven led me over to him, Matt stood up and smiled. “Well,” he said. “What have we here?”

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. I just kept staring at him.

“Matt,” Steven said, “this is y/n y/ln. The girl I told you about.”

We shook hands and he said, “Hi, I’m Matt Sturniolo,” but then there was a silence between us until Matt asked me to sit down beside him, and Steven drifted off.

“So,” Matt said. “Do you go to school?”

“Yes.”

“What are you, about a junior or senior in high school?”

I blushed and said nothing, not willing to reveal that I was only in the ninth grade.

“Well,” he persisted.

“Ninth.”

Matt looked confused. “Ninth what?”

“Grade,” I whispered.

“Ninth grade,” he said and started laughing. “Why, you’re just a baby.”

“Thanks,” I said curtly. Not even Matt Sturniolo had the right to say that to me.

“Well. Seems the little girl has spunk,” he said, laughing again, amused by my response. He gave me that charming smile of his, and all my resentment just melted away.

We made small talk for a while longer. Then Matt got up and walked over to the piano and sat down. The room suddenly grew silent. Everyone’s eyes were focused on him as he began to entertain us.

He sang “Rags to Riches” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and then with his friends singing harmony, “End of the Rainbow.” He also did a Jerry Lee Lewis impersonation, pounding the keys so hard that a glass of water he’d set on the piano began sliding off. When Matt caught it without missing a beat of the song, everyone laughed and applauded except me. I was nervous. I glanced around the room and saw an intimidating life-size poster of a half-nude model on the wall. She was the last person I wanted to see, with her fulsome body, pouting lips, and wild mane of tousled hair. Imagining Matt’s taste in women, I felt very young and out of place.

I glanced up and saw Matt trying to get my attention. I noticed that the less response I showed, the more he began singing just for me. I couldn’t believe that Matt Sturniolo was trying to impress me.

Later, he asked me to come into the kitchen, where he introduced me to his grandmother, Minnie Mae Sturniolo, who stood by the stove, frying a huge pan of bacon. As we sat down at the table, I told Matt I wasn’t hungry. Actually I was too nervous to eat.

“You’re the first girl I’ve met from the States in a long time,” Matt said, as he began devouring the first of five gigantic bacon sandwiches, each one smothered with mustard. “Who are the kids listening to?”

I laughed. “Are you kidding?” I said. “Everyone listens to you.”

Matt seemed unconvinced. He asked me a lot of questions about Fabian and Ricky Nelson. He told me he was worried about how his fans would accept him when he returned to the States. Since he’d been away, he hadn’t made any public appearances or movies, although he’d had five hit singles, all recorded before he’d left.

It felt like we’d just begun talking when Steven came in and pointed to his watch. I had dreaded that moment; the evening had gone so fast. It seemed I had just arrived and now I was being hurried away. Matt and I had just started to get to know each other. I felt like Cinderella, knowing that when my curfew came, all this magic would end. I was surprised when Matt asked Steven if I could possibly stay longer. When Steven explained the agreement with my father, Matt casually suggested that maybe I could come by again. Though I wanted to more than anything in the world, I didn’t really believe it would happen.

a/n - thoughts on this story so far? all the fashion and technology and things is still based in the time period its set in but i promise it gets better as the story goes on! i know the age gap is crazy but back in the day it was normal and its the age gap in Priscilla’s book so i just stuck with it. I in no way support this at all🎀

Excerpt from: "Elvis and Me" by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley. Scribd.

This material may be protected by copyright.

#matt stuniolo fanfic #matthew sturn #matt sturniolo #matthew sturniolo #sturniolo edit #sturniolo fanfic #sturniolo x reader #sturniolo triplets #chris sturniolo #christopher sturniolo #sturniolo imagine #sturniolo smut #nick sturniolo #Spotify

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ladykailitha · 2 months

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Well Met By Moonlight Part 17

Welcome to the beginning of the end, for the next four weeks I will be putting out the last chapters of this story. It's done. And I am sorry to see it go. I really loved writing this story even if it kept changing on me and evolving into what it is today.

In this chapter we have Jason being sneaky, Wayne and a new werewolf in town.

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

Eddie and Steve were having a quiet walk about town, holding hands and talking softly to each other sweet things.

Or that’s how it looked on the outside.

They were actually on the hunt. Wayne had been teaching Eddie how to hunt like vampire the last two years, and Steve was learning how to hunt as a werewolf and not just as a man in a wolf suit from Nancy.

What were they hunting? The manticore. Steve’s stronger sense of smell would help them track the beast down, while Eddie’s extensive knowledge of its habits and haunts would narrow down where to look.

People often assumed that Eddie was bad at facts and dates but he wasn’t. He was actually pretty good at them, his problem in school was not doing the homework. He would ace every test, he’d just forget to turn in his assignments.

Hell, his first senior year got one of the Hellfire Club members mad at him because he scored in the top ten percent of the nation on a portion of the SAT. She was averaging an A- average in the class they shared together and thought that that meant she should have gotten in the top ten percent of nation instead of him. To say that things soured between them after that was an understatement.

All this to say that Eddie was smart. Smarter than people gave him credit for and not just how he figured out the meaning behind Patrick’s attack. He knew people. Differently then the way Steve knew people, but still he was clever and quick witted.

Eddie stopped in his tracks and jutted his chin across the street. “Isn’t that Jason Carver?”

Steve looked where he was indicating and frowned. “I thought your uncle said he was sick. What’s he doing in town?”

“Uncle Wayne’s been saying that Jason is becoming more and more withdrawn since Patrick was attacked,” Eddie explained. “He thinks he might have recommend Jason be brought to the full extent of the law, which is something Uncle Wayne really isn’t looking forward to.”

“But we’re trying to find Patrick’s attacker!” Steve protested. “I thought he would be happier that we’re trying to get justice for his friend.”

Eddie frowned, the crease between his eyebrows deepened. “I think his hatred of werewolves and vampires goes deeper than his sense of justice for his friend.”

Steve shook his head. That just couldn’t be true. He knew Jason from basketball. You wouldn’t be able to find a boy more loyal to his friends than Jason Carver. But he raised his head and looked Eddie in the eye and knew. Jason had only showed him his good qualities because they were equals.

Eddie had seen the worst of the other boy. The sneering viciousness beneath the veneer of civility that he showed to those he thought lesser than him.

“We need to find the manticore before he breaks his masters bonds,” Steve whispered. “I’m more concerned what an unbound creature like that could do to this town, over someone like Jason.”

Eddie watched Jason for a moment more. The other teen did not seem to be up to anything nefarious, other than lying to Uncle Wayne, so he nodded.

But the hairs on the back of his neck prickled and the hairs on his arm stood up on end. There was a predator here. He looked around him.

“Babe?” Steve asked, reaching out to touch his elbow. “What wrong?”

“What do you smell just now?” he asked, searching the shadows.

Steve stilled. He scented the air. The wind was changing, but there!

“It’s a sharp metal tang in the air,” he murmured. “Like the scent of dried blood. It’s acrid.” He wrinkled his nose. “Foul.”

Eddie nodded. “That’s what I scented too, but now it’s gone. Whatever it was, though. It was not the manticore.”

Steve shook off a shiver that slid down his spine. “It was werewolf. But not one in my pack.”

“Banished you think?” Eddie asked as the wind shifted to carry the scent away from them. He could still feel the uneasy feeling down the pads of his feet. Whoever was out there was dangerous.

Steve tugged on his sleeve. “Let’s get out of here. There’s nothing else we can do today. The rogue werewolf would have sent the manticore aground.”

Eddie nodded, the cat sìth was probably hiding the manticore’s scent anyway. “We need to talk to Wayne.”

Wayne listened intently to their report, soaking in everything they told him. He sat back and thought through it all.

“I think I know who the Banished you smelled in town is,” he said quietly. He handed Eddie the file he’d gotten from Sam and waited.

“Dr. Alexei Oborin,” Eddie read aloud. “That’s Nancy’s werewolf, right? The one she was sure caused a stir when she was little.”

Steve frowned. “She hasn’t told me anything about that.”

Wayne nodded like he wasn’t surprised. “She was waiting to see what that file contained. But I’m leaving it up to you if you want to share it with her. It’s has some pretty gruesome stuff.”

Steve nodded absently as he read over Eddie’s shoulder, the other man waiting until he was done before turning to the next page. No matter how much longer it took Steve than Eddie.

“The name of his bondmate is blacked out,” he said with that little frown of his that made Eddie want to bite him between the eyebrows for being too cute. “Do we know why?”

Wayne shook his head. “I’ve already pressed my source pretty hard to get the file. He could get fired if he doesn’t return it in a week.”

Eddie and Steve shared a glance, but wisely said nothing.

“They were teenagers who were camping out in the woods near the pack compound,” Steve read. He frowned. “That’s strange.”

Eddie and Wayne’s heads snapped his direction.

“Look at the location of the two girls bodies...” he pulled out the photo in file and turned it to face Wayne.

Wayne looked at the picture and then back up at him. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be looking at, if I’m honest here, Steve.”

“It’s something I learned recently from Nancy,” he replied. “I don’t fight like a wolf in wolf form. I don’t go for the jugular for example because I know as human how easy it is for a human to throw up their arms to protect that area of the body. I knock them over first and press my weight on their chest to make it harder for them to do just that.”

Eddie frowned, but Wayne looked back down at the photo.

“Shit!”

The arms and upper torso were torn to shreds, the way you would expect from a wolf attack, but the bodies themselves were arranged to make it look it was the work of a crazed werewolf. Like something straight out of a horror movie.

“Someone moved the bodies?” Eddie reasoned. “But why would Alexei do that if he thought the kids were hunters? There would be no reason to. It was supposedly self-defense.”

“Unless it wasn’t,” Wayne said, continuing his nephew’s thought. “What if the bondmate came and rearranged the bodies to plead insanity on Alexei’s behalf?”

Steve nodded. “And then when that didn’t work, they claimed that the kids were hunters.”

Wayne rubbed at the stubble on his chin wishing, not for the first time, that he had been changed with a clean shaven face.

“That make sense.”

Eddie closed the file and looked on the front of the folder. “VHS? Video Home System?” He tilted his head to the side.

Wayne snorted, then giggled. Suddenly the stoic vampire was laughing so hard, tears of blood rolled down his cheeks. He took out a handkerchief and wiped away the tears.

“No, no,” he said around his feral grin. “It stands for The Van Helsing Society. But, dear god, I am going to use that on that bastard the next time I saw him.”

“As in Abraham Van Helsing?” Eddie asked, his eyes wide. “From Dracula?” He scooted forward to the edge of his seat.

Wayne nodded, still grinning. “The first name was changed but Van Helsing was a real person. Karl Van Helsing was the first to come up with the first policing body for supernatural beings. After the incident in London, it was pretty clear that people were going to start noticing that supernatural beings existed and he came up with The Van Helsing Society.”

“Pretty arrogant of him to name it after himself,” Steve huffed, rolling his eyes.

Eddie scoffed, throwing himself back against the sofa cushions. “Says the alpha of the Harrington pack.” Then he shook his head and muttered. “It had to be fucking cops.”

Steve just shrugged. “I never said that was also arrogant. I never understood why it wasn’t called the Hawkins Pack or Roane Pack considering being alpha isn’t hereditary.”

Wayne smiled at Steve. He had always liked him since he was a young boy learning that his parents had died. But he was really starting to like the man that boy had become, too. Because it was ridiculous that the pack hadn’t been named after the town or county it resided in.

“They are far more than just cops, Ed,” he warned. “They are a powerful group with abilities all their own. Crossing one of the Society isn’t the same as crossing a mortal or even supernatural cop, like Hopper. They are protected against possession, hypnotism, and even enthrallment.”

“Are they all descendants of the original dude?” Steve asked, pressing even closer to Eddie on the sofa. He didn’t like the sound of these supernatural cops either. Because where were they when he was being abused by the Franklins. He couldn’t even remember the night he first changed. He only remembered when he came to and he and Wayne were burying their bodies. He was just so grateful that the abuse was over that he really didn’t think of why.

But Wayne was shaking his head. “According to the records the last Van Helsing died during the oiliphéist riots of 1922 in Ireland.”

“That’s too bad,” Eddie said, cocking his head to the side. “As anti-vampire as the name has become a symbol of these days, I would still have liked to have met one of his descendants.”

Wayne chuckled and shook his head. “I’ve had the pleasure only once. Greta Van Helsing in 1871. She was a spitfire to say the least.”

Eddie ran his hands over his face. “Please tell me you didn’t fuck her...” he moaned.

“Not on your life,” Wayne huffed. “Even if she was immune to the whole agents and supes producing unhinged offspring, she was a lesbian and won’t have even spared me a glance.”

“Unhinged as in cool super powers, unhinged?” Eddie asked, lowering his hands from his face. “Or mental asylum unhinged?”

“Sadly the latter,” Wayne said mournfully. “The magic that they use to protect themselves from being controlled does nasty things to the natural magics supernatural beings are made of.”

“But Van Helsings were immune?” Steve asked, still pressed to Eddie’s side.

Wayne nodded. “Probably because like most things in nature needing a balance, the Van Helsings were naturally the balance to the supernatural creatures of the world. There are probably other families just like them, but Van Helsings are merely the most notable.”

“Makes sense,” Eddie said, taking Steve’s hand and giving it a squeeze. He could tell this talk of the Van Helsings was making him upset.

“In other news,” he said, “The Hughes, the Hollands, the Martins, and the Camerons are all willing to send in guards for Steve.”

“I wasn’t aware the Camerons were supernatural,” Wayne said rubbing his chin. “What are they?”

“Louie Cameron is a selkie, and Debra Cameron is a siren,” he explained. “Making their daughter Vickie one hell of a strong supe.”

Steve sat there with this confused pout on his face. “Guards? Why would I need guards?”

“I don’t trust the Pack right now,” Wayne replied. “There is more going on in that pack then meets the eye and I can’t be everywhere. Especially with Jason causing trouble in town. Patrick tried to warn me early on that Jason would try something like this, but I wanted to believe that there was good in their somewhere.”

Steve’s expression shuttered to a blank mask. “What do I do?”

“Just start hanging out with me and the others outside of the compound,” Eddie said, squeezing Steve’s hand again and covering it with his other hand.

“Okay,” he breathed. They were right, as much as Nancy wanted him to further integrate into the Pack, he needed to be on the outside to see what was going on and understand it.

And he knew the best way to do it, but it was going to take a lot of convincing. But he was up for the job.

Notes:

oilipheists are sea monsters from Ireland.

Cameron is the last name I gave Vickie from season four.

And the SAT (a test to determine how well you've learned your lessons over the course of the year not the college one) thing happened to me. I was doing poorly in English because of the stupid correcting sentences for grammar and punctuation bullshit (there is a very good reason I use betas) but when the results came back I got top ten in the NATION for reading comprehension. My friend in the class who getting A's in that class was so mad it wasn't her that she legit stopped talking to me because she was that sure I cheated.

Tag List: FOURTEEN SLOTS REMAINING

Part 18 Part 19 Part 20

1- @mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog

2- @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369 @a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @goodolefashionedloverboi

3- @fullpoetrybread @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @bookworm0690 @littlewildflowerkitten @just-a-tiny-void @potato-of-the-lord @thelittleclare

5- @goosesister @tinyplanet95 @she-collects-smut @irregular-child @y4r3luv

6- @fairytalesreality @anaibis @papergrenade @ravenfrog @blondie1006 @dreamercec

7- @thedragonsaunt @sadisticaltarts @kultiras @blackpanzy @disrespectedgoatman

8- @kal-ology

#my writing #stranger things #steddie #ladykailtiha writes #werewolf steve harrington #vampire eddie munson #supernatural creatures

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