#after he said to my face he'd kick me out if he ever found out I was queer

[chxrrydrxp]

aftercare with Jason bc he’s so sweet after breaking the bed :((

ugh, thank you for giving me something new to daydream about.

yall these exams are gonna kick my ass next week god help me

(mild spice, mainly sugar sweetness, gender isnt specified, race neutral) mdni

Jason is such a sweetheart

With the rise and fall of your chest, the room was filled with the quiet sounds of you desperately trying to breathe, your hands tightly wrapped around Jason's neck.

Your body trembled as he pulled one last intense orgasm from you. Your voice was rugged and your throat felt desert dry from the strained gasping and pleading he'd elicited from you all night. His thrusts are now slower, but deeper. "f-uck.." he whimpers, emptying himself into you, and then he nips at your earlobe. He leans down to your sweaty forehead and places a kiss there, then more down your cheek. You let out a breathy laugh and reach your hand up to caress his cheek. He grabs ahold of your hand, bringing it up to his cheek anyway, then placing a wet kiss along your knuckles. "You're...so fucking beautiful..." he mutters breathlessly against your hand. "look at you.." he places more kisses across your palm. "How'd I ever get so lucky..." His black hair mostly sticks to his forehead, with the occasional curl tickling your face. You finally found your words, kissing him softly on the lips, and wrapping your arms around his back pulling him down. "I wanna stay like this forever Jay..with you." A tired smile appears on his lips as he slowly pulls out of you, smug at the tremble of your legs from the sensitivity. "Yeah but it'll be a bitch to pee later," he says rubbing your cheek with his thumb mindlessly. You roll your eyes at his obviousness. Leaving you with one last kiss, he reaches over to the bedside for your water bottle, lifting it to your lips to drink. "c'mon, open up." You accept the water with relief, and he partakes in it as well. You lift yourself on your elbows slightly, and then you notice the bed seems to be creaking a lot easier than it did previously, but you don't put much thought into it. Jason goes to the bathroom for a while to clean himself up and comes out with a wet washcloth and wipes, wearing gray sweatpants. "You're not gonna like this part, come on you gotta pee," he says. he kneels at the bedside, scooping you up into his muscular arms bride-style. you groan in pain at the sudden movement . he gently places you on the toilet, and leans against the sink. "Jason did you.. break the bed?" He begins running hot water in the tub. "You're the one who kept telling me to go harder and faster, I don't wanna hear it." you attempted to hide your embarrassment. "I ordered some food for you, it'll be here by the time you finish your bath." you slowly sink into the water, feeling the warmness engulf you and relax your muscles. "How'd you know what I wanted to eat?" you questioned, leaning against the smooth tub. "If I asked you, the stores would all be closed by the time you could make up your mind. trust me you'll like it." you laid back in defeat. he left the bathroom and came back with a book, two candles, and a glass of your favorite wine. you watched in awe. as he filled your favorite glass with the liquid, and sat crisscrossed on the floor beside you. He lit the candles one by one, then handed the glass to you. "for you, my love," he said with a cheeky smile. you accept the glass, your heart pounding in response. how did you get so lucky? meanwhile, he's taking in your form with awe. how the hell did he get so lucky? you both smile mutually, staring into the eyes of the love of your lives. "I love you so much Jay," you mutter, making his heart flutter. he leans over the tub, placing a kiss on your nose. "I'm so in love with you y/n."

[vulturevanity]

.

[my-writings-and-musings]

The always awesome @stratofall006 and I did an art/fic swap and I asked for Earthspark Bumblebee with a sparkling strapped to his chest. I was not disappointed to say the very least LOOK AT HIM!!!

I was so inspired, in fact, I just had to write a short little something based on the image. Set sometime after Season 1 where Bee and Breakdown have had a bitlet and our beloved Scout is trying to teach his students. I couldn't think of a name for the bitty so just use your imagination.

---

"Kids, my optics are up here."

The five Terrans seated before him in their makeshift outdoor classroom all shrunk upon being called out, but Bumblebee was hardly angry even at the umpteenth interruption. He couldn't blame the kids for struggling to focus, as the tiny bundle strapped to his chest was taking up a sizable chunk of his own attention as well, and they were all struggling to return to the old routine now that he was no longer carrying. Most of his negative emotions were bound up in how delayed Optimus had been in informing him that Breakdown would be needed for a field mission today, leaving him to multitask between teaching and parenting with almost no forewarning...

"Sorry, Bee." Twitch apologized sincerely, big orange optics bringing a soft smile to his face as she tried not to look at the sparkling.

"We really are trying!" Thrash added just as emphatically, making his teacher chuckle in appreciation. If nothing else, their commitment meant a lot to him. The bitlet on his chassis stirred at his laughter, compelling him to look down as her tiny servos flexed for the sky and her stubby pedes kicked in amusement.

"She's just sooo cute!" Hashtag spoke up, saying what they were all thinking. Bumblebee couldn't deny he and Breakdown had produced one of the cutest bitlets he'd ever seen, and that in her harness said cuteness was on full display, rounded frame bouncing in the straps as her optics continued to look around her audience. He was about to try and redirect his class when Hashtag squealed once more at the adorable antics. "Look, she's sticking her tongue out!"

Blowing a messy raspberry for no particular reason, the bitlet quieted when he directed her stubby servo to her mouth, compelling the little one to nom on it. Trying to get the class back on track, the Scout turned teacher turned parent remembered where he'd been interrupted and got back to teaching.

"I know she's cute, but we've got a lot to get through today. Back on topic; the key to remaining undiscovered is to focus-"

"How precious, she's waving at me!" Nightshade interrupted as they clasped their servos together, once more bringing attention to the sparkling. Bumblebee couldn't deny the way they flapped their arms was beyond amusing, and he began to wonder just how on Earth he was supposed to get through his lesson as Nightshade returned the gesture with a polite wave of their claws. "Hello there, little one!"

"Kids-"

"She's waving at me now!" Jawbreaker gushed as the bitlet swapped arms to wave in his direction, compelling Bumblebee to sigh as he completely lost control once more. Not having the energy to keep this up much longer, he considered telling Optimus that unless he wanted the Terrans to fall even more behind on their training, the big bot would start planning to schedule a babysitter when he pulled bots for mission duty. He already knew Breakdown would be handling most of the sparkling related chores tonight...

A tiny sneeze against his chassis brought him out of his dissatisfied quiet, instincts compelling him to check over the sparkling even though he found she had merely had a tickle in her nose. To his students, however, each new action was the most adorable thing they'd ever seen. Their glowing optics told him that a sneeze was no exception.

"Oh my gosh, I got that on film! Let me share it to the group chat!" Hashtag proclaimed as she rapidly tapped away on her tablet, sharing the video with everyone in their circle as the group once more descended into chaos. Sighing as he briefly dipped into the background, the Scout offered a digit to his sparkling and allowed her to chew on it as his students all vied for her attention. Not having the energy to handle much more, he decided to cut his losses and accept that the lesson was done for the day.

"Alright, everyone, let's just... enjoy a day off for now. We'll take it from the top tomorrow." he announced over the din of five excited Terrans, who were now focused on going through the digital album of pictures and videos they'd put together of his sparklings short but precious existence. Not too put off by the chance for a well earned rest, he sat down on a broad stone and allowed the bitlet to continue nomming on his digit, glad that at least one bot was focused on him.

[penny00dreadful]

Comeuppance - Part 1

Part 2 AO3

It was getting beyond ridiculous now. And if no one else wanted to help, then Dustin would take it upon himself. 

Steve had helped him get his first girlfriend. He’d put his body between Dustin and the demodogs in the tunnels, even though he was half conscious and fully concussed. He’d helped them escape from torture and taken the blows in their place. He’d kept silent about his bites while they strategized in Max’s trailer. 

He’d been with them through almost everything. 

The only thing he’d missed was that first year but even then he was defending Nancy and Jonathan. 

Dustin just wanted his brother to be happy.

And if no one else was going to do it, he’d do it himself.

He’d looked at his mother, how much brighter she used to be before his dad had died all those years ago. 

He looked at Lucas and Max who always had secret smiles for each other. 

He looked at Hopper and Joyce who’d found each other again after years apart, there to support their partner in everything. 

He wanted that for Steve. 

Steve deserved it.

To be happy with someone. 

Maybe Dustin had… breezed through one or two of his mothers romance novels for inspiration, trying to figure out who the perfect candidate for Steve would be. How he could make it happen. What the method might look like. 

With that in mind, he pulled in the rest of the Party who seemed to go along with him more begrudgingly than anything. Maybe they’d just gotten tired of arguing with him.

He’d have to examine later if that was something he needed to work on.

How could he become a world renowned scientist or engineer if he didn’t have anyone who would push back against him?

“Eddie!” Dustin called up towards the roof of the trailer, where he could just about make out the small plumes of smoke curling up against the bright blue sky. “Stop sunbathing, we need your help.”

The sounds of Eddie’s chains and jewellery rattled against the roof, telling Dustin he’d just rolled onto his stomach, allowing his arms to dangle down over the edge as he continued to puff away.

Eddie exhaled the smoke in his lungs and took a haughty tone when he said “A man such as myself would never be caught sunbathing, Henderson. That’s jock shit.” 

Something caught Eddie’s attention behind him. He glanced back and when he turned towards the Party again he had a self-satisfied smirk on his face.

“Did you hear me?” Dustin crossed his arms over his chest like he’d seen Steve do on numerous occasions before, trying to exude the same authority. “I said we need your help.”

“Alright.” Eddie let out a loud exasperated sigh. Dustin could tell he was playing up his irritation, though. “I’ll bite. What do you need my help with?”

Dustin grinned wide, delighted to be able to expound on his plan. “Steve’s love life.”

Something thudded against the roof of the trailer but Eddie didn’t flinch, didn’t turn to see what it was, just continued staring down at them, blank faced.

“What was that noise?” Mike asked, staring up at him.

Eddie shrugged. “Kicked something. Pray tell, why are you coming to little old me for help with Steve’s love life?”

“You two are friends now, right?”

Eddie snorted into his elbow. “I suppose that’s one word for it.” He muttered, barely audible from all the way up there.

“And you’re a guy his own age.” Dustin had to shield his eyes from the sun as he stepped closer. “He’ll listen to you.”

That got a loud laugh from him. “The hell gives you that idea?”

“He’ll listen to you more than he’ll listen to us.”

“You’d be better off asking Robin.” Eddie propped his chin up on his hand. “They’ve got that weird mind meld thing going on.”

Dustin huffed. 

Robin would never hear them out. 

“We can’t ask Robin.”

“Well maybe you should stop meddling, you ever think of that?”

Meddling? What was he, a child? Some evil villain? No. He wouldn’t call what he had planned meddling. He was aiding. He was helping. 

Meddling implied he didn't know what he was doing, which he did. 

He'd researched.

“I’m not meddling. I’m helping. We’re just trying to make the guy happy so what’s the issue? He’s clearly lonely.”

Eddie’s expression hardened. “Clearly lonely, is he? That’s a real charming thing to say about your babysitter, Henderson. Not everyone needs romantic connections in life. He has me, he has Robin. He has Nancy and Jonathan and Argyle. And up until a few seconds ago I would have said he had you all too. But apparently you’re not enough. Because he’s lonely.” He spat out the last word like it had personally offended him.

“He’s been single for so long-”

“Have you considered that maybe he’s happy that way? Or that he already has someone and just hasn’t told you?”

Dustin scoffed, crossing his arms again. 

Eddie just wasn’t getting it. 

“He’d tell me if he had someone.”

“Oh, you think so, do you?”

“Why wouldn’t he?”

Eddie let his voice drop low. “Because you meddle, Dustin Henderson.”

“Dude, why are you being so defensive right now?” Couldn’t he see that what Dustin was doing was for the best? For everyone? Why did no one seem to want the same things for Steve that he did? “We’re asking for your help to make our friend happy!”

“Why can’t you ask Robin?”

Robin also wouldn’t get it.

“She’s too close to the issue. She won’t be objective. She’ll side with him no matter what.”

“And I won’t?”

“No. Because I know what I’m doing? I’ve researched this? It’s not fucking rocket science. If the idiots in movies and tv can make it happen surely we’ll be able to do it easily.”

The Party was practically a protégé mix of brains. There was no way this could fail.

“Movies and tv.” Eddie muttered to himself like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Jesus Christ.” He tilted his head back behind him for a few moments, listening for something before turning to face them again. “Alright, listen. I’m not agreeing to anything yet but tell me who’s the other person wrapped up in this?”

Dustin finally allowed himself to smile, proud of the clincher he was just about to reveal.

“Nancy.” He said, puffing out his chest and cocking his eyebrow. 

He’d definitely just won this argument.

Except Eddie didn’t smile back at him and immediately agree, like Dustin had been expecting. 

Instead Eddie moved his whole head with an eye roll and groaned. “You can’t be serious. He’s over Nancy. He’s told us all many, many, many times. He doesn’t want a relationship with her.”

Fuck sake. What wasn’t Eddie getting about this? 

That’s just what people said when they were trying to save their hearts or there was some kind of contrived misunderstanding. 

Dustin had seen the way Steve looked at Nancy from the car at the Snow Ball. 

He’d heard the things he said to her in the Winnebago.

“Well, I don’t believe it. There has to be a reason he’s not dating Robin and we all heard the Winnebago talk. They’re meant to be. They’re perfect for each other.”

Eddie pursed his lips but stayed silent for a few seconds, considering. “Okay. And what about Nancy?”

Dustin blinked up at him confused. “What about her?”

“What does she say about this whole thing?”

“We can’t tell her, Eddie. We can’t tell either of them. Obviously.”

“Uh-huh. So Steve’s pining after Nancy, then?”

“Yeah.”

“Is Nancy pining after Steve?”

Dustin opened and closed his mouth, trying to formulate his comeback. He hadn’t really… thought too hard about that. But like… why wouldn’t she want him? 

He was handsome, he was strong, he had money, he wanted kids, he wanted marriage, he was respected around town.

He was the perfect package!

And actually, if Dustin remembered correctly, she’d smiled at Steve during the Winnebago talk so she was receptive at the very least. 

But he didn’t have a chance to articulate his argument because Eddie was barrelling ahead again.

“Oh right, I get it. Nancy doesn’t have any agency in this because the guy should always get the girl no matter her opinion right?”

“No!” That wasn’t what he meant. “It’s not like that-”

“You’re telling me that Nancy Wheeler,” Eddie interrupted, “gun toting, government fighting Nancy Wheeler. The same Nancy Wheeler who is currently working on her exposé of the sexism she experienced at the Hawkins Post, which is due to publish the second she goes to college at Emerson, where she already has an internship lined up, is going to just go along with this? And also, did I forget to mention, she leaves in six weeks? If you do get the two together what’s Steve supposed to do then?”

That was all semantics. 

Once they were together they could work that out between themselves! But Dustin knew Eddie wasn’t going to like that answer so he came up with something else quickly because it wasn’t that hard, because this made sense.

“He could go with her!”

“Oh, so fuck any desires he had, then? He’s just gonna drop everything here and go? Follow her like a lost puppy?”

Dustin rolled his eyes again. “C’mon Eddie, now you’re just being combative for the sake of it.” He placed his hands back on his hips, again trying to exude parental authority. “It’ll be good for him to experience things. What does he even have here to drop? I mean, it’s about time he moved on from this town, right?”

“Henderson.” Eddie snapped in warning. 

There was a moment of pause where they both stared at each other before Eddie rolled back around to face the back of the trailer. He muttered something in low tones that Dustin couldn’t hear and the next second was clambering down off the roof.

He landed far more gracefully than Dustin would have thought he was capable of before stomping over. “Do not let him hear you say that. He’ll think you don’t care whether he’s here or not.”

Dustin threw his arms out at either side of him. How could Steve possibly think that? He was just stating plain facts! “Of course I care!”

“Then act like it!” Eddie threw his own arms out in a similar fashion. “You’re making these decisions without him. What you’re trying to pull is peer pressure, all of you, you understand that right? It’s barely a step away from bullying.”

“Eddie, c’mon.” Mike crossed his arms, unable to meet his eye. “You’re looking at this all wrong. That’s not-”

“Yes it is. You’re all trying to get him to conform to what you think he should do, regardless of how he feels about it.”

Dustin shook his head, looking up at Eddie and imploring him to understand. What they were doing wasn’t malicious. “I just want him to be happy.”

But Eddie wasn’t relenting so Dustin would have to compromise somewhere to make this work.

“I understand that.” Eddie started. “But this isn’t-”

“Listen okay, FINE.” Dustin huffed. He did not stomp his foot. “I swear if you help us I’ll… I’ll stop if it doesn’t work. I swear, I promise if this doesn’t work and we don’t get Steve and Nancy back together I’ll never meddle in his affairs again. Please, I swear.”

Eddie loomed over him, dark eyes, dark hair, dark clothes, intense presence and Dustin was suddenly reminded of why he was intimidated by him when they first met at school. “On your mother?”

He nodded eagerly, hope starting to rise in his chest. “On my mother.”

“Okay.” Eddie sighed. “If it doesn’t work you are to never stick your nose in his business again, you understand me?”

“Yeah, I get it.” Dustin agreed, his mind already planning far ahead. “But you don’t need to worry about it, it’ll work.”

“You’re so sure of that are you?”

“I know him best out of all of us, I know him.” He tried not to let his smugness through, he really did try. But he couldn’t help it. “This’ll work.”

“I think you’re looking at this through little kid lenses and can’t see past the end of your own nose.”

Dustin opened his mouth in offence. “I’m smarter than you, you know.”

“I know but that doesn’t mean you’re a grown up. You're sure you have all the relevant information? You know everything there is to know and there's no way this could go wrong?” Eddie was acting like he knew something Dustin didn't, which just couldn’t be true. He’d planned for all the eventualities. 

“Of course I do.”

“Alright.” Eddie nodded, turning back to his trailer and pulling himself back up onto the roof. “If you’re sure. Now scram, kiddos. I gotta get back to my sunbathing.”

It was all going terribly. 

If Dustin didn’t know any better he’d think that Steve was totally checked out from the romance sphere. And he was acting a little weird. During one of their usual rides to the arcade, he’d told Dustin he was happy, which was great but it had come out of nowhere.

“Okay? I’m glad you’re happy?”

“I mean it though.” Steve drummed his fingers against the wheel. “Where I am in life right now, my friendships, my relationships, I’m happy. I don’t need anything to change. I’m good with how things are.”

Dustin had to think back on what they’d just talked about. 

They’d been speaking about Steve’s most recent trip to Indy. He’d been a little cagey on what he, Eddie and Robin had been doing up there, but that was probably because it was some weird grown-up thing they were doing that they didn’t want Dustin to know about. Like he couldn’t handle it, whatever it was.

There was nothing they’d talked about that might have led to this.

“Right… well thanks for letting me know?”

Steve just nodded at him like it was a job well done and the whole thing was just plain weird.

Things got even weirder when he saw Nancy. She was dropping off some of her old study notes to him and she mentioned that it was a good thing that she was single right now. She’d be going away to college soon and she couldn’t stand the idea of dragging someone away from their home just for her sake.

Dustin stared at her a little bewildered but tried to get her to see reason anyway. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone there with you, though?”

“No,” she answered lightly, “it would probably add more pressure to be honest.”

Dustin didn’t think there was any way that was true. Surely it would be easier to acclimate with someone from home to keep her company.

But despite his numerous attempts to get Nancy and Steve alone together in situations that could easily turn into dates, with soft touches or glittering eyes or whatever else the fucking books talked about, nothing had happened. 

No progress had been made and it was fucking frustrating.

He’d gotten the two of them to sit together, away from the rest of the group at the cinema and they just… watched the movie?

Not once did Steve try to put his arm across the back of Nancy’s seat or take her hand or even whisper to her, getting their faces close together except to nudge her playfully for the popcorn. It was a perfect set up and he was doing nothing with it.

How was Steve so bad at this?

Didn’t he have a reputation in school?

And Eddie was less than helpful. 

Every time Dustin leaned forward in anticipation of something happening between the two of them, Eddie would throw a kernel of popcorn at his head with a childish giggle, watching the scene unfold like it was the funniest thing in the world.

Dustin’s next attempt had fallen flat as well. 

He’d told Nancy that all the older teens were meeting at the diner for dinner together and had gotten Eddie to pass the message onto Steve. Nancy seemed wary initially but relented surprisingly easily, without much of a fight and Dustin was convinced he was getting better at this.

But the Party watched from the bookshop across the street as the two of them chatted amicably and even laughed together a few times but that was it. They didn’t share any food between them, they didn’t feed each other, they didn’t even get the single milkshake with two straws. 

That was a beginner level move!

Dustin was losing his fucking mind, just trying to get those two to do something so he had to go big. 

Again he recruited Eddie to help, out of complete necessity this time. 

Because there was no way Dustin could sneak into The Hideout to see how this plan was shaping up but he was confident that something would happen this time around. 

He told Eddie to do everything within his power to keep the two of them together. 

Alcohol is a social lubricant, it shouldn’t be that hard. 

Eddie had just scrunched his nose in disgust, mouthing 'social lubricant' to himself.

But even that was a lost cause because when Eddie walkied to update him on their progress a little breathless, probably from playing, he said he’d shredded so hard on stage, Steve spent the whole time watching the performance which was the exact opposite of what they were trying to do.

Dustin was nearly ready to lock the two of them in a closet until they got to it, but he wasn’t there. 

Yet.

He had another option up his sleeve.

Which is why he was shocked when Max announced she was pulling out of the whole thing.

“Listen, dipshit. It’s not working.” She’d said, frowning at him.

“It will work! You can’t pull out now!”

“I can and I will. When you come from where I come from you learn pretty quickly to mind your own fucking business if you don’t want a punch in the face and it’s getting there.”

Dustin could do nothing but throw his hands into the air as she stormed off.

It gave him the final push to start ramping things up.

“Eddie, we need you to flirt with Nancy.”

The man in question turned his head slowly and methodically until he was facing Dustin completely, his hand still hovering over the battle map he was prepping.

“Excuse me?”

“If you make Steve jealous, that might be the kick he needs to finally do something.”

“You’re playing with fire here, Henderson. You can’t toy with people’s feelings like that.”

“Who’s toying with feelings? There’ll be no feelings involved.”

“What about Steve’s feelings? What about Nancy’s?”

“You're overthinking this.” These kinds of miscommunications always worked out in the end, come on.

Eddie’s mouth was set in a firm, grim line. 

He looked beyond irritated.

“And there’s no way this could possibly blow up in your face, right?”

Dustin looked at him like he had six heads. 

Why was he the only one who was seeing sense here? This was how things were done. 

He was saved from having to answer by the arrival of Nancy and Mike into the Harrington basement.

Steve barely glanced up at their arrival, just sending a short smile their way, too deep in conversation with Robin about the news or interior design or whatever the fuck grown ups talked about.

Dustin sent a very pointed look Eddie's way who heaved the most put upon sigh, rising from his seat and giving him, the middle finger which he sarcastically reciprocated.

“Hey Nance.” Eddie said, sildling up beside her and oozing charm and charisma. “I'm glad you decided to come today. Don't know what I would've done if I had to go without seeing your pretty face for much longer."

Steve and Robin’s conversation abruptly cut off. 

Robin was blinking up at Eddie from her position on the couch with nothing short of bewilderment and Steve just raised an eyebrow looking almost amused.

God damn it, why was he amused?

Nancy herself looked incredibly confused, flitting her eyes in between Steve and Eddie for just a second before Eddie made some kind of hand gesture that Dustin couldn’t see.

Nancy smiled.

“Just a pretty face?” She asked, batting her eyelashes at him which on its own was weird. Dustin didn’t think he’d ever seen Nancy do that before.

“Oh of course not, Lady Wheeler. Everyone knows you’re more than just a pretty face.”

She reached a hand out, grasping his upper arm in a little squeeze. “Dunno if I could say the same thing about you.”

Eddie clutched at his heart, stumbling back a few steps. “Oh! The Lady Wheeler has wounded me most grievously!”

“Oh, stop it, you.” She swatted at his arm. “You’re still pretty.”

Which… this wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Nancy wasn’t supposed to flirt back! 

“Would you care to join us?” Eddie asked, sweeping his arm out towards the table where the rest of the Party had finished setting up. 

Dustin stared open-mouthed. 

Eddie never asked anyone to join unprepared. 

“I’ve heard this arena of play isn’t unfamiliar to you.” He continued, lowering his voice and leaning in close to Nancy but he wasn’t quiet enough to stop Dustin hearing him. “I’ve even heard you used to get into costume for the kiddies. You into a bit of roleplay, Nancy?”

Steve widened his eyes at Eddie and twisted his wrist.

Shit. 

Steve hadn’t won most human on human fights but he could probably take Eddie to the cleaners pretty easily. 

Steve wouldn’t though, right? He wasn’t that kind of guy?

Dustin was, thankfully, proven right when both Steve and Eddie went back to ignoring each other in favour of watching Nancy.

Eddie straightened up and Dustin could see a slight scowl and a glare on Nancy’s face but it was filled with more fond exasperation than outright anger.

Eddie broke away from her with one last wink and took his seat behind the DM screen while Nancy lowered herself down next to Steve and Robin.

“I’m going to pay for that later.” Eddie muttered to himself.

“I think I’m going to be sick.” Mike grumbled, thudding his forehead into the table.

“Chill the fuck out, Romeo.” Dustin hissed. “You’re supposed to be making Steve jealous not getting Nancy to actually like you.”

Eddie just shrugged. “I can’t help it if I’m irresistible.”

Time flew by as they all got sucked into the game and Dustin felt his spirits lifting. Steve kept glancing in Eddie’s direction and it gave him hope that their plan had worked. Maybe he was getting jealous if he couldn’t keep his eyes off him over the top of the magazine he was pretending to read.

Dustin’s suspicions were all but confirmed in the next few days as Steve started to slowly mope around every time Eddie shot a wink in Nancy’s direction or made her giggle. 

It was honestly a bit over dramatic the way he’d sigh wistfully towards them or get an honest to god pout on his face.

“This is your chance, dude!” Dustin jumpscared Steve in his kitchen, nearly causing him to spill the popcorn he’d just poured into a large bowl.

“Jesus H. Christ, where the fuck did you come from?” Steve set the bowl down a little louder than he needed to before reaching up to rifle through his cabinets for more snacks.

“Washington.”

“Har har, very funny.”

“I’m serious about this, Steve. Aren’t you jealous seeing Eddie flirting with Nancy all the time? Don’t you want to do something about it?”

"Dunno if I'd call it jealousy." He muttered.

"Come on, you need to like…" Dustin wanted to say 'mark your territory' or something but he was pretty sure if that ever got back to Nancy he'd be six feet deep before he could even blink, so he just mimed a shoving motion.

“You’re not seriously suggesting I punch Eddie for Nancy’s favour are you?”

“No! That’s not what I’m getting at at all, fucking hell. I meant for you to turn on your Harrington Charm I’ve heard so much about! Steal her away from him!”

“I don’t think anyone can ‘steal’ Nancy Wheeler, Henderson.” His tone abruptly shifted from exasperation to something sadder, like he’d flipped a switch. “Besides, what’s the point?" He sighed, like a wistful maiden. "She’s clearly more interested in Eddie than in me.”

“That’s a very defeatist attitude. You haven’t even tried anything yet.”

Steve looked down on him, turning something over in his head before nodding. “Okay. I’ll try. Now help me carry these back inside.”

Dustin happily filled his arms with snacks and followed Steve back out to the living room where the rest of their friends were waiting.

Eddie and Nancy were sitting side by side on the couch, pressed up against each other. Dustin took his seat on the floor along with the rest of the Party, spreading the snacks out in front of him and keeping an eye out as Steve flipped the lights off before making his way over to the two.

“Excuse me there while I just-” Steve lowered himself down, directly in the middle of Eddie and Nancy, practically on their laps until they squirmed away to avoid their legs being crushed under the weight of one muscular jock. 

Eddie was biting his lip in the way he usually did when he was trying not to laugh and Nancy had her hand covering her mouth, maybe in shock. Probably in shock. 

Robin sat next to all of them in an armchair with her hands covering her face, shaking her head and Dustin had to try very hard not to facepalm into the next century. 

God this guy was hopeless.

Steve wiggled a little in place, getting comfortable and placing the popcorn bowl on his lap with a goofy grin. “Are we ready to start?” He asked, plucking the remote from Eddie’s hand and pressing play.

It was only a couple of days later when Dustin’s walkie crackled to life in the dark evening hours.

“Operation White Picket Fence, sound off.” Mike's voice came through.

One by one each member of the Party confirmed they were there, ending with Dustin. “This is Dart the Bard, checking in. Over.”

“This is a Code Orange, I repeat this is a Code Orange. Over.” Mike called.

“Hold on Paladin. We need to wait for Kas. Over.”

“That’s a negative, Dart. We need to talk without him. Over.”

But Eddie was a part of Operation White Picket Fence, even if his participation was working a little too well. Maybe that’s what this was about.

He huffed, endlessly glad they'd decided to stick to codenames, he couldn't deal with his mother overhearing any of this.

“Okay,” Dustin replied, “let’s switch to our backup channel just in case he checks in. Over.”

The Party sounded off their agreement and he turned the dial on his walkie, settling on the right numbers and waiting to find out exactly what was going on.

“The plan is backfiring. It’s going wrong. I overheard Emerson on the phone talking about Kas and Babysitter. She was going on about how she’s really started to like Kas. Like like. She has a full blown crush on him now and apparently it’s helping her move on from Babysitter. Over.”

“Shit. Shit, shit, shitshitshitshit! This is not what was supposed to happen! Over!”

“I know! What the hell are we supposed to do now? Over.”

"We'll tell Kas to stop. Maybe get him to start talking up Babysitter instead. Over."

"I don't want to see my s-Emerson get hurt over this, Bard. Besides, Kas is way better than Babysitter anyway. Over."

"But they're not meant to be! And Kas doesn’t even like her like that! Babysitter and Emerson are meant to be! We'll just have to regroup. Start pushing them harder or something. Over!"

"Yeah, because that's been working out so well so far." Lucas grumbled. "Over."

Dustin nearly jumped at the sound of the phone ringing elsewhere in the house. He sat, waiting for his mom to pick up. At least if she was on the phone he could be sure she wasn’t listening in. 

When the ringing stopped and he could hear the muffled sounds of his mother talking to someone, he continued.

“Babysitter hasn’t been on a date in months and the only person he’s been hanging around with other than Red Bird is Kas! He’s not trying anymore so this has to happen before Emerson leaves for-”

“Dusty? Phone for you.” His mother’s voice came through his closed bedroom door, accompanied by her knock.

“Shit. Hold on, guys. Phone. Over.”

Dustin pushed himself to his feet and opened the door, following his mother down the hallway. “Who is it?”

“Eddie.” She replied with a soft smile.

Speak of the devil. He thought. Well, no time like the present to sort this out.

“Hello?”

“Hey Dusty-Buns.” Eddie’s infuriating smile was audible.

“I told you not to call me that.”

“But it’s so fun! Listen, I need to talk to you about this whole Nancy and Steve thing-”

“Good, because I need to talk to you about it too. You gotta dial it back, man.”

Eddie paused. “What do you mean?”

“You’re getting in too deep with her, you’re starting to pull her attention away from Steve and that was not a part of the plan.”

“Yeah.” He sighed. “I’m not sure if I can really do that…”

“Wha- why? Why, Eddie, why?!”

“I dunno, man.” Dustin could hear him shrug. “I kinda like her.”

“No! Nonononono! You can’t like her! You’re not allowed to like her, why do you like her?!”

“What do you mean I’m not allowed? And as for why, have you met her? You used to have a crush on her!”

“Yeah, when I was a child, you can’t be serious about this, Eddie.”

“I’m super serious about this, Dustin. I like her. I want to ask her out.”

“Jesus Christ this was not part of the plan!”

“And I didn’t want to be a part of the plan from the start! You forced me into it! I told you it wouldn’t work.”

“It will work. It still can work! We're still doing this whether you like it or not. I’ll see you at Steve’s tomorrow. Don’t do anything stupid in the meantime!”

“Dust-!”

Dustin slammed the phone back down onto the cradle, stomping back off to his room, ignoring his mother’s calls after him.

“Guys,” he said, snatching his walkie up from the floor. “Things just got so much worse. We need to come up with a new plan before tomorrow.”

Steve didn't seem too suspicious when Dustin called him to let him know the Party didn’t need a ride to his house for the get together, they’d bike. They needed time to get their plan straight anyway.

All of that was thrown out of the window, however when they pulled up to the Harrington home and heard shouting coming from inside. They all shared a nervous glance with each other, easily recognising the voices as coming from Steve and Eddie.

"-can't believe you would do this to me!" Steve yelled, standing on the opposite side of the living room to Eddie who had his arm draped over Nancy's shoulders. Robin was sitting on the couch between them, unusually subdued with a lollipop in her mouth, her eyes ping ponging between them like she was watching a tennis match.

"Steve, please! I thought you'd be happy for me!" Eddie shouted back, waving his free arm around.

"Happy for you? How could I be happy for you when you're stealing Nancy away from me!"

Nancy gave a little frown but didn’t speak.

“I’m sorry Steve but-”

“You’re supposed to be my friend Eddie!” Steve's voice pitched high like a whining dog and he sniffled… loudly.

“I am your friend! But you can’t expect me to ignore the pull of true love!”

Nancy turned her head to look at him. “True love?” She asked, her tone flat.

“That’s right. True love, shnookums, my precious little rainbow cupcake.” Eddie booped her on the nose and she looked like she was fighting hard not to punch him.

Dustin was horrified. How could everything have gone so wrong?

“This is a complete betrayal! I don’t know if I can ever look at you the same way again, either of you! In fact, I don’t think I can look at you anymore at all!” Steve’s voice was wavering as turned his back on them, facing Robin with his arms crossed who stared at him wide eyed, biting into her lollipop. 

“I don’t think there’s anything more I can say to you two. I never want to speak to you again! I never want to see you again!” Steve cried, throwing one hand over his eyes and holding the other out as if to push them away. “Go on, run away together and leave me behind! I wash my hands of you two.”

“That’s too bad Steve, I’m sorry this is goodbye forever, never to see each other again, never to interact or even ask the kids about one another in passing. This is truly a terrible, irreparable breaking of the Fellowship, never to be fixed!”

Jesus they were both laying it on thick, rubbing as much salt in the wound as possible, probably hurting each other terribly in the process. How had it come to this? Was their found family really going to be so broken forever? Dustin didn’t know if he could stomach it.

“Eddie.” Dustin breathed as he and Nancy turned to face them, apparently completely unsurprised to find the Party standing in the doorway. “What have you done?”

“What have I done? I did nothing but follow my heart, struck down by Cupid's arrow! What have you done, Dustin? You started this.”

“This wasn’t the plan, Eddie! This wasn’t the plan!”

Steve turned back around, his face suspiciously dry but Dustin was too far gone to notice.

“You were only supposed to make Steve jealous!” His voice was rising into a shout. “Not fall in love! You were never supposed to seriously flirt with Nancy and I told you not to ask her out! This whole thing was to get Steve and Nancy back together!”

“What plan? What whole thing?” Steve had walked over from his far corner of the room, planting himself down right next to Eddie with his hands on his hips and a stern look in his eye.

Dustin floundered, opening and closing his mouth. “The- we- there was a plan…” he took a deep breath. Well it was all completely fucked anyway, what was the point in keeping it quiet? “The plan was to get you and Nancy back together.”

"Behind our backs?" Steve prompted, not moving. He kept his hands on his hips and kept that hard look in his eyes, waiting for Dustin to continue. 

“You haven’t gone on a date in ages, Steve! And you and Nancy were so good together-”

“No we weren’t.” Steve and Nancy cut him off in unison.

“But- it’s- you two are meant to be together! Do the whole white picket fence and babies thing! You just needed a push so I said I’d give you that push!”

"You certainly 'pushed' enough, Dustin." Nancy said, unwinding Eddie's arm from around her shoulders. They were barely even touching now as if some kind of act had been dropped. As if-

"Wait."

"Personally, I think I pulled off 'straight' rather well." Eddie grinned, the picture of smug pride.

"Wait. But this… this was all an act?! But you…” He pointed between Steve and Nancy.

“Listen to me very carefully, Henderson.” Steve raised his hands and began using sign language exaggeratedly along with his speech as though to really punctuate his statement. “I. Don’t want to. Be with. Nancy. Nancy. Does not want to. Be with. Me. Your plan would have never worked-”

But Dustin just couldn’t let this go. He’d been so sure.

“It would have! It would have worked! There were just some,” he gestured in Eddie’s direction, “variables we didn’t think to factor in.”

“There were a lot of variables you didn’t think to factor in. Some of the biggest being how I would feel about this whole thing!" Steve said, jabbing himself in the chest. "Or Nancy! Or Eddie! You just ploughed through without any consideration for our own emotional investments. Did you ever once stop to think why? Did you ever think there was a reason why I’ve refused every time you’ve been bugging me about pursuing Nancy again? Or Robin? Or anyone else? No, you didn’t. You just assumed I wouldn’t know what was best for me or that I wasn’t smart enough to be making my own decisions. That I don’t know my own mind as well as you do.”

Dustin winced. He knew it was a sensitive topic for Steve, people always assuming he was stupid because he couldn’t read quickly or had difficulty hearing. But that’s not what he’d done! That’s not how he’d intended it!

“That’s not-”

“Yes it is. That’s exactly what it is. I’m very familiar with it, I’ve been listening to it my whole life. People making decisions for me about school or sports or whatever because I couldn’t possibly be able to figure it out on my own? I used to see it all the time, I know what it looks like. You ignored every sign, every way this thing could have and would have gone wrong. And because you refused to consider any of these factors you could have blown up some of my most cherished friendships forever! No coming back from it. Permanently damaged. Do you have any idea what that would do to me? To us? We are not your fucking playthings to mess around with, Dustin!"

Panic was starting to settle deep in Dustin’s chest now. He needed backup, he needed something, someone, it wasn’t malicious it was just… he was just trying to help!

“Eddie?”

“Don’t look at me, I am not on your side here, Henderson. I told you how this would end when you first approached me and you wouldn’t listen.”

“But you were bluffing! There’s no way you could have known he wouldn’t want this! You don’t know Steve that well.”

“What happened to 'you're a friend his own age', huh? You’re still assuming you know everything without a complete picture. There’s a glaring puzzle piece you’re missing out on because, and I’m sorry I have to say this, you don’t look at things objectively like a scientist should. You let your emotions run you and again refuse to see past the end of your own nose.”

Dustin crossed his arms, unable to look any of them in the eye. If he had missed something it couldn’t have been something that obvious. He just needed to find out what it was.

“What could I possibly be missing?” He grumbled.

“Oh no, you don’t get to bully that information out of us." Eddie said. "If you were meant to know, then you’d know. But you don’t get to decide what secrets people do or don’t tell you. Part of being a grown up is understanding that.”

“But why… why wouldn’t you tell me something like that?”

“This. This is why, Dustin." Steve answered, running a hand through his hair. "Because you meddle. For months we’ve been telling you not to, but you don’t listen. You’ve made us feel like we have to keep things secret from you because what if you decided this secret thing is a bad thing, even though it makes the people involved happy? If you decide it’s bad or not the best course of action, you might have decided again that you know best and try to break it. Don’t even try to deny it, Dustin, you know it’s the truth.”

“But… but if you’d just told me it makes you happy-”

“You mean like how I told you I was happy where I was now and didn’t need Nancy back in my life romantically? That I was happy with how all my relationships are now?" Steve sighed, shaking his head. "You still tried to fuck with it, Dustin. You still tried to fuck with a good thing because you think you know better.”

“The both of us went to you separately and made it crystal clear that we were happy with things the way they were." Nancy said. "We’d agreed that if you backed off, we’d back off too. But you didn’t. You could’ve destroyed our friendships, destroyed our relationships, destroyed each of us mentally and emotionally. You just kept pushing. You want to be treated like a grownup? Well congrats, you got what you wished for. Consequences. No sugar coating. Grown up consequences. Just like you wanted.”

“But what about the others? They were involved too!”

“And they’ll get their punishment. But we all know you were the ringleader.” Eddie crossed his arms over his chest, unmoving.

“So that’s it? You’re happy being single? Really?” Dustin knew he was pushing. He knew he should have really kept that last comment inside, he really should have. 

Because Steve had been irritated, pissed off and upset. But now he was angry. Honestly and truly angry and Dustin didn’t think until this moment that it had ever been directed at him before.

It was a soft anger, simmering and cold and disappointed.

“You still don’t get it.”

Steve was looking at him and underneath the anger and disappointment there was also a streak of heartbreak that Dustin didn’t know what the fuck to do with.

Everyone else was looking at him now, Eddie and Robin were like marble pillars, bracketing Steve at either side with a stern look on their face, Nancy was glaring down at him and all of his friends behind him had wilted.

He was the only one left standing proud and a horrible, terrible part of his brain was saying to him that if everyone in a room was telling him he was wrong, maybe… maybe he hadn’t been as right as he was sure he had been.

“But I-” Dustin stuttered. He… he hadn’t set out to hurt Steve. He would never… “It wasn’t supposed to go like this.”

“Dustin.” That was Nancy, circling around him now until she came to a stop in front of him. “I think it’s time for you to go. All of you.”

“But-”

“If you refuse to leave, it will become trespassing.”

Trespassing? What, was Steve going to call the fucking police on him or something? But a glance back at Steve’s face, resigned and hurt and angry told him that maybe he couldn’t exactly hash everything out right now. 

He’d just have to wait for everyone to calm down and then they could work this out. 

They could work this all out, right?

“I mean, how could it all have gone so wrong?”

They were all sitting in Will's room, the whole Party in a circle on the floor. Dustin was… confused.

He was angry. He was hurt. He was… so upset. And all with himself because… well because he had hurt Steve. Had been hurting Steve for long enough that Steve felt like he had to hide things from him.

He made Steve feel like he couldn’t talk to him, tell him about this good thing in his life because he thought Dustin might fuck with it?

And yeah, Steve hid shit from them all the time.

His rocky recovery after the Upside-Down, both mentally and physically. The amount of times he had to fight off infection from the road-rash on his back and arms. The nightmares. The panic attacks. The concussions. The hearing loss.

But all those things Steve hid from them because he didn’t want them to worry, he didn’t want to burden them with their problems. 

He’d never hidden something from them, from Dustin because he was happy. 

Whatever this thing was, it apparently made Steve really, really happy and Dustin never knew. Because Steve had been afraid that if he told Dustin and Dustin didn’t like it for whatever reason, he’d try to take it away, try to meddle.

God, he was starting to hate that word. 

Meddle.

It felt so fucking childish. 

"It was never gonna go right." Max muttered from in between Lucas and El.

And Dustin didn’t know why it was that that did it, that quiet and slightly accusatory comment from Max who rarely pulled her verbal punches that caused the first tear to spill free.

And they just kept coming. His vision was blurring and there was a terrible lump in his throat, forcing its way out.

The first sob that broke through sent a ripple throughout the group, plunging them into silence and Dustin could feel them all staring. 

The next second he was set upon, everyone coming close to get their arms around him or hands on him, to comfort him even though he didn’t feel like he deserved any of it. 

“What did I do?” He blubbered. He wasn’t even sure who’s shirt he was crying into. “What do I do? Steve didn’t tell me, he won’t tell me b- because he thinks I’ll try to take it away. Wh- what do I do?”

“Dustin.” Oh, that was Lucas. He was destroying Lucas’ shirt. “Do you understand why what you did was so fucked up? I’m not asking to punish you more, but you can’t fix it until you understand what was broken. It’s science.”

Science.

Yeah, okay. He could understand that.

Can’t just smash pieces back together. You gotta examine them.

“I- I ignored all the times they told me to leave it alone?” 

Lucas nodded. “Yeah. Anything else?”

Someone was running a hand up and down his back and someone else had both his hands in a firm grip.

“I… I kept pushing. After they told me to stop. Af- after they told me they were happy. Because I thought… I thought, how could they be happy? I wouldn’t be happy in their position, so they must not be happy. And everything with Steve… trying to push Robin or Nancy towards him because… because he’s supposed to be with someone, right? And they’re his friends so why wouldn’t he want one of them?”

“Same reason you wouldn’t want me.” Max said. “Or El.”

“I did want you once.” Dustin mumbled. There was no point trying to deny the past. Not at this stage.

“And Steve wanted Robin once. But they’ve always been just friends.” One of the hands in his squeezed, and that was probably Max. “Could you imagine someone trying to force the two of us together now? After everything we’ve figured out between us?”

“B-but that’s different. You’re with Lucas.”

“So? What if I wasn’t and someone was still trying to push us together? Or what if we had to hide our relationship because of small minded idiots and we couldn’t say why you and I wouldn’t work out, we just had to hope someone would take our word for it. And then what if they didn’t and just kept pushing?”

Dustin hummed, a weak and shaky thing but he could see her point. It would be fucking torture to try to deal with all of that and to not be able to say anything about it. 

What a terrible hypothetical. 

“I…” He sniffled, trying not to wipe his nose off on Lucas’ shirt. “I need to apologise. I need… I need to talk to him.”

There was a tap on his shoulder and he glanced up to see Will holding out some tissues.

He took it with a watery smile. 

“We’ll help you figure it out.”

Part 2 AO3

@augustjustice

Big thanks as always to @hbyrde36 for her magnificent beta work and to the STWG for their motivation and @hairstevington for her help with the ASL section. 😘

[thegoldencontracts]

Secrets

Summary: You find Azul talking about you behind your back. It doesn't go the way you think.

Notes: Despite the summary this is literally the fluffiest shit known to mankind don't be fooled I am nigh incapable of angst (that is not true in the slightest I love angst), fem!reader

You'd been dating Azul for a while now. And in that time, he'd been the perfect boyfriend. The perfect gentleman.

But, at the same time, you couldn't help but feel like he hadn't been Azul. That he hadn't been quite as genuine with you as you had with him, quite as vulnerable.

Then, one day, you heard him talking about you to Jade and Floyd.

It was a lovely afternoon. You were supposed to come to the VIP room at 5 PM, but you came a bit early, and you couldn't help but try and listen in on what was going on in there.

"Hey, Azul," Floyd said. "You look-"

"Nervous," Jade said.

"Your face is sooo red!"

Azul sputtered in indignation.

"I- er- well-" he started. "Shut it."

Floyd just snickered, and though Jade remained silent, you knew he was probably getting a kick out of this all too.

"The little grouperfish won't mind if you stutter a bit," Floyd said. Ever since you and Azul got together, he changed your nickname to grouperfish. Something, something, symbiotic relationships with octopodes.

"She will, I'm certain," Azul replied. You could only imagine how red he was right now. God, he probably looked so cute. If only you could break down the stupid door and see his face. "And, regardless-"

He trailed off, likely in embarrassment.

"Doesn't my darling deserve the best?"

Was it getting really warm in here all of a sudden, and was it just you? Whatever. You just felt your heart pounding. Azul hadn't ever said something so heartfelt, something so completely removed from the business filter of his.

After a while of nothing but the sound of you own heartbeat, Floyd finally spoke up.

"Pfft- that sounds so stupid, Azul!"

Floyd was awesome and all, but right now, you needed him to stop talking.

"Indeed." Et tu, Jade? Come on! Azul was being genuine for once! "Though I don't believe your little angelfish will entirely mind it."

Azul sighed.

"Anyone would find themselves repulsed by such a foolish declaration," he said. "If she ever found out I said that, I'm certain she'd never be able to look at me the same."

Well, you did know he said that, and you loved it!

"Come on," Floyd said. "Now you're just bein-"

You slipped, and pushed the door open. Oops. Guess it wasn't locked after all.

Azul's eyes widened, and he scrambled to recompose himself.

"Ah, darling!" He said, before his eyes narrowed as the realization hit him. "...Just how much have you heard?"

"Everything!" You chirped. And just when you thought Azul's face couldn't get any more red, it somehow did.

Floyd laughed.

"She's lookin' at you the same, isn't she?"

"Shut up, Floyd."

"If it makes you feel any better," you said. "I liked hearing your thoughts without a filter! It was a nice change of pace."

Jade flashed Azul an 'I-told-you-so' look. Azul, however, couldn't see it, because his face was buried in his hands.

And at that moment, it hit you.

He'd probably been made fun of a lot for being sentimental. He was clearly insecure about this, used to rejection.

"Hey, Azul," you said softly. Floyd looked at you in curiosity.

Azul, however, didn't respond, caught up in his own whirlwind of embarrassment. That was okay.

You just pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. The effect was instant. He looked up at you, eyes wide and face red.

"W-What is this?"

"I really did appreciate that," you said. 'What you said."

Azul stared at you with that slack-jawed look for a bit, before swatting you away.

"Get out," he said, face flushed. "A-All three of you."

"But weren't we supposed to hang out-"

"Re-enter later!" He shrieked, looking more mortified than anything. "You've bore witness to my humiliating state for far too long!"

Floyd snickered. Jade-

Come to think of it, where had Jade gone in the midst of all of this?

"And scene," you heard, seemingly out of nowhere. Jade had been recording this?

"Jade, I-" Azul cut himself off, already aware of the fact that Jade was probably going to use this as blackmail material. "Just leave already!"

"Fine, fine."

And as you shuffled our of the VIP room, you couldn't help the grin that crossed your face.

Azul was pretty cute when he was genuine.

[deliciousangelfestival]

Past Connections || B.Barnes

Summary: Just a simple story where CEO Bucky meets his ex-girlfriend.

Character: CEO Bucky x ex-girlfriend!Reader

Main Masterlist

A/N: I'm sorry if it's not good. I have writer's block again. Or perhaps it's because I'm too tired after coming back from my hometown.

Please leave a comment or reblog to motivate me again. 🥺🙏🏻

As Bucky sat inside the office room, his attention was laser-focused on the document in front of him. No one dared to disturb Bucky's concentration until the intrusive ringing of his phone shattered the silence of the room.

Bucky's phone rang, and he glanced at the caller ID, recognizing it as Steve's number. "Hey, Steve," he answered, his tone already conveying his readiness to help.

"Hey, Bucky, sorry to bother you, but I need a huge favor," Steve's voice sounded strained over the line.

"No problem, what's up?" Bucky replied, concern creeping into his voice.

"It's Peggy. She went into labor earlier than expected, and I'm stuck at the hospital with her. Can you pick up Mark from school for me?" Steve explained quickly, his words punctuated by background hospital noises.

Bucky's instinct to help his friend kicked in immediately. "Of course, Steve, don't worry about it. I'll head over to the school right now," he reassured him, already mentally rearranging his schedule.

But just as he was about to end the call, Steve's voice hurriedly added, "Oh, and one more thing, Bucky. Mark got into a bit of trouble at school. His homeroom teacher wants to meet with his guardian or parents."

Bucky's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the additional information. "Trouble? What happened?" he inquired, concern lacing his tone.

Steve sighed heavily on the other end of the line. "It's nothing serious, just a small incident in class. But the teacher insists on speaking with someone responsible," he explained, his words slightly muffled by the background hospital noises.

Bucky nodded, already mentally preparing himself for the unexpected turn of events. "Got it. I'll take care of Mark and meet with his teacher," he assured Steve, determination firm in his voice.

He ended the call and gathered his things to head out, Bucky couldn't help but wonder what kind of trouble his nephew had gotten himself into this time.

As Bucky found himself navigating the chaotic world of elementary school pickups, he couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation.

Elementary school was the last place he ever thought he'd find himself, especially after pulling consecutive all-nighters at the office. With dark circles under his eyes and a caffeine-induced jitteriness that threatened to rival a squirrel on espresso, Bucky wondered if he'd accidentally stumbled into a parallel universe.

##########

As Bucky stepped into Mark's classroom, he heard a gentle female voice emanating from the front of the room. The sound was oddly familiar, tugging at his memories.

His heart skipped a beat when he realized the source of the voice – it was you, Mark's teacher, and his former girlfriend.

You looked up from your desk, your eyes widening in surprise as you recognized Bucky standing in the doorway. "Bucky?" you exclaimed, momentarily taken aback by his unexpected appearance.

Bucky's expression softened as he met your gaze. "Hey," he greeted, a mixture of emotions flickering across his face. "It's been a while."

You nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of your lips. "Yeah, it has," you agreed, motioning for him to come closer. "Come on in. Take a seat."

As Bucky made his way to an empty desk, you couldn't help but feel a rush of nostalgia at the sight of him. "So, um, what brings you here?" you asked, trying to break the awkward tension that hung in the air.

Bucky shifted in his seat, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. "Steve asked me to pick up Mark," he explained, glancing over at the young boy who was engrossed in his coloring book.

You nodded understandingly. "Ah, I see. Well, it's good to see you," you said sincerely, reaching out to shake his hand. "I'm glad you stopped by."

Bucky returned the handshake, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, me too," he admitted, feeling a sense of warmth wash over him in your presence.

Bucky cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "So, uh, Mark is in trouble?" he asked. Not forgettingthe reason why he came here.

"You know," you began, correcting Bucky gently, "there was an incident, but it wasn't caused by Mark. It was the other kid." Your gaze shifted to Mark, who seemed to shrink under your scrutiny, a tinge of guilt evident in his expression. "Mark helped his classmates, but in a unique way."

Bucky felt a flutter in his chest as he caught sight of your smile, a familiar warmth washing over him at the sight of you. "What happened, Mark?" he prompted, turning his attention to the young boy.

Mark let out a huff, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "These kids who are taller than my classmate Candy, they were bullying her. Making fun of her missing tooth. It wasn't nice," he explained, his voice tinged with indignation. "So, I..." he trailed off, a hint of hesitation in his tone.

"Go on," Bucky encouraged gently, sensing the weight of the situation.

Mark squared his shoulders, his gaze meeting Bucky's. "I pushed down the bookshelf to the ground," he admitted, his words hanging in the air like a heavy cloud. "It made everyone shocked. I didn't want to fight them because it would make things worse. If I fought them, they might lose their front teeth like Candy too." Mark's voice wavered slightly as he recounted the events.

Bucky nodded, a sense of pride swelling within him. "Good job, Mark," he praised, offering the boy a reassuring smile.

You watched the exchange between Bucky and Mark, a mixture of curiosity and admiration flickering in your eyes.

Bucky gently ruffled Mark's hair, a fond smile gracing his lips. "You're not wrong, kiddo," he replied warmly. "I'll make sure to tell your dad the whole story."

Mark's expression softened with relief. "Thank you, Uncle Bucky," he said gratefully, his eyes shining with genuine appreciation.

Bucky nodded, giving Mark's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before turning to you. "Wait in my car, Mark. I want to have a private chat with your teacher," he instructed, his tone firm yet gentle.

As Mark obediently made his way out of the classroom, Bucky turned back to you, a serious expression replacing his previous warmth. "I need to talk to you about Mark," he began, his voice low and earnest. "It seems like he's been through some changes since I last saw him, and I want to make sure he's on the right path."

You nodded, your own concern mirrored in your eyes. "Of course, Bucky. Let's talk," you agreed, gesturing for him to take a seat at one of the desks.

Bucky leaned forward slightly, his brow furrowed with concern. "Mark's father admitted to me that he hasn't been giving enough attention to Mark since his mother got pregnant with their second child," he confessed, his voice tinged with regret. "I'm worried about how it's been affecting him."

You shook your head sympathetically, a frown creasing your forehead. "That's tough," you sighed, your heart going out to the young boy. "But from what I've seen, Mark is a good kid. In fact, he's been telling everyone how excited he is to meet his baby sister."

A sense of relief washed over Bucky at your words, a weight lifting off his shoulders. "Really?" he asked, a hint of surprise coloring his voice.

You nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of your lips. "Yeah, he's been talking about her non-stop. It's clear that he cares about his family," you assured him, your tone softening with empathy.

Bucky's expression softened as he absorbed your reassurance, a sense of gratitude filling him. "Thanks for letting me know," he said sincerely, feeling a renewed sense of hope for Mark's well-being.

###########

Bucky leaned back in his seat, his gaze lingering on you with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "By the way, how have you been doing?" he asked, his voice softening as he searched your eyes for a glimpse of the life you'd been leading since their breakup.

You met his gaze, a hint of nostalgia flickering in your eyes. "I've been keeping busy," you replied, a wistful smile touching your lips. "After we went our separate ways, I decided to travel the world and teach wherever I could."

Bucky nodded, a sense of admiration mingling with the lingering affection he felt for you. "That sounds amazing," he remarked, genuine interest coloring his tone. "Meanwhile, I've been knee-deep in the world of IT, trying to keep up with the latest tech trends."

You nodded sympathetically, understanding the demands of his career. "Sounds like a handful," you commented, a note of empathy in your tone. "But knowing you, I'm sure you're killing it."

Your gaze couldn't help but linger on the pronounced bags under his eyes, a stark reminder of his relentless dedication to work. You remembered all too well how his workaholic tendencies had driven a wedge between the two of you, one of the reasons for your breakup.

Unable to ignore the concern gnawing at your heart, you gently reached out to Bucky, your voice soft with worry. "Bucky, you really need to get some sleep," you urged, your eyes reflecting genuine concern for his well-being.

Bucky let out a tired chuckle, his exhaustion evident in the lines etched on his face. "You're one of the closest people who could give me an order," he admitted with a weary smile, acknowledging the bond that still lingered between them despite the passage of time.

You watched him with a mixture of fondness and concern, you couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for the man sitting before you.

As Bucky lingered in the classroom, enjoying the easy banter with you, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he should probably head back to the car where Mark was waiting.

With a reluctant sigh, he finally stood up from his seat, a small smile lingering on his lips. "Well, it's been great catching up with you," he said, his tone tinged with regret as he prepared to say goodbye.

You returned his smile, a hint of mischief glinting in your eyes. "Likewise. Don't be a stranger," you replied, a playful glimmer in your voice.

As Bucky made his way out of the classroom and back to the car, he found Mark waiting with his arms crossed, a knowing look on his face. "You like my teacher?" the young boy quipped, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

Mark shrugged, his expression innocent. "Dad said whenever a woman gets near you, you'll walk away. But you stayed a while with my teacher," he pointed out, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

Bucky couldn't help but chuckle at Mark's observation, ruffling the boy's hair affectionately. "Just call me whenever you get into trouble, okay?" he said, trying to steer the conversation away from his own embarrassment.

Mark narrowed his eyes, a playful smirk spreading across his face. "Uncle Bucky, you're using me to meet my teacher," he teased, enjoying the upper hand in the situation.

Bucky chuckled, unable to deny Mark's astute observation. "Hmm, maybe just a little," he conceded, shooting Mark a knowing look.

"I won't be a troublemaker anymore. I'm a good kid. I want to be the best big brother to my sister," Mark declared proudly, his determination shining through.

Bucky nodded, a sense of pride swelling within him at Mark's sincerity. "I know you are, kiddo," he replied, feeling a surge of affection for the young boy.

Since that day, Bucky offered himself to pick up Mark after school as an excuse to meet you again.

[imajinxnation]

Hi love! Pretty sure requests are open, if not please delete this, any who can I request all the keanu reeves characters (or the ones of your choosing, but please add Constantine) and reader asking them "would you still love me if I were a worm" 😁😁😁

Worm??

Keanu Characters x Reader

SUMMARY // "Would you still love me if I was a worm?"

TW // Fluff, Cussing..

Just to let yas know, when I just say Reader, it means it's gender neutral.

ALL GIFS FOUND ON PINTEREST

John Constantine

As soon as that sentence comes out of your mouth, he freezes and stares at you. He just stares at you, brows furrowed, thoughts running through his head on what to say to that. In the end he has no idea what the fuck to say to your weird question.

"Did I hear that right? Did I REALLY just fucking hear that?" He asks, more to himself than you.

"Yes, you heard me right, now answer my question!" You reply.

John sighs before thinking about his answer carefully, not wanting to upset you over this ridiculous question.

"If you were a worm, would I still love you?.. I'd keep you in a container filled with dirt and whatever else worms need."

He answers with that before walking out of your shared apartment to get some fresh air, and to have a smoke to relax after that unreasonably stressful question.

Just take what he said as a good thing, cause that's the best answer he's gonna ever have.

Ted Theodore Logan

I feel like this dude would try to think up a whole speech about how he'd love you no matter if you were a worm, an alien, or literally anything. He'd try to think of a speech, but fail miserably, instead his mouth just spouts out some real stoner shit.

"Dude/Dudette... I am like the dirt to your worm!" He says with a bright, goofy smile.

He's smiling, but dying on the inside at the dumb shit that just came out of his mouth. He is mentally kicking himself so hard that he doesn't see your happy face that understood what he meant.

He comes out of his self embarrassment when he feels you hug him.

"Ted that is so sweet!" You say, making him feel better.

He hugs you back and kisses your forehead, glad you understood what he meant.

John Wick

Oh Jesus H Christ, give this man a break, really, he loves you, but sometimes he questions why, and this is one of these moments.

He doesn't answer your question until late at night when you're going to bed, needing the whole day to think about a perfect answer for your odd question.

"As long as it's still you, I couldn't care less if you were a worm, love knows no bounds."

And now you're crying, thank you Mr. Wick. But seriously, that's probably the best answer you could have ever gotten.

[heartfullofleeches]

how about v with a very chill and sleepyhead reader? like they come back from work tired and just cuddle with v, they don't care how weird and scary v is, he doesn’t even have to threaten them about leaving the house because the first second they put their head on his chest they’re already asleep- And when they wake up they just want to keep their hands around him (like imagining a panda riding on your back and never wants to get down, they’re just like that)

I miss him and want something sweet with him 👉👈

(Feel these too could work together - ngl I'd love to see reader trying to wrangle v into having a somewhat regular sleeping schedule. dude needs it tbh.)

8:34

Four minutes later than estimated, but given traffic delays he's willing to let it slide - this time. V shuts off the tracker, and tosses his phone towards the bed as he stands. Your keys hit the coffee table and your shoes fly with a soft thud as you kick them off. He crawls into bed and under the blankets as you enter the room - snapping the bands that keep his pigtails in place and ruffling his hair as the light turns on. He hides his face in the pillow.

"I'm back..... oh, crap - were you sleeping?"

V rubs his fist against his eye. "Just resting my eyes... How was your day?"

"Really? Hope you don't mind if I join you then."

As if he'd ever. You climb over V to your side of the bed. He liked it when you slept in the corner as his body in the way made it more difficult for you to get away. You shrug your jacket off your shoulders, aided by V who throws it on the floor behind him as he yanks you down with him. His arms wrap defensively around your torso which you respond to by placing your head on his chest. He stills - heartbeat ten miles a minute on your ear. So demanding - but so sensitive to affection at the same time.

"To answer your question - my day was alright - the usual. Thanks you sending me lunch by the way. I know you mostly did it so I wouldn't go with Dave again, but it was sweet."

"First it's getting lunch, then it's the deep, "friendly" conversation while you're getting your meals, then he's bragging about how you have "so much in common" and next thing you know he's trying to get in your pants.... Is that manager of yours still messing with you?"

You stifle a laugh at his mocking pitch in voice. "Nah, they backed off after I said I was seeing someone - and got fired the next day, strangely. Honestly, V you worry too much. I come back home to you everyday, don't I? Besides if I bailed on you - I'd lose your comfy bed too."

Gaze soft - V squeezes your side at the implications you're only with him for his bed. You bark out a laugh. "It was a joke! Only reason I like it so much is cause you're here with me too. Promise you won't leave when I fall asleep to get back on the computer?"

"....no." He lies through his teeth, but his eyes grow as heavy as yours as you lazily trace your fingers along his collar. Like you, V couldn't fight the element of serenity when cuddle with you, and fell asleep almost as soon as you - kept awake by your body laying next to his. Comforted and secure around someone like him - he never understood why he was deserving of such an honor, but it was the one unfair treatment in his life he wouldn't complain about.

He was the whole reason you switched to the night shift in the first place. V stayed up for hours between gaming and watching you get ready for work at the crack of dawn - and later monitoring your whereabouts when the sleep deprivation and anxiety about letting you out in the world got the better of him. This way, you both got a sustainable amount of needed sleep and a partner to hold in that time. Your plan was already showing spectacular results as V found himself yawning at seven in the eve and resisting the urge to dive in bed until you came home.

"Hm, well as long as you're here now, I guess I'll let it slide." You lift your head, scooting up to kiss his jaw. "Goodnight, V."

His lips rest against your forehead, fingers raked through your hair as he pulls you closer - slinging a leg over yours. Staring at the wall behind you, V laments the loss of precious hours in his games - but relishes everything he gains by remaining at your side. The scent of your body wash, your soft breath fanning his neck. It feels so stupid to depend on the little things, but he couldn't rest or even think without you anymore. It's ridiculous to think.... how lucky he is to have you.

"Night, Y/n.....i love you."

"Hear that. Love you too, V"

"Damn it."

[eternalmarvel]

MK1 BI-HAN X READER ~ belong ~

an: hello everyone ❄️ decided to write some more small fluff / filler content ! i swear there's not enough bi-han love man LETS KEEP THOSE FANFICS AND HEADCANONS ROLLING 😈also i came up with this idea while i was h!gh as hell so please excuse me if the idea itself seems a bit weird this is why i need requests from people because i am TOO lazy to think of any good ideas on my own

if u guys want something different to spice things up like headcanons or smthn just ask :-) honestly i don't know how good i'd be at writing smut so it's not of priority right now but if people request it i can certainly try

anyways i hope u guys enjoy some fluffiness to kick off the winter szn !!

note; bi-han and reader are married in this story + a little bit of toxicness but it's not from bi-han

++ this isn't proofread so sorry for any mistakes

~~

you had been married to bi-han for about a year now. your duties separate from the lin kuei often required you to travel far and abroad where you couldn't see your husband for weeks at the time. you didn't complain too much at first, but it got a bit frustrating after some time -- nothing that you couldn't overcome though. on the other hand, bi-han was IRRITABLE. it felt like the whole stronghold was walking on eggshells around its grandmaster, careful not to say or do the one thing that would set him off. he was sexually frustrated and grumpy on incomprehensible levels. everyone around the clan noticed how much angrier he had become. he'd bark orders at an unprecedented rate and mean mugged everyone who came across his path. even having the kitchen staff make all his favourite meals from when he was younger did nothing to wipe the horrible scowl painted on his face. when you were at the lin kuei stronghold, you and bi-han collectively sat down with the rest of the ninjas for dinners -- something that bi-han often avoided before meeting you. however, with a bit of nudging from you, he started to participate in group dinners more, even enjoying them (though he would never admit to this). there would still be a grimace on his face, but having you beside him made everything more palatable anyway. when asked why he seemed a little more irritable than usual, he stormed off and dismissed the question.

"i am the grandmaster, i will NOT answer to you."

smoke had realized that soon enough the only way to get him over his mood fluctuations and have some semblance of peace would be to get you back at the dojo. your phone's ringtone blared alarmingly, and you picked up the call in annoyance.

"tomas? what are you calling me about? can it wait? i'm really busy right now."

smoke lets out a sigh of relief now that he's gotten ahold of you.

"(name)! we really need you back at the lin kuei. bi-han's really ...cranky without you there," he whispers the last part, almost like he's scared bi-han will snatch him up out of nowhere. you pay no heed to tomas' concerning remarks, continuing to write down on the ledger on your desk.

"i'm sure my husband is just a little overwhelmed with his duties right now, this has nothing to do with me. give him some slack. he's fine."

smoke spoke with more urgency now.

"(name), he really is frustrated because of you. today, frost said '(name)’s hair' but he thought she meant '(name)’s here' and i swear i thought i saw his eyes gloss over like a dog seeing its owner for the first time in forever. ever since he found out frost was talking about your hair and not about you actually being here, he's been giving frost dirty looks. i think she's starting to get pissed off now that i think about it..."

you put down your pen and look up at the curtains of the hotel room in front of you, sighing. it was more serious than you previously expected. your face twisted in cruel humour, and you knew it'd be funny to use this opportunity to prank your husband and see what his reaction is.

"you know what tomas. i'm sure i can get out of these meetings and make it back to the stronghold by tomorrow dawn. i'll come back."

tomas sighs, finally unanxious.

"thank you, (name)! i knew you'd pu-"

"but i wanna play a prank on him. and you're gonna help me observe and set the environment."

tomas sighs once again, but out of exasperation.

"i don't wanna participate if it's too extreme. i've already caught the brunt of bi-han's verbal torment this week." you chuckle at his expense. "don't worry tomas, i'll make sure he doesn't hurl an ice pick at you. this prank is harmless, i promise. it's just for me to see his reaction." "fine. what are you planning on doing?" "sit tight and don't stress. i'll tell you when i'm on my way back."

you had informed tomas of the most perfect plan. you'd get back to your husband -- not long enough that he'd go back to his normal, serene state when he was with you but enough that he'd manage to calm his heartrate a bit. you were planning on inviting the daughter of a family friend of bi-han's family when he was younger. she had eyes for him all these years, still pointing to hints that she would pursue him despite the fact that he was now married to you. you would invite her over and have her bug bi-han (dare you say, flirt) and follow him all around the stronghold. you wanted to see if that so-called sexual frustration that tomas was referring to earlier really mattered in the case of every woman or if it was exclusive to only you. was it toxic? perhaps. could it be considered manipulative to use his father's family friend's daughter who had probably loved him for the last 10 years to get him closer to you? most likely. would you love every second of it nonetheless? absolutely.

you didn't inform bi-han of your arrival. as far as he knew, you were still going to be a few weeks out from coming back. you walked in through a secret back entrance bi-han had only told you about just in case the stronghold was ever attacked and he needed to get you out safely. you walked through the corridors and heard your husband's hoarse voice coming from the large drawing room across from you. you walked in quietly and sneakily, but obviously not subtly enough considering bi-han had his eyes immediately on you.

"(name)....," he almost whispered, his eyes widening.

you give everyone in the room a wave, including the senior ninjas, which they kindly return with a nod of their own.

"clear the room," bi-han asserts hastily. his tone isn't as harsh as it was before. the ninjas comply almost immediately when they've noticed his demeanor soften up a bit, realizing that you've worked your magic. as soon as the last ninja is out the door, bi-han is by your side in a half of an instant, taking your face into his broad hands.

"hey," you say softly. you were tired from your trip, but being in his presence and ironically his warmth doubled the exhaustion and fatigue your body had attempted to so valiantly fight off.

"you didn't inform me of your early arrival."

you smile into his palm, your head tilting a bit as you rest your own palm on his hand.

"wanted to surprise you, my love."

he looks at you intensely for a few seconds before snapping back to reality.

"i will excuse myself from my duties today. perhaps i can get kuai liang to take over for me."

"why, bi-han? we can catch up late. i don't want you neglecting your duties because of me."

a small scoff escapes his lips.

"it's been much of the other way around. we have not seen each other in weeks. the lin kuei can do without its grandmaster for a few hours."

you look at him mischievously for a brief second before you hear the faint sounds of footsteps outside the drawing room. your plan was coming to fruition before your eyes. rina had come along just on time.

"actually, bi-han, i think we might have a change of plans. rina is coming over today!"

bi-han shifted his gaze from you to rina, who was standing out in the hallway. it was safe to say he was unamused.

"rina. i wasn't aware you were going to be here. it seems as though i've been misinformed on MANY fronts," he says, side-eyeing you. you pay him no mind, bringing rina closer.

"i have to deal with a bit more business-"

bi-han looked at you in disbelief. who the hell did you think you were, the president? a grandmaster yourself?

"--BUT i promise it won't take too long. rina wanted to catch up with you too, so i thought why not kill two birds with one stone?," you say, trying to resist the impending smirk on your face. bi-han was clearly displeased but you gave his arm a squeeze and whispered, "just a few hours," and he knew he'd have your company again in no time. he sighed quietly, before slightly nodding again.

"if i must."

you disappeared to find smoke and left bi-han with rina to do god knows what. you found tomas sparring with some of the newer initiates out in the courtyard and ran up to him, dragging him away from kombat.

"h-hey!," smoke exclaimed.

"c'mon! i finally got bi-han to agree to meeting with rina. now we gotta go hide around the place and see how he reacts with her around."

"this is ... not nice.." smoke remarks uneasily.

you roll your eyes. yeah it isn't nice, but it's funny and it's not like you actually meant any harm by this prank. you and tomas make your way to the blindspots around the lin kuei and spot bi-han walking as rina edges closer to him. you guys get in close enough to try and make sense of their conversation.

bi-han walks into his room and changes into a new hanfu, the same shade of dark blue he often wears. the collar part of the attire is folded, and rina brings her hand closer to fix it but just as she’s about to mend it, bi-han grabs her hand.

“what do you think you’re doing,” he lowly seethes, his eyebrows furrowing in anger.

rina shakes him off, annoyed. “i was just trying to help you, calm down!”

“unless i ask for your assistance, it is not required.” he says stoically before making his way down the corridor again. you and tomas both exchange a strange look. you didn’t want rina dead by the end of this prank. silence is shared between bi-han and rina for the next minute before the latter pipes up again.

"you haven't seen your wife in a while, huh?" rina asks coyly. bi-han turns to look at her for a second before turning back around and keeping that stern look on his face.

"no. her business keeps her away from m-the stronghold quite often,” bi-han remarks quietly.

“you know most wives stick with their husbands and don’t just leave them on their own for weeks on end. perhaps there may be something that you aren’t aware of…,” rina whispers before her statement trails off.

bi-han stops in his tracks and turns around yo face her.

“do not think to insinuate such horrible things about my wife again so shamelessly. you forget your place when you spew these things -- do not forget, SHE invited you here as a token of her hospitality. i did not."

rina chuckles. at first glance, it would seem that she does this sarcastically at first, but it seems like those words really stung rina.

"i'm leaving."

"you know your way out."

tomas sucks a deep breath in while you look down in defeat.

"ooh, boy. alright, i think you were right." "you needed a prank to prove that?!"

you wave tomas away.

"i will make sure there are no further casualties," you say to tomas, as you give him a small hit on his arm and make your way to your marital bedroom. on your way there, you see rina coming your way. you have to pretend like you didn't just witness your husband eat up this poor woman. you smile and put your hands together, bowing to her.

"hey rina! how's it going? i wa-" she puts her palm towards your face and continues walking away.

"i don't wanna hear from you." you watch her as she leaves, staring off into the distance momentarily and sighing. thank god she was an asshole or else it'd be really hard not to sympathize with her.

you walk into your bedroom and see bi-han on the bed. it seems he's getting ready for a bath -- he has a robe-like hanfu loosely draped around his body with his chest visible and and legs exposed. his hair is down and he is reaching for his back like it's aching.

"done with all my duties." you say innocently, your arms behind your back.

bi-han only looks at you momentarily and not even fully before going back to closing his eyes and mending his backache. you walk up to him carefully before sitting down beside him, using your hand to gently knead his back. he lets out a small groan of relief at your gesture.

"you've probably missed my massages all week," you say coyly.

"they were not the thing i missed."

you feel a blush creeping up on your cheek. being away from you for so long made him starved, like a dog meekly asking his owner for more rations. you felt horrible for being away for so long.

"i won't leave again for a while. i promise. we have lost-time to make up for," you say quietly. you prod at his hand and he envelops your hand in his, grazing the outside with his thumb.

"i'd rather not have lies spoken to me for the sake of momentary comfort."

you get up and gently move his right leg further to the right so you can sit on his thigh.

"now you know i can give you more than momentary comfort," you say smirking (but still VERY nervous).

in the blink of an eye, bi-han flips your body over and pins you to the bed, planting a long and voracious kiss at your lips. you bite at his lower lip and he responds by wrestling your tongue with his own. after what seems like an eternity of your mouths fighting for dominance with each other, you break the kiss as a string of saliva follows your mouths.

"you know, i saw everything that unfolded with rina. i think it really is safe to say we belong to one another."

bi-han looks at you with a hint of amusement. "i should have known you didn't have pure intentions with inviting her over." he slips his hand down your frame, erecting shivers from you. he plants small kisses trailing down your midsize.

"perhaps the rest of the lin kuei should know the grandmaster's wife isn't really as much of an angel as she lets everyone think she is."

[st4rfckerz]

hii req of blurb of ghost face sam being jealous? like a few days before she found out or post reveal, whatever u prefer!

a/n: giggling and kicking my feet at the thought of him being jealous (also this wasn't proofread, so don't kill me)

mdni 18+

ever since you became friends in the sixth grade, sam has always had a thing for you. soon enough it became an unhealthy obsession. at first it was tame, but it didn't last for long. after a while sam would stand close to you so he could smell your sweet scent, stare at you so intensely that it burns holes in the back of your head, you'd even randomly start losing pairs of panties coincidentally everytime sam was over, but you swore that sweet sam would never do such a thing.

sam's attraction to you was painfully obvious to everyone except you. sure you liked him, but you were so convinced that he'd never like someone like you. so with that theory you decide to go out with a popular jock from school. you were so excited to tell sam about how you scored a date with the star player of your school but to your surprise, sam was livid.

"out of all people, why would you go out with him?" sam raises his voice. you knew he wasn't too fond of jocks, but his reaction still felt a little extreme. sam paces back in forth in your room, huffing and puffing like an upset toddler.

"sam, i'm allowed to go out with whoever you want." you retort. you've never seen him this angry, you'd be lying if you said it didn't scare you a little. seeing his eyes turn a cold, menacing blue sent an unpleasant chill down your spine.

sam brings his hands up to rub his face in frustration. "i understand that, but he's not gonna treat you right, guys like him never do." he tries to speak in a calmer tone but you can still feel the anger in his voice.

"you don't even know him, why do you even care so much anyways?" you cross your arms and look at him. sam stops his pacing and glares at you, disbelief plastered on his face.

"you just don't get it, do you?" he shakes his head before shoving his things in the bag he brought over. "do whatever you want, i don't care." sam rushes past you, making sure his shoulder bumps harshly into yours. he left you in your room, alone and confused.

even though sam made you feel guilty about going out with a brainless football player, you went anyway. while you were eating cheap chinese food at a dingy restaurant, sam was taking out his anger by fucking himself with a pair of your stolen underwear.

sam didn't need much time to cover the cotton fabric with his hot seed. for a brief moment, sam considered sending you your stained panties as retaliation, but he had a different idea.

a few days after your argument with sam, you check the news to see that the same football player you went on a date with is now missing. you have a sick feeling in your gut, almost as if it was telling you something, but you choose to ignore it.

sam would never do anything to hurt anyone...right?

[inoshibi1]

-Yandere! Doma X Escaped!Reader-

⚠️warning⚠️mentions of obsessive/aggressive behaviour and taunting.

Fandom: Demon Slayer. Character(s): Doma [upper rank 2 demon]

A/N: I’m sorry if this isn’t very good. Please tell me if there are typos in it, I didn’t have a chance to re-read it♡♡

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It wasn't that you didn't enjoy being with Doma. He took care of you in the Eternal Paradise Cult and made sure that you felt loved and safe. More than anyone else had ever done.

But after so long, an undeniable truth did arise—you were bored.

A person could only stay cooped up in a room for so long. And while you did have plenty of entertainment, the need for something a little more exciting had taken root in your being.

So, it was how you found yourself in this predicament.

It didn't take much running to stumble upon an abandoned village. Dashing through and behind the buildings, you fell down running inside a small home. There were large wooden crates, you utilising them as an opportunity for a hiding spot. To secure your position, you pulled a piece of plywood overtop of the boxes, creating a concealed little nook.

And so you waited.

You knew Doma had followed you here, because you only got about thirty feet away from his home before you heard him calling out to you. And while you recognized that distinct teasing in his voice, telling you that he knew you weren't seriously trying to leave him, he still managed to instill a certain enticing fear in you.

Whether you actually lost him as you entered the abandoned village, or if he was just holding back was beyond you. It didn't matter, when the door to the room you were holed up in was unceremoniously kicked open.

Shoes sounded against the concrete floor, a clear identifier to who had made their entrance. Of course, his smug voice bouncing off the walls served the same purpose.

"Come on out my sweet Y/N. I know you're in here."

You heard his footsteps delve deeper into the room. Slowly.

Menacingly.

The deep baritone of his voice sent chills down your spine, amplified by the echo given off by the fairly empty area. "Y'know, if you wanted to play with me so desperately, you could've just said so."

He wasn't wrong, but you had a strange desire to push the demon's buttons. That, and you didn't know if he'd let you do something this risky if you asked. Still, you kept silent, a hand clamped over your mouth in an attempt to stifle any noise.

It sounded like he was pushing things to the side. Searching every crevice, the noise of wood scraping against the floor meeting your ears.

"If you come out now, I'll go easy on you when we get home....maybe."  Doma snickered to himself menacingly , knowing full well how in for it you were the second he got his hands on you.

You could tell he was getting close, the rummaging nearing your position as he swept the room for your hiding spot.

Doma was nothing if not dramatic at times like these.

The furniture to your right were kicked over, the brittleness in the wood causing them to crumple under the impact. The commotion earned a frightened squeak from you, and the second it escaped your lips, you knew you had lost.

"Hm, what's this?"

You didn't have to be looking at Doma to know that there was absolutely demonic grin plastered across his face. The thumping of your heartbeat picked up, anticipating what was to come.

Aside from his shoes colliding with the concrete, a deafening silence overtook the room―until the low and threatening sound of his voice filled that void.

"Could it be...."

His footsteps came to a halt right next to your hiding place. The plywood was ripped from its spot.

"...a little mouse?"

Your gaze shot up, and they were met with Doma leaning imposingly over your crumpled form on the floor. Wild rainbow coloured eyes pierced yours, holding nothing but danger.

Not a second went by before you were scrambling away, dead set on making a break for it. Or at least, that was until an arm snaked around your waist, pulling you close to him.

"Where do you think you're going, my dear?"

Your legs kicked around, unable to connect with anything while you were suspended.

It was a split second decision when you lifted your head up to capture his lips, pouring all the emotion you possibly could into the act in an attempt to appeal to whatever amount of entertainment remained in his body.

His reaction was almost immediate.

He let out a noise somewhere between a possessive growl and a hum of approval as he kissed you back harder than ever before.

From how aggressively you were squirming in Douma’s grasp, you began to see him become more disheveled each time he let you up for air.

He had the faintest blush of pink across his cheeks, a few of the shorter strands of his hair were falling in front of his face - which would occasionally be caught in the kiss, not that he cared. He wasn't out of breath, but his breathing was heavy. He had transferred both your hands to one of his own in order to stop your squirming.

And the look on his face... The pure hunger that was there before he started was gone. Although he was still remaining somewhat civil, There was no denying that he was positively ravenous now.

After what felt like an eternity, Doma pulled back very suddenly, the sheen of sweat that had been shared between your two bodies leaving you unexpectedly cold and confused

It wasn’t until you completely caught your breath when a fit of uncontrollable giggles escaped you as he playfully spun in a circle with you in his arms.

"Noooo, let me go!"

He laughed at your demand, the taunting lilt to it making you shiver. "I'm sorry my dear but I can't. You're in big trouble after this."

In mere seconds, Doma had maneuvered you to be slung over his shoulder, surprising you once again with how strong he really was.

"H-hey! It's your fault for not taking me anywhere fun, I mean you could've at least—"

You yelped when a hand came down on your ass to silence you, prompting you to squirm fruitlessly in his surprisingly iron-like hold.

Doma began heading for the exit of the abandoned home as he spoke. "My dear, we've been over this, you've got everything you need back with me in the cults paradise." He shifted you so that he could pin your still struggling legs down before continuing. "And maybe if you didn’t keep up with that misbehaving attitude of yours, I'd actually be able to take you somewhere nice for a change."

You perked up at the notion—not knowing that Doma had ever actually considered letting you roam a little more freely. "Wait—really?"

He chuckled at your disbelief, pushing the front doors open. The cool air of the night hit your body, causing you to pull yourself closer to the heat radiating off of him.

"Yes, but before I let any of that happen, someone's gotta learn their lesson on what happens when they are disobedient."

Unconsciously, you tensed at the notion, knowing his methods of reprimand would have you in for a long night. It wasn't that Doma would intentionally hurt you, it was just that he would take advantage of all your little weaknesses he'd come to observe. And you knew that he'd make you betray yourself in all the best ways, and somehow get you to enjoy it at the same time.

Sensing your bubbling anticipation, Doma satisfyingly smiled to himself. He made his way through the deserted back streets, not bothering to put you down for fear of any more shenanigans.

Your fate was determined. You'd never be able to get away from Doma, and really, you didn't want to.

"...Now, shall we go back home, my dear?"

[bloodyknucklesforme]

Cherry Blossom | Ghost x Agent!Reader

What you don't tell no one, you can tell me

CW: Major character death, hurt/comfort

It'd been months with no contact. You were a little heartbroken especially in the beginning. A pointless argument about the nature of your relationship. You wanted more. He wanted nothing but sex.

"Don't mistake yourself for something other than a warm bed."

It was so cruel at the time. You'd screamed for him to get out. Shoving at his chest, demanding your key back, for him to never speak to you again.

You felt sick locking him out. All the extra ones he installed to "keep ya safe". The key you gave him was in an unlabeled envelope under your door a couple days later. You texted and called but he'd disconnected his number.

Your Simon had become Ghost again. You transferred departments so you wouldn't even have to hear about 141 again.

You tried dating again after a couple months but it felt empty. Somewhere out there it felt like he was still watching you, haunting you. In paranoia you checked your flat for bugs or cameras and found nothing.

You daydreamed sometime about running into him on a random London street just so you could brush him aside like he did you. Treat him with just an ounce of the same cruelty.

You weren't cruel. You always loved too much. Left yourself open too much. Heart not on your sleeve but exposed in your chest for the world to see.

Maybe that's why the knock on your door didn't take you by surprise. It was late, you planned on ignoring you. Some neighbour too drunk to realise they were at the wrong door trying to wake their partner to be let in.

Then you heard your name for the first time in months. The voice that used to rock you to sleep, fuck you sweetly, make you laugh.

You tried to ignore him but he was persistent as always. Like a cat locked out of the bedroom, knocking and calling.

"Go away, Simon." You yelled, not wanting to get too close to the door.

"Please, love... I'm sorry. I don't have anywhere else to go." He was drunk, more than you'd ever seen.

"Fuck off. Go bother MacTavish!"

"He's dead." His voice ached with pain. Tears sprung up in your eyes. Soap had always been a joy. You weren't close to him but on missions when you worked together his voice was always nice to hear. You would've been told, right? Someone would have told you.

An overheard sentence at work earlier that day. 141 going after Makarov. Something about the chunnel.

oh god...

You opened the door. He'd never looked so small. Brown eyes surrounded by red. He was struggling under the weight of his own shoulders. No mask, just Simon. You blinked and tears started to roll down your own face.

"It's my-fault." His voice cracked.

You were never good at cruel.

He fell into your arms, clutching you like a child, face buried into your neck. You walked you both backwards into your flat, kicking the door shut.

His hands grabbed fistfuls of your shirt.

"I'm sorry, lovie. I'm sorry."

"I got you. I got you. It's okay." The same words he said to you almost two years ago, a bullet in your stomach, keeping you awake during the medevac. "I'm sorry, Simon. I'm so sorry."

You bit back a sob and kissed his head. The two of you ended up on the sofa, him practically in your lap. He smelled like cheap liquor and gun powder.

"It's not your fault." You said quietly, stroking his back.

"I shouldn't be here." he straightened abruptly, pulling himself back to his stoic disposition. He sat up, rubbing his face. "I'm sorry. I'm fucking a cunt, ain't I?"

"Simon..."

"Hurt you like that. Fucked us up. Too cowardly to apologize. Now I'm just bothering you." He turned away from you, already looking towards the front door. Always had an escape plan.

"You're not bothering me."

"Johnny wanted us to get back together. Said you made me more tolerable to be around." His laugh getting caught in his throat with phlegm.

You reached out and touched his shoulder and he shuddered.

"I'm sorry, lovie. It was you and him. Fucked it all up. He's dead and you... I know you hate me now."

"I don't think I could ever hate you." You pressed your cheek against his back, arms wrapping around his middle. He laid a hand over yours. "I just wanted you to love me like I loved you."

"I don't think I can." He breathed for what felt like the first time since he got there. He moved to stand and you held tighter.

"Just stay. You're too drunk. Just stay here. Sleep on the sofa." The muscles of his back relaxed. "We can talk in the morning. Call the captain. I'm sure he's tried to reach you."

Simon sighed, head hanging low. He was stubborn.

"It's not your fault, Simon. Don't let yourself think that. He wouldn't want you to be like this." He reached behind to rest his hands on your thighs. It hurt your heart to know that you were still his safe place. Ghost was a steel wall but Simon was insecure and sad. He joked about being ugly the first time you saw his face. Shrugged you off when you got a bit too loving.

That argument about how you loved him. How you wanted him to open up, commit to you, say he loved you when he wasn't inside you. He denied every emotional intimacy.

Yet here he was, crying on your sofa at three in the morning. You didn't know if you wanted him back. It was never a possibility in your mind. Go through all this again.

You couldn't kick him out. Not like this. Not when he so clearly needed someone.

He slept on your sofa. You didn't fall back asleep, distracted by his familiar snoring.

You were never good at being cruel.

This series is still on hold but I felt randomly inspired so here's a sad little present.

[sl33paholics]

Omg Yandere Johan x Black fem reader would be so hottttt!

My Little Mouse

Johan Liebert x black!fem reader

Warning(s): Gaslighting, isolation, psychological warfare, manipulation, etc.

Mfw I still haven't finished the 2nd Valentine's day writing piece: 😧😧😧😧😨

You heard the sound of the door knob turning.

Your heart sank. The few hours of freedom you had is now gone, going back to sulking on your mattress like a child whose favorite toy was taken away. You could only hope that the guy who entered wouldn’t mind if you hid under the blankets.

No such luck.

You can hear his steps coming closer, and in just a few seconds, you feel the covers being lifted up, exposing your head to the cold air outside your apartment. Your eyes widened, and you buried your head as deep into the pillow as possible, hoping you were just enough to prevent him from seeing your face. But it wasn’t working. Johan's eyes were already locked on yours. “Ah, there you are,” he said with a smile, and you couldn’t help but notice how charming it looked on this man, despite the fact that he was a psychopath.

“What are you doing here, little mouse?” Johan asked, leaning over the bed until you felt heat of his body radiating on your skin. He leaned down, and you could smell his cologne, which smelled like roses and vanilla, with a hint of cinnamon. His warm lips grazed your forehead before his teeth bit into your earlobe. You flinched at the contact but didn't pull away, knowing he would be more aggressive after hurting you. The pain was nothing compared to the humiliation you're feeling right now.

"...don't do that," you mumbled, wincing at the slight pressure against your flesh. "Please..." You knew that if you said anything else, he'd hurt you more.

So instead, you closed your eyes and prepared for another round of torture by Johan, when suddenly his arms were pulled around your waist, your head resting against his chest. You opened your eyes again, confused, and saw his dark gaze fixed on something behind you. Confused, you glanced behind yourself and saw that he was staring at your sketch book. Your hand unconsciously moved towards it, trying to hide it from him, but he noticed it anyway. "Are you drawing me?" He asked in an amused tone. "How cute." You could almost feel his grin when you turned your head to look at him.

You shifted yourself away from him, trying to get away from him as soon as possible, but he held you tighter. "Let go of me,” you demanded, squirming to try to break free from his grip. “Leave me alone!" Your voice broke at the last sentence, sounding so vulnerable and helpless that you wished you hadn't said anything.

That grin.

That sly grin he had on his face made you want to punch him.

Throughout your stay, you noticed that he'd never put his hands on you, ever.

No matter how much you screamed, berated him, kicked him, and did anything to Johan, he never seemed to get angry at you one bit. You found it very difficult to hate him. You hated his smugness, his cockiness, his coldness, and the way he treats you like a prisoner in this apartment. It was infuriating. "Why do you continue to fight?" Johan asked in a soft tone. "I give you everything. Shelter to stay, food to eat, a shower to clean yourself." He laughed humorlessly. "Why must you struggle so?"

"You know why," you replied harshly, glaring at him. "You don't care about me." You felt guilty saying those words, even though you did mean them. Maybe you didn't. Maybe it was true, and you deserved to feel that way.

Without warning, Johan cupped your face with such force that you felt the pain shooting through your face, his thumb pressing hard onto the side of your jaw. The sting lingered, but you didn't dare to let out a sound, afraid he'd do something to you. Johan made your head turn towards the length mirror, "Look at yourself, Y/N," he told you in a harsh whisper. "Can't you see yourself? You're beautiful." And then he kissed you. This time, it was a gentle kiss, with no tongue involved. The gentleness shocked you because you thought that he would do something more to you than simply kiss you. But he simply placed his finger underneath your chin and gently tilted your head, forcing you to look at yourself.

"I love your eyes, their color. They're the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen." Johan spoke softly, his breath hitting the corner of your lips, causing shivers to run down your spine. "Their shape makes my soul feel like it will burst. So bright and alive. Can you imagine? A beautiful soul, hidden underneath all that..." He trailed off, looking at you expectantly. "Beautiful clothes. Perfect hair. A face that could light up a room and a laugh that could fill up a room." Then, he chuckled.

"And a voice as sweet as honey."

You protested weakly, wanting to slap him. No, not a perfect soul, but not bad either. Johan continued talking, ignoring your protest. "A life filled with laughter and smiles, filled with joy. But that won't happen anymore, will it? Because someone has stolen it away from you." "Johan, please stop-" But once again, you couldn't finish the sentence. "You're mine. Nobody else can have you, understand?" Johan grabbed your shoulder, holding you still, so that you didn't escape him. "Nobody." You nodded meekly, trying your best to appear calm despite the fact that you felt like crying.

Silence filled the tension between you two, Johan stared at you for what felt like ages, before letting you go. You immediately scrambled backwards to avoid his touch, putting distance between you, going back to the corner of the bed. All you wanted was to live in peace, and now you were being forced to give that up...because of Johan Liebert?

"Now, litte mouse, we should start our day. It's been a while since I've spent time with you."

[mercurytojupiter]

the labyrinth - prologue

a/n: i'm going through an archie madekwe phase no one look at me

warnings: farleigh being farleigh, which includes underage drugs, drinking, cigarettes and sex 18+

fic summary: ariadne gavin and her childhood best friend turned enemy return to saltburn for the last time

Ariadne Gavin wishes she could say the first Catton she met was Felix or even Venetia. She would have loved to explain to people how she had tripped into Venetia at the airport when she first landed in England, or how she had been greeted by Felix's already tall, grinning face.

Instead, the truth was, the only reason the Cattons held their arms open to her as they did was because of Farleigh fucking Start.

Ariadne had met Farleigh when she was seven. Her father, Laurence Gavin, was a new money tech mogul who was making a name for himself selling computers. He had dragged her along to a fundraising gala, and it was there that Ariadne found herself forever enamoured with the Cattons.

Ariadne had never met another child before. Her upbringing was limited to her Nanny, Lilian, the house staff, Douglas, Marcus, and Tyrone, and her mother, Vienna. Ariadne had only even known that white people existed because of her storybooks.

"Hello," She whispers politely. "My name is Ariadne Marie Gavin."

"I'm Farleigh." The little boy shrugs.

Ariadne tilts her head. "How old are you?"

Farleigh looks at her strangely. "Seven and a half."

Ariadne pouts. "Oh. I'm just seven."

Farleigh's eyes widen in panic. "That's okay! Don't be upset! It's okay to be smaller than me! Normally I'm the smallest person."

"Youngest." Ariadne corrects.

"M'kay," Farleigh says, but makes no move to say the sentence correctly. He jumps down from his chair and squishes her cheeks. "Do you want to play hide and seek?"

"Won't the grown-ups be mad we're gone?"

"They never notice." Farleigh smiles.

That smile got Ariadne in more trouble than she could count over the next thirteen years.

At some point between seven and a half and fourteen, Farleigh stopped being her only friend. Or, more accurately, Farleigh began to make friends and it meant that Ariadne was going to be alone unless she made some of hers.

Or, that was, until Saltburn.

Ariadne didn't like the person Farleigh was becoming ever since they'd become teenagers. He'd been mean, and flaky, and worst of all, he kept hitting on her friends.

And yes, perhaps she was a little jealous, but she had always been territorial, and Farleigh was hers, not Ashley's or Jessica's. Besides, Farleigh grew like a beanstalk, and all her friends only liked him because he was tall. They didn't spend Sunday evenings conditioning his hair or laugh at his terrible -and slightly mean- jokes.

Overall, they had begun to drift a tad, but a crack was not a canyon, as her father liked to say.

But that didn't mean Farleigh wasn't still the only person her age she truly trusted, so he still came over to her house every Sunday to do homework and complain.

"Did I tell you my mom's family wants me to come to England over the summer?" He sighs, stretched out on her floor.

Ariadne has her nose tucked into her copy of Pride and Prejudice for her book report and looks up suddenly. "Excuse me?"

"I know, right? Like, why would I waste my summer-" Farleigh starts.

Ariadne shushes him. "Shut up, Far. Doesn't your mom's family pay for all your mom's shit? And yours, for that matter?"

"I mean, yeah, but they always said I'm out after eighteen." He shrugs.

Ariadne grins. "Because they don't know you. But if, say, you went to England in the summers, made connections with them, flashed some puppy dog eyes," she trails off.

Farleigh raises a brow. "You want me to go to them like some kind of homeless kid asking for spare change on Alameda Street?"

Ariadne kicks him. "No, I want you to use your brain. You're going to be my business partner once I inherit, obviously, but it's going to be obvious that we're only working together because we're friends if you don't at least have a college degree. Now, imagine, we get into some fancy British university, we network with like a billion people, and suddenly we have investors lining up at graduation."

"All it'll cost me is my pride." Farleigh grumbles.

Ariadne purses her lips. "Not if I come with. Then, it's just going to be us, two rich kids, going and being rich on a different continent over the summers."

Farleigh sits up. "I'm going to hate this, aren't I?"

"Not in the long run." Ariadne grins.

Ariadne wishes she'd never suggested going to Saltburn. She and Farleigh were one change in conversation away from escaping the Cattons and she'd never forgive herself for it.

Maybe it's the new money, manifest destiny, red-blooded American in her, but she never liked the look of Saltburn. She missed her modern, sleek home in Bel-Air, and from a single look, she knew Farleigh did too.

Saltburn was cold and ancient. There was no carpet, only million-year-old Persian rugs. No many-buttoned showers, only antiquated tubs. They didn't even have a bidet, which Ariadne thought was borderline uncivilized.

But they adjusted, slowly but surely, to the famous, trademark brand of Catton Madness that had sent his mother running for the hills all those years before.

Farleigh hadn't known that Felix and Venetia were their age, but they certainly were, and they were wilder and more English than anyone Ariadne had ever met.

She also found that they took to calling her demeaning, patronizing pet names like "Pet" or "Girlie." Farleigh got about the same treatment, only, in her opinion, worse, because there was no way to spin "Boy" or "Dog" as respectful.

Vee liked to call her "Newmo", short for "New Money" and Ariadne knew this was an insult, but bit her tongue.

She did that a lot, after Saltburn.

She starts at St. Mary Magdelene's Secondary Academy for Girls with Venetia that year, and Farleigh attends St. John's Secondary Academy for Boys with Felix. Twice a year, the adjoined schools have huge dances and dinners where they exercise their best manners.

The Gala is poorly chaperoned, as it is also the only time the faculty gets to mix and mingle. The dinner is mostly manner-based, but by the time the dance begins, most adults turn their heads away from the teenage drama and illegal activity.

When their first Fall Gala comes around, Ariadne looks around excitedly for Farleigh, peering through the crowd of white faces. She wants to tell him everything that's happened since they separated at the start of the school year.

Unfortunately, all she gets is Felix's stupid face. "Where's Farleigh?"

Felix rolls his eyes grinningly. "Smoking outside. Again."

Ariadne blinks, takes a step back, and laughs disbelievingly. Farleigh had gotten more rebellious since they'd become teenagers, sure, and maybe England was rubbing off on him, but he never smoked. "Are you kidding?"

Felix snickers. "He said you'd be pissed off."

That was another thing Ariadne hated about the Cattons. Everything was a fucking joke to them.

"No fucking shit!" She whisper-shouts. "He can't- He's going to ruin his lungs! This is my fault, I knew it was a bad idea for us to go to different schools!" She bites her lip, flicking her wrists in and out.

It was a terrible nervous tick. Lilian had always said it was unbecoming. Ariadne couldn't shake it.

Felix steadies her by the arms, charming doe eyes staring right into hers. "Farleigh will be fine, everyone smokes once in a while. Besides, he's finally letting loose, isn't that worth something?"

Ariadne wants to spit that it is not something, because Farleigh doesn't need to let loose, he needs more structure. He'd already been let loose his whole life and Ariadne had spent most of hers cleaning up the debris.

She doesn't yell at Felix, just shakes her head mutely.

"Well, maybe you need to let loose too. Vee's got weed or shrooms or something in the bathroom, go try that."

And, shockingly, Ariadne lets Felix lead her to the door of the Girl's bathroom, where a small puff of fogged-up air escapes.

"Have fun, Pet!"

He shoves her inside and lets the door swing closed.

Vee offers her a joint, grinning, and for the first time, Ariadne's thoughts cease.

After Ariadne is introduced to weed for the first time, she no longer worries about Farleigh. Still, the worst does not come until the Spring Gala, when she walks in on him losing his virginity to Arabella Vaillancourt.

All the jealousy she had felt in middle school hit a breaking point then. This wasn't flirting or even a kiss on the cheek. Arabella had claimed Farleigh in a way Ariadne would never be able to compensate for.

Ariadne turns her head away from the sight of them, sweating and naked and wholly consumed by each other and goes back to her dorm.

Vee sees her tears and offers her a line of coke, and from that point on, Ariadne and Farleigh are no longer friends or even allies.

When the summer break retrieves them again, she hardly looks at him in favour of making jokes with Venetia and walking Felix through the process of getting girls to like him. While Felix was pretty, most of the girls their age couldn't stand him because he was so boring to talk to. She pierces his eyebrow so he has something interesting to talk about. Felix is horrible at flirting, too. Not like Farleigh, she thinks, recalling the many girls he had wooed bitterly.

Soon, everyone at Saltburn forgets that Ariadne and Farleigh were ever even a pair. Or, in their respective cases, at least pretend to forget.

[spectersgirl]

The last few weeks have thoroughly kicked my ass so I'm wayyy further (farther? whatever, you get it) behind than I anticipated with getting this out, but nonetheless, it is here.

No angst this time around, I think we're all set there with that last part <3

This takes place a year-ish after the previous part!

Something More (p.3)

Harvey Specter x Reader

------

"Harvey come on, we're going to be late! And worse than that, your coffee is getting cold!" You yelled from the kitchen.

You heard Harvey laugh from the bedroom.

"I'm almost ready, baby. Can you put it in a thermos so I can take it with me?"

You grinned, looking down at the thermos you'd already filled for him. You knew he'd be late after he whined about not wanting to get out of bed and practically dragged you back into the bed with him so he could get some extra cuddles in that morning, something he'd vehemently deny should it ever be brought up in public.

You took the thermos and the bagels you'd toasted into the bedroom with you, where you found him tying his tie in the mirror.

"And what kind of wife would I be if I hadn't already done that, and made us bagels." You said proudly, emphasizing the word wife.

He smiled widely, looking at the items in your hands before pulling you in for a gentle kiss.

"Love hearing you say wife" He murmured as he kissed you.

"Well, that's perfect, because I love being your wife, and I love saying it." You replied, kissing him once more quickly before separating yourself from him. "Now, finish getting ready so we can go be the annoying newlywed couple at the office"

Harvey laughed before commenting that you two already weren't shy about your relationship at work.

"I know, but now I get to say things like 'I'm having lunch with my husband' instead of just boring old Harvey Specter" You teased.

He rolled his eyes in response, but he couldn't hide the grin on his face. Buttoning the suit jacket he'd just put on, he followed you out of the bedroom, not missing the chance to stare at your ass as you walked.

Today was yours and Harvey's first day back at work since you'd gotten married only two weeks prior, which you followed immediately by the most beautiful honeymoon in the Maldives. The time had flown by and as much as you loved being a lawyer, you couldn't confidently say that staying on the island and never coming home didn't enter your mind.

You really had no trouble convincing him to take a vacation for once, since it involved him seeing you in basically nothing but a bikini on the beach somewhere warm in the middle of January. You'd taken care of all of the planning and reservations, and Harvey was just happy to go along with anything you wanted. It made his heart swell seeing you so excited about spending this uninterrupted time with him and all he had to do was hand over his black Amex card to pay for it, which didn't bother him in the least. He would've moved the sun and the stars for you if you asked him, the love he had for you was something he didn't even know could exist only a few years prior.

Ray picked you both up outside and drove you to the office, the drive was quiet as you laid your head on Harvey's shoulder and watched the city fly by out the window. His hand rested on your thigh, idly rubbing at it with his thumb. You lifted your hand up to marvel at your new wedding band, which paired flawlessly with your engagement ring as it sparkled in the sunlight.

"Prettiest rings for my prettiest girl" Harvey murmured into your hair before kissing the top of your head.

Your heart fluttered in your chest every time he said things like that. You looked up at him, beaming as you lifted your head to kiss him properly.

The car ride was over sooner than either of you would have liked, and you stepped out into the freezing Manhattan air once more, clutching Harvey's arm for warmth before getting inside.

Everyone in the office was overjoyed to see you both return, whether that was because you were both generally liked in the office or because that meant you'd both have your workloads off their desks and back on your own, you couldn't be certain.

Donna had taken the liberty of not only decorating your office with congratulatory decor but Harvey's as well. She couldn't resist covering every inch of his desk with heart-shaped glitter confetti, but she spared you that headache and opted for big lettered balloons that spelled out CONGRATS that floated perfectly in place in front of your window.

Not an hour had gone by before your phone lit up with a text from Harvey.

Can we go back to the island yet? Louis is already in here bitching about the associates and his bran bars.

You giggled, shaking your head at the message. You stood from your chair, grabbing the small trinket from your purse that you'd specifically bought on vacation for the Louis Meltdown Moment you knew would happen approximately the second you entered the building, and walked to Harvey's office.

"Louis! I was looking everywhere for you!" You exclaimed, feigning innocence that you had no idea he was in Harvey's office.

His face lit up at this admission, immediately forgetting what it was that he was yelling to Harvey about seconds before.

"We have a little something for you, we bought it in The Maldives. We saw it and thought how perfect it would be for you!"

You held out the small gift bag, which Louis quickly grabbed and opened, his curiosity piqued.

He gasped when he pulled the small ceramic figurine of a tabby cat out, inspecting every detail. The smile on his face was one of pure joy.

"Oh my gosh! This is so perfect! Thank you guys!" He said, giving you a hug, then hugging Harvey before rushing out of the room, mumbling about where he was going to place his new little friend.

Harvey's face was a mixture of shock and confusion as he looked up at you.

"We bought Louis a souvenir?" He asked, having no recollection of its existence.

You grinned and nodded, sitting down opposite him at the desk.

"He's a grown ass man, why on earth did we buy him a souvenir?"

"I bought it because I figured he would be all wound up over something or another and I thought about what would distract my five-year-old nephew from a tantrum. It was either a little trinket or some candy."

"Safe bet on the cat... thing. I don't think Louis even eats candy." Harvey replied.

"What would you do without me?"

"I honestly have no idea."

[alloftheimaginesblog]

put your head on my shoulder {indiana jones}

plot: you and indy are travelling and you fall asleep with your head on his shoulder.

character: indiana jones x plus size reader

Part of my Plus Size History Professor x Indiana Jones series and part of my Plus Size Reader x Character series!

You weren't the biggest fan of flying. The thought of being trapped in a tin can breathing in the same air as 100 other people freaked you out so before the flight, to help calm your nerves, you'd taken a sleeping tablet recommended by a trusted friend.

You were travelling with your colleague, friend and crush, Indiana Jones. The two of you were professors at the same college and had grown really close over the last year or so. Indy frequently went on archaeological digs and you'd always shown an interest since you were a history professor so this time, he invited you to come along with him.

Excitement wasn't the word.

You were beyond excited, constantly pestering Indy about what to wear, what clothes to take, what sites you'll wind up visiting. Surprisingly, Indy wasn't too annoyed and actually found your excitement about the whole thing quite adorable though he'd never admit that to your face. You and Indy currently had a very flirty, will they-won't they vibe going on. Any time that you thought things would happen, Indy pulled away. He had confided in you previously after one too many whiskeys that he was scared of commitment so you took a bit of a step back from the romantic side of things until he was ready. It hurt but you'd survive seeing as you two were friends and you knew that he cared, it was just that he wasn't ready yet.

You tapped your foot anxiously as you waited for the plane to board. Indy frowned at you, "That pill not kicking in yet, huh?"

"I only just took it, it takes a while to work."

"Why are you so anxious then? What's with all the foot tapping?"

"It's stupid," you scoffed as you shook your head. Indiana frowned at you and gestured for you to spit it out, "I'm stressed about the seat, well the seatbelt."

"What about it?"

"What if it doesn't fit around me? I'm not the skinniest..." Your cheeks burned furiously and Indy sighed. A voice chimed from above saying that your flight was now boarding, "Oh great."

"Then you get an extension." Indy shrugged. One thing you did love about him was his blunt, matter of fact attitude to things. He didn't stress, he didn't' sugar-coat, he just said things how they happened, "No big deal."

You followed him as he stood up in the queue, appreciating his blunt response, "It's silly, I know... I just get so paranoid. Normal seatbelts are black and usually extensions are bright red and it's just broadcasting 'hey everyone look at me I'm so fat I don't fit in the seat'!" You faltered, realising you were word vomiting all over him, "Sorry, I-"

He shook his head, "It's okay," he murmured, voice quieter so no one else your conversation, "I understand. Whether you need the extension or not, it's not a big deal. Doesn't make you any less of a person. Doesn't make you any less beautiful. Matter of fact, you're the prettiest damn person I've ever seen." As he finished, he realised what he had said and cleared his throat, turning away as a pink hue crept up and over his cheeks and ears.

You smiled, ducking your head to hide your bashfulness from him.

Boarding was quick and simple and soon, you and Indy were looking for your seats, "22, 23, here we are, 24. You want the window seat?" He asked which you gladly accepted since you didn't want to sit in the middle next to a stranger. You didn't mind looking out of the window, you found comfort in the clouds even despite your hatred of flying.

As Indy stored your bags in the overhead compartments, you sat on your seat, already finding it uncomfortable. Big hips weren't a great match for a tight plane seat. Oh well. Five hours, you could do this. You took a breath as you tested the seatbelt and...

"Nope."

It was a good 7 inches from closing. You raised your head, cheeks heating up from shame. It was stupid. You didn't know why you were so mortified to need a seatbelt extension on the plane but you just were. You liked your body, you were fat, curvy, plus size whatever you wanted to call it and you didn't mind it anymore but sometimes insecurities snuck up on you, this was one of those moments. You didn't need to look far for assistance because Indy was already handing you a bright red extension for the seatbelt.

"I asked for you. I also asked for a different colour but this is all they have."

You smiled, taking it off of him, "Thank you," you said, clipping it in and securing yourself in your seat. He sat down, "I know it's silly, I don't know why I'm so bothered by it."

Indy looked at you and smiled, "Don't worry about it. Seriously. People are too self absorbed to care whether or not you've got an extension... besides, I think red's your colour."

God, you hated the way he could make your insides turn to gloop and the way he could make your heart race with a simple smile. You thanked him quietly and conversation died down as he settled into his chair.

After around fifteen minutes, when everyone was boarded and the plane had began to move, you were starting to feel the effects of the sleeping pill you took so you tried to find a comfortable position to sleep in. You tried resting your head against the wall of the plane but the vibrations were uncomfortable and irritating. You tried resting your head back on the head rest but as you started to doze off, your head kept falling and you kept waking up. Your failure to fall asleep, or at least find a comfortable position, hadn't gone unnoticed by Indiana who was watching you from the corner of his eye with an amused expression.

"Oh just put your head on my shoulder and go to sleep, stop huffing and puffing," he said with a smirk. You rolled your eyes at him, not realising that he was being serious until he pulled at you to rest on him, "Put your head on my shoulder and go to sleep. I'll wake you up when we're there. Go on, get comfy."

Your heart was racing, pounding hard against your ribs as you settled on his shoulder. You could smell him; coffee, fresh linen and musk. Heaven. His shoulder was surprisingly comfortable, hard yet cushioned by his blazer and shirt. As you settled, your head found its way to rest near the crook of his neck, hand cupping his bicep. You were falling asleep fast but his muscles beneath your fingertips didn't go unnoticed by you.

Your breathing slowed as it tickled his neck and he knew you were sleeping. He swallowed, sparing a glance to you sound asleep on his shoulder, and tried to calm his own racing heartbeat. The way your breath warmed his neck, the way your fingers pressed into his muscle... Indy took a deep breath. He could smell your perfume - sweet and intoxicating - and it took everything in him to not wake you up and kiss you here.

With his spare hand he moved his hat to cover his eyes as his head rested back against the headrest (and then eventually opted to rest on yours) and tried to forget about the way his stomach flipped at the thought of you touching him. Indy had started the day thinking he still wasn't ready but this... this might change things. You were his favourite person. You had been the most constant person in his life for a year solid and that meant a lot to him. He valued you so highly and was scared that if he let you in, you'd end up getting hurt or worse but... he didn't know how long he could push you away for.

"I..." he whispered so softly that even if you were awake you probably wouldn't have heard him over the sound of the airplane and its passengers, "I think I'm in love with you." Maybe he was more ready than he thought.