#and Betty’s like well you’re so dramatic but I’m proud of you for being supportive

[biblionerd07]

Daniel is so super supportive, like he tends to have knee jerk angry reactions to things he doesn’t like/understand but in the end he always comes around and is like whatever, this relationship is more important than whatever thing I don’t like. He did it with Alexis, he did it with Tyler, he did it with Claire dating Cal Hartley, he did it with Betty, just in general but also when she hid dating Henry from him and when she didn’t tell him about Wilhelmina and Dwayne. And with his kids you know he’s going to be #1 most supportive dad AT ALL TIMES, like support dialed up to 11 and sooo embarrassing.

Then one day one of his children is going to come to him almost in tears and nervously say, “Dad, I have to tell you something.” And Daniel’s on the edge of his seat ready to jump up and say “I SUPPORT YOU!!!” But no. His beautiful child whom he held in his arms in the hospital and comforted through nightmares looks him in the eyes and says, “I’m going to Yale.”

And Daniel, in his Harvard shirt, silently and swiftly goes through all 5 stages of grief before saying, voice cracking, “Okay. Good job. It’s—it’s a g—it’s a *gagging* it’s a good school.” And he only jokes about changing his will three times.

[blessednereid]

Pity the Living

Daniel Sharman x Reader Series

A/N: The Much Requested, and By Requested, I mean @rogershoe wanted me to write this, MY DANIEL SHARMAN FANFICTION!!!!!! The character that Y/N plays is based on my OC for FTWD and is not an actual character in FTWD. Basic Premise of the setting for this chapter is that they're in high-school/ secondary school. But for the majority of the story(minus flashbacks) it's set in 2016/17 when s3 of FTWD was filmed.

Story Summary: When (Y/N) (L/N) reunites with a high-school friend on the set of the job she's been working on for the past 2-3 years, not only is she excited to work with the guy who inspired her to go into acting, but to hear about what he's done since she's seen him. But the more they talk, the more she realizes, this reunion is not going the way she had planned.

CW: Cursing? brief mention of alcohol, anxiety, mentions of food, fake dagger, fake blood, bets,

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Career Day

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Most of the students around you were chorusing to the tune of your school anthem, but not you. You had heard the melody and sung it almost a million times. Whether you were exaggerating or not, not even you knew. Instead, you were whispering and laughing with one of your best friends, Daniel Sharman.

You met Daniel when you first came to the school. You didn't know many people. You didn't even know yourself in this place. It was a completely foreign experience, but he stuck by your side and showed you around.

Since then, you had made friends, joined the swim team, learned your way around the school without ending up in the boys' restrooms instead of the girls' ones. Despite not needing Daniel to show you around anymore, he still provided plenty of comedic support and pick-me-ups and was a great mate all around.

Your teacher had just finished introducing all the parents who were presenting at career day. The assignment being after the presentations were finished, you were supposed to think about what you wanted to be in the future. You had no idea what you wanted to be. But of course… Daniel did.

"An actor."

"An actor?" he nodded. "Like Macbeth?"

"No, Macbeth is a character. An actor is a person who plays the character."

"Why an actor?"

"Dunno. Just seems right."

You frowned. "Huh, that's nice. Knowing what you want to be."

"You could always try acting. It's worth a shot."

"Hah, if I ever tried acting, it would probably be when I'm old, senile, and look like Betty White."

"Oh, come on. You're a great actress!"

"What's that supposed to mean, Sharman?" you gasped.

"Just that you tell fibs and stories as if they were the truth. That's all acting is."

"I DO NOT!"

"How did you convince your mum that your dog jumped onto the table and ate the cake without making any noise last weekend, then?" You opened your mouth to speak before closing it.

"Cat got your tongue?" he teased.

"Shut up, Sharman."

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L/N Residence

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You and Daniel were both swimming in the pool in your backyard when Daniel asked you the question.

"Did you think about it?"

Still floating, you asked, "About what?"

"Acting."

You laughed incredulously. "You were serious?"

"Of course I was." He swam closer to you and pulled your leg down, making you flop around and splash water.

"WHAT THE HELL!"

"Was just trying to get your attention," he remarked innocently.

You coughed. "You had it."

"Picture this," he waved you off. "Us, on the red carpet-"

"Who's red carpet?"

"Does it matter? We'll be each other's dates anyways."

"Why is that?" you asked.

"Because we're best friends."

"What if one of us has a boyfriend or girlfriend?"

He shrugged. "Ok, whatever. We're on the red carpet separately. It's both of ours red carpet-"

"So, does that mean we're in a movie together?"

"Yes, Y/N," he muttered exasperatedly.

"But that's impossible?"

"Why do you say that?"

You leaned closer to his ear. "BECAUSE I'M NOT BECOMING AN ACTOR."

He jumped away from you, proceeding to splash you with water.

"Mark my words. I know talent when I see it."

You sighed. "Could this just be you not wanting to be lonely in the acting world?"

He jutted his lip and spoke in a whiny voice. "Maybe…"

You laughed before splashing a giant wave of water at him. While he still had water in his eyes, you dove under and pulled him down.

He flailed around before his head popped up, and he calmed down.

"WHAT THE HELL!"

"PAYBACK, SHARMAN!"

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Announcement

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The intercom gave a heavy buzz, and static-y noises ran amok over the building before a voice actually came through the speakers.

"Hello, Teachers, Students, and Faculty. Welcome back to school. We hope that you all enjoyed your holidays and got the rest you needed to pay attention in class today," the last part was passive. Your principal gave more announcements for clubs and sports around the school, such as upcoming games or reminders for students to buy the school yearbook.

You were nodding along interested, or looking for interest really when something caught your best friend's attention.

"The school will also be hosting its first-ever play, Romeo and Juliet. Interested people should report to the music room before the end of the week to receive information."

You saw Daniel's eyes widen only moments before he spoke up. "Hey," he waved at you. "You should audition!"

"Daniel, are you insane?"

He chuckled, "No, but I think you'd like it."

You tried arguing, but he wasn't taking no for an answer. "You're the one who said you didn't know what you wanted to do after you graduated. Doing this cannot hurt."

"Yeah, it can't hurt until I trip on my costumes and break my neck!"

"That rarely ever happens," he said exasperatedly. "Ok, how about this? You audition, and if you end up getting a role and actually doing the play, I'll give you fifty pounds."

You squinted. "Do you even have fifty pounds to give me?"

"Do you even have to ask," he feigned shock in the accusation? You gave a sour face before he truthfully answered. "Fine, I don't have it now. But I will by the time the play comes around."

"What do I get just for auditioning?"

"I'll convince my mum to make that cake you like."

"Fine."

"BUT!" he exclaimed. "You have to audition for Juliet."

"You're kidding?"

He laughed. "No, I'm not. You have to audition for Juliet."

"I hate you," you mumbled before sighing a whispered 'fine.'

He gave a toothy smile. "Then we have a deal."

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Auditions

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You reluctantly walked onto the stage, Daniel's widening grin so visible in the audience. He said that he only put his name on the audition sheet so he could watch the auditions. He would've already been gone by the time it was his turn.

"Hello, My name is Y/n L/n, and I am auditioning for Juliet," your lips pressing into a straight line after saying the sentence.

You stammered through your first few lines. "Sh-Shall I speak ill of him— that is my husband?" You said with a laugh.

"Ah," you paused and clicked your tongue. "Poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name… When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it?"

You said your following line in an accusatory manner. "But wherefore, villain... didst thou kill my cousin?" you said, though your voice squealed trying to pronounce 'didst.' "That villain cousin would have killed my husband."

"Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring!" Your voice rose and fell several octaves. "Your tributary drops belong to woe, Which you, mistaking, offer up to joy." Fake tears spring to your eyes, your voice cracked, and you began slowly falling against an invisible wall.

You looked down at your paper for what to say next. "My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain; And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband. All this is comfort; wherefore weep I then?" You wiped your cheeks dramatically.

"Some word there was, worser than Tybalt's death, That murd'red me. I would forget it fain;" your lips quivered, and you sucked in deep, heaving breaths before speaking your line.

"But O, it presses to my memory. Like damnèd guilty deeds to sinners' minds! 'Tybalt is dead, and Romeo--banishèd!" You shouted.

You stood back up in a startling jump, and with a proud smile, you said triumphantly, "And Scene!"

The directors and some students in the audience, especially Daniel, gave a round of applause before the director dismissed you.

You took the steps to the stage and sat next to Daniel as the director called the next student to audition.

"You were amazing! The director might as well have given you the role right then and there."

You laughed, "Hang on, charmer. There were a bunch of Juliet's who literally said that entire thing so… fluently. I stammered through the whole thing."

"But you showed more emotion than anyone else. You only had a week to prepare. The actual show will be like child's play."

"They want people who can memorize and recite. The emotion can be added later, but it's worth nothing if they forget their lines."

"There is such a thing called improvising for a reason," he reassured.

"Who in their right, bloody minds wants to improvise Shakespeare?"

He turned his head and chuckled before waving a five-pound note in front of your face. "Here, I got to go before they call me, but you earned this at least."

"Five pounds for being forced to audition for a stupid play so you can prove a point? Wow, you must really fancy me, huh, Sharman?" you said sarcastically.

"Goodbye, L/n," he whispered before sneaking out the back door of the auditorium.

"Alright, next up. Daniel Sharman!" The director shouted your friend's name a few more times before giving up.

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Headmasters Office

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A week after your audition, you were called to the headmasters' office. Thus is the cause of the curious looks from your classmates. Oohs and Aahs flooded your ears as you grabbed your bag and headed out the door to the front of the school.

When you got to the front of the building and went into the headmasters' office, you saw the Theatre director, Ms Parker, standing behind the desk. "Headmaster Leo allowed me to use his office to do this. Isn't that cool?"

Ms Parker was one of the younger teachers in school. She was twenty-four, and this was her first year teaching after receiving her bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in music production. A fact she could astoundingly ramble about for fifteen minutes. As proven at the auditions.

"I didn't want to call you to the theatre room. That would be too predictable, correct?" You'd come to realize she was a very eccentric woman. "I have called you in here to inform you that you have been selected to perform in this year's play of Romeo and Juliet."

A wave of shock coursed through your body, and you were sure it reflected on your face. "Are you sure?"

"Darling, I'm positive!- your audition was totally spectacular! So brilliant-in fact- that I am completely sure in my choice to make you our female lead- Juliet!"

"What!" Your eyes widened into a blank stare. Your thoughts were running rampant in your mind. You thought that performing on the stage would be a breeze when you weren't the lead.

"Ms Parker, I didn't actually want the part of Juliet! It's just that my friend dared me to audition for Juliet! Is there no way I can get a smaller part? I'm no Juliet. The show would be ruined," you rambled.

The directors' facial expressions softened, "Darling, you are the only choice. None of the other people who auditioned can even compare to the amount of passion you produced in that audition. I am determined to have you as our Juliet."

You whimpered out an "Ok." Professors had a strange way of convincing you to do extra credit assignments or things that aren't necessary.

"We have a chemistry read for you and a few of our other choices for Romeo after school today. Do you need to contact a parent to let them know where you'll be?"

"Uh, yes, please."

After you made your call, you walked back to your classroom with shaky hands. The class period was almost over, but you had to tell Daniel that you had gotten a part in the show. Not just any part- THE PART!

You shuffled into the classroom reluctantly. All eyes were on you as every student had assumed you'd been in trouble. Either suspended, expelled, or told your parents were going to have a sit-down with the headmaster.

You took your seat next to Daniel before taking out a piece of paper and writing out a note, encompassing the words, "I got the part!"

You slid the sheet discreetly onto his desk. When he read it, his eyes widened, and he quietly moved his hands toward yours, beckoning for a high five.

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First Rehearsal

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After the chemistry read, the role of Romeo was given to a kid named James Mercer-Allen got the part. Though it was more because the directors were starting to become tired.

The next day was the first rehearsal. Swimming season was last semester, so there was no clash in schedules with the play.

"Alright, this rehearsal is to get acquainted with the stage, your fellow actors, and directors," she insisted. "Now, let's introduce ourselves. Can our Romeo please stand up?"

James stood up and gave a brief introduction. You were called on next. You stated your name, "I was on the swim team last semester, and I'm in my thirteenth year. I hope I can do this role justice."

More students stood up to introduce themselves. The entire process took more than thirty minutes.

The next thing to happen was that the rest of the students were called to recite lines for various roles. The only parts that had been cast preliminarily were Romeo and Juliet.

You and James had sat on the wooden stools unless there was a scene going on that needed Romeo and/or Juliet.

By the end of the first rehearsal, the majority of the speaking roles were cast. You went home exhausted but not expecting the conversation that waited for you.

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The Talk

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"We're moving?" you shouted at your parents from your seat across from them in the sitting room. "What do you mean we're moving."

"Honey, your dad got a job in the states, so we have to move," your mother argued.

"But what about school? No school will take me in the middle of the year, and it's my last year of secondary school. I don't want to spend the rest of my last year knowing nobody."

Your dad, the man of the hour, spoke up. "Dear, we're moving at the end of the year. After school ends."

"But- What about Uni?"

"You said you were taking a sabbatical year!"

"Yes, so I could intern in London!"

"Can't you intern in California?" Your mother whined.

"We're going to California? It's the furthest state?"

Your dad attempted to reassure you but failed. "Darling, it won't be that bad. Maybe you'll like it there more than you like it here!"

"I could never like anywhere more than I like it here!"

You agreed to go to your room and spent the rest of the day there. Later on, after you finished moping, you ringed up your closest friends to tell them you were moving. You did that until you were so tired you fell asleep on the phone with Sarah before you even called Daniel.

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Confrontation

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"Why am I hearing from everyone besides you that you're moving?" Daniel appeared out of thin air behind you, and the accusation was an assault on your conscience.

You could lie and tell him that you wanted to reveal that to him in person, or you could just tell him the truth- say you fell asleep. Mix-and-Match? You ended up just telling the truth. "I fell asleep when I was making some of my other calls. I was going to tell you, I swear!"

"Why didn't you call me first. I'm your best friend?"

"That's why! It was too hard. I kept putting it off and putting it off and putting it off because I didn't want to tell you, I don't want it to be true, and telling you of all people would make it feel real."

"Why can't you stay for Uni?"

"I already told my parents I was taking a gap year. I didn't apply to any colleges."

"Crap!" he sighed. "Ok, well, we're going to have to make the most of it. And! You're getting a going away party!"

"Daniel, I don't need-"

"No debate! You are getting a going away party!"

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Opening Night

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Four months later, after all the rehearsals and memorizations of lines. After much running around the entire film department, it was finally opening night, and your nerves were shot.

You were scrambling all morning to find everything you needed. All your costumes were at the school, but you still needed to bring your black leotard, skin-coloured tights, and wear your hair in an up-do style.

You decided to do your skincare routine, but your panic got the best of you, and you forgot what every single product was used for.

Daniel came over and helped you get ready but found you practically hyperventilating.

Your parents drove you both to the theatre, and when Ms Parker told you that Daniel couldn't be backstage, you promptly told her that he was your emotional support. After much arguing, she finally let him backstage.

Around an hour before showtime, the director told Daniel that he had to go wait in the audience if he already bought his ticket or that he had to go do it now.

Before he left, he gave you a pep-talk. "Hey, so one time, I was in this play, and the idea was that I was expelled, and there was a piece of paper I had to give my 'mother,' but I lost it. So we had to improvise, but I couldn't find the paper, and I felt horrible. So just know, even if you forget your lines, you must improvise, and remember, it still probably won't compare to the embarrassment I felt that day. So you can laugh at my humiliation. "

You chuckled, "I will. Ok, go before you get in trouble."

"Ok, me, our parents and all your friends will be in the front row. I've already reserved the entire row. I brought a whole bag of jackets just for that reason!"

"You can't do that," you said in between cackles.

"For you, I'll do anything," he grinned.

A few hours later and the show was almost done. "What's here? A cup, closed in my true love's hand? Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end," you wept.

"O, churl! Drunk all and left no friendly drop to help me after? I will kiss thy lips; Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, to die with thine restorative." You leaned over James and let your hair fall to the side of your head to cover your face. You pulled back without actually kissing James.

"Thy lips are warm."

A whispery voice came from offstage, "Which way?" The cue for you to take the poison, which was actually cranberry juice.

"Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!" You grabbed the dagger and brought it near your chest. "This is thy sheath;" you drew the fake knife back three inches from your chest and stabbed it to where the bag of more cranberry juice was and punctured the bag. 'Blood' soaked through your dress. "There rust, and let me die." You fell dramatically onto the altar and waited for the scene to end as the crowd cheered.

After the show, you dashed into the crowd where your friends and family waited for you. Ovations and Applauses were passed, lauded boxes of chocolates and gorgeous roses were given.

When you got to Daniel, he practically tackled you with a hug. "I actually thought you died for a split second. The blood looked so real."

"Daniel, most people don't bleed that fast, do they?"

"I don't know but fear kicked in, and I couldn't make sense of anything."

You grinned and almost went to your parents before Daniel grabbed your arm. "You don't have a date to the Leavers ball, do you?"

"No, I don't. Why?"

He sighed. "Well, I was thinking that you could go with me. I don't have a date either."

You squinted, thinking there was some ulterior motive behind his actions. "Ok, I'll go with you if you give me the money you owe me before then."

"It's right here," he smiled.

Your face scrunched up, but you reluctantly agreed. You only had a month of school left, and you might as well spend it having fun with your friends.

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The Leavers Ball and the Getaway Party

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You were dressed in a light blue, pleated, Mikado prom dress that cut off at mid-thigh. You had black wedges on your feet and a black pearl-beaded bracelet on your arm.

You were wearing a half-up, half-down style that framed your face and a silver necklace with a circle-shaped diamond.

You were sitting in the parlour when Daniel rang the doorbell. He was ten minutes late.

"Sorry," he said when your dad answered it. "I know I'm late. I was picking up Kat and James."

Kat and James were your and Daniel's respective friends who'd started last year after you and Daniel introduced them.

"Hi," you popped out of the shadows. "Alright, Mom, Dad, we're late, so we're just going to get goi-"

"Wait! I have to take pictures! Go get Kat and James."

"No, Mom. No pictures!"

"It's only right. I just want a few. We can take it outside."

You sighed but reluctantly caved into your mother's will.

The four of you took pictures outside of Daniel's Jeep Wrangler. You took ones with silly faces, just girls, just boys, and ones with all four of you before your parents allowed you to leave.

You were forty minutes late, and the ball was already in full swing by the time you got there.

You got on the dance floor immediately because one of your favourite songs was playing, but the DJ switched the song as soon as you found a decent spot. It was a slow song. You chuckled, and Daniel put his hands on your waist.

"Well, this is awkward."

A few minutes later, Daniel posed an interesting question.

"Did you know that I had a crush on you when you first came to school?"

"Uh, you stammered. "No, I didn't know that."

"Yeah, I did. It was short, though. Surface-level."

"Oh," you said. "Should I take offence to that?"

"What?" His eyes widened in realization with what he said. "No, that's not what I meant. You have an amazing personality. I just meant that… I just meant I like you more as a friend than to ruin that with any of those feelings."

"Oh, ok. You wouldn't have, though."

"I wouldn't?"

"No, everyone needs an ego boost every once in a while."

"Haha!"

"And besides, I've had feelings for you at one point too. But it was very cliche, so I tried to shake it as hard as I could."

"Oh?" He raised his eyebrows. "And did you?"

"Like I said, as hard as I could. If it's still there somewhere, it's buried very deep, so much so that I was embarrassed."

"Embarrassed to like me?"

"I mean embarrassed to try and make my life seem like some movie."

"Oh, well, if you did, it would've just made you that much better as an actress. Speaking of that, would you consider acting in the least?"

"Maybe, now that I'm leaving, it's basically the last thing I have to connect me to you."

"No," he said, pointing to your bracelet. "You have that."

You had forgotten that it was Daniel who gave it to you, but the realization brought a smile to your face. "Oh yeah, I'll never take it off."

Later on, long before the ball ended, you saw many of your friends leaving.

"Hey, are you ready to go?" Daniel approached you.

"Where is everyone going?"

He wriggled his eyebrows. "Afterparty!"

"But it's not over?"

"Quit being a party popper and just come with us, L/N!"

You gave in, something you did a lot, and you all started driving. When you got there, you realized you were at Daniel's house.

"The afterparty is at your house?" you asked.

"Well…" James answered.

Kat joined in. "It's really an afterparty!"

"This is your going away party!" Daniel finished.

"But I'm not going away for another month."

"Well, now you have an entire month for people to give you gifts and stuff, and you don't have to worry about the party!" He reasoned.

"But why did it have to be after the Leavers ball?"

"Because you're already in a dress, and it has to be a surprise! Surprise!" Kat exclaimed.

"Alright, fine!"

The entire night you partied and danced, and though you didn't drink alcohol, plentiful amounts of pop and mocktails were passed around. The music was a delight to your ears with all your favourite songs. There were chips and pizza with all your favourite toppings.

"This party is awesome!"

Daniel grinned. "Well, I am an amazing party planner if I do say so myself."

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Airport

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Daniel's parents drove your family to the airport. Your parents had sold the car. Your dad would return in a week to close a deal on the house. Everything was official, and now you were leaving.

You got out of the car, and the tears forcefully began to fall.

"I'm really gonna miss you, jerk," you said disdainfully to Daniel.

He chuckled. "I'm going to miss you more."

"Impossible!"

He wiped the fallen tear from your eye, and for a moment, you could see every single multi-coloured speck in his eyes and noticed how sometimes they looked blue, and at others, they looked grey or green.

You noticed the curvature of his smile and the chisel of his jawline.You saw the hurt in his eyes that said, 'why do you have to go? You're killing me,' and wanted to never move from that position.

He continued to rub the tears that fell onto your cheek, and the sad moment was as sheltered as it could be. You felt safe with him, in his arms, just looking at his face and being reminded of how he comforted you in a place that felt as familiar as Oz felt to Dorothy.

"What am I gonna do without you?" you whispered.

"Get at least one acting job, get an assistant and an agent, I'll do the same thing, and then either one of us has our assistants reach out to our agents, so we get back in touch in case we ever lose touch."

He sounded so grave that you couldn't help but laugh. "That's assuming I do become an actress, Daniel."

"You're right," he whined. "But don't forget me."

"I promise."

And you tried to keep that promise. Throughout your first year, you interned at UCLA, working in the lab. You then applied to go to school there, and you still tried to keep Daniel in your mind. Maintaining a social life on campus combined with schoolwork already wasn't easy. However, you still wouldn't let yourself forget your best friend.

It wasn't until you entered your senior year and you were about to graduate that he started to wane in your memories. The things you did together became obsolete as new friends and memories replaced the old. The things he taught you were thrown out to make space for the new lessons you learned each day.

Even when you did become an actress, you never really remembered why you decided to. You remembered that your friend pushed you to do that play, but it was almost ten years ago, and for the life of you, you couldn't remember his name.

But you did do it, first as an extra, then a body double, and then you started getting l roles on smaller shows. But your big break was getting a quasi-lead role on the spin-off of a big television show, The Walking Dead. For two years, you enjoyed going to conventions and playing the complex character, Valeria Bishop, and you thought you had it all figured out.

But life has a funny way of coming full circle and throwing you a curveball that knows you off course and changes your life.

[karls-writing-space]

GF, Tommyinit, and Quackity with a fem best friend (or S/O) who plays guitar in a rock band that reader and her friends made and they got a gig in a restaurant and reader is super nervous? (My band just got a gig in a restaurant and I’m freaking out)

Absolutely!

And ayyy!! That's amazing, Anon!! I hope that your band's gig goes well!! Best of luck!!

I'm gonna have the reader be GF's S/O, while CC!Tommy and CC!Big Q will merely just be platonic, if that's chill?

— ☆ — ☆ — ☆ — ☆ — ☆ — ☆ — ☆ — ☆ — ☆ — ☆ — ☆ — ☆ — ☆ — ☆—

Girlfriend, CC!Tommyinnit, and CC!Quackity With A Fem!Best Friend/ S/O Who's Rock Band Got A Gig At a Restaurant.

[All separate - CC!Tommy and CC!Quackity are platonic]

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Girlfriend

She's so happy for you!

Girlfriend is super happy that her lover's band has a gig at a restaurant.

She'd hug you so tightly and [almost] exclaim how happy she is for you and your band.

"Babe, that's amazing! I'm so happy for you. Look - Look where you've all come!"

Now, she doesn't really listen to rock music as she isn't very fond of loud noises, but GF is still going to cheer you and your band on.

She has actually heard one of your songs, and she thought you all were really good!

Girlfriend wants to show her support for you and your band as much as she can.

When she sees that you're nervous, she can totally relate. She knows what it's like to be nervous when going in front of people and performing. She's felt the same way. Even her mother felt the same way before a few of her own shows too.

"Is there anything I can do to help you calm down, love? I can help you get prepared, or -"

She loves you, and she's willing to do anything it takes to help you feel at least a little bit better.

If you wanted to rehearse in front of her, GF will gladly be your practice audience for then. She would compliment you too.

If you were rehearsing with your band in front of her, she will hype you guys up, and be in awe of the talent that your band has.

If you rather rehearse alone in front of her, she will understand and still hype you up!

I'm just imagining her headbanging a little to the music and it's one of the cutest things I've ever thought of-

GF will also make sure that you look after yourself.

"Babe, c'mon. I get you got a show tomorrow, but you need sleep."

"If you sleep now, you'll have a good chance of having an outstanding show tomorrow."

If she's sleeping over at your place, GF will cuddle you until you fall asleep.

On the day/night of the show, she will go to that restaurant, order something, and watch you and your band perform.

After your songs, she will cheer so, so happily.

Again, rock isn't her favorite genre, but she could listen to you and your band play for days on end.

Girlfriend is so proud of you guys - especially you. She's very, very proud of you.

CC!Tommyinnit

When this guy hears that his best friend is going to be performing with her band, he couldn't be happier.

He's FREAKING OUT. {Postitvely}

"Holy SHIT, ___. This - This is - so pog. Pog-fucking-CHAMP!"

He's telling his parents, his pets, your guys' friends. Anyone that you both know.

"Mom mom mom - did you know that ___'s band has a gig?"

"Tubbo. ___. Has. A Gig. Ain't that great?!"

"Walter, Betty. ___ and her band have a gig!"

"...Woof."

Whoever Tommy told about your and your band's upcoming gig sent you support.

I mean, Walter and Betty can't speak English, so you got woofs of support from them both-

In all honesty, Tommy is really happy for you and your band. He thinks that the fact that you guys landed a gig is really cool!

He has a likening to Rock music and , given the chance, he will rock out with you guys.

LOVES your music. Covers or Original music - this guy just LOVES it all.

When he notices that you're nervous, big guy over here turns it down a couple of notches. He doesn't want to make you feel too nervous or overwhelmed or anything.

"Hey, hey, ___. You good? I didn't overdo anything, did I?"

When you tell him that you're nervous, he will ask why. He does understand why someone would be nervous about something like this.

Tommy's going to try to find ways to help you calm those nerves of yours down one way or another.

He will suggest that you play video games together.

Or maybe watch some videos together?

Perhaps you guys could do some dumb shit together too. Anything to get your mind off of what was happening soon and to calm you down.

If you want to rehearse in front of him, Tommy will watch and listen to you. All with a grin from the fluffy blonde boy.

This would end up with the two of you joking around with the instruments and microphones.

Just you two jamming out and singing random songs.

"I suck his di-"

"NONONONONO-"

Just an evening with a bunch of laughs between two good friends.

The day/night of your performance with your band, Tommy will go to that restaurant with his and your friends to go and hype you up.

After a song, Tommy will clap and cheer with the gaggle of friends.

"WOOO! AWE YEAH ___! GO [Band's Name]!!!"

He will VERY MUCH HAPPILY tell the people sitting near him and your friends that you're his best friend.

"Y'know, that's my best friend up there. Isn't ___ great?!"

He'll fight anyone who disagrees. /j

All and all, Tommy is really glad that you managed to land a gig with your band and hoped that he had calmed your nerves enough the night before.

CC!Quackity

"NO WAY- REALLY?"

"Really!"

"LET'S GOOOOO!!!"

Quackity is STOKED that you AND your band got a gig. He's really happy for you!

He's gonna pull you in this huge tight-ass hug while rambling about how great you'll be. You are his best friend, after all.

He even over exaggerates his rambling by dramatically playing air guitar, air drums, and singing random gibberish.

"And then there'll be 'bang-bang-bang-ching-bang' while the singer's like "la-la-laaaa~!""

He's doing this to get at least a laugh out of you.

Big Q likes your music a LOT. If you're a cover band, he will sing that song you covered to himself. And if you're a band that writes original music, he'll play some of your songs on his streams to show his support - all while trying not to get copyright troubles.

He really thinks that you AND your band are amazing.

Once he notices that you're nervous, like Tommy, he turns his hype down a few notches. he really doesn't want to overwhelm you or make your nerves worse.

"Hey - what's up, __? You alright...?"

When he hears that you're nervous, he nods. He kind of understands why you feel like that. And it's a totally valid feeling to feel. Hell, you're going to be performing in front of live people.

"Listen, listen. You're gonna be so great out there, ya know? You're talented. Like, really talented. And so are your bandmates. If anyone says otherwise, fuck them. Don't listen to a damn thing they say. Hey - I'll be there to cheer you on, alright?"

For once during this conversation, he's actually being serious. Quackity really thinks that you're talented, and genuinely thinks that you'll do well.

To try and calm you down as much as he can, the two of you think of something to do.

There was playing Minecraft... Playing Roblox...

"Wanna play Rock-Paper-Scissors with my cat?"

Tiger's gonna eat your hand, so be careful with that, mate.

The two of you spend the night playing some really crackhead-y versions of games such as Monopoly or Clue with one another. The two of you were making dumb jokes and getting "angry" if you lost.

Big Q over here will also be over you, making sure you look after yourself that night too.

"___, GO TO SLEEP." He says as you called him for the third time that night.

"But I can't, Q."

"C'monnn, please? If you don't, you won't be able to play with your band tomorrow."

"Hmmm... No."

"Now listen here, you little shit. Don't make me go over there. I'll make you sleep."

"Oh, I'm so scareddd~"

Next thing you know, this guy is driving over to your place so that YOU GO TO S L E E P.

Anywho, the day/night you and your band performed, Quackity stayed true to what he had said and was sitting at a table eating something while watching you and your band perform.

He would cheer loudly after each of your songs, which DID earn him some looks from other people, but he didn't seem to care.

Quackity is happy that he's able to see you perform, and to be honest, he thought that you - his best friend - were amazing.

[draco-kasai]

Hero Collaboration Program

Summery: High School Hero Collaboration Program! Helping Sophomore hero students connect with others around the world! Come join us for a two-week-long trip to one of our schools for an amazing once in a lifetime experience with students of Yuuei! Only a lucky 40 students will be selected for this program. They will be split into two groups of 20 and sent to different schools to have completely unique experiences!

A/N: AKA, A very ambitious fanfic I started because even though I have another fanfic in progress my brain decided to give me an idea and I just had to do it. These are all characters I adore and I even did lots of reasurch on them to hopefuly get them down right. I also too many backstories and threw them into a meat grinder to remold them in a way that would make them fit into this universe.

I love Class 1-A, but like they need to be taken down a peg or two, and I want to see them get their asses handed to them.  

Ch. 1 part 2 of 3 Program Sign-Ups -->

Chapter 1 Part 3

           Chapter 1 Part 1

The sound of wheels rolling against concrete and mild chatter flowed around the skate park. A small group of friends all joked about as they took turns going down the vert ramp. A tanned girl with dark brown hair, dark purple horns and pointed ears. Laughed as her brown haired friend almost slipped off his board when he landed beside them. His dark blue eyes glared back over at her, making her snort at his attempt to be intimidating. 

“Stop laughing, Paloma, it’s not funny.” The boy huffed, straightening out his T-shirt.  

With another giggle, she kicked off the top of the ramp with her scooter. Getting some air over at the other side, she gripped the handle bars once she landed and moved to the other side. Performing a tail grab, she smirked, “yes it was.” she spoke quickly, her own tail poking the boys' forehead, before landing back on the ramp and rolling to the other side. Noah blinked a few times in surprise before frowning. The sound of a giggle had him turning to a girl with long red hair that was tied up in a ponytail.

“Bettyyyy!” He whined, making her giggles turn into laughter.

“I - I’m sorry, Noah! It - it’s just… your face!” She covered her lips in an attempt to stifle her laughter. The boy besides her pouts. 

“Ouch, my own girlfriend.” Noah dramatically slapped a hand over his chest, “Well, it was a good two months while it lasted.” 

Betty snorts as she pokes his cheek, “Stop it, I’m just messing with you.” 

“I’m gone for three minutes!'' The two turn to see Paloma smirking at them. The couple glance over at one another before laughing. Rolling her brown eyes, Paloma gestured towards the ramp, “Your turn, Betty. We’ll meet you on the ground.”

With a smile, the girl tightened her ponytail, “Gotcha.” giving her boyfriend a quick peck on the cheek, she adjusted her board and rushed down the ramp. After performing a few tricks, she slowed her descent down and made her way off the ramp to her friends. “Hey Regeena, hey Chaz.” She greeted the other two that joined her group.

“Sup Betty.” they both responded in unison. Opting to get out of the way of the other skaters, the group of friends made their way to sit at a bench. 

“I still can’t believe she’s still in the hero course after that.” Regeena along with everyone else chuckled.

“I keep telling her she should just stick to photography, but she’s so obsessed with proving herself better than Betty.” Chaz sighs, “You’d think she’d stop doing that already.” 

“I mean, she’s gotten better.” Noah pats his friend's shoulder reassuringly, “at least she’s not flaunting her money and wealth around anymore.” 

“Or getting me into trouble.” Betty adds 

“True that.” Regeena nods, “You know, if she wasn’t so obsessed with being better than you, I think she’d make a great rescue hero.’

“Gasp, praise? For Penelope? Regeena I’m shocked.” Paloma jokes, making the girl slap her shoulder. 

“Yeah, oh, hey, Betty, are you signing up for the uh, hero thing program?” Chaz asked, “Penelope came home complaining about the program, I read through the packet though, it seems like fun.”

The redhead smirked, leaning back in her seat she crossed her arms over her chest, “Of course I am. I’d never miss an opportunity to better myself and meet new people.”

“Ahhh I’m going to miss you.” Noah pouts as he lays his head on her shoulder. Green eyes roll skyward as she gently pats her boyfriend's cheek.

“I haven't even gotten accepted yet, Noah. I still have to fill out the packet and get through the interviews.” 

“He’s not wrong, though,” Chaz pouts, “when you do get accepted, cause there’s no way you won’t be, you’ll be gone for two weeks.”

“Wha - two weeks!?” Paloma and Regeena gasped.

“Oooo girl, I’m already missing you so much!” Regeena rose to her feet to walk around the bench and hug her friend. 

“Make sure to text us if you can!” Paloma knocks Betty back into Noah’s chest with a hug. 

“Agh guys! You’re suffocating meeee!” Betty laughs. Noah and Chaz exchange a look before developing them all in a hug, making the girls squeal. “You guuuuys~! Common! Let go! Let’s go skate already!”

“No way! Let me carve this moment into my memory where I will forever look back on it fondly!” Paloma laughed 

“Awe, guuyys” Betty giggles as she does her best to hug who she can.

Betty Barrett. Age 16. Seat 7. Student Rank 6. Hero Name: Atomic Betty. Quirk: Self Gravity 

Can control the gravity of her own body, making it lighter or heavier. She is able to single out any part of her body with her quirk for a stronger attack. With enough concentration, she could manipulate her body’s center of gravity, allowing her to walk on walls.

Hand to hand, Karate, Jujitsu

____

A tall boy walked into the large house in silence. Setting down his backpack on the counter, he began taking out any homework he had been assigned. He paused when his eyes landed on the packet his school had handed out to anyone in the hero courses. If he remembers correctly, his older cousin had taken part in the program years ago, too.

Setting the packet down, he let out a heavy sigh. Walking into the kitchen, he prepared himself something he could snack on while he worked on homework. Wondering back over to the table, he set down the plate and began homework. Once he was finished, he eyed the packet once again. 

Maybe if he got in, his parents would come home and congratulate him. 

He shook the thought off immediately. His parents want him to be a performer, not a hero like he wants to be. They never supported his dream, and yet they're proud of his cousin Zatana. Maybe it’s because she’s a daylight hero, and not an underground hero like he wants to be.

Would Zatana be happy for him if she knew he had applied?

Silently, he wondered if she’d tell her old mentor, his hero; Constantine, and what he would think. 

He bit his lower lip at the thought. His family is never home, they're always busy with putting on shows. Would they even notice him gone for two weeks? No... Probably not. With a heavy sigh, he turned the packet to the page that had to be filled in. Even if nobody is proud of him or supports his dreams, he will be a hero and this program sounds like it would be beneficial for him.

Zachary Zatara. Age 16. Seat 1. Student Rank 7. Hero Name: Mage. Quirk: Magic.

With magic, he can do various unexplainable things. 

Staff fighting, hand to hand, martial arts.

____

A tanned girl with glasses hummed as she took a sip of her drink, “So, what do you guys think of that program, Mlle. Bustier told us about?” She asked as she brought a hand up to play with the bright strands of her hair.

“Oh, the exchange program, right?” the boy next to her wearing a hat and glasses smiled, “I heard Kim and Alix might sign up.”

“Of course they would. But knowing them, they're going to struggle with those essays.” A blond with cat ears, that turned black at the tips, chuckled softly.

“What about you two? You and Marinette are in the hero courses, right?” The ombre haired girl asked as she leaned forward in curiosity.

The blond smiled sheepishly, “Yeah, I’m applying. It sounds like fun and all, but I, um, I was hoping to get in just to get away for a while.” Everyone at the table exchanged looks before turning to the blond with a reassuring smile.

“That’s fine, Adrien, you definitely deserve some time away from Paris.”

“Yeah, you can’t keep blaming yourself for that, Adrien. You didn’t know, he kept pushing you away and making you work. You couldn’t have known.”

“Yeah dude, after everything that happened this semester, with your dad being arrested as a super villain and all- ow!” He turned to the girl next to him, who was shooting him a glare. Realizing what he said, he was quick to correct himself, “N- not that any of us blame you! I mean, like, how were you supposed to know!? He kept you locked up and- I mean, You deserve a vacation from Paris! Yeah! That! You deserve to have fun and do things you were never allowed to do!” He smiled sheepishly.

Adrien’s smile widened at his best friend’s antics, “Thanks Alya, Nino, Mari. That means a lot. What are you planning on doing, Mari?” He turned to face the blue haired girl that sat next to him.

“Oh, I’ve been planning on applying ever since Luka told me about it.” Marinette smiled as she played with the straw of her drink.

“Luka told you about it?” Nino asked.

“Mhm, He took part in it last year. We would video chat and he’d send pictures. It looks like a perfect opportunity to make connections with possible partners. Maybe It’ll give me new ideas for designs, too.”

“Wha~ I’d definitely apply if I were in the hero course, that’s for sure!” Alya smiled brightly.

“It's never too late, Als.” Marinette rose a brow. “You’re already taking some hero course classes. You could always just…”

Her friend waved her hand about as if to dispel the thought, “No way, I’d rather get footage and interviews of hero fights than be a part of it! You know I’m taking those classes in case I need to protect myself.” She smirked, “Besides, I could say the same for you. An aspiring fashion designer and hero, yet you refuse to make hero costumes.”

“I’d rather make clothes for fashion and not something that would probably need repairs a few days later.” Alya and Marinette giggled.

“Wha- don’t look at me like that, Adrien. I’m in the same boat as Alya, just because I want to be a DJ doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be able to jump in to protect people. Gotta make use of Shelter after all”

Adrien sighs, “Carapace and Rena Rouge will never happen now.”

Alya snickers as Nino gives his friend an amused smile, “Carapace and Rena Rouge?” Marinette giggles

“Yeah! It came to me in a dream where we battled magic evil butterflies and used magic jewelry to fight crime! I even had their hero costumes all drawn out and everything! We could have been a quartet!”

Alya covers her lips as she laughs, “That's one heck of a dream. I appreciate it, Adrien, but we’re fine. Besides, Ladybug and Chat Noir are going to be the best duo when they debut!” The two friends looked at one another and smiled.

“Oh, You two are signing up as a duo, right?” Nino asks in curiosity, raising an eyebrow. Marinette and Adrien give one another a knowing look.

“No, actually, we’re not.” Adrien smiles

“W - what?! Why?! I thought you two were planning to debut as a duo!” Alya asked, sitting up, she looked between her two friends in confusion.

“We are, but we agreed that we can’t always rely on each other, so we’re going to sign up and, hopefully if we get in, end up in different groups.

Adrien grins, showing off his fangs, as he gives his best friend a half hug, “Being apart for a while is going to be great for us. Divide and conquer! When we meet up again, we’re going to compare notes and talk about our experiences!” 

“Oh… I… I guess that’s not too bad of an Idea.” Alya thought out loud. 

“If you learn any new fighting moves, you can just show each other too, pretty smart.” Nino nods.

“Of course it’s Pur-fect! Our ladybug came up with it!” Adrien laughs at the groans he received. 

Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Age 15. Seat 12. Student Rank 8. Hero Name: Ladybug. Quirk: Lucky Charm.

Can create items to help her with any situation. The items that are created are random, leading to weird and elaborate plans that somehow always work. When she has finished making use of the item, it disappears in a swarm of ladybugs that fix any damage made after she has summoned the item.

Acrobatics, Hand to Hand, Made up fighting style with Yo-yo

____

“But Ah-Mah pleeeease~!” a girl with long black hair and a pink streak whined

“Juniper, I said no.” an older woman shook her head as she worked her way around her office. 

“But why? Dennis got to apply in his sophomore year!” The young teenager pouted.

“Juniper, you know I need you here to help take care of everything around the house. Dennis has just graduated from the academy and has been busy making a name for himself as a hero, and Ray Ray is still too young to be left alone.”

“But Ray Ray is 12 -” 

“Juniper.” The young teenager fell silent at her grandmother's tone. The older woman let out a soft sigh, “I know it’s not fair.” She walked over to her granddaughter and gently cupped her cheeks, “but it’s always been just us four, ever since you were 8. I’ve worked harder than before to not lose you kids. I can’t retire until Dennis’s work is more secure, and he’s able to help support us better... I need you here, baobei. I’m sorry. Maybe next time…?” 

It’s a once a year thing only for sophomores…” Juniper let out a soft defeated sigh, placing her hands over her grandmothers she gently pried them away, “It’s okay Ah-Mah…” The young teenager walked out of the office, her head hung low. The older woman watched her go with sadness in her eyes. 

“You should let her at least apply…” Her eyes flickered to the open balcony, where a young man with spiked up black hair stood leaning against the door. 

“Dennis!” The older woman smiled tiredly as walked over to the young adult, “Hello, my little bèndàn.” She greeted warmly as they hugged. 

“Ah-Mah you really need to stop calling me that…” Dennis spoke in an annoyed tone, the smile on his lips betraying his true feelings. 

“I thought you wouldn’t be home until tomorrow.” The older woman chuckles softly as she goes back to her desk.

“The mission ended early.” The older boy shrugged, “So, about June -”

“Hey, Ah-Mah, why does June look so sad?” A younger boy asked as he poked his head into the office. He paused upon seeing his older brother. “Dennis!” He cheered, running over to his brother, “You’re back early!”

The young adult lets out a hearty laugh as he picks up his brother in a hug, spinning them about. Delighted giggles escaped his younger sibling's lips. “Hey there kiddo. Yeah, our mission ended early.” He sets the younger boy down and ruffles his hair, “Everything went smoothly.”

“So cool!” Their grandmother smiled fondly as she watched her two grandchildren interact. Her smile soon fell upon remembering the middle child and what had upset her. 

As the young boy spoke with his brother, he was suddenly reminded about his sister. She looked upset as she walked back to her room. “Ah-Mah, do you know why June is so upset?”

“Hm? Oh…” The older woman snapped out of her thoughts, “She wants to attend a sort of exchange student program for hero students. I want to let her apply, I really do, but if she gets in, Dennis and I work and we can’t leave you home alone.” The younger boy's face fell. It sounds like he’s unintentionally holding his sister back.

“I’m a big boy! I can be left home alone for a few hours!” Ray Ray puffed up his chest.

“I know baobei, but grandma has had this business trip scheduled for a while now. It took us months to get this meeting scheduled… I looked over the packet… My trip lines up with the first week that the program starts.” 

“I can always stay home that week till you get back.” Dennis offered.

“Would your work allow that? You had just recently started, I don’t want to place you in such a spot-”

“Ah-Mah, it’s fine. I’m sure my boss would be fine with it if I explain the situation. Not to mention, I’ve saved up my vacation days.” the boy gives a cocky smirk. 

The older woman's lips grew into a large grin, "Juniper will be very happy to hear this, and to see you back home. Come, let us break the good news to her." 

Juniper Lee. Age 16. Seat 3. Student Rank 9. Hero Name: Fāxiàn. Quirk: Detect.

She receives coordinates to a location to find anyone she needs to find. To do so, she must have made eye contact with the person she plans to keep track of at least once. She can keep track a single individual for three hours, has a limit of 5 people at a time for an hour. Her eyes turn purple as she focuses on tracking anyone. 

Parkour, hand to hand, karate. 

_____

“What do you think, sis?”

“I think it’s a really good opportunity. It sounds like it’s a fun little vacation too. You should definitely take advantage of it, Virgil.” An older woman with her dark hair in pigtails nods as she hands her younger brother the packet back.

“Yeah? You think dad would be cool with it?” Virgil asked, black eyes roaming over the packet once again, flipping to the other pages. 

“I know dad can be… strict, but I’m sure he’d understand. You just gotta ask.” His sister placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder before flicking his ear, “Now go get the table set up. Dinner's almost ready.” She grinned, walking back for the kitchen

“Ow, okay, jeez.” He lifted his hand.

“And NO using your QUIRK.” Virgil dropped his hand with a frown. By the time dinner was ready, the sibling's father arrived home. 

“So, Virgil, Sharon, how was school?” the older man asked as he served himself more of his drink.

“College is college, dad. Nothin’ special really happened.” Sharon responded

“Oh? And how are things with Adam going? Well I hope.” 

Sharon blushed slightly at this, a soft smile gracing her lips, “Yeah, things are going really well, actually.” 

Her father smiled fondly at his daughter, “That’s good to hear. Invite him over for dinner soon, it’s been a while since he’s been over.” His daughter’s smile widened as she nodded. Turning to his son, he raised a brow in silent question.

“Oh, uh, heh, school was pretty alright, I doubt the school system has really changed.” Virgil smiled sheepishly, avoiding eye contact. Glancing at his sister, he spotted her pointed look. Clearing his throat, he turned to his father, “Uh hey dad, I have a question…” 

“Oh?”

“Um, well… There's this program, erm, the High School Hero Collaboration Program to be exact, and basically it's a two-week-long exchange program for hero students. I, uh, I want to know if it’s cool with you if I apply.”

The older man let out a soft sigh, lowering his fork. The young teen felt his shoulders tense at the sound. "You really are dead set on becoming a hero, aren't you?" 

Virgil blinked at the sudden question, "Uh, um, yes. Yes I am." 

"I really wish you would just do something safer like your sister…"

"Dad, the reason I want to be a hero is to protect you guys. I want to protect people who are struggling and need help."

"Then become a police officer or a firefighter."

"... Dad…" Virgil slumps back in his seat, "we always have this same argument…"

The older man gave out a tired sigh as he lifted his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I know son, I'm sorry… It's just… it's hard to support such a dangerous profession. Hero's around here… things are just…"

"I know dad… but I honestly thought I had proven myself enough during the field studies.” Virgil spoke up softly. Looking over to his sister, she nods and gives him a reassuring smile, “I want to make the city a safer place. Hero’s around here are already small in numbers and if I can help, even if just a little, I want to do that. Maybe even try to inspire more kids to take the hero course electives.” 

Robert was silent for a moment. Looking at his son, he could see the determination and resolve in his eyes. Letting his posture slacken a bit, his eyes softened, a soft smile on his lips, “You’re just like your mother with that passion to help others.” Virgil blinked in surprise, “Very well. You can sign up for the program.” 

“Yes!!” Virgil jumped up as he threw his fist in the air, “Oh man, Richie is going to be so excited! He’s been coming up with support gear and a new costume design and wouldn't leave me alone about it all day!” 

Robert let out a full belly laugh, “Alright, alright, sit down, son. Let’s enjoy the rest of your sister's delicious cooking first.”

“Yeah, you can call Richie later.” His sister smiled.

“Right, sorry.” Virgil gave a sheepish grin as he sat back down. 

Virgil Ovid Hawkins. Age 17. Seat 20. Student Rank 10. Hero Name: Static. Quirk: Electromagnetism.

Can generate, manipulate and absorb electrokinetic energy.

Hand to hand. 

____

"So, how was school, everyone?" An older woman asked as she and her large family all started eating dinner. All the kids at the table softly answered in unison, making the two adults chuckle in amusement.

"Come on guys, one by one." The older man said firmly. 

A boy with his dark brown hair waving in soft curls spoke up first, "Everyone in the hero course got a packet for an exchange program!" The boy next to him with black hair groaned softly. 

"Really? What's it about?" An older girl asked in curiosity. 

"Dude, that's awesome!" A younger girl bounced in her seat excitedly

"When is it?" One of the boys asked in a soft tone. 

"Will you be working with pro hero's?" A younger boy asked, tilting his head in curiosity. 

"Tell us Billy! Tell us!" The younger girl chirped happily. 

"Dude, Freddy, it was supposed to be a secret." Billy glared at the glasses wearing boy next to him. 

"A secret? Why?" The older man asked curiously. 

Letting out a sigh, Billy explained the program, "- it was supposed to be a secret because I wanted to tell you guys after I got accepted." He glares at a sheepish Freddy, "but I guess it's not anymore." 

"Don't worry! We're still surprised!" Darla says with a nod. Placing her palms on her cheeks, she makes a surprised face. Eugene nods in agreement and drops his jaw, eyebrows shooting up as he also made a surprised face. Everyone at the table laughed at the youngest's antics.

"She's not wrong. We are pleasantly surprised. I'm sure you'll get accepted." The older woman smiled 

"I hope so. It's basically a worldwide thing. From what the teachers said, it's really competitive. Only 40 students get accepted. That's why they have such an extensive application process." he smiled sheepishly, a hand rubbing the nape of his neck. His cheeks flushed red as everyone in his mismatched family shot him words of encouragement. It's been a whole year since he’s landed himself with his family, they’ve already been through so much together. He wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. 

Billy Batson. Age 16. Seat 15, Class Rank 11. Hero Name: Captain Marvel. Quirk: Shazam

When saying the word ‘Shazam’ he is transformed into a version of himself that is at their prime. 

Hand to hand, Stealth, street fighting. 

____

“What is this?” A pale hand grabbed the packet that was handed to her. Black eyes quickly scanned through the front page, an older woman with white hair sat across from her on the table. 

“It’s a program I think you’d enjoy, Jenny.” the older woman smiled softly, “I know that you feel trapped here, being homeschooled and all, so I thought you might want to join the program.” 

Jenny looked up at her mother in surprise, “Y - you mean it? You'll let me apply for this? If I get accepted, you’ll allow me to go!?”

Nora let out a soft chuckle, “Yes, I'm allowing you to go. Actually, I’ve been planning on enrolling you into school next Semester.”

“Really!?”

“That’s right. Once the paperwork is complete you’ll be in school starting January and if you do get into this program, you can think of it as a small break from school, to give yourself a breather, I think it would help you adjust to school better.”

“Oh my gosh, mom! You’re the best!” Jenny grinned widely, her eyes sparkling in excitement as she stood to her feet. 

“Yes, yes, this will be a wonderful opportunity for you to make friends too.”

“Mom, I have friends -”

“Online friends don’t count.” 

“... Social anxiety is hard to deal with.”

“Jenny, you came home late yesterday because you stopped by Miranda’s place and spoke with her for three hours.”

“She’s a sweet old lady. She just needs some company sometimes~” 

“And yet when the neighbor boy said hello to you this morning, you activated your skates and rushed inside.”

“... So it may be a selective type of anxiety…” 

“Jenny.”

The blue haired girl let out a sigh, crossing her arms, “Yeah, okay, fair.” She paused before speaking again, “Are you positive online friends don’t count?” Nora sent her daughter a raised eyebrow, amusement radiating off her in waves.

Jenny sagged her shoulders, “Right. I’ll get started on this now.” 

“Good. Make sure to email any of your teachers for those recommendation letters.” Nora rose out of her chair, “I’ll get started on dinner for us.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jenny Walkman. Age 17. Seat 6. Class Rank 12. Hero Name: XJ9. Quirk: Cyborg 

Although born like any other, her body is very obviously modified. 50% of her body is organic, containing the most important organs for essential survival. Her skin is smooth to the touch, has the ability to remove appendages to modify or replace. Has the ability to connect herself to electronics and is able to download information directly to her brain. 

Extensive knowledge in mechanics, Hand to hand, martial arts

Chapter 1 Part 3

[certifiedskywalker]

Academic Misgivings (Part Eight) - Peter Parker

You and Peter Parker aren’t friends, but you’re not entirely enemies either. You don’t like him but he always tries to be nice to you. He has everything you’ve ever wanted and you’ll do anything to show him that you can make it on your own. But can you?

Peter Parker and Y/N are closer than ever before. Maybe too close? Peter doesn’t seem to think so, but what happens when things get too real?

PART ONE / PART TWO / PART THREE / PART FOUR /PART FIVE / PART SIX / PART SEVEN

“Hello students of Midtown High and good morning. Today I will be handing the horn to our very own Betty Brant for a special announcement,” the voice of principal Davis was crackly over the intercom, but the words were clear enough that your stomach filled with a sense of mild dread. You sent a look to MJ who, sitting across the row from you, already had an unamused expression on her presently annoyed features.

“Thank you, principal Davis,” Betty’s overly chipper attitude took over. “Fellow students and esteemed faculty…” 

You glanced at MJ who ran a finger around her neck in a knife-like motion and stuck out her tongue. The laugh you stifled didn’t catch Ms. Lauren’s attention as the English teacher was intently listening. MJ shook her head and frowned as Betty continued.

“...the Student Council is proud to announce the date of this year’s Winter Formal. To give you all a chance to raise funds to your heart’s content, the dance has been pushed to Tuesday night at six! There you can enjoy a Winter Wonderland and refreshments from our very own Culinary Club! Tickets will be sold at lunch today and Monday! Be there or be square!”

“Jesus Christ,” MJ muttered, her eyes rolling back at the cliche saying. “She does know that she’s a square right, by definition?” You snickered at MJ’s comment which drew the attention of Ms. Lauren. The kindness she had held on the trip to Chicago faded in the moment as she glared in your direction.   

“Thank you for listening and have a fantastic Friday!” Betty’s sign off was a welcomed relief. MJ leaned back in her chair and sighed dramatically. Her curls spilled over the chair’s top, giving her an all the more chilled-out look.

“Alright class, you heard Ms. Brant! The dance! However, don’t let that distract you from your homework. Pages one hundred sixty through two hundred of The Great Gatsby are due by Monday, but today, find a partner and discuss the chapters you read for this week.”

The class quickly became alive with the chatter of everything but the book and the squeaking of desks against the linoleum floor as your peers moved to face their partners. MJ simply moved from her desk to the empty one behind you. Her long limbs knocked against the metal legs of the seat as you turned to face her. 

“So….”

“So what do you think about Nick’s perspective of Gatsby’s affair with Daisy? Is Fitzgerald making a commentary about how New Money has a sinful way of getting what they want?”

“Nah, I just think he’s gay for Gatsby,” MJ drawled nonchantly. Her fingers played with the worn edges of her book, not registering you slight shock.

“Wha...what..I...Whoa, maybe,” you pondered, glancing through your annotations.

“Yeah,” MJ sighed, “so are you going to the dance?”

“You mean the ‘mating ritual’,” you fired back. The corner of MJ’s lips quirked upwards just a sliver enough to make you proud.  “I don’t think so, no one has asked me.” 

“You don’t need to be asked. Don’t be another victim to this patriarchal society that demands ones worth to be quantified in proposals and admirers.” You raised a brow at her and MJ leaned back. “Just sayin’.”

“Yeah, okay…” You turned back to your book and tried to think of ways you could incorporate your remaining discussion questions.The ones that had pestered you in the night when you were much too excited to sleep. You weren’t sure if it was the pumping adrenaline lingering in your veins from the near crash or speaking to Spiderman.

“You and Peter seem...close….” MJ said suddenly, his low voice derailing your train of thought. “Tutoring ...right?”

“Y-Yeah,” you felt your cheeks heat up at the observation, “tutoring.” You threw your attention back into the novel, tried to immerse yourself in Gatsby’s longing, his pain, his confusion. Only you realized you were trapped in your own.

“And that’s all?” You breath caught in your throat and your wide eyes lifted to met MJ’s gaze. Her brown eyes, always curious, read over your features. Not in the same manner you had grown used to with Peter. MJ’s look was more calculating, a doctor’s eyes scanning over a chart to find a puzzling prognosis.

“That’s n-”

“Alright class, since discussion time has turned into social time, we’re going to have a silent reading day!” Ms. Lauren shouted from over the din of the classroom. Quiet fell over each student while you were flooded with a sense of relief. You turned away from MJ and buried your nose between the pages of the book. Despite the inadvertent rescue, you could still feel MJ’s eyes on the back of your head.

In the hopes of relieving some nervous energy, you glanced up at the clock that was hung on the wall that was decorated with quotes from classical authors. Another thirty minutes until second period. This first class was going to be a long one.

By sheer luck, you had managed to escape your English class without another question from MJ. For the rest of the day however, you were paranoid. You glanced around each corner, darted by every classroom door swiftly, and never once dared to use the toilet. You had managed to evade the curious girl up until the end of the day. Up until practice.

As Mr. Harrington fired through questions, you couldn’t help but notice the squinted gaze of MJ watching, like a hawk, you and Peter. Her inference was only supported by the fact that Peter had sat himself at your side and would whisper witty answers in your ear before the other team even thought to raise their hand.

Such a close proximity to him would have had you in a mess of grins but now you were much too caught up in MJ’s prying eyes. The distraction she caused you was so immense that you barely answered a single question during practice. Something that did not go unnoticed.

“Hey, are you okay?” Peter’s voice was lost in a whisper when you picked it up. “Did something happen last night? You look tired.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” you replied. You didn’t dare to look at him and kept your eyes on Mr. Harrington, waiting for another question.

“You’re sure? You’re quiet...is it about Spiderman?” At the mention of the superhero you locked eyes with the boy beside you. 

“No, I...I’m just tired. I..didn’t sleep well last night.” Peter frowned at your words and nodded although you could see that he wasn’t satisfied. You had left the part about you almost dying, the elephant in your chest that had hardly moved since you saw headlights too close for comfort. “Don’t worry about me, okay? I’m okay.”

Mr. Harrington asked another question as Peter replied, masking whatever he had said under a question about a species of rhinoceros. You glanced up at Peter, met his eyes for a split second and saw a sincerity that scared you. While the sentiment he had shared with you had never graced your ear, you were certain it was kind. The corner of his mouth quirked upwards in a half-smile and you returned the expression before you turned back to Mr. Harrington.

“Alright team,” Mr. Harrington sighed, “I have to get home. My mom wants me to feed the cats before I go to the sowing circle so ...”

“Ahem,” Betty grumbled and Mr. Harrington’s fearful brown eyes glanced her way. His mouth formed an ‘o’ of realization before he piped up again.

“Oh and don’t forget fundraising for the dance, woo, right? You guys should all go. I wish I would have gone to my high school’s dances...” He fell into a silent, distant stare one that, if you weren’t already on edge, would have creeped you out. 

“Yes, please do come to the dance!” Betty chirped. You spared a quick glance at MJ and saw her attention had been averted by the blonde’s perkiness for the time being. While she was distracted, you stood and began to pack up your papers. Peter, ready for your tutoring session, mirrored your actions. Before you could tell him to wait or make some excuse for why you couldn’t help him this evening, someone tapped your shoulder.

“Yo, Y/N,” Flash’s voice overrode every sense of dread and replaced that feeling with an entirely new brand of horror. “You wanna come to the dance with me? My dad recently gave me back the keys to hi-my car.”

“Oh, uh, sorry Flash,” you mumbled as you brain searched for any, literally any, way out of this situation. You glanced around, panicked.

“You don’t want to come? Why no-”

“I’m actually going with Peter.” It felt as if the entire team had gone quiet. If the librarian were to drop a pin on the carpeted floor, it still would have made a bigger sound out of the silence that surrounded you now. MJ’s eyes were trained on you, missiles of interest targeted your chest alongside her endless questions. Too self-conscious to look in her direction any longer, you turned to face Peter with a pleading expression.

“Y-Yeah, she is,” Peter stammered, playing along. You peered back at Flash and saw a mischievous look on her features.

“Oh, I see,” the dark haired boy winked at you, “you’re taking a step down the social ladder to help Peter up. How valiant, how worthless.”  With a sassy spin, Flash made his way towards the door to the library. The silence died out, turned back to the idle chatter that seemed to haunt the decathlon team. 

Now it was you and Peter that were quiet as you threw your bags over your shoulders and headed towards the exit. Tension bubbled, fizzled between you with boiling, unasked questions. Just as Peter opened the door, he locked eyes with you.

“So we’re going to the dance?” You stepped out before him which hide the burning in your cheek perfectly, if only for a moment until Peter was back at your side. 

“Oh, well uh, it was only a cover really,” you explained in a rush. Peter stood in the hallway arms crossed over his chest as you spoke. There was a frown on his face, disheartened worry in his furrowed brow. 

“Oh, well, okay, I jus’....nevermind.”

“But...I mean, we might want to corroborate the story. Maybe for like an hour.” Your suggestion was enough to bring that familiar half-smile to Peter’s lips.

“I mean, it’s probably for the best, right? So his pride isn’t too wounded ...” Peter’s muttering made you smile brightly. 

“Y-Yeah, for the best,” you echoed. Peter met your gaze, lips parted and you felt that there was something about the words that had you hanging on the edge of your seat. You took a step closer to him and he took one closer to you until ...bing, bing, ping, pong, bing.

“Oh, crap, uh, hold on,” Peter scrambled to find which pocket his phone was in. When he did and noticed the caller ID, his eyes widened. “Oh, I gotta take this. It’ll only take a sec!”

“Okay, I’ll wait here!” You watched as he turned the nearest corner and disappeared. Your heart, still hammering from the scene before, was final settled. The wall made a good resting place as you leaned against it, not truly caring about what could be crunched in your book bag. A sense of peace, respite, came over you and you closed your eyes.

The sensation passed though at the sound of door shutting loudly. When you peeled open your eyes, you gasped. Flash. He stood before you with a grin, one he must have considered to be devilish while you thought of him as, surely, fiend-like.

“So, you’re in,” he simpered, “you’re all in. You get his passcode yet?”

“Ha, no, I want out.” You snapped in a whisper. Wherever Peter had gone, the last thing you wanted was for him to over hear this. 

“What?” Flash’s thick brows knitted together in confusion and you groaned.

“I don’t want to play a part in this play any more,” you whisper-yelled. “It’s a stupid plan and I would rather tutor Peter than know I’m working to help you.” Flash rested a hand to his chest, mouth agape, and features riddled with offense. 

“You’re going to regret this, Y/N, believe me,” Flashed warned with dark eyes. “He may be your friend now but...he won’t stick around. As soon as something or someone better comes around, he’s gone.” You were about to bite back, tell Flash that he was wrong, but you couldn’t. You weren’t sure, you didn’t know. 

Flash let out a small breath of a laugh before he turned back down the hall. You watched him go and worried your bottom lip between your teeth as you thought. Maybe Flash was right, maybe whatever was happening between you and Peter would end and end quickly. Perhaps your idea of him, the arrogant boy-genius, was just below the surface of what he was showing you. Despite that fear, you had official placed your bet that Peter was worth it; he was worth getting hurt. 

You stood idle in the hallway and waited for Peter to return. No longer did that fleeting sense of peace wrap its arms around you snug, not when Flash’s words still rattled in your skull. There was no escaping your own thoughts, not when you prided yourself on thinking. In a vain attempt to silence your worries, you leaned your head back against the cool surface of the wall. Your eyes closed and you tried your best to think of only darkness.

“Hey, Y/N? You okay?” Peter’s voice pulled you back to the present. Your eyes peeled open and you met his warm brown eyes. “Sorry that the call took so long.”

“It’s alright,” you mumbled and started to walk towards the school’s front door. The sound of Peter’s foot falls echoed behind you, worked to catch up. 

“Okay, but are you alright?” Peter asked as soon as he fell into step at your side. You didn’t let yourself seek a glance at him, you didn’t dare. Instead, you kept walking and pushed open the doors to the school. Cold air hit you as you stepped outside, coaxing an immediate shiver from your body.“Here.”

Just as you opened your mouth to protest, crack a joke about how it was a bad day to forget your sweatshirt, Peter handed you his blue jacket.

“I can’t.”

“What? Don’t be silly Y/N, you’re shaking. It’s okay, I’m pretty warm so,” he gestured again for your to take it. With a tired frown you took the jacket from him and walked over to the nearest bench to set your backpack down. Peter followed you, watched you as you shoved your arms through much too-big sleeves. 

“You have orangutan arms,” you teased, although you said it with a straight face. Peter smiled and you saw his cheeks turn a wonderful shade of pink. 

“You just have shrimp arms,” he fired back and you felt the coil in your chest as it  loosened. No longer were you burning with worry. No, now you were sedated by the high of being with him again. You smiled softly and nodded.

“Okay, so coffee shop and study?” You only nodded in reply as you shrugged your bag back on over your now jacket-clad shoulders. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine Pete,” you sighed as you walked. You glanced at Peter and saw that his brown eyes were glued to you. “More than fine.”

He smiled and tore his eyes away as you both made your way to the coffee shop. The Friday crowd sat outside of restaurants where they sipped leisurely at drinks and chatted about weekend plans. You couldn’t remember the last time you had plans on a weekend. Or the last time you wanted to do anything on a weekend. 

Now you had people you wouldn’t mind making weekend plans with. You snuck a glance up at Peter and saw how his russet hair bounced with each step, the movement that almost distracted from the soft smile on his thin lips. Weekend plans with Peter….you tried to imagine what that could be and before long, your mind was lost in a world that didn’t exist.

A world where you both were older, more mature, with the trauma of high school left behind. Tucked under the covers and further tucked away from the city in a small apartment of your very own; something you and Peter share, together. Sleeping rainy days away, the smell of baked goods from the bakery downstairs. Chocolate chips just as melted at Peter’s soft eyes.

“Y/N?” A pair of fingers snapped before your eyes and broke you out of your trance.

“What?” Your eyes trailed over to Peter’s and you felt your skin heat up under his gaze. 

“We can cross now,” Peter pointed across the street towards the coffee shop. Your eyes widened in realization and you followed Peter as he strode through the crosswalk. With a bit of effort, you kept up with him and soon found yourself at the door of the cafe.

“I’m having deja vu,” you commented as Peter opened the door for you.

“I bet, how long were you in here yesterday?” You smiled at him over your shoulder.

“Too long.” You walked up to the counter as you hungered for the steaming peach-ginger tea the cashier had recommended to you. Peter stood at your side and eyed the ‘specials’ menu with wonder. After a moment of waiting, the same, pink-haired girl from the day before came up to you with a beaming smile.

“You again! You want to try another weird scone?” You laughed and shook your head.

“I’m okay, thank you though, but I would like the tea you told me about again.” She rang up your order and you paid. As you stepped to the side to let other customers place their order, you felt someone tug on the sleeve of Peter’s jacket.

“You tried something new,” Peter gushed with a grin so bright it could rival the stars. “That’s amazing, you’re amazing!” You felt an intense heat rise to your face at the compliment and the sweet tone of Peter’s voice. 

“It’s just a pastry, Pete,” you gulped. Nervously, you glanced around the coffee shop and half expected MJ to be watching the two of you. 

“It’s also a step in the right direction, Y/N! Don’t sell yourself short, c’mon now!” 

“Alright, alright, just,” you let your eyes dance around the room again, “not so loud.” Peter grinned, the kind that brought little crinkles by his eyes. While his expression held your attention, you nearly jumped when you felt him squeeze your hand.

“I’ll get us some seats while you wait for your tea,” he hummed and you felt his hand slip from yours. The moment his touch faded from your senses, you bit the inside of your cheek to keep from screaming. Tutoring, you repeated the word in your brain in big, bold letters, just tutoring. That was all you could allow yourself in the moment. 

Luckily,  the barista came up to you with a smile and your steaming cup of tea. You took it from her with a ‘thank you’ and a smile before you stopped at the cart full of brewing supplies. Creamer, stirrers, and an array of sugar substitutes sat on the wooden surface seemingly just to overwhelm you. You simply grabbed a packet of sugar and searched for wherever Peter had found for you both to sit. From the few yards between the two of you, Peter looked breathtaking. 

Sunlight that filtered through the window beside him shone down, a natural spotlight drawn to his own internal brilliance. Brown tresses styled atop his head gleamed in an amber sheen and you imagined that his eyes were flecked with gold under the glare. Either way, he was a sight to behold; especially when he smiled as you approached.

“Hi.” Feather soft, his voice tickled every fiber of your being.

“Hi,” you replied and wondered if Peter had felt the same tingle. “Are you ready to study?”

“Um, yeah, yeah,” Peter’s eyes widened slightly as you slipped your bag off of your shoulders. You sat across from him and felt your knees knock against his own. 

“So what questions do you-”

“We don’t have to go to the dance,” Peter gushed. The floodgates of his mouth had opened and let every worry had he held inside exposed. Did he not want to go with you?

It had been a spur of the moment proposition, one made more to carry on a lie to Flash than anything else. However, when Peter had pressed earlier, asked if you truly wanted to go with him, you had entertained the thought. The image of Peter dressed up, a suit jacket over his shoulders made you want to curl into yourself until you ceased to exist. It was simply too much to handle, or in this case, too good to be true. 

“Oh, well, if you don’t want to go, yeah. I just didn’t want to go with Flash, you get that right?” You felt your cheeks burning. Of course he didn’t want to go with you, you had only come to know each other better by fluke, by academics. 

“No I-I-”

“Thanks for playing along. Flash, like I said, is the wors-”

“Y/N.” Peter’s hand reached across the table before you even had a chance to react. Like threads tying you in place, Peter’s fingers wrapped around yours and in that new warmth you found comfort in the silence. “I want to go ...with you.”

“O-oh so...uh…” Peter ducked his head slightly until his brown eyes were all you saw. 

“I just wanted to be sure that you wanted to go ...with me,” Peter explained. The cafe around you muddled together at the edges of your vision. The deep blue of the walls and dark oak floors blended, clouded around Peter like an abstract painting. Only the artist’s muse was yours and sat before you in a red sweater that only served to deepen his rosy cheeks. 

“I want to,” you whispered breathlessly. You had never been so nervous before. No exam or decathlon meet had made your heart hammer in your chest like Peter. It didn’t help that he stilled looked at you, studied you with the same care of a scientist with a unique species of flower. Peter followed your eye line and you heard a little gasp escape his parted lips.

“Sorry, jus’ uh ...yeah. Cool. We both want to go. C-cool.” As he spoke, Peter pulled his hand back as if he had been holding a hot coal. “So questions right?”

“Yeah, yeah,” you reached into your bag and pulled out your textbook. 

Hoping to diffuse the tension, you flipped idly through the text. Your fingers danced along the corners of each page as you looked for one that covered an interesting topic. At least, that was what you hoped Peter thought you were doing. The cogs in your own mind worked, pieced together theories, hypothesis, on how to bypass the awkwardness. 

“I mean if you want to, we could fundraise instead?” Your suggestion was enough to pull Peter’s eyes back to you. Although you only looked at him for a second before you pretended to peer into the textbook before you. 

“I-I got it. The fundraising I mean. I handled it.”

“You...handled it?” With a quirked brow you spared a glance at Peter. Sunrise pink coated his pale cheeks and he let out a nervous laugh through his teeth.

“I...Mr. Stark donated…”

“He donated to a dance?” Peter scratched the back of his neck and nodded.

“To that and to add on to the science wing of the school…” 

“Wow,” you let out a sigh, “that’s nice of him.”

“Yeah, he’s really cool,” before you could agree, Peter’s mouth dropped wide. “Oh and I told him about you and…” He reached down and you heard the scuffling of a backpack then the sharp sound of a zipper. 

“What are you…” Peter reached across the table again but instead of holding your hand once more, between his fingers he held a red card. Repeated series of three embossed lines on the smooth paper surface shone in the sun with a silver sheen. 

“After first semester I-I had to take a few hours off of my uh, internship...stuff..so there’s a position open, if you want it.” His voice echoed as you traced the tip of your finger along the edge of the card. Once your brain had unscrambled the words Peter had said from the jumble of shock in your head you looked up at him. His elbows rested on the table and he chin leaned on the palms of his hands as he studied you expectantly.

“I don’t know what to say...Pete..this is…”

“He said the floor was going to be open Saturday, tomorrow at like six, if you wanted a tour.” You held Peter’s gaze and you could feel your lips moving but not a sound slipped out. It felt as if you had been thrown out of your own body. Everything you wanted, the chance to be more, to be better was between your fingers. All thanks to Peter Parker. 

“If...would you be there?”

“Be there where?” Peter’s brows furrowed and his hands dropped to the table with a slight ‘knock’. 

“On the tour, if I go tomorrow.” The silence that followed after your question was hard to swallow. Although it seemed Peter had a harder time chewing on your words.

“I-I, maybe. I had plans, swinging around the city just-”

“Walking dogs?”

“What?” Peter squinted his eyes at you and you frowned.

“You told me you walk dogs sometimes…” Peter’s eyes lit up and his cheeks turned soft shades of crimson. 

“Oh yeah but uh no, not tomorrow. Why? Do you want me to go with?” You nodded and let your gaze fall back to the card in your hand. Tony Stark, Iron Man, knows that you exist and, thanks to Peter, offered you the opportunity of a lifetime. So why were you hesitating?

“I would just feel better if you went. You know your way around, plus if I run into Spiderman it won’t be awkward…”

Peter coughed, as if the air in his throat had tired to turn against him. “What, why,” another cough, “why would it be awkward?” “Well...last night when I said I saw him...he-”

“Saved you?” You closed your mouth and nodded. 

“From getting hit by a car,” you explained, although Peter’s calm demeanor didn’t falter. The softness of his eyes hid any sense of surprise he wore, if any. “It’s just embarrassing really.”

“No, hey, it’s okay. You’re okay, so it’s okay,” Peter said comfortingly. You imagined he had learned the gentle tone from May or maybe even his parents before hand. When you finally  met his eyes, after hiding the evidence of your shame, you saw only kindness.

Despite the fact that you had removed yourself from Flash and his scheme, the innocence of Peter’s expression sent a stab of guilt through your chest. Some hint of that internal regret must have seeped through to your features because Peter’s face fell. You felt his knees knock against yours under the table as he shifted in his seat, although his eyes never left yours. 

“W-What’s wrong?”

“You...you’re so good, Peter,” you murmured, “you so...nice.” You felt a stinging behind your eyes that you tired to fight back. 

“I just...Y/N,” Peter said softly, “I-I li...you’re good too. You just need to see that. So if that means the Stark Internship, do it. If that means just adventuring a block out of your bubble, do it. I’ll be there either way.” You felt and smile gather up on your lips, one there was no hope in hiding.

“Thank you, Peter,” you breathed and silently prayed that he wouldn’t read into the sniffles. You dabbed your eyes with the dark blue sleeve of Peter’s jacket before sighing. “So...the Stark Internship?”

“Oh, yeah, like I said, Tony said at six they’re doing a seminar. I can cancel my plans and go with you.”

“Peter you don’t have to-

“I want to,” he said coolly, in a way that made you feel ...safe? Was that the word for it? You hadn’t felt the strange warmth since Spider-Man. And even then, it was nothing to how secure you had felt before aliens spilled out of a portal above the city. Your family had lost everything that day and you had lost a piece of family, of that feeling. 

“Okay,” you replied and, sensing the atmosphere around your own little world had thickened, Peter cleared his throat.

“But uh, I can come by your place at four and we can make our way there. W-we should get there in time.” You nodded along with his suggestion, followed the cadence of his voice until you felt swaddled in it.

“Alright, that sounds good.” Peter let a boyish, charming grin take over his features and you felt your skin warm at the sight. The need to talk to him, like how you had longed to after the near car-crash last night washed over you. 

Before it could drown you, you surfaced back in the present. There would be time to tell Peter how you felt once you, yourself, felt comfortable. 

“Okay so, decathlon questions,” you said and turned your attention back to the text on the table.

“Right, decathlon questions,” Peter repeated as he ducked his head to look in his own notebook. You caught a glimpse of his rosy cheeks before he busied himself. A half-smile pulled its way to your lips and you sighed.

I’ll be there either way. Peter’s words echoed in your mind and felt the smile on your face widen. There would be time. You would make time if you had to, but you felt your bones ache at the thought of waiting to tell Peter how you felt.

[blacklungbaby]

I'm a pansexual girl (so gender doesn't matter). I️ love to sing and act. I️ do musical theatre. I️ also love to write fiction and poetry. I️ play piano. I'm sensitive, shy, and socially anxious. Can I️ get ships from TVD, TO, Legacies, Riverdale, and Teen Wolf?

i haven’t actually gotten around to watching legacies yet, but i can do all of the others for you <3

TVD -

Stefan Salvatore

- first off, he fell in love with you the first time he saw you

- well, heard you

- you were singing at the mystic grill and the moment your voice sang through his ears he just stopped, absolutely mesmerised

- he had never heard anything quite so beautiful

- when you’re dating he tries to get you to sing to him all the time

- “y/n, sing me to sleep.”

- “stefan i’m not a radio, i need a rest.”

- “....please?”

- “fine! but only if you stop pestering me, salvatore.”

- he helps you with your social anxiety so much! whenever you’re in public and you don’t feel well he is always there, supporting you, making sure you’re okay

The Originals:

Marcel Gerard

- all i can say is,

- POWER COUPLE.

- you two would be the king and queen of new orleans. period

- if anyone dared to lay a finger on you-

- damn, they wouldn’t live a second longer

- marcel would be so protective of you, knowing that you can be shy and reserved

- him introducing you to the mikaelsons and them instantly loving you

- when you’re home alone at his loft and you’ll be practicing one of your acts

- and he walks in to you halfway through a dramatic scene

- “marcel! not all of us have vampiric hearing! knock next time!”

- him laughing, “and stop you from being the cutest human that i love so dearly? absolutely not.”

Riverdale:

Betty Cooper

- nooo you guys would actually be the cutest couple to ever walk riverdale high

- bughead who

- like you two are soulmates and EVERYONE knows it

- just by looking at the both of you they can tell you’re so in love

- going on dates !!! lots of them !!

- to the drive in especially

- and she’ll attend every single one of your theatre performances

- her always being the loudest applauder in the room

- “that’s my girl!”

- one day she found your poetry written especially about her

- and holy shit

- the way your words wrapped around her heart made her cry on the spot

- she always wondered how she was lucky enough to be with someone as talented as you

Teen Wolf:

Alison Argent

- alison would be the kindest person you ever met

- which was the reason you were drawn to her in the first place

- and she loved the way you mainly stuck to yourself, almost like you didn’t need anyone to tell you who you were

- she admired you soooo much

- you teaching her to play piano is canon

- jealous!scott

- actually make that jealous!everybody

- because you and alison are the hottest couple out there

- on rainy days you would cuddle under lots of blankets and you would write your fiction and she would be reading it every step of the way, because she’s so intrigued by the way you write

- sometimes when you’re not there with her she will re-read the works you left at her place

- just so she can feel close to you

- also because she’s so proud of the amazing girl she won ;)

[curlsandcrown]

I’m a Fiend and You’re All I Need (Bughead, 18+)

Summary: Serpent Betty Cooper and Northsider Jughead Jones are thrust into an arranged marriage as a way to bring peace to the rival sides of Riverdale. (Ao3) Characters/Pairings: Betty x Jughead, apperances by Veronica, Toni, and Alice Word Count: 9,598 Warnings: arranged marriage, fluff, some language, smut (18+) sex

Betty’s boots echo off the walls of the Whyte Wyrm as she walks to the bar where Toni is readying the glasses for the day. As much as she wanted to sleep in for once, her slumber had been interrupted by an urgent text from her mother calling for a mandatory meeting for all Serpents. The last few months have been a test for everyone on the Southside and anytime Alice Cooper called for a meeting, especially a mandatory one for everyone, that meant something big was going to happen. Betty could only hope her mother had a new plan to join the Southside and the Northside once and for all.

“Morning, Betty,” Toni says without looking up from her work.

Settling on a bar stool, Betty watches Toni silently for a short moment. “I know it's early, but can I get a drink?”

Toni’s eyes meet hers and she can see how tired the other woman also is. “The usual?”

Betty nods. Toni grabs a bottle of the best whiskey they stocked and fills up Betty’s glass halfway. Then she pours herself one. If this meeting is going to be like any of the others recently, they will need it.

“Cheers,” Toni quips with a raised eyebrow and they both knock back their glasses.

As if on cue, the doors open and in comes Veronica followed by Sweet Pea, Fangs, and a few other male Serpents. While the men are dressed in their Serpent jackets, Veronica is clad in a form-fitting black dress and a black coat. If she didn't know better, she would have no idea that Veronica is a Serpent. She would think she was a New York socialite. Oftentimes, her appearance is a huge help to the Serpents.

“Good morning, ladies!” Veronica greets with a smile, leaning against the bar next to Betty.

“Can I get you anything?” Toni asks after the girls greet each other and the men walk past to set up a game of pool while they wait. Not many of the Serpents were morning people.

“Martini,” Veronica answers simply before looking at Betty. “Do you have any clue what this meeting is about?”

“My mom hasn't told me anything. I know as much as you do.”

Toni places Veronica’s glass in front of her and she sips it delicately.

“Think it's time for peace?”

Betty laughs. “More like time for a truce, but never peace. The Northside won't be happy until we're all working for them.”

Veronica rolls her eyes dramatically and sits on a bar stool after taking off her coat and crossing her leg. “Surely there has to be a way to end this silly feud.”

“Silly?” Toni voices then leans her elbows on the bar. “It's been going on since your parents were Serpents, before they moved to New York and came back with you to help out in the business.”

“You know what I mean, T. We have the upper hand in this town. We just need to assert it. Besides, who on the Northside can speak for everybody?”

Her best friend raises her eyebrows, taking a sip of her martini and Betty has to give it to her, she's not wrong.

“That is what we're here to discuss,” Alice calls out before moving her way to the stage of the bar.

Betty abandons her drink on the bar top and stands, not drifting towards her mother like she usually would. She's nervous.

“Have you been able to negotiate anything?”

Alice nods and sits on the edge of the stage, looking at everyone in the room. “I met with a few of the people who essentially run the Northside along with the mayor. We've come up with something that could bond the two sides.”

“That's amazing. I'm surprised they agreed to something. What is it?” Veronica asks as she turns in her seat, smiling to Betty before looking to their fearless leader.

The older blonde seems to hesitate before meeting her eyes. Betty stiffens and raises her eyebrows in question.

“They proposed a marriage, between Betty and one of their own.”

“What?” They all exclaim.

“That's absolutely absurd,” Veronica states as she moves off the bar stool. “There's only a handful of men over there that they all deem as the golden boys. And not to mention all the older horn dogs.” She shudders in disgust then looks over at Betty with a distraught look.

Betty smiles softly at Veronica’s concern. Her best friend has a great point and, although Betty would do almost anything for the Serpents, the thought of marrying someone she doesn’t know sends a shiver of dread up her spine. She has read enough romance novels to know that it could very well be one of the older men. He could be a secretly horrible man with unhealthy desires or prejudices against the Southside. It doesn’t sit right with her. 

“Shouldn't it be our choice since they picked Betty?” Sweet Pea asks in the distance, leaning against the pool table.

“I'm glad you mentioned that. My best friend from high school, FP Jones, suggested his son before they could say that we can't pick a suitable bachelor. He recently got out of a relationship, he owns the Riverdale Register and runs it with Archie Andrews who is his best friend, and everyone thinks very highly of him.”

They all look to Betty and she can feel her breathing begin to quicken. Why is this happening to her? And why did they pick her out of everyone. Veronica is a better catch and looks more like a Northsider than herself.

“Maybe it won't be so bad, Betty. How old is he?” Toni asks, laying a supportive hand on her bicep.

“Same as Betty, 24.” Alice looks at her, a hesitant and sad smile adorning her face. Betty can tell how tired she is, fighting with the Northside constantly and defending them over their previous Southside reputation. Her mother has turned it around from what it used to be, especially after her father left with her older sister Polly.

While Betty is relieved that he’s the same age as her, it’s still not the way she expected to get married. And with the obvious pressure on her mother and the Southside, she’s not sure she could ever say no.

Toni’s hand is still on her arm, which is a great comfort now, and Betty takes a deep breath to calm herself before saying, “If you believe them, mom, that this will help everyone else, I’ll do it.” The thought still doesn’t sit well with her, but she trusts that her mother wouldn’t make a decision that would ruin her life. At the very least, she believes that her mother feels that it’s the only option they have left.

Her mother is clearly surprised by Betty agreeing so quickly, but if she has learned anything over the last few years, it’s that sometimes she has to put everyone else first. No Serpent stands alone. She knows that her family will support her every step of the way.

The day of the wedding, which is three weeks and two days after she has met Jughead and his father, Betty is standing in front of a mirror in a lavish mansion. Her friends and mother are moving around behind her to ensure everything is going according to plan, but she's looking at the dress she picked out last week, the intricate details of the flowers spread out and flowing along with the fabric pooling at her feet.

Part of her wants to cry but the rest of her wants to laugh at the situation that she has found herself in. It's her wedding day and it's the dress of her dreams but she's being married off to a Northsider like some sort of sacrificial goat peace-offering. Betty scoffs and turns in the mirror, glancing at the low cut of her dress that's exposing  her back and the small slits along her ribs. Her hands smooth down the fabric, fingering the small petals now and then before dropping her arms to her sides.

“You look so beautiful, Betty,” Veronica murmurs in her right ear.

Toni and Veronica flank her on either side while looking into the mirror. They both have a proud smile as her mother comes up behind them to put the veil in her loose curls pinned back in a braided half updo and her blonde hair falling down her shoulders. The sheer cloth drapes along the back of her dress and Betty knows she looks amazing.

“The most beautiful bride the Northside will ever see.”

Her blood turns to ice as Betty meets her mother's eyes. “Will every important person going to be here?”

“If you mean mayor McCoy and all of her posse, yes.” Alice pauses and asks both of her best friends to give them a moment. After they walk away, she turns Betty towards her and tucks a stray hair back behind her ear. “Thank you for doing this, Betty. I know it's not ideal but FP speaks proudly of his son. He'll treat you well until you two can get an annulment, once they see that this union shows that the two sides can come together and live peacefully among one another.”

Her eyes drop to the ring on her right hand, running the pad of her thumb over the small diamonds along the band that Jughead had given her. Betty knows that he'll be good to her. In fact, he’s been nothing but a gentleman the few times that they had met. He even did a small proposal and gave her an engagement ring without even needing to because he was put into this situation just like she was. But he wanted to because he thought it was right, that they should have the little things to symbolize this marriage despite how they got here. It's far more decadent than she thinks she deserves, being a Southside Serpent, with its delicate rose gold band, the diamonds running along it and the large oval diamond.

Betty swallows roughly and looks out towards the area where she'll say her vows. He deserves better than her.

“I know that look, Elizabeth. You are not a bad person.”

She wants to believe it but she's done things, bad things, for the Serpents. Jughead is good and the last thing she wants is to taint him with her venom.

Betty rolls her eyes as she thinks over her mother’s comment. Obviously part of her wants to disagree but she also knows that her mother has worked really hard to turn around the Serpent ways. There are some things that can’t be avoided in gang business but Jughead doesn’t need to know that either, however, at this rate it might be inevitable.

So she changes the topic completely.

“I’m surprised that the Blossoms even let us use their property for the nuptials.” Betty moves closer to the window and looks over the gardens then to the greenhouse that will host the reception.

Her mother moves next to her, adjusting the veil tucked into her bridal hairdo. “The mayor says it’s the most beautiful grounds for a peaceful union between the two sides.”

Betty huffs out a laugh, “Maybe if you can ignore the part of it that seems haunted by the ghosts of Blossom’s past.” She turns and sees the solemn look on her mother’s face and the tears threatening to fall. “Mom?”

Alice brushes the tear away with a manicured finger, always looking impeccable no matter the occasion. “I’m sorry that this is how your wedding is happening and that I put you into this position. Your father would be horrified.”

Moving closer to her mother, she intertwines their hands together. “Who cares what dad thinks? He left, mom. It was his own choice and even if this was my happily ever after, he still wouldn’t be here because I’m a Serpent. I’m doing this for us, for our family and for peace in this territorial, twisted town. Jughead doesn’t seem so bad,” she offers with a smile.

They hug for a few minutes, feeling the tension of the moment melt away despite what they were about to do for the sake of the Southside. Alice pulls away and strolls across the room, picking up the extravagant peony bouquet that Veronica had designed. This entire wedding is thanks to her best friend’s style and planning and the Northside’s funding. With that in mind, Veronica had went all out, making a lavish New York style wedding at the Blossom’s house.

“Are you ready?”

She nods, taking the bouquet then holding up the end of her dress as they move towards the staircase. “I’m ready to see what kind of dent V made on their wallets.”

The Cooper women grin towards each other than her mother moves down to go out to the ceremony grounds with the rest of the town. Betty makes it to the bottom of the stairs and sees both Veronica and Toni standing with their bouquets in dark green dresses. She thinks it’s quite smart that they pulled Serpent green into the wedding without the Northsiders seeing what’s happening.

“You two look amazing.”

They both turn and smile, the two of them tilting their head to look at her. Her best friends take a long, appreciative gander from her perfectly curled hair down to Betty’s blush pink wedding shoes with gold vines running up the heel.

“Not as amazing as you do. That dress is absolutely stunning, B.” Veronica says as tears come to her eyes and holding a hand over her heart. They’ve been best friends for years and this is a big turning point for them both, despite the fact that this union has been planned between the two rivalry sides of Riverdale.

“Jughead is going to die once he sees you in that dress. All of the Northside probably will.” Toni throws in with a wink.

That makes Betty grin as she flares out the bottom of the veil over her dress. “Think they’ll hate it? Too much skin?”

“Absolutely not!” They both exclaim.

“You are the Southside Juliet to today’s story. They won’t dare say anything bad today or else they will have our most prominent people jumping down their throats. Now, let’s go see how your Romeo cleans up. I’m sure he’ll have a hard time keeping his hands off of you.” Veronica quips and neither her nor Toni dare to say otherwise on her thoughts.

She nods with a smile and follows them out onto the manicured lawn where everything will take place. The groomsmen are waiting to walk them down the aisle, more of the peace treaty being shown to the town.

Betty lingers back so the men can’t see her dress, wanting everyone’s jaws to drop as she moves towards her groom. A man named Reggie holds his arm out to Toni and they begin to walk towards the crowd in front of them while Veronica meets the best man. Betty watches as Veronica’s hand moves to his arm, a redhead named Archie. Her best friend gives him a cheeky grin, saying something quietly before they begin to move behind Toni and Reggie.

She glides along the grass to where her closest friends were just standing, watching as they take their respective spots by the canopy that was constructed in the gardens. Betty sighs and looks to her side, feeling a slight pang of sadness at the spot where her father should be standing. As her eyes look over the grass, imagining the indent from polished leather shoes, her mind lingers to a time long ago when Betty would often fantasize about her wedding day. Polly would be standing next to Veronica and Toni, her signature headband replaced with a braid. Her dad would be holding back tears as his baby girl walked to him for the final time before giving her to the love of her life. 

But now, Betty wonders if he’s walked Polly down the aisle to her own prince charming with neither her or their mother there to help get her ready for the ceremony. And if she has replaced her with a different maid of honor, maybe the first friend she made in whatever city they moved to.

Her heart hurts just thinking about it.

Shaking her head to drive the thoughts away, she looks forward and straightens her back, waiting for the wedding march to start. This is her day, even if Betty didn’t actually pick any of it herself and she doesn’t want the bitter taste of her family abandoning them in her mouth.

The music starts and she’s pulled out of her reverie, causing her to move forward while the attendees stand and turn to watch as she comes. Instead of looking to her friends and family, who she knows are looking to her with pride, her eyes immediately look for Jughead. As soon as she’s in front of the crowd, Archie taps his arm and he turns. Betty locks eyes with him, looking for any sign of apprehension or disgust but instead she is met with blue eyes that show shock and adoration while skimming over her dress as if to memorize every single detail.

During their first dance, his hand is low on her back, warming her skin while they move close together. Kiss Me by Ed Sheeren is playing in the background and Betty rests her cheek against his, tilting her lips towards Jughead’s ear and closing her eyes.  

“Why did you agree to this, Jug?” She asks in his ear while everyone watches their every step, the song choice probably being a joke from the Northsiders.

Jughead pulls away and looks down into her eyes and she notices that they are a different shade of blue than earlier. “My dad is best friends with your mom, at least our family is connected and you aren't with a complete stranger. I can't imagine you being with someone like Reggie.”

They both look over at the man in question who is talking up Toni, running a finger down her arm in his groomsmen tux with the tie undone. Betty giggles and moves closer to Jughead without realizing what she's doing.

“Or Archie, even though he's my best friend. He's,” Jughead hesitates, tilting his head in thought. “I don't think he'd be able to keep up with you. He's great but I also think he wouldn't be able to pull it off since his sights are aimed elsewhere.”

She looks over to where Archie and Veronica are huddled together, his finger tracing a pattern high up on her best friend's leg. A smile is adorning her face that Betty has never seen before, as if her friend is smitten. Betty laughs lightly and squeezes his bicep. “Well thank you for being kind and throwing me a bone.”

Her head tilts back as the corners of her lips stay in a smile and their eyes meet, a comforting smile of his own meeting her. It's weird how she does feel safe with Jughead in this moment, like he won't take advantage of this.

Suddenly the room fills with clinking from the Northsiders in the room.

“What is happening,” Jughead trails off and looks around.

“They want us to kiss.” Betty laughs softly. “It’s a wedding tradition. We’re supposed to kiss anytime they clink their glasses.”

Jughead looks apprehensive and despite the situation, Betty finds herself wanting to soothe him. She squeezes his arm again, causing him to look down into her eyes.

“We don’t have to, but it would help sell us to them.”

He shakes his head at her and smiles sheepishly. There’s a boyish charm about Jughead that makes her stomach flip in ways she hasn’t felt in years. Who knew that she would end up with someone like this, even if it’s just for a year before they tell the town that it just couldn’t work out.

“No, we do have to do it. We have to make them believe this is real, after all.” There’s a teasing tone to his voice and a sparkle in his eye that wasn’t there before. It’s enough to make the nerves in her stomach tighten into something else.

Wrapping her arms around her husband’s shoulders, Betty places a hand at the back of his neck and pulls him down toward her, Jughead meeting her halfway. When their lips touch for the second time that night, the pressure of his mouth on hers stays there for a long moment before they pull back for air, looking at each other with matching smiles. The imprint of his lips are all she can think about for the rest of the reception. Luckily for them both, the Northside doesn’t let up their clinking until it’s time for everyone to leave.

Once they arrive at their suite by the airport - because Jughead insisted on them going on an actual honeymoon, Betty moves towards the window and looks out at the night sky. The moon is bright and low in the sky but her nerves are unsettled. She’s married. It’ll be at least a year of awkward conversations and temporarily moving in with Jughead into his apartment to keep up appearances.

She hears Jughead drop his tuxedo jacket onto the chair in the corner but she still hasn’t turned towards him. They’ll have to share a bed since they’re officially a couple but Betty isn’t sure how she’s supposed to act right now.

Suddenly his hand rests on her waist and the heat from his body causes chill bumps to raise along her skin. His touch is electrifying and her breathing automatically speeds up, thinking of the way his hand felt on her bare back while they were dancing hours earlier and how she had wanted it to move just a bit lower.

“We don’t have to do anything, Jug,” she says quietly into the room.

Jughead moves to stand in front of her and she has to tip her head back to look up at him. The tie at his neck is undone, the top few buttons of his dress shirt are unbuttoned as well. He pulls her closer and raises his free hand to run the back of his fingers along her jaw. “I’ve had to look at you all night in this dress. Did you even know that part of it was see through?”

Her lungs are struggling to take a normal breath, her intake of air coming in short bursts as he pulls the straps of her wedding dress down her arms. “No,” she whispers.

“Luckily everyone knows you’re a Serpent and mine now, but seeing the shadow of your legs every time you moved around the room,” he trails off then runs his finger to her chest, gently scratching his fingernail down her sternum to the low cut between her breasts. Jughead’s digit hooks into the fabric there then ducks his head down to her ear. “Do you know how sexy you are?”

She whimpers in response as Jughead pulls away and dips his head down, tongue replacing the spot where his finger was. Betty brings her hands to his hair and tips her head back, pulling the strands a bit before his tongue follows the trail that his finger created and comes up the valley of her breasts. His lips stop at her collarbone and begins to suck a mark into her skin.

“Jug, this will make everything more complicated.” Even as the statement leaves her mouth, Betty knows how much she wants this. Him. Maybe this is all a result of the champagne.

Then he says the three words that makes her lose all of her control. “I don’t care.”

They clash together in a searing kiss, his hands moving down to her ass to pull her up against his pelvis and she can feel how hard he is. Betty starts to unbutton the rest of his shirt and pushes it off his shoulders and gasps for air when he pulls away for a moment. Once the white fabric hits the floor, Jughead’s hands move up to push the straps of her dress down the rest of the way and moans when he’s met with her braless chest.

“Fucking hell, Betty,” he pants before pulling her into a bruising kiss.

It’s messy and uncoordinated but kissing him sends a thrill through her and his reaction to her lack of bra makes her clench her thighs together. Betty wants to ask him something but he feels so good that she’d rather just keep undressing him.

But he has other plans.

Jughead pushes her dress past her hips, the fabric floating to the ground in a sheer pile around her high heels. His fingers brush along her ass then follows the fabric of her dark blue thong to the front of her pelvis, causing her to moan against his lips.

He spins them and backs her towards the window sill, getting Betty to sit along it before dropping to his knees. She looks down at his lust blown eyes and opens her legs for him to nestle between them. Her breathing hitches at the sight of him in the white tank top undershirt, biceps on display and flexing as he pulls her underwear off. Betty moans when his hands grip her thighs and spreads her wide.

“God, you're gorgeous,” he says mostly to himself but it makes her heart soar.

“Touch me, Jughead. Or get naked.”

Jughead laughs a bit at her bossy demand but bends down to bite her inner thigh. Her hands drop down to his hair and tugs at the dark strands while guiding him to her core. As his tongue licks a stripe up her center, Betty's head drops back against the window and she shivers. The thrill of it all is turning her on even more; whether it's because of the way they're deceiving the town or just the fact that this is something new.

Or maybe it's the way he's expertly moving his tongue against her and bringing his fingers up to tease her entrance. Betty whines out as they move inside her, curling up while Jughead’s lips fasten over her clit.

“Fuck, Jughead, yes,” she murmurs as her grip tightens on his hair. Betty rolls her hips and makes a keening sound as he flicks his tongue over the bundle of nerves. The closer she gets to her release, the more that she becomes inpatient. “I need you naked. Now.”

Betty can feel him smile against her as he pumps his fingers faster, then curls them as she clenched around him. Her back arches as she rides out her release but Jughead stands up, fingers still moving then uses his free hand to undo his belt and strips out of his dress slacks, green eyes watching his erection spring free. She spreads her legs more as he pulls out, watching as his tongue darts out to clean the fingers that were just inside of her. Jughead strips out of his undershirt and her mouth practically waters at the sight of him naked.

Jughead moves towards his jacket but she hooks a leg around his calf before he's too far away. He raises an eyebrow in question but Betty bites her lip as he returns between her thighs and runs a thumb over her nipple.

“I'm on birth control, I'm clean and I'm aching for you to be in me.”

“Is that so, baby?” He asks and Betty nods, running the heel of her wedding shoe along his leg. “I’m clean, too. You ready?”

She nods again, not sure if she could speak a coherent sentence and sighs when he slides in, head resting back against the window again while she grabs onto his biceps. Jughead leans down to kiss up her neck then connects with her lips, causing her to moan as she tastes herself on his tongue.

“You're so tight,” he murmurs as he presses closer and hooks his arms underneath her thighs.

As if answering to a silent demand, Betty spreads her legs and wraps her arms around his neck. She threads her fingers into the dark strands while they deepen the kiss, arching into Jughead’s torso. “You feel so good,” Betty whispers along his lips as she pulls back. With a firm tug, she exposes his neck and scrapes her teeth along Jughead’s jaw before sucking a mark onto the soft spot behind his ear. “Take me to the bed.”

He picks her up with what seems like zero effort and transports them to their king size bed. Jughead rests her down ever so delicately, their connection broken as he slides out of her before climbing over Betty's body. His hand runs up her side and they begin to kiss again, her breasts brushing up against his chest as she kicks off her shoes.

Jughead slides back into her and she releases a loud moan. The feel of his hands slowly caressing her body paired with the feeling of him hard against her is almost overwhelming. Betty fists one hand in the sheets as her other wraps around to his shoulder and she grips with her fingertips, trying to get him even closer. It’s when he holds her hips with both of his hands, fingers gripping for purchase, that she lets out another loud moan.

“Harder, Jug,” she whimpers out, meeting his thrusts with her own. Her husband works his hips so he’s pressing harder into her, but his pace remains the same, earning a breathy moan from her. He’s touching every part of her that she needs him to as if he already knows how to read her body.  “Yes, just like that.” She’s barely known him for three weeks yet there’s something about him that makes this wedding night mean more than she ever could have imagined.

Suddenly Betty encourages him to flip them so she's on top. The change of angle makes her gasp into their kiss, Jughead's hands moving up to pull the pins from her hair, tossing them towards the nightstand. She sighs in relief as his fingers work the braids lose, her hair cascading down and protecting their faces in a blonde curtain. Their tongues stroke against one another while Betty rolls her hips down against his length.

“That's it, baby,” Jughead murmurs encouragingly against her lips.

Betty sits back with her confidence soaring, grinding down before she lifts onto her knees and rocks down in a quick tempo. She runs a hand through her hair, moving the strands out of her face while looking down at her husband, his eyes never leaving hers.

A slow smile begins to work it’s way onto his face, Jughead’s hips starting to raise and thrusts to match her speed. Betty can feel her heart quicken even more, a flush starting on her chest as a drop of sweat starts to move down the valley of her breasts. Her eyes follow the movements of his hand as it moves to her core, his thumb brushing against her clit.

She can feel her hips falter for a moment then tips her head back, completely lost in the feeling of Jughead thrusting into her. Betty brings a hand to her throat and runs it down her body, brushing over her nipple then down to rest on his torso, wondering how any of this is real. How did she get into a marriage with a man who is so incredibly sexy and good in bed?

“Betty, look at me.”

Her eyes automatically obey his command and she looks down, clenching around him at the sight of his hand bringing her pleasure and the quick rising and falling of his chest.

“I need to feel you come, Jug,” she says to him a bit breathless.

Jughead moves his free hand around her waist then up to the middle of her back. With a bit of force, he stills her from moving and just as she looks at him in confusion, he takes over and thrusts hard up into her.

“Fuck, baby, yes,” she moans out as his thumb continued to flick over her bundle of nerves.

Both of his hands move to her hips so he can focus on their release. She leans back and grips his leg for purchase while her release builds up, Jughead hitting the spot that makes her legs shake.

“I'm close,” he moans and moves a hand to begin rubbing at her clit again.

All she does is nod, hoping it's encouraging enough for Jughead to release since her own orgasm has begun. Her teeth dig into her bottom lip as he thrusts into her, clenching around him while she tightens her grip onto his thigh as Jughead makes an obscene noise to make Betty aware of his own release. His thrusts are a bit more erratic, faltering slightly as their eyes connect and ride out their orgasms.

She grinds down against him, swiveling her hips in a figure eight pattern before he pulls her up and grips her waist, thrusting up one last time before his body goes limp against the mattress.

Betty collapses against his chest, closing her eyes and feeling how they’re both trying to catch their breath, completely in sync. This was a bad idea, she tells herself. After how mindblowing that was, how could they avoid touching one another until they get an annulment. If they can even get one now that they consummated their marriage. She tries to push the thought from her mind, just wanting one night of not thinking about the stupid feud or the pressures of the Northsiders and everything else that has been going on.

“Holy shit,” Jughead gasps as his hand runs through her hair.

“That was amazing,” she replies honestly before propping herself up on her elbows. Betty notes how sleepy he looks and it’s then that she remembers how long of a day they’ve had. “I’m going to shower real quick.” When he nods, she leans down and kisses him softly then stands up.

She moves over to the suitcase she packed and grabs all of her toiletries then heads to the bathroom, turning on the shower and pulling her hair up into a messy bun. Her reflection shows how much she enjoyed having sex with Jughead - her flushed cheeks, swollen lips, the hickey that’s angrily appearing on her collarbone, the salty sweat drying on her skin. In a way, she doesn’t want to wash any of it off, wanting to keep this memory vivid in her mind for the struggles they might face after the honeymoon.

But with a shake of her head, Betty moves into the shower and sighs in relief at the heat on her tired muscles.

After toweling off and doing her nightly routine, Betty moves out into the room and sees Jughead laying on the bed while looking at his phone. She smiles over at him when he stands and moves into the bathroom, probably following suit to shower the day off. As the door clicks close, she bends to pick up her dress and smiles fondly at it. Betty grabs two hangers out of the closet and puts the dress on one then hangs it up by the window, moving to do the same with his tuxedo.

The hot water feels amazing on his back after all the events of the day but his mind keeps going back to their first dance and the question Betty asked him. Why did you agree to this?

It's something he's been asking himself for three weeks. First it was a favor to his dad, to not let his best friend's daughter be thrown to the wolves of the Northsiders. Then he actually met her and he agreed with his father, half of the men in Riverdale who would sign up to be her husband as a peace treaty would be disgusting horndogs. He knows what kind of guys he went to highschool with.

Jughead turns in the shower and tilts his head back so the water can wet his hair. His hair that is damp with sweat at the roots from the mind blowing sex with his wife. Wife. With her slightly see through wedding dress and low cut slits by her chest and ribs. He turns and lowers the temperature of the water a bit then tips his head back again.

And he didn't think it would be so bad, having basically what is an arranged marriage. After the explosive end of his last relationship, the thought of being set up with someone who his father thinks pretty highly of didn't seem like such a bad idea - plus he was given the option of getting an annulment after a year once they've sold it and hopefully by then, peace will have came over Riverdale instead of the feuds he would constantly hear about at school and work.

With that final thought after he's washed his hair and cleaned off, he exits the shower and runs a towel over his body then over his head. All of his clothes are out in his suitcase and he really doesn't care about Betty seeing him naked at this point.

Jughead moves out of the bathroom, the cool air hitting his body as he moves a hand through his wet hair. Betty is hanging his suit next to her dress by the window, the moonlight streaming in through the curtains along her pale skin, still just as naked as when she left the bathroom before him. Just as she finishes putting his tie around the collar, he moves behind her and squeezes her naked waist with his hands.

“What are you doing?”

She looks at the tangle of fabrics hanging in the window, running her fingers down the length of her dress before turning to look at him over her shoulder. “Just hanging everything up. Do you feel better?”

Their eyes meet and instead of answering her question, he feels captivated to say something else. “Tell me something about yourself that no one else knows.”

Her teeth dig into her bottom lip as she thinks about it. “I love to read and write. But what most people don’t know is how I want to travel, get out of Riverdale and leave all the bullshit behind.”

“Good thing you’re going to Hawaii in the morning,” he teases and squeezes her hip.

“What about you?”

Jughead sighs in an exaggerated manner as if there’s nothing secretive about him that no other woman would know. She rolls her eyes and he chuckles, learning that she’s not the most patient person in the world. “There is something new lately that I haven’t even told Archie about. I’ve been getting into photography.”

Betty turns and rests her forearms on his shoulders, smiling at the revelation he’s told her. “Really?” He can feel his cheeks burning and turning red, like maybe he should have kept that small detail to himself. But soon she’s pulling away and looking at the room around them, then to the moonlight coming in. “Do you want to practice with a nude model?” she asks coyly before turning back towards their wedding attire.

Jughead swallows roughly and watches how the light filters over her skin where she’s standing. She looks angelic and it’s the first time he’s noticed the Serpent ‘S’ snake tattoo on the left side of her ribs.

“I don’t have my camera on me, so the phone will have to do. You sure you want to?”

She turns and looks at him, nodding. “Absolutely.”

He moves to the bed and grabs his phone from where he left it, ignoring the large amount of text messages he’s received from high school classmates who managed to snag a seat at the wedding. Betty is standing by the window, waiting for him to notify her of when he’s ready. But he doesn’t.

Instead, he opens up the camera icon then moves behind her to get the right angle for the lighting he saw just moments earlier. Betty moves her hands up to her hair and takes the hair tie out before letting it drop down over her shoulders, the curls falling flat and more into silky waves of cornsilk. Jughead is a little breathless as he snaps photos of his wife, moving around quietly while she is unaware that he already has at least ten photos taken. His blue eyes follow as her left hand moves up, fluffing out the strands and her wedding rings twinkling in the light. He takes this opportunity to move a bit closer to capture her Serpent tattoo in the moonlight, wanting to touch it but refraining.

“Juggie?”

His eyebrows lift at the nickname, a small smile forming as he moves behind his wife. “Yes?”

Betty jumps and turns, looking over her shoulder at him then down to the phone in his left hand. “Are you ready to start?”

“I already did,” he replies with a smirk before bringing the phone up to capture her freshly cleaned face with the light moving over her cheeks.

A blush begins to bloom over her face and he can’t help but think how beautiful she looks. Jughead would even say he prefers this raw, unguarded version of Betty that he guesses not many people get to see than when the two of them being paraded around like show ponies. Though as he looks at her wedding dress, the image of her walking towards him looking like an angel is burned into his mind.

“What do you want me to do, Mr. Jones?”

“Can you step into your dress and pretend you’re taking it off?”

Betty nods and takes the dress down, proceeding to do exactly as he asked. He moves back and begins taking photos again. She moves slowly as the straps come off her arms again and the low dip in the back of the dress falls down her hips. Jughead is completely mesmerized as the fabric falls to the floor and she begins to hang it once more before turning to him.

She smiles shyly, a complete opposite from when Betty told him that she would be his first nude model. Maybe his only nude model. He nods his head towards the bed, watching as she walks over to it with a sexy sway to her hips. The camera shakes slightly due to his nerves becoming heightened and his arousal making its way to the forefront of his mind.

Her arms come up again as she stretches like a cat, fingers threaded together as they reach for the sky. No matter what she does, every photo he’s taken looks amazing and it’s all because of Betty. She bends over the bed, laying on her stomach and looking over at him.

“Is this still okay?”

“More than okay,” he murmurs as he walks over to her. Jughead takes a final photo before placing the device in front of her to look through the ones he took. As she swipes through each one in the gallery, he moves over her body then starts to kiss up her spine. “I’d dare to even say perfect.”

Just as he places a kiss between her shoulder blades, Betty moves to prop herself up on elbows and looks over her shoulder to him.

“They look amazing, Jug. No one has ever captured me looking so…” she trails off and pauses as if she’s trying to find a word that fits.

“Sexy.” Kiss. “Angelic.” Kiss while moving down her body. “Seductive.” Moves even lower. “Sensual.” Kiss. “Risque.”

As his lips reach the small of her back, Betty is keening and pushing her hips back towards him.

“Yes,” she replies breathless.

“Are you ready for more, Betts?” The nickname falling off his tongue like he’s known her forever.

“More than ready. Please?”

He doesn’t need any more encouragement than her consent and the sweet ‘please’ that fell from her lips. Jughead takes his hands to her hips then runs them up her stomach to find her breasts. They fit perfectly into his hands like they were made for him as her ass brushes up against his erection. He nudges the tip of his cock against her entrance and a quiet moan comes from underneath him, reviving his energy from earlier.

Jughead slides in slowly and he moans against her spine, even more so when she pushes back against him until he's bottoming out. He stills so she can get used to him at this angle, rubbing the heel of his palm over her nipples.

She sets the pace as she slowly pulls away then pushes back against his pelvis. Jughead let's her resume the control, his hands moving from her breast then down to feel the contours of her body. He presses kisses along Betty's shoulder blades, closing his eyes as he concentrates on the feeling of being inside her, so different than when they connected together a couple of hours ago.

After letting Betty control the pace for a bit, he grabs her hips and raises up fully onto his knees, thrusting in slowly. Jughead watches as her back arches, lowering her front and stretching both arms out to clutch the sheets beneath her fingertips.

“How do you feel so good?” Betty asks to the white plush comforter while pushing back and clenching around him.

Honestly, he wonders the same but snaps his hips to thrust a bit harder. The resulting gasp makes him grin before pulling out. With those words, he wants to see her beautiful face as she says them. “Roll over, Betts.”

She complies and rolls onto her back as Jughead steps away, slowly stroking himself until he can see Betty's flushed chest. Her green eyes travel from his chest down to his moving hand, licking her lower lip as if he's something she wants to devour.

“See something you like?”

Betty lets out a breathless laugh and nods, biting her lip while she looks at the expanse of his body again. Not even his ex girlfriend looked at him this way. It was invigorating to know he has this affect on his wife. Her eyes meet his before dropping down to his moving hand once more. Betty's mouth opens a bit while her breathing increases, eyes practically glazing over as Jughead runs his palm down the length of his erection. The extra boost of confidence makes him eager to be inside of her again.

“Yes, my husband and his incredible body.” Her eyes then dart to his wedding band, just a white gold band with raised satin in the middle that she had picked out for him.

That sentence leaves him speechless and Jughead doesn't think he could form a coherent sentence to reply to her. Instead he moves down against Betty's body and brushes his lips against hers.

Betty's hands come up to rest on his cheeks while wrapping her legs around his waist to bring him closer. She teases his bottom lip with small kisses, seeking permission to go further and deepen it. When their tongues brush together, he slides back into her and muffles her moan with a kiss. Her back arches, causing her breasts to brush against him and Jughead starts to thrust with long, languid strokes and pulls away to reach a hand up into Betty's hair. His lips brush along her jaw while she pants then tugs it back to expose her neck. Their eyes briefly meet and her teeth begin to sink into her bottom lip before Jughead leans down to lick up the column of her neck. The shiver that runs through her body beneath him encourages him to snap his hips and bite her pulse point.

“Fuck, Jug. Keep going,” she murmurs as her head tilts to the side.

Jughead thrusts into her quicker and braces his left hand by her shoulder and moves his other down to Betty's breast. “That good, baby?”

When she nods, her breathing becoming even quicker while she moans, he brushes a thumb over a hardened peak while Betty's nails begin to dig into his skin. The pain that it brings spurs him on. His tongue moves along her nipple, sucking on the sensitive flesh until Betty begins to writhe beneath him and chants his name underneath her breath. Something in him tightens at the sound. None of his prior sexual partners have ever been this reactive to him in bed.

He picks up the pace a bit more, closing his eyes as his forehead rests against Betty's chest, her heart thudding against his skin. Jughead feels her hand move through his damp hair until her fingers softly caresses his cheek.

“Juggie,” she murmurs. He looks up into her lust filled eyes. “Come here.”

His body moves, obediently following her request. Their lips meet together once more in a lazy and much softer kiss. With his hand still braced against the bed, Jughead uses his right to pull her thigh up into the crook of his elbow. The change of angle has Betty moaning against his lips and he continues to bottom out with each languid stroke.

“I'm so close, Jug,” she whispers as her forehead pressed against his.

“Touch yourself, Betts. I'll come with you.”

Betty nods and he watches her hand move between them. Her fingers circle her clit and Jughead pauses long enough for them to gather some of her wetness from his cock then begins to thrust again. He pulls her thigh wider so he can look at their bodies connecting, her walls beginning to clench around him, so Jughead begins to thrust faster.

“Look at me, Betty. I want to see you come.”

Her eyes connect with his and he can feel his gut tighten as his release sneaks up on him. Her teeth dig into her bottom lip once more before a long moan releases and her orgasm begins to move over both of them. Jughead's hips falter for a moment before his own release starts.

He rests his forehead against Betty's, murmuring how fucking good she feels while her free hand digs into his shoulders. Her head tips back and he kisses her neck once his hips stop moving. She has some residual clenching around him but their breathing is in sync as they both come down from their high.

“You made me see stars,” she murmurs before moving to kiss again. Part of him stirs inside her, causing Betty to laugh. “You need rest, Juggie. We can do this again in Hawaii.”

He pulls back and looks down at her, blonde hair fanned out against the sheets. Jughead looks for any hint of hesitation but doesn't see any. A shy smile accompanies the blush on her cheeks and he nods. “Absolutely. Though you're welcome to wake me up in a few hours.”

Betty laughs louder this time while running her hand down his back. “Be careful what you ask for.”

He rolls his eyes playfully and pulls out, both of them hissing a bit at the loss of contact. “I'll be right back.”

Jughead walks to the bathroom and wipes himself off before grabbing a wet rag to go back into the bedroom with. He's met with Betty looking at her phone and a scandalous look when he asks her to open her legs up for him. The washcloth dangles between them and she blushes as he cleans between her thighs then tosses it away. Betty’s blushing may be one of his favorite things about her.

“What a day,” he murmurs when he lays face down beneath the comforter and she hums in agreement. His eyes close as exhaustion takes over, barely recognizing the sound of Betty putting her phone away. The light turns off, immersing them into darkness. She turns onto her side, facing him and he rolls so that Betty can move closer. “C’mere,” he says gently until he can wrap his arm around her then kisses her forehead.

Both of them instantly fall asleep, wrapped around each other as they're thrust into this new marriage.

One Year Later

Jughead wipes the sweat off his brow with his forearm after piling another box on top of the small stack that is forming in the living room of his apartment. It's been a year since him and Betty said their 'I do’s’ and the town has been a more peaceful place to live. No longer did any Northsider fear going to their southern part of town. Businesses had flourished and now it's difficult to tell who is actually Northside or Southside.

He sighs while looking around, most of the memories from the past year are packed up different stacks, one in the living room and one sitting by the kitchen.

Jughead is in the kitchen, drinking from a bottle of water and tossing things into a donation box when the apartment door opens and Betty moves inside.

“Hey,” she murmurs before moving towards the bathroom.

His eyebrows dip in confusion and Jughead moves around the counter before following her in. But as he moves into the small space, he notices that she's dabbing her cheek. “Not a good meeting I'm guessing?”

Betty's eyes meet his in the mirror and she nods. “The morons from Greendale I can handle, this,” she points to her cheek before dabbing it again, “was an unfortunate crash with Sweet Pea. The worst part of the visit was my mother.”

After finishing off the bottle, he caps it and nervously bounces it against his thigh. “What was she saying?”

She turns and leans back against the sink, sighing a bit. “Asking if we're getting the annulment since our anniversary is on Sunday.”

The bottle crushes underneath his fingers, their eyes meeting but neither of them say anything. He clears his throat and tosses the bottle into the trash can then leans against the door frame. “What did you tell her?”

“I told her I didn't want to talk about it just yet. Honestly, I wanted to wait until everything is settled and done.”

Betty averts her eyes and he moves towards her, lifting her chin with his finger so that they'll meet again. Jughead smiles reassuringly then leans down to kiss her softly, knowing how frustrated she can get when Alice bombards her with a million questions. One of the many things he's learned about their relationship this past year. “I understand. I'd rather wait until everything is in the new house and we can get packed for our vacation. Run out of here before they can start firing off another million questions about our relationship.”

She nods and raises to her toes to kiss him again. “Let me change then I'll help finish packing.”

When she brushes by him, he playfully swats her ass, causing Betty to giggle down the hall to their room. Jughead goes towards the kitchen and resumes tossing in random mismatched things from bachelorhood into the box.

Just as he's taping the flaps down, she moves in wearing tight shorts and a tank top. Her arms wrap around his middle, pressing a kiss between his shoulder blades. “Have you been packing all day?”

“Yep. Figured if we got done we could go celebrate. Or order in.”

“Mm, ordering in sounds perfect.”

Betty begins rummaging through the kitchen, picking out things she'd like to keep and then makes a pile of things that she would need his opinion on. As he watches his wife move, her rings sparkling under the lights, he smiles. It's weird how a feud gave him everything he's ever wanted.

Turning towards the freezer, he pulls out the wrapped top tier of their wedding cake and places it in front of her so it can thaw out for dessert later.  He settles his hands on her waist while dropping a kiss to Betty's neck. She tilts her head to the side, effectively stopping the work she was doing then brings her hand to rest of the back of his neck.

“Are you happy?”

Her fingers pause their movements in his hair and moves so she can glance at him. “Of course, Juggie.”

Jughead hums and moves his lips to her neck again, scraping his teeth teasingly where her neck and shoulder meet. Betty shivers a bit and moans quietly, tugging the strands of hair between her fingers.

“Jug-” she whines out.

“Does this mean we can officially change your name to Betty Jones?”

Jughead imagines she's smiling, pausing her reply just to torture him. “Yes. I want that more than anything.”

“You're making me the happiest man on this planet, Betts.” He pauses and looks over his wife's shoulder at the dessert on the counter. “Are you sure we can eat that cake? It looks weird.”

“Yes, Jug,” she giggles out. “I wouldn't let a piece of cake kill you after being together for a year. I'd miss you too much.”

He grins against her warm skin then takes Betty's left hand in his, looking at their rings. They're about to start the next chapter of their lives and no one but them knows it yet. And as if she's thinking the exact same thoughts, Betty says something that makes his heart soar.

“I love you, Jughead.”

After she turns in his arms, he kisses her gently then runs his hands underneath her tank top, his right hand settling on her Serpent tattoo. “I love you, too, Betts.”

Written by J. (With a little help from R, but this is all J’s work!) This was an idea that we had based around the Arranged Marriage trope and we had to throw Serpent Betty into the mix! Please let us know what you think!

[gutterdreams]

Ever The Same [FP. Jones]

I just wrote what came to me. Hope it’s alright.

You had a plan. That was what seemed to be lacking in your home life growing up, so after bouncing around from trailer to motel room to house to trailer as your parents argued, quiet jobs, lost jobs, drank, smoked, fought, and fucked up every which way, you made a plan. It was your final year of high school and you wrote at the back of your science notebook that you would graduate with a scholarship and leave Riverdale. As the year went on, your goal grew. You would get two scholarships, leave your hometown, and change your last name. You wouldn’t be [Y/N] Jones anymore. No one would be able to trace you back to your underdeveloped parents and their perpetual mistakes. While everyone seemed surprised, you weren’t when you graduated with magna cum laude and with two scholarships: one to Northwestern and the other to University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. You had worked harder than the other students had with their stable environments and supportive parents. Jughead felt abandoned with a broken heart when you left the house, barely saying more than ‘goodbye’ before loading your ten year old used Honda with one suitcase before leaving for Northwestern. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?” Jughead sounded almost desperate as he held the door of your car open, watching you push the keys into the ignition. He considered laying the guilt on thicker, reminding you to stop by and say goodbye to Jellybean on your way to Illinois. “Will you come visit?” He knew about your plan. Changing your name and leaving behind Riverdale for good. He hoped, privately, that it was just dramatic talk.

“You can visit me.” You simply told him, checking your rear view and then sliding your five dollar sunglasses over your eyes. Reaching near him, you cupped the handle of the door and stopped to smile up at him. He looked as sad as he did when the envelopes with your acceptance letters arrived to the door. At first, he was wildly excited for you, proud even, but as you thumbed through the paperwork, his smile twisted into a pout and he began to fill his gut with self pity. He couldn’t imagine handling things without you. You were the guardian and always had been for him. It had been six months and a countless amount of missed calls from home since you first took off. The dorm might have been minuscule for some students, but it felt like palace to you. Plus, your room mate, Rui, didn’t pass out at four in the morning or get rip roaring drunk so you liked her quickly. The name Jones was forgettable in the sea of students on campus, just like you hoped it would be, but you still chose to go by [Y/N] Morrissette after the fact that the first song you heard when you left Riverdale was by the Canadian songstress, Alanis Morissette. With a half eaten bagel in one hand, you headed mindlessly to your dorm after a low key Sunday morning work out. The day was supposed to be dedicated entirely to studying for your 15th Century Poetry class, but it was off to a lazy start. You fished your phone out of the pocket of your grey sweats as it buzzed against your thighs. It was Betty Cooper which was a name you hadn’t heard in ages. Usually, you ignored calls from your hometown even Jughead’s and old friends, but this time your interest was peaked. Maybe you were just procrastinating studying, but either way, you pushed open the door of your dorm with one hip and put down your lunch to answer. “Hello?” Sounding just as cautious as you felt, you answered. Betty was in Jughead’s grade, not yours. You two didn’t really interact much. “Hi Junebug?” Your first instinct was to hang up. The family nickname ground against your ears and your eyes rolled far away from the received at the sound. “That’s not actually my name.” Practicing patience, you corrected her. “Is Jughead okay?” It was the only question you needed answered. There couldn’t be really any reason else she would be calling you. Even though you didn’t pick up Jughead’s calls or answer his emails, you still cared about him. The distance between the two of you had nothing to do with him and everything to do with you. “No, not really.” Her voice sunk low into reality and she had your full attention. “You know how Jason Blossom was murdered in the summer…” “No!” Hit by a ton of bricks, you shouted. You had always felt a strong pull in your gut to leave Riverdale, but now you wondered what you had missed. Your boring hometown wasn’t known for crimes much beyond high schools kids drinking and driving and loitering on private lawns. “Well, what do you know?” Betty sounded surprised. She didn’t know how much she needed to update you on. “I know Betty Cooper is calling me out of nowhere, but I don’t know why…” This strange conversation required you to sit down on the edge of the bed, legs crossed at the ankles. “Well, Jug is convinced you wouldn’t answer his calls…” It wasn’t as if you did. “So, I don’t know, I guess I’m an annoying girlfriend, but I thought - ” Your eyes were stunned opened again. Jason Blossom was murdered apparently and Jughead Jones found companionship in Betty Cooper. You couldn’t imagine what the little blond would tell you next. “Your dad’s in jail and we really think having some of his family there to show support would make a difference. It would appeal to the jury, make him appear … ” The rest of her words are muted mumbled as you fell back on the bed, your back nearly colliding with your open textbook. It was the least surprising thing someone could say. FP Jones was incarcerated. Your mother always said he would spend the rest of his life behind bars. You figured it was why she packed up Jellybean and left. She was protecting your little sister from him, just like you protected yourself from his reckless thoughtlessness by moving away as soon as you could.   She was trying to express that Jug couldn’t handle this on his own, that he needed you, but you cut her off once your brain caught up with her soliloquy. “You’ve called the wrong person. I can’t help him.” It wasn’t as if you didn’t try to save your dad from his demons before. Betty wasn’t defeated, she went to appeal, but you hung up before an entire word was out. Now studying seemed nesssecary. You were desperate for a distraction. The week moved like molasses on a cold flat surface. Your exams had your attention and you were struggling to balance the pressure. However, every night you went to lay down, you couldn’t help, but think about your father. Like it or not, you two were connected. Crashing currents in the same sea. Betty’s words were haunting you like a relentless ghost. You fell asleep hours too late with memories of your dad sitting on a bottom porch step, helping you blow bubbles from a plastic wand, calling you Princess Junebug. Your empathetic gut and your stubborn brain argued back and forth with one another until your final exam was done and you were behind the wheel of your tired Honda doing the trip you said you would never do. It had only been ten days since Betty called and seven months since you fled Riverdale for university. Standing in front of the trailer that you knew to be your dad’s, you felt a chill crawl up your spine like an independent spider. You were planning to stay at The Ruby Motel, but the trailer park called to you once you were out of the shower. Being away and living elsewhere had blessed you with perspective and you were curious if the Southside lot was as unwelcoming and ugly as you remembered it. It was. Behind you, you heard heavy footsteps and saw Tall Boy and two other serpent friends of your father. Uninterested in chatting with people you never liked, you turned back, but this time Jughead’s was there. He was stepping out the door of the trailer with eyes that were exhausted and  a smile that was weak. He looked worn out for a teenage boy. “The prodigal daughter returns…” At you, he announced. There was no detectable malice I’m his voice, no impatient anger or obvious cruelty.  His smile strengthened itself and laughed, running to you and wrapping his arms around your shoulders in order to pull you in. Jughead’s never held a grudge against you for taking off. He wished you stayed, but he understood the desire to leave and start new. “It’s really good to see you, [Y/N].” He held you away to look you over, noticing your hand me down green parka still looked in great condition. You two didn’t have much so you cares deeply for what you did have to your name. “You’re going to have to fill me in, Jug. Things sound crazy.” It was the real reason that you come home, to see your little brother. It didn’t sit well with you that he was on his own. High school was hard enough when you had a solid support system. Once more, you hugged him again and then noticed Tall Boy coming closer. It was all the push you needed to head inside. It wasn’t until the next day that you could work up strong enough defenses to go and visit FP in jail. While you were not someone who wasted time thinking about their appearance, you felt stressed out about what to wear when visiting someone in jail. You tried on a variety of combinations until settling on dark boot cut jeans and a black ribbed turtleneck. Hair tied back, you drove by yourself to the prison. Jughead had wanted to come along, but you went in the morning for visiting hours. If you were going sort things out, it couldn’t just be a quick chat with glass between you. You had questions, a quest for closure that you had been denying needing. Sitting at the table after an invasive check from the guard, you couldn’t help but fidget. Your fingers tapped over and over on the table top as you crossed and uncrossed your legs over and over. There was nothing to pay attention to in the dull to besides a couple little kids and other visitors. There was nothing to distract you from your thoughts. The buzz from the speaker across the room sat you up straight from your slouch and you watched a small line of prisoners come in, each escorted to a table. Their tired and sullen faces lighting up simply at the sight of their visitor. FP looked surprised then delighted and quickly followed by crushed. His seven steps to you was an emotional roller coaster. His feet were still shackled as he sat across from you at the table, though his handcuffs were unlocked above the flat white surface. “When they said [Y/N] Morrissette was here, I didn’t know who they were talking about.” Sounding joyfully anxious, he shared with you. It hurt him that you changed your name, embarrassed to be related to him, but right now FP was too happy to see you to focus on that slap in the face. “I can’t believe you’re here.” FP clearly told you after just a moment of silence, both of you staring with trepidation at the other. It was painful just how much of face could be found in his. “Me neither.” Organically, you sighed back. “Lawyer call you?” “Close.” You mused. “Betty Cooper.” Your dad laughed out his nostrils slightly and nodded, “She’s persuasive, huh?” “Relentless.” You corrected. “She seems to think having me around in court will help you.” “Hey, you don’t do anything you don’t want to do.” Slipping into father mode, he advised proudly and bowing his chin to you in a solemn vow. “I’m trying to make sense of what to do.” On one hand, your father was complicit, but on the other hand, Jughead seemed convinced that he needed FP out and around. “I know you and I have never understood each other, Junebu-” Like a reflex, your eyes shot directly into his with cruel intentions. “But you got to know I’m not a bad guy…” Licking your lips, you wondered if you did know that for certain. He wasn’t a movie monster, but you also had grown up with his failures, matched only in their greatness by his stomping around, drinking, and skipping town for days at a time. He was flawed and unreliable, but not evil. You almost wished you were taking philosophy this semester so you would know better how to handle this situation. “You know what, I don’t want to spend this visit talking about the case and this…crap.” Shaking his hand, he extended his open palms out on the table and fished around his face to find his grin. “Tell me about school. I tell anyone who will listen that you’re at Northwestern.” You two could fight like wild animals with each other, but FP was beyond proud of you. “It’s good.” Reluctantly, you told him. It was hard to open up to someone you had ran away from. “I got my mark from human geography exam…” The email had come in that morning and you opened it immediately. “88.” You didn’t know if it would mean anything to him, but out of the corner of your eyes you could see he was thrilled at the news. You wished the way he showed off his teeth and looked blown away didn’t mean anything to you, but somehow you were still hungry for his approval. “Is that what you wanna do? Human geography?” He didn’t even know what that was to be honest. “No.” Shaking your head. “I might declare - ” Tight before you almost shared with him what you were considering to make your major, you stopped yourself and dropped your head. It was like when you were a kid when he didn’t come home for a week and missed Christmas. Jughead and Jellybean had been devastated with fear and crying in your mother’s arms. You swore over and over that you would never speak to him again if he came back, but sure enough, his bender ended and he managed to make you laugh and forgive him within an hour of being home. “You know when Betty called and told me you were in jail, being charged, I wasn’t surprised.” The mood had shifted and FP followed along as you shifted in your seat. Still, he left his hands out and open for you. “Maybe, it’s better that you’re in here. You can’t disappointment Jug while you’re behind bars.” You shrugged and then shot at him like it was nothing. “Did you really think you could dispose of some teenager’s body and no one would blink?” “I didn’t murder anybody.” Teeth tight, his eyes began to turn foggy. “You might as well have. You didn’t go to the cops.” You hissed as his eyes pleaded for you to not raise your voice. It was evident that your words stung at him like the lit end of a cigarette. You always thought you would feel better if FP felt a smidgen of the pain he inflicted on you constantly, but instead your legs were shaking under the table and your throat was starting to ache dry. “Why do you always have to hurt people? Why is that who you are?” It was coming out now as you were beginning to lose composure. Your eyes bled little tears as your hands smacked themselves into his. “Why can’t you do better?” FP didn’t want to cry. Not in prison. He didn’t have any friends in the visitors room, but he scooched closer and his hands shook furiously as they gripped yours with all his strength. “You deserve better than me. Always have.” He agreed in a whisper. “You, Jug, Jellybean, your mother…I never faulted you for leaving.” He explained. “I am trying to change though, Ju- [Y/N]. I’m in AA here and I have plans for when I get out.” “Does that include looking after Jug?” “Yes.” Quickly, he assured you. It was the only questioned you needed answered. Silence came in as if on cue, both of you in need of a break to pull yourselves together. Reluctantly, he allowed you your hands back and you went to fixing your hair. Above the door behind him, you checked the time and sighed. “If I show up for you, you got to show up for Jug. You owe him that.” “I know. And I will. What about us?” Right now that’s what he wanted to know. “What about us?” Eyes wide, you repeated. “I don’t know if there is hope for us.” It was, perhaps, the calmest way you had ever expressed yourself to him. Nodding, he accepted the answer even if he didn’t care for it. It wasn’t as if he had a leg to stand on at the moment. “I have hope for us.” He shrugged and tossed into the ring. It meant something to him. “I’m proud of you. I don’t kn ow if I can take any credit for who you are, but you’re an incredible young woman, [Y/N]. Maybe you’ll let me be there for you some time.” It crossed your mind that maybe he would, but you stayed quiet out of fear of saying too much. “Time.” A guard called in the room, signalling now was time to say goodbye. You didn’t feel as eager to go like you thought you would. Your body didn’t jump from the  uncomfortable plastic chair. You watched your dad push his chair out and stand up in in his prison suit. The orange color did not suit his skin. With a weak smile that was more fake than a Louis Vuitton in Southside. A guard wasted no time locking his wrists, FP looking away from you with irritated shame. He was about to nod goodbye to you once again when you rushed up and started to rifle through your linen tote bag. “I know it’s nothing, but it’s all I have with me.” You handed him papers folded three times, two of his fingers linking over it to take it. “It’s a paper I wrote for linguistics. I think I might major in it.” You explained. “I don’t know if you care, but…” “I always cared. You didn’t think I did, but I do.” He told you with the guard standing beside him. There was no room for shame at the moment. He shook the paper at you and choked on his held breath. He was heading out the door behind a small line of other incarcerated men and you didn’t know what came over you, but you lunged forward and hugged him tightly around his shoulders, your head laying flat over one. He didn’t smell like himself, but you supposed that was from the lack of cigarettes and liquor in prison. He couldn’t touch you back, but you felt his heart beat against your chest and it was enough before he was whisked away. You stood still and watched him checked behind himself twice, sad eyes above a glowing grin.

[artificialqueens]

Art and Anatomy 3 (fem!Trixie x trans!Katya) - Pink Shrooms

It’s a new year, but old drama from first semester isn’t as dead as Katya would have hoped. Trixie decides to become a Youtuber. Katya decides to become a full time art hoe. Neither of them are prepared for what comes next.

OR: Shame is temporary, but the internet is forever.

ART GALLERY OPENING

“You know, I like the way that the flower just kinda opens and how soft the petals look. You have a real eye for this kinda thing, Katya. A real eye.”

“Mom.”

“Yeah, sweetie?”

“That’s a vagina.”

“Oh, well” Pat says, Boston accent growing thicker as she struggles to find the words. “Uh, it looks lovely, sweetie! But where did you find a model?”

Trixie chooses that moment to stroll in: “Hello, Mrs. Zamolodchikova! Enjoying the art?”

“Mom, hey, so- Trixie’s my girlfriend,” Katya word vomits as she tugs on her black dress. “Cool. Who wants to see a jar covered in my toe nail clippings?”

Pat chokes on her drink.

Katya tries to fill in the awkwardness with: “They’re all different polish colors depending on the season.”

“Katya! You didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend! I- I thought you were gay! Oh- wait…”

“Mom!” Katya exclaims and flushes. “I’m bisexual,”

“I know that! Just testing you,” Pat says and then wrangles both of them into a bone-crushing hug. Katya would sigh in relief (if she could breathe).

When Pat lets go, Katya looks at Trixie’s face for any signs of anger, but the blonde is happily showing her mother the ‘Barbie-doll-head-necklace’ that Katya had made her for the occasion. They had strolled through Target for an hour trying to find the perfect Barbie to decapitate.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell her sooner,” Katya pulls Trixie aside as her mother is grabbed by a stray Alyssa Edwards. Their club leader and mentor will talk off poor Pat’s ear for the next ten minutes until the gallery officially opens, so Katya is free to rest her arms around her girlfriend’s shoulders.

“Don’t worry about it,” Trixie reassures her with a soft kiss on the nose. “I figured she didn’t know as soon as she got here.”

“How?”

“Uh, aside from the fact she asked you if there were any cute boys at ‘your nudist club?’ You also get really nervous and fidgety and do that skirt-tug thing.”

Katya puffs up her cheeks: “I will not have my name or skirt be slandered with these lies.”

Trixie laughs and pulls out her phone to record the moment. Lately, she has that phone glued to her hand to film ‘footage for her vlog.’ Katya doesn’t know the first goddamned thing about Youtube (other than the endless Bob Ross videos you could find), but she enjoys when Trixie records her. It feels safe considering Trixie only has fifty followers and most are people from Facebook.

“Katya. Will you give us a quick tour of your art gallery before it opens?”

She does a dramatic spin, leans close to the camera, and whispers, “You wanna see all the naked women I’ve trapped inside squares? It’s whateva.”

“Why are you doing a thick Boston accent, Katya?”

“Who’s Katya? I’m Trish, and I snuck into this white room to hide flower-vaginas. Lemme tell you something about vaginas and being a real woman. Optional.”

The camera shakes as Trixie buckles over with laughter.

Katya cartwheels over to her favorite piece- a human sized canvas of Trixie’s lips made out of bottle caps. She slowly caresses her hand down it (“Remember kids. Don’t touch used art in galleries or used condoms in the streets. Unless they contain your bodily fluids.”)

Trixie follows her while she recounts the origins of all her art babies in perfectly inaccurate detail. She ends the video with a slow split as Pat enthusiastically claps in the background.

Then the doors open. Katya needs another drink.

Pearl and Violet come first, hand in hand, wearing matching FEMINIST graphic tees. They look so aesthetic that Katya aks them to pose under the flower-vagina and snaps a shot of them kissing for Instagram. Talk about photogenic couples.

Sharon strolls in, without Laila or Lala, and spends an uncomfortable amount of time looking at the toe nail jar. Katya remembers that Sharon made a portrait completely out of her own period blood. Sharon’s weird.

Observers slowly trickle in, and then all at once the room is flooded. Phi Phi is sitting on a bench with Willam, whispering. Huh, are they together now? Courtney is admiring a statue made of miniature hands. The nail jar and flower-vag are drawing most of the crowds.

Katya vaguely feels like a proud mother as Trixie zooms the camera around.

“Look at ‘chu, gurl,” Mrs. Edwards says as she squeezes Katya’s shoulder. “You were just an itty-bitty-no-titty, shy thang freshman year and now you’re all grown with an art gallery. I invited Ms.Betty to come too!”

Katya wordlessly hugs her. She tries to choke out ‘thank you’ but then tears up. There’s no way that she would have gotten all these pictures up or even finished without Mrs. Edwards’ help. Katya would have broken down and gone into hibernation. She hopes a hug could say all that.

Ms. Betty scowls at everything and then gives Katya a firm nod. Wow, she loves it!

Katya taps the microphone: “Hello? Is this thing- Okay, thank you. I just wanted to thank you all for coming. I know this means a lot to my classmates and myself. Thank you to Mrs. Edwards for her tireless support.”

Trixie is still holding her camera and she mouths ‘love you baby.’ Pat gives her a thumbs up.

“And I had a rough start to the semester, but, in the infamous words of Thomas the Train- ‘I think, therefor I can.’”

Katya hands the microphone off to the next speaker then makes her way back to where Pat and Trixie are standing.

Katya freezes. She smells the artificial perfume before she sees her. Blonde hair. Bored eyes. Alaska does a little finger wiggle ‘hello’ as she stands at the back of the gallery near the fragile glass sculptures of Soviet cities.

Katya waves back nervously and then goes to see some of her other classmates’ artwork until the evening ends.

Pearl and Violet are the first to come and they’re the last to leave. Everyone’s congratulating Katya on her work, but Katya can only give them a weak smile. Alaska, if she was even here or if she was just a hallucination, is long gone. What did she come for?

“Did you see her?” Katya vaguely makes a gesture to her glass towers. Suddenly she gets anxious and feels sort of faint just thinking about the memory.

“Katya! Katya, you’ve gone white like you saw a ghost. Sh, baby, sit down on the bench and take a deep breathe. That’s it. Just take five deep breathes, and we can try again.”

“But did you see…?”

“See what?”

She only shakes her head and buries it into Trixie’s shoulder. Ever since what happened at the Slumber Party from Hell, Katya has had these anxious attacks. Luckily, Trixie’s always there to hold her and kiss her. Katya feels guilty using her like a safety blanket.

“What happened, sweetie?” Pat sits down next to them and presses a kiss to Katya’s forehead. This should be a happy day. Why is this happening to her now?

“Nothing,” she lies.

Shit, Katya used to tell her mother everything, but, lately, it feels like there’s so many gaps in her stories. Dark holes that grow larger and larger, threatening to suck her under. Moments where she catches herself from saying what she means.

Violet comes and offers to take them out for food, and Pearl guiltily squirms behind her.

Katya just shakes her head and buries it deeper in Trixie’s neck. She plays with the necklace, rubbing the soft fuzz on Barbie’s head. She vaguely wishes she could just dismember her own stupid head and live without the constant reminder of the past. The past is a bitch.

“I’m sorry guys. Maybe another time? I just need a moment to breathe. Or cocaine. Either one will do.”

Violet laughs and promises to bring her back some chocolate covered pretzels from the student store. Pearl opens her mouth like she wants to say something but then leaves without a word.

Pat has to leave to get back to Boston for work, so she just kisses Katya’s forehead and begs her to skype more.

“I will. Sorry, mom. I know you came out all this way- and I should have told you Trixie was my girlfriend months ago and then I have these moments…”

“Sweetie, it’s fine! We all got rough spots. Some uglier than others. If you can’t change it or buy a cream to soothe it, don’t pick at it.”

“Sound advice. Oh, and I also noticed blood in my pee. Do you think I’m finally getting my period?”

Her mother blankly stares at her, and they both burst into laughter. Katya rolls her eyes to show that she’s just joking.

“I’m glad you got that Trixie girl to look out for you,” her mother says abruptly, and Katya’s caught off guard. A lot of times she does things and doesn’t tell her, but -to have her mother’s approval?- it makes her blush. She dosen’t know what to say so she just changes the conversation to Alyssa Edwards as they walk towards her mother’s car.

Her mother leaves her with a jar of her homemade ‘chowdah’ (“You look like you’d weigh less than a wet kitten!”) and kisses her on the head. When she leaves, Katya is standing in front of her dorm.

Instead of going inside, she wanders the parking lot, even though it is a quarter to ten and she has class tomorrow. Katya snuggles into her jacket, hugs the jar to her chest, and sneezes. A snowflake lands on her nose.

She tries to make sense of everything that happened today. Vag-flowers? Barbie doll heads? A camera? Alyssa Edward’s hug? Betty’s firm nod? Blonde hair and sickly-sweet perfume?

It all comes at once, and Katya can’t sort through the fragments to form a coherent image. It just seems like an overload of information, and she feels lost and cold. She sneezes again into her coat sleeve.

Where have u gone? -T

Casually dissociating with a big jar of clam chowdah -K

And snow -K

Come back to planet earth pls -T

I made you a cup of hot cocoa and Vi dropped off some pretzels <3 -T

Katya???? -T

She stares at the texts, smiles, and wipes the corners of her eyes. The jar is warm against her cold fingers. Katya’s not alone.

Sry. Be there in a few <3 -K

“Where were you?” Trixie asks as she opens up the door and brushes the snow from her hair.

Katya just kisses her and warms up in bed with Trixie’s arms wrapped up tight around her waist.

She tosses and turns with nightmares of her headless ghost, searching desperately for her missing piece. It calls out to her, but she can’t quite reach it. Katya tries to answer the call, but her ghost has no tongue.

—–

VALENTINE’S DAY

Katya continues to have moments of dissociation and darkness. She starts to stay up later and later in the studio, falling asleep with paint still on her fingertips.

Sometimes she wakes up with a dream so fresh and real that she rips off a sketchbook page and starts to scribble down the image of her floating body and the blur of her missing head. But it never looks the same. Never looks right.

It sounds too silly to put into words, even for Katya. When Trixie asks her why she has bags under her eyes, she just yawns and says that it’s another late night at the studio.

Trixie throws herself into recording and editing. Katya’s noticed her followers slowly starting rise by the hundreds and now the thousands.

She wakes Trixie up on Valentine’s day with kisses, showers her with Hershey Kisses, and a ‘Congrats on 10K’ cupcake she frosted herself.

“What did I do to deserve you?” Trixie purrs as she tackles Katya to the bed and sits on top of her, completely naked. The sunlight highlights her breasts and the cupids bow of her lips as she leans down to kiss Katya.

Katya stiffens with the weight of that curvaceous ass pressed against her. Trixie leans back and slowly licks the cream off of the cupcake.

Katya squirms, flushed, as Trixie’s thick thighs tighten around her.

“No,” she exhales slowly. “What did I do in a past life to deserve you?”

“Must have been a saint,” Trixie teases rubbing off the last of the cream onto Katya’s chest. The sugary white goodness drips down her pink nipples.

“Or a sinner,” Katya gasps as Trixie’s mouth wraps around the pink nubs. She’s in her pajama pants, but her cock strains against the seams.

Trixie places the cake into Katya’s mouth, like a gag, and continues downwards with kisses. Her lashes flutter against Katya’s overheated skin, tickling her, and Katya squirms as Trixie’s breathe warms her clothed cock.

The cake is melting against her tongue as Trixie pulls down Katya’s pajama pants. Her cock is leaking against her thigh.

The softness of Trixie’s lips is sinful. She meets Katya’s eyes as she slowly take the tip into her mouth, sucking it. Then she goes down, cheeks hollowing.

Katya’s toes curl with effort as she tries to stop herself from cumming. Trixie’s wet tongue is swirling around Katya’s cock as she bobs her head faster.

“A-ah,” Katya moans as the cake falls from her parted lips. “T-trixie.”

Trixie lets her go with a ‘popping’ sound, a second before she can cum, and a strand of saliva connects her pink lips to the tip. Katya shivers.

The blonde is smirking as she climbs up Katya and presses the length of her against her neatly trimmed pussy. Katya can feel the wetness and the heat from the outside. She bites her lip and squeezes her eyes shut as Trixie pushes down.

“Shh, baby,” Trixie says sweetly. “Can you hold that for a minute?”

Katya’s only response is a helpless whimper, hands fisted into the covers. Trixie rides her hard, heavy breasts bouncing, as she takes her pleasure.

So warm…oh god, the pressure…too much…

“Just one more second-” Trixie demands, but Katya is cumming with a strangled moan. It feels like she’s not even control of her own body anymore. Can’t even stop herself.

“Sorry,” she squeaks. “It was just so tight and, uh, what can I do to make up for it?”

She can tell by the line of Trixie’s lips that she’s annoyed as she still hasn’t orgasmed.

“Lay back,” Trixie orders. “Since you can’t keep it up, you might as well stay down.”

Katya does as she’s told, and the tense muscle in Trixie’s neck makes her spent cock twitch again. She hates how much she loves to be obedient. Why is she like this?

Then Trixie straddles Katya’s face, thick thighs squeezing down once more, and fucks her mouth. Katya can barely keep up with her pace, content to just let Trixie use her for her pleasure.

Soon, Trixie arches her back and cums with a muffled groan. Trixie’s so heavy against her face and nose that Katya can barely gasp for breathe. The feeling of helplessness has her hardening as Trixie rides out her orgasm. Black spots blocking her vision.

Katya gasps for breath: “Oh my fucking god.”

“Too much?”

“Again,” she says with a grin.

They spend all morning just rolling around in bed like that. It feels better than their first.

Katya doesn’t want to put on clothes, but Trixie tosses Katya her shirt.

Trixie sets up the camera, and they sit on the edge of the bed, naked waist down. There’s something erotic about filming a video like that. Oddly intimate.

“Hello! To all my new fans!”

Katya raises her eyebrow as she hugs her stuffed Build-A-Bear cat with the blonde wig, Catya to her chest: “And old Facebook lovers.”

“My name is Trixie Mattel AKA The Barbie you always thought might be possessed and this is-”

“Her girlfriend, Katya Zamolodchikova who puts the ‘end’ into ‘friend’-”

“As in end it please,” Trixie cuts her off with an eye roll.

Katya cackles and folds herself over into Trixie’s lap, pressing a kiss to her naked inner thigh. Trixie’s hands tighten on the back of her neck as she yanks her back up.

“And we are doing the Girlfriend Tag! Because I saw that so many of you guys have been requesting it, and Katya is in almost all of my videos, so…here goes everything we got.”

She sits back up and stuffs Catya in her shirt: “And everything we don’t got as well. This is Catya” She waves the stuffed kitten’s paw at the camera.

“Where did we first meet, Katya?”

She’s rubbing her stuffed shirt like she’d pregnant and makes eye-love to camera as she slowly growls, “Vell, I vas thick inside vomb of uncertainty, pregnant vith possibility of change, vhen I stumbled tit first into ze devil’s room-”

“We live in room 666 for everyone confused by what she’s talking about.”

“And then…then I saw her. And she saw me. And our nipples vanted to dance timmy-tango, but it took two. Two. And our minds vere still not one.”

“We, uh, we had a misunderstanding,” Trixie translates. “It’s actually a long story, but I’m just gonna skip forward and tell you that it worked out great in the end. Obviously. In fact, today is kinda our anniversary of when we first started dating.”

“Allegedly,” Katya whispers then grunts as she pushes Catya out of her shirt. She cradles the stuffed toy in her hands and kisses Catya’s cute little nose.

“Hm, boring…boring…oh, what would I eat everyday if I could?”

Katya smirks: “Cupcakes.”

Trixie flushes and pinches her thigh.

“And you would eat…” Trixie grabs Catya from her. “This pussy.”

Katya sing-songs, “Pussy good pussy sweet! Puss-”

“Anyways, what eye color do you wish I had?”

“Purple,” Katya says and tries to win back Catya from Trixie’s grip. “You could be a Targeryan born.”

Trixie faux-whispers to the camera, “She’s been watching Game of Throne and is in love with the blonde dragon lady Dani. Gay.”

“Hey! She’s a certified bad ass,” Katya whines as she leans back to grab a pillow and hit Trixie with it for making fun of her and stealing Catya.

The blonde squeaks and tackles her.

They have a semi-epic tickle fight that ends with Katya yelling ‘uncle!’ (“Oh, yeah, bet that’s not the first time you’ve screamed that before, huh?”)

They finish off, out of breath, with a couple more questions. Katya’s just realized that she’s been bra-less this whole video, and, she spends the last minute rubbing her nipples. Trixie pushes her off the bed when she notices and shuts off the camera.

Trixie starts to edit it, but Katya’s starving, so she drags Trixie through the snow to the cafe, where they had their first date.

They both order hot cocoa with extra whipped cream and sip from each other’s cups. Katya notices Willam and Phi Phi out of the corner of her eye, whispering. Hm, are they dating now?

Before Katya can point them out, the cafe door slams open. Alaska’s marching straight towards them with a look in her eyes that makes Katya slink back further into her booth. Trixie covers her hands.

“Where were you?” Alaska demands, hand on her hip.

“What are ya? My mother? I was out, bitch. O. U. T.”

“This is the third meeting you’ve missed, Willam” Alaska hisses as she slams her hands down on their table. “I can’t keep covering for you. All the RU girls have noticed you breaking the rules.”

“I’m living my life and that’s a problem? I signed up for party poppers, but all y’all have given me is a goddamned headache. Talk about a party pooper.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Willam says slowly. “And your mocktails and cocktails are shit too.”

“Maybe if you started helping around- I wouldn’t be the only one holding us all together-”

“Holding what together? A bitchy clique?” Phi Phi jumps in.

“Stay out of this, Pheef,” Alaska snaps in a low voice that sends a shiver down Katya’s spine. It’s that voice. Phi Phi must recognize it too because her cheeks go red.

“You’re just jealous that I’ve moved on! That I have Willam. Isn’t that it? Now, Sharon and I are both happy in new relationships without your controlling ass and-”

“Don’t,” Alaska snaps. “Please. Don’t bring her into this.”

“Why?”

“I said don’t so-”

“Because you loved her?” Phi Phi sneers. Even Katya can hear the sad, unspoken and you didn’t love me.

Trixie covers her mouth and her eyes meet Katya’s.

Alaska crosses her arm and shakes her head, voice smaller now: “Just…just come to the meetings Willam.”

Then she’s gone, and Katya swears that she saw something glinting in Alaska’s eyes. Tears? Phi Phi is whispering fervently, and Willam’s shaking her head ‘no.’

“Well, looks like the RU girls are still bringing the drama, huh?” Trixie comments and sips her hot cocoa.

Katya is tempted to text Phi Phi and ask what she’s up to, but she also doesn’t want to blow up their hiding spot.

“Some bombs are better left un-fondled,” Katya nods in agreement. They wait until Willam and Phi Phi leave, hand in hand, before they finish their date with a snowball fight.

It’s a magical evening that ends with Trixie uploading the video and cuddling Katya tightly in bed. Katya easily falls asleep, blissfully unaware of what’s to come.

—–

THE VIDEOS GO VIRAL

Katya should have known something was wrong when she woke up not only fully rested, but also in a good mood.

She went to shower, jerked off to her favorite fantasy (cumming on Trixie’s breasts), and happily hummed as she put on her bathrobe. She’d had a dreamless night, thank god, free from any floating heads-

Shit. Trixie’s wearing the barbie-doll-head-necklace.

“You never repeat any outfit,” Katya says slowly as she stares at it. Trixie’s curled up on the bed in pink overalls, fingers gently curled around the head.

“I try not to, but this is just so cute. Wow, Katya, our video already has ten thousand views! And I only put it up last night. You have to come read the comments,” Trixie begs and pats her lap.

Katya has a Russian class in twenty minutes, but, instead of getting dressed, she crawls up into Trixie’s lap. The necklace pearls brush against her damp shoulder, and Katya shivers.

Wow.

Phanfan4ever: YOU TWO ARE SO CUTE TOGETHER I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! MAKE MORE PLS!!!!!!

This.

GrandeQueens: This is the first time I actually liked a Youtubers gf…she’s pretty and funny? More Katya!

Was.

Crazy4CookieDough: oh, man, I’m soooo gay for these two

Too.

GoddamnMermaid: I found this easy to masturbate to.

Much.

It’s all pouring in at once, and Katya can’t look. Problem is she also can’t look away. She flinches at how deep her voice is. Will people suspect she’s trans? Is it obvious?

Trixie’s staring at her, waiting for a reaction, but Katya’s face is blank. Her mind is blank and racing, all at the same time.

“I have to go to class,” she finally says and pushes Trixie off her. “I’m glad your channel is doing so well.”

Trixie doesn’t answer, scrolling through the comments again. Katya goes to class, but she shouldn’t have bothered. She can’t concentrate with her phone lighting up with notifications.

Violet slings a hand over her shoulder. “Aw, look at my new internet-famous friend. That Skyler Goat-ly reblogged Trixie’s video and it’s blowing up. I had to see your ugly mugs in gifs all morning and-”

“Can we not talk about this?” Katya snaps, and she dosen’t mean to come off so sharp. Violet raises an eyebrow.

“Sorry,” Katya sighs as she settles at the cafeteria table and flips through her sketchbook. “I think it’s cool but I…I’m not out to the world about being trans yet. I’m out to my friends and family only, you know?”

Violet just squeezes her shoulder and buys her a strawberry smoothie. The sugar and sweet friendship lifts her mood until she makes the mistake of opening up her Twitter. 21,000. She had only a 1000 followers this morning. Trixie must have linked her twitter to the video.Yep, Trix is up 15,000 followers.

Katya hopes that’s the end of it. Teenage fans- fine. Gifs- fine. New followers- fine.

It doesn’t stop there though.

The next morning, Trixie shakes Katya awake. Trixie looks paler than Katya has ever seen her.  

“Is it the video?” Katya yawns and rubs her eyes. “Sorry for overreacting, Trix-”

“No, Katya, it’s not- it’s- you have to-”

She’s never seen Trixie like this before. She’s holding her phone so tight that her knuckles are white. It feels like some surreal dream.

“I have to warn you,” Trixie stops her from pressing play and squeezes her hand. “It’s the party. I don’t know who took it or where it came from but…it’s spreading like wildfire over twitter, so I figured you should see it.”

It can’t be..? Katya’s face is already burning as she presses ‘play.’

The camera’s shaking, but it’s clear enough to see the dark puddle under her, the piss dripping down her shaking legs, and Alaska pushing up against her. It’s clear enough to see the obvious bulge between Katya’s legs.

No.

She can’t look, but she also can’t look away. It feels like Katya’s seeing herself from the other girl’s eyes; she looks pathetic.

“I…” Katya tries to speak but her throat is dry. There can only be one person malicious enough to leak this video. Only one she-devil.

“Shh,” Trixie kisses her cheek, misunderstanding her silence. “We can stay here all-”

Katya pushes Trixie away: “I have to see her.”

“Who?”

“The bitch that leaked this to the internet.”

“Katya, please, you’re not thinking straight. Why would Alaska even leak this? She’s got nothing to gain-”

But Katya has had enough of playing the victim. She’s had enough of being on the receiving end of the camera, enough of Katya-The-Headless-Circus-Freak. Show’s fucking over, Katya thinks as she grabs her coat and runs out.

Trixie’s chasing after her, but Katya slams the car door shut. She jerks on the ignition and hits the pedal. This is long overdue.

Katya’s never been confrontational, and, by the time she’s pulled up in front of the RU sorority house, the rage has simmered down. Why would Alaska leak the video? Because she’s evil! But also…why?

She shakes her head as she marches up to the front door. Still, she hesitates for half a second before banging on it.

A bedraggled Courtney Act throws her arms around Katya.

“I’m so sorry about what happened Katya, but we’ve trying to find, pardon the term, the leak-er all morning. Alaska’s lined us all up, and she won’t rest until one of confess.”

“She did it,” Katya says, less convincingly than before, and pushes past her to the familiar basement, just as damp and cold as ever. There Alaska is, in all her bitch-ress glory, and, fuck, it would feel good to slap her. Instead she stares up at her and demands-

“Why did you do it?”

“I didn’t.”

Slap.

Alaska stares up at her, cheek bright red: “Feel better?”

“Why did you do it,” Katya whispers but this time she’s not talking about the video. This time she’s talking about what happened, demanding to know why Alaska pushed her back against that wall. Why she held her down the way that she did. Why she kissed her cheek afterwards and fucking smirked.

“The power,” Alaska admits, voice low. “But I didn’t leak the video, Katya. The RU house is all I have left, and this will destroy us.”

“Good,” Katya snaps even though she feels anything but good. Courtney is standing at the top of the stairs, tears staining her face. This hellhole meant everything to them, didn’t it? Katya looks around at all the faces from Courtney’s tears to Alaska’s red cheek to-

“Where’s Willam?” She realizes.

“Gone. She was expelled,” Detox responds stepping forward and placing a hand on Alaska’s shoulders, “We thought it might be her, but she likes you, Katya-”

“She hates all of you,” Katya realizes.

There it is- the horrible and anticlimactic truth. This wasn’t a move against Katya, even though it’s her name that’s blowing up all over twitter because of Trixie’s video. It was a tactical move to slander Alaska and shut down the sorority. Fucking genius.

“I really am sorry,” Alaska pleads again, but Katya’s tired. It’s all so petty and bitter and toxic. She goes back to her car.

She looks at her phone as she cries, alone, in the car. She texts Willam, on a new confrontational streak apparently.

I didn’t do it -W

Been framed like Roger Rabbit -W

It was your video??? -K

Yeah, it was my vid, but I got receipts that I can send to show that I didn’t leak it myself -W

Idc -K

She texts Trixie that she’ll be ‘back late’ as she turns off her phone and heads to the studio. Translation: I’m going to dissociate and dissolve into a canvas. Bye. Katya paints a glowing face with gentle shades of yellow. Then she takes the red and slices it away. Off with her head.

“What’s with the decapitation?” Sharon Needles asks, perching on a stool. Katya hasn’t seen her at all this semester.

“It’s a metaphor,” she makes up as she takes the bristles of the brush and flicks red paint.

“For what?”

“Loss of virginity,” Katya monotones.

Sharon laughs. She’s a fucking weirdo, like her, and Katya wonders why they never hang out. Then Sharon pulls out a plastic bag of coke from her pocket. Oh, that’s why.

Katya should ask her to leave, but she likes the company.

“Did you know I’m famous now? Viral video. The whole internet has seen me piss myself.”

“Yeah?” Sharon lines up the white powder. “Enjoy your five minutes of fame. Doesn’t last. Trust me.”

“Uh…?”

“I was a child star. Mouse prostitution,” the dirty blonde says with a sniff.

“Disney channel? Rough,” Katya cackles, and she does actually feel better. Nothing like a trainwreck friend to make you feel like less of a wreck.

“Fame’s shit, so just make a bunch of T-shirts and sell ‘em while the blood is still warm. Maybe ‘Urine Trouble?’ Trust and believe that they move on quicker then,” Sharon snaps her fingers and shivers. “And then you’re left wondering what it all means.”

Katya takes red and draws delicate veins into the eyes of her damsel in distress. Sharon Needles has started to rant about her relationship issues with Laila the Clingy Goth, so she’s zoned out.

“…it’s almost as bad as what Phi Phi did to me…”

“Wait, what did she do?”

“Motherfucker betrayed me,” Sharon takes another sniff. “Alaska and I had a beautiful thing going until she came between us. That tired ass show girl will do anything to sabotage Alaska.”

Katya thinks back to the Valentine’s day fight. Willam and Phi Phi were whispering…Oh.

She turns her phone back on -tired off isolating herself from her issues- and reads the receipts Willam sent her. She’s tearing up as she calls Phi Phi. She’s that girl, and maybe Katya always knew she was.

“Why did you do it, Pheef? I thought we were friends. Willam I could take -I barely knew her- but I thought we were real friends?” Katya hears her voice echoing against the studio walls.

The video is flashing in her wide eyes. Wet puddle. Hard bulge. Puddle. Bulge. Over and over and over and-

“You should be happy, Katya. RU is done, didn’t you hear? It worked. University is revoking their sorority license, and the internet thinks you’re a fucking legend. It’s a victory!”

“You outed me, Phi Phi. Exposed me. Humiliated me. EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THAT’S A VICTORY?”

Katya throws the phone down, not caring if the black screen cracks, and breaks down. Sharon fucking Needles -The Certified Mess- is more composed than her right now. She buries her face into the skinny blonde’s neck and sobs.

A hand slowly rubs down her back, and all Katya wants is her mother. That’s all she wants. Or Trixie.

She picks up her phone and speed dials ‘HOME.’ Katya needs to hear Pat right now even if she dosen’t explain everything to her tonight. She rocks back and forth, cradling the phone, as she just babbles nonsense.

“The video and the floating head and Phi Phi and- shitshitshit. What should I do?” She asks as she wipes her face, breathing hard.

“Just try to pick up all the pieces you have, baby. Relax. Pick up all the important ones, and the rest will fall into place.”

She goes back to Room 666, and she finds Trixie. Home, Katya knows as she buries her face between her soft breasts, breathes in her familiar scent. She takes a deep breathe as she pulls out her phone and types out-

U didn’t deserve that slap. Or maybe u did before but now…I know that Phi Phi did it -K

Somehow I’m not surprised, bitch is cray -A

Remember when she posted that nude pic of Trixie you drew in front of the party? Last Halloween? -A

Don’t remind me -K

But I really am sorry -A

I don’t want it to be this way forever -A

U want to do something for me? -K

Yes, of course. Anything -A

Katya remembers how Sharon wiped mascara tears from her cheeks onto her sweatshirt.

Try to forgive Needles for whatever the fuck she did, k? -K

I already have -A

Then what are you waiting for? -K

The…perfect moment -A

Fake as fuck -K

There’s just now and here -no such time as perfect- and we can’t waste our lives waiting to find our heads -K

I don’t deserve her or you or anyone. Phi Phi was right, ok? I got what was coming. I’m an evil snake bitch, and I deserve this -A

Don’t make me slap u again -K

U don’t think I wish I was whole and healed and healthy? -K

U don’t think I deserve happiness? -K

Of course you do -A

Then u do too! -K

Maybe it won’t ever be right between us…but please just speak to Needles -K

I’ll try -A

Let’s pick up all these broken pieces and make something new -K

—–

DAY BEFORE SPRING BREAK

Katya finds herself sitting in front of the camera again, but this time she’s the one who’s in control.

“Hello, this is Katya. Local internet star famous for rubbing her nipples on camera and…pissing herself. Before you ask, you sick fucks, no, I am not available for porn. But if you want to see my ‘leaked’ nudes…oh, I guess you guys already have.”

She bits her lip and looks up at Trixie, who gives her a thumbs up.

“So recently a video of me spread around the internet faster than herpes in a free love festival…and, yeah, it was fucked up to be outed as trans. If you don’t know what I’m talking about- now you know. I, Katya, being of sound mind, am a transgender woman. A woman full of lots of woe and a bit of man.”

“Do I have RU-grets? Absolutely. Would I change some of it? Fuck yeah. But out of all my worst moments come my best. From the night of Halloween, when I wet myself -notice a common theme?- I ended up dating Trixie,” Kaya explains and hugs Catya to her chest.

It’s hard to be this raw and real.

“To the night of…that video…After I quit the sorority, I ended up starting my club ‘Art and Anatomy,” Katya takes a deep breathe and slowly exhales. “Then all of this comes to light on the internet, and I guess, to misquote Kayne West, that bitch made me famous.”

“So, yeah, Kardashian built an empire off her humiliating tape…why can’t I? Buy my merch. Be prepared for more videos. Oh, and download Same Parts on Itunes.”

Trixie rolls her eyes in the background and snorts.

“And tweet my girlfriend thanks for all the cock-sucking therapy. Cum really wonders for your complexion, Tracey! You’re glowing!”

Trixie turns off the camera. “I’m surprised you managed to stay serious for that long.”

“Me? Serious?”

“A concept. I know. Now, come on, Needles and Alaska are hosting one of their lit ass parties, and I don’t want to be late.”

Katya wraps her hands around Trixie’s waist and kisses her. “I think I’d rather spend the night here.”

“Tired, baby?” Trixie teases.

“Never of you.”