#and it is it’s so fucking bad. but jesus christ seeing the numbers go down was so fucking euphoric

[jaewritesfic]

Everlasting Trio DPxDC Nobody Knows Au Pt 3

Parts 1 and 2

They both fall silent and stare. 

That's an answer to one of many questions they've been asking themselves for years, isn't it?

Their best friend disappeared, and it wasn't abduction or murder. It was an escape.

“You guys don't have contact with Jack and Maddie, do you?”

Tucker swears there's a record scratch in his brain.

Sam gapes. “You mean your parents?”

Danny smiles, small, grim and humorless. “Jack and Maddie.”

Jesus Christ.

Sam glances over at Tucker and they exchange a look. Tucker knows they've been feeling a shared guilt for a long time, feeling like they didn't do enough. They had suspicions about something fucked going on in Danny's home life since the beginning of freshman year, but they never blew the whistle about it.

Rationally they know it wasn't their responsibility. All of Amity had suspicions - someone should have called CPS, and it shouldn't have been a couple of kids. A goddamn adult should have stepped up.

It doesn't keep either of them from feeling like they failed their childhood best friend.

“Considering I've spent the last four years suspecting they killed you and chucked your body into the portal to hide it? Hell fucking no, Danny,” Sam asserts.

The set of Danny's shoulders relaxes significantly. “Good,” he breathes. “Good. Please keep it that way.”

“What the fuck was going on in that house, man?” Tucker asks, a little sick to his stomach. He knows right away he shouldn't have asked.

Danny's expression shutters into something polite and pleasant to hide discomfort, and he immediately starts ‘casually’ gathering his papers and computer into his bag.

“Listen, I'm really happy to see you guys - seriously. I really should get going though, I-”

Sam reaches out and snatches him by the scruff of his shirt before he can even stand up all the way, yanking him back down into his chair.

His dumbfounded expression makes Tucker snort a laugh, so familiar and puppy-like. Danny is still all big blue eyes and nearly visible question marks when taken off guard. Tucker missed that face.

“You're not going anywhere until we get your phone number,” Sam argues, not a hint of wiggle room in her face or tone. “We'll get lunch or something, all three of us. Go to the mall. We're living in the same city, you know I'll hunt you down.”

When Danny hesitates, her face and tone melt into something softer.

“Please, Danny. We miss you.”

Danny melts a little, sighing and smiling. “...yeah. Yeah, I missed you too. I've missed you guys so much.”

“So?” Sam prompts, holding her hand out.

Danny huffs a little laughing breath and fishes around in his pocket, unlocking his phone and plopping it into her hand. 

His nails are black and green. Gradient.

Tucker doesn't know much about nails, but he knows there's a difference when Sam paints them and when she splurges for acrylics.

“Are those professionally done?” he asks, bemused. Danny had never expressed an interest in that kind of thing as a kid. It's kind of cool to see signs that he's, like…growing into himself.

Danny shrugs, and it feels good to see that he doesn't even seem to consider Tucker might give a shit in a bad way.

“I'm on my hot girl shit,” he deadpans, and Sam nearly drops his phone with the force of her startled laugh.

Tucker snorts. “Oh, well about time.”

“Hey!” Danny protests, offense fake and eyes dancing. “What's that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, nothing! You had a glow up is all.”

Danny snickers and kicks him gently under the table.

“Okay, dick.”

It's like they never parted at all for a moment.

“Here, Mr. Hot Girl Shit,” Sam says, handing Danny his phone back. “I put our numbers in and sent a text in a group chat so you can't forget to reach out. I'm serious, Danny. We missed you, don't disappear. It was scary enough the first time.”

Danny grimaces, at least looking genuinely apologetic. “I know. I'm sorry. I really do need to get going today, though. I've got an appointment.”

“What kind of appointment?” Tucker asks.

The grin Danny gives him is mischievous and has a few teeth sharper than he remembers there being. 

He breezes past them and out the door with an impish response of, “Hide and seek with furries.”

Part 4

Masterpost

[justanotherrpmeme]

Dirty talk

If we weren’t at this party and these people weren’t around, I would jump you right now What would you say if I asked you to go down on me right now? It might sound greedy, but I need your cock so bad right now. I wish I could control myself better around you, but when I see you, all I want to do is rip your clothes off and fuck you I need to feel you inside me Nobody has ever fucked me like you do When we get home, I’m going to make you cum so hard What would you prefer I wear tonight, a thong or panties or nothing at all? If these people weren’t here, I would be on my knees with your cock in my mouth I can barely concentrate; I just keep thinking about you grabbing me and taking me I’ve got a sexy surprise for you later… Guess what color my panties are? I wore these panties just for you Tonight is going to be a lot of fun Stop looking at me like that, it’s making me wet I want to feel your cock in my mouth Fuck me like you mean it I want to taste your cum Making you cum hard is my number one priority right now Taste me I don’t want to be able to walk tomorrow so fuck me harder Use me Don’t stop You’re going to make me cum I love your dick Fuck my cunt Fill me up I want your cum I’ve been really bad and need to be punished You’re not leaving here until I have your cum in my mouth You like how I fuck you? Please fuck me harder Cum for me There is something so damn hot when you pin me down by my wrists Make me cum with your tongue Tonight is all about me, so get down on your knees and put that tongue of yours to work I’ve never been fucked like that before I dreamt about you last night and woke up dripping wet I love when you’re rough with me I’ve been girl bad and deserve a spanking Take your clothes off and get on your hands and knees I wore this for you Making you hard is my number one priority I love seeing your bulge in your pants I love holding your cock and feeling it get hard in my hands I want you to handcuff me and fuck me any way you’d like Do you like the fact that I think about you when I’m masturbating Tonight I want to watch you jerk yourself off I keep fantasizing about you grabbing me and having your way with me Take me right here Give me every last drop Bite me and mark me as yours I want to feel your hands all over my body Bend me over and spank me, I’ve been really naughty I keep thinking about the first time you fucked me; it makes me so insanely horny I want to feel your cock twitch inside me Don’t ever stop fucking me I want you to tie me up and have your way with me Jesus-fucking-Christ you’re going to make me cum I’ve got something I want to try on you later… I think you’ll like it Just like that I want to taste myself on your cock I’m dripping wet I want to feel your cum all over my face I’m going to jerk you off until I get every last drop out of you You make me feel amazing baby Mmmmmm, you taste so good I love your body I wish we were at home, so I could do some terrible things to you Why am I always so horny when there are other people around I just want to rip your clothes off right now If you don’t stop looking at me like that, we’re going to to have to go somewhere private You know I’m not wearing panties? I just want you to know I’m dripping wet Don’t look at me like that when we’re here; it’s making me so fucking horny I can’t wait to get you home I wore this skirt just for you I need you so bad right now Why aren’t you here right now, I’m so fucking horny Last night was incredible. I can’t stop thinking about it I keep fantasizing about what I’m going to do to you later I love masturbating while talking to you, but what I really need is you, here, fucking me I dreamt about you last night, and it was fantastic, but I woke up, and you weren’t here Take your clothes off and get into bed On your knees Beg me I’m so glad we’re alone because I’ve been having filthy thoughts all day Do you know how wet I am right now? Can you help me with something in the bedroom Now that we’re alone, I need to feel you inside me

[lovebvni]

intuitive messages pac !!

THIS IS FROM 2023!! BE FOREWARNED

┈

│ᵒᵖᵉⁿⁱⁿᵍ ᵐᵉˢˢᵃᵍᵉ...

╰─────────────────

[ 🖊 ] created ⋮ 7.31.23

[  ] published ⋮  7.31.23

˚₊·͟͟͟͟͟͟͞͞͞͞͞͞➳❥ ꒰ ⌨ ✰ Arsyn   ⋆  ⁱˢ ᵗʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ··· ꒱ | ೃ࿔₊•

┊       ⋆     welcome to my blog !

┊     °

hello earthlings, its been a while since i've done a pac, mainly because of MANY personal issues - but thats not important. i thought for a while and went back to my old pac's and i found an older one i made and i remembered, my intuition is just as powerful as ever - so why do i need tarot cards now?

today i'm just going to have 10 messages/sentences the universe wants you to hear. they can be specific or general.  remember, take everything can be taken with a grain of salt, and your future can be changed. you are in control.

now please, find your inner peace, connect to your soul.

understand these messages were meant to find you, and see what is left for you.

inhale, exhale, and pick a pile

Pile 1 - Watching

confirmation :

procrastinating, pushing things off, turning the other cheek, tumblr, the colour purple (show or the actual colour), spacing out, spirits, double meaning, two faced, gemini, hidden meanings/words, red eyes (tired, puffy), burnt out, music, 'good night, sleep tight, don't let the demons fight.', the letter s, sharks, 'the grass is greener'.

side note : the month of august (summer in general) be significant for your shifting/spiritual journey.

Your messages

1. Why would you wait when you could just grab at it? It's right there. Don't let it rot.

2. "Hello? Are you there, listening? Listen to me. I'm here to help. I promise." (this could be an inner voice or a spirit guide)

3. Be your own boss. Keep going.

4. Pass on to the next step (Death to life)

5. You know what's there, talk to it. "I wont hurt you."

6. Listen, don't speak.

7. Let it go. Be like Elsa, don't let it bother you anymore.

8. Mind, Body and Soul. You're in harmony. Use it to your advantage.

9. Advise and criticize. And use the same techniques on yourself.

10. Peace and love. You deserve it. You know you do. And you will find it, soon.

Pile 2 - Renew

conformation :

saiki k, giving up, letting go, leaving things behind, mental overload, 'Jesus fucking Christ', jealous, letting go of that person, shadow work, yellow, outlook, aries, the moon, big lips, 333, the number 3.

Your messages

1. Bite down. Let it flow into your veins, your soul, your spirit. Its part of you now.

2. Is it a real worry, or just something from your past you don't want to let go of?

3. Jail. Time to rest. Now.

4. Eat and care for your physical body. You can't idolize shifting. You're not getting anywhere doing that.

5. Look in the mirror - no. Not at the past. At who you are now. Who you've become.

6. You have the balls. Go fucking do it.

7. Don't accept the truth from other people, find and make your own. That's what they see, not what you know.

8. Her claws. Her teeth. She's manipulating you. Let her go. Rip away from her. She's wasting your time, energy and draining your soul.

9. "I  DO love you. That doesn't mean I'll let you hurt yourself."

10. I am watching. Always. In your good times and bad. I'm here for you. Just ask for help.

Pile 3 - Love

confirmation :

wrist and elbow, jumpscares/ being scared, saturn, planets, fnaf, cycles, broken cycles, love watch, soulmate reuniting, mha (lmao bro idek at this point), drawing, heartache, feeling lonely, barbie, hip dips, trios.

1. Wake up from that dream and make it a reality, you know what you have to do, so go do it.

2. "Beg for my mercy." - This had a VERY sexual undertone... Obviously from a dominant partner or something

3. 'Hello again, my friend! What do you have to tell me now?"

4. You know that thing you asked for? Yeah. It's coming. Keep your eyes pealed (for some I heard it's even coming tomorrow!)

5. Sit in silence, you know what it is. You hear the voices.

6. Pack your bags and go.

7. Grab on, I'll lead you to where you need to be.

8. Don't chase what you're attracting, that will only lead to disaster. (A manifestation you wanted is coming, this is basically saying don't overwork and beat yourself up over it. It's coming and nothing will stop it.)

9. Nature is your friend. Go out and ground yourself. Lay in the grass, smell the rain.

10. If you want to learn, you need the knowledge. Search for what you want to find. You can see it. Ask around. You'll find it. Look, look, look, search, look look, search, find.

I hope this pac resonated for everyone! remember, this will find you when you need it, take what relates, leave what doesnt. remember you are in charge of your future.

i love you. new things are coming.

dont give up.

1111

[altrodent]

Cycle

Part I: Vessels Vixen

Pairing: (Poly!) Sleep Token x (F!)Reader

Genre/Warnings: This chapter is mainly Vessel x Reader for lore build up!! Fluff, a made up character for plot is womanizing, flirtatious Vessel, decent amount of cursing

Summary: After kicking out a bunch of jerks at your work place, you become the savior of a certain masked man

(A/N): I’ve tried rewriting a story involving Sleep Token at least a dozen times now, and this is my last attempt for the first part and probably the best, so I hope you enjoy! 🥲🩷

It’s very common to find me working for extremely long hours as well as doing all the chores while blasting my ears off with an old pair of headphones. I do work in a record shop anyways, so what else would I be doing? Once I moved out and on my own I’ve had nothing to do, so I help this elderly couple maintain their shop so they can enjoy their- what should be- retirement.

The town we live in is decently small, but still big enough to include fascists and douche bags of every variety. More specifically, a group of men called the ‘Southwind Snakes’ by the men and just plain ‘perverts’ by the women- me included. Almost every day they end up either trying to wreck the shop, wrecking the shop, or trying to fight with other customers- which those fights usually end up leading to the shops wreckage. Today wasn’t any different.

As the climate got colder, the rain got heavier, and when the weather is shitty, so is the amount of patrons. The elderly couple were packing their bags, ready to go home before asking me“Are you sure you don’t want to just close up early, sweetie? The storm’s looking pretty bad.” Shaking my head, I respond “It’s alright, I’ll hold down the fort. Have a good day you guys.” I wave them off as they head out into the curtains of rain, just as they’re about to pull out I hear one of the worst sounds in the world; the ‘Southwind Snakes’ shit mobile. It’s the ugliest pick up truck I’ve ever seen, and of course it’s sitting front and center in the swamping parking lot. Josh and his goons enter the store and make a beeline straight for my counter. I groan, putting my headphones aside “How can I help you?” He puts one of his greasy hands on the counter “You can help me in more than one ways, doll” he smirks cockily, moving his one hand out to the side so one of his accomplices can five him. “If it doesn’t include helping you find something, or jamming a stick up your ass, then I can’t help you.” I blink blankly at him, his face turning into one of offense “Whatever, prude. Do you have the CD’s we ordered?” I roll my eyes, walking to the back wall, and bending over to grab a box from the lower shelf. All I hear is inappropriate giggles from the childish men, I frustratingly clench my teeth before walking back and handing him the box of CD’s. “Here you go. Need anything else?” He takes the box, “I could always use your number, if you’ll give it to me this time” he winks sloppily “Yeah, no. If you don’t need anything else from the store then have a good day.” He huffs loudly, exiting as his goons follow.

As I was returning to my work, I hear him yelling outside, “Jesus Christ, what now…” I run to the window, to see him berating a person who must’ve run into him. I usually don’t want to get involved in that douche’s antics, but when he starts hurting people verbally or physically I’m usually keen to stepping in. I walk outside in the frigid rain, by the time I get outside, Josh has already turned it from a verbal altercation into a physical one. “Get the hell out of here Josh, leave ‘em alone!” He seethes at me before hopping in his fuck truck. “Hate that fucking guy… are you okay?” I turn to the person, and offer them a hand. Through the thick sheets of rain I see the person look up at me, wearing what appears to be some sort of white facial covering. Looking down I see their hand, painted in some sort of black material snail into mine, obviously shaken by the situation. I help them up, “come on inside, I’ll get you warmed up.” They nod as I lead them into the store, the sudden warmth enveloping our now freezing and soaked skin. I wipe the rain off my face, “I’m sorry you got caught by Josh, he’s so damn rude all the time.” The person takes the cloak like garment off their shoulders, revealing a set of well toned shoulders. “You shouldn’t apologize for something that isn’t your fault, I should actually be thanking you.” He turns to me, I advert my eyes as best as I can, but it’s not helping that there’s now a shirtless man in my store, dripping with the aftermath of the storm. I get a decent look at his intricately beautiful yet grotesque mask, and catch myself before I end up staring for too long “I- uh I think we have some extra towels in the back, stay right here, I’ll be back!” He nods, giving me a comfortable smile, I quickly turn on my heel and head to the back.

Is there really towels in the back? Probably not, but I needed to get out of there before my face explodes from all the heat. But, lo and behold, the owners do keep some decently clean towels in the supply closet, so I grab one for each of us. I take one more heavy breath before heading back into the stores floor. Almost immediately as I enter, he asks “Is this you?” My brows hitch before I hand him a towel, “what do you mean?” His splotchy arm points toward a picture of me and the owners a few years back hosting a huge metal concert. It was like our states Coachella, or Sick New World. “Yeah that’s me, in all my… goth glory.” I giggle softly, I had done mine and the couples makeup in a goth style. “They love matching with me, and they always thought my makeup was ‘pretty’” I smile softly, his eyes gently weaving into my distracted appearance “I think you look ethereal” Blinking obliviously at how naturally he complimented me, “I’m sorry, what-?” He turns to me, still entirely topless “I’m sorry, that was inappropriate of me to l say wasn’t i-“ “No! No-“ i interrupt, flustered “Sorry- no, you’re fine! I’m just honestly not used to compliments…” he tilts his head “‘Not used to compliments’? Do you not get complimented often?” With hands on my hips, my cheeks puff slightly as I exhale “In this town? Not really.” He take a step forward “Well, maybe that’ll change…” his black painted mouth smirks cheekily, one of my brows raise in confusion “Me and my friends just moved into town, if they like you as much as I do, they’ll be all over you.”

I blink rapidly, obviously confused, my face heating with blush still trying to figure out what he means by ‘like me as much as he does’ and ‘all over me’. I stand still, overcome with confusion, he laughs brightly, stepping ever so closer “You’re very cute, I don’t know how people here don’t tell you more…” our faces become extremely close, all my senses disappear, the only thing being processed is the extreme volume of my hearts rapid beating. He leans in slowly- oh my god, it’s really happening. I only met him today, but I mean hey- *Honkk* we both snap out of our trance. He laughs softly “That must be them.” I back away, embarrassed “I’ll see you again, right?” I nod warmly “Good” he quickly kisses my cheek, my hands go numb at the surge of romantic energy coursing through my system. He pulls back smiling, some of the paint on his lips now transferred to my cheek, making him chuckle. He turns to leave, putting his cloak on when I speak, “(Y/N)…” his head turns slightly “I know you didn’t ask, but that’s my name…” I smile awkwardly, what if he didn’t know your name- “Beautiful…” he whispers under his breath “I’m Vessel.” He walks out to the parking lot, leaving me alone. I think I’m in love.

[scoonsalicious]

Unwanted: Chapter 26, Unsurprising - Pt. 4

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Avenger!Fem!Reader

Summary: When your FWB relationship with your best friend Bucky Barnes turns into something more, you couldn’t be happier. That is, however, until a new Avenger sets her sights on your super soldier and he inadvertently breaks your heart. You take on a mission you might not be prepared for to put some distance between the two of you and open yourself up to past traumas. Too bad the only one who can help you heal is the one person you can no longer trust.

Warnings: (For this part only; see Story Masterlist for general Warnings) Language, mentions of miscarriage, mentions of sex, violence.

Word Count: 894

Previously On...: Bucky rejected your sexual advances, but Nat texted you, so at least you have that going for you.

A/N: ANSWER TIME

NOTE! The tag list is a fickle bitch, so I'm not really going to be dealing with it anymore. If you want to be notified when new story parts drop, please follow @scoonsaliciousupdates

Banner By: The absolutely amazing @mrsbuckybarnes1917!

Thank you to all those who have been reading; if you like what you've read, likes, comments, and reblogs give me life, and I truly appreciate them, and you!

Taglist: (Sadly, tag list is closed; Tumblr will not let me add anyone new. If you want to be notified when I update, please Follow me for Notifications!) @jmeelee @cazellen @mrsbuckybarnes1917 @blackhawkfanatic @buckybarnessimpp @hayjat @capswife @itsteambarnes @marygoddessofmischief @sebastians-love @learisa @lethallyprotected @rabbitrabbit12321 @buckybarnesandmarvel @fanfictiongirl77 @calwitch @fantasyfootballchampion @selella @jackiehollanderr @wintercrows @sashaisready @missvelvetsstuff @angelbabyyy99 @keylimebeag @maybefoxysouls @vicmc624 @j23r23 @wintercrows @crist1216 @cjand10 @pattiemac1@les-sel @dottirose @winterslove1917 @harperkenobi @ivet4 @casey1-2007 @mrsevans90 @steeph-aniie @bean-bean2000 @beanbagbitch @peachiestevie @wintrsoldrluvr @shadowzena43

Tumblr will not let me directly tag the following: @marcswife21 @erelierraceala @jupiter-107 @doublejeon @hiqhkey @unaxv @brookeleclerc

You stabbed your finger on the button to dial Nat’s number, the brevity of her texting style leaving you with more questions than answers. You were terrified it was going to go to voicemail before she finally picked up.

“‘Bout time,” Nat answered instead of a greeting. “How long did it take before you and Barnes got naked again? I’ve got money riding on it.”

“Jesus Christ, Nat,” you said, not wanting to waste time playing this game. “We didn’t, okay? Now tell me what the hell’s going on!”

“I told you in the texts,” she said, “and if you’d bothered to reply, I’d have answered any questions you may have had.”

You didn’t respond to that, waiting for Natasha get over your lack of response and start talking. “Fine,” she eventually capitulated. “Sam called Steve, told him about A.J., who is going to be okay, by the way– just a long recovery; and how he needed to go home. He said he didn’t want to leave you, and asked Steve to send down coverage.”

“Yeah, I knew that already,” you said, though you were relieved to hear the news about A.J.. “What else?”

“Well, obviously Barnes volunteered,” she said, as if it was the most logical thing in the world, “but Steve wasn’t having it, because he didn’t want to spring Barnes on you without clearing it with you first.” 

“That was thoughtful of him,” you said.

“Hmm,” said Nat cryptically. “Anyway, I was going to come down, myself. Sun and surf and stripping with my best friend? Sounded like a fucking vacation.”

“Natasha,” you warned, urging her to stick to the point. 

She sighed. “Yeah, okay. So, Bucky gets a call from a SHIELD med facility out in Wilmington, Fucking Delaware, of all places.” Nat paused, waiting for you to speak. When you didn’t, she asked: “Care to explain what that was all about, Pocket?”

“Not at this exact moment, Natty,” you said, truly not wanting to get into your surprise pregnancy/miscarriage two-for-one evening. 

You could practically hear Nat’s eyes roll in annoyance at you through the phone– she despised not knowing things, which was what made her such a damned good spy. “Fine. Carthage finds out Bucky’s taken off, and when she asks where he went, Steve tells her he went to be with you, that you needed him. Pocket, this girl fucking flipped her shit. Like, I half expected her to turn green and start growing through her clothes. I’ve never seen anything like it that didn’t involve Bruce Hulking-out,” she told you.

“She was screaming how it wasn’t fair, had some choice words to say about you, which I won’t repeat, because I’m your friend, by the way, then starts talking about how ‘it wasn’t supposed to be this way,’ and ‘this wasn’t what she was promised.’ It was weird. Just… fucking weird. 

“Steve tried to calm her down,” she continued, “but she wasn’t having any of it. Kept saying he ‘didn’t understand,’ and how now she was ‘gonna die,’ and it was all your fault. Steve tried to restrain her, but she clocked him. He needed to call in Thor to help wrangle her. They got her sedated and put her in her room, but when Cho went to check on her a few hours later, she was just… gone. Ransacked her room, punched holes in the walls, packed up all her shit.”

“Jesus Christ,” you murmured. “Nat, this is absolutely beyond. I mean, it’s more than a crush, it’s a fucking obsession.”

“Tell me about it,” Nat agreed. “She left behind her Stark phone, her coms, and her tracking device. Steve and Tony made the decision to list her as AWOL, and they’ve got SHIELD crawling around like ants looking for her, but there’s been no sign of her since.”

You took a shaking breath. “That’s a hell of a lot to take in, Nat.”

“Oh, sweetie,” she said, and you could hear the smirk in her voice, “that’s not even the best part.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“You have no idea.”

“Out with it, Natalia, I swear!”

Your friend scoffed. “You’re no fun, but fine. You remember our little conversation with Sam, right? After she fucked up the Malaysia mission?”

“Where he said he thought she set them up, yeah.” You remembered, alright, though it felt so long ago now. “And I checked the Tower’s systems; she hadn’t accessed anything she shouldn’t have.”

“Except for Bucky’s files,” Nat clarified to remind you.

“Except for Bucky’s files,” you agreed, not understanding where she was going with this.

“You know how my part was to reach out to my old KGB contacts, see what I could find out from them?” Nat asked, and you grunted in affirmation. 

“Well,” she continued, “I just heard back, not long after I started texting you. Turns out, our BFF didn’t escape from a Hydra base.”

You felt a cold chill go down your spine. “What are you saying, Nat?”

“I’m saying I was given some very interesting security footage,” Nat continued. “Carthage never escaped Hydra, because they willingly let her out.” You let out a shocked gasp, and Nat paused for dramatic effect, making you want to reach through the phone and shake her. “They let her out,” she continued, “with an objective: to bring home the Winter Soldier.”

<- Previous Part / Next Part ->

[2knightt]

gwjgdkebdj ive never asked anything from u before but can you do the gang with a reader who stims a lot cuz like i often stim like with my hands or like vocal stims like squeaking or certain words and idk how would they feel about that because i do it alot :]

↳pharmacy’s rotting my brain!₊˚✧

──IN WHICH, the gang with a reader that tends to stim!。✦

||✰ — the gang, separately can be seen as both romantic and platonic.

Johnny Cade ;

probably doesn’t care.

he thinks is a little odd at first, but gets used to it pretty fast

if you tend to do it when you’re nervous, he picks up on it pretty fast.

like, if you were in a public space that’s crowded and you were to start stimming, vocally or not, he’d notice immediately.

he’d take you away from the area ASAP.

“you good?”

“ye-yeah. back there jus, scared me is all.”

“yeah. i noticed.”

i think he tends to like, play with his fingers when he’s nervous so…he makes sure you don’t feel alone or weird because of it.

you feeling insecure over something you cannot control is beyond him.

so, he tries his very best to help you in any way possible.

if you need him to hold your hand to stop you from stimming so much in front of new people, he will NOT let go.

“johnny we left, you can let go.”

“no.”

“okay.”

Dallas Winston ;

i don’t think he minds much.

but if anyone else had a problem with it, he’d have a problem with them.

“the hell are they doing?”

“is it a problem?”

“yeah, it’s annoying.”

BAM!

dead.

he tries to understand why you do it, but doesn’t.

“i’ve told you already, dal.”

“yeah but, why?”

when you like, squeaked around him for the first time, he was probably scared.

“AH! what the fuck?!”

gets used to it though.

“jesus christ, y/n. you sound like a mouse.”

“shut up.”

if you get nervous around him and start stimming he probably would throw an arm around your shoulder and rubs his thumb up n down your arm.

he tries to help, sometimes, but fails so bad.

you probably just end up laughing at him.

Ponyboy Curtis ;

honestly, i can see pony stimming too. just a little bit though.

so, seeing you stim too make him feel less lonely.

ponyboy probably stims when he’s alone only but when you came along you’re like, the only person to know.

“me too!”

“i know, y/n. that’s why i told you.”

“oh.”

he’s always there for you!! like always.

it lowkey gets kinda annoying but whatever.

it helps ponyboy stay calm knowing your alright.

Sodapop Curtis ;

will also, beat the shit outta someone for making fun of you.

“stop that.”

“they can’t control that.”

“so? it’s annoyi-“

knocked out!

even a broken jaw, perhaps.

he is your number one defender!!!

i can see soda stimming when he gets excited, like shaking him hands, all that.

he totally understands you!!

he doesn’t mind if you do vocal stims.

you and sodapop legit understand each other.

i feel like he gets you. idk.

Darry Curtis ;

scared. he was lowkey scared when you stimmed around him.

he doesnt know why you do it??

don’t even bother trying to explain it to him.

but he gets used to it, n’ that’s all that matters.

he doesn’t even bat n’ eye no more.

he’s learning so fast at his old age!☺️

jokes…maybe.

if your certain word was like fuck or something, he lets it slide.

i think darry’s the type of guy to go “LANGUAGE!” when someone swears.

but he won’t for you.

“what? you aren’t gonna yell at them?”

“no.”

“what???”

“don’t ask anymore questions, you hear?”

Steve Randle ;

will beat the shit out of someone too.

0 fucking hesitation.

ZERO.

he is swinging without a second thought.

but, i do unfortunately have to admit, he thought it was weird at first.

he didn’t understand why you would squeak, or move your hands constantly.

but, slowly but surely, he got the idea.

i don’t see himself doing it, but he gets you.

Two-bit Mathews ;

i can see two-bit playing with his hands when he gets too excited.

so seeing you stim, isn’t weird to him at all.

he lowkey thinks it normal.

he thinks your squeaking is funny.

“HAHAHA! y-y/n, who knew you could make such cute sounds!”

he means it in a good way.

i swear he does😭.

i think he picks up on playing with his hands like how you do if he spends enough time with you.

“jeez, y/n. i’ve been hanging out with you so much ‘m starting to become you!”

“oh, shut it!”

[notroosterbradshaw]

That 100 different kisses list has me thinking about 80 with Rooster 😵‍💫

PROMPT: 80. crashing your lips together during an argument

thank you for this, Anna, angst with fluff for you xx

“I just don't fucking get it,” you muttered after Rooster. He pushed open the door, conscious of you behind him, holding the door so it wouldn’t hit you in his frustration, and you followed him out of the bar and he stomped to the car. “I was not flirting with him - I mean, not the way you 'talk to girls at the bar',” you petulantly used the latter part of the sentence in air quotes just to belittle him a bit more and he threw his hands up, frustrated. “I didn't even accept the drink!”

He stopped and spun to look at you, his eyes dark with rage. “He asked for your number.”

“Again, I didn't give it to him. What did you see that I didn't?” you begged to know. You didn't accept a drink, and you didn't give him your number, it didn't seem deeper than that. Rooster was usually much more comfortable in his own skin and was happy for you to chat with anyone at the bar. “I get to leave with the hottest guy in the bar and you think I'm entertaining the thought of cheating on you... while you're mere meters away?” you were baffled.

He chewed his lip, the cool night air calming a little after the stifling heat in the bar. “He asked for your number while I was standing next to you.”

“And you threatened to put your fist down his throat,” you added.

“And you’re angry at that?” he asked incredulously. “I'm in the wrong here?” he was seething.

“Oh, I get it now. You don't understand why you're the bad guy when you threaten violence to a guy that's hitting on me - and getting nothing, for the record - who walks away like you and I are both batshit crazy?”

He rolled his eyes, digging his keys from his pocket to your car, the Bronco getting the night off. “This is bullshit.”

"No, it's not. You're acting like an asshole and I called you out on it, so you’re having a 34-year-old’s version of a tantrum. I can't even imagine the ramifications if you followed through," you continued. 

“Do you ever fucking stop?” he asked, opening the passenger side, and in grandiose form, pleading you get in the car. “Ma'am, you piece of shit chariot awaits.”

“Fuck's sake, you don't have to take it out on the car, Bradley,” you snipped at him, getting in as he slammed the door behind you. You buckled up just in time for him to slide into the driver's seat and he harshly adjusted the seat and mirrors.

“Jesus Christ,” he started the car, whipping his belt on.

“Oh, my God,” you rolled your eyes, kicking your heels off and putting your feet on the dash. The overreaction was just spectacular. 

“Look,” he pressed the ignition, the car roaring to life. He cursed the music that you were both listening to on the trip here and bashed at the volume mute until it behaved. “I don’t want any guy to feel comfortable around you enough to think that you’re available to them.”

“That is the saddest thing I’ve ever heard,” you muttered. “Just drive home. I can’t deal with you anymore tonight. I thought this was going okay, but clearly, we’re on two very different pages here. I’m not going to be possessed by you. You don’t own me, or who I talk to, whether you think I’m leading them on or not. This is about you, not me.”

“I’m in love with you, fuck,” he exclaimed. “Can’t you see that? I don’t want whatever this casual thing is, I want us. You flirting with other guys makes me think I’m fucking drowning and you don’t feel the same,” he didn’t look at you. 

You didn’t look at him, but you sure heard him. The silence in the car was deafening. You’d yet to say those words and although you didn’t want to be casual with Bradley at all, this wasn’t exactly the way you wanted him to tell you he was in love with you - mid-argument. “You’re so fucking ridiculous,” you told him.

“I tell you I love you, and I’m ridiculous?” his tone still rough.

“Do you think that telling me you love me while you’re degrading me is fair?” you yelled.

“Well, no,” he admitted, his hands clutching the steering wheel, knuckles white.

“Fuck, I love you too,” you sighed, rubbing your face and finally turning to look at him, looking right back at you, eyes searching your face desperately. And before you could speak again, his hands drew around the back of your neck and brought you to him, kissing you like his life depended on it - like you were his air. He felt your body and sighed as he felt the seatbelt, releasing it and pulling you closer to him. 

“I love you,” he breathed. “I’m so in love with you. Please tell me you feel the same?” he pulled your hair, panting as he rested his forehead against yours. He knew his actions didn’t represent his feelings and realised he may have ruined everything before it even began.

“I love you, Bradley, I do,” you kissed him deeply, the adrenaline waning and he kissed your forehead. “Please don’t act like that again. I don’t like when you’re jealous. It’s not endearing at all.”

“I won’t,” he promised. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“I love you,” you reaffirmed for him. He sighed and smiled. Your Bradley returning to you. He kissed you again, gentle and loving

[peachoni]

_ Promise?

billy hargrove x fmreader

summary: billy is very seldom nice to you. but the truth behind the front he puts up is that he is deeply attracted to you. so when he sees a classmate touching you, he doesn’t like that very much and takes matters into his own hands to claim whats his.

content warning: mean billy, reader gets verbally harrassed by a classmate, violence/fighting, blood, wound tending (reader to billy), neil is mentioned/home abuse, kissing (might make another part idk)

an: I KNOWWW everyone is gonna say billy is a bad person but im delulu so pls let me live in a fantasy :)) like idk about everyone else but i feel like billy is a very sensitive person but he is just a product of his father/just grew up in a toxic home. IDKIDK IM RAMBLING

word count:  1.5k (not proofread) 

You wake up and open your eyes due to the trill sound of your alarm, the bright red numbers on the device flashed. Whining as you shut it off and opted to lay in bed for a few more minutes before your mother knocked on the door. “Honey wake up, breakfast is on the table.” she declared in which you just hummed before getting out of bed and headed downstairs.

Your mom asked you a few questions but you really didn’t have the energy to respond with much enthusiasm. After eating you heading back into your bedroom to get dressed, thinking of dressing a little nice today just to make yourself feel a little better. Slipping into a tight black dress with a white long sleeved half-top over it, white dainty leg warmers and black mary janes. You looked in the mirror and nodded softly in approval of your outfit, sitting down at your vanity to do a but of makeup so you didn’t look like you were running on fumes.

Soon leaving your home and you started your walk to school; you lived close so you didn’t mind the 10-15 minute walk every morning. Happy that you could just listen to music and be left to think.

Humming softly to ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac as you walked to your locker and grabbed things you needed, putting away things you didn’t. Before you knew it you felt yourself being pushed against the lockers, a soft groan coming from you because you knew who the culprit was before even turning around. “Morning to you too Hargrove.” you said before taking your headphones off and resting them around your neck. You closed your locker and turned on your heel to face Billy whom was walking around with his disciples as always.

“Uh huh. Tryin’ to impress today?” he asked and all you did was roll your eyes before putting your headphones over your ears again and walking to your first class. You didn’t even give Billy the time of day, knowing the attention is what he wanted. He wanted you to get mad. And you weren’t going to give into it.

You greeted the teacher as you walked into class and immediately took your seat. You liked this class apart from one significant detail. Billy sat next to you. Damn assigned seating. He sat beside him and you glanced over at him which he caught, knowing he did because a smirk was shown on his lips. “Like what you see princess?” he whispered and you couldn’t help but clench your thighs together but you played it off with a glare before you got to work.

Normally Billy’s pestering all class long doesn’t get to you but something just snapped. You just couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Jesus Christ Billy can you just shut the fuck up for 5 seconds?! I know you think your all that because ever girl bends over backwards to get fucked by you and you think the world owes you because of your home issues or whatever but guess what? The world doesn’t fucking revolve around you! We all have our baggage and I’m really not interested in whatever lack luster run down you have to give on what you think I am like or how my home life is. Just give it a fucking break already and stop acting like such a fucking child.” You said sternly which left his pretty blue eyes wide; not expecting an outburst like that from you. You scoffed at him before grabbing your things and excusing yourself from class. ‘Jesus I need a cigarette...’ you mumbled before the bell rang, signaling to head to your next class. Boy was it going to be along day.

When it was time for lunch, you made your way to the cafeteria like normal. But before you can enter you were stopped by Dale, some guy who is in your history class. You’ve exchanged words rarely so you have no clue why he is stopping you. “Can I help you?” you asked and he looked you up and down which made your stomach uneasy. “Yea I can think of a few things.” he said as he came a little closer to you which made you back up in response to his very obvious advance onto you. “Dale I think you should-” you started to speak but he grabbed your wrist and pulled you to him. “No no no.. you listen to me now. You can’t just come to school dressed like a fucking slut and be shocked when a guy comes up to you.” he replied, a whine coming from you has his grip on your wrist tightened.

Before you knew it you were being pulled away by one of your girl friends. You looked back and saw Dale with blood covering his face, Billy wailing on him as his fists where covered in blood. As the situation deescalated you got away from your friends and chased after Billy, grabbing his shoulder softly. “Billy” you called out and he turned to face you. Holding his hands as you seethed at the wounds on them. “Come with me.” you whispered and Billy followed without even a word.

You decided to leave early, your excuse being you were both shaken up over the incident. The walk to your house was silent, tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. You brought Billy to your room and told him to wait there so you could grab everything to fix him up. He looked around your room from his seated position, a soft breath coming from him as he rolled his eyes. Your room exactly matched your personality. 

Billy averted his eyes back to his bloody knuckles when he heard your soft footsteps come closer to your bedroom. You sat beside him and grabbed the supplies you needed before peering up at him. “Umm. This is probably gonna sting a bit.” you warned to which he just nodded in response. Cleaning his wounds didn’t take long but you also tended to the cut on his lip. Trying to stay focused; but you found yourself admiring his features, looking into his eyes when you noticed he had been doing the same. The pair both cleared their throats and you got up to clean up all the bloodied supplies. 

“B-Billy... If you don’t mind he asking... I mean hell you don’t owe me an answer after the outburst in class today...” you vented before sighing heavily and sitting beside him. “Why did you do it? I mean... Why did you stand up for me?” you asked, a hint of fear in your voice because you’ve never seen Billy so angry before. Billy looked up seeming to you that he was just trying to process his words in a way that would be coherent. “Listen... I know that I uh- I’m not very nice to you. Ever. And you yelling at me earlier today kinda made me realize;” he started to explain before grabbing both of your hands. “That the reason I’m mean is because I’m scared of you getting to close and seeing... Me really... Dammit I know that probably doesn’t make any fuckin’ sense...” he vented and you tilted your head a bit, giving Billy a soft smile before reaching your hand out and cupping the side of his face gently. “Oh Billy..” You whispered before he eventually looked at you. “Y’know I do admit.. I really hate that you treat me the way you do everyday... But I have to admit that I’ve heard the rumor around school about your.. father. And I’ve seen you with a black eye before. I just thought it was just another stupid fight because y’know. Your Billy Hargrove.”

There was a long pause before you swiveled your body and sat directly in front of him; but he took the chance to speak first. “I just want to say that I’m sorry.. And that the reason I kept you at a distance is because I was afraid. Afraid of you seeing... me really... I know it might not mean anything and your more than welcome to just kick me out but... I like you...” he whispered as he looked into your eyes with those pretty baby blue of his that made you melt anytime you made eye contact. Your heart instantly melted because you could tell he was serious, not a doubt about a single thing he just said. He was truly being honest.

 Before he knew it your lips were on his, He wrapped his muscular arms your waist and pulled you into his lap with ease as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss; which you of course followed his lead with. “I’m gonna need you to promise..” you started before sitting up and looking into his eyes. “Promise that you wont push me away...” Those words hit him and he thought for a few seconds before nodding. He reached up and took one of his dangly spiked earrings off and handed it to you. “I promise.” he told you and you smiled before putting the earring on. The both of you laughing softly before laying in your bed, just drowning in each others company. 

[rambleonwaywardson]

Clegan Astronaut AU - Part 9

Masterpost

AU Summary: the boys as modern day NASA astronauts. Taking place in 2025, Bucky is about to head to the moon as mission commander of Artemis III while Buck is CAPCOM at NASA. Established relationship (obnoxiously in love).

Author's Note: This one got away from me a bit so it's longer than usual. And I've finally started putting this on ao3, so you can also ready here.

Acronym and terminology definitions

---

November 15, mission day 9 Lunar Orbit

The crew wakes in a groggy panic to the sounds of an alarm going off in the cabin, a red warning light flashing over the console. Bucky, dressed in NASA-issue pajamas with his curls stuck up in ridiculous directions from the zero G and lack of product, struggles to unzip his floating sleeping bag, which is suspended in the middle of the Orion capsule and secured at both ends. Alex and Rosie’s seats had been stowed once they were en route to the moon in order to make more space in the capsule for sleeping, working, and generally existing without being right on top of each other, but it only helps so much. They’ve been stuck in this glorified minivan for going on 9 days now, and they are only very slightly sick and tired of each other.

As Bucky tries to drag himself over to the console, his foot catches on Curt’s arm, flipping the other astronaut upside down in his own sleeping bag. “What the fuck, Bucky,” Curt groans. With nothing within arms reach to push off of, there’s no hope of flipping himself back over, so he starts trying to free himself from where he is.

“Gotta see how we’re gonna die this time,” Bucky replies unapologetically, settling into his commander’s seat so he can see the console properly.

“What time is it?” Alex asks with a yawn.

“5:50.” Bucky silences the master alarm, bringing quiet to the cabin once again. They’re ten minutes short of their typical wake-up call.

From the other side of the capsule, Rosie rubs his eyes with one hand. “Jesus Christ, we’d be screwed in an emergency.” The unconcerned way with which they’ve reacted to this alarm is not unlike the way college students would react to their apartment building’s fire alarm going off in the middle of the night for the third time in a row. But that’s because that’s basically what this is. They’ve had a number of false alarms already in the days since leaving low earth orbit.

Bucky ignores him and switches on his coms. “Houston? How do you read?”

Benny’s voice comes back. “We read you Bucky, loud and clear.”

Curt slides into his seat as Bucky squints at the silenced alarm still flashing bright red in front of his face. CO2.

“Looks like we’re suffocating again, Benny,” Bucky informs him.

“Copy that.” There’s a pause as Benny checks with the Emergency, Environmental, and Consumables Officer. “Our readings look fine. Don’t see anything out of the ordinary. Can you confirm up there?”

Curt and Bucky glance at the carbon dioxide meters on the console, and Curt shrugs, sighing in exasperation. “Looks fine here,” Bucky agrees. “Another false alarm.” 

This is the third time the carbon dioxide alarm has gone off without cause, but at least this time it happened relatively close to their normal wake-up time. On mission day 4, the cabin pressure sensor had jolted them all awake around 2:00am GMT. They spent nearly two hours sorting that out with Helen on CAPCOM, checking every square inch of the capsule and every line of telemetry data for an explanation. Turns out it was just some bad wiring, and Houston had to walk Alex through the steps to repair it before it would stop going off.

Fortunately, Dr. Huston and Jack Kidd, as Flight Surgeon and Flight Activities Officer, found a way to work some extra sleep into their schedule that day. Unfortunately, instead of just having a faulty wire, the CO2 sensor itself is fucked.

“We’ll get those sensors checked out when you come back Earthside,” Benny promises. “Unfortunately, our electricians have not agreed to extend operations to the moon. At least, not without a hefty house call fee.”

Bucky laughs tiredly. “The audacity of some people. What has the trade industry come to?”

“I could just break the sensor,” Curt offers.

“That’s a negative, Curt,” Benny responds. “EECOM says no.”

“Maybe EECOM should try wakin’ up to this fuckin’ alarm at all hours of the night.”

Benny kindly reminds them, “EECOM is wide awake with you.” Mission Control operates on GMT, along with the crew, meaning that while it’s 5:50am mission time, it’s actually 12:50 AM in Houston. These flight controllers just started their shifts fifty minutes ago. During a mission, normal work schedules simply don’t exist for the team on the ground any more than they do for the crew in space.

Before either Bucky or Curt can say something snarky back, obnoxious pop music is blasting through the cabin from Bucky’s tablet, which is their designated alarm clock on board Orion. “There’s our wake-up call,” Bucky mutters.

“I got it,” Alex calls over to him, floating across the cabin to get the tablet, which is velcroed to the wall.

“Hey hold on!” Curt reaches his hand out. “Give it a minute!” He starts obnoxiously singing along, jamming out beside Bucky to the point that he loses his grip on his seat and starts floating away. 

“I’m a real tough kid, I can handle my shit, they said babe you gotta fake it ‘til you make it and I did.”

The other three join in despite their exhaustion, Bucky and Curt not even bothering to switch off their coms. “Lights, camera bitch, smile, even when you wanna die. He said he’d love me all his life.” Bucky is, admittedly, very pleased when he realizes he can hear many of the flight controllers singing along in the background. It’s a small thing, but their wake up music choices make everyone’s day just a little better. Alex shuts off the alarm.

“Hey Benny,” Bucky says. “Can you ask Gale if he’ll love me all his life?”

“Ask him yourself in… five to six hours.”

“But that’s too long,” Bucky whines. “I need to know now.”

“He’s asleep. Ask your wedding ring, you idiot.”

Bucky grabs at the wedding ring that’s dangling – or, rather, floating – on a chain around his neck. Astronauts often choose to wear rings on necklaces like this in space, since it’ll be easier to grab them if they float away. Bucky has only lost it once so far, which everyone is quite impressed with. He rubs his thumb over the silver band, and Curt makes a gagging noise beside him. 

“Astrofag,” he coughs.

Bucky gives him the middle finger.

With the false alarm and the morning shenanigans out of the way, Benny composes himself and gives the crew a proper morning greeting as Alex and Rosie put on their coms. “Alright, rise and shine boys, big day today!”

“We’re in space. Every day is a big day,” Rosie points out, unimpressed, before starting to fold up and stow the crew’s sleeping bags. He isn’t wrong. Every day in this space-traveling RV is something new. Every day is a little closer to something historic. Every day is something else that could kill them. But today is the day that Bucky and Curt say goodbye to their crewmates and descend to the lunar surface for a week-long all-inclusive stay. So yes, it is a big day. 

“How about a news update,” Benny offers.

“The news is too fucking depressing,” Alex complains.

Benny agrees. “How about a JSC news update, then? Let’s see…” The crew can hear him as he muffles his com and calls out to the other flight controllers in Mission Control, “Who has news?”

Then he speaks to the crew again. “Croz’s kid turned one year old yesterday. A very happy birthday to the little guy. I’m sure you’ll see pictures when you’re home, he smashed a huge piece of cake right into his face.” Bucky smiles and relays his birthday wishes. “Perhaps more importantly,” Benny continues. “Meatball turns five next week.”

“I know for a fact you don’t know Meatball’s birthday,” Bucky interjects.

“Well, the vets think he’s about five, and I just gave him a random birthday.”

“Naturally.” Bucky double checks their trajectory on the console, taking note of how long they have until Starship has to undock.

“Hey, don’t act like you wouldn’t do the same,” Benny says defensively.

“I know my dog’s birthday.”

“Not all of us are perfect pet parents, John. Some of us win our dogs gambling.”

Bucky snorts. “A great slogan for a pet food brand.”

Benny moves on. “We’re having good weather in Houston this week. Looks like we saw the last of hurricane season on launch day. Blue skies – well, not now. It’s midnight-”

Curt situates himself back in his seat and tries to rub the tiredness from his eyes. “Benny why do I give a shit what the weather is in Houston? Ain’t gonna be there for another 20 fuckin’ days.”

“Fine,” Benny says. “The weather at the lunar south pole looks… unremarkable. 24/7 sun except in the shadows. Hot as hell in the light and cold as hell in the dark. Landing conditions look as acceptable as can be expected.”

“Wait, is Hell hot or cold?” Curt asks. “You’re sendin’ me mixed messages here.”

“That’s it. No more news.”

Bucky chuckles and pushes up and away from his console, floating across the cabin to the food ration storage. “Thanks for the update, Benny.”

As usual, Benny tells them all to get some food in their systems before they reconvene to go over the day’s mission plan. Bucky pulls some silver rehydratable food packages out of storage and squints at the labels. Pickings are slim, but not all together awful. “Alright crew,” he says, holding one of the packages up. “We’ve got oatmeal, wheat chex, or scrambled eggs. Take your pick and eat up.”

—

Nassau Bay, TX

Gale wakes around 4:30am, not alone as would be expected, but instead with two cold, wet noses nudging at his face, attacking from all sides. He and Benny have once again gotten into a habit of co-parenting Pepper and Meatball so they’re not alone for too long during the chaos of Artemis 3. The dogs get to hang out together 24/7, moving from Gale’s house to Benny’s and back each day depending on who's on shift at Mission Control. With Benny on the early shift, Gale has them from about 8pm until he leaves in the morning. Benny will drop by to pick them up once he gets Gale updated on mission activities and leaves JSC. 

Nothing about human spaceflight is normal, not even for those on the ground. They work weird hours, sleep weird hours, and no one ever knows what’s about to happen at any given moment. Gale works the Red shift, from 8am CST until 4pm. This corresponds to 1pm to 9pm GMT, the time zone that the crew and Mission Control operate on. Helen then takes over and works the White shift from 4pm to 12am CST. Benny is on Blue shift from 12am to 8am. Even this is misleading, though. There’s up to an hour of overlap between each shift for one shift to get the next up to speed, resulting in a ten hour work day seven days a week.

Today, that’s all fucked up anyway. Gale has to go in two hours earlier than usual so that no shift change has to occur between Starship undocking and landing, giving the crew a constant Mission Control team through the entire process.

So he yawns as he looks out at the dark, pre-sunrise morning, and he shoves the huskies off the bed so he can get to his feet. After stretching out the sore muscles in his back, he rubs one hand, covered by his sweatshirt sleeve, over his face and pauses to inhale the scent still barely clinging to the fabric. He can imagine John going on and on, wondering how Gale doesn’t get hot at night all bundled up like that. But right now, Gale doesn’t have his space heater of a husband to keep him warm, so he needs to make up for it somehow. He’s been sleeping in the Yankees sweatshirt nearly every night since launch, and he’s dreading the day he can’t pick out John’s scent anymore. For the moment, he smiles softly to himself, assured that it’s still there, and he gets on with his morning.

Opting not to take a jog before it’s even 5am, Gale takes himself through a quick bodyweight workout in the bedroom. Squats, push-ups, sit-ups, planks, all while fending off two massive dogs insistent on shoving into his space. Then he takes what can only be described as a military shower, in and out, before scrambling to find a clean button-down shirt and tie. After starting the coffee maker, he turns the TV onto the news story he’d recorded last night. 

“Tomorrow, The Starship Human Landing System will undock from Orion to carry John Egan and Curtis Biddick to the lunar surface.” Marge, as Artemis PAO, is sitting across from an NBC reporter, explaining the details of the Artemis 3 mission plan.

“And how long will it take the lander to reach the lunar surface?” the reporter asks.

“About half a day,” Marge replies. Then she goes on to outline the landing process. 

“Our two astronauts will perform a controlled burn that will decelerate the lander enough to fall into the moon’s gravity well. This means that they will depart from the current Orion orbit and instead descend into low lunar orbit. From low lunar orbit, they will perform another burn that will slow them down enough to fall towards the lunar surface, where they will land near Shackleton crater.”

“And the remaining crew members in Orion will stay in their current orbit?”

“Yes, Orion will remain in NRHO, a near-rectilinear halo orbit. This means that their orbit is balanced between the moon’s gravity and the Earth’s gravity. It’s an elliptical orbit, taking about six and a half days to complete, where they fly very close to the moon at one end, and very far from it at the other. This period of time will correspond to the surface mission.” A window pops up on one side of the screen showing a simulation of Orion in NRHO, complete with Starship undocking and heading for LLO. 

“So when Orion next completes its orbit, Starship will dock with it again?”

Marge nods. “Yes. They’ll meet up again in about a week.”

“And Shackleton crater. That’s at the moon’s south pole?”

The display window on the screen switches to a map of the Shackleton landing site. “Artemis operations are focused on the lunar south pole, where there’s near constant daylight for mission activities and power generation, as well as craters and valleys that are in constant or near constant shadow. So there’s parts of the surface there that have never been exposed to sunlight. Our astronauts will be performing a lot of experiments on the surface, such as studying lunar geology and searching for water ice.”

Gale pulls out his phone and texts Marge. “Look at you on TV.”

A reply shoots back immediately. “Please bring caffeine.”

Gale rolls his eyes, and then heads back into the kitchen to make up two cups of coffee, one black and one with an unhealthy amount of sugar. When he arrives at JSC, Marge greets him at his car, as is their typical routine. She greedily grabs the coffee cup he proffers and takes a desperate sip.

“You’re welcome,” Gale deadpans.

Marge glares at him. “Thank you.”

“What’s up with you?”

Marge blinks rapidly and pinches the bridge of her nose. Makeup conceals the dark circles that are starting to appear under her eyes, and Gale knows he has them, too. “This mission will be the death of me,” she declares.

Gale doesn’t press, because yes. Yes, this mission will be the death of them all. He wonders if the stress level they feel, the inconsistent sleep and the constant demand to always be at their best, is reminiscent of the Apollo days, when nothing about a single mission was standard. In many ways, Artemis is just as novel, if not more so, to the current NASA team than the later Apollo missions were. Every single person involved has trained hard; every component of this mission has been tested. And yet there’s a vague sense nestled in the back of everyone’s mind that they’re kind of out here winging it.

For what it’s worth, Mission Control is calm this morning. Flight controllers diligently monitor their designated systems, updating or reworking things as needed, an idle chatter popping up in this or that corner of the room. The new shift is filing in, getting themselves up to speed. Gale pats Marge on the shoulder as they enter, and they part ways.

“Morning,” Gale mumbles as he stops beside Benny at the CAPCOM console. “Are they ready?”

—

Low Lunar Orbit

John Egan and Curtis Biddick have landed a lot of jets in their lifetimes. They’ve landed a lot of jets in very precarious circumstances, in all manner of environments. They’ve flown them high and low, fast and slow, day and night, with and without landing gears, and sometimes on fire. They’re good pilots. Some of the best NASA has to offer, many might say.

The Starship Human Landing System is about as opposite of a jet as you can get.

Starship is nothing like the Apollo lunar module that today’s astronauts grew up dreaming about, though in their own ways they may be equally unwieldy. Instead of being small and low to the surface, the Artemis HLS is a tall and narrow vehicle, more akin to what science fiction would describe as a spaceship, with the crew seated near the top. When it was first proposed, there was concern over landing such a tall vehicle, especially with no atmosphere and little gravity to help balance it. But the engineers, the testing, and even the sims claim that it gets the job done.

Commander and pilot spent months in the simulators, learning how to handle this awkward thing of a rocket-turned-space-habitat, and neither of them have enjoyed a single moment of it. “It’s like ridin’ one of those giant unicycles,” Curt said once. He’s never been on one himself, and there’s a damn good reason for that. “It’s too fuckin’ tall.”

“You’re a fuckin’ pilot, Curt,” Benny had admonished him. “Figure it out.”

So here he is, figuring it out. “I’m an Air Force test pilot and this is what I get for it, tryin’ to land in a fuckin’ pringles can.”

“Yeah, sure that’s one way to think about landing on the moon,” Rosie rebukes from Orion, which is still in NRHO now somewhere far away from Curt and Bucky.

Bucky sighs longingly. “I could go for some pringles,”

Curt scoffs. “We got wheat chex.”

Gale: “Curt, think of it this way, only the best pilot could land a pringles can in one-sixth G.”

Curt: “Tryin’ to butter me up, Gale?”

Gale: “Whatever gets you on the ground safely.”

Bucky: “No. No buttering.”

Curt: “5,000 feet.”

Bucky: “Trajectory good.”

Curt: “It better fuckin’ be.”

Curt takes a deep breath, eyes locked on the console in front of him. He hates this. Not being able to clearly see where he’s landing, even if it’s half computer automated, which he also hates. He didn’t become a pilot or an astronaut to be a passenger princess, and he sure as hell isn’t trusting his life to a computerized landing module.

From the windows at the top of their silver tower, Bucky watches the lunar surface grow bigger and bigger beneath them, its curvature disappearing entirely as they approach their landing site at the south pole. He sings quietly to himself. “For here, am I floating in a tin can, far above the moon.” 

Gale: “Starship, be advised, you seem to be on VOX.”

VOX meaning Bucky’s coms are currently voice activated, as opposed to Push to Talk, or PTT. Every time he says something loudly enough, his coms pick it up and transmit it to Houston. It’s been a minor (major) issue for the entirety of the mission so far, but if nothing else, amusing to the flight controllers.

Bucky: “Your point?”

Gale: “Our flight controllers here in Houston would like me to tell you you have a lovely singing voice.” 

Bucky can hear the sarcasm, and seriously? From his own husband? The man who is supposed to love and support him unconditionally? Bucky can almost always make Gale laugh, no matter how moody he’s being, by singing a little off-key and pulling him into a reluctant dance. 

Bucky: “They should be so honored.”

Gale: “Houston would also like me to remind you, once again, that everything you say is being transcribed.” He relays these words, but he sounds defeated and unconvinced. He’s right to be. If Houston hasn’t convinced the crew to stop being little shits by now, it won’t happen for the rest of the mission.

Curt: “Fuck Houston.”

Gale: “Still on VOX.”

Curt: “If I were on PPT I’d still say that over coms.”

Gale: “I know, and I’m starting to think we’ll need someone to go through and redact these transcripts cause of your language. Top brass isn’t pleased.”

Curt: “I live to displease.”

Curt squints at the console in front of him, running the numbers in his head before he points out the discrepancy he’s seeing to Bucky. Bucky glances out the window.

Bucky: “Houston, we seem to be entering a roll.”

Gale: “... Come again? Didn’t quite catch that.”

Bucky switches his coms to PPT to make the transmission clearer. “A roll. We aren’t supposed to be entering a roll, are we?” He waits as Gale discusses with Bubbles, GNC, and Croz, FIDO.

Gale: “That’s a negative. We’re working on sorting out why the control software authorized that. Can you course correct?”

Curt: “I’ll try.” He fires the thrusters and manages to stop the roll. “Fuckin’ computer.”

Bucky stifles a laugh as he reads out their coordinates. 1,500 feet to go, and he can see Shackleton Crater ahead. The part of Bucky that isn’t a highly qualified professional is buzzing with ‘are we there yet’ energy, trying to keep his heart rate from spiking in anticipation.

Curt: “What are the odds of this thing tipping over on us, Gale?”

There’s a mildly concerning pause.

Gale: “We don’t have exact numbers on that. Is ‘low’ a good enough answer?”

Curt: “I’ll take it.”

Bucky: “Coming up on Shackleton. I can see the site.”

Curt: “500 feet.”

Bucky: “Jesus, that’s something, isn’t it?” The vehicle flies right over the massive crater like it’s nothing more than a pothole in the road. A pothole that’s 13 miles across. Below the rim, it’s completely consumed by darkness. 

Gale finds himself holding his breath in Mission Control, something he’s been doing a lot this mission. He hasn’t yet sorted out if he’d be doing that no matter what, or if it’s because Bucky is on that lander. He twists the wedding ring around his finger as he listens to Croz calmly relay Starship’s altitude. The thrusters lining the top of the lander fire, controlling its descent at the top of a ridge near Shackleton.

Curt: “Easy, easy babe.” 

Starship sets down on the surface, barely any harder than a bird landing on a tree branch. Everyone, in Mission Control, on the lander, and on Orion, can breathe easy again. Bucky leans his head back in his helmet and pumps a fist.

Curt: “Houston, we have touchdown at Shackleton crater.”

—

Houston, TX

Later that night, Gale leans back against the bartop at the Hundred Proof, glass of soda in hand. On the TV behind the bar, there’s another news story playing about the upcoming moonwalk. By the end of Gale’s shift today, Bucky and Curt were settled on the lunar surface, preparing for the week ahead. They would take the night to eat, rest, and do some basic housekeeping. Tomorrow they will take their first steps on the moon.

Gale looks around the Hundred Proof, taking a sip of his drink. Much of Red Shift, as well as some of Benny’s Blue Shift, made the pilgrimage to the bar to decompress tonight. Croz, Bubbles, and Jack are playing pool in the back. Gale’s seen a few of his other team members milling about with drinks in hand, playing darts or watching sports on the other TVs. Even Clark has taken the time to join his team in letting a load off, laughing as Croz fails miserably to make an eight ball shot.

For just a few hours, no one would even know that these men and women have the weight of the world on their shoulders.

“It’s fuckin’ crazy, what we’re doing.” Benny joins Gale at the bar, leaning back against the counter as he sips a beer. 

“The two of us are just on the ground,” Gale replies. 

“Takes a village.” Benny crosses his arms over his chest, his beer resting against his bicep. He’s dressed in a dark lightweight sweater and jeans. Gale, on the other hand, is still wearing his button down and slacks, his tie loosened and his top button undone the way that always makes Bucky grin and grab onto the tie, dragging him in for a kiss. Bucky’s on the moon, though. And Gale’s just tired.

“It’ll be you next, anyways,” Benny adds, tilting his head to glance at Gale. “You know how jealous I am?”

Gale can’t help the way the corner of his mouth turns up in a little half smile, but he shrugs. “You were just on the station. Too soon to send you back. If you’re lucky, we’ll survive past Artemis 4 and you’ll get yourself on 5.”

Benny takes another swig of beer, and Gale mimics him, sipping his own drink. He rubs his thumb over the condensation gathered around the sides of his glass. “We’ll survive,” Benny asserts.

Gale really hopes so. Seeing Artemis end so soon would break his heart. But you never know what tomorrow will bring, and he wonders if Apollo-era astronauts felt the same way. He thinks they did. “What makes you so sure?”

“Sure is the only thing you can be around here, isn’t it?” Benny shrugs. “And if we’re not sure, we have to act like we are.”

Gale knows he’s right. If they don’t believe in a future here, then no one else will. He glances around the bar, at his coworkers and friends joking and drinking and having a good time. Every single one of them believes wholeheartedly in what they’re doing here, and every single one will fight to keep it going. Come what may.

The Hundred Proof has this transcendent, timeless quality. Classic rock plays through the speakers, and a vintage charm seeps from the walls, lined with NASA memorabilia like a time capsule over half a century old. It’s hardly changed a bit since its early days, with the exception of new televisions and perhaps new drinkware, although no one is really sure about that one. Just about every astronaut who has ever suited up for the United States space program since Apollo has walked on these floors and sat at this bar. Tonight, as it offers its comforts to weary flight controllers ahead of another history-making shift, it feels as if time has stood still. It could just as easily be 1969 or 1972 or 1995. It could just as easily be another era, another mission, and another unknown.

Gale wonders if flight controllers like him and his friends sought out this place in decades past, preparing themselves for the next shift, the next landing, the next moonwalk. If they had the same fears and the same hopes. He wonders if this place looked the exact same as it does right now, harkening back to a past that was too long ago, a hope for the future that NASA has dragged itself back to tooth and nail.

It’s possible that no space mission in this lifetime will ever compare to the way Apollo 11 captured the attention of an entire nation. Of the entire developed world. When Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon – “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” – nearly every household and every TV-owning establishment in the United States was tuned in. Everyone dropped what they were doing to stare at the fuzzy black and white video feed and watch a man walk on an extraterrestrial surface for the very first time. Everyone who remembers that day can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing the moment those first footprints were pressed into the fine lunar soil. 

After that, though, moon landings were seen as routine. By the time Apollo 17 came around, the glimmer of futuristic hope and novelty was fading. Anyone who knew anything about it would tell you that there’s not a single thing that’s routine about landing on the moon. But it didn’t matter; for the public that would never be in that Mission Control room or on that space capsule, it lost its grandeur. 

The funding stopped. 

No one in power wanted to prioritize a lunar program anymore. America had made their point. They’d proved they could do it, proved their superiority in the space race. And dreams of landing on the moon were left to children with stars in their eyes and adventure in their hearts. 

Children like John Egan and Curtis Biddick. 

John Egan has wanted to be an astronaut for as long as he can remember. A little boy with unruly hair and an even more unruly spirit, climbing trees so he could be as close to the sky as the Earth would allow. He went to sleep with his ceiling covered in glow in the dark stars and built model rockets with his dad on the weekends. Almost every decision he’s ever made has been with this end goal in mind. 

He told Gale the first time they ever met that he intended to be an astronaut. He went to school for engineering even though he and mathematics didn’t get along, forcing him to forge through calculus and physics with a blind determination to get himself to where he needed to be. He joined the Air Force ROTC. He became a pilot. He took to the sky and never looked back, always more at home in the clouds than on the ground. Other than Gale Cleven, sitting in a cockpit was the only thing that could settle Bucky’s wayward energy. When the time was right, he applied to NASA, just like he always said he would. It took two tries, but they accepted him. He became an astronaut candidate. He flew on the international space station. He even did it all with Gale at his side. He did everything he’d always dreamed of doing, except one thing:

Step foot on the moon. 

But after tomorrow, he’ll have done that, too.  

Mission Control will be packed tomorrow morning; almost every flight controller on every shift will be there to watch the Artemis 3 crew leave the first footprints at the lunar south pole. Gale will be there, as a flight controller, as a NASA astronaut, and as a husband. He will watch his husband emerge from the Starship hatch and step down onto that lunar surface. He’ll be sitting in a front row seat to see the culmination of nearly two decades of watching John Egan work his ass off to accomplish his dreams. He’ll be right there, his voice guiding John through every step as his legacy is broadcast live to the entire world.

He couldn’t be more proud. Even if he has no fucking clue what will come out of John’s mouth when his boots hit the ground. He can only hope it’s nothing catastrophically embarrassing.

–

It was only weeks ago that Gale walked into their living room, Pepper trotting at his heels, to find Bucky laying on his back on the floor in front of the couch with his hands covering his eyes. A notebook and pen were haphazardly on the floor beside him. 

“What are you doing?” Gale had asked, as Pepper took over her role of protector and started licking Bucky’s face, trying to bring him back to the living.

Bucky had just groaned loudly, pulling his hands away from his face to stare up at Gale forlornly. So Gale bent down and picked up the notebook, which he wasn’t aware Bucky even owned. Flipping through pages of chicken scratch writing, he sat on the couch and tried not to laugh as he read through the brain-dump words. “Are these things to say when you land on the moon?”

Bucky sat up and crossed his legs, which Pepper took as an invitation to lay half in his lap. “Yep.”

There has been absolutely no shortage of people reminding Bucky that he will be the first person to set foot on the moon since 1972. It’s a big deal, and it will be broadcast live to the entire world. He’s been wracking his brain for things to say at such a significant moment in human history, knowing he has massive shoes to fill but not wanting to sound too cheesy, too outdated or philosophical, too… anything. How do you measure up to Neil Armstrong without sounding like you’re trying to be Neil Armstrong? Sometimes Bucky feels like nothing more than a little kid playing astronauts in the yard, pretending to be his childhood hero. 

No one ever expected him to get this far, and now the world is watching. Most of them adore him. Others hate him. If we’re lucky the fag will die up there. Planet Earth is a tumultuous place, but Bucky’s grit and determination have never faltered. He just never expected to be anyone else’s hero.

What words are there to bring a world together when every day it feels like it’s crumbling? Does it even matter what he says? Is it enough that he’s there? Do people actually care about what comes out of his mouth? Will his first words be stuck to him for the rest of his life – a legacy or a shackle? Will they print them in the history books, resound them for future generations? Or will they fade into obscurity like the words of every Apollo astronaut that came after Armstrong? Just a few more words said by another guy whose name most people won’t remember a few decades from now.

“‘With a single step, we return to the unknown for all mankind,’” Gale read from the notebook. “That’s… not bad?”

Bucky shrugged. “A little on the nose.”

“‘As we step onto the lunar surface once again, we bring with us all that we know, and all that we love, to move forward into a brighter future.’”

Bucky made a face as Pepper nudged at his hand with her wet nose. He stroked the top of her head gently, thinking that she had him trained and not the other way around. “Feels sappy.”

Gale glanced down at him. “You are sappy.”

“You’re the only one who knows that.”

Gale rolled his eyes and flipped a few more pages. Bucky closed his eyes as he waited for what was coming, knowing he’d been slowly devolving into madness. Gale choked on a laugh. “‘Hello world, I’m on the fucking moon.’ ‘To all the professors who tried to fail me, who’s laughing now.’ ‘I have the high ground.’ – God, you’re a nerd.” Bucky stuck his tongue out at him before he could continue. “‘Welcome to the shit show.’ ‘Hold on, let me take a selfie.’ ‘We’re here and we’re queer, fight me.’” Gale squinted at the page, running his thumb along some concoction of supposed letters. “I can’t read this one.”

Bucky leaned his head back against the couch so Gale could hold the notebook in front of his face, pointing to a barely legible scrawl across the top of the page. “We’re back, bitches.”

Gale nodded thoughtfully. “Alternatively, the bitch is back.”

“And then I’ll lower my visor like sunglasses,” Bucky nodded. “Stare off into the lunar sunrise. Make a moment of it.”

“Probably not the moment NASA wants,” Gale acquiesced, throwing the notebook to the couch cushion beside him. “You could sing Into the Unknown from Frozen.”

“Oh sure.” Bucky chuckled, scratching at Pepper’s ears. “I can see the headlines. ‘NASA Sends Crazy Queer to Space.’”

“We’re all mad here.”

“This ain’t Alice in Wonderland.”

“It’s true though.” Gale reached his hand down, making a grabbing motion until Bucky noticed and twined their fingers together, letting Gale tug him up onto the couch to Pepper’s dismay. Bucky settled against Gale’s side, mindlessly fiddling with Gale’s fingers like he often does. Gale smiled and leaned his head against Bucky’s, pressing his lips into soft, dark hair. “I’m a fan of welcome to the shit show.”

“Something tells me NASA won’t be.”

A few moments passed, and for those few moments, they weren’t anyone special. They were just a married couple curled up together on the couch. 

Then Gale said, “Maybe something about why it’s so important? Why we’re going back at all.”

Bucky thought for a moment, staring out the window at the night sky beyond. An entire universe that they’ve barely cracked the surface of, worlds and worlds that they may never get to explore. Both Bucky and Gale have always been endlessly fascinated by the infinite unknown. 

“We return to the moon not as a final frontier, but as a stepping stone on humanity’s expedition to explore the wider universe.”

“Mmm.” Gale tilted his head, considering. “That might be too optimistic. Don’t want to be making promises on NASA’s behalf.”

“In case we can’t get our shit together?” Bucky scoffed. Gale nodded, and Bucky had to agree. “Okay, how about, ‘this is the best fucking day of my life.’”

Gale frowned, pulling away to look at Bucky more directly. “I thought marrying me was the best day of your life.”

Bucky’s hair brushed against Gale’s cheek as he turned to look at him, too, letting himself drown in perfect blue eyes as he lifted his hand to cup the side of Gale’s face. “It was,” he breathed out. He kissed Gale then, with a gentle passion that carried with it a silent promise of you are my everything, you are my home. I will come back to you. When Bucky pulled away, he stroked his thumb over Gale’s jaw and let himself marvel at this life he’d made for himself. He’s doing everything he’s ever dreamed of, and he can’t ask for much more. But somewhere along the way, he’d gotten so damn lucky even on top of all of that. This man in front of Bucky, holding him in his arms with such love and warmth, has always been, and always will be, the best thing to ever happen to him. “Gale?” he whispered. 

“Yeah?” Gale’s voice came out in a puff of breath against Bucky’s cheek.

“I love you.”

–

So that’s what Gale thinks as he watches the screen at the front of Mission Control, which is showing video feed from the camera Curt is holding as he follows John to the hatch. It’s what he thinks as he watches the hatch open and John – not physically recognizable because of his bulky EVA suit and yet unequivocally John – stops at the top of the steps that are lowering to the surface. I love you. I love you I love you I love you. 

He can feel everyone in Mission Control holding their breath again. The whole world is holding their breath, crowded around TV screens and computers and phones, waiting. Waiting to see John Egan and Curtis Biddick step foot on the lunar surface. Waiting to hear what John will say to commemorate this moment.

Gale is pleasantly surprised, and admittedly relieved, to hear the words that Bucky has chosen to speak into the world. As the Artemis commander grips the side of the hatch, he looks out at the lunar surface beyond, at the untread terrain that they have the honor to explore. “It sure took us a long time, but we finally made it back,” he remarks. Then he takes a deep breath and hesitates, and Gale knows that, despite Bucky’s cocksure attitude and impulsive personality, he wants to get this right. 

“As we step foot into this beautiful unknown once again,” he says. “We do it not just for ourselves, but for the people of planet earth. We do it for everyone who dares to dream of a brighter future. Everyone who dares to step with us.”

Then he steps delicately onto the surface, and his boot sinks into the fine lunar soil below. One foot, and then the other. One step, and then another. 

He’s on the moon.

“How’s it look, John?” Gale asks.

Bucky turns slowly, open-mouthed, thinking that he feels like he’s on another world before his brain catches up and remembers that it is another world. They’re at the top of a massive ridge connecting two even more massive craters. The sun is just above the horizon, casting long, eerie shadows across the surface where it hits the crater rims. It’s silent. Peaceful. Like he just wants to sit right down on the ground and take it all in for a while.

“John?”

“Hi angel,” Bucky says, too in awe to realize he just called his CAPCOM “angel” on a globally televised broadcast. Neither of them will ever live it down.

But Gale only chuckles. “You okay up there?”

Curt, stepping down off the lander behind Bucky, adjusts the camera so he can record their surroundings. “I think we’re just a little in awe, Buck,” he says, since Bucky seems incapable.

But Bucky manages to find his words again as he steps further away from the lander, Curt recording him from behind as they both test out the gravity on the surface, taking a few bounding strides forward. “It’s incredible,” Bucky breathes, raising his arms out to the sides as if he can somehow absorb this experience into his mind and body. 

He motions to Curt, grabbing for the camera so he can get some airtime, too. He records as Curt bounds a few long and ungainly slow-motion steps away, trying to work out the best way to move in this new environment. Bucky follows behind clumsily.

“See that, world?” he says as he pans the camera around, giving visual of their lander stretching up to the dark sky, the beautifully foreboding crater some distance behind it, the rocky terrain on all sides streaked with long shadows, Curt dropping to his knees into the rough and sandy regolith. “You’re looking at the lunar south pole. No one has ever stepped foot on this part of the moon, but you’re seeing it right now. It’s incredible, isn’t it?”

“It sure is, Bucky,” Gale tells him, as their only link to the rest of the planet.

“Buck,” Curt interrupts as he lets a handful of the soil, fine and sharp like grains of glass, sift between his gloved fingers. “Can confirm the moon is not made of cheese.”

“Alright, Curt,” Gale replies, all too serious. “Thank you for that observation, we’ll note it down. Just please don’t taste it.”

“No promises.”

After a few more minutes of bounding around in wonder and narrating what they’re seeing, Curt and Bucky sign off from their live broadcast.

“O2 levels look good,” Gale informs them. “How’s the pressure feel?”

“It’s fine,” Bucky replies. “It’s dropped just a bit. A little easier to move. I expect it’ll keep improving as we get going here.”

A suit that decreases pressure in increments was NASA’s solution to their decompression sickness problem. When the body is too quickly exposed to low pressure environments, gases dissolved in bodily fluids, namely nitrogen, bubble out, causing a whole host of health issues called ‘the bends’ or decompression sickness. Designing a space suit that maintains the same pressure as the crew cabin – which is the same as mean sea level pressure on Earth – would result in a stiff suit that is impossible to move in. Typically, astronauts on the ISS spend many hours before an EVA pre-breathing – breathing pure oxygen to allow the body enough time to naturally purge the nitrogen – making it possible for them to safely wear EVA suits with a much lower pressure. To shorten this amount of time, astronauts may do physical activity while breathing pure O2, making the body rid itself of nitrogen even faster.

NASA wanted to reduce pre-breathing time as much as possible on Artemis. So on top of some time spent pre-breathing during exercise, the suits are equipped with oxygen regulators, which gradually decrease the suit pressure over time as the crew is out on the surface. Their suits are at a higher pressure when they first start the EVA, and as their nitrogen levels drop during the EVA, the suit pressure decreases, making it much easier to move around.

NASA didn’t come to the moon to play. They’re here for the future. To learn and to work and to push humanity to new heights. It’s a testing ground of sorts, to see how extended extraterrestrial missions may be feasible. The mission is designed for maximum productivity, and they have a lot to do here in the next week. Every single element has been designed with that in mind.

“Good to hear,” Gale says. “Now let’s get to work.”

…

…

Part 10

A3’s planned flight path for those interested:

(Image from NASA)

[diazsdimples]

WIP Wednesday

I did a bad thing and started (yet another) WIP. I'm gonna put myself into writers jail until I finish the fic's I've started. But until then, enjoy the first snippet of Single Dad AU! I seem to be in my Dad!Buck era.

Tagged by @hippolotamus @cal-daisies-and-briars @callmenewbie @spotsandsocks and @wikiangela go check out their works IMMEDIATELY

Snippet below the cut (sorry it's kinda long but it's cute I swear!)

“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!!!”

Buck’s head flicks up and he sees two streaks of blonde before the wind is knocked out of him as his daughters barrel into his legs, latching onto him like a pair of leeches.

Carrie, slightly taller than her little sister, smacks her head into his hip as she comes to a quick stop. Buck laughs as he staggers backwards, arms coming out to wrap around the girls.

“Hello my loves!” he grins, crouching down and pulling them into a suffocating hug. “How was your day?”

“It was good!” Carrie says, dropping her backpack at Buck’s feet and hopping into the backseat, clipping herself into her booster seat. Lily circles her arms around Buck’s neck, and he lifts her up, carrying her to the other side of the car and buckling her into her car seat.

“What about you, sweetheart?” he asks Lily as he checks her straps. “First day of school, did you have fun?”

Lily nods. “Uh huh, my teacher is really nice, and she let us colour in all day!”

Buck chuckles, kissing Lily on the head before shutting the door and hopping into the front seat.

“So, anything exciting happen for you, Carrie?”

Carrie nods enthusiastically, her blonde curls flouncing around her head as she does so.  “We've got a new boy in class. He’s really nice.”

Buck’s eyes flicker to the rear-view mirror as he drives, watching Carrie as she talks. “What’s his name?” he asks.

“Christopher,” Carrie replies. “He’s from El Paso and him and his daddy moved here a few months ago.”

“Where’s El Paso?” Lily pipes up. She looks so cute, her hair pulled back in Buck’s best attempt at a French braid (she’d insisted on one, stating that she needed to look good for her first day at school), and her little shirt with butterfly wings poking out of the back, a little squished from the carseat.

“In Texas, baby,” Buck replies.

“Oh, and I got into trouble today,” Carrie adds, looking down at her feet.

Buck arches an eyebrow. Carrie’s a bit of a firecracker and it’s not unknown for her to come home with a letter for Buck to read. It’s usually about encouraging her to think before she speaks. Buck’s not sure he’s the right person to be teaching her that, he’s just as bad sometimes. “What happened?” he asks, bracing himself for the response.

“Some of the boys in class were making fun of Christopher because he walks funny,” Carrie replies.

“And that got you in trouble how?”

Carrie shrugs. “I told them they were being assholes” she says, as though it’s the simplest thing in the world.

Jesus Christ. It’s all Buck can do to not burst out laughing. He is a very, very responsible parent.

“Carrie, I love that you stood up for Christopher, and that was a very nice thing for you to do, but we can’t use language like that” he replies, doing his level best not to let his obvious delight shine through too much.

“But you say it to Uncle Chimney all the time!” she protests.

Well, she’s got him there.

Buck takes a deep breath, fighting down his laugher. “I know, sweetheart, but adults are allowed to say these kinds of things. They’re not words for kids.”

Carrie pouts and crosses her arms and Buck just about melts when Lily copies the gesture, ever her big sister’s number one fan. “Being a kid is boring” she huffs.

“Yeah, Daddy! Boring!” Lily adds, looking at Carrie for approval.

Buck snorts. “Quiet from the cheap seats!” Fuck, he’s so lucky he’s got these two girls.

(No pressure) tagging @theplaceyoustillrememberdreaming @thewolvesof1998 @theotherbuckley @malewifediaz @watchyourbuck @disasterbuckdiaz @spagheddiediaz @eddiebabygirldiaz @jesuisici33 @steadfastsaturnsrings @daffi-990 @fruitandbubbles @fionaswhvre @fortheloveofbuddie @wildlife4life @monsterrae1 @rainbow-nerdss

[multifandombullshitbabes]

Random Merlin Rewatch: Where a random number generator gives me a season and an episode from BBC Merlin; and then I comment on it as I go.

Today's episode: Season 1 Episode 6 - A Remedy to Cure all Ills

Before I start, let me just say, I'm really happy I'm getting to rewatch the earlier seasons. Of course the next random episode might be literally season 5 or something, but it's great that it hasn't happened yet.

Let's fucking start bitches

Not the wiggly evil fingers just a few seconds in.

Damn boy you got some dirty ass nails, wash your hands.

MORGWEN MY BELOVEDS!!!! Also the way Gwen looked at Morgana after she asked who'd she want the flowers to be from. Girl looked ready to risk it ALL, let me put a screenshot actually.

OUGHHHH the brainrot is real with these two

LIKE??????? GWEN'S THIRSTY (me too)

Alright girls, enough yearning please

Ugh, I hate the little sound the bug made when it dropped from the flower. Butthole clenched in digust.

Oh thank god they DON'T show it literally entering her ear. That would've been so gross.

LETS GO INTROOOOOO

Oh Gwen looks BEAUTIFUL in that yellow color. It does everything for her!!

"She's all but dead, Merlin." JESUS FUCKING CHRIST GAIUS

Most suspicious ruse of all time. "Oh, i have a cure for all ills. And also I know the king's ward is very sick. But anyways, I'll be at the inn :)." Bitch.

"But I'm not worried." me when I lie. Merlin is so bad at lying, jesus fuck

Merlin sits down to stop pacing. Arthur gets up and starts pacing. Two sides of the same coin or whatever.

Underrated Arthur shirt is the purplish one he wears in the scene where he begs Uther n Gaius to hear the strange man out. That color looks good on him. It might be his red shirt but in a weird lighting?? I can't be sure.

I really like when Gaius gets to talk all medical considering how limited the medicine world was at the time. It's really really cool, I love seeing this insight into what was possibly like to be a physician at the time. I don't of this happens much in the show.

Arthur really is so trusting when it comes to his loved ones. Of course he's not at fault, like he said what do they have to lose at this point, honestly I've done the same. It's just. Heartbreaking to notice that trait knowing what comes next.

"Science is knowledge." Merlin is such a nerd, I love him.

Oh, not Gaius and Edwin having a lying competition over here. There's a better term for it, but whatever.

Gwen is SO FUCKING GORGEOUS but girl please that's a fucking sorcerer, go AWAY be SAFE. She's so smart though. Immediately knew something was off. He tries to be all "She may die :(." to get her to be worried and not suspicious, but it literally doesn't work. She leaves the room but not because she thinks he's got Morgana's best interests at heart. She knows something is wrong. She also knows she holds no power. And on the chance that he is right and Morgana dies, she'd never forgive herself.

The fucking lying back and forth between Gaius and Edwin. Like. From the outside, it sounds like a perfectly normal convo. But they both know it isn't. And WE know it isn't 'cause we know Edwin's full of shit.

Interesting how Arthur isn't seated but Uther and Morgana are.

Who the fuck knocks on someone's door, doesn't hear an answer, and then just let's themselves in?? I'm sorry, if you're a stranger, I'm not doing that. The fuck's wrong with you Merlin, you nosy boy??

It is so sickening that these villains of the week have views that we can agree with. Yes, magic is a gift and can be a force for good, you're right! But it's because of Uther and his oppression that they turn bitter and ruthless and vindictive. And yes, you do have to eliminate those who are like Uther because they will only propagate the same corrupted and repressive beliefs. The problem, the layers, is that some of those people are actually very much capable of understanding the very fundamental logic that "Sorcerers deserve too live in freedom" but they're so filled with fear and propaganda of the contrary that it's so hard to get out of it. And that's why, if they killed Uther with magic, Arthur would hate magic even more (just like it happens in canon), which would then just repeat the cycle, etc etc. You need to uproot the system, but killing everybody is not the answer; but also having to teach such a fundamental thing, that certain humans deserve basic rights, is such a painful thing to teach, and the oppressed does not have the obligation to do so. But then the cycle just repeats and repeats and it's SHIT. Anyways.

It's so funny that in season 1 they hadn't figured out the cgi for the golden eyes so they just. simply don't show it.

The things Edwin say are like. Well-meaning. But there's just this off vibe that the most intelligent characters (Gaius, Gwen, Merlin) can just. pick up. And even though Merlin really likes what Edwin is saying, there's just something telling him... it's wrong.

Uther, of course, would never even believe anyone would just lie so blatantly and manipulate him like this because he thinks himself very intelligent; which is why he's falling for everythinggg that Edwin says. But, credit where credit's due, Edwin is an excellent liar.

Gaius wears the most cunty ring on his pinky finger, hello?

I want that ring bro.

Oop, not Gaius having his cowardice and betrayal shoved right in his face. I get it, you wanted safety. But there's consequences to your actions. And I know Gaius feels so guilty about all his friends that died at the stake while he remained safe and sound.

If Gaius would've left in this episode, replaced by Edwin, I bet Morgana would've felt so guilty. In her mind, her illness is what caused him to leave. Gaius truly was there for Morgana and Arthur in ways Uther simply could not.

OOP Gaius and Kilgarrah meeting!!!!!!!! I forgot this happened lmao

Gaius got a little taste of how infuriating the dragon is.

Wait, Gaius was employed for Arthur's birth? That's so interesting. He probably already lived in Camelot but he's been a court physician for 20 years. He was already quite old by then.

It's the way that Gaius is just. Ready to throw his whole life away to make sure Merlin is safe and sound. That's his fucking son, bro!!!

What the actual fuck, they're gonna make me cry :(((( Gaius called Merlin a blessing and his son, I can't.

THEY CAN'T DO THIS TO MEEEEEEE IM GONNA CRY

Gwen is so iconic, speak the fucking truth girl.

THAT ICONIC GWEN LINE YESSSSSSSSSS QUEENNNN

Not Gaius with his lil blanket and lil fire. He looks so smol, it's so funny.

Edwin could've waited a lil bit before going all murder on Uther. That just looks suspicious as fuck ngl.

GAIUS GETTING BLOWN BACK SHOULD'NT BE SO FUNNY BUT--

I wonder how Arthur knew that his father was ill. It means he went into his room, but why? Did he have some feeling about Edwin? About Gaius leaving? Was it some courtly concern? I'm assuming no one else would have the privilege of seeing Uther at night except for his son and ward so.

Yes, Merlin, just stare at the floating axe that's being controlled by the evil sorcerer right in front of you, you're so smart. Also the slow-mo is so goofy.

It's interesting that they shot both Merlin and Edwin's eyes up-close when they did magic, Merlin to do the golden eye effect, but for Edwin it seems that his pupils just change size. I wonder if not all sorcerers have their eyes glow, if it depends on the magic. Edwin is using dark magic, could it be that? That's interesting, imo. Dark magic equals no golden eyes. Kinda fun.

Violent ass death for Edwin, damn. Axe to head, bitchass

Oh it must be so weird for Merlin to be touching Uther like that. Like that's intimate as shit.

So cuteeee Gaius calling Merlin a genius, they're adorable. He's so proud. That was a feat, though, just pure improv and luck. Merlin is still a noob at controlled magic so this was really damn good.

Love that it's so canon that Gaius potions taste like fucking ASS. Uther's face, lmao.

Interesting that Uther asked if Gaius remembered his friends that burned at the pyre, and Gaius answers "All of them." and Uther doesn't even comment. As bonkers as it sounds, they truly are friends in some capacities. I wonder if Gaius could make Uther change his mind. Not Morgana or Arthur, but Gaius. But he made the choice to abandon magic, Uther presumed because Gaius understood its dangers, but if he were to find out that actually Gaius doesn't agree, I wonder what Uther would think about that. Like a genuine and open convo about it. I think he'd just arrest Gaius for it, but I don't know. I think there's at least some reality where he gives it some more thought. But I don't know if he'd ever repel the ban, more because he'd have to admit that he was wrong, and admitting you're wrong is also accepting and processing all the shit you did for that wrong thing, and I just think Uther is too cowardly to do so. He knows it would break his mind to truly process all the pain and horror he's caused; so no matter his inner philosophies, he'll never repel the ban, because the damage has been done, and he'd rather live like that than start anew in the new reality where he's wrong.

"In the fight against magic, you are the one person I can trust." yet again. Gaius going against this? Uther can't fathom it. He's so confident that Gaius is 100% on his side.

Arthur smiling at Gaius, awww.

Two pretty bestfriends. No wonder half the kingdom wants to fuck them both. Also what the fuck is a "freeman"??? Genuinely, what is it??

And that is it. Loved it, of course.

[tonberry-yoda]

Jailbreak - Dabi

notes: I AM SO PROUD OF THE WAY THIS TURNED OUT OMFG. literally dabi brainrot BAD. this took me two days to write, so i am so glad i got it out today :) literally cannot get over this gorgeous man jesus christ

word count: 2,060

WARNINGS: language. dabi being hot. i didnt proofread this i just wrote it and posted it. sorry if there are mistakes lol

You watched as he pulled a pack of cigarettes out of the back pocket of an officer standing in front of him that you were talking to. He took a single one and slid the pack back in the man's pocket, lighting up the current cigarette he had in his hand with his own quirk, which proved difficult seeing as he was in a pair of handcuffs. He leaned back in a chair and smoked, watching your every move before the officer bid you a farewell, not even noticing that the villain had taken anything from him.

You sat across from Dabi and locked your eyes onto his, which looked like portals, and not to something villainous either. You quickly shook it from your head and pulled out a pen and paper.

"So, what do you want from me, babe?" Dabi blew smoke in your face, but you stayed unwavering.

"Answers." You said, leaning back in your chair a bit.

"You're not gonna get shit outta me." He flicked some ash off of the end of his cigarette.

"And why's that?"

"You're a journalist, right? I don't fuck with journalists." He sat calm, cool, and collected, smoking that cigarette until there was nothing left.

"I'm not a journalist." You kept your voice low, knowing that there were cops listening in on your conversation.

"Then what are you?" Dabi had a mocking tone, but his voice was just as low as yours.

"Curious."

"That right?" He crossed his arms over each other and rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, that's right. Now tell me, what's your name?"

"Dabi."

"You're real name."

"Dabi."

"Your full name."

"Hell no. I haven't sat with your pretty face long enough to tell you that kinda shit. I don't even know you're name." He was definitely mocking you. He picked at his ear and stared at the ceiling while you thought. This was going to prove difficult if he was going to be acting like this all the time.

"y/n."

"Sorry?" He sat up in his chair a bit, confused.

"That's my name. y/n."

"Cute. What's next? You gonna ask me to hang out sometime. Want my number, sugar?"

Now it was your turn to roll your eyes. If you knew he was gonna be this much of an ass, you wouldn't have even shown up.

"What are you getting all irritated about?" He asked, rapping his knuckles on the table. "You're not the one in handcuffs, babe."

"Fine," you said, scooping up your stuff. "If you have such a problem with me being here, I'll leave."

"Good." He crossed his arms as guards rushed in the room to help you leave.

"I'll be back though, Dabi. I'll have you know that now."

"Fine. All the more fun for me then. Though, I don't expect to be here much longer, toots."

You were escorted out of the building by two very nice guards who had warned you to beware of people like him, as if you didn't already know. You got in your car and stared at yourself in the rearview mirror. How the hell were you supposed to help him now?

You hated that they made prisons more locked down because of stupid All for One. Ever since All Might retired, your job was getting ten times harder.

You had always empathized with villains. They just lost the life lottery. They were dealt a bad quirk and usually bad parents. You made it your goal to work with villains undercover. Break them out of jail, give them the essentials they needed, even help plan out missions they had. But now being undercover was getting ten times more difficult thanks to the heroes and their stupid ranks. Not only that but villains thought you were just another idiot.

But even so, you had to work hard. Especially for him.

---

Dabi sat in his cell fiddling with the stained sheets on his spring mattress. His whole room was fire proof, which was a pain in his ass.

He couldn't believe he was caught. After everything he's done, he was caught robbing a goddamn convenient store. It made him want to slam his head against the wall.

But his mind never left you. Who were you anyway? And why did you even care about him? He stared at the ceiling thinking about it. Did you work for the league? For someone he knew? A hero? His mind was racing thinking about it. And you would be back? He didn't know what you meant by that. You should know that he wasn't going to tell you anything, but you said you'd be back anyway. Were you going to torture him to tell you anything you wanted to hear? Not like it would hurt him anyway.

Either way, you confused him.

And he kind of wanted you back.

---

"Hey, shithead!" A guard banged on Dabi's cell, making him jump. "You have a visitor."

Dabi sat up in his bed, expecting to be escorted from his cell to the other room, but you were standing right in front of the cell.

"What the-" his words trailed off seeing you again and he tilted his head. "How'd you..."

You placed your hand on the shoulder of the guard standing next to you and he went completely still, his eyes turning to static. Your quirk. It was like you could turn people on and off like a lightbulb. He wouldn't remember a thing when he woke up.

Dabi looked at you with his mouth gaping open. "Holy shit! You're a villain."

You shrugged. "I wouldn't say a villain, but-"

"Who are you working for?"

"Myself." You took the keys from the guard and unlocked his cell. "Ready to get outta here?"

Dabi smirked at you and grabbed your hand that you had outstretched to him. "You gonna take me to dinner?" He asked, all smarmy like.

"I'll think about it." You laughed, walking Dabi out of the prison past hundreds of guards that seemed to be shut off.

"How long are they gonna be like that?" Dabi asked, realizing that his hand was still in yours. He didn't move it.

"Sometimes minutes. Sometimes hours. I guess we'll figure that out when we cross that bridge, won't we?"

"I like you, cupcake."

You rolled your eyes and walked out of the prison, cold air hitting both of your faces. "Just get in the car, Dabi."

"Gladly, though," he held his hands out to you. "Could you get these cuffs off of me?"

You smiled. "Of course." You unlocked the cuffs and he rubbed his wrists which were so raw that they were a bright red. You couldn't believe that they had him in cuffs even in his cell.

"Were you planning on breaking me out that whole time?" Dabi looked at himself in the mirror on the sunblock in your car, giving himself a little kiss.

"Yeah. I didn't want to use my quirk like that because it can be a real pain when they all wake up."

"Well, I think it's cool." He rolled down the window and took a deep breath of fresh air. "Damn it's good to be out. Thanks for that."

You just kept your eyes on the road, a soft smile tugging at your lips.

"So, where do we go after this?"

"My place," you said, rolling down your own window. "The league is off doing their own thing, plus, I know you don't really have a place, so I don't mind if you stay for a couple nights."

"Seriously?! You have like a bed and a fridge and stuff?!" You looked over at him when you stopped at a stop light and he looked like an excited child.

"Seriously." You said with a little chuckle.

"Damn, you are one cool chick, you know that?"

"You think? Well I'm flattered."

"You should be. Cuz damn you're good." Dabi surprised you by leaning over and planting a kiss on your cheek that left it warm for a moment.

For the rest of the ride, he was quiet, letting the wind blow in his hair as he watched the world speed by. You couldn't help but sneak a couple of looks at him.

"You know, Dabi," you said, clutching the steering wheel as you pulled into the parking garage of your apartment. "You're probably the most fun villain I've broken out of jail."

"For real?!" He said all excited like. "You mean that?"

"Of course I mean that." You got out of your car and stretched.

"Well," he opened his door and stepped out, not even caring that he was still in his prison uniform. "You're the most fun person who's ever broken me out."

You grabbed his hand and led him upstairs to your apartment as he winked at a group of drunk girls stumbling to their own room.

When he stepped in the small living space, he stood in the middle, getting his grounds. A smile was spread across his face before he ran to your couch, slumping down on it. "Cozy place."

"Thanks." You grabbed a shopping bag off of your counter and threw it at him.

"What's this?" He asked when he opened it up, pulling out the contents.

"Clean clothes, shampoo, toothbrush, other hygiene stuff. I hope I got your size right."

He looked up at you with light in his eyes. "You didn't have to do all this for me."

You shrugged and started making dinner. "I did."

He smiled and jumped up to run to the bathroom to use any product he could. You cracked an egg over a frying pan and began frying some rice with it. A lazy dinner, but enough to fill you up.

Dabi ran out of the bathroom and jumped back on the couch, finding your cat sitting on the top, which gladly walked over to him to begin to cuddle him.

"I think he likes you," you giggled, bringing Dabi a plate of food. "He's sweet, so you don't have to worry if he'll bite you."

Dabi scratched your cat under his its ears and gladly took the food. "Seriously, you don't have to waste your time on me."

"I'm not wasting my time, I'm doing my job." You sat next to Dabi and the two of you ate dinner in silence.

Dabi finally spoke up, setting his empty plate down. He sure finished that fast. "Why are you doing this anyway?"

"I know what it's like to feel alone. And lost." Dabi smiled at you.

"You sure are sweet for working with a ton of assholes."

You shrugged. "Not all of them are assholes."

"Just me then? Shit."

You and Dabi both laughed and your cat decided to go sleep in its bed on the ground.

"Well, it's getting late, Dabi. I should be heading off to bed. I'll get you a blow up mattress set up in my room."

Dabi followed you and helped you pull a giant blow up mattress out of your closet. While it was blowing up, you and Dabi talked about stupid stuff. First dates, food, traveling, the outdoors, stuff villains wouldn't talk about. Stuff regular people would talk about.

Dabi sat on the edge of your bed and looked out of the window. "You have a nice view of the sky."

"I do, don't I?" You laid out your pillow in a more comfortable area and laid down.

"What's it like?"

"What's what like?" You asked, seeing his blue eyes glimmering in the moonlight that peeked through the window.

"Having a normal life."

"I don't have a normal life." You tried, but Dabi put his hand up.

"More normal than me. You have running water and food. You should be thankful."

"I am thankful," you said, your voice soft.

"Good." His voice was barely audible.

"You can stay here as long as you want."

"I don't want to intrude."

"But I don't want you to be lonely again. I don't want to be lonely again."

Dabi turned and smiled at you. "Fine. I'll stay. But I have to go eventually, don't I?"

"Not anytime soon." You sat up and pressed a kiss onto his ear.

"No, not anytime soon."

The two of you accidently fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms, leaving a lone blow up mattress strewn on the floor.

~~~~~

mha masterlist | pinned post @tonberry-yoda

[xanadontit]

Lots o' rambling ahead, proceed at your own risk!

My brother has applied to various universities and heard back from a few (all acceptances so far! smarty!) and now it's more waiting and eventually some decisions to make. It's exciting! It's also hella stressful for these kids. He confided to my stepmom that he feels like the choices he makes will set the course for his entire life and he's terrified. Factor in all the newness of the entire venture and he's overwhelmed.

My stepmom shared with me that she's a little disappointed that he isn't being more adventurous i.e. going "away-away" to school. She wants him to branch out and live outside of California blah blah. And look, the kid has lived in the same house his entire life and is still best friends with guys he met in preschool. Even if he moves to San Jose that alone is a bigger change than he's ever experienced thus far. Plus, he has his entire life to live all over the world. He might transfer or do study abroad, or get a job who-knows-where. Also a little ironic that when he expressed interest in an out-of-state school, my parents sat him down and crunched the numbers and it was pretty fucking terrifying! So now it's bad that the kid is being practical? Jesus Christ.

I told E about all this and we both remembered feeling the same way at his age: like one misstep meant a life of misery and loneliness lol. If anything, digging in and doubling down on a decision screwed me over more than changing course. I'm also worried about my brother's mental health; I see a bit of myself in him and don't want him to struggle more than necessary. Not in a "must protect at all costs and bubble wrap him from the world" but just like... see a therapist, dude. If you need to take a semester off, do it. There's no prize for feeling like shit!

E asked if we should suggest a hang and talk to the kid and share our experiences. E didn't have quite the mental health struggles I did but also didn't have a lot of family support and wants to be there for him. And I think a chill, general chat isn't the worst thing, but we have to pick our moment for sure. It'll be a series of conversations and check-ins, probably.

Wow, helping your parents raise a child sure is hard work.

[drewstarkeysbitchh]

Pairings: Rafe Cameron x female! Kook-ish! Reader.

Summary: you were a waitress at the country club and Rafe and his friends have been coming every Friday just to annoy the shit out you.

Warnings: Girly being a funny ass bad fucking bitch. Also the tiniest itty bitty smut at the end. But I don’t write it because it makes me uncomfy.♡♡

A/n: this is like my first ever post. I always just kept to myself because I thought I was too good for you all. No I’m kidding, but I’m a lil nervy. Also I’m no fucking English scholar, so if you see anything that’s not supposed to be there, pretend it’s not there. I put commas where I feel like it, ok bitches?? Btw the I put this song because it’s on repeat rn so you don’t have to listen to it but I do…

You looked up from the table you were serving when you heard a group of guys fucking around. It was the too better for everyone kookiest of kooks. Kelce, Topper, and Rafe. I rolled my eyes because this was the fourth Friday in a row that they decided to eat here.

I wrote down the last kids order and went into the back. I went over to the big group in the back with Alyssa, my best friend. We both wanted to work together, so we got jobs together.

“Their here again.” I say talking about the three group of boys that come here almost every Friday. I jump onto the counter.

“If I keep having to serve them, I think I’m gonna shoot myself.” I say making the group all laugh.

“Well I can’t.” Alyssa says. “Me neither.” “Sorry.” I groan.

“Jesus Christ.” I mumble hopping down. I flip them all off in annoyance.

I walk out and over to the group of ignorant assholes.

“Hello what can I do for you three today!” I say sarcastically.

“What a joyful mood.” Topper laughs making me fake smile.

“Always!” I state.

“Can I just get water.” Topper says.

“Me too.” Kelce adds.

I write it down or else I’ll forget. “And what about you, Princess?” I ask.

“Can I just get water too?” He says not really even asking just stating.

“Of course. Anything for my favorite piece of shit!” I say. He rolls his eyes. He had a fling with one my friends over the summer and totally fucked her over. He knew I hated him.

I walk over to get their waters. I carefully to walk back to their tables and give them each their cups.

“Ok now what do you all want to eat I don’t have all fucking day.” I state.

“Where’d the sweet Stevie go?” Topper says. I laugh not at his joke but at myself, because I think I’m so funny. They all smile with me.

“Can I get some wings?” Topper asks. I nod my head.

“I just want a cheeseburger with fries.” Kelce says. I write it down and look over at Rafe.

“I don’t want anything.” He says. I raise my eyebrows.

“You came to a restaurant and you’re not getting any food?” I laugh.

“I just don’t want to put my sweet little cupcake to work.” He laughs.

“It’s not like I make the food.” I state.

“I’m not hungry.” He says. I stare at him for a second just confused.

“Alright.” I say walking to the back to put their orders in the line. I look back at the table and Alyssa isn’t there. She’s probably doing her job for the first fucking time in her life. I walk over and jump onto the counter.

“Hank, who’s the meanest person you’ve ever met?” I ask the chef, my favorite man in the world.

“My wife.” He laughs making me laugh with him.

“Well I think it’s Rafe Cameron.” I say. “He just so narcissistic and in love with himself. He thinks he can’t do anything wrong and it’s so annoying.”

“Stevie you’re table won’t shut up about wanting you.” Alyssa walks in and says to me.

“What?” I sigh.

“They want you like now.” She says. I groan and jump off the counter.

I walk over to their table. “Oh there she is.” Kelce says.

“What do you assholes want now?” I laugh.

“I want your friend’s number.” Rafe smirks.

“Ok I have shit to do.” I say walking away.

“Please Stevie, I’ll treat her so well I promise.” He smiles even bigger.

“Why don’t you just ask her yourself, dumbass? Why’d you call me all the way over here?” I groan.

“She isn’t over here.” He says.

“She was just here. She said you guys wouldn’t shut the fuck up.” I say.

“She said that?” He smirks.

“Yeah she did. Look either you get it yourself or don’t get it at all. It’s not my problem.” I say.

“Are you jealous Stevie?” He smiles.

I look at him with disgust. “God you’re so conceited. You think everyone is so in love with you.” I roll my eyes.

“You should be a little nicer to me, Stevie. I can get you fired.” He says. I roll my eyes.

“Go ahead. Then you wouldn’t be able to keep fucking up my Friday’s.” I say walking away.

I walk to the front and ask Steve if I can leave early. I make up a fake story. He lets me go. I genuinely don’t think my anger issues could’ve handled anymore of that.

“Alyssa their your problem now.” I say grabbing my keys. She furrows her eyebrows.

“I can’t deal with them anymore. I’m going home.” I say.

I walk out the door and walk home. My house is close enough, there’s no point in even driving. It’s still a ways to walk, though.

After 5 minutes of walking, I see headlights. It’s a truck. A big ass truck. It comes up closer to me. They roll down their window.

“Did I piss you off too much, sweetheart?” It’s Rafe. I roll my eyes as soon as I hear his voice.

“You just don’t know how to fucking quit.” I say.

“Get in. I’ll take you home.” He says. I scoff.

“Hell no.” I say.

“Stevie don’t be such a determined fucking bitch and get in the car.” He says.

“You know when you call me a bitch it just makes me want to hop in you’re truck so much more.” I say.

“Stevie, I know you don’t want to walk all the way home.” He says. I sigh and walk over to the passenger seat. He was right I didn’t want to walk all the way home.

“You’re still an asshole.” I say. He laughs.

“What even happened? We used to be friends.” He asks.

“Well you cheated on Lily. I mean there’s so many reasons why I fucking hate you, but that’s a big one.” I say.

“Alright I didn’t cheat on her.” He says making me mentally orbit around the fucking moon.

“Oh right you just slept with someone that wasn’t Lily, sorry I don’t know what I was thinking.” I say.

“That’s what she told you?” He scoffs.

“Yeah?” I say.

“I didn’t cheat on her.” He says.

“Well then what did you do Rafe?” I ask.

“I just stopped liking her I don’t know. I tried to tell her in a nice way, but she went fucking psycho on me.” He says.

“You just stopped liking her? How do you just stop liking her?” I ask.

“I don’t know like how you stopped liking Joe.” He says, bringing up my ex.

“Ok that’s different. We both agreed we didn’t feel anything anymore.” I say.

“I stopped liking Lily, because I started liking her friend.” He says looking at me for a second.

“That’s not fucked up at all.” I say. He rolls his eyes.

“Who was it? Alyssa??” I ask.

“No it wasn’t Alyssa.” He says.

“Then why did you want her number?” I ask. He pauses. The car gets really quiet.

“I wanted to see how you’d react.” He says.

“See how I’d react? Why would you care what I thought?” I ask. We sit there for a minute in complete silence.

“It was you, Stevie. Jesus Christ, you were the friend that I couldn’t stop fucking thinking about. Every time you’d come over with you’re stupid little boyfriend, I was never looking at Lily, I was always watching you. I couldn’t do anything because you had a boyfriend and I was dating Lily.” He says making me audibly gasp. Ok not literally but I was in pure shock.

“No fucking shit.” I laugh. He scoffs.

“Fuck off.” He says making me laugh.

“I used to like you too. I was like in love with you in 8th grade.” I say. “It was when I met Sarah and came over to you’re house everyday. To be honest, I only went over there to see you.”

He laughs. “Shut up.” I scoff. “It’s weird we both used to like each other.” He looks at me.

“I never stopped, Stevie.” He says.

“What?” My voice shakes.

“I never stopped liking you.” He says making me gulp really loudly. I stare at him. I’m so nervous right now I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. He starts to lean in and my heart starts beating faster.

I don’t pull away so this has to mean I feel the same. He puts his hand on my face. Our lips finally touch and I realize I like it. He picks up my thighs and sets me on top of him.

I can’t believe of all things that could’ve happened today, I’m in Rafe Cameron’s car about to fuck.

[panickingpansexuality]

Did Something Bad (Part 1?)

Gifs not mine

Darry X Reader

Darry gets jumped and you rain hellfire down on the ones who touched him.

Tws: mentions of kinda kidnapping, men being sleezy, revenge plot, threats and mentions of violence.

You were at the house tidying up when you heard Pony screaming from outside. Immediately, you ran outside and saw him running towards the house.

"They got Darry! The Socs came and jumped us and-and there's ten of them, Darry he-he."

"Breathe Ponyboy." You said trying to stop your worry from being apparent. "Go sit down, I'll be right back. You understand me? Don't you dare leave the house. Call Soda and Tim ok?"

He nods as you run out the door in the direction Pony came, you figured that they must've been walking home from the movies or school and there's not too many ways the Socs can follow through with eh fences and if Darry was trying to get them to follow him then he'd take one of the main roads.

You hate to say you were right, but you were. You found him nearly knocked out against a building clutching his side two miles from the school.

"Darry?!" You say in a panicked voice, he looks up and gives you a half smile.

You run to his side and pull out your first aid kit from your bag, Darry, knowing the drill by now pulls up his shirt.

"Jesus fucking Christ." You whisper looking at the damage. "Pony said there were ten of them. Is that true?"

"Eleven." Darry muttered out. "Thankfully I got half of them before they did this to me."

Rage consumed you. How many knives had been covered in Greasers blood cause a Soc couldn't keep their hands to themselves? Why couldn't they just leave y'all alone? They always wanted a fight. Always.

You knew Greasers pulled their fair share of punches but the amount of times you've had to run to someone because some high class snob wanted to fight was ridiculous.

As you patched Darry up, Dally's car came passing by, the tires screeched to a stop as he saw you two. He gave you a lift back home while Darry filled him in on what happened.

When you got home you sent Darry straight to bed, without so much as a fight from him.

Dally stuck around and waited to see everyone else.

"Pony," you say gently. "Do you remember who all was there?" You ask.

He shakes his head.

"I know the license plate number." He says.

"Perfect." You say grabbing a pencil and writing it down.

"Now wait a minute (y/n)," Dally says. "What are you doing?"

"Youu'll find out." You reply.

The next day you walk home with Pony, Johnny, and Dallas from school.

"Point them out." You tell Ponyboy as you three sit by the steps of his school, and he does so perfectly.

Over the next week you follow those boys around, finding out where they go every night, what they do after school and even where they live. You're not proud of it, but you're tired. So fucking tired of being scared for your boys, tired of living through this every Goddamn day. They were going to pay.

"I need a favor." You tell Dallas Friday night.

"Ok.." he says uneasy.

"I need you, Tim, and whoever else we can get to come with me to the Drive in tonight. Don't tell Darry or Pony, you're going to wait while I draw those boys out. You'll know when to step in."

"So what else do we get out of this other than beating up some Socs?"

"Free cigarettes for two months." You say.

And wouldn't you know it the boys were in on it for less, Tim and Curly needed some extra convincing but you certainly didn't mind it.

Darry was working late that night, so you were able to get as dolled up as possible and quite frankly you looked like a hooker.

You slipped out of the house without any notice, and the group that so very kindly volunteered went with you to the drive in. You say in the drive in by the snack bar and just as you predicted the bait took.

"Hey sugar." The first boy said. "Whatcha doing out here by your lonesome?"

"My date stood me up." You say with your biggest puppy dog eyes. "I feel like my whole nights ruined.."

"Oh don't worry dear," the boy said running his hand up your thigh, "I'm sure we can make it better." You but your lip and pulled him out of the drive in by the woods.

"You're so sweet." You say stopping with your back up against a tree.

The boy leaned in to kiss you and that's when the Dally struck him behind the head, knocking him out cold.

"One down," he said.

You led the ten other boys out in identical ways until all eleven of them were being dragged into the middle of the woods, tied up and gagged.

"You're fucking crazy (y/n)." Tim said putting on the ski mask.

"it'll work." You say lighting a fire around the tied up circle. "They'll be scared shitless."

"Hope this doesn't backfire."

"It won't." You say, "We're not using specifics."

When the boys woke up, they were terrified, so screaming and struggling like it was gonna help, you laughed, and whoever could turn their heads, did. Around them the boys who volunteered to help had paper bags that looked like they had guns in them.

"Shut up!" You finally yelled.

They did.

"So not only are all of you sleezy little dirt bags but you also like to attack helpless people."

Some of them shake their heads, the nerve.

"Now," you say. "I could easily kill you all right here but I'm feeling so generous. You're going to all swear that you'll never attack anyone again. You'll find ways to get your kicks anyway and anywhere else but the Greasers side of town. You'll stay away from any Greaser, even if they're calling you out. Or else the next time you wake up you'll be six feet under. Do we understand?"

They all nodded.

"Good." You say sweetly, the boys drop their bags to the ground and pull out blades just as you do.

"but just so we understand each other."

You don't cut anywhere vital, and you leave a butter knife outside the circle of fire for when it burns out. Quite frankly in your opinion you were being so kind.

You all go to Bucks for the evening drinking away that entire night.

"Fucking crazy." Dally tells you, "That was kinda hot."

You laugh and pass him his payment.

"Well," you say. "Couldn't have done it without you and your friends from out of town."

"Hey!" Tim says from beside you. "Of course I mean you two as well!" You say with your hands up.

"(y/n)," Dally says, "We should tell Darry about tonight."

"Hell no." You say, "This would terrify him just as much as it did you guys, I never want you to see me like that again."

"Why not?" Dally asks, "It was hot and powerful."

"I'm not that woman Dallas." You say, "I did it to protect you guys and to get revenge for Darry. That's it. It's done."

"He should know." Tim said.

"And what if it injures his masculinity? I know you guys don't view him as any less after what happened but right now he needs to heal. Maybe when he's healed up but not now."

"Ok." Tim says smoking a cigarette, "But you gotta tell him."

When you get home Darry is waiting on the chair, you've changed out of the clothes from earlier into some jeans and a shirt.

"Hey Superman." You say smiling.

"Hey," he says sleepily. "Where were you?"

"With Dally and Tim, sorry I should've left a note."

"It's ok." He says.

You go to his chair and sit on his lap, kissing him sweetly and long enough for him to smile into it.

"How ya feeling?" You ask.

"Better." He grunts. "It'll scar but I'll be fine."

"Another spot for me to kiss." You say kissing him again, your hands run up his chest and he pulls you closer.

"Bed time?" He asks.

You two go upstairs and he kisses you, letting you take the lead this time, you have him feeling loved and have his legs shaking by the time you're done. You clean up the both of you and quickly Darry falls asleel. You're still awake. You know what you did will work, but looking up at your sleeping lover you wish it didn't have to come to this in the first place. Darry lets out a small snore and you smile softly, but for him, for the boys.. you'd do anything.

[jillsandwhichs]

valenfield fic , chap 9 , morning drive

masterlist

pairing: Jill Valentine & Chris Redfield

summary: when Jill's car won't start before work, she calls Chris for a helping hand

status of their relationship in this one shot: Close friends with evident feelings

wc: 2.1k

type: Sfw

a/n: Hi! Hope you all enjoy. Please check out my masterlist, there's a lot of stuff there. You can get to know me, you can see the rules of my blog and then you can see all of my fanfictions. You'll be able to find the previous chapters to this fic and upcoming ones. You'll also be able to find my Wattpad & AO3. Comments, reblogs & likes are appreciated. Thank you

"Shit... Start, dammit!" Jill spoke to herself, trying her best to get her car to start. Jill's car just didn't seem to wanna start this morning. Which is of course, just her luck, considering they have a meeting at work today. Captain Wesker also said it was important, so she really couldn't miss it.

"Why me?" Jill groaned out, placing her head against the leather, black steering wheel, gripping it with her hands. Thoughts on what to do roamed through Jill's head. She seriously couldn't miss work today.

Calling a cab wouldn't work, it's to early and there's no way Jill is gonna spend her last bit of cash. Walking there wasn't an option either, it's too far from her apartment and even if it was close, it is way to cold out to walk around in her uniform. She could potentially call someone to pick her up, but she doesn't wanna seem like a burden, it's 7 am, the last thing she wants to do is disturb somebody, but she may have to.

Opening the car door, Jill stepped out of it and breathed deeply, the cool, winter air hitting her face, goose bumps forming on her slender arms. It was winter time, which was always beautiful around here. The snow was never to bad either, the main issue was how cold it would get, and the ice. Icy roads are Jill's absolute worst nightmare.

All of the bushes and shrubs were covered in white, crystal looking snow. The ground wasn't icy though, thankfully. Even so, it was 32⁰ out, it was fucking cold, and Jill was dreading the day, especially if they end up having to go out on a mission, or have an emergency.

Wandering back into her apartment, Jill jogged up the stairs to her room, keeping it down to not awake the other people sleeping. She stuck her key into the door, unlocking it and stepping inside. "Alrighty..." Jill said to herself, sighing deeply as she headed towards her bed, sitting down on it and laying back, contemplating what she wanted to do.

She sat back up and sighed, running her slim fingers through her healthy, short brunette hair. "Jesus Christ, what am I going to do..." Jill mumbled to herself, standing up and pacing around her small, yet homey apartment.

There were very little people she could call to pick her up, and she had to choose, it's a last resort. Barry? Definitely not, he's either with his family, or already at work. Joseph? Also no, he lives to far to drive out of his way just to pick her up.

Same goes for Captain Wesker, he's picked her up before and definitely wasn't amused by it. Besides, she'd be especially nervous with him, knowing they have that meeting today. She most likely wouldn't be able to shut up and would consistently ask questions about it. Jill wasn't the type to get anxious, but when it comes to her job, she really does.

Convoying to the telephone, Jill picked it up, inputting a phone number before hastily placing the phone up to her ear. All she could do was hope the person she contacted would pick up. The woman felt somewhat like a problem for calling someone to pick her up, she felt like an idiot.

Three rings later, and he picked up. "Hello?" A man's voice was on the other line, sounding somewhat tired. It was Chris, one of Jill's very close friends. "Hey Chris, it's me, Jill." She said with a friendly tone, waiting for a response. "Jill? Hi, yeah, hey. Sorry, I should've realized." Chris chuckled over the line.

"No worries, it's been awhile since we've spoken over the phone. "Sure has been... Did ya need something?" Chris asked, his tone soft. "Yeah, but it's totally okay if you can't or don't want to... I was just gonna see, if it wasn't a problem, could you possibly swing by my place and pick me up? My car won't start..." Jill questioned, hesitation filled within in her voice.

"Oh, of course I can, are you already ready?" Chris questioned, his tone had seemed more gleeful than it had before. "Yeah, I am, when do you think you'll be here?" She asked him. "Ten minutes at most, I'll head out here in a minute." He spoke. "Okay then, I'll leave you to it... Thank you Chris, I seriously appreciate it." "Anytime Jill." The call then ended.

When the call ended, Jill couldn't help but smile to herself. Chris was probably her bestest friend, she couldn't wait to get some one on one time with him. She treaded towards her kitchen counter, grabbing her wallet and house key before going back outside of her apartment complex.

Where she lived was in the center of Raccoon City. Downtown RC was beautiful and Jill really enjoyed it. Unlike most people, Jill did prefer to live in the city. It felt more alive to her, it was also just much more convenient. More stores nearby, work places nearby. Whilst, if you live out in the country side, it's more gas and time, therefore more money, to even get to a gas station.

Sitting down, Jill sat on the steps of the building. They were set right in front of the parking lot, so she'd be able to see when he pulled in. Either way, Jill knows Chris has a small black car. She also knows Chris wants a truck eventually. Jill's never necessarily cared for cars, or the one that she wants to own. As long as it's running, she could care less about the model, or what year it is.

Jill also felt uneasy, knowing Captain Wesker had something important for the team to discuss today. What if they had another mission? Or had a change in their team? What if someone is fired? Many thoughts ran through her head. She just hopes it's nothing to out of the blue.

-

Around ten minutes later, Jill watched as Chris's car pulled into the parking lot. Expiring softly, she stood up, tucking her wallet in her jean pocket. Chris hopped out of his truck and wandered over to the front of the complex, gazing at Jill as she stood up from the staircase.

"Hi." Jill said with a warm tone. "Hey." Chris replied, smiling at Jill. "Listen, I'm sorry for making you go out of your way to pick me up, I just didn't know how else I'd get to work." Jill spewed out. As she went on, Chris placed his hand on her shoulder firmly, chuckling to himself, "Jill, it's alright, you're my friend, I'd do anything for you." He spoke with honesty.

"Now, come on, let's get you in my car, I don't need you freezing to death." Chris snickered, nudging her to follow him. Jill heaved and followed directly behind him, ambling up to his car. Chris opened the passenger side door for Jill, allowing her to get settled in.

He was a gentleman, he cared about taking care of people, especially his friends. Jill was one of his closest friends, probably his most close. When it came to Jill, he wanted to be there for her ; to care for her, which is why he agreed to pick her up in the first place. He'd do anything for her.

Climbing into the driver's seat, Chris grunted and peeped a look at Jill, noticing that she was staring out to car window, which had tiny, wet cicles dripping down from the brim of said window. The man turned the car back on and pulled out of the parking lot, beginning to drive on the mostly empty road. He turned his head to see Jill and decided to make conversation.

"You okay?" Chris questioned, holding the steering wheel with one hand, his other resting on the center console. Jill gazed over at Chris as he drove, "I'm okay, just nervous, you know, about the meeting today." "Oh the meeting? Jill, you ain't got nothing to worry about. You see, Wesker will say somethings important, then turns out it's something as little as were getting new uniforms, or were having changed shifts." He cackled, attempting to ease Jill's timidness.

"Okay." Jill exhaled, her anxiety being relieved by a bit. "Wanna listen to some music?" Chris asked, placing his thumb and index finger on the stereo. "Sure, why not." Jill responded, looking at Chris with a calm look. Chris turned the radio up, the song 'There She Goes...' by the La's began to play, in which, they both liked a lot.

"Love this song." Chris muttered out. "Me too." Jill replied. The two sat in silence as the song played through it's course, it was only about two and a half minutes long anyways. Silence between them wasn't awkward, rather peaceful and well rounded. They didn't feel the need to have to talk constantly in order to find a sense of comfort between them.

"I really hope we don't get new uniforms, I look stupid enough in this one as it is." Jill laughed out, making conversation. "Oh hush, you don't look stupid." Chris retorted, smirking to himself. "I definitely do." "You look pretty, so stop." Chris demanded in a playful tone. "Pretty? Pretty is an overstatement." Jill countered his words.

"What is it with girls and hating the way they look? I swear, you and my sister would get along great! She's always like, "I'm so fat!" Or "Ew, why do I look like that?" As if she's not a good looking girl, I don't get it." Chris ranted, not in a mean way, rather a loving way. "It's just a girl's thing, I guess." Jill tittered. "I suppose so." Chris chuckled.

The next song to start playing was 'Runnin Down a Dream' by Tom Petty, whom Jill had happened to like a lot. "Oh I love Tom Petty." Jill spoke with glee in her voice. "My little sister does too, I definitely have to get you two to meet, she'd love you." Chris said with earnest in his tone. "She seems like a gem." Jill replied, giving Chris a look that made him feel so light and nervous, which no one ever makes him feel.

Chris gave her a look as well - his brown eyes full with kind heartedness and genuine care, his eyes were always full of those whilst looking at Jill.

"I'm dreading work today." Jill groaned out, looking away from Chris, the tension between the two breaking as she did. "I know you are." He chortled, turning the car into the correct lane. "How do you go to work everyday feeling happy? Or just being cool with it? I don't know, you always seem content with it." Jill expressed.

"I look at the positives to it. I make money, I learn things, I socialize, I see my friends... I see you..." Chris responded to her long question. "See me? That's a positive to your day?" Jill asked, surprise in her voice. "Well, I mean, yeah... Is that a bad thing? Is it weird?" "No, no, not at all, you saying that means a lot, I feel the same way." Jill spoke, trying to put her feelings out in some capacity.

The man couldn't help but smile to himself when she had said that, he wasn't alone in that feeling. Chris didn't particularly know how he felt about Jill. He knew he loved her, but in what way? Friendship? Romance? Both? Either way, Jill was very special to him, and he'd never let the precious bond of theirs go.

Jill also didn't know how she had felt for him. Chris was the first man she'd question her care and love for. Not necessarily in a bad way though, just in the sense of how? Is more than how a friend should feel for another friend? Is it how a lover should feel for their lover? Is it a combo of both? Jill hasn't quite settled on it yet.

Pulling into the parking lot, Chris sighed and cleared his throat, unlocking both of their doors before stepping out of his truck, trotting to Jill's side and helping her out. Gusts of cold, winter air hit the two of them rapidly. "Jeez..." Jill shivered. "Yeah, jeez is right." Chris laughed.

Gandering up at him, Jill began to speak with a kind tone, "Once again Chris, thank you for driving me to work today... I seriously appreciate it." Chris looked down at her and leaned up against his car, "Anything for you." He gave her a smirk. "Let's get you inside, you're clearly freezing." He chuckled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

She giggled and blushed slightly, the two walking into the R.P.D building, side by side.