#but Ed doesn’t seem terribly mischievous

[woundedheartwithin]

KK not realizing that the safehouse was cursed, despite having the affinity and being very sensitive to this shit, is funny enough, but the fact that either Ed, Dale, Rinko, or Erika put the picture in the very bottom of the box for KK to find instead of JUST TELLING HIM ABOUT IT is the funniest shit in the universe

[munson-blurbs]

Can I request something with Eddie x reader in a long term relationship. They didn’t meet until their mid to late 20s. maybe they are out to dinner one time with his old highschool buddies and she hears them joke about how eddie always wanted to fuck a cheer leader. she gets the bright idea to buy a cheer leader out fit with a tiny skirt and pom poms and wears it for him one day

Oh, now this is what I'm talking about. Written with the gorgeous queen of fluffy smut, @corroded-hellfire 💚

Warnings: smut (18+ only, minors DNI), oral (m! receiving), unprotected p in v, Reader wears a cheerleading uniform, mention of Eddie's crush on Chrissy

WC: 1.8k

Divider credit to @saradika

It’s not the first time you’ve met any of the guys from your boyfriend’s old Hellfire gang. It is the first time that you’ve been around them as a group, though. They’re much louder in a pack—not necessarily trying to shout, just be heard over the guy who is telling a story next to them. 

The guys are funny though and you’re enjoying getting a glimpse of what High School Eddie was like from those who got to experience it first hand. It wasn’t terribly long ago that they were all in high school together; you’re all only in your twenties. But Eddie seems to groan every time there’s a reminder that the youngest guys in the group can legally drink now. 

“So tell me more about this hellion during his younger years,” you say with a laugh, draping an arm over his denim-clad shoulders. “Because he claims to have been a total badass, but he’s such a teddy bear.” To emphasize your point, you smack a wet kiss to his cheek. 

Eddie blushes but doesn’t wipe it off; instead, he tilts your chin till you’re facing him and kisses you until the group throws wadded-up paper napkins at you both. 

“This guy was definitely not a teddy bear,” Lucas says. “I asked him to postpone one Hellfire meeting so I could play in the championship basketball game, and he put me on probation!”

You look at Eddie, slack-jawed. “Eds!” you chastise him teasingly. 

“It was the last campaign of the year!” Eddie rebuts. “Actions have consequences, Sinclair.”

Lucas rolls his eyes and takes a sip of his drink, using his free hand to flip off his friend. 

Dustin cackles at the exchange. “Yeah, he was pretty much an asshole to everyone.” His voice is mischievous as he waggles his eyebrows and adds, “except Chrissy Cunningham.”

“Ooh,” you mimic Dustin’s playful tone. “And who is Chrissy Cunningham?”

“Head cheerleader, cute and blonde, super sweet to, like, everybody,” Mike pipes up.

Eddie gets flustered, not because Chrissy was brought up, but he thinks hearing about his crush on her might upset or annoy you. He sputters over his words, which just riles him up even more. 

“I don’t think we need to, uh, talk about that,” Eddie says, shaking his head.

“Why? What happened?” you ask with a frown. It was no secret between you and Eddie that neither of you were popular in high school and had crushes that went unrequited. But Eddie never told you about anything particularly bad happening between him and a cheerleader.

“What?” Eddie asks before realizing what you mean. “Oh, no! Nothing happened. We spoke maybe a handful of times ever. I just didn’t think this would be something you would want to hear about…”

Eddie brow pinches in worry but you just laugh and wave a dismissive hand.

“Eddie, come on. Who wouldn’t have a crush on the sweet, pretty cheerleader? I mean, I had a thing for my school’s star basketball player back in the day. You know that.”

Lucas laughs. “You definitely would’ve hated the star basketball player at our school.”

“Kid was a total douche,” Jeff adds. “Made these obnoxious, over-the-top speeches that had everybody rolling their eyes.”

“So, like Eddie, but athletic,” Gareth chimes in, putting his hands up in surrender when Eddie shoots him a look and then breaks into a grin. 

The waiter brings out a chocolate cake, loudly singing Happy Birthday to Eddie, which promptly puts a stop to their bickering and taunting. The guys lock in on the dessert, serving Eddie the first slice before turning into barbarians over the second. 

You finally manage to snag a slice among the chaos, but your mind is elsewhere. If Eddie was as into cheerleaders like his friends claim, you might be able to finagle one last birthday surprise.

A week passes from the dinner-turned-impromptu-Hellfire-meeting. Eddie saunters through the door, tossing his keys on the counter. 

“Babe? You home?” His hair is kept in a low bun; it’s easier to work on cars with it out of his face. 

“In the bedroom!” you call back from behind a half-closed door. 

Eddie kicks his boots off in the general direction of the welcome mat. “How was your day, sweetheart?” he asks as he walks down the hallway towards your room. “Mine was pretty good. I just—holy shit.” He comes to a halt in the doorway, jaw dropping open as he stares at you. 

You lounge on the bed waiting for him, a green and white cheerleading uniform on. There wasn’t one with some yellow on it as well like Hawkins High’s had when you’d gone looking, but you didn’t think your boyfriend would mind. 

He stands frozen and it makes you let out a small giggle before trying to regain the seductive air you’d been going for. 

“Wh…What’s all this?” he manages, caught completely off-guard by your outfit of choice. 

“Just your own personal cheerleader,” you say nonchalantly, crooking your finger and beckoning him over. “Wanna see my pom-poms?”

His grin nearly splits his face in two. “Yeah—wait, do you mean, like, actual ones, or…” he trails off and shakes his head. “Ah, fuck it.” He grabs you and pulls you onto his lap. 

“So, do I get to see a cheer?” he asks with a smirk. “A little, ‘two-four-six-eight, who do we appreciate?’”

You kiss his neck and murmur, “kinda figured my mouth would be busy somewhere else.” Your lips down the pale expanse of bis torso and you unbuckle his belt. 

Eddie groans and leans back against the headboard, eagerly watching you. He lifts his hips enough so you can slide his pants and boxers all the way off and toss them aside. 

You make sure to keep your gaze locked on his as you start to stroke him, using his pre-cum to lubricate your palm. “Tell me what you need, baby.”

He inhales sharply, trying to remain focused. “Need you to suck me off.”

You get on your knees in front of him so he can see down your uniform top, and he twitches against your lips. Flattening your tongue against the base of his shaft, you lick up to the head and wrap your lips around the tip before slowly taking him into your warm, wet mouth. 

“Fuuuuuck,” Eddie breathes out, throwing his head back and exposing his Adam’s apple. “Thassit, just like that.”

The tang of pre-cum is salty on your tongue, and you lap it up gratefully. Your fingers dig into the flesh of his ass as you pull him towards you, your nose grazing his pubic hair. 

“So good, goddamn, honey,” he mumbles, more gibberish than logic, “take me so well. Givin’ me the best fuckin’ head of my life.”

You’re more than happy to continue this, cheeks hollowed and tongue swirling around the sensitive tip, eagerly anticipating his cum down your throat. 

Eddie has other plans. 

He begrudgingly steps back, his throbbing cock thwacking against his stomach. If he pulls out of a blowjob, it usually means—

“Bend over, princess.”

You do as he says, palms pressed into the mattress. He quickly flips up your skirt, exposing your bare ass. 

Eddie laughs triumphantly. “Oh, fuck yes.” He taps the head of his length against it before pushing down on your back, giving him a better view of your pussy. “Mine,” he growls in your ear. 

The moan that tumbles out of your lips from his words only increases tenfold when he pushes inside of you. It makes Eddie smirk in satisfaction as his hands grip your hips beneath the pleats of the skirt. His eyes slip closed as he loses himself in the feeling of you around his cock. 

You whine as Eddie bottoms out, fingers grasping at the blanket below you. “God, Eddie, yes.”

Eddie’s thrusts gain momentum and he pulls your hips back against him for every one, never missing a beat. “Shit, you’re so fucking good for me. Your pussy’s so goddamn tight, fuck.” 

“Mhm, uh-huh.” The drag of his cock against your walls leaves you speechless, only able to whine, no coherent thoughts in your head. 

“My cheerleader feels good, huh? Aw, baby,” he coos, “so good you can’t even talk, yeah?”

Even if you had the capability to answer, you wouldn’t have time before Eddie pulls out of you for the second time today and flips you onto your back. Your legs fall open for him immediately in this new position and he wastes no time pushing back into you. 

He leans over your body, slipping his hands up the top half of your uniform. “Most beautiful cheerleader I ever fuckin’ saw,” he purrs as his hands grope your chest.

Your legs wrap around his body, only pulling him deeper inside of you. “So good,” you slur, eyes half-lidded. You feel your orgasm crash over you, waves of pleasure rippling through your body. 

Eddie’s hands slip out of your top and run down your arms until he laces his fingers with yours. He lifts your hands over your head, keeping a tight grip on you as his hips pick up the pace. Now that you came, he can take what he needs. 

“So tight,” he mumbles, breathing heavily. You can tell that he’s close. “Gonna cum all over this pretty little uniform of yours, ‘kay?”

You can only nod, and he leans in and kisses you one last time before pulling out and painting you in his release. Sticky warmth coats the exposed strip of flesh between the top and skirt, some of it staining the uniform’s fabric. He moans out your name as he jerks the last of his spend out of his cock.

“Holy shit,” he exhales, drinking in the sight of you in your cheerleader outfit and covered in his cum. His sexy cheerleader wearing his cum. The thought has him almost up for another round already. 

He leans over to the nightstand and reaches for a tissue to clean you up, but you wave him off. Your hand catches his wrist and you softly run your fingertips up to his elbow.

“Leave it,” you tell him with a smirk. “I want it to stain.” You’ll wake up in the morning to it dried on the uniform, a reminder of tonight.

“Goddamn, baby.” Eddie lets out a breathy chuckle and flops down next to you, completely exhausted. “I was not expecting this, but I’m certainly not complaining.” 

“Well,” you say, a teasing lilt in your voice. You push up onto one elbow, and gaze at him knowingly. His hair is a mess, his chest is rising and falling rapidly. He looks wrecked, and it’s a beautiful sight. “You’d better drink some Gatorade, babe. Because this is only halftime.”

--

[disasterman-snz]

If you’re looking for prompts at all, what about steddie where poor sweet steve has a terrible cold, but he promised Eddie, Robin, and nancy they could use his pool for a fun little pool party since the weather is starting to get cold and it’s probably the last weekend they can. He doesn’t want to ruin their fun, but he’s clearly feeling well, so Eddie (and probably rob and nance to an extent) spends the whole time trying to take care of Steve.

Omg! Sorry that it took me literally like 75 years to get this out! I hope it was worth the wait O_O

It's been a busy semester between work and school, but I'm still alive you guys <33

DO NOT REBLOG TO NON-KINK BLOGS AND MINORS DNI 

_____

“Babe, come on in, the water’s fine,” Eddie badgers Steve, who is tanning on a reclining chair. 

  All afternoon he’s been strangely quiet and distant, but Eddie can’t pin why. Nancy and Robin seem equally confused, but none of them are sure how to voice their concern. 

  The problem is, Steve hasn’t exactly done anything to indicate something is wrong. They just know him well enough to tell that something is off. 

  He’s been sticking to the sidelines all day, and he hasn’t even gotten in the pool once. He just dipped his toes in before he went off to ‘tan.’ He’s hardly teased Robin or flirted with Eddie or really spoken at all. 

  It’s just not like him. 

  They’ve all been looking forward to their little adults-only pool ‘party’ for weeks now. It’s pretty much the last weekend that’s warm enough for swimming, but they were all free and it worked out perfectly. 

  They’d been worried it would be too cool, but it’s a perfect day. Warm enough to swim, but a slight fall breeze keeps it from getting too hot. 

  Eddie just wishes his boyfriend would come join them. 

  “I’ll get in in a little bit Eds,” Steve calls, and Eddie frowns, wading over to the edge of the pool. 

  He splashes playfully at where Steve is sitting. Not enough to really get him wet if he doesn’t want to, but enough to make him sit up and raise an eyebrow at him above his sunglasses. 

  “Boo,” Robin agrees, “Come get in with us dingus, you’re being boring.” 

  Steve seems to deflate a little at that, and Eddie sees Robin wince a little at the strange response. 

  “Alright alright,” Steve concedes, standing from the lounge chair he’d pulled up by the pool. 

  Eddie expects him to run forward and jump in the pool to splash them all, but instead Steve just walks over and slips in with them. 

  It shouldn’t be a big deal, but it sends alarm bells ringing. It’s just so unlike Steve to be so subdued. 

  He tries to push the worry aside for now though, because he really has no way to explain it. 

  “There he is,” Eddie grins, going over to Steve, who is standing waist deep in the shallow part of the pool. He slings an arm over his boyfriend's shoulder and presses a kiss to his cheek, but Steve seems to shiver a little under his touch. 

  “Eugh, get off, you’re all wet,” Steve complains, shoving at him lightly. 

  Eddie allows himself to be knocked off, throwing himself into the water dramatically, purposefully using his weight to splash water on Steve, “Oh how you wound me, my own love and he pushes me to the side like I’m nothing?” 

  Robin snickers at his theatrics, and Nancy laughs a little. 

Eddie can’t help but notice how Steve seems to shiver again as the water splashes his chest. 

  Before he can make sure he’s okay though, Steve gives him a mischievous look, “I’ll do worse than that Munson,” and then he splashes him right in the face. 

  Eddie laughs loudly, “Oh! That’s how it is?” and he forgets his earlier concern, splashing Steve, who splashes back. 

  Robin eventually jumps in too, because she likes chaos, and drags Nancy in with her, and before they know it, they’re all completely soaked and grinning. 

  As they finally wind down, Nancy and Robin go off to the deep side of the pool. 

  Eddie grins at Steve and goes up to him, ready to tease him for his lackluster performance in their splash war. 

  As he approaches, he notices a far away look in his eyes, and his earlier concern comes rushing back. 

  “Hey, you okay?” he asks quietly, but Steve just blinks at him and holds up one hand in a ‘hold on’ gesture, turning away to bury his face in the crook of his damp elbow. 

  “Hh… HrdDSChhh!! HGttSSChhh!! Hh..ehh.. HeiDtssCHhh!!... SnnRFfffsnrff,” Steve sniffles thickly and rubs at his nose as he turns back to Eddie. 

  “Sorry, I thindk I must’ve inhaled sombe water,” he says with another sniffle. 

  Eddie gives him an assessing look, but just says “Bless you babe! Those sounded intense.”

  Steve flushes, “S’probably cause of the snrFffsnff…snFff chlorine.”

  Eddie isn’t sure he believes him, but he doesn't want to make a big deal out of a handful of sneezes. 

  So he closes the distance between himself and Steve, pressing him against him and wrapping his hand around his waist, “That’s the worst love,” 

  Steve shrugs, and Eddie takes the hint and changes the subject. 

  “Oh! Did you ask Keith about getting those days off next month when I’m going down to Indianapolis? Because I heard about this really nice comic store down there that sells DnD stuff. I know it’s still early but I’m definitely gonna get Dustin’s Christmas gift there if it’s as impressive as I’ve heard.” He launches into the ramble, trying not to pay too much attention to the way Steve scrubs at his nose and sniffles every few seconds. 

  “Yeah snFfsndfff Keith said I can have the’b as long as.. hh-snfff hhh- as long as Robin doesn’d mi’nd swi..hhihh.. switchinnghh.. hh..” 

  Eddie watches as Steve struggles through the sentence, unsure if he should respond when Steve is so clearly on the brink of another sneezing fit. 

  Steve makes the decision for him when he finally turns away, this time holding his hands up desperately, “Hold on-hh.. hhhH’rrSChHhuhhh hehh’hihh.. hiHhTtScHhhuh- heHhTTZScHhh! Hhsnfff sndfff.. hh.. hmmMPhHZSHhh…”

  Steve snuffles helplessly at the mess. His hands are wet from the pool water and he’s forced to try and wipe them off in the pool. 

  “Bless you again babe!” Eddie exclaims, unable to keep the worry out of his voice. 

  Steve’s flush travels from his cheeks down his neck, “Sorry, it’s just cause snddff I inhaled snRfffsnfffff all that water.” 

  Eddie reaches forward and gives Steve a quick kiss on the cheek, “Maybe if you went in and blew your nose that would help?” 

  He offers the advice hesitantly, and his concern only grows when Steve looks grateful for the out. 

  He only hesitates for a moment before he nods, “Actually, that’s snRRfff probably snffsnDFF a good idea,” he wipes at his running nose, but it doesn’t do much because his hand is wet, “I’ll be back.” 

  Eddie frowns after Steve as he climbs out of the pool, taking an oddly slow time to heave himself up the ladder, and then goes inside. 

  Nancy turns to Eddie once he goes inside, “Hey, is everything okay with him?” 

  “I’m not really sure honestly,” he twists his face up a little, “He seems a little off right?” 

  Robin nods, “Yeah, he’s being super weird… Actually, he was being kinda distant and quiet at work yesterday too. I thought he just seemed tired but…” she shrugs. 

  Eddie’s frown deepens, “He seems kinda tired today too doesn’t he…” 

  Nancy nods, “I didn’t want to overstep, but he looks like he feels… just awful.”

  Robin sighs, “I think he might be sick… that dingus, why wouldn’t he just tell us?”

  Eddie sighs, “I was gonna say the same…”

  He trails off as Steve rejoins them outside, and they all stare at him. 

  Eddie expects him to say something about it, but instead Steve just goes back to his chair, huddling into his towel as if he were freezing. 

  Robin and Nancy are speaking quietly to one another on the other side of the pool, but Eddie just watches Steve for a while. 

  Every time a gust of wind goes by, he tenses up and sniffles. Sometimes it seems like he’s barely restraining himself from shivering non-stop. And even though he knows he just went inside to blow, he keeps reaching up to rub and swipe at his nose. 

  He keeps massages at his temples every so often, as if his head was bothering him. He also sees him turn off to the side and completely smother a few coughs into his towel. 

  Then Steve’s breath starts hitching and he ducks into the towel, and completely silences a few of his harsh sneezes. His shoulders shake roughly, but Eddie can’t hear any sound. If he wasn’t watching, he wouldn’t even know Steve had been coughing and sneezing. 

  When Steve pulls away, he looks breathless and exhausted, and Eddie can’t take it anymore. 

  He climbs out of the pool, “Hey I’m gonna go grab some water, do you guys want anything?” 

  Nancy and Robin ask for water, and Steve goes to, but his voice comes out hoarse and crackly at first. 

  He flushes and turns to the side, clearing his throat, “Sorry, I don’t know what snfFf that was about. I could use a water I guess.” 

  Eddie nods, and dries off before popping inside. 

  He grabs them all water bottles, but he also grabs some pain relief meds for Steve from the bathroom, and a fresh box of tissues from under the counter. 

  He brings everything back out, and pulls a lounge chair up next to Steve, setting their waters and the supplies down on the little table next to them. 

  Steve turns to him blearily, “What’s all snrrff this?” 

  Eddie shrugs innocently, “I was just grabbing a few things is all.” 

  He tosses Robin and Nancy their waters, and they give him a grateful look when they see the tissues and medicine. 

  “I don’t snFF hh.. Need any of this stuff,” Steve protests weakly. 

  Eddie shrugs, “I didn’t say you did,” he presses a kiss to Steve’s temple, and frowns at the slight warmth he can feel radiating off him. 

  He lies down in his own chair, wanting to keep Steve company over here. He regrets bugging him about getting in the water now- it couldn’t have been good for this cold- but Steve is stupidly good at hiding this kind of thing when he wants to. 

  Eddie tries to ignore his guilt and focuses on making Steve as comfortable as his dumb boyfriend will let him. 

  Eddie notices Nancy and Robin are trying to keep the noise down without being too suspicious, and he gives them a thankful smile. 

  “You can.. Hh.. snf.. Go back in Eds,” Steve tells him, “You don’t have to sit out with sndff me.” 

  Eddie rolls his eyes, “What, only big strong jocks like you can work on your tan?” 

  Steve rolls his eyes right back, but leans back again, “Suite yo-hh.. Yourself.” 

  Eddie nudges the tissues over towards him as he watches Steve’s breath start to hitch. 

  He admires how hard he tries to fight it off, but Steve does eventually reach forward, desperately grabbing a handful of tissues. 

  “Hh-Hehh..hHHeiihh.. HeiHhTDSCHHhhhh.. Hh.. HMpTSCHhhh!!” Steve shakes his head a little, and seems to try again at reaisting the urge to sneeze. 

  He blinks up at the sky, his chest heaving dramatically as each breath comes out hitchy and desperate, “hh.. hhHh..hhh-n-no… hh-HeiTSCHHhH! HggTSSHCHHew!!.. Guhh…” 

  Steve sniffles, his expression dazed, and Eddie gives him a sympathetic look. 

  He’s about to search for a trash can for the used tissues, when Robin pops up beside him, “Here,” she passes him a small wastebasket she clearly ran in and grabbed from inside. 

  Eddie takes it and gives her a grateful look. 

  “Here you go Stevie,” he says, setting it down next to him, and Steve throws the tissues in it. 

  “Guys, come on. Stop looking all concerned, it was just snnRfff a few snffsnf sneezes.” 

  Eddie rolls his eyes, “If you say so love,” he passes him a handful of tissues anyways, “Come on, blow your nose.” 

  Steve looks like he’s going to protest, but Nancy shakes her head from over in the pool, “Steve, you used to be on the swim team- surely you know you’re going to get a sinus infection if you don’t get all that out of there now.” 

  Steve blinks at her. 

  “You know? From inhaling all that water?” 

  His eyes widen, “Oh right.. Well… yeah I guess,” he concedes, and turns off to the side a little to blow his nose. 

  He laughs under his breathe at how silly his boyfriend is being. 

  Robin rejoins Nancy in the pool, and Eddie turns to Steve, giving him a soft look. 

  “You know we all know you’re sick right?” 

  Steve sighs, “I know… I just wanted you guys to have a fun day… didn’t wanna sndfff ruin it..” 

  Eddie takes his hand and presses a kiss to it, giving him a serious look, “You’re not ruining anything. We want you to feel comfortable love. Just say the word and we can still have a fun day inside, on the couch.” 

  Steve huffs and shrugs, “Maybe in a little bit.” 

  Eddie sighs, but at least it’s something. 

  Steve does take the medicine at least, and after a while, Eddie looks over and sees his eyes are drooping. 

  He nearly just lets him rest here, but another breeze blows by and Steve shudders, and Eddie shakes his head. 

  “Okay, I’m gonna try and take him in now,” he tells Robin and Nancy, who nod. 

  Steve blinks blearily up at him, “Huh?” 

  Eddie shushes him, “Come on love, we’re going in now. I’m ready to get changed, how about you?” 

  Steve huffs, which makes him have to turn to the side to cough a little, “You don’t have to.” 

  Eddie raises a brow at him, “I hope you didn’t get water in your ears too babe,” he squeezes his hand where he’s still holding it, “I just said I was the one who wanted to get changed.” 

  Steve rolls his eyes, “Aright alright, fine.”

  Eddie grins triumphantly, and Nancy and Robin wave them off. 

  “Night Stevie,” Robin calls, and Steve gives her an odd look. 

  “It’s only like snnffsnf four o’clock in the snff afternoon?” 

  “So it is,” Robin agrees. 

  Eddie rolls his eyes and drags Steve towards the door, “Come on Steve, you know she’s basically right.” 

  Steve slumps a little, “I guess,” he turns back to Nancy, “Hey, make sure that loser doesn’t break my house okay?” He gestures at Robin, “But feel free to keep using the pool.” 

  Nancy gives him a thumbs up, and Robin sputters protests as they head inside. 

  ______

  Once they’re inside, Steve seems to crumple- his resolve to look put together falling apart now that it’s just the two of them. 

  He slumps into Eddie, who guides him upstairs towards the bathroom. 

  “Why’r we in here?”

  Eddie presses a few soft kisses along Steve’s face, “We need to take a shower before we sleep Stevie.”  

  Steve groans a little, and Eddie turns the shower on so it can start warming up. 

  “I know love, but that’s what you get for trying to keep this from me,” he chastised softly, helping Steve out of his clothes before shrugging his own off. 

  “I just snfff wanted you guys to have a snffsnrff good day,” Steve protests again. 

  “I know love,” Eddie runs a hand through Steve’s damp hair, “But we all care about you, we want you to be comfortable and happy more than we want to go swimming or anything else you get in that stubborn head of yours.”

  Eddie guides him into the shower, and they both rinse the chlorine off. 

  Steve starts sniffling almost immediately, and Eddie eventually just pinches him lightly. 

  “Babe, the whole point was to get the chlorine off and clear out some of your congestion. That’s not gonna happen if you don’t let it.” 

  So Steve lets the steam help loosen up his congestion and when they climb out he blows his nose. 

  At first he gives it a tiny, soft blow, but Eddie crosses his arms and gives him a look, and Steve just sighs and blows his nose properly. 

  He’s a little embarrassed about doing it in front of Eddie, but he just leans forward and kisses Steve on the top of his head. 

  Then he’s ushered into bed. 

  “Eddie,” he complains, “It really is only four o’clock.” 

  Eddie rolls his eyes, “One, it’s like five by now, and two, we don’t have to sleep, but I want you resting.” 

  Steve groans, but climbs in bed. 

  When Eddie joins him, he huffs, “You know, you really could snfff rejoin the girls downstairs?” 

  Eddie just lays his head down on Steve’s chest. 

  “Not another word out of you love, not unil you stop saying stupid stuff like that,” he cranes his head up and presses a kiss to Steve’s neck, “I’m right where I wanna be, okay.” 

  Steve huffs, but accepts this. 

  He’s asleep within half an hour. 

  Another fifteen or so minutes pass by, and Nancy sticks her head in the door. 

  She smiles softly at the sight of Steve curled up in bed, snoring softly. 

  She waves, and mouths ‘goodbye’ at him silently. 

  Eddie gives her a wave back and makes a heart with his hands, blowing platonic kisses at her, and then at Robin who is standing in the hall. 

  When Robin pokes her head in, she grins, “Aww, he’s such a dingus,” she says, nearly silently, and Nancy laughs a little. 

  Eddie makes a shooing gesture at them, and they wave one last time before they head out. 

  Eddie rests on Steve’s chest for a while, content to just lay here and know his boyfriend is comfortable and resting finally. He eventually drifts off to sleep as well. 

[nightingaelic]

Not a good idea, maybe, but still... NV Followers' reaction to how the Courier tells the follower that sometimes all their adventures seem like a kind of deathbed dream to them (a bullet in the head after all...)

Just know, anon, that I am strongly resisting the urge to go full Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara with every single one of these reactions.

"Maybe this is all just... me." The courier waved their hand through the scorching air, tracing the shimmering line of the horizon that sang false promises of water. "A mirage. An oasis in the desert that I can't quite reach, but my eyes keep telling me is there if I just walk far enough."

Their hand went to the scar on their forehead. "I don't know. The things I've seen, since Goodsprings... if I told them to half the people in the Mojave, they'd toss me in the same shack as No-bark. HELIOS One? The Burned Man, in the crispy flesh? Jason Bright and his followers? Hell, the Sierra Madre? How do I know I didn't actually bite the dust in that graveyard, and all of this is the work of the bullet Benny put in my noggin?"

Arcade Gannon: "I guess there isn't a very convincing way I can answer that question," Arcade admitted. "But the fact that I know exactly how close you came to dying could be some evidence to the contrary. I doubt you were walking around with much medical knowledge about cranial vulnus sclopetarium prior to encountering it firsthand."

The courier looked somewhat interested, so the researcher continued hesitantly. "Did that doctor who checked you out not explain what happened to your brain? It's honestly a miracle that you're still walking around."

"I might've been a little preoccupied with the shock of being awake," the courier admitted. "Here, show me."

They guided Arcade's hand to the wound site, which he felt gingerly, trying not to awaken any pain. "Okay, close, very close range, left side... trajectory was too high, so it missed the speech center... probably sustained the most damage in the frontal and parietal lobes... well that tracks, that would affect problem-solving skills and spatial relationships..."

"Arcade?"

"Mm-hm?"

The courier grinned. "Just keep talking to me in Latin and I'll stop caring whether I'm dead or not. It sounds nice."

Arcade blushed.

Craig Boone: "Mmm." Boone pondered the thought, but immediately felt the shadow of guilt fall over his shoulders. Had any of his targets felt that way as they lay dying? Had Carla? He tried to shake the feeling off before it reached his face.

The courier, for their part, didn't notice, or at least knew enough to pretend not to notice. "That snake Benny was using a handgun, too, and who knows what caliber," they said, looking off into the distance.

"Low," Boone offered.

"Come again?"

"The bullet," Boone clarified. "It's still in your head. Slow and small caliber, if you're not already dead from it."

"But I could already be dead from it."

"Nah."

The courier looked as though they wanted to probe further, but Boone straightened his sunglasses and walked past them, signaling that the conversation was over. Headshot wounds, hypotheticals, they weren't his strong suit, but he did know one thing: The orders he had followed and the lives he had ended were far too real to be the figment of some Mojave wastelander's imagination.

Lily Bowen: "Come now, dearie, you're giving your imagination too much credit." Lily patted the courier lightly on the shoulder. Well, as lightly as a nightkin could. "Grandma's seen many strange things too, ever since she left the vault behind."

The courier smiled. "Stranger than the ones I've seen? Like what?"

Lily made an ugly face. "I saw many things when working for the Master. Golden geckos in Klamath. Ghosts in Baja. The Master himself, with his brain in the computers and the computers in his brain."

"Eugh." The courier mimicked the face Lily was making. "One of those, huh? Always seemed unsanitary to me."

"Good things too," Lily went on wistfully. "I saw Marcus' first city, when it was big and full of people. Humans, but also super mutants, ghouls. How I would have liked to take Becky and Jimmy there."

Her voice faltered a little, remembering the grandchildren that had been lost, left behind long ago. The courier reached out and took her hand. "I'm here, Lily."

After the memory passed, Lily returned to her smiling self. "You are, pumpkin. We're here together."

Raul Alfonso Tejada: "I know how you feel, boss." Raul sighed. "There are plenty of things in my past that I can't help but question the authenticity of. All I can say is that after a while, you stop asking and just go along for the ride."

"Right." The courier crossed their arms. "I suppose it's not that different a mindset from becoming a ghoul. Time stretching on in front of you, no clear end in sight, no expectation there will ever be one."

"Eh." Raul shrugged. "That might just be a mindset of mine. I stopped worrying about dying a long time ago. Or maybe I was looking for it, but never managed to find it. Either way, time doesn't bother me the way it used to."

"But it still does?"

"Sí. Now I worry more that I'll forget the crazy things I've seen altogether, or that they don't mean anything."

The young courier looked like they weren't quite ready to ponder that possibility. They stood together in silence for a while, watching the horizon's haze.

"Should we keep going?" the courier finally asked, shouldering their pack.

"Desde luego."

Rose of Sharon Cassidy: "Sometimes I wonder the same thing," Cass replied with a nod. "Well, not the exact same thing, but somethin' similar. Plenty of times in my life, I've woken up in someone else's bed or on the floor of a bar and wondered if I actually survived the fight I was in the night before, or if I finally drank enough to make my heart stop. It's a strange feeling, but then someone douses me in water or slaps me too hard on the ass and the pain of the wakin' world creeps back in, little by little."

"Do you slap them back?" the courier joked, chuckling.

"Them and the world," Cass confirmed. "I always figured if I'd actually died in my sleep, why bother makin' up some desert full of sadness and sunburns to fill my time? Had enough of that in life, so I can't see my mind keepin' it around. Much rather conjure up a house by the beach somewhere, with a basement full of caps and enough booze to last me 'til the bombs fall again."

The courier eyed her mischievously. "Maybe you're in hell."

Cass held her canteen up. "Well then. To bein' stuck in hell with a true friend."

She drank, long and deep, and the courier retrieved their canteen to do the same.

Veronica Santangelo: "Oh, Six." Veronica's face filled with sympathy. "Is that really what you think about, when you're trying to sleep at night in the casino and Cass is snoring in the bed next to you?"

The courier blinked. "Cass snores?"

"How have you not noticed?" Veronica pulled her power fist off and flexed her fingers, re-stimulating her circulation as best she could. "Arcade said he wanted to trade with me, after Boone had his second night terror incident, but he changed his mind again after one night of her racket. At this point, I'm used to it. When she's not around, I have trouble sleeping, can you believe that? Brotherhood bunks really prepared me for the Lucky 38."

"No, I hadn't noticed." The courier sat down on a nearby rock and stretched their legs out. "I guess I haven't been there much, lately."

Veronica sat down next to them. "You know, the more often you're gone having adventures around the desert, the more crazy things you're going to see. People who rest on their laurels and stick to the Strip don't lie awake wondering if they actually died back when they choked on those buffalo gourd seeds at The Gourmand."

"Touché."

ED-E: The eyebot let out a few beeps of disagreement and rolled from side to side in mid-air, indicating as best it could that in its experience, being shot in the dome was a good method for scrambling circuitry but was actually terrible for fusing new connections. The courier laughed and reached out to rub the robot's side. "Thanks, buddy. Maybe I'm right, or maybe reality is just a weird place."

ED-E beeped its satisfaction and bounced forward as if chasing the mirage. The courier trailed after the eyebot, their giggles blowing out with the wind into the desert for all to hear.

Rex: The old cyberdog whined and licked its companion's hand, uncertain what they were asking. Any dreams the canine had were good ones, long runs over grassy plains and prey that was always a hair too slow. Life with the courier was good too, but full of many more dangers than a savannah dotted with rabbits and deer. The courier scratched the dog on his ruff affectionately, before continuing over the hot sand toward their destination. Rex followed behind, happy and panting.

[seasonsofeverlark]

Amazing and Corny

Author: @hutchhitched​

Prompt: Corn Maze [submitted by @sunsetsrmydreams​]

Rating: T

Summary: Stressed over classes, Katniss gives in when her friend Gale insists she join their group of friends at a corn maze. Somehow, she finds herself lost with Peeta, the golden boy she’s admired from afar since their freshman year of college. As a thunderstorm rumbles overhead, they find their way out of the maze and discover each other, too.

Author’s Note: Thanks to @mandelion82​ for the extra set of eyes.

____________

Katniss Everdeen looked around her, wondering how in the hell she’d been dragged along on what her best friend Gale Hawthorne insisted was an adventure. As far as she was concerned, this qualified as a misadventure more than anything else. She didn’t have time for this, anyway. Only six weeks left in the semester, and she was at a damn corn maze an hour from the middle of nowhere.

“I don’t know how I let you talk me into something so stupid,” she grumbled, but Gale just knocked his shoulder against hers and laughed.

“Oh, come on, Catnip,” he chided. “It’ll be fun. Besides, I hear a certain someone might make an appearance, and I know how tantalizing that can be for the young co-eds such as yourself.”

“Shut up,” she snapped and immediately blushed the same shade as the sugar maple across the road. Ducking her head to hide the distinctly scarlet hue her cheeks had flamed, she crossed her arms over her chest and shrunk in on herself. Besides, who talked like that? Apparently Gale when he was messing with her.

Peeta Mellark. That’s who Gale meant, and her stomach fluttered at the possibility he might attend the evening’s event. Peeta was friends with Delly Cartwright who knew Annie Cresta who dated Finnick Odair who was friends with Johanna Mason who her traitorous best friend happened to be dating. It was not her favorite relationship of his.

“Relax. He might not come. Anyway, it’s not like you’d talk to him if he was here. You haven’t managed to yet the entire time we’ve been on campus together.”

Katniss hung her head because Gale was right. Peeta seemed to be friends with everyone at Panem State, the mid-level public university in the Midwest she and her friends attended. Everyone, that was, but her. It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried. She’d run into him multiple times over the past two and a half years, but every time she clammed up, unable to speak and overwhelmed by his warmth. As far as she was concerned, Peeta Mellark was amazing. She adored his affable nature and the corny jokes he told. Her family always called them groaners, but he’d often joked he was practicing for when he became a dad. Peeta shone like the sun, and she paled in comparison.

And that made her feel even worse. Peeta had dad jokes, and Katniss quaked at the thought of future children. She wasn’t even 21 yet, and she didn’t understand the tendency of those around her who had baby fever. At least that was one thing Gale’s girlfriend had going for her. Johanna Mason didn’t seem to have a maternal bone in her body.

“But what if he does?” she mumbled and scuffed the toe of her shoe in the dust.

“Peeta?” At her nod, he sighed. “If he shows up, you might want to actually speak to him. At this point, it’s obvious you’re uncomfortable around him. He’s even asked the group if he did something to offend you.”

“He is offensive,” Katniss groused. “He’s too bright and shiny. Too nice. Too charming. I mean, give the rest of us a break. We can’t live up to his golden boy perfection.”

Gale rolled his eyes and looked over her shoulder. “Hey, Jo,” he called. “Delly, Peeta, Finn, Annie. Good to see you.”

Katniss’ stomach dropped to her feet. There was no way he hadn’t heard her. No possibility that Peeta Mellark hadn’t witnessed her confession that she thought his perfection was rivaled by none. How in the world could she play this off? She needed a place to hide. She was just about to bolt when Gale grabbed her forearm and tugged her against his side.

“Stay put,” he growled under his breath. “You avoiding him is ridiculous.”

Katniss elbowed him in the ribs, but he only acknowledged it with a barely audible grunt. Instead, he turned to his girlfriend and kissed her, which devolved into a filthy, open-mouthed, possibly pornographic grope fest that only ended because Finnick wolf whistled.

“Get a room! We’re here for the corn maze, not a tryst with a corn cob.”

“I don’t know. I think the corn might be jealous of Hawthorne’s cob,” Johanna retorted and turned her lascivious grin on Gale. “Later, lover,” she promised.

“Gross,” Katniss mumbled, and Peeta snorted. He hid his mouth and covered the chuckle with a cough, but his eyes sparkled mischievously when he glanced her way.

“Let’s go,” Finnick said, enthusiasm practically vibrating out of him as he led the way to the corn maze entrance. He purchased tickets for their group of seven and then tugged Annie into the maze. Katniss trudged along at the back of the group.

It didn’t take long for them to spread out, the couples drifting away from Katniss, Delly, and Peeta as the duos held hands and snuggled together. Delly and Peeta chatted companionably, while Katniss glowered and tried not to feel like a third wheel. Peeta attempted to engage her a few times, but she brushed off his efforts and stopped paying attention until they were fairly deep into the maze.

“Uh, Delly, do you have any idea where we are?” Peeta asked, shocking Katniss out of her stupor.

The night had cooled, humidity and the threat of rain making the air seem colder than it should. Katniss glanced upward and blanched at roiling clouds and lazy lightning sparking in the atmosphere. She shivered involuntarily and shifted closer to the other two.

“Not a clue,” Delly answered cheerfully. “Let’s try this way.” With that, she was off, leaving Peeta and Katniss in her wake. They stood together in semi-stunned silence before Peeta turned to her with a sheepish expression.

“Well, alone at last,” he said in an attempted joke that fell flat.

“We need better friends,” Katniss sighed. “The whole lot of them are terrible people.”

Amused, Peeta returned, “I feel like that says something about us, that we’d both choose crappy friends and allow them to, first, talk us into a corn maze on the night of a predicted thunderstorm during a really busy time in the semester and, second, abandon us like this. It feels like a plot to a bad horror film or something.”

“Horror or Hallmark?”

Peeta ran a hand down the back of his neck nervously and cocked his head. “What do you mean by Hallmark?”

“Oh, you know. Those corny movies where a woman goes back to her hometown and reconnects with some hot guy who convinces her the country is more wholesome than the city and she forgets all about her job and friends and the life she’s built for herself,” Katniss explained. “They always make me so mad. Like the female lead isn’t smart enough to have made decisions for herself, and she has to be saved by the noble, hot stranger who’s got it all figured out. It’s mansplaining at its finest.”

“What if the guy’s right?”

“Why? Because he’s hot and feels an inordinate desire to protect a woman who doesn’t need his help? If anyone ever tried that with me…” Katniss trailed into silence, unsure what the rest of her threat actually was. It wasn’t like she didn’t appreciate help; she just wanted help from someone who understood she could do it by herself, even if that wasn’t necessary.

Peeta studied her carefully, his expression unreadable, and she wondered if she’d offended him, somehow. He licked his lips and tugged the collar of his jacket up under his ears before speaking.

“Well, that explains some things.”

She bristled immediately. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean,” he sighed, clearly dejected, “it makes more sense why you haven’t given me the time of day the past two years.”

Katniss gaped at him, completely taken aback at this statement. It took her a second to form a coherent thought, but she finally managed to stammer, “Wh-what?”

Peeta’s mouth twisted into an expression of misery. “You seem to hate me, and I have no idea why.”

Flustered, she blurted, “How does that have anything to do with hot guys from small towns? I— You’re— Yeah, hot. You really are, but… I’m so lost.”

Peeta flushed, his cheeks flaming red, and he stubbed his toe into the ground and refused to look at her. “It doesn’t matter,” he mumbled. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“Brought—?” Katniss stopped herself and held up her hands in surrender. Gently, she prodded, “Peeta? What are you saying?”

He shook his head and hunched his shoulders, shielding against the chilly weather and his disappointment. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to be that guy,” he whispered.

“What guy?” she asked, using every ounce of her strength to quell her frustration.

He lifted tortured eyes and answered softly, “The guy that seems to think he’s entitled to a girl’s attention. The one that mansplains. The one who takes over the room when he walks in. I’ve never intended to do that, but you’ve always shied away from the popular crowd. You have every right to ignore me if you want. I didn’t mean to imply that you owe anything to me.”

“Oh,” she breathed. “Oh, that makes way more sense than… Well, than anything I was thinking.”

Curious, he asked tentatively, “What were you thinking?”

“I was trying to figure out how you were the hot, small-town guy luring me away from the city,” she laughed, and he grinned a little.

“Well, you did say I was hot.”

“You are hot,” she sputtered. Peeta coughed to cover a pleased smirk. His response was so soft, she almost missed it.

“Thank you.”

“I wouldn’t ever try to insinuate you weren’t smart enough to make your own decisions.”

The tips of his ears burned red, which she thought was about the cutest thing she’d ever seen. She opened her mouth to speak when her phone interrupted them. Grimacing, she tugged it from her pocket and glanced at the screen.

“Oh, hell,” she muttered.

“What?”

“Gale,” she offered in explanation. “He wants to know where we are.”

“We’re in the corn maze. Where else would we be? Is everybody else done or something?”

She nodded to affirm. “They’re all waiting at the picnic tables. Even Delly’s there. They have cider.”

They glanced around them and realized they still had no idea where they were. Katniss hadn’t been paying attention as they wound into the maze, and Peeta had clearly followed Delly’s direction. In short, they were lost. Katniss glanced upward, as a few fat drops of rain spattered around them.

“Would it be corny to say I’d rather be lost in here with you than anyone else?” Peeta asked, his lips quirked into a crooked grin.

“Oh, I don’t know. There’s a crop of freshmen on campus. Wouldn’t you rather be with one of them?”

Peeta’s eyes twinkled. “Punny.”

“Same to you.”

“You’re amazing,” he laughed, and they grinned at each other, content to joke about their predicament. Seconds later, the sky opened, lightning flashed, and they both jumped. “We need to get out of here.”

Katniss extended her hand to him. “Together?”

“Together,” he agreed as he took her hand.

They walked quickly then, alternating right turns with lefts until they began to see a pattern. Corn stalks guided their way as they wound through the maze, hopeful they were on the right track, as rain poured from the heavens. Soaking wet, they clung to each other, a lifeline in their confusion. They hadn’t seen anyone else for several minutes, and Katniss started to shake—from cold, anxiety, and frustration.

“It’s going to be okay,” Peeta assured her. Letting go of her hand, he shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. When she protested, he insisted. “I’m all right.”

“I thought you trusted me to make my own decisions,” she retorted, but her clacking teeth and shivers undermined her argument.

He wrapped his arm around her and guided them down another corridor. “I do. I promise, but your sense of direction is as terrible as mine. Let’s get out of here, and then you can go back to resisting my advances.”

“Have you been making advances?” she asked, curious.

“Since the moment I saw you across the room. You have no idea the effect you have on me.”

She’d have to ponder that once they’d escape the maze. She was too cold, too disoriented, and too woozy from the heat of his jacket and arm curled around her. The stress of the semester had been weighing on her more than she’d thought, and there was something really compelling about allowing someone else to take charge.

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you,” Peeta sputtered as they rounded another corner and spied the flags marking the maze exits. His curls were plastered to his head in dark blonde waves, and he looked absolutely miserable in his soaking wet navy blue Henley and dark washed jeans.

“Wait,” she pleaded. “Wait.”

Peeta stopped immediately and turned questioning eyes to meet hers. His willingness to take her seriously without question made her smile. “What’s up?” he asked, rubbing her arms to warm her.

Katniss reached for him, grabbing his sopping shirt and tugging him to her. Their lips met as thunder rumbled above them, and she leaned into his heat. He wrapped his arms around her, cradling her to him and increasing the pressure of his mouth on hers. They stood there, tangled together, until an echoing boom of thunder shook them apart.

“Electrifying,” he murmured as lightning flashed.

Katniss giggled and burrowed into his chest. “Such a dad joke.”

“They’re coming out my ears.”

“No. Stop. That was terrible.”

“I can’t help it. They just pop up when I least expect them.”

“So corny,” she grinned.

“So amazing,” he corrected and grabbed her hand. “Let’s get out of her, ditch our friends, and get to know each other.”

Katniss nodded. At the moment, there was nothing she wanted more.

[slashingdisneypasta]

Edward Nygma (Pre Riddler) x Fem!Reader || Oneshot

Title: Blind Double Date

Plot: 

You and your friend Mia have decided to have a sort of blind double date thing together where you find a date for her and she finds one for you. You’ve decided to ask Ed; The harmless, cute forensics guy at work.

Warnings: FULL FLUFF

~~~

“Good morning Ed!” As you walk into the forensics lab, you quickly find your target in the corner eating his breakfast with gloves and his goggles on. An amused smile struggles to find its place on your mouth but you try to hide it- funny guy, Ed is.

But that doesn’t mean theirs anything wrong with him. You honestly have never understood why anyone would bully him- all he does is his job! And he bares riddles, too! What’s not to appreciate? You happen to like listening to his riddles and giving them a go, even if most of the time the answer evades you. It still tickles you when he tells you, and it makes him happy to get to ask them, too.

Plus, he isn’t bad to look at, and he’s very sweet.

Which is why you’ve chosen him to ask as Mia’s date tonight. Yes tonight. You’ve left it, in pure homework-style, to the last minute to find a guy and ask him. But you’re pretty sure she’s done the same thing, so you don’t feel too bad. You just hope you can butter Ed up enough that he says yes!

“Good morning Miss L/N.” Ed smiles, giving a little waive as he sets his McMuffin back down on a little plate of glad wrap on the corner bench so he can talk to you.

You’re aware of his unfortunate feelings for Kristen -unfortunate because she doesn’t share these feelings, -, which of course could prove an obstacle… but like you said! You plan to butter him up plenty before popping the question. “Any riddles today?”

He beams. “Yes, I do, in fact. Would you like to hear it?”

“’Course!”

“If you drop me, I’m sure to crack. But, smile at me and I’ll be sure to smile back. What am I?”

With only a moment of thought, you set your fists on your hips and peer up at him with a good, humoured stink eye, squaring up to the beanpole. “Ed, are you dumbing down your riddles for me? A mirror!” A tiny grin tugs at the corners on his mouth, avoiding eye contact with you.

“Figured you prefer to get them right.”

“Psh.” You roll your eyes, grin stretching into something wider. Then you cross your arms and lean forward. “I have one for you, now.”

“Oh, really?” He looks a little excited, and its adorable especially behind the goggles he’s still wearing. You resist the urge to giggle, though, and nod. “Fire away, then.”

“Okay, hold on, let me remember.” Pausing a moment, you look at the counter to remember the words. You have to get this right, to provide the perfect jumping off point for asking him out. “Okay, you see a boat filled with people, yet there isn’t a single person on the boat. How is it possible?”

Ed’s eyes shine and you know he’s heard it before; His eye sonly look like that when he’s about to give the right answer and feel smart doing it. Taking off the goggles and replacing his glasses over his eyes, he grins. “All the people are married couples.”

“Exactly, and Ed! Wouldn’t you like to be one of those people?” I’m going for it. No need to be shy- shoot your shot like a used car salesperson.

Immediately, the forensics guy looks completely flabbergasted and he stutters like he really is confused, for once. “What- what??”

Having the humility and poise to look a little moor mellow, you lean my lower back on one of the benches stretching across the wall and focus on the table in the middle of the room. You’ve seen many, many dead bodies on this table. “Well, my friend Mia and I are setting up a sort of… blind double date, I guess. She’s finding someone for me, and I’m looking for a guy for her and we’re gonna go out as a group. Safer than online dating, right? Well I was looking around the precinct for a guy, and… “ Turning to look across your shoulder and up at Ed, who looks curious but still hesitant-and ready to be more hesitant, - , you set him with a mischievous look. “Ed. Edward.”

“This doesn’t sound like a good idea… “He starts to refuse, looking away from you and back at his McMuffin, but you’re not giving up that easily. You haven’t put all your cards down on the table yet! But still, you don’t want to make him uncomfortable because you know this isn’t his thing, so you force yourself to stay in one spot and not look too desperate. Which, quite honestly, you are. The date is tonight!! You’ll end up having to take Harvey, and as sexy as he is, he isn’t your friend’s type.

“Ed, you’re perfect! Safe, for one; You’re a sweetie. And that’s not something I can for sure say about whoever Mia’s got for me- she works at the paper. And Mia loves riddles!” Well, ‘love’ might be a stretch, but she does have an appreciation for them like you. “And you’re the best-looking guy in the precinct.”

That seems to shock him, and he looks up again to blink behind his glasses. “What?”

“Well, yeah.” You shrug; Is it a secret? Dark hair, dark eyes, tall- what is not to like, here? “I mean, you’re on parr with Gordon, but that guy’s damn near married!” You grin, biting your bottom lip as you continue to look across the room rather then at Ed- but then turn and wink at him. “Besides, I like you better. Would much rather spend a night hanging with you then with Jimmy, he’s a bit of a workaholic you know?” Smiling genuinely, you give him an almost-awkward thumb up.

“Uhh… “Hesitant and full-awkward, Ed actually looks to be thinking about it now, looking away from your gaze once again. You don’t mind if he doesn’t keep eye contact- makes you feel like you’re being interrogated when the cops around here do that. Very weird. “I’m- I’m not sure. I’m not… very good… with the opposite sex… “

“You’re great with me!” You exclaim encouragingly, watching a tiny flicker of a grin pass over his lips as he looks down at the ground. “Come on, I’ll be there with you the whole time. Unless of course my date goes really well,” He looks up and you wink, grinning cheekily. Then an idea occurs to you, and you gasp. “I’ll even come over a bit early and help you prepare!”

Letting him think to himself for a couple minutes while you get out your phone and check for messages and periodically watch the door for other cops and forensics people. Finally, Ed lets out a deep breath and turns to face you again. You hold your breath, chewing on your bottom lip. “… Okay. I’ll go with you and Mia on this date. But you have to come over before.”

You let out a relieved breath. “Thank you, Ed! Sure thing. I’ll see you at yours at 6, the dates at 7. I’ll get your information outta the database- thank you so much Ed!” With a quick hug, and one last smile, you leave him back to his breakfast. “Enjoy your brecky and have a good day Ed! See ya!”

Ed just smiles a little smile, watching you leave before switching his glasses for the goggles again and goes to continue his breakfast. “I wonder… did I say yes for the right reasons?”

Through the corner of his eye, he catches his reflection grin smugly and shake his head.

He tries to ignore it.

~~~TIME SKIP: Later that day, at Ed’s apartment~~~

When Ed had answered the door in a plain t-shirt and sweat pants, you had been worried for half a second that he had changed his mind and that you had forced him to say yes to something he didn’t want to do, but then he quickly explained that he didn’t know what to wear.

Which was such an easy issue to remedy!

“There!” You exclaim when he comes out of the bathroom in the outfit you two came to an agreement on. You’re sitting on the end of his bed, munching on pretzels and smile encouragingly at your friend. “You clean up even nicer, Ed.”

“Thank you… “Grinning with pride, like a bird ruffling his feathers, Ed looks once more at his reflection and flattens out his emerald tie-his favourite colour, as you’ve come to realise. Its all over his apartment, and his wardrobe, - then he comes over to sit beside you and tie up his shoes. “Uh- Miss L/N, question? If you don’t mind.”

Swallowing 3 more little pretzels and picking out 2 more, eating like a marathon runner… if by running one meant eating. “Fire away.” Still bent over his knees tying up his laces, Ed does so.

“Why are you eating? I thought we were meeting up with the others for dinner.”

Waiting to finish the latest 2 pretzels, you cover your mouth and look embarrassed as you chew away quickly so you can reply. When you’re done, you laugh nervously and set the bag down in your lap. “Oh. Haha. I don’t want y’all to see me gorging myself when we’re out. Also, if I’m too full when I’m there to buy an actual meal, I save money on a potentially terrible date by just buying a bowl of chips or something. On the 3rd date, I might buy myself a proper meal.”

Ed sits up, setting his hands on his knees. “I don’t think anyone would mind seeing you eat properly, Miss L/N.”

“Uh… yeah, I don’t really think so either… Hah, but, I’m still a lil’ insecure you know?” Its nothing to be embarrassed about- you’re insecure! Everyone is about something. Besides, Ed’s easy to talk to. You know he wont judge you. Picking out another pretzel, you pop it in your mouth and enjoy the salty taste, offering Ed the bag in case he wants some.

“Oh, thank you.” He’s temporarily distracted from your confession by the snack, making your grin at how cute he is as he politely takes a singular pretzel. For a moment, you two just sit there and eat in companionable silence, and its nice. You look at him for a second, in his date pants and sweater, before looking around his apartment. Its pretty nice, you have to say. A little grungy looking, but in a fashionable way unlike the rest of Gotham. You can imagine the sporadic helicopter search lights that are normal in Gotham city probably look really cool flashing in through the full wall of windows. “Well I have leftover potatoes from my dinner last night that I could have now,” Ed finally wonders out loud, and when you look at him he’s ready to get up and go get them. Quickly, you put a hand on his arm to stop him, causing him to look over at you and wait for an explanation.

“Oh, Ed! No, I didn’t mean you had to as well!”

“But if it’s considered impolite to eat on a first date- “

“No! Ed, that’s just my silly thing. Mia and the other guy’ll eat like King’s. I promise you.” Encouragingly, and half apologetically, you squeeze his arm. “You need to eat a proper meal. As your friend, I won’t have it any other way.” You say the last part sternly.

“Hah. Well in that case I have to insist that you, Miss Y/N, have the same.”

Your jaw drops when Ed takes your bag of pretzels, zips it up again and gets up to put them away in the kitchen. Watching with wide eyes and a disbelieving smile on your face, you see him use his height as a weapon, get on his tip toes and put the bag away in the back of a top shelf. When he turns around, he grins evilly at you. You throw one right back at him, albeit less superior and put your fists on your hips. “Edward Nygma!”

He finds his place sitting next you again, this time a little closer and facing you, leaning on his hands that are on the bed between you so he’s sort of leaning toward you as well. For a second, you suffer a small heart fluttering stroke, but quickly push it aside and sigh in surrender, rolling your eyes. You look forward again, then turn back and smile at him.

“Do you have another riddle for me before we get going?”

Maybe you’re putting off leaving this apartment. A little.

His eyes shine, like they always do when you ask him for a riddle. “Of course, I do. What question can you never say yes to?”

“Ed!” You exclaim immediately, exasperated. “Another easy one! We’re gonna have to have a conversation about my IQ, sir. I assure you it’s larger than what you give me credit for.”

“I don’t doubt that Miss L/N.” He smiles, a bit bigger than his usual little grin. “I just like how happy you get when you can answer a riddle correctly- Don’t worry, I’ll adjust my criteria for riddles for you to make them more challenging from now on.”

How… how can he be so bluntly sweet and not even realise it?

Sighing deeply in frustration at yourself, you look away from Ed’s handsome, sweet, smart self and momentarily hate yourself. Sorry Mia. I can’t do this. “Oh Ed… I’ve made an awful mistake.”

“Oh?” He adjusts his glasses, confused. “About what?”

“Uhh… “Time to escape!! Go home!! Contemplate your total and utter hopelessness and misery on your own, Y/N! You get up from the bed and pick up your bag and your coat, backing up to the door out of Ed’s apartment. He gets up to follow you, but you hold out a hand and gesture for him to sit back down. “I just can’t go out tonight. I have, uh, cramps. So, um… I’m really sorry for ruining your night!” Bumping into the door, you whip your head around to look at it and flash a nervous smile back at Ed before turning to it. “So sorry… “What is wrong with you, Y/N?

“Miss L/N!”

Before you know it, Ed’s crossed the room and basically trapped you between him and the door. For a second, apology and nerves cross his features but then he moves on. “Miss L/N, are you okay? I, I can make you some herbal tea to help soothe- “

“No, no, Ed, its okay. I just need to sleep- “

“Y/N.” His eyes darken unbelievably for a second and the forceful way his voice bends around your name, your first name, causes you to stop talking and look properly at him again, waiting for what he has to say. As quickly as that dark, forceful look came, it gone again though and Ed drops his forward a bit as if exhausted. “Miss L/N forgive me for my vigour. Um, I just… I wanted to say… uh, before you leave, that um, uh, I… “Your heart lifts as he stutters through gibberish, and you tilt your head to side to try and see his face. “I want to admit something.”

You’re nervous about what he’s going to say. “You don’t have to… “

“I disagree. Um,” He looks up at you again finally, and you see shyness in his eyes, but determination also. “I want to admit, to you, that… my reasons for agreeing to go on this date, were uh… biased. I have little to no interest in your friend Mia, I’m sorry. I just wanted to spend more time with you.”

Eyes widening slightly, you watch Ed look down again and take his hands off the wall on either side of your head, letting them sit stiffly at his sides as he looks idly around the room as he waits for a response. Because of this, he misses the way your lips turn up in a smile. Relief washes over you, and happiness. He likes you, too!

“Uh, Ed?” You whisper, leaning back on the door now. You’re not leaving. “Look at me?”

“Yes?” He looks at you again, finding your eyes and your smile and breathing in deeply at the sight, surprised. Relieved.

After a moment, you give in to the urges that have only become stronger today then they ever were before - in fact, before today you didn’t even know they were there. But now you can safely identify all those weird smile you couldn’t help when you looked at the forensics guy, - , you pull him gently closer to you and lean up, kissing him gently on the lips.

Almost instantly, this boy presses closer so you’re on the door again between it and his, kissing you back tenderly so when you stop, there are bright beams on both your faces. Grinning, you adjust your grip on his sweater. “I think you're going to have to start calling me Y/N, now.” 

“Yeah, that would be appropriate, wouldn't it?” Then Ed’s eyes widen. “I should make you the herbal tea. Your cramps.”

Lying very transparently, you bite the inside of your cheek guilty and tell him “They’re cured.”.

“This is going to be awkward for you to explain to your friend.”

“She’ll live.”

“Do you want to watch some TV with me then?”

“I’d love to.”  

[seasami]

Fanfiction Rec

Larry Fic Rec -- random fics cause I don’t categorize and I have no recollection of when I read them so I can’t name this [Month] fic rec BUT by the end of May I’ll do a May Favourites or smh like that cause I figured it’ll be best to sort by months from now on since im not a fic rec page -- just a fanfiction enthusiast. 

NOTE: I”LL WORK ON FORM OF THOSE RECS I PROMISE IT WON’T LOOK THIS SCRATCHY NEXT TIME (and I’ll add authors although you can find them when you click the link) ALSO a word count maybe? 

GIVE ME YOUR FEEDBACK

✰ i put star emoji next to my personal favs

ANYWAYS:

a house built out of stone

Summary: Louis has a used bookshop and Harry has a habit of claiming things that don't belong to him.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/698268

Amazing Sin

Summary: Gears started turning in Louis’ head. Purely mischievous gears that had Louis formulating a revenge plan against Taylor. He’d had enough of sitting around and taking it. If she was going to call him a whore, then fine, he’ll act like one for real. “I’m going to say something, and as my friends you are obligated to love me anyway.”

“This can’t be good,” Niall said, Zayn just groaned.

“So I know we have this strict ‘no lashing back at Taylor’ rule with me, but what if I can get press revenge a different way?” Louis asked. He wasn’t expecting an answer, because they knew by now to just go with it. “What if I stole her boyfriend?”

Or, the story of Louis ‘Steal Your Man’ Tomlinson.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/4133700?view_full_work=true

be with you day and night

Summary: “Maybe not,” Ed pipes up. “This sounds weird but I have a friend who might be able to help you.”

“Is it a priest? I think an exorcism is the only option here, mate.”

“Right, so like, remember my kitten Graham?” At everyone’s nods, he continues, “Well when I got him he was a bit of a prick. He was just scared, but he wasn’t very pleasant to be around. So my friend Harry comes around one day to hang out and he just, like, bonds with him. After an hour he had him snuggling in his lap. He’s going to school to be a vet I think, and he volunteers in an animal shelter so he’s got lots of experience I guess. But anyway, he developed a bit of a reputation after that and now everyone calls him the Cat Whisperer.”

“You have a friend everyone calls the Cat Whisperer,” Louis says, “And you’ve neglected to tell me this until now.”

[louis inherits a demon cat. harry is a cat whisperer.]

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/3402962

Buried Like Treasure ✰

Summary: Prince Harry Styles is very private. He chooses to keep himself out of the public eye but feels lonely and isolated while surrounded by people in his hectic royal life. When he finishes his dissertation, he decides to take a solo holiday to one of the royal family's properties in the Swiss Alps.

Semi-retired thief Louis Tomlinson has been pulled in for one last job: steal a painting from an uninhabited mansion. Neither one of them expects a natural disaster.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/13900422/chapters/31988364

I’d Still Dance With You

Summary: “Liam, if you met someone that you really liked, would age matter?” Louis asked.

“I suppose so; to a point, anyway.”

“Like, how young would you go?”

Liam thought it over. “Uh… I don’t know. Like, 24?”

Louis groaned and dropped his head in his hands.

“Why? How old is this guy you like?”

“Twenty-one,” Louis muttered.

“Hang on. He’s 21, and you’re… what? Twenty-eight?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow. Um… well, OK. That’s a, uh, that’s a gap.”

---

Or, the 21/28 age difference fic where Harry is younger than Louis thought he was, and even though Louis’ head is telling him not to pursue anything, his heart doesn’t seem to agree.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/14007420?view_full_work=true

Like and Endless Summer ✰

Summary: “You just wanna go fawn over Styles as soon as possible,” Zayn grumbles.

“I do not. Plus, he probably got ugly this year. Eighteen is an awkward time...I bet he’s got acne and one of those terrible fuckboy haircuts all the hipsters are getting these days, with the shaved sides? Just watch, the first year we’re gonna get any time together is gonna be the first year I don’t have a stupid crush on him.”

---

Or, Louis is a riding instructor at a summer camp, and Harry is a fellow counselor who he’s been successfully managing his crush on for the last two summers. That is, until Harry shows up this year leveled up and lethal, and all Louis’s formerly perfected veneer of nonchalance melts like a popsicle in the sun.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/11365494/chapters/25442085

like cabbages and kings ✰

Summary: When Louis was a kid, he had a series of very vivid dreams about a place called Wonderland. There were rabbits wearing waistcoats and talking cats and ridiculous tea parties, and amidst all the absurdity, there was a boy. A boy with dimples, big green eyes and the sweetest soul Louis has ever known. Louis has always kept a place in his heart for that boy and for his funny dreamworld, and when he’s twenty-five and his life falls apart, it turns out Wonderland might not be so imaginary after all.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/14623110?view_full_work=true

Mute

Summary: How is love supposed to speak, when one can’t even choke out the words?

Louis’ life was a joke through his witty words.

Harry’s life was a joke through his lack of words.

Louis was classed as a normal child; mentally and physically.

Harry was classed as an abnormal child; mentally and physically.

Louis could speak.

Harry could not.

Harry had progressive mutism.

Louis did not.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/635935?view_full_work=true

The Moments When My Good Times Start to Fade

Summary: Where Harry is a flower child who works in a bakery and Louis is a guitarist who has no idea what it is he wants.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/765148

[daisylincs]

What about 14/23+54 for staticquake? Please and thank you. 😊

14 = Bodyguard AU, 23 = Performer AU and 54 = Secret Relationship.

Once again thank you to Grace for the wonderful prompt!! In fact, it was SO wonderful I got totally carried away, and wrote this monster of a bullet point-fic. I would say sorry, but I enjoyed myself far too much. Ah, well. I hope you like it, too! 

Lincoln is an Ed Sheeran-level singer-songwriter who fell in with a bad group - but, kudos to him, managed to get away from them. Problem is, now he's in quite a lot of danger because of it. 

But, being totally stubborn and unreasonable, and above all a musician, Lincoln flatly refuses to give up on his performances.

Mack, his manager, throws up his hands but knows there's no point in arguing (he has learned the hard way that it will get him. literally. nowhere.) 

So he compromises: Lincoln gets to go on giving performances IF he agrees to have a bodyguard with him at all times.) 

Lincoln hates the idea - "I'm not a baby, Mack, I can take care of myself, and also there's NO WAY I'm letting some musclebound goon ruin my shows by standing there glaring all the time." 

Mack gets a little smirk on his face at this point that has Lincoln thinking, oh dear. "Don't worry," Mack says, "I know just what to do." 

And Lincoln really doesn't like the look of that smirk - Mack only ever wears it when he has A Plan™.

But he figures, best not to complain now - he can always fire the musclebound goon tomorrow, and anyway the muse is a very flighty thing so he has way better things to be doing. 

The next day, Lincoln goes into his office fully expecting to meet, well, a musclebound goon. Instead, he finds a pretty girl perched on his desk making notes on her phone. 

At first, he thinks she's lost, and being way too nice for his own good, he tries to help her find where she's actually going. 

Only… "Oh, no," she says with a cheerful smile, "I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be." 

"No, no," he says, still nice because she's quite pretty, even if she is in totally the wrong place. "This is a private office, actually." 

She hums her agreement - "nice decor, too." 

Lincoln is getting kind of annoyed now, because pretty or no, she's wasting his time. "You don't understand," he says. "This is Lincoln Campbell's office. I'm supposed to be meeting my new bodyguard here." 

The woman gives him a cheeky grin. "I know," she says. "Pleased to meet you." 

Lincoln's jaw drops practically to the floor as he finally gets it. "Wait… you're my new bodyguard?" 

"Daisy Johnson," she says with an exaggerated bow. "Graduated from May's academy with highest honours. I also have a degree in computer science, and by the way, your security system is crap." 

And, much as he doesn't want to be, Lincoln is impressed. Really impressed. She's only been here, what, fifteen minutes, and she's already hacked his security system? 

Also, a graduate of May's Academy? He knows next to nothing about the bodyguarding business, but… wow. 

And as he quickly learns, she's every bit as stubborn as he is. More, probably. If he doesn't want protection, well then that's too bad for him, she's here whether he likes it or not. 

After just one morning, he's already thinking that if he has to be stuck with a bodyguard following him around 24/7, he's glad it's Daisy. 

Days pass, and they get more comfortable with each other, falling into a routine that's almost friendly. He sleeps in, she mocks him for it as she wakes him up with coffee. After breakfast, he goes to the piano, while she improves some tiny feature of their now incredibly sophisticated security system. If it's a show day, or if he's meeting fans, they'll head out to the car together. Daisy has made her routine bug sweep into a kind of game, being unbelievably dramatic about flinging open the doors and declaring them "clear!" before bowing him into the car. 

During the drive, they chat about everything and anything (Daisy is hilarious, and her stories about the family she found at May's are the best. He feels like he knows Fitz and Jemma personally, and wants to smash their oblivious faces together as much as Daisy does.)

 When they get back from whatever show or interview he finished (or after a morning of song-writing), they like to play board games together. Daisy is insanely good at battleships, but he always beats her at backgammon. 

And Lincoln never, ever thought he'd say this, but he really likes his bodyguard. Impossible as it would have seemed to him a few weeks ago, she's become his friend. 

(It helps that she's not some musclebound goon, after all.) 

Which, great as it is, is also kind of a problem. 

Daisy is the furthest thing from a musclebound goon… because she's really, really pretty. 

And smart. And funny. And all-around just a great person. Honestly, could you even blame him for crushing on her? 

Luckily, Daisy hasn't noticed. (He thinks.) And he intends to keep it that way - he is NOT willing to lose his friend over the shitshow that is gossip tabloids. He knows that if the press gets even a hint of something between them, it's tickets for them. 

So, no, he's not willing to risk even thinking about his crush too much. 

Too bad Daisy seems determined to make him think about it as much as possible. 

"I'm bored," she informs him for the fiftieth time that afternoon. 

"That's just because you're losing in backgammon," he points out, also for the fiftieth time. 

She rolls her eyes. "No, I want to do something." Then her eyes light up with what can only be a really terrible idea. "I've got it! Come spar with me in the gym." 

"No!" There's no way he's going to agree to spar with her - seeing her in workout clothes every morning makes it hard enough to stay in his self-imposed friendzone, he isn't going to go making it WORSE by doing something as physical as sparring with her. 

"Pleeeeeaaaaaase?" 

That's the thing about Daisy - once she has hold of an idea, she will not let it go. And she'll resort to any means to get him to agree, even the hugely unfair advantage of puppy eyes. 

"Fine," he sighs, and the way her whole face lights up makes him think maybe it's worth going through the torture of a whole sparring session. 

He reconsiders that as soon as he's actually there. Daisy in full-on sparring mode is a whole new kind of beautiful - eyes shining, grinning hugely between panting breaths, curls loose and tangled around her face. She looks so alive, and God, he has never been more smitten. 

She kicks his ass. 

Twice. 

And on the third time she pins him, she huffs and goes, "I know you can do better than that." 

"Sorry," he says, trying his best not to dwell on the fact that she is currently lying on top of him. "You're just really distracting."

Shiiiit, he thinks, cursing himself immediately. Why, why, why did he say that? 

But Daisy's gaze simultaneously softens and turns mischievous. "Is that so?" she asks, leaning forwards so her curls are tickling his face. 

He has to catch his breath, because when she's leaning over like this her lips are suddenly really close to his. And also, did she just flirt with him, a little? 

He shifts his head a little, trying to ignore how this brings her lips even closer. "C'mon," he says. "You know you're really pretty." 

She raises her eyebrows. "Is that all?" 

"Of course not," he says. "You're smart, and kind, and funny, and badass. Daisy, you're… you're brilliant." 

He doesn't know how the mood turned from playful to so sincere, but he does know he means every word. 

And Daisy knows it too. Her eyes soften, and before he quite realises what's happening, she leans down and kisses him. 

He kisses her back, of course he does. And when they break apart, he sees his own feeling of oh-God-what-did-we-just-do reflected in her eyes. 

They look at each other for a long moment… and without having to say a word, they agree to leave the questions and worrying for later, and for now, let themselves just feel. 

And, well, they do. 

The next morning, Lincoln wakes up happier than he can remember being in a long time. Daisy is stretched out next to him, the sunlight painting her skin gold. 

It has to be the first time in history he's up before she is, and all he can think is how beautiful she looks. 

She wakes up, too, shooting him a sleepy smile that has his insides doing funny things, and for a few precious minutes they just bask in the warmth of the moment. 

But all too soon, reality comes crashing back. 

"I'm your bodyguard," Daisy says, scrambling out of bed with a look of dawning horror on her face. "This breaks every rule in the book, I can't do this." 

"I'm so sorry," she adds quietly, giving him a stricken look as she's halfway out of his room. "You deserve so much better, I should never have done this." 

"Okay, first of all, I was hardly an unwilling participant," he says, and her lips quirk up despite everything. "Second of all - I've been torturing myself for weeks trying to tell myself I'd get over it, but I really like you, Daisy. And I know better than anyone how impossible this seems - believe me, I've analysed every corner of it - but I can't let you go." 

She looks like she might still walk away, but she hesitates just inside the door. "What do you want to do?" she asks quietly. 

And it's crazy, and it's stupid, but he says it. Secret relationship. 

Daisy stands in the doorway, biting her lip, but slowly, she starts to grin. 

And that's how they start dating in secret. 

The funny thing is, their lives don't even change all that much. They still share a coffee in the morning, chat in the car and play board games in the afternoon. They still make each other laugh like crazy and get along like a house on fire.

 The only real difference is that he can kiss her whenever he feels like it, provided no-one's watching. That, he thinks, is the best difference he could ever have hoped for. 

They just need to be very careful not to get caught kissing. 

But after the first few weeks, caution turns into a kind of game - how far can we take this before someone'll be onto us? 

They are almost caught SO many times, and it just gets funnier every time. (Daisy's latest excuse: she needed to inspect his bare chest to make sure he wasn't bugged. Joey's face… Luckily for them, Daisy leaned poker faces from the best.) 

In short, life is great. He's got a job he loves with great people around him, and the best secret girlfriend anyone could wish for. 

It's so great, in fact, that he kind of forgets Daisy is actually his bodyguard. 

She doesn't forget, though. And she does her job. 

Because at his latest concert, some freaky terrorists decide it's just the time to try and make a statement by murdering a popular performer. 

Honestly, those poor terrorists. They never stood a chance against Daisy. 

Everything would have been one hundred percent fine if he hadn't called out "Daisy!" and rushed off-stage when he heard the gunshots, suddenly remembering with a cold shock that his girlfriend was also his bodyguard and currently being shot at. 

But unfortunately, he doesn't really stop to think. He rushes off stage, not giving a damn what anyone might think, to make sure she's all right. 

And the thing is, she's fine. Until she sees him. 

Then she freezes, for just a second, but it's enough for one of the terrorists to get in a shot. 

He sees it all happen in slow motion - the blood seeping out and staining Daisy's bodysuit, Daisy herself swaying and collapsing to the floor. He hears the shot a second after it hits. 

He runs over, his entire world suddenly panicky and terrified. Not Daisy, no, he can't lose her; oh, God, this is all his fault. 

Somehow, Daisy manages to squeeze his hand. He understands the silent message for what it is - it's going to be okay. 

Even when she's been shot, she's still so unbelievably strong. He squeezes her hand back and won't let go even when the paramedics come rushing into the building. 

He keeps gripping her hand as they load her up onto a stretcher, not even caring about the reporters that swarm them as soon as they're outside. 

The paparazzi can go fuck themselves. His girlfriend needs him right now, and that's more important than anything else. 

The next few hours, where he's waiting tensely as Daisy is in the operating theatre, are some of the longest of his life. 

At some point, four people (two men and two women) come rushing into the hospital, faces white and drawn. He's never seen them before, but he recognises them. May, Coulson, Fitz and Jemma. Daisy's family. 

The intimidating one, May, takes one look at him and goes "Daisy's boyfriend?" 

"Yeah," he says, so surprised he almost forgets his worry for a second, "how did you know?" 

May snorts and tells him that he's about as subtle as a brick wall, oh, and Daisy tells her everything. 

He smiles faintly at that. And the five of them - they don't know each other, but in those awful, uncertain hours, they form a bond, the kind that can only form in times of extreme stress when someone you all love is in danger. 

When the tired-looking nurse finally comes out to tell them Daisy's going to be okay, they hug each other on the spot. And it should be awkward, but all any of them can think about is Daisy, so it's not. It just feels right. 

They troop into her room, all five of them together, and a very dopey Daisy smiles weakly up at them. Lincoln immediately reaches for her hand, pressing a quick kiss to her knuckles and lacing their fingers. 

Daisy gives him a small, tired smile, but then her brow squinches in confusion. "Wait… we're supposed to be a secret couple." 

Jemma coughs. "About that." And she shows them the latest gossip headlines: Lincoln holding Daisy's hand for dear life as they rush her to hospital. 

"Oh, that's not good," Daisy says, frowning through the effects of her heavy sedatives. 

This would have totally panicked Lincoln just a few days ago, but now… he almost lost her. The tabloids seem paltry and insignificant in comparison. 

"How would you feel about going on a date when you're better?" he asks, because he thinks she and everyone else in the room needs some cheering up. "A proper date, not a secret meet-up in the closet."

 Coulson raises his eyebrows, like, too much information. But Daisy grins. "I would love that," she says, just slightly slurred through all the drugs. 

"Good," he says, and kisses her forehead. She's smiling as she drifts off. 

Watching her, Lincoln thinks that their secret relationship was never meant to be. It was a lot of fun, sure, but it was never meant to last. 

They were always going to end up being a real couple. 

And honestly? He couldn't be happier. 

The end.

[suhmayzooka]

cursed child broadway, December 28, 2019

my sister (S) and i were fortunate enough to get tickets for the third row, right by the aisle, making us right in the center.  I was a bit worried about the seats being so close to the stage, but it was absolutely amazing to be so close to the action. it was immersive, and i felt like i was part of the action.

S is my polar opposite.  she’s not a potterhead, for starters, and likes to call me (and everyone else in the theater, especially those in cosplay) a loser.  she’s heavily involved with her school’s theater -- acting and stage crew -- and i call her a theater nerd.  she’s an aspiring actress, and almost gave my mom a heart attack when she announced her plan to study acting in college (they compromised, and now S intends to major in psychology in addition to acting).  i didn’t know she was interested in cursed child since she eschews all ‘nerdy’ things, but she said that she ‘wanted to see how bad it was.’

she’s been the only extrovert in our family since she was born. she’s a hatstall between gryffindor and slytherin (although she identifies with the lion).  if you’re reading this, i’m assuming you like cursed child and perhaps are involved with the fandom.  ever read the tea time series on ao3? S is lily luna.  she’s the embodiment of how everyone writes lily luna.  she cursed out our dad a few days ago.  she made me spend the equivalent of two hours of work on fucking soda and popcorn because she didn’t listen to me when i told her to pack a clif bar.  this is what i put up with.

she actually enjoyed the show!  i was shocked.  she loved the effects.

after part one, she turned to me and went, “please just tell me one thing: do albus or scorpius die?”

i was surprised by her question.

she explained: “because at this point all i care about is their romance, and if they don’t get together or if they die i’m leaving the theater.”

this is coming from someone who ranted to me about how she doesn’t understand why people ship non-canon pairings since ‘not every friendship has to be romance.’ and here she was genuinely invested in scorbus? my heart…

i’m a good big sister, so i told her really vague statements like “our heroes will find themselves in danger several times during this act...” “one person’s pain is used to inflict pain on the other” and similar things.  eventually, she became convinced that scorpius would be revealed to be voldemort’s son and harry would accidentally kill him. not sure how she came up with that.

i guess everyone caught the plague? the coughing would Not stop.  S started making fun of them. and it’s like...everyone was a-okay during wand dance.  there were no coughs in the opening choreography for part two.  no, everyone had to succumb to coughing fits during the quiet, emotional moments.

“i always wanted a best mate to get up to mayhem with--”

COUGHCOUGHPHLEGMCOUGHHACKHACKHACKPHLEGMPHELGMCOUGHCOUGH

“--you’re my best friend--”

COUGHCOUGHPHLEGMCOUGHHACKHACKHACKPHLEGMPHELGMCOUGHCOUGH

for every. emotional. scene. maybe they were choked up on their tears.

at the last minute we decided to do stage door.  as in, we had already left the theater, saw the line outside, and were like, “sure.” unfortunately we had left our playbills in the theater since my hands were occupied holding her soda and popcorn since apparently she’s incapable of doing so…

i’m using google and my shitty facial recognition to remember who was who.  we (she) spoke to zell steele morrow (young harry), karen janes woditsch (mcgonagall), nadia brown (rose), james snyder (harry), and nicholas podany (albus).  unfortunately, we had to catch our train and left just as jonno roberts (draco) came out :( i think he was S’s favorite.

anyway here are my (our) thoughts:

1. Characters

~nicholas podany is a really good albus! he’s very mischievous, and you can see the wheels in his head turning as he comes up with his (increasingly more ridiculous) plans.  whenever he comes up with an idea he looks at scorpius like :O and it gets funnier as the play goes on.

~bubba weiler is a lot of fun. he’s very physical actor, and he really hams it up.  his scorpius is meant to be seen rather than read.  most of the comic relief is written for scorpius, and there seemed to be roars of laughter after every other line.  he shook his hips at “MALFOOYYYY THE UNAANXIOUSSS” and (exaggeratedly) pretended to march in place for “MY GEEKNESS IS A-QUIVERING!!” he purred at rose.  he flailed his entire body around when he was crucio-d :( one thing i noticed was how he carried himself.  scorpius spent a lot of time sitting hunched over, rocking slightly back and forth (most noticeable when he was introduced, but he hunched over and rocked on the staircase several times as well). when he stands he’s rubbing his thumbs or the hems of his robes.  his leg was bouncing nonstop in the library scene.  anyway what i’m trying to say is scorpius malfoy is neurodivergent. ableists don’t interact.

~for some reason S says that both scorpius and albus are unlikeable, but they’re cute together.  she was very proud when scorpius yelled at albus for being “the most terrible friend.”

~the chemistry between scorbus is There. it’s clear podany and weiler are close friends irl; they’re extremely comfortable together and play off each other really well.  

~matt mueller is great as ron. he works well with what he’s been given...not his fault thorne/tiffany decided to make ron a caricature with very little resemblance to canon ron...but that’s a rant for another day :] he’s delightful on stage.  he’s funny and charming.

~i’ll admit i wasn’t really feeling jenny jules as hermione, at least in part one.  she’s really playful, especially in the scene in her office where she offers harry a “to~fee~!” she was really great in the dark timeline, however.

~my romione heart

~the man himself, james snyder as harry potter!  was um, very shouty? very angry all the time.  he’s under a lot of stress.  his son disappeared in time.  i’ll let it slide.

~jonno roberts was literally draco malfoy.  his sneer, his swagger, everything was absolutely as i imagined draco 20 years in the future would be.  he’s so protective of scorpius...when the adults travel back to 1981 to find their sons, he picks scorpius up as they hug? and then instead of breaking apart, he sort of...put one arm around scorpius’s neck? like a backwards neck travel pillow thing. scorpius held his arm as draco looked around behind him for any danger.  it was really cute.

~diane davis was a really protective ginny.  all the fiery ginny from the books that was absent from the films made its way into her.  

2. Scenes

~one criticism i have is the fact that everyone speaks really quickly.  it’s a five hour play and i get that they’re trying to contain all the dialogue within that time but like...it’s a dialogue-heavy show.  i knew what was going on since i’m familiar with the script and the story, but there were parts when S and other members of the audience were confused. this was especially noticeable during the trolley witch scene.  literally nothing could be heard over the music and the sound effects, and several people around us were audibly confused and asking each other what was happening.  i mean, it doesn’t make a lot more sense with the dialogue, but at least let us hear what the characters are saying!

~podany, snyder, and (at times) weiler were the worst offenders.  weiler’s good at physical comedy, punctuating his iconic lines with clownlike movements for laughs since no one would know what he’s saying otherwise.  e.g. “we stand over the baby and scream” was almost inaudible, so we just heard “HEEELLLPPP HEEEEELLLP!” it was effective since the whole theater laughed, i guess. take this with a grain of salt; we were only a few feet away from the stage, so maybe our audio wasn’t the best.  

~roberts was crystal clear at all times

~S fell in love with scorbus during the staircase ballet.  if you’ve seen that one clip from this cast you know why.  the YEARNING.

~the LIBRARY scene! i reblogged audio of this a few months ago. oh my god, it’s perfect.  it hits the emotional highs and lows.  when albus said, “i wasn’t a loser before i met you,” there was a collective gasp and we all “OOOOOOOOOOH”-ed.  everyone was invested in this. weiler’s performance is really emotional, he’s holding back tears, i’m holding back tears. podany’s gets so soft when he talks about how kind he is.  i actually clenched my heart. “friends?” “always.” audience: “OOOOOOOOOH!”

~i can confirm that myrtle’s “girls...AND BOYS” is directed straight at albus.  his eyes widen, and he sheepishly shrugs his shoulders and is very excited to change the topic.

~scorpius’s imaginary friend was named hector.  idk if he improvises it every time, or if he decided to change it to hector from flurry, but his delivery was great.  sweetly: “oh, i had one of those too!” scathing hiss: “HECTOR.”

~the biggest jumpscare of the play was when scorpius emerged from the lake at the end of part one.  it was all dark, and then he shoots out of the water, gasping. i jumped.

~voldemort walked down the aisle right next to us.  S was terrified that he’s jump or touch her, so she curled up next to me.

~i was interested in how the penultimate scene would play out, since i heard that weiler and podany really play up their relationship, but scorpius had spent every scene with rose purring at her.  she came and imitated a scorpion when she said “scorpion king,” curving her hand and making a hissing noise, which elicited a few “oohs” from the audience.  then the Hug...the “new version of us” line is said as they hug, and they just. stood there for a few moments, hugging.  when albus goes “you better ask rose” scorpius looks up at him and blinks, goes, “.........uh oh yeah, rose….” and goes off stage.  right before he exits he looks at albus, and albus keeps watching him after he leaves. uhh anyway scorbus is canon and so is pollyrose

~“dad...i don’t want to be a wizard anymore.” (dead silence) “i want to go into pigeon racing” *breaks into the biggest shit-eating grin and cracks up*.  the last shot is harry holding albus as he silently weeps.  Ookay.

~due to several instances of childhood trauma, my sister’s biggest fear is birds (especially chickens, ostriches, and...pigeons).  she didn’t know why people laughed at harry’s confession that he was afraid of pigeons, because to her that’s a valid fear.  we saw a pigeon in the train station and she almost cried.

3. Stage door

~S did most of the talking.  she told everyone “so sorry we don’t have our playbill! you did such a great job!” and then struck up mini conversations.  i stood nodding like “good job!” looking like this :]

~first up was (i believe) zell steele morrow! he’s so cute and was really upbeat.  S finally found someone shorter than her…

~karen janes woditsch asked what houses we’re in.  S was like “gryffindor!” and she smiled, i told her “ravenclaw” and she was like, “well...i love all my students equally….”

~i didn’t recognize james snyder since he was dressed like he was in the arctic.  neither did S.

~nadia brown was so sweet!  you could tell she really loved seeing fans.  there was a group behind us in line who apparently were here for their third viewing, and they conversed like they were old friends.

~nicholas podany came out wearing a t shirt. in december.  i was cold because i forgot to wear gloves and he came out in a t shirt.  the group behind us asked if he was cold and he said that he was hot from running around the stage.  S told him that he did great, she asked how long he was performing (ten months since february) and her response was “oh, that makes sense, you were good!” he went on about how he loves performing, how each night is different based on the crowd and how we were such a great crowd, and i could feel S like. sinking into the sidewalk. i just nodded at him and went “good job.”

~he’s my height, maybe slightly shorter (i’m 5’6/167 cm) and very pale.  i think S has a crush on him since she wants to go back to “apologize for being so awkward.” growing up she had a crush on daniel radcliffe, too, so i guess she has a thing for potters.

~the group behind us went on about how much they loved harry potter, had been fans their whole lives, etc. podany’s apparently a huge potterhead, but not the biggest in the cast: they all came together to see who was the biggest potterhead, and the answer is the actor who plays cedric (forgot his name and the internet isn’t helping, sorry!) -- his tv (?) remote is in the shape of a wand! the rest of them are nerdy enough to fact-check the director lmao

~we didn’t get to actually speak with jonno roberts, but we saw him interacting with other fans.  he seems like a cool guy.

[bd-steelyfam]

With Devo retracting his sword, Dan falls to the ground, clutching his stomach. The pain is unbearable. Thick trails of blood escapes the corner of his lips, no different with his midsection. It’s bleeding horribly, dying the green ground into a crimson color.

“Y-you..” Dan coughs out, “....bastard..”

Devo sneers. How satisfying.

“You’re sick, Devo. You-” He coughs again, “-betrayed our bond just for your selfish satisfaction?!”

“YOU IDIOT!” Devo shouts, making Dan recoil in shock. “Didn’t I tell you before?! I AM an assassin, I live, I exist, and I come into this world to kill! Stop being so childish and see for yourself!”

Such foul words.

“Those would be... very boring motives..” Dan replies, smiling mischievously and ignoring his wounds. “I’m sure you have better reasons... to have come and kill dear old me..”

Devo’s eyes widen at his presumptuous words. He stomps over to the bleeding man and kicks his back, making him fall on the grass painfully. He wheezes in agony. It’s enough to make his dark grin come back.

Another trail of blood escapes Dan’s mouth.

“I hate everything about you, Dan Steel,” Devo starts, “I hate how happy you are, living the perfect life with your family. I hate how you always seem chirpy and content with your life, easily chatting with strangers and earning their trust with your charisma. I hate how easily you express emotions, like love and hate, without getting judged from your appearance.”

He brings his face closer to Dan. “I envy you. Every single bit of you, Dan.”

Dan looks at Devo in sorrow. Hearing such words from one’s own friend is enough to make them cry in despair. But he isn’t going to show any signs of sadness. He isn’t going to give the foul beast the satisfaction of his suffering. He isn’t going to be like Iyacat’s Dan.

So Dan gets up, staggering.

Devo knits his eyebrows in dissatisfaction, seeing his opponent stand up once more after the attack. He “tch”ed mockingly, swinging his sword around.

“Tell me, Dan.” He asks, disgusted by his bravery, “How could you not give up after such deadly blows? Are you really that motivated to defeat me?”

“Simple. I’ve grown stronger.” Dan says with all his remaining strength, slowly getting up. “Ever since the six outsiders came into Iyacat, I forced myself to battle one of them. The “one of them” is a young man, all dressed in black from head to toe. He let himself get scarred, hit, mocked, and even bleed out just to protect his grandfather. I have never seen such strong resolve in my entire life. The Dan before Iyacat’s fall is no more; as he has been living and growing past his cowardice and false bravery.”

“So now, I’ve finally understand what it means to protect the ones dear to me.”

The beast scowls at the mention of “the ones dear to me”.

“SHUT UP!” He says, lunging himself to Dan, preparing yet another attack with his sword. He attempts to stab him right in his heart, but the smaller man easily blocks the attack with The Lovers, sending back the blow and making Devo step back from it.

With his opponent stunned for a moment, Dan uses this opportunity to move forwards and attack. He isn’t aiming for his vital parts, and instead centers the blow to be on his right wrist. The Lovers clashes with Devo’s sword, but with the lack of timing, his grip weakens and his sword is thrown away from his hand. It meets the ground with a soft “clank”.

Without his sword, Devo is left defenseless. Dan swings his sword one more time, making a terrible dent on the assassin’s chest plates. He tumbles, now facing the standing man.

Dan laughs. “Is it just me, or did my words weaken your attacks?”

The assassin breaths heavily in wrath. “Y-YOU!”

“Heh,” Dan chuckles, grinning slightly, “I know from the start, you aren’t the Devo I know.”

“Huh?!”

He retreats The Lovers and let it rest on his elbow. “First of all, he isn’t reckless and knows when to stop fighting his opponent. While you here kept trying to attack me without calculating anything!”

The beast growls.

“Second, when the opponent is down, he never laughs or sneers in victory immediately after; he approaches them to check if their life pulse had faded away. You are so careless, after I fell to the ground countless times, you kept laughing and giving your oh-so-important villain speech.”

“Third!” He cries, emphasizing his next words. “He never, NEVER, underestimated his opponents, whether it’s a petite woman, or a strong man, or a frail boy, or an elderly, or even,” he pauses momentarily, “a wounded person.”

“...”

“Tell me!” Dan says, pointing The Lovers towards him, taunting. “Who the hell are you, and what are you doing with Devo’s body?!”

“....”

“I know well that he will never do this to me! He respected me as a bosom friend, and is never reckless in battle. The Devo I know also doesn’t bear these dark, purple spots on his cheeks. So do tell me! Actually, who are you?” Dan continues, making The Lovers move closer towards the crouching man’s face.

Only the crackle of the forest’s fire could be heard.

“ANSWER ME! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!”

Silence.

But the silence is broken shortly with a small, wheezing laugh escaping Devo’s lips.

“Oh, how nai͞v̶e!” The beast says, laughing like a maniac now. “You’re no different than the rest of those h̶uma҉ns,̢ w̧ho͏ j͟ust̸ asks͏ que̡s͜ti̢ons ̡b͏ut̷ ͢ne͢v̕er͞ un̵der̶sto̴o̴d ̴th̶e͢ ͞an͝swe͟r͜s̛ g̀iven͡ t͏o͢ ͏thęm.”

Dan’s eyes widen at the change of Devo’s tone. He notices the purple spots on his cheeks increase in number, and small, growing thorns are coming out of his head. Genuine fear travels throughout his body as he watches his friend transform into something terrifyingly hideous.

“Yo͝u͝ ̵impud̢ȩnt͞,̕ ̷i̵nşol͟en͞t,̢ ͜d͡isgu͏s̕ţi͟n͞gly͜ ͡mort̛a̴l ̀h̕um̀a̕n.”

[raptorginger]

Snow Sparkles Like Stars: Chapter 2 - Snowed in

chapter 1

Rey didn’t consider her life a terribly exciting one.  A bit odd, perhaps, but not exciting.  She’d been adopted in London by a pair of older gentlemen whom she came to know and love as Grandpa Obi and Grandpa Jinn.  They’d moved to a ranch out in Montana when Rey was ten, and Rey discovered what she was meant to do.  She had a way with animals, particularly dogs, and Grandpa Obi put her in charge of training the ranch’s herders.  Everything that happened afterward had flowed from that moment.  She rehabilitated the strays, the abused, the injured and helped find them loving homes.  After rescuing her first Siberian Husky when she was in her early teens, she researched dog sledding and found another thing she excelled at.  When Obi and Jinn died, they left Rey a large trust and the ranch.  Rey worked with a nearby reservation to give the land back and left for Washington, intending to live a quiet existence outside Spokane with her eight rescued Malamutes, offering the occasional training class and sled ride to the locals.

For all intents and purposes, she had accomplished this goal.  She was happy.  Really, she was.  She wasn’t lonely.  She had eight dogs for company, who could be lonely?

But sometimes, deep in the dark of the night when she was all alone in her loft, she’d let her mind wander.  It would wind sinuously down long corridors, to the dark and heated corners where a nameless faceless man lived.  He was tall and broad, strong but dextrous.  His hair dark and soft.  But it was his voice, his deep voice whispering dark and filthy things to her, that she liked imagining most.  He would praise her, call her his good girl, while she imagined the obscene things he’d do to her.  She wished, oh how she wished...

Rey tried not to think about this during the daytime.  And certainly not right now.

It wasn’t strange that someone would have gotten stranded in a snowbank outside her house during a blizzard.  It wasn’t strange that her pack noticed.  They were dogs with incredibly keen senses, after all.  It was, however, a bit strange that the literal embodiment of her darkest fantasies had crawled out of the car and was currently pawing around her record collection with his large hands.

Rey watched keenly as Kylo’s long fingers tugged on a worn record jacket, dislodging the disc.  He flipped it over and slipped it on the turntable, switching the player on and dropping the needle.  The instantly recognizable melody of “As Time Goes By” from Casablanca filled the air, the tone rich and warm.  He approached her chair, his hand held out entreatingly.  ‘I’ll put my big hands on whatever I want.’  If only you would.

“Dance with me?” Kylo asked, his voice dropping lower, like a roll of soft thunder.  He smiled wickedly as he watched a shiver chase through Rey’s slender frame, her trembling fingers coming to rest lightly in his.  It wasn’t fair what his voice did to her.  It just wasn’t.

“I don’t really dance,” Rey muttered apologetically.  Heat trilled through her as his fingers wrapped around hers, gently squeezing as he pulled her to her feet.

“I find that hard to believe.  You’re very graceful,” he murmured close to her ear.

“Believe what you want.  Doesn’t change the truth,” she replied, clearing her throat a little.  She swallowed nervously as Kylo placed one of her hands on his shoulder and one of his hands on her waist.  He took her other hand in his again and began to lead her in a simple movement.  Like any of the other handful of times she’d tried, she stumbled over her own feet.  Graceful, right.

“You just need a teacher.  Follow my lead,” he commanded softly.

Rey wasn’t accustomed to following, but she found she had no choice in this case.  His arms were sure, his movements fluid as he guided her around a small space in her living room.  She enjoyed relinquishing control to someone else.  To him.  It was a nice change of pace.

“Good.  That’s it,” he practically purred as she clumsily followed his steps.  

Holy hell.  THAT’S going in the mind palace.  I’m going to have to wash my damn underwear.  “Don’t patronize me,” Rey snapped, overcompensating for her arousal and hoping he wouldn’t notice.

The dim light made it hard for Rey to see that Kylo’s eyes had darkened.

On the next turn, Rey felt something hard but fuzzy behind her knees.  She yelped and fell backwards to the floor, the dog quickly scampering out of the way.  Her instinct, being a musher, was to tighten her grip when something unexpected happened, which explained why Kylo was now perched on top of her, his fingers interlaced tightly with hers.

Rey snapped her head to the side in time to see a grey tail disappear around the sectional.

“Damn it, Loki!” she yelled.  A mischievous face appeared on the arm of the couch, the perfect picture of innocence.

Rey looked back up at Kylo and sighed exaggeratedly.  “Sorry.  He does that all the time.  BUT NOT USUALLY TO COMPANY!” Rey shouted in Loki’s direction.

“Quite like his namesake, isn’t he?” Kylo whispered.

“Yeah, I suppose so.”  It dawned on Rey that Kylo had made no move to get off of her.  She shifted awkwardly beneath him, the wood floor pressing hard against her shoulder blades.  Kylo’s nostrils flared as he inhaled sharply.  Huh.  Okay.  Yeah, jump the stranger you just met because you like his voice.  And his hair.  And his mouth.  Smaaaaart.

She cleared her throat for what felt like the millionth time that evening.  “Listen, it’s getting late…” “Of course! I’m sorry, let me help you up,” Kylo said hurriedly as he scrambled off of her.

“Thanks,” Rey muttered, dusting a few stray dog hairs off her sweater.  “Umm, the guest room is just there.  I recommend you keep the door shut, or else the dogs’ll shove you out.  Under the sink in the bathroom there’s a basket with a few things in it - a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, that sort of thing.  Towels are under the sink too.”

“The dogs don’t sleep with you?”  

“No.  They’re bed hogs.  They sleep down here.”

Rey was keenly aware of Kylo’s eyes on her as she moved about the lower floor of her home, turning off lights and putting out the fire.

“Tomorrow, depending on what the weather is doing, I’ll try and get your car out with my truck.  If you help me move the sled, we could probably get it in the garage until the roads are safe to travel,” Rey continued, trying to keep herself from shaking.  She flipped the hall light on for him and made her way to the spiral staircase that led to her loft bedroom.

“I think I can do that,” Kylo replied.  “Thank you, Rey.”

Rey bit her lip as she set her foot on the first step.  “No problem.  Let me know if you need anything,” she murmured.

“Yeah, I will.  Goodnight, Rey.”

Rey blushed and hurried up the steps, grabbing her sleep shirt from the foot of the bed and a pair of clean underwear from her dresser before heading into her bathroom to complete her nightly routine.  While brushing her teeth, Rey had an argument with herself.

You know it’s the twenty-first century, right?  You’re allowed to bang a guy just because you think he’s hot.  And he seems warm for your form so...

Shut up.  I know next to nothing about him.  He could be a total asshat.  Or in a relationship.

So?  He’ll be gone in a day or so.  Hardly enough time to find out.  And I don’t think so, not with the way he purred and eye fucked you just now.

He probably has women throwing themselves at him all the time.  He’s a college professor for God’s sake.  He has his pick of attractive co-eds.  He lives in Boston, for crying out loud.

Please.  Does he really seem like the type to have a fling with a student?

I don’t know.  That’s the point, you idiot.

Just let him fuck your brains out.  God knows you need it.  It’s been ages since you got any.

Shut up.

Rey spat the foamy paste out and rinsed, angry at herself.  Sometimes she wished she could be one of those people who hopped into bed with a stranger, no mental hang ups or qualms, but that just wasn’t her.  She liked to know at least a little bit about the person she was letting into her bed.  Plus, there was her tendency too fall too hard too fast.  Rey didn’t need that weight on her shoulders after Kylo left.  He’d go off, a smile on his face and a song in his heart, and she’d be left here, miserable and pining with him none the wiser.  Rey gave an aggravated sigh and got into bed, her flannel sheets doing nothing to warm her.  She listened to Kylo putter around downstairs, getting ready to go to sleep.  She wondered if he often slept alone, or if he regularly had someone to warm his bed.  She heard several soft ‘thumps’ come from the living room followed by the sound of nails clicking on a hard floor.  

“Oh shit,” she heard Kylo grumble after the faucet turned off.

Oh no…

“Get off, shoo! I was supposed to keep the door shut.  Dammit! Get off!”  Kylo was arguing with a silent opponent, or rather, opponents.  Rey knew his entreaties would fall on deaf ears.

“Fine! Take the damned bed!” Kylo cried exasperatedly.  “Can I at least have a pillow?”  There was some huffing and grunting before he said sarcastically, “Thank you for your generosity, Thor.”

A few muttered curses followed as Rey listened to Kylo make his way out to the couch in the living room.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” he muttered darkly.

Oh no...again.  Rey got out of bed and tugged on a pair of sweatpants.  She went to the railing and looked down.  In the dark, she was barely able to make out the forms of Frigga and Odin on the couch and Kylo standing in front of it, arms akimbo.

“Kylo?” Rey called softly.

Kylo looked up.  Rey couldn’t see the expression on his face, but she imagined it was adorably frustrated.

“You weren’t kidding, were you?”

Rey laughed.  “‘Fraid not.”

“Do you have a couch up there?  Or...something?”

Rey felt herself blush in the dark.

“N-no I don’t,” she stammered.

Kylo groaned.  “I’ll just sleep on the floor then.  Do you have some blankets anywhere?”

“Don’t be silly!  Get up here!”  Rey commanded, stomping her foot a little.  She was overcome by pity, that was it.  Poor man was stranded here in a blizzard, and he was going to sleep on the floor? Ridiculous!  Yeah, keep telling yourself that.

Kylo was up the stairs in a flash, pillow in hand.  Rey swallowed a nervous lump in her throat when she saw that he was in his boxers and an undershirt.  She led him to her bed and pointed to the left side.

“You sleep on that side,” she stated, hoping her voice sounded even and calm to him.  It certainly didn’t to her.

Kylo tossed the pillow on the floor and crawled under the covers, curling onto his side so he faced away from her.

Rey scrambled onto the side opposite, assuming a similar position.  She switched off her reading lamp and pulled the covers up to her chin, tucking her knees close to her chest.  Her bed was a queen, but she could still feel the heat radiating off of him.  It was nice; she was always so cold.

“Thank you, Rey,” Kylo murmured in the darkness.

“Don’t get any funny ideas.  The middle of the bed is the Neutral Zone,” Rey muttered halfheartedly.

“Does that make me the Klingons or the Federation?”

Oh God, this is a horrible plan.  Or a GREAT plan.  Shut up!  “Whichever.  Goodnight.”

Kylo chuckled softly.  “Sweet dreams, Rey.”

[skeletonscribbles]

I love your writing. Here's a Reddie prompt for you if you have a sec: "wow Eds, you have no idea how much I think about you at night." Do with that what you will ;)

Thank you anon - you’re too kind! This prompt turned into something decidedly less R rated than at least I was anticipating - I hope you enjoy my little blip of a jealous Richie piece anyway!

GreenWord Count - ~1700

Richie Tozier wasn’t quite sure what he was feeling.

He liked to think that he was a pretty agreeable fellow, all in all - always reliable for a couple of good chucks by way of sex jokes (not that he had any experience with sex itself; in fact, thinking about it for too long made him feel sort of hot and funny, so usually he elected just to laugh it off and move on)…

…so when he saw Eddie Kaspbrak climb on to Bill Denbrough’s shoulders to play chicken down at the quarry, why didn’t he feel like cracking wise?

He wasn’t angry about Eddie and Bill teaming up, per se. The other six people splashing around in the water with him were his best friends in the whole world; he loved them wholly and unconditionally and would never be angry with any of them, ever…even if Eddie had refused to partner with him for chicken earlier on, citing “germs”. No, he wasn’t mad about that. He couldn’t even blame him - it had probably been like two and a half days since his last shower. (He considered himself above such things - and besides, it wasn’t like he was the only unwashed miscreant at the arcade every day.)

He wasn’t sad, either. He knew sad pretty well - it washed over him every so often like an ocean wave, without purpose or form. His mother said that he’d inherited it from her, that she had it too…and that it always passed, no matter how bad it got. So far, she’d been right…but this wasn’t that. It was too sharp a feeling to be that.

His best guess for the feeling was ‘uncomfortable’. He wasn’t uncomfortable very often, but sometimes when Eddie looked at him, his skin vibrated with…something like what he was feeling now, so it was probably safe to chalk the whole thing up to discomfort.

But why the hell would he feel like that about a perfectly normal chicken fight? He hadn’t felt weird when Stan had climbed up on Bill’s shoulders earlier. He’d felt other things: the look on Bill’s ruby red face had been good for a laugh, and Stan’s ultimate loss to Beverly on Ben’s shoulders had been incredibly satisfying, but this…this was…

Richie was ripped from his reverie by a shriek and a splash; Bev had triumphed again. Eddie had been knocked backwards into the water. Bill was quick to try and help him back up, and Eddie clung to him, gasping for breath in a way that indicated that he’d need his inhaler soon.

Sure enough, as soon as Eddie was situated enough to control his motor functions, he was out of the water like a shot, wheezing exaggeratedly. Bill followed, hot on his heels, and the gross feeling in Richie’s chest grew more pronounced. He watched them walk away, feeling confused and disoriented.

“Earth to Idiot.” Stan came out of the blue, rolling his eyes and shoving Richie’s arm roughly. “You’re too quiet. What are you plotting?”

“Who, me?” Richie put on his best nonchalant face. “Just thinking about Eddie’s mom.”

“His mom, huh?” Stan was, as always, unimpressed. He looked at Richie with an expression that suggested that Richie was missing some big important point.

“Or yours, whichever, take your pick.” Richie laughed nervously. “I’ve been through ‘em all.”

Stan tutted, shaking his head. “Your birth was the first and last time you’re ever going to touch a vagina, dumbshit.

That statement made Richie nervous for reasons he didn’t understand. “What kind of blasphemy–”

“Richie.” Stan’s face was completely serious, and Richie couldn’t help but shiver in looking back at him. “I’ve known you for fuck knows how long…too long, definitely. Believe me when I say that I know you better than you know yourself.”

“Stanley, old chap, you’re not making a lick of sense,” Richie tried, breaking out his trusty British accent and feeling very small.

Stan looked away. “Okay, maybe you still don’t know, whatever. Just…don’t wallow. Go talk to Eddie.”

Richie blinked back at Stan. “What?”

“Go. Talk. To. Eddie.” Stan shoved his arm one more time, and then turned and started pushing towards where Mike was waiting by the shore. “And stop staring at Bill like he killed your dog. Jesus.”

“You’re Jewish,” Richie pointed out.

“Jesus was a Jew,” Stan retorted neatly, not looking back.

Richie weighed his options. On the one hand, he kind of wanted to piss off Stan by doing the exact opposite of the thing that Stan had suggested. (It was a frequent strategy of Richie’s, and for good reason - it got a rise out of Stan every time.) On the other…well, he wanted this fucking feeling to go away, didn’t he?

He pushed his way out of the water and on to the shore, where Bill was holding an aspirator to Eddie’s mouth.

Richie frowned at the sight of Bill kneeling by Eddie. It didn’t seem fair that Bill got to monopolize all of Eddie’s time and space. The two of them were seemingly attached at the hip. Eddie’s love for Bill was obvious and all-consuming; he followed their ginger beanpole of a leader around like a puppy. If he didn’t know better, Richie would say that Eddie was in love with Bill.

An image surfaced in Richie’s mind, unbidden, of Eddie and Bill engaged in a kiss. He pushed it out as quickly as it came, disgusted at himself for thinking it…and upset that it had made the feeling in his chest increase tenfold. Eddie and Big Bill could do what they wanted - it wasn’t any of Richie’s business or concern.

(Except that…it kind of felt like it was.)

“You okay, Eds?” Richie asked, swallowing his negative thoughts and strolling over to Eddie’s crouched form.

Eddie sat up stiffly. “Just peachy. Obviously.”

Richie put up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Just a concerned pal here, Eddie my love. No need to go all she-wolf on me.”

“Fuck off,” Eddie mumbled, looking as if he wanted nothing more than to disappear.

Bill looked between the two of them with the same knowing expression that Stan had worn earlier. “Yeah, I’m g-gonna go…Richie, make sure Eddie keeps b-b-breathing?”

“You can count on me,” Richie saluted, feeling a strange sort of relief at the thought of Bill leaving. Eddie, strangely, did not protest Bill’s departure - he just slumped back down, clutching his inhaler weakly.

“I’ll leave you to it, then,” Bill said, getting to his feet and heading in the direction of Ben, who had procured a picnic basket and was handing out sandwiches to their other friends. “I’m stuh-starved.”

As soon as Bill left, Richie found himself wanting him back. Without Bill, the energy between he and Eddie had turned…strange.

“What is he leaving us to?” Eddie asked after a minute, looking nervous.

“I’m sure he just wanted to give me a minute alone with my dear Spaghetti,” Richie said, reaching out to pinch Eddie’s cheeks out of habit. “Since he’s usually the one who gets you, I’d say it’s only fair.”

Eddie ducked out of reach of Richie’s offending hands, scowling. “What do you mean, he gets me?”

Richie shrugged, trying not to let the bitter feeling he was harboring seep into his words. “You and Big Bill are like…Bert and Ernie or some shit. Always together.”

Eddie stared back at him. “Bill’s my best friend.”

“And mine,” Richie agreed, “but the difference is that I don’t have an obvious boner for him.”

As soon as the words left Richie’s mouth, he wished that he could take them back…but it was too, too late for that. Eddie’s eyes had gone huge, and his face was on its way to turning bright tomato red.

“Excuse me?”

Richie pressed on, despite the fact that he could all but feel himself digging his own grave. “Oh, you know…when he does something cool, and you give him the face like you’re hoping that he’s gonna bust out a ‘wow, Eds, you have no idea how much I think about you at night’–”

“Bill doesn’t call me Eds,” Eddie cut in, and of all the things Richie was expecting him to say, that definitely didn’t crack the top ten.

“So what?” Richie asked, shaken and a little embarrassed. “Isn’t that more of a reason for you to fuck him?”

The thought of Bill and Eddie being…intimate together was a pervasive and terrible one. Richie felt the impact of it in his stomach, and bit down on his lip in an attempt to distract himself from whatever bullshit was going on in his midsection.

Eddie wrinkled his nose. “Gross. Bill’s like my big brother.”

And just like that, like air coming out of a balloon, the monster in Richie’s chest retreated, and he could breathe again.

“Good,” he said unthinkingly. “Good.”

“Good?” Eddie quirked an eyebrow, amused.

“Uh.” Richie, for once, was at a loss for words. “Uh. Because then, my, uh, relationship with your mom…”

“Cut the crap, Richie,” Eddie said, a little half-smile on his face. He was beautiful that way, Richie thought. He was beautiful every way.

Richie realized in that moment that the monster that had been clawing its way through his chest was distinctively green-eyed.

“Have you been thinking about me at night?” Eddie continued, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Richie shook his head in abject shock. “Eddie, if you could shut the fuck up for like five seconds please, this is a lot to process–”

Eddie laughed happily and reached out to tug at Richie’s wrist. He urged him down a little closer, and placed a sweet, soft kiss just to the left of Richie’s mouth.

There was a new feeling in Richie’s chest, now - something warm and explosive.

“Whenever you’re ready,” Eddie whispered, and slid past him to join their friends in eating.

Richie followed, cataloguing the warmth pooling in his stomach to try and identify later .

—-

(It turned out to be joy.)

[redactedrichie]

A Playlist for the End of the World

Anon request: Hi! Can you please write something about Reddie that’s maybe a little angsty?

Based off of this audio (alternate audios considered include: Dancing Queen, Africa, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Forever Young, and Heaven Is A Place on Earth

Word count: 3781

Summary: It's been a year since the zombie outbreak started, and Eddie and Richie are all that's left of the Loser's club. Eddie's not sure if he can handle it anymore, but Richie's convinced almost anything can be fixed with a little music, an abandoned mall, and a whole lot of terrible dance moves. (aka I wanted to write a zombie au dammit)

Ao3 link here!

“I can’t believe we’re alone, just the two of us.”

A year ago, hearing that phrase might have made Eddie’s heart soar. In his head, he can almost see it: Richie kicking the bedroom door behind him shut and smiling in that dumb way he does with too much teeth. But he loves that dumb smile, and the stupid tilt of his glasses broken one too many times, and the sharpness of his elbows that nudge him constantly just to remind him that he’s there, and the flickering thoughts in his busy eyes that Eddie can see so clearly now that Richie’s standing too close, but not close enough, never close enough. The bass shakes the floor, music muffled beneath the layers of drywall and the sound of his own heartbeat in his ears. And then Richie is lifting Eddie’s hands, lacing them together as he asks dance with me?

But that was a year ago, before horror movies suddenly became reality in the lumbering forms of the living dead. Before the outbreaks and the quarantines, all the investigations for a cure that led to nothing, and before he packed up everything he thought he needed in a bag and abandoned Derry with his friends at his side. The day they crossed the city limits they shed their title of the Losers and suddenly were nameless survivors; just a bunch of teenagers with dead parents and a desperation to live. The last ones standing.

Maybe he could have still loved hearing that phrase regardless of the dangerous times, but not after the accident in May when they lost Bill. After the day Bev sacrificed herself and Ben couldn’t bear to let her. After Stan couldn’t hold the door anymore. After Mike took the night watch.

So when Richie says, “I can’t believe we’re alone, just the two of us”, it doesn’t sound so romantic anymore.

“Yeah,” Eddie mumbles. “Me either.”

It sounds like a death sentence.

They had done their best to bar the doors to the outlet mall they stumbled upon with chairs and discarded wheeled kiosks, but ultimately it was pointless. There had to be dozens of entrances, and it was too much work for the two of them to try and board them all up before something smelled them. After all, those things might already be inside, in addition to the horde that’s been following them at a distance in a ravenous pack. Eddie has slept a collective 10 hours this last week, and his stomach has gone numb with hunger.

Trying to shake off the nagging feeling of being chased, he looks over at Richie—his Richie, who drops his tattered backpack onto the floor and attempts to catch his breath after shoving around the kiosks. He won’t admit it, but Eddie can clearly see the darkness hollowing his eyes, the slight twitch of his gaze as he tries to stay awake, the slouch in his step, the way his flannel caked in someone else’s blood now wears him.

He’s exhausted. Eddie’s exhausted.

We can’t run anymore.

Neither of them ever say it despite thinking it everyday. The outlet mall was the only thing dotting the stretch of highway other than rundown mobile homes that had long been looted and probably swarming with more undead. It was a risk to go in somewhere so big as the mall, but they didn’t have a choice anymore.

We can’t keep running.

“What’d you say?” Richie asks, now crouched down to investigate an upturned vending machine. There’s no food in it, of course. It’s as empty as their backpacks and water bottles have been for the last two days.

“Nothing,” Eddie says, biting his tongue. He didn’t even realize he was thinking out loud.

But Richie stands anyway, looking at him for a long second with a scrunched up look Eddie recognizes from too many nights of being too terrified to even whisper. Richie Tozier may not have many trademark talents, but being able to read Eddie like a book seems to be one of them. Sometimes he hates how he loves the way Richie can see right through him.

Because maybe if he was better at keeping his thoughts hidden, he wouldn’t have to see the moment Richie knows exactly what Eddie had said; the way he nearly caves into himself knowing he can’t think of a good reason to tell Eddie he’s wrong. This mall is a temporary bandaid, and there’s only two options:

See what they can find and keep going, or stay here and….

Richie opens his mouth to say something—probably an awful pun Eddie’s already heard before but will gladly take the distraction of something dumb right now—but then he’s looking past Eddie, eyes narrowed and then blown wide with a mischievous grin betraying the somber tone.

“Give me five minutes,” Richie says, patting Eddie on the cheek as he dashes past him with a surprising amount of energy.

“Wait—!” Eddie barely gets a hold of Richie’s shirt sleeve, “We can’t split up!” He jerks on his wrist, making Richie’s sneakers squeak against the slick linoleum tiles as he skids to a halt, flailing to catch himself from falling by grasping Eddie’s elbows. By inertia or intention, their foreheads bump together, pulling them close enough for Eddie to see the hairline scratches from too close of calls hidden beneath the rim of Richie’s glasses. Like their spirits, the marks scarred over crooked.

“I’ll only be a moment, promise,” Richie reassures, squeezing Eddie’s elbows for gentle emphasis. “Just stay right here, okay?”

Eddie swallows down a reluctant groan as he nods, feeling more than helpless watching Richie vault over the counter marked Security and disappear into a darkened doorway. The paranoid part of his heart wants to call after him, but it’s not worth it. If there really is anyone else inside, he’d only be drawing their attention faster.

Uneasily pulling the sleeves of his varsity jacket down over his hands—no, not his. This is Mike’s. This…was—Eddie takes a few curious steps away from the barricaded doors, making sure to not stray more than fifteen steps away from where Richie disappeared to. The main lights are out, but some shops remain lit by single lamps bordering the doorways indicating that a rare bit of electricity still runs here. But it’s mostly daylight streaming from the skylights that illuminate the scuffed tiles, the darkened department stores with shattered windows and overturned shelves spilling their contents across the floor, and a dormant fountain nestled in front of a pair of frozen escalators leading up to what a nearby sign indicates was the food court.

It’s eerie, almost more uncomfortable than the dumpsters they’ve hid in or the abandoned miles of empty fields they’ve trekked through. There’s something unfathomably unsettling about an abandoned mall: a place normally filled with crowds of people and sounds of laughter and overlapped conversations. His footsteps shouldn’t echo here, but they do. Each one sounds like distant thunder clapping down the dimmed hall blocked from view by the escalators.

He shouldn’t feel safer being uncomfortable, but he does.

It means nothing’s here yet.

“Gooooood afternoon to everyone named Eddie, Eds, and Edward Kaspbrak. This is your DJ coming in live with exclusively today’s greatest hits”

Oh, fucking hell—Eddie flinches hard at the crackle of static and the sudden boom of Richie’s voice amplified over the somehow active speakers. It bounces down the vacant halls and calls back at him, muffled and distant and everywhere. If somethings are in here and didn’t know about them taking shelter here yet, they certainly do now.

Eddie might just murder Richie goddamn Tozier himself.

“Today’s playlist, composed by yours truly, may sound redundant at first, and to that I’d like to say: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…also, there’s only, like, three tracks in here that aren’t ruined, and I’m not about to blast music from someone named Meatloaf.”

Eddie’s head swivels back and forth like a pendulum, squinting into every window front he can to see if anything is awoken by Richie’s charade. Nothing seems to be moving; only graffiti’d and knocked over mannequins look back at him.

But the rest of the mall could be very, very alive just out of view.

“So grab a dance partner—particularly a handsome one with sick moves and wearing a Journey shirt—because I think you’ll find this track very familiar.”

With another sickeningly loud crackle of static, the muffled sound of a quick rapt of cymbals and a catchy guitar riff filter through the speakers, nearly bringing a grin to Eddie’s face as the keyboard chords come in. Everybody Wants To Rule the World, of course. It was the song he and Richie played every Friday morning on the car ride to school, and always requested anytime they ended up somewhere with a DJ or jukebox. It sounded like the old times, the good times, the days where his biggest worry was if anyone saw him blatantly staring at Richie across the lunch table.

It sounds like his life flashing right before his eyes.

“What’re you just standing there for?” Richie calls behind him, swinging himself back over the counter and sashaying his way over to Eddie with that dopey grin of his. “Don’t tell me you’re too tired to dance with me!”

“Shut up!” Eddie instinctively hushes, planting his hands over Richie’s motor mouth. “Turn this off, Richie, something could hear us!”

Completely disregarding Eddie’s alarm at the situation, Richie pries Eddie’s hands away with an impish wink, “Too late baby, I put it on repeat.” Ducking and twirling under the crook of their joined arms with a flourish, Richie backpedals towards the fountain and motions for Eddie to follow with two fingers. His head bobs to the beat, not even bothering to look around at anything but Eddie.

Dread gathers like a thick knot inside Eddie’s chest as he watches Richie hop up onto the fountain’s edge. He hasn’t needed to tell Richie to lower his voice in months. They both know better. He can’t have just forgotten something so crucial to their survival all of a sudden; no, Richie is curious, but not careless. He’s ignoring the rules on purpose.

“Welcome to your life—”

Richie’s not running.

“—there’s no turning back.”

Eddie scoops Richie’s backpack off the ground, digging with shaky hands for the flashlight hidden in one of the pockets. He refuses to be ambushed due to Richie being caught up in nostalgia, masking his fear with irritation and a middle finger as he trudges past Richie’s mindless dancing.

Of course, Richie simply follows along, determined to keep up his serenade. He jumps into the water with both feet to send a small tidal wave spilling up and over the edges, prancing across the fountain in noisy splashes all the while still singing along in off-key passion. His sneakers are even louder now against the tile floor as he jumps out and swings around Eddie in circles, poking and prodding at Eddie’s tense shoulders.  “—ac-ting on your best be-hay-vur, turn” poke “your” poke “back” poke “on muh-ther nay-chure.”

He grabs Eddie’s arm that’s holding onto the flashlight, swinging it up under Richie’s chin like a microphone, “Ev-‘ry-bo-dy wants to rule the world.”

Eddie jerks his arm away as Richie obnoxiously tries to sing the guitar part as well, turning his attention back towards one of the side hallways that the skylights can’t reach. From what he can make out from his minimal flashlight beam, most of the stores are boarded up. Whether it’s to keep people in or out, he’ll take it over a waiting, hungry horde.

Noticing the absence at his side, he glances back: Richie is doing an impeccable Breakfast Club dance montage rendition in the middle of the main hall, using the skylights as a spotlight for the awkward grace of his one-man show. He’s as coordinated as a giraffe on ice, but he looks carefree under the halo of sunlight. He looks like he did a long time ago.

No, not a long time ago. Just a year ago. It was only a year ago that my friends were alive. It was only a single year ago that we were having stupid arguments over who was the designated driver and where we’d all be going off to college, when only Stan and I were actually paying attention to the CDC press conferences, when—

Eddie shakes ghosts out of his head, trying not to let the memory stick and distract him. Distraction is a silent killer, and he tries to only focus on the sound of glass crunching under his worn All-Stars as he takes cautious steps over the threshold of a department store, shining his light back and forth across abandoned cash registers and displays for shattered perfume bottles. It’d be dangerous going in somewhere so dark, but maybe there’s stuff left untouched that he could—

“Eds!”

Jesus fucking—“What, Richie?” Richie’s hands are on his waist before Eddie even has a chance to turn, getting dragged backwards away from the store against his will. He drops the flashlight in surprise, watching it bounce and roll under a bench.  

“C’mon, dance with me,” Richie coaxes. He tries to make the smaller boy rock back and forth with the rhythm, not even flinching when Eddie shoves his hands away with an aggravated scoff. But he doesn’t let him turn back to investigate the department store, instead intertwining their hands and skipping backwards into the main hall, pulling them back the way they came.

Above them, the song repeats with the familiar trill of synth.

Eddie begrudgingly lets himself be pulled along as Richie swings their arms together, wincing at the blanket of static playing under the music. Everything is so loud and he can’t hear over the grainy speakers for that trademark low groan of lumbering bodies, the terrible scrape of limbs against the tile, the excited growl once they spot their prey and oh god he can practically feel the hot breath on the back of his neck now. The longer they stand around dancing and letting this damn song act as a beacon for the undead, the less time he has to…

What?

The realization that he isn’t searching for an escape route halts him in place, nearly dragging Richie down from his poor attempt at moonwalking. There are exit doors at the end of every hall, and they could easily take any one of them and put this mall far behind them. But he doesn’t turn towards any of them, and he knows he isn’t going to. The thought of going outside, of going one more damn mile, feels like a bullet to the head.

Where am I going?

“Where are we going?” Eddie asks. It comes out less as a question and more of a demand.

“Help me to decideee,” Richie sings along with lyrics instead of answering, snapping his fingers in time and shifting his weight from heel to heel with a pop of his hips. “Help me make the—” He throws an arm around Eddie’s tensed shoulders, forcing him into a makeshift tango as they near the escalators again. Laughing into Eddie’s hair, he twirls them around once before lifting Eddie up and onto the motionless handrails.

“I’m being serious,” Eddie sighs, biting his lip from a traitorous grin appearing. Gnawing terror is still clawing its way up his throat, but for just a wonderful second, all he can think about is Richie ridiculously shimmying his shoulders and throwing out jazz hands. He watches him try to pop up onto his toes like Michael Jackson, but quickly loses his balance and topples forward with enough pride to pretend like he did it on purpose to dramatically drape over the railing. Despite it all, Eddie is bursting out laughing like he hasn’t let himself in months, knowing Richie’s been trying to perfect that move for years. Somehow, he’s still no good at it.

“Everybody wants to rule the world.”

Richie marches past him up the escalator, grabbing Eddie’s hand as he takes the steps two at a time. He scrambles to keep up, too focused on his footing and the back of Richie’s head to be apprehensive about what might be waiting in the food court until they’ve already reached the top. The actual restaurants themselves are barred shut, leaving a dismal collection of overturned chairs and empty tables littered across the floor. It doesn’t take long for Eddie to notice that the escalators are the only way in and out.

As he’s caught up in surveying the area, Richie tugs the backpack from his shoulders, unceremoniously chucking it back down the escalator as if it didn’t hold their last handful of glow sticks.

“Richie!” Eddie protests louder than he intends to, feet already whirling around to go retrieve the bag. But Richie’s hands are cupping his face faster than he can move, pulling their foreheads in close again as Richie hums the fading chorus. His face is calm, an amused smirk pulling at his lips as Eddie fights off confusion. Richie is keeping him on his toes—both literally and figuratively—and always keeping Eddie facing forward. The blaring music and his apathy for how loud he’s being betrays every rule they’ve set, and he’s laughing at Eddie’s wrinkled expression.

A year ago, it would have made Eddie’s heart melt. He would have tugged his head down by his curls and lovingly called him an idiot, blissfully letting Richie be his favorite distraction.

But that was then. Now, it’s all wrong.

“Richie…” Eddie whispers, hands coming up to clench at Richie’s sleeves to still his trembling fingers. He wants to be wrong. Please let me be wrong. “…what’s behind me?”

And there it is.

It’s a fleeting moment that he nearly misses from Richie’s thrown-off fluttering eyelids, but the temporary look of panic taints Richie’s cheek-bruising smile just long enough for Eddie to know exactly what he was terrified of.  “Those things are down there, aren’t they?” He manages a thankful, weak smile. “You’ve been trying to avoid letting me see them.”

Above them, the song restarts again.

Richie bites his lip, confirming Eddie’s suspicions. His resulting laugh is short, dark as he taps Eddie’s cheek with his thumb. “Ah, I should’ve known. You’re far too clever for me, my boy.” But then he’s dropping down to one knee, brushing kisses to Eddie’s knuckles like a gentleman. “Now will you dance with me?”

Eddie backs out of his grip, arms thrown out in exasperation that Richie’s in denial and keeping up his theatrics. “What are we even doing up here? There’s only one exit, we’re cornering ourselves!”

Richie rises back up to his feet, removing the distance between them and looking terrifying neutral. Like someone trying to soften the blow. “Eds, you know why.”

“I don’t,” Eddie lies.

“You said it yourself, we can’t keep running.”

“I know, but… it scares me knowing you think that too.”

“Why?”

“Because…fuck Richie, it means it’s real.” He averts his gaze towards their shoes, unable to handle the pitied look Richie’s giving him. “B-because it means…it—” His words turn into a strangled sound, unable to force the words out and admit defeat; to admit they’ve given up after a year of fighting to stay alive and watching their friends die to protect each other.

He can’t say it. He can’t bring himself even open his mouth. So he’s grateful when Richie’s gently lifting up his chin, brave enough to admit it: “It’s okay, Eddie, I’ve got you. You’ve been stronger than me for so long, always being the one keeping us moving forward. But we don’t have to run anymore. We can just sway.”

Eddie shakes his head furiously. “We can’t.” But even as he says it, he knows that he’s already signed his fate. He knows exactly what Richie is doing. It’s not just a dance, and it’s not just their song.

It’s their swan song, and Richie’s having them sway together toward the finale instead of crawl.

I love Richie Tozier so fucking much.

“Richie—”

“Don’t say it.” Richie grabs Eddie by the hand again, expression soft as he leads him towards the mess of tables. He uses one of the chairs as a stepping stool—“Holding hands while the world comes tumbling down”—careful to test to see if it can hold his weight before tugging for Eddie to follow along. They haphazardly step from table top to table top, moving themselves towards the center of the room until Richie’s satisfied they found a sturdy enough table to hold them both.

It’s not until Richie’s arms are looping around his shoulders that Eddie nearly loses it. Facing away from the escalators, the fear of knowing that they are probably coming up the stairs now sends his nerves into overdrive. Richie tries rubbing soothing circles in the small of his back, guiding Eddie into his chest. He smells of copper and cold.

“So glad we almost made it”

“Just sway with me,” Richie whispers into his ear. He brings his hands up, covering Eddie’s ears with his palms to shut out all the noise. He can still almost hear the muffled approaching groans and hisses mixed with the keyboard chords over his pulsing heartbeat.

We’re going to die here, Eddie wants to say, but he can’t. There’s no point is wasting his breath on something so blatantly, harshly true. Because if he just sways along, everything fades away other than the familiar warmth of Richie’s hands, and the proximity that he could know is him even with his eyes shut. Nevermind the scabbed hands that start brushing, gripping, pulling now at his ankles as they try to climb. Nevermind the sudden quickness of Richie’s breath against his hair, or the silent tears he feels dripping onto his face. Nevermind the fight to live trying to spur Eddie into running. Nevermind the realization that he’s going to die being dragged away by greedy hands desperate for his flesh.

“Nothing ever lasts forever”

There’s still another minute in the song, he thinks. He suddenly can’t remember how it end, and he knows he’s never going to find out. But there are worse songs to die to, and worse people to dance with. And if he shuts his eyes, he can almost pretend it’s just him and Richie, swaying together in that bedroom while the party raged on below them, tuning out the white noise and clinging to each other like lifelines until the record skips—

[elegant-phff]

Three.Welcome To The Sad Breakfast Club!

Present

May of 2015.

Prince Harry of Wales[Finally ;)]

Betrayed...that's what I felt.The moment I walked into her apartment and saw them.Meghan ---the name even tasted bitter in my tongue.Meghan had been cheating on me for two months now and I was stupid enough to not notice it.Late night phone calls with a 'friend' from the States,sudden re-shoots for her show.All of those were lies and I didn't notice them because I was blindly in love with her.Everyone warned me,they said she was skeptical and I should be careful.I,being my stupid self did not pay head to them.I should have.

But now,I would have to do the walk of shame once again.Even though,this time I haven't done anything shameful,it is still equally embarrassing for the firm.A failed engagement.The world was over the moon about there being another royal wedding,unfortunately it is not happening anytime soon.The world doesn't know that yet though.Although I would like to get over with this soon.The more I think about this situation the more I am reminded of the betrayal.

How could Meghan do this to me?I threatened to abdicate the throne so I could marry her,I fought with Gran and my dad so I could spend the rest of my life with her.I was ready to give up my title for her but she chose to betray me,betray my trust and love.I couldn't believe that I fell in love with her

Now,as I wait outside my father's office I feel like I am a teen again.Going to get scold for doing something mischievous.I contemplated whether to knock or not.Finally after what felt like hours but actually was 5 minutes,I finally knock."Come in,"Pa's deep voice rang in my ears.Finally I opened the door and entered his office.It was a spacious room with historically old interior decoration.Obviously fitted for a future monarch."Ah!Harry,what a pleasant surprise!I wasn't informed that you were coming to visit,"My father greeted me.Although the media portrayed him as a cruel man,he was just a man in his mid sixties with the weight of The Crown on his shoulders,which could fall upon his head anytime.

"Hello Pa,I just thought that I should come by and say hello.We haven't been spending time together much,"I said trying to avoid the main reason why I was here as much as possible.I was dreading it.I wish the ground could swallow me whole right now.I saw how removed his glasses and looked at me,it seemed as if he was observing me."You are fidgeting,"Pa noted."You never do that unless you are extremely nervous,so now son tell me what is the real reason why you are here,"He added with a stern expression.You see,sometimes I forget that he is a future monarch.He is suppose to have these skills--skills to observe people,understand their body language.I felt stupid thinking that I could fool my father.He noticed every single detail,that is one of the reasons why I would always get caught underage drinking and smoking drugs.He was very observant.

"I-I h-have--"I stuttered.At this point I was sweating like a pig and was fidgeting like crazy."You know you could tell me anything,"Pa tried to assure me."Meghan-Meghan is not pregnant right?"Pa asked with his eyebrows raised.My eyes widened and I shook my head as a 'no'.I saw him realise a breathe."Quite the opposite really,"I said with my head low.I could feel my father's gaze on me but I didn't have the courage to meet his eyes."She-She c-cheated on me,"I finally confessed.I raised my head and looked at my father.I was met with the expression which was a mixture of shock,confusion and sadness."What?"He finally asked."Are you sure?A-are you sure that there is no confusion here?"He asked in disbelieve.I could only shake my head 'no'.I began to explain everything to Pa.From her suspicious long phone calls late at night to her sudden re shoots which used to happen before the engagement and me walking into them doing it.

Everyone in the family had their suspicions about Meghan,I knew that but I was too blinded by her to actually think them through.So,as a knowing look covered my father's face I wasn't surprised.They had warned me about dating an actress.Especially a small screen actress.She was not well-known.If she dated me then she'd get so much media coverage,she was clearly using me and I gladly gave her everything she wanted."Are you sure you want to go through with releasing the statement so early?"Pa asked concerned."Yes,I can no longer have myself bonded with that woman.I was stupid enough to be blinded by her for so long,now I wish for this matter to be over with as soon as possible,"I said letting out my pent up anger."I think it is better having a broken engagement rather than a broken wedding,pa..."I added."Very well if it is your decision Harry.You will have to talk to your Gran first,you know that right?"

"Of course I do,I just wanted for you to be the first one to know,I will tell Will and then Gran.I know she wouldn't take it well.But it's gotta happen,"I said.Pa only nodded."I will talk to Edward after you talk with Ma about releasing the statement,it's not gonna be an easy one so prepare yourself Harry,"Father said encouragingly."Of course.I will take your leave then,"I said.Pa nodded and smiled sympathetically.I took this as my queue to leave.As I closed the door I sighed.One down,three more to go.One being Will and Kate,second being Gran and third being the entire world.

Telling Will and Kate was rather easy.They made me feel better,telling me that it was not my fault and that Meghan didn't deserve me and my love.Will had been there through all of my stupid decisions and in his words,"It is the most sensible and adult-like decision  you have ever made."Kate being the older sister I never had hugged me and said reassuring words to me,saying that I will find my 'the one' soon.I don't even know if I have a 'the one' anymore.

The next person to reveal this new and crucial piece of information to was my Gran.I wasn't terrified or anything like that.I was rather upset---upset that I'd let my family down once again.The monarchy would once again receive backlash from the media.Not only that but it would be another wedding disaster marked in history.All the things I wished to avoid after my mess ups last year.Shaking all the negative thoughts out of my mind,I instructed my driver Arthur to drive me to Buckingham Palace.It is now or never,I thought.The driver pulled  up in Buckhouse and I immediately got out,not even waiting for the footman to open my door,he bowed hastily ."Her Majesty is waiting for you in her study,Your Royal Highness,"The footman said guiding me to the study.Just when we stopped in front of the door of the study,I took a deep breathe while the footman announced me."His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales,Your Majesty,"He bowed before leaving.As I entered the room, Gran stood up from her seat to greet me.I bowed my head and kissed her cheek,she engulfed me in a hug."Oh Harry,how have you been?I was quite puzzled when Mark informed me that you scheduled an impromptu meeting!"Gran exclaimed."Yeah,well I have something to tell you,"I said."Oh really?What is it,but before that do sit down Harry,"She said gesturing to the chair in front of her.I nodded  and sat down.I didn't say anything yet though,sensing my discomfort Gran started speaking,"So,how are the wedding preparations going?Have you chosen which uniform you are going to wear?Has---"

"--Meghan has been cheating on me and I want to call of the engagement,"I blurted out."I am sorry,did I hear it correct?I swear my old age--"

"You heard it right Gran,"I replied.Gran leaned back in her char,contemplating her next words,but she didn't break eye contact with me."It is a big matter Harry but I am glad it has come out early into the engagement.It would have been terrible if it was after the wedding,"She noted."I think it is the best thing to do,call off the engagement.But we have to make a prenup.Or else she'd have the freedom to talk about The Firm and it would be even more terrible for the monarchy.So I suggest we agree on the prenup and then within next week we can release the statement,"She added.As much as I didn't want it to take so long,I knew I didn't have much of an option.

The entire  week consisted of meetings with the lawyers of The Firm,few dreadful meetings with Meghan---which consisted of her desperately wanted some properties in her name,which were suppose to be given to us after marriage.Finally the day of the statement arrived and Kensington Palace's and Clarence House's Twitter accounts released the statement regarding our separation.The world,as expected was taken by storm.Now,as a part of the agreement we didn't reveal why we separated but obviously the media was hunting hungrily for the reason.After the release of the statement,I realised how real everything was.I was supposed to be a married man in 5 months but now I will once again be single.I was gonna start a family---something I had wanted to do for the longest time.Unknown to post people,I had taken up drinking again.It was the only way I didn't feel anything.

Few weeks after the statement release,my friends decided that I should celebrate being single so we are going to one of Sam's private clubs.The group that was going was Me,Skip,Sam,Elizabeth,Guy,Savannah,Zara,Mike,Eugenie,Beatrice,Will and Kate.Apparently a friend of Kate,Bea and Genie was also coming.It would be interesting to meet her for the first time.They did assure us that she was trust worthy.

Getting ready for the night I went for a white button shirt and a pair of black suit pants.My RPOs Ed and Luke were waiting for me outside.I took my wallet and phone and head out.My RPOs didn't bow to me in private because they have known me since I was a teen and I insisted to be called just Harry.About twenty minutes later,we arrived at Sam's private club.Thankfully there were no paparazzis there.I got out of the Range Rover discreetly followed by Ed and Luke.I was welcomed by Sam,Skippy,Savannah,,Zara,Guy, Elizabeth and  Mike.Apparently,Kate and Will were on their way and Genie and Bea were coming with the 'mystery guest'.

"How is single life treating you Mate?"Skip asked patting my back."I mean,I was meant to get married and start a family in just a few months and now everything has changed.Nothing is gonna happen now.But I will have to move on eventually,"I replied."I know how difficult it must have been for you.You were head over knees for her and moving on is going to be difficult but it is for the better of you.There is someone who is meant for you.You will find her eventually,"I nodded understandly."One scotch please,"I ordered.We were discussing about polo when Will and Kate arrived,their RPOs heading to stay with mine.I hugged them both.We all began catching up then suddenly we heard the sound of a sports car."Sam you booked the club entirely for us right?"Will asked confused."Yeah,I wouldn't want anyone to get a wind about this hangout,"Sam replied."But no one in our group rides a sports car,"Guy said.Just then three ladies along with a bodyguard arrived inside.

The three ladies being Eugenie,Beatrice and their friend---who looks quite familiar.The bodyguard were definitely not my cousins' since they do not use RPOs.So it was their friend's.Is she famous?she must be or else why'd she use a bodyguard.I was cut off from my thoughts as they approached us.Kate immediately engulfed the 'incognito' person into a tight hug."OH MY GOD YOU CAME!THANK YOU SO MUCH!"Kate exclaimed excited and leaving the hug."Damn woman,chill out.You are about to murder me today,"The girl said dramatically.Everyone---including me,laughed."I think that credit goes to me,I literally dragged her out of her bed and damn is she strong,"Eugenie exclaimed.The girl scoffed but quickly her expression softened as she said,"But seriously,I am so sorry for intruding you guys' plans,"

"Oh stop with this bullshit!You are Genie,Bea and Kate's friend which makes you friends!"William said.It seemed odd that they were all so welcoming towards her.We have a very tight group and of course we don't trust people easily."Come on,let's introduce you to everyone!" Beatrice exclaimed excitedly."This is Skip.He is the trouble maker and his wife Savannah."

"This is Zara and Mike--"

"OH MY GOD!!YOU ARE ALEXANDRA LARSSON!"

And now,everything made sense.She was a Larsson.Well you might think that there are many Larssons in this world.But Alexandra Larsson was only one.Younger daughter of Air Cdre Samuel Larsson,one of Gramp and Pa's closest companions.And she was indeed famous.Now all of those information don't matter because right now things were gonna  get awkward.I had asked her number three years back and she had promised me,her number the next time we meet.I bet she doesn't even remember,right?It would totally suck if she did though.I will just pretend I don't remember anything."And last but not the least we have our ginger friend Harry,"I was cut of by Skippy.I offered my signature smile,pretending that I was completely unfazed by our impromptu meeting."Of course,we have met before.Not for long though but we had a convo,"Alexandra smirked.My eyes widened,oh no she didn't."Really?When did that happen?"William asked amused by my expression.By now the entire group's attention was on her,waiting for her answer."Oh,Military State Dinner 2012,unfortunately I only met Harry.I was really hoping I'd meet Kate that day,"Alexandra said,her smirk widening,if that was even possible.Kate 'awwed' hugging her again.What is with her being to affectionate towards Alexandra?"I think I am extremely lucky to have met the Royal Trio,"She joked."Wait so how did you girls meet?"I asked curiously."Me,Bea and Genie had a Ralph and Russo Fashion Show to attend and Alexa was among the VIP guests,"Kate said."Thankfully she was seated beside us and her jokes helped us survive the boring show,"Genie added.Alexandra laughed,"Oh come on,it wasn't that bad!"

The group immersed into their own conversations,most of them trying to get to know Alexandra.I chipped in the middle of conversations so I wouldn't feel left out.I went back to the bar to get refills when I saw Alexandra follow me,"One tequila,"She offered a charming smile to the bartender."So..."She said to me,"How'ya been?"."I don't know anymore.Everyone keeps asking me that,"I raised my hands in a frustrated way."Huh,I know what it feels like.Everyone is sympathetic and acting all weird around you.Thinking they are helping you but instead are putting you in more dismay.I stared at her for a few moments,observing her.I noticed her squinting her eyes as if saying,'what the fuck are you doing?'."You know you are pretty interesting,"I finally say."I have been told so,"She chuckled."So,what happened with you?"She frowned,not quite understanding my question."Well,you said you know what I feel like.So you must have gone through something similar.I am asking you to share experiences,"I said as the bartender gave us our drinks and we gulped them quickly."Harry!Oh Harry !I forgot to welcome you to the club!!"She exclaimed clearly drunk."What club?"I laughed."The sad breakfast club!I Club where people with broken heart and dysfunctional brains stay..."She trailed off."Basically us,"I realised."YES!"She grinned.I chuckled in amusement.I ordered two more drinks for me and chucked them quickly.Suddenly,the music started blaring from the speakers and Everyone started dancing to Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off'.We also joined our  friends in dancing and we danced our night away.

At that moment there was no Meghan,there were no titles,no Firm,no monarchy but me and music.I let myself loose around people that I knew cared for me.They were the best thing that came out of my life and I am more than grateful to have them in my life.

At some point in our drunken night,I mustered a lot of courage and went up to Alexandra,"Remember what you promised me the last time we met?"I asked with a eyebrow raised.Alexandra seemed to think as if going through her memories to find the information.Finally,She shook her head."You promised me that the next time we'd meet you'll give me your number.So..."I trailed as I put my phone in front of her.She snatched my phone playfully and quickly typed her number."You are lucky that I don't break my promises Your Royal Highness,"Alexandra said playfully.I took my phone from her hands and saw that she saved her number as 'Alexandra The Great 🏆'I laughed at that.How is she so drunk and still funny?

The rest of the night consisted of all of us dancing till we couldn't feel our legs--literally.As Alexandra was unable to give her number to everyone in the group in a sober condition,she drunkenly went around giving her number to the group.

I felt so free that night that I forgot about everything,all the worries.I forgot to ask Alex---I should start calling her Alex---about her heartbreaking experience.I forgot about my own heartbreak.At the end of the night,Alex's bodyguard had to drag the three girls to the car and safely drive them off.That was them revealed that Alex owned a Audi R8 and that was the sports car that we'd heard in the beginning of the night.

That night for the first time in weeks,I fell asleep without negative thoughts.

[slashingdisneypasta]

MultiVillain x Reader || Drabbles

Plot: Okay, so this is how it goes. Reader’s in love with (Villain), and (Villain) is in love with them… but no one ever said it out loud, and now Reader is marrying someone else.

Includes: Napoleon Boneparte (Misc), Human!Oogie Boogie (Disney Villain), Oswald Cobblepot (Gotham), Slenderman (Creepypasta), The Clown (Horror Villains)

Warnings: Alcohol intake, talk and hints towards murder of course, and swearing. 

Notes:

Inspired by ‘Marry Me’ (Either by Thomas Rhett [The guy’s POV which is what this will be in] or Elle Mears [Your POV, if you wanna see how Reader’s thinking]) and I recommend you listen while you read! ^^

I’m so happy!! I finally wrote something more then headcanons for Oogie! And this is also my first time writing for the Clown, so be easy on me XD

I hope you like this- I for one, am actually pretty proud of it! 

~~~

Napoleon Boneparte (You’re having a nighttime wedding- you made this decision of course so your friend and secret soulmate could attend):

She wants to get married, she wants it perfect She wants her grandaddy preaching the service Yeah, she wants magnolias out in the country Not too many people, save her daddy some money

Before walking into the church, I halt a moment at the side so others may get inside by me. This will be hard. I need a moment, just a moment… to pull myself together. It would be very bad, if I were to panic as Y/N makes their way down the aisle.

Hand on the church, more to hold myself together rather then to hold myself up. Am I doing the right thing? Should I be here? Should I leave? That stupid Capone said I might not be able to control myself and will object when the preacher asks… he’s not right, is he? It’s true, I don’t feel entirely under my own control right now…. But I need to be here. To support Y/N on their big day.

… I do love them, far more than any man every should a nearly married person, and even if I can’t have them for myself, I would, happy, do very near anything to make them happy.

So, if… If they want me here, as they said they do… Then I have to go in. I can’t chicken out now. I am the great Napoleon Boneparte. I can attend a wedding. Bon dieu.

Viva La France.

I can do this.

Forward!

As soon as I walk in, it is as if I am strolling into Y/N’s mind. This is just as they always wanted, with a few obvious added things by the other one that’s getting married today, like the chiselled cat head mahogany chairs… not that I think Y/N would disapprove if they weren’t, in fact, kind enough to just agree right away, seeing as it isn’t only their day.

The white makes a beautiful backdrop for their chosen accent colour, and the people in the room are exactly who I would imagine to accompany Y/N in her daily life, when I cannot be there. There’s not a sour, or in any way unexcited and unencouraging expression in the place.

Honestly, with my whole heart, wish I could feel the same as them.

Then Y/N comes into the room, and steals the breath right out of my chest. Like always.

Human!Oogie Boogie:

Ooh, she got it all planned out Yeah, I can see it all right now

I'll wear my black suit, black tie, hide out in the back I'll do a strong shot of whiskey straight out the flask

Christ, what kinda shindig is this?? I’ve asked everyone and their cat, including somebodies’ mother who looks like a cat, to play a tiny game of Blackjack with me while we wait for the main event, but nothing! Nada! What’s wrong with these people? Are they dying to just sit around and contemplate their loneliness until the two hosts get hitched??

I, for one, am not playing that game today.

Of course, I’m also avoiding Y/N at all costs so maybe I’m not the best example of a man controlling his emotions.

“Oogie!”

My shoulders seize up visibly, at Y/N’s voice behind me and I stop shuffling my cards. I only decide to turn around and face them like a man, when they give up waiting and round me so I can see their beaming face.

Oh, they look so happy.

That’s nice… in a terrible, heartbreaking, awful kind of way.

“Heya, Y/N. You look great!” I start shuffling the cards again in my hand, distracting my hands from and refraining myself from, taking their hand and kissing it, or pulling them into a hug. If I did that, I think theirs an acute possibility I would end up saying something we would both regret, in a moment of determination… and devastation, of course. Can’t forget that.

Really, I can’t. It’s a very prominent feeling right now in my chest, just being here. Just knowing this is happening.

“Thank you!” They beam wider, and oh Jesus. They’re so beautiful when they look happy- I wish I could make them this happy.

… But that’s all the other guy. The one they’re hitching.

They run their bottom lip through their teeth, looking down at the cards in my hands and then smirking in that mischievous way that always somehow makes this blackheart’s insides clench up. In a good way, but still. Tilting their head, they look back up at my face. “Had no luck getting anyone to bet with you yet?”

I let out a deep, theatrical sigh full of frustration. “No! Your guests all suck, Y/N.”

“Even you?”

“No, not me. I’m the King.”

“Right,” They laugh, then goes and sits down at a nearby table. “Well we have 10 minutes until I have to go get ready to walk- I’ll play you if you want!”

My heart pops like a balloon, and goes flying, wheezing around in my rib cage as I just smile at them for a good moment- unmarried, and free, and mine. For ten to fifteen more minutes. Hell yeah, I’m going to sit down and play with them.

Why aren’t I telling them not to? I wonder, as I deal us both cards and they pick theirs up and make cheeky ‘Hmmm’ sounds to throw me off. Why don’t I tell them, right now, how I feel? Why am I doing this to myself? Why am I here, is also a valid question but I already beat myself up over that last night when I was picking out my tie. I’m her friend, and they deserve to be… yuck. Happy, with the person they chose.

And I guess, that’s the answer to all my other questions too.

Let me just enjoy this last game, this last 600 seconds with them.

Oswald Cobblepot:

I remember the night when I almost kissed her Yeah, I kinda freaked out, we'd been friends for forever And I always wondered if she felt the same way When I got the invite, I knew it was too late

And I know her daddy's been dreading this day Oh, but he don't know he ain't the only one giving her away

As soon as Y/N leaves my side to go and freshen up for the aisle walk, I find myself a seat in the very back of the church / auditorium and rest in for the event. I will not be moving from this hidden away spot, in convenient shadow, with my secret flask of terrible smelling stuff that Victor gave me before arriving, until this shitshow is over and I can leave.

I’m only here in the first place, because Y/N asked me. And, evidently, my idiocy runs deep because I accepted such an invitation. I will do anything, for them. I learnt my lesson in dealing in peoples love lives, with Edward and Isobel- I will not let my relationship with Y/N go as badly as that one did, with Ed.

So if I must sit here and watch them marry that moron, (Fiancé’s Name), then that is what I’ll do. But I won’t sit in the front and watch it, and I will be as drunk as whatever this drink can make me.

Maybe I should text Victor, the deadly assassin, and ask what the contaminants are…

An unevolved, ap-like woman walks past my seat and I must be too close to the aisle because I can hear her yap like a strangled cat about what a cute couple Y/N and (Fiancé’s Name) are together and how they must be soulmates, and I don’t think twice before gulping down a huge mouthful of the alcohol. If this is how I die, then so be it, I think bitterly as I slide further down the aisle.

“Fuck!” The word comes out of me before I can stop it, my face probably the picture of horror and disgust. This… drink, if I can even call it that -more of an undiluted acid, if you ask me, - tastes like regret and earwax.

The same ape-like woman from before flashes a stern, disapproving look at me like she thinks she’s my mother, and I show her my middle finger. Uncouth, yes, but affective. This is a bad day, and I am in no mood to deal with bitches like her. She quickly looks away, and I take another, smaller, sip of the drink.

Another moment passes and the wedding doesn’t seem to be even a second closer to ending, so I sit up straight and close my eyes, holding the flask in my lap. Take me back to a better time…

In the silent, middle-of-the-conversation lapse moment, I allow myself to look down at Y/N’s mouth. They have a soft smile, left over from whatever we were just talking about, on their face as they sit comfortably in our silence and I suddenly feel total confidence. They’re here, with me, instead of off with that boy toy / girl toy / gender neutral or fluid toy. They’re with me. That must mean that I mean something to them, right? And Ed said they looked at me like… like, they love me. Or ‘care deeply’, as he put it. But we all know that was just his stiff version of the word ‘love’. Ever since Isobel… had her unfortunate accident… he’s been focused on one emotion only and it is not, love.

Anyway, the confidence spreads through me and I smile. It mixes with my perpetual desire to kiss them, and goddamnit, I should do it. I should just lean over and press a gentle kiss on their mouth- if they aren’t interested or pull away, I can blame it on the wine between us. If not…

Butterflies erupt in my stomach and my chest, and I’ve just lean an inch forward… when their phone rings on the table and I see (Boyfriends Name) flash on the screen.

I rush to lean completely back in my chair, as they answer. I don’t like to believe fate has anything to do with Gotham, but… that was entirely too close.

My eyes snap open and I roll my shoulders back, inhaling another, bigger slug of the contents of the flask and feel even angrier.

That was, most certainly not a better time, you nitwit.

Slenderman:

Bet she got on her dress now, welcoming the guests now

I could try to find her, get it off of my chest now But I ain't gonna mess it up, so I'll wish her the best now

I’ve been sitting in the back of this church, a place I likely shouldn’t ever enter in the first place -Well, at least I’m not Offender. I would probably burn to death, in that scenario, - for over 2 hours and I only got to see Y/N for 45 and a half minutes of that time.

Not that that really matters. Its more important that they see me. I certainly don’t want to see them. I don’t wish to see them, or their wedding clothes, or their wedding guests, or the stupid moony smiles on their faces, or the cake, or their partner. Definitely not their partner. If they show their face before they absolutely have to, or worse, talk to me, I will promptly go home and kill 30 people. I don’t want to be here.

I shouldn’t be here, in fact. If I were a good man, I wouldn’t be here. A good man would never turn up to a wedding that he know’s he’s just going to sit back in and think unholy, too-fond and too-angry thoughts about one of the marriage participants. Marriage is supposedly a sacred thing, and if I were this good man that I’m thinking about, I wouldn’t urinate on it like this.

But I am not a good man.

So, really, what would I know about what a good man, would do in the first place?

Enough thinking about good men, it’s making me queasy and very uncomfortable.

I don’t look around, but I can infer with general certainty, that Y/N will be welcoming all her other guests now that I ‘allowed’ -Not that I could have stopped them. They just didn’t want to leave me in my own company,- them to let me be alone here. And they’re in their wedding clothes, which look lovely on them, and their smiling and their giddy.

Giddy. Ugh, I hate that word, especially in this sense. Defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary as ‘feeling silly, happy, and excited and showing this in your behaviour’. And by the Oxford, to ‘Make (Someone) feel excited to the point of disorientation.’. Yes, I looked up these definitions and memorised them before I came, and loathe every single word, in that order.

Because apparently, as if it wasn’t already obvious by the very fact that I’m HERE, I hate myself.

This other person has made Y/N giddy, while I have to sit here and pretend, I’m happy for them both and that I don’t feel like vomiting for the first time in 5 centuries.

But I can’t do anything about it, because I love them, Y/N, and I will… I will not, allow myself to be the reason their wedding wasn’t perfect. So, I wish them the best.

Or I try my damn hardest to.

The Clown / Jeffry Hawk / Kenneth Chase:

So I'm in my black suit, black tie, hiding out in the back Doing a strong shot of whiskey straight out the flask I'll try to make it through without crying so nobody sees Yeah, she wanna get married Yeah, she gonna get married But she ain't gonna marry me

I don’t know if I’d call this a real wedding. For one, its in the entities realm so how ‘magical’ could it really be? And for another reason, the only white thing here is my grease paint. Its pretty laughable. I would laugh, in fact, if I didn’t know it would cause a coughing fit and bring attention to me as Y/N walks down the aisle- O don’t need them looking at me. I might accidentally blurt out an ‘oopsie’ or something not-at-all funny like that, with all the whiskey I’ve injected today. Not that that would be the biggest issue with these kids seeing that I’m here, in the first place. Only Y/N knows, I’m hiding by a tree.  

But, I digress I guess. They’re calling it a wedding. The big one with the beard is officiating -I guess he has an online certificate from before he was brought here,- , Y/N’s wearing a pit of plastic bag on their head like a make shift veil / bit of plastic bag fashioned sort of like a tie, and all the lovely little fingers, or survivors as they like to call themselves, watch. With silly gleaming smiles and hope in their eyes- Pft, suckers.

Honestly the idea of weddings in the first place make me a bit uncomfortable. All those wide eyes watching and perving on your happiness?? Seems pretty creepy to me, and I’ve been told I’m pretty creepy myself! So, I would know!

The fact that possibly the sweetest, perfect person I’ve ever had the pleasure of setting my gaze upon is the one getting married, has absolutely no stake on my take on weddings in this moment.

Absolutely not…

Aha… hahahaha…

I kill myself.

I kill them, too, but let’s put that on the backburner like their fingers, for now.

Let me wallow in self-pity for a while longer before we start making jokes.

Yeah, let me… I take a swig of my flask -a bee-oootiful concoction of all the most toxic hootch I have in my collection, and maybe also some actual poison maybe since I wasn’t paying much attention when I created it this morning and I keep it all in relatively the same place, - and savour the horrible flavour on my tongue. Let me wallow, for a little bit.

This is going to be a bad day, for these little fuckers when I get into the game.

[marisheeran-imagines]

Guiding Light - Christmas Special #2

A/N: Hello, Sheerios! Sorry for being so late with the remaining chapters of this Christmas Special! I don't know if I mentioned in the first part, but I got sick and I'm taking longer than usual to write everything, but I finally have the chapters ready now (except from the Lego House specials, but I'll be posting until the end of the week, okay?!) Hope you enjoy this chapter, is a short one, compared to the followings! Love you all, and let me know your opinion!

Title: Guiding Light Chapter Title: Christmas Special: First Christmas #2 Pairing: Ed Sheeran x Reader Rating: +18 Word Counter: +1400 Warnings: THERE ARE NO WARNING FOR THIS CHAPTER! Though, these are the warnings for the regular chapters, if you get interested on this extra!

younger reader (though ther's no mention of her age), insecure reader low self esteem, stretch marks, virgin reader, a bit of angst/anxiety due to her first time, fluffy, careful Ed, sweet Ed, encouraging Ed, mature content, NSFW, smut, oral sex {both receiving}

December 2018, Framlingham, Ed's Farm

"I can't believe your father let you spend this whole month here with me!" Ed giggles, pinching your waist and you laugh, shaking your head.

"I told you, baby, he likes you now! And it's not like if I need his permission for everything I do, you know?!" you wink at him, and he smirks, cupping your cheeks and leaning into you, taking your lips in a soft and caring kiss. "I've fucking missed you!" he whispers.

"I've missed you too!" you put your arms around his body, feeling its warmth and love, you feel so safe when you're with him!

"Let's put up the tree?" he raises a brow, looking over your shoulder and you turn around to see a huge cardboard box on the couch. "Sure!" you grin, opening the box; there's a big tree there, and plastic bags with decorations - you assume.

"Isn't it too heavy?" you ask Ed when he starts picking the tree up from the box. "Nah, I can deal with that!" he smiles "Oh, no, girls, step back, step back!" he groans when Dorito and Calippo, his cats, start walking between his legs, rubbing their fur in his ankles.

You start laughing as he carefully pushes his cats away and tries to hold the tree at the same time. "Oh, so you do enjoy laughing at my misfortune, huh?!" Ed looks at you, a new smirk playing on his lips, oh, fuck, he's so damn sexy, and teasing!

He starts approaching you, all hands, and soon, you're laid on the couch, his body on top of yours, his legs at the both sides of you, stopping you from moving from this position. Ed giggles, pressing the palms of his hands on your tummy, and you close your eyes, knowing what is coming. Oh, shit, why did you have to laugh before? Now you're gonna laugh ten thousand times harder!

Ed leans into you, brushing his lips on yours quickly and you get surprised, opening your eyes; maybe you were wrong and he wasn't planning to tickle you, after all.

"Ah, there your beautiful eyes are!" he winks at you, teasingly, before you feel his tricky fingers running through your belly, tickling you through your clothes. "TEDDY!" you giggle, shifting, trying to stop his hands, but he's so much stronger - and more persistent - than you, that you give in, letting his fingers touch you, until you're gasping.

"Oh, baby!" he sighs, resting his palms on your waist, now caressing it. You pant heavily, trying to catch your breath; when you do, you pull him down, so now you're on top of him. He raises his light brows, and you know he's afraid you're gonna get your revenge.

You smile mischievously at him, before pecking his lip and sitting on his lap "Teddy, if the roles were reversed you'd be already tickling me, wouldn't you?" you ask him with a brow raised. Ed gulps, nervous and you know he would.

"C'mon, baby, you don't have to... document.write(Mariana)!" he gasps when you run your fingers through the softness of his belly. Ed closes his eyes as he starts laughing and shaking under your body. You giggle too; loving to hear the sound of his laughter, it's so genuine and full of joy you could spend the whole day listening to it.

"I love you so!" you whisper, stopping your hands and laying on his chest, listening to his fast hearbeats and breath. He puts his left hand on your head, stroking your hair gently "I love you too, baby!" he murmurs, his voice husky and wrap his other arm around you tightly.

"I've missed your girls!" you say, watching the cats start walking around the couch. "Our girls!" Ed says and you look at him; he's got a firm gaze on his eyes and you get impressed by the way his voice tone had so much certainty. "Our girls!" you agree, grinning at him.

(...)

"Have I told you how much I loved this idea of making the Christmas earlier, this year?" Ed giggles, swiping the gingerbread dough from the bowl with his index and tasting it, before you can stop him.

"Teddy!" you shake your head "It's nothing like this. I just want to make sure I'll be preparing the recipe correctly for the Christmas day, that's all! But it won't work if you keep swiping the dough!" you scold him.

"Oh, darling, c'mon, it's not like if you didn't know it off by heart!" he giggles, swiping his finger once more.

"Baby, this is the first Christmas I'm spending with your family, I want everything to be perfect!" you say, adding the last ingredients to the dough and mixing everything.

"You are perfect, I'm pretty sure they will love anything you do!" Ed wraps his arms around your body, laying his chin on your shoulder "I love you, okay? And I don't want you to pressure yourself with such a silly matter!".

"Teddy, this is not silly! It's very important!" you turn around, sighing, worried. His family is wonderful and they seem to have liked you in the few times you met them, but you know it'll be a long way until they actually consider you as a part of them. Nancy, Ed's grandmother, was the only one to support your relationship since the beginning.

"You still think they don't like you?" Ed frowns, and you bite your lower lip, shaking your head. "It's just that I know they weren't expecting you to be in a relationship again so soon, specially with someone like me...".

"Hey, hey! We've discussed that before, haven't we?" he interrupts you "It doesn't matter how long it's been since my last relationship, you are my girlfriend! You are the woman I love and they need to accept that!" he brushes his fingers on your face tenderly "I don't get what you mean with 'someone like me'" Ed tries to imitate your voice, obviously terribly failing and you pat his shoulder.

"I'm too younger and inexperienced! What if they find I'm too silly and immature to be with you?!" you ask, concerned and Ed shakes his head. "I told you, baby, you are perfect. My family knows that, they were just a bit apprehensive when we started dating, but that's normal... Just like your father was!" he pecks your lips.

"Okay!" you sigh, getting his point "But let me have some practice!" you turn around, facing the dough and you hear your boyfriend laughing "You need some help?" he asks, laying his hand on the edge of the bowl.

"Yes! Just take your hands away!" you snap them and when you look at him, he's pouting his lips, like a spoiled big-boy "C'mon, Teddy, if you keep eating the dough, I'll have nothing to cook!" you squeeze his left cheek and he sighs. "Alright!" he nods "I'll be putting the lights on the tree, okay?".

"Sure, baby, just call me if you need help!" you say and he nods again, walking out of the kitchen.

You divide the dough in half, wrap them in plastic and put them into the fridge. You are about to start preparing the decoration when you hear a loud noise coming from the living-room along with some curse and groans from your boyfriend. Rushing yourself, you get into the room quickly, finding the tree fallen on the ground and Ed scolding his - well, now yours as well - kittens.

"Girls, I've told you to stay away from the tree, haven't I? What if it had fallen on you? You'd be crashed!" he strokes their fur and they start purring. "Are they okay?" you ask, kneeling beside him.

"Yes, these silly girls!" he giggles, looking at you "Help me to put the tree up?".

"Of course!" you nod, getting up on your feet as he does the same. With some effort, you finally put the tree at its place, having to redecorate it as some balls had fallen off as well. "How did they do that?" you ask, looking from Dorito and Calippo to Ed.

"Ah...!" he blushes a bit, running his hand through the back of his hair, visibly embarrassed "I got distracted and I didn't see when they started to pull the fairy lights out of the tree".

"You got distracted?" you raise your brow "With what, exactly?" you ask, curious and his cheeks turn brighter red. "Nothing..." he shrugs. "Teddy! Please!" you pout your lips, knowing he wouldn't resist telling you the truth.

"Oh, baby, can't you wait until Christmas?" Ed tilts his head, wrapping his arms around you and you sigh, nodding. "Okay, but I hope it's worth the wait!".

"It will, I promise!" he leans forward, brushing his lips on yours and lowering his hand to your bum. "Teddy!" you whisper, feeling your cheeks burning. Your boy and his wandering hands! Ed giggles before sliding his tongue into your mouth, teasing you. You raise your hands to his hair, pulling the smooth red locks with your fingers.

He starts squeezing your butt when you hear another loud noise. Turning around, the scene you find before you is the same of minutes ago: the tree on the ground. Your kittens are looking at you with that Pussy in Boots expression and you melt, knowing you could never scold them. Ed, on the other hand, is pretty mad now, as he runs his fingers through his hair and groans: "Girls!".