#but it’s a Small Town remember. so the party has to share. there are four categories with three townspeople each so three party members will

[azsazz]

Break Up in a Small Town

Modern!Cassian x Archeron Sister!Reader

Summary: Based off of the song Break Up in a Small Town by Sam Hunt: You and Cassian have broken up and everything in town reminds him of you. It's inevitable that he sees you around, and it's hard for him to be okay when he sees you with your new man.

Warnings: Mentions of violence, drinking.

Word Count: 4,489

Notes: Small town Cassian giving me life rn.

_________________________________________

Cassian knew he would see you around.

It’s hard not to see someone he knows every time he leaves his house—the town has less than a thousand people for fucks sake. There isn’t a day that goes by where someone doesn’t stop to talk to him while he’s putting gas in his beat-down Ford Bronco or chatting him up while he tries to pay for his food in the drive through. 

And normally, he welcomes it. He loves to shoot the shit with people he’s known since he was young. He’d run into Tarquin the other day at Walmart while he was picking up a rack of beer for tonight's party. He hadn’t seen the team captain of the high school football team since he’d heard Tarquin received a full scholarship to Ole Miss. He was the only one on their team to do so, though Cassian also had recruiters watching him at games. Thanks to a nasty red-flag tackle by Jurian which left his ACL torn during the championship game, they’d pulled their offers back quicker than a greased pig. Hybern High went all for nothing that year.

He still looked sheepish when Azriel’s mother had checked him out at the grocery store, even though he’s been of age for a few years now. Cassian’s cheeks flushed under her knowing look: she’d caught them more times than he could count when they were teenagers trying to find a way to sneak booze without her knowing.

The party is in full swing. Drinks are flowing and Kallias has taken over the speakers to play his mixtape. The bass is so heavy Cassian can hardly hear the words, but Vivianne’s vocals are grating, pitched too high and not on key with the rest of the notes. He shares a look with Azriel, who cringes, but clinks his beer against Cassian’s before throwing the whole can back.

Cassian follows suit, downing the cheap beer like it’s his job. It’s not his occupation, no, that would be working on cars down at Bryaxis’ Axles, but it’s pretty much his secondary one. He trails Azriel into the kitchen, wading through people gyrating on the makeshift dance floor. They round the counter laden with alcohol—tequila, empty fruity vodka shots that Mor has forced him to take with her, and some concoction of juices and multiple alcohols that nearly burned off his nose hairs when he smelt it—and make way for the fridge where he’d stuffed his beer. It better still be in there or there will be hell to pay.

“When’s Rhys coming down again?” Cassian asks, taking the beer from Azriel as he rises. He tries not to let his fingers brush his quiet friends. They’re marred and Azriel doesn't like when attention of any kind is brought to them, even though Cassian and Rhysand had never held it against him.

A house fire was the rumor around town. But Azriel had only set it straight with him and Rhys at a sleepover one night, when it was going on four in the morning and they were sleep deprived and drunk off their first beers. Maybe Azriel had thought they wouldn’t remember the next day, but there was no way Cassian could forget that his step brothers had taken the lighter fluid form the garage and set his hands ablaze because of their sadistic tendencies.

Azriel’s mother had taken him and moved as far as she could with the money she was saving up, but they’d only made it a few towns over, and Cassian is thankful. Azriel’s father had never shown his face in the years he’s lived here.

“No idea,” Azriel responds, stepping aside to let Thesean into the fridge. The fucker dips his hand right into Cassian’s box of beer, pulling one out before diving in for a second. Cassian grits his teeth but when the other man straightens he notices how glazed over his eyes are, and Cassian knows his threats won’t land. “You know he’s got that internship up in New York.”

Right, while Cassian could only afford to go to their local college, Rhysand’s parents sent him to the most expensive one they could buy him into. And Azriel’s had a job since he was a teenager, when hacking into cameras around town for fun turned into something that made serious money. He bought his mother a house and everything, even offered a room to Cassian, but Cassian wants to make his own way, even if he is living in a run down apartment across town. It’s his, and he worked hard for it.

“Shit, you’re right,” Cassian sighs. It turns into a full on glare when the backdoor shoves open and Balthazar stumbles through, arm wrapped around Emerie for support. The man’s eyes light up at the sight of him and Azriel, while Emerie parts with a sour look in his direction, slinking off into the living room.

“What’s up?” Balthazar slurs, leaning heavily against the counter. He looks like he might slide right off of it, but neither he nor Azriel do anything about it.

“Hey, Balth,” Az greets, popping the top of his beer so he has something to do. They’ll be trapped with the talkative man if they don’t think of an excuse to leave soon. 

Balthazar’s eyes light up at the sound of the can cracking open, but neither of the men before him offer to get him one. No matter for him, he pulls a joint from the pocket of his jeans and a bat shaped lighter from the other, flicking it to life and setting the tip ablaze.

“You guys hear Feyre might be pregnant?” He says through a deep inhale of smoke. Cassian shares a look with Azriel, who never seems affected by any of the small town gossip. He never seems affected by anything, really.

His heart skips at the thought of Feyre. Not because of her and whoever the father of this maybe child might be, but because he’s reminded of you, her sister, the girl he’d lost. Gods, did Cassian fuck up royally when it came to you. 

He takes the bait. Anything to get his mind off of you. “No fucking way.”

Balthazar smiles smug, holding the joint out their way. Cassian declines with a wave of his beer, but Azriel takes a hit, obviously uncomfortable with how crowded and rowdy the party has become.

“Yup. Apparently it was a one night stand with ‘the most beautiful man she’s ever seen,’” he bats his eyes like a simpering girl, voice pitched high in his best impression of the youngest Archeron sister.

Azriel answers through a puff of thick smoke, his voice already scratchy with it. “But isn’t she with—”

“Tam? Yeah, man, I thought so too.” 

Cassian sighs, looking at his beercan. It’s full, so there’s no excuse for him to turn away and grab another. He’s wracking his mind for anything he can use as an excuse to escape the conversation, his night gone sour now that his mind is on you. It likely will be for the rest of the night too, and he’d rather sit on his futon and wallow by himself than to stay at this party.

“Speaking of Archerons,” Balthazar says, taking the joint back from Azriel. “How are you and—”

Fuck it, Cassian thinks, because Balthazar is totally drunk enough not to notice his full beer. “I think I need another drink,” he states, and Azriel glares as he abandons him with Balthazar. That man can gossip for hours, and luckily, silent old Azriel is the perfect listener.

“Isn’t the fridge right behind you?” he hears Balthazar ask Azriel as he retreats, but he doesn’t care. He shoves his beer onto the counter as he makes his way towards the front of the house where his Bronco’s parked.

He hasn’t had that much to drink yet, not even a slight buzz has kicked in, or it’s been dulled from Balthazar's painful topic of gossip. Cassian slips through the crowd as easily as a six foot five man can, girls trying to lure him onto the dance floor and guys clapping him on the back, rallying him for the next game of beer pong. 

Cassain politely declines, reaching for the knob just as it pushes open and his heart stops. 

It’s you. 

His breath is forced from his chest by your beauty. You look amazing as always, hair done up to perfection and eyes alight with the shots you’d taken for confidence, a part of you knowing that you might see him here tonight. You’re laughing with Elain and Feyre who cling to your sides, and Nesta brings the Archeron clan to a close. Your steps falter and grin drops when you meet Cassian’s eyes.

Your mouth parts as if to say something, but Nesta’s interrupting and shoving you inside with a grumble and a curse spat Cassian’s way. His heart shatters again as he watches you walk deeper into the living room without a glance back at him.

He clenches his jaw and steps out into the cool night.

⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅

You haunt him.

It’s a week later and Cassian hasn’t stopped thinking about you. How…good you looked, glowing and laughing whole-heartedly with your sisters when he’s hardly been able to even get out of bed. You’re still burrowed too deep in his heart. Your eyes, your nose, your lips, your hands, your—

He knows you haven't left town, but it feels like you have, with the way you’re avoiding each other. And you seem to be a professional at it, since it's been almost two months since the night you left him. He was a fool to let you go, not fight for you the way you surely wanted because he had accepted failure all too easily. You had made more than one good point. Cassian can’t be what you need.

Cassian hadn’t seen you at the football game tonight. The Velaris Stars had made it to the championship game of the season and everyone in town had come out for it, as the only exciting event for all to enjoy.

He’d gone with Azriel, of course, and even Rhysand had responded to his video of the winning touchdown. The popcorn had been fresh and the air was jovial, the night ending on a high note. The team is going to state.

Fiddling with the stations on his radio at the red light, he doesn’t realize that you’ve pulled up next to him until your giggles filter through the cracked window of your car and his heart stops. He thinks he hears you sometimes, telling him to knock it off when he’s had one too many beers or makes an ill-timed joke. The height differences in your small car compared to his tall one make it difficult to look, but he sits straighter and cranes his neck to see out the passenger window, and yep. It’s definitely you.

In your white Nissan he knows better than his own car. That thing is always breaking down. His heart pinches in his chest when he’s reminded of the time you’d taken it out into the fields to go stargazing. It wouldn’t start and your phones had died. Instead of walking ten miles back to town, you’d asked him to stay up with you all night under the stars, laughing and kissing like it was your last night on Earth.

Cassian wonders who's working on your car now that you’re no longer together.

He doesn’t know why you’re laughing, but he revels in the sound of it even though he feels like shit because he’s not the one making those noises coming from your mouth. Cassian wears a soft smile, thinking about all of the good times you’ve shared, until he notices the hand on your thigh.

The smile falls right off of his face.

His knuckles turn white from how hard he grips the steering wheel. The bright red of the streetlight pours into your car but he can’t see the passengers face, all he knows is that’s a man's hand holding your leg and soothing over it with his thumb. His teeth grind. 

You refuse to look his way. Surely, you must know that you’ve pulled up beside him at this Godforsaken light that for some reason will not turn the fuck green. No, they want him to sit here and see what he’s lost, how happy you are with someone new.

And when the light finally changes he can’t seem to move. He sees your fleeting smile as you take off and he’s left reading that silly bumper sticker Nesta had slapped on the back bumper when she was the one who owned the car, the ‘honk if you like reading smut’ in thick, bold letters laughing at him in the face.

⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅

The worst part about this breakup is, everywhere he goes reminds him of you.

You used to hang out with the same group of people but since the breakup happened Cassian didn’t want any of them to be stuck in the betweens of your fucked up relationship. He couldn’t even suggest trying to be friends because the thought of that alone made him want to throw up. He could never be friends with you, he doesn’t want to, because knowing you in the way that he did and not being able to touch you and hold you and fuck you like he did was much too painful. He kept Azriel in the breakup and let you have everyone else.

When he goes to the McDonald’s for lunch he sees the booth you’d spent almost two hours in, wrappers from ice cream cone strewn about the table because you asked shyly if he would judge you if you went back for a second cone and he grinned mischievously and asked if you wanted to bet on who could down more ice cream. He won, of course, but it had been a valiant effort from you nonetheless.

When he went to the library to return the book he hadn’t even cracked the spine of. He thought reading would help take his mind off of the breakup but Cassian didn’t have the energy. Gwyn was at the front desk, glaring up at him as he slid the book across the counter for her to return. The workspace was filled with art supplies, a post-it note with Feyre and your names scrawled on it and he remembered that the both of you host a arts and crafts day for the children in town once a month. Gwyn had caught his eye and shooed him away. Nesta would have been proud of the shy girl.

When he drives down the country curves, avoiding the crossroads to your house completely. All of the places he’d haphazardly pulled over when you were searching for a place to have sex. But there’s no privacy in these small towns so the back of his Bronco would have to do. It was spacious, but never the place he really wanted to take you in. He wanted to give you a proper bed and worship you like you deserved. If you’d only given him a few more years he would have his own place, though you merit a plush, large bed instead of his paper thin futon.

Cassian stops into Alice’s cafe. It’s fairly early in the morning, but the place is still packed because it’s one of the only restaurants in town. Somethings off about him today, though, and maybe it’s because his mind hasn’t stopped working overtime, trying to figure out who was in that car with you.

Why hadn’t he been driving? Did you want to drive or was he so pretentious that he wouldn’t take you around town? Does he even have a car? He can’t stop overanalyzing the situation and he’s sleep deprived. All he wants is a fucking coffee and the town doesn’t even have a Starbucks yet, so he has to park his car in the overflow lot and go inside. He doesn’t want to be bothered, but the cafe is crawling with townies, so it’s inevitable he’ll see someone he knows.

He doesn’t expect it to be you. 

It’s not like you’re sitting in any of the booths that line his path to the ordering counter. His eyes seem to gravitate towards you no matter where you are, and your playful flirting is unmistakable. He knows, he’s been happily on the other side of that banter before.

Cassian’s gaze locks on you first. You look perfect, unfazed by anything happening in the loud cafe around you. Dishes clang together as the waitress gathers them. It’s Cerridwen, and her twin Naula is manning the espresso machine, Cassian notices when the waitress nods her direction, letting you know that your latte will only be a few more minutes.

“Take your time,” you reassure, eyes sparkling as they move back across the table. Cassian wishes that Cerridwen would move out of the way so he can see who you’re smiling at. “I’m in no rush.”

And then she steps away and his world comes screeching to a halt.

He knows who was in that car with you because he’s sitting across from you right now, a fox-like smile on his face.

Eris Vanserra.

The most pretentious of the Vanserras, if Cassian does say so himself. They’ve never gotten along, mostly due to the fact that Eris is a raging, rich, dick and he’s from the boonies. The Vanserra’s are some of the wealthiest folk in town, their father, Beron, a successful farmer. They own half of the land in this town and then some.

He knows that Eris can take care of you, money wise, but does the asshole please you in bed? He looks like he’s all take and not give. He knows that Eris has a working car, a nice one too, so he doesn’t understand why you were driving him around that night, but it doesn’t seem to matter at the moment when all of the thoughts racing through his head incinerate with his anger.

Cassian’s fingers curl into fists.

Of course it’s Eris. Of. Fucking. Course. It. Is. It couldn’t have been anyone else? Not Bron or Hart or even Lucien? The nicest of the Vanserras? Cassian knows he’s been in a steady relationship with Elain since they were in middle school, but still. Isn’t it weird to be dating the brother of your sister's boyfriend? Cassian sure as fuck thinks so.

This is utterly ridiculous and he’s raging. He needs to get out of here before he picks up your latte and brings it over to you, shoving Eris further into the booth so he can slam his hands down on that table and yell, “Why him?”

Cassian abandons the idea of getting coffee and spins on his heel, ignoring some of the people who try to greet him, leaving the cafe as quickly as he can. 

⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅

“You knew?” he asks into the phone. The bite of pizza in his mouth turns to sludge and he feels betrayed, but he’ll let Azriel explain because surely his best friend hasn’t kept the fact that you’re seeing one of the Vanserra’s a secret from him. 

Azriel shrugs, and something shuffles across the line. “I uh, I’ve been talking to Gwyn.”

Ah. So he’s finally trying to make a move on the fiery redhead from the library. He’s proud of Azriel on the inside, but it doesn’t reflect in his tone because he’s hurt by the subdued man’s actions.

“And you didn’t think to tell me?”

“You never want to talk about her!” Cassian’s dumbstruck. He’s never heard Azriel so loud, irked by his sad nature. His mouth parts even though he doesn’t know how to respond but that’s more than okay because Azriel’s not finished yet. “It’s been months, Cass. You can’t expect her to wallow in sadness for the rest of her life.” And, ouch. That one felt like a direct shot at him. “She was bound to move on at some point and Eris treats her well enough, if that’s what you’re wondering.” It wasn’t, and that just stings more. 

Cassian’s reply is quiet, throat tight. “I’ve got to go.”

Azriel sighs down the line, sensing he’s fucked up. “Cass—”

“No, it’s cool, Az. I’ve just got shit to do. I’ll talk to you later.” He hangs up on Azriel’s protest, making a face at the half eaten slice of pizza in his hand. Cassian tosses it back into the box and sits further back in his chair, running his fingers through his almost too-long hair.

Fuck. He can’t sit around and think about you and Eris together or he’ll actually go nuts. With a grunt he stands, swiping his keys from the bowl by the door. He has to work out his frustrations, and there’s only one thing that can help him with that.

He’ll go to work.

⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱

“Cass?” Helion calls, “What are you doing here?” 

“Just need to work off some frustration,” Cassian says, cringing at the hard edge to his voice. He flings his keys on the top of the tool box before slipping into his grease-stained shirt. He shoves his finger into the button to raise his car on the lift, snagging his safety-goggles from the shelf and sliding them on. 

Helion appears, sliding back into the open doorway of his office, a teasing grin on his face. “You know, when I was your age, working off frustration meant—”

“Now’s really not the best time, Helion,” Cassian responds, taking his quarter inch wrench and walking beneath his car, examining the underside. He knows exactly what needs to be done, all of the parts that he can’t afford on his meager wages means that he has to purchase them slowly, one at a time, and it’s likely that the new parts will be worn in and rusted by the time he even comes close to finishing this project.

Fucking small towns.

“Girl troubles?”

Cassian shoots him a sour look that only makes the older man laugh. “Isn’t it always?”

“When I was young,” Helion starts again and Cassian rolls his eyes. The owner of the mechanics shop always starts his stories with variations of ‘When I was your age’ or ‘when I was young.’ It’s annoyingly endearing at the best of times, but right now, it’s down right infuriating, especially since Cassian wants to be alone. “I had a girl too. She was everything to me, and I had plans to marry her.” The older man's tone goes soft, longing, and Cassian pauses his work to look over. “A pretty thing, long, amber hair and all soft smiles…”

“What happened?” Cassian asks, but is weary, already sensing how this story might end.

Helion shrugs, as if after all of this time it doesn’t bother him. Clearly, it's not the case and Cassain wonders if this is his destiny, to end up like Helion, alone and longing for the woman he’s lost. His heart aches.

“She got away,” his boss answers sadly, eyes dull. “I couldn’t be who she wanted me to be, so she left me. Found herself someone better off than me.” Cassian wonders who it could be. Helion was born in this town and never left, never wanted to, but he’s not sure if it’s because the woman he is still so clearly in love with is here and he’s waiting for his chance to be with her, or if it’s because the man has nowhere else to go. 

“Sounds similar to what I’m going through right now,” Cassian sighs, shoving his goggles up on his head. He’s clearly not going to get any work done, so he slumps into the extra chair by Helion's desk, a frown on his face. “Helion? Is there something you would do differently?”

The older man sighs, assessing him deeply. It makes Cassian shift uncomfortably in his seat. 

And when he speaks, it’s exactly what Cassian needs to hear. “I would’ve gotten the hell out of dodge, had I been smart.”

⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱

The drink he had at Rita’s hadn’t been a good idea. His stomach is in knots, and the alcohol hadn’t helped loosen them in the slightest.

Is he really going to do this? 

He had the entire night to think about his plans, his future. Had Helion been honest when he said that he should’ve left town to avoid the heartbreak that plagued him? Could skipping out actually help mend his aching heart?

It might be worth a shot.

Cassian’s backpack is light, stuffed with only the necessities. He’d called Rhys on his drive back to his apartment, and he’d offered him the second bedroom at his apartment for the summer if the Bronco could make it all the way up to New York. 

It would be a change, a big one that makes his heart pound in his chest to even consider, but if fleeing town like a coward will help him heal from the breakup, it might be worth the shot. 

He decides that he has enough money to make it to New York, and he’ll call Azriel when he gets there, or when he’s on the road and bored of seeing only the highway. He knows Az will be hurt, upset that he didn’t tell him in person, but he’s still mad at the quiet man for keeping your relationship with Eris a secret.

Azriel was being a good friend to you, that Cassian knows, but it still hurts. It hurts to think about Azriel hanging out with you and your sisters and their boyfriends, how he might even actually get along with Eris somehow. The thought of being friends with Eris Vanserra has always been foreign to Cassain.

He takes a last look around his apartment. Azriel will send down the rest of his stuff later, he knows it. His lease ends soon anyway, so if he’s going to leave town, now is the perfect time.

There isn’t anything in this apartment he’ll miss. He’d thrown away the things he kept from your relationship in a fit of rage when he found out about you and Eris. He’d regretted it immediately after.

Cassian loses a breath. A fresh start in a completely different state. This is what he needs.

He shuts off the lights and turns the knob one last time before stepping into the new chapter of his life. New York, here I come.

The streetlight spills through the open crack, illuminating the figure on the other side, hand poised to knock. 

Cassian stills, hand so tight on the knob he thinks it might warp, the sight of you in his doorway a shocking surprise.

You’re twisting your fingers together nervously, shifting on your feet like you’re not sure what you’re doing here at all.

“Hey, Cass…”

[thewritingofspencerrose]

Baby Bear

Jack Hughes x Brad Marchand Sister

sutton.march hey! that's my brother! beating up that guy! (my other "brothers" are much more well behaved, don't worry mom)

bmarch63 thanks kid, thanks. so glad to be your brother when you treat me like this

trevorzegras when i left BC you said you'd root for my team 😠

sutton.march sorry trev, brad works for the big bears so it's kind of an obligation

jackhughes really disappointed in you marchand, you're supposed to be a devils fan

bmarch63 stop flirting with my sister

sutton.march brad, you like him??

jackhughes yeah brad, you said you liked me?

January 15th, the day of the Devils @ Bruins

"Brad, boys, consider this me demanding that you behave tonight. No bullying off the ice, remember?" I warn the boys, all older than I, as someone comes up behind me, placing a jacket over my corset top. Looking back, I can see it's Jeremy, him hiding a small smile and shrugging as I realize the bomber jacket that he gave me for secret santa and I had forgotten at the party last night.

"Sorry, your brother said to grab this from his car. Think he's playing a little extra protective with your little friends in town," he jokes, making me roll my eyes.

Brad is always like this when the Ducks or Devils come to town.

"Sutton!"

"Sounds like your little friend," Pasta jokes with a smirk, the sound of the middle Hughes boys voice earning my attention as I turn with a smile. But before I make any moves, I turn back to my brother and his closet friends. "Behave."

"Yes mom," Sway assures, soluting before taking off towards where the Devils core group was located in the VIP section of the bar, the rest of us following.

"Suttie, how's it going," Luke is the first to greet me, the younger Hughes wrapping me in a hug.

"Always a good night when you hooligans come to town," I greet, hugging the boy back before pulling away, making eye contact with my favorite Bruins opponent. "Mr.Hughes."

"Ms.Marchand," He serves right back, pulling me tight to his chest and kissing top of my head. "I've missed you baby," He whispers, knowing that my "brothers" are all staring us down from the spots they've taken around the table, mingling with the men they were just fighting on the ice.

I'm sure it wouldn't be going this well if the boys in yellow hadn't won 4-3.

"Ok, now you're just hogging her," Dawson grumbles, elbowing both Brad and Nico. "Captains o' captains, one of you has to be able to tell him to knock it off."

The captains share a look as Jack and I look away, him taking a seat in the tight booth and pulling me onto his lap.

In New Jersey, this is never a big deal.

In Boston, you could say there are people against it. At least based on the look of murder on Brad and David's faces as Jack wraps his arms around my waist to keep me in place.

"You guys played great tonight," Jack compliments his elders, Jeremy being the only of the four to actually smile fully.

"Thanks kid, you guys weren't too bad yourselves," Patrice offers, his a slightly more convincing smile than my brother and David's. "That was a great goal you had, Hischier," He adds, nodding slightly at the young captain.

"You can call him Nico, Bergy," I correct, trying to smooth as many divides as I can.

I get four nights a year to encourage these boys get along, plus two for Brad for the holidays I'm able to take Jack too.

And that only goes so well.

"Nico, that was a great goal Nico," Bergy corrects himself, winking dramatically at me.

"Thanks, I was proud of it," Is Neeks response, and although it's simple, it makes me happy to look around and see all my favorite boys smiling (ish) and getting along.

"So," Luke whispers, leaning down to my height. "When are we going to get you into a Devils jacket with Hughes on the back?"

"I like the sound of that," Jack chimes in, having heard his brothers question. "When can we get that to happen?"

"Put a ring on her finger and then she can change her alliances, till then, nuh uh," Brad chimes, Bergy elbowing him and giving him an unimpressed look.

"You can be protective, not a douche bag, Marchy," He scolds, earning an eye roll as Sway and Pasta attempt to hide laughs, Luke, Nico and Daws doing the same.

"Fine."

That wasn't expected, usually he grimes and gruffs more.

"But-" Here we go. "Bruins gear will be warn at all Devils/Bruins games. I do not want to see you in anything red those nights." There it is.

Looking to Jack, he just smiles, knowing my brother doesn't truly dislike him as he likes to put on. Brad's happy for me, but he's 13 years my elder, and has always been more than protective. With his nod of agreement, I reach my hand across the table, Brad shaking it with a nod of his own. "You've got yourself a deal, old man."

a.n. okay, so i got excited and did this piece right after asking y'all about it :) at first i was going to go for a pining sort of dynamic for the two but i wanted to be able to explore the devils x bruins dynamic and brad as an older brother more, so what happened is an established relationship. hope you enjoy, this is my first time writing for the bruins men in any form or fashion <3

[ibeta]

The Horrifying Plot Bunnies

It's not that I'm not writing, it's just that writing breeds too many plot bunnies that need to be... put down into words. Some of them are notes, some of them just have a photo. Or... four words because the title will remind me what it should be.

I should probably focus this writing energy on my main stories, right? But I have the need to write them down, it's scary. And honestly, those aren't the only ones bred by the Fluffy Plot Bunny. These are the only ones I cared hard enough to share. The rest I'll hide in shame, like the two Stardust chapters that shouldn't be shown to the world.

Can this even be progress when I have no idea how to even share them? Let's see...

When I came to the Undertale fandom and wrote a story for it, I really had no clue about any of the plots! :D No idea of the common information and the deep theories that people have made, so I just posted what I wanted to read. I made Sans remember resets and made him suffer and gave him Papyrus, bright sunshine yet just as tight-lipped.

I have secret on-going plot where Papyrus and Sans have an agreement that Papyrus would be playing guide to the human, that he'd act innocent and proud so the human would be caught off-guard. That he'd be on the lookout for anyone suspicious, including Flowey. He would give Sans hints and foreshadowing to things the brothers already know, like the Lab (Labradory...?), so Sans had an idea of what the human was like.

Here's one summary dive into the Deltarune, which I have no idea about :D

Darkner Sans and Knight Papyrus: Fontcest that's not actually fontcest? It's a plot where Deltarune collapsed somehow. There's a pair of Lightner Sans and Papyrus, and Darkner Sans and Papyrus that are stuck with each other.

However, before the collapse, LPapyrus met DSans when he was pushed inside the closet by friends he'd invited to his birthday party. Poor LPap was scared of the dark, especially when the closet suddenly felt bigger and darker and scarier. He suddenly hears chuckling in the dark and immediately bursts into tears.

DSans finds the sobbing mess and tries to make light of the situation, spewing out all the jokes he knew, trying to make the small skeleton laugh. LPap calms down and DSans leads him back to the closet. LPap meets the skeleton in his closet, a lot. DSans likes to joke about that.

In another universe, LSans falls asleep in the closet while playing hide and seek with his friends. LSans wakes up to this boisterous DPap that announces he's captured him. LSans finds this amusing, so he goes along with it. DPap slowly feels guilt the longer LSans looks at him with wide, trusting eyelights. He doesn't know that LSans has slowly talked him out of capturing him - DPap leads him out, talking about friendship and they keep in touch.

LSans likes him, and likes that he doesn't even have to leave his room to meet him again. What a lazybones.

So when three adventurers in each world... try to close the link in LPap and LSans' closet, the Darkner counterparts are trying to stop them. The excuse is: they wanted to be in their friend's closet. That's it.

But somehow, after befriending and asking the adventurers to keep their link, the two groups of adventurers go back on their word and close the Dark Fountain. The universes collapsed somehow and mashed up against each other, sending DSans and DPap to Undertale's Underground and LSans and LPap to Deltarune.

LPap and LSans agree to find their 'friend' in the closet by following where the three adventurers exist in Deltarune. They find the town, and LPap cause many secret commotions while looking for DSans.

They decide to move over, even if they think the universe would collapse again. LPap takes on the mantle of The Knight, using every acting skill under his belt as he stabbed open more and more paths to a world that might hold their friends. LSans takes on the job of keeping their house in that place. They pretend to be brothers, despite the... significant height difference and dubious origins.

LSans has enough determination, but LPap wanted to do it, so "The Knight" went and conquered worlds, fooling Darkners left and right with his pretense. Maybe DSans would figure out it was him, because LPap had always dragged him off into playing pretend and The Knight was so obviously playing the villain.

LPap always calls LSans before he checks a new world, so LSans knows where to find him. LSans tells him of the strange kid and they have to play a new type of pretend again.

-

In another universe...? DSans and DPap meet each other and agreed to pretend to be brothers in this... strange world. They found hints of the old world under their house in Snowdin. Terrifying. So they... asserted themselves, telling everyone that they belonged to this place, defeating every guard that tried to take them in for questioning.

DSans and DPap play up their brotherhood, somehow meet Dr. Gaster, who plays along and pretends that they're his long-lost relatives. DSans works with him to figure out a way back to LPap, while DPap tries very hard to convince UTUndyne to allow him into the Royal Guard. Just in case they were stuck DPap wanted to establish himself in the place and DSans already had a place in the lab. DSans tells him of his research, and DPap tells him of his discoveries while roaming around as a trainee.

Cue mistakes in machines and magic. They made the CORE, but Dr. Gaster's gone. They vaguely remember him, but eh, he's gone. DSans despairs over the failure, but keep on going. He fails. A lot. This depresses him.

DPap comfort him, tells him to go with him as a sentry like he did before in the old world, tells him to find good food and bad jokes (because LSans would crave it when he was sad) and to find more people to connect with. DPap has to re-establish himself, but he's done this before and he already knew what to do.

DSans agrees. But then Flowey happens when Alphys takes over.

DSans and DPap experience time repetitions, so much that DSans becomes super depressed by his helplessness. DPap takes over - he tells DSans that they're brothers, so he needs to lean on him, too. DSans succumbs to the pleading and DPap takes on Flowey... through the power of Friendship! And a lot of pretense of being innocent.

Flowey thinks he's good at manipulating DPap, but DPap has his skeleton hands wrapped around Flowey. DSans agrees that this is a better outcome. It's funnier, in a really dark way. So, he pretends to be oblivious to the things Flowey had done. He's good at pretending not to know about a talking flower.

Still, DPap pushes him forward, unwilling to allow DSans to be even more sad for a moment. A brother was a brother, even if they weren't related at all. And... DSans looked like LSans, and DPap doesn't want to see him sad, even if he shared a face with his friend.

DSans keeps tabs on UTAlphys and DPap keeps tabs on Flowey. They play this up especially when they meet humans that could break the Barrier. DSans wants to see the above world, and DPap wants to see the sun again.

-

Yep, it's long and strange. That's why the bunny had to be written down. Because it would keep bouncing in my head until i get a bunny trap in my head. Bunny Traps are not good, so we just have to write them down.

[ofnewstarts]

INTRODUCING THERESA WILLIAMS

full name. Theresa Violet Williams

nickname(s). Doc. Her little brother used to call her T. Some family members called her Vi.

age. 36

birthdate. March 11th, 1987

occupation. ER Doctor at Mercy Hospital

currently living in. A small house in South Hills

gender. Cis Female

sexuality: lesbian (in the closet)

pronouns. She/Her

hometown. Wilmington, North Carolina

length of time in Wilmington. Has been back in town for three months

BIOGRAPHY

triggers - suicide, sibling loss, substance abuse, forced adoption

The Williams were a happy family well-liked among Wilmington. Although they did not have a lot what they did have they were happy to share whether that was a seat at the table, a loan, whatever you needed they would give if they could.

This is what Theresa remembers from her childhood. Her parents opening their doors to everyone. Her child hood wasn't care free, she was aware of some monetary difficulties, but she was happy.

Her happiness only increased when she became a big sister. Tommy was only 2 years younger and then followed by their younger sibling years after.

Theresa took being an elder sibling very seriously. She'd do everything she could to help her parents out. Theresa also tended to mother any of her sibling's friends. Sometimes probably too much.

Theresa's whole world changed when she was 15 years old. It was a normal night, she did her homework, her chores, she met with friends and then she went to bed. But the next morning was carnage her parents were panicking and Tommy was missing.

What followed was the worst day of Theresa's life. Her brother's body was found on the shore of the lake. They ruled it a suicide but Theresa never believed that. He was happy, she knew that, deep in her bones. She could never accept it and so things began to slip. After all how could things remain the same when the world was now so wrong?

Theresa completely changed after Tommy's death. She started drinking, she started staying out past curfew and ignoring her parents. Ignoring her remaining sibling. All of it. She even started taking pills at the parties she was at.

Deep down she knew she was making things worse for her family but all she wanted was for it to stop hurting and the drinking and the pills helped with that.

It was a year that she barely remembers. What she does remember is the finding herself, 16 years old sitting in her boyfriends bathroom, crying with a positive pregnancy test.

Her parents were furious, the peak of their disappointment. The family had barely been held together but now it was a scandal beyond what happened to Tommy.

So they did the only thing they could to 'fix it' they sent her away before anyone could find out. She went to stay with a Great Aunt in London, England. 8 months later, at 17 years old, Theresa gave birth to a little boy. She named him Arthur Thomas Williams.

Much to her distress Arthur was taken from her hours later and given to an adoptive couple, all of it was arranged by afar by her parents. Her Great Aunt, who's name was Jennifer, was a lifeline. She held Theresa whilst she sobbed and grieved for both her brother and son.

When the time came Theresa refused to go back to the US and eventually her parents gave her permission to stay with her aunt. She finished high school there and even went to college.

It took a long time for her to get over the hurt in her heart but Theresa now wanted to try. Her time in the hospital reignited an interest in medicine.

Due to missing years of high school it took a lot of time. But Theresa was determined and stubborn and fueled by a lot of hurt and desire to do better. Eventually she got into university.

Four years of medical school were followed by two years of foundation training. It was whilst on her placements that she fell in love with emergency medicine. It was then that she decided to specialise in that field. Another six years.

Finally, at the age of 32 Theresa became fully qualified as a doctor in emergency medicine.

Theresa adores her job and is thrilled to be coming up on her 5th year in the career. She thrived in the busy atmosphere of A&E. But her life in London was still lacking. She missed America and her younger sibling.

Early this year she decided to make a big change. With a recent break up and rumours swirling about her home town Theresa couldn't stay away any longer. So she packed up her life and she moved.

Coming back to Wilmington has taken a lot of adjustments and Theresa is still trying to mend her relationships with her parents. She's moved back into her old neighbourhood even being able to buy a small house near to her folks.

Luckily for her the local ER was hiring and she has started to work there. She loves it just as much as she did in the UK but is now trying to re-establish herself and make new friends.

WANTED CONNECTIONS

Family - Theresa has one younger sibling (that she knows of) and her parents in Wilmington. Things are likely extremely strained between her and her parents but once she got sober she tried to look after her little sibling.

Her son - Giving up her baby was one of the worst things Theresa has gone through and whilst she recognises it was probably best for him it broke her heart and she wishes she could have raised him.

Baby Daddy - whether they were dating or just hooking up he was her father's child. He likely knew but she then disappeared off to England so he probably didn't have a say in what happened. Connections up to player (could be cute friends) but Theresa is gay so not a ship.

Old Friends - Before Tommy died Theresa was probably a wonderful friend to have. Loyal, kind, protective. But when he died she went of the rails.

Party People - People she knew when things went bad for her. Maybe she'll struggle with her sobriety.

Let there be LIGHT (in the closet) - someone who finally makes Theresa realise/accept that she's gay. Potential ship.

Coworkers/New Friends - Theresa is restarting her life in Wilmington and she's throwing herself in head first. She's naturally social so is likely joining lots of groups to make friends.

[merrock]

HAPPY FIRST OF OCTOBER!

The spooky month is upon us! We have a few exciting events coming up this month, for those who love fall and Halloween. And we have some fun tasks to help get you in the spirit. But mostly, we wanted to touch base on some rules and updates and get everything to where it needs to be for the month ahead. Let's go!

HAPPENING IN OCTOBER!

SHELTER APPECIATION WEEKEND (October 6 - 9): join us at the Animal Sanctuary to donate goods and food for pets, or to adopt your very own best friend!

HALLOWEEN MASQUERADE (October 28; ooc 24-30): the Benefactor has lent us a mansion for the night. Come dressed in formal wear (and a mask!), and feel free to add touches of Halloween. Adults only!

HALLOWEEN NIGHT (October 31): head to the Community Center to chaperone the party for the kids, or gather up a group of kids and take them trick-or-treating! (This is also the night to post your costume.)

OCTOBER'S MINI-EVENTS!

October 1 -- Coffee Day: start a coffee chain at Cobblestone and keep paying for the person behind you.

October 4 -- Cinnamon Roll Day: a fun day to send a cinnamon roll to, well, your favorite cinnamon roll!

EXTRA BIT OF FUN!

We are running our "four photos of fall" task for the month of October! This should be a fun one, as it's sort of moodboard ish, but easy to do, the only challenge is that you may not use any photos of your face claim (stock photos of people are okay). Can be done all October, but does not count for activity -- please do not rush, save it for some downtime. If you have not already had a chance to do our previous Halloween-related task, you can find it here, and we will also allow that to be done during the month of October!

IMPORTANT NOTES!

please take a moment to refamiliarize yourself with our rules, as we have made a few changes to reflect activity now that we are back on schedule with checks, as well as cleaned up & tweaked things.

another gentle reminder, as we know this isn't a rule everywhere, but please do not 'mass post' finished replies -- if you must work ahead, stagger them in a queue a few minutes apart, but otherwise dash can become super hard to navigate, and overwhelming. especially now when activity notifications are unreliable, and people are drafting replies off of dash as they come in. it becomes easy to lose things in a large batch posted all within a few seconds!

speaking of: notifs are still a little messy. do what you need to do to track your activity! but please remember what we mentioned in the ooc: trackers are for your personal use, sharing where you are at with OOC contact, plotting, etc. is unnecessary and can put pressure on others. just keep 'em for you!

if you list a wanted connection or if you fill a wanted connection, please be communicative with one another and be sure that you are fulfilling your end of the bargain, so to speak! don't just pick up a WC to join, and then not write with that person, and on the other side, don't ignore someone who picks up your WC. we want to be sure everyone gets what they want from connections.

BEHIND THE SCENES!

we've decided to stick to our 20 cap, with 5 extra bonus spots once 20 is reached. those 5 spots must be filled by wanted connections only, although you're always encouraged to pick one up (especially as an existing writer).

moving forward, we will only allow writers to pause characters for one month, and they can only pause two at a time (unless there are extenuating circumstances). if you need longer than a month, you must contact us to ask for the extension.

oh! and November. we have candy day, world kindness day, Black Friday and Small Business Saturday for little things around town, with Kindness Weekend, the Railway 5K, and Thanksgiving happening, as well!

HAPPY OCTOBER! xx

[eddievanhammettmunson]

My Chivalrous Rockstar

Authors note- hi everyone. My best friend gave me the idea for this fic and I really ran with it so I hope you guys enjoy it. 12.4k words

Warnings- MINORS GET OUT PLEASE IM SO SERIOUS <3. 18+++ we have drug use and drug mentions, we have sexual acts of male and female masturbation, we have a little bit of perv Eddie, we have unprotected p in v (wrap in up y’all don’t be like them).reader is openly bisexual. Foul language.Idk guys it’s smutty in here. Minors again DNI

Summary- having a whirlwind week with your rockstar friend Eddie Munson seems to turn into more.

You breathed heavily as you rushed off the stage with your band mates. Fighting through crowds of stage hands and random people in an attempt just to get backstage. It was all a blur as you got swept up in the hustle and bustle.

Eventually you find the door to your dressing room and you rush in shutting and locking the door behind you all. You and your band mates take your seats and try to just breathe for a moment.

Shows were usually exciting but this is the biggest show you guys had done yet and you still had to do meet and greets in a few minutes. It was all a bit overwhelming. You grab a water bottle from the small refrigerator on the floor and take a seat on a leather couch next to your bandmate Jeff.

Sat across from you is your other two bandmates Gareth and Eddie. Everyone looks exhausted and overwhelmed. Being a band from small town Indiana to suddenly playing stadiums across the country sure has been a lot. And it’s definitely taking a toll on the band.

“Meet and greet backstage in 5!”

The band shares a collective groan and you toss your head back on the couch.

The band shares a collective groan and you toss your head back on the couch.

Eddie stands up and paces in front of the band.

“We could totally just bail out the window!”

You laugh and close your water bottle. Setting it on the dingy table in front of you.

“Wish we could but sadly those poor fans paid to see us. We wouldn’t want to let the fans down now would we?”

Eddie sighs and paces back over to you. Picking up your water bottle off the table and taking a swig for himself.

“Yeah yeah I know. I’m just tired s’all”

“Well we have the entire week off after tonight to recover. Just gotta do one more meet n greet.”

You look over at Gareth who’s crushing something up and snorting it off of a mirror before passing it to Jeff. As Jeff snorts it he pulls out another bag and crushes it up and passes it to Eddie. Eddie snorts it without hesitation and leaves half of it and passes it to you. You hesitate but snort it anyway.

You don’t remember the meet n greet but your agent tells you it went well. She even shows you photos fans took. You keep a copy one fan took with you and Eddie. Eddie had one hand draped over the fan and the other around your waist pulled tightly close to him.

The fans all had this crazy notion that you and Eddie were secretly dating so fans loved to get pictures with the both of you. Maybe it had something to do with you and Eddie doing all those duets. Maybe it had to do with MTV speculating he was the reason for your break up with your last rocker boyfriend. Maybe it’s because you and Eddie never outright denied it. No matter what the reason, you didn’t really mind since you had a horrible crush on Eddie but you couldn’t ever act on it.

Eddie, Jeff and Garth have been your best friends since highschool. Ever since you joined hellfire and then Corroded Coffin you four have been inseparable. It’s also since then that you’ve been in love with Eddie. You’ve never shared this with him in fear that your whole life would come crashing down. What would happen to the party? What would happen to the band? And especially after you’ve come this far you can’t risk it.

As you step out of your hotel room for the morning, you’re greeted by Eddie himself.

“Well hey sleepy head.”

Eddie seemed chipper which was unusual so early in the morning. Especially after a big show. And Gareth and Jeff were nowhere to be seen so what could Eddie want.

“Uh hey Ed’s. What’s up?”

“Well I was wondering since it’s our week off. If you want to go on a little adventure with me?”

“I’d love to and it may be our “week off” but we do have that interview to do in like 2 hours. So as much as I’d love an adventure I can’t and neither can you actually.”

“No, I know that. I mean after the interview.”

“Well what does this adventure entail?”

“A long journey back to whence we came from.”

“English Ed’s?”

“Come back to Hawkins with me. Just for the week?”

“Why would we go back to Hawkins?”

“Bought my uncle Wayne a new place to move into. Gonna help him move and then meet up with the kiddos”

“Well I always loved Wayne. And I miss the kiddos.”

“So is that a yes?”

“Yes. Where’s Jeff and Gareth”

“Oh they’re not doing the interview today. They’re doing some meet n greets and signings at some convention.”

“Oh I thought the interview was with the whole band?”

“It was but it looks like it’s just me and you.”

Eddie and you said your goodbyes and you headed back to your hotel room to get ready for your interview.

***

As you stood backstage for the interview you waited on the couch until Eddie arrived. He could tell the second he walked in that you were nervous. You’d never done a TV interview before and now that it’s just you and Eddie you know they’re going to ask questions about you two.

He sat down next to you on the couch and put a hand on your knee as comfort.

“Hey sweetheart, look at me.”

You turn to face him. Taking a moment before your eyes meet his.

“You’re gonna be just fine sweetheart.”

“I feel like they’re gonna eat me alive, Ed's.”

“They won’t. And if they try I’ll protect you.”

You rested your hand on top of his on your knee and held it there as you continued to bounce your leg from nerves.

When it came time for the two of you to go on set you took a deep breath and walked on the stage. Sitting on a chair next to Eddie across from a woman behind a desk.

“Welcome, Welcome! Today we have some special guests from the up and coming band Corroded Coffin!!! Here with me today we have the bands lead singer and guitarist Eddie Munson along with the lady on the keyboard and amazing back up vocalist y/n y/l/n!”

The crowd on set claps and cheers for the two of you and your face turns red and your leg starts bouncing again. Eddie fights the urge to put his hand on your leg because he knows it calms you. But he also knows it will only fuel rumors that the two of you are together.

Now Eddie doesn’t mind these rumors because he’s had a major crush on you since the second he saw you. But you would never feel the same way. Would you? He intends to find out but he wishes everything with you didn’t have to be so public nowadays. Every move he makes seems to be captured by somebody.

“So Mr Munson, Ms y/l/n. Tell us a little bit about the band.”

Eddie looks at you before he speaks. “Well we’re a band from Hawkins Indiana and this is our first big tour.”

“That’s great, that's great. Now who are each of you in the band? Explain the roles to me a little bit.”

“Well I’m the lead guitar and vocals. My lovely y/n here is on keyboard and does back up vocals and duets. Our bassist is named Jeff and our drummer is Gareth. They sadly couldn’t join us today as they’re at a convention.”

“How exactly did this band come to be?”

“Well at first it was just Me, Jeff and Gareth for a few years until we met y/n and she joined our little party.”

“So would you say that when you met y/n everything fell into place?”

The question takes you and Eddie by surprise and your eyes snap to one another. You knew this would happen if it was just the two of you.

Eddie especially didn’t know how to answer because he wanted to say yes. He wanted to say that the moment he met you his entire life fell into place and he’s loved you since the moment he laid eyes on you. But he couldn’t do that. And he had no idea what to say right now. So you took the lead.

“Oh you flatter me. I highly doubt it all fell into place but I actually had really bad stage fright back in the day. Eddie here really had to convince me to join the band and help me with my stage fright so I wouldn’t say it all fell into place.”

“So would you say that you and Mr Munson share a different bond from the other members of the band.”

Wow this lady was really going for it. You had to give her props for trying.

“Well we all have bonds with each other as a group and as individuals. I love all my bandmates and wouldn’t trade them for the world. My bond with Eddie is just as strong as my bonds with Jeff and Gareth.”

You glance at Eddie for a brief moment and lock eyes with him. He looks relieved to see you taking the lead. Luckily the interviewer seemed to get the hint that you weren’t going to address the relationship rumors so the rest of the interview was spent answering questions about the upcoming tour and what not. After the interview, you went back to the dressing room and began to gather your stuff to leave when Eddie walked in.

“Okay y/n we have 7 o’clock flights tonight to Hawkins.”

“Are Jeff and Gareth coming?”

“They’ve got another convention to do later this week but they’ll join us towards the end of the week after the convention.”

“Okay well then I have to go back to the hotel and start packing if you want me to be ready. Is the car here yet?”

“Yeah he’s outside….”

“But?”

“He had to park around the front cause there’s a semi out back….there’s like a million reporters waiting for us out there.”

“Shit!” You sigh and rub your hands over your face and immediately go take a sip of water to calm down. “Okay let’s do this.”

You grab Eddie’s hand and drag him out of the building. Shoving through the reporters with a bit too much aggression. You however forgot that you had Eddie’s hand in yours until you got in the car still holding his hand. That combined with the interview meant all the articles were doing to have a field day with this one.

As you sat in the car in silence Eddie finally turned to you.

“So uh. You know those guys got pictures of us right?”

“Yup.”

“Are you mad at me?”

“Mad? Eddie, why would I be mad at you?”

“Cause they’re gonna say we’re together.”

“Ugh I don’t care about that. I care that we can’t seem to get a moment of peace without someone wanting pictures of us together. I’m scared Hawkins will be the same now.”

“Hey on the bright side, maybe we won’t be town freaks anymore.”

“You have a point there Munson.”

The rest of the car ride is spent making small talk with Eddie before your arrival at the hotel and going to your separate rooms to pack and prepare for the trip.

****

Around 5 pm you leave your hotel room suitcase in hand only to find Eddie immediately waiting outside your door also with his suitcase in hand.

“You ready for our adventure y/n the great?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be Eddie the bard.”

He doesn’t ask but he takes the suitcase out of your hand and carries it with his own. You try to snatch it from him a few times as you continue walking but he doesn’t allow it. Eddie carries the bags all the way to the taxi and loads them into the trunk for you.

Even as you make your way around the taxi you go to open the door for yourself but are quickly stopped when Eddie’s ringed fingers wrap around the door handle and swing it open for you. You thank him and enter the vehicle.

It doesn’t end there however. At the airport he rushes out of his side of the taxi and around to yours to get the door for you once again. And once again he takes the bags out of the trunk and carries them both until you get them checked in. Once he hands the bags over and you guys move away from the check in counter you turn to him.

“Feeling a bit chivalrous today aren’t we Ed’s?”

He scoffs and covers his heart with his hands

“My fair y/n am I not always a chivalrous gentleman?”

You begin to laugh without meaning to. Sure Eddie was a nice guy but chivalrous was not the word you would normally use to describe your friend.

“Hey what are you laughing at?”

“No-nothing Ahahahah” you wipe a tear. “You’re very chivalrous Ed’s.”

You make your way through security and wait at the gate for your boarding to begin. However when a storm hits suddenly your 7 o’clock flight is being delayed.

Eddie got on the phone to call his uncle Wayne and let him know that the flight had been delayed so it would be best for him not to wait at the airport. Eddie returned to his seat next to you and sighed.

“So much for getting the adventure started.”

“Hey if anything Ed’s this is part of the adventure. We have to roll for patience and see if we make it through. Here, how about we play a game to pass the time.”

“What game?”

You look around really quickly and see what you can make a game out of. You quickly grab the back of skittles you’d bought after getting through security and turn to face Eddie. You hold up the bag and shake it and he seems to get the hint turning to face you as well.

You open the bag and pour out some skittles into each of your hands and you’re the first one to try and throw the skittles into Eddie’s mouth. Taking turns you each are either successful and cheerful in your attempt or you fail miserably as skittles fall to the floor.

As you run out of skittles you watch as Eddie leans over and grabs the dropped skittles off of the floor and pops them into his mouth.

“EDDIE!?”

With a mouthful of skittles he looks at you.

“What?”

“That’s disgusting” you say with laughter.

He spits a skittle out into his hand.

“You want one?”

He puts his hand right up to your face with the wet skittle and begins laughing.

“Ew Eddie stop oh my god I don’t want it!”

He removes his hand and pops the skittle back into his mouth and swallows the skittles.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“Oh come on I just didn’t want the skittles to go to waste.”

“You just ate food off of an airport floor Eddie.”

“I’ve eaten much more interesting things sweetheart.” He says it with a wink that makes your heart skip a beat and suddenly for a moment you’re left silent. However the saving grace of the loudspeaker was able to pull you out of your ever sinking thoughts.

“First class for the flight to Hawkins Indiana now boarding. I repeat first class for the flight to Indiana Hawkins now boarding.”

You looked at Eddie and smiled as the two of you stood up and walked towards the plane. It was all still so surreal to you. That you and Eddie get to board first class on a plane. That you two are famous and heading back to your hometown where it all started.

****

As you sat on the plane you attempted to make yourself comfortable by adjusting your seat and Eddie did the same. However when he finished adjusting his seat he reached a hand over to your seat and moved your recliner so you were no longer comfortable.

You huffed and reached over to his chair doing the same. And so Ensued the war of chairs as you both kept readjusting the others chair while trying to fix your own.

The only reason you two stopped was because a flight attendant came over and told you guys to stop because she didn’t want you to break the chairs. So Eddie threw his hands up in surrender and as the flight attendant walked away you moved his chair one last time to show that you had won.

As you lay there and rest your eyes you feel a tapping on your hand and as you open your eyes you see Eddie staring at you. It finally dawned on you why he was being so fidgety. He always did this when he got nervous on flights.

Growing up the way the two of you did in the trailer parks and shitty apartments, neither of you had much experience flying before fame. Now Eddie wasn’t scared during every flight. Just flights with lots of turbulence or flights during storms. This is one of those flights.

You lift your chair up to where you're sitting in the same position he is and you grab for his hand and begin to trace patterns there. Knowing that’s one of the things that helps calm him down. As soon as you start tracing the patterns you can visibly see him relax into his chair a bit.

You know he’s not going to sleep through the flight at all so you decide to stay up and talk him through it. The flight shouldn’t actually be too long as you’re expected to land around 10 pm so talking for a few hours can’t hurt.

As you continue to talk through the flight you find yourselves tangled in one another. Seats reclined and armrests put up, your seats have pretty much combined into one as your legs are draped over his and your head is rested on his shoulder. You guys discuss many things. The upcoming tour, new songs you're working on, general things happening around the world. What it will be like back in Hawkins.

It’s the latest topic of conversation that has you wondering how you got to this point.

“So you’re really telling me that you haven’t hooked up with anyone all tour?”

“I didn’t say that. In fact I said the opposite.”

“Okay so you haven’t Fucked anyone all tour Eddie?”

“Fucked no. But I have eaten my fair share while on tour. Now come on how about you. How many people have you banged on tour.”

“A few. I hooked up with 2 guys in Vancouver which was weird and I’m never doing anything like that again. And then there was uh. Well there was this girl in Texas….”

Eddie automatically shot up like a rocket sitting up completely straight jostling the both of you. He coughed and cleared his throat.

“Y-you? You uh? You and uh? Huh?”

You began to giggle as you sat up and realized why he was so flustered.

“Yes Eddie. Me and a girl. Is that a bad thing?”

“NO! Ahem. I mean uh no. No, that's not bad at all. Just uh. Interesting is all. So you uh. You like girls and guys?”

“I’m open to both. Not threesomes though so get your mind out of wherever I can see it going.” You laugh and nudge him with your elbow.

He laughs back and lays back down with you. This time however he rests his arm over your shoulder and traces patterns into your arm. He’s not sure how but he manages to find himself asleep next to you for the remainder of the flight. Having lovely dreams of you. And as you rest your head on his shoulder and find him asleep you let yourself drift off having cozy dreams of him.

***

Wayne Munson was a patient man. A very patient man. Except for right now. All he wanted was to see his nephew and you but time just wasn’t passing fast enough for him. He paced outside the gate with a cigarette in hand smoking away as he stared ahead at the gate.

The second he saw Eddie’s hair bouncing its way towards him, Wayne put out the cigarette in a nearby ashtray and made his way to wrap Eddie in a bear hug. Eddie wrapped his arms around his uncle and hugged him back hard. When they pulled away Wayne turned to you and opened his arms and you wrapped him in a tight hug as well. You hadn’t realized how much you missed Wayne until now and you almost didn’t want to let go.

You felt a hand on the small of your back and you released Eddie’s uncle from the hug and turned around to find it was Eddie’s hand on the small of your back, nodding his head in the direction of baggage claim.

Yet again Eddie wouldn’t let you carry your bag but this time Wayne wouldn’t let Eddie carry anything. You however tried to help Wayne and automatically got your hand smacked away. Making you laugh at the chivalry of both the men.

Walking out of the airport you find yourself face to face with a familiar friend. Eddie’s old van parked outside ready to the chariot that escorts you back to the trailer for one last night before the move tomorrow. Upon seeing his van Eddie was ecstatic. Running up to the driver's side door and stroking the side mirror.

“Baby I missed you so much. Next time I’ll bring you with me I promise. I’ll have them fly you out and everything I promise baby. Never leaving you again.”

You turned to look at Wayne and you both shared a giggly concerned look over his behavior. Wayne ignored it as he loaded you guys bags into the back of the van and tossed Eddie the keys.

You made your way to the passenger side of the van and attempted to open the door but before you could once again there was a ringed hand stopping you as he pulled open the door and allowed you to enter. As the three of you piled into the van Eddie started the engine and made his way to the trailer park.

It hadn’t dawned on you that you would be staying in the trailer for the night. It didn’t bug you at all. You’d stayed over plenty of times before you all became rockstars but you realized you’d have to share a room with Eddie for at least one night. And after harboring feelings for him all this time you weren’t sure how sleeping next to him even for a night would go. Or if you would even be able to sleep.

Eddie’s uncle had pulled out the old fold out bed in the living room that hadn’t been used since Eddie left for the tour and allowed you and him to have the bedroom.

As you and Eddie took turns changing into your pajamas and getting comfortable on the bed next to one another. You each couldn’t help but feel wide awake. Why was it so easy to fall asleep together on the plane but now suddenly in the comforts of his old bed suddenly you both found yourselves staring at the ceiling in the dark. Eventually however you both found yourselves asleep only to entangle yourselves in your sleep. Closing the distance and drifting to sleep in the comforts of one another. Just like old times.

***

The next morning you awoke to find yourself as the little spoon to Eddie's larger figure enveloping you from behind. You were so comfortable you actually let yourself drift back off to sleep only to find yourself awake again once Eddie had come to and removed himself from you. Leaving your body cold and missing his touch of comfort.

You turn on your back as you watch Eddie stand and walk from the bed and grab some clothes to change into. As he goes to the bathroom to change you grab some clothes from your suitcase and lock his bedroom door opting to just change in here. Once you’re done you leave the room and head to the living room where you see Wayne surrounded by boxes and he’s finishing packing up the fold out bed from last night.

“Mornin Wayne” he turned from the box he was currently lifting and set it down atop another box as he turned to face you.

“Hey kiddo. How'd you sleep? I know it’s probably different from the comfort you and Eddie have gotten used to.”

“It was just perfect Wayne. Are you excited?”

“Excited to be done movin and unpackin. The process of it is a little tiring but I’m glad to have you kids helpin me out. I tried to tell Eddie I don’t mind bein here in this trailer but the kid insisted on gettin me this little place and I’m grateful to him.”

“Well I’m happy to be here helping you out Wayne.”

Eddie exits the bathroom from changing and joins you and Wayne in the living room. Making his presence known by interjecting the conversation.

“Yeah Harrington should be here with the moving truck soon and Nancy is bringing the kids over to help with the move.”

“Awe, that's nice. I can’t wait to see everybody.”

You and Eddie continued helping Wayne pack some last new mugs and hats into a box and began moving some of the boxes onto the porch.

Not long later you see a moving truck pulling up to the trailer and Nancy’s car pulling up behind him. Nancy and all the kids get out of the car and are immediately running up to the trailer door upon seeing you and tackling you into a big group hug.

The hug seems to last forever as more people join in. Steve hadn’t told you he was bringing Robin with him and soon enough Johnathan and Argyle pulled up in their car and Joyce and Hopper pulled up in his truck with Eleven and Will. Everytime someone new would pull up, the hug just seemed to get bigger.

You and Eddie were at the center and you felt suffocated by love as you sat there giggling in the arms that encircled you. Once everyone pulled away and you could finally breathe, everyone started talking over one another. Wanting to be the first ones to welcome you guys home.

Eddie had to scream at everyone to shut up and luckily they did.

“We missed you guys too but at this rate you’re gonna wake up the entire trailer park.”

Dustin holds up his hands in surrender.

“We just really missed you two, that's all.”

“Well we missed you too Dustin.”

Eddie patted Dustin on the head and messed up his hair a little bit.

You clap your hands together to get everyone’s attention.

“Well we’ve got the whole week to catch up and have fun but for now how about we start moving these boxes and get Wayne set up in his new place.”

Everyone split into teams to grab boxes from each section of the trailer and load them into the moving truck. With as many hands on deck as you had it really didn’t take long at all seeing as Wayne and Eddie didn’t really own all that much. By the time you all finish loading the truck, it’s not even full.

Wayne closes the door to the trailer one last time and pays the door as he walks towards his truck. Steve and Robin walk back to the moving truck, you and Eddie get into his van and load a couple kids in the back so that Nancy’s car isn’t as packed. And you watch the others disperse into their cars as you all head for Wayne’s new house.

***

Upon arrival everyone moves the boxes into the home and begins unpacking. There’s a room for Wayne, a room for Eddie and a guest room. Wayne’s room gets set up within the hour and Eddie’s room doesn’t take much longer to get set up. The guest room is left empty for now and the living room gets set up by the mid afternoon.

Sure the knickknacks, hats, and mugs hadn’t been unpacked yet but all the furniture had been moved. As you stood in Eddie’s new room you looked around and sighed in contempt. Eddie watched you look around his new room as he leaned against the doorframe.

“What do ya think?”

“I think this is probably the only time I’m gonna see your new room this clean isn’t it?”

“Absolutely.”

You both laugh as he walks closer to you.

“So you're up for bunking with me for one last night before we get the furniture for the guest room tomorrow?”

“Oh.”

“Oh?”

“Well I was gonna call up my dad and tell him I was in town and staying over there. In fact I was going to look at some places here in town. You buying this place made me realize I don’t have a place of my own to go back to after we finish the tour.”

You notice a sad look spread across Eddie’s face.

“Ed’s? Earth to Eddie?”

He snaps out of it and looks at you.

“Yeah sorry that’s fine if you wanna stay with your dad. Just kinda planned the trip assumin you’d stay with me s’all”

“Well in that case I’ll just go visit my dad another day and I’ll stay here with you since you already planned it.”

You see the bright smile return to his features as you and him return to the living room with the rest of the gang who are discussing the next move of the day since you all finished moving earlier than you meant to.

Steve suggested everyone heading to a diner for some dinner and then maybe going shopping at star court. Everyone agreed and decided to meet at Benny’s diner.

****

You and Eddie hadn’t given any thought to being out and about in Hawkins. Since you’d grown up there it hadn’t dawned on you that now that you had fame, going to your usual spots wouldn’t be as simple.

Upon walking into the diner you and Eddie and very quickly singled out from the rest of the group and are quickly approached by patrons of the diner.

“Oh my god it’s corroded coffin!”

“It’s Eddie Munson and Y/n y/l/n! Holy Shit!”

You’re quickly surrounded by people who want autographs and photos and it’s overwhelming to see people that ignored you, treated you badly, and made you out to be freaks are suddenly adoring you and wanting to be your best friend.

Suddenly Benny exits the kitchen and slams the doors real loud to get the attention of the restaurant's patrons.

“IF ANYONE HERE WANTS TO BE SERVED THEIR ASSES BETTER FIND THEIR WAYS BACK TO THEIR SEATS AND LEAVE THESE POOR KIDS ALONE.”

The crowd quickly dispersed and went back to their tables but you could easily feel the eyes of all the patrons on you and the group. You even hear the snap of a Polaroid camera somewhere in the restaurant and sigh.

Benny steps forward to the group.

“So how many we servin today.”

You turn to the group and do a quick head count.

“16”

“Give me a minute so I can push some table together in the back for all of you. If anyone gives you any trouble while I’m at it, just holler.”

Benny goes and sets up the tables so you all can sit together as a group. Ordering your food the rest of the lunch goes pretty smoothly when people aren’t staring or trying to sneak photographs.

You turn to the group to ask a question.

“So are we still going to star court after this?”

Steve turns to you with a confused look on his face.

“Yeah why wouldn’t we be.”

You turn slightly to Eddie who’s already looking at you and you both share a knowing look. Eddie turns to Steve.

“Well it’s just…if we couldn’t even walk into a diner without being recognized I doubt that we’ll be able to walk into Star Court and just go shopping Steve.”

Steve thought on it for a moment and realized you guys were right.

“Okay okay Um new plan. How does everyone feel about abandoning the star court plan for the night and tomorrow we all drive up to the lake and use my parents' old cabin?”

Joyce and Hopper shared a look and then Joyce interjected.

“Well that sounds like a great idea for you kids. You all should go and have fun.”

Will and eleven looked at each other confused before Will turned to his mom.

“So you and Hopper aren’t coming with us?”

“Well we just figured that sounds more like a trip for you kids. Besides, Hop and I wanted to go look at some venues for the wedding.”

Eleven and Will did a small high-five underneath the table hoping nobody else would notice. You turn your attention to Joyce.

“Well Joyce that sounds lovely. I hope you and Jim find a nice venue.” You turn so you’re now facing Wayne.

“How about you Wayne? Care to join us tomorrow?”

“No no no I got plenty a unpackin to do. You kids go have your fun though.”

The rest of the dinner is eaten with nice small talk amongst the table and when it comes time to pay the bill you sneak off and pay it before anybody can protest. Which they all do. But you use the excuse of fame having its perks. Everyone gathered into their groups and went their separate ways for the evening to prepare for the events to come tomorrow.

***

Arriving at the new house for the night you make your way to Eddie’s room and grab a pair of clothes to change into and head to the guest bathroom to bathe, allowing Eddie to use his own bathroom.

After this entire journey finding yourself in a hot bath was certainly what you needed. The instant relief you felt wash over your body from the contact of the warm water was sensational.

As you lay in the warm water you get comfortable and let your mind wander. You think about the events of today. The move, the diner, the way Eddie looked as he moved those boxes. The way his bicep would stand out a little more when he lifted something heavy. The way his hands worked around everything he grabbed.

No no no you are not thinking of Eddie in the bath. You’re certainly not thinking of how warm it felt when you woke up to him spooning you. You’re certainly not thinking about that joke about interesting things Eddie has eaten and the wink he gave you in the airport.

It took you a minute to even realize you were touching yourself beneath the water as you thought of him. Once you realize it you can’t bring yourself to stop. Circling your clit over and over again as your mind fills with thoughts of Eddie.

Thinking about being on stage with him every night sweaty as can be, watching the way his hands move on that goddamn guitar wishing his fingers were moving like that on you. As you dip a finger into your waiting hole you gasp at the sudden sensation and start moving your hand quicker and you can’t even help yourself when you start to moan Eddie’s name.

What you didn’t know was that at this moment Eddie had come into the guest room to ask you a question about something he wanted to bring to the lake tomorrow. However his feet stopped as soon as he reached the bathroom door and he heard whimpering.

He was about to bust in the door worried you’d gotten hurt before he heard you moaning his name. All of his movements stopped and he became very aware of what was actually happening behind that door. But he needed to know for sure. He got down on his knees and peaked through the keyhole just for a second he told himself.

But upon looking through the keyhole Eddie finds a perfect view of you in the bathtub with your head thrown back in ecstasy as your hand moves beneath the water. He can’t find it in himself to look away as he watches you writhe and whimper and moan his name.

He studies the way your arm moves in the water. Trying to guess what fingers you’re using on yourself. He’s assuming ring and middle. He begins taking mental notes on what you like and don’t like.

It takes Eddie a moment to realize he’s touching himself over his jeans and he decides just to slip a hand in and start rubbing himself. The relief he finds as he grabs his hardened cock makes him choke out in relief and he prays to god that you don’t hear anything. And from the continued sounds of pleasure ringing from the room he’s assuming you didn’t. He continues to stroke himself as he watches you and finds himself trying to match your rhythm as if it’s him in that bathtub with you.

He watches as you begin to go faster and faster and he starts rubbing himself faster and finds himself nearing his release. He watches as you arch your back from the tub and start whimpering even louder as you cum with the cry of Eddie’s name. That cry is what sends Eddie over the edge as he spills into his own hand inside of his jeans.

He stands up and as quietly and quickly as possible runs to his room to change into some pajamas. He does so and lays down on his mattress just like the night before and stares up at the ceiling in thought.

He felt like a perv. Watching you without saying anything. But what did it mean? You were touching yourself to the thought of him. Moaning his name for Christ sake. That had to mean something right? Have you done this before? Nope nope nope he cannot be thinking about you touching yourself right now especially since he can hear you coming down the hallway.

As you walked in the room and situated yourself on the bed next to Eddie and prepared for sleep Eddie made a decision. As he drifted off to sleep he curled over you as the big spoon and decided by the end of this trip. You were going to be his.

***

The next morning you awoke to Eddie’s arms wrapped around you once more and he was holding you rather tight so you didn’t bother trying to move. Opting to just fall back asleep in his arms until the two of you were woken up by the sound of the walkie talkie going off.

“Eddie! This is Dustin, do you copy? Over…… I repeat Eddie, this is Dustin. Do you copy? Over.”

Dustin repeated this until both you and Eddie were awake and annoyed with the sound coming from the walkie talkie. Eddie reached over to the floor where the walkie talkie lay next to the bed and picked it up.

“What Dustin?”

“What time are you and y/n meeting us at the cabin? Steve’s picking us all up right now so we should be there by noon. Over.”

Eddie turned to you.

“What time do you wanna head out y/n? It’s up to you.”

“What time is it now?”

Eddie grabbed for his watch on the nightstand.

“7:30”

“Can we sleep in till 9 and get there around 2?”

“Sounds good to me.”

Eddie turned on the radio and told Dustin the plan you two had and turned off the radio. He rolled back over and hugged you into him without even asking. You didn’t complain however instead you just opted to curl up again and fall back asleep.

****

You and Eddie hadn’t even bothered unpacking since you got here so you just threw your luggage in the back of the van and hit the road. Most of the trip was spent singing along to music and playing road games. That is until Eddie decided to change the conversation.

“So you’re really coming back to Hawkins after the tour?”

“What?”

“Well you said after you saw me buy Wayne and I that house that you were looking for a place of your own. Did you mean in Hawkins?”

“Uh well yeah. Can’t imagine abandoning it quite yet. Plus I think I’ve had my fair share of new scenery for a while.”

Eddie smiled and reached a hand over and squeezed your thigh. Only he didn’t remove it once he squeezed it. You rested your hand on top of his and allowed yourself to play with the rings on his fingers as he drove. You watched as he drove for a while.

As you watched Eddie drive you couldn’t help but fall harder for him. The way the wind blew through his hair from the open window. The way he had one hand on the wheel and the other on your thigh. The smile on his face as he sang along to his favorite songs. Everything about him drew you in and all you wanted to do was memorize every little detail about him.

It would be difficult to say Eddie didn’t feel the same way at this moment. All he wanted to do was pull over the van and kiss you. He could smell your perfume from the driver's seat and every time he stole a glance at you, your beautiful eyes were already staring back at him. He could feel you staring at him and it made his cheeks glow with a red hue that he hoped you wouldn’t notice. Luckily for him you didn’t.

Arriving at the cabin you see Steve and Nancy’s vehicles parked out front but you don’t see anybody. Figuring they’re probably already inside or out having fun.

You make your way around the back of the van to open it but Eddie stops you. Opening the van and grabbing the luggage himself and carrying it up to the door where he waits for you to open it but you don’t.

“Hey sweetheart can ya help me out here? Got my hands full.”

“Oh sorry I thought you were Mr Independent. Didn’t think you would need me to open a door myself.”

“Well excuse me for trying to be chivalrous.”

You both giggle and you open the door and allow him entry to the cabin.

As soon as the door opens you hear the sounds of bickering and laughter and then gasps. Then you hear Dustin.

“THEY’RE HERE!!!!!”

That’s all the warning you and Eddie had before you were being tackled by the gaggle of children causing Eddie to drop the luggage. Steve snuck around and took the luggage and brought it upstairs as you stood there saying hi to everybody. Eventually everyone calms down and decides to go outside and take a swim or just play near the lake.

You and Eddie hadn’t packed swimsuits so you and the other young adults decide to stay inside and get stoned upstairs as the kids play outside. Steve made Dustin promise he wouldn’t go in the lake and promise that if anything happened he would radio him on the walkie.

****

As you, Eddie, Steve, Robin, Nancy, Jonathan, and Argyle sat upstairs getting high, you laid on the floor next to Robin in a corner of the room staring at a vent in the ceiling. Soon Robin began to feel her word vomit spewing.

“Y/n?”

“Yeah Rob?”

“Sooooo are you and Eddie…I don’t mean to pry but like… you two have always been…. And the articles all think…. Well most people think…. NOT THAT I THINK THAT OR THAT ANYONE HERE THINKS THAT!!”

“Rob!!! Shhhh!! The others are gonna hear you.”

“Sorry y/n…. But are you?”

You sigh and turn your attention back to the ceiling.

“No. We’re not.”

Robin turned her attention back to the ceiling and attempted to get comfortable but found another question gnawing at her.

“Y/n?”

You sigh

“Yes Rob?”

“Do you want to be….? With Eddie I mean.”

You sigh again and sit up fully facing Robin. You look behind Robin further into the room where Eddie,Steve, and Argyle were sitting laughing at something. You turn back to Robin.

“If I say yes…is that bad?”

Robin's face burst into a smile.

“No y/n! I don’t think that’s bad at all.”

“But what if it is Rob?”

“What are you talking about?”

“What if Eddie doesn’t feel the same? What if I mess everything up with my stupid feelings and I ruin the band? I couldn’t live with myself if I did.”

“Y/n you’re an idiot.”

“Wow thanks Rob. Really putting my mind at ease here.”

“Are you blind?”

“What?”

“Look at Eddie right now.”

You turn your attention back to Eddie once more. The second your eyes trail over to him your eyes meet and he quickly flicks his eyes away and even turns his whole head in a different direction as he clearly fakes a cough. You turn back to Robin.

“Okay I looked. What do you mean?”

She lightly thumps your forehead with her thumb.

“You are blind! Completely utterly unequivocally blind!”

“Robin, I really am lost here.”

“Well let me get you a map.”

Robin moves to sit beside you and holds up and invisible map in front of your face.

“You see this point here? Yeah that’s you. You see this point here? That's Eddie. You see this line from you to him? That's your love for him. You see this line right here? That’s his love for you.”

“Eddie’s love for me?”

“You can’t be serious. That boy has been in love with you since he met you.”

“It’s true ya know.” You snap your head to the sudden intrusion of the conversation and find Nancy crouched down next to you and Robin. Jonathan and Nancy had gone to get snacks and upon returning, heard Robin's speech about love.

You turn to face Nancy and Jonathan. Jonathan begins to speak.

“I don’t know the guy too well outside of smokin weed but it’s not hard to see when someone’s in love. I think that’s why so many articles want you two together. The whole world can see he loves you.”

Those words made you blush deeply and you realized you were too high for this. All your thoughts were swimming with Eddie and how you wanted to walk up and kiss him right here right now. Instead you sigh and decide you’ll address it later. Laying back down you turn your attention back to the ceiling.

****

Across the room sat Eddie, Steve and Argyle. They were high out of their minds and Eddie had been rambling. It started off as some rant about paparazzi on tour and somehow landed on Eddie ranting about you in the best way possible.

“I’m telling you Harrington! Every photo in the magazines she looks gorgeous and I just look grunge. As much as I hate those paparazzi, they really do get some of the best pics of my gal.”

Steve and Argyle both started howling with laughter. Eddie hit Steve on the shoulder because he was closest.

“What’s so funny Harrington?”

Steve wiped a tear and turned to Eddie.

“Dude you’re so high I think you forgot you’re not dating her.”

Eddie started laughing along with Steve and Argyle. Eddie had actually gotten so high that he forgot you weren’t his girlfriend. That you weren’t his. His laughter soon died and became sadness. Sadness because it wasn’t true. It almost hurt so bad it was sobering in a way.

Eddie turned his attention over to you where you were sitting on the floor deep in conversation with Robin. He couldn’t take his eyes off of you. He wished so badly that you were actually his. He was determined. You’re going to be his by the end of this week. He knows it.

His lingering sobriety quickly went away as you turned to look at him and he realized he’d been staring. He went on autopilot and decided to avert his eyes and cough as if he’d just been smoking. Praying you didn’t catch any of what he just did but knowing you probably had. He threw his head back on the chair he was sitting in and stared up at the ceiling deep in thought of ways to ask you out.

****

That night everyone gathers in the living room and eats sandwiches and chips on paper plates. For the kids Steve packed sodas and juice boxes, for the young adults it was beers, water, and soda. However Eddie managed to snatch a juice box away from Dustin.

In the living room everyone decided on a movie to watch as a group and from the movies Steve and Robin had brought from family video everyone landed on back to the future to watch. Steve and Robin sat on the couch and Nancy and Jonathan sat on another couch across from them. You and Eddie Sat next to each other leaning against the couch that Steve and Robin were sitting on.

As you sat there on the floor surrounded by children next to Eddie your focus was not on the movie at all.

It’s as if some of your high was still lingering somehow and all you could think about was if Eddie was in love with you. You steal a glance at Eddie and like some twist of fate as soon as you turn to look at him, you see him turning to face you. He gives you a light hearted smile that is illuminated solely by the tv playing in the room.

Yet Eddie’s smile manages to outshine it all. You decide to make a slight move. Scooting slightly closer you intertwine your fingers with his. His eyes are wider and his smile has grown into a grin. He gives your hand a light squeeze and turns his attention back to the movie and you do the same.

As you watched the movie the two of you couldn’t help but move closer to one another until you were brushing hair off of his shoulder to make room for your ahead to lean against him. With every move the two of you made his grin managed to grow wider until his face hurt but he didn’t care.

Once the movie ended everyone started to head to their different rooms. Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Mike were sharing a room. Johnathan and Nancy were sharing a room, Steve and Robin were sharing a room (platonically duh), you and Eddie were sharing a room and eleven and max were sharing a room. Argyle had already fallen asleep on the couch but Steve and Robin said Argyle was welcome to join them in their room if he wanted.

As you entered the room you grabbed your pajamas and told Eddie to turn around so you could change because all the bathrooms were currently taken by other people getting ready for bed.

Eddie did but he was lost in thought so as he began to speak he had to stop himself as he found his head turning to face you.

“Princess?”

“Yeah Eds?”

“So uh.. during the movie when you uh. Well when you held my hand…”

“When I held your hand….?”

“….”

“Come on, Ed's talk to me.”

You walk up to where he’s turned facing the wall and put a hand on his shoulder that causes him to jump slightly but he regains his composure as he turns to face you in your pajamas.

Eddie sighs and avoids eye contact with you despite your very close proximity.

“It seemed like a moment. You know? I need to know if it wasn’t just me if I’m gonna ask what I’m gonna ask…”

You stepped as close as you could and cupped his face in your hands. Making him look at you.

“It was a moment Ed’s. It wasn’t just you. It’s never just you.”

He swallowed and took a deep breath.

“Princess…I’m head over heels for you honestly. I know we told the press we weren’t and what not but-but I-I want to Jesus H Christ princess look at me here I can sing in front of thousands of people but you got me stuttering over here. Okay okay I’m ready im ready. Y/n y/l/n I want to go out with you.”

You’ve got the biggest grin across your face and you lean up on your tippy toes as you touch your forehead to his.

“Well Eddie Munson i'm quite head over heels for you too. I would love to go out with you sometime.”

Eddie is the one who closes the gap between the two of you and pulls you into a deep yet soft kiss. Lips moving unsure at first but upon contact they couldn’t help but meld together. His hands found their way to your waist and your hands found their way to his hair.

As the kiss starts to become sloppier and the breathing becomes heavier you put a hand to Eddie’s chest and push him back gently. Eddie was smiling as he brushed some hair out of your face and tucked it behind your ear.

“Sorry princess got a bit caught up there.”

“Oh don’t worry about it…..just not while we’re here in this cabin with our friends”

“That’s fair.”

Eddie kisses you on the forehead and walks to his suitcase to get his pajamas and you turn to face the wall. After a moment of rustling along with what you’re 90% sure was him almost tripping trying to get out of his pants you feel a pair of hands on your shoulders and Eddie’s back against yours as he reaches to the ceiling fan above you and pulls the light switch.

“Bedtime sweetheart chop chop.”

You lay down on the bed and Eddie lays next to you as the big spoon and you both drift off to sleep with Cheshire grind on your faces.

*****

Waking up in Eddie’s arms the next morning was a welcomed comfort. You slowly turn around and turn the position from spooning into a hug. Eddie feels you stirring next to him and allows you to hug him and he gives you a light squeeze through the grogginess of his sleep.

“Mornin sleepy head” Eddie says as he forces at least one eye open.

“Morning Ed’s” both your eyes are open and you’re staring up at him. Watching the way the sun peaking through the room catches on his features. The way the light in his hair makes it appear a different shade of brown.

You remember the events of last night and decide it’s okay to reach up and trace Eddie’s face gently. Just lightly stroking his face and tracing each of his features.

As you do this Eddie’s eyes flutter open and he just allows you to do this as he watches you watching him. He takes in the little smile on your face as you go about your little task and he watches your eyes light up Everytime you discover a little freckle or line on his face that you hadn’t previously noticed.

When you stop tracing his features and just hold his face, that's when Eddie decides to close the gap between you two and envelop you in a kiss. It was sloppy and you both had morning breath but neither of you cared. Upon pulling away you sigh happily.

“So Munson. What’s on the agenda for today.”

“First….breakfast….after that I was thinking maybe you and I split off from the group today. Have a little drive around the lake and have a picnic.”

“Awe Eddie, that sounds romantic.”

“What can I say? I've wanted this for a while.”

You give him another quick peck on the lips before hopping out of bed but quickly stopping and turning around.

“What are we going to tell the others? Are we just going to tell them?”

“I’m sure we can tell our friends, y/n. They’re not going to sell us out to the press.”

“You’re right you’re right. And hell even if they did, most of the world already thinks we were dating.”

You continue to your suitcase and grab some clothes for the day and head out to the bathroom to change. As you’re walking back to the room you run into Steve.

“Hey y/n” Steve said as he bit into a little powdered donut.

“Hey Steve, what's up?”

“You and Munson wanna come play with us and the kids later? We’re getting some old games and stuff out of the attic and we’re gonna have a game day.”

“Awe that sounds fun but uh well Munsons taking me on a date today so I’ll have to do a rain check on game day.”

Steve smiles and you can tell he wants to say something but doesn’t.

“Well if you change your mind we’re all looking forward to seeing how playing horseshoes with someone with super powers is gonna go.”

You laugh and continue back down the hall to you and Eddie’s room. Upon opening the door you see Eddie with a blanket in hand and a bag full of snacks.

“You ready to go?”

“I guess so, Munson.”

He puts the blanket under his arm and holds the bag of snacks in one hand so that he can use his freehand to grab yours and lead you down to the kitchen for breakfast. You each grab some of the donuts that Steve was nice enough to go get this morning and then you head out to Eddie's van to begin today's adventure.

****

Eddie drove a little ways up the lake more towards the Forest. Just far enough away from the cabin to where you couldn’t see or hear any of the others so it would just be the two of you.

Eddie stepped out of the van first and made his way to the back where he grabbed a cassette player, blanket, and the bag of snacks.

Walking closer towards the edge of the lake you help Eddie lay out the blanket and supplies in the soft grass and lay down. Staring up at the clouds. Eddie laid down next to you and intertwined your fingers with his.

Every once in a while each of you would point up to the sky and compare the shape of a cloud to something. For Eddie he kept trying to compare every cloud to his guitar and for you well you were just really bad at guessing shapes apparently.

“Eddie, I swear, look at it!”

“That doesn’t look like a cat sweetheart I’m sorry” Eddie was laughing so hard at your horrible interpretations of the clouds.

Sure not every cloud looked like his guitar but he had no idea how you were getting these shapes from the clouds.

A little further into the afternoon you guys ate some sandwiches and drank some juice (that Eddie had stolen from the kids supply) and some animal crackers.

As you say there eating the animal crackers you sighed. Eddie nudges you with his arm and he looks a bit nervous thinking you may not be having a good time.

“What’s wrong sweets”

“Nothings wrong! I promise. This date has been amazing.”

“Well then why the sigh.”

“I dunno. Do you ever just…miss life before fame? I mean we hardly ever get moments like this anymore.”

“All the time sweetheart.” Eddie scoots closer and wraps an arm around you in a side hug.

“We’ll just have to make time for more moments like this. That’s all.”

He kisses you on the forehead. You turn and rest your head on his shoulders and stare out at the water of the lake. Taking in the scenery.

You two managed to stay out on that blanket well into the evening. And what had started out as an innocent kiss on the blanket was becoming a bit more as the kiss began to deepen. You were laying on the blanket as Eddie hovered above you and kissed you.

He swiped his tongue along your bottom lip and you granted him entrance to explore your mouth.

As the kiss becomes sloppier and more heated Eddie finds himself biting on your lower lip and it makes you whimper into his mouth. “Sorry baby.” He mumbles against your lips. “Don’t be.” You mumble back.

Kissing him was better than any of the drugs you’d taken on tour. Kissing him was better than any of the drugs you’d ever done. It was so addicting and every kiss made you want so much more.

You could feel the heat building between your legs and you began to move your hips against the leg that Eddie had rested between your thighs and he got the hint. Readjusting himself and grinding his clothed erection over your core making you moan against him.

The more he ground against you the wetter you could feel yourself becoming. You took one of Eddie’s wandering hands on your own and dragged it down your body to above your pants line. Pressing his fingers below the waistband and pressing his hand down your slit so he can feel how wet you are.

“Holy fuck babe you’re a slip n slide.”

“Just for you Ed’s just for you.”

He sits up and starts removing his clothing and you do the same. You both have your clothes off in record timing and upon realizing you’re both fully naked in front of each other for the first time you take a moment to study one another.

Eddie stands there taking in the sight of your bare breasts first. They’re perfect to him. Perfect for him. He can’t wait to suck on them. His eyes travel lower to your pussy. Another thing that’s perfect for him. He can’t wait to taste you and make your bath fantasy a reality.

You stand there and take in the sight of Eddie. His bare body reveals some previously hidden tattoos that you’ll be sure to leave plenty of kisses on. Then your eyes travel lower to his erection. You knew the guy had to be packing but holy shit this guy was going to split you open and you were so glad about it.

Eddie is the one who stalks over to you and latches onto you in another sloppy kiss. He’s leaving slobbery kissing all around your face and jaw, down your neck and finally he attaches his lips to one of your breasts as he begins to swirl his tongue making you cry out in pleasure. His hands find their way down your body right above your center. He rubs his fingers through your folds once again before pressing two fingers down to your clit where he begins rubbing a figure 8.

You’re already a moaning mess beneath him you start babbling. “Yes, yes, god Eddie just like that.”

He releases your breast from his mouth with a satisfying pop. “Yeah baby you like that? You think about this a lot?”

“Yes Eddie god yes”

“I know you do.”

“W-what?”

He moves his fingers lower to your entrance and plunges his two fingers in while now showing focus to your clit using his thumb. The swift movement makes you gasp.

“I heard you. Actually, no. I saw you. In the bath the other day.”

“You- you saw?”

“I heard first. Then took a leak through the keyhole.”

“Perv” there was no malice in your voice, only pleasure.

“Says the girl touching herself to the thought of me.”

Just at that moment his fingers hit a special spot that makes your whole body jump and you moan. Eddie begins focusing solely on that spot Eddie can feel your body tensing around his fingers.

“Ed’s-E-Eddie I’m -i-I’m gonna oh god!”

You came with the cry of his name, body tensing and coming all over his fingers. Once he worked you through your high, he removed his fingers and brought them to his lips. Cleaning of each finger with the swirl of his tongue while you watched.

He then leans in and gives you a big kiss where you can taste yourself so clearly on his tongue. When you pull away you find yourself desperate.

“Need you Ed’s”

“Need what sweetheart.”

“Need you. Need to feel you.”

“Anything for my pretty girl.”

He takes his erection in hand and strokes it once before rubbing it between your folds. Pressing it to your clit earning a gasp from you. Then he moves lower and presses the tip to your entrance.

“You sure about this princess?”

“I’m sure Eddie please.”

He presses himself in and immediately you’re feeling the stretch. It had certainly been awhile since you’d had anybody and going from nothing to Eddie was certainly an adjustment. Eddie took things slow and gave you time to adjust to his size before fully putting himself inside. He waited for your signal for him to move and once he did he found a good rhythm that had you both moaning and whimpering in each other’s ears.

Eddie was pounding so deep into you that you nails were clawing their way down Eddie’s back and every time you did it, it earned you a satisfying grunt or whimper from him.

Eddie's hands were digging into your hips as he thrust forward into you and you know he’ll leave bruises but you can’t wait to see them.

As Eddie feels his climax building and can see you getting closer underneath him he reaches a hand between the two of you and starts rubbing your clit. After applying more pressure to it he can feel your body begin to tense underneath him as you came from your second orgasm of the night. Eddie pace quickens as he nears his end.

“I’m close baby. Where do you want me.”

“I-inside Ed’s. Wanna feel you.”

“H-holy fuck”

Just you saying the words to him has him spilling himself inside of you. He collapses on top of you still being careful not to crush you. You both breathe heavily as you come down from your highs and as he lays on your chest he listens to your heartbeat as it slows.

When Eddie finally does pull out of you he looks down at his handy work and uses two fingers to push all of his leaking cum back into you making you whimper but not protest.

The two of you get dressed and decide it’s time to head back to the cabin. Sneaking in while the others are playing tic tac toe in the backyard you each grab a shower before heading out to conclude the day with your friends.

****

After spending 3 days at the cabin everyone decides it’s time to head back to Hawkins. This is the day you and Eddie get to go pick up Jeff and Gareth from the airport anyways so it’s not like you two could stay any longer. Now it was just a matter of how you were going to tell your bandmates that you and Eddie were now in a relationship.

Arriving at the airport you and Eddie sat hand in hand at the gate waiting to see your friends. Finally from the gate emerges both Jeff and Gareth. Gareth immediately notices your two hands intertwined.

“No! No! Stop that!”

As you and Eddie stand and walk to Jeff and Gareth you can’t help but be confused.

“Stop what?”

“Stop holding hands!”

“Why?”

“Cause if you two are holding hands then that means that you two are finally together and then that means I’ll probably have to tolerate you two fucking on the tour bus.”

You and Eddie immediately burst out laughing. Eddie puts a hand on Gareth’s shoulder. “I’ve got some bad news for you buddy”

Gareth throws his head back in annoyance and Jeff congratulates Eddie on finally making a move.

Everyone piles into Eddie’s van and Eddie begins to drive to Gareth’s house. As he drives Eddie decides to ask the group a question.

“Hey guys?”

You turn to Eddie. “Yeah Ed’s?”

“I know we’re on vacation and all but how would you guys feel about playing one show?”

Gareth looks confused. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about The Hideout man. What if we played a show at The Hideout like old times?”

“I love that idea, Ed's.”

Gareth and Jeff discussed amongst each other in the back of the van and then turned to Eddie with a decision. “We’re in. On one condition.”

“And what is that Gareth?”

“You have to have Harrington invite all his party friends. We’re not going to do a free show at The Hideout for a crowd of 5 drunks.”

“Deal.”

Eddie dropped Gareth and Jeff off Gareth’s house and then Eddie was heading back to his new place to call Steve. You both called around and told everyone to come to The Hideout tonight because you guys were going to do a show that Friday.

****

Friday night came quicker than you thought it would and suddenly you’re backstage at The Hideout. You have no idea if anyones even showed up and you have pre show jitters.

Eddie takes notice and comes to sit next to you stroking your hand in an attempt to make you feel better.

When it came time to step out on the stage you walked out from behind the curtain only to find The Hideout entirely packed. Wall to wall with people and reporters. You turned and looked at Eddie, eyes full of surprise. You really had made it from town freaks to town rockstars.

You took your place on the stage and began to play your set. The entire time you did what you usually do during shows. You gave it your all and you watched Eddie. You had to admit he was made for this life. Everything about him screamed rockstar. You’re glad you can enjoy this life with him.

When it came time in the set for you to sing your duet, you abandoned your keyboard and grabbed the microphone. Walking up to Eddie like you usually would, you began to sing as you looked him in the eyes. You and him looked at each other in a room full of people and saw absolutely nothing but each other. When you finished the song you were both madly out of breath and chests were heaving.

That’s when Eddie Munson grabbed you on stage and pulled you into a kiss in front of everyone. The kiss was met with cheers and hollers and camera flashes. You knew this would be on the cover of Hawkins post tomorrow but you didn’t care.

As you finished the set you breathed heavily as you rushed off the stage with your band mates. Fighting through crowds of stage hands and random people in an attempt just to get backstage. It was all a blur as you got swept up in the hustle and bustle.

Once you found yourself backstage you felt a hand grab your own and begin dragging you somewhere. Only to find Eddie dragging you into the bathroom in the back of the hideout where he began kissing you feverishly.

“Baby I’ve wanted to do this at every concert we’ve ever played at.”

“Then fucking do it Munson.”

That’s how you found yourself being bent over the sink looking into the mirror as Eddie Munson thrust into you in the bathroom of The Hideout.

As he thrusted further into you he reached a hand around to grab your jaw.

“Look at how pretty you are when you’re getting fucked baby.”

All you can do is mewl in response.

“I bet they can hear us out there right now. Bet they can head this fat cock splitting you open.”

As you watched yourself in the mirror you felt yourself getting closer and closer. The way your tits bounced as he pounded you. The way you couldn’t control any look on your face. Your entire body was at his mercy and it turned you on so much.

“I-I want them to hear Ed’s. Want them to know I’m yours.”

“Good. Cause you are, baby. You are mine.”

As he said it he began pounding deeper and deeper into you, making you moan and scream his name. He was going to make sure everyone outside this bathroom knew what was happening in there.

You came with the cry of his name and when he came he made sure to say yours. He rested his head on your shoulder as he stilled within you. Allowing you both to come down from your orgasms. He pulled himself out and tucked himself back into his jeans and helped you pull your pants up.

As you walked out of the bathroom you held your heads high despite the confirmation on everyone’s faces that they could in fact hear what exactly was going on in that bathroom.

Walking out of The Hideout you hear the snap of a camera and find Jonathan and Nancy standing there. Nancy with her reporter's notebook in hand and Jonathan with his camera.

Nancy approaches you first.

“So y/n. Mind if we get the first scoop on your relationship.”

You turn to Eddie with a wide smile. You two were going to be public and neither of you could care less. As long as you were together nothing else mattered and nothing else ever would.

[artemisocs]

Can you share anymore about Danielle? I really like her and the premise. Also pretty fond of Hopper pairings too.

Can I? Babe there is literally nothing I ever want to do more than gush about dani!! For a bit of context (that feels super important to me but probably isn’t actually!), I developed everything about her while visiting the town that I grew up in and was super fucked up about community and extended found families and the homes you can always go back to and it really shaped the way that I developed Dani’s relationships, both with individual people and with the entire Hawkins community!

So, Danielle Carter. She goes pretty exclusively by Dani and Carter, but Will and Jonathan also call her Dan. She’s around four years older than Jonathan, grew up in a small house with controlling but emotionally absent parents, and has been babysitting since she was eleven years old. She’s babysat for all of the Party (as well as Nancy and Jonathan when they were younger), and was especially present in the Byers’ lives after Joyce left Lonnie.

When she was in her senior year of high school, she had a boyfriend and thought that they were in love. After a lot of pressure about how if she loved him, she’d sleep with him, Dani lost her virginity, only to be dumped the next day. A few months later she found out that she was pregnant, and her parents kicked her out. She’s stubborn and determined to still graduate but she also needs money, so she gets a job at the station as the overnight secretary. Do they strictly need one, in a quiet town like Hawkins? Not at all, but Flo has a soft spot for her and bullies Hopper into hiring her anyway. They really do love her there, she’s charming and sassy and cares so much and remembers everything about everyone, and it takes about two shifts before she has them all wrapped around her finger without realizing it.

They throw her a graduation party and show up to cheer for her at her graduation, and when she gives birth, Flo arranges a town drive at the station for shit like diapers and formula and wipes for her, it only lasted for 2 days while she was in the hospital (bc they wanted to surprise her) but they overflowed three boxes

She’s also extremely close with a few of the Hawkins moms, notably the Party moms but especially Karen and Joyce.

They all recommend her to friends needing a babysitter, but with Joyce and Claudia also being single moms she always insisted she’d do it for free, just give her dinner and a couch to crash on, but they’d always slip money into her bag anyways because they understand what she’s going through the best

Karen regularly offers to look after her daughter (Melissa Joyce Carter) overnight so that Dani can work and/or sleep, although Hopper lets her (and actually offered) keep a crib in the station too so that Melissa can sleep while Dani works.

Claudia Henderson always cooks a lot of food, even though it’s just she and Dustin, specifically so that she can drop off entire weeks worth of meals for Dani. Dani refuses to ever charge her when she babysits Dustin but she always finds money tucked into strange pockets of her bag, and anytime she babysits at night, Claudia insists that she and Mellie sleep on the couch instead of going back to her lonely little trailer.

Joyce is Dani’s mom, in every way that could possibly matter. Dani has known Joyce since she was eleven years old and first started babysitting, and Joyce was very much the primary adult in her life. She taught her to drive when Dani was fifteen, and a few years later, when Joyce is picking up as many extra shifts as humanly possible and can’t do it herself, Dani goes on to teach Jonathan.

Now, Dani continues to babysit Will when both Jonathan and Joyce are working, but usually Dani is over just because they’re her family and Joyce is always insisting that she comes for dinner and stays overnight and she really is just the eldest Byers child. She named her daughter after Joyce and after season 3 she moves to California with them.

She takes her first ever PTO at the station when Will goes missing so that she can be there for Joyce and Jonathan, being the first person to actually believe Joyce about everything but also being there to help Jonathan through everything – his own emotions and all of the logistics that he has to deal with.

(and then a bunch of officers tell hopper that she can have as much of their pto as she needs too and hopper is like "she's already getting as much as she needs and don't tell her but i'm not counting any of it")

The thing is, a lot of what Joyce is saying sounds absolutely insane. Will is in the walls taking to her through the lights? Like, what the fuck? Obviously Joyce is right because she’s always right, but we the GA can see why that sounds unbelievable. But the thing is, Dani trusts Joyce so fucking much. Dani trusts Joyce more than anyone else in the entire world. So if Joyce says that Will is talking through the lights, then Will is talking through the fucking lights.

(This picture right here sums up the difference between Dani’s relationships with Joyce and her bio mom better than anything that I could ever right, so I’ll leave you with a side note that Dani and Joyce have a standing coffee date every Monday morning before the boys finish school)

Now!!! That was a really long tangent about her relationship with Joyce, so now let’s go back to everything else.

Her daughter’s name is Melissa Joyce Carter, obviously named after Joyce Byers, and Dani calls her Mellie. Hopper calls her Missy, and is actually so incredibly sweet with her. There’s a lot of angst in that because of Hopper having lost his own daughter, but despite being all gruff and bad with emotions, he’s actually phenomenal with her.

I have this one scene in mind where, back before Dani actually has a place to live, she’s pretty much just crashing with different people every night throughout her pregnancy and in the early months of Mellie’s life, she’s staying at Hopper’s trailer. It’s about two am, Mellie is screaming and has been all night, and Dani just starts sobbing. She’s exhausted, she’s stressed, she just can’t fucking do this anymore. And Hopper just quietly takes Mellie, says “get some sleep, Carter, I’ve got her,” and gently shoves her down until she’s lying down. (She’s taking Hopper’s bed and he’s sleeping on the couch and he tucks the blanket around her)

And then as she’s falling asleep she can hear Hopper in the other room going “You need to settle down and let your momma get some sleep, little Missy, she works so hard to take care of you”

Also please know that watching Hopper being so wonderful with Mellie is absolutely what made Dani fall for him

and also also, please know that it'll be a super angsty slowburn full of Hopper hating himself for developing feelings for her but dear god they love each other so much and I love them so much and they're such a wonderful little family and El gets a half-mom-half-big-sister in Dani and a baby sister in Mellie!

But even outside of those main people, I just feel a lot about this girl in a shitty situation, kicked out by her parents, and this small town that could have easily judged her and shunned and ostracized her but instead went no, she’s ours, and we’re going to take care of her

So... I definitely lost the plot like 200 times here, please forgive the stream of consciousness and tangents! Thank you so much for asking about her, I really truly love her so much and I'm so glad that you're interested in her 💙

(also... one last side note, my faceclaim for slightly-older Mellie is McKenna Grace!)

[what-if-nct]

hellooooo today's reminder is i bought some baby clothes and illustrated fairy tale books today because I'm going out of a town soon and I'm gonna be seeing my nieces so obviously i have to spoil them. there's two nieces - one is almost four years old, one is almost three months old (fun fact she was born on my actual birthday at 9pm and I've been told not to ask my sister if she couldn't have held off another three hours on labour so i wouldn't have to share my special day. just in case you were wondering if "I'm too selfish to ever be a parent" is a lie). anyway, took a lot of detours there, but my point is. i bought my baby niece this little collared black and white dress with flowers on it and it looks fit for a garden party but it's so TINY omg and you're telling me a human is gonna fit into that??? like i know she's a three-month old baby but. she's that small???????? holy shit i love babies. never wanna have one, ever, but. they're so fucking cute.

REMINDER ANON AGAIN I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS BUT WINWIN IS BACK!!!!!!!!! BELLA STILL REMEMBERS HIM!!!!!! WAYV ARE RECORDING MUSIC!!!!!!!! THE WORLD IS HEALING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hii, Aww you're such a good auntie. You gotta spoil your nieces. It's your duty. And honestly valid. My sister has said she doesn't want a baby cause all the attention will be off of her. I respect that. I also respect you wanting to have your birthday to you. That's your day. But also birthday twins are great. Babies are so tiny and cute and they have the cutest clothes. Sometimes going through the baby section is healing everything is so cute and tiny. And that's why being an auntie is great cute baby you can dote on then go home to a baby free home. Best of both worlds. I'm on the fence like I want a child. but childbirth? I don't know about that. And Winwin!!!!

He's baaaaaaaaaaack. We're gonna get a comeback with WINWIN. THE WINWIN OUR WINWIN!!! WINWIN!!!!!!

[animaniahq]

Gabriella Montez || 28 || Scientist || Echo Creek

“Do you remember in kindergarten how you'd meet a kid and know nothing about them, then 10 seconds later you're playing like you're best friends, because you didn't have to be anything but yourself?”

✨ Biography:

If there’s anyone who knows their way around Animania, it’s Gabriella Montez. A previous resident of Coolsville and Amity Park, Gabriella found her way to Echo Creek in the middle of high school, when her mother had to move again for her job. It wasn’t ideal, being the new kid all the time, but Gabriella tried her best not to get too attached to people. That was, until she moved to Echo Creek and met Troy Bolton. The two first met at a New Year’s Eve party for all of Animania, where she was forced into karaoke, and the rest was history. She had no idea that he would be the captain of the basketball team at Echo Creek High when she started at the school the Monday after. She fell hard for Troy, but her new friends and his basketball teammates made it impossible for a while for the two to date. It wasn’t until after the spring musical, when she and Troy snagged the leads, that they got together. Everything with Troy would have been easy if it wasn’t for Sharpay Evans, who decided to be actively against Gabriella the moment she signed her name for musical auditions. Sharpay tried to get in between her and Troy every chance she got, nearly breaking them up before college and when they worked at the country club Sharpay’s family attended. Gabriella wasn’t sure what she did to Sharpay to make her hate her so much, but she tries to keep her distance from her, even now, ten years after high school.

When Gabriella decided to leave Echo Creek to go to Amity Park for college, Troy followed. He had an offer to play basketball at the community college, but decided to come with Gabriella out of town and walk on to the team at Amity Park University. Gabriella was elated to be spending a full four years with her boyfriend, but at times, it was a little suffocating. It wasn’t that she didn’t love Troy, but that she missed the space that moving so much as a child afforded her. She wanted to try new things, experiment a bit, but being with her high school boyfriend made it hard. The two decided to break up their senior year to have one last year of college on their own and figure it out after. Gabriella never had a doubt that she and Troy would survive the break, but they didn’t. Troy moved on and dated around, and Gabriella moved back to Echo Creek where she got a job at a lab that made products for Barbie Cosmetics. Now, she lives with her best friend, Taylor, and sees Troy when they hang out with Taylor and Chad. It’s strange, trying to be friends with the person she was confident she was going to spend the rest of her life with, but Gabriella tries to make it work, even with a smile on her face. She’s not sure what the future holds, being twenty-eight and single when she thought she’d be married to Troy by now, but Gabriella’s glad she at least has her best friend along for the ride.

✨Personal:

Species: Human Sexuality: Bisexual Pronouns: She/Her Favorite Song: dorothea by Taylor Swift Big Three:  Cancer sun, Pisces moon, Virgo rising

✨Connections:

Barbie Roberts: The CEO of the company that Gabriella works for. They work closely together, and Gabriella makes frequent business trips to Amity Park to meet with her. She thinks Barbie is simply the coolest and cannot believe that she has her own company at such a young age.

Honey Lemon: One of the other scientists who Barbie sometimes enlists for consultations about their products. The two have become good friends outside of work, and it’s so refreshing to have another female scientist Gabriella’s age who shares the same passion for her work! She might have developed a small crush on her, but Gabriella’s not one to mix work and her feelings.

Jim Hawkins: They met at a bar back when she was in college, and she’s had a crush on him ever since. Gabriella loves his sense of adventure and spontaneity--Troy was always so safe, but Jim feels like the opposite, which is exactly what Gabriella wanted, right?

Based On: Gabriella Montez from High School Musical Faceclaim: Nadine Lustre FC Change: Not Allowed Availability: Taken

[antiquitea]

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: john egan x gale cleven.

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: the last place that john egan wants to be the summer before he graduates high school is the egan family cottage, a place where time and everyone else seems to have forgotten. having been intent on finding a summer job, spending time with his friends, going to parties, and making out with pretty girls, john is irked that the egan family matriarch has other ideas and wants the family to spend "one last" summer together.

john's sour mood shifts just a little when he meets local, but also not-so-local, gale cleven, a boy his age who works at the small town's one pizza joint. through teenage angst and a desire to break free of the awkward position of not being children anymore but not yet men, the two form a bond that makes their summer a little more bearable. a bond that comes to shock the both of them.

but what happens when more than the summer comes to an end?

𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: teen, though later chapters might have a slightly higher rating.

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 4.2k

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: YEAH FIRST MASTERS OF THE AIR FIC. thank you to everyone who reblogged the mood board and expressed interest in the story. special thanks to @wildbornsiren for being my ride or die and @swifty-fox for letting me share snippets and bouncing ideas off of you.

likes / comments / reblogs are very much appreciated! thank you for reading! 💚

» mood board. » read on ao3.

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐈.

Summer 1986 Somewhere in Wisconsin

“Johnny!”

Evidently, John Egan had ignored the shouts from his mother to come inside for the last time. Her voice turned into something shrill that he could hear even down by the lake, where he could normally escape all manner of ruckus that came from the cottage. It wasn’t that noisy, he supposed. But it was difficult to get a moment of peace and quiet when his whole family - his ma and dad, his sister, and himself - were all crammed into the small two bedroom space.

When they were kids, John and his sister, Billie, would bunk together in one room, at first sharing the one bed, John then eventually sleeping on the floor when he “got too long,” as his dad put it. But when one is suddenly seventeen, and the other is fourteen, bunking together isn’t on the table anymore, no matter what Ma said. John would just as soon take the couch, which he was too long to fit on comfortably anymore, in the living room, or grab a tent and camp out under the stars if the weather was nice enough.

“Johnny Egan!”

The last name had been included, it was getting serious.

John pushed himself up with a soft grunt, hands instinctively wiping grass and dirt from the ass of his shorts. He reached over to pick up the battered copy of ‘Salem’s Lot and the empty bottle of Coke that he’d brought down to the edge of the lake with him, cramming the book in his back pocket, and holding the empty bottle between his long fingers.

He didn’t know what all the fuss was about, having dinner at the same time every night. It was summer, no one else seemed to be on a set schedule. Kids, teens, and adults ran wild in cottage country. At least that had been the way. Once upon a time, he and Billie had been allowed to miss dinners and stay out past their bedtimes. Yet somehow, as they got older, Ma and Dad were trying to tighten the reins. Ma had tearfully mentioned that it might be the last time they all got down to the lake together for the summer, as if one of them were fuckin’ dying or something.

John tramped through the brush and tall grass to get to the path that would lead him back to the small cluster of cottages on the the top of the hill. There had been four that had always been there, as long as he could remember, situated around the lake. They went back generations, passed down through handshakes and wills, little more than a handful of rooms for families to sleep, eat, and unwind after a day in the sun.

But over the past few years things further up the road were beginning to be developed, real proper like, and it was only a matter of time before it reached the older cottages down by the lake. John had ridden his bike past them shortly after they’d arrived a week ago; they looked almost as nice as the house that they lived in ten months out of the year back in Manitowoc. John had heard the stories about how the Egan Family Cottage had come to be, put together by his grandfather and a few friends over the course of the summer in 1945, a product of coming home from the war, too much time on their hands, and a lot of packs of cigarettes and beer.

“Jo -”

“I’m comin’ Ma!”

When he was a kid it seemed like a much greater distance between the cottage and the lake, and now he realized that they were within spitting distance of one another. He’d taken up less space then. 

John crested over the small hill at the top of the path, the cottages in full or partial view now. Theirs was on the far right, and despite its location amongst the small cluster, had been the center of his universe, and the universe of all the other kids, summer friends, that spent summers there, for as long as he could remember. But the Miller kids were both off to college the last couple of years, and Amos Cook had passed away early that spring, and his widow couldn’t bear to come down and bring their grandkids with her.

Suddenly, at seventeen years of age, John felt too young and too old all at once.

—

“Lucia’s dad said he would drive us to the mall the next town over tonight. If that’s okay? Ma? It closes at eight.”

John pushed the remnants of dinner around his plate with the prongs of his fork, desperately wanting to be set free from the small dinner table shoved into a corner of an equally small kitchen, to go and find somewhere to finish his book. He only had a couple of chapters left before he was finished, and he really wanted an excuse to take his bike (or the truck if Dad was in a good mood) into town the next day, go to the library, maybe spend some time at the pizza place that had Galaga and Time Pilot arcade cabinets, see a pretty girl. Any girl, really. He was beginning to think his summer would’ve been better spent in Manitowoc. At least then maybe he stood a chance of feeling up something pretty in the back seat at the drive-in.

“Who’s Lucia?” John Egan the Elder asked, reaching over and opening the fridge door. The perks of the small kitchen and its small dinner table meant that the fridge was often within reach. Egan Senior pulled out a beer and held it up, looking at John with raised eyebrows. John nodded, and his dad pulled another one out. He popped the caps off of both and then handed one to his son.

“A new friend,” Billie replied after a sip of water. “Her parents have one of the cottages up the road. I met her today. She’s really nice. Ma, you’d like her.”

“Oh, Billie. Why would you want to go to the mall on a night like this?” Ma Egan asked, dabbing her lips with a napkin.

Dinner had been steaks and vegetables that Dad had cooked on the barbeque. It dawned on John that in the summer that his dad did most of the cooking on the grill, which meant Ma got a break from cooking. Perhaps that was why she had been so eager to come down to the cottage every year. 

“Oh let her go, Ma,” John Sr. said, then taking a sip from his bottle of beer. “She’s met a new friend and wants to go to the mall. Ain’t no danger in it. So long as she doesn’t spend her entire allowance.”

John swore his Ma still believed that they were children who needed coddling and protection from the world. He had his own feelings about his sister getting older - for one thing, she was infinitely more annoying than he had ever remembered her being - but Billie didn’t need Ma looming over her shoulder at all times.

“Well, who will John spend time with if she’s gone?” Ma asked John Sr., as if neither Billie or John will be present.

“He’s seventeen, he doesn’t want to spend summer nights with his kid sister.” Again, they may as well have not been there. “Am I right, John?”

John inhaled, waiting for a moment of quiet in which he could reply in, before Ma was filling the void. “Oh, all right. Is Lucia’s dad going to pick you up from the mall?”

Billie brightened. “Yes. Eight o’clock on the dot, he said.”

“Then I suppose it’s all right. But I want you home no later than eight thirty.”

“May I be excused?” John asked, looking between his parents.

“Of course,” Ma replied, before immediately turning back to Billie to go over the five new rules she’d just concocted for going to the mall with Lucia.

John cleared his plate, grabbed his beer, his book from off the table by the back door, and made his way back down to his spot at the lake. He still had a couple of hours of daylight left, and even after he finished his book (he was a fast reader) there would be plenty of time for him to just lay by the lake, sipping the remnants of his beer, and enjoying the sounds of the crickets and the lake.

—

Back in Manitowoc, the library had a couple of girls John’s age who worked there part time. While he did enjoy going there to check out something new, he also enjoyed leaning over the counter, smiling with all of his teeth, and asking what their favourite books were. He also enjoyed watching them duck their heads and giggle, and on occasion following them to the very back stacks where their favourite books were not at all located and putting his hands under their skirts while they tried to stifle their moans against his shoulder.

In the town library down at the cottage it was small enough to be staffed by one woman, and that woman was old enough to be his grandmother. John wasn’t opposed necessarily … she just wasn’t his type.

His solitary errand completed for the day (he picked a couple more Stephen King books), John glanced at his watch. It was only ten in the morning.

Letting out a huff, he leaned against the brick exterior of the library and looked up and down the one street the town possessed. So many shops weren’t even opened yet, their proprietors moving as lazily as the out of towners who took over in the summer. John didn’t know much about business or economics (despite Dad’s best efforts), but thought that opening earlier would be more profitable.

Or maybe it wouldn’t. He was just bored out of his skull.

They had six more weeks there.

Books placed in the milk crate at the back, John mounted his bike and began lazily cycling down the street back toward the direction of the cottage, passing by the pizza place. It was open, and John spotted a couple of kids Billie’s age playing Galaga. It felt far too early for a slice, but John wasn’t quite ready to go back to the cottage and get through another book in a day.

Parking his bike outside, John then opened the door to Rush Hour Pizza. What passed for rush hour in this place he would very much like to see. The boys were playing Galaga, one shouting very unhelpful directions at the other, but aside from that the shop was empty, save for the thin blond working behind the counter, her back turned to the entrance. He leaned over the counter, one hand pressed against the linoleum and set his voice to purr.

“Hey pretty thing.”

The blond turned around, eyebrows shooting up to his hairline, blue eyes wide.

Fuck.

“Um.”

“Yeah,” the boy around John’s age supplied, tucking a piece of his long blond hair behind his ear. “My dad’s been saying I should get a haircut.”

He was slender, but not so slender that John should’ve been mistaking him for a girl. John was scarlett with shame, but tried not to let it show, instead just clearing his throat and looking down at the counter for a moment to get his bearings.

“What can I get for ya?” the boy asked.

“Uh,” John replied, finally glancing up. Okay, so he may have been a boy but he was still extremely pretty in a masculine sense. Was that a thing that men were? John had never thought a boy was pretty before. He’d looked at men with curiosity, but never -

“You okay, man?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine,” John replied. “Can I, uh, get a slice?”

“This early?”

John looked at the boy across the counter incredulously. “It’s … a pizza place. You sell pizza. You’re open.”

“Yeah, but … it’s ten in the morning.”

“Then what …” John trailed off, gesturing to the boys playing Galaga.

The blond boy leaned over the counter, looking at the two younger boys shoving quarters into the arcade cabinet, and then looking back at John. “They’re playing Galaga.”

“I see that they’re playing Galaga. But isn’t this the sort of place where you, I dunno, have to buy something in order to use … the facilities?”

The boy chuckled and John kind of hated him. He stole a glance at the nametag pinned to the boy’s apron - GALE - and then lifted his gaze to his face once more.

“When my dad is here, probably. But I dunno, it’s summer and this place is boring. I don’t care. If they wanna feed quarters into the machines they can go for it. We get their money regardless. At least, that’s what my dad would say. They bought some Cokes about an hour ago,” Gale said. “Pizza’s not even ready yet.”

John blinked. “Then why are you open?”

“Galaga,” Gale replied, pointing at the boys and the arcade cabinet once more. “I was here making the pizzas anyway.”

“So when you asked what you could get me, it was limited to beverages,” John said, letting out a sigh.

“There’s a menu,” Gale said, pointing to the large board above his head. “I can make you a sandwich. Or a sub.”

For the first time, John picks up on Gale’s accent, and cocks his head. “Not from around here, are you?”

“No sir,” Gale replied, leaning against the counter. “Born in South Dakota, grew up in Wyoming.”

“Then what the hell are you doing here?” John asked. Gale opened his mouth to speak and John interrupted him. “If you say ‘Galaga’ one more time -”

Gale laughed, something big and bright, showing all of his perfect fuckin’ teeth. It stretched up to the corners of his eyes and made his nose scrunch up, and John’s face felt strangely warm again. “Change of scenery. Dad got tired of Wyoming.” He tilted his head at John. “You’re not from here either.”

“Well, I’m from Manitowoc. My family summers here.”

“Summers. Fancy,” Gale said a little teasingly, straightening back up. It was far from fancy, but John didn’t correct him. “Can I make you a sandwich or what?”

John reached into his pockets and pulled out his wallet, rifling through his cash. “Yeah. Yeah, sure. Cold cut sub sounds great. Not gonna get on my ass about it being too early for lunch?”

“I would never,” Gale replied with a slow smile.

—

“You were gone long,” Ma said the moment that John walked in through the back door of the cottage, a stack of books under his arm.

John rolled his eyes and placed the books down on one of the side tables next to the couch, which had been serving at his nightstand. “Ma, please.”

“Well, I’m just sayin’ is all,” Ma Egan said defensively, looking up from washing dishes in the kitchen. “Said you were going to the library. Figured you’d be there and back in half an hour or so.”

With an exasperated sigh, John flopped down onto the couch. He wasn’t certain if he could bear even just another day of his mother being overbearing. “Ma, we’re on vacation. I’m almost an adult -” Ma snorted, and John ignored her. “- can you stop hasslin’ me about being a bit longer in town? It’s not like I have anywhere else to be.”

“Now John Egan, I’ve had just about enough of your complaining,” Ma said with a sigh, tossing her washcloth into the sink.

John sat up a little straighter, hands stretched out in front of him, eyebrows raised in confusion. “I haven’t complained once since we got here.”

“Oh yes you have,” Ma Egan said. “Maybe not in so many words, but you’ve been throwing yourself around like a rag doll since you set foot inside this place. Mopin’ about, spendin’ all of your time down at the lake.”

“There’s nothing for me to do here,” John said, and he sounded much whinier than he had meant to. Definitely not an adult.

“Like hell there ain’t,” Ma Egan said, hands on her hips. “Your sister has been makin’ friends up the road, and don’t tell her I ever said it, but you’re far more personable than she is.”

“Ma,” John began, his voice firm and level. “Billie is a kid. There are other kids around. I, your son who is a completely different person, am not a kid. There’s no one my age around here. They’re probably all working jobs. Which is what I wanted to do this summer back home, but you and dad insisted that we all come here. So forgive me for feeling a little bit put out that I’m spending my summer vacation with nothing to do, when I wanted to get a job, make some money for school, and spend time with my friends.”

“And get up to no good,” Ma Egan said quickly.

“Ma -”

“Those boys you pal around with aren’t exactly model citizens.”

“Neither am I,” John muttered, really wishing he had thought to buy a pack of cigarettes while he was in town. He hadn’t thought he would need to take the edge off there, but it was becoming apparent that he would.

“Not if you keep aligning yourself with that lot,” Ma Egan said, stepping into the small living room, cluttered with John’s belongings. “Look, the reason why your father and I insisted that we all come here this summer is that it’ll probably be the last time we all get the chance to.”

“Ain’t no one dyin’, Ma!”

Sighing, Ma sat down next to John on the couch. “John, it ain’t about that. You and your sister are getting older, you’re not going to want to come down here anymore with the whole family. Hell, you already didn’t want to. But next summer you’ll be off to college, or getting a job somewhere, and you won’t be able to make it down. And your father and I aren’t gettin’ any younger.” She paused and reached over, taking one of John’s hands. “Our lives are all going to change one way or another in the coming years, and ain’t nothin’ guaranteed. But we could have this one last time. Some time together. I’m sorry that we dragged you here. But I ain’t sorry that you’re here. You understand me?”

John glanced over at his mother, letting out a small sigh of his own. He loved his family, he did. But he was filled with that sort of unbridled rage that all teenagers feel when they’re on the cusp of adulthood. Even if he couldn’t identify it, quantify it, it was there. He did an excellent job of keeping it to himself for the most part, unless his mother drew it out of him, like she was doing then and there.

He didn’t quite understand her insistence that they all be together at the cottage when they could’ve been together back home. But, agreeing with her in the past had sometimes been a better option than arguing with her, and John couldn’t bear to break her heart with his own teenage angst anymore.

“Yeah, Ma. I understand.”

—

That afternoon, John had found his father, who was working on a truck for one of the newer neighbours up the road. Turns out it had been Billie’s new friend’s father. Billie and Lucia were inside, enjoying some air conditioning and listening to New Kids on the Block, while their two dads stood over the open front hood of the blue Dodge Ram, each holding a beer in their hand. John the Younger managed to lend a hand, which seemed to please his father, who really wanted his son to one day take up the mantle of the family business back home.

John was still undecided if he wanted to be a mechanic or not. In fact, he was still undecided on what he wanted to be at all.

As a thank you, Lucia’s dad suggested they get pizza. John was about to take his leave when Lucia insisted that he stay. John didn’t miss the way that Lucia looked at him, and couldn’t find it in himself to break the girl’s heart, so he agreed. Billie looked equal parts shocked and disgusted, and he later heard her say, “My brother? Seriously? Ew.”

“He’s got a moustache, Billie.”

“Not a good one.”

John was glad he was out of sight, if not out of earshot, rubbing at the hair above his lip absentmindedly. The moustache was a work in progress. He thought it looked just fine. And Deborah Jensen back home in Manitowoc had seemed to be quite fond of it as well.

Lucia’s dad gave him the keys to the newly fixed truck to go pick up the pizzas, and John Sr. reminded him to be on his best behaviour with a truck that wasn’t theirs. John fought the urge to roll his eyes, wanting to be a good guest, and after taking his time to ensure that the mirrors were properly adjusted, hands at ten and two (he knew his dad was watching), John drove ten under the speed limit until he was out of sight.

—

John pulled up to Rush Hour Pizza with a groan, not really in the mood for Gale. He didn’t know why, they’d gotten on well enough that morning. Gale was clearly bored to tears waiting for the pizzas to come out of the oven, so he’d chatted with John from across the restaurant while he ate his sub (it had been really fuckin’ good).

When the bell above the door chimed, Gale popped up seemingly out of nowhere, looking a little bewildered to see John again. “Couldn’t get enough of me?” he asked.

“Very funny,” John said, looking around. The arcade cabinets were abandoned. He supposed it was dinner time, all the neighbourhood kids were probably at home. “I’m just here to pick up a couple of pizzas. My dad’s friend ordered them.”

“Oh yeah. Of course,” Gale said, hands braced against the counter. He paused. “What’s the name?”

John blinked at Gale. “I don’t fuckin’ know.”

“You don’t know your dad’s friend’s name?”

“... Lucia’s Dad?”

Gale chuckled, shaking his head. “Can’t say I recall taking that order, man.”

John sighed, shoulders slumping. “Okay. Well. Are there any orders here?”

“Yeah, a few.” A beat of silence passed between them. “Do you know what he ordered?”

“Pizzas.”

Gale smiled, cocking an eyebrow and folding his arms across his chest. “How in the hell do y’all get by in Manitowoc?”

“I’m beginning to wonder that myself.”

Still smiling, Gale pulled some receipts from a small pile to his right. “Here. We’ll go through them both together. You tell me if any of the names or orders ring any bells.”

“Doesn’t this violate pizza-client privilege or something?” John asked, leaning over the counter slightly to look at the order slips with Gale.

“That’s not a thing.”

Apparently, all twelve people in town had ordered pizzas for pick up that evening. As Gale rattled off names and orders, John realized that the pizza boy didn’t even know his name. It seemed very unfair that he knew Gale’s.

“I’m John,” he said, interrupting Gale mid-sentence.

Gale glanced up at John, blinking slowly. “Well, all right. Hello John. I’m Gale.”

“I know. You have a nametag.”

Gale glanced down at his chest and smiled. “So I do. Forgot I had that on. Okay, where were we? Carlos -”

“That’s it! What’s his last name?” John interrupted excitedly.

“I was gonna get to that, y’know,” Gale said, looking up at John and smiling. “Navarro.”

“That’s the one!” John said, taking the slip from Gale and looking at the order. “One pepperoni, one meat lovers, and one vegetarian.”

“Coming right up,” Gale said, heading toward the back as John pulled cash out of his wallet.

While John waited for Gale to come back with the pizzas, he craned his neck to look into the kitchen. “Do you work here alone?” he called out.

He heard Gale laugh. “Why? Comin’ back to kill me tomorrow night?” he replied, still hidden in the back.

“Not my style,” John replied. “Just … you’re the only pizza place in town it seems, and it’s just you here. Seems like a lot of work.”

Gale returns to the counter with three boxes of pizzas, setting them down and then taking the cash from John. “I like to keep busy. My dad comes in during the rushes, but once the pizzas are actually in the oven the rest is just … transactions. Making sandwiches and stuff like that.”

“Right,” John said, watching Gale as he rang up his order and handed John back the change. John tossed some into the tip jar. He picked up the pizzas and nodded a thanks to Gale, who nodded one back and tucked a piece of his hair behind his ear. John was halfway to the door, before he stopped and turned around. “Gale, what the fuck do people like you and me do around here for fun?”

…

[ashketchumseleventhbirthday]

After Party for Old Men

Summary: Lance has matured into a quiet man, but he can still appreciate thoughtful celebrations. Especially when they lead to those moments of respite.

Rating: K+ - Suitable for more mature childen, 9 years and older, with minor action violence without serious injury. May contain mild coarse language. Should not contain any adult themes.

Words: 1000

Notes: Old man Lance. Not that 32 is all that old, but still.

The Indigo Plateau is filled with light chatter as the guests of the party slowly filter out of the grand building. The usually empty mansion was filled with many guests just moments ago as Karen, one of the newest additions to the Elite Four roster and a committed socialite, had thrown a surprise party in honour, or rather, at the excuse, of their leader.

What for? Leaf could not quite remember the specific reason, but if it was to celebrate something for Lance, and she was not one to pass on the occasion. It is so for a variety of reasons, but especially knowing how the Lance she has grown up seeing on television is not one to celebrate any of his achievements, at least not as of recently.

Gone was the boy of nineteen that she remembered seeing report after report at her tiny town in the edge of Kanto as a child, the youngest champion ever at that point, taking away the title of a veteran trainer and the harbinger of a new generation of aficionados and their innovative styles of battling. Gone was the young man of twenty-five that gave interviews and was considered to be the most sought-after bachelor in the nation, and who went out of his way to give ample reason to be called as such.

Maturity, in every sense of the word, comes for us all. In their place, therein lays a tired and gruff man of thirty-two, beaten down with the reality of being a big fish on a small pond, though it is rather funny to think of a thirty-million-inhabitant region as any sort of size other than huge. He has learnt there are trainers out there who are on a league of their own, and whose heights he would never reach. He continues to love training and battling, and he feels a duty to the place of his birth, but he has been fully humbled. He has become a quiet person, preferring to be alone or in the presence of those he deemed tolerable.

Though, the young woman knew that was his own convoluted way of saying he enjoyed certain people's company but he would rather pierce himself with his great sword than admit that out loud. Besides, as much as Lance tried to hide it, it was hard for him to hide the ghost of a smile that lingered on his face when he came home to the warm surprise that welcomed him when he came home this particular evening.

As the weary Champion of the Indigo League bid Erika and Jasmine, the furthest-flung invitees, safe travels, Leaf catches the movement of another female trainer inch towards the door, leaving à française. Her movements are small and calculated, paradoxically declaring boldly that she planned to make it out the door without grabbing the attention of his cousin. However, luck was not on Clair's side, as Will, having a few too many glasses on him and, from a sensitive man, descended into complete and comical obliviousness, swiftly sidled to her side, guiding the poor woman towards her estranged relative.

As amusing as it would be to eavesdrop on the words shared between old-time rivals and routinely rowing cousins, it would be rude of her to put her nose in family business that she had no reason in knowing. As much as she knows how much both of them found a damn riot when, in regards to old rivalries and the ugly side of fraternal love, she punched Blue for being a prat again. All fifteen times, in fact.

However, before she could busy herself in helping the maids with tidying up the manor, her name is called.

"You're still here.” The Champion says to her, approaching her with steps that echo through the wide hallways of the League building.

The light from the lanterns that hang above them illuminates the entire room, the light twinkling in the reflection from his eyes, igniting a simulacrum of the old fire in his irises as he focuses his attention on Leaf. His hair is unruly, messier than it usually is, as he must have been tussled a bit during the celebration. It is a shame that she could not spend a bit more time with Lance alone during his party, but what could she do when there were just so many people who care for him the way she does?

Her fingers absentmindedly tuck a loose curl of red hair from his face behind his ear, and she bite back a smile when his eyes widen from her touch.

"When everyone else had your attention this evening, is it selfish of me to be the last to leave just to be with you alone?" She asks, a sweet and teasing smile on her face.

His lips part for a mere second before they widen into a small smile. His hand, rough and scarred from years of travelling and training, yet held the comforting warmth that she has been yearning for for her entire life, encases her own and bring them to his lips to press a gentle kiss on the tops of her knuckles.

"It is, indeed.” He whispers, his breath gently hitting her skin. "But there is nothing wrong with being selfish once in a while, dearest. I’m more than happy to accommodate."

Leaf hums, sliding her other hand up his chest and to his jaw, gently cupping his face in her palm. Her heart hammers against her chest when he leans into her touch, the fiery irises in his eyes that burn bright with the deepest passion again and focus solely on her, sending her thoughts into a flurry.

"Then...” Her thumb gently rubs his cheek. "Would it be alright for me to stay a while longer? Just to be by your side?"

A kiss is planted onto her palm and Leaf feels a heat rush from head to toe.

"Of course. Anything is alright if it's with you, my love."

*_*_*_*_*

1st Gen Masterlist

[pyjamacardinalshonestydiary]

31st December 2022

I have not attempted to write a diary since my twenties. I am now 50 and feel for a variety of reasons I should do so. First, I do not reflect on much. I prefer diving in and living in the moment. I should pause and think more. About my actions and how they help, hinder or hurt others. I feel the act of writing will help me do this more. I also want to make a record of my mundane little life as I think I am losing my mental faculties. Specifically my ability to remember. It might just be paranoia, or age. There is certainly no medical diagnosis. I have a feeling however that I am not as sharp or as quick I was once was. It troubles me. I will set down in this blog, what I see and feel. Some days this might be a line only. I may not even write everyday. But I want to get something down. I do not care if this is read by others or no one. Some basic facts. I am the middle class son of working class parents. My passport is British, my skin is white, my eyes, hair and beard are brown. My beard is speckled with white. I keep my (big) beard to hide my small chin. My hairline has started to recede for the first time in the last year. I have four wonderful children (B,H,G & Bt) and a soft, cosy, clever wife (Z) I love very, much. I work in the middle tiers of an American tech giant, where the people I work with are wonderful and very smart, but I am not at all sure I love it. I do it wholly for the money so we can live in a nice house in a nice town where we have roots, friends and the children are settled and happy. There is never quite enough money, but we are not extravagant. I make comics, write music and sew for fun. I make costumes for the kids Youth Theatre Company. I am very conscious that we are lucky. I was born in the UK at a time when my parents could make a better life than their parents had. We live better (so far) than my parents did. I suspect all this will change in the next decade. About 20 years ago I said to Z that we were living at the end of a golden age, a last flourish of Western and European culture (and wealth) that would soon, like all things slip away. That was just before 9/11 and the Financial Crisis. I have not been right about much, but I think I was close with that. Our 4th child was born in 2012. That was the last year politically and economically I have felt safe and secure. Everything since has been worry and an erosion of the values I hold dear : tolerance, sharing, compromise and consensus. The ability for people to make a better life for themselves and their children based on merit. Perhaps worse, I have seen a re-trenchment in the UK and elsewhere to the politics and world-view of the 80s and the return of small minded, me first attitude. This, accompanied by the absolutist puritanism and social-censure on social media platforms makes for a depressing popular culture that is both hateful and anodyne in outlook. The UK is facing economic hardships, but we remain a rich country. How can we in good conscience operate foodbanks? How can we pay our public servants - teachers, nurses, ambulance drivers and all the rest - so little, and ask so much of them? How can I help them. How can I help more? That is my other job for 2023. Tonight, the family will descend to our house for the New Year party. I have been ill with some low level virus the last few days. I have no energy, so I am not looking forward to it that much. Mercifully all the family are lovely. It's more about the late night. I am not hopeful for 2023, but I am loved and I love others. I will try to help others more, because for many, help by the traditional routes may not be coming.

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Request: Imagine being Lin Beifong’s daughter and having a crush on Iroh II

Tags: @tincdraws

Growing up as the daughter of Lin Beifong metal and earth bending were your whole life. You learnt to earth bend by the time you could walk and your mother had you in training from a young age so you graduated from the earth bending school at the top of your class with your eyes firmly set on following in your mother’s footsteps whilst also trying to emulate your grandmother’s success. You had a sharp focus and nothing else really caught your attention. You had friends but training came first and dating seemed something superficial you could live without. Republic city was your life and you would never dream of leaving it but your mother had other ideas.

Your mother thought you needed more worldly experience before you joined the police force so she sent you to the fire nation to gain some training as an officer. She claimed the fire nation had some of the best officers in the world and that they would help you learn invaluable real-life experience. You did not agree and protested the whole thing. All your training had revolved around the needs of Republic City specifically and you couldn’t see how you’d learn anything new about how to protect your city by travelling all the way to fire nation but your mother refused to change her mind and that was that.

So you were shipped off to the fire nation fresh out of the academy. Your mother had spoken to Firelord Izumi and it was agreed you’d be staying at the palace so not only would you be unfamiliar with the environment, you’d be in a place where every small look, word or action had large consequences. You didn’t know much about the fire nation and couldn’t really recall the royal family. You were aware your grandmother was very close with the late Firelord Zuko but since then things had changed. Although your grandmother’s friends (mainly Katara) had tried to keep the group close it was hard with everyone scattered across the four nations and so with each generation the group had drifted further and further apart. You knew Firelord Izumi had a daughter older than you and a son around your age called Iroh. You recalled meeting Iroh when you were younger at some event in the south pole but couldn’t remember much more than a serious fire nation child. So you arrived on the steps of the palace utterly out of your depth determined to see these three months through so you could return to your beloved city. You were shown into the palace immediately, your belongings taken by maids who refused to let you carry them yourself as you were a royal guest. You weren’t used to finery so proceeded through the palace partly in awe and partly in utter confusion why someone needed this many paintings of old men everywhere. You were finally shown into a large room. “Ah you must be y/n Beifong” a voice called and you turned to see someone who looked vaguely familiar. You knew he wasn’t Firelord Zuko or Firelord Izumi’s husband as he was too young so figured by his royal outfit this was Izumi’s second child the prince. “Prince Iroh, it’s an honour to see you again” you said bowing and he chuckled “I bet you thought that would be a winning line with any fire nation citizen didn’t you? Because we’re still all obsessed with honour like we were centuries ago?” Iroh asked and you hesitated. “If I caused any offence...” you started but Iroh cut you off breaking out in a large smile “no I was only kidding, it is a winning line we are still obsessed with honour”. You watched as Iroh laughed at his own joke surprised, you didn’t expect the prince of the fire nation to be like this. You figured royalty lacked the ability or the clearance to have a sense of humour but apparently not. “So have I really not changed since we were eight?” Iroh asked and when you frowned he elaborated “you recognised me but the last time we met was just over ten years ago”. You paused “ow no I didn’t actually recognise you, you were young, dressed in fine clothes with royal hairpins, not to mention you’re in the palace...you had to be the prince”. “Good deductions officer” Iroh said saluting you before he grinned “i’m in training too”. That piqued your interest “really? for the fire nation army?”. He nodded “yep! I’m an officer but my hope is to be general one day and to fully earn it, rather than just get it because of who my family is...hopefully in a few years i’ll get there”. “I’m sure you will” you agreed and Iroh led you into a large dining room. “Are we dining alone?” you asked confused and Iroh smirked. “Why? Not pleased with me?” he asked and you rushed to assure him that wasn’t the case when he laughed again “I’m joking again y/n, I know my grandfather told you the whole family would be dining with you in his letter to your mother but he, my parents and sister were all called away to an urgent matter and asked me to fill in as we’re similar ages”. “Ow” you nodded “that makes sense...is everything okay?”. Iroh nodded “everything’s fine just boring fire nation stuff...so shall we?” he asked holding out his arm to you. You weren’t sure if this was appropriate so averted your eyes and only took his arm lightly. Iroh smirked at your caution and led you into the room.

The meal with Iroh was nice. He was friendly, hard-working and interesting. You soon got used to his humour and learnt not to take him too seriously. You hadn’t met many other people your age who shared your passion for a military career and found it was nice, a sentiment Iroh apparently shared. He enquired what you were doing the rest of the week and when you replied nothing as training didn’t start for another week he soon had several of your days planned out with fire nation sights to show you. Iroh seemed to understand you didn’t know much about the fire nation so planned to take you to all the important sites as well as areas relevant to the army to peak both your interests. You enjoyed the prince’s tours greatly and even when training did start you continued meeting with Iroh regularly. You liked his company and were surprised that didn’t fade the more time you spent with him, if anything it grew more and more. You thought he’d be a spoilt entitled prince but he was kind and considerate pleasantly surprising you.

You didn’t become aware that you liked Iroh as anything more until one of your friends at the academy pointed it out. Since starting training you were progressing well, you achieved high grades and were held in high esteem by your fellow recruits. You had made some friends and often trained with them after the academy retired for the day. After a long training session you were heading to the palace when one of your friends called out to you “hey y/n some of us were going into town to celebrate our class’s good progress, do you want to come?”. You smiled pleased they wanted you to come when you remembered you couldn’t go “I’d love to Shani but sorry I can’t I have plans”. “Of course you do” she smirked as your other friend Aizori grinned “is it with Iroh by any chance”. “Actually it is” you said frowning at their shared look “why?”. “Ow nothing just it’s not every day your friend is dating the crowned prince”. “Me and Iroh are not dating!” you cried “our families are old friends that’s all”. “Uh...hu, if that’s true then what are your plans together may we ask?”. “We’re attending a party at the palace”. “Together?” Shani asked and you blushed “yes but he only asked me because it’s a formal event that’s apparently really boring so he wanted a friend there, trust me we’re not dating”. “But how can you resist?” Aizori asked “I’ve only seen the prince a handful of times but he seems to get better looking every single time! How don’t you get lost in those golden eyes and that chiselled jaw? The royal family has some amazing genes not even a Beifong can resist”. You paused considering it. For you looks weren’t very important so you didn’t tend to notice them. You held work ethic and determination as much higher priorities and Iroh scored very highly in both but in looks...you honestly couldn’t say. “I’m not sure I’ve noticed” you admitted and the girls rolled their eyes not believing you.

When you arrived back at the palace your friend’s words were ringing in your head and when you next saw Iroh something felt different. You took note of his looks and were surprised by what you’d found. Iroh was attractive, very attractive, how had you missed that? You stared at Iroh wondering if his eyes had always been that bright? Was his jaw always that sharp? His hair that good regularly when he frowned “why are you staring at me?”. “Nothing” you cried and he paused before shrugging “Are you ready to go?” he asked “the party has already started” offering you his arm. You nodded and took it cautiously following Iroh into the ballroom.

You could see why Iroh had wanted to invite you, everyone in the room was at least 60 years old or some stiff nobel person from an ancient line of fire nation families. All they seemed to want to discuss was old family bloodlines, territories or ancient traditions. After your fifth boring ambush by some old fire nation man Iroh pointedly headed for the gardens. You frowned as he exited discreetly, closing the door behind him, and headed away from the hall. “Iroh I’m pretty sure the party is inside” you commented and Iroh grinned “I know but I can’t take another second in there so humour me? One lap of the gardens then we’ll head back, please? I know you haven’t seen them properly yet so how about a tour?” Iroh holding out his hand to you. You rolled your eyes but took his hand happily. 

Iroh led you around the gardens explaining the different flora to you and their history. “I spent so many parties hiding in here as a kid” he grinned “this place is so huge they couldn’t find me for hours”. You smiled at the thought “my mother would’ve killed me if I did that”. “Mine did” Iroh chuckled “but I’d honestly rather face her wrath than some boring commander who wants to lecture me about our family’s history and why it’s so important...they’re literally my own family and even I don’t care” Iroh cried making you smile. “I see why you escaped out here so often, I’m very grateful formal parties were not a part of my childhood”. Iroh smiled and went to comment when the smile was wiped from his face and he grabbed you, quickly pushing you behind a large fern. “Iroh what are you...”. “Shhh they’ve come for us” he hissed and you frowned when you heard a voice. “Prince Iroh?” a man you recognised as the palace coordinator called “Are you out here? You’re needed inside”. You smirked and Iroh rolled his eyes “they’re relentless”.  “Master Iroh if you’re out there please return to the ballroom, your mother’s orders”. There was silence and then the sound of the butler coming closer. Your eyes widened and Iroh put a hand over your mouth pushing you further into the bushes. “Prince Iroh?” a voice called literally right beside you and Iroh smirked as you grabbed his arm in surprise. You heard a sigh and the sound of the man retreating. When the footsteps died away Iroh dropped his hold on you and you both burst into laughter. “I thought we were going to be caught and then royally punished...literally” you added and Iroh smirked “I wouldn’t let them punish you, it’s not your fault I dragged you out here”. “True but I didn’t try hard to stop you”. “You did encourage me” Iroh nodded thinking “okay it’s all your fault”. You gaped laughing “I never said that! You are such a liar” you cried pushing him and Iroh laughed grabbing your arm “okay okay maybe we share the blame 50:50?”. “No way” you smiled and Iroh paused “60:40?”. “I think 90:10?” you said grinning and Iroh sighed “fine, i’ll take 10% of the blame”. You shook your head at how wonderfully infuriating he was and smiled at him fondly. Iroh grinned back and you realised suddenly how close his face was to yours. Iroh seemed to notice too, he glanced down at your lips and you panicked moving away from him suddenly. There was an awkward tension in the air and you broke it with a cough “so want to show me more of the gardens then?”. Iroh nodded “right this way my lady” the awkwardness gone and led you further into the garden.

When you were safely hidden from the ballroom Iroh stopped walking, explaining this was one of his favourite spots in the whole garden and you gratefully took a break sitting down. “I can’t believe you’ve already been here a month” Iroh commented and you nodded “I know only 2 more to go then my mandatory 3 months work experience is done”. Iroh frowned “mandatory...so you could stay longer if you wanted to?”. “Hypothetically” you agreed and Iroh hesitated “do you think you’d extend it? Hypothetically?”. You paused “I’m not sure, I have enjoyed the fire nation far more than I thought I would but I’ve always wanted to complete my training as quickly as possible, I hope to be chief of police one day and I’ll need many years of service for that...”. Iroh frowned “isn’t the youngest chief like 41?”. You nodded “yeah so i’ve got time I guess, maybe i’ll stay for longer...is this just so you have someone to skirt your royal duties with?”. Iroh laughed “maybe...I like you being here, it’s nice not being the only person under 30 in every room”. You smiled “well i’m glad my presence isn’t displeasing to you...you’ve been pleasant as well” you added blushing and Iroh grinned. “Wait did I make a Beifong blush? That’s like a legendary occurrence, this is amazing!”. “Stop it” you cried but Iroh wouldn’t let you turn away “no, this will go down in history, Beifong blushes are rarer than dragons so I’m soaking up every second”. For the second time that day Iroh stared at you closely and you blushed more under his gaze but this time you didn’t move away. Iroh continued gazing at you before he lightly moved his hand to your cheek “y/n...” he said softly leaning in closer when a figure appeared. “There you are!” a voice cried and you both jumped away from one another. Your jaw dropped when you realised who it was and you dropped into a bow “Firelord Izumi...i’m so sorry I didn’t see you approach”. “Rise child you did nothing wrong” she said warmly “my son on the other hand...” she trailed off glancing at Iroh who paled. “Hey mom” he frowned and she raised an eyebrow “really? That’s all you have to say? No apology or grovelling”. “Erm I’m sorry for ditching?” Iroh offered and Izumi sighed. “Y/n would you please excuse us, I want to have a word with my son”. “Of course” you agreed bowing and you rushed away.

Iroh returned not long after with his mother and told you he had to stay in the ballroom for the rest of the party. You agreed to stay with him and he smiled gratefully at you making you blush and look away rapidly. The night passed and neither you nor Iroh spoke about what happened in the garden. How he’d almost kissed you and how you were going to let him. You couldn’t believe your own recklessness. What good did you think would come out of kissing the prince of the fire nation? You were obviously not an appropriate match and so there was nothing to be encouraged there. You resolved to never find yourself in that situation again and decided to just stay as friends no matter how much you got along or how attractive he was. Getting involved with a fire nation prince was not responsible behaviour. So after that night you made sure to put distance between you and Iroh. You didn’t stop seeing him you just made sure to emphasise it was a friendship. You didn’t let yourself get caught up in him the way you had in the gardens and always kept a level head. Iroh never tried anything or mentioned that night either and you supposed he picked up on your not so subtle hints. You carried on as before but there was definitely an unmentioned barrier between you which you never let fade.

You left the fire nation 2 months later. You didn’t extend your stay as with your feelings for Iroh you didn’t think it would be wise. Iroh saw you off and hugged you tightly before you got onto the airship. “It’s been nice having you around Beifong, I’ll miss you”. Iroh’s words made you hesitate and you hugged him tighter. For that time in Iroh’s arms you imagined what would have happened if you’d kissed him in the gardens that night. Iroh didn’t strike you as someone who flitted from person to person taking what he wanted, you think if he wanted to kiss you he must have felt something for you too and perhaps would have suggested dating. You imagined all the things you’d have done together but as a couple and wondered if you’d made a mistake, maybe you should have just gone for it? But then reality set in. If you really wanted to be chief of police then you couldn’t have short relationships with high ranking members of the fire nation. Other candidates could use it to show you had compromised morals and there was no way it would be a long term relationship due to your lack of fire nation heritage. Sure the fire nation was pretty progressive but that didn’t really apply to royalty. They had thousand-year-old traditions to uphold that couldn’t be broken easily so Iroh was never a long term option for you. Therefore all logical signs said you’d done the correct thing not persuing something with him...so why did it feel so shit? You finally pulled away from Iroh and he noticed your expression. “What’s wrong?” he asked and you shook your head looking away “nothing i’ll just miss it here...promise you’ll keep in touch?”. “Cross my heart” Iroh smiled “you’re not someone I intend to let slip away, expect a visit every time I come to republic city”. You pushed away the rational voice in your mind telling you to keep a distance from him and smiled “you’ll always be welcome and I’m very much looking forward to it”. Iroh blushed “thank you y/n” and you nodded back, just looking at him in admiration before catching yourself. “I should go...” and Iroh nodded “safe travels” and with a final look you walked away.

2 years later

After your departure you and Iroh stayed in regular contact and your letters only halted when he was deployed by the military but the second we was out he would write and arrange to come visit you in Republic City. You still thought about him and your feelings for him regularly and every time you saw him you knew your crush hadn’t lessened. You loved Iroh’s visits and soon they became the thing you cherished most. You told yourself all of this was fine because you’d never act on your feelings but sometimes you wondered if Iroh felt something too? You’d catch him staring at you or he’d blush if you smiled at him in a certain way. The very idea of Iroh liking you made you very excited but you also knew it would only lead to heartache. He wouldn’t be allowed to settle down with someone outside the fire nation so it didn’t matter if he liked you too. So you settled for his friendship which was more than enough for you. When Iroh was posted in republic city when he became general you were thrilled and you only continued to grow closer.

However republic city wasn’t as peaceful. There had been multiple attacks on the city from Amon’s chi blockers to Vaatu’s take over and you and Iroh were constantly pushed into the fray. Multiple times you’d faced staggering odds and every single time you wondered if you should confess your feelings to Iroh in case the unthinkable happened but every time you chickened out. You and Iroh had been safe every time but there was only so much you could push your luck.  

You’d been wary of Kuvira’s take over of the earth kingdom from the very start. Your aunt Su Yin had told you all about her so you weren’t surprised when she set her sights on Republic City but that didn’t mean you weren’t terrified. The avatar and her friends informed you what you were facing and you weren’t sure how you could even think about facing a giant mecha suit with spirit cannons. Iroh shared your sentiment but as general of Republic City’s army he was forced by President Raiko to lead his troops out there. Watching Iroh take to the front line you were swept with the desire once again to be honest with him, to tell him how you felt before it was too late. You decided three was too many times to chance it and so decided to finally tell him how you felt. You made your way to the general’s tent and found Iroh with Korra discussing strategies. You greeted them both warmly before making your way to Iroh’s side “could we please talk? I have something to tell you”. You knew Iroh had a hundred things to do but he nodded warmly squeezing your hand “of course just give me one second to...” when the radio sprang into action. President Raiko had surendering to Kuvira’s demands. Republic City was hers.

The avatar was furious and you matched her sentiment. You and Iroh joined her as she met with other leaders in the city like Tenzin and your mother and they all agreed something had to be done to stop Kuvira. A plan was quickly assembled, it was agreed that airbenders would attack the suit from the sky and earth benders would attack from the ground. You didn’t actually expect to damage the suit, you only had to distract Kuvira long enough for Korra to get inside. You were agreeing fervently getting ready to leave with your cousins when Iroh grabbed your arm. “Wait Y/n are you sure you want to do this?” he asked nervously “that mecha suit is dangerous there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to stop it”. I know but it’s my home, I swore to protect it and I won’t break my oath. I have to try and help”. Iroh sighed thinking and you watched him wondering what he’d say. “I understand why you’re doing it and I want to come too”. You paused pleasantly surprised “You do...but I thought President Raiko told you to retreat and surrender?”. “He told me to surrender the army not that I couldn’t personally engage in fighting, i’m not fighting as a general but as plain old Iroh” he announced proudly and you smiled “there’s nothing plain about you even without your titles”. Iroh beamed at you “Does this mean you agree? We can fight this giant together!”. You nodded your head “okay let’s go meet up with the others”.

You and Iroh rushed after the others and found them all suiting up. “Finally” your mother said spotting you but she frowned when she saw Iroh with you “y/n tell me you didn’t bring the general who is also the prince of the fire nation into this”. “She didn’t, I volunteered” Iroh spoke up “I’m not here as a general or as a prince but as a civilian so, where can I help?”. “You know your mother won’t like this” Tenzin commented and Iroh nodded “I know but some things are worth facing her wrath for” he said shooting you a smile and you blushed.

So it was agreed Iroh would stay. Your mother thought it would be best to place him on the roof with the airbenders, she ordered him to shoot lightning at the joints to try and cause some malfunctioning. When you’d all suited up the teams said their goodbyes and Iroh appeared in front of you. You didn’t have long, Kuvira’s giant suit was already in view and the ground shook whenever it took a single step. Iroh stared at you and sighed heavily “Y/n...”. “Don’t say it like that, we don’t have time and we’re both going to be fine okay?” you said faking a smile but Iroh saw right through it. “What did you want to tell me earlier?”. You froze caught off guard and blushed “I...I just wanted to...it doesn’t matter”. The ground jumped and Iroh looked at it nervously before stepping closer to you “I think I can guess what you were going to say”. “You can?” you asked nervously and Iroh smiled “yeah...you had another Beifong blush moment and I’ve noticed you do them around me a lot”. You went bright red and Iroh chuckled “yeah like that...”. You looked down embarrassed but Iroh took your hand gently “don’t, I blush a lot around you too”. You smiled blushing more and Iroh chuckled softly. “Y/n are you ready?” your mom asked and Iroh gripped your hand tightly. “Wait I want to tell you everything before you leave” Iroh cried but you squeezed his hand gently. “It’ll be okay” you smiled “you can tell me everything later and I think I can guess too”. Iroh grinned blushing “later then...just got to get through this”. “We’ll be fine, this is what he trained for” you smiled confidently “I promise I’ll see you on the other side”. Iroh nodded and stared at your lips, he went to move in when your mother called “y/n are you coming or are we leaving you behind”. “I’m coming!” you yelled and stepped away from Iroh “mothers” you commented and he smiled “go, i’ll see you after” and with a last look you both rushed off to your assigned group.

The battle

The fight went about as good as could be expected. The suit swatted the air benders away like flies and your group’s earth, metal and even lava bending barely slowed it down. But it didn’t matter, all that mattered was the avatar and her team managed to find a way into that thing and your team cheered when you saw she’d done just that. Now the fight was Korra’s so you let your guard down when suddenly the machine began malfunctioning. Your mother yelled for you all to take cover but you were too far away from the building. The suit exploded with a blast and you saw a blinding light and then black.

After the suit exploded everyone assumed the battle won. Half the air benders went after Korra to help her with Kuvira and the other half went to the ground to make sure the others were okay, of course Iroh went with the latter. He saw Bolin, your aunt and cousins but no sign of you or your mother. They told him they were all searching for you and he rushed to join in. With each street he passed his heart began to sink when finally he spotted you! In the arms of your mother unconscious. Iroh ran forward dropping to his knees beside you. “What happened?” he cried and your mother clutched you desperately “that thing exploded and she was too far to get into cover, it hit her sending her flying through the street and now she’s...she’s...”. Iroh saw the blood seeping through your mother’s hands where she held them against you. “No” he said viciously “y/n won’t...she can’t! We need a medic” he yelled loudly before taking off his jacket to wrap around your wound. “Maybe I can cauterise the wound?” he asked “seal it to stop her losing so much blood?”. Lin paused “I think the wounds too big but it’s worth a shot”. Iroh nodded and Lin lifted the bottom of your uniform. Iroh saw a large gash across your stomach and winced. He lit his hand on fire and pressed his hands against the wound. You gasped suddenly and your eyes shot open. “Y/n” your mother and Iroh cried in unison and you blinked trying to make sense of the situation before you groaned in pain. You tensed trying to get away from the burning but your mother held onto you “please y/n just hang on Iroh is trying to cauterise your wound”. “It’s not working” you grimaced resisting the urge to scream “Iroh stop! Please!” you cried and he yelled in frustration moving his hands away from you. “No it has to work if it doesn’t then you’ll.....we need a medic down here” he yelled again but he knew everyone else was spread out and there were no healers in the group. “It’s okay” you said breathing heavily as the situation dawned on you “Iroh it’s alright”. “No it’s not” he cried sinking onto his knees beside you “it’s not y/n, you can’t...you have to fight this, you can’t leave me”. You nodded “trust me i’m trying but Iroh if I do...”. “No y/n don’t even think about it! I won’t let you go it’s not going to happen”. “I don’t think we have a choice” you admitted trying to smile but Iroh just shook his head “but we never got our shot, we never got to talk, I never got to tell you...I love you y/n” he said simply “I have for years, that’s why I never found anyone from the fire nation because the perfect person for me is you. I know there’s traditions and rules but I don’t care, I don’t want anyone else but you. I’d give up anything for you and we were finally heading in that direction and now that stupid spirit cannon”. Tears leaked down Iroh’s face and you reached out a hand to him shakily. He took it and you stroked his face “it’s okay, i’m sorry for being too scared and cautious, I’m sorry for wasting our time together but I love you too, I hope that’s enough”. Iroh nodded “It’s more than I ever hoped, you didn’t waste time you have nothing to be sorry for y/n Beifong, do you hear me?”. “I do” you smiled before coughing in pain and your mother clutched you tighter. “Y/n” your mother cried and you smiled up at her “it’s okay mom, don’t worry. It’s all going to be okay”. You clutched her hand against your chest and took Iroh’s other one. “I’m with the two people I love the most, I’m happy. This is the best way for it to...”. “Stop” Iroh said crying but you just gripped his hand tighter “Iroh look at me”. He blinked through the tears but looked at you. “It’s okay, I promise you everything will be okay”. Iroh just said your name softly and rested his head against yours. Your mother wrapped her arms around both of you and you held onto both of them the best you could when you felt the world fading away. You heard sobbing and your mother faintly saying your name until everything turned dark and it was over.

Epilogue

Following your death the fire nation, earth kingdom and republic city all paid their respects in their traditional fashions. A statue was raised by your mother in the spot of your death and every year on the anniversary of your death both her and Iroh would visit it. Iroh and your mother supported one another following your death being the only one’s who understood how monumental the loss of your life was. They managed to get through it together and although neither of them ever stopped loving you they found a way to carry on. Iroh never married, he couldn’t even consider the idea and his family never pushed him to. He still lived a long and happy life. He was very involved with his sister’s children who he loved dearly and his family never stopped supporting him. If he went quiet and got a teary look in his eye or if he struggled serving in the earth kingdom they understood. Your family also treated him like one of their own, with Lin even calling him her son on a few occasions, and he was invited to all your family’s events in recognition of your love for him. Your memory never faded and when Iroh’s life eventually ended he passed on to find you waiting for him. He knew all the suffering and heartache was over, you were finally together at last. 

____

So initially I was going to write a happy ending as well but then I thought screw it, I want to cry so I killed off the reader...but I can release the happy ending as a part two if anyone wants it. 

Edit: For the happy ending version click here

[wherethingscomebackx]

Top 25 Larry Fics of 2020

h 2020 was HELLISH. So thank you to all the writers, and I mean ALL of them, who kept us occupied as the world continues to burn.

You may be familiar with these lists:

Top 25 Larry fics of 2016

Top 25 Larry fics of 2017

Top 25 Larry fics of 2018

Top 25 Larry fics of 2019

We’re going on our 5th year!!  As always, I read a lot of fic and the majority of it is Larry. I like making lists and I like Larry so I thought I’d do some minimal research of the top 25 larry fics published/completed in 2020 in order of least to most kudos (with links). All of these fics are top notch so you should all check them out!

25.) a trail of honey through it all by @yvesaintlourent (27k)

The boy in front of him, well really, the man in front of him, was like something out of a confusing wet dream. Built, tall, tan and muscular, his skin glistened with sweat after a long day of working outdoors with his hands. He was wearing a cut up old American football shirt, the bottom hem was torn and the sleeves were cut off to the point where the t-shirt was really just a loose tank top. The shorts he had on had clearly been full length jeans at one point, and were now just crudely cut off above the knee. His white socks were pulled up too high on his calves, and the brown work boots he had on were old as fuck, the leather peeling along the edges of the soles. Curly brown hair stuck out from the edges of his backwards snapback, and there was a smudge of grease wiped along his brow bone. The smattering of hair along his jaw proved that he hadn’t shaved in a week or two, the hair growing in thicker across his upper lip and around his chin. His sinfully bowed mouth was pink and plump, and Louis was suddenly hyper-focused on the way that he chewed at the toothpick stuck between his lips. He looked like he needed a shower. Louis wanted to lick him.

Or, the TPH fic we’ve all been waiting for.

24.) even the best laid plans by @falsegoodnight (25k)

“Anyways,” Louis stresses, narrowing his eyes, “just let me say it and then rate how terrible of an idea it is on a scale from one to ten.”

“Alright,” Zayn agrees, sitting up expectantly.

“I want to ask Harry Styles to take my virginity,” Louis blurts, holding his hands out for emphasis.

The way Zayn’s eyes bulge is almost comical. “Negative infinity,” he says, voice choked. “Negative infinity times negative infinity.”

“Technically, a negative times a negative is -”

“Really negative infinity,” Zayn corrects himself, shaking his head wildly. “Louis, what the fuck?”

-

Or, Louis wants to have sex with someone and decides Harry is the perfect alpha for the job.

23.) A Distant Hazy Light by @greenfeelings (76k)

Life’s pretty ordinary for Harry. He lives with his best friend, got into university just like he’s planned, and manages to support himself just fine for an unbonded omega. If he sustains that lifestyle by getting paid to help alphas through their rut every now and then, that’s nothing to be hung up on. Until he’s hired by an alpha that turns everything upside down.

Or, Harry’s working on taking Louis’ walls down, until he builds his own up.

22.) Ghost Note Symphony by whoknows (96k)

Louis is on tour when he first hears about it. It’s all over the news – Harry Styles Attacked By Fan runs in headlines for days. It’s not even just the gossip rags, either. Actual journalists are covering the story. It would have been impossible to avoid hearing about it. Technically, Oli is the one who tells Louis about it, but it’s not exactly being covered up. Harry doesn’t answer Louis’ text asking if he’s alright, but that’s not really surprising. They haven’t spoken for months, and it’s been a lot longer than that since they’ve had a real conversation. The sting of the text going unanswered is still there, less painful than it might have been a few years ago.

It’s not that it’s easy to forget about, exactly. Louis has a whole life outside of One Direction now, though. So Louis goes on with his life, figuring that if Harry was seriously hurt he would have heard about it by now. He might currently be in the same country as Harry, but being on opposite sides of it puts enough distance between them that putting it in the back of his mind is easy. There’s nothing Louis could do, even if he thought Harry might want him to.

That’s why everything that happens next comes as a complete shock to him.

21.) Until by @allwaswell16 (38k)

Rural Eagle County, Colorado wasn’t the type of place to find a famous musician or actor. At least not until songwriter Louis Tomlinson showed up with pop star Niall Horan to visit his uncle’s horse ranch, and they just happened to find themselves next door to a reclusive former movie star.

20.) Strangers in Love by sweetums (42k)

Louis wakes up to find himself in a marriage with the last man he thought he'd ever end up with.

-

Prompt 51: An amnesia fic where louis and harry were enemies to lovers but after an accident, louis only remembers those memories that him and harry hated each other. now harry has to fix it. I think something like this less dark and less angsty compared to other amnesia fics and it could be funny

19.) A Long Way From The Playground by Pink_Sunsets (170k)

One Direction is broken up. They broke up five years ago. That should be the end of the story, right?

Harry is finished with One Direction. He now has a new life, one with two kids and a successful solo career. And he’s happy.

But a call one night from management flips Harry’s whole new life upside down, and he’s forced to face the life he had left behind.

As well as a certain blue eyed man who had left him behind.

18.) my love’s not simple (it’s fragile) by @falsegoodnight (27k)

“Can I take you out tomorrow?” he asks. “My shift ends at 7 but we can go for dinner at 8.”

Louis is silent for a few seconds and then, “Like… on a date?”

Harry swallows thickly. He hasn’t done this in years, hasn’t ever wanted to. “Yeah.”

He’s worried he’s misread things but then Louis raises his head to kiss Harry’s cheek. “Yeah,” he says easily. “Sure.”

Tension leaves his body swiftly. “Are you sure?” asks Harry. “I know we’re both so busy but I can’t not try with you, Lou.”

“Neither can I,” says Louis. “I think we can figure it out. I care about you a lot Harry. We’ve known each other for a week, but I already like you so much.”

-

Or Harry's new job is threatened by his impending rut. Desperate for a solution, he allows Niall to introduce him to Louis, an omega whose heat begins the same day. They click.

17.) Cocaine for Breakfast by @harryeatsburger (309k)

“It’s an easy job.” He continues, as if Louis wants to listen. “Like I said, a few trips. Parties, students, nothing dramatic.”

Louis gazes over to Harry. He’s looking thoughtful now, eyes on the green like he’s talking more to himself than Louis.

“Clubbing, drinks. Whatever, the business is just a side thing.”

That’s not how Louis remembers it to be, “You lying?” He honestly can’t tell.

Harry shakes his head slowly, meeting Louis' eyes.

“No,” He answers almost toneless. Harry clears his throat, “I won’t put you in any dangerous situation.” His voice is sincere, Louis can tell he means it, his jade green eyes glinting with truth.

or, - Louis Tomlinson is a drug addict, sent away from his beloved party-scene to recover. There, he discovers that small towns have just as much access to drugs as London did, plus something even better that he just can't get enough of. That something is a boy with green eyes and bouncy curls named Harry Styles. -

16.) Tastes like Strawberries by @sadaveniren (4k)

I’m stressed. I’m nesting and demand cuddles. Come over

Harry frowned and double checked who the text was from. Yup, it still said Louis - Grad, which meant it was from Louis from his grad school.

aka Louis texts Harry by mistake. It works out

15.) the way the storm blows by @rbbsbb (21k)

Louis doesn’t have a habit of thinking about Harry’s dick.

That would be weird, seeing as they’re best mates, and they share a flat, and they’ve spent holidays at each other’s family homes. Their friendship hasn’t ever risen to a point where Louis should want to see his mate’s dick, and he’s happy to keep it that way.

Except, all that Louis can think about is exactly that. The size of it. The shape. The amount of people it’s been in.

Maybe it’s the tequila talking, or the fact that Louis’ just recently walked in to an eyeful of Harry taking turns on some slags that he’s never seen before, but. Louis’ mind can’t stop obsessing over the idea.

14.) bruise you like a peach by @falsegoodnight (40k)

There’s two reasons Harry despises Econ.

The first is that it’s boring as fuck. The second reason is a bit more personal, a bit more focused in a way. As in it’s focused on one specific thing, or in his case, person.

His name is Louis Tomlinson.

13.) Watching The World Fall by whoknows (11k)

This segment has been going on long enough that Louis knows what’s coming before James starts in on it, trying to sell him on something he knows that Louis wouldn’t normally be buying. But there’s four cameras surrounding him, and an audience watching him expectantly, so if Louis wants to continue convincing people that he’s doing just fine, he’s going to have to go along with it.

“We have a whole host of single men backstage waiting to meet you, Louis,” James tells him. “We want to help you find love tonight, on Late Late Live Tinder. Is this okay? Do you want to play?”

It actually kind of makes sense that his first date after the break-up is going to be just as public as said break-up. Something like coming full circle.

“Alright, James,” Louis agrees, hopping down off his stool.

“Okay, come down to the stage,” James says. Louis can’t even tell whether the excitement in his voice is genuine or not. “Right now, come on down!”

12.) Quiet People Have the Loudest Minds by @2tiedships2 (38k)

Broadway shows were one of the few things that could keep Louis’ attention for a full two hours without needing to move about. But not tonight.

The alpha next to him was both infuriating him and practically turning him on at the same time. He needed to leave. The alpha, that is. Louis was staying.

Or the one where Louis is a nonverbal omega who has accepted the fact that he will never find an alpha that will treat him as an equal. On the other hand, he’s never met anyone like Harry.

11.) The Wrath of the Emerald Eyes by @purpledandeli0n (85k)

His chin is grabbed harshly, facing the two deep green eyes that have been getting on his nerves for the past ten minutes. The smirk on the man's face does not vanish. The grip of his hand on Louis' chin does not soften, his thumb at the side of his lower lip.

His smile widens as he answers Louis' question, ''My name is Styles, but you will call me Captain."

•

Pirate AU

10.) Canyon Moon by @eeveelou (40k)

For as long as Louis has remembered, he has been promised to be mated to Harry, his best friend and the future pack alpha. But Louis’s heart belonged to the forest and to the hunt more than he could ever imagine it belonging to Harry.

Then Harry’s father dies in a violent accident, and Louis’s future alpha disappears on the wind.

An A/B/O Lion King AU

9.) We Both Got Nothing to Hide by lovelarry10 (43k)

“Talk to me, Lou.”

“I can’t,” Louis mumbled, knowing he genuinely couldn’t say it. He couldn’t admit to what he was doing. “Don’t ask me to say it, because I can’t.”

“Then… I’ll try and guess. You’ve… got some stuff of Harry’s. Something of his to make it smell like him?”

Louis just nodded, eyes fixated on the floor. This was humiliating, but he knew Zayn wouldn’t stop until he found out what was going on.

“Okay. Like… a blanket, or a comforter or something?”

“Kind of…”

//

Omega Louis has a secret nest. Alpha Harry keeps losing his clothes.

8.) sleeping on our problems by @falsegoodnight (67k)

I’m in love with you, Louis thinks. He feels empty, weighed down by his sadness and the loss of Harry inside him just moments ago before his knot finally went down.

There’s moments where he’s sure Harry feels the same. Like now, when he’s gazing down at Louis with so much adoration and tenderness. It’s like they’re both on the cusp of something more, but neither of them ever say a word.

His confession is on the tip of his tongue ready to slide out like honey, and yet he remains silent. They both do, looking at each other and recognizing the reluctance mirrored in each other’s eyes. It’s then that Louis realizes they’re both scared.

-

Or Louis sleeps with Harry and they have more than just catching feelings to worry about.

7.) like it’s a game by @soldouthaz (32k)

there is little harry hates more than truth or dare.

and louis.

6.) before we knew by @falsegoodnight (39k)

“C’mon Lou,” says Zayn after a moment, He sounds even more exasperated than before. Louis sort of has a knack for exasperating people, especially people like Zayn who aren’t usually bothered by his brattiness. “Can’t you give this guy a chance? Harry Styles? Aren’t you curious about him at all?”

Despite his best efforts, Louis still flinches at the name. He really shouldn’t be so affected after all these years. He’s seen the name printed down the curve of his waist in obnoxiously and uncommonly large loopy letters every single day since his sixteenth birthday eight years ago. He’s very familiar with the name Harry Styles.

It sounds pretentious and Louis hates it.

He hates everything about his supposed soulmate.

He hates his large handwriting that stands out like a claim on his skin whenever he’s walking around shirtless. He hates his pretentious name. And now he hates his supposed curls and green eyes and dimples.

-

Or Louis has been skeptical of soulmates for years so it seems like fate when he finally bumps into the owner of the obnoxiously large signature printed into his skin since age sixteen: Harry Styles, a human rights attorney who is firmly against soulmates.

5.) Mine Would Be You by @crinkle-eyed-boo (114k)

Louis blinks his eyes open, his eyelids fluttering as the room swims around him. He takes several gulps of beer once he confirms that he’s definitely not hallucinating, that the very first portrait Harry Styles ever painted of him is hanging on that wall.

Louis stares at the wall, his heart jackrabbiting in his chest as he realizes that there’s not just one painting of him, there’s five, the portraits lined up like they’re some sort of storyboard depicting the rise and fall of his deepest love. His greatest heartache. A pain that cut him so deep that he left the fucking country, severing all ties with his life in New York, now suddenly surrounding him as if he’d never left.

Fucking shit motherfucker fuck.

Louis returns to New York City five years after he left it – and the love of his life – behind. He didn't intend to see Harry again, but fate has a funny way of pulling them together, whether they like it or not. After making a begrudging truce, they both start to wonder: Would it be so bad if history repeated itself?

4.) You’ve Got My Devotion (Hate You Sometimes) by @harryrainbows (95k)

Harry was in the biggest boy band in the world. He was also one half of the best (or worst, depends on who you ask) kept secret relationship in the music industry.

Now, almost five years on, after One Direction has broken up, and Harry and Louis' relationship has as well, a video threatens to put everything at risk.

One determined Irishman, a massive publicity stunt and two begrudging exes are all it takes to bring One Direction back to life and maybe, just maybe, Harry and Louis' mangled love life too.

Or: Harry and Louis are forced to fake-date after an old video from when they were dating emerges.

3.) The Space Between by @lads-laddylads (39k)

Harry Styles is the alpha rockstar who can’t sleep and doesn’t know why.

Louis Tomlinson is the omega PhD student who helps him figure it out.

2.) Nothing But You On My Mind by @absoloutenonsense (83k)

Louis Tomlinson is a PR manager hired to improve the image of royal bad-boy Prince Harry Styles. Unfortunately for him, that means being faced with the Prince's constant innuendos, incessant dirty jokes, and relentless flirting. Louis just wants to make it to Princess Gemma's coronation; once she's crowned Queen, his contract is up and he never has to see the Prince again.

1.) Collision by @tequiladimples (224k)

Mythology/Fairytale!AU in which Louis is a dainty fairy with a temper who wants to be intimidating and Harry hurts people. Naturally, they hate each other.

(Featuring Liam, the big and not-so-bad wolf who’s got a thing for humans, Zayn, a human with supernaturally good looks, and Niall, the cupid who just wants his job to be easier.)

[xaphrin]

I am hoping to post this whole fic all at once, but I was so happy with this chapter that I wanted to share it. So, here. Have some "I wasn't supposed to fall in love with my wedding baker" AU.

- - -

When Damian opened the door to find Raven standing in the hallway, the expression on her face spoke volumes about her feelings of being here when most people were dead asleep.

She adjusted the large plastic container in her hands and shook a lock of hair out of her eyes. “You are aware that it’s two in the morning, right?”

Damian knew. Of course he did. A part of him almost felt apologetic for calling Raven and forcing her to come to his home in the middle of the night (especially over something as insignificant as lemon curd), but with the premium he was paying her for an off-hours house call, he didn’t allow that apology to take root. He’d been accused of being a “night owl” on more than one occasion, but the truth was that he suffered from occasional bouts of insomnia. And if he had to suffer through this ailment, then so should others - including the baker for his wedding.

“I’m paying you enough to make up for your interrupted sleep schedule.” Without any ceremony, he ushered her into his penthouse, closing the door behind her. Titus pushed past him and nudged Raven’s hip, begging for pets. Damian couldn’t help but notice that Titus paid Raven more attention than he paid his own fiance. “Sleep when you’re dead.”

Raven’s lips pulled to the side in a teasing half-smile, her eyes meeting his. “How chivalrous of you.” There was a small pause as she set the plastic container down on a small table by the door and bent down to scratch Titus behind the ears. “You know that your night time doorman seems to think I’m here for purposes other than cake. Why else would some strange woman be visiting you at an unreasonable hour?”

Damian didn’t care what his doorman thought, and he highly doubted Raven cared. She was just trying to get under his skin. He shrugged and turned away from her, motioning her to follow him deeper into his flat. “I hardly see how that is my problem. Besides, didn’t you say that you get up at four in the morning anyway?”

Her face fell. “That is entirely beside the point, and you know that, Mr. Wayne.”

“You can call me Damian.” He had reminded her of that fact at least half a dozen times now.

“Ha.” Her sarcastic laugh made him smirk. “No one calls a Wayne by their first name. It’s akin to social suicide. I’d be willing to bet that you even call your father Mr. Wayne.”

Damian walked her through the massive living room, heading towards the kitchen at the far end of his flat. “Only on holidays, and the occasional birthday.”

Raven snorted. “Ah. I see how deep the decorum runs.” As they walked into the kitchen, her face lit up with surprise, and she let go of a low whistle. Pushing past him, she inspected the appliances with blatant envy. “Do you even know what I would do to have this oven in my posession? I would commit war crimes to get this oven in my apartment.” She opened the oven doors and looked inside before standing up and turning to him, eyes narrowing. “Is this just for show? Do you even bake?”

“No.”

Raven closed the oven door and sighed. “Pity.”

“I cook.”

That seemed to pique her interest, and she leaned against the marble countertop, watching him with a sharp stare. There was a long stretch of silence, and it felt like her eyes were boring into him, stripping away everything that protected him until it felt like each flaw was exposed to her scrutiny. In any other situation, Damian would have slammed up some kind of barrier to keep her from looking too deep, but this time he found himself oddly comfortable with letting her investigate him. He didn’t mind showing her his weaknesses, and that thought should have scared him, but it didn’t. He kept his face blank and let her watch him.

“You know… I am having a hard time imagining you slaving over a stove in a hot kitchen.” Her head tilted to the side and she smirked. “Although I like the thought of you wearing a frilly apron. A soft pink one, with ruffles and bows.”

His face fell and he crossed his arms over his chest. Cheeky. “I am docking your home visit fee until you take that back.”

“Mm. Worth it.” She turned away from him, and reached for the plastic container on the counter, unsnapping the lid. In an instant, Titus was at her side and Damian watched her sneak him a treat she had obviously made for him. Raven seemed to make herself at home in his kitchen, as if she belonged there. He found himself smiling at her, and a strange kind of warmth filled his chest.

“So, tell me your fear with the lemon curd, and why it was so imperative that you force me out of bed at two o’clock in the morning to travel all the way across town with cake samples.”

Well, when she put it like that, it did make him sound like a typical, spoiled son of an eccentric billionaire. Damian ignored that small spot of guilt again and settled on a stool at the eat-in counter. “I think my fiance is allergic to lemons… or curd. I can’t remember, but it’s one of those.” He thought for a long moment, trying to remember what it was that she had said last time he had spoken to his fiance.

“You can’t remember?” Raven turned back around and looked at him, her expression incredulous. “Haven’t you two known each other for years? That's what all the tabloids say anyway.”

Oh, right. The tabloids were spinning the relationship into some falsehood of star-crossed lovers who used to be childhood best friends. The truth was far less interesting. “We have known of each other for years. We’ve crossed paths at various parties and events, and my father and hers have a mutual business relationship. But, knowing each other implies some kind of deep, long term relationship. Something more than casual friends.”

“Ah.” Raven rummaged through his cabinets for plates, setting them next to the plastic container containing cake samples. “And I take it that’s not what you have with the daughter of Queen Consolidated?”

Damian shrugged, knowing that talking about the arrangement was opening himself to all kinds of scrutiny from her. But, there was something about Raven that made it almost comfortable to open up to her. In all the times they had been together, she never seemed like the type to spill his secrets. In fact, she seemed to keep them closer than most people he knew. He actually liked talking to her - even with her cheeky attitude. “We’ve only been together in an official capacity for a few months.”

“Oh…”

Her tone seemed to waffle between pity and understanding, and Damian felt like he had to scramble for an explanation. It felt like he didn’t want her to think less of him as a person.

“The marriage is one of a business nature. Our families would be brought together with the marriage of children. It would strengthen the ties between us.” After saying it out loud, Damian realized how cynical that sounded. It was more than just a business move. For all intents and purposes, he liked Emiko, she was smart and polite and reasonably attractive. Marrying her was a good, sound move. He would be content though their marriage.

“I didn’t realize that was still a thing - marrying for business purposes.” Raven pulled out cake samples from the plastic box and placed them on the counter. “Sounds a little medieval, if you ask me.”

Damian shrugged, not feeling any particular way about her comments. “She’s a lovely woman.”

“Is she?” Raven scoffed. “My landlady is a lovely woman. The mail person is a lovely woman. The person who delivers my takeaway is a lovely woman." She gave him a flat stare, pursing her lips. "Lovely woman is not a term of endearment you use for someone you're madly in love with."

"I never said I was madly in love with her."

"Ah. I see. I must have misunderstood." She handed him a slice of cake, her eyes as sharp as a hawk’s as she watched him. "Raspberry and chocolate." She paused. "Is that the business agreement to the marriage then? You marry Emiko Queen, and in return both families have fingers in each other’s pots… so to speak.”

"Yes." Damian took a bite of the cake, and he tasted the sharp tartness of the raspberry at the forefront of the cake before melting away to luscious chocolate. Just like the first time he tasted her cakes, he barely kept himself from moaning in pleasure. She had to bake magic into her cakes for them to taste this damn good. He chewed slowly, letting himself wallow in the flavor.

"Does she love you?"

Damian swallowed and stared at her. The question caught him off guard. He knew for certain he didn’t love her, but he had never really thought about whether or not she loved him. "That's forward of you."

"Asking if your fiance loves you?" She snorted and lifted her eyes to the ceiling. "You're right. How rude of me." Another slice of cake appeared. "Pistachio and cardamom."

He took a bite and tamped down a shiver. She was a magician, there was no other explanation. The flavor curled in his mouth like spiced smoke. "It'll be a fine arrangement."

"Mm. How romantic, an arrangement. Be still my fluttering heart."

Damian rolled his eyes and took another bite of cake. "I am amazed you manage to keep clients with the mouth on you."

She gave a one shouldered shrug. "I let my work speak for me." There was a pause and she leaned over the counter to look closer at him, trying to decipher his expression. “But you never answered my question. Does she love you?”

Damian blinked, letting her question settle in the pit of his stomach. Did his fiance love him? He doubted it, but then again, he never thought to ask. Emiko wasn’t frigid to him, but she wasn’t overly attached either. Indifferent seemed to be the best way to describe her feelings, as though she cared for him as nothing more than a distant friend. She seemed to view this arrangement the same way he did - a duty to her family and a business transaction. Nothing more.

“Your silence speaks volumes.” Raven’s head tilted to the side and she stared at him again, blatantly reading his face. He felt uncomfortable, letting her sharp eyes watch him. She seemed to see more than anyone else had. “I see hundreds of couples a year, and I’ve learned to pick out who truly cares for each other, and who really doesn't know what they want."

Damian took another bite of the pistachio cake, never looking away from her face. Even when she was picking him apart, she was beautiful. "And I take it that you believe I'm the latter?"

"I don't just believe, I know." She handed him another slice of cake. "Orange spice."

"I'm not particular about marrying for love. I've never subscribed to the idea." The orange spice was by far the best, and it immediately went on the short-list.

A pitying look crossed her face. "You don't believe in love?"

That question made him pause, and he looked back at her, his head filled with something akin to smoke. It was like he couldn’t think beyond her question. "I… don't know." He realized with some small amount of shock that he really didn't know. As he sat there, watching her, he realized that he never thought he would fall in love. He had crushes and minor relationships, but nothing that he would call love. Nothing that made him feel like the world was falling out from under his feet, and he was left clamoring for something that made him whole.

“You look surprised by your own answer.” Raven’s voice was soft, nearly swallowed up by the silence between them. “Did you honestly think you would never fall in love?”

“I suppose I did.” Damian took another bite of cake and shifted in his seat. “Love never seemed like something I gave much thought to. My duty has always been to my family, and as long as I am comfortable, I don’t see the need for much else.”

Raven pulled out another slice of cake. “Have you thought that maybe you haven’t met the right person?”

Damian’s face fell and he stared at her, taking the slice of cake from her. “That seems a trite response.”

She shrugged. “Perhaps. That’s vanilla and rose water.”

Damian’s face scrunched at the flavor and he pushed it away. “That rose water is abhorrent.”

A soft laugh escaped and Raven shook her head. “Rose water is very en vogue right now. I’m not fond of it, but some people like it.” She took the slice back and leaned against the counter. “So, tell me if you don’t mind, why are you putting all this effort into a wedding with someone you don't have feelings for?"

"It's meant to be a performance." He hummed softly, thinking. “Both of our families have a reputation to uphold, and if we don’t live up to that expected standard, the media will tear us apart. Emiko doesn’t need any poor publicity.”

“Mm. I understand to a point.” She paused and pulled out another slice of cake. “You’re very pragmatic about this.”

The way she said that didn’t sound like a compliment. Damian took the offered cake. “I don’t require your approval.”

“I never said you did. I’m only in this for the absolutely exorbitant fee you’re paying me.” She smirked. “But… I am curious, don’t you want to fall in love? Just once?”

“And who would I fall in love with?” He took a bite of cake and practically sighed. Chocolate and orange.

“You’re a Wayne. More than half the world would be willing to fall in love with you. Take your pick.”

“I don’t think you can force love.”

Raven shrugged. “Well, your upstanding camaraderie with your fiance doesn’t fit the bill either.”

He blinked and took another bite of the cake. This was the one. “I never intended to love her. Our partnership will be fine.”

Raven lifted an eyebrow. “So… what happens if you fall in love with someone before you get married?”

“I hardly think that will happen.” He scoffed and took a third bite of the cake. He doubted he would find anyone who could coax him to fall in love. That seemed like an impossible task. “And even if I did, it changes nothing.”

“You’re so committed to this marriage. It’s admirable.” Her smile widened. “I take it the orange and chocolate one is the winner? You’ve eaten half the slice already.”

“You’re talented at this.” He took another bite and met her stare. “What about you?”

“I think the chocolate orange will both make a statement and still be appropriately conservative.”

“That’s not what I asked.” His eyes searched hers, and he suddenly realized he had to know. He had to know if there was anyone in her life that meant more than just a friend. He wanted to know who her heart beat for. “Are you in love?”

Color crawled up her neck. “That’s a pretty personal question to ask your baker.”

Damian shrugged. “For what I’m paying you, humor me.”

She chewed on her lower lip and glanced away, and she shifted for a moment. “Currently? No. I was in love once, but… it faded.” She looked back into his eyes. “But that doesn’t make it any more special and important.”

"And you want to fall in love again?" He felt strange and a little invasive asking these questions, but some part of him wanted to know. He wanted to know not just about falling in love, but Raven falling in love specifically. Would she fall in love again? And with whom?

"Of course." Her voice was soft and gentle, and she gave him a small, almost sad smile. "I haven’t found the right person to fall for just yet. But it’ll come.”

Something in Damian’s chest twisted and he found himself reaching across the counter to rest his hand next to hers. It was as close as he dared to get to her. She met his stare for a long moment, and that feeling in his chest turned almost painful. He wanted to brush a stray lock of hair from her face, to feel her skin under his fingertips, but his hand stayed firmly pressed against the cool marble of the counter.

He swallowed slowly and nodded. “The chocolate orange.”

[twisted-in-wonderland-jay]

Birthday from the boys (NRC)

Something to know for reading all of this is that I’m going to try my best to write platonic relationships that can be implied as romantic. Because some people may like a character but not feel romantic feelings towards them but still would like to know how they would act on their birthday.

Part two is the teachers and RSA

Riddle

He would prune the garden himself, regardless of the queen of hearts laws he would paint the roses your favorite color

He would lead you to the garden where the two of you would have tea and talk for hours

Eventually taking you around the garden

Ace

Out of all of these boys, he’s the one that’s most likely to forget your birthday

This man did not write it down

He overhears you talking with the other first years and them saying happy birthday. Then it finally clicks and he remembers that today is your birthday and he plays it off like he remembered

He’s not being mean in any way he just honestly doesn’t remember birthdays well

He talks with the first years while you’re not around and plans a little sleepover of sorts at your dorm

When you come back to your dorm for the night you find all of the first years there and they’re just kind of chilling in the lounge

They bring out a cake for you saying that they all baked and decorated it themselves but with the experience that the first years have it’s a strange-looking cake but it does it taste all that bad it’s just a lot of frosting and decorations because each one of them wanted to add a personal touch.

You guys have fun run around the dorm causing trouble

Then once it turns 12 you guys decide to settle down for the night and plot twist you don’t actually go to bed but instead play Mario kart till 3 AM

Deuce

He would try his hardest the whole day to make it the most perfect and kind of relaxing day ever. But utterly fail

In his eyes, he failed but it’s not that big of a deal

He’ll try to hold the door open for you or carry you around for fun and either, drop you, or trip

He feels really bad the whole day that he keeps messing everything up and it keeps getting less and less romantic

At the end of the day, you assure him that you had the best time and it was very fun. Which he doesn’t really believe because again he feels like he failed but he’s glad you had a good time.

He also stays the night hanging out with you until you fall asleep.

Trey

He would bake you a cake from scratch and decorated it with little flowers of your favorite color

He’s a really sweet guy so he would invite a couple of your close friends maybe three or four of them so that you’re not alone on your birthday and you also won’t have any leftover cake because you’ll eat it all.

A very nice and sweet get together messing around having fun

Cater

The morning would start very easy with the simple happy birthday and him taking you skateboarding you don’t have to go to a skating park or anything like that he’s just gonna teach you a couple of tricks.

But progressively throughout the day, it gets more centric and fun

At the end of the night can you both watch fireworks after you’ve just got done bungee jumping...

Leona

He’s not going to skip his morning to afternoon nap to tell you happy birthday even if he does care

A prince got to get his beauty sleep

When he wakes up he goes and attempts to find you and if he doesn’t he just goes man and gives up but if he does find you he tells you happy birthday and then walks off

Depending on your relationship with him he could be very distant and not caring but if you go and hang out with him during the afternoon when he’s not sleeping he’s pretty chill about it not really caring that you’re there if you have a negative disposition towards him he might care and tell you to leave.

Ruggie

He would take you shopping for the day

You might think he doesn’t have any money but those are jobs that he’s been working aren’t for nothing

He took all of the money he could for an entire month of work and saved it up spending it on your birthday

“What?! this is only part of my savings, not my entire Life funds” hehe...

Jack

Since magic mirrors make travel very easy he decides to take you back to his hometown

Not to meet his parents or anything but just to hang out because he talks about home a lot and wants to take you. What better time than your birthday

He takes you around his town and tells you about all of these places that he has memories that as well as putting you in the general direction of where he lives

He takes you to do all the fun things you can think of where he lives

When you both go back tonight NRC he quickly takes you by his dorm so he can grab something

He comes back with his gift to you which is a little cactus for you to take care of.

Azul

He wouldn’t have a birthday party for you

He would however have you meet him in the lounge

you two would have dinner together

Just the two of you...

you’ll take a walk through dorms halls just to talk in this moment you share alone

Jade

He would hang out with you if you wanted him to if you didn’t want him to he would tell you to go hang out with your friends since it is your special day

He would give you some sort of terrarium or if you’re not into those he would give you a rare plant for you to take care of as a gift

If you did want to hang out with him and you didn’t care where you went he’d invite you to a botanical garden for the day.

Whether you like it or not he’ll probably talk on and on about each plant and its properties in medicine and poison

Floyd

He would throw a great surprise birthday party for you

He’s got all of your favorite foods your favorite drink an awesome cake

And somehow he surprisingly kept this under wraps until the time of your birthday party

It would be in you’re dorm, and don’t worry afterward he would help you clean up the mess

When you walk in the door he has everyone holding confetti launchers... which he 100% is going to help you clean up after a lot of convincing

Kalim

This man knows how to throw parties and that’s terrifying

He would throw a massive party for you

He’s inviting all of NRC as long as they’re friends with you. Hell if you had friends in RSA he would invite them too.

He would have one of your other friends distract you for the day because it’s going to take the entire day to set up this banquet

He’s got everything a giant cake, fancy lights, a lounge area, a DJ, a chocolate fountain anything and everything that you would need for a successful party

Throughout the day if you try to go see him at all somebody’s always there to stop you and to distract you

You guys party for the whole night

Jamil

He would not throw a birthday party for you

As we all know he’s not really a people person

Chill about it passes you in the hall and says happy birthday

He offers to make you dinner but if you want to you can always decline

Although there is one thing you can’t decline and that’s the magic carpet ride he wants to take you on

He wouldn’t ask to borrow the magic carpet he’d just do it

Vil

He would throw a big banquet for you regardless of what you want

He’ll probably say something along the lines of “Fufufu do you think I have the time to do all this? someone else said it was a good idea and they did all the work it’s not as if I care or have time to.” But we all know he cares

He about all of Pomefiore if you have to invite any of your friends outside of the dorm he would be a little irritated and save fine I guess you can about your “other friends”

Epel

It would be the beginning of the day and he’s down the hall in spots you. He would immediately not yell your name but scream it and run to you yelling happy birthday. It would make quite the scene but he wants everyone to know that it’s your birthday and also Vil would probably hate the fact that he just screamed.

He asks you if you’re ready to “rock and roll” (for anyone who doesn’t know this is just a saying to ask if you’re “ready to go”)

He’s taking you on a trip to go do a bunch of fun stuff in town and to probably prank some people because why not.

Rook

Wouldn’t throw you a party instead he would probably stop by your dorm and announce his presence and sing you happy birthday.

Bring you some sort of small gift

He would tell you that he will follow you the whole day and you can do whatever you want with him

Rook is rather chill compared to some of the other boys. However, if you want him to he can take over because he’s kept note of what you like to do so he would take you to do things that you like.

Idia

He wouldn’t do anything special for your birthday

In fact, he’d probably have Ortho buy three slices of cake only, for the three of you

Throughout the day he doesn’t say anything about it

When you go to his dorm later he tells you happy birthday you guys eat the cake together

He kind of half-heartedly apologizes for not being able to throw a proper birthday party for you and that he’s sorry but his anxiety kind of got the best of him.

To make up for it he offers to play games with him until you want to leave

Before you leave he gives you a flower. An Asphodel The primary symbolic meaning of the Asphodel flower is peace after death and the afterlife, but this is not the meaning that is implied it is a white flower which generally symbolizes purity also it’s a symbolic flower of Hades

Ortho

He throws a big party at your dorm (if your dorm is Ignihyde he’d take it somewhere else), not ignihyde. Because the students are quite antisocial and it would be very disruptive.

He would invite all of your best friends

It is the cutest surprise birthday party ever

There would be fireworks, trick candles, and so many fun childish games that you would play at a party

Malleus

Malleus is somewhere in between depending on what you want so no this won’t be a surprise birthday

He’ll either throw a big party for you in the diasomnia dorm inviting basically everyone from all the dorms as long as they know you

Or if you’re more on the reserve side or you want a smaller party he’ll have a couple of your close friends join him and going to your dorm and having a get-together little party for you.

If you want to though he is 100% okay with just you and him hanging out for the day

Sebek

This man is crazy

He wrote down your birthday and planned weeks in advance

He would write down everything that you like in hopes that when it becomes your birthday he has everything that you could ever want on that day

He tries his best to bake a cake but then realizes that he’s actually really good at it

On the day of you’d think that he be really loud and excitable and overbearing but in fact, he is the complete opposite being very considerate and not quiet but an inside voice because he doesn’t want to stress you out or seem disingenuous.

He doesn’t host a party for all of your friends it’s just you and him. The reason for this and putting in so much effort just for you and him is because he’s rather shy when it comes to not just romantic feelings but platonic feelings as well not showing people how he really feels especially when it’s around other people as well. So it’s kind of to make himself feel more comfortable as well

Silver

Silver isn’t the party kind of person so he’ll probably get you a cute little gift like a bouquet of roses specifically white roses to symbolize purity or maybe a charm bracelet.

It’s not that he doesn’t want to throw you a birthday party it’s just that he doesn’t know how to go about it since the only parties ever really celebrated is his own because of Lilia when he was younger.

If you say something about not having a party or a cake he’ll get a little sad thinking that he might have failed you.

He’ll probably just follow you around doing whatever you wanted for the day as long as you didn’t have class.

He would also have a cute little lunch with you of food that he made before. You guys would probably go sit in the courtyard and eat next to a tree. Be careful though he may or may not fall asleep...

You might have to wake you’re sleeping, Prince

Lilia

He’ll invite you to a concert and then right as the performance is about to start he’ll say something like he has to use the restroom or he’s going to get a drink and he’ll be right back he promises.

As the performance is starting and the lights turn off you start to worry that he’s going to miss it

And then as the stage lights turn on and you see him on stage getting ready to perform

He’s going to perform an entire album that he and the light music club came up with for you as a birthday gift

Knowing him at the end of the performance he’s probably going to get off the stage to go and kiss you (Not necessarily on the lips if it’s a platonic relationship it’s probably on the forehead with the cheek as a sign of affection no love).