#can die in the next season and I’ll throw a party

[akari-ku]

I’m just gonna say it, Gabriel sucks dick and not in a good way like I’m so tired of people just forgiving him? Idk if that’s the right word but LIKE HES A HORRID MF AND YALL JUST ACCEPTED THAT WHEN JIIMBRIEL APPEARED LIKE NO HE DID NOT DESERVE TO GO AND LIVE HIS HAPPILY EVER AFTER AFTER HE LOOKED DOWN ON AZI AND CROWLEYS RELATIONSHIP FOR YEARS JUST TO WALTZ HIS WAY DOWN TO HELL JUST TO GET PEGGED BY A DMEON AND NOT JUST ANY DEMON THE FUCKING DUKE OF HELL

[eddiexmunsonlover-archive]

One Step Away From You (Chapter 14)

BSF!Eddie Munson x PlusSize!GF!Reader

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Chapter Summary: With Spring Break comes college visits and free time to spend with your friends and boyfriend. Giving the party the carefree spring break they deserve <3 WC: 6.4k Warnings: MDNI 18+ ONLY. S4 rewrite. Filthy smut. Squirting. Fingering (fem receiving). Unprotected piv. Creampie. Explicit language. Lots of pet names used. Fluff and comfort. Hints of the uncertainty of the future, but mostly just fun times with the group and Eddie. Series taglist: @eddie-is-a-god @siriusmaraudeers @amandahobblepot @littlexdeaths Shout out to @londonfog-chan for giving me some brilliant Dustin ideas! So sorry this chapter took longer than usual to get out, but I hope y'all enjoy!

Friday, March 21st, 1986

In between your afternoon classes, you diverge from the hallways to the outside courtyards for a cigarette. Greeted by the sight of two of your younger friends sitting by the payphone. Reading their demeanor and tone of voice, it’s easy to tell they’ve gotten nowhere on the mission Eddie gave them.

“No luck?” you ask, coming to stand beside them.

“No” Dustin sighs, hanging his head.

“It’s hopeless. I mean, why can’t they just reschedule the ball game?!” Mike whines, hands thrown out in frustration. You scoff out a laugh with a shake of your head.

“Oh, come on. Far more people, including the school board, are involved in the scheduling and financing of our school sports. You think they’re going to reschedule for our little DnD club?”

Mike knows you’re right, but he can’t shake it off.

“Well then why can’t Lucas just skip? He’s been sitting on the bench this whole season anyway! I mean, he’s putting that stupid game before us!”

You take a seat on the bench next to them with a sigh, drawing another drag from your cigarette.

“Lucas… is on his own path right now. He’s doing what he thinks is right for him. Whether we agree with it or not, he’s gotta figure it out for himself.”

They take your words in silence, struggling with the helpless feeling of the reality of it all.

“Still, we’ve had no luck finding a sub. We’ve tried every clique and club. I tried asking Max.”

“I even tried asking Nancy!”

“Nancy? I respect the effort, but you didn’t actually think she’d do it?”

“No, but I had to try!”

You and the boys sit in silence, as they hang their heads, your eyes roam around your surroundings. Students mulling about between classes. 

“You know, I think you’ll find the perfect sub if you look just a tad bit farther.”

You give them a smirk when they turn to you, a soft nod of your head in the direction of Hawkins Middle School only a yard away.

Their eyes follow the direction before turning to each other.

“Holy shit, you’re a genius!” Dustin exhales, jumping from his seat and wasting no time in beginning the short run across the parking lot with Mike in tow. 

“You can thank me later” you mutter with a smile, taking the last drag of your cigarette.

“This is Hellfire club, not babysitting club.”

“I’m 11, you long-haired freak”

“My, my. The child speaks. So, what’s your name, child?” Eddie pushes, rising from his throne to approach her. 

“Erica Sinclair” she declares unwaveringly.

“So this is Sinclair’s infamous sister.” Eddie remarks in amusement.

“He’s sharp.”

You watch with your arms crossed, enjoying the back and forth. Looking at Erica in admiration and pride, always so confident in herself. When Eddie gives a look to quiet the older members  laughter, your expression doesn’t waver, biting your bottom lip to stifle your grin as you watch how it all unfolds.

“What’s your class and level? Level one dwarf?”

“My name is Lady Applejack. And I’m a chaotic-good half-elf rogue level 14 and I will sneak behind any monster you throw my way and stab them in the back with my poison-soaked kukri and I’ll smile as I watch them die a slow, agonizing death. So, we gonna do this, or are we gonna keep chit-chatting like this is your mommy’s book club?”

Eddie slowly backs away from her in surprise, though keeping a stone straight face. You have to keep yourself from breaking out into applause right before his head slowly tilts your way, surveying you with narrowed eyes.

“Let me guess. You babysat this one too, hmm?”

“She already had the fire in her, just helped teach her how to wield it. That’s all.” You offer with a nonchalant shrug, grin becoming harder to bite back.

You watch the smirk slowly spread across his lips before he turns it toward Erica, finally extending his hand to her in truce.

“Welcome to Hellfire”

As you expected, Erica turns out to be a great sub, securing Vecna’s defeat in an electric campaign. You’re all smiles, hooping and hollering as you meander down the halls, trailing behind the rest of the club with Eddie. Your cheers soon blend in with that of the other student’s departing from the basketball game as you enter the parking lot. A win for the Hawkins Tigers as well, you can only assume.

You spot the basketball team rallied around each other across the parking lot, catching onto one particular face as he looks among your club with an expression you clock right away.

“Hey, give me a minute. I’ll catch up, alright?” You quickly tell your boyfriend when Lucas’s eyes land on you.

“Alright, hurry up.” Eddie offers you a sweet smile and a peck on your lips before joining the rest of the club.

You gesture your head toward a vehicle close by, blocking the view from the rest of the team.

Lucas manages to slip away without any of them seeing you.

“I take it you guys won?” you ask excitedly, trying to pull a smile out of his down wrought expression.

“Yeah, finally got pulled from the bench. I made the winning shot.” He answers with a half smile.

“Lucas! That’s great, man. Congratulations!” Your enthusiasm and smile is genuine, pulling a bashful one from him before his eyes waver toward the club, his little sister among them.

“I take it you guys won too.” he remarks, smile faltering. You don’t need to turn around to see where he’s looking.

“Hey. I’m sorry none of us were able to be there to watch you. I wish I’d of seen it, I really do. But you know how Eddie is, it’d take an earthquake for him to cancel Hellfire. Shit, he’d probably still have it even then.”

“Yeah, I get it.” His eyes fall to look down at his shoes, sadness seeping into his voice.

“Lucas. I understand what you’re doing, why you’re doing it. I do. Even if it means associating yourself with the people that bully us.” Your gaze flickers over to the group of jocks as his head hangs. You pull his attention to look back at you with a gentle squeeze of his arm. 

“Hey. We care about you, and we’re always gonna be your friends. You’ve gotta do what you think is right for you. Just… don’t forget who you are in the process, alright?” You plead to him with your eyes, hoping he understands you.

“Yeah, alright.” Lucas nods, offering a weak smile of acknowledgement.

“Now go on, go celebrate with your team. And please, make smart decisions.”

“Alright. Thanks, Y/N.” You pull a real laugh from him, watching as he waves bye before going to rejoin his team who welcome him back with cheers and open arms.

You let yourself observe for a few seconds before you go searching for your own group. Soon finding your boyfriend waiting at the van.

“Come on, pretty girl. We’ve got a whole van load of people to drop off.” He remarks with an unamused expression.

You climb in, laughing as you see all 6 of the other members piled into the back.

“How the hell did I get roped into this again?” He questions you after climbing into the driver's seat with keys in hand, the excited chatter of the club quickly overtaking the confined metal box on wheels.

“Oh I don’t know, because you’re an oh-so generous Dungeon Master and friend?” you sweet talk him with a flutter of your eyelashes and a squeeze of his jean-clad thigh. His eyes follow your hand before looking back up to you with a raised brow.

“Let’s uh, get them home as quick as possible, yeah?” He determines with a quick glance to the back of the van, hastily inserting the keys and starting the ignition. Your giggles join the sound of the squealing tires and club members' mingling as he burns rubber leaving the parking lot.

Eddie was already planning to spend all night with you in his bedroom ahead of your plans to depart with your mom in the morning for a weekend college visit. His plans are now only solidified by your teasing nature that you take far too much pleasure in.

The club members are left at the end of their driveways with a parting cloud of dust.

Barely an hour after departing Hawkins High, Eddie has you stripped and spread open in his bed.

His bare chest is pressed against your side as his tongue swirls with yours and his hand slides between your legs, fingers teasing your clit. Switching the amount of pressure his fingers apply on your sensitive bud, from calloused pads barely ghosting over your clit to applying full pressure, just to tease you. Getting you closer and closer to the edge before pulling back, chuckling in the way your body chases the pleasure, pushing your pussy against his hands for the friction.

“Eddieeeeee, stop being mean”

“I’m not being mean, sweetheart. Just love the way you whine for me when I tease you.”

He gives in to you, no longer teasing as his finger circles your clit just the way you like it. Making you purr for him, moaning into his mouth. One of your hands is lost in his hair as the other grips his bicep. Your leg hoisted over his, keeping you spread open to his liking, full access to play with you as he pleases.

He groans as his fingers dip down to slide into your soaking wet pussy, thumb taking the place to rub circles into your clit.

“Can’t believe you’re gonna deprive me of this sweet pussy for two days… now that’s mean” He mumbles against your lips.

You can only respond in the form of pathetic whimpers, he turns you into mush and he knows it, loves it, craves it. You deepen the kiss as your walls flutter around his thick fingers slowly sliding in and out of you. His fingers slide over a particularly sensitive spot, pulling a high-pitched moan from your lips, your pussy tightening around his fingers.

“Mmm, is that your spot, baby?” His fingers rub over it again, pulling another moan from you. “That feel good?” he practically moans, watching your face twist up in pleasure from his touch.

Your head nods fervently, your grip on his arm tightening.

“Fuck, yes. Right there, baby.” you manage to get out through gasps, letting your head fall back as the pleasure courses through your body, a pressure building in your core.

Eddie quickens the speed of his fingers thrusting in and out, pushing up against the spongy spot at the top of your walls. A trail of wet, open mouth kisses are dotted all over your neck and chest as your breaths quicken with the unrelenting pace and pressure of his fingers.

“Fuck Eddie, feel like I’ve gotta pee” you whine out, feeling the build up of pressure in your core like it’s about to burst.

“S’okay, baby. Don’t hold back, just let go. I’ve got you.” he pants against your ear.

Every muscle in your body begins to tighten, your thighs shaking as you reach your breaking point. With your eyes squeezed shut, all you can hear over your moans and panting is a gushing wet sound mixing with the thrusts of Eddie’s fingers.

“Holy shit” the muffled sound of his voice breaks through the ringing in your ears as you ride out your high. “Fuck, you just squirted for me. So fucking hot.”

His mouth is back on yours in a heated kiss. When your lips part, you look down to see the evidence of your newly found ‘skill’. A wet spot on his sheets right between your legs.

“Shit, Eds. I’m sorry”

“Sorry? For what?” He asks incredulously.

“For staining your sheets” You say with a light laugh, nodding your head to the big wet spot below you. His eyes follow yours to the stain before looking back to you with a big grin,

“What do you say we make some more, huh?” A soft kiss, sucking your bottom lip between his. “Think you can do that again for me, baby?”

He doesn’t need an answer before he’s moving from your side to between your legs, hovering over you.

“I didn’t even know I could do it in the first place.” A heavy sigh parts from your lips with a laugh, finally catching your breath before your boyfriend sets on stealing it away from you again.

He kisses you for a few moments, letting his stiff cock rub against your pussy, covered in your slick and juices, amping him up even more. His hard, thick cock sliding inside you with no resistance, making his eyes roll back at the feeling. The feeling of your perfect pussy, and how wet it gets just for him.

His hands hook under the back of your knees, holding them back as far as he can. The force lifting your ass off the damp sheets beneath you. The position helps his cock get closer to lining up against your sensitive spot. He doesn’t waste time taking it slow, he knows he doesn’t need to.

Your pussy already soaking for him, he starts his thrusts hard and deep. Watching your puffy lips wrap around him, sucking him in. The squeals of pleasure falling from your lips each time his hips connect with yours.

The feeling of him inside you, the way his cock stretches you no matter how wet you are is enough to drive you crazy, turn you into a moaning mess beneath him. The position does help for his cock to just barely nudge against your g-spot with each thrust, but it’s not enough and he knows it.

In a second he’s snatching a pillow and moving your ankles to his shoulders.

“Lift your ass up for me”

You use his shoulders for leverage as he shoves the pillow under your ass before his hands are holding your legs back again. Leaning down to give you soft, sweet kisses while his cock is stuffing you so deep his tip nudges against your cervix. Before you can grasp onto him he’s leaning back again, picking up where he left off.

The added pillow was the perfect touch, making your toes curl with each thrust of his cock that rubs against your spot just right. You grip onto the only thing you can, the sheets underneath you while he aligns the direction of his thrusts with your moans, finding the perfect angle and rhythm to send you unraveling beneath him in mere minutes. 

“Gonna make you feel so good, baby” he moans, feeling you tighten around him with each bump of his cock against your spongy spot. The familiar sensation, pressure in your core begins to build again.

One hand leaves the back of your knee to gently push down on your mound, adding to the pressure building in your core, making sure his cock hits your g-spot with each thrust, his thumb reaching down to rub your swollen clit. 

“Fuuuck, Eddie! Oh my god!” You nearly scream out, the pleasure taking over your body is overwhelming, it’s intense, and feels so fucking good. 

You can feel tears falling out of the corner of your eyes and landing on the sheets below you, the squeaking and scraping of the bed frame against the floor.

“That’s it, baby. Give me what I want. Squirt all over my cock for me” He sputters through moans and pants, taking everything in him to hold back his own orgasm till he gives you your second.

He knows just what you need, just what to say, that final push to send you plummeting over the edge. You yell out as you fall into your second orgasm of the night, taking over all your senses. Your free leg tightening around his back, your walls tightening around his cock, everything in your body tightens as your orgasm rocks through you. It’s the hardest you’ve ever cum in your life. 

As soon as Eddie feels your wetness gushing around his cock, he immediately falters. Holding himself deep inside you as he groans out while his cum fills you up. A sensation you’ve quickly grown to love and crave from him.

His body relaxes onto yours, your hands embracing each other.

“Jesus Christ, Eds!” You groan out between attempts to catch your breath.

“You did so good for me, sweetheart” He mutters against your ear, making you involuntarily clench around his sensitive cock. He lets out a soft hiss, pulling himself out from inside you with a chuckle. “I wonder how many more times I can make you do that…”

“Oh my god, you’re trying to kill me” you whine out before joining in with his laughter.

“Just like making you feel good, making you cum for me.” His lips trail up your jawline. “I’ll let you rest for the night, but I won’t be satisfied until this bed is covered in your stains.”

“You’re a very depraved man” you chuckle, playfully slapping his arm before his lips meet yours again.

Staying tangled in his embrace for the remainder of the night, through your slumber and until the morning comes.

With a parting kiss… or two, lingering hands on your sides that don’t leave until you move from his grasp, you depart from Eddie in the early hours of Saturday morning. He watches from the porch like a sad puppy as you walk to your trailer and depart with your mother in her station wagon for a weekend trip to visit Ohio State University.

A subtle seed of doubt is planted in that moment.

The drive to Columbus, Ohio is far from the worst, only a fraction of the drive to Virginia. You occupy your thoughts and attention to the unfamiliar route, passing towns, cities and landmarks you’ve never seen, small talk with your mother, and singing along to the songs on the radio carrying you along on your journey.

Your visit at the college isn’t bad either, by all accounts it goes rather well. A vast campus with classic architecture in a big, new city. You’re impressed by the academics, the sense of community, and the countless opportunities offered in the state’s capital. It’s clear the university holds promise for you and your future, but as you roam the campus you can’t rid yourself of the emptiness that comes with the prospect of attending there. 

4 hours away from your home, from your friends, from Eddie. 4 hours of distance is nothing compared to the 11 that previously separated you, it’s true. Still, the idea of parting ways again so soon after finally getting to the point in your relationship with Eddie that all these years have been building to, years of yearning and heartbreak… it’s not an idea you’re ready to accept.

You feel every minute of the 4 hour drive back to Hawkins. Every minute of distance that would be between you and your life at home as you know it. It doesn’t warm you up to the idea anymore than when you were at the campus. 

Neither does the sight of your loving boyfriend and best friend, waiting on his porch with a cigarette for your arrival.

Wrapping your body in his strong, warm arms and your lips with his, softly rocking you side to side in the embrace.

“Miss me?” you tease, looking up into his chocolate eyes.

“Every second you were gone, baby.” He mutters in a husky tone, meeting your lips again for a long, sweet kiss. Whisking you away into Wayne’s trailer, intent on not letting you step foot outside it again for the remainder of the day.

Having the whole week off for Spring Break opens up an abundance of free time, and you don’t know any better way to spend it than with your boyfriend and group of friends. On your days off from work, you’re free to get lost in any adventure imaginable, no matter if it was spending your Monday at Dustin’s with your friends playing his Atari all day, going to the movies and shopping with Steve and Robin on Wednesday, or a day at the lake on Friday. It’s a small taste of what’s to come for summer, freed from the confines of school. The last truly ‘free’ summer you’ll have before adulthood and all that comes with it.

Friday, March 28th, 1986

What was meant to be a fun, relaxing afternoon with your friends at Lover’s Lake is off to a rocky start. Rather than take the road you and Eddie had taken before that leads right to the waterfront, Steve listened to Dustin’s insistence on parking at the entrance that many hunters in the area used, a mile of trails between your cars and the lake.

No big deal, nothing wrong with a little hike. That is until the two leading the group, Dustin and Steve, begin bickering over the location of Skull Rock.

“Dude, I’m telling you you’re taking us the wrong way.”

“It’s north, I’m positive!” Dustin asserts, flashing Steve his compass.

“You do realize Skull Rock is like a super popular makeout spot.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Yeah, well it wasn’t popular until I made it popular. I practically invented it, you’re going in the wrong direction.”

“Yeah Dusty, don’t you know Steve is the ladies man of Hawkins? You think he wouldn’t know where Skull Rock is?” You tease, Eddie and you trailing behind them.

“Yeah, and he’s right. You’re definitely going in the wrong direction.” Eddie asserts, earning a 

“Thank you!” from Steve.

You spare a side-ways glance to Eddie with a cocked brow.

“And what would you know about the most popular make-out spot in town?” You question.

“I’ve been there for the occasional deal, that’s all” He declares with his arms raised. “I promise, lovebug.” He finishes, wrapping an arm around your shoulder.

“Ugh, no. Not that one.” You laugh despite your face scrunching up.

“You know, no matter how much you say you don’t like one, it still puts a blush on those cute, chubby cheeks.” He asserts while leaning closer to your ear, his hand reaching up to pinch your round cheeks. You quickly swat it away.

“I’m going to fuck you up, Munson.” you threaten, all talk and no bite. Smile still plastered on your face.

“Oh that’s alright, darling. I’ll find one you like eventually.” 

You roll your eyes, playfully nudging his side as you divert from the path Dustin was leading to follow Steve.

It’s a little game Eddie’s been playing the last few days, trying out different pet names on you to find one that sticks, one that feels right. It’s his own new loving way of teasing you, reveling in the reactions he gets out of you and how flustered the names make you.

“Oh Boom! Bada Bing Bada Boom! There she is, Henderson! Skull Rock in your face, man. Your stupid, cocky, little face.” Steve exclaims, opening the clearing of tree branches to reveal none other than Skull Rock.

“Alright, easy tiger.” You chuckle, patting Steve on the shoulder as you pass him to survey the famous sight.

“You knowwww” Eddie begins, creeping up next to you. “We can make this our new spot, honey bunny.”

You can’t help but laugh, shaking your head before meeting his eyes.

“Honey bunny, huh?”

“Oh, yeah. It’s perfect for you. Honey, cause you’re so sweet” His hip bumps yours. “And bunny…well, cause of the way you ride m-” Your hand flies up to cover his mouth, but you can still see the shit-eating grin underneath.

“Not in front of the children, Edward.” You teasingly scold him, wide-eyed. Removing your hand when a quick look around shows the others in their own conversations, Steve and Dustin still arguing.

“Oh yeah, that’s the one.” He smirks, holding your hips before placing his lips on yours.

“Ahem. I know I said this is a makeout spot but uh- you don’t have to take it literally.” Steve chimes in from behind Eddie, who instantly flips him the bird.

“Don’t gotta be jealous, Stevie.” Eddie teases when your lips part, turning to face Steve with a cheeky smile.

“I’m not jealous” Steve scoffs, arms crossed against his chest.

“Alright, alright. We’ve seen Skull Rock, now can we actually get to where we came here for?” You ask, stepping around Eddie to face Steve.

With that, your group is back off into the woods. Dustin and Steve lead the pack again, still arguing about Skull Rock as you head in the direction of the lake.

Upon reaching the water, you have the whole afternoon to spare. You and Robin sit on the pier, dipping your toes in and gossiping about your lives. You listen to her ramble about her crush that she can’t do anything about, being a supportive, understanding friend. Watching Steve, Eddie, Dustin, Lucas throw around a football on the shore line. You, Robin, and Max walk along the water searching for cool looking rocks to take back home with you.

“Man, we should’ve brought our bathing suits” Steve remarks, hands on his hips as he looks out at the soft waves on the lake.

“Shit, we could still strip down to our underwear and hop in” Eddie looks at you when you scoff. “Oh come on, honey bunny. Why don’t you hop in?” He flashes a bright smile at you as you give him an amused look, arms crossed.

“Yeah right, that water is freezing. I’d like to see you do it first.”

“I’m sure you would” he replies smugly with a wink, earning a light-hearted eye roll.

“Should’ve brought some fishing rods too.” Lucas adds.

“Shit, I don’t think I’ve ever been fishing before.” 

“Well hell, kid. You don’t need fishing rods to catch a fish.”

You all watch in curiosity as Eddie grabs a sturdy, fallen stick and whips out his pocket knife, sharpening one end of the stick until it’s sharp and pointy.

“A spear… you’re going to catch fish with a spear?” Dustin questions with zero faith in his dungeon master.

“Worked for the cavemen” Eddie shrugs, taking off his shoes and socks, rolling up his jeans before he begins wading off into the water.

It’s dead quiet as you all watch him, intently staring down at the water with spear in hand, ready to strike in a split second. When he does, none of you expect the fish that he pulls out of the water at the end of it. He looks back to you all with a self-satisfied smirk.

“Looks like we’re having fish for dinner, sweet cheeks.”

“Oh, there’s no way in hell.” Steve quips in disbelief, rising to his feet.

“You’ve gotta teach me how to do that!” Dustin mutters in bewilderment. 

Soon, Eddie’s fashioned spears for all of you. Knee deep in the lake searching for fish to catch. Light laughter and mutterings of profanities floating across the water.

While half of you aren’t lucky enough to imitate Eddie’s catch, Steve and Max end up catching fish of their own.

You spend the last hour of sunlight making a small fire to cook the three fish you caught, half of you watching in disgust, the other half watching in interest as Eddie cleans them.

“I didn’t take you for a fisherman, Eddie” Robin comments in surprise, watching his effortless movements.

“Well, my Dad and Wayne have done their fair share of fishing trips, some of which I was dragged along to.”

You sit in a circle around the dying fire, eating your fish and watching as the sunset paints a cascade of colors in the sky, reflecting along the water.

When darkness falls around you, the group makes the trek back through the wooded trails with flashlights in hand, laughing as Eddie tries to spook the younger kids, making up ghost stories about the surrounding woods.

A quiet sigh of relief falls among the group as Eddie’s van and Steve’s BMW finally come into view.

“So, you guys excited for your trip to Indy tomorrow?” Steve asks, fishing the keys out of his pockets.

“Wait, you guys are going up to Indy?” Dustin nearly stops in his tracks.

“Yeah, bright and early. I’ve got a college visit up at Indiana University.”

“Mhmm, we’re gonna do some exploring, go to some record shops, make a whole day of it.” Eddie shares as he stands behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you against him, chin resting on your shoulder.

“Shit, can I come too? Heard there’s this really cool, big comic book store up there!”

“I don’t know, Dusty. I don’t think your mom would be crazy about the idea.” You say regretfully, face twisting in uncertainty.

“Are you kidding, my mom loves you!”

“Yeah, she hasn’t seen Eddie’s driving though.”

“Excuse me, we always get where we’re going in one piece.”

You laugh, playfully nudging him with your elbow when his fingers tickle your sides before you bring your attention back to Dustin.

“Ugh. I don’t know, maybe next time okay?”

His head hangs with a small nod.

“Okay…”

“Oh god. Don’t guilt trip me, Henderson!” You plead, feeling the regret already seeping in.

“No no, it’s okay.” He sighs. “Guess I’ll just spend my day at Family Video harassing Steve.”

“Ha yeah, we’ll see how well that works out for you.” Steve scoffs.

You part from your friends with a hug and wishes for a safe trip for the two of you before climbing into the van with Max in tow to head home to the trailer park.

Another night falling asleep in Eddie’s arms, filled with excitement for a full day of adventure planned for just the two of you.

Saturday, March 29th, 1986

The ringing of Eddie’s alarm clock comes far too soon, waking you both from your peaceful slumber with groans and yawns. 

“Just 5 more minutes..” Eddie mumbles as he buries his face in your neck. You giggle, running your fingers through his hair.

“5 more minutes turns into us being late, love.” 

As you part from his grasp to look for your change of clothes, he releases a pitiful ‘Hmph’ before joining you to scuffle around his room, looking for any decent clean clothes he has.

Shortly after as the sun rises in the morning sky, you load into Eddie’s van to begin the hour and a half drive up to Indianapolis. Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, blasting the radio, and singing along to Keep on Loving You by REO Speedwagon as you pull onto the main highway. 

Once you’ve gone a fair distance, your head rolls against the headrest to look at Eddie.

“I’m gonna need some caffeine soon, babe.”

As soon as his head turns to meet yours he releases a big yawn, shaking his head with a laugh.

“Shit, me too.” His eyes search for exit signs on the side of the highway. “There’s a McDonald’s at the next exit, we can get some breakfast?”

As his head turns to look at you, he catches movement in the back of the van in his peripheral.

“Oooh some hash browns sound good!” Dustin’s head pops up between you from his previous position laying in the back of the van.

Both of you nearly jump out of your seat, screaming at the unexpected third voice joining you in the van. 

“Jesus H. Christ!” Eddie yells, white knuckling the steering wheel as he jerks the van back into the lane, beginning to veer off toward the ditch on the side of the road from the distraction.

“What the fuck, Henderson?!” you exclaim, looking back at him in disbelief as he only meets you with a wide, toothy grin.

“What? I decided to take matters into my own hands! Have you ever known me to take ‘no’ for an answer, hmm?”

“Yeah and you almost just got us killed!” Eddie argues, taking deep inhales through his nostrils to calm himself.

“Well, maybe you should’ve been paying better attention to the road rather than ogling your girlfriend.” Dustin retorts with his signature cocky tone.

You see Eddie bite his lower lip, taking everything in him to not flip out. Your hand reaches to squeeze his thigh, letting him focus on the road before turning back to Dustin.

“How did you even get in here?”

“Well, someone leaves his van unlocked at night. I biked over at the crack of dawn, hid my bike behind the trailer and climbed in through the back.”

Eddie’s eyes meet yours, shaking your heads in disbelief. You can’t help but laugh.

“And Steve says he’s always the babysitter…” You mutter with a sigh, looking out the window as Eddie takes an exit ramp.

“Hey, I’m not a child!”

“No, but you are a minor that I am now responsible for watching over in a big city!”

“Okay, look. I promise, I will be on my best behavior. I’ll be right by your side the whole time!”

“Oh, I feel so much better now!” Eddie announces sarcastically. You smirk at him before rubbing a hand over your face exasperatedly.

“So… about those hash browns”

Your moods eventually lighten with the greasy fast food breakfast, caffeine, and the dwindling miles separating you from your destination.

Eddie’s fingers stay firmly entwined with yours throughout the campus tour, walking the pathways and exploring the buildings. A mere mile from the heart of the city, its tallest buildings are visible from nearly any spot at the college.

You’re not sure if it’s merely the effect of having Eddie and Dustin with you as you explore one of your prospective colleges or your faint familiarity with the city you’ve visited on occasion, but you find yourself at total ease. Effortlessly imagining yourself attending there, walking down the street to explore shops after classes, making the manageable drive back to Hawkins on weekends to visit your loved ones. 

You don’t want to be rash and get your hopes up considering you haven’t gotten any acceptances yet, but it feels good here.

As promised, after your tour is done and the campus efficiently explored, the 3 of you make a day out of exploring the rest of Indianapolis. 

Stopping at a cute little coffee and bakery shop, eying the multitude of fashion stores that line the streets. Finally finding the comic book store Dustin had mentioned, far bigger than you ever imagined and spending over an hour inside browsing the comics and action figures. You’d even found new figurines and dice for DnD that Eddie quickly scooped up, excited for another little project of painting the new figurines for the next Hellfire campaigns.

Then, to the part you and Eddie were looking forward to the most, visiting the biggest music store in Indianapolis that just so happened to have a Guitar Center right next door. Perusing the aisles of vinyl records and cassette tapes, snatching up Ozzy Osbourne’s new The Ultimate Sin album as soon as you see it, after weeks of waiting for it to arrive at Hawkins’ stores. You and Eddie even found merch for Metallica’s new Master of Puppets album, both eagerly grabbing a new t-shirt. Dustin finding yet another Weird Al shirt to add to his collection.

Next, you marvel at the shiny, brand new guitars lining the walls of Guitar Center. Setting your sights and hearts on the next ones to be added to your collection. You and Dustin watch as Eddie tests one out, smiling widely and headbanging along as he plays Master of Puppets, a song you’ve witnessed him spend the last few weeks trying to perfect. 

Though you end up leaving the guitar store empty handed, both you and Eddie leave with the image of your next guitar seared into your minds, the next thing you save up your money for.

With sore feet, all your objectives crossed off and the sun setting, the three of you climb back into Eddie’s van to head home. As soon as the van merges back on the highway, you slide your new Ozzy tape into Eddie’s radio, providing the soundtrack to your drive home. You all nod along and headbang to each passing song.

The last song, A Shot in the Dark begins to play and immediately pulls you in.

But a shot in the dark

One step away from you

Just a shot in the dark

Always creeping up on you, alright

The words of the chorus linger in your mind as Ozzy’s voice carries into the next verse. You know it doesn’t reflect the real meaning of the lyrics by the musicians, but as you mull them over you can’t help but think about your relationship with Eddie. What it took to get to where you are now, the time and feelings, the risk.

The risk it took for Eddie to pick you up and take you to the lake that night, hoping he’d get you to open up to him. The risk it took for you to finally lay it all out, your feelings and love for him. Neither of you knowing where it would go, if the risk would be worth it. It was a shot in the dark.

One step away from you. That’s how it truly felt before that night. 

You and Eddie had always been so close, but your hidden feelings were lodged right in the middle. A dark, looming bubble of words and feelings left unsaid wedged between you, keeping you apart. 

One step away.

A bubble that needed to be burst, popped to get to where you are now.

Your eyes trail from the road to your boyfriend next to you, nodding along the music.

The happiest, and closest you’ve ever been.

That whole time, one step was all it was keeping you from what you both always wanted. 

One step, a shot in the dark you’re so glad you both took that night.

When the chorus comes back around, you sing along as your hand reaches out for his. He turns to you with that loving smile, fingers wrapping around yours and resting on the middle console between you.

[aeoki]

High and Low: The Centre of the Earth - Chapter 13

Location: Australian Land (Night) Characters: Tetora, Tomoya, Mitsuru & Hitsugi

Season: Autumn Writer: Akira

Tetora: Alright. I’m ready. If we come in contact with any of the bad guys, we’ll try and get as much info from them as we can.

Don’t know if they’ll be able to understand Japanese, though.

And when there’s a chance, I can either hold down the enemy or I can be the hostage while you guys make a run for it.

Nothing’s gonna happen if we stay here lying on the ground, after all.

Tomoya: Ohh, that sounds promising… But don’t do anything if it looks really bad. You won’t be able to do much if there’s a lot of them.

Tetora: Osu. Hiiro-kun did teach me what to do against multiple opponents once. It is just knowledge on the surface though, so I won’t overdo it.

But if there’s an opening, I won’t hesitate to use it.

And if I don’t give up, an opportunity will be sure to appear.

Mitsuru: Wahaha, you’re so cool, Tetsu-chan! Is that also a line from a tokusatsu show or something?

Tetora: Nope, I just summarised what you said, Mitsuru-kun.

I wanna be someone as cool as you too.

…Oh. I hear footsteps. Sounds like someone’s here.

Stand back, guys. If they suddenly start throwing punches, I’ll be your shield.

That’s what I’ve been training for.

Tomoya: No, we can’t let you handle the dangerous stuff on your own… Even if you’ve trained for it, you’re still a kid who’s the same age as us.

It’s true we’re relying on you, but it’s not like we want to get you hurt or anything.

Tetora: Osu. But, it might be my fault that we’re in this pickle.

Mitsuru: Huh? Why’s it your fault, Tetsu-chan?

Tetora: That’s because we all fell asleep after my satisfyingly delicious meal and they used that chance to kidnap us.

It’s my fault because I was the one who made those delicious dishes.

Tomoya: Ahh~ Right… Yeah.

Tetora: Ahaha, it’s a joke so you’ve gotta laugh otherwise you’ll put me in a tough spot, you know?

But, even though you guys complained about whatever food I made, you guys still ate it all in the end. You respected what I wanted to do and placed that trust in me.

That made me really happy so I want to return the favour.

No. I’m grateful to all of you so I’ll protect you guys.

And even if I get hurt or die, that’ll be way better than curling up into a ball and doing nothing.

At the very least, compared to when I stepped down from being the leader in “RYUUSEITAI”, I think I’ll be able to do it without hating myself.

I don’t wanna live feeling nothing but guilt and shame anymore.

Mitsuru: Tetsu-chan.

Tetora: What is it? Have you got a complaint, Mitsuru-kun?

Mitsuru: Not that. But maybe you don’t need to brace yourself? ‘Cause these footsteps are–

Tetora: ………?

Hitsugi: Good evening.

Tetora: ……!? Kurone-san!

Why are you on the other side of the bars? Did you manage to escape first? Or did you get away safely and came to save us…?

Hitsugi: No, no. I’m not the protagonist of some action film.

Tetora: Then, how…?

Hitsugi: It’s simple.

I’m sorry. It’s all my fault you’re all in this mess.

Mitsuru: Whaddya mean…?

Hitsugi: You see.

I’m the perpetrator.

Mitsuru: ? ? ?

Hitsugi: I’m the one behind “High and Low”.

It’s got nothing to do with the “Peace Party” or the higher-ups at ES – It’s all an evil plan I came up with and executed.

Tetora: ………?

Hitsugi: I was very grateful that Anzu-senpai placed her trust in me.

I submitted the proposal under her name on her phone while she was taking a nap.

After that, I did some other things and then “High and Low” officially began.

You guys all became involved due to the course of events and for that, I would truly like to apologise.

← Previous Chapter ᠂ ⚘ ˚⊹˚ ⚘ ᠂  Next Chapter →

[lumosinlove]

Vaincre

part v

~

cw: homophobic encounter.

~

November

November shadows, 

shade November change

November spells sweet memory, 

the season blue remains

~

“Lo!” Finn called. “Guess who just got traded to the Rags.”

Cool dread spun its way into Logan’s chest at full force. He felt the point of one of his hips knock against the counter. “Quoi?”

“Marshy and Morgs!” Finn said, and the appeared around the corner into the kitchen, red hair a mess. “Like, together. Like us.”

“These were Harvard teammates, yeah?” Leo asked, spooning sugar into Logan’s coffee.

“Like us?” Logan said. “They’re dating?”

“Oh, no,” Finn laughed. “I just meant together, like, at the same time. Around the same time, I guess I should say.”

“Wow,” Logan nodded, which prompted Finn to imitate the way he said wow, drawing out the W’s. Logan smiled, lifting his cup to his mouth. “We could visit them over the next free weekend maybe.”

“Damn, that’d be a blast to the past.”

“What are they like?” Leo asked, leaning into Logan’s side.

“You’d love Will. Will Morgan, Morgs,” Logan said. “Really level-headed, probably the nicest person I know. Marshy…”

“Percy Marshall is one crazy motherfucker,” Finn said, and poured his own cup of coffee, black.

Logan leaned into mock-whisper to Leo. “And Finn gets insane when they’re together.”

Finn shot him a look, but continued. “Best way to say it. He’ll party until the sun, he’s crazy superstitious—worse than Cap and Loops combined—and he’s also,” Finn slid onto a stool. “One of the hardest working guys you’ll ever met. Probably the hardest working.” Finn’s smile was one Logan’s favorite one, made even more so by the fact that he got to see it directed at Leo. “Until I met you, that is, Nut.”

Leo let out a pleased laugh and let Logan brush a hand through his hair. “Well, they’re in our division now. I’ll get to meet them.”

“Oh, man, we’re in for a fucking treat when we play New York next,” Finn grinned. “Gonna hit the town hard.”

Leo snorted. “You guys might.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Finn pressed a kiss to Leo’s cheek. “I know everyone we need to know.”

“And I can finally tell you,” Logan began. “That the first time you dragged me around New York knowing ever person you saw, I loved you.”

Finn blushed a little and let Leo pull him to settle in the V of his legs from where he was leaning back against the counter. “Well, it’ll be nice to see them.”

Logan nodded, but part of his chest pulled. He cleared his throat. “Ouais. Also…”

When he paused, Leo tapped their socked toes together encouragingly.

Logan shrugged and looked down into his coffee. He thought of Finn’s quick breaths when they took the Cup back to Harvard. He thought of kissing him in their old room. He thought of everything before. Percy and Will were a part of all of that. Not directly, maybe, but Logan knew what seeing them again would do.

“Memories,” Finn said, and Leo nudged him.

“Don’t say it for him.”

“Oh, right, sorry.”

“Memories,” Logan agreed. “Good and bad.”

~

Remus missed the net three times in fifteen minutes, and only barely managed to keep himself from breaking his stick against the boards. He would be embarrassed afterwards if he had, but could it really be so much worse than the way that he felt now?

He accepted Thomas’ fist bump as he passed him going into the locker room and sat down heavily in his stall. The game had been close, but the Devils had won out in the end. He glanced at some of the assistant coaches, who were murmuring together. There was no guarantee it was about him, but it still felt as thought it was. Sirius was talking with Evgeni, Evgeni’s loud laugh warming up the room. Remus stripped out of his sweaty uniform quickly and was headed for the showers with a towel around his waist when someone slapped him on the back.

“It’s decided,” Logan’s accent came from beside him. He wasn’t bothering with his towel, which was slung over his bare shoulder. The fleur-de-lis tattoo on his hip—and everything else—was on full display. “Me and Talker are taking you out tonight.”

Remus raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean exactly?”

Logan just smiled. “No boyfriends. No hockey. We have a day off tomorrow, so no pressure. Just some drinks.”

“And some pool, maybe,” Thomas said, coming up to Remus’ other side. “What do you say, Loops? Fun, eh?”

“Okay, one of you is butt-naked right now and the other is in a three-piece suit. I’m going to say yes and shower, all right?”

Thomas gave a whoop, and Remus couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face as he dropped his towel in the change room and turned on the hot water. He felt like a sling-shot lately, being catapulted one way, and then in the opposite direction. He guessed he should feel thankful that his friends could pick him up like that, and he did, but another part of him caved in beneath the sheer affection.

I’m letting you down.

He scrubbed his hands through his hair, and looked over his shoulder when he felt a gentle, quick kiss against the back of his neck.

“Bonsoir,” Sirius said with a soft smile, and went to the shower head beside him.

“Hi,” Remus smiled back. “Beautiful goal tonight.”

He watched the water lace over Sirius’ tan skin, darkening his hair further as he pushed it back, away from his face. “You’re beautiful.”

“Hey, Olli,” Finn called across the showers, making Olli look over at him. “You’re fucking beautiful, man.”

Olli just squeezed shampoo into his palm. “I know that, Harzy.”

Sirius’ laugh echoed through the showers, joined by others, and Remus let it warm around him like the steam.

“Apparently Tremz and Talkie are taking me out tonight,” he said to Sirius as they walked back into the locker room.

“Tremz,” Sirius called over to him. “Ouch.”

“Pas de capitaines,” Logan waved him off and went back to looking at whatever Leo was showing him on his phone. Sirius laughed and looked back to Remus.

“Sounds perfect,” he said. “Wake me up when you come in if I’m asleep.”

“And go to bed without a kiss?” Remus glanced down at the towel slung low across Sirius’ hips, then back up to his bright silver eyes. “I’d never.”

Sirius smiled and kissed him, but Remus felt the unspoken settling between them. Sirius had stopped bringing up wanting to help with Remus’ shortcomings on the ice. Remus knew he had brought that upon himself with refusals after refusals to talk about it, but now it felt more like a thing. An object. An ugly vase in the corner of the room.

Maybe he really did need to go out tonight.

Thomas settled in his stall beside Remus. “We’re gonna go to Red’s, yeah?”

Remus nodded as he pulled his gray t-shirt over his head. He held up his dark jeans. “I can wear this, right?”

“Fuck yeah, I’m not wearing this thing,” Thomas picked at the lapel of his suit. “Noelle already screen shotted the snapchat I sent her. Why keep it on now?”

Remus just laughed. “All right, Talkie. Lead the way.”

Red’s bar was shoved up against the side of a larger block of buildings in Gryffindor. Remus glanced up, one or two stars were poking through the increasingly cooling loud cover. Inside it was warm, though. Foggy in the way some rooms get when there are lots of happy people in them. Logan had chosen a long-sleeved, dark gray cotton shirt, so thin that Remus could see each ridge of his defined muscles and his necklace, too.

“What the fuck happens when that thing gets wet?” Remus snorted, plucking at it as they waited for their drinks at the bar.

“I’ll pretend we had a fight,” Thomas said. “Throw a drink on you, find out.”

Logan just eyed them suspiciously as they leaned against the bar. “You guys are strange.”

Thomas just flagged the bartender, stretching the white material of his thin knit sweater. He ordered a whiskey, Logan a rum and coke, and Remus opted for a lighter gin and tonic. They still had a game on barely 72 hours. Not that anyone was that much of a light weight, but he didn’t want any assumptions being made, any photographs taken that could put him in a worse light than he already was.

“I know what this is, you know,” he said after Logan and Thomas’ intense COD debate had gone on too long. They both looked over at him, the picture of innocence. Remus rolled his eyes. “I’m fine.”

“Media’s a bitch,” Thomas said. “That’s all this is. Hockey’s hard. You can’t help that you live with Cap, who makes it all look like a piece of cake.”

Logan laughed. “I think Cap would disagree. He stinks after games, mon dieu.”

Remus and Thomas shared a look. “And you don’t?”

“Finn likes it,” Logan smirked. “Gets him going.”

“Are you sure its the stench and not the muscles?” Thomas raised an eyebrow.

Logan waved him off. “I’m not talking about this with you two. We’re here for Loops.”

Remus groaned. “Guys…it’s not…I mean every player goes through this, right?”

They both nodded.

“Sure,” Thomas said. “But it doesn’t help that some people—“

“Assholes,” Logan amended.

“Right. It doesn’t help that some assholes don’t think you deserve to be here.”

Remus tilted his glass towards him. “Yeah.”

“We just think…” Logan began uncertainly, tongue poking out to wet his full bottom lip. “Look, I love Cap. He’s like a brother. But he’s intense. For him…sometimes hockey solves hockey.”

Remus wavered. “Yes and no.”

“We just thought you might want some other ears,” Thomas offered a smile. “I mean we can’t offer a feel good night of lovin’ to make you feel better…”

Remus snorted. “Right. You know, Talkie, that’s exactly what Sirius calls it.”

Thomas cracked up, too. “But we can offer drinks. And, you know…”

Logan raised an eyebrow at him, amused. “Ears?”

“Right,” Thomas nodded. “Look at Tremzy over here, finishing my sentences.”

Remus let his smile die down a little. “I…thanks, guys. I mean, I love talking to Sirius, but I also…he is the Captain. He’s a representation of all of us. I feel a little…” Remus took a slow breath, not sure if he was even ready for the words to come out of his mouth. “I feel a little like I’m letting him, and you all, down sometimes.”

“Aw, Loops,” Thomas said, voice softened.

“I know,” Remus sighed. “It’s just…it creeps in sometimes.”

Remus watched Logan swallow. “I get it. If there’s anything I can understand it’s guilt.”

“Tremz,” Remus said comfortingly. “I guess I should listen to my own advice here, but it’s not your fault. I can be ears, too, you know.”

“Is this…” Thomas said quietly. “Carrot?”

They both stared at him. “Carrot?”

“Code names,” Thomas whispered, even though the tables were noisy and the bar was somewhat empty.

Logan laughed a little, and nodded.

Remus waited. Logan gathered thoughts slowly, carefully. Interrupting, he’d learned while talking with Leo, tended to scatter them. He was also happy that the spotlight wasn’t entirely on him anymore.

“I found him at Harvard,” Logan began, swallowing dryly despite the drink in his hand. “And I was a mess. And then we spent that year apart, and I was a mess. And then I found him again, in Gryffindor, and I was a mess. I fell in love with Leo and I was a mess.” He looked at them, eyes pleading, then back down at his drink. “I am so, so happy now. It worked out. I can’t believe my luck. I wake up so fucking happy every morning. Every little look at them, my life with them, is incredible.”

Remus and Thomas waited some more. Thomas sent Remus a half smile across him, then leaned his cheek on his fist.

Finally, Logan finished. “But I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t a mess without them.” He closed his eyes, exhaled a frustrated breath through his nose. “That doesn’t make sense.”

Thomas nodded. “Yeah, it really does. Tremz, I get it.” He tilted his glass, making his ice cubes stir the liquid inside. “You’re someone when you’re with who you love. But you gotta be your own someone, too.”

“Ouais,” Logan was already nodded. “Right, like…Re, you’re you, no matter what. Leo, he’s the same way. Finn, too.”

Remus sighed. “I’m not so sure right now. But I think what you’re saying makes sense. Tremz, you’re allowed to want that for yourself. It’s not a slight to the boys. At all.”

Logan laughed, still laced with frustration. He rubbed at his eyes. “But I don’t even know what I’m asking for.”

Remus smiled. “Hate to break it to you, but you’ve got a pretty level-headed duo in your corner. I mean, Finn’s Finn.”

Thomas snorted. “Might take him a second.”

Logan smiled and it was fond. “Yeah.”

“But Leo…” Remus snapped his fingers. “He’ll get it. They both will.”

Logan narrowed his eyes at the bar. “I’m not asking for space. I don’t want space. I don’t want anything to change I just want to stop feeling like I’ll crash and burn by myself.”

“Me too,” Remus admitted. “Maybe in a different way, but…me too.”

“I don’t know if I feel like I’m gonna crash,” Thomas said thoughtfully. “But hey, life’s tough sometimes.” He smiled and raised his glass. “Friends.”

They clinked their glasses together, laughing, the conversation turning to organizing a pick-up game in the park that weekend—if it didn’t snow. 

“Gotta use the big WC, gents,” Thomas said after a while, picking up his crutches. “Then pool?”

“Who the hell calls it that?” Remus snorted.

“Me,” Thomas called over his shoulder, politely excusing his way through the crowd with his charming smile and causing a few longing looks to follow him at his back.

Logan drained the last of his rum and coke. “You don’t feel like Cap’s putting pressure on you, do you?”

Remus looked at him, eyes widening for a moment. “God, no. No, he’s been nothing but supportive. It’s mostly me, I think. He even wants to talk about it. Sometimes I just…can’t.”

Logan nodded. “Good. No, good, I just thought I’d ask. When I first met him, he’d get like that with me sometimes. Wanting to run extra drills or talk through tape. I snapped at him for it a bit. This was before he was really who he is now.”

“Parents were lingering in him,” Remus nodded. “Yeah, I remember.”

A man came to lean against the bar beside Remus, then, and Remus shot him a smile that he hoped looked friendly rather than uneasy. The guy was really in his space. He shared a look with Logan, who’s shoulders were rounded a little in alert, green eyes narrowed in on the guy.

“You’re Lupin, eh?” the man said.

Remus sighed softly, looking down at his now watery drink. He should’ve known.

“Yep,” he replied, and looked at the man. He had two friends, hovering a little ways back.

“What’s going on this season, huh?”

The worst part was that the man was smiling, as if he thought this conversation was going to go well.

“I mean, I know you’re with the Captain and all,” the man said. “But, I mean…come on. Some of us care about how the team does.”

“Excuse me?” Remus replied.

The man tilted his head, looking mockingly regretful. “It’s not just about you.”

“Okay,” Remus said, keeping his voice flat.

“What he do to get you there?” the man asked, leaning in like they were friends. “I mean, like…some type of reward, or does he already give you those at home?”

Remus flushed. “I think we’re done talking.”

At least his friends had the decency to look a little nervous.

The man narrowed his eyes. “I’m just saying.”

“Fuck off, man,” Logan said in a low tone.

“What,” he sneered. “You got yourself a boyfriend, too, Tremblay?”

Logan was on his feet then, stools screeching back, taller than the man, stronger. Remus’ arm shot out against his chest, keeping him and his balled fists back. The man’s friend stepped forward, too.

“Whoa, Mike,” one of the friends said, hesitating. “That’s not why we…that’s not what this is.”

“Oh,” Thomas scoffed, announcing himself as he made his way back to them. He somehow made his crutches and boot look threatening. “Wrong type of harassment for you, my guy?”

The fans’ eyes went large. “Talker…”

Thomas just stared at them, and Remus watched him go from Thomas Walker with his friends to Thomas Walker on the ice, defensemen. Enforcer. “Only my friends call me that. Sit down at your own table or get out.”

Thomas shouldered through them, one crutch landing briefly on Mike’s shoe, who only just bit back a groan. Thomas was all bright, sharp grin as he sat down, leaning his crutches against the bar again. He waved the bartender over, then looked at Mike who was still standing there.

“Do I have say it again for you?” Logan snarled. “Trust me, you don’t want me to.”

Logan sat down slowly as the three men backed up and turned away. Remus pressed a thankful hand to his shoulder, also meant to calm him down a bit.

“Well, that was fun,” Thomas sighed. “Jesus. We take you out to forget about it and those three show up.”

“It’s fine,” Remus said, though his heart was pounding. “I’m surprised that was the first time it happened. Had a close call at the grocery store the other day.”

“Another round?” Logan asked. “Then pool?”

“Ouais,” Remus smiled, in his best impression of Sirius.

~

Most of November passed without change. Remus felt the stagnant ball of frustration in his stomach. He and Sirius cooked together, slowly mastering more and more recipes. Remus lived for the triumphant look on Sirius’ face when a dish came out just right. He went out with Logan and Thomas, with James and Sirius, Finn and Jackson and Kasey. He never felt more at home than when he was tucked against Sirius’ side at a team dinner, watching Logan toss food into Finn’s mouth from across the table, hollering when he caught it and then ruffling an embarrassed Leo’s hair, who was shushing them.

The weather had officially turned to Gryffindor winter, biting harsher and harsher with each night. It got to the point where Marlene started bugging them all about the Christmas video—for the fans, she kept insisting. Come on guys, it’ll be fun!

Evgeni seemed to be the only one who was truly game for it.

Remus wasn’t unhappy, but the media was growing more and more aggravated with him, the fans’ patience was running thin like ice, and now Arthur had started sending him glancing looks until, finally, he pulled Remus into his office as the boys were packing up.

The ball rolled around Remus’ ribs, fighting for space with his heart, and he sat in the leather chair across from Arthur’s desk.

Arthur took off his glasses, which was a bad sign. He didn’t say anything for a long time and Remus didn’t have the courage to make him.

“I know,” Remus finally said, and then his throat choked up. “I’m…”

“I don’t want any apologies,” Arthur said. “And, God, Lupin, I didn’t bring you in here to yell at your so get that look off your face.”

Remus blinked through the scarce relief and looked down at his hands.

“Media’s being real tough, I know,” Arthur sighed. “I know. I just want to make sure you’re all right.”

“I’m fine,” Remus said. “I’m just…it’s not connecting, I…I don’t know. Maybe I could put in more time one-on-one with one of the coaches. Or ground work with the trainers. I know we’re about to go on the road. Maybe tomorrow morning before practice.”

Arthur hesitated, then nodded. “If you’d like. But overworking yourself isn’t gonna help if that’s not the issue. Frankly, I don’t think skill is the issue. You’re a beautiful skater out there. You’re wicked fast and can misdirect hits like I’ve never seen. But…”

“No net,” Remus mumbled.

Arthur looked regretful. “No net.”

Remus nodded. “I’m working on it. I’m doing everything I can.”

“I don’t doubt that, Remus. Really. Don’t think I do. I’ll be seeing you at the Dumais Thanksgiving, yeah?” Arthur asked.

Remus nodded, spared a smile. “Of course.”

Arthur smiled back and rose. He clapped Remus on the back as he opened the door to his office again. “Good. Try and relax over the break, okay? I know it’s short, but sometimes its less work that pays off. It doesn’t always have to be more.” He looked up. “Ah, another young rascal I’ve had to say that to.”

Remus looked up to see Sirius’ smile, his dark hair curling against his neck, but otherwise tucked under a thick black winter hat. Every muscle in Remus’ body eased at the sight of him. He wanted to wrap himself up in Sirius, tuck himself inside of his winter coat and never leave.

“Cap,” Arthur gave him a nod. “See you for Turkey. Who you’ve got for the big game?”

Sirius just shrugged. “American football. Who cares?”

Arthur made a wounded noise—and another one came from Leo and Thomas down the hall as they were bundling up for the cold. Evgeni was holding Thomas’ crutches for him as Jackson helped him into his coat. Remus cracked up and took the warm palm Sirius held out. They walked down the hallway that smelled familiar and warm, under toned by the scent of carpet and cleaner that, had it been any stronger, would have been unpleasant, but it just added to the familiarity.

The garage door rattled shut behind them as Sirius unlocked their back door, letting them into their warm kitchen. Remus shook out of his coat, hanging it in the closet and rubbing his hands together. With his coat and bag, he tried to drop everything else at the door. This was his and Sirius’ space. This wasn’t a rink, or a locker room, or the press room. Theirs. The word was warmer than the heat Sirius had set to come on a half hour before they got home.

“I’m starving,” he said. “What do you feel like? I maybe want pasta.”

“I feel like you,” came the reply from behind him.

Remus’ smile was slow and he turned to see a glint in Sirius’ eye. “What is it, the cold weather? You’ve been all riled up after games lately.”

Sirius just grinned, hands squeezing Remus’ hips. “I love watching you out there.” He pressed a kiss to Remus’ cheek, his neck and his nose, between each phrase. “I love your face, I love your feet, I love your shoulders, and the way you bite the finger of your glove while you watch the game between shifts.” The kisses got considerably more heavy, lingering and accompanied by the the brush of a tongue and teeth. “I love the way you cradle a puck and the way you tape your stick. The way your hair sticks to your neck.”

Remus just smiled, eyes closed. “I’ve been playing like shit.”

“Nu-uh,” Sirius said, and Remus whined a little at the next nip, letting Sirius rock him back against the kitchen counter. “Slumps are normal. You play amazing. Just no points. Shit and slumps,” Sirius said, and Remus’ mouth went dry as he was lowering himself to his knees. “Shit and slumps are different.”

Remus let out a laugh. “Aren’t those the words to turn a guy on.”

Sirius just grinned and bit at his pants zipper. “I love you.”

“Better choice.”

Sirius carefully pulled Remus’ zipper down. “Can I? Here?”

Remus only reply was tugging Sirius’ hat free to get at his hair, the thick strands weaving between his fingers. He could already feel himself getting interested, pressing against the slip of his boxers by Sirius’ proximity alone.

“Sirius Black,” Remus sighed as Sirius nuzzled against him.  He stroked over his hair, overwhelmed with how much every part of Sirius meant to him. “I love you.”

Sirius took one of the hands Remus had in his hair by and kissed the inside of his wrist.

Remus let Sirius’ mouth fuzz his mind out, moaning softly at his hollowed out cheeks, laughing at the gentle nips to his hips and thighs. After, Sirius kissed him against the counter until both of their stomachs growled. Remus pressed his mouth against Sirius’ flushed hot cheek.

“I feel like a million bucks, thanks, baby.”

Sirius just smiled, tucking himself away.

It was true. Remus felt home. Settled. Almost as if he could forget the conversation today. Maybe even like he wanted to go down the the basement rink, just for fun, which he hadn’t felt like in a while.

“D’accord,” Remus sing-songed. “We have pasta or chicken or both.”

Sirius grinned. “Both.”

They were mostly quiet as they cooked, bumping hips, iPhone playing softly through their speakers. Remus watched the way Sirius kept his fingers carefully curled away from the knife, like Remus’ mom had taught him that summer. His tongue peaked out of the corner of his mouth, the same way it did when he was carrying a puck up the ice.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Sirius asked softly as Remus minced garlic.

Remus glanced over at him, then kept his eyes on his fingers, so close to the sharp blade. “Um. Coach says it’s not my fault. He says I’m playing well. It’s just…pointless.”

“C’est pas—”

“No, not like pointless, like, pointless. Like I’m not getting net.”

“Ah.”

They smiled at each other, Remus’ a little shakier.

“Yeah.”

I feel like I’m letting you down.

“I feel…” Remus began, and the words caught. “Um. I mean, it’ll get better. It has to.”

Sirius’ expression flickered, but he nodded. “Mhm.”

“Do you feel like a white sauce?” Remus asked, turning to the refrigerator. “Go well with the chicken.”

“Sure,” Sirius nodded. “Sounds perfect, mon loup.”

Remus took a long breath as he opened the refrigerator doors, maybe taking longer than necessary to find the half & half. He was angry at himself. He didn’t know why the words were sticking to the back of his throat. He didn’t want pity, he supposed. He didn’t want Sirius to feel like he had to comfort him. Remus closed his eyes.

He’d do better.

~

Leo and Finn had their shoulders pressed together, each with their own book in their hands, when Logan opened the apartment door.

“Got the cream,” Logan raised the shopping back, and Leo all but leapt from the cushions.

“Yeah you do,” Finn said without looking up.

“Thank you,” Leo slid on his socks in his rush to get to Logan. He pressed his palms to Logan’s cold cheeks, kissing him in a quick burst. “Thank you, thank you, I love you.”

Logan smiled as Leo scurried back into the kitchen to finish making his part of the the American Thanksgiving dinner Pascal was hosting.

“I can’t believe I ran out,” Leo said, stirring something on the stove.

“It’s fine, Le,” Logan said, shrugging out of his jacket and following him in. “Happy to get you whatever you need.”

Leo turned, a touched pout on his face, and Logan beat him to it this time with a slower kiss of his own. Leo tasted like the caramel he had had them all taste test earlier and Logan licked into his mouth eagerly.

“I love you, too,” Logan mumbled.

Leo’s expression softened in the way it always did when one of them said that. Maybe Logan wasn’t the only one who couldn’t believe his luck.

“Want to peel sweet potatoes?” Leo asked with a hopeful grin, and Logan laughed.

“Sure, soleil.”

Finn gasped from the couch, eyes on his book, glasses on his nose. “They kissed. I fucking knew they would.”

Leo gasped, too. “No. Harzy, spoilers, you’re faster than me.”

Logan looked between them. “Are you guys reading the same book again, like, next to each other?”

“Sorry,” Finn said, but he was gripping the book like another secret might spill out. “And yes.”

Leo pressed a peeler into his hands with another kiss, this one fast and skittering across his cheekbone.

“I love both of you,” Logan sighed as he picked up the first potato. “You’re weird.”

Finn closed his book without marking his place and heaved himself up with a groan, cracking his back. He came to sit at the bar counter across from where Logan was peeling.

“Thanks for the help, Harz,” Logan said.

“I don’t like it when my hands smell like potato.”

Leo laughed. “Sweetheart, how’d you ever survive on your own?”

“Take out,” Finn and Logan answered at the same time.

“And catering,” Finn added. “I think the NHL is used to boys who can’t cook. Marlene just slid the caterer’s card into my hand without a word.”

Leo just shook his head. “She tried the same thing on me. Honey, please.”

Logan and Finn shared a smile, both turning to gaze at Leo’s back.

“How much time do we have?” Leo asked.

“Like, two hours, babe, you’re good,” Finn said.

“Do I have time to ravish you in your glasses?” Logan asked.

Finn raised a teasing eyebrow. “Oh, these old things? You want to wear them?”

Logan dropped his peeler and walked around the counter. He spun Finn to face him on the stool and Finn’s feet hooked around his calves, holding him there. “Non.”

Finn smiled, leaning forward to nip at Logan’s bottom lip and pull.

“Tremblay, potatoes.”

Logan groaned and Finn gave his butt a firm slap as he pulled away. “Sorry, sorry, sorry.”

~

“Uh, hey dad,” Cole cleared his throat. “It’s me. I just um. I’m in Pascal Dumais’ house. Can you believe that? Uh, I just wanted to say…you know, happy Thanksgiving, and all that. Maybe you can come out to a game soon? Yeah…let me know, I can get you tickets. Okay. Okay, see you. Merry—or happy Thanksgiving. Yeah, okay. Bye.”

Cole sighed as he put his phone down and looked around the Dumais’ sitting room. It was tidy, with food laid out every table, ready for guests. Cole, after that phone call, already felt tired.

There was a knock on the doorframe and he turned to see Layla, smiling at him hesitantly. She held out a glass of a deep colored wine. “I thought maybe you’d want some.”

“Oh, I can’t, uh…” Cole began.

Layla snorted. “Me neither, but…” she glanced around the tall-ceilinged living room. “Who’s gonna tell? Dumo? Please.”

Cole laughed a little and took the thin stem from her fingers. “Thank you.”

Layla nodded, bending for a cheese and cracker. “That sounded a little tough. If you don’t mind me saying.”

Cole pocketed his phone. “It’s not really. Well…maybe now it is. But I don’t think of him that way, of this that way. He’s a good father.”

He sounded defensive even to himself and sighed. “When he decides to be.”

“He hard on you?” Layla asked. She took a seat on the couch and Cole glanced around before settling on the ottoman of one of the fat leather chairs. “About all this?”

“Hockey?” Cole said, then laughed. “No. No way, he doesn’t give a shit about ice hockey. My mom got me into hockey. My dad still hopes I’ll be, like, I don’t know…I don’t know what.”

Layla frowned. “It’s not like you could’ve been a money-bags doctor and chose to paint watercolors instead?”

Cole cracked a smile. “Yeah…Yeah, he sort of skipped around a lot before I actually started getting good.”

“Oh,” Layla said softly.

The doorbell rang. And then rang again and again, like someone was jamming their finger into it repeatedly.

“Tremzy!” he heard Katie shriek a moment later.

Warm voices filled the hall.

Cole rose and, after a moment, offered Layla a hand. She smiled, letting him pull her up. “It’s not as sob-story as it sounds.”

“I get it,” Layla nodded. “My older sister skipped altogether when I was little. Still don’t know why. I know it’s not the same but…”

“I’m sorry,” Cole said.

Layla just smiled, one of her bright ones, and wrapped her hand—gold rings and all—around his arm. “Come on. Shit’s about to get wild.”

“And delicious,” Cole said, turning towards the smells coming from the kitchen.

Layla laughed, and Cole wanted to hear that sound twenty more times.

[babbushka]

Mrs Z! Thank you for doing a Flip special!

What about throwing Flip a big surprise party with lots of people and he’s not happy about it. You make it up to him by letting him have his way with you before you cut the cake. Maybe he’s too into and gets carried away with being loud and noisy or gets caught somehow and that’s his birthday party, is his guests cheering his bedroom antics or roasting him.

2.6k; humor & NSFW (blowjobs/face fucking, hair pulling, come swallowing)

“I don’t remember you forgetting anything here.” Flip frowns, as he pulls the Chevy into his usual parking spot at the CSPD.

It’s his birthday, and he hadn’t taken the day off of work to avoid drawing any suspicion, so he’s a little irritated that when he gets all the fuckin’ way back home to you, finishes having the delicious dinner you cook for him, and he’s just about to ask if you want to engage in a little birthday love-makin’, that you groan and announce that it’s urgent he take you back to the station.

He already gets sour enough on his birthday as it is, but he had hoped that he could enjoy a quiet -- or maybe not so quiet -- evening in bed with his wife, just the two of you tucked up against one another to distract him from the passing of time.

“It was my Pyrex, I left it in the breakroom, it should be in the sink unless someone moved it.” You’re too determined to get the damn thing back, and Flip loves you, so Flip drove you in his truck that he parks, eyeing his work.

“And you want me to go in and get it?” He complains, deep voice too gravely for it to be a true whine, “Can’t I wait in the car?”

“You’re going to abandon your most beloved wife in her hour of need?” Your eyes are wide and clear and he hates how he gets lost in them, how he meant it when he said he’d do anything for you. He hates how you know it.

“That’s not fair.” Jabbing a finger in your direction, you only lean forward enough to cup his cheeks in your hands, sweetly pressing chaste kisses to his lips, your lashes brushing against his cheek as you draw him in with the smell of your perfume.

“Please?” Your voice is breathy in the way that makes Flip go weak in the knees, and even though he knows he’s being manipulated, he’s not mad about it.

“Fuck, alright fine.” He gives in, making you brighten up immediately as he turns the car off so the engine doesn’t idle, being sure to keep the windows cracked even though Colorado in May is a balmy sixty-five degrees. “You just, I don’t know, sit here and keep being pretty.”

“Yes sir.” You wink, and Flip isn’t so sure he likes the twinkle that he sees in your eye.

Walking through the CSPD lobby, he notices it’s quiet.

Too quiet.

No one is calling in emergencies, no one is typing away at their desks, no one is chatting by the water fountain. Something must be very very wrong, and Flip halfway wonders if there was some kind of national announcement, if Ford was making a speech somewhere.

His suspicion only grows, when he turns the corner to the break room, and opens the door frowning to himself and muttering, “Why are all the fuckin’ lights turned off?”

When he flicks the light switch, he’s so startled that he takes a step backwards, as seemingly the entire station jumps up to shout in his face a big loud, “Surprise!!”

“What the fuck -- ”

“Happy birthday Zimmerman!” All his friends and co-workers are there, the guys from the narcotics division, the folks down at homicide, all the higher ups, secretaries, rookies and seasoned pros alike.

Everyone gathered in this room that is way too small for them, organized by someone to give him a goddamn heart attack. A hand gently rubs at his back, and Flip whirls around to see you there.

“Is this your way of saying you want a divorce?” He jokes dryly, making the entire room chuckle, because really only Flip would have this sort of reaction.

“For the record this was not my idea.” You say, not wanting him to think the blood is on your hands, “Ron insisted. I tried to tell him.”

Ron steps forward then and hands Flip a card, one that he’s not going to open now because he’s sure he’d die from the embarrassment of floundering with the envelope in front of all these people, but he does bring Ron in for a hug.

“It’s signed by all of us here.” Ron gestures with one of those big handsome smiles of his, the kind that shows off all his teeth, and Flip doesn’t have the heart to be angry about all this attention to his face.

“Thank you.” He says instead, feeling so fucking out of his depth, completely out of his element, palms sweating as he reaches for you with a quiet pleading, “Ketsl?”

“I’m right here.” You whisper as you take his hand, grounding him in the present.

Everyone is looking at him, and it reminds him of when he had to give presentations in school. He doesn’t know what to say, the tips of his ears going crimson red.

“You guys didn’t have to do all this.” Flip pulls you tight against his side, his arm stretching across your shoulders. Maybe if he just holds you close enough, he can use you as a human shield for conversation, he thinks.

“We had no idea it was your birthday! No one ever can figure it out -- but don’t worry, we’ve put it in your file so we know for next year!” One of the older secretaries, Ms. Rosie, cheerfully pipes up, making dread creep up Flip’s spine.

He looks down at you, and you give him a sheepish smile. He wants to complain like the grouch that he was, but then his attention shifts to the big table of food and drinks that is spread out on the table against the wall of the break room.

“...Is that chocolate cake?” He tries not to sound too hopeful, and the break room laughs again, because even the strongest most stoic man truly can be lured in by cake.

“I made it for you special. We’ll do candles after everyone’s had a bite to eat!” You announce to the room, patting Flip’s back as the crowd begins to murmur excitedly amongst themselves, a queue forming for the hot fresh pizza. You lean up to whisper in Flip’s ear, “If you can play nice, I’ll give you one of your presents before we get to cut the cake.”

Raising his eyebrows at you, he blinks a little. The surprises just kept comin’, didn’t they?

“Can’t I get it now?” Flip tries, but you only chuckle and shake your head.

“Go say hello to everyone, and then meet me in the back of the file room.” Patting his back once again, you slip away, an incentive for him to get this over with as soon as possible.

Flip doesn’t think he’s ever shaken so many goddamn hands, or kissed so many cheeks in his life. On the one hand, it felt nice somewhere deep down inside, to know that so many of his co-workers decided to take part of this party. He felt valued and appreciated, even if he would have rathered this never happen in the first place, would have rathered to be in bed with you right now...which brings him to the other hand; he’s achingly hard in his fucking jeans, thinking about what’s waiting for him in the file room.

He doesn’t have to wait much longer though, because soon the last person has been spoken to and thanked, and he’s excusing himself to go to the “bathroom,” heading in the complete opposite direction of the bathroom.

“Ketsl, honey?” Flip prompts softly, looking around for you in the low light of the room, “You back here?”

“Took you long enough.” Your voice sounds from around the corner, and like a glass of cool water on a hot day, there you are, arms reaching out for him.

“Would’ve been sooner if you hadn’t invited so many fuckin’ people.” Flip lets himself be wrapped up in your embrace, his palms smoothing around your sides to caress your back, one of them dropping down to give your ass a firm squeeze.

“Ron did, not me. Like I said, he insisted.” You remind him, kissing your husband deeply, licking into his mouth, voice soft and breathy, “Let me make it up to you?”

The hair on the back of Flip’s neck stands up when you sink down to your knees, not breaking eye contact. He holds his breath, his cock twitching at the implications of that motion, pulse already starting to pound a little harder.

You rest your cheek against his strong thigh, popping open the button on his jeans, sliding the zipper down tantalizingly slow, making a real show of it. Flip hums, pets at your hair, smooths his palm against your cheek as he watches your eyelids grow heavy. You nuzzle against the palm there, suckling on his fingers just a little bit, teasingly, playfully.

“Oh fuck yes.” He quirks a little smile at you.

When you finally pull his dick out, you’re licking your lips, wetting them, drooling over yourself. He’s just as affected, pre-come already leaking out of the tip of his cock, and he groans when you swipe it up with your tongue. Time is of the essence here, and as much as you would like to drag this out, you can’t, so you cut right to the chase.

“Shit -- your moth’s so hot.” He grunts as your mouth opens wide wide wide for him, tongue flattening as you suck the head of his cock between your lips, careful of your teeth.

One of your hands braces yourself on his thigh, while the other holds the base of his cock, keeps him steady. Flip has a tendency to buck and choke you when he’s too wound up just like he is now, so the grip holds him in place as you swallow him down inch by inch.

Fuck, your husband’s dick is big! It’s not just long but thick too, the girth of it always something that has your jaw aching. You open your mouth wider to take him, relaxing your throat so that he can slip deeper and deeper, breathing through your nose. Never once looking away from him, you can see how antsy, how impatient Flip is getting, and if you could smile, you would.

But you can’t, because your mouth is filled to the absolute brim, so you tap the side of his thigh to signal that he can start moving.

“Yes!” He says maybe a little too loudly, “That’s it, oh fuck that’s it.”

And oh, does he fucking move. The second you’ve given him permission, he’s gripping your hair and thrusting hard. Moans and grunts pour out of his chest as he holds your head in both of his hands, keeps you snug against his groin. Your nose is nestled in his dark thatch of hair, and you can’t deny the way the musky smell gets you flustered, gets you wet. He’s not going to have time to fuck you properly here, but that’s okay -- this was only the preview of the evening to come.

“God you feel so fuckin’ good, my good girl, fuck -- ” Breathing hard and fast, Flip fucks your face hard, keeping you steady so that you don’t accidentally take him down at a wrong angle and splutter and cough.

Relaxing for him, you let yourself be used, the salty sweaty taste of his cock running over your tongue, plunging down your throat soothing and familiar in a fucked up way that only over a decade of marriage can bring.

“Fuck!” He snarls when your tongue wriggles against the veins that throb along his shaft, sucking down hard everything that you can, one of your hands moving to cup and roll his balls, “Oh baby that’s it, just like that, keep doin’ that, oh god your tight fuckin’ throat feels good.”

Tears start to prick at the corners of your eyes when it becomes so much that your jaw aches, and you squirm, wanting to be touched, wanting to be fucked even though you know you can’t have it yet. Right now is about him, about the pleasure he gets from the way you suck him down, and then you’re swallowing hard, and the friction has him cursing loud loud loud, coming down your throat.

“Damn, ketsl!” he pushes his cock all the way down your throat one last time, before pulling away to watch his come shoot all over your tongue, your lips, your chin. Painting your face with it, he grunts, pulling your hair to angle your face up some more, a better view. You stick your tongue out for him, and another pulse of come bursts out of his cock from the sight, his filthy fucking whore of a wife, love of his life, on your knees like his own personal pornstar.

You fucking look like one anyway, and you sure as shit sound like one with the way you’re moaning and breathing hard, nipples so hard that he can see the way your blouse peaks out from over them.

Wiping away the come on your face and licking it off your fingers, swallowing every drop of evidence that you can, you and Flip grin at one another, his orgasm having him in a much more pleasant mood.

“We should get back out there, huh.” He gives you a hand and hoists you off your knees, pulls you close and kisses the taste of his come off your lips.

“People are gonna wonder where you went.” You smile, giving him your lovey-dovey eyes, glad that he’s enjoyed at least one part of this surprise. “You can’t disappear at your own party. How do I look?”

“Too beautiful for your own good.” Pinching your nose and giving you face a little shake, the two of you leave the records room behind.

“Well well well, if it ain’t the lovebirds!” Sergeant Trapp announces the second that you and Flip walk back into the main lobby of the station where everyone has spread out with their food and drinks.

“You two really can’t go two seconds without goin’ at it like rabbits, can you?” Ron laughs, teasing in a way that has Flip’s scowl coming back after all your hard work.

“Mrs. Z I gotta admit I’m impressed you’re still standin’, that sounded like quite the time.” Jimmy winks at you, and you slap a hand to your face. You hadn’t even thought about the noise that you must’ve made -- all the shelves moving, the grunts and groans, the cursing.

“Watch your mouth Jim, or I’ll be forced to do something about it.” Flip warns, but there’s something warm in the threat, playful. You’re fuckin’ glad for that, the last thing you needed on Flip’s birthday was him getting fired for beating the shit out of his friend.

“Oh yeah like what? I’m surprised you’ve got the energy for threats, old man.” Jimmy only eggs him on, all eyes on the two of them.

“That’s it -- ” Flip lunges immediately, making you rush forward and grab him by the scruff of his neck, preventing a wrestling match, even if a friendly one.

“Boys please, have some cake and maybe you’ll calm down.” You roll your eyes.

“You know,” Flip says later, when you lead him through to the breakroom where someone’s lit a fuckton of candles in an attempt to guess how old he is, and you’re curled up on the couch next to him as he licks the frosting off of his fork, “I’m starting to think there never was any Pyrex.”

And it’s all that you can do to just kiss him and shut him up, letting him get away with being an idiot because he’s your birthday boy.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Tagging some Flip friends! @mochabucky @sacklerscumrag @artsymaddie @bitchydecisions @direnightshade @reyloaddict55 @thembohux @kylorenswhxre @sunflowersinthesnow @babayagakeanu @safarigirlsp @steeevienicks @materialisthicc @hswritingrecs @han68000 @rosi3ba3z @chapterhappygirl @loverofallthings @groovetoob @bxnnywriting @glassbxttless @angel-bxby3 @smallgirlbigpersonality @lovelyyy-luna @2000andwhat @raddo1975 @cornmousequeen @metsienmenninkainen @caillea @painttheskylineforme @holding-on-to-starwars

[jq37]

The Report Card – Fantasy High: The Seven Ep 1

Meet the Maidens

It is back to school baby, both for D20 and, funnily enough, myself as well (something I hope will give me more time to get the recaps out in a timely manner fingers crossed). 

As I’m sure you all know if you’re reading this, this season of D20 takes place in the world of Fantasy High but with a focus on Aguefort’s OTHER most badass adventuring party who we’ve so far only seen on the sidelines, the Seven Maidens! You’ll recall, they’re made up of the seven girls who were captured by Penelope and co. to fulfill the prophecy that would let Kalvaxus rule the world freshman year. And, in fact, we start with a flashback to freshman year so let’s just jump right in.

We find our seven soon-to-be heroines chained in the Red Waste in front of what we know and they will shortly learn in Kalvaxus’ lair--a crucial part of the prophecy that was the subject of season 1. The structure of this episode is sort of like 2 rounds of introductions--first here with the maidens meeting each other for the first time and then again at home with their families a la the first episode of Freshman Year so I’ll be glossing over certain things that we’ll get to later in their second intros.

Anyway, the first two to wake up are Danielle (aka Yelle: half-elf, druid) and Zelda (satyr, barbarian as we know). Zelda is her usual, adorably nervous self in contrast to Yelle who is no less sweet but in a super chill, granola girl, fuck the system kind of way. We actually learn that Penelope had her on board with the plan for a hot second when she thought it was just “overthrow the government” but didn’t know about the “install a just as bad if not worse evil dragon overlord” part. 

Ostentatia (dwarf, cleric) wakes up next and is, as Izzy--her player--describes her “Jersey Trash.”, all blinged up with jewelry that she secretly made herself and didn’t buy. She wakes up pissed and ready to bodyslam Aelwyn which are both extremely valid emotions as much as I love Aelwyn. By the way, all of the girls recognize each other as girls who go to their school but none of them are really friends though they very quickly start throwing the label around because that’s what you do when you wake up chained with 6 other people in front of a dragon’s lair in a place called the Red Waste. 

Katja (half-orc, fighter) wakes up and immediately cares about nothing more than the status of her beloved horse, Cinnamon and declares that if Cinnamon dies, she’ll die. This is a fantasy world so Ostentatia and Danielle are a little concerned that might literally be true via a soul bond or something but it’s more that Katja just really, really loves that horse. Danielle tries to cast a spell to locate the horse but can’t get the somatic components quite right with her hands manacled. 

They all get into a discussion about the fact that everyone for a fact knows they’re all virgins now (you know, the real issue here) and what exactly counts as “virginity” for the purposes of this prophecy (like, does second or third base count or only traditional home runs using the baseball analogy) when Penny wakes up and is, just so excited to be here gang! Penny (halfling, rogue), who is one of the girls who has been kidnapped the longest, is adorably and honestly a bit concerningly exuberant to be surrounded by all these new friends, totally disregarding  the fact that they are clearly in some deep shit. Zelda mentions that Riz, her old babysitee, knows they’re kidnapped and is trying to help and she lights up. 

Next up is Sam (water genasi, sorc/bard) who immediately starts thrashing to get out of her chains and, when she can’t get free, is devastated by the fact that her ex betrayed her (!?) Finally Antiope (human fighter/ranger) wakes up all out of sorts having started her growth spurt while in the crystal and also having needed to pee right before she went in which becomes a problem all over herself (which Sam helpfully cantrips away).

With all of them awake, the stones they’re chained to light up and some of Kalvaxus’ minions (the ones who tied them up) show up to do minion speechifying. Yelle does a horrifying Animorph style morph into a waterbear (a tardigrade if you wanna get all Bio 101) to get out of her bonds but then Sam who has a serious one track mind re: getting out of here (Correct) and has exactly zero patience for these guys casts Tidal Wave and just knocks them off the cliff. Yelle frees Ostentatia who frees everyone else with Animate Object on their chains. Hands free, Yelle also casts Locate Animal and tells a very pleased Katja that Cinnamon is doing a full Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron down the highway searching for her. 

The girls decide to explore the cave which has recently had most of its treasure moved (it’s currently in the gym for the Prompocolypse fight which is currently happening). Penny and Sam (who are in insanely different emotional places) find all these broken mirrors which Sam takes as a cue that they need to GTFO (which is what she was already doing) and Penny thinks would make a great material for friendship bracelet making which she starts doing as Sam physically pulls her away. Sam hears someone doing post-cry sniffles and is like, “Not today Satan,” still trying to leave. However, Penny sees that there is one mirror left and, inside, sees a ethereal looking human with flowing, preternatural, black hair who senses their presence and asks if Penny is someone named Anima. She asks for their names though she declines to give hers (hmm, feels very fae) and the girls give the fake names of Kelly and Cecelia which the figure says she will guard and not misuse. The figure says she is looking for her sisters (who she says when Penny asks are at Aguefort which...hmmmmm) and, all of a sudden, Sam and Penny are having a bad feeling about those mirror shards. 

They ask her a question about the mirror and she gets really aggro when it’s referred to as “her” mirror as she would very much like to be out of it. The woman really wants to get out and says she can give them lots of power if they help. Sam pulls out her compact Mirror of the Past (magic item that does basically what you’d expect--shows you info from something’s past though in a cryptic way usually) to try and get some info on this thing and just barely avoids losing her mind in the process because this thing is ancient. Like eons old. She also learns the woman’s name (or maybe title): The Ending of Things (will be calling her Ending for now).

Yikes!

Right around now the other girls come in and can see at the angle they’re looking at her at the woman in the mirror is Not Really A Person and Antiope points at her and reflexively casts a ranger sense spell to try and clock its weaknesses and stuff but Ending grabs the spell energy like a lasso and tries to drag her into the mirror. She does however find out that she’s stacked with hella resistances (total immunity to necrotic damage and non-maj weapons, resistance to most elemental damage, and more).

Sam briefly considers using Lightning Lure to pull Antiope back before deciding on a much less ouchy Counterspell. Unfortunately, it’s not strong enough and now she’s being pulled in by her spell energy too. Yelle casts Erupting Earth which has some pros and cons.

Pros: Antiope and Sam are saved! Yay!

Cons: The mirror breaks and whatever was in it is fully freed. Not yay!

Shortly after (but not before Penny gives everyone their new friendship bracelets), someone calls into the cave looking for them--it’s Fig’s mom, Sandra-Lynn (with new art)! She’s happy and impressed that everyone is OK (also, Katja and Sam both have little lines that foreshadow their ~parental issues~ for the season--Katja being very moved by the simple act of Sandra-Lynn showing up for them and Sam saying that in her experience moms can be very evil).

As they all leave the cave, they all do checks and get some info:

Ostentatia: The mirror was kinda like a palimpsest (the crystals they were trapped in) and whatever this thing is is ancient and powerful. 

Yelle: Gets the above info and the fact that when the thing left it wasn’t quite a bad vibe, just the vibe that something big and important is at play.

Penny: On an Arcana check she knows that what Danielle did 100% saved Antiope and Sam’s lives from whatever and wherever was on the either side of the mirror but the contact marked them in some way. 

Katja: With History she sees some Primordial writing which is the writing of elementals (one of the things Ending has resistances to which might be relevant; also Sam reads Primordial but doesn’t get to read what it says)

Antiope: She knows that she and Sam are connected to Ending now somehow but it’s a two way connection which means they can also use it to their advantage. 

Ostentatia casts Mending on the mirror shards which I think was to reconstruct the mirror but what it actually does is someone link their friendship bracelets. Cute!

And, with that, we cut to the present a year and a half later (which is Jr or Sr year for everyone). 

We hop from kid to kid as they get ready to head in to school and get glimpses into their homes lives! Let’s do a quick rundown for each girl:

Antiope Jones

We see that Antiope is the youngest of five in what is essentially a military family full of basically every kind of fighter (she says she basically lives in a “Crossfit box”). There’s an 8 year gap between her and her sister Corsica who is the second youngest so her parents are kind of already living like empty nesters. When she comes downstairs she is promptly handed a protein smoothie and told two pieces of info: (1) from Corsica she learns that she overheard at school --where she teaches--that Aguefort needs to talk to her for some reason but she won’t say why which annoys the crap out of Antiope and (2) her parents lined up an internship for her at the Ministry of Adventure. She and her mom verbally spar a bit about them being all up in her life and how stressed she is and how she likes what she has going now with the Seven but her mom wins ofc because she’s a Mom and also a master tactician with a deft hand for loving mom guilt. On the way to school her bros (who include a gunslinger and an eldritch knight cause they run the whole gamut of fighter classes) Facetime her like, “Yikes Ant, heard about what happened with Mom, this is why you don’t fight her lmao.”

Sam Nightingale

This is a heavy one so strap in. 

We check in with Sam who isn’t at her own family’s home but at Penelope’s family home which is off the bat eyebrow raising. It’s an upper middle class house and, on the way down, she has to pass Penelope’s bedroom which is conspicuously empty. Downstairs she’s greeted by Penelope’s human mom Rebecca who she learns is moving out soon because her elf husband is both cheating on her while away in Falinel and starting the divorce process. Sam clearly sees Penelope’s mom as a surrogate mom (for reasons we’ll learn in a second) and goes full ride or die assuring her that her ass is better than the ass of the woman he’s cheating with and offering to help burn his stuff even though drowning is more her specialty (she’s so cool). She also is a little stricken at the thought of Rebecca leaving her in the house alone but Rebecca says she can come with if she wants, she just didn’t want to disrupt her school life.

She also tells Rebecca that her bio-mom called recently which immediately sets Sam off. Through the convo we learn a couple of things:

Sam used to be an actor it seems.

And it seems like she was kicked out of the house after she transitioned or something similar which is why she lives with the Everpetals. 

Now that it’s more “fashionable” to to be trans (her mom’s words, not mine) she wants Sam to talk to her so they can get her back in the game.

Sam is having none of that and tells Rebecca to just delete her mom’s number. Then they have a cathartic session of burning her cheating husband’s shit before Sam leaves in Sebastian--her sentient, seafoam blue, self-driving car with a very hot male voice which I am extremely jealous of. She picks up Zelda on the way to school and they commiserate a little and have a heart to heart about adults and change and how much Zelda wants to body slam Sam’s mom. 

Penny Luckstone 

Penny’s house is a whirlwind of activity and her harried parents get her and her 19 young siblings ready for school (no wonder she’s such a good babysitter). We see where Penny gets her type-A ness from as her mom and dad both have this cheerful but overworked energy of “EVERYTHING IS FINE” like that Good Place sign. Her mom spares a second to tell her that she recently got a letter for The Society of Shadows which is like a super secret rogue college (which her parents assume is legit even though they haven’t heard of it cause they’re Mumple people and also, if you've heard of a rogue school, how good could it really be?) Penny is excited except that it would mean she’d have to move and leave her party. Her mom is like “hey it’s a full ride and there are 20 of you guys so just take that into consideration but it’s ultimately your decision” before she dashes away to get to work because it is always Go Go Go with the Luckstones. She texts Sam for a ride and Sam swings by to grab her. This is not plot relevant but she has a booster seat in the back of Sebastian with her name carved into it and it’s important to me that you know that. 

Katja Cleaver

Next up is Katja who lives in a Richie Rich style mansion and comes from very old money as she is descended from one of the first adventurers in Solace. She is in the barn with Cinnamon and the bugbear farrier they have employed (her name is Gertrude and a farrier is someone who does horseshoes). She eats the same breakfast as Cinnamon (hot dry oats and berries baybee) wo she loves so so dearly. Cinnamon is a magical horse--basically like a Find Steed spell that’s on all the time. She’s modeled the horse in her fave book series--the Babysitter’s Horse of course. Lockwood, the staff’s hobgoblin butler, is also there and they get a fantasy Zoom call from Katja’s dad who is in the middle of the insane 20th level adventurer stuff which he says might make him miss her graduation. She is extremely disappointed but just barely hides it from her dad (who seems to really care despite his not being around). She can’t hide it from the staff or Cinnamon however and Cinnamon offers to give her a ride to school via the scenic route. 

Note: We also learn two sad facts about Katja from the conversation with her dad.

Her mother is Disney Princess dead* and

She wears one half of a friendship necklace and it seems like she’s waiting for someone to give the other half to. It’s implied earlier that the way Penelope got her was by promising to be her best friend. Sad!

*Edit: Well, she’s gone and we’ll leave it at that until next recap. 

Ostentatia Wallace

Ostentatia wakes up and goes downstairs to have a very high energy in both directions interaction with her very fantasy-Italian mom and grandma. Her grandma is concerned her beard isn’t coming in--not knowing she shaves it on purpose which her mom is like, “Listen it’s fine but don’t tell grandma it’ll kill her.” She clocks very quickly that her dad isn’t there and his mithril working tools are gone. Her mom tries to play it off but she knows she’s being lied to and her mom relents. Her dad is at a meeting with the other workers of the shut down mithril factory and negotiations have ceased. It looks like he’s gonna be long term out of work. That explains where her dad is but not why the tools are missing. She decides to go do some investigating on her own and ambushes her dad in his car where, with the inaugural nat 20 of the season, she realizes he pawned his tools to get her 5 revivify diamonds. She's upset by this and he’s upset that she’s, in his eyes, questioning his ability to take care of his family. She’s like, alright, you did a thing for me, I’ll do a thing for you and she casts Animate Object to make his stuff steal itself back in a sequence that involves an animated crowbar using another crowbar which is just wild.

Danielle Barkstock

I’m gonna be real, Danielle’s life is exactly how you assume it is based on Who She Is As A Person so this one will be real short. Eco-friendly off the grid geodesic yurt. One super chill peace and love elf sorc mom and one rough and tough human ranger mom. She also knows and helps the Cubbies with their anarchist machinations because yeah, duh. She gets some messages from school on her crystal--one being a message from the principal saying that she and the rest of her party have first period off to meet with him and the other being a newsletter from the school showing, among other things, a photo of the Druid class doing a project but she’s not in it for some reason. She texts one of the other druids to see if she can figure out why she wasn’t invited but fully gets left on read. Brutal. Of course, she hasn’t messaged that person in 6-8 months so maybe that’s why.

Anyway, with that, all seven of our maidens make it to school and are all exuberant to see each other in a very teen girl way before getting to the principal’s office and learning that their party will be broken up at the year! 

Bad!

Superlatives 

I wanted to do something a little different for these recaps than the Bad Kid ones so instead of Honor Roll/Detention we are doing Superlatives and the inaugural one goes to...

Sam: Most Like To Survive a Horror Movie

Man she woke up chained in a ritual magic circle and she was Ready To Go Immediately. You will not catch this girl doing horror movie victim BS like exploring the spooky house or giving the creepy obvious ghost the time of day. She is hyper-competent and her goal is making it out alive and dragging her friends with her. Love her.  

Random Thoughts

The season immediately starts with a bang or I should say a bing with Izzy trying to say “bling bang” and accidentally saying, “bling bing” and immediately getting roasted by everyone. I love the authentic girl group vibes (which include everyone clowning on her then immediately hyping up Zelda to the max after being way more awkward). 

Handshake meme with Danielle and Moonshine from Naddpod. Also, Cinnamon and Horse from Centaurworld. 

I love that Rekha and Erika just straight up were like, “Our characters are Asian”. Like obviously, make your characters Asian coded in your fantasy world--all my D&D characters are black like me--but it’s funny that they completely disregarded the, “There’s no Asia in this world so I guess they’re this world’s equivalent to--” Nah just, “I’m a half-elf and I’m Asian.” You love to see it. 

I absolutely LOVE the choices the cast made to flesh out their characters based on the little info Brennan had about them, none moreso than rich horse girl Katja. Rekha is a genius. 

“I only want one thing and he’s working” KATJAAAAAAA

Man if I was in that flashback I would have been wilding out so much with my flashback plot armor. 

I appreciate that the first thing that Aabria has Antiope do is extremely uncool. I love it when players aren’t concerned about just being cool and on point all the time. Sometimes (read: often) that’s the less interesting choice. 

But on the exact opposite side, she’s a ranger and an arcane archer which I think is extremely cool. Lmao also I didn’t mention in the recap but she HATES dragons now which, understandable. I’m guessing they're her favored enemy. 

I can’t wait to see another group of kids interact w/ madman Aguefort. 

Also, as a known Aelwyn-stan, I am very excited for the possibility of the Seven interacting with her cause as much as I love her they are under no obligation to acknowledge her redemption arc and I would love to see them throw hands. 

I love the Greek myth naming scheme of Antiope’s extremely cool family as with her on the spot nickname “L-Cab” short for long caboose since she’s the youngest by a mile. 

Also this is out of character not in character but Sephie is an extremely cool nickname for Persephone. 

I wonder why Brennan didn’t let Sam read the Primordial in the cave. He just glossed right past her saying that she speaks it and she didn’t push it. Would it have solved his entire plot in the span of a flashback or was he just keeping things moving?

Sidenote, if I was married to an elf man and worried about aging like Rebecca, I would simply become a druid (or a monk or up my wizard levels so I could learn True Polymorph or Wish or something). 

I wonder what the deal with Ending is. She seemed relatively sincere in the mirror but that doesn’t mean anything. She could be sincere and also Very Bad News. 

There is an offhand comment by Brennan about how the dwarf forge god gives spells but doesn’t talk to his followers which I think means that Ostentatia is gonna be getting a direct god call soon enough. 

Also she mentions that her dad is doing some criminal activity on the side which seems like a Problem for later. Honestly all of the kids have some pretty rich parent drama happening which should be interesting to see explored. 

No nat 1s this ep and 1 nat 20 as I mention from Ostentatia. 

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

I Got You (Part 1)

Summary: The reader is celebrating her two year anniversary with her fiance when her best friend from childhood, Jensen, calls. Something’s wrong with him and he tries to play it off once he remembers what night it is for her but the reader isn’t budging and that may be a good thing for the both of them...

Pairing: Jensen x reader

Word Count: 4,000ish

Warnings: language, angst, vomiting, lying, mention of alcoholism, fluff

A/N: This is a little different for me but I’m really please with how it turned out. Enjoy!

_______

“This looks delicious, babe,” said Andrew as he sat down at the table. You hummed, a little annoyed that he hadn’t let you know he’d be home two hours late. On your anniversary. Your two year anniversary. You wouldn’t mind if he ever let you know but he never, never did and always got mad when you brought it up. You poked at the food and he took a bite, making a face. “It’s a little cold.”

“Well that’s what happens when you reheat it in the microwave,” you said. He bit his tongue and continued to eat quietly, a bit of tension still in the air.

“How was your day?” he asked when he was nearly done with his food.

“Fine. Yours?” you asked, picking at your salad and ignoring the chicken.

“Good. I’m sorry I was late, babe. Why don’t we go out to eat?” he asked.

“It’s our anniversary. I wanted to make you dinner,” you said.

“I ate it,” he said. “You seem hungry still.”

“I’m fine. I just want to watch a movie or something,” you said. He didn’t say anything as he ducked into the bedroom and changed out of his suit and into some sweats and a hoodie. You cleaned up the dishes and went to the bedroom. You grabbed leggings and an old big t-shirt of Jensen’s you’d stolen from his place somewhere around season 10 if you had to guess by the number just under the back collar. You padded into the bathroom and changed out of your skinny jeans and crop top. You took off the new black lingerie you had on and put on something more comfortable. Andrew wouldn’t even notice.

You walked out of the bedroom and found him on the couch, watching some action movie. You sat down in his side and saw your phone light up at the end of the couch. A glance showed it was Jensen and that you had four missed calls from him.

“Did you put my phone on silent?” you asked, reaching over for it.

“It is our anniversary,” he said.

“Yeah and I’m also one of Jensen’s emergency contacts,” you said, rolling your eyes and quickly answering. “Jay?”

“Hey, Y/N,” he said. Something was wrong. His voice was off and it took him a minute to talk again. “Can you come over? I just found out something and I could use you right now.”

“I thought you were in Toronto this week to film for The Boys,” you said.

“I was. Flew down to Dallas for my brother’s birthday earlier. More free time and all, trying to see the family more,” he said.

“What’s he want?” sighed Andrew. You ignored him and heard Jensen take a shaky breath.

“Did someone die?” you asked quietly.

“No,” he said. “No. I found out something though and...I just grabbed a rental car and drove home the past few hours. I had to get out of there.”

“Are you alright?” you asked, already hating the pit forming in your stomach. You’d known him most of your life. You didn’t remember life without him to be honest. Sure, he was away a lot when he filmed but he was back more often now that he was doing shorter gigs and you’d always been there for each other, even during the really busy years. “Buddy.”

“No, I don’t think I’m okay,” he said. He was quiet before you heard him suck in a gasp. “Fuck. It’s your anniversary. Shit, I’m sorry, Y/N. God, like Andrew doesn’t hate me enough already. I’m so sorry. Please enjoy your night, I’ll be fine.”

“You’re my best friend and you are so not alright,” you said. “I’m gonna come over.”

“It’s our anniversary!” said Andrew as you turned to glare at him.

“Y/N, don’t. I’m-” said Jensen as you got up.

“Where the fuck are you going?” said Andrew.

“Jensen is important to me, Andrew. He’s always gonna be important to me. I know you don’t like him but he needs me right now. You don’t even care. You didn’t care about dinner or the anniversary or putting in a little bit of effort. I used to really like you too, you know. When we got engaged though, I saw what you really wanted. Well guess what. I’m not your mother. I’m not your maid and I faked it every time,” you said.

“You’re mad at me? He’s the one ruining our anniversary!” said Andrew.

“Y/N, I’m gonna go. I’m sorry,” said Jensen before you heard him hang up. You groaned and went over to the front hall to grab your jacket. You shoved your phone in your pocket as Andrew stalked over.

“Gonna go sleep with your other boyfriend, hm?”

“Something bad happened to him and frankly, the day I introduced you to him was the day you started all this. You have hated my relationship with him from the start. He has tried so hard to be your friend and you’re always mean and you leave him out. Even your friends think it’s a dick move.”

“You want your best friend or me? Cause I don’t like him and I’m never going to,” he said. 

“I hope you treat the next girl better,” you said. You took off your ring and slammed it on the front table before grabbing your keys and tugging on your boots.

“Whore,” he mumbled.

“I’d rather be his whore than your wife any day. I’ll move my stuff out tomorrow,” you said. You slammed the door shut after yourself and took a deep breath. You weren’t as upset as you thought you’d be. You’d been considering taking a break with him for the past few months but there was no going back after that. Jensen had never been anything but kind to him and always respectful of your and Andrew’s time together.

You skipped down the stairs of the apartment building and down to the garage, rushing over to your car quickly. Something was still very wrong with Jensen and you needed to get to him asap.

“Jensen,” you said twenty minutes later, finding him outside on the balcony off his bedroom, sitting in a chair with his knees tucked to his chest. There was a half full large bottle of whiskey on the ground and the plastic wrapper from where he’d opened it. His back was to you and he turned his head away as you stepped outside. “Jay, what happened.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said. You put a hand on his forehead and forced him to look at you. He was drunk. He didn’t start drinking until he’d hung up with you obviously. He was upset too and it was so rare of you to see him cry. 

“Come on,” you said, grabbing his arm. He let you tug him up and into his bathroom. You flipped on the light in the toilet and sat him down in front of it. “Did you eat dinner? Yes or no?”

“No,” he mumbled, shaking his head.

“Did you eat on the plane? At the airport?”

He shook his head again and you sighed.

“You just did about, I don’t know, seven, eight shots on an empty stomach. You’re not a kid anymore so if Taylor Gregson’s senior party is anything to go by, I expect you to start puking in the next three minutes.”

“Go away,” he said, wiping off his face.

“Yeah, see no, not happening. I’m also staying here tonight whether you want me to or not. Now sit, throw up in the toilet please, and I will make you something bland to eat and get you some not snot covered clothes, okay?”

“Why are you so nice to me?” he asked. He stared up at you and you instantly knelt down, giving him a hug as he hiccuped. 

“Cause you’re my best friend and I love you,” you said. “Jensen. What happened?”

“Don’t wanna…” he said, shaking his head.

“Did someone die?” you asked.

“No,” he said again. 

“What did you find out? Something with your brother? You said you were at his birthday party.”

“Later please,” he said quietly.

“Okay,” you said. You rubbed up and down his back and you felt him lurch a bit before you shut your eyes and felt wetness on your back. “Did you just throw up on me?”

“Yeah. Sorry,” he said.

“Really is like Taylor Gregson’s party all over again,” you said. “You stay here and I’m gonna take a shower.”

“I got it in your hair I think,” he said. He lurched again but you turned him towards the bowl and he was successful that time. “Ow.”

“Relax,” you said, running a clean hand through his hair for a beat. His body untensed a little but he was still upset and making a mess of himself. “Five minutes and then the shower is yours.”

You took about ten to deal with your hair and you ducked next door to his closet, finding some fresh clothes for the two of you. He managed to not get any sick on himself so after wiping his face off good and getting him to brush his teeth, he looked a little better. You found some pancake mix in the cupboard and started to work on that while he changed. He eventually came out, red eyed and sniffling a bit but he looked sober at least.

“Andrew’s gonna kill me for ruining his night,” he said.

“Andrew and I are over,” you said, waiting for the pan to heat up. Jensen stared as you shook up the jug. “He has always been an ass to you.”

“Y/N. I’m just...he’s your fiance. You’re supposed to prioritize him.”

“He’s supposed to respect people I care about. He is immature and arrogant and mean and he sucks so bad in bed. God, I’ve been dying to tell you how shitty ass of a fuck he is. The most damn selfish little prick I’ve ever met in my life and-”

“Y/N,” said Jensen. You took a deep breath and poured some batter on the pan. “You didn’t breakup cause of me, did you?”

“No. You were just the last straw. You didn’t call cause you wanted a ride or to talk about something that could be done later. You need me. I don’t care if it’s two in the morning, Christmas, my wedding day. You ever call me like that, you ever make me worry like this, I’ll be there in a fucking second,” you said. He lowered his head as you got a plate out for his dinner.

“I’m sorry for scaring you,” he said.

“If you thought I was busy, why didn’t you call Jared? He lives three minutes away. Three,” you said. He shrugged and you sighed. “I never want to see you doing something like that ever again. I never want you to-”

“I’m not a child,” he shot back, suddenly shooting daggers at you, his face hard and green eyes a too dark shade.

“My father is an alcoholic. You want to call him up? We’ll call him up right fucking now and he’ll tell you how it nearly destroyed his life. He is twenty years sober and he can’t have a drink for the rest of his life because he used it when he was in pain. You will never, Ackles, and I mean never, drink to mask pain again in your life,” you said. The pancake was burning and you broke away your glare, dumping the burnt batter into the trash. When you walked back, Jensen was crying at the counter again and you shut your eyes. “I’m sorry for yelling at you. I just...you know how my mom used to have me sleepover your house in the middle of a school week cause he was drunk and she didn’t want me to see it. You know how much it used to bother me. Little shrimpy ass Jensen, you would always tell me to sleep in your bed and you took the sleeping bag. I let you take care of me my whole life. You’re bigger than me, stronger than me. You will never worry about money again. You gave me rent money when I got laid off and refused to let me pay it back. You drove me home when I got drunk at a bar after a fight with Andrew. You stood up for me in seventh grade cause I liked science and Harrison Pitt was a dick to me back then. This is not me treating you like a child, Jensen. This is me helping my best friend because he’s in pain and I can’t stop it. All I can do is make him damn pancakes.”

“Can I have maple syrup?” he asked quietly after a few minutes. 

“Of course. I’ll get butter too,” you said. You cut up a few pieces and gave them along with the syrup to him. You made up more pancakes to reheat for breakfast, Jensen sniffling to himself as he ate. “Feel any better?”

“A little,” he said. “You were always too good for Andrew.”

“I always knew you didn’t like him,” you said. “But you tried. That’s what was important and a concept he apparently couldn’t understand. Good riddance. Oh and I kinda need a place to crash for a bit after my epic walkout.”

“I got plenty of room,” he said. He pushed his plate away when he finished and washed it up in the sink, grabbing the pan as you put away the leftovers.

“Even miserable you have far better manners,” you said with a small smile. He left the pan on the counter to dry and you wrapped your hands around his arm, leading him back to his bedroom and sitting him down. “It’s later. What happened?”

“My whole family’s been lying to me my whole life,” he said. He sat against the headboard and wiped off his nose. “My great aunt, like the super old one, she made a comment and then made a little face like I wasn’t supposed to know something. I mentioned it to my brother and he seemed coy but I knew then it was true. So I confronted my parents and...well it turns out that I’m adopted.”

“You’re what?” you said, scrunching up your face.

“Adopted. When I was an infant. They were never going to tell me,” he said.

“I don’t understand. I mean you kinda look like your dad and even your brother a bit and your sister has your nose.”

“Coincidence,” he said. “I’m a reject baby. I was given up because the couple that had me? They didn’t want me. I looked them up when I got home. Two hot shot lawyers at some big firm in New York. Three kids. Didn’t want this fuck up of one though. I was an accident. A mistake.”

“Jensen,” you said, wrapping your arms around him. “Jensen, you’re not...so many people get adopted. Your family loves you. You’re so much better off with who you wound up with. They adopted you because they loved you. Jensen they-”

“She used to be my mom’s friend. They adopted me because they felt sorry for me. They didn’t love me. They pitied me. They lied to me my whole life. I heard stories about when she was pregnant and the labor and they were all lies. My brother’s always known. My sister is the only one who didn’t. The whole family knew. They knew about the pathetic little baby that no one wanted the whole time,” he said.

“Hey,” you said, climbing into his lap and grabbing his arms. “You are not pathetic. I have met your parents and your family. Some nights when we were little I wanted them to be my parents. I wanted normal parents. You had the ideal family. You have the ideal family.”

“They admitted they were never going to tell me,” he said. “How fucked up is that?”

“They made a mistake in not telling you. You should have known all along,” you said, fixing the stray hairs falling over his forehead. “If I know anything though it is that they love you unconditionally. You gotta forgive them. They wanted you. You are their son and brother. They adopted you because they loved you. It sounds like your mom stopped being friends with this woman. I wonder why that was,” you said. He shut his eyes and rested his head on your chest. You shushed him as he got upset again, kissing the top of his head.

“You’re not hiding any secrets from me are you?” he asked, arms wrapped tightly around your back.

“I’ve been waiting for you to ask me out since I was thirteen years old,” you said. He raised his head up and you smiled. “S’okay. I know I’m not your-”

He kissed you out of nowhere, hand cupping the back of your neck, one long, smooth motion as you felt wetness on your cheeks. He moved back slowly, dropping his hands away, swallowing thickly.

“Sorry,” he said. You smiled and moved closer, wrapping your legs around his waist.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” you said. “Always thought I wasn’t your type.”

“You were. I was too young to understand what it was that I felt. No one’s ever felt like you. And I can’t lose you too so I played it safe. Now...I’d rather get this out of the way so I can feel miserable for the rest of my life.”

“You think our friendship is over?” you asked.

“You were engaged an hour ago and I just kissed you. Of course it’s-”

“You’re ridiculous, Ackles, I swear,” you mumbled against his lips. “Like I said, I will always be there. Now I’d love nothing more than to fulfill every teenage fantasy and adult one if I’m being fair right now. But tonight’s not the night for that. Tonight, let out whatever you’re feeling and tomorrow, we’ll talk to your folks.”

You sat back and smiled, Jensen staring at you with soft wet eyes and you remembered the little boy waiting outside school, trying not to be upset. You lay down next to him and recalled the day you met.

“Hi,” you said, the boy turning away. “Why you crying?”

“I’m not crying,” he said.

“You look like you’re crying,” you said, walking around his other side. You heard a car horn honk and looked ahead to see your dad behind the wheel of the car. You looked around and saw no other other cars there, the boy wiping his face off. “Where’s your mom or dad?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “They said they’d be right here after school.”

“Y/N!” called your dad.

“We’re waiting!” you said back, the boy looking at you.

“For what?” asked your dad.

“What’s your name?” you asked.

“Jensen Ackles,” he said quietly.

“Jensen Ackles’ parents!” you said. Your dad sighed but he just sat back in his seat and turned up the radio. “I’m Y/N Y/L/N.”

“I know. You got the blue backpack. All the other girls got pink ones,” he said.

“I like blue. I like pink too but I like blue more,” you said. “I like the cars on your backpack.”

“Thanks. Do you like cars?”

“Yeah,” you said. You sat down and took off your bag, pulling out a few hot wheels from the bottom of it. “Mom said I could bring them as long as I didn’t lose ‘em. Wanna play while we wait?”

“Okay,” he said, taking a seat next to you.

By the time you and Dean were being called over, the sky was a little dimmer and you saw your dad talking to a couple outside the car.

“I think I gotta go home now,” you said.

“Me too. I see you tomorrow,” he said, holding out the car he’d been playing with.

“You keep it in case you got to wait again. Then you’re not bored. I’ll wait with you though if dad says it’s okay,” you said. “Okay?”

“Okay,” he said. He gave you a hug and you smiled as you returned it. “Do you want to be best friends?”

“Yeah! That’s so cool!” you said. 

“Awesome!” he said. You both packed up and ran over to your parents, your dad chuckling as you waved bye to Jensen.

“Make a new friend on your first day?” he asked.

“That’s Jensen. He’s my best friend forever now,” you said. “That’s how it works. I know. Jensen’s got an older brother and he told him all about it.”

“I see. Well buckle up. I’m sure mom’s wondering where we are,” he said. You climbed in the back and saw his parents give a wave as they drove past. “That was real nice of you to talk to that boy when he was upset like that.”

“I didn’t like him crying, made me feel funny,” you said. “Like my chest had a tummy ache.”

“Oh, you’re going to prom with that boy aren’t you,” he mumbled.

“What’s prom?”

“A very, very long way away. Let’s go home, sweetheart.”

“I remember our first day too,” said Jensen. “I’m always a blabbering mess around you, aren’t I.”

“I think I understand what that tummy ache in my chest was. It’s that same feeling I got when you called earlier. I think we really were too young to understand back then what it was that we were experiencing.”

“You mean how I’ve been in love with you since I was five years old,” he chuckled. “Y/N. I still feel really, and I mean really, really shitty. But thank you for coming over. I need you, more than even I know I think.”

“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere,” you said. You kissed him and he smiled, closing his eyes. “You want to sleep? You had a long flight and drive, not to mention day.”

“Yeah, I want to crash. I’m exhausted,” he said. You moved to get up but he sat up with you, watching you carefully. He swallowed again and you threw back the covers, climbing underneath them. 

“Not going anywhere,” you said. He got underneath with you and heard him breathe a deep breath, no sniffles in sight for the first time all night. “Jensen.”

“Yeah?” he asked.

“It’ll be okay,” you said. “I promise.”

“I know. Not looking forward to tomorrow is all,” he said.

“Well I’m going with so...can’t be all bad,” you said.

“No. Like you said back then, I stick with you, I’ll be alright,” he said. “Can you get the room light?”

“Sure,” you said. You hopped out of bed and turned off the big light, walking over to his nightstand and finding the switch. You smiled when you saw the hot wheel car on there, Jensen smiling softly as he looked up at you. “Night Jensen.”

“Good night, Y/N.”

______

A/N: Read Part 2 here!

[popculturebuffet]

Amphibia Season 3 Reviews: Hop Till You Drop/Turning Point: I Wanna Be Better

Hello all you hoppy people! We’re back with Week 2 of Amphibia Season 3.  I don’t have quite as long an intro this time as only a little has happened since last time. We have episode Titles for the rest of Season 3a. I say the rest as it ends on the Christmas episode, as does it’s sister show the Ghost and Molly McGee, so I figure similar to Ducktales last year, both shows are going on hiatus after, with presumably Big City Greens and Owl House cycling into their places after the winter holidays. I’ll speculate more on the episodes once we get the descriptions in a few weeks, though i’m very entertained there’s an episode called Spider-Sprig. 

The other thing is the Ghost and Molly McGee itself, which I finally watched. I won’t be adding it to regular coverage this season becaue of Amphibia, but it’s a very charming, energetic show with the first 5 episodes already on Disney+, a schedule I hope keeps up for the next batch. I’ll have my full thoughts on that later. But needless to say my hype for it was warranted. 

So with that almost nothing out of the way, join me under the cut with full spoilers as Polly fights an army of Babies and Karens, Sprig nearly dies a few times, Hop Pop learns i’ts not easy being green while back on Amphibia Grime takes his bed and finds a new friend while Sasha finally deals with her overwhelming guilt for being terrible. 

Hop Till You Drop

It’s mail time....

And Anne is going out to get the Mail when the Plantars, curious, decide to go with her. This also serves as our intro to Sprig and Polly’s proper human disguises for the season: Sprig gets a hoodie, beanie and kitty facemask, which given the state of the world is a type of facemask I own though in a Schitt’s Creek design that says “Ew, Covid” for me. Polly meanwhile gets a baby raincoat and hat, with a blonde wig attached to the hat. 

Naturally not being familiar with earth the Plantar’s not only get lost in the journey to the Boonchuy’s mailbox but get in trouble: Sprig nearly fargos himself in a woodchipper, Polly mouths off to some local tuffs on trykes, and Hop Pop.. nearly sits down with a suit guy for a free offer, meaning he nearly either got an expesnive cell plan or joined a cult. Either way...

Anne is exhausted from this and pounds back a soda, with her parents noticing and empathizing with her, pointing out exhaustingly trying to keep someone from nearly dying is what being a parent is all about. I really like this scene as we get to see Anne’s parents settled into the situation. Understandably they were on guard last episode as they were pretty much stuck with the Plantars and still processing both anne being back and that she’d ended up in a strange frog world and brought back some guests. Now they can trust Anne to handle it and get these frogs are now also family, they can simply focus on helping her, pointing out they gotta ease her into it. And it makes sense: as the episode itself points out at the end Anne took time to adjust to Amphibia and get used to it’s in’s and outs and it’s giant death creatures. While Earth is far less deadly on paper, in practice it’s still a world the Plantar’s don’t know, with social norms they aren’t ready for, and tons of things that could kill them just for being curious that most humans know not to do, like sticking your face in a woodchipper or licking paint or agreeing to go to a party hosted by Rudy Guiliani. 

Anne TRIES to go with easing them into it... but after Spirg nearly licks a fan, Polly tries to get those teens back and Hop Pop falls for a phone scam, Anne decides screw patience and goes with “throw them in the deep end and hope they don’t die. “ You know the technique from the 80′s that 7/10 modern swim coaches have called “child abuse’. 

So Anne decides it’s time to go to the mall, today. She did forget the robot but in her defense Frobo is just a head right now. She’ll take him to get a pretzel once he’s all fixed up. The Plantars scoff at needing training.. then fall down some stairs.. well an esclator. And unlike Marcy they don’t have the luxury of free health care because somehow our health care’s system is worse than the one ran by a tyrannical Keith David newt. 

For now she has a test for each of the Plantars designed to deal with each of their issues: Polly has to go to Create a Carnivore, the second best Build-A-Bear parody i’ve seen, and i’ts only second because Tuca and Bertie had Build a Vibe, leading to this beautiful monstrosity. 

That was also this year. God this is a stacked year of animation. Anyways Polly has to build a Plushie, Anne presumibly gave her money, without getting into a fight due to her anger issues. As Anne points out getting angry at anyone isn’t great when their trying to keep a low profile. It was fine on Amphibia, there she was just a normal kid, but here a fight goes wrong, she could get hurt or have her wig fall off or both.

Sprig meanwhile has to learn to control his desire not to touch things out of curosity by going through a modern art exibit. He’s 11, he has poor impulse control, this makes sense. Finally Hop Pop.. has to go through the valley of the shadow of death.. aka the kisok alley and not sign up for anything. At first Hop Pop’s being scammed constnatly made no sense to me: he’s frugal and wise, he shoudl be used to cons. I realized though that that’s AMPHIBIA cons, ones that are more door to door salesman and stuff he can spot, magic potions and wart insurance. Here he’s being offered time shares, and cults and what not, stuff he’s just not used to realizing is a scam like we are. Anne threatens them that if they fail they won’t be allowed outside so they scamper while Anne watches from the top floor. 

So with that our heroes set out on their quests.. and are BARELY holding it together as you’d expect: Sprig is only not touching things because of the ban, several babies irritate Polly to the point she’s about to commit a LOT of infant on infant infanfcide, and Hop Pop looks creepy with his shaking as he resists the free stuff, attracting a mall cop.. hilariously because he looks exactly like the stranger danger poster. Honestly though all this does is make me miss Ron the Mall Cop from 6Teen, who if you’ve never heard of the show is about a bunch of teens hanging out at a mall. The Mall Cop ron was an overly serious fellow who looked and sounded like christopher walken. And if you don’t want to watch Christopher Walken guard a mall, I can’t help you or tell you while your here. 

So naturally one of Anne’s aquantinces shows up, because apparently she had more than two friends.. and sasha and marcie are more “friendships laced with romantic tension like a cupcake full of question marks and bees” than regular friendships. She won’t shut up about gossip so Anne’s distracted, which springs sprig into touching the art. Meanwhile the other two go off like the nukes their destined to be: Polly goes on a rampage after a  baby rips her completed plush in half and soon gets mobbed by babies and chased by their karen moms, while Hop Pop decides to swim in the fountain for coins which burns him and springs not-ron into action. 

Anne finally notices this, and springs into her own action, saving Sprig from the katamari ball of death, polly from the mob and then sics the mob on the security guy whose very clearly dead now. 

So with Ron dead and our heroes escaped, the Plantars are bummed they failed but Anne waves the challenge, admitting she shoudln’t of tried throwing them in the deep end , because that method of things is dumb about 80% of the time.  She just thought she was which the plantars laugh off. She was not and also nearly died a lot, including falling in quicksand and nearly getting carried away by bonejackers. So they get it and all hug. And go to get hop pop a shower before he dies. 

This episode was excellent and gives me hope for this half of the season, as Season 2a, while not bad, was a bit slow, especially at first. Instaed of building up the characters or lore on the road, it was just a bunch of side shenanigans that wasted the premise. In contrast Season 3 has hopped right to the right and limitless premise of putting the plantars on earth and in Anne’s shoe. 

This episode was also a welcome comedy focused episode, as last episode was light but stilll had a lot of emotional and plot stuff to unpack, and True Colors was...

That. So having a goofy episode about Polly trying to punch a child, Sprig making a katamari doll and Hop Pop turning green among MANY other amazing gags, was a nice breather, especially since it’s pairing episode... is another giant emotional punch to the gut. But it brings my favorite grandpa/child murder do back so let’s get onto that shall we?

Turning Point

So we’ve come to yet another Sasha and Grime episode

As any longtime reader knows, and your just finding out, these have been some of my faviorites series wide and some of the best stuff the show has put out, with Sasha’s tourtured character arc being one of the most engaging. The creators pulled off the difficult task of making a character whose both sympathetic but also a raging, backstabbing asshole with control issues. And they’ve done so well. And this episode takes it to his Apex as Sasha finally realizes the depths of whose she been.. and decides to change it. 

But  before we get there we have to go back a few days earlier, to the climax of True Colors, where we now see what happened immediately AFTER Anne ended up on earth. Sasha also saw the stabbing and was just as devistated, but Grime cuts through that, telling her they need to RUN. As they do two others try to run: Yunan and Olvia, who both CLEARLY want no part of their bosses mad schemes.. but are caught by him before they escape and thus swear their loyality to him to avoid dying horribly and are ordered to take Marcy to a healing tank. Sasha and Grime continue to try to escape and end up surrounded so Grime does the logical thing.. and throws his grandaughter out the window before doing a jump himself. But he forgot one part of the equation...

Thankfully an old friend who i’d honestly forgotten in the shuffle arrives. JOE SPARRRROWWWWWW. Who saves the two , recognizing them as friendly and the two take custody of him since his owner just got stabbed real bad. Problem is they can’t go back to toad tower... he’ll expect them. Plus he just destroyed one of the towers on a whim, so another isn’t that easy. And with most of their troops routed, they have no choice but to go the LAST place anyone would suspect.... all while Andrias, angry at ANOTHER loose end, sends a drone to tail them. 

Thus our heroes land in Wartwood, where the citizens are rightly worried about Anne and everything. Cue our anti-heroes arriving and Sasha bluffing, like Anne herself only telling HALF the truth: she tells them Andrias has gone mad with power and all that, but lies and says Anne is on a mission instead of back home, and that she and grime are here on Anne’s orders. They actually buy it as they trust Anne that much, and she’s more than earned it. So they accept our heroes. 

Naturally this makes Sasha feel worse, and she’s not on board with Grime’s plan to abandon them as soon as he finds anothe roffer. Sasha is tired of it, both drowning in her guilt and having finally realized the cost of what her actions have brought her: the constant lies, betrayal and conquest only drove the girl she loves away from her, and handed the entire world to a creepy sexy voiced Newt man who has eyes on her home world next. She’s lost everything, including her will to fight and with too much guilt asscoiated with the plantars house, she decides to bunk in the barn instead, refusing the comfort of the snails.... at first, as when she’s woken up by Miss Croaker, she’s cuddling both of them. 

She brought them a pie, something their just not used to. Usually their constantly fighting for their lives. Being warmly welcomed and treated like family is new. Hop Pop’s bed is also new and throughly squashed by grime... something I almost forgot to mention, thank god. Sasha is further rattled by wally, who annoys her with a friendship song and MADDIE RETURNS. FUCK YES. She also carries bread and takes Sasha running away frustrated as a sign she’s cutting down on carbs. Classic Maddie. 

The guilt of her lies is clearly tearing Sasha apart, and then she finds the scout. Her and Grime easily take care of it.. but there clearly will be more and Wartwood is now in direct danger. Sasha refuses to leave or keep going down her bad path while Grimes assumes she’s just shaken and wants to meet up with his sister’s forces, ordering her to go into the Plantar’s house and get her head on straight. 

So Sasha does, going to Anne’s room. Already shaken like a polaroid picture at the sight of all of Anne’s things she left, including the Domino plushie why’d she leave that?, she finds her journal... and is utterly broken, finding that Anne had really thought Sasha had changed and was so excited to go back... and thus realizes how badly she hurt Anne, nearly reconcliling.. only to shove it away because she HAD to be in control. She wants to be better.. someone who deserves her. I’m not reading into this, those were her exact words. 

So Grime leaves and Sasha heads to town square as a squadron of robo frogs arrive, confessing to the town that she lied, Anne is lost.. and that lies or no, Sasha’s going to protect them or die trying. She goes out and easily dispatches them... only to instead face a GIANT golden frog, revealing Belos has more than the simple soldiers or the assasian model we saw last time. He has giant tanklike robots that not only fir emissles but produce tons of smaller, weaker, ninja like frog troops. Sasha struggles her best but can’t fight the odds.... only for Grime to arrive. His sister has soldiers.. but only wartwood has his litenaut. Sasha hugs him and they prepare to stand alone.. only for the citzens to gladly aid them. As we’ve seen numerous times despite being seemingly harmless, the ctizens of wartwood, having ot survivie the worst of the bugs and other nightmares of amphiibia, are damn powerful in a scrap, and all of them get a godo showing and easily decimate the mini-frogs to Sasha’s astonishment. This leaves her and grime free to use the Golden Frog’s missles back on him, destroying it and saving the day. 

The Citzens of Wartwood accept Sasha: while she might of lied, she did the right thing in a pinch and they know there’s good in her... because she did what Anne would’ve. With that Sasha’s changed.... she’s realized what she was was wrong and she can’t continue like this, hurting people and trying to dominate. She’s now fighting not for herself, but for others, and for the greater good. And now she and Grime have their army.. it’s time to fight back. 

As should be obvious this episode is awesome, easily a best of the year contender. Seeing Sasha evolve, finally realizing the true weight of her actoins after backsliding last season and resolving to change is great and Anna Akana, as always, is phenominal in the role, showing off Sasha’s pain, depression.. and ultimatae rise to the hero she always could’ve been. It also gives the people of wartwood something to do while the main cast is on earth and having them become the rebel army, given just how deadly we’ve seen them be at times, is a perfect way to keep them around. Add in Grime being a delight as always, even adoping a fruit bat which is just the most adorable thing, please let us see this bat again, and you have one of the series best episodes. 

Next Week: 

Sp[ig fights a truck and the Plantars try to take a cat to the vet. None of this can end well. 

If you enjoy these reviews, consider comissioning one of your own or joining my patreon. Just one dollar a month gets you access to exclusive reviews, and said dollar will get me to review season 1 of Amphibia. All of it. 

[nugnthopkns]

take the sadness out of saturday night

word count: 2.8k 

warnings: insinuated fem!reader, a couple of curse words, alcohol consumption, vaguely described feelings of inadequacy 

recommended listening: chinatown | bleachers featuring bruce springsteen

a/n: will i ever write anything more than 3k? probs not. also this baby is completely self indulgent but i don’t even care

All you want to do is sleep. Or drink an entire bottle of wine. Maybe both. 

Graduate school is a lot harder than you expected it to be. You obviously weren’t naïve enough to think it be as easy as your undergrad, but you didn’t think it would be like this. It’s competitive; with people doing whatever it takes to get ahead. You’ve almost had your thesis topic stolen twice. The workload is also incredibly different. Gone are the days of small tests and assignments: everything relies on your thesis paper being of the utmost quality. You feel like you’re drowning in the middle of the ocean.

Today was the worst in a succession of terrible days. On the way to campus you dropped your coffee but didn’t have enough time to get another one. The conditions didn’t get any better once you reached school. Your lunch got left behind on the kitchen island and your advisor didn’t show up for your meeting, putting you another two weeks behind schedule. To top it off, you left campus later than usual and caught in the horrendous Philadelphia traffic. By the time you reach your apartment complex you’re thoroughly exhausted and two seconds away from crying. 

How you can afford your current lodging is beyond you. Tuition is waived by the university, which certainly helps, but you’re mostly relying on loans. It will be a bitch to pay off in a few years, but you don’t have any other option. The building isn’t ridiculously flashy, with semi-outdated furnishing, but it’s in a central location that anyone in Philly would kill for. Every day you wake up grateful there isn’t an eviction notice on your door; though you’re very careful to pay rent on time. Only the small lamp in the entryway is on when you unlock the door, but you keep it that way. Kicking off your sneakers and haphazardly hanging up your jacket, you shuffle into the bedroom portion of the studio. The pyjamas tucked under the pillow are calling your name, and it feels so good to free yourself of business casual clothing. 

The next stop on your mad-dash around in order to plant yourself on the couch as quickly as possible is the bathroom. You scrub your face vigorously, knowing you’ll pay for it in a few days when a breakout appears, but you can’t find it within you to care. It feels so good to be clean and in control of a situation. The kitchen is where you meander to next, filling the largest glass you can find with rosé. A bag of candy is grabbed as well, and then you’re tucking yourself into the corner of the couch and piling on the blankets. You open Netflix and briefly debate what to watch before deciding on something you’ve seen a million times before that won’t require your full attention.

Half an hour into the film you get hungry, but with no ambition to cook for yourself. Take out it is. You place an order at your favourite sushi joint and lazily return your gaze to the T.V. The scene on the screen no longer appeals to you, so you dig around the cushions to find your phone. It’s been a while since you’ve called your mom and you know she’s been missing you; truth be told you miss her a resounding amount. Philadelphia is a long ways from home and you can’t afford to travel often. Not being near your pillar of support is definitely wearing on you. She picks up on the fifth ring. 

“Hello?”

A tear slips out at the sound of her voice. Yours catches in your throat slightly, and your response is garbled. “Mom,” it breaks at the end, and the tears quickly turn into a waterfall. 

“Oh honey,” she sighs, chest filling with pain at your apparent despair. “What’s the matter?”

You sob for a minute or two before it subsides enough for you to actually speak. Through hiccups and sniffles you detail your horrible week, and the one before that for good measure. Your mom stays silent, listening with intent, and the one sided conversation eventually turns into you fretting about how you feel inadequate in your academic community and how you can’t picture a future. Only once you’ve ran out of words does she speak, negating the argument put in place by your imposter syndrome and doing her best to inflate your ego. 

“You’ve earned your seat at the table Y/N,” she says with conviction. “I know it doesn’t feel like it, but you deserve to be there. You’re cut out for this; no one is more passionate about their work than you.”

Another hiccup slips past your lips as you respond. “Thanks Mom.”

You don’t have to see her to know she’s sporting a smile. “We’re so proud of you honey, and always will be. No matter what you decide to do. Hell, you could move to Peru to become an alpaca farmer and your dad and I would be the happiest parents on Earth.”

The comment is meant to make you laugh, citing the time you called her during your undergrad to inform her you were dropping out and moving to the Andes. It works. You can’t help it, and have to admit it feels good after days of negative feelings. She distracts you further, recounting a story about your youngest brother’s recent baseball game that ended with a trip to the hospital after an unfortunate sliding incident. You wince at the mention of the basemen’s cleat colliding with his ankle, and chuckle when she talks about Connor singing showtunes in the recovery room. The story swapping continues, and it brings comfort. If you close your eyes you can envision yourself sitting on your mom’s bed, hiding your face in a pillow when anything embarrassing happens. 

A knock at your door ends your conversation, and the sadness slowly trickles back into your bones. “Mom, I’ve gotta go. The delivery person is here.”

“Okay sweetie. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

Having lost track of time, you’re wildly unprepared to pay for your food. “One minute,” you yell in the direction of the front door, praying the person on the other side heard you. You root around your wallet for the appropriate amount of cash before sliding across the floor and unlocking the door handle. The person standing there is not in fact a food delivery service worker, but your neighbour from across the hall, holding what you presume to be your dinner. 

“Nolan?” 

To say you’re shocked is an understatement. Though you’d go as far to say the two of you are casual acquaintances, he’s never shown up unannounced on your doorstep. Most of your interactions take place in the elevator or hallway, and you’ve only been inside his apartment once when you left your keys in your advisor’s office. Being a professional hockey player means he typically isn’t around a lot, but you had learned from a friend he’s spending the season sidelined by an injury. He still hasn’t been around a lot from what you could tell. 

His low rumble catches you off guard for a millisecond but it doesn’t take long to adjust. “They, uh, sent it to the wrong door,” he mumbles, holding out the bag to illustrate his point. 

“Fuck,” you swear. “Sorry. How much do I owe you?” A ballpark figure is in your brain, but you aren’t above throwing in a few extra dollars for the inconvenience. No one wants to receive their neighbour’s food. 

Nolan shakes his head profusely and shoves his hands in his pockets when you try to slip the money into them. “It’s on the house,” he shrugs. “Think of it as an apology for being a shit neighbour these past couple of months.”

“You’re a great neighbour Nolan. I have no complaints.” He returns your smile but doesn’t speak. An awkward tension fills the air between you, almost as if each of you is waiting for the other to talk. 

“Well I’ll let you –”

“Would you like some company?”

The question stops you dead in your tracks. A look of bewilderment must appear on your face because Nolan starts blabbering. “It’s just that you looked upset when you came to the door, like you’ve been crying. I can also see the nearly empty bottle of wine on the counter and that’s never a good sign.” He pauses for a second to take a breath before blurting out a final sentence. “And there’s a game tonight and if I don’t distract myself from it I think I might die.” Ragged breathing punctuates the sudden stoppage, and when you look up to meet his eyes you feel a sense of desperation. 

Without saying anything you open the door wider and retreat into the unit, hoping he gets the hint. It takes him all of two seconds to follow you, quickly darting across the hall to lock his door. You’re at the fridge when he returns, and turn around to ask him what he’d like to drink. 

“It seems like an alcohol kind of night,” you chuckle. “What are you having?”

He looks at you sheepishly and rubs the back of his neck. “Could I have a glass of that rosé?” 

You nod and gesture for him to pass you the bottle. “Never pegged you as a wine drinker,” you comment as you fill his cup. 

“Travis teases me relentlessly so I don’t keep it at the house anymore. Can only drink it in private.”

At the mention of his teammate’s name you understand. It’s exhausting to fit into someone’s mould of you. “Your secret is safe with me.”

The two of you migrate to the couch and once again become shrouded in silence. It’s comfortable this time, as you nurse your glasses and watch the skyline. Just having someone by your side is enough to quell the upset you’ve felt all day. You wonder why you hadn’t sought Nolan out sooner. It seems he’s been in a similar situation; having terrible days and feeling alone. Conversation only comes once he realizes both your drinks are empty. Nolan opens the fridge to find one more bottle of wine; a cheap, fruity one that’s meant to taste like a cooler. It’s strawberry flavoured, which equal parts thrills and disgusts him. He’s thrown back to his first high school party, when this was the only alcohol he could get his friends’ older sisters to buy him.

“I feel like I’m sixteen again,” he laughs, not bothering to fill his glass. Instead, he swigs from the bottle before reaching over the back of the couch and placing in your lap. You follow his lead, drinking directly from the vessel.

“Don’t judge me,” you huff. “I like the way it tastes.”

Nolan gazes sideways at you before dropping his voice to a near whisper. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

In a streak of boldness that came from god knows where, you place a hand on top of his. He doesn’t retract but doesn’t push forward either. You’re too scared to do anything else, and soon retract your hand and place it in your lap. “So,” you cough. “You need a distraction?”

☀☀☀☀

One comedy special turned into three, and it’s safe to say both you and Nolan are feeling exponentially better than when he knocked on your door. The alcohol flowed until you ran out, but neither of you are drunk. Perhaps tipsy; most definitely content. It’s so nice to enjoy someone’s company without the pressure of maintaining a perfect appearance. Nolan must feel it too, because he slowly begins to open up, talking about his career and ambitions for a life after hockey. You sit quietly, much like your mother had done hours before, as he describes his frustration with the migraines and how he yearns to bond with his teammates.

“I’m just so scared this is it, that I’m done,” he hiccups. 

You tentatively shuffle closer to him, looking for signs that he’s uncomfortable. Once you’re squished beside him, shoulder to shoulder, you take yet another page from your mother’s book. “If tonight is a good indicator of who you are, then you, Nolan Patrick, are going to be just fine. Seems to me that this is nothing but a bump in the road. You’re destined for greatness.”

He smiles, possibly the first completely real one he’s given you all night, and it reaches his eyes. “You really think that?”

“Absolutely. Wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t believe it to be true. You see, in my line of work, truth is of the utmost importance.”

At Nolan’s incessant prodding you talk about school, your thesis, and what you hope to achieve. It doesn’t sting the way you thought it would, possibly because you’re speaking to someone who’s completely enamored with the topic. Academia clearly fascinates Nolan, though he makes it clear he has no interest in joining the community. The only way you can describe the feeling of explaining everything to him is refreshing; he asks insightful questions about your research and isn’t bogged down by the technicalities like so many of your fellow scholars. When you’ve exhausted all you can say and Nolan’s ‘poked’ holes in all of your theories, he gets a serious look and turns so your body is framed by his. 

In this position there’s no denying how attractive he is. Of course you’ve always found him easy to look at when you passed in the halls, but knowing him as intimately as you now do makes you realize how much you like him. “Come to a game with me?” he asks. 

Your rhythm is once again thrown off by the man in front of you. “A game?”

Nolan nods enthusiastically. “A game. I’ve been meaning to go to one for a while, but I can’t find the courage to go alone. The next home game is on Tuesday, but we can obviously go to another one when it fits your schedule. If you want to come, that is.”

He’s yet to be this excited about hockey all night, and who are you to deny your newfound friend something he wants so badly? “Tuesday’s perfect Nolan.” He pumps his fist in happiness and you giggle at his antics. 

“I’m so happy I could kiss you.” It slips out before he realizes, and the shock on his face lets you know it was an accident. 

“You can if you want.”

You’re surprised at your own boldness, but don’t have much time to read into what the statement could mean because Nolan’s leaning in to rest his forehead against yours. 

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

The moment his lips touch yours it feels like a homecoming. He’s gentle but firm, letting you know he doesn’t want this to be a one time thing without saying anything at all. Nolan brings to you a sort of warmth that settles in your chest that makes you truly content with how life is going. You lose yourself in him, letting your heart steer the ship. He never waivers from you, only pulling back slightly to card his fingers through your hair. They settle at the nape of your neck and make shivers tingle your spine. You’re impossibly close, but you wish it would never end. After what feels like a millennia you break apart, chests heaving slightly from the lack of oxygen. 

You can’t find the words, but you know you never want to be without Nolan again. All the anguish you experienced earlier feels light years away after a few short hours of truly knowing him. It seems that he’s on the same page, because Nolan makes no effort to remove himself from the situation. In fact, he seems perfect content to never move again: arm comfortably around your shoulder as he places a chaste kiss to the crown of your head. 

“So is Tuesday a date now?” You squeak, voice small. You’re worried you’ve ruined the moment, but he cuts off your overthinking with a squeeze your bicep. 

“It’s whatever you want it to be,” he replies, and you know he means it. 

You can’t help yourself and slot your lips against his once again. “I’d like that a lot. There’s one condition though: I want to meet Gritty.”

Nolan’s laugh echoes off the walls and sounds like the sweetest melody you’ve ever heard. “Think I can manage to pencil you in to the schedule. It has a soft spot for me.”

As he reaches for the remote to put on highlights of the game that’s well over, you shuffle to rest your head comfortably in his lap. Your fingers find his and lazily combine. Nolan mumbles something you don’t quite catch, something about a play Travis made, but you hum in agreement anyways. He’s most likely right. Your eyes begin to droop, and as you fall asleep you forget why you were even sad in the first place. 

☀☀☀☀

taglist: @jamiedrysdales​ if you want to be added shoot me an ask :)

[beebckr]

Don’t go

Gifs not mine - first fanfic -

-disclaimers - violent Billy - sexual undertones - this would be it season 4 part 2 didn’t happen- Billy is still alive- Steve and Eddie are both interested in you- swearing- only a little smut rn-I have proof read a little bit but not the whole thing I just need to get my thoughts in the universe - I’m sorry for anything you don’t like I’m literally trying my best - thanks for being here

—————————————

You don’t fancy yourself a partier. You don’t even like to waste any of your precious off days. With working at the arcade and preparing for college next year you have little to zero free time as it is.

BUT unfortunately being a good friend comes first. Because hopefully these guys will be with you till you die of old age a good ways down the road. So when robin and Steve come from next door finishing a shift at family video begging you to wing man and come to a party with them you can do very little to resist both sets of their puppy dog eyes. Which has nothing to do with the fact that you’ve had a crush on Steve “the hair” Harrington since junior year, and you would literally put your life on the line for Robin at any given moment.

“So what do you guys expect me to do at this party anyways?” You lean across the arcade counter already dreading the crowds of college kids you’ll have to avoid at this party.

“Well Robin’s crushing on this girl who’s leaving for Purdue in a month, so if she can manage to actually talk to her then we might not see her for the rest of the night if we’re lucky” Steve says jokingly.

“Steve I think you mean if SHE gets lucky” You high five Steve but Robin quickly shews your hands away.

“ While I appreciate your guy’s confidence in me I’m not even sure Veronica likes me like that so we can’t assume anything will happen. There are a few things I’ve noticed but I can’t be sure and throwing myself at every woman is not exactly a good plan for not looking like raging lesbian”

“ We’ll just have to get you girls alone then at the party so you can work your magic in peace then” You say while switching out the change in the quarter machine.

“What we should REALLY be focusing on if the fact that our good friend Steve is going the be making His Move tonight” Robin says chuckling as she approaches you at the machine.

Steve’s hand slips on the counter that he was holding himself up with.

“Hey Robin I feel like we just talked about we weren’t going to talk about this exact subject just a few minutes ago” Steve glares at Robin, and she just rolls her eyes.

Clearly you’re left out of whatever’s going on, but Steve and Robin are super close and you don’t want to interrupt whatever best friend beef is unfolding in your arcade.

You sigh and hopefully say something that will change the topic “Do you guys think Eddie will be there?”

Steve and Robin both turn their heads to look at you with laser focus

“What, we’re going to need weed right? And he’s not the freak that everyone makes him out to be. He’s actually a real sweetie…” you started your sentence off strong but gradually got quieter because Robin and Steve both seem to be panicking looking between you and each other frantically. “Is something going on with you both that I need to be worried about? I feel like you aren’t telling me something”

“Nope, No, Absolutely Nothing at all that you have to worry your pretty little heart about. We’re all going to the party tomorrow night at 9 and I’ll pick you both up. Okay good great everything’s settled. Robin can you please get the car started outside and I’ll be there in a minute?” Steve says hurriedly to Robin while throwing her his keys.

“Uh Huh sure thing stud” She throws finger guns at him while winking and backing up through the front door of the arcade.

You’re staring at Steve throw a obscene hand gesture at Robin and can’t help but giggle to yourself. How could this absolutely stunning guy be your friend. He’s everything you’ve ever wanted. Funny, caring, sweet, and probably the best singer you’ve ever heard in your life. Not to mentioned everything he’s done for Robin. If it was socially acceptable you’d melt into a puddle just at the sight of him. You unconsciously sigh at your daydreaming. Steve turns to catch you staring at him and your first instinct to turn away rams your face right into the frogger machine.

“Oh shit” you hear Steve say while jogging over to you. “Do you have a first aid kid in the back”

“Oh god no please just let me die of embarrassment and bleed out here” you joke as he wraps his arm around your waist and leads you to a chair in the back.

“YOU’RE BLEEDING!?” His voice higher and louder than normal.

“Jesus Steve I swear I’m fine. I’m just kidding this happens all the time. One of the perks to working in an arcade and also wearing glasses with bad depth perception. I’ll be alright I promise.”

He gives you a concerned look but you pat his hand reassuring him.

You hear honks coming from the front of the arcade and you hear Steve “tsk” with his tongue and it gives you goosebumps.

“Please try to stay in once peace for tonight I’ve got something planned I want you to see.” He pats your hair and kisses your forehead before running out the front door leaving you speechless with your jaw hanging open. He had never done that before. You almost wish he hadn’t because now you know what his lips feel like. Now you’ll never not want Steve’s lips on you. Is it possible to be sexually attracted to someone’s lips.

Keith knocks on the back room door with his cheeseball fingers waking you up from your trance and making you jump.

“Hey I’m closing early so you can leave after you clean both bathrooms, but hurry up because I’m not sitting around waiting for you”. Keith stalks out the door to another corner or the arcade. You never really disliked Keith but his general way of talking always upsets you. The bathrooms got done fairly fast and you were able to make it out of there within the hour.

On your walk home a van passes you but you quickly see the reverse lights come on and back up. They roll down their passenger seat window and you see a familiar face.

“Good evening madam, you seem to be a far way from your kingdom. Fancy a ride home from Eddie the Brave?”

Your laugh turns to a snort as you grab the passenger door and hop in.

You haven’t told Robin or Steve how close you are with Eddie. Not because they would judge you. Definitely not. Maybe it was because you were jealous of how close they both were with each other and you wanted someone like that. Eddie was always real with you. You viewed him as your older punk brother that you had to keep in line and always could count on when you needed him. “Why didn’t you call? I would’ve given you a ride ya know” Eddie says as he starts driving towards your house.

“Yeah yeah I know, but Kieth let me off early last minute and I didn’t want you to have to rush over. Walking home is no big deal to me. I barely live 5 minutes away by car” You relax a bit by putting your feet up on the dash.

“I get it, but walking in the dark? Somebody would snatch a pretty young thing like you in a second. You remember that Ted Bundy guy right?” Eddie’s staring at you and waiting for an answer.

You grab his leg and reassure him “ Yes yess Eddie I’m sorry okay I just wanted to get home. Geez you and Steve keep babying me today. “

Eddie slows down to a stop in front of your house and turns to you. “ I just wanna make sure the most important person in my life stays alive and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Obviously Harrington feels the same way so you shouldn’t make fun of us for it.”

“Fuck Eddie, I’m sorry I didn’t mean it like that. I know what happened with Chrissy last year. I’ll be safer and I’ll borrow my parents car if I need to next time. Scouts honor. “ You cross your heart and salute him hoping that gets your point across.

He chuckles at you and brings you in for a hug “Don’t worry about it sweetheart. Just wanna make sure I can still see that smile for many more years”

You smile at him but turn to hide your blush and get out of the van “ Hey are you going to the party tomorrow? The one at that girls house by lake Monroe?”

He smiles back while putting his car in reverse “ If you’re there then I wouldn’t miss it for the world”. You watch his van leave until it rounds a corner out of site wondering what mayhem will happen tomorrow.

THE NEXT DAY —————

Morning went by normal for you. Having breakfast with your mom and baby sister. Dad long divorced and not apart of any of your lives anymore, but the whole family seems to be better for it. Your mom went off for a lunch/play date with some of the other moms which left you plenty of time to figure out what I’m gods name you’d be wearing to this even tonight.

All of your friends constantly told you that you can’t dress so this party is giving you heart palpitations. Assuming it’s not a costume party are you supposed to dress hot so you can catch Steve’s attention, maybe cute so Eddie will shower you with compliments all night, or maybe as a third wild card you can dress like a milf an get your ex Billy’s mouth drooling. You can’t control your laughter until you hear your phone ring downstairs.

You run downstairs and pick up the phone “Smith residence” you say in your best customer service voice.

“Y/n is that really how you answer the phone?” Robin makes fun of you over the phone.

“Well yeah what if one of my mom’s work friends call? Not like I’m super close with them Robin am I?” It comes out a lot more smart alecky then you were wanting but it does the trick.

“ okay fair enough, but hey I wanted to tell you that for the party tonight you should wear something RED. Red lipstick, red dress, red bow. The whole 9. The party tonight is a karaoke party and Steve is going to be wearing red so I just wanted to tell you but make sure to be ready at 9. I gotta go but I’ll see you soon y/n . Bye!” Robin speaking in her normal a mile a minute fashion I had no room to interject and I’m 95% certain she never took a breath.

Very very interesting you say as you walk up to your room with a smirk on your face.

THAT NIGHT —————-

You see headlights approaching your house that looks like Steve’s BMW and your heart lights up. Per Robin’s suggestion you wear your signature Marilyn Monroe lip with a cute A line dress that’s shorter than you’d like which makes it perfect. Your mom did your hair in the most perfect Jerry Hall curls and if looks could kill you’d be deadly. You kiss your mom and sister goodnight as you run out of the house to meet Steve and Robin.

As you approach the car parked in your driveway you see Steve and Robin are having a conversation so he hasn’t seen you yet. You slow your pace and slowly tap on the glass of Steve’s window. You look down at him while swinging your purse and coat waiting for him to say something. He stares into your eyes for the longest time but slowly his eyes drift lower over your curves that your dress perfectly accentuates. You see his Adam’s apple bob and he turns forward and runs his left hand through his hair while his right hand grips the steering wheel tighter.

Perfect

Just the reaction you were looking for. Steve still hasn’t said anything when you grab the back drivers side door and crawl in the back seat.

“ y/n I know Steve hasn’t said anything but I think you look positively radiant. Not a star in the sky could compare yourself to your beauty. Is that what you were thinking mr Harrington?” Robin teases as Steve shifts the car into drive and just agrees with a quick

“Yep, something like that” not making eye contact with you the whole drive to the party.

AT THE PARTY —————

Steve parks in the grass at the party and Robin races I’m before you both. Steve turns to you and lightly grazes your hand to get your attention. “ hey um *clears throat* I wanted to let you know even though Robin said it first you do look amazing tonight, AND every other night too I don’t mean that you don’t always look “

You put a finger up to his lips to stop his babbling

“ Thank you Steve, I think you look amazing tonight too.” You drop your hand and walk confidently in front of him into the party not far behind Robin.

You see she’s already found her POI which you’re assuming is Veronica who she was talking about yesterday. And when she looks your way you give her two thumbs up .

“ Hey stranger”

You tighten your fist as you turn around. Dreading this conversation but also knowing it was inevitable. “Hey Billy, nice to see you here” you say through gritted teeth. You and Billy never really got along. Not to say he didn’t bang your brains out from time to time in the not too distant past. If that’s what you’d call a relationship then you both were certified exes and enemies now. Billy never took rejection well.

“Not that I don’t love the view I’m seeing tonight y/n, but what miracle has happened that you blessed us here with your presence”

“ yeah haha Billy very funny I was invited here same as you.” You try to brush him off and move in deeper to the party when he grabs your arm and pulls you back.

“You know that’s funny that you say that y/n because this party is couple’s only and I can’t help but remember that you a desperately single at the moment. Can’t get a single dick hard to save your life. Must be a damn shame. You know if you’re still having that problem in a month I might have an opening so I can toss you a pity lay if you’re still hopelessly horny with no one to fuck”

You’re equally embarrassed and alight with flame. Tears coming to your eyes as you try to rip Billy’s grip off your arm you feel a chest come against your back and you see a fist knock Billy to the ground. Your two knights in shining armor. Steve and Eddie. Steve turns around and grabs your face with both to check and see if you’re okay. You give him a quick nod that he needed to see and he brings your palm up to his mouth to give it a long kiss while never breaking his eye contact with you. You let out a small sob as Steve lets your hand drop when he grabs Billy by the collar to take him outside. You let out a breath you didn’t know you’d been holding. Eddie is still behind you holding him close to him. His hand gently resting on your chest helping you breathe with him. Smelling his leather and weed is comforting to you and makes you feel safe. Satisfied that you’ve calmed down enough he brings you to another room in the house so you two can talk. You sit down on the stranger’s bed and fiddle with the bottom of your dress to keep yourself from crying. Eddie crouches down in front of you and takes your fingers and rests them on his face.

“What can I do sweetheart? How can Eddie make it better?”

You close your eyes as you try to hold back a sob.

“You know what I think might help. I think you need to be distracted.”

Eddie starts pressing soft, gentle kisses on your fingers

“Eddie, please”

Eddie smiles as he takes your pointer finger and slowly puts it in his mouth.

Your eyes pop open immediately

Eddie holds your stare as he starts sucking on your finger and starts circling it with his tongue.

“Eddie” you say a little surprised because you did not expect your best friend to be doing this to you at a strangers house after your ex berated you and your crush is beating him up outside. But reality snaps back to you as Eddie adds another finger to his mouth.

You let out a slight *gasp*

“Use your words sweetheart. I’ll stop whenever you want.”

You weren’t sure you wanted him to stop, but you should right? You love Steve. It was wrong to use your best friend like this. You’ve told him about your feelings for Steve. Right as you open your mouth to say something Steve comes in the bedroom door and closes it abruptly behind himself.

[puppetsoftomorrow]

okay so i'm gonna try out writing smth short after each episode this season!! not beta’d, not going to be posted on ao3. here's 6x01 - an au where sara doesn't get kidnapped... or the one where ava gets tucked into bed

tw: alcohol, drugs, vomiting

They all got separated on their way back to the Waverider - Astra slipping into some shady casino and John and Zari not so subtly sidling off into a hotel for what they claimed was the ‘after-after party.’

Sara didn't really care; she could pick them up in the morning once they'd had their fun - and she was glad to be alone with Ava. Sara knew, knew with a certainty that scared her a little bit, that she wanted to marry Ava. Tonight was the night she was going to ask, and she was running high on alcohol and loud music and seeing David-freakin-Bowie of all people, but now the night air was sobering her up and her heart was beating weirdly fast.

If Sara didn't know better, she'd say she was nervous.

Ava clung onto her arm like her life depended on it, eyes glued to the stars, rattling off dozens of facts about each one as they made their way to the deserted multi-story car park where they'd hidden the Waverider.

"And that one - that's Andromeda 9, and that one tastes of jelly beans -"

"How many edibles did Behrad give you?" Sara snorted, and Ava looked at her, mouth slightly agape and pupils blown.

"Behrad? He's my best friend!"

"He's not going to be your best friend in the morning." Sara said, rolling her eyes and pulling Ava along.

"No no no no, Sara, look - the stars. There's a million." Ava gasped, waving the hand that wasn't holding Sara's at the sky rather wildly.

Sara stopped, and let herself fall into Ava's side. "Yeah, they're beautiful." She said quietly, looking up from the rain-soaked alley and above the rooftops to the stars above. She turned to see Ava looking back at her with tear filled eyes.

"You're a beautiful star. I'love you - so much. So so much. So so so so much." Ava mumbled, tears now on her cheeks, and Sara moved her hands to wipe them off, mascara and glitter coming away too.

"Hey, I love you too." Sara said softly, smiling gently. The ring burnt heavy in her pocket, but the opportunity had gone - Ava wouldn't remember anything in the morning, and Sara wasn't sure she was brave enough to ask twice. "Come on baby, we need to get you home."

"Can I get like - six bags of cheese balls." Ava said as they got to the Waverider. "I want them. I want them so bad."

"I think they're called wotsits in England." Sara said absent-mindedly as she pulled the Waverider key from where she'd stashed it safely in her inside pocket. "Besides, you hate cheese balls. You say the colour is ‘unnatural.’"

"I have never said that." Ava said, very confidently, despite her wobbling stance. "I also want a horse. And to facetime Mona. And maybe to throw up."

"Yep, I think the last one's your best bet." Sara snorted as the ramp descended and she helped Ava through the gangway.

After throwing up most of what was in her stomach, and a shot of what Gideon only described as "something that would help," Ava was laying on the end of their bed, eyes screwed tight shut.

"Nope, no sleeping yet, you'll kill me if you're still in those pants tomorrow morning." Sara said, trying to lever Ava up, who was decidedly not moving.

"I think you need to - leave me here. Leave me to die." Ava groaned.

"I'll kiss you if you sit up right now." Sara sighed, and Ava sat bolt upright, nearly slamming their foreheads together. Sara laughed, then pressed a kiss to Ava's cheek, who started to pout.

"Tha's not a kiss. A proper kiss."

"Nope, you are way to drunk and high and your breath probably smells like a beer mat." Sara said, turning to pull Ava's pyjamas from under her pillow. When she turned back, Ava was pouting harder. "Don't give me that look. Can you take your coat off for me?"

Ava's pout stayed, but she wiggled her way out of her coat, very ungraciously, and Sara helped pull her shirt over her head and carefully unfastened her jewelry, dropping it onto the little tray Ava kept on her bedside table. After a minute of fumbling herself, Ava fell back and let Sara unbutton her pants, tugging off her boots first, her pants following shortly afterwards.

"Pyjama bottoms or -" Sara asked, holding them up, but Ava just answered with a groan. "Well, this is close enough." Sara shrugged. She grabbed a make-up wipe from her dresser and dropped herself on Ava's lap, which saw Ava perk up immediately, arms coming up to hold her there. Sara worked gently, trying to get most of the lipstick and mascara off that had somehow ended up smeared across Ava's face, a task made more difficult by the fact that Ava's head kept lolling as she tried to press herself closer to Sara.

Once she'd done the best she could, Sara stood up, not missing the miserable whine Ava made at the loss of contact, and pressed a kiss to her now clean forehead. "Get under the covers. I'll be ten minutes, okay?"

After a quick shower to wash the smell of punk from her hair, Sara slipped into her pyjamas, picking the ring up from the sink, examining it in the mirror before sliding it into her pocket. Soon, she promised herself. She'd ask soon.

Back in their room, Sara turned the light up just bright enough to see her way to the bed - it was still too bright for Ava, who groaned.

"Missed you." She slurred, her eyes half shut as Sara slid in next to her, secreting the ring back into the box in her bedside table.

"I was ten minutes." Sara said quietly, trying to hide her grin. Ava sighed, far too dramatically.

"No, it was like - eight hours. Eight years. I was all alone -"

"Hey, I'm never gonna leave you all alone, okay?" Sara said softly, running her hands through Ava's hair. "Goodnight, sweetheart. Wake me up if you need to puke."

"Love you." Ava muttered, face pressing further into the pillow. "Love you like all th' stars."

"Yeah, I love you like all the stars too." Sara said softly, and moved forward to press her forehead to Ava's.

Tomorrow. She would ask tomorrow.

woo what did y'all think??

[wherearemyglassesbro]

More Fruk stuff while I’m on break in my night class :)

Arthur is not a good cook. We all know this. But when they moved in together, Francis made it his mission to get Arthur to make at least 5 things. Two dinner options, a dessert, a soup and a breakfast item cause “If I die who will cook for you?” “Jeez! That’s awfully morbid! You’re 24, you’re not dying anytime soon...” “Who know what fate has in store for me~” “Shut uuupppppp >:(“

Francis got him a fun ‘kiss me I can cook’ apron to match his own :) Arthur huffed and feigned annoyance but...even he had to internally admit that it’s a cute gift

First, he decides he wants to learn to make a good omelette! He’s always burned them or over salted them. So Francis tells him ‘show me how you would make it, then I’ll show you how I’d make it’ so he does!

And Francis watches, allowing him to make mistakes without hovering or badgering him. He notes how he seems to get so focused on not burning it...that he burns it. And when he’s putting salt and pepper in the eggs, he shakes the pepper far too aggressively and a whole lot goes in. It isn’t a problem that he’s seasoning the food! Francis encourages it! But too much pepper isn’t exactly fun with breakfast

Arthur is visibly frustrated when he plates the omelette, crossing his arms as Francis takes a bite

“Honey, it isn’t terrible. I’d say it’s a tad...well done...But I’m confident that your next omelette will be far better! I’m excited to see you improve!”

Uhhh...See, Art wasn’t expecting praise cause when he used to cook for his brothers or friends they’d all just tell him how much it sucked so Art didn’t really have the motivation to be a better cook cause ‘They’re gonna hate whatever I make anyway so it doesn’t matter’

When Francis makes his omelette, Arthur is totally hovering over him, observing closely “See? How do you flip it so well????” “I’ve had a lot of practice! You’ll be able to do it too by the time I’m done with you”

So for a week they eat only omelettes for breakfast! They get up together to cook and it becomes a fun routine!! And by the end of the week, Art has for sure made progress!! Is it a perfect omelette? No but it’s good!!

“Wow!!! Honey this is great!!” Francis shakes his shoulders and kisses his cheek “We’re going to have another Gordon Ramsay on our hands soon enough!”

So they do this every week with a new food for about a month and a half!! Soup is next and they’re very tired of tomato soup by the end of the week

Then dessert, a simple bundt cake. The first one is a disaster “If you smelled it burning why didn’t you tell me???” “I thought you smelled it! And I told you, I’m letting you make mistakes!”

They have 8 mini bundt cakes to give out at work now...and 6 to throw out

By the time they’re married 3 years later, he can make a total of 15 dishes. They didn’t do the ‘dish a week’ thing anymore after that initial month or so but Francis gave Arthur lessons when he could, allowing him to take over halfway through the dish or instructing him on how to do certain tasks. His dishes are never perfect but they’re good enough to eat!! So when Fran is too tired to cook, Arthur can make a pot roast! And it’s only a little bit dry :) Or a fettuccine! With maybe a bit too much cheese :)

Fran will always encourage him too cause he loves him very much :) “You know, this might be your best batch of brownies yet” “I thought the ones from your birthday party were your favorite!” “These might be even better! I’ll have to have another in order to figure it out~”

And Arthur feels way more confident in the kitchen :’) when it’s his turn to cook he actually gets all excited about it :) his biggest flex was cooking when Francis’s parents came over!! When Mr. and Mrs. Bonnefoy, who are usually super judgemental, looked at him and complimented his cooking? He wanted to jump up on the table and scream in triumph!! Yeah!!!! But that would have been improper lol

[derivativealigner]

Well I haven’t watched sp all the way through for about a decade now, so I thought it was time

Sometimes I wonder how accurate the fandom is when it comes to how we interpret the characters. Like, why is Stan a football star so often in fanfic and why’s Kyle always the smart one? So I thought I’d rewatch the show and make notes along the way to see where the source of all these interpretations is. I also wanted to see if I could get some fun info to analyze, but season 1 is pretty sparse in that regard so there’s not too much of that in this post, but I’ll make a post for all the other seasons too as I watch them

In summary, it’s established in season 1 already that Stan’s a star quarterback and an animal lover, Kyle’s an A+ student, and Kenny is poor and knows a lot about sex and doesn’t have many qualms about doing crazy shit. Cartman is a bit weird since he’s mostly just a naive brat in this season, but he and Kyle have a mildly antagonistic friendship already

I have all my notes under this cut. They include a bunch of small details and other observations. I also listed every Kenny death just because

Ike has freckles

Cartman says “Weak!” and “You guys” and “Seriously” a lot from the start, also “Kickass!” He doesn’t say weak or kickass much in the later seasons iirc

Stan says “Dude, this is pretty fucked up right here” three times in this season but they dropped that catchphrase pretty quickly

Bebe got named in episode 2

Stan’s been an animal lover since s01e03 Volcano since he won’t shoot a bunny or anything else. He does shoot Scuzzlebutt at the end though

Cartman’s a pathological liar but in a childish way

Randy got named in s01e03 Volcano (and it only got worse from there)

The mayor went to Princeton

South Park is next to Mt. Evanson

Kenny will literally drink gasoline

Stan’s a star quarterback in 3rd grade

Clyde’s voice is wrong as hell in S01E04 Big Gay Al’s Big Gay Boat Ride and he has a dog, Rex

Garrison says Kyle is an A+ kid

Shelly seriously abuses Stan, punching him, throwing him, maiming him with a lawnmower

Cartman had a pot-bellied pig called Fluffy

Cartman’s mom smokes crack and has sex with strange men

Dr. Mephesto is probably a Buddhist since he says “Thank Buddha” instead of “Thank God”

Clyde’s voice gets kind of fixed in S01E06

A guy called Mr. McCormick is killed in a protest, launched and splattered against a network building. He doesn’t look like Kenny’s dad though

Zombie Clyde attacks Bebe, rude

Wendy gave her costume contest prize (2 tons of candy) to hungry children in Nairobi

Cartman’s mom is on the cover of Crack Whore magazine. “Back do’ ho… Five on one action!” is the headline

Cartman genuinely cries at Kenny’s grave after the whole zombie thing but gets over it because of candy

Stan knows his mom’s credit card number and has no problem using it to adopt an Ethiopian child (the boys wanted a watch that came with the adoption, they weren’t doing it to be nice)

Cartman calls Stan a vas deference, Stan doesn’t know what that is so Kenny says “Dude, it’s a pipe for your peepee” (according to a transcript). Kenny sure knows male anatomy

Kyle sniffs Kenny after Cartman asks why poor people smell like sour milk and Garrison says “idk eric they just do”

Cartman thinks poor people should die and decrease the surplus population

When the boys get Starvin’ Marvin delivered to them, Cartman says “Hey mom, we found an Ethiopian, can we keep him?” and his mom says “Sure, hun.” She rarely says no to Cartman

Kenny’s dad is an alcoholic who drinks scotch according to Cartman. I mean, Mr. McCormick is seen drinking in multiple episodes and has a hat that says SCOTCH so it’s probably true

Kenny’s family says grace

Craig’s first appearance is S01E09. Also, S01E09 is the first time Kenny doesn’t die (Coincidence? I THINK yeah but it’s still fun)

Clyde got named in S01E10

Clyde and Bebe both spit on Pip’s face, friendship goals <3

Cartman and Kyle have their first fight at Cartman’s birthday party because Kyle didn’t give the right gift. Cartman slaps his face and  screams “I hate you! I want you to die! Die!” while on top of Kyle who’s not really fighting back

Satan throws a fight with Jesus after everyone except Satan bet that Jesus would lose, which leads to Satan winning everyone’s money. Mr. Garrison says “What a mean thing to do!” and Jimbo says “He is a jerk!” and I thought it was quite a laugh so I wrote it down

In S01E11 Tom’s Rhinoplasty Bebe and Wendy are sitting in the swings together and generally appear together throughout the episode, then Bebe gives Wendy a makeover so they’re bffs obviously <3

Craig first appears in the classroom, though not sitting down, in S01E11

Wendy’s not happy about Ms. Ellen taking Stan away from her, she says “Don’t fuck with me! Stay away from my man, bitch, or I’ll whoop your sorry ho ass back to last year!”

Kenny gives Ms. Ellen a scrumptious looking sausage as a valentine’s gift and giggles deviously. Wendy’s gift to Ms. Ellen is a dead animal

Even Kenny doesn’t know what a lesbian is

Wendy’s grandma died in S01E11

Wendy gets Ms. Ellen killed by hiring the Iraqi government (?) to put her in a rocket and shoot it into the sun, then she and Bebe have a pool party (very cool, they wear sunglasses 😎) and watch the rocket hit the sun

Cartman and Pip play a game of kicking each other in the nuts until someone falls. Cartman calls it “Roshambo”

Kenny has a sack of marbles

The boys aren’t fans of Barbra Streisand, but Stan is a fan of the Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway (he’s not a quarterback anymore, he’s an American football executive and the president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the NFL according to wikipedia.)

Officer Barbrady is a fan of Fiona Apple (who was 20 at the time and had only one album released called Tidal)

Ned knows how to pilot a helicopter

Kyle’s mom is a fan of Streisand unlike literally everyone else, she even gets an autograph from Mecha Streisand

The boys are fans of Robert Smith, the lead singer of The Cure. Stan says “Robert Smith is the greatest person that ever lived!” and Kyle says “Disintegration is the best album ever!” and Cartman says “Robert Smith kicks ass!” and Kenny’s dead so he doesn’t get to have an opinion

Cartman has tea parties with his toys: Polly Prissypants, Clyde frog, Peter Panda, and a dragon called Rumpertumskin

Kyle wants to make fun of Cartman for the tea party but Stan stops him because he’s concerned that Cartman needs help

Craig is in front of the school counselor’s office in S01E13

A young miss Cartman drinks like a motherfucker at the 12th annual drunken barn dance where Cartman was supposedly conceived

Stan lets Cartman borrow his bike like a good friend

Garrison wanted to have a threesome with Chef and Cartman’s mom. I don’t know why I’m making a note of this but uh… yeah.

Cartman’s mom has had sex with everyone at this bar that Garrison’s drinking at, including principle Victoria, the mayor, Father Maxi, and Jesus (and maybe Kenny’s dad since he’s at the bar but the camera doesn’t pan to him when Garrison says they’ve all slept with Liane). Later Gerald Broflovski is a possible father to Eric, so he fucked her too. Also Mr. Mephesto and his friend Kevin, that little guy, are candidates along with a lot of other people, including the 1989 Denver Broncos (and Mr. Tenorman is included in that later)

Cartman doesn’t make fun of Kyle for being Jewish much at all in this season even though the Christmas episode is all about Kyle not celebrating

Clyde and Token appear very early on and Clyde has always been in the classroom (along with Bebe, Red, Kevin Stoley, Wendy, and Pip and uhh DogPoo too I think). Craig appears later in the season and Tweek’s not in season 1 at all, so Craig’s gang isn’t really a thing yet

And here’s a list of the ways Kenny died in this season. He dies in every episode except episode 9, and he dies twice in episodes 2 and 3. Altogether he dies 14 times

S01E01 Killed after alien shoots him, cows stampede over him, then cop runs him over which finally actually kills him

S01E02 Killed in a play by a falling teepee, then a second time shot by Garrison which sends him in the air and he gets impaled on a flagpole on the way down

S01E03 Killed by a volcano rock that burns him then rolls on him but he’s alive again in the end but gets shot by Ned’s gun that he drops and it accidentally goes off

S01E04 Gets his arms and head torn off in an American football game

S01E05 Stan’s clone punches Kenny into a microwave where he gets cooked alive

S01E06 Death touches Kenny

S01E07 Kenny gets crushed by a Russian space station and turns into a zombie because he gets Worcestershire sauce in his veins, then Kyle chainsaws zombie Kenny in half, then zombie Kenny rises from his grave and is crushed by a statue and a plane

S01E08 Kenny is killed by a bunch of turkeys. His eye gets plucked out. It’s dark blue

S01E10 After Kenny gets turned into a duck-billed platypus, Jimbo and Ned shoot him

S01E11 Ms. Ellen throws a sword through Kenny’s face

S01E12 While Mecha Streisand and a giant robot Leonard Maltin fight, Kenny plays with a tetherball and gets the rope wrapped around his neck and it strangles him

S01E13 Kenny gets stuck on a go kart and it drags him around but stops and he’s still alive! Too bad the go kart stops on train tracks and a train runs him over. Stan’s grandpa sends a video of the event to America’s Stupidest Home Videos and wins $10,000

If you read all that, first of all hello. I’m not new to the fandom even though this is the first thing I’ve posted on this tumblr blog. I’ve been writing a fanfic called Caffetamine though so I’m not a complete non-entity. Anyway, I’ll watch season 2 soon and post my notes on that too probably.

[thisisawonderfulusername]

let's save the world

season one, episode four

five hargreeves x reader

summary: after the break in, five comes back with information, and you two go to check it out.

trigger warning: cursing, drinking, a fluffy moment 👉 👈

word count: 2.5k

a/n: damn, already part four O-O. i don’t really have much to say, so, enjoy!

after getting attacked by the commission assassins, you had gone up to five’s room and passed out on the bed, not even taking the time to clean or patch it up. you told yourself that it would be fine for the night, though there was a nagging voice in the back of your head, warning of the possible infection, but you inevitably pushed it away.

your morning wasn’t too great. you were shaken violently to be woken up, and you sat up quickly, hissing and grabbing onto your leg when you felt the pain the coursed through it. looking up at five, you glare at him. “what the fuck?”

“i take it you didn’t find any clues?” he questions, the smallest hint of a smirk on his face as you groan softly. of course he would do this. you knew it meant sitting in that van all day, he actually found something, and he was ready to rub it in.

leaning on your arm to reach for the med kit, you don’t meet his eyes. “no, i didn’t.” you mutter, opening the box and pulling out the supplies to finally patch up your leg. “i assume that you did?”

glancing at him as you doused a clean rag in rubbing alcohol, you raise an eyebrow. “yup.” he grins, and you roll your eyes, pulling your skirt up a bit to pull the make shift tourniquet off and reveal the wound from the glass that so rudely decided to cut through your flesh.

“how did that happen?” five questions, cringing slightly at the sight of the injury that you quickly placed the soaked rag over, biting your lip harshly to hold back the cries of pain from the stinging pain.

once the pain settled, you took a deep breath and looked to him. “long story. people, from the commission, i’m sure of it.” you threw the rag to the side, grabbing the needle and stitching thread, quickly putting it through and getting to suturing the puncture.

he watched as you stitched the wound, staying quiet for a moment, before he decided to speak again. “remember the guy we talked to? at meritech?” he asks, and you nod simply, eyebrows furrowed in concentration, “well, he’s definitely doing something sketchy. so we need to figure out what.”

you finish the stitches before throwing the needle to the side, looking back to him. “seriously? if this leads to another dead end, i’m going to kill you.” you grab some gauze and quickly wrap it around your leg, sighing softly as you toss everything back into the medical kit.

“i’ll deserve it if i am. but i’m sure of this.” he tells you, standing from the bed beside you and holding out his hand to help you up. it hurt a bit to stand on your leg from the pain, but you had endured worse, so you could suck it up.

-

waiting on the street, you leaned against a building, following five’s gaze and staring at one of the cars that lined the street. “how do you know he’s here?” you question, crossing your arms over your chest.

“i followed him, and when he went into the vet, i figured i had time to get you.” he responds, neither of you risking a glance away from the vehicle. “there he is.” he mutters as the man walks to his car, putting his dog in the backseat and getting in himself. five grabs your hand and the next moment you’re in the car, sitting by the dog.

smiling slightly as you give him a pat, your attention is brought back to the situation when the man turned and jumped at the sight of five right next to him. within a millisecond, a knife is held to his throat. “one chance.” he snaps at him, and you purse your lips, leaning forward in your seat. “you’ve got one chance to tell me what is going on in that lab.”

obviously terrified, since he was held at knife point, the man quickly speaks. “i manufacture prosthetics for fake patients.” his eyes are wide, staring straight into five’s, “i bill the insurance companies then sell them on the black market.”

resting an arm on the head rest of his seat, you lean towards him. “including eyeballs?” you press, and his gaze flickers towards you before back to five.

“yeah-” he stutters out, his head shaking slightly, “they’re my biggest seller. i’ve got a list- a wait list- probably twenty buyers!”

five nods, “so the serial number i told you?” he raises an eyebrow.

“yes, it- it could’ve already been bought.” he tells him, his breathing shaky.

as five stared into the guy’s eyes, you swore he could see into his soul, and though you had seen it multiple times, it still unsettled you. “i need that list, lance.” the knife pushes against his skin slightly, and he visibly flinches, “names and numbers, i need it now!”

“i don’t have it,” you can see his eye’s glossing, and you don’t blame him for being close to tears. “the only copy’s in my safe at the labs.” he quickly adds on, probably praying to himself that he wouldn’t die today.

smirking, you slap a hand on his arm, and he jumps at the sudden touch. “alright then, start the car, bud.” you lean back against the seats, petting the dog again. “we’re going on a trip.”

-

stopping the car just a street away from the building, all of you get out, you and five both holding onto lance’s arms to make sure he wouldn’t make a run for it. he could probably easily push you guys away, as you were practically thirteen years old, probably no muscle at all, but you assumed he was too afraid to even think about running.

as you rounded the corner, the building up ahead, your eyes widen. flames engulfed the lab, smoke pouring out of the windows. your heart practically stops. your only clue to go off of, was totally destroyed.

you could only stand in shock as lance slipped out of your grip after five ran forward, both of them looking up at the burning building. as five stood in front of the entrance, there was a sudden explosion, sending him flying back into the road.

that got you moving, quickly running to his side and crouching down next to him, ignoring the burn in your thigh. “holy shit, are you okay?” you question, slightly panicked, as it definitely wasn’t a simple fall to the ground. first of all, it was the middle of the road, concrete, and he had been knocked back pretty hard.

pushing himself up as he nods, five looks at the building. “there goes the only evidence we had.” he mutters, and you sigh softly.

standing up, you hold a hand out to him to help him up, which he gladly takes. “guess we better get to searching for another lead, then.” you glanced to the lab, pursing your lips at all the rubble that surrounded the entrance where it had exploded.

“i guess so.”

-

you sat on the floor of the library, the glass looking down at the lower floors behind your back. books surrounded the two of you, scattered around as you tried to search for any clues inside of them.

bottles of alcohol also surrounded you, which you guys weren’t holding back on. with your only piece of evidence gone, you were ready to give up and just let the world turn back to the rubble it had been when you first got stuck, as long as you didn’t have to be in it again. you didn’t know if you could handle that like you did the last time.

“you know, i thought we’d be able to figure this out faster.” five mumbles, breaking the silence between the two of you. his words were slightly slurred, from the alcohol. he sighs softly, flipping the page he had been reading to move on to the next.

taking a sip from the bottle you held, you lean your to the side to rest your head on his shoulder. “so did i.” your words are just as jumbled, maybe even worse. “but i guess the world is just... against us.” you close your eyes, feeling tired. you weren’t sure if it was from trying so hard and failing miserably, the alcohol, or actually being tired. you didn’t care.

five stayed quiet for a moment, his gaze still trapped on the book, until he glanced to you. “remember the first night? at griddy’s?” he questions softly, tracing the lip of the bottle with his finger as you nod. “you were saying something about how you felt when we were both separated in the apocalypse.”

you remembered that moment very clearly. even with a hazy mind. you had been preparing to tell him about the feelings you had had for him, before those guys crashed the party. you weren’t sure why you didn’t tell him after. probably slipped your mind after the big fight. “oh.” you sigh softly, eyes still closed as you thought, “yeah, i was just going to tell you that i used to like you. in more than a friend way.” you chuckle, sitting up and shaking your head.

“it’s so stupid.” you look at him, your head tilted to the side, “when we got stuck and i couldn’t find you, i felt like i lost the whole world- well, i guess i did, but not in the literal way.”

his eyebrow’s were furrowed at the information you gave him, probably processing it all. “you liked me?” he questions, a hint of confusion in his tone.

“well, yeah.” you take another drink from the bottle, frowning when there was only a tiny bit left. “i guess i stopped once i found out you went crazy and fell in love with a mannequin.” you laugh, motioning to the mannequin that he had brought along and sat between you two, looking up at the lights on the ceiling.

pursing his lips, five nods, humming in acknowledgment at what you said. “find anything that might help us?” he asks, and you groan, looking back to him.

“i don’t know if we ever will.” you felt like this whole mission was hopeless. you had been ready when the two of you first made it back, prepared to do whatever it took to keep the world safe, but now, all of that confidence and hope was gone. you were close to just giving up.

setting his now empty bottle down, five leans back against the glass. “maybe.” he mumbles softly, and another silence falls.

you don’t even realize when you fall asleep, slumped against his side.

-

when you wake up, it takes you a bit to feel the arms holding you up, your body bouncing slightly with each step they took. your eyes shot open, and you sigh in relief when you see that it’s just diego.

“it’s not secure.” you hear luther’s voice behind him, turning your head to see him walking behind with five in his arms. “those psychopaths could come back at any moment.”

“hey.” you mumble as your eyes fall closed again, and you groan as you feel your stomach churn. it probably wasn’t the best idea to drink that whole bottle, but your mind would clear up once it’s effect wore off a bit, and it would leave you with a killer headache. that was something to worry about later.

you hear five speak, but you can’t focus on his voice, only hearing fragments of what he says. something about puberty. and the end of the world. when he asks what they had been talking about, luther sighs. “two masked intruders attacked the academy last night.”

“they came looking for you!” diego says, the accusation clear.

sighing softly, you let your head hang, “hazel and cha-cha.” you inform him, words jumbled together, “assholes from the commission.”

“best of the best.” five adds on, chuckling, “other than us, of course.” you grin, nodding slightly.

both of the men seemed to be annoyed by your lack of genuine answers, but it’s what they get for thinking that questioning to drunks was a good idea. “the best of what?” luther urges, glaring at five.

“you know, delores always said she hates it when i drink.” five ignores the question, patting the plastic woman on the head as you groan loudly.

you grab onto diego’s arm slightly, “fucking delores. stop talking about her!” you pull yourself up a bit, looking at diego, “he’s in love with a fucking mannequin? can you believe it?” you grin, shaking your head and letting yourself fall back again.

“hey!” you jump as diego suddenly yelled, apparently down to his last straw of patience. “i need you guys to focus.” he stops in his tracks and turns so he could see five as well. “what do they want? this hazel and cha-cha.” his tone is firm, and you’re surprised he’s still expecting actual answers.

you see five’s amused grin and you laugh, but the two men don’t seem nearly as entertained. “we just want to protect you.” he adds on, tone a bit softer but still demanding.

five lets out a mocking laugh, and your grin is obvious. “protect us?” he derides, leaning forward in luther’s arms. “we don’t need your protection, diego. do you know how many people we’ve killed?”

“we’re the four fucking horsemen!” you laugh, throwing your arms up slightly, “the world is ending, and the apocalypse is coming. there’s nothing you can do to help.” you glare at him.

you hear five heave and throw up, and your nose scrunches up. “that’s fucking disgusting-” you can’t stop yourself from doing the same. both the men look at each other in irritation.

-

taglists

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[platypanthewriter]

Peaches

Harringrove April prompt day 10, Peaches 

Summer in Indiana is depressing, particularly when Billy runs into Steve Harrington eating a ripe peach.

The first time it really felt like summer in Hawkins was when Billy walked out of the grocery store, and Steve Harrington was sloped against his car, eating a peach.  The juice was dripping off his chin, running down his elbows, and the neck and chest of his t-shirt was wet and transparent.  His lips were pink and shiny with juice, and he bared his teeth, a little, to grab the skin and tear it off before biting in again.  

When he finished, he licked his fingers with a gross slurping noise, grinning at the girl standing next to him—she rolled her eyes—and dug another peach out of his bag.  He hummed happily as he chomped down.

 Indiana had heat, but it didn’t have summer, not like Billy wanted.  It wasn’t that he liked the tourists in California, but he’d woken the first morning after school let out in Indiana and stuck his head out the window, and for the first summer of his life, couldn’t smell the sea. 

He hadn’t even bothered to bring his surfboards, when his dad had said they were moving—his friends had come and grabbed them, already talking about where they’d go “break them in.”  

“Might as well throw my old one out,” Nicole had said, running her thumb appeciatively down the edge, and Billy had cleared his throat, growling.

“Hey, I’m coming back, asshole—” he’d hissed.  “As soon as I get enough money—”

“Oh, right, right, she’d said, nodding, but she hadn’t taken her eyes off the board.

“Later, dude,” Scott had said, turning to leave, and Billy couldn’t help blurting out, “That’s it?!  Jesus, thanks, guys, have a nice life.”

“What?” Eric laughed.  “Thought you just said ‘I’m coming baaaack,’ right?”  His imitation of Billy’s voice was meant to be grating, and everyone laughed.

 Billy’d walked out of Bradley’s Big Buy in mid-June with beer and cigarettes into wet heat that felt like a sauna, and there was Steve Harrington eating peaches, and his friends—some of his little hangers-on, Max’s age, but also like six people Billy remembered from parties, and they had raft paddles tied to Steve’s car.  Steve was eating peaches and laughing, like he was still the fucking King of Hawkins High.  

Billy guessed he was, really, since after all Billy’s efforts, there they all were, hanging around laughing with Steve.  

 Billy had listened to Tommy Hagen’s stories about growing up with Steve Harrington and snarled, “Loyal to your king, huh.” 

Tommy had laughed, his gaze wandering to find Steve in the crowd.  “I mean, I wouldn’t die for him,” Tommy said, then leaned in, grinning.  “Kill for him, maybe.”

“This isn’t the army,” Billy snorted.  “The hell do you mean, die for him.”

Tommy’d just laughed.  He wasn’t there, though, gathered around, laughing with the dude he’d kill for.  Billy thought probably Steve Harrington was popular enough to hold grudges—to allow people to be his friends—and whatever Tommy’d done, he was out.  

It probably wasn’t near as bad as that night Billy’d showed up at the Byers’.

 The peaches were so juicy, and Billy licked his lips, wanting to taste them, sweet and fresh.  Unbruised.  

He’d saved up, at first, to go home, to ditch Indifuckingana and just drive until he hit the fucking ocean, but his sarcastic postcards had gone unanswered, and when he called his mom, he got the answering machine.  Nobody called back.  He wondered whether he’d bruised something there too—maybe they’d been glad he left.  Fucking Billy Hargrove, they probably said, tossing his postcards in the trash.

He’d laid on his bed that morning, breathing the June air—rain, and the smell of mown lawns—and the sounds of the weather channel out every window on the street, because Indiana got goddamn tornadoes, even though tornadoes were an obvious sign of a place humans should not live.  

It had been sticky-hot already, at eight in the morning, and he longed for the cool air off the Pacific, instead of this...America’s armpit season, where the air felt too thick to breathe, and everything was damp, all the time, including him.  Max had taken to leaning in her window at night, her sweaty hand against the cool glass, her eyes half-lidded in misery.  Billy’d started soaking a towel, wringing it out, and draping it over himself as he tried to pass out, and his bed was starting to smell like mildewed sweat.  

 The peaches looked cool, and sweet, and perfect.  Harrington chewed with his mouth open, grossing the kids out, and licked his teeth with a smirk.  Billy clutched harder at his pack of cigarettes, and his six-pack of room-temperature beer, and wanted.

 His shift wasn’t for a few hours.  He’d gotten a job at the pool—at least he could shower 90 times a day, and it felt a little more like summer, surrounded by people in swimsuits, even if the water was chlorinated, sad and still in a cement pit, and surrounded by a fence—probably to keep out the hordes of people who wanted to drown themselves every Indiana summer.  

 At the moment, standing in already-damp jeans, his hair limp with sweat, even the pool sounded suffocatingly hot as he watched Steve Harrington and his peaches.  Steve was in ratty old shorts—his thighs showed through the holes, and the curve of his ass—and a tight t-shirt so worn it was nearly transparent, moreso with the juice dripping down the front.  It clung to the muscles of his chest and biceps, and Billy swallowed.  His throat was dry.  

One of the kids was going on about the best spots to put rafts in the river, as Steve licked from his elbow to his wrist.  

Billy’d heard about the whitewater rafting, of course—at least it sounded summery—but it wasn’t like surfing.  You couldn’t do it alone, it sounded like, and he wasn’t gonna take Max, or, worse, go on a family guided trip with his dad and Susan.

Steve Harrington And Friends were heading to the beach, Billy thought with envy—even if it wasn’t a real beach, with water stretching to the horizon, rivers had beaches of sorts.  They were gonna go numb to their knees, stepping into the water, splashing each other, probably, like actual children.  Shivering in the Indiana summer.  Billy imagined Steve’s shirt soaked.

“The hell d’you want?” Steve said, taking a slow bite of peach.  Juice ran down the side of its soft skin and between Harrington’s fingers, and Billy realized he’d been standing there for a while, staring at the peach juice gleaming on Harrington’s arm after he wiped his mouth.  

Billy went to spit out something fittingly insulting, and his lungs wouldn’t work, thinking about summer, and the flavor of peaches in Steve Harrington’s mouth.  “Lemme come,” he rasped.

“What,” Steve said, raising his eyebrows, and Billy sighed, figuring he was in for it anyway, and if Billy Hargrove’s words never worked on anybody, it wasn’t because he never tried.  

“Take me along.  You can shove me off the raft,” he blurted, grimacing.  “As many times as you want.  In the rapids.”

Steve’s raised eyebrows had turned sly, and he was starting to grin.  “Don’t you have a job?”

“I’ve covered for Heather enough times,” Billy said, watching Steve lick his lips, and lean around to slap the side of his car. 

“Max,” he yelled.  “Whaddaya think?”

King Steve Harrington deferred to Billy’s little sister, apparently, and Billy set his jaw, watching her walk around the side of Steve’s car.  She crossed her arms and looked at the boyfriend Billy’d seen lurking around—the kid he’d tried to beat up—who stared calmly at Billy.

He thought of the coffee can he’d been stuffing cash into, for the drive home.  “I’ll get all the food for the trip,” he said, playing his last card.  “For everybody.”

“...and we can push him off in the rapids?” the kid asked Steve, who nodded, grinning.  He and Max whispered, and then nodded.

“Welcome aboard,” Steve said, between sucking his fingers.  Billy stepped across the parking lot towards him automatically, and nearly got hit by a car.  He trotted over, ignoring the driver’s honk.  Steve laughed, shaking his head, and offered the hand not covered in peach juice to shake, with the grin of someone plotting evil, and Billy swallowed again, and barely managed not grabbing Steve’s other hand, to lick the shine of peach juice off his skin.  

He thought about leaning in to run his tongue up Steve’s neck, tasting salt and summer.

The other Harringrove April prompts I’ve done

[aaronhotchnersquarterzip]

Meeting You Flipped the World Upside Down - Or Maybe Just Mine

Welcome to Chapter 8! There are 10 total chapters to this fic and an epilogue so were close to done. I really do want to thank everyone who has read this, it means the world to me :)

Summary: Reader has been a rut, stuck in a never ending cycle of college worries and job interviews. Never did she think that SSA Aaron Hotchner, or Agent as she likes to call him, would walk into her favorite late night diner and flip her world upside down. And he for sure didn't expect to fall in love so quickly with the soon to be college grad. They navigate finding love and working together to rediscover what that means for each of them.

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner X Female Reader

Word Count: 1.2k

New Seasons

Move in day has finally arrived. Aaron was lugging the heavy boxes while you and Jack were having a pillow fight on your couch. When he finally finished hauling all the boxes from the U-Haul he joined you and Jack on the couch. Ruffling his son's hair and kissing you on the cheek. 

“I can see your day was tiring you two, how heavy are those pillows again?” 

“Very heavy daddy, Y/N and I had a hard time carrying them.” While Aaron was distracted messing with Jack you quietly grabbed the pillow from behind you and hit Aaron in the back of the head, stunning him momentarily before he burst out into laughter. Followed by Jack who also threw a pillow in his dad's direction but was caught off guard by Aaron catching it and throwing it back at him. 

“You're both in for it now,” and with one foul swoop he grabbed you both, one in each arm, and tickled you each to death. 

“Daddy please stop,” Jack squealed out in between laughs. Aaron had a devilish look on his face as he slowed his motions on Jack and continued tickling you. 

“Please daddy stop,” you whispered, as quietly as you could at the present moment, into his ear. That was one way to get Aaron to stop, his eyes darkened slightly before being attacked by Jack again. That's how the night went, Aaron and you set up the apartment while Jack took naps on the couch and watched TV. It was straight out of a movie, your perfect little family. 

It all came crashing down at once when Aaron started loading Jack and his belongings back into his car. You kissed Jack on his head before hugging him goodbye, he was holding it together much better than you were. Aaron was next and if it weren’t for Jack you would’ve been in tears again. 

He pulled you into his chest and kissed the top of your head, “I’ll be back after your first week back, you can show me around and make an old man feel like a college kid again.” You sniffled and laughed slightly. 

“You already act like a college kid Aaron. Please don’t leave.” You knew he had too and you couldn’t be mad about it either, it was just a lot to handle all at once. It felt like everything was being stripped away from you. 

He pulled back and wiped your tears, “baby, please don’t cry. I’ll be back, I promise. Make the most of your time here. We’ll be waiting for you.”

“You’re right. I know you’re right.” You kissed him deeply and sighing when you pulled back. “I’ll see you in two weeks, I love you and drive safe.”

He kisses you once more, “I love you too sweetheart, I’ll text when we get back.” He engulfed you in another hug before getting in his car and driving away. 

Just as you were making your way inside your apartment building your phone buzzed, you answered without hesitation. 

“There's no way you’re home yet Agent.” 

“I really miss you love.”

“I miss you too Agent, please get home safe and call me later, okay?”

“Okay dear, I love you.”

“I love you more Aaron.”

With that the line clicked and left you completely and utterly alone in your empty apartment. You slid down the closed door and started to cry. Yearning for Aaron’s embrace and the feeling of home. You decided to text some of your friends from campus, seeing if anyone was up to going out to a few clubs. Luckily, your friend Sabrina, whom you met in freshman year psych class, was always down to party with you. You met up at her apartment with a change of clothes and some vodka to pre-game. 

“If you always bring my favorite I can do this every weekend all semester,” she grabbed your hand and pulled you into her apartment. 

“Thanks for being down, I just needed to get out.”

“I’m always here for you girl! We can head to the bar on 15th to start. I know it's your favorite.”

“You know the way to a girl's heart, let me take a few shots and then we can call an uber?���

“Great plan my friend.”

It was indeed not a great plan, five hours later and you couldn’t figure out where in the hell you were. Sabrina had left your side, or maybe you hers who knows, and you were in a loud bar god knows where. You were normally a fun drunk, Aaron had witnessed it and so had your friends, this was not a fun drunk type of night. The panic was finally setting in, your paranoia only heightened once you started dating Aaron. You felt horribly unprepared and tears sprung to your eyes. God all you wanted right now was Aaron. Well, you always wanted Aaron but you just wanted to not die and he was your best bet. 

You searched your pockets until you found your phone, the screen was blurred so you found a quiet corner and used Siri to help you call Aaron. He picked up after one ring, “are you okay, you haven’t picked up my calls all night.” He could faintly hear music in the background, “where are you?”

Taking deep breaths you responded in slurred speech, “I don’t know Aaron. Um, I lost my friend. I'm sorry.” You were almost in tears again, god he's gonna leave me. 

“How much have you had to drink baby? Can you call an Uber or can you hand the phone to someone who's sober.” You quickly scanned the room for a bartender or waitress of any kind and finally found one who you ran over too. 

“Can you tell my boyfriend where I am please?” You waved the phone in front of her and she sympathetically grabbed it from you, giving Aaron the address.

When she handed the phone back Aaron was waiting for you on the other end, “sweetheart, I ordered you a car they should be outside in a few minutes. Keep me on the phone with you and let's go wait together okay?”

“Okay. I’m sorry Aaron.” 

“It’s okay darling, let's just get you home and we can talk about it tomorrow.”

When the car came and dropped you off Aaron was still on the line, “go drink so water honey and go to bed. I’ll call you back in the morning. I love you sweet girl.” As bothered as he was, he was just happy you were home. He could never stay mad at you. You however, didn’t think Aaron was going to be okay with it, dreading the future call. 

“I love you too Aaron, I’m sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for baby, I’m just happy you’re okay. Go to bed and I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Night Agent.”

He smiled when the line went silent, he may tease you about the “Agent” nickname but it’s his favorite name if it's coming from your mouth. In such a short amount of time you became his entire world, behind Jack of course, you didn’t know it yet but he wasn’t just waiting for his girlfriend to finish college. He was waiting for his future wife. Sometimes you just know.